Notwithstanding sayd he because you are hither come out of a farre countrey and with a desire as it seemes to me to communicate those things vnto vs which you your selues iudge to be in truth and worth the best we will not be troblesome or offensiue vnto you but rather entertayne you with courteous hospitalitie and see you prouided with all necessarie sustenance not forbidding yee in the meane time by preaching to draw whomsoeuer yee can of this countrey to the profession of your fayth and religion VI. THEN with the Kings good leaue AVGVSTINE and his fellowes went in procession to Canturbury the head cittie of Kent Augustine marcheth to Canturbury still carrying the Crosse and image of CHRIST before them and singing the Letanies vsing amongst others this pious forme of prayer Whe beseech thee O Lord in all thy mercie to take away and with-hould thy wrath and anger from this cittie and from thy holy house because we haue sinned against thee ALLELVIA Humbly by this kind of confession putting them selues amongst sinners whom they came to release from sinne and reconcile to allmightie God When this our Arch-Doctour leading his troupe of Preachers vnder the triumphant banner of the Crosse into the cittie which in future is to be his Metropolitan did not the Angell-Guardians crie out to the cittizens with those words of the Prophet Esay Open the gates and let the iust nation enter obseruing the truth of their embassage the old errour of Isaiae c. 29. v. 2. 3. Idolatrie is gone that from hence forth the peace of CHRIST and his Church may be here maintayned Here now the walles of Hiericho seemed to goe to ruine that the walles of Hierusalem might be built Here on the ruine of paganisme our holy Apostle first planted the Crosse of CHRIST and layd the foundation of the English Catholick Church But ô the heauenly and apostolicall life that these holy monkes AVGVSTINE and his fellowes led in the meane Their holy â—â—se in Canturbury time what penne is able to expresse watching and prayer was theyr only and chiefest exercise allwaies keeping their soules most free from anie the lest thought of wordly desires or cares They announced the words of life to all they could making their owne liues soe correspondent to what they taught that in them those Idolaters might euen with their eyes reade a lesson of heauenly vertue and conuersation to see soe manie poore men soe constantly announcing the Ghospell of CHRIST that they seemed to be most readie to suffer all aduersities yea and death it self in defence of the trueth which they preached But what followed these beginnings Some few beleeued in IESVS-CHRIST and were baptised admiring the simplicitie of their innocent life and the sweetnes of their heauenly doctrine VII BVT in the East part of the cittie of Canturbury stood a See Heretick our first Apostles sayd masse Church dedicated to Saint MARTIN built in auncient times by the Romans in which the Queene was wont to pray and receaue the sacraments by the hands of her holy Bishop Lethard who was allowed her for that purpose and stood our Blessed Apostle S. AVGVSTINE in no small steed in the labour of preaching and conuerting the countrey In this Church allsoe AVGVSTINE his fellow-MoÌ„kes executed their diuine seruice there they sung their Office there they sayd Masse there they prayed there they preached and baptised When in the meane time by the diuine power of allmightie God sainct AVGVSTINE indued with a heauenly grace of working miracles cured all the sick and diseased persons that were ether presented vnto him or that he him self visited in person Soe that the poeple were thunder-strucken with amazement at the sight of soe great vertue crying out that ether men were transformed into Gods or that the Gods in a humane shape were come to conuerse with men whereby their hardnes of heart being ouercome manie were receaued into the fould of CHRISTS Church And at length King ETHELBERT allso being astonished with soe manie resplendent signes of vertue by the dayly instancie and perswasion of S AVGVSTINE by the continuall prayers King Ethelbert is baptised of the Church by the affectionate admonitions of the Queene abiuring the deadly powers of hell became a sonne of diuine adoption in Christ And now on the sacred feast of Pentecost all the Saincts of heauen highly reioycing and manie troupes of poeple flocking to that great solemnitie AVGVSTINE as a new SILVESTER baptiseth ETHELBERT as an other Constantine In him our faythfull Dauid is annoynted with the oyle of Ioyfullnes and meekly seated in a throne of mercie Our Ecclesiasticall Salomon is crowned with a diadem of peace in the chayre of iustice and wisedom Our noble ETHELBERT descends from the state of his royall authoritie and shewes him self as a seruant to the seruants of CHRIST A Prince of princes is changed to an Euangelicall Little-one and a mightie commaunder of manie poeple professeth him self a companion to the poore AVGVSTINE reioyceth and much more his little Church that now they had gayned him to be their Patrone whom before they feared as a persecutour Haec mutatio dextrae Excelsi This is a chainge of the right hand of the most High VIII THE King therefore being baptised laboured him self to gett The zeale of King Ethelbert all the Kings Princes Nobles and common poeple vnder his gouernment to the subiection of the sweet yoake of CHRIST making it the chiefest part of his owne empire to dilate and propogate the Kingdom of Christs holy Church Wherevppon great multitudes of poeple flocked dayly to heare the word of God and forsaking the blindnes of their Diabolicall rites were purged in the sacred font of Baptisme Of whose fayth and conuersion the good King greatly reioyced yet compelled none by force to Christianitie but only embraced the faythfull beleeuers with a more strict affection as his fellow-citizens of the heauenly Kingdom For he had learned of the Doctours and authours S. Augustâ—â—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of England of his owne saluation that the seruice of CHRIST ought to be voluntary and not constrained In the meane time the holy master of our fayth saint AVGVSTINE went to Arelas in France where by the hands of Etherius Bishop of the same place he was consecrated Archbishop of the English nation according as holy Pope GREGORIE had pre-ordayned Whom returning into England with this sacred dignitie King ETHELBERT receaued with triumphant ioy and made him now the Ecclesiasticall President of his metropolitan cittie in which before he had entertayned him but as a guest and ordayned him the vigilant Guardian not only of that Cittie but allsoe of all the little world of his whole dominions The throne of his owne Kingdom he changed into a Bishops sea and his royall Pallace by the reformation and consecration of saint AVGVSTINE was turned into a sacred Church dedicated to CHRIST our Sâ—uiour which to this day but built in a farre
that gaue such a wonderfull lustre to all therein as if it would haue preuented the sunnes comeing by turning night into day There was present with the Apostle in the Church a multitude of heauenly burgesses filling it with melodious musick and most fragrant odours Hauing finished all the solemnities and ceremonies due vnto the dedication of a Church he whom our Lord made a famous FISHER of men returned to the Fisher of fishes whom he found wonderfully amazed and carried allmost beyond him self with the flashes of the diuine splendour and therefore S. Peter consecrateth the Church of westminster with a courteous consolation the Apostle restored him to him self againe reduceing his distracted thoughts to the rules of reason and the two fishers entring into the boate togeather S. PETER demaunded whether he had taken anie fish or noe Being suddenly strucken replied he with the sight of that vnusuall brightnes and detained with expectation of thy returne I endeauoured not to fish but securely a tended my promised reward from thee wherevnto the Apostle answered cast forth thy netts and trie He obeyed his commaund and presently found his nett loaden with store of fish all of one kind excepting one fish of a mightie greatnes without comparison Hauing drawne them on shore the Apostle bad him present that great one to Bishop MELLITVS in his name and the rest said he take for thy reward An aboundance of this kind thou shalt enioy all thy life time and thy posteritie a long time Fishing on Sundaies forbidden after thee only hereafter dare not to fish on the Sundaies I am the Apostle PETER who with my heauenly fellow-citizens haue allreadie consecrated the Church built in my name and by the authoritie of my owne dedication I haue preuented the Bishops benediction Tell him therefore what thou hast seene and heard and the markes imprinted in the walles shall giue sufficient testimonie to strengthen the truth of thy relation Let him therefore forbeare from anie further dedication and supplie only what we omitted that is to celebrate the most sacred misteries of our Lords bodie and bloud and with a sermon to instruct the people giuing them to vnderstand that I will oftentimes visitt this place and be present at the prayers and petitions of the faithfull promising to lay open the gates of heauen to all those that spend their daies soberly iustly and piously in this world The next morning the fisher with his great fish meets the Bishop MELLITVS as he was goeing to dedicate the Church and makes knownes vnto him whatsoeuer was giuen him in charge by the Apostle Whereat the Bishop much astonished entred into the Church and finds the pauement signed with the inscription of the Greek and Hebrew alphabet the walls annoynted with holy oyle in twelue seuerall places and the remnants of as manie wax cādles fastened to twelue crosses all things being yet moist with the late springling of holy oyle and water Wherevppon togeather with the people he gaue prayse and thanks to allmightie God for that great remonstrance of his goodnes vnto them The whole posteritie of the fisherman confirmed the truth of this miracle for as they receiued by tradition from their father they offered the tenth of all the commoditie gotten afterward by that art to S. PETER and his seruants in that place Till among the The fishers deceit punished rest there was one that attempted to beguile them of that dutie but he receiued his punishment for soe long he was depriued of the benefitt of his art vntill hauing confessed his fault he had made condigne restitution of the wrong with a faythfull promise of amendment XIII WHEN S. EDWARD had vnderstood all these things out of the relation and records of antiquitie he was enflamed with an extreme desire to reedifie that Monasterie and to restore it out of the ruines of deiection and pouertie to the height of wealth and dignitie and to that end he dispatched messengers to Rome as well to obtaine priuiledges for that place as allsoe to treate some other affaires with letters to the Pope to this effect TO NICOLAS S. Edwards Epistle to Pope Nicolas 2. the chief father of the vniuersall Church EDWARD by the grace of God king of England sendeth due subiection and obedience We glorifie our Lord for the care he hath of his elect Church in ordayning thee an excellent successour in the place and seate of thy good predecessour Wherefore we thinke it fitt to leane vnto thee as vnto a firme rock to sharpen and approoue all our good actions and allwaies to admitt of thy knowledge and fellowship in doeing good especially desiring thou wouldest renew encrease all those donations and priuiledges which we obtained from thy predecessour to wit that thou ratifie and confirme the Monasterie of Monks which I haue built in honour of the B. Apostle S. PETER according as it was enioyned me by thy predecessour vnder title of obedience and penance for the dispensation of a vow I made to goe to Rome and the remission of all my sinnes as allsoe that thou reestablish determine and secure all the priuiledges belonging to the He willingly payeth duties to Rome possessions peace and dignitie of that place for euer And I for as much as lies in me doe increase and confirme the donations and customes of the moneies which S. PETER holdeth and chalengeth in England and now I send them accompanied with other free guifts from my self humbly intreating thee to offer prayers and sacrifices to allmightie God for me and the peace of my kingdom and that thou institute ordayne a continuall and solemne memorie of all England in generall before the sacred bodies of the Apostles XIV THE POPE answered him in this manner NICOLAS The Popes answer to the king Bishop seruant of the seruants of God to the most glorious most pious and most worthie of all honour our specially beloued EDWARD King of England sendeth all manner of salutation most sweet health and Apostolicall benediction We giue thankes vnto allmightie God who hath adorned and honoured thy most prudent excellence in all respects to conserue deuotion towards the blessed Apostle S. PETER and all loue towards vs his vnworthie successour in giuing obedience and consent vnto Apostolicque counsels and censures Wee therefore send our letters to thy Royall nobilitie whereby we graunt vnto thee the holy Apostles societie and ours beseeching his mercie who is truly Lord of all and only soueraigne aboue all to make thee par taker of all our good workes if anie we haue in the sight of God and at all times to make vs more feruent brethren and fellows in his loue wishing him to graunt noe lesse part or reward of our dutie and obedience in his heauenly kingdom vnto thee then we desire to fall vnto our selues Allsoe we will not cease heereafter vnfaynedly to powre out our dayly prayers for thee that God himself would bring thy foes and enemies
which attempt to rebell against thee into subiection and confirme in thee the inheritance of thy fathers throne beseeching the blessed Apostle S. PETER to be thy guardian and ayde in all tribulation or aduersitie that may befall thee Wee therefore doe restablish confirme and encrease all priuiledges giuen in thy behalf to witt that thou be cleerly absolued from the vow which thou didest seeme to feare and from all other thy sinnes and iniquities by the authoritie of him that hath ordayned my vnworthines chief pastour of his Church Furthermore bicause it is credibly reported that that place which vnder title of holy pennance thou hast vndertaken to build and repayre hath long since bin consecrated by the hands of S. PETER him self whose vnworthie Vicar we are as allsoe bicause it is and hath bene the auncient seate of Kings we by the authoritie of God and of the holy Apostles and by the power of this Poman Sea and ours doe graunt permitt and most strongly confirme that henceforth for euer it be the place of the Kings Coronation and the storehouse of his Royall enseignes and a perpetuall habitation for Monks independent of anie other person but only the king him self and that they enioy absolute power to elect fitt and worthie Abbots out of their owne bodie to succeede in the gouernmeÌ„t according to the rule of S. BENEDICT Westminster priuileges confirmed to the Benedictine Monks exempted from Bishops and that noe sorreigne or strainge person be brought in by violence but such as the conuent shall freely consent to elect We doe alsoe exempt absolue and free that place from all Episcopall subiection and iurisdiction that noe Bishop enter there eyther to order or commaund anie thing vnlesse it be done by the desire and consent of the Abbot and his Monks And that the same place enioy a free precinct that is a circuit and Churchyard about it to burie the dead without anie respect or exaction of the Bishop or anie other person and with a most readie and willing mind we giue graunt to that place all priuiledges whatsoeuer by our authoritie may be graunted which belong anie way to the honour of God and to encrease the dignitie of the place We doe likewise by the authoritie of God and ours ratifie confirme and establish all the possessions and hereditaments which auncient Kings or anie other person or thou thy self or anie of thy Lords haue graunted vnto the same place and all the charters and writings made of the same donations we decree to be and remaine still in force and all such persons as shall attempt to infringe inuade diminish disperse or make sale of the same we condemne and declare them to be guiltie of eternall malediction with the â—raitour Iudas and that they be not partakers of the blessed resurrection but that they know them selues to be adiudged by S. PETER the Apostle when with his fellow-fellow-Apostles he shall sitt in iudgement ouer the twelue tribes of Jsrael But vnto thee and thy successour-kings we committ to be the aduocats and defenders of the same place and of all the Churches of England in our place and steed that with the Councell of thy Bishops and Abbots thou constitute and ordaine all things in all places according to iustice and know that for such good doeing thou shalt receiue a worthie reward from him whose kingdom and empire shall neuer cease nor be diminished This was the Popes answere Now le ts returne to S. EDWARD XV. GOEING once with the Queene and Earle Harold to see a Pâ—◠〈◊〉 great summe of money which without his knowledge they had collected throughout the realme to supplie his wants and especially to cloathe his souldiers seruants with new liueries against the feast of Christmas entring with them into the Exchecquer he espied the deuill sitting and sporting him self vpon that heape of money of whom the King hauing demaunded what busines he had there I keepe my money replied he vniustly gotten out of the goods of the poore Wherevppon the standers by were much amazed hearing their speeches but seeing nothing But the holy king S. Edwards coÌ„tempt of money that contemned all temporall riches for loue of the eternall commaunded all that money to be presently restored from whence it came giuing herein a perfect example to all Princes and Rulers in the world not to maintaine the glorie of their braueries with money wrongfully raysed and forced out of the meanes of their poore subiects the communaltie The like clemencie mooued him out of his Royall bountie to remitt and freely release his subiects He remitteth Dane-gilt of that most grieuous tribute called Dane-gilt which in his fathers time was payed to the Danish nauie and afterwards brought into the kings Exchecquer But he commaunding it should be noe more exacted freed thereby the Realme of England for euer of that vnsupportable burden XVI BEING on a time in his pallace neere to S. PETER'S Church there came an Irishman noe lesse straing then miserable lame of both his leggs for the sinewes of his hammes being shortned His name was Giles Michel and contracted had forced and drawne his leggs backward to the hinder parts of his bodie not directly but sideward soe that his ankles grew fast to his buttocks and his toes being sunk into his haunches were growne ouer with flesh that from the setting on of the chine-bone downwards his bodie was quite out of order He crept vppon his hands and knees by the help of two little hand-stooles and being most painfull and greiuous to him self he haled and drew him self after him self This wretched man seeing the kings Chamberlaine cried vnto him O Hugoline sayd he wilt thou not look vppon me nor take pittie on me nor will not this my miserie and calamitie mooue thee to comfort my distresse What sayd he wilt thou haue me doe Six times replied the poore criple creeping in this woefull manner as thou â—eest I haue visited the Churches of the Apostles aâ—d haue not yet obtained the recouerie of my limmes Notwitstanding the Prince of the Apostles hath not quite denied my petition but hath deferred it only desiring to haue king EDWARD his fellow-partner in this cure whom he knoweth to be most deuout towards him in all things For he himself hath coÌ„maunded me to goe to the king and that on his sacred back he carrie my lame bodie to the Church adioyning to his pallace and by that meanes I am promised to receaue the perfect vse of my limmes This being declared to the king he gaue thanks vnto allmightie God and causing the criple presently to S. Edwards incoÌ„parable humilitie be brought before him like vnto that strong spirituall asse Genesis 49. bowing to his fortune and chardge layd downe hâ—s Royall shoulders to be the supporters of that miserable burden of calamitie O most strainge miracle of humilitie The poore wretch full of rusull and nastie sores hangs on the back of this Royall Prince
clipping and embracing his kingly neck with hands and armes soe full of filth and scabbs that the verie sight bred a generall loathing in the beholders and some it mooued to laughter as it were in scorne of his soe base and sluttish humilitie others iesting and scoffing as it cried out that the begger had deluded the king others againe rashly iudged his plaine simplicitie to be mere follie But when this Royall Porter had marched some part of his way with this beggarly burden the sinews of the criple began to grow longer his bones to be strenghthened the dead flesh to receaue the two companions of life warmth and feeling his toes before sunk into the flesh issued out and his feet loosed from his haunches were restored to their naturall function When to Noâ—e a strainge miracle the great admiration of all with the stretching forth of his thighs and leggs by the pliant and flexible â—ag litie of his hammes there gushed out great store of filthie bloud and corruption which falling on the kings garments serued for an ornament rather then anie dishonour Wherevppon the criple receaued the perfect vse of all the limmes of his bodie whose one halfe hitherunto was rather a painfull burden and grieuous trouble vnto him then anie ease or commoditie Which noe sooner was perceaued by the attendants but they all cried out to the King to cast him downe now since he was healed and free him self from the running vlcers of his loathsom burden But he mindfull of the chardge he had vndertaken held on his pious iourney not listning to their bewitching speeches but entring into the Church hauing resigned and offered vp the sacrifice he had brought to allmightie God and the Prince of the Apostles S. PETER he dismissed him safe and sound to walke forth him self by the help of his owne leggs which neuer before had done him the like seruice Therefore now hauing them by speciall miracle restored to the end to imploy the first fruicts of their labours in the honour of the supreme authour and worker of miracles he receaued a sufficient viaticum of the King and tooke his iourney towards Rome there to giue thanks to allmightie God and S. PETER for this soe great a benefitt XVII AS THIS B. King was once in S. PETERS Church present at the diuine sacrifice of Masse before the aultar of the B. TRINITIE togeather with Count Leofricke he that in beautie This Leofrick is much coÌ„mended for holy life and founding Monasteries and namely that of Couentrie where he â—as buried farre excelleth the sonnes of men CHRIST IESVS appeared visibly on the aultar to them both in the true forme and figure of his heauenly bodie and stretching forth his sacred right hand gaue S. EDWARD his benediction by makeing the signe of the Crosse in the ayre at which the King humbly bowing downe his head deuoutly adored the presence of the diuine Maiestie But the Earle ignorant of the Kings thoughts and desiring to haue him partaker of soe great a vision began to make towards him when the king vnderstanding his meaning willed him to be still and keepe his place assuring him that he saw that sacred vision as well as he And Masse being ended the king spake to the Earle in this manner By his Maiestie and loue whom we haue seene ô my Leofrick I doe coniure thee that this vision be not published in our life time left for the fauour of the world we should be puft vp with pride to our owne ruine or lest the enuie of the incredulous should endeauour to disable the truth of what we say XVIII A WOEMAN vnder whose iawes grew certaine kernels which defiling her face with a deformed and vglie swelling blowne vp with corrupted humours had chaiÌ„ged the bloud into filthy matter wherein were bred wormes which breathed out a most horrid and loathsome smell and long she had suffered the greif of this infirmitie till at length being admonished in her sleepe she repayred to the Court to hope for a remedie from the Kings owne S. Edw. cureth the disease now called the Kings euill hands by his eyther washing touching or blessing of the diseased place And being come before the King and hauing declared her case vnto him he neyther regarded the filth of the sore nor conceiued anie horrour at the stench that came from it but handling and washing the swelled places with his Royall hands blessed them with the signe or the Crosse whereat the skinge suddenly breaking open the wormes togeather with the corruption gushed out the swelling was asswaged and all sense of payne ceasing gaue place to a perfect recouerie of health This wonderfull grace of cureing this disease called in latin struma now the KINGS EVILL for noe other reason but because it hath bin vsually healed by Kings was first deriued from S. EDWARD to all the Kings of England After him our English kings doe the like and remaynes as a holy inheritance vnto them to this day and hath been and is dayly practised and to good effect practised by our moderne Kings allbeit professing a religion quite contrarie to that of S. EDWARD yet by his meritts as it may be piously thought they worke this wonderfull cure Yea Queene Elizabeth but a woeman had the like power and cured manie thereby as it is well knowne by men of creditt yet liuing Therefore the Frenchmen are all deceaued not against their wills and particularly the French authour of the English history ANDREW LE CHESNE did not speak candidly and as he thought when he denies that the Kings of England euer enioyed this vertue affirming it to be a grace peculiar to them of France deriued from S. LEWIS but â—ur EDWARD florished aboue one hundred and fortie â—eares before Lewis and therefore it is likely that if anie such thing be among them they must rather haue receiued it from our Kings then that theirs haue it absolutly and particularly to them selues Furthermore William of Malmesbury a Lib. 2. de Reg. Ang. man farre better conuersant in our English histories then anie Frenchman could be hauing related the foresaid miracle affirmed it to be the constant report of such as well knew the life of S. EDWARD that he had cured manie of this same disease whilst he liued in Normandie But let vs goe on A blind man cured with the wâ—ter in wâ—â—â—â— the kin◠〈◊〉 wâ—â—hed XIX A BLIND man vnderstood by reuelation that he should recouer his lost sight by the meritts of S. EDWARD washing his face with the water wherein the King had washed his hands The king vnderstanding this from his Chamberlaine was much amazed and made shew of some displeasure and discontent alleadging that the poore man was deluded with vaine imaginations that noe such matter could be expected from the hands of a sinner as he was but it belonged to the power and vertue of the Apostles to worke such wonders and for this cause he ought not to creditt
a delightfull and mutuall accord of sainctitie certaine barbarous poeple who eyther from their painted garments as from some markes in their eyes were called Picts landed with a great nauie vppon the coastes of Britannie and being taken with a loue of the countrey set vppon the Brittans more by deceipt then force and for a time bore a tirannous sway amongst them One of theyr princes murdring the countrey before him and burning Churches and howses at he went arriued at length neere vnto Meneuia where he built him self a pallace And perceauing Enuie plotteth mischief against him the liues of S. DAVID and THELIAN to be soe holy and soe contrarie to his proceedings he greatly enuied them and spitt much of his venom in opprobrious reproachfull speeches against them whom he could not iustly condemne of anie fault And at length to make his malice bring forth the child of wickednes he commaunded his wife to send her mayds and make them the instruments of mischief by their lewd art and lasciuious allurements and motions of their naked bodies to atâ—empt the ouerthrow of the holy mens good purposes But as those wanton things followed their mistresses A iust punishment of malice directions and in the dishonest execution thereof exercised a kind of fayned phrensie or madnes in presence of the saincts suddenly they became mad indeed and returned to their commaunders without sufficient discourse to relate their owne misfortune Which being seene of that cruel persecutour turned all his furie into meekenes and both he and his whole familie receaued the fayth of CHRIST and were washed in the sacred font of Baptisme II. NOT long after S. THELIAN togeather with S. DAVID made a He goeth to Hierusalem iourney to Hierusalem where they spent some time in continuall prayer and visitation of the sacred places wherein our deare Sauiour wrought the miracles of his bitter passion and our deare redemption in those places they were wrapt in holy contemplatlon that they had noe memorie or thought of anie thing that was in this world Vnto S. THELIAN as he returned home they gaue a Cimball of more worth then greatnes and more precious then it was fayre for the sweet tunes thereof seemed to excell the sound of an organ it rung at euerie hower of its owne accord And this was a true figure of S. THELIAN who like vnto a cimball or bell which rayseth men from the dullnes of sleepe and slouth to prayse and serue God in the Church did he by his vertues and holie sermons stirre vpp By his prayers he expelleth the plague the hearts of the poeple vnto God out of the dungeon of sinne and wickednes Being returned prosperously into Wales by his prayers vnto allmightie God he freed the poeple froÌ„ a cruell plague which miserably wasted and deuoured the countrey Afterwards succeeding Dubritius in the Bishoprick of Landaff in that sacred dignitie he spent the whole remnant of his life gouerning his diocesse rather with his sainctitie and example of good life then by the exercise of his poewr and authoritie At length loaden with merits and old age by the happie losse of this fading world he purchased an euerlasting dwelling in heauen the ninth day of February about the yere of our Lord 563. The manie Churches in South Wales dedicated to S. THELIAN which to this day retayne his memorie by the Manie Churches dedicated to his name name of Llanthilo or Llanthilio are vnresistables witnesses and proofes of his great Sainctitie and as yet his prayse is fresh in the mouthes of all faythfull Whelchmen allthough the greatest part of that wretched nation doe liue in such blindnes that they would rather pluck him out of heauen then doe him or anie other of Gods Saincts anie honour at all contemning herein the counsell of the kingly prophet who inuiteth vs to prayse God in his Saincts with Psal 150. v 1. whom he liueth for euer Amen Thus much of this Saincts life we haue gathered out of IOANNES ANGLICVS recited by IOHN CAPGRAVE in his legend and NICOLAS HARPSFIELD saec 6. cap. 27. The life of S. TRVMWINE Bishop and Confessor of the holy order of S. BENEDICT FEB 11. Out of venerable Bede de gest An. lib. 4. TRVMWINE a maÌ„ of verie holy life was by Theodore Archbishop of Canturbury ordayned Bishop of the Picts then subiect to the English But after the ouerthrow and death of Egfrid king of the Northumbers caused by the same Picts S. TRVMWINE togeather with manie other monks of the monasterie of Ebbercune in the coÌ„fines of the Picts and English retired him self out of that Prouince and hauing recommended the greatest part of his monks to diuers monasteries according as he was able he him self chose his habitation at the Monasterie of Streanshall where vnder the holy rule of S. BENEDICT with a few of his companion-monks he led a most strict monasticall life profitable not only to him self as tending to the height of perfection but to manie others allsoe The Princely virgin S. ELFLED of whom the eigth of this moneth was the Abbesse of that monasterie who by the coming of this holy Bishop receaued great helpes in her regencie and much comfort for the directing of her owne life in the way of pietie The place where the Bishop with his monks liued was separate from the monasterie of enclosed Nunnes but not soe farre but that they were readie in all occasions to helpe them with the sacraments and all other spirituall comforts of their priestly function and dignitie The most holy Bishop TRVMWINE Hist l. 4. c. 2â— as venerable BEDE stiles him hauing liued there in great holines of life the space of manie yeares at length yeelded vp his Blessed soule to make One in the glorious quier of Benedictin Bishops in heauen His bodie was buried in the Church of S. PETER according De gest Pon. l. 3. §. de Pont. Eborac to the honour due vnto his blessed life and degree of sacred dignitie His holy reliques sayth Malmesburie togeather with others were found in the quier of that Monasterie and translated to a more eminent place becoming the sainctitie of soe great a Sainct Of him make honorable mention besides the aforesayd authors Mathew Westminster Trithemius in his 3. Booke of the famous men of S. BENEDICTS order chap. 167. Arnold Wion and all our English historiographers He florished about the yeare of our Lord 700. The life of S. CEDMON confessor and monk of the holy order of S. BENEDICT FEB 10. Taken out of Ve nerable Bede AS THE diuine guifts of tongues wisedome learning and such like wherewith it pleased allmigtie God to furnish his holy Apostles and adorne the primitiue Church haue not been wanting in later ages soe haue they not fayled in the time when our Englishmen first receaued the Catholick fayth An abundant and worthy example hereof we may behould in this holy Benedictin monke CEDMON He becometh learned by miracle who
tilling not fruict of true saluation had then arriued to our English His royall curtesie land He being as yet incredulous receaued CHRIST in his legats commended the messengers of eternall happines whom yet he mistrusted harboured those strange guests in his eittie of Doner whom he knew not and at first gaue them a dwelling with necessarie sustenance for a time which afterwards he confirmed for euer vnto them whose profession of fayth and religion he did not yet admitt off He did not abhorre the strangenes of their habitt nor manners he did not repell them as straingers nor contemne them as humble and deiected persons nor condemne them as men that vtterly condemned the follie of his gods and auncient lawes but out of the sweet meekenes of a royall mind fauoured their sacred labours and with a clement patience suffered them to conuert whom they could to their fayth shewing himself allwayes courteous to Christians being yet but a Heathen Till at length hauing himself receaued the Christian fayth and washed away the filth of Idolatrie in the sacred font of baptisme he confirmed with his royall authoritie whatsoeuer S. AVGVSTIN and his fellowes preached and what they Apostolically planted he royally encreased sweetly drawing and winning his subiects His zeale in promoting the Christian fayth to abandon their Idolatrie and embrace the Christian religion with his pious exhortations and promises of eternall happines without anie force or compulsion and ranging them vnder the banner of the holy warrefarre of CHRIST as troupes of Voluntaries and not pressed souldiers He allsoe encouraged other Princes who were ether his subiects or colleagues with all curtesie and mildnes to the fayth of CHRIST heartyly louing all true beleeuers as his brethren kinsmen and fellow-citezins of the Kingdom of heauen soe that in a short time his holy endeauours tooke soe good effect that the honour and worship of the true God florished ouer all his Kingdom manie Churches were erected the temples and aultars of Idolls were destroyed or consecrated for the vse of diuine seruice II. IN THE meane time the holy Pope S. GREGORIE with wonderfull affection did congratulate this good Kings pietie encouraging him with the sweete lines of his Epistles as soe manie heauenly salutations to proceede in his Christian zeale inciting him to embrace true pietie and vertue and stirring him vp by the example of Constantine the great to aspire to the vnspeakeable reward of those who striue to enlarge and amplifie the Kingdom of IESVS CHRIST Mooued herewith and the labour of S. AVGVSTIN and the propension of his owne pietie inclining him therevnto he built a goodly Church in Canturbury in honour of our Sauiour commonly called Christ Church and without the walles of the same towne he He buildeth Churches erected a monastery in honour of S. PETER and PAVL called afterwards S. AVGVSTINS to be a place for his owne buriall and of his successor-Kings of Kent and the Archbishops of Canturbury Both these places were furnished with Benedictine monks the first Conuerters of England from Idolatrie to Christianitie S. PAVLS Church in London was allsoe the worke of this worthie King where MELLITVS a Benedictin monk was first Bishop He allsoe founded the Cathedrall Church of Rochester and dedicated it to the honour of S. ANDREW the Apostle He is likewise reported by antiquitie to haue been the Authour of the monasterie of Elie for Benedictin Nunnes allbeit S. ETHELDRED a nunne of the same order did reedifie it afterwards and restore it after long desolation to the former state and glorie All these monasteries Churches and bishops seas this pious king not only built but enriched with manie large possesions of lands guifts and ornaments omitting nothing which did anie way tend to the propagation aduanoement of true Christian religion III. BVT amidst all these good workes and all the glorie of his Princely diadem seeptre and large commaund of his Kingdom extending His great pietie and humilitie it self to the riuer Humber in Yorkshire he soe honoured Christian pouertie in the magnificence of his royaltie that in possessing all things he seemed to enioy nothing only making vse of his greatnes thereby the better to exercise and dilate his goodnes A most glorious sight it was to see or rather to admire him that held a sceptre ouer soe large a dominion carefully to serue the poore to behould him that terrified Kings and Princes of the earth to feare the humble Priests of CHRIST IESVS and to see the ruler of the poeple to obey the clergie and reuerence the lest and lowest members of his holie flock In summe in repressing of vice aduancing of vertue fulfilling the commaundments of God and in exercising all manner of workes of pietie and deuotion he excelled beyond the power of weake words to expresse At length when he had raygned ouer his poeple in all sainctitie of life the space of one and twentie yeares after his conuersion he left his temporall Kingdom and gaue vp his blessed soule to enioy the neuer dyeing happines of the Kingdom of heauen the foure and twentith day of February in the yeare of our Lord 616. All antiquitie and the authoritie of auncient Saincts are vnresistable witnesses of his holie life for from the time of his death he was numbred in the Catologue of Saincts and his festiuitie was honorably celebrated in the English Church The neglect whereof he is reported by an apparition after his death to haue blamed and caused to be amended IV. AMONGST manie other vertues which doe soe highly sett forth this good King one was that as he promoted the Christian religion His good lawes soe likewise he established his common wealth with manie excellent lawes which he published in English and were of great accompt amongst Englishmen wherein among other things he had a speciall care to preserue the common good of the Church commaunding vnder great penalties that none should eyther by theft or anie other meanes alienate or depriue Gods Church or the Bishops thereof of anie thing whatsoeuer that was bestowed vppon them and allotted â—o the diuine seruice But ô miseriel how directly Contrarie to this our first Christian King are now our moderne kings whose lawes and endeauours haue and doe tend mainly to the destruction of Churches abbeyes and religious he uses robbing them of their ornaments and riches dedicated to God seruice and leauing them to stand with fower bare walls like soe manie emptie barnes placing in stead of the holy image of CHRIST crucified the pictures of beares leopards vnicornes or some such beast houlding â—p in a scu cheon lions or flower de luces as the ensignes of their destroiers O yf our first Christian king the noble Eâ—HELBERT liued now what would he say to see the pious labours of his haÌ„ds thus miserably demolisht his aultars destroyed his lawes contemned Veryly he might iustly crie out with the Royall prophet O Lord the Gentils haue entred thy inheritance they haue
hands couering them a table prouiding them meate and drink wayting on them at table and lastly hauing well satisfied their hunger he bestowed on each a peece of siluer and dismissed them Vnto these at Easter he gaue new cloathes and retayned them with him in his hall as his principall guests for certaine daies Noe sicknes could detayne him from these pious offices nay the weaker he found his body the more he forced him self with greater diligence to execute his seruice to these poore men worthyly following herein the humble example and exemplar humilitie of our deare Redeemer washing the feete of his twelue Apostles XVI AT LENGTH hauing for the space of manie yeares ruled both his bishopricks with great wisedom and sainctity to the wonderfull He foreâ—â—eth his â—â—ne death admiration of England the notable encrease of Gods Church the reformation of vice and the worthy aduancement of monasticall discipline hauing outliued his two Bretheren in religion and noble Equals in sainctitie Dunstan and Ethelwold the first fiue yeares the other tenne the day before his departure out of this life goeing forth with his monkes out of the Church into the open ayre he stood with his eyes most attentiuely bent towards heauen making his prayer with a mouth and heart full of pietie vnto IESVS CHRIST whom soe feruently he desired to enioy Nether did he as at other times quickly draw back his eyes from looking vpwards but as yf he did comtemplate with great pleasure of mind some strange noueltie he remayned very long fixed on what he beheld Being demaunded what he saw I contemplate sayd he the place whither I am goeing which to morrow next you shall plainly vnderstand For the eternall happines is now at hand to attaine which I haue hithervnto laboured on earth nether shall the morrow-sunne be sett before my Lord as he hath promised will call me into the ioyes of his euer flourishing paradise Therefore returning into the Church he called his monkes togeather and exhorted them to giue him the He receaueth the last Sacraments sacrament of extreme vnction and the sacred viaticum of our Lords bodie The night following forgetting this his sicknes soe attentiue he was to prepare for his happy iourney he went into the Church and hauing finished his diuine office he spent the rest of the night in prayers In the morning according to custom he gyrt him self with a towell and washed dried and kissed the feete of his twelue poore men and hauing performed the fifteene psalmes which he vsed to recite in that pious seruice he added thereunto Gloria patri c. and the poore rising as their manner was to giue thankes In his piouâ— exercise he happyly departeth at those wordes Spiritui Sancto in sight of them all he yeelded vp his blessed soule into the hands of his deere Redeemer the twentie eight day of February in the yeare of our Lord 992 hauing been bishop thirtie yeares When his bodie was carried to buriall a white doue appeared to descend from heauen and flieing gently ouer it couered and protected it with her wings Allsoe a fierie globe seemed miraculously to hang ouer the biere whereon his holy bodie was layd And when his sacred reliques were placed before the high aultar that fierie vision as it were to designe the place for his buriall wauered to the south side of the Church ouer against the aultar and suddenly vanished out of sight His Bodie was committed to the earth in the Church of our blessed Ladie which him self as we haue sayd before had erected And Count Alwin after the death of this holy man being oppressed with an vnspeabeable anguish and grief of mind departed out of this teadious life and was buried in his Abbey of Ramsey with this Epitaph Here resteth Alwin cozen of the famous King Edgar Alderman of all England and the miraculous founder of this sacred Monasterie The holy Bishop Sainct OSWALD as in his life he was wonderfull soe after his death it pleased the allmightie worker of wonders to shew manie miracles at his tombe by his holy intercession and meritts whereof we will speake more at large on the feast of his translation the 15. day of October when his greatest festiuitie was celebrated in the English Church It resteth only now that wee pray vnto his glorious Sainct who is soe potent and powerfull a fauorite with allmightie God to obtaine his diuine grace for vs in this world and to be partakers of the glorie of his blessed Saincts in the next through our lord IESVS-CHRIST who be for eâ—er blessed praysed glorified AmeÌ„ His life was writteÌ„ by one Senatus Brauonius a moÌ„k of Worcester about the yeare of our Lord 1170. which is recited by Laurence Surius in his tenth tome and praysed by Baronius for a historie saythfully written We haue only added thereuÌ„to some few things out Malmesbury Baronius Harpsfield The verie same history with this of Surius is recited by Iohn Capgraue out of Ioannes Anglicus only different in the stile which Surius corrected The mouthes of all historiographers English and others are full of the prayses of S. OSWALD The life of S. AIDO or Aidus Abbot and Confessor FEB 28. Out of an auncient authour recited by Iohn Cap graue AIDO borne in the prouince of Conaght in Jreland and giuen to his barren parents by the speciall fauour of allmightie God when he came to such age that he was able to make choise of a course of life he departed to the Prouince of Leinster where he led a solitarie life in all manner of vertue and holines Afterwards he came into Wales where liuing vnder the discipline of great S. Dauid he dayly shewed manie strange examples of miraculous workes and vertues in soe much that during the time of his abode there the Saxons then mortall enemies to the Britans durst neuer presume to inuade their dominions fearing the power vertue of this Sainct Returned as he was againe into Ireland he built a monasterie He buildeth a monasterie in Ireland wherein he became the spirituall father and teacher of verie manie monks whom he instructed in all good learning and the monasticall discipline of those times Manie strange and allmost incredible miracles are reported of this holy man which I willingly omitt It sufficeth for proofe of his Sainctitie that he liued in the continuall exercise of vertues and died loden with the meritts of manie good works as he did this twentie eigth day of February At S. DAVIDS in Meneuia he was called Moâ—dock that is Jrish and there his feast was celebrated with verie great reuerence and deuotion Thus much of his life I haue gathered out of Ioannes Anglicus recited by Iohn Capgraue with whom only let the truth of his relation stand for I find noe other Authour that maketh mention of this Sainct The end of February S. SWIBERTVS EPISC. WLRDENSIS APOSTOLVS Frisia Monachus Anglus Ord. S. Benedicti M. baâ—… f. The life of S
was wont presently to sett his helping hands therevnto eyther in guiding or houlding of the plough or anie other such labour For he was a yong man of great strength of a sweet discourse a merrie hart bountifull in good workes and of an honest and decent aspect He allwaies cate of the same meate and in the same place that his other brethren did and slept in the same common dorter that he did before he was made Abbot Yea when he fell fick and foresaw by certaine signes that death was at hand yet he remayned two daies after in the dorter of the other Brethren And other fiue daies before his He taketh leaue of his monkes departure he was placed in a more secret house a part till goeing forth one day into the open ayre he assembled all his monkes togeather and tooke a solemne leaue of them imparting to euery one a charitable salutation of peace they in the meane time pittifully weeping and wayling to depart from soe holy a father and soe pious a pastour He died the seauenth day of March in the night when the monkes were singing mattings in the Church He was twentie fower yeares of age when he came to the monasterie he liued twelue yeares therein seauen whereof he exercised the function of Priestood and fower His death he gouerned the Monasterie with the dignitie of Abbot till at leÌ„gth leauing his mortall limmes he tooke a happie flight to the Kingdom of heauen saint BENNET Bishop being then absent in his fift iourney to Rome The life of this Sainct is thus written by saint BEDE as we haue found it in an auncient manuscript togeather with the lines of other Abbots of the same mònastery where saint BEDE him self liued a Monke Besides him FLORENTIVS WIGORNIENSIS an 682. MATHEW WESTMINSTER an 703. NICHOLAS HARPSFIELD saec 7. cap. 37. IOHN CAPGRAVE and others doe northily speake his prayses The life of sainct FELIX Bishop and Confessor MAR. 8. Out of diuers Authours FELIX was the first Bishop of the East-Angles But a man of how great pietie he was it appeareth chiefly in this He leaueth his countrey to preach in England one famous example that being natiue of Burgundis and vnderstanding how few labourers there were in soe fruictfull an haruest of CHRIST as England of his owne accord he left his Bishoprick friends Kinred and riches and all other maintenances and promotions of his state to come into our contrey and employ his best endeauours in soe pious a work Whose holy purpose being vnderstood admired by Honorius Archbishop of Canturbury he allotted him the Prouince of the East-Engles which hauing He conuerteth the East-Angles forsaken the Christian fayth before receaued was fallen againe into the blindnes of Idolatrie But FELIX being in effect correspondent to his name which signifieth Happie with soe great happines discharged the prouince he vndertooke that in a short time he wholly happily reduced it from the Idolatrous bondage of the deuill to the sweet freedoÌ„ of CHRISTS sacred Ghospell He held his Episcopall sea in a towne then called Dimmock but afterwards from his name it was named FELIXTOWE or FELSTOWE In which place and dignitie happie FELIX hauing discharged the part of a good pastour for the space of seauenteene yeares continually labouring with inuincible patience for the aduancement of CHRISTS holy Ghospel loden with vertue His death and good workes made a most happie iourney to the eternall happines the eigth day of March was buried in the same towne but his reliques were after wards traÌ„slated to a place called Schaâ— where appeares yet sayth Malmesbury some signes of a Church destroyed and burnt by the Danes But the Sacred body of this sainct being sought for and found a long time after was againe translated to the famous Abbey of Benedictin Monkes at Ramsey This life we haue gathered out of S. Bede de gest lib. 2. c. 15. Nicholas Harpsfield saec 7. cap. 16. and William Malmesbury de Pontif. The life of Sainct BOSA or Boso Bishop and Confessor Monke of the holy Order of S. Benedict MAR 11. Out of ve nerable Bede de gest Ang. BOSA from a monke of the Benedictin monasterie of Streanshall in Northumberland was at the instaÌ„ce of Egfrid king of that Prouince elected Bishop of Yorke in the place of the most reuerend Bishop He is made Bishop of Yorke S. WILFRID then vniustly banished out of that sea and countrey by the meanes of the forefayd king and the authoritie of Theodore Archbishop of Canturbury in the yeare 678. This sea he gouerned in great holines of good life and learning till by the death of king Egfrid his brother Alfrîd obtayned the kingdome who recalled S. WILFRID out of banishment and restored him to his Bishoprick againe But after the space of fiue yeares Alfred expelled saint WILFRID againe and BOSA was once more restored to the sea of Yorke in the gouernment whereof and the continuall exercise of all true vertues belonging to a holy Bishop he rendred vp his blessed soule to the neuer dying ioyes of heauen about the yeare of our Lord. 700. but what day he died it is vncertaine this eleuenth of March is made a commemoration of him whom S. BEDE calleth a man well beloued of God of great holines and humilitie Besides whom WILLIAM MALMESBVRY TRITEMIVS in his fourth booke of the famous men of S. Benedicts order cap. 64. MATHEW WESTMINSTER an 678. ARNOLD WION lib. 2. cap. 23. and others doe make worthie mention of him aâ— allsoe Pope IONH the seauenth in his letters written in behalf of S. WILFRID The life of the most Glorious Pope Doctour of the Catholike Church S. GREGORY surnamed the Great Apostle of England and glorie of S. BENEDICTS Order MAR 12. written by Paulus Diaconus SOE great and soe manie are the incomparable deeds and vertues wherewith this thrice happie Sainct hath adorned the The translatours Proloâ—ne Church of God and soe manie holy and learned men haue endeauoured by their writings to make him famous to posteritie that we find our witts farre to weake to comprehend the one this poore penne farre to barren to sett downe among soe manie worthies anie thing worthie soe worthie a subiect Yet on the other side because the benefitts which not only the Benedictin Order in England but allsoe all England it self hath from him receaued are soe infinite we cannot choose but straine according to our power to make some small shew of acknowledgment thereof imitating those herein who in a little mappe or carde to the great pleasure and profitt of the beholders doe describe the mightie compasse of the whole world And here now o Romeâ— doe thou first acknowledge thine happines and diligently endeauour to imitate soe great a worthy Manie euerlasting monuments there are which haue eternised thy name to posteritie thy Kings thy Dictatours thy Consuls thy Emperours thy Trophies yea and the Empire of the world seated in
prayers with weeping till falling as it weere into a sweet sleepe he was rapt in an extasie in which he vnderstood by reuelation that his prayer was heard but that he should noe more presume to make the like petition for anie that died without Baptisme he deserued to be punished Vppon which matteÌ„r curious witts that haue perfect fayth may moue some questions and more such as beleeue the truth faythfully related those things which among men are or seeme to be impossible are easie with allmightie God and profitable to be declared Yet in this act the safest way for all is to reuerence the secret iudgment of the diuine power and pietie and noe man to discusse and examine the same XVIII To conclude after his death it hath been faythfully related vnto vs by Peter Deacon a vertuous and religious man and Peter Deacon seeth the holy Ghost in forme of a Doue ouâ—r S. Gregorie for the deserued worth of his religion and seruice very familiar with this our most holy father that when the neuer enough named vessell of election and house of the holy ghost GREGORY did interprete the last vision of the Prophet Ezechiel the curtaine being spread betweene him and the same Peter who writt as he did dictate the holy Doctour being silent at times his seruant bored a little hole in the curtaine and spying through it by chance he saw a doue whiter then anie snow sitting on his head that held her beake along time close to his mouth and when she withdrew it thence the holy Pope began to speake and his scribe to write what he sayd But when that Sacred organ of the holy ghost was silent againe his seruant Peter layd his eye to the hole and he beheld him his hands and eyes lifted vp to heauen as at his prayers receauing the beake of the white doue into his mouth as before Which the holy man at length vnderstanding by the reuelation of the same B. spiritt he became wonderfully sad seuerely threatning and forbidding him by Apostolicque authoritie euer to reueale to anie man what he had seene during his life Which commaund he faythfully obserued till after the death of the Blessed Pope being compelled thereunto by the enuie of some wicked persons who did condemne the holy man of pride and presumption for speaking such and soe great matters touching the misteries of heauenly secrets he faythfully reuealed that he had seene all these things which are here related After the holy Popes A famine in Rome death when a migthie famine raged too too much not only in the cittie of Rome it self but in all the adiacent countreies there abouts and the Pope his successour opened the barnes of the Church to those that would buy corne and shutt them to those whom B. GREGORY had ordered to be maintayned with Church-stipends in the monasteries Deanries and hospitals in and about the Cittie they began compelled with extremitie want to crie out vnto the Pope My Lord let not your holines suffer those to perish with hunger whom our holy father your predecessour S. GREGORIE endeauoured hitherunto to nourish He grieuing at their lamentations answeared that albeit GREGORY to the renowne of his prayse was carefull to maintaine all the poeple yet we are not able soe to doe and soe he lett them depart voyd of comfort Which answeare hauing bene often times repeated to those that cried vnto him B GREGORY appeared thrise in a vision vnto him and S. Gregory appeareth to the Pope rebuked him with a mild chiding for detracting of him and his owne niggardlines warning him withall of the extreme want of those poore poeple But he was nether mooued therewith to fullfill his commaunds nor refrained his tongue from those ill reports nor yet opened his hands to the exercise of bountie towards the needie Whereuppon S. GREGORY appearing the fourth time vnto him gaue him a horrible check and threatningly struck him a blow on the head with the grief whereof he died not long after XIX THVS much briefly of the life and deeds of S. GREGORY But as long as the sphere of this world shall hould its course his memorable name shall allwaies receaue increase For doubtlesse it is ascribed to his glorie that the English Church becomes allwaies fruictfuller with a new ofspring of sainctitie and allsoe that by his diuine learning manie throughout the world forsaking their offences are conuerted to the mercie of CHRIST and others incensed with his pious admonitions more earnestly labour to attaine to the Kingdom of heauen Which most Blessed Pope when he had gloriously gouerned the sea of the Apostolicque Roman Church thirteene yeares six moueths and ten dayes being taken out of this mortall light he was translated to the indeficient glorie of the Kingdome of heaueÌ„ His body was buried in the Church of S. PETER the Apostle before the Sacristie the thirteenth day of March to rise hereafter in glorie with the others Pastours of the holy Church On his tombe was written an Epitaph which bicause it comes short of the worth of soe great a Sainct we omitt AND This is the life of S. GREGORY as it was briefly written The Authours of his life by Paul Warenfrid commonly called Paul Deacon much more might be sayd of this glorious Pope and much more is sayd of him by manie graue authours of his life Onuphrius Panuinus in his Epitome of the Roman Bishops S. ILDEPHONSE a Benedictin monk Arch-Bishop of Toledo in his booke of the writings of famous men Photius Patriark of Constantinople and more amply then all John Deacon a Benedictin Monk hath written fower bookes of his life in a word the world is full of graue authours and learned men which endeauour to speake his prayses but in the end all confesse their pennes farre too weake and vnable worthyly to write what he soe excellently was able to doe He is stiled by them to be A man of wonderfull A worthie commendation of S. Gregory learning Prince of the Diuines light of the Philosophers splendour of the Orators Mirrour of Sainctity and Organ of the holy Ghost But out of a large Catalogue of other famous writers the trumpets of his glorie I will only recite some few words which Sainct ILDEPHONSE before named sayth of him Sainct GREGORY full of a seeling of the feare of God and exceeding in humility was through the grace of the holy Ghost endowed with soe great a light of science that not onely these present times but nether could the time past euer shew his equall For soe highly he excelled in the perfection of all deserts that setting aside all comparisons of famous men antiquitie can shew vs nothing to paralell him For he ouercame ANTHONIE in sainctity CIPRIAN in eloquence and AVSTIN in science c. And saint ISIDORE writeth that not anie doctour of his time nor of the auncients nether was comparable to him And as it is in the 8. Councell of Toledo that saint GREGORIE
scripture to their remembrance The Apostles went reioycing from the face of the Councell because they were esteemed worthie Act. 5. to suffer contumelic for the name of CHRIST-IESVS And I confirme you in the same that these crosses and afflictions will one day The Church of Chicestet restored be changed into mirth and ioy But within a while he made the Pope acquainted with the kings stubborne answer and proceeding who wonderfully much pittying the holie mans case sent a thundring commaund vnto two bishops of England to admonish the King to make restitution to the Church of Chicester within such a time or that they should publish and denounce the heauie sentences contayned in his letters ouer the whole Kingdom By which meanes after two yeares affliction patiently endured the Church with her demaines and torne buildings readie to tumble into ruine were with difficultie restored againe to their true owner VI. AND the holy man being now seated in his Episcopall chayre A summarie of his vertues became in prayer more feruent then euer more bountifull and liberall in giuing of almes and more seuere in chastising his owne bodie Hence forth he was more attentiue and carefull towards the poore more negligent in decking and trimming his owne bodie and more modest in his speech and behauiour At his table he all waies vsed a spirituall lecture wherewith he fed his soule as well as his bodie with foode and sometimes the reader intermitting a while from his lesson they discoursed ether of those things that were read or some other pious and wholsom matter His custome was as he trauelled ouer his diocesse to make diligent inquirie after all poore and sick persons to whom he did not only giue large almes but allsoe out a of gratious and innate curtesie he would visitt them him self in person and verie carefully comfort and encourage them with the heauenly food of his pious admonitions And when his owne brother vnto whom he had coÌ„mitted the managing of his temporall affaires complained that all his yearly rents and reuenewes were not sufficient to giue almes soe largely and to such a multitude of poore Deare brother replied the holy Bishop doest thou think it fitt and reasonable that we eate and drink out of goulden and filuer vessels and that CHRIST be tormented with huÌ„ger in his poore As my father did before me soe can I eate out of an ordinarie platter and drinke in a plaine goddart Therefore let the gould and siluar plate be sould yea and the horse I ride one of soe great value let him goe too and let CHRISTS poore be succoured with the money Nether was he wont to maintaine the poore His wonderfull liberalitie to the poore only with meate and drinke but alsoe to giue cloathing to the naked and burie the deade with his owne hands Sometimes he would giue an almes before it was asked and being demaunded why he did soe It is written answeared he O Lord thou hast preuented him in the blessings of this sweetnes and indeed that which is obtayned by asking Psal 20. is bought but at a deare rate He appointed an hospitall for poore aged priests that were blind or otherwise impotent and feeble of bodie and that they should not purchase infamy to their holy function by publick begging abroad he prouided them with sufficient victuals and cloathing within the same house VII THIS his sainctitie did not want the testimonie of manie worthie The wonderfull mul tiplication of aloafe miracles among which one and not the lest was that one loafe was soe increased by his benediction that beyond the hope and expectation of those that were present three thousand poore people receaued their accustomed quantitie and portions and soe manie peeces remayned as according to the proportion of that distribution were sufficient to satisfie one hundred more Nether was it once or twise only that by vertue of his holie benediction such an abundant and miraculous encrease of things was caused but manie and sundrie times the like happened through his diuine power and bountie that openeth his hands and filleth euerie creature with his blessing Next to his skinne for the greater chastising of his Psal 144. bodie he vsed sometimes a hayre shirt sometimes a coate of maile His apparel and shoes not soe neate that they inferred an affectation nor yet more abiect then was fitting but in a meane well becomming his degree wherein he auoyded all The mâ—aÌ„nes of his appared signes of anie curious nouelties Nether would he endure to haue his horse trappings and furniture glittering with gould and siluer nether would he carrie about with him a superfluous chainge of apparell not only for the shunning of pompe but fearing lest the poore should crie out after him with that sentence of S. BERNARD What doeth gould in the bishops bridle whilst we poore wretches suffer cold and hunger VIII HAVING on a time excommunicated one Iohn Allen for an iniurie executed against the Church of Chicester and the same man coming often times to his court he would entertayne him very familiarly and make him stay dinner saying that as His charitie towards his aduersarie long as he was with in his hall he would not haue him tied with the censure of excommunication but when he was gone vnlesse he would satifie and make amends to the Church he absolutely held him for an excommunicate person He was wont allsoe to say that yf there were strife and contention of law betwixt parties each one striuing to recouer and defend his owne right the signes of charitie vsed among Christians ought not therefore to bee omitted or denied For be it sayd he that I must recouer my owne by law I ought not therefore to withdraw from my aduersarie that which it Gods right and my dutie Loue and Charitie And after this manner indeed he carried him self towards the Abbott of Fecam and Richard Earle of Cornwall and the Countesse of Kent with whom he had sutes and controuersies touching his Church allwaies repaying the contumelies and reproches of these great persons with honour and their enmities with good will His seueritie against the deâ—iourer of a sacred Virgin IX ONE of the Clergie that had enticed a Nunne out of her monasterie and deflowred her was by the authoritie of this holy Bishop most ignominiously depriued of his ecclesiasticall benefice and dignitie which he enioyed within the Diocesse And herein he was soe rigorous that when the King him self the Archbishop of Canturbury and manie other Bishops Peeres and Nobles of the realme made great sute and entreatie for his pardon the man of God shewed him self wholly inexorable in the execution of diuine iustice and striking his breast he sayd No no while the breath remaines in this bodie of mine such a ribald villaine that durst presume to violate a Virgin consecrated to God retayning her with him yet as a whore shall neuer by my consent haue the gouernment of soules
S. DVNSTAN Archbishop of Canturbury perceauing had recourse to the refuge of prayer making an humble suplication to the all-foreseeing wisedome of God to voutchafe to shew whom his diuine maiestie iudged worthy for the gouernment of that Church And as he deuoutly and often repeated ouer his prayers S. ANDREW the Apostle appeared to him with these words Why art thou soe sad why doest make such lamentable complaints Arise and place the Abbot ELPHEGVS in the vacant Episcopall sea of that desolate Church Nether let anie contrarie power withstand thee in this for not from anie man but from God him self this sentence of him hath proceeded And left thou distrust anie thing in mee know that I am He is made Bishop the yeare 984. ANDREW the Apostle of IESVS-CHRIST and a most faythfull guardian of thy health and saluation DVNSTAN much encouraged herewith consecrated Blessed ELPHEGVS bishop as he was commaunded and sent him honourably to the sea of Winchester IV. BEING installed in that sacred dignitie he soe wisely framed and The seueritie of his life conformed him self to the manners and humours of all men that he became most beloued of all and which is rare among mortals noe man enuied at his glorie He was most mercifull vnto all others but to him self he appeared most cruell and seuere For in the verie dead time of winter amidest the frost and snow at midnight when all his poeple lay buried vnder the heauines of sleepe he was wont secretly to rise out of his bed and goe out barefooted with one single garment See the holy mans wonderfull â—eannes a bout him to busie him self at his prayers and meditation till morning In his diet he was soe extreÌ„ly sparing that he would rise froÌ„ table all most as emptie as he sate downe wheÌ„ce it came to passe that his bodie was taken downe to such a low degree of leannes that wheÌ„ at Masse he eleuated the holy sacrament the cleernes of the light might be seene through the ioynts in the palmes of his hands He knew how to temper fashion his mind and speech to all kind of men He permitted none of his diocessans to beg publickly froÌ„ doore to doore nether did he suffer the poore of other places to depart without an almes iudging it an vnreafonable horrible offence for a man to vsurpe that as a propertie of his owne which nature ordayned to be common to all Wherefore he carefully maintayned that he was noe true member of our Lords bodie that did not succour the necessities of the poore For yf when one member of the bodie is in paine the rest out of a coÌ„passioÌ„ doe not suffer with it it is manifest that that is not a member of the same bodie which in the suffrance of an other is not disposed to compassion But when those meanes were exhausted which by right of the Church belonged to the maintenance of the poore he caused the manie treasures which he had layd vp for that purpose to be distributed amongst them giuing posteritie a lesson hereby that Churches were endowed with store of riches to serue in time of plentie for an ornament and in time of want for profitt V. BVT when that worthie Pillar of our English Church S. DVNSTAN perceaued death to be at hand and feared by the succession of some wicked person the coming of trouble into the Church which now was well setled in peace and tranquillitie he sollicited with manie prayers the diuine mercle that he might haue Eâ—PHEGVS his successour in the sea of Canturbury His petition was heard in the holy court of heauen and a graunt promised allbeit the promise were not straight fullfilled Which perchance was deferred that more cleerly it might appeare vnto the world how highly S. DVNSTAN was beloued of God who soe truelie performed a long time after his death that which he promised in his life time and that S. ELPHEGVS might fall into such times as should aduance him to the glorious crowne of martyrdome Therefore in the yeare of our lord 1006 and from the coming of the English into Britalne 578. S. ELPHEGVS in the two fiftith yeare of his age when he had gouerned the sea of Winchester twentie two He is made Archbishop of Cant urburie yeares was raysed to the Archiepiscopal dignitie of CaÌ„turbury Who trauayling towards Rome to obtaine his Palle as he entred to lodge in a certaine towne by the way the townsmen perceauing him to be a straÌ„ger being verie greedie of their owne gaine brake into his lodging robbed him of what he had with stripes coÌ„pelled him poore bare as he was to gett out of their towne Which Iniuries man bearing away with patience only a little grieued for his companies sake returned the same way as he came When he had not gone farr from thence but horrible cries were heard from the walls which proclaimed the sudden ruine of the whole towne For an outrageous flame layd hould of the buildings which furiously began to consume all to ashes and seeing it still soe vehemently â—ncreasing that there was scarse anie hope of escaping a generall destruction suspecting that it might be a punishment for that rude violation of hospitalitie they ranne after the holy man humbly coÌ„fessing their fault and desiring pardon The sainct present taking compassion on their miserie made his prayers to allmightie God He receaneth his pall of Pope Iohn the 19 and these horrible flames were presently extinguished and their furie ceased Therefore his goods being restored be happily ended the rest of his iourney and returned againe into England with his Palle And being setled in the Metropolitan sea of Canturburie he excellently performed whatsoeuer belonged to the dignitie and function of a good bishop The vertue of chastitie commaunded soe high a seate in his soule that noe man in his hearing durst bring forth a word anie way drawing to obscenitie nor as much as relate anie dishonest storie He was the comfort of the poore the relieuer of the oppressed and the sole refuge of the afflicted VI. BVT ô the variable condition and inconstant state of this world The holy man had gouerned his Church but fower yeares The Danes spoyle England These miseries were reâ—ealed to S. Dâ—nstan long before when behould two Danish Princes called Swane and Turkill entred into England vsing great outrage in some parts thereof as a punishment for the poeples sinnes But Swane being by the secret disposition of god terribly slaine Turkill hauing obtained the principalitie of a wicked inheritance wasted and spoiled manie Prouinces in England with fier and sword For king Etheldred being a weake impotent man not giuen to warlick affayres made shew in his actions rather of a monk then a souldier and the people of the Countrey corrupted with the possession of their riches and tied to their owne pleasures thought nothing honourable but the sole priuate commoditie of their owne bodies Therefore euerie one
familie and he is one of the fower renowned Doctours of the same order that haue written in prayse and defence of the B. Virgin and consequently are The Benedictine Doctours of our B. Ladie stiled and called by the name of the fower Doctours of our Lady the other three are S. HILDEPHONSE Archbishop of Siuill in Spaine B. RVPERT Abbott of Twy in Germanie and S. BERNARD Abbott of Clareuall in France And our S. ANSELME second to none of the rest was the first that caused the feast of our Ladies immaculate Conception to be celebrated in the Church the seauenth of December when he had learned by the reuelation of an other Benedictin monk from the same Virgin that such was her will and pleasure God of his infinite mercie make vs partakers of his glorious meritts Amen His life wee haue gathered out of Eadmer a monk of Canturbury and the companion of all his troubles and Edmond monk of the same place who added a treatise of the discord between S. ANSELME and the two vnruly Kings William Malmesbury de Pont. lib. 1. the Roman martirologe Baronius tom 11. an 1109. and innumerable others doe highly speake his prayses The life of saint MELLITVS Bishop and confessor of the holy order of saint BENEDICT APR. 24. Out of venerable Bede AMONGST the holy Benedictine Monks which S. GREGORY Pope of Rome sent into England to supplie the want of Preathers in soe great an haruest and to helpe S. AVGVSTINE and his fellowe Benedictins in the conuersioÌ„ of that Kingdom MELLITVS an abbott of the same order was the first and chiefest Whom about three yeares after his arriuall S. AVGVSTIN Archbishop of Canturbury made Bishop of London the principall head cittie of the East-Angles where Sebert nephew to Ethelbert King of Kent kept his royall Mellitus first bishop of London Court allbeit he were vnder the power of Ethelbert whose authoritie ouer the English stretched to the riuer Humber But when this prouince by the industrious preaching and labour of saint MELLITVS had receaued the Christian fayth King Ethelbert built that famous Church of saint PAVL the Apostle within the walls of London for the Episcopall seate of Mellitvs and his successours But how greatly this holy man was beloued of God and the whole court of heauen manifestly appeareth in the consecration of the Church of Westminster which office of his S. PETER the Apostle performed for Bishop MELLITVS with his owne hands as may be seene more at large in the life of S. EDWARD the fist of Ianuary S. AVGVSTIN being dead Mellitvs bishop of London went to Rome to coÌ„sult Pope Boniâ—ace the fourth touching manie necessarie affayres of the English Church And namely for the good establishment of the new-built Baron an 610. monasterie of Westminster as allso to know whether the consecration of a Church performed in the aforesayd manner were valid The Pope in a Synod held at Rome in which S. MELLITVS had a place ordayned manie lawes for the peace of the Benedictine moÌ„ks and conseruation of monasticall discipline and decreed against the enuious that monks were the fittest instruments in Gods Church for Apostolicall functions which decrees Mellitvs brought with him into England for the confirmation and establishment of the Benedictine order and Mission in that countrey II. BVT the death of the two good Kings Ethelbert and Sebâ—â—â— was cause of great domage to the tenden beginnings of that new See in S. Laurence 2. of Febr. Church for the three sonnes of King Sebert who during the time of their father dissembled a litle in religion for feare of him fell after his death to flatt Idolatrie and gaue licence to all their subiects to doe the like And when they saw the holy bishop MELLITVS hauing celebrated the sacred solemnities of Masse giue the Eucharist to the poeple Why sayd they swelling with Looke prorestant our first Apoles sayd masse a barbarous foolishnes doest thou not giue vs the white bread which thou didest giue to our father Saba soe they were wont to call him and doest yet giue to manie of the poeple Yf you will be washed answeared MELLITVS in the same sacred font as your father was you may be partakers of the holy bread as well as the but yf you contemne the Bath of life you can by noe meanes receaue the Bread of life But they refused to enter into the font of baptisme as a thing vnnecessarie but desired earnestly to eate of the sacred bread Till at length when the holy mans perswasions could not draw them from this sâ—nd request they banished him out of their Prouince because he S. Mellitus Banished from his Bishoprick would not giue them blessed Sacrament of aultar before haptisme Veryly I am of opinion to my great grief that at this present our Protestant-Bishops haue soe litle respect to that which they call the Lords Supper that rather then be forced with their wiues to leaue their bishopricks they would giue their sacrament of bread to a soe farr alas they are fallen from the religion of our first Apostles III. SAINT MELLITVS went to Canturbury to consult S. LAVRENCE and IVSTVS the other bishops what was to bee done in these troubles And finding no other meanes nor hopes of redresse MELLITVS and IVSTVS went ouer into France to expect the calme of this tempestuous See in S. Lau. 2. Febr. motion Till Edbald King of Kent renouncing his Idolatrie and baptised by saint LAVRENCE Archbishop of Carturbury recalled the two bishops out of France and restored IVSTVS to his seat of Rochester but the Londoners refused to receaue their bishop Mellitus ouer whom Edbald had not such absolute and coercitiue power that he could force them to it as his father could In the meane time Saint LAVRENCE departing this life MELLITVS succeeded in the sea of Canturbury whence he cast forth the bright beames of his vertue fayth and learning ouer all England with which noble ornaments he greatly ennobled the countrey and He is made Archbishop of Canturbury excelled the nobilitie of his birth and parcentage which was verie honorable In bodie he was wonderfull weake and sickly specially being greeuously afflicted with the gout but most sound in mind cherefully despising all terrene things and still aspiring to the loue and possession of the Kingdom of heauen And here I will relate one example of his excellent vertue and confidence in allmightie God which may serue as a witnesse of his other noble vertues IV. A MIGHTIE fier happened to make hauock in the cittie of Canturbury which soe furiously deuoured whole streets as it went that noe force of water could quench the rage of that vnresistable element And now with great violence it drew neere to the place where the holy Bishop was who would not giue way to those deuouring flames but trusting in the diuine goodnes He quencheth a great fier by his prayers where humane help was wanting caused him self to be
the Danish furie broke allsoe into the Abbey of Malmesbury Where as one of that outrageous crew endeauoured to violate his sacred bodie he suddenly lost his witts which soe terrified the rest of his fellow-robbers that they had the witt to runne speedily away Soe that when all the Churches and religious houses round about were made a prey to their furie the Church of Malmesbury by the helpe and patronage of S. ALDELME remayned inuiolate VIII Now yf anie one desire more largely to know other strange Manie mi racles wrought at his tombe miracles which haue been wrought by the merits of this glorious Sainct I refer him to the authour of his life William Malmesbury where he shall find the blind recouer their sight the lame their limmes the dumbe their speech mad men restored to their senses possessed persons deliuered and others oppressed with manie other mortall diseases beyond the skill of phisick receaue their health by the diuine power of allmightie God and the intercession of glorious S. ALDELME Of which kind some were done in the time and memorie of our Authour Therefore Blessed Lanfranck Archbishop of Canturbury moued with the greatnes of these and such like miracles solemnly decreed that the memorie of S. Aldelmâ— should be honoured amongst the other Saincts of the Church throughout the realme of England But in the yeare of our redemption 1078. the thirteenth after the coming in of the Normans all things being His bodie translated to its auncient 〈◊〉 now safe from the incursious of the Danes and other feares of spoling by the hands of the Abbot Warine and Blessed OSMVND bishop of Sherburne the sacred bones and reliques of S. Aldelâ—e were restored into their auncient shrine that was soe rich From which time the number of manie wonderfull miracles encreased dayly more and more His life was largely written as we haue sayd by William malmesbury a verie graue authour out of whom Nicholas Harpsfield sec 8. cap. 11. relateth this Historie The same hath allsoe been written by S. Eguine bishop of Worcester and S. Osmund of Sarisbury of both which the iniurie of the times haue robbed vs. Trithemius of the famous men of S. Benedicts Order lib. 2. cap. 23. lib. 3. cap. 141. lib. 4. 175. Cardiuall Baronius tomâ— 8. an 699. 705. and 709. and tom 9. an 734. Mathew Vestminster an 704. and. 709. Camden in discript Com. Wilton and all Historiographers both English and else doe make honourable mention of him S. AVGVSTINVS PRIMVS ARCHIEPISCOP CANTVAR Aplus Apostolus Angliâ—â— Monachus Benedictinus M. Baâ—â— f. The life of Sainct AVGVSTINE Apostle of England Bishop and Confessor of the holy order of S. BENEDICT MAY 26. Written by Gotsellinus a Monke and S. Bede THE fruitfull countrey of England in times past called Britaine being oppressed and wholly subdued by the warlick power of the Saxons and other poeple of Germanie was compelled not only to receaue and beare their gouernance dominion and name but allso which is much worse to embrace their impious Idolatrie and the seruice of their false Gods Soe that the Christian Catholick religion which from King Lucius had florished in that happie Iland for the space of three hundred yeares was miserably banished and destroyed Till a hundred and fortie yeares after the eternall mercie of allmightie God cast a fouourable eye vppon our wretched countrey and putt such holy thoughts into the mind of saint GREGORIE the Great Pope of Rome that allthough our countrey S. Gregorie the great sendeth Augustine in to EnglaÌ„d were farre distant yet he embraced it with a pious affection seriously cast about how or by what meanes he might reduce it againe to the sweet subiectioÌ„ of CHRISTS holy Ghospell Which diuine worke when he himself as is sayd in his life could not bring to passe he committed the charge thereof to this our glorious Apostle saint AVGVSTINE who at that time was Prior of the Monasterie of saint BENEDICTS Order which saint GREGORIE bad built in Rome on the side of the hill Scaurus and dedicated to saint ANDREW the Apostle Out of this Monasterie therefore our saint AVGVSTINE when he had led a holy monasticall life vnder the rule of the great Patriarke of Monks saint BENEDICT for the space of manie yeares was called by great saint GREGORIE from the sweetnes of contemplation to labour for the aduancement of Gods Church in an actiue manner of life and sent togeather with other holy monkes of the same Order to preach the Ghospell of CHRIST to the English nation Who obeying the holy will of the Pope vndertooke that great worke and beganne their iourney towards Augustine beginneth his iourney England and now they had passed ouer the frozen hills of Jtalie and were entred into the confines of France when vnderstanding the English nation to be of a barbarous cruell and warlick disposition and peruerse in the profession of Idolatrie being terribly affrighted from their attempt after a consultation had among them selues they resolued rather to turne homewards againe then to loose their labours amongst those fierce and barbarous poeple whose language they knew not II. THEREFORE setting aside all delay the whole companie sent He returneth to Rome back AVGVSTINE to Rome humbly to obtaine of the Pope in name of them all to haue an exemption from that iourney soe dangerous laborious and soe vncertaine of reaping anie profitt To whom the holy Pope burning with zeale to gaine soules to the Church sent letters of exhortation to encourage them in their holy enterprise whereof this is the tenour GREGORIE seruant of the seruants S. Gregories Epistle to comfort them in they iourney of God to the sernants of our Lord IESVS-CHRIST Because it had been better neuer to haue begunne good workes then euen in thought to fall from them being once begunne yee ought with all diligence â—moct beloued children to accomplish the good worke which by the helpe of our Lord yee haue vndertaken Nether let the labour of the iourney nor the tongues of slanderous men deterre yee but God being your ruler performe with all instancie and feruour what ye haue begunne knowing that a greater glorie of eternall recoÌ„pence followeth the greatnes of your labour But in all things be humbly obedient to AVGVSTINE your Prior to you returning whom we allsoe constitute your Abbot knowing that through all things it will be profitable for your soules whatsoeuer yee shall doe by his admomtion Allmightie God protect yee with his grace and graunt me to see the fruits of your labour in the euerlasting kingdom to the end that allthough I cannot labour with yee I may haue a place with yee in the ioies of your recompence because indeed I desire to labour God keepe yee in health my most beloued children Giuen the third of the calends of August in the raygne of our most pious Emperour Mauritius Tiberius c. At the same time this most Blessed Pope sent letters allsoe to
of God and of the blessed Pope GREGORY of our Apostle AVGVST as allsoe by our curse let that person be segregated froÌ„ all the coÌ„munion of the holy Church and froÌ„ all the societie of the Elect in the day of iudgement This land is encompassed with these bounds c. In the yeare from the Incarnation of Christ 605. Indiction the 8. Note the auncient manner of subscribing ✚ I ETHELBERT King of the English haue confirmed this donation with the signe of the holy Crosse with mine owne hand ✚ I AVGVSTYNE by the grace of God Archbishop haue willingly subscribed ✚ I EDBALD the Kings sonne haue fauoured it ✚ I HAMEGâ—SILVS Duke haue praysed it I HOCCA Count haue consented ✚ I AVGâ—â—Vâ—â—DVS the secretarie haue approued it ✚ I GRAPHIA Count haue strengthened it ✚ I PINCA haue consented ✚ I GEDDE haue strengthened it XVI THE second donation of King ETHELBERT to this monastery which may be seene in the auncient records of the same we here omitt fearing toÌ„ be teadious to the reader Only one thing I will bring out of it which is that after manie priuileges and exemptions giuen thereunto the King following the tenour of the holy The Mâ—nkes of Canturbury Benedictines rule of sainct BENEDICT sayth these words Let the Abbot him self that shall be ordayned with the counsell of his brethren freely go 〈…〉 and order it to witt the monasterie within and without according to the feare of God that in the day of our Lord he may deserue to heare that 〈◊〉 voyce of our most pious Saniour saying Euge serue bone fidelis quia in panca fuisti fidelis supra multa re constituam intra in gaudium dominitui Allso our holy Apostle saint AVGVSTINE in his owne name and by the authoritie of Pope GREGORY graunted a verie large and ample priuiledge and exemption to the sayd Monasterie wherein he freeth it from all Episcopall subiection but that according to the Rule of our holy father sainct BENEDICT the Abbot chosen by his brethren in the same Monastery should be consecrated by the Bishop not to his seruice but to the ministrie of our Lord c. But the Benedictine The Benedictine Monkes seated in christ-Christ-Church at Canturbury Monkes from the beginning of Christian religion in England had not only the possession of this Monastery of laint PETER and Paul in Canturbury but were allsoe seated in the Metropolitan sea of christs-Christs-Church in the same cittie as appeareâ— by holy Pope GREGORIES answere to the first question of saint AVGVSTINE For when saint AVGVSTINE among other things had demaunded how the Bishops should liue and conuerse with their Clergie and how manie parts or portions ought to be made of those things which were giuen to the aultar from the offerings of the faythfull c. S. GREGORY answered that the manner of the Apostolicque Sea was to giue commaund to the Bishops that of euerie stipend that fell to the Church ought to be made fower portions or distributions one to the Bishop and his houshould for hospitalitie an other to the Clergie the third to the poore and the fourth to the repayring By the commauÌ„d of S. Gregory of the Churches Bâ—â— addes the holy Pope thy Brotherhood brought vp in the Rule of a Monasterie because it ought not to liâ—e separated from thy Clergie in the Church of the English which by the power of God is yet but lately brought to the Fayth must institute the same conuersation which was with our fathers in the beginning of the primitiâ—e Church in which none of them called aâ—â—e thing his owne of those things which he possessed but all things to them were common By which words the most blessed Pope GREGORY enioyned a monasticall cloister life to be obserued by saint AVGVSTINE allbeit a Bishop togeather with his subiects who professing religious pouertie by possessing all things in common as saint GREGORY had prescribed could be noe other then Monkes Whence this manner of gouernment was receaued throughout all England soe that in the Cathedrall Churches which were Monasteries the Bishop who was allwaies a Monke presided as Abbot ouer the Monkes and liued monastically with them Next to him was the Prior who for distinction from other Priors was call A Cathedrall Prior vnto whom and the Conuent of Monkes allwaies belonged the Election of the Bishop And of this kind there appertayned aunciently to the Benedictine Nine Cathedrall Churches in EnglaÌ„â—â— belonging to the Monkes Monkes nine Cathedrall Churches in England to witt the Metropolitan Sea of Canturbury the Churches of Winchester Elie Norwich Conentrie Worcester Rochester Durham and Bathe Whereat the reader need not wonder for the Benedictine Monkes saint AVGVSTINE and his fellowes hauing by the diuine grace been made the first Apostles and conuerters of England to Christianitie were by good reason euer after the chiefest gouerners and rulers of that Church The errours of the Britanâ— XVII IN THE meane time saint AVGVSTINE hauing by his continuall labour in preaching much enlarged and encreased the fayth of CHRIST amongst the English bent his endeauours to reforme the Church and Bishops of the Britans who allbeit they had remayned in the profession of the Catholick fayth euer since the time of King Lucius yet was not their fayth soe pure but that it was tainted with some errours and especially in the obseruance of Easter which contrary to the custom of the Catholick Church they celebrated from the fourteenth of the moone to the twentith and manie other things they held that were repugnant to the vnitie of the Catholick Church Therefore saint AVGVSTINE by the assistance of King ETHELBERT summoned the Bishops and the learned men of the next Prouince of the Britans to a parley at a place called afterwards in the tongue of the English Saxons by the name of Austens-Oke in the confines of the West-Saxons Where he began with a verie gentle and fraternall admonition to perswade them to embrace the Catholique vnitie and togeather Schismaticks worse to be conuerted with him to vndertake the common labour of preaching the Ghospell of CHRIST But he found by experience that it was easier to conuert Heathens the Hereticks that had noe knowledge of CHRIST or his Church then to reduce Schismaticks out off their errours to the truth For after a long disputation those stubborne Britans would not yeeld nether to the prayers exhortations nor rebukes of saint AVGVSTINE and his fellowes but rather preferred their owne customs before all the Churches of the world vnited togeather in CHRIST Therefore saint AVGVSTINE ended this laborious and long controuersie saying Let vs beseech allmightie God to voutchafe to shew by heauenly signes which tradition is to be followed yours or ours Let a diseased person be brought in and by whose prayers he shall be cured let his fayth and workes be beleeued and followed of all Which condition the aduersaries vnwillingly accepting one depriued of all sight
to see the ruine of those perishing soules and perceauing his iourney to the desired place of martirdom to be hindered by that huge concourse of poeple fell downe on his knees and humbly made his prayer to him whose side flowed water and bloud for the redemption of the world to giue a safe passage to that poeple soe desirous to be present at his death Then by the allmightie power A notable miracle of him that diuided the red sea for the Israelites the furie of that great riuer was stopped and the channell made drie for the holy Martir to passe the flowing of his prayers and teares before allmightie God tooke from the riuer the power of flowing and layd open a fayre passage for him self and the poeple through the waters VII BVT the vertue of this wonderfull miracle gaue grace to the Officer that was appoynted to be ALBANS executioner to cast off all The executioner conuerted thought of such like woluish crueltie and become a meeke lambe of CHRISTS flock For throwing away his sword that should haue done that blouddie deed he fell prostrate at the holy Martirs feet confessed his errour and humbly demaunded pardon crying alowd that there was noe other true God but the God of the Christians and earnestly desiring to die in steed of him whom he was commaunded to putt to death But his beliefe moued the rest of those ministers of mischiefe to greater rage and furie and falling vppon that new Confessour of CHRIST they beate out his teeth tore his mouth that had giuen testimonie to the truth and soe bruised all his limmes with cruell blowes that in his whole bodie scarse anie one part was left vnhurt yet in heart he remayned firme and sound in the confession of his fayth But leauing this wretched creature in that miserable plight they arriued at length Is cruelly beaten to the toppe of the hill where an infinite number of poeple were expecting to behould the action of this tragicall scene Who being generally tormented with an extremitie of heate drought He obtayneth a fountaine by his prayers S. ALBAN by his prayers obtayned to haue a cleere fouÌ„taine spring out of that dried earth by which the multitude queÌ„ched their thirst yet allwaies thirsted for the effusion of his bloud by whose meritts they had receaued that benefitt soe great was the vngratefull crueltie cruell ingratitude of their blinded minds which ascribed all these most seÌ„sible miracles to the power of their owne seÌ„slesse Gods VIII THEREFORE whetting still the edge of their owne furie on the vnshaken rock of the holy Martirs constancie and vertue they He is beheadded were more and more incensed to the shedding of his innocent bloud A new executioner was chosen to giue the deadly blow for them all who at once made a cruell separation of his head from the bodie that his blessed soule might take a happie flight to the crowne of euerlasting life which our Lord hath promised to those that suffer for his sake But the cruell executioner was not permitted to triumphe in his wicked fact for his eyes ashamed as it were to The punishment of his executioner behould their Masters crueltie fell miraculously out of his head at the very instant that he gaue the Martir his death soe that loosing the guides that had directed him to doe what he did he lost allsoe the power to see what he had done Which miracle caused manie of the Gentils there present to confesse that he was iustly punished Meane while the poore souldier whom they had left halfe dead below had cralled to the toppe of the hill and coming to the holy body of saint ALBAN he was presently restored againe to the perfect vse of all his limmes But that happines was soone after seconded with a farre greater for making profession of the fayth of A souldier martired CHRIST he was forthwith beheadded and by being baptised in his owne bloud was made worthie to follow his leader saint ALBAN into the euerlasting ioyes of CHRIST-IESVS the eternall crowne and glory of his Martirs S. ALBAN was martired about the yeare of our saluation three hundred and three and his bodie was buried in the same place of his martirdom IX BVT about the yeare of our Lord fower hundred fortie six and an hundred fortie three yeares after the passion of S. ALBAN the Pelagian Heresie as ouer the rest of the world soe chiefely it raygned in great Britaine in which it is reported to haue first begunne To suppresse this infection sainct GERMAN Bishop of Auâ—er The Pelagian â—eresie suppressed and Lupus Bishop of Troy came out of France into our Iland by the force of whose arguments and miracles the impudent mouthes of the Pelagians were stopt And at that very time manie great miracles and cures of diseased persons being wrought at the sacred tombe of S. ALBAN thither the holy Bishops went for deuotion sake to giue thankes vnto allmightie God for their successe and S. GERMAN hauing opened the holy monument layd therein manie reliques of the Apostles and other Martirs that the same place might containe the bones of them whose soules enioyed one and the same glory in heauen Which done he tooke thence some part of the earth which had receaued the holy Martirs bloud and which yet blushed therewith to be by him reserued as a most pretious treasure The auncient Britans ouer come by the Saxons and a worthy reward of his labour Afterwards the English and Saxons that were Pagans like vnto a furious tempest inuaded the Iland of great Britaine and by force of armes droue the auncient inhabitants thereof to the mountaines and farthest parts of the countrey now called Wales persecuting not only the men but the Christian fayth which they professed Then amongst others the auncient cittie of Verulam being destroyed and all sacred monuments and Churches demolisht the memory of the glorious Martir Sainct ALBAN was extinguished for the space of three hundred fortie fower yeares and to the raygne of the most famous King of the Mercians Ossa who following a diuine reuelation that commaunded him to search out those holy reliques and place them in a more worthy monument assembled the poeple and Clergie togeather and armed with fasting and prayer they ascended the mountaine where the holy Martir suffered In the meane time the diuine goodnes that would not haue that treasure lie hid anie longer sent forth a heauenly splendour which glittered ouer his sepulcher and lighted them to find out those desired reliques For hauing digged in the same place they found his sacred bodie in a The inuention of S. Albans bodie wodden chest togeather with the reliques of the Apostles and Martirs which Sainct GERMAN had placed therein Therefore the King and whole assemblie being replenished with inestimable ioy translated that sacred treasure with great veneration and solemnitie singing of himnes and prayses to allmightie into an auncient Church neere Verulam
THE FLOWERS OF THE LIVES OF OVR ENGLISH SAINCTS Lady of Paradise I bring these flow'rs Pluckt from this litle Paradise of ours Thy prayers and thy blessiÌ„ng made them grow To thee then next to God we doe them owe. THE FLOWERS OF THE LIVES OF THE MOST RENOWNED SAINCTS OF THE THREE KINGDOMS ENGLAND SCOTLAND AND IRELAND Written and collected out of the best authours and manuscripts of our nation and distributed according to their feasts in the Calendar BY THE R. FATHER HIEROME PORTER Priest and monke of the holy order of Sainct Benedict of the Congregation of England THE FIRST TOME Printed at DOWAY with licence and approbation of the Ordinary M. DC XXXII TO THE READER IT may pleasethee good reader before thou takest in hand to peruse this booke to looke ouer the contents of the Preface both for thy owne satisfaction and mine Farewell TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THOMAS LORD VVINDESOR RIGHT NOBLE AND RIGHT VERTVOVS FOR these two titles due vnto your HONOVR one from your Ancestours the other from your owne worth and endeauours blessed by grace from heauen these glorious Saincts of our natioÌ„ doe willingly present their liues vnto your eyes to suruey them and their prayers for your soule to profitt by them The poore Historian who making the first triall of his penne hath out of diuers auncient monuments gathered their faithfull Legends with as great diligence and true simplicitie as he could perswaded himself that then your HONOVR no man could challenge more right in the dedication of these first fruits of his labours and that the Saincts them selues would haue no other Patrone of their holy stories then You who loue to reade them to serue them to imitate them And he him self and all of his coate and familie acknowledging You their noble fauourer iudged it a plaine obligation to protest by this publick profession the high eslceme they haue of your honourable loue vnto them and the loyall endeauours they will all waies employ to pray for your HONOVR'S eternall happines and dayly encrease in prosperitie and heauenly blessings It may please your HONOVR to pardon this bouldnes and esteeme of them as yours truely deuoted and of me the vnworthiest amoÌ„gst them as oâ—e who thinketh it the greatest honour to be thought Your HONOVRS Poore seruant and Beads man Br. HIEROME PORTER THE PREFACE TO THE READER OF all the instructions and disciplines which are found to be profitable for mans vse Historie by the iudgement of prudent men is iudged not to be the last or lest Tullie the Prince of the Roman Eloquence calls it The witnes of the times the Light of truth the Life of memorie the Mistresse of life the Reporter of antiquitie Which being generally spoken as it doeth agree allso with Histories Profane soe by farre greater reason it may be applied to the Ecclesiasticall which by soe much more exceedeth in worth the other as things diuine doe excell the human But no part of Ecclesiasticall Historie is more profitable to faythfull Christians or more healthfull for their soules then that which treates of the holy liues and vertuous actions of the SAINCTS and proposeth them as paternes of perfectioÌ„ to be imitated in Gods Church Whence it is that both in the old and new Testament are mentioned the examples of holy men that well and truly serued pleased God in this lise What else doeth Jesus the sonne of Syrach in his booke intituled Ecclesiasticus from the fortith chapter to the one and fiftith but rehearse the prayses of his worthie fore fathers and propose their deeds to be imitated by posteritie Doeth not the Doctour of the Gentils S. PAVL by à long rehearsall â—â—eb 〈◊〉 of a list of Patriarches Prophets and Fathers exhort the Hebrewes to beleeue in CHRIST Allso in the beginning of the primitiue Church Pope Clement the first diuided the seauen regions or First writâ—◠〈◊〉 saincts liues parts of the cittie to seauen Notaries that each of them in his precinct might write the passions and famous deeds of the Martirs to be reserued for the knowledge of posteritie and vnto these Pope Fabian added seauen Deacons and as manie Subdeacons that the acts of the SAINCTS might be searched into and described with greater faith and diligence These manie holie Doctours and learned writers followed as S. HIEROME who with wonderfull great care and eloquence sett forth the liues of the auncient Hermites and Fathers of Egypt and that Organ of the holy Ghost our sainct GREGORIE the Great who in the fower bookes of his dialogues comprehendeth the liues of manie holy men of Italie and amongst the rest filleth one whole booke with à large historie of our holy Father S. BENEDICT The good 〈◊〉 the st 〈…〉 es of Lords doe 〈◊〉 For these and manie other holy Doctours Authours of SAINCTS Liues vnderstood well that this manner of writing was both profitable to all good Christians and the whole Church of God But one and not the lest of the causes which should moue vs to write and read the Liues of SAINCTS is the encrease of His honour and glory that made them SAINCTS by adorning and enriching them with singular guifts and graces For it is a thing most reasonable that we honour and serue them who knew soe well how to honour and serue our Lord and that we endeauour to augment their accidentall glory for the essentiall we cannot who aspired to nothing more then to amplifie and dilate the glorie of God And since that Io. 12. God him self as our Sauiour saith honoureth those that honour him by good reason men ought to honour them that God honours The royall Prophett Dauid considering the lawfulnes of this debt exhorteth vs to praise God in his Saincts Allso it is a thing iust Psal 15â— and profitable to implore the fauour and ayde of our brethren who are allreadie in possession of an assured victorie to the end that by their prayers intercessioÌ„s we may arriue at the quiet hauen where they haue landed and be made partakers of their heauenly crownes and triumphes Moreouer it is a great glorie for our Mother the Catholique Church to know the braue deeds of the illustrious children which she hath begotten It is allso a strong bucklar and bullwarke against Saincts liues a buck lar against Heretiques the infidels that impugne Her and a scourge to the heretiques fallen from her whose erroneous follies can not be better conuinced then by the pious examples of the SAINCTS for it is a farre more excellent way to teach by workes then by words and all the workes of the SAINCTS are holy and all in all contrary to the fantasticall imagination of Heretiques For what can more confound their Faith which alone they would haut sufficient for saluation then the good workes of the SAINCTS their peanance their fasting their abstinence their pilgrimages their rigid and seuere mortifications of their bodies to bring them subiect to the mind all which the
blasphemous mouthes of Hereticks doe reiect as vaine superstitious and impious actions But farre otherwise did CHRIST his Apostles and SAINCTS teach both by words and deeds And what they thought and did can by noe other meanes be mamanifested but by the hystories of their liues Soe that both to conuince Heretiques and interpret the doubtfull Saincts liues the interpretation of Scripture and hard passages of holy scripture the Liues and examples of the SAINCTS doe greatly helpe Which made S. HIEROME call the Liues of SAINCTS the interpretation of holy scripture and S. AVGVSTINE say that the holy scripture treateth not only of the commaundements of God but alsoe of the liues and manners of the SAINCTS to the end that yf we chance at anie time to doubt of the true sense and vnderstanding thereof we way receaue light and instruction from that which they haue done For composing our liues and manners according to the imitation of the SAINCTS we need not feare falling into errour when we see how the supreme gouernour of all hath adorned them with manifest miracles and with euident signes declared that their Liues were gratefull vnto him Their liues therefore must allwaies serue vs as a mirrour besore our eyes therein to behould our owne vices Saincts liues a paterne for our actâ—â—s to learne to correct them and to looke vppon their heroicall vertues to endeauour to imitate them There the proud shall find how to become humble the hard-hearted how they may be mollified the cold how they may be warmed the tepid how they may be heated the pious and feruent of spirit how they may be more and more inflamed with the loue of heauen and in a word all of whatsoeuer age sex condition profession or calling may theÌ„ce reape sweet flowers of all kind of vertues documents of wholsom peanance and liuely examples of true pietie farre more efficacious to moue their minds to the practise of goodnes then the force of weake words only This S. AVSTEN affirmeth of him self This in times past manie noble Lords and Matrones of Rome did testifie who being all ether staggering in their faith or growing cold in charitie by only Hier. ad Marcell hearing of the most holy life of great S. ANTHONIE the Hermite were enflamed with soe great feruour of spirit and fier of deuotion that abhorring their former life and desiring euer after to slie all sinne and occa sions of sinne they bad adiew to the vaine world and the pompes pleasures thereof separated them selues from the conuersation and companie of men and applying their minds wholly to the diuine seruice followed the banner of CHRIST and his SAINCTS crucified their owne bodies togeather with all the vices coÌ„cupiscences thereof But not to these only but to manie others allsoe the same is read to haue happened in the like case Considering therefore and pondering oftentimes these things with my self I was much grieued that in Causes mouing the Authour to write these lines these lamentable times wherein our miserable countrey is afflicted spoyled and oppressed by heresie the Catholicks amidst these tribulations were depriued of the great profitt and consolation which they might receaue by the reading of the Liues of their SAINCTS because that eyther their workes were not written or yf they were written it was in such Authours that now are scarse to be found that in Latine which is not for the capacitie of the vnlearned I was noe lesse grieued allso that the SAINCTS them selues that heretofore were the ornaments and Lights of our countrey were now being vnknowne depriued of their part of that due honour which otherwise should haue beene done vnto them being made knowne For these reasons then and partly for myne owne priuate exercise but principally gentle Reader for thy consolation I haue here aduentured seeing noe better writer would take soe worthie a work in hand to trie my penne in behalf of our glorious SAINCTS and to sett forth though not as worthily as I should yet as truely and sincerely as I could the Liues of all the most renowned SAINCTS of our â—land of great Britaine and of the Iles thereunto belongingâ— and thereby I haue restored againe to all good Catholicks my Countreymen that which the cruell iniurie of the times had violently robbed them off and sought to haue buried in the darknes of perpetuall obliuion But because all workes that are exposed to the publick view of the world are exposed allso to the censure of diuers sortes of poeple diuersly affected I thought conuenient to set downe here some few aduertisemeÌ„ts aswell to preuent all occasions of misconstructions or cauills that might be taken in the reading of this treatise as allso to informe the well-inclined Reader against some doubtes or difficulties that may occurre in the perusing of the same First then because the most illustrious Cardinall Baronius a man that hath otherwise well deserued of the Baronius his mystake Church of God for his Ecclesiasticall historie doeth contrarie to the auncient and common opinion of the world robbe the Benedictine order of one of its greatest ornaments S. GREGORY the great and denie that euer he liued a Monke vnder the holy RVLE of the Great Patriarch of Monkes sainct BENEDICT and consequently affirmes that sainct AVGVSTINE and his fellow-Monkes whom he sent to conuert our countrey who were professed of the same Monasterie in Rome vnder sainct GREGORY were not of the same Order lest my Reader should chaunce to stumble vppon this new opinion which since hath been by manie famous and learned writers hissed out of the schoole of true Historie I will here for his better instruction briefly sett downe some few authorities of manie auncienter and later Authours then Baronius who doe all constantly asseuer the contrarie that is that both S. GREGORY him self and the Monkes he sent and made Apostles of England were indeed of the holy Order of sainct BENEDICT and not of I know not what Equitiam familie as Baronius pretends And omitting here to draw arguments from the auncient charters writings graunted to Monasteries euen in the time of sainct AVGVSTINE him self which all euidently conuince the same for a truth as of some you may reade in his life May the 26. I will first draw into the lists of this Combat that ornament of our Countrey sainct ALDELME Bishop of Sherburne who died aboue nine S. Aldelme against Baronius huÌ„dred yeares before Baronius was borne In his worke then which he writt in verse of the prayse of Virgins Virginitie hauing spoken much in commendation of out holy Father sainct BENEDICT whom he affirmeth to haue been the first that ordered the exercises of Monasteries and a monasticall life he maketh this epilogue to the paragraphe of sainct BENEDICTS prayses * Benedicti Huius alumnorum numero glomerantur ouantes Quos tenet in gremio facunda Britannia ciues A * Benedicto quo iam nobis Baptismi gratia
inuincible valour strength of bodie others iudged it a safer way to preferre ALFRED thereby to gaine the power of the Normans in that Richard then Duke of Normandie was hâ— vncle But the high and mightie ruler of all things p 〈…〉 t and fâ—ture foreseeing the short life of the one and the immature death of the other turned all their voices and consents to the châ—ldâ—nborne and mooued them to elect for their king an insant â—â—â—vard 〈…〉 as yet â—onâ—ayâ—eâ— in the weake cloisters of his mothers wombe sâ—e thâ—t the whom the land did not yet enioy was ordayned Lord Gorernor of the land and the nobles and Peeres with great ioy did sweare alleageance vnto him of whose birth they were ignorant and vncertaine But this vncertaintie was shortly after taken away by the happie and wished birth of king EDWARD soone after which the fuâ—â—rie of the Danes cruelly inuaded the realme of England spoyling and destroying a great part thereof with fier and sword which mooued king Ethelred to send the queene with her children into Normandie out of the reach of the Danish crueltie where our princely EDWARD S. Edward his vertues being a boy liued in his vncles house a child among others his equalls but allwaies free from such vices as that age is wont to bee inclined vnto He was chast of bodie sparing of his speach plaine in his actions pure in his affections He tooke great delight often to frequent Churches more often to be busied in his prayers to be present at the holy sacrifice of Masse to visit Monasteries religious houses and to enter into a strict league of friendship particularly with such monkes whom true vertue and Religion made worthie to be loued aboue others II. IN THE meane time the enemies sword committed such outrage The Barbarians waste England within the realme of England that all places were filled with slaughter and destruction nothing appeared that was not masked with the grimme vizard of sorrow lamentations clamours and desolation Churches were burnt Monasteries pulled downe and Priests chased out of their seates compelled to lie in secret and desert places to bewaile the coÌ„mon miseries of their countrey When among others the venerable man BRITHWOLD Bishop of Winchester as full of agonie as pittie greif and sorrow could make a pious heart retired to the Monastery of Glassenburie putting his whole confidence in prayers and psalmes to allmightie God Where as in great abundance he powred out his deuotions washt in teares for the deliuerie of the kingdom and people out of these calamities at length he burst out into such like words saying And thou 〈◊〉 Lord how long â—s 12. 43. 87. 〈◊〉 3. how long doest thou turne away thy face doest thou forgett our miseries afflictions They haue slaine thy Saincts destroyed thy aâ—ltars and there is none that can redeeme vs nor bring health vnto vs. I know ô Lord I know that whatsoeuer thou hast done vnto vs is by thy iust iudgement done But what wilt thou for euer cast vs off and wilt thou not beginne to be Psal 76. more pacified as yet When when ô my Lord God shall there be an end of these calamities Or will the sword of thy wrath for euer exercise his crueltie and make a generall slaughter among vs A vision shewed to Bish. Brith wold At length amidst these prayers and teares a sweet slumber seased on his sorrowfull senâ—es wherein as it were in a dreame he beheld the B. Apostle S. PETER seated in an eminent place and king Edward clad in Royall ornaments standing before him with an amiable countenance in most comly and decent manner vnto whom the holy Apostle hauing first with his owne hands consecrated and anneiled him King piously imparted some admonitions and precepts tending to the health and saluation of his soule aboue all things recommending vnto him a single life he reuealed how manie yeares he should raigne and gouerne the Kingdom The Bishop much amazed at this strange vision humbly craued of the Apostle to make knowne the misterie thereof vnto him desiring withall to vnderstand of the present state of the realme and to know his sentence touching the end of their instant miseries To whoÌ„ the Apostle with a pleasing countenance This kingdom said he is our lords who will raigne ouer the sonnes of men he it is that transferreth Dan. 2. kingdoms and chaingeth Empires and to punish the sinnes of the people giueth the gouernement to an hipocrite By sinne the people haue offended our Lord who hath deliuered them captiue into the hands of the Gentils and their hatefull enemies and strangers haue obtained soueraignâ—ie ouer them But God will not forgett to be mercifull neither in his ire will he containe his mercie from you And it shall Psalm 76. come to passe after thy death that our Lord will visitt his people and worke their redemption For he hath selected a man according to his owne heart who in all points shall fulfill his will pleasure and who hauing by my assistance obtained the kingdom of England shall sett a periode to the Danish furie He will be acceptable vnto God gratefull to men dreadfull to his enemies louing to his countrey profitable to the whole Church and at length shall conclude his worthy life with a most blessed and happie end But as the Bishop A Worthie commendation of king Edw. enquired further of Saint EDWARDS posteritie The kingdom of England answeared the holy Apostle belongeth vnto God himself who after this will prouide a king according to the diuine ordinance of his owne will and pleasure III. BVT as yet the furie of this Danish tempest continued and the waues thereof were exalted to the height of an insulting and imperious pride in so much that the common miseries of the land were much encreased by a ciuill discord inward iarring of mens minds amoÌ„gst them selues noe man knowing whom to trust with the secrets of his heart The whole Iland was full of traytours noe true faith to be found noe friendship but was scarred with suspition no coÌ„mon conference but was cloaked with deceitfull dissimulation Till at Canutus king of the Danes a ChristiaÌ„ of great piety chosen king of EnglaÌ„d ann 1016. the lawfull heires being reiected for the vniust murder of S. Edw. the martir halfbrother to Ethelred length the treason of the countrey the craft of the enemie preuayâ—â—ed soe farre that king Ethelred being dead most part of the realme â—or saking the lawfull heyres of their late king gaue vp obedieÌ„ce vnto Canutus that wroÌ„gfully had inuaded cruelly spoyled the kingdom and the mightie Edmond Jronside when he had valiantly ouerthrowne the Danes in three seuerall battles being at length by the treacherie of Eadrick Duke of the Mercians cruelly murdred his little children were taken out of their cradles deliuered to the pittilesse furie of the Barbarians to be slaine And ALFRED S. EDWARDS elder
to yeeld and giue way to the prayers and teares of such and soe manie great Lords he esteemed most discourteous and inhumane At length he resolued to deferre his pilgrimage vntill he had consulted the Pope him self therewith meaning to follow his He c 〈…〉 teth Pope 〈…〉 aduise and counsell and to know whether in this case his vow were to be fullfilled or otherwise to be satisfied and redeemed X. THE POPE hauing seriously considered and diligently discussed Pope his 〈…〉 to S. the matter wrote his answeare to the King in this manner LEO Bishop seruant of the seruaÌ„ts of God to his beloued sonne EDWARD King of England sendeth health and Apostolicall benediction Because we haue vnderstood of thy desire both laudable and gratefull to God we giue thanks to him by whom Kings doe raigne and Princes decree iustice But in euerie place our Lord is neere vnto DispeÌ„seth with his vow of pilgrimage them that truely call vppon him and the holy Apostles vnited with their head are one spiritt and equally giue eare to deuout prayers and bicause it is manifest that the English nation will be indomaged by thy absence who with the raynes of iustice doest restraine the seditious insurrections thereof by the authoritie of God and the holy Apostles we doe absolue thee from the bond of that vow for which thou fearest to offend God and from all thy sinnes and offences by vertue of that power which our Lord in B. PETER graunted vnto vs saying Whatsoeuer thou shalt loose on earth shall be Mat. 16. loosed alsoe in heauen Furthermore we commaund thee vnder title of holy obedience and peanance to distribute the expenses prepared for thy iourney to the poore and that eyther thou build a new one or repayre an old Monasterie of Monks to the honour of S. PETER Prince of the Apostles and prouide the brethren therein sufficient maintenance out of thy owne reuenewes that their continuall prayers sung there to allmightie God may adde an encrease of glorie to his Saincts and purchase more abundant pardon vnto thee And whatsoeuer thou shalt giue or is allreadie giuen or shall heereafter be giuen to that place we commaund that it be ratified by Apostolicall authoritie and that for euer there be an habitation for Monks subiect to noe other lay person but the King himself and we graunt and confirme by most strong authoritie whatsoeuer priuiledges thou shalt there ordaine to the honour of God and lastly we pronounce the heauie sentence of eternall damnation against all that shall presume to infringe or violate the same XI BVT FOR the greater confirmation of the Popes letters The visioÌ„ of a holy man and answere to the King an oracle was sent from heauen and reuealed to a holy man then liuing in England shutt vp in a hollow caue vnder ground who now being well struck in yeares both of age and sainctetie dayly expected a release to the desired reward of his meritorious labours To him the blessed Apostle S. PETER appeared one night in a vision with these words King EDWARD sollicitous for the vow wherewith he obliged him self being in banishment and carefull for the peace of his Realme and the necessities and prayers of the poore hath consulted the Pope to be aduised of all things by the authoritie of the Roman Church Therefore let him know that by my authoritie he is absolued from this obligation and that he hath receaued a commaund from the Pope to erect a Monasterie in honour of my name Let him then without delay giue creditt to the Apostolicall letters be sure he obey the Popes precepts and yeeld vnto his counsells for whatsoeuer they containe cometh from me whom in times past he chose to be his speciall Patrone the companion of his iourney and his obtainer of grace But there is a place on the west side of the cittie of London which long since I haue both chosen and loued S. Peters loue to Vvestminster Abbey and the Monks thereof and which heeretofore I consecrated with mine owne hands ennobled with my presence and honoured with manie miracles The name of the place is Thorney which heeretofore for the sinnes of the people was giuen vp to the enraged power of the Barbarians and by them brought downe from wealth to pouertie from maiestie to deiection and from a place of respect and honour to an estate vile and contemptible By my commaund the King must vndertake worthily to repaire and reedifie this Monasterie and to amplifie and enrich it with large possessions There shall be nothing but the house of God and the gate of heauen There a ladder shall be erected by which the Angels ascending and descending shall present the prayers and petitions of men before allmightie God and obtaine grace vnto them I will lay open the gates of heauen to those that ascend from thence and by vertue of the office which my Lord and Sauiour hath giuen me I will absolue those that are tied in the bands of sinne and receaue them being absolued and iustified in at the gates of the heauenly courte which sinne had barred vp against them But doe thou write vnto the King whatsoeuer thou hast heard and sâ—ene that by a redoubled benefitt of God he may be securer of his absolution deuouter in the execution of his precept and become more feruently possessed with loue and dutie towards me With these words he vanished in the glorious light that garded him and the old man according to his commaund related what he had heard by letters directed to the King which at the verie instant that the Popes answer was opened were allso receaued and read Whereat the good King takeing great consolation with King Edw. obeyeth the Pope a ioyfull cheerfullnes a cheerfull ioy bestowed the money prepared for his iourney amongst the poore and reedified the Monasterie XII WHEN Ethelred king of Kent by the preaching of S. AVGVSTIN the Benedictin monk had receaued the ChristiaÌ„ faith Sebert his nephew then king of the East-Angles by the same holymans endeauour was purged from Paganisme in the sacred font of Baptisme This Sebert erected a famous Church in honour of S. PAVL within the walls of London which was esteemed the cheif head of his kingdom and placed Mellitus the Monk therein honouring him with Episcopall S. Mellitus made Bishop of London dignitie But without the walls in the West part of the cittie he founded a goodly Monastery for Monks of S. BENEDICTS order in honour of S. PETER the Apostle enriching it with verie large reuenews When the night before the Dedication of the Church s. PETER him self in an vnknowne habitt appeared to a fisherman on the other side of the riuer Thames running by the sayd Abbey desiring him to passe him ouer and he would reward his paines which was performed when goeing out of the boate in sight of the fisherman he entred the new-built Church where suddenly was seene a strainge light from heauen
without anie the lest signe of corruption as cleere white as the cristall as if it had all readie putt on the diuine robes of glorie casting forth of the tombe an exceeding sweet and odoriferous sauour to the wonderfull ioy and comfort of all that were present The linnen wherein he wrapped was as fresh and pure as when first it was imployed to that holy vse Which moued Gundulph Bishop of Rochester to attempt to pluck a hayre of the Saincts head to reserue to him self for his deuotion But his pious desire was frustrated for the hayre stuck on soe fast that it could not be pulled off without breaking XXX A WOEMAN that conteÌ„ptibly presumed to worke vpon S. EDWARDS A miracle day was grieuously punished with a suddaine palsie till being brought to the B. Saincts sepulcher and with teares demaunding pardon for her fault she was restored to her health againe Manie other miracles haue bin done by the meritts of this glorious Sainct all which mooued Pope Alexander the third at the instant desire of King Henry the second and the Clergie of England to putt him into the number of canonized Saincts and to cause his feast to be celebrated throughout the kingdom of England But of this we will speake more at large on the feast of his translation the thirteenth day of October This feast of his deposition hath bin allwaies verie magnificently and religiously celebrated by his successour-kings on this day as plainly appeares in the histories of England and is particularly prooued out of that which Mathew Westminster rehearseth of king Henry the thirds deuotion towards S. EDWARD In the yeare of grace 1249 saith he which was the thirtith yeare of our soueraigne king Henry the third the King being then at London on the feast of the Natiuitie of our Lord and hauing spent the Christmas holidaies in sumptuous feasts and banquetting as the custom is togeather with a great multitude of his nobilitie he assembled manie more Nobles and Peeres of the Realme to be present and Henry the thirds deuotion to S. Edwar. reioyce with him at the feast of S. EDWARD whom more cordially he loued and honoured then others of the Saincts And on the eue of that B. Kings deposition our soueraigne Lord the King according to his pious custom fasted with bread and water spending the whole day in continuall watching and praying and giuing of almes But on the feast itself he caused Masse with great magnificence and solemnitie to be celebrated in the Church of Westminster in vestments all of silke of an inestimable value and adorned with a great multitude of wax tapers and the resounding notes of the A consideration on his vertues Conuentuall and Monasticall quier Ought not we likewise to followe this vertuous example and giue prayse vnto allmightie God for the excellent guifts wherewith he honoured this B. King in choosing and calling him to soe great glorie euen before he was borne And for that he reuealed vnto him the great fauours promised to the kingdom of England for his sake long before they happened Who will not admire and endeauour to imitate the sacred vertue of chastetie which soe great a King entirely conserued soe manie yeares with his Queene in holy marriage Who will not embrace his most profound humilitie and contempt of the world and him self when he carried that wretched cripple on his royall shoulders to obtaine his health Who will not striue to serue allmightie God with affection seeing how highly he exalteth and honoureth his Saincts How he exalts them with miracles soe gloriously recompenseth their seruice giuing peace health and prosperitie to kingdoms by their intercession and in the end making them immortall kings and euerlasting courtiers of the kingdom of heauen This life is taken chiefly and allmost wholly oâ—t of that which B. ALVRED Abbot of Rhieuall hath written Iohn Capgraue hath the verie same William Malmesburie Roger Houedon Mathew Westminster Nicholas Harpsfield and allmost all writers of Saincts lines make verie honourable and worthie mention of him And the Roman Martirologe on this day The life of S. CEDDE Bishop and Confessor of the holy order of S. BENEDICT IAN. 7. Out of Venerable Bede hist. Eccl. lib. 3. 4 SAINCT CEDDE was borne in London and hauing gone soe farre out of his youth that he was able to make choice of a manner of life he putt on a monasticall habit among the auncient Monks in the Monasterie of Lindisfarne In which schoole of pietie he profitted soe well in a short time that he was thought worthie to be sent as an Apostolicall man with other deuout Priests to preach the Ghospell to the Mercians or inhabitants of Middle-England where by his pious labours S. Cedde conuerteth the East-Angles and exemplar life he greatly promoted the Catholicke cause But Sigbert then king of the East-Saxons being at that time by the meanes of Oswin king of Northumberland from a Heathen conuerted to the Christian faith and baptized by Finanus Bishop of York B. CEDDE at the earnest entreatie of Sigbert was called back by Finanus and sent with king Sigbert to conuert his countrey to the faith whose labour there tooke soe good effect that in a short time he brought most part of that Prouince from Paganisme into which since their conuersion by S. MELLITVS the Benedictine Monk they had fallen to the true knowledge and subiection of Christs Church and he him self who by Gods grace was now made their second Apostle returning into Northumberland the messenger of his owne good successe was by the hands of Finanus in presence of two other Bishops ordayned allsoe the second Bishop of London the chief cittie of the East-Saxons succeeding S. MELLITVS both in the Apostleship and Bishoprick He is made Bishop of London of that Prouince And now he began with a more free authoritie to bring to perfection the worke soe happily begunne by erecting of Churches in diuers places making Priests and Deacons to ayde him in baptising and preaching the holy word of God instructing the new-christened to obserue as farre forth as they were able the stricter rules of a religious life Great was the ioy comfort which the new conuerted King Sigbert and his poeple receiued to see the happie successe of his endeauours He was to good men meeke and courteous to the bad somewhat more sterne and seuere in punishing their vices as appeareth by the ensuing accident II. THERE was in the kings court a noble man that liued in the bands of vnlawfull wedlock against whom the holy bishop after manie pious admonions giuen to noe effect denounced the sentence of excommunication strictly forbidding the King and all other persons to forbeare his companie and not to eate nor drinke with him But the King being inuited by the same Nobleman to a Excommucation banquet made light of the bishops precepts went to him And in his returne chauncing to meet the holy man he was much
of Deus-dedit or Gods-guist sixth Bishop thereof was vacant and destitute of a Pilote when the people and Clergie of Benedictin Monks mooued Egbert then King of Kent and Oswin king of the Northumbers to send one Wighart aâ—vertuous and holy Priest to Rome to be consecrated Kings of Engl. sent to Rome for an Archbishop of Canturb Bishop of Canturbury But Wighart coming to Rome in the hott time of plague died before he had receaued his intended dignitie Wherevppon Vitalianus then Pope sent for S. ADRIAN out of his Monasterie of Niridan and desired him to accept the charge and dignitie of the Archiepiscopall Sea of Canturbury But he refused this offer humbly answearing that vnworthy hy was to vndertake and more vnable to performe anie such weightie office in Gods Church And therefore desired some daies of deliberation to search S. Adrian refuseth the Archbishoprik out an other whose worth did more worthilie correspond with soe hight a degree and calling In this while he found out a holy Benedictin Monk of his acquaintance called Theodore that liued in Rome and him he presented vnto the Pope as one fitt for that dignitie he being a man excellent in the two chiefest ornaments of the mind learning and vertue This man the Pope accepted and consecrated Archbishop of Canturbury on condition that ADRIAN who had refused the chief dignitie should at lest accompanie him into England as his coadiutour in that Apostolicall mission Herevnto the blessed Sainct willingly consented and vndertooke the voyage making him self a subiect where he might haue been a commaunder His great humilitie and choosing rather to profitt the nation with his preaching and learning then gouerne it by an Episcopall authoritle such was his wonderfull humilitie and burning zeale to gayne soules to God III NOW therefore this holy couple tooke their iourney towards England and coming into France S. ADRIAN who was famous in that countrey for hauing been sent on diuers embassages betweene Christian Princes was for his greater meritt suspected to goe to the Kings of England on some busines of estare from the Emperour plotted against the French and therefore was stayed by the King of the Gaules vntill he had cleered him self of that suspition Which done he went after Theodore into England where within a yeare or two he was by the same Theodore made Abbot of the Benedictin Monks in the monasterie of S. PETER in Canturbury now called S. Austins from the Benedictin Monk S. AVSTIN our Apostle He is made Abbot of S. Peters in Canturb who lies buried there In this place S. ADRIAN gathered togeather a great number of disciples whom he taught and instructed out of the holy scriptures to find the readie way to euerlasting life and besides this he taught them Musick Astronomie and Arithmetick as allsoe the Greek and Latin tongue which his pious labours tooke soe good effect that manie of his schollers spake Greek and Latin as perfectly as their owne mother tongue and especially two farre exceeded their other fellowes in all manner of learning one was called Albin who succeeded S. ADRIAN in the regencie of the Abbey the other Tobias who was afterwards Bishop of Rochester IV. Moreouer this blessed Sainct was of soe great meritt and soe highly esteemed before allmightie God that he is reported to haue bin the worker of manie miracles and that by his intercession a deâ—d man was raysed to life At length hauing laboured in the vineyard of our Lord a long time both in Jtalie and England leauing His death behind him manie learned disciples the fruits of his labours the thirtie ninth yeare after he came to Canturbury he left this world to receaue his reward in heauen the ninth day of January the yeare of our Lord 708. He was buried in the Church or chappell of the B. Virgin MARIE which King Edbald had built in the foresayd Monasterie of S. AVGVSTIN And this Church happening afterwards to be burnt S. ADRIAN appeared to one of the Monks and coÌ„maunded He appeareth in glorie him to goe to S. DVNSTAN who then was Archbishop of Canturbury with these words in his name Thou liuest in houses well couered and fenced against the weather but the Church of the Mother of God wherein I and other domesticks of heauen doe inhabite lies open exposed to the iniurious stormes of the wind Wherevppon S. DVNSTAN carefully caused that Church to be repayred which him self afterwards frequented euerie night such diuine sweetnes he receaued by his prayers offered to God in that place But one night entring into it he beheld S. ADRIAN seated amongst a glorious quier of Angels and Saincts praysing and glorifieing allmightie God His bodie was allwaies held in great veneration but especially from hence forth and manie miracles are reported by the authour of his life to haue been wrought at his tombe which for breuities sake we omitt desiring of allmightie God grace rather to imitatehis vertues then to admire his wonders Of S ADRIAN maketh mention S. BEDE as before BARONIVS tom 8. ann 668. TRITHEMIVS in his 3. booke of the famous men of S. BENEDICTS order HARPSFIELD saec 7. cap. 8. 9. MOLANVS IOHN CAPGRAVE and others The life of S BRITHWALD Bishop and Confessor of the holy order of S. BENEDICT IAN. 9. Out of venerable Bede hist. de gest SAINCT BRITHWALD a Monk of S. BENEDICTS order in the famous Abbey of Glassenbury was made Abbot of the monasterie called Reaculer in Kent where at that time the Kings of Kent sometimes kept their Court allbeit now saith Camden it be but a poore village not farre distant from Tanet Being a man of verie great learning and knowledge in diuine scriptures and wonderfull well practised in Ecclesiasticall and Monasticall discipline he was chosen by the Benedictins of Canturbury to succeed S. THEODORE in that sea which had bin vacaÌ„t the space of two yeares in the yeare 692 and consecrated Archbishop thereof the yeare following He was the eight Archbishop of Canturbury and gouerned his Chutch with all true vertues belonging to a good Bishop the space of thirtie seauen yeares six moneths and fourteen daies In his time a Councell was held at London wherein the point of worshiping holy Images was handled and confirmed At length this holy man loaden with manie yeares of venerable ould age and full of vertues holines yeelded vp his blessed soule to the beginning of that life which neuer ends the ninth day of January in the yeare 731. William Malmesbury a very graue authour affirmeth out of Goscelinus who writeth the acts of the first nine Archbishops of Canturbury that S. BRITHWALD was famous for working of manie miracles And he is reported to haue written the historie of the bâ—ginning of the Benedictin monasterie of Euesham with the life of S EGVINE Bishop of Worcester Thus much out of venerable BEDE NICHOLAS HARPSFIELD and others TRITHEMINS in his worke of the famous men of S. BENEDICTS order WION
MOLANVS and GALESINVS in their Martyrologes make worthie mention of S. BRITHWALD S. BENEDICTVS BISCOP ABBAS PATRONVS Congregationis â—enedictinorum Angliae Jan. 12º The life of S. BENNET surnamed Biscop Abbot and Confessor of the holy order of S. BENEDICT IAN. 12. Written by venerable Bede his disciple THE GLORIOVS seruant of God S. BENNET by byrth descended from the auncient race of the nobilitie of England but the nobilitie of his mind was such as farre more deserued the fellowship and companie of the noblest and worthiest sort of the English nation He was borne in Yorkshire and in his youth followed the discipline of warre in the Royall seruice of Oswy king of the Northumbers from whose princely liberalitie he receaued as the reward of his faithfull seruice no small possession of lands His life during his youth meanes suteable to his degree and calling These for a time he enioyed till he attayned to the florishing age of twentie fiue yeares and then a diuine inspiration mouing him therevnto he forsoke left the world and fading worldly goods for loue of the eternall he despised the warre fare of these lower regions the vaine rewards thereof that seruing vnder the enseigne of our true King CHRIST IESVS he might receaue an euerlasting kingdom aboue He left his countrey house and kinred for the loue of CHRIST and his Ghospell that he might gaine the hundredfould reward he promiseth and possesse life euerlasting he refused to enter into worldly mariage that in the court of heauen he might be worthie to follow the holy lambe soe candid with the glorie of virginitie he loathed to be a carnall father of children being ordayned by CHRIST to His first iourney to Rome traine vp his children in the spirituall doctrine of heauen Hauing left therefore his countrey because the Christian faith and Ecclesiasticall discipline was yet but rawly established in England he went to Rome there as in the source and fountaine of all true religion to learne a perfect forme oflife where CHRISTS chief Apostles had planted the first and principall foundation and head of the whole Catholicke Church He visitted the sacred tombes of the Apostles with great deuotion vnto whom his loue was allwaies such as the teares now shed ouer their shrines were sufficient witnesses to prooue it excellent But he made no long stay at Rome but returned back into England where he was verie diligent and carefull to honour and as farre as he was able to practise him self and teach others those rules of Ecclesiasticall discipline at home which he had learnt and seene abroade II. ABOVT that time Alchifridus sonne to Oswy hauing a great His secoÌ„d iourney to Rome desire to goe to Rome to visitt the holy shrines of the Apostles would needes take that iourney with S. BENNET notwithstanding the earnest persuasions and entreaties of his father to stay at home Their iourney succeeded well and shortly after they returned in safetie againe during the time of Pope Vitalian When S. BENNET came not emptie but loaden with the sweetnes of good and wholesom doctrine as before which the better to digest after some He taketh the habitt of S. Benedict moneths he departed out of England and went to the Benedictin monasterie of Lirin in France where he tooke leaue of the world and putt on the monasticall habitt of the great Patriark of Monks S. BENEDICT and receaued the Ecclesiasticall tonsure In this pious schoole of regular discipline he liued for the space of two yeares very carefully learning and obseruing the rules of a true monasticall and religious life But noe sooner was he a litle hardened in the surnace of religion and made perfectly strong and able to resist the temptations and aduersities of the world but his loue to the Prince of the Apostles which it seemes lay buried at Rome serued as a loadstone to draw him thither againe And finding a fitt opportunitie of shipping he committed him self to that much desired iourney which most prosperously he performed It was at the time when Egbert King of Kent as we haue sayd in the life of S. ADRIAN had sent Wighart to Rome to be consecrated Archbishop of Canturbury But Wighart dieing and Theodore being made Archbishop in his steede S. BENNET found to be a man very wise religious and industrious allthough at that time otherwise determined was by commaund of the Pope compelled to cease from the deuotion of his pilgrimage to attend vnto imployments of a higher calling which was to returne into England with Theodore now Elect of Canturbury and S. ADRIAN Abbot to serue them both for a guide and an interpreter by the way and in England BENNET whose chiefest lesson was obedience most willingly yeelded to the Popes desire and brought the Archbishop into Kent where they were both gratefully wellcome Theodore a scended the seate of the Archbishoprick and S. BENNET vndertooke the gouernment of the monasterie of S. PETER and PAVL in Canturbury of which afterwards S. ADRIAN was made Abbot For S. BENNET hauing ruled there two His third iourney to Rome yeares entred into his third iourney towards Rome which he performed with his wonted prosperitie And at his returne he brought with him not a few bookes fraught with diuine learning all which he had eyther bought at an easie rate or receaued gratis from his friends Coming thus loaden into England he betooke him self to haue some conference with the King of the West-Saxons called Kenewalk whose courteous friendship he had made vse of before bin much assisted by his benefitts to him-wards But this good King being about the same time taken away by an immature death the holy man was frustrated of his desire and therefore he turned his iourney directly into his owne countrey where he was borne and went to Egfrid then King of the Northumbers To whom he made relatioÌ„ of all whatsoeuer he had done since he departed a yonge man out of his countrey neyther did he keepe secret from him how he was enflamed with a feruent desire of religion then he tould him whatsoeuer he had learned both in Rome other places touching Ecclesiasticall and monasticall order and discipline and what store of diuine bookes he had purchased and with what great reliques of the Apostles and Martyrs he had enriched his countrey At length the King liked him soe well and preuayled soe farre with him and gott soe great loue and familiaritie that he gaue him out of his reuenews the lands of three score and tenne families to build a monasterie in honour of the Prince of the Apostles S. PETER which S. BENNET with great ioy and speed performed in the yeare of our Lord 674. the fourth yeare of King Egfrid III. IN THE meane time before the foundation of the Church was layd S. BENNET went ouer into France and brought thence masons other skillfull workemen to build it of stone according to the Roman fashion which he euer loued And
the great loue he The first vse of glasing in England bore to the Apostle S. PETER in whose honour he laboured made him vse such diligence that within the compasse of a yeare after the foundation was layd the solemnities of Masse were honorably celebrated therein But when the worke drew neere vnto perfection he likewise sent messengers into France to fetch ouer glasiers to adorne the windowes with glasse a worke neuer before vsed in England They came and did not only perfect this worke but allsoe taught their trade vnto manie of our Englishmen Allsoe such sacred vessels vestments and other necessaries for the seruice of Church and Altar as could not be found in England like a religious marchant he prouided and bought from beyond the seas But finding the pouertie and want of France not to be able to furnish him with such ornaments as he desired and especially to obtaine from the Pope new priuiledges for his new-built monasterie he made a fourth iourney to Rome and this as soone as he had assembled a Conuent of Monkes into it and His fourth iourney to Rome ordered them according to the rule and institution of great S. BENEDICT Shortly after he returned making a more happie returne of spirituall Gods then euer he had done before For besides allmost an innumerable multitude of bookes and great store of reliques of the Apostles and Martirs of CHRISTS Church he had obtayned of Pope Agatho to haue Iohn chief Cantor of S. PETERS and Abbot of S. MARTINS in Rome along with him into England to instruct and teach as well his monasterie as other Churches allsoe in the forme and manner of singing and doeing all other Ecclesiasticall rites and ceremonies according to the institution of the Roman Church All which Iohn at his coming he performed not only by word of mouth but allsoe by publishing manie rules and precepts to that purpose in writing which for memorie sake were afterwards carefully layd vpp and reserued in the librarie of the sayd monasterie Allsoe by the licence of King Egfrid and at his earnest entreatie he obtained of the same Pope letters of priuiledges graunted vnto the sayd monasterie to warrant defend and free it from all externe iurisdiction or forcible inuasions for euer Likewise he brought from Rome many pictures of holy images to beautifie and adorne his Church and namely a picture of the B. VIRGIN MARIE and the Pictures vsed in Catholick Churches twelue Apostles which he placed in the middle arche or vault of the Church from wall to wall and with pictures contayning all the Euangelicall history he adorned the north side and with others of the visions of the Apocalypse he made the south part correspondent vnto it To the end that all that came into the Church euen the vnlearned which way soeuer they cast their eyes might behold and contemplate though in an image eyther the louing countenance of CHRIST or his Saincts or with a more watchfull mind consider the wonderfull grace of his incarnation or hauing before their eyes the danger of the last rigid examin they might remember more districtly to examine the guilt of their owne conscience IV. NOW when King Egfrid saw with what great vertue industrie See the deuotion of this good king and religion this venerable man did doe the part of a wise and holy steward in all these proceedings he was wonderfull much delighted thereat and bicause he perceaued the land he had giuen him to haue bin well and fruictfully giuen he encreased his former guift with the donation of fortie families more On which land by counsell and perswasion of the King the holy man built an He buildeth an other monastery to S. Paul other monasterie on the other side of the riuer dedicated to the honour of S. PAVL not farre from the former and thither he sent Ceolfrid to be Abbot with seauenteen other Benedictine Monks strictly chardging and commaunding them that one and the self same peace familiaritie concord should be conserued in both places And as the bodie cannot liue without the head by which it breathes nor the head without the bodie by which it liues Soe let noe man anie way attempt to disturbe or disquiet these two monasteries of the chief Apostles that togeather are knitt in a fraternall societie of peace Whence it comes that afterwards both these monasteries were commonly called by one name Weremouth Abbey V. ABOVT this time the blessed Sainct hauing much encreased the number of Monks in both these places and ordered them according to the rule of his great Master S. BENEDICT he made one Eosterwin a Priest and Monk Abbot of the monastery of S PETER to Eosterwin Abbot the end that by the sociable assistance of soe vertuous a Colleague he might with more ease vndergoe the labour of gouernement which he was scarse able to performe alone by reason of his much trauelling vp and downe for the good of his monasterie and his frequent iourneys beyond seas vncertaine when to returne Eosterwin therefore vndertooke the care of the monasterie the ninth yeare after the foundation and remained in the same while he liued and he liued but fower yeares after He was a man by byrth noble but he did not make vse of the worth of his nobilitie as manie doe to breed matter of outward glorie and contempt of others but made it the first stepp to ennoble and enrich his mind with vertue For being cozen german vnto S. BENNET they were both soe truely allied in a vertuous nobilitie os minds both alike such sincere contemners of all worldly respects and honours that neyther the one coming into the monastery did expect to be preferred eyther by reason of his honourable nobilitie or kinred or the other iudge it a thing fitt to be offered him vppon those respects But being a manfull of good and holy intentions only reioyced that he did obserue regular discipline in all things in an equall measure with the rest of his brethren But S. BENNET soone after he had ordayned Eosterwin Abbot of S. PETERS and Ceolfrid of S. PAVLS made his fift iourney out of England to Rome and happily returned home enriched as before with very memorable guifts of ecclesiasticall wealth His fift iourney to Rōme as bookes reliques of Saincts and pictures contayning the histories of the ould and new testament compared togeather and such like And amongst other things he brought two cloakes all of silk of an incomparable worke for which he purchased of King Aldfrid and his Councell for Egfrid was slaine in his absence the land of three families on the south side of the riuer Were But the ioyes he brought from abroade where mingled with sadnes at home for he found Eosterwin whom at his departure he had left Abbot of S. PETERS Monasterie and not a few of his monasticall flock to haue changed this world for a better being taken away by the pestilent furie of a sicknes which raged all
breade in Idlenes he laboured manie times with his owne hands in the tillage of his land III. AFTER the death of King Morken during whose raigne he was made Bishop the kinsmen of the same King like the sonnes of Beliall plotted and conspired his death whereof the holy man being admonished by reuelation from God he tooke his iourney into Southwalls which countrey was at that time richly beautified with the florishing vertues of S. DAVID with whom hauing spent some time he receaued of the King of that countrey called Cathwalla a peece of land to build a monasterie And hauing erected a He buildeth a monasterie monasterie at Elue in Flintshire he there constituted his Episcopall sea He gathered togeather in that monasterie the number of nine hundred threescore and odd Monks which all serued God vnder regular discipline in a verie strict and rigid manner of life Three hundred of the most vnlearned of them were deputed to the labour of husbandrie to toile and â—ill the fields and keepe sheepe other cattle other three hundred were employed in workes within the The manner of life of the ancieÌ„t moÌ„ks monasterie to prouide victualls and other necessaries and the rest which were sufficiently learned were allotted to the quier night and day to celebrate the diuine office and none of these were easily permitted to wander abroade but were bound to the limitts of their monasterie as to the Sanctuarie of our Lord. The holy Bishop diuided them into diuers companies or conuents and as one companie ended the diuine office in the Church an other presently entred to beginne the same againe and that hauing done comes a third companie in like manner soe that by the continuall succession of the diuers companies the diuine seruice was maintayned in that Church night and day without anie intermission Amongst these Monks there was one called Asaph a man of verie great vertue and a worker of manie miracles him S. KENTIGERNE loued aboue all the rest and for his vertuous life he deliuered vnto his hands the care of the monasterie and appointed him for his successour in the Bishoprick IV. THE HOLY man remayning on a time longer at his deuotions then his ordinarie custom was his face appeared fierie and glistening to the great admiration of the beholders and after his prayers were ended he fell into most grieuous lamentations which He hath a reuelation of S. Dauids death moued some of his disciples humbly to request him to declare the cause of his soe great sadnes To whom after a silent pawse You must know sayd he my deare children that the crowne and glorie of Britanie and worthy father of his countrey S. DAVID is now departed out of the prison of his bodie to receaue his rewards in heauen Beleeue me I beheld not only a great multitude of Angels but the Lord of Angels CHRIST IESVS him self come to meet him and leade him into the glorie of his heauenly paradise Know likewise that our Britanie being depriued of this her great light will groane for the losse of soe great a Patrone who Prayse of S. Dauid whilst he liued was the only buckler of our defence against the reuengefull sword of Gods iuste anger half drawne out to punish the malice of our Countrey and long since had not his vertue withheld it had made a generall slaughter amongst vs. Now therefore our Lord will deliuer this countrey into the hands of strange nations which neyther acknowledge him for God nor his religion for the truth And this our wretched Ile shall be inhabited He prophesieth the miserie of Brinie by Pagans and all Christian religion therein shall for a time be vtterly destroyed but afterwards by the wonderfull mercie of allmightie God all shall be repayred againe and the countrey reduced notonely into her auncient but into a farre better and more florishing state of religion V. THIS Blessed Sainct had bene seauen times at Rome where vnto S. GREGORIE the great afterwards Apostle of the English Bishops confirmed by the Pope he related the whole course of his life the manner of his election and consecration and all other chances which had befalne him The holy Pope vnderstanding him to be a man of God and ful of the grace of the holy Ghost confirmed his consecration which he knew to haue proceeded from God and supplieing according to his earnest desire such ceremonies as had bin omitted therein he dismissed him vnto his pious chardge by the holy Ghost inioyned VI. IN THE meane time death hauing exercised his reuenge on all the holie mans enemies in Albanie or Scotland the inhabitants thereof forsaking the way of truth and returning like doggs to feed vppon their owne vomitt fell againe into the riteâ— of flatt Idolatrie And therewithall the heauens and elements with drawing their vsuall influences caused a generall famine and dearth in their countrey Till at length allmightie God raysed a King named Redereth who hauing bin baptized in Ireland by the disciples of S. PATRICK with all his heart honoured allmightie God and studied by all meanes to restore his kingdom to the true faith of CHRIST He sent therefore messengers with letters directed vnto S. KENTIGERNE earnestly desiring him by the name and loue of our Lord to returne to his desolate flock that was left destitute of all care and cure affirming it to be a thing vnworthie for a pastour to forsake his sheepe a Bishop his Church for whose loue he ought to lay his soule at stake vnlesse he would turne a mercenarie who flies for feare of persecution Likewise he assured him that his enemies which sought his life had allreadie in seeking it lost their owne Therefore the holy man ordayning S. ASAPâ— his successour with six hundred and threescore of his Monks tooke his S. Kentigerne returned into Scotl. iourney towards Glasghn The king giuing thankes to allmightie God with a great multitude of people went to giue him the meeting and to receaue him with honour due vnto soe great a Sainct He hauing first giuen his benediction to the whole companie sayd All those whosoeuer enuie the saluation of men and are aduersaries vnto the word of God I commaund them by the vertue and power of our Lord IESVS CHRIST suddenly to depart hence lest they be an hinderance vnto those who will receaue the truth At Note a strainge miracle vertue of his words these words agreat multitude of most horrible and vglie spiritts was scene to flie out of that companie with wonderfull swiftnes at which sight they all trembled with the verie apprehension and feare But the Sainct exhorting them to take courage and comfort gaue them to vnderstand what goblins they did beleeue in and therevppon incited them to giue creditt vnto the true faith of IESVS CHRIST when in a short time by his continuall preaching and miracles he recouered all the inhabitants of that countrey out of the The fruits of his prechings black night of
Idolatrie to see the cleere day of Christs Ghospell And presently the heauens gaue them rayne and the earth which before was barren brought forth fruit in due season Allso he purged the countrey of the Picts now called Galloway from the blindnes of idolatrie and heresie he conuerted Albanie and founded there manie Churches and monasteries He sent some of his disciples to the Scottish Iles called Orkney to Norway and Island to His manie miracles bring vnto those nations the ioyfull tidings of CHRISTS Ghospell Wheresoeuer he him self eyther trauelled or preached he gaue sight to the blind hearing to the deafe speach to the dumbe cured the lame cast out deuills from possessed persons restored madmen to their senses healed leprosies palsies and all other diseases Some times by the only touching of his garments or taking some little particles of his meate or drinke manie sick persons recouered their desired health The Queene that had bin a long time sterile through his prayers obtayned a sonne of allmightie God who afterwards succeeding his father in the kingdom excelled all his predecessours in wealth and pietie VII S. COLVMB hearing the fame of S. KENTIGERNE came from his monasterie in the Island Hij with a great companie of his monks He maketh great league with S. Columb to visitt him and enter into a league of frienship and familiaritie with him And coming neere vnto the place where the holy Bishop was he diuided his whole companie into three troupes The Bishop likewise that came to meet him did in the same manner diuide his followers into three squadrons in the first he placed the iuniors or yonger sort in the second those of a middle age and in the third old aged men venerable in their gray hayres And as these two sacred armies of IESVS CHRIST marched towards each other they song spirituall hymnes and canticles on both sides and S. COLVMB to his followers I see sayd he ouer the third quier a fierie light in manner of a golden crowne to descend from heauen vppon the Bishops head But the two holy leaders of these troupes coming neere togeather saluted each other with mutuall embracings and holie kisses of loue and friendship in testimonie thereof they chainged their pastorall staues and the staffe which S. COLVMB gaue the Bishop was kept afterwards with great reuerence in S. WVLFERS Church at Rippon VIII A MIGHTIE great stone crosse being made for the Church-yard of Glasghn which could not be erected by mens strength was at A crosse sett vpp miraculously the prayer of the holie man sett vpp in the night by an Angel And in that place afterwards the diuine goodnes graunted perfect health vnto manie diseased persons that craued it by the meritts of S. KENTIGERNE He built a mille vppon the riuer Gladus that would neuer grinde anie stolne corne neyther could the stones or wheeles thereof by anie force be turned about from Saturday noone till munday morning IX AT LENGTH the holy man being soe farre spent with ould-age as his withered sinews did scarse hang his ioynts togeather and His last exhorta tion to his disciples perceauing that the hower of his death was at hand he called his disciples about him and exhorting them with a dieing voyce to the conseruance of true religion mutuall charitie peace and hospitalitie he gaue them an expresse and strict commaund firmely to obserue the decrees of the auncient holy fathers and euer to follow the institutions of the Catholick Roman Church When manie of his disciples who most dearely loued him falling prostrate before him cried out with weeping words Wee know deare father that thou doest desire to be dissolued from thy aged bodie to raigne with CHRIST but we humbly beseech thee to take pittie on vs whom thou hast gayned to the seruice of CHRIST ConfessioÌ„ of sinneâ— In whatsoeuer our humane frailtie hath offended we haue allwaies confessed vnto thee desiring to be corrected by the arbitrement of thy discretion Obtaine therefore of allmightie God that togeather with thee we may depart out of this vale of teares and miseries to the euerlasting ioyes of our deare Lord for vnto vs it seemeth a thing vnfitting that eyther a Bishop without his Cleargie a sheapheard without his flock or a father without his children should enter into the ioyes of his Lord. The holie man being moued with pittie fetching his breath as well as he was able The sacred will of God sayd he be fullfilled in vs all and according as he knowes best and as he pleaseth let his diuine prouidence dispose of vs all Herevppon being admonished by an Angel that his prayer was heard he was likewise willed to enter into a warme bath in which lifting vpp his hands and eyes towards heauen he resolued as it were into a sweet sleepe and yeelded vpp The manner of his death his blessâ—d soule into the hands of his Redeemer It pleased the heauenly wisedom to giue his seruant this pleasant kind of death whose life was a continuall martirdome His disciples hauing taken his body out of the bath manie of them entring therein had the fauour to follow their holie leader into the heauenly dwellings He died the thirteenth day of Ianuary about the yeare of our Lord 596. and in the hundred eightie fift yeare of his age when he had bin Bishop an hundred and threescore yeares famous for sainctetie and miracles He was buried in the Church of Glasghu at whose tombe all manner of diseases were miraculously cured His life was written by IOSGELINVS an auncient author IOANNES ANGLICVS and IOHN CAPGRAVE whom we haue followed Of him make mention NICHOLAS HARPSFIELD histor Ecclesiast sex primis saec cap. 28. ARNOLD WION and others The life of S. PETER Abbot of the holy order of Sainct BENEDICT IAN. 13. Out of venerable Bede PETER was a Roman Monk of S. BENEDICTS order and one of those which were sent by S. GREGORIE the great with our first Apostle S. AVGVSTIN to preach the Ghospell of CHRIST vnto the English natioÌ„ S. AVGVSTIN being consecrated Archbishop of Canturbury sent back Laurence and Peter his fellowes to bring newes vnto the holy Pope of their good successe in the conuersion of England and allsoe by his prudence and counsell to be resolued of some difficulties which arose in the planting of Catholick religion in that new Church This S. PETER at his returne into England was by the same S. AVGVSTIN ordayned the first Abbot of the Benedictin monasterie of Canturburie erected by King Ethelbert in honour of the Apostles S. PETER and S. PAVL Of the time and manner of his gouernement in this office we haue nothing certaine but that he led a verie vertuous and holy life it is manisest by that which S. BEDE writes of him At length sayth he being sent Embassadour into France he chaunced to be drowned in a gulfe of the sea betweene two câ—pes at a place called Ampleat and being by the inhabitants committed to
an ignoble buriall it pleased allmightie God to make knowne of how great meritt the holy man was by an heauenly light which appeared euerie night ouer his graue vntill the neighbours vnderstood thereby that certainly it was a holy man that lay buried there and being better informed who it was and whence he came they tooke away his bodie and carried it to the cittie of Bullein where it was buried in a Church after such reuerend and honourable manner as became soe worthy a holy man He died about the yeare of Christ 607. Of him doe make mention beside S BEDE TRITHEMIVS in his worke of the famous men of S. BENEDICTS order MOLANVS in his Catalogue of the Saincts of Belgia and others whom we haue followed The life of S CEOLVLPHE King and Confessor Monk of the holy order of S. BENEDICT IAN. 15. Out of venerable Bede de gest Angl. CEOLVLPH after the death of King Osrick was made King of the Northumbers but the beginning and progresse of his gouernement was encumbred with soe manie difficulties and aduersities that after some yeares triall thereof entring into a serious consideration with him self of the miserable vncertaintie and vncertaine miserie of mans life and perceauing how dangerous were the tumults and precipices of this world and that the greatest and most prosperous fortunes of Princes were most of all subiect to decline and chainge euen in a moment and calling to mind the strict and rigid accompt that we must render of all our thoughts and actions at the day of iudgement before the dreadfull tribunall of the all seeing Iudge he beganne soe farre to loathe the care of worldly things and soe to despise those vaine honours He resolueth to be a Benedictin monk that forsaking the Royall estate and robes of Maiestie he put on the poore weeds of a monasticall humilitie in the Benedictin monasterie of Lindissarne or Holy-Iland piously following herein the footsteps of six others his predecessors English Kings Now insteed of his crowne of gold the token of soueraigntie he wore his hayre shauen with a crowne made of the same as the badge of a punishing humilitie his royall sceptre by vertue whereof he bore sway and authoritie in the world was now turned to a breuiarie wherevnto he was wedded and he that before ruled a kingdome was now vnder the check and commaund of a poore monk his superiour for his chaines of gould which were the ornament of his princely body he is now content to vse a poore payre of beades and thereon daily to reckon the number of his allmost numberlesse deuotions He was a man in whom a great knowledge of things diuine and humane was ioyned with an excellent pietie and singular deuotion soe absolutely learned that venerable BEDE the greatest scholler His learning and pietie and writer of our nation dedicated his historie of England vnto him with the title of MOST GLORIOVS KING to be by his wisedom not only reuiewed and read but allso approued and if need were corrected The often reading of these bookes he being of him self much addicted vnto the knowledge of antiquities and especially of England was a spurre vnto him allreadie inclined therevnto to vndertake this monasticall life In which when he had liued the space of all most twentie yeares in the continuall exercise of pietie and deuotion he gaue vp his holy soule to receaue for a temporall kingdom an eternall amongst other blessed Kings whom the same pious considerations had caused to leaue their scepters purples to be ranged vnder the humble enseigne of S. BENEDICT The day of his death is vnknowne but how full of merits and good workes he died his buriall which was neere vnto His death the great Benedictin monk S. CVTHBERT and the manie miracles which it pleased God to shew at his tombe doe giue sufficient testimonie Afterwards his bodie togeather with S. CVTHBERTS was taken vp and placed in a rich shrine in a more eminent place Thus much of him we haue gathered out of venerable BEDE WILLIAM MALMESBVRY de gest Reg. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 3. BARONIVS tom 9. ann 737. NICOLAS HARPSFIELD saec 8. cap. 21. ARNOLD WION lib. 4. ligni vitae cap. 6. de Regibus regnis Benedictini ordinis and other graue Authours The life of S. FVRSEVS Abbot and Confessor of the holy order of S. BENEDICT IAN. 16. Out of venerable Bede FVRSEVS borne in Ireland of Royall parents but more ennobled by his vertues then his birth was famous for dignitie amongst his friends but excelling ouer the world in the speciall guift of diuine grace He was of a beautifull forme chast of bodie deuout in mind affable in discourse of an amiable aspect and replenished with grace and good workes brought vp from his verie infancie in the continuall studie of holy scripture and monasticall His youth and learning discipline And as he grew in yeares soe grew he allsoe in the daily increase of vertue and pious desires For the better accomplishment whereof he forsaked his parents friends and natiue soyle and betooke him self for the space of some yeares to the studie of holy scriptures in which in short time he became sufficiently well instructed But that the world might know that he did not only labour for him self but for all those that sought the truth he built a monasterie which serued as a free-schoole of vertue wherein he taught all that came vnto him the true way of saluation Great was the number of people that flocked togeather vnto this holy teacher of vertue by whose godly preaching and deuout exhortations manie were not only retired from their bad manner of life and brought into the right way of saluation but allsoe were subiected vnto the regular obseruance of a monasticall order Amongst these he was desirous to haue the companie of some of his owne kinsinen and for that end he made a iourney vnto his natiue countrey but in the way he happened to fall sick and in this sicknes his soule being as it were separated from her earthly lodging enioyed a most delightfull vision of Angels that seemed to lift him vp towards heauen were he beheld an infinite companie of heauenly citizens who with their sweet melodie filled his rauished vnderstanding with inestimable ioy and comfort The dittie of their A vision song was that versicle of the Psalme Ibuâ—t Sancti de virtute in virtutem viâ—ebitur Deus Deorum in Sion Holy men will proceed from vertue to vertue the God of Gods shall be seene in Sion This song they repeated often-times with such rauishing tunes as it is farre beyond the force of weake wordes to expresse But being restored to his bodie and him self againe about the time that the cock giues warning of the dayes approach he heard in steed of the melodious harmonie of the Angels the wofull lamentations and cries of his friends and kinsfollies who all this time had watched at his bodie which they supposed to be dead
condemne or frowne on such as did eate flesh but willingly permitted them affirming merrily that as for his owne part he had noe desire to that kind of meate and if anie flesh were pleasant to the tast his opinion was that larkes were most pleasing and daintie in the eating II. THE holy mans father whose name was Estan and his mother Wlsgeue long before they died agreed both to professe perpetuall chastetie His parēts professe religion and to liue separated vnder the holy habitt of religion which they as faithfully performed as they died happily whose pious example lest the fruict should degenerate from the tree WOLSTAN resolued to follow being of him self much inclined that way and much more incited thereunto by the good perswasions of his mother He taketh the habit of S. Benedict Therefore putting on a constant resolution he forsoke the world and in the monastery of Worcester where his father had liued before he receaued the habitt of S. BENEDICTS order by the hands of Brichthege then Bishop of the same place It was rare to behold how in his verie entrance into the cloister he began likewise to enter into a strict and religious course of life exercising him self soe brauely in watching fasting prayer and all other vertues that he suddenly appeared as a wonder amongst the rest of his brethren Herevpppon the good rule and gouernment of his owne life caused him to be chosen for Master and Guardian of the yonger Monkes or nouices and afterwards by reason of his skill in singing and knowledge of the Ecclesiasticall office he was made Cantour and Treasurer of the Church riches by which office hauing gotten occasion more freely to serue God he gaue him self totally to a contemplatiue life remayning night and day in the Church eyther at his prayers or reading spirituall bookes continually punishing his body with a fast of two or three daies togeather soe giuen to holie watchings that not only a day and a night but sometimes which saith Roger Houedon a graue Authour we could scarse beleene had His won derfull vvatching we not heard it related by tradition from his owne mouth he spent fower nights and fower daies without taking anie sleepe in soe much that the drienes of his braine had like to putt him in danger of life had he not speedily satisfied nature with some desired rest And when weake nature forced him thereunto he would not foster his wearied bones in a soft bed but was wont to take a little sleepe lieing on a bench in the Church with his prayer-booke vnder his head in steed of a pillow III. BVT after some time Agelwin the Prior of the Monastery bing dead WOLSTAN by the election of the Monkes and the authoritie He is chosen Prior. of Alred the Bishop was constituted and ordayned Priour in his place which office most worthily he performed not forgetting allwaies to keepe in practise the austerity of his former conuersation yea to giue the greater example of life vnto others he encreased it more and more Three dayes in the weeke he abstained from tasting anie meate at all obseruing continuall silence the other three dayes his diet was rootes or herbes boyled and barly bread Whilst he shineth in this high degree of vertue and pietie the deuill enuying soe great goodnes assaulted him with a most horrible temptation For praying one night in the Church before the high aultar that wicked enemie of mankind appearing in the forme of a feruant at Court with cruell importunitie chalenged him to wrestle the holy man though already tired with patience yet in his owne defence he grappled with him and that soe stoutly as three seuerall times he layd him along to receaue a rude salutation on the pauement He wrestleth with the deuill yet in the last encounter he was soe breathlesse with the extremitie of labour that panting and gasping for wind he had allmost fallen into a sound But the diuine clemencie was present to his ayde and draue away that hellish monster to his place appointed and WOLSTAN perceauing him soe suddenly vanished then first vnderstood that it was the deuill whom before he tooke for a seruingman at whose only sight euer after he would waxe pale and tremble and quake all his bodie ouer with the very feare and thought of what had past in this encounter Which in him was much to be admired who otherwise was a man of a mightie courrage soe farre His great courage voyd of anie feare as he was wont to say he knew not what it meant For he would ride ouer bridges that were broken and dangerous neuer allighting from his horse and securely walke along the narrow ridges of high buildings without anie feare that we may worthily say of him Justus vt Leo confidens A iust man is confident Prou. 28. v. 1. as a Lion IV. A LADIE very rich and beautifull was soe farre besotted with a frantick and vnlawfull loue to the holy man and soe cruelly He is tēpted by a lasciuious woeman vexed therewith as her impure desire forced her beyond the limitts of shame and brought her to such a degree of impudency that she tore the vayle of modestie and layd open her filthie desire vnto him praying and entreating him with sighs and teares of sond loue to remitt a while his wonted rigour and voutchafe to take a tast of the delight of her bed-chamber More she would haue sayd but the holy man who thought she had allready sayd to much rose vp in a zealous anger and quickly cutt off the threed of her vnchast discourse He reiected her and arming his forehead with the signe of the crosse Pack hence sayd he thou wicked firebrand of lust daughter of death and vessell of Satan and thereat with all his force he gaue her such a smart blow on the face which though it heated her cheeke yet it cooled her foule desires that the sound thereof was heard all ouer the house And by this meanes like an other vndefiled Ioseph refusing to consent to her vile and wanton allurements he bridled the vnchast desires of her heart with the smart of an outward punishment V. HE WAS wont euerie Sonday with great care and deuotion He preacheth euerie Sunday publickly to preach the word of God vnto the people at which one of the monks being without iust cause disconteted reprooued him saying that it was the office of the Bishop only to preach and teach and that it better became a Monk as he was to keepe silence within his cloister and not to gadde abroade and putt his sicle into other mens haruest The holy man answeared The word of God is not bound 2. Tim. 2. and nothing is more gratefull then to preach CHRISTS Ghospell and reduce his people out of errour into the true waie therefore he would not desist from soe good a worke But the night following that Monke receaued the iust punishment of his boldnes being in a
sight and â—illed the pitts of her eyes with a masse of superfluous substance But hauing receaued S. Wolâ—tan benediction she opened her â—ylidds againe and obtained her desired â—ight XII One Elsine that sometimes had bin a seruant vnto holy King Enwaâ—d intreated the good Bishop to conâ—ecrate a new Church In the Church-yard grew a great 〈◊〉 tree which spreading The vertue of S. wolstans malediction her branches to 〈◊〉 extraâ—â— dinaâ—â—â— breadth cast a verie large and pleasant shadow on the ground but withall much darkened the Church windowes Vnder this tree Elâ—â—â— was wont to play at dâ—ee and banquet with his friends and therefore would by noe meanes according to the Bishops 〈◊〉 â—â—d permâ—t it to be cuâ—t downe but sayd that he had rather the Church should remayne vnconsecrated then no giue way vâ—â—â— such as he thought a pittifull act Therefore holy Wolstan câ—â—â— the 〈◊〉 of his â—alediction against that tree which as iâ— were wounded therewith waxed barren by little and little and in a short time â—ithered and dried vp to the very 〈◊〉 Whereat the Owner iâ— a rage commaunded it to be cutt dowâ—e protesting that nothing was more â—itter then Worstans malediction and nothing more sweete then his blessing XIII A 〈…〉 s â—able was 〈◊〉 observed a conâ—â—nuall lecture of such Reading at his table bookes as might edifie the heareâ—s during which cuâ—rie man kept great silence And after meate that he might impart spirituall foode vnto their soules whose bodies he had â—edd with nourish met he would expound the lesson that had bin reade in his mother tongue But after dinner when according to the custom they brought wine to the table he would only take pure water none knowing there of but his seruant In his yonger yeares he dranke pure water only in his ould age he began to mingle it with a 〈…〉 e wine or beere He seuerely obserued order and discipline in his house as well with his secular as Ecclehasticall persons his law was that all The discipline of his house should be present both at Masse and all other howers of the office He appointed guardians of purpose to watch that noe man should laugh vnpunished otherwise he eyther wanted his drink that day or receaued a sharp blow on the hand with a paâ—â—mer or ferula Whensoeuer on busines he sent anie of his seruants abroade he strictly enioyned them to say their prayers seauen times a day affirming that as the Monks their seauen flowers soe the lay men ought to offer seauen prayers a day vnto God Whosoeuer swore an oath in his presence straight without anie intermission felt the reuenge of the paâ—â—mer He would be much mooued if anie man before him did back bite and detract other mens liues or carpe at their manners for this he iudged to be a part of extreame malice XIV He was wont euerie night after a short sleepe to rise out of his bed and recite his psalter sometimes alone fearing to hinder His nightly prayers others rest sometimes with one of his Monks whom he perceaued to be more vigilant then the rest One night he sharply rebuked the drowsines of the brother that recited with him who neuerthelesse did not seeke to driue away his heauines but sate gaping and yawning at his prayers with the signe of an vnwilling mind Afterwards when that Monke betooke him self to his rest in bed he was in a vision shaken out of his sleepe and being well lasht with stripes by an vnknowne hand he was iustly punished for his lazines till in the end he faithfully promised neuer more to hinder the holy man in his pious deuotions The holy Bishop was wont to heare at least two Masses euerle day and to sing the third him self Being to take His daily exercise of deuotion anie iourney he was noe sooner on horseback but he began to say his psalter and neuer paused till he came to the end His Chamberlaine had store of almes alwaies in a readines whereof he was neuer to denie the needie that askt it Wheresoeuer he lay stood or walked some deuout psalme or himne was allwaies in his mouth and the figure of CHRIST in his heart In euerie one of his villages he had a little closett where he kept close allwaies after Masse till his Cleark called him eyther to dinner or howers When he remayned at home in Worcester he would allwaies sing high Masse in his weeke and manie other times he would supplie the place of the Hebdomadarie or weekly Priest therein which office he sayd that he more esteemed He would sing masse in his turne then his Bishoprick and he would chose rather to be depriued of this then exempted from the other He was allwaies present at the Monkes collation whence he would goe with them to the Church and the benediction at the end of Compline as the manner is being giuen he retires himself to his lodging XV. WHEN his Monks remooued to a larger and fayrer Church which he him self had erected looking on the destruction of the old one built by S. OSWALD he could not containe him self from wâ—â—ping wherevppon being modestly reprooued that he ought rather to reioyce since in his time soe great an honour and increase happened to his Church and that by the abundant number of Monkes the buildings were likewise enlarged I consider it farre otherwise His wonderfull humilitie sayd he to wirt that we wretched sinners doe destroie the workes of our holy predecessors thereby to purchase all the praise and glorie vnto our selues That innocent age was not acquainted with glorious and stately edifices but in those daies men were contented to sacrifice them selues vnto allmightie God and by their example draw their subjects to the like vnder the defence of anie poore homely roofe When we neglecting the care of mens soules doe striue only to eternise our names in raysing vp high towers and stable buildings to heauen Thus out of the glorie of his owne â—â—roiqâ—e deeds would he gather the rich basenes of humilitie XVI HE HAD an admirable grace in composing of discorde 〈◊〉 bringing dissentious people within the lawes of loue and friendship to which purpose making sermon on a time he touched manie soe to the quick that they who were bitter enemies before returned to a mutuall league of friendship But amongst the rest there was one who feared not to bragge openly that he would neuer depose the enmitie and hatred he had conceaued against his enemie to whom the Bishop fayling by anie perswasions or fayre meanes to bring him to an attonement sayd Blessed saith CHRIST are the peace-makers for they shall be called the children of God Is it not manifest Matt. 5. then that all peace-breakers and such as by noe reason will be reduced to make peace may be called yea and are the sonnes of the deâ—â—ill To him therefore whose sonne thou art for thy contumacic 1. Cor. 5. I committ thee and deliuer
the rules of a monasticall life The monasterie was called Llancarnanan that is the seruice of Harts because it is reported that in that work he had wild Harts familiar and obedient vnto him There in very great abstinence he led a solitarie life night and day applying him self vnto the contemplation of heauen and heauenly things But the same of his learning and sainctitie was a cause that manie famous men flocked vnto him and putt themselues into the ranke of his schollers and by the instructions of soe good a master made a wonderfull progresse both in learning and vertue Amongst these was Gildas surnamed the Wise and Ellenius that afterwards succeeded him in the gouernment of the monasterie and manie others II IN HIS time a certaine Captaine or Duke of the BritaÌ„s hauing slaine A Duke flieth to him for Succor three of noble king Arthurs souldiers was compelled being cruelly persecuted by the king to flie for refuge to S. CADOCK who comiserating his case verie courteously entertained him till the king being somwhat pacified at the holie mans entreaties it was determined by the iudges of the Countrey that to redeeme the men slaine he should giue for each one three of his best kine according to the auncient law of the Britaines But King Arthur refusing to take such kine a were of one colour with much wrangling demaunded such as had their fore parts red and hinder partes diuersly spotted with white black wherevppo the nine beasts were by the paayers of S. CADOCK chainged into the forenamed colours and presently againe in the kings owne sight turned into soe manie buÌ„dells or faggotts of fearne Whereat much astonished he humbly demaunded pardon for his vniust demaund Manie other wonderfull miracles are reported to haue been done by the prayers of this holy man which bicause they seeme to be not verie authentically reported are wittingly ommitted Only this we haue that being afterwards made Bishop he desired of allmightie God to passe out of this life throngh martirdoÌ„ which was graunted him For as he celebrated the misterie of the dreadfull sacrifice of He is martired daying maâ—le at the Aultar the masse a tirannous ring leader of an armie of other wicked spirits wasting and spoyling the towne were he liued a knight of this blouddie compaine ruled by a madding furie ranne into the Church and with his lanuce pearced the fides of the holie man at the aultars who with his hands lifted vp to heauen recommended his soule vnto allmightie God and earnestly crauing pardon for his murderers departed out of this world to receaue a place amongst the holy Martirs in heauen the twentie fourth day of January about the year of our Lord fiue hundred seauentie In the raigne of Malgocune ouer the tottering state of Britanie The memorie of this sainct is conserued to these our dayes in manie Churches in Wales and one in Glocester-shire dedicated to his name and honour By an other name he t was called Sophias which gaue occasion of errour to the Authour of he English Martirologe when he makes Cadock and Sophias to be diuers Saincts His life we haue gathered out of IOANNES ANGLICVS recited by IOHN CAPGRAVE Nicolas Harpsfield saec 6. cap. 27. and others The life of S. BATHILDE Queene and Nunne of the holy order of S. BENEDICT IAN. 26. Written by an author of the same time The Authours Prologue BY how much the vertuous life of widddowes is more famous in meritts by soe much it is worthier of prayse in the mouth of the world for they noe sooner shew an example of pious conuersation vnto others but they stirre vpp the tongues of all to celebrate their praises Calling therefore to mind the excellent vertues and meritts of the glorious and religious widdow worthiest Queene S. BATHILDE once wife to the famous king of France Clodouens let vs giue praise and glorie vnto IESVS CHRIST our Redeemer who is allwaies knowne to be wonderfull in his saincts and to lay open the way of iustice vnto vs not only by men but by the frailtie of woemen allsoe he sheweth both to vs and to all those that loue him rare examples of religion and vertue For indeed our God hath a speciall care of all and will haue none of those to perish that he hath redeemed by the shedding of his owne pretious bloud Holy men he exhorteth to remaine in their Sainctitie and admonisheth sinners to forsake their sinnes and follow good workes that they may walk the high way to heauen Which being vnderstood and well vnderstood by this venerable Ladie she studied with great care to fullfill it for she was both religious and verie deuout towards God and taking vppon her the care of the Churches and the poore with a wonderfull courage of mind she stoutly gouerned the Palace and vncontrolled she ruled the Kingdom of France in soe much that her owne deserts exacting it she was reuerenced of all the Bishops Peeres and People through out her Kingdom with more then ordinary loue and affection The renowne of whose life because she was borne in England I haue here sett forth amongst our English Saincts I. S. BATHILDE descended by byrth from the noble bloud of the Saxons in England but being taken away in her youth not without the particular prouidence of allmightie God and as a prey carried into France she was sould at a rate farre to base for soe incomparable a parcell of marchandise There this pretious and admirable iewell of God was first entertained by a famous Prince of the French by name Erchinoaldus then chief ruler of the Kings Pallace in whose seruice being but yong she behaued her self soe decently that her She serueth the Prince Erchinoald vertuous conuersation and admirable condition was verie pleasing both to the Prince and all his familie For she was of a generous mind most chast in her behauiour sober prudent and friendly plotting harme to none In her speech neyther light nor presumptuous but guiding all her actions with the sinceritie of a noble witt The forme of her bodie was correspondent to the nobilitie of her byrth verle gratefull and beautifull to all beholders of a countenance merrie and constant and in her gate graue In a word she behaued her self in all things soe well becoming her self that she pleased the Prince Erchinoald infinitely and gott great fauour in his sight in soe much that he appointed her to waite at his elbow where often times she playd the part of an honest cuppbearer carefully filling wine vnto him She grew not proud with this fauour but rather being well grounded in humilitie became more obedient and louing to all her coÌ„panions seruing her elders with such reuerence as she disdained not with her owne hands to vntie pull of their shoes at night and make them cleane to prouide them water to wash and the like all which works of humilitie she did exercise with a prompt and willing mind By this her
came not to passe soe much by their counsels as by the secret prouidence of the diuine wisedome to the end her intended deuotion might by some occasion be fullfilled according to her desire Being therefore conueyed by some of the most auncient Princes of France vnto the long desired monasterie of Chelles and there by the Nunnes honourably receaued into their companie she gaue heartie She becometh a Nunne thankes vnto allmightie God who hithereunto had preserued her vnder the shadow of his holy protection and now had brought her vnto the sweet hauen of her desires Now she that before swayed the Her obedience scepter of France submitted her self to the obedience of a poore Abbesse as her mother appearing to the rest of her sisters not as a mistresse but as a discret seruant in all things pioufly bearing a seruiceable dutie vnto them And with such courage of mind she shewed Her humilitie vnto all an example of sincere humilitie that in her turne she would serue her sisters according to S. BENEDICTS rule in the office of the kitchin washing and clensing all implements therevnto be longing and performing all other base offices of the house And these acts of humilitie she did with a merrie and willing mind for the pure loue of him that sayth in the Ghospell J came not to be serued but to serue For what heart could euer think that the height of soe Mat. 20. v. 28. great power should become a feruant in things soe base and abiect vnlesse the mightie loue of CHRIST had graunted this speciall grace vnto her With teares she daily insisted at her deuotions and prayers and often times frequented her spirituall lecture and in her visitations of the sick which were verie frequent her custom was to impart some pious consolation and godly exhortation vnto them Her charitie She was soe well practified in the studie of charitie as she sorrowed with the sorrowfull reioyced with the ioyfull and for the weake and sickly she would often with humilitie putt the Abbesse in mind Rom. 12. to gett them prouided with necessarie helpes both for bodie and soule whose pious desire she like a good mother did very carefully see performed for indeed according to the rule of the Apostles Act. 4. they had but one heart and one soule soe dearely and tenderly they loued each other in the true loue of IESVS CHRIST VI. IN THE meane time this blessed woeman beganne to be afflicted She falleth sick with a sicknes of bodie and to labour grieuously with a certaine griping in the gutts which had brought her neere her end had not the grief bin something asswaged by the power of phisick But allthough the force of her paine did cruelly torment her tender bodie yet she ceased not out of the puritie of a holy conscience to giue thankes vnto the heauenly phisitian who succoureth those that labour in tribulation and from whom she confidently expected to receaue the euerlasting rewards of her suffering And shewing her self a great example of vertue vnto others she studied to giue her sisters a patterne of true pietie obedience and humilitie often admonishing the Abbesse to be likewise mindfull of her dutie towards the King and Queene and other Nobles their friends that the house of God might not loose the good name fame it had gotten but rather encease it more and more in the true affection of charitie towards their friends and chiefly to gett strength and constancie in the sacred loue of God and their neighbours for according to S. PAVL We ought alsoe to haue the good testimonie of those which are 1. Tim. 3. without But aboue all by the mercie and loue of IESVS CHRIST she recommended vnto her to haue a verie speciall care of the poore and of strangers VII THEREFORE the death of this holy Sainct being at hand there appeared a famous vision vnto her in which she beheld a ladder standing vp right before the altar of the B. Virgin Marie the Her vision before she died topp whereof seemed to reach vnto the heauens and manie Angels ascended thereon which seemed to accompanie and leade her herself to the neuer dieing ioyes of Paradise O truely happie who in her iourney had Angels her companions This is the ladder which she erected to heauen in her life time These are her fellow Angels whom by her exercise of good workes she made her friends The degrees of this ladder are the twelue degrees of humilitie contained in the holy rule of S. BENEDICT which she professed by the continuall exercise whereof she deserued to be exalted to the cleere vision of of CHRIST IESVS the master of all humilitie By this vision the holy woeman plainly vnderstood that shortly she was to leaue this world and take her iourney thither where long since she had hidden her greatest and chiefest treasure commaunding those that had bene eye witnesses of the vision to conceale it from the rest of her sisters that they might not be contristated vntill it pleased allmightie God to call her vnto him In midst of these ioyes she beganne more and more with pietie and alacritie of mind to insist at her prayers neuer ceasing with humilitie and compunction of heart to recommend her self vnto her heauenly King CHRIST IESVS and hiding as much as she was able the vehemency of her grief she consorted the Abbesse Bertilia and the rest of her sisters with some hope of her recouerie easing them hereby of a present sorrow which afterwards tooke them before they expected it VIII BVT perceauing within a short time after that now she She yeeldeth vp her soule was to pay nature her due and feeling the violence of her payne to be readie to cutt asunder the vnion of her soule and body confidently arming her self with the signe of our redemption and lifting vp her hands and eyes towards heauen she yeelded vp her blessed soule out of the teadious fetters of the bodie to be crowned with the diadem of eternall glorie For at the same instant a diuine splendour She is caried into heauen by Angels shined ouer all the chamber and with that verie light there appeared to the standers by a troupe of Angels with whom came her faithfull friend Genesins the Bishop to meet her and by this heauenly troupe her blessed soule long tried in the furnace of affliction was caried vpp out of their sight to receaue the rewards of her holy meritts amongst the Angels and Saincts in heauen She was buried in the little Church which she had built in honour of the holy Crosse But afterwards the manie miracles wrought at her tombe were cause that her bodie was taken vp and translated into the great Church of our Ladie which was not finished in her life time where it is kept with great reuerence in a rich shrine ouer the high aultar and manie times I my self haue seene it solemnly caried in procession This holy Nunne and
great benefactour of S. BENEDICTS order died the thirtith day of January but her feast is celebrated this day She flourished about the yeare of our Lord 669. Besides the authour of her life extant in the first tome of LAVRENCE SVRIVS whom we haue followed the Roman Martirologe VSVARD BARONIVS tom 〈◊〉 ann 665. TRITHEMIVS of the famous men of S. Benedicts order lib. 3. c. 112. and manie others doe largely celebrate her prayses The life of S. SEXVLPH Bishop and Confessor of S. BENEDICTS order IAN. 28. THIS holy man was the first Abbot and in some kind founder of the Benedictine Abbey of Medishamsted dedieated to S. PETER which afterwards by reason of the greatnes was called Peterborough In which office hauing for some yeares dischardged the By his per swasion king wulfere built this Abbey part of a good and religious Prelat by the authoritie of Theodore Archbishop of Canturbury he was consecrated Bishop of Lichfield in place of Winfrid deposed from that Sea for his disobedience He gouerned his people with verie great sainctetie of life and examples of good workes for the space of three yeares when being loaden with vertuous deeds he left this world to take his place among his fellow Benedictin Monks in heauen about the yeare of our Lord 700. MATHEW WESTMINSTER ann 614. HARPSFIELD saec 7. c. 23. ARNOLD WION lib. 2. c. 46. TRITHEMIVS in his worke of the famous men of S. BENEDICTS order lib. 4. cap. 158. CAMDEN in desoritt com Northampt. and others make worthie mention of S. SEXVLPH The life of S. GYLDAS Abbot and Confessor IAN. 29. Out of an anncient authour recited by Iohn Capgraue GYLDAS borne in that part of Brittanie now called Scotland and one of the twentie fower sonnes which a King of that countrey had by one wife was from his youth of a verie vertuous disposition and much inclined to the knowledge of all manner of learning for the better obtaining of his desire therein he passed ouer into France where he employed seauen yeares in the continuall studie of all goods sciences and returned into Britanie loaden with great store of bookes and learning But to the end he might with more freedom attend vnto the contemplation of heauenly He goeth into Frace to studie things he with drew him self from the tumults of the world into a solitarie place of aboade where he led the life of an hermite continually chastising his bodie with fasting prayer watchings and hayre-cloath Yet his vertue could not lie soe hidd but that manie were drawne to him with the noyse of his great fame to be instructed both in religion and learning and at their departure they serued as trumpetts to inuite others vnto him such great content they receaued in his vertuous life and rare learning Whatsoeuer guifts he receaued from the charitie of the richer sort he allwaies distributed vnto the poore contenting him self with the riches of his His great austerity of life owne pouertie He neuer tasted anie flesh his ordinarie foode was herbes and barly bread mingled with ashes in steede of spice his drinke pure water out of the fountaine His continuall abstinence had brought his face to such leannes that he all waies appeared like a man that had a feauer At midnight his custome was to enter into the riuer vpp to the neck and in that sort he powered out his prayers to almighty God while his teares stroue with the streames which should runne fastest afterwards he repaired to his oratorie and spent the rest of the night in prayer His cloathing was one single garment in which only he tooke his rest lieing vppon the downe of a hard rock Hauing taught manie both in word and deed to follow the rules of good life he departed into Jreland where he conuerted a great multitude of that rude people to the faith of CHRIST Shortly after returning into Britanie he found his brother Howell slaine by King Arthur who humbly crauing pardon of his fault receaued from the Sainct a salutation of peace friendship and forgiuenes He was a perpetuall enemie vnto the Pelagian Hereticks and to be the better informed against them and their doctrine he made a iourney Against heresies he consulteth the Roman Church to the fountaine of true religion Rome and returned not only better instructed against them him self but able to fortifie and strengthen others with such sound principles of Catholicke religion that they might easily defend their cause against all the vaine batteries and proud bull warks of heresie II. AT LENGTH he built a little Church vppon a rock in an Iland neere vnto the riuer Seauerne where spending his time night He buildeth an ermitage and day in continuall prayer he kept his mind wholly vacant and free from the world and worldly creatures seriously attending the contemplation of the diuine goodnes of his Creatour But being in such want of fresh water that he had noe other store but what was retained after a shower in little holes of the rock he made his prayer to allmightie God who sent him a cleere spring of water gâ—shing out of the same place But by the frequent iniuries and incursions He departeth to Glasten bury of Pirats he was compelled to depart from hence to Glastenbury being honourably receaued of the Abbott he instructed the Monkes and people thereabouts in the science both of humane diuine things and building a little Church not farre from thence he led there an eremiticall life in great austeritie and penance Vnto whom as vnto an oracle manie came from all parts of Britanie to partake of his wisedome and learning He whose holy desires tended only towards heauen striued with all the force of eloquence he could to diuert their minds from the transitorie things of this world and settle them on the only consideration of heauen Hauing in this manner spent some yeares in this habitation the holy man fell into a grieuous sicknes which made him quickly vnderstand that the hower of his death was nigh therefore earnestly desiring of the Abbot to haue his bodie buried at Glastenbury and recommending his soule vnto the hands of allmightie God he left this miserable world to receaue his reward in a better the twentie ninth day of January in the yeare of our Lord 512. His bodie according to his desire was buried at Glastenbury in the middest of the ould Church Of this holy Sainct make mention MATHEW WESTMINST N. HARPSFIELD saec 6. cap. 23. IOHN CAPGRAVE and others whom we haue followed The life of S. BIRSTAN Bishop and Confessor IAN. 30. Out of William Malmesbury and Westminster SAINCT BIRSTAN being a man of most pure and sincere life was chosen Bishop of Winchester where he ruled the space of fower yeares He was wont euerie day to sing or say Masse for the soules departed and by night without anie feare he would walke about the Church-yard reciting psalmes and other prayers to the same end And as once in his
wonted deuotions he went this round Masse and prayers for the dead and added to the end of his prayers Requiescant in pace he heard from the ground the voyces as it were of an infinite armie that answeared Amen Whereby he found his labours and prayers to be verie gratefull and profitable vnto the soules departed The same holy man being an ardent follower of our Lords example would euerie day without anie spectatours execute acts of profound humilitie in washing with his owne hands the feete of diuers poore people couering them a table giuing them sufficiencie of meate and at length His works of humilitie as their deuout seruant taking away what was left This seruice being finished and his poore guests dismissed he would remaine in the same roome the space of two or three howers at his prayers Vntill once entring according to custom to exercise these pions offices not hauing bene before troubled with signe of anie sicknes suddenly vnknowne to all his soule departed out of his mortall lodging The māner of his death leauing it void of all vitall spiritt His familie and seruants that had long bene acquainted with his customs thinking that then he was alsoe busied at his prayers let him lie there a whole day And the next morning breaking into his chamber they found a dead bodie starke and stiffe without anie signe of life Therefore with great cryes and lamentations they buried him in the Church of Winchester But the Citizens of the towne because they sawe him intercepted by a kind of suddaine death buried the worthie memorie of the holy man in the deepe caues of silence being ignorant that it is written The man that liueth well cannot die ill And by what Sap. 4. death soeuer the iust man shall be preuented and ouertaken he shall be in a place of refreshing and comfort But a long time after this their rashnes was corrected by the allmightie power of him that cannot erre for to Ethelwold Bishop of the same place as one night he watched and He appeareth to S. Ethelwold prayed according to his custom before the reliques of the Saincts in the Church of Winchester there appeared three persons which stood by him not in an extasie but fully awake The middest of the three spake these words I am BIRSTAN in times past Bishop of this cittie This on my right hand is BIRINE the first preacher and that on my left is SWITHINE the speciall Patron of this Church and Cittie And thou must know that as thou seest me here present with them soe doe I enioy the same glorie with them in heauen Why therefore am I depriued of the honour and reuerence of mortall men who am highly exalted in the companie of heauenly spirits Saincts are to honoured At these words they vanished and euer after by the commaundement of S. ETHELWOLD his memorie was celebrated with great veneration By this we may learne that holy men the prouidence of heauen soe disposing may sometimes be taken away by suddaine death and not without a speciall fauour in getting by a minute of paine that which others cannot obtaine but by manie yeares torments of sicknes This holy man was consecrated B. an 932. died in the yeare of our Lord 934. Thus much of him we haue gathered out of WILLIAM MALMESBVRY lib. 2. de Pontific Angl. and MATHEW WESTMINSTER ann 932. NICHOLAS HARPSFIELD saec 10. cap. 8. POLIDORE VIRGILL lib. 6. ARNOLD WION lib. 2. lig vitae and others mak◠worthie mention of him The life of S. WILGIS Confessor and Monk of the holy order of S. BENEDICT IAN. 31. Out of S. Alcuinus in the life of S. willibrord THERE was in that part of the Brittsh Iland called Northumberland a househoulder named Wilgis by byrth a Saxon or Englishman who hauing bene naturall father vnto WILLIBRORD afterwards a Sainct and Archbishop of Vtreight as if he had perfourmed the whole dutie of his mariage resolued both he and his wife to leaue the world and vndertake a religious course of life which holy purpose how vertuously he accōplished was by miracles afterwards sufficiently testified and made knowne to the world For hauing left his secular garments he putt on the black monasticall habitt of the holy order of S. BENEDICT and made profession of a Monk not He taketh the habit of S. Benedict vppon a forced seruice but out of a true will and desire to religion And because in leauing his house and temporall goods enrouling him self into a spirituall warrefare in the campe of IESVS CHRIST he had vndertaken a perfect life he would not therefore be backward in what he professed but in all things shewed him self to be a most perfect seruant vnto the deare master he serued But when he had for a while giuen a patterne of his vertuous life in the schoole of the monasterie he became soe braue a souldier that the rudnes of the fearefull desert could not afright him for shutting vp him self within the limitts of a streight and narrow cottage that stoode between He leadeth an eremiticall life the Ocean and the riuer Humber dedicated to S. ANDREW the Apostle he laboured in the exercise of a solitarie conuersation and imitating his grand master S. BENEDICT he led a heauenly and angelicall life on earth in purenes exceeding the ruddie blush of the rose or the whitenes of the fayre lillie but delightfully shining with a more sweete varietie of vertues then doth a doue in the beames of the sunne with diuersitie of colours Within a short space his desire to lie hid was betrayed by the wonder of his frequent miracles and his name was blowne soe farre abroade with the trumpet IAN. 31. of fame till it arriued at the Kings Court and sounded such an alarum all ouer the countrey of Scotland that great store of people flocked vnto him whom he neuer sent away emptie but allwaies loaden with the sweet instructions and admonitions of his heauenlie learning The fame of his vertue drawes manie schollers being compelled herevppon to labour sometimes in a contemplatiue and other times in a practicall manner of life He became at last of soe great esteeme and honour with the King and Nobles of the Realme that they gaue him the possession of some lands neere adioining and bestowed manie other rich guifts vppon him by help whereof he built an honourable Church on the Sea side in honour of the B. Virgin MARIE and gathered togeather a Conuent of Beuedictine Monks small in number but great in the exercise of true vertue and religion These he gouerned as Abbott with all sainctitie of He buildeth a monasterie life doctrine vntill the diuine clemencie willing to set a period to the conflicts of his holy labours absolued this his worthy champion from the most painfull warrefare of this present life to raigne in his heauenly Court which soe long he had thirsted for and desired He was very honourably buried
Christian religion soe nobly layd and by his frequent preaching exhortations and continuall examples of pious workes he endeauoured to aduance them to due height of perfection Neyther did he only His care of all the Churches take the chardge and care of the new Church of the English but was allsoe verie sollicitous and carefull of the auncient inhabitants of Britaine not forgetting allsoe to be a pastorall gardian of the Scotts and Irish. For vnderstanding the manner of life and profession of faith of the Britans and Scotts to be in manie things scarse Ecclesiasticall and chiefly that they did not celebrate their Easter in due time but iudged it to be obserued between the fourteenth of the Moone and the twentith he togeather with his fellow-Bishops writt vnto them an epistle of exhortation desiring and coniuring them to keepe the same vnitie of peace and Catholicke obseruance which was obserued in the Church of CHRIST ouer all the world Of which his Epistle this was the beginning His Epistle to the Scotish or Irish Bishops LAVRENCE MELLITVS and IVSTVS seruants of the sernants of God vnto our most deare brothren the Bishops and Abbotts throughout all Scotland When the Sea Apostolicke according to the accustomed manner thereof which is to send to all parts of the world directed vs into these Westerne quarters to preach the word of God vnto Pagans and heathens and we happened to enter this Iland called Britaine indging before we knew that all who were Christians walked according to the custom of the vntuersall Church we honoured with great reuerence of sainctitie as well the Britans as the Scotts But now hauing had some knowledge of the Britans errours we iudged better of the Scotts Till we vnderstood by Dagamus Bishop that came into this foresayd Iland and by Columban Abbot in Fraunce that the Scotts in their conuersation doe nothing differre from the Brittans For Dagamus Bishop being here refused not only to eate with vs but would not tast anie meate vnder the same Roofe with vs c. In like manner S. LAVRENCE togeather with his other fellow-Bishops sent letters worthie his calling vnto the Priests of the Britans whereby he endeauoured to reduce them to the vnitie of the Catholick Church But all his labour profitted little so obstinate and peruerse they were in their fore-taken opinions II. IN the meane time a most grieuous tempest and perturbation arose in the Church For B. Ethelbert King of Kent being dead Eabald his successour vtterly destroying his Fathers holie institutions of A perturbaâ—â—on in the English Chur. Christianitie ranne hedlong into all manner of vice and wickednes marrying his stepmother he liued in that foule fornication which the Apostle soe highly detested in the Corinthian Together with him the Noblemen and manie of the people choosing rather to offend God then not to follow the Kings fashioÌ„ fell as the manner is from their Catholick institution into all manner of loosenes and lewdnes of life and religion To augment these miseries about the same time Sigebert King of the East-Angles being dead his sonnes fell from the Catholick religion which in their Fathers time they seemed to approoue into the flatt profession of their ancient Idolatrie Therefore in the midst of these soe great difficulties the holy Monks Bishops Mellitus of London and Justus of Rochester mett at Canturbury to deliberate with S. LAVRENCE what was best to be done At length they were brought to such straights that they determined rather to returne into their owne countrey there to serue God in peace and quietnes then to loose their labours among these barbarous people soe rebellious to the faith of CHRIST Mellitus and Justus departed into France there to expect what would be the euent of these mi The Bishops flie into Frace series whom S. LAVRENCE promised shortly to follow vnlesse the wickednes of the time did change In the meane space he ceased not to admonish and perswade the King and people with all the force of arguments he could inuent that they ought not soe silthyly to forsake such excellent precepts of religion and soevnaduisedly fall from the great happines allreadie obtained But the king finding the holy Bishop to withstand him and his desires began dayly to haue a greater auersion from him and grew at length to be soe malitiously bent against him that LAVRENCE inteded wise to goe after his Brother-Bishops into France III. THE night before he meaÌ„t to depart he coÌ„mauÌ„ded his bed to be prepared in the verie Church of S. PETER PAVL where hauing Laurence meaning to flie is scourgedby S. PETER powred out his heartie prayers bathed in teares for the present miserable state of the Church he betooke him self to his rest fell asleepe During which the Prince of the Apostles S. PETER appeared vnto him and hauing seuerely scourged his nacked back shoulders with sharpe stripes a good space of the night he asked him by a strict apostolicall authoritie wherefore he would forsake the flock which he had coÌ„mitted to his chardge to what other pastour he would dismisse the sheepe of CHRIST froÌ„ which he intended to flie leaue them in the midst of wolues Hast thou forgott mine exaple said he who for the little ones of IESVS-CHRIST which in testimonie of his loue he recoÌ„meÌ„ded vnto mee haue suffered chaines stripes imprisonments afflictions and at last death it self vppon a crosse S. LAVRENCE with these stripes of the Apostle allthough wounded in bodie yet much encouraged in mind went the next morning to the king discouering his back shewed him how cruelly he was scourged and tome The king much amazed hereat demaunded who durst be soe bould as to exercise such crueltie on soe great and worthie King Edbald renounceth Idolatrie a man and vnderstanding that the holie Bishop had endured those cruell blowes from the Apostle S. PETER all for his healths sake he was exceedingly affrighted therevppon abandonning all Idolatrie and reiecting his vnlawfull mariage he embraced the fayth of CHRIST and was baptised by S. LAVRENCE which done he called Melliâ—us and Iustus out of France remayning euer after constant in the Catholicque fayth BVT S. LAVRENCE hauing againe setled his bishoprick in good order and reduced the people of the countrey to the fould of CHRIST being desirous allsoe as we S. Laurence Preacheth in Scotland haue said to bring the Scots and Brittans to the vnitie of Gods Church went into Scotland In which iourney he is reported to haue walked like an other S. PETER ouer an arme of the sea on foote wheÌ„ the marriner that refused to carrie him ouâ—r was in his sight punished with fier froÌ„ heaueÌ„ swallowed vp togeather with his boate in the mercilesse gulphes of the Sea Preaching in a certaine village finding noe man that would receaue ether him or his doctrine but rashly expelled him from amongst them he was forced that night to take a hard lodging
where she had first receaued her mortall breath In this authoritie she caried her self with soe great sainctitie and prudeÌ„ce that she worthily obtained a wonderfull prayse and name in the world of pietie wisedom and discretion For in such wise she exercised the authoritie of a mistresse that she seemed allsoe to beare the condition of a seruant instructing her subiects in the way of vertue more by her owne example then by imperious commaunding IV. AS ON a time she made some stay at her monasterie of Wedune neere Southampton newes was brought that an infinite companie of wild-geese yearly accustomed to make a verie great spoile in the corne and other pastures belonging to the monasterie Wherevpon she commaunded the messenger to returne and bring them all before him into the pound He allthough he imagined the holy Note a wonderfull miracle virgin flowted him went into the fields and seeking to driue those wild foules off the corne he found that not one of that allmost infinite multitude once offered to lift vpp his wings to flie away therefore perceauing now a possibilitie in what he iudged before impossible he began to driue them forward when they went before him like soe manie sheepe on a foote pace hanging downe their heads as it were out of the confusion of their owne guiltines till he had them in the place appoynted where he shutt them vpp as close prisoners all that night Neuer were soe manie wild The Wild fowle obeyeth her commaund creatures at once vnder lock and key before The next morning betimes with their cackling notes they began to crie out like poore prisoners for pardon for their offence or at lest for sustenance to maintaine nature aliue The holy virgin who was euer of a mild disposition towards all creatures commaunded them to be sett at libertie with a straight charge threatned against them neuer to returne againe into those parts She had noe sooner spoke then obedience followed for the whole troupe of those geese fled away soe farre that neuer after anie of the same kind once appeared within the confines of that monasterie V. A HEARDSMAN belonging vnto her monasterie called Alâ—…thus a man of verie good life was oftentimes much iniured and at length in presence of the holy Virgin sorely beaten and wounded by the Baylyf of the same place all which the good man quietly bore of with the buckler of patieÌ„ce whilst S. WERBVRG on her knees with prayers mingled with threatnings cried out on him to spare the One straingely punished for notobeying S. Werburg poore innocent but his furie and pride swelling in her humilitie disdayned to listeÌ„ to her pious entreaties but pursued his rude crueltie when by the iust iudgment of god he receaued his punishement for presently his stubborn eneck and frowning visage was after a horrid manner writhen and turned backwards to looke behind him since he refused a good looke to the seruant of god which kneeled for pittie before him This made his stout heart to relent and throwing him self prostrate at her feete with repentant teares he demaunded pardon of his offence soe that she from a defendant became a iudge by whose holie mediation and suffrage vnto the eternall iudge he had his face restored vnto the auncient seate againe And the same Heardsman Alnothus led a solitarie and anachoreticall life in a wood neere adioyning vntill he was martyred by the theeues that haunted the same VI. AT LENGTH the B. Virgin WEREBVRG hauing for manies yeares prudently done the office of a louing mother ouer her three monasteries foreseeing the time of her death to be at hand she commaunded her Nunnes that wheresoeuer she died they should burie her bodie at the monasterie of Handbury And within a short Her happie death time after being then at Trentham she went out of this world to goe to the heauently vnion and mariage of her deare and long desired spouse in Paradise She died the third day of February about the yeare of our Lord 676. and her bodie was honorably buried at Her bodie found vncorrupted the monastery of Handbury where her tombe was famous for manie miracles Nine yeares after her bodie being taken vpp it was found vncorrupted with her cloathes on her face lillie white only her cheekes a little sprinkled with red all in the same manner as when she was aliue and thus she remayned without corruption vntill by the iust iudgement of god the sinnes of our wretched countrey were punished by the Danish sword when left soe pure a relique should be profaned by the hands of those Barbarous and incredulous people her body resolued into dust and her bones were remoued to Westchester into the Benedictin monasterie where afterwards a goodly Church was built by Hugh Earle of Chester and dedicated to her name which to this day is called S. WEREBVRGS Church and is the Cathedrall of that cittie Manie miracles were wrought in those dayes at her holie reliques and the like without question would allsoe be done in these our times were not the present fayth of our countrey such and soe great as it is noe fayth at all Her life we haue gathered chiefly out of IOANNES ANGLICIVS or IOHN CAPGRAVE NICHOLAS HARPSFIELD hist Eccle. saee 7. cap. 23. and WILLIAM MALMESBVRY de gest reg Ang. lib. 2. cap. 13. and de gest Pontif. lib. 4. FLORBNTIVS WIGOâ—NIENSIS an 676. POLIDORE VIRGILL lib. 4. de regno Merciorum CONTINVATOR Bâ—DAE lib. 2. cap. 33. IOHN SPEED in his historie of England and others doe make honorable mention of her The life of S. GILBERT of Sempringham Confessor Author of the Gilbertin monks FEB 4. Out of Nicholas Harpsfield and others SAINCT GILBIRT was sonne to Ioceline a worthie Norman Souldier his mother was an English woeman who before his birth had a famous vision foreshewing his greatnes when in her sleepe the moone seemed to fall into her lappe He was borne at Sempringham in Lincolnshire In his fathers house he was of soe poore esteeme that the verie seruants would scarse daigne to eate their meate with him For in feature of bodie he was something rude and vnhandsom Being sett to schoole and profitting but poorely he went into France where by his good endeauours he attayned vnto the degree of master in the liberall sciences Afterwards returning into England His care in bringing vp yong children he bent his whole labours piously and freely to bring vpp children of both sexes whom he not only instructed in the rudiments of learning but allsoe gaue them exact and as it were monastical rules of good manners prescribing vnto them certaine times and places when to reade their lessons when to talke and when to be silent allwaies endeauouring from his verie youth to winne soules vnto CHRIST and to profitt whomsoeuer he could by word work and good example In the meane time his father who was Lord of the two Churches Sempringham and Tyrington being much delighted with the vertuous life
summer he vsed the same cloathes nether more nor fewer which seldom or neuer he put of but tooke a small allowance of sleepe not in anie bed but sitting in a chayre that he might be the readier at his awake to fall to his prayer and meditations Hauing gouerned his troupe a long He taketh a religious habitt time him self remayning in his secular apparell and not obliged by anie vow vnto that profession of a monasticall life which he prescribed vnto others lest perchaunce his successours might take example thereby he wholely submitted him self vnder the obedience of one Roger of Sempringham a Canon of the Church of Malton and receaued the religious habitt and discipline which he had taught and established being now become of a master a scholler euer honouring the sayd Roger who afterwards succeeded him as his Tutor and teacher during the whole remnant of his life V. BVT this holie man God soe ordayning it escaped not to His subiects accuse him falsely be assaulted with the rude stormes of worldly troubles and aduersities and that from his owne domesticks who according to their dutie ought with all reuerence to haue honoured him more then anie others For amongst the layetie which we spake of some there were who wearie of their strict manner of life malitiously plotted mischief against the holie man falsely accusing him of manie fayned crimes not only vnto THOMAS of Canturburie afterwards a martir but euen vnto Pope ALEXANDER him self in soe much that they greatly disquieted and molested his peaceable course of life The Pope committed the examination of this matter vnto Henrie Bishop of Winchester and William of Norwich who in the absence of Winchester by reason of sicknes made an exact His innocencio is made Knowne inquirie into the cause and inquiring found out the truth and made knowne the Innocencie of S. GILBERT vnto the Pope In whose behalfe allsoe manie other Bishops and Priors writt letters to Rome but none soe exactly as the king him self who tooke it verie heinously that those Lay-brothers who as he sayd before their profession were meere rusticks and clownes allotted only to the plough should soe perfidiously swerue from that course of life professed by soe manie learned and wise men and that they should vniustly complaine of it as exceeding the due limitts of strictnes and seueritie and with such impertinent boldnes moue heauen and earth for a mitigation thereof Herevppon the Pope sent a decree which confirmed the Priueleges graunted by his predecessor Eugenius and Adrian and also commaunded that the whole order discipline which GILBERT had prescribed should remayne in the same force and power for euer signifieing moreouer in his peculiar letters vnto the King and Bishops and to GILBERT him self that it was his will that those obstinate fellowes should be by strong hand compelled to performe the dutie of their profession and calling Againe he is falsely accuâ—ed VI. HE was molested wich an other though a smaller blast of aduersitie when in the bitter persecution of that worthie bucklar of the Church S. THOMAS of Canturbury he was brought in with some other of his fellowes as hauing contrarie to the kings comaund sent ouer moneyes vnto the Bishop in banishment At London therefore he is cited to appeare with the rest of the Priors and Procurators of all his monasteries to answere there this bill of complaint But the iudges out of the great reuerence they bore vnto him offered that if only by oath he would disaffirme the fault layd to his charge presently he should be dismissed the court Which most coÌ„stantly he refused to doe soe that now he could expect nothing but him self to be banished and all his monasteries to be sacked and destroyed When by the kings letters out of Normandie the Iudges were comaunded to deferre the examination of his cause vntill his returne home Whereuppon the holy man was dismissed who now sett free and at libertie and taking his leaue openly protested to the iudges that he was most innocent of the fault layd against him All were much astonished that now he confessed of his owne accord that which before he had refused N 〈…〉 are 〈◊〉 to doe being in soe great danger when with the safetie both of the truth and his owne shamfastnes he might well haue performed it But his mind conducted by a higher counsell thought it could not choose but be a blemish and imputation to his owne and the Churches dignitie and an act of bad exaÌ„ple yf at the barre in soe solemne a contestation he should haue openly professed that he had sent noe succour as indeed he had not vnto his Bishop to whom he supposed him self obliged to haue sent VII THE pious holie man liued in this sainctitie of life aboue one hundred yeares in which time he fouÌ„ded thirteene monasteries fower of men stored with seauen hundred religious persons nine of woe men which contayned one thousand fiue hundred Nunnes He died at Sempringham in the yeare of our lord 1190. the fourth day of February whose sainctitie allthough the course of his whole life doe sufficiently testifie it pleased allmightie god notwithstanding to make it more famous and manifest vnto the world by wonderfull miracles which he wrought by his meanes both whilst he enioyed this mortall life after his death or rather departure vnto the ioyes of immortall happines For when yet he drew breath amongst men in this world he had these inferiour creatures at commaund fier winds and diseases after a wonderfull maÌ„ner yeelded him obedience Nether did he want His manie miracles the guift of prophesie foreseeing by a diuine power manie aduentures which should happen and especiallly when he foretould the end of those horribles broiles falling in the tyme of King Stephen VIII AND allthough indeed these deedes and miracles be famous in number and greatnes yet those which happened after his death doe farre excell them in both for during his life time he sought by all All diseaseâ— miracâ—lously cured at his tomb meanes to suppresse and hide his worthie deeds and vertues vnder the vayle of humilitie but at his sepulcher the whole world was strucken with admiration to behould the blind deafe dumbe and mad persons restored to their senses to see dropsies palsies feauers and manie other desperate diseases beyond the skill of phisick cured in a momeÌ„t the verie deuills to flie out of the bodies of persoÌ„s possessed exclayming against the great power of S. GILBERTS sanctitie And lest the vanitie of anie fiction or inuention might anie way disparage the truth of these famous accidents and lest somwhat might be a little hyperbolically spoken of them they were all called within the arrest of the strict examine knowledge of witnesses whose sincere testimonie could not without great temeritie be excepted against At which inquirie besides manie other men famous for pietie and learning Hubert Archbishop of Canturbury was not only present but
this vnexpected Metamorphose and stood staggering a while in the consideration thereof When the Queene taking her time by the foretop with a smiling countenance asked him Whither sayd she my souueraigne lord is all yesterdaies glorious spleÌ„dour vanished where is all that superfluous riot What is become of all those curious and exquisite cates sought for by sea laÌ„d to satisfie the inordinate appetite of gluttonie Where are the gould and siluer vessells which but yesterday made the table bow vnder their massie weight Where is all the noyse of our loud Thus passeth the glorie of the world mirth and iollitie Is it not vanished like a blast of wind or a vaine puffe of smoake and doe not wee that fill our selues more daintyly largely corrupt afterwards more miserably Behould then the true picture of the glittering vanities allurements of the world learne at last to shunne flie them She sayd no more When it was strange to see what a deepe incisioÌ„ this made in the Kings heart how much more she had gayned by the rudenes of this visible spectacle then by all her former persuasions that not without cause the Poet sayd Segnius irritant animos demissa per aures FEB 7. Horat. de arte Poetica Quam quae sunt oculis subiecta fidelibus quae Ipse sibi tradit spectator IV. IN SVMME this strainge Pageant wrought soe farre in the good Inas resolueth to forsake the world Kings mind that now he began seriously to consider with him self of the vanitie of worldly state and finding one what sharpe thornes of cares grew the sweet seeming roses of a crowne he putt on a strong resolution with him self to bid adiew to the world And now when he had gouerned his common wealth with a name of greate prayse and prosperitie and shewed manie benefitts therevnto for the space of thirtie seauen yeares and odd moneths renouncing the resplendent glorie of his present and princely estate he voluntaryly left his temporall Kingdome which with victorie soe long he had ruled and for the loue of allmightie God and the gaine of his eternall kingdome he that heretofore had conquered princes now gott the vpper hand and conquest of him self and with a greater glorie then he had borne them he robbed him self of the princely spoiles of his bodie the better to ennoble and enrich his soule Which that he might more conueniently and fructfully He goeth to Rome bring to passe he went to Rome the head of Catholick religion to visitt the sacred tombes of the Apostles vnder whose protection he hoped more easyly to obtaine the grace and fauour of allmightie God wheÌ„ce his countrey had first receaued the Christian fayth resoluing to spend the remnant of his life with a quiet and contented mind farr from all worldly cares and troubles in a holie conuent of Monkes Which with great pietie he perfourmed putting on the habitt of a Benedictine monke vnto which order He taketh the habit of S. Benedict he had euer bin a worthie benefactour not in a publick concourse of poeple which doubtlesse would haue been great at soe vnwonted a spectacle but priuately before God alone and the Conuent of monkes giuing hereby a liuely example of humilitie and true contempt of the world in not desiring to haue this his heroick act of pietie anie way to redounde vnto his owne glorie out of the vaine prayses and false honours of the flattering world V. HE was the first of our English Kings who to shew his great His deuotion to the Roman Church deuotion vnto the Church of Rome caused the annuall tribute called Romescote or Peter-pence to be payed vnto the Pope which was a pennie out of euer ie familie in England and was afterwards duely payd for the space of manie hundred yeares and which is most to be wondred at noe sooner ceased this payment but our English Church was swallowed vp into the gulph of heresie and togeather with the temporall lost all spirituall subiection vnto the Vicar of CHRIST vppon earth Allso this holie King INE built at Rome a Church in honour of our Blessed ladie in which all English that He built a Church at Rome came thither might heare masse and receaue the Sacraments and be buried yf need were With like pietie he erected there a schoole giuing yearly annuities therevnto wherein his Countreymen might And a free-schoole be brought vp in all manner of good learning and Christian religion and discipline Which seemeth to haue bin in that place which now is called the English Hospitall and is inhabited by English Priests being of noe small commoditie for the entertaynment of Pilgrins which now adayes flock thither out of England VI. Now he that in former times had ruled a Kingdome begaÌ„ in this sweete schoole of vertues to find that in rendring him self subiect for The happines of a religious life the loue of CHRIST he enioyed a greater Kingdome and that to be master ouer his one passions was the only best and truest dominion Now he had time freely to insist in the meditation of the diuine goodnes wherein he found the trueth of that versicle of the Royall Psalmist TAST AND SEE FOR OVR LORD IS SWEET He found how sweet a thing it was to carrie the yoake of our Lord in the Psalm 33. 58. continuall exercise ef patience humilitie and obedience in which and other pious offices of vertue and religion he spent the rest of his mortalitie vntill by the king of Kings vnder whose ensigne he had serued he was called into the heauenly kingdom to receaue a His happie death crowne of eternall glorie insteed of the temporall crowne which for his loue he had left He died a Benedictin Monk at Rome about the yeare of our Lord 727. and lies buried at the Entrance of the Church of S. PETER and PAVL as the tables of the same Church doe testifie His life me haue gathered cheefly out of WILLIAM MALNESRVâ—IE de reg Ang. and NICOLAS HARPFIELD hist Eccl. saec 8. cap. 10. Polidore Virg. lib. 4. Mathew westminster an 727. Baronius and all our English Historiographers make verie honorable mention of him and he is highly commended of all for his wonderfull contempt of the world and loue to pietie and relig ion The life of S. ELFLED Virgin and Abbesse of the holy order of S. BENEDICT FEB 8. Taken Out of venerable Bede SAINCT ELFLED was daughter vnto Oswy King of the Northumbers who after manie cruell inuasions of the mercilesse Penda was forced to sue vnto him for peace with proffers of infinite treasure and verie rich iewels all which the barbarous Tirant reiecting pursued his deadly enterprise protesting vtterly to extinguish him and his countrey King Oswy humane meanes fayling him had recourse vnto a higher power making a sacred vow vnto the allmightie god of armies that he would consecrate his daughter ELFLED to the profession of perpetuall
chastitie and giue twelue Vâ—wes of chastity pleasing vnto God farmes with the land therevnto belonging to the erection and foundation of monasteries yf by his diuine assistance and to his greater honour he should ouerthrow the insolent pride of his Barbarous enemie This sayd with a heart full of coÌ„fidence he prepared him self and his small armie for the battle The number of his aduersaries are reported to haue redoubled thirtie times his all well repoynted and old tried souldiers against whom bouldly marched King Oswy with his sonne Alâ—frid The battle was fought were the riuer Junet which at that time ouerflowed his banks soe that the Victorie falling with Oswy more by flight were drowned in the water then King Oswy victorious ouer Penda slaine with the sword And herein proud Penda payd death his due with the ouerthrow of all his Mercian power This noble victorie being by gods holy assistance soe nobly or rather miraculously wonne King Oswy gaue infinite thankes vnto allmightie God and for performance of his vow made he deliuered his daughter ELFLED as yet scarse a yeare old to be brought vpp in a monasterie of Benedictine nunnes called Heretheu vnder the pious conduct of S. HILDA And withall he gaue the lands of one hundred and twentie families for the building and maintayning of monasteries But two yeares afterwards S. HILDA purchased the possession of tenne Elfled taketh the habit of S. Benedict families and built the monasterie of Streanshall where ELFLED being come to age first receaued the habit of S. BENEDICTS order and hauing bin long trained vp in this holy schoole of vertue in the continuall exercise of monastical discipline she afterwards succeeded S. HILDA being for her holy life chosen Abbesse of that place and became a mistresse of vertue vnto the whole coÌ„uent gouerning her virgin subiects in the ioyes of virginitie with the care of a motherly pietie and inuiting them to the true obseruance of religion by the vertuous and pious example of her owne life II. WHILST thus she ennobled the nobilitie of her stock with the greater nobilitie of vertue she fell into a grieuous sicknes that made her allmost tast the bitternes of deaths pangs and when the skill of phisick could nothing auayle her suddely by the grace of the She falleth sick diuine phisition she was taken out of the gates of death and freed from all her inward paines yet still remained in soe great weaknes of her limmes that she could nether stand nor goe but was forc't to creepe on all fower in soe much that with sorrow she began to feare a perpetuall lamenes hauing long since despayred of the phisitians helpe Till one day sitting pensiuely in the anguish of her sorrowfull thoughts the great sainctity of S. CVTHBERT whoÌ„ she loued dearly came into her mind and presently she wished to haue somthing from him firmely beleeuing and trusting thereby to receaue perfect health Not long after there comes one which She recouereth by miracle brought her a linnen gyrdle sent from S. CVTBERT She greatly reioyced with that present and vnderstanding that her desire was made knowne by diuine reuelation vnto the holy man gyrt her self with the same gyrdle and one the morrow after she became able to stand on her feet and the third day she was restored to perfect health to the great admiration of all Within a short time after being desirous to coÌ„municate to others the great blessing bestowed vppon her self she applied the same gyrdle vnto one of her Nunnes that was allmost dead with an insufferable payne which dayly increased more more in her head but noe sooner had this holy Virgin of CHRIST bound her about the temples with that gyrdle but the payne ceased perfect health succeeded Afterwards B. S. CVTHBERT Bishop of Linsdisfarne came him self in person to visitt this holy Virgin and to consecrate a Church Where as the holy man sate at table he saw in a vision the soule of a seruant that died at her monasterie at that verie time The holy virgin being desirous to know who it was to morrow replied S. CVTHBERT before I goe to masse thou wilt tell me his name She sent to know and on the morrow as the bishop was dedicating the Church she came running Masse for the dead to him in a womanish amazement as yf she had brought some great newes I desire you my Lord sayd she to be mindfull in your Masse of Hadwald thas was his name who died falling from a tree as he was cutting wood III. WHEN this most noble and holy virgin of CHRIST ELLFED had for manie yeares ruled her monasterie in great Sainctitie and preserued the sacred treasure of her virginitie from her tendrest infancie to the age of threescore yeares she deliuered vpp her pure soule to the most happie and long desired mariage of her heauenly spouse about the yeare of our Lord 714. She was buried in the Church of the same monasterie dedicated to S. PETER togeather with her father King Oswy and Queene Enfleda her mother But by the Danish furie that as manie other monasteries was vtterly destroyed till afterwards it was againe reedified for monkes of S. BENEDICTS order and called by the name of Whiteby And lastly is was translated to the walles of the cittie of Yorke and dedicated to our Lady But after the raigne of William conquerour the sacred reliques of S. ELFLED with others being found amongst those ruines were honourably placed in a more eminent degree worthy the meritts of soe great a sainct Thus much of S. ELFLED we haue gathered chiefly out of S BEDE de gest lib. 3. c. 24. William malmesbury de gest PoÌ„t Ang. lib. 3 Mathew Westmin an 655. NICHOLAS HARPSFIELD hist. Eccl. saec 7. cap. 27. other English writers The life of S. THELIAN Bishop and confessor FEB 9. Out of an auncient Authour SAINCT THELIAN an auncient Britan borne of noble parents ' much more ennobled his stock by the splendor of his vertues He was Scholler vnto Dubricius bishop of Landaff vnder whose holy care he attayned vnto that height of wisedome learning that as yet He was called 〈◊〉 and way but a youth he obtained the name of Helios which in Greeke signifieth the Sunne for his sacred doctrine shined like the sunne and dispersing the darknes of sinne and infidelity lightened the hearts of the faythfull poeple of his countrey with the sacred beames of true religion and vertue But hearing the fame of a prudent and holy man called Paulin he went vnto him and conferred with him concerning the more secret and abstruse places of the holy scripture where he entred into acquintaince with great S. DAVID Bishop of His loue to S. Dauid Meneuia betweene whom the grace of the holy ghost tied soe strict a knott of true loue and friendship that they were esteemed in those dayes as a noble payre of friends of one mind and soule But while they liued togeather in
he would receaue it he humbly desired pardon of all his brethren yf in anie thing he had offended them and imparted the like courtesie vnto them earnestly crauing it of him and then with great reuerence fortifieing him self with that heauenly Viaticum he prepared his pious soule to enter into the happie voyage of euerlasting life V. THIS done he asked the assistants how long it was to the hower that the Monkes should rise to Mattins They answered that the time was not farre of Well then sayd he let vs quietly expect that Blessing with the signe of the Crosse good hower And within a while when the standers by nothing suspected his death arming him self with the signe of the holy crosse the only signe of our redemption and softly inclining his head vppon the pillow he tooke a sweet slumber and therwithall in great His death correspondent to his life silence and tranquillitie both of mind and bodie he deliuered vp his still soule into the hands of his redeemer Soe that by the diuine prouidence it came to passe that euen as he serued our Lord in his life time with a pure and quiet deuotion of mind soe leauing this world he went to enioy the cleere vision of him he had serued by a peaceable and vntroubled death And that elegant tongue which had sung so manie sweet lines poems in prayse of his creatour did close vpp the breath of his last words to gods honour glorie when blessing him self with the signe of life recōmending his soule into the hands of his deare redeemer he changed this temorall life for an eternall He died about the yeare of our Lord 670. After the time of King William conquerour his bodie was found among the ruines of the monasterie of Streanshall and honourably shrined sett vpp in a Inuention of his bodie place worthie soe great a relique where the manie miracles wrought through his meritts are euident witnesses of what high esteeme he was in the fauour of allmightie God who is euer gloriousi n his saincts Amen His life we haue gathered out of Venerable Bede de gest Ang. lib. 4. cap. 24. Nicholas Harpsfield saec 7. cap. 36. William Malmesbury de gest pont Aug. lib. 3. Arnould Wion l. 2. cap. 62. and other grau◠authours make honourable mention of him And be is highly commended of all for his great vertue and holy life and conuersation The life of S. ERMENILD Queene and Abbesse of the holy order of S. BENEDICT FEB 13. Gathered out of diuers Authours SAINCT ERMENILD was daughter to Erconbert King of Kent and S. SEXBVRG his queene naturally and from the womb she inherited her good mothers propension to workes of pietie compassion and relieuing of euerie ones necessitie Both mother and daughter vsed the same bountie and charitie towards all and being both queenes on earth they had both the same pious desires and affectiōs to the King and kingdom of heauen ERMENILD was giuen in mapiage vnto Wulfere King of the Mercians and by that meanes the kingdom of Kent was happily vnited to that of the Mercians At that time her husband Wulfere being but newly baptised his poeple were but rude and scarse well setled in the Catholick fayth but S. ERMENILD who had bin trayned vp from her infancie in true vertue pietie and religion with her care and singular example of holy life her wise and prudent exhortations and manie benefits liberally bestowed vppon them tamed the obstinate heartes of that rude and vnlearned poeple and brought them vnder the sweet yoake of IESVS CHRIST by a mild force and a forceble mildnes subduing those peruerse rebellious mindes to the obediēce of the Catholick Church II. SVCH and soe great was the feruour zeale of this holy woemā to the seruice honour of allmightie God propagation of Christiā religiō that she was wholely carelesse of all other affayres in respect thereof neuer ceasing vntill she had quite destroyed Idolls rooted out all the diuelish rites of Idolatrie and furnished her Kingdō with churches Priests for the cōfort saluatiō of her poeple whom in the end she accustomed diligently to frequent the diuine seruices and sacraments and all other duties of Christian pietie and deuotion And this her godly zeale was much promoted by the royall power and authoritie of the king her husband who inuited by her pious example much aduanced her good endeauours and did manie good workes him self admiring to see the whole intentions mind of his wife amōgst the turbulent broiles of the world to be allwaies soe truely fixed on the contemplation of heauen and heauenly things Besides she did abound in charitie and compassion towards the poore all such as were in necessitie and affliction in soe much that neuer anie came to her that departed without consolation and her liberall almes to relieue their want III. AT length after the death of her husband with whom she had She taketh the habit of S. Benedicts order liued seauenteen yeares and been mother of S. WEREBVRG whose life you may read the third of this moneth hauing hither vnto ouercome all others she now ouercame her self for goeing to the monasterie of Benedictin Nunnes at Ely she renounced all mortall pompe and glorie for the pure loue of the immortall and putt on the habit of S. BEMEDICTS order vnder the gouernment of her holy mother S. SEXBVRG then Abbesse of the same place Where by humilitie and obedience she became queene of her owne passions and spent the remnant of her life in continuall fasting and prayer and all other austerities of a vertuous and religious life And after the death of the Abbesse S. SEXBVRG S. ERMENILD was chosen in her place in which office whilest she dischardged the dutie of a verie religious vertuous Matrone inciting her subiects by her owne good examples to embrace the rules of true religion she was deliuered out of this mortall prison and called to receaue the euerlasting reward of her labours in heauen the thirteenth day of February about the yeare of our Lord 685. and was buried in the same monasterie Where after her death it pleased allmightie God for the honour and glorie of this sainct to worke manie miracles at her tombe Whereof one was that a Saxon condemned for some offence to be bound with iron chaines or rings being on a time present at Masse in the monasterie of Elie and as he prayed before the bodie of S. ERMENILD about the time the ghospell was reading his irons forced by some secret and diuine power fell suddenly from his armes to the great admiration of manie that were present at the sayd masse Her life we haue gathered out of Ioannes Anglicus recited by Iohn Capgraue William Malmesbury de gest reg Angl. lib. 2. cap. 13. de gest pontif lib. 4. Mathew Wistminster anno 676. and Wigorniensis an 675. mention is made of her by Molanus in his additions to Vsuard Peter in
shutt yet his sweete speeches yeelded the sound of a kind of heauenly harmonie to the eares of his hearers The fame of his sanctiâ—ie is discouered III. WHILEST thus the holie man exercised him self in the discipline of a rigid-deuout life knowne only to the allseeing deitie he brake forth at length to the knowledge of the world like a fayre morning of good health and happines vnto his countrey For his coate of maile hanging downe somwhat below his knees with the rudenes thereof hindered him to kneele at such times and soe often as he desired whereof hauing admonished the knight his old master who was only priuie to this secret he demaunded his counsell therein The knight would haue persuaded him to send it to London to be cutt according to his desire But he being impatient of such delay and fearing thereby to lay open a gate to vaine gloire gaue him a payre of sheares and bad him in the name of God dispatch that worke with his owne hands The knight staggering in his obedience and iudging it to be dotage in the holy man that sett him on a taske as he thought quite impossible knew not what to say Be constant replied VLFRICK and feare nothing behold I goe to recommend this busines vnto God in the meane time endeauour confidently to finish this worke The one falls to his prayers the other endeauours with iron and steele to cutt iron and steele when both their labours tooke prosperous effect to the admiration of the one great ioy of the other For the knight Note a strainge miracle in his cutting worke seemed rather to diuide a peece of cloath then a peece of iroÌ„ with soe great facilitie the sheares ranne through that steelie garment But the holy man rising from his prayers before the worke was finished the knight was forced to hould his hands when VLFRICK coming to the window where he laboured asking how he had succeeded in his busines Well and prosperously sayd he hitheruÌ„to but now at thy coÌ„ming the sheeres turne edge are at a stay Be not mooued thereat replied the sainct but with the same sheeres finish thy work soe happily begun Then resuming his former coÌ„fidence with the like facilitie he went through the rest And from that time the holy maÌ„ in the strength of his owne fayth without anie sheeres pulled asunder the little rings of that part of his coate cutt off distributed theÌ„ charitably to all that desired by vertue whereof manie The parcels of his coate cure manie diseases diseases were cured according as it is recorded of the chaines of the holie Apostles PETER and PAVL and manie other Martirs But the Knight much amazed at soe great vertue sell prostrate at the holy mans feet whereat greatly coÌ„founded he lifted him vp coniuring him not to reueale that miracle as loÌ„g as he liued But the fame thereof grew soe famous that it could not be hidden when manie religious deuout persons were glad to enioy a ring of his iron coate whereby the glorie and sweet odour of his sainctitie was blowne ouer all parts of the Kingdom IV. WHILST our worthie champion of CHRIST thus noblie The deuils rayse warre against him fortified his mind with the armour of a generous vertue shewed soe great confidence in allmightie God and such incomparable rigour in chastising and afflicting his owne bodie and beating downe the dishonest rebellions thereof the common plotter and worker of all mischief to mankind greatly enuieing such rare goodnes assayled him on all sides with wonderfull troubles rude vexations and allmost mortall torments not inferiour to those raysed against S. HILLARION S. ATHONIE and other auncient Hermites to batter and beate downe the constancie of his vertuous mind and resolution Once those infernall spiritts appearing visibly in most horrid shapes with violence dragged him into the Church and round about the pauement thereof in great furie till by the vnexpected comming of a most reuerend Virgin he was relieued out of the hands of those hell-hounds whom she chased suddenly away He vnderstood afterwards that this was a holy Virgin of whom heâ— had made a commemoration in his Masse the same day An other time the holy man being sick his ordinarie enemie entred into the roome where he lay and casting a terrible looke vppon him with a staffe he had in his hand gaue him three great blowes on the head and departed And further it pleased allmightie God to giue the Deuil soe great power ouer his bodie that like an other Iob he infected his flesh with such horrid vlcers that his armes quite vpp to the shoulders became a loathesom spectacle rotten and full of vgly His wonderfull patience wormes and corruption All which as visitations sent from God he endured with infinite great pacience and ioy euer yielding humble thankes vnto his diuine goodnes that gaue him soe fayre an occasion of meritt in this world He was noe sooner recouered of this strainge maladie but the same engine of mischief cast his bodie into such an intolerable but inuisible heate of fier in soe much that he called for a Priest and beganne to recommend his soule vnto his creatour till after a while that hellish tormenter chainged that intollerable heate into a contrarie cold soe insufferable that euerie minute he expected with patience the disuniting of his soule from He ouercometh the vexations of the deuil his bodie But he triumphed ouer all these hellish afflictions and diabollicall temptations in the approoued armour of an vndaunted patience of minde and made all these occasions but stepps to clime the height of vertue and perfection by V. ONE Easter eue at night the hellish spiritt of vncleanes hauing cast the holy man into a deepe sleepe by a filthie dreame and illusion allbeit in a bodie drie and half dead triumphed ouer the frailtie of his flesh and caused him to suffer some such vncleannes as the weakenes of mans nature is subiect vnto in those occasions where vppon he became soe ouerthrowne with grief and sorrow of See a wonderfull example of humilitie mind that he pined away at his disastrous chaunce And on the morrow morning being Easter day he went into the Church where publickly before all the poeple present at that holy solemnitie he made open confession of what had befalne him and burst out into a miserable complaint of his mischaunce And woe be vnto me wretched VLFRICK sayd he whom mine enemies in reuenge of my sinnes haue this sacred night soe filthyly disgraced soe vnhappily deluded and soe vilely euerthrowne I confesse my offence vnto God and to you all desiring and hoping to obtaine pardon from his diuine goodnes by your good prayers and intercession Hauing in these and such like words proclaymed his misfortune he returned sorrowfull to his cell Which his wonderfull deiection and humilitie of mind wherein he nether spared his owne shamefastnes nor the diminishing of that renowned opinion
of sainctitie which be had gotten in the world nor despised others in respect of such vertue seemeth by manie degrees to excell both the wonder of his coate of maile and whatsoeuer else in him as truely there are very manie things worthy greate prayse and admiration was most notable and famous And as allmightie God sent him these sharpe visitations to make triall of his constancie soe on the other side his diuine goodnes did soe highly confort him with heauenly benefitts guifts and graces of prophefieing and doeing manie wonderfull cures and ennobled his worthie patience with such renowned triumphes against his infernall enemies that he might truely Psal 9 3. 19 with the royall prophet say of him self According to the multitude of my griefs thy consolations haue reioyced my soule VI. FOR HE chainged water into wine and by his holy benediction he encreased and multiplied one little loafe of bread to soe His manie miracles great a quaÌ„titie that he satisfied fortie poore poeple there with The water which he hallowed cured verie manie dangerous diseases He restored light and perfect sight vnto one whose eyes were digged out of his head He saw manie thinges that were done in farre distant places as distinctly as if they had passed within the coÌ„maund of his corporall sight And often times he foretould things to come and namely to King Henry the first setting forth in his last iourney to Normandie that he should neuer more returne And in the Kings absence he reuealed vnto the Lord of the village the verie day of the kings death And count Stephen coming vppon a time vnto the holy man he saluted him as king to the great admiration of all that heard it and ingenuously tould him that he should be souueraigne Lord of England giuing him pious admonitions carefully to maintaine peace and iustice and defend the rightes of Gods Church VII WHAT now shall I say that the holie Angels yea and the king of angels CHRIST IESVS haue appeared vnto him and comforted his habitation in this world with the heauenly and vnspeakeable splendour of their presence And being on a time at the aultar executing that dreadfull sacrifice of Masse hauing past the Pater noster The wine in his chalice appeareth in forme of bloud being suddenly stricken with a doubt whether he had mingled as the custom is water with his wine or not hauing defired allmightie God to free him from that scruple behould the chalice appeared vnto him full to the very brimme of fresh rosie bloud which the vnspotted lambe shed for our redemption and returning straight againe to the forme of wine he deuoutly consummated that heauenly draught And allbeit sometimes by the permission of allmightie God to trie his seruant he was as we haue sayd cruelly deluded vexed and tormented by the mischieuous enuie of hells inhabitans yet manie times he triumphed most nobly ouer them and their diabolicall practises When by his holy prayers he not only banished them out of the bodies of possessed persons but sometimes held them soe fast bound that they could not depart but by his licence But of all that euer he did in that kind this which A poore ma giueth his soule to the deuill now you shall heare was the most notably famous VIII IN THE North parts of England dwelt a mise rably-wretched man who not able to endure the pouertie of his owne fortune had renounced the Christian Catholick fayth and in a horrid couenant had wholely coÌ„secrated and bequeathed him self to the Deuill who hauing for a time sate abroode vppoÌ„ that prey to hatch his soule for hell fier the wretched man coming a little to vnderstand his more then miserable estate beganne to be ashamed and repent him of this horrible act deliberating debating with him self to what Patrone or protection he should committ the care of deliuering his engaged soule out of the iawes of eternall death Till at length hauing heard the great fame of S. VLFRICKS holy life he resolued to make vse of his counsell in this weightie affayre and being verie sollicitous of his good successe herein and hauing opened his mind to one of his neerest and dearest friends the deuil with whom he had made this hard bargaine appeared to him in his knowne and accustomed shape and with shew of extreme vnkindnes accused him of disloyaltie and threatned him with most cruell punishment yf he dared but to attempt anie such treason againe The poore man The deuill knoweth not the secrets of mans heart perceauing that this hellish marchant had noe knowledge of the intentions of his heart till by word of mouth he had reuealed them vnto his friend froÌ„ that time kept close his good purposes vnder the vayle of silence and meaning as the prouerb saies to cozen the old ourtier he dissembled for a while his intended penance till at length when he thought his enemie sleeped he entred into his iourney towards S. VLFRICK wherein he had prosperous successe till he came neere vnto the Village of Haslebury where entring the foord of the riuer that ranne thereby with great hope to receaue help from the holy man his ancient enemie the deuill suddenly layd violent hands vppon him bellowing in his eares with a hellish furie and anger such rude and rough speeches that struck terrour into the poore man O thou traytour sayd he what meanest thou to doe In vaine thou endeauourest to breake off our former bargaine for as well for they first treason in reuouncing God as now for seeking to renounce me to whom thou belongest thou shalt presently suffer a iust punishment in this water And withall he held him soe fast in the midest of the riuer that he could nether stirre forward nor backward In the meane time S. VLFRICK who had a reuelation of all this passage called his Priest vnto him and bad him presently take the crosse and holy The vertue of holy waer water in his hands and make great hast to succour a poore man whom the deuill held captiue in the riuer at the townes end Who speedyly obeying his commaund ranne thither and found as the holy man had foretould a man sitting an horseback in the middest of the riuer not able to mooue on whom presently in the name of IESVS CHRIST and in vertue of his master hauing cast some of his holy water he redeemed the prey and patt the tâ—eefe to flight This done he returned with ioy to S. VLFRICK togeather with the poore man whose coÌ„panie the deuill being verie vnwilling to loose followed after his late prey and seeing him stand before the holy man he sayd fast hould on him who cried maynly out to the seruaÌ„t of god for succour TheÌ„ S. VIFRICK taking him by the right haÌ„d He freeth one giuen to the deuill the deuill was soe bold as to shake him by the left striuing as much as he was able to drawe him away with him till the Sainct throwing with
recōmended that holy societie to the protection of the diuine goodnes and the B. Virgin MARIE earnestly desiring them to make choise of such a gouernesse after her death whom they iudged for true pietie and religion to be the fittest among them to vndergoe that charge FEB 25. and withall exhorting thē chiefly to preserue true peace purenes of heart she often repeated the words of CHRIST her spouse vnto thē Blessed sayd she are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God Blessed are the cleane of heart for they shall see God Hauing giuen thē Matt. 5. v. 8. 9. these and such like pious admonitions and religiously armed her self and her death with the holy sacramēts she happyly yeelded vpp her vnstayned soule to enioy an euerlasting kingdom with her sacred spouse in heauen aboue for whose sake she had contemned the kingdom and pompe of this lower world she died the three twentith day of February and was buried in her monasterie of Wenlock Who as she is by a pious certaintie thought gloriously to raigne with her deare spouse IESVS soe lest perchance anie small cloud of Her happie death mistrust might darken that pious beleef all mightie God him self hath shewed manie cleere testimonies of his loue to his holie spouse able to conuince the most incredulous When manie ages after the death of this holy Virgin in the yeare of our lord 1101. and the raigne of Henry the first her holy bodie was discouered and brought out of the ruines of obliuion to the open view and veneration of the world It happened in this manner VI. THE monasterie of Wenlock being destroyed afterwards by the violence of Englands sauage and barbarous enemies the holy virgins bodie lay for a long time hidden amongst those ruines till by the mnnificence of Roger Earle of Mountgomerie it was reedified and turned to a Priorie of Benedictine Monks of the Congregation of Cluny about the yeare aforesayd when by the speciall prouidence of allmightie God S. MILBVRGS bodie came to light vppon this occasion VII A workeman called Raymund being at work in the monasterie The miraculous inuention of her bodie of the holie Trinitie he happened to find an old chest or Box in which was contayned a writing written by one Alstan a Priest which testified that the bodie of the holy Virgin lay buried there neere vnto the aultar But noe remnant of the aultar appearing was cause that yet there was noe certaintie of anie thing Till he that gouerns all things with certaintie soone after tooke away all this vncertaintie for as two children plaied togeather vppon the pauement of that Church suddenly the earth opened and they both sunk in vpp to the knees This accident being a cause of great admiration amongst the Monkes gaue them occasion to haue the earth digged vpp deeper in that place by which meanes they found some bones which sent forth a wonderfull sweet sauour ouer all the Church and the next day after they lighted on the foundation of the aultar spoken off before To the greater creditt Miracles wrought by her reliques euidence hereof and more cleere manifesting of the glorie of God and his holy spouse S. MILBVRG manie other verie worthie and notable testimonies concurred For by the only touch of those sacred reliques but then new raked out of earth and dust two woemen were cured of most horrid leaprosies an other was restored to her sight lost and a boy that neuer saw light before receaued perfect power to distinguish of colours In summe such and soe famous where the miracles which God allwaies wonderfull in his saincts whrought there by the merits of this glorious Virgin that whole inundations of poeple flocked thither in such troupes as the open fields thereabouts were scarse sufficient to receaue them where rich and poore were in equall contention to obey the guide and conduct of their pious fayth Nether was the labour of their pietie spent in vaine for none returned without comfort sick persons receauing a perfect recouerie of health and a cure of manie such mortall diseases which had giuen the foyle to phisitians and their skill had left in desperation Of which one and not the lest was that a woeman dwelling in the village hard by called Patton hauing for the space of fiue yeares been cruelly tormented with a verie desperate disease incureable by phisick dranke only of the water wherein the holy virgins reliques had been washed and presently she shaked of her teadious sicknes and withall disburdened her stomack of a filthie worme vgly and horrible to behould hauing six feete two hornes on his head and two on his tayle The woeman being freed of this monstruous guest had the happines of her perfect health restored and in testimonie Note a strainge miracle and memorie of the fact that worme was shutt vp in a hollow peece of wood and reserued afterwards in the Monasterie as a trophie and monument of S. MILBVRG vntill by the lasciuious furie of him that destroyed all goodnes in England that with other religious houses and monasteries went to ruine that whereas before our fruitfull Ile for true religion pietie continencie and other vertues was the miracle of the world soe now for atheisme heresie and manie other vices it yeelds to no other realme in Christendom The life of this holy Virgin S. MILBVRG is written by Ioannes Anglicus recited by Iohn Capgraue and Nicholas Harpsfield out of whom we haue gathered it But of the inmention of her bodie and miracles thereat we haue taken chiefely out of Ato Bishop and Cardinal of Ostia who writt the miracles that happened after her inmention and William Malmesburie de Pont. Angl. lib. 4. de gest reg Angl. l◠2. cap. 15. The Roman Martyrologe Camden in descriptione com Salopiae Polidore Virgil lib. 4. de regno Merciorum Vincentius Lirinensis in speculo lib. 25. cap. 33. Mathew Westminster anno 676. Florentius Wigorniensis anno 675. and manie others make ample mention of her The life of S. ETHELBERT King and Confessor FEB 24 Out of Venerable Bede de gest Angl. THE diuine wisedom whose allmightie power only is able to produce light out of the middest of darkenes and good out of euill during the raigne of ETHELBERT fift king of Kent voutchafed to sett Ethelbert the first Christian King of England a period to the diabolicall rites of Idolatrie in England and called ETHELBERT out of a race of Pagan Ancestors to be the first English king that sound the true Christian way to the kingdom of heauen And whatsoeuer gaine of soules our holy Apostle S. AVGVSTIN the Benedictine monke and his Euangelicall brethren reaped in the spirituall haruest and vineyard of our lord excepting allwaies the premotion and preuention of Gods grace is wholly due vnto holy King ETHELBERT For in as much as it lay in humane power vnlesse his royall graunt and assistance had stood with those diuine labourers nether the
polluted thy Psalm 7â— v. 2. holy temple They haue cast the dead bodies of thy seruà nts for meate to the birds of the ayre the flesh of thy Saincts to the beasts of the earth God of his infinite goodnes voutchafe once more to looke with a mercifull eye on this wretched countrey and deliuer it out of the deluge of sinne and Heresie The life of S. Eâ—HELBET is written by Venerable Bede degest Ang. lib. 1. Ioannes Anglicus recited by Iohn Capgraue Nicholas Harpsfield saec 7. cap. 4. and other English writers whom we haue followed The Roman Martirologe maketh mention of him this 24. of February The life of Sainct WALLBVRG Virgin and Abbesse of the sacred order of S. BENEDICT FEB 25. WritteÌ„ by Wolphar dus a Monke SAINCT WALBVRG borne of English parents of a royall race sister to the two holy Benedictine Monks S. WILLIBALD and WINEBALD was from her tender yeares first trayned vp in England in the exercise of the monasticall discipline of S. Bâ—NEDICT afterwards by the appoyntment of that great ornament of the Benedictine order BONIFACE Apostle of Germanie she was sent for into that countrey She is made Abbesse in Germanie of Germanie to plant there the rootes of those holy monasticall vertues which she had gathered in England And in the monasterie of Heydenbeim which her Brother S. WINEBALD built in the Diocesse of Eistat S. WALBVRG was made gouernesse abbesse of a conuent of nunnes which charge S. WIN BALD him self gouerning an other of monkes both of sainct BENEDICTS order the brother sister dischardged with soe great sainctity and good example of life that by their meanes that holy order floriâ—â—ed wonderfully in those parts and S. WALBVRG became in soe great fauour with allmightie God that by the vertue of her prayers she obtained all her desires II. ONE night through the negligence and malice of him that A heauenly light caused by her prayers should haue lighted the laÌ„pe in the Church the conuent of Nuns was left in darknes wherevppon the holie virgin being more in paine for them then her self made her prayer vnto her deare spouse the only true and indeficient Light and at the same instant they saw a wonderfull great lustre in all parts of the monasterie which dured till the next morning to the great ast onishment and comfort of that chast familie who togeather with S. WALBVRG gaue humble thankes vnto allmightie God for soe great a remonstrance of his fauour and loue towards them III. AN OTHER time she stole priuately out of the monasterie in the euening not perceaued of anie of her religious woemen and went to the gate of a verie rich man not farre off where she stood like a poore vnknowne pilgrim till being brought in by some of the seruants she made knowne to the man of the house who and what she was He admiring how she had passed through the furie of the mad doggs about his house soe quietly without hurt entertayned her with great ioy and reuerence and brought her as she desired into the chamber where at that time his daughter lay languishing of a cruell disease expecting euerie instant when her soule would yeeld vp her house of clay to take her last iourney when her dolefull parents despayring of her rerouerie with teares and sighs had allreadie prepared for her funerall rites But the diuine goodnes of him that kills and reuiues strikes and heales againe A sick woeman cured by her prayers through the prayers intercessions which the holy Virgin S. WALBVRG powered out all that night to his infinitie mercie recalled that dying gyrle out of the iawes of her threatned death and restored her againe vnto perfect health against the next morning Her parents seeing this wonderfull miracle gaue great thankes vnto that heauenly phisitian and offered manie rich guifts and presents vnto the holie Virgin as an acknowledgment of the great fauour they had receaued by her meanes but she that long since had forsaken the world and the vaine wealth thereof for the pure loue of heauen refused to receaue anie worldly fauours for a spirituall and diuine benefitt Therefore returning againe to her monasterie she followed on the course of her vertuous and holie life and the more she perceaued the diuine clemencie to extend it self with greater fauour vnto her the more she encreased and aduanced her self in the exercise of religion and pietie and shewed more excellent examples of Sainctitie and perfection to her religious subiects and inferiours IV. AT LENGTH this holy Virgin and deare spouse of CHTIST hauing passed through the course of a most happy life and setled her self wholely in the pure loue her creatour hauing conquered the world and the desires thereof strong in fayth excellent in her Her happie death behauiour stored with charitie beautified with wisedom enriched with chastetie grounded with humilitie and furnished with the ornaments of all vertues she receaued the embassage of death by the calling of her deare spouse and departed out of the miserable thraldom of this world to receaue the euerlasting rewards of her good works in heauen the fiue twentith day of February about the yere of our Lord 776. And immediatly after her departure her dead bodie appeared to manie of the standers by in forme of a creature allreadie glorified and a wonderfull sweet and fragrant odour issued from that holy vessell of chastity and filled the whole house Moreouer when her bodie was carried into the Church that heauenly light which obeyed her in her life serued her likewise after her death and lighted all the candles in the same Church without anie humane helpe to the glorie of this holy Virgin and great admiration and comfort of the beholders She was buried in the same monasterie where she had liued neere vnto her brother S. WINEBALD by the hands of her other brother S. WILLIBALD Bishop that the same earth might contayne them whom the like loue of religion vertue and pietie truely made to be brother and sister V. HER bodie was afterwards honourably translated to the Benedictin monastery at Eistadt And in the yeare 893. her sacred tombe being againe opened her holy ashes seemed all bedewed with water which might be pressed out dropp by dropp and yet not one mite of the dust would stick to their hands that touched it At this time a great part of her holy reliques was translated to the monasterie of Benedictine nunnes at Monheim in Germanie And at both these places manie rare miracles haue been wrought by the merits of this glorious Virgin which for breuitie we omitt But one is soe wonderfull that I cannot passe it ouer in silence For out of those chast reliques sayth Phillipp Bishop of Eistadt the authour of her life issueth a sacred oyle which by the grace of God and the intercession of the blessed S. WALBVRG giues sight to the blind hearing to the deafe cureth the lame and restores the wished recouerie of
of the Benedictine monks for euer Afterwards the Archbishop of York being dead S. OSWALD by the meanes of King Edgar and S. DVNSTAN Archbishop of Canturburie and the consent of the whole clergie was compelled to vndertake the gouernment of that Sea allso But lest the moÌ„kes of his diocese who yet were but newly setled in that Church being soe suddenly left destitute of the spirituall nourishement of soe good a father should beginne to wauer for want of a constant prelat and pastour to vphold them by the authoritie of S. DVNSTAN the Metropolitan of England and worthie Pillar of tâ—e Benedictine Order he was held likewise in the gouernment of the Church of Worcester togeather with the Archiepiscopall Sea of Yorke soe great was the estimation of his excellent worth incomparable vertue wonderfull zeale pietie and deuotion in the reforming of the bad customs and establishing of good lawes for the maintenance and propagation of Ecclesiasticall discipline X. IT PLEASED the allmightie wisedom while this Blessed Prelat thus exercised him self in these good workes of pietie and zeale towards his Church to confirme his holy endeauours and testifie them to be pleasing and acceptable to his diuine maiestie by manie miracles which he wrought through his meritts both in his life and after his death When the Church of our Ladie which Behould the Spirit of S Benedict in S. Oswald we haue mentioned before was in building there lay not farr from the place a great square stone necessarie for that worke which when the workemen endeauoured to make vse off as yf it had taken roote in the ground it stuck soe fast that by noe meanes they were able only to moue it All greatly amazed thereat the matter was brought to S. OSWALD who coming to the place wondred to see soe manie men striue in vaine in soe small a labour and straight offering vp his prayers priuately vnto allmightie God he saw an vglie Blackamoore sitting vppon the stone with obscene gesture scoffing at the labourers And presently brandishing the signe of the holy Crosse against him he suddenly vanished away Then the stone which fowerscore The vertue of the holy Crosse men before were not able to stirre was with ease carried away by a few and putt into the building The like accident S. GREGORIE relates of our holy Father S. BENEDICT him self when his monks were erecting a monasterie whereby it appeares how great an opposer the Deuill is to the workes of Benedictines and that their malice which oppose that holy order comes but from a black master XI THE monks of Ramsey abbey OSWALD standing on the other side of the riuer endeauoured to passe ouer to him in a boate He saneth his monks from drowning which being ouer loaden began to sinke when they poore soules suddenly astonished with such an imminent danger of death cried out for help vnto him who making the signe of the crosse vpon theÌ„ the boate presently returned from vnder the water as yf it had been without anie burden and carried them safely ouer to the shore on the other side XII IT WAS tould him on a time that a monk of Ely busied in the repayring of the Church died by a fall froÌ„ the topp thereof Whereat because he knew that monk had not led a life alltogeather without fault he was much grioued and calling the monkes of Ramsey abbey togeather he related vnto them the accident of his sorrow exhorting them to pray earnestly vnto allmightie God for his soule Prayers for the dead meritorious They obeying his pious desire sung Dirges and Psalmes for their deceased brother sorrowfully knocking at the gates of the diuine mercie At length as the holy Bishop was at his prayers that dead monke appeared visibly vnto him who inquiring what he was I am he replied the ghost for whom thou soe feruently doest pray And how sayd the holy man sighing hast thou done hithervnto Purgatorie which Hereticks shall neuer feele and yet how is it with thee Truely answeared he hithervnto very ill but now most well for through thy meritts and prayers I was yesterday deliuered by gods holy Angel out of the insufferable paines which did torment me And this I came to tell thee and render manie thankes for thy charitie and withall to admonish thee how gratefull thou oughtest to be for this and manie other graces and benefitts which it hath pleased his diuine maiestie to shew vnto thee This sayd he vanished And the holy man gaue infinite thankes vnto allmightie God for his goodnes XIII HE WAS wont at fitt times to make a progresse ouer all his Diocesse and feed their soules with the heauenly learning of his sermons euer coÌ„forming his owne life to his words and whatsoeuer he could find in the manners of his subiects which might offend the eyes of the diuine ouerseer of all humane actions with a fatherly corection he endeauoured to see amended In this his pious visitation he happened to come to Rippon where in former The Bodies of Saincts miraculously found times the holy Benedictine monk S. Wilsrid had been buried in a monasterie which him self there erected and which afterwards for the most part was destroyed and ruined by barbarous poeple and changed as now adaies our monasteries are to dennes and lodgings forwild beasts Here the holy man watching by night at his deuotions learnt by reuelation that the bodies of some saincts were buried there which doubtless by diligent search might be found The next morning he caused the earth to be digged vp whereby the holy bodies were found and a table with this inscription Here resteth S. Wilfrid Bishop of York and the reuerend Abbotts Tilbert Boruin Albert Sigred and Wilden In the meane time he placed those reliques in a conuenient place but afterwards vnderstanding this S. WILFRID to be a kinsman of the great S. WILFRID founder of that monasterie he caused his bodie to be enshrined and honourably reserued according to his worth For the body of that great S. WILFRID was long since translated thence to Canturburie by S. ODO the Archbishop And now S. OSWALD sent these other reliques honorably vnto Worcester XIV MANIE other miracles were wrought by the meritts of this Manie Miracles holy Bishop The bread which he had blessed cured a great man of a feauer and a ratt that chanced to eate the crummes thereof as they fell from his table was choked and died presently in the same place A monk which presumed to sitt and sleepe in his seate was cruelly tormented by a horrid crew of deuills for his temeritie XV. HOW charitable he was to the poore it exceedeth this weake His notable humanitie and charitie towards the poore penne to rehearse He was wont euerie day besides innumerable others which dayly he nourished to exercise his charitie more peculiarly to twelue poore men washing their durtie feete drying them with a towell and kissing them with his holy mouth powring water on their
SWIBERT Bishop and Confessor Apostle of Frizeland and Saxonie monk of the holy order of S. BENEDICT MAR. 1 Written by S. Mar celline priest his companioÌ„ and fellow preacher IN THE yeare of our Lord six hundred fortie seauen S. SWIBERT was borne in Northumberland of noble princely pareÌ„ts couÌ„t Sigebert and Berta his wife Before his byrth his deuout mother had a vision The vision of his mother as she lay in her bed wherein she beheld one starre in the heauens farre excelling all the rest in brightnes whose glittering beames seemed to giue light to the whole countrey and presently the same starre appeared to fall vppon the bed where she lay This was then interpreted by S. AYDAN bishop of Lindisfarne to be a presage of the child that she bore in her wombe who as he sayd should be a light vnto his Countrey and the whole Church of God And in confirmation hereof at the very hower she was deliuered A strange light appeared at his birth a wonderfull great splendour shined in the chamber whose beames seemed to dazle the daies light and much astonish the beholders The Child being borne the same light decreased by degrees and vanished In baptisme he was called SWIBERT and being from his verie Cradle trayned vp in the feare of God and good learning he soe carefully auoyded all vices incident to that age and soe manfully embraced the hard waies of vertue that he gaue great hopes of his future greatnes which caused manie allreadie to prognosticate wonders of his sainctitie And to the end he might dayly He embraceth a monasticall life proceed the better from vertue to vertue aâ— the age of fifteene yeares he departed with the good leaue of his parents to the Benedictine abbey of Bardâ—â—â—â— in Lincolneâ—â—ire where he forsoke all worldly hopes and became a monk of the holy order of S. BENEDICT vnder the gouerment of the good Abbot Higbald In this vertuous schoole our noble youth carefully endeauoured to ennoble his mind with all manner of vertue in all things behauing him self with such prompt obedience humble modestie and sweet innocencie of life that in short time he grew to he much loued esteemed admired and reuerenced euen of the greatest and auncientest monks in the house Hauing liued nine yeares in the same monasterie in continuall continencie abstinence and the exercise of regular and monasticall discipline he was aduanced to the sacred dignitie of Priesthood in the execution of which holy function He is made Priest worthyly corresponding with his vertuous actions he offered dayly to allmightie God a most acceptable sacrifice For in true pietie and religion he was second to none adorned with the glorie of all Christian vertues most attentiue and frequent in his prayers and most exactly rigid in fasting and mortifying his owne bodie in soe much that he gaue great examples of edification to his brethren and the famous report of his vertues was published and admired throughout the Countrey II. WHILST thus he shined in the excellencie of a religious life among his other brethren as a bright sunne amongst the rest of the planets the Bishop of Yorke hauing vnderstood the incomparable Benedictine Monks sometimes Canons prayses of his vertue reioyced much thereat and sending for him made him a Canon of the Cathedrall Church of S. Peters at Yorke Whereat the reader need not wonder since heretofore is hath been a laudable custom much practised in the Church of God for Monks of S. BENEDICTS order to gouerne cathedrall Churches as Canons were indeed monasticall canons and of this kind S. SWIBERT was ordayned one at Yorke In which CONVENT sayth the authour to shew that they were monks since a quire of secular Canons is called a CHAPTER and not a CONVENT he liued for the space of two yeares in soe great austeritie of life such strict obseruance of Monasticall discipline that he seemed to leade an angelicall life vpoÌ„ S. Swibert of a Benectin Canon made Abbot of Monks earth And now being come to that height of perfection that he was fitt to be proposed as a mirrour to all such as professed a regular life he was created abbott of the monasterie of Dacore soe called froÌ„ the riuer Dacor running thereby In the meane time the venerable man S. EGBERT a Benedictin monk of whom see Aprill the 24. wonderfully zealing the gaine of soules the promulgatioÌ„ of CHRISTS holy Ghospel his owne resolution to goe into those countreyes being hindered by reuelatioÌ„ froÌ„ heauen made choise of twelue learned English monkes all zealous of the Catholick cause out of diuers monasteries Twelue English Benedictins sent to preach in Germanie of EnglaÌ„d Jreland to preach the ChristiaÌ„ fayth in FrizelaÌ„d One not the lest of these elect preachers was our S. SWIBERT S. MARCELINE that wrote his life an other they were eleuen priests one decon who hauing all happyly passed the sea towards the vineyard of CHRIST allotted to their holy charge they ariued at Vtreicht about the yeare 690. And following the same institution order and conuersation of life that the Apostles and disciples of CHRIST vsed in the primitiue Church noe man presuming to call anie thing his owne but all obseruing the rules of the monasticall and religious pouertie which they professed They began with verie great constancie and resolution to preach the Christian fayth amongst those barbarous poeple But the Frisons that were men of an vntamed and stubborne nature stoode stiffely in defence of their Idoatrie refusing to listen to the sacred tidings of the true Ghospell soe that these holy preachers being threatned with death for annouÌ„cing the words of life were compelled to depart thence hauing at first reaped litle or noeprofitt at all III. THEREFORE they went into an Iland called Fosteland where Radbode the persidious King of Friseland being beaten out of his Kingdome by the most Christian Prince Pepin of France theÌ„ remayned And in this it being a place of verie great and solemne resort among those Pagans by reason of the superstitious Idolatrie vsed there to a God of theirs called Foste from whom the Iland tooke name the Preachers of CHRIST began to announce the holy ghospell and hauing destroyed the profane aultars of those stonie-hearted Gods Iupiter and Foste they laboured to conuert the poeple to the knowledge of the only true God creatour of the world where their paines were rewarded with the conuersion but of three soules only But Radbode vnderstanding hereof caused one of them Wigbert martired called Wigbert to be cruelly putt to death a glorie which long before he had desired and banished all the rest out of the Iland When they perceiuing the tirannie of the worldly prince to withstand their good endeauours in preaching the sweet ghospell of the king of heauen retired them selues to the forenamed worthie Prince Pepin who sent them to preach in the lower parts of Frizeland with a strict charge to all
the Pagans vnder his dominion to heare them with pacience By this meanes manie were dayly conuerted A Church dedicated to the holy Crosse to the fayth in soe much that they procured a Church to be built at Vtreicht in honour of the holy Crosse in which they consecrated a font that such as receiued the Fayth might haue free accesse to be there baptised And now the haruest of our Lord beginning greatly to encrease and the labourers being but few these holy men deuided them selues weÌ„t by two three togeather to preach in diuers parts of lower Germanie But S. SWIBERT of whoÌ„ only now we treat accompanied with Weresrid Marcelline came to the great village some two miles distant froÌ„ Vtreight called Duerstat where coÌ„stantly preaching CHRIST crucified and proouing their worshiped Idolls to be nothing but houses of deuils he was streight appreheÌ„ded S. Swibert beaten and imprisoned by the Pagan Priests who feared the vtter ruine of their Idolatry being cruelly beaten he was cast into prison meaning to put him priuately to death the next morning for publickly they durst not doe it fearing the French Christians vnder the yoake of whose gouernment they were When we sayth the Authour werenfrid and I Marcelline with teares and lamentations followed him to the prison gate Which S. SWIBERT perceiuing with a merrie countenance comforted and exhorted them couragiously to Deliuered by an Angel remayne in the fayth of CHRIST and not to feare death for his sake But the same night as he prayed in that darkesome lodging a bright Angel appeared vnto him with lightsom newes of comfort following the lustre of whose fayre countenance like an other Apostle PETER he was deliuered out of that irksome iayle in the verie sight and view of his astonished Iaylours Then coming againe to his two companious they fell all togeather on their knees and gaue humble thanks to allmightie God for this great token of his loue and goodnes IV. THE Pagans and specially the Priests of the Idols vnderstanding the manner of his straing deliuerie began to stagger in their fayth and call in question the power of their weake Gods Before whom S. SWIBERT preaching againe the next day and worthyly extolling the omnipotent power of IESVS-CHRIST bred a generall amazement in their blinded soules and conuerted verie manie to the true Catholick fayth noe maÌ„ offring to lay hands on him Which done he returned againe to Vtreiâ—ght making his fellowe-brethren partakers of what had happened who with teares of ioy receiued him and gaue infinite thanks to the allmightie worker of his freedom Afterwards he weÌ„t through diuers townes and Villages of Frizeland Holland Teisterband founding and breathing noe other Manie conuerted to the fayth words or accents but of Christ and his holy Ghospell and allbeit he found manie great difficulties and endured strainge afflictions from the furie of the Infidels yet allwaies sustayned by the diuine helpe he constantly perseuered in his holy enterprise of preaching whereby great store of poeple were conuerted to the knowledge of the true fayth He arriued at length at a village in Holland called Hagenstein where it being a principall festiuitie among the Pagans he chanced to find the poeple verie busily employed in the worshipfull exercise of their diabolicall sacrifices rites and ceremonies before See the constant â—eale of S Swibert their stonie Gods and thrusting him self into the midest of that barbarous presse of people he cried out in the spiritt of his zeale and verie eagerly repreheÌ„ded the blindnes of their ignorance in worshiping those stocks and stones for Gods preaching vnto them the true fayth of CHRIST crucified whose power was infinite in heauen and earth who only it was that ruled the course of the world and produced miraculous effects therein The Pagans admiring soe great constancie and boldnes in the man and being curious to make experience whether it were true that miracles could be wrought in the vertue of him whom he preached flocked presently about him offring him a yong man called Giselbert that from his byrth had neuer seene the light whom yf by the power of the Crucified God he soe highly extolled he could restore to perfect sight they would be content to giue more eare to his doctrine otherwise he was to expect a sudden and cruell death for his hire The holy man compelled by the iustnes of this necessitie fell presently on his knees hauing deuoutly powred out his humble prayers to allmightie God he arose and making the signe of the holy Crosse on the vnprofitable eies of the blind person cried out with a lowd voyce In the name of the true God our Lord IESVE-CHRIST crucified whose ghospell I preach I commaund thee to receiue thy One borne blind he cureth with the signe of the crosse sight and confesse the power of thy creatour At which words the yong man opening his eyes found the perfect vse of his desired sight to his owne great comfort and the wonderfull astonishment of the beholders that heard him openly proclaime that there was noe other God but IESVS-CHRIST whom his seruant SWIBERT preached V. THE Pagans as blind of fayth as he had been of sight much Manie receaue the Christian fayth amazed at the strangenes of this miracle began to be touched to the quick with a true compunction of heart and horrour of they owne ignorance and first the Sacrificer of the Village with great store of poeple fell humbly prostrate before S. SWIBERT to demaund pardon for the wrong offered Whom when the B. man with manie pious exhortations had confirmed in the true fayth the next day allmost all the poeple of that Village being gathered togeather in the profane temple of their Idoll by the same holy mans perswas on beleeued and were clensed from all their sinnes in the sacred F 〈…〉 t of Baptisme and their Idolatrous Temple was chainged into a Christian Church and consecrated afterwards by S. SWIBERT when he was made Bishop to the honour of God and the vnspotted Virgin his Mother The glorie of this miracle being blowne ouer the countrey through the trumpet of flying fame manie that had knowne the yong man blind came willingly to S. SWIBERT and being by him instructed they beleeued and were baptised VI. THEN the number of Christians dayly increasing in manie parts of Germanie through the fruitfull preaching of S. SWIBERT S. Swibert made Bishop and his other fellowes being in want of bishops to exercise more eminent authoritie ouer them to consecrate Churches for the diuine seruice to giue holy orders and supplie all others functions belonging to Ecclesisticall affaires they made choise of two WILLIBRORD that went to Rome and SWIBERT that came into England both to be aduaÌ„ced to the Episcopall dignitie S. SWIBERT was consecrated Bishop on S. BARTHOLOMEWS day by the hands of the most excellent flower of the Benedictine order WILFRIDE Bishop of Yorke who then wrongfully expelled from
his bishoprick led a priuate life in the Kingdom of Mercia or Middle England This done our holy SWIBERT adorned with episcopall authoritie fortified with the comfortable speeches of S. WILFRID returned againe to Utreight He iâ— famous ouer the coutrey courragiously to follow on his pious enterprise adorning his new receaued dignities with a new list of vertues behauing him self from hence forth with great humilitie meeknes simplicitie iustice and all other degrees of perfection and making these vertues as it were the baites to take and winne soules out of the deluge of Idolatrie to the secure and quiet shore of CHRISTS Church by the force of his diuine learning and vnwearied labour of preaching Which tooke soe good effect that in diuers parts of Friseland and allmost all the countrie of Teisterband the poeple were conuerted to the fayth and manie Churches raysed and built on the ruines of Idolatrie were consecrated to the seruice of IESVS-CHRIST Soe that S. SWIBERT growing to be of great fame and estimation in all those countries for his singular vertue and miracles and being an amazement to the Pagans and Pagan priests it pleased the diuine goodnes to glorifie him more and more with wonders to the confusion of the â—â—ntils and great aduancement of his Church VII FOR being to dedicate a Church at Malsen in the Countie of Teisterband vppon the riuer Linghen a yong gentleman called Splinter van Andengin desiring out of curiositie to see the rites and ceremonies which the Christians vsed in the dedication of Churches and chiefly to see SWIBERT their bishop of whom he had heard such wonders coming ouer the riuer Rhene fell by chaunce out of the boate drowned leauing both the shores full of the fruitlesse lamentations and teares of his fellowes and seruants that dolefully bewayled their losse The same day about noone he was taken vp by certaine fishers and brought as dead as a hearing to Duerstat to the sorowfull house of his vnconsolable parents who through the perswasion of their Idolatrous Priests caused him to be carried to the Temple of Mars trusting that he could cure the wound giuen by Neptune and to that end they besought his warlik power with The God mars called vppon in vaine manie sacrifices to restore the yong man to life but all in vaine Which his father perceauiÌ„g coÌ„sidering that their poore Gods were not wont to bestow guifts of life soe liberally he was perswaded by some deuout Christians to entreate B. SWIBERT to come to his ay de who was the likelier to prooue a better Aduocate in his behalf in that matter of life and Death To him thereforeÌ„ he went and falling at his feet he began to open his miserie when a floud of teares soe stopt the current of his discourse that in them and his sighs the whole force of his eloquence seemed to consist But the holy Bishop S Swib entreated to ralsea dead maÌ„ refuseth gathering his meaning out of that dolefull speech was very vnwilling to vndertake a matter of soe great presumption till ouercome with the weeping rhetorick of his importunitie the prayers of Werenfride and Marcellin his fellowes he went with him whom an infinite multitude of poeple stood expecting on the banks of the Riuer Rhene When entring the village Duerstat the dolefull mother of the drowned youth carried beyond all degrees of sorrow ranne to meet him and falling at his feet in the midst of the street cried out O seruant of the true God helpe me and reuiue my sonne by the power of thy God for our Gods are all too weake to doe it S. SWIBERT applying a salue of comfort to the deepe wound of her sorow went to the house where the dead bodie was layd and commaunding his fellow-disciples to fall hartily to their prayers he allso betooke him self earnestly to his in the midst of that weeping multitude of poeple and trembling Flamins of the Pagans His prayer ended he arose and putting his whole confidence in our Lord IESVS-CHRIST he sayd O thou only comforter of our sadnes who didest once affirme with thy sacred mouth whosoeuer beleeueth Ioan. 14. v. 12 in me the works that I doe he allsoe shall doe and greater then these he shall doe voutchafe to shew the power of thy Diuinitie in raysing this man from death to life And taking him by the hand he sayd 〈◊〉 He rayseh a dead man to life the name of our Lord IESVS-CHRIST crucified I bid thee rise and liue and prayse thy creatour At these words he that before was dead opened his eyes and waking as it were out of a profound sleepe he arose and embracing the holy Sainct cried out with great sighs there is noe other God in heauen and earth but IESVS-CHRIST crucified whom SWIBERT preacheth O the wonderfull life of this blessed Sainct whose prayers banished death from the bodie of an other and spoiled hell of its pray And presently all the beholders much astonished with the noueltie of this great miracle highly extolled the diuine pietie with loud shouts of ioy and thanksgiuing that daigned to ennoble his seruant with soe miraculous a remonstrance of his goodnes And the Heathen Priests togeather with the parents of the new reuiued youth and a great multitude of poeple renouncing the errours of Idolatrie beleeued in IESVS-CHRIST soe that there were baptised 126. persons besides woemen and children When soe great a noise and clamour was raysed in 126. persons conuerted the street by the Pagans that desired to see the newly reuiued yong man that S. SWIBERT compelled therevnto for the greater honour and glorie of God lead him out amongst them in his hand as a liuing trophie of his owne vertue to be seene of all that pressing multitude of poeple who when they beheld him walking in the street with lowd shoutes and cries they made the heauens resound with the Ecchos of these words Great is the God of the Christians and manie beleeued in CHRIST the worker of miracles through the perswasion of the holie Bishop and had their soules reuiued in the sacred font of baptisme With whom S. SWIBERT remayned a good while feeding and confirming the weakenes of their fayth with the solid foode of his learning till the whole village of Duerstat was throughly conuerted to the truth VIII IN the meane time S. WILLIBRORD ordayned Bishop of Frizeland by the speciall authoritie of Pope Sergius returned from Rome and placed his episcopall sea in the towne of Vtreight in a Cathedrall Church of Benedictin Monks-Canons dedicated to S. MARTIN Willibrord Bishop of Vtreight Bishop of Tours vnto whom the Benedictines were allwaies peculiarly deuoted And Radbod king of Frizeland being dead the two holy Bishops obtained greater libertie publickly â—opreach the ghospell of CHRIST throughout the whole couÌ„trey whereby their holy labours tooke soe good effect that the couÌ„tie of TeisterbaÌ„d allmost all HollaÌ„d a great part of neather Friseland were awaked out of the
out like soe manie madd things terribly amazed at such an vnusuall accident And the captaine blasphemer of all the Host blinded not only in corporall sight but in mind too began to curse both God and man This miracle published by the clamours of that blind companie drew all the neighbours and a great part of the cittie thither to be spectatours of that miraculous tragedie At length some friends of the Host tooke vp poore Sweder out of the durt and brought him before that blinded crew When it was a rare spectacle to behold seauen blind men for soe manie they were fall downe vppon their knees and with blind teares craue pardon of him whom them selues had made soe dumb that by word of mouth he could not answer their petition but by signes and by signes he did withall perswading them by writting to forsake their Idolatrie and vse meanes to goe along with him to Werdt where at S. SWIBERTS Are restored to sight at S. Swiberts ToÌ„b tombe they should vndoubtedly recouer theyr former sight On the morrow they tooke their iourney towards Werdt in a waggon accompained with the Hosts wife and some of his kinsfolks who brought with them the loaues turned into stones Being all come to the holy tombe Sweder made a mentall prayer to the holy sainct recommending him self and those wretched soules to his pietie Vnto whom as he prayed S. SWIBERT visibly appeared and annointing his mouth with a strainge oyntment he perfectly recouered him to his speech most deuoutly breaking out into the lowd prayses of allmightie God and his Sainct When the blind men heard the yong man speak and prayse SWIBERT for the recouerie of his language they began to conceaue greater confidence to haue their cause heard and therefore earnestly imploring the help of CHRIST and his blessed Sainct presently they had their fight miraculously restored to the great ioy and admiration of their friends that were present The loaues of bread or rather the stones of bread they left at the sepulcher in memorie of the miracle as trophies of SWIBERTS glorie And they them selues staying there three daies were conuerted to the fayth and baptised and by that meanes cured of a double blindnes But returning to their owne towne againe their clâ—ere seeing was cause that manie Pagans were made to see their owne blindnes and forâ—ake their Idolatrie God graunt that this example may soe withold our dayly contemners of Gods Saincts from their wicked practise of blasphemie that seeing their owne errours they may giâ—e due honour to God and his Saincts in whom he is allwaies glorious and wonderfull Amen In the yeare of our lord 803. S. SWIBERT was canonized by Pope Leo the third then present in person at Werdt and eye-witnesse of some miracles done togeather with the Emperour Charles the Great who gaue manie rich guifts vnto the monasterie And the feast of his Canonization and exaltation of his holy bodie is celebrated in Germanie on the fourth day of September Besides the foresayd S. MARCELINE S. LVDGER Bishop of Mounster in an epistle written to RIXFRID Bishop of Vtreieght maketh worthy mention of S. SWIBERT and reciteth manie miracles done at his tombe Allâ—oe S. BEDE lib. 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 TRITHEMIVS of the famous men of S. BENEDICTS order 3. book chap. 165. BARONIVS tom 8. 9. HARPSFIELD saec 8. cap. 4. the ROMAN Martirologe and others dâ—e largely speake his prayses The life of Sainct DAVID Bishop and Confessor MAR. 1. Written by Kentigerne Bishop S. DAVID borne of the noble race of auncient Brittanes and vncle to famous Prince Arthur was reuealed vnto S. PATRICK Apostle of Ireland thirtie yeares before his birth Being brought vp from his infancie in pietie and learning he was a child of soe great towardnes that he farre excelled all his fellowes in both His masters were S. ILTVTE and one Pauline both famous men in vertue and learning whose footstepps like a good scholler were soe faythfully imitated by this worthy youth that he not only paraleld them but in his time went far beyond them both in the discipline of diuine religion and secular learning He kepp close in the studie of holie His studie of holy scripture scripture for the space of tenne yearâ—s before he would presume to make him self publick to the world in the instructioÌ„ of others When at length like a fayre ship laden with the balast of a well grounded vertue and fraught with the treasure of admirable knowledge and learning he floted with full sayles ouer the world with the fauourable wind of great fame and renowne dayly manuring the sacred vineyard of our lord and sounding the hearts of his people with the feruent and florishing eloquence of his exhortations and sermons By which and his vâ—matchable pietie he vtterly ruined dissolued He vanquisheth the Pelagian horesie and extinguished the rebellion of the Pelagian heresie which in those dayes began to take head cleerly purged all the stinking dregs and corruption thereof out of the hearts of that people That we may boldly say he was sent into this world by the particular prouidence of allmightie God whoe allwaies hath care of his faythfull flock to be such a Pastour thereof who with his admirable and allmost incredible workes and miracles should preserue and deliuer his Church from the diabolicall infection of this pestiferous heresie II. Amongst other worthy schollers and followers of his learning and vertue the most famous were these Saincts Aidan Paternus and Thâ—lian whoe endeauoured as farre as they were able to perfect them selues by his holy manner of life vertues With these he trauelled ouer the countrey allwaies preaching and teaching the poeple as he went He built manie monasteries for the habitation of such as desired to liue a more retired life At the place now called Glastenburie he built a Church new from the ground And coming He built Glasteuburie Church thence to Bath he cured the infection of the waters thereabouts and with his holy prayers and benediction gaue them a perpetuall heate and made them verie healthfull aâ—d souueraigne for manie diseases euer after as to this present day is experienced to the wonderfull comfort and commoditie of all England Coming at length with his coÌ„panie which was no small one to Meâ—eâ—ia in Pembrookshire he began to build a monasterie in that place farre froÌ„ all worldly tumults meaning to make it his principall abode whilst he remayned in this mortall life But the deuill who from the beginning was an enuious hinderer of monks and monasteries stirred vp a wicked member of his a Tiran of that countrey called Baia with A Tiran plotteth his death his complices to putt the holy man and his companie to death And by the way as they went to the execution of this mischief he and his fellowes were suddenly shaken with such cruell feauers that they were not able to performe theyr wicked intentions When in the meane time the wife of this ring leader
day not only in Wales but all England ouer is most famous in memorie of him But in these our vnhappie daies the greatest part of his solemnitie consisteth in wearing of a greene leeke it is a sufficieÌ„t theame for a zealous VVelchman to ground a quarrell against him that doeth not honour his capp with the like ornament that day VII THE miracles which were wrought by his meritts after his death are such soe manie that they farre exceed the limitts of this short discourse we will only relate some which haue the testimonie of an eye-witnesse to prooue them true In the raigne of King Stephen Gyrald Cambr. in Topogr Camb. Iâ—â—uers miracles the brooke which runnes aboue the Church-yarde of Meneuia or S. DAVIDS flowed with wine and the same time out of a Well or fountaine there called Pisteldewy that is the Conduit of Dauid sprang forth a great quantitie of milke And this is reported by him that liued at the fame time and most exactly was acquanited with the matters of that countrey A litle portable bell called S. DAVIDS Note a strange miracle was of great fame and admiration in VVales which when the souldiers presumed to retaine at the Castle of Raidnock contrarie to the desire of a woman that brought it suddenly the night following the whole towne was deuowred with fier the wall only excepted where that bell was hanged A boy that endeauoured to take yong pigeons out of a nest in S. DAVIDS Church of Lhanuaos had his fingers soe fastened to the stone that he could by noe meanes gett loose All much amazed at this miracle specially his parents and friends who togeather with the boy before the aultar of the same Church gaue them selues to continuall watching fasting and prayer the space of three dayes as manie nights when to the great ioy of all the stone fell from his hand The Authour of this storie not only liued at the same time but both saw and spake to the man to whom it happened who confessed him self that it was soe And which is more that stone being conserued in the Church remayned as an euerlasting witnes of the miracle with the plaine forme of his fingers imprinted in it as in a peece of waxe VIII MANIE thousands of other miracles haue been wrought by the meritts of this holy man both in his life and after his death which for breuities sake me omitt And here now could I willingly enter into a large field of this holy Saincts prayses did not feare of being ouer teadious withould my penne as vnworthy to be the truÌ„pett of the same of soe renowned a man I will only desire all true hearted VVelchmen allwaies to honour this their great Patrone and Protectour and humbly desire him that as in his life time he ouerthrew with his learning all the bullwarkes of the Palagian heresie soe now with his prayers and intercession to allmightie God he would supplicate the diuine Goodnes to cast a mercifull eye vppon his poeple and reduce his sometimes beloued countrey out of the Blindnes of Protestancie groueling in which it languisheth more lamentably then euer it did in the former errour that once againe those hills and valleies may resound with the Ecchoes of Gods diuine prayses sung in such monasticall quiers as haue been the ornaments there of in former ages and now are only the sad monuments of their auncient glorie God of his infinite mercie by the intercession of this glorious Sainct giue strength to those few that are in the truth soe to remayne and grace to the rest to acknowledge the same truth and forsake their present errours The life of S. Dauid was written by S. Kentigerne but whether the same be extant it is vncertaine Ioannes Anglicus and Giraldus Cambrensis haue written the same allsoe out of whom and Nicholas Harpsfield me haue gathered the foresayd historie Manie other authors make worthie mention of him The life of Sainct CHAD Bishop and Confessor of the holy order of S. BENEDICT MAR 2. Gathered out of Venerable Bede de gest Ang. SAINCT CHADDE borne in Northumberland brother to S. CEDDE Bishop of London of whom you may reade the seauenth of January was at first scholler vnto S. AIDAN Bishop of Lindisfarne in whose vertuous schole he made a great progresse in learning and good manners being allwaies verie carefull to execute in deed whatsoeuer he learned by studie In his youth he went into Jreland where tohgeather with S. EGBERT he led a strict monasticall life in continuall continencie exercising him self with great diligenâ— in the pious art of prayer and meditation of the holy scripture Returning into England after that famous controuersie betweeue S. WILFRID the Benedictine monk and Bishop Colman concerning the due celebration of Easter and other Church-rites was decided togeather with his brother S. CEDDE he receaued the rule of our holy father S. BENEDICT and succeeded his brother in the gouernment of the Benedictine Abbey of Lesting in Yorke-shire Which charge he discharged with great sainctitie and example of good life till in the yeare of our Lord 664. when S. WILFRID being chosen Bishop of Yorke and sent into France to be consecrated by the Bishop of Paris stayed soe long beyond the seas that Sainct CHADD by the meanes of king Oswy was consecrated and installed in the Episcopall sea of Yorke by the hands of Wini Bishop of the West-saxons and the only He is cousecrated Bishop of Yorke Bishop lawfully ordayned Bishop extant then in England II. SAINCT CHAD being aduanced to this height of dignitie began presently to make the pietie and vertue of his life correspond to the eminencie of his sacred function bending all his endeauours for the conseruing of the Ecclesiasticall veritie and ordinances of the Catholick Church and making his owne dayly exercise a true patterne of deuotion humilitie and continencie vnto his subiects He was wont to read much preach often trauell abrod after the true Apostolicall manner allwaies on foote from towne and village piously furnishing the whole countrey with the sacred doctrine of CHRISTS ghospel At length S. THEODORE being consecrated Archbishop of Canturbury made a visitt ouer the Churches of England correcting as he went whatsoeuer he found amisse when amongst the rest he chanced to rebuke S. CHAD as not lawfully consecrated See the wonderfull humilitie of the Sainct If thou His great humilitie knowest answeared he verie modestly that I haue not rightly vndertaken the bishoprick I most willingly giue vp my office for indeed I allwaies iudged my self farre vnworthie thereof and it was meere obedience which forced mee at first to take this sacred charge vppon mee But THEODORE being ouercome with the resigned humilitie of this answeare replied that it was not necessarie to leaue his bishoprick but only to haue his installement approoued after the Catholick manner But S. CHAD after three yeares gouernment of that sea being more desirous of a priuate and quiet life resigned vp
the Bishoprick vnto S. WILFRID and returned againe to his beloued solitude in the monasterie of Lesting where he remayned in the continuall exercise of pietie till Wulser King of the Mercians desiring the assistance of a Bishop in his countrey Theodore of Canturbury He is made Bishop of the mercians who would not graunt him a new one obtained of Oswy King of the Northumbers to haue S. CHAD sent into Mercia And because it was all waies S. CHADS custom as we haue sayd to trauell on foote to preach and teach the ghospell S. THEODORE finding him to be a verie holy man commaunded him hereafter to performe his longer iourneyes on horseback and he him self lifted him on his horse and forced him who out of the desire and loue of his pious labour on foote made great resistance to ride where soeuer his occasions should call him III. BEING therefore installed in the bishoprick of the Mercians and Lindisfarne he endeauoured according to the example of the auncient fathers and masters of vertue to administer his office with admirable great perfection of life and example The King Wulfere admiring the sainctity of the mā gaue him in the prouince of Lindisfarne or Lincolne the lands possessions of fiftie families for the erecting of a monasterie He held his episcopall seate at Lichfied where for his owne priuate vse he built a place not farre distant from the Church in which togeather with seauen or eight of his monkes he was wont more secretly and earnestely to exercise him self in deuout prayer meditation and reading holy scripture at such times as his ordinarie imployments and labour of preaching and diuine seruice did giue him leaue But amongst manie other his notable examples of A notable example vertue and pietie he bore in heart such a liuely impression of the feare of God which the royall prophet cals the beginning of wisedom Psal 110. v. 9. was in all his workes soe mindfull of the terrible dreadfull day of iudgement that whensoeuer there arose a more vehement and violent blast of winde and tempest he would straight fall most earnestly to his prayers and yf the storme were such that it were accompanied with the terrour of boisterous thunder or lightning he would instantly gett into the Church and neuer cease from praying and reading of psalmes vntill the heauens were cleered from those tempestuous commotions Being demaunded the Psal 17. v 15. 16. A good Lesson reason hereof Haue you not read answeared he that our Lord hath thundred frō heauē the most high hath sent forth his voyce He threw his darts and dispersed the people he redoubled his lightnings and troubled them For our Lord shaketh the ayre stirreth vp winds darteth lightnings and thunderbolts from heauen to stirre vp mortals to feare him to giue them a remembrance of his dreadfull iudgment to come that he may ouerthrow their pride confound their presumption by putting them in mind of that terrible hower wherein heauen and earth being on fier he will come with mightie power and maiestie to iudge the liuing and the dead It is our parts therefore to correspond to these his heauenly admonitions with the dutie of feare and loue that as often as by such violent commotions of the ayre and heauens he lifteth vp his threatning hand to strike and yet doeth not let fall his blow vppon vs we ought straight humbly to implore his mercie and by a diligent discussion of the secret closetts of our hearts to purge them from all vncleannes of vice lest at anie time we bee strucken vnawares With these terrible remembrances did this blessed Sainct endeauour to sharpen the minds of his monkes and other subiects to giue them a greater appetite to follow the sweete-hard way of vertue and good workes IV. AT LENGTH when he had most gloriously gouerned his Bishoprick for the space of two yeares and a half some daies before his holy departure out of this world that happie minute was reuealed vnto him For being one day alone in his oratorie a holie monk of his called Owen heard a most rauishing consort of celestiall tunes The Vision of a certaine Monke ouer and about the place where the Bishop prayed whīch dured for the space of half an hower After this the holy man opened his window and with a knock as his custom was called some from without vnto him Owen whose office it was to attend vppon him entred into his chamber whom he sent to call the rest of his brethren who were but seauen Then he admonished them faythfully to conserue the vertues of loue and peace with one and other and with an vntired diligence to follow and obserue the rules of regular The day of his departure is re 〈…〉 led vnto him discipline which he had planted amōgst them For sayd he the day of my departure is neere at hand that beloued guest which was wont to visit our brethren voutchafed allsoe this verie day to giue me warning of my long desired end Desire then the rest of our brethren to recommend my departure in their prayers to allmightie God allwaies remembring with fasting prayer and good workes to prepare themselues for their owne end the time whereof is soe vncertaine But the rest being departed out of the chamber the holy monk Owen who had seene and heard the vision aboue mentioned fell prostrat at the blessed Bishops feete humbly entreating him to declare the meaning of those heauenly ditties which that holy troupe of angels sung ouer his oratorie Indeed answeared he those blessed spiritts came to summon me to the holy court of heauen there to receaue the vnspeakeable rewards which soe long I haue aspired vnto and after seauen dayes are past they haue promised to returne to fetch me thither But I commaunde thee in the name of our Lord that thou presume not to reueale this vision before my death And it fell out according to this reuclation for the seauenth day after he yeelded vp his pure soule to the hands of his redeemer At which verie instant one Egbert a monke saw S. CEDDE S. Cedde cometh in glory to mecte him his brother incompassed with a blessed troupe of angels descend from the celestiall vaultes and carrie vp the vnspotted soule of this glorious Bishop into the euerlasting ioies of the heauenly Kingdom He died the second day of March and was buried first neere to the Church of our Ladie but afterwards a Church being erected there to the Prince of the Apostles sainct PETER his sacred bones were translated into it in both which places for the greater testimonie of his vertues manie miraculous cures of diseases were wrought V. A MAD man who lead by the lightnes of his frantick braine A mad man cureed at his tomb ranne wandring vp and downe happened one euening as it were to stūble happily on that place vnawares of the watchmē that kept it and hauing rested there all that night in the
to serue allmightie God vnto whom she had allreadie consecrated her self to liue a perpetuall Virgin At this newes the diuine prouidence soe disposing the King approoued of her counsell and in his answeare promised that her sacred vowes should be ratified Thus then this holy virgin being freed from these troubles held on her pious course and purposes and hauing receaued the sacred vaile of virginitie in the same monasterie that her sister she endeauoured with great care and vigilancie to obserue the rules of a monasticall life in all puritie both of soule bodie And at length King Offa him self being ouercome with the inuincible vertue of the holy virgin blushed to see a tender gyrle soe stoutly Off a becometh a Benedictin Monk refuse such glorie and riches and grieuing at his owne subiection to vanitie and reputing him self but as the slaue of his Kingdom he forsoke both it and all the pompe of the world and went to Rome where he became a Monke of Sainct BENEDICTS order and happily ended his daies in that holy state IV. BVT S. KINESWIDE seruing allmightie God all her life time in continuall watchings prayers and good workes was called at Of S. Tibbe Virgin length out of the thraldom of this world to enioy the happie companie of her deare spouse CHRIST-IESVS among the pure quiers of his angels in heauen She was buried in the same monasterie by her sister S. KYNEBVRG These two sisters had a Kinswoman called TIBBE who liued manie yeares in the same monasterie in soe high a degree of sainctitie that after her death she was numbred in the catalogue of Saincts The sacred reliques of these three Saincts were afterwards translated to the Benedictin Abbey of Peterborough where their feast was celebrated the sixt day of March Allthough saint TIBBE died on saint LVCIES day the thirteenth of December as she her self reuealed in an apparition after her death Other particulars of the liues of these blessed Saincts were burnt lost in that outrageous ransacke committed by the Danes against the monasterie of Peterborrough when 〈◊〉 Abbot as Ingulphus a graue authour sayth with the greater part of his Conuent and the sacred reliques of the holy Virgins Kineburg Kineswide and Tibbe fled to Thorney for succour And William Camden out of an auncient Authour Robert Swaphaâ—â— reporteth that saint KYNEBVRG and KYNESWIDE conferred not a little to the first foundation and building of the famous Benedictine Abbey of Peterborough The liues of these Saincts we haue gathered chiefly out of Ioannes Anglicus recited by Iohn Capgraue and Nicholas Harpsfield saec 7. cap. 23. Besides these Rannlphus Cicestrensis lib. 5. cap. 18. Polidor Virgil l. 4. william Malmesbury de gâ—st Pont. l. 4. Mathew West an 705. Arnold Wyon lib. 4. cap. 14. and others doe make honorable 〈…〉 tion of them The life of saint ESTERWINE Abbot and confessor of the holy order of S. BENEDICT MAR 7. Written by venerable Bede ESTERWINE borne in Yorkeshire of noble parents was neere allied to saint BENNET Bishop Abbot whose life we haue written the twelfth of Ianuary wherein something hath been sayd of this holy man sainct ESTERWINE a vertuous proficient in the aforenamed sainct BENNETS Benedictin schoole of religion For when he as we haue sayd in his life had built two monasteries one in honour of the Prince of the Apostles sainct PETER at the mouth of the riuer Were and an other to the name of the Teacher of the Gentils sainct PAVL not farre from the mouth of the riuer Tine in the towne Esterwin made Abbot 〈◊〉 Yarrow and placed Sigfrid in the gouernment of saint PAVLS about the yeare of CHRIST 682 at the same time he made choise of ESTERWINE then a Priest of S. PETERS monasterie and gaue him the gouernement of the same that the labour which alone him self was not able to vnder 〈…〉 â—ight be made more easie by the helping vertue of soe beloued a 〈…〉 lleague Nether need it seeme strange to anie fayth venerable BEDE that one monastery had two abbotts at once to wit S. BENNET Bishop and S. ESTERWINE S. BENNETS Two Abboâ—â— of one â—onasterie often iourneies ouer the seas for the good of his monasterie and the vncertaintie of his returne was cause hereof For our histories recount that the most Blessed Apostle S. PETER vppon an instant iust cause appointed vnder him two Bishops one after an other at Rome to gouerne the vniuersall Church And the great Abbot S. BENEDICT him self as S. GREGORIE Pope writes of him ordayned twelue abbots vnder him to rule his disciples as he throught best without anie detriment to charitie yea to the great encrease and conseruation thereof S. ESTERWINE therefore vndertooke the chardge to gouerne that monasterie the ninth yeare after the foundation And he remayned in the same as long as he liued and he liued but fower yeares after II. HE WAS a man by byrth noble but he did not make vse of the nobilitie of his bloud as somâ— doe to suggest matter of arrogancie and contempt of others but as best befitted the seruant of God he turned it to the greater ennobling of his mind Greatnes of vertue not byrth to be respected with vertue For being cozen german vnto saint BENNET Bishop they were both soe truely allied in the nobilitie of the world that nether ESTERWINE entring into the monasterie did expect anie greater honour in regard of his nobilitie of birth and Kinred nor BENNET iudged it fitt to be offered him vppon those respects But liuing in an equall measure of his good purpose with his other brethren he reioyced chiefly that in all things he punctually obserued the rules of regular discipline And being before one of the royall traine of King Egfrid hauing once ridd him selfe of worldly affayres layd by his armes and entred into the spirituall warrefare he remayned allwaies soe humble and soe equall with his other brethren that togeather with them he would labour in the haruest winow corne looke to the cat 〈…〉 〈◊〉 good â—â—ample of humilitie and in all base inferiour offices and drudgeries of the monasterie he was ioyfull and glad to exercise his obedience and humilitie And which is more being raysed to the degree and calling of an Abbot he remayned in the same mind as before toward all according to a wise mans admonition that sayth Haue they ordayned thee to bee a gouernour doe not grow proud but be among thy â—â—â—â—ects at one of them meeke affable and courteous vnto all Nether did he yet neglect to bridle offenders with regular discipline but he choose rather out of his innate custom of loue to gouerne by fayre meanes and to winne his subiects with his pious admonitions from offending and entreating them not to hide from him the bright light of their countenances with the clowd of their vnruly disquietnes III. OFTEN times goeing abroad to ouersee the affaires of the monasterie when he found his brethren at their work he
thy bosome All which and all other thy monuments of antiquitie diuers haue soe largely elegantly learnedly and exactly searched into that there is scarse a stone a marble or a sepulcher extant within thy walles which hath not been particularly noted marked and examined But I would not haue the stick here to long I would not haue thine eyes throughts fixed on these trophies of vanitie I inuite thee to behold more noble and more excellent glories of thine and omiting all other thy only and chiefest ornament thy GREGORY who alone next to the two lights of the world the Apostles excelleth all the rest of thy wonders Nether yet is he thine soe much as Ours too Ours he is indeed not only because he shined vnto as with the bright lustre of his authoritie and vertues as to the rest of the world but allsoe principally because by his disciple S. AVGVSTIN he brought vs out of the blindnes of Idolatrie to see the light of the truth and made vs that were the sonnes of wrath become the children of CHRIST in the vnitie and peace of his Church Thine too he is because in thee he was begotten borne and bred and in thee ennobled with the sacred dignitie of Supreme Pastour of the Christian world Acknowledge therefore this thy great happines thy natiue and domesticque glorie Honour this most generous branch bred out of a noble holy roote And thou wretched England acknowledge likewise the inestimable benefitts receaued from this thy spirituall father and Apostle Looke vpoÌ„ this bright sunne that first sent thee the light of truth haue regard to this thy pious fosterer who first fedd thee with the sweet milke of the ghospel Search exactly into his life workes and actions and euen therein thou shalt see how farre thou hast swerued from that fayth and religion which through his meanes was first planted within thy dominions and which as at that time thou didest embrance for truth soe yet I hope thou art not soe impudent as to denie for such Yf thou find then by the manner of this thy first Apostles life which was euer conformable to his doctrine that the present state of thy life and religion is contrary or other wise mainly differing from that which first he deliuered vnto thee be then most assured that thou hast erred and gone astray from thy first foundation and principles of the true religion which is not can be but one only This life was written in Latin by Pâ—ulâ—s Diaâ—â—nâ—â— a Benedictin Monke aboue 850. yeares agoe and for the antiquitle we haue made choice of it rather then anie other I. GREGORY borne in Rome sonne to Gordian and Siluia descended His byrth and Parents from a noble race of Roman Senatours in whom nobilitie was adorned with religion and religion ennobled with vertue For Felix chief Pastour of the same sea Apostolicque was father vnto his great grandfather and a man of great vertue and integritie and in his time the glorie of CHRISTS Church But yet GREGORY in his pious conuersation manners was an ornament to the great nobilitie of his birth In fine as cleerly afterwards it appeared it was not without some great presage that this name was allotted him for Gregorins in Greeke signifies as much as Vigilant or Watchfull in English His name expounded and in very deed he was Watchfull ouer him self whilst exactely adhering to the commandments of God he led a vertuous laudable life here on earth He was Vigilant ouer the faythfull people of Gods Church when by the force of his fluent doctrine he made plaine vnto them the straight way to heaueÌ„ From a child he was soe well instructed in the liberall sciences that albeit at that time the studie of learning florished much in Rome yet he was iudged second to none in the whole cittie In his age which as yet was but little and vnripe there was a mind full of mature studies and manlike endeauours to witt to stick to the sayings of his ancients and when he heard anle thing worthie of notice he would not by neglect committ it to obliuion but rather commend it to the strongest hould of his memorie Soe that then with a thirsty breast he sucked vpp strea mes of learning which afterwards with a mellifluous voyce he might vtter in due season II. IN the very time of his youth when that age is wont to enter The conuersation of his youth into the dangerous pathes of the world he began to settle him self in deuotion towards God and with all the desires of his heart to aspire to the countrey of euerlasting life But while he defferred the grace of his conuersion somewhat long and thought best after he was inspired with that heauenly desire to hide it vnder his secular apparell and to serue the world as it were in outward shew soe manie difficulties out of that little care of the world arose against him that now he was not detayned therein only in outward shew but allmost in mind too as he him self affirmeth Till as length the death He buildeth manie monasteries of his parents giuing him free scope to dispose of him self and his affaires he made that openly knowne which before lay hid vnder the secrecie of his mind that which before was only in the sight of him that sees all things he manifested now to the publick view of the world For distributing all his teÌ„porall goods in pious workes to the end that in the state of pouertic he might follow CHRIST who for our sakes became poore he built six monasteries in Sicilie furnished theÌ„ with vertuous Monkes to sing the prayses of allmightie God The seauenth he erected within the walles of Rome in which afterwards hauing gathered togeather a great Conuent of Monks forsakesn the Pompe of the world he him self liued in regular discipline vnder the commaund and obedience of an Abbot Vnto these monasteries he allotted soe much yearly rent out of his owne meanes as might suffice each one for necessarie maintenance All the rest of his temporall goods howses and lands he should and dealed the money to the Poore turning hereby by a diuine inspiration all that glory and nobilitie which he seemed to haue in the world to purchase the happines of the euer-florishing cittie of heauen And he that before was wont to walde through the cittie of Rome cloathed in silkes and loaden with glittering gemmes afterwards couered with a poore simple weede became a poore seruant to the poore III. FOR hauing changed his secular apparell he went to the He taketh the habit of a Benedictin Monke monasterie and made a naked escape out of the shipwrack of the world There he began to liue in soe great grace of perfection that euen then in his very beginning he might be reckoned in the number of the perfect Soe that within a while being chosen by the common consent of the Conuent he refused not to vndertake the charge
out of her good affection to deuotion and religion was wont to make offring breads for the aultar and euerie sunday to bring them to the Church and deliuer them to the holy Pope him self presuming on her custom and familiaritie in soe doeing One day it happened that when she came as the manner is to receaue at the hands of the Blessed Pope and he offered to giue her the sacred Eucharist saying Corpus Domini noflri Iesu Christi c. She smiled and that soe broadely that the holy man perceauing refused to giue her the communion but turning againe to the aultar layd that sacred particle by it self commending it to the Deacon to be reserued vntill the rest of the poeple had communicated And the Sacred misteries of Masse being ended B. GREGORIE demaunded of the woman what was in her mind which moued her to laughe being about soe dreadfull a worke I perceaued sayd she that particle to be of the same bread which I made with my owne hands and offered vnto thee and vnderstanding it to be called the Corpus Domini the bodie of our Lord I could not but laugh Then the holy Bishop made a speech to the Poeple herevppon earnestly exhorting them to make humble prayers vnto our Lord that for the strengthening of the fayth of manie he would make that visible to corporall eyes which the misbeleef of this woeman ought to haue beheld with the spirituall eyes of the soule and the light of fayth And prayer to this effect being publickly made the holy man togeather with the poeple and the woeman arose and returning to the aultar in the publick view of the poeple that pressed on to behold that heauenly spectacle he discouered the Pall or Corporall where he found the Sacred Host turned The SacrameÌ„t appeareth in true forme of flesh into the forme of flesh and part of his little finger which touched it stayned with fresh bloud in the meane time the whole multitude of poeple and the foresayd woeman her self looking on Then turning to the woeman Learne now sayd he at least to beleeue the truth bearing witnes for it self The bread which J Ioan. 6. Proofe of the reall presence giue is my flesh and my bloud is truly drink But the foreseeing Creatour of our weakenes by the same power by which he created all things of nothing formes vnto him self the holy ghost concurring thereunto a bodie out of the flesh of the euer-Virgin MARIE and by the Sanctification of the same holy spirit and vertue of the Catholicque prayer he dayly conuerteth Bread into his Bodie and wine mingled with water into his bloud for the reparation of our infirmitie This sayd he commaunded the whole companie to beseech the diuine power to reforme that Sacred Misterie into its former shape whereby it might be made communicable for that woeman which was presently done And she afterwards encreased in strength to her fayth and religion being consecrated in the participation of that blessed Sacrament and all that beheld this miracle grew more feruent in the loue of allmightie God and more fortified in the Chatholicque beleefe XIV ALLSOE a man noble by byrth and as powerfull in authoritie according to the manner of his royall magnificence had by manie between-messengers obtayned the familiaritie of the Apostolicque A nobleman sendeth to him for Reâ—icks sea and been sufficiently instructed in the worship of God and his saincts by the frequent admonishments of S. GREGORIE in his letters to him sent some lustie men of his with Guifts vnto the holy Pope desiring to receaue back some reliques of the blessed Apostles Martirs bodies The Pope honourably entertayning those Embassadours stayed them some while with him he in the meane time neuer ceasing to visitt and goe about the sacred tombes and monuments of the holy Apostles and Martirs and after the old fashion celebrating his holy Sacrifices to this purpose when he had finished the Masses of these Saincts whose Reliques were demaunded he reserued euery linnen corporall a part on which he had executed those Sacred misteries and putt each of them into a box by it self This done he sealed them with the seale of his Apopostolicall autoritie and deliuered them to those petitioners for Ecclesiasticall vses Who with due reueerence receaued his benediction and departed merryly away But hauing spent some daies in A rash curiositie their iourney the chiefest amongst theÌ„ tould his fellowes speaking out of an ouer curious folly that in vaine they had vndertaken the labour of soe great a voyage returning ignorant of what pretious stuffe they brought back to their Lord therefore breaking vp the seales of the Apostolicall dignitie they opened the boxes and found in each of them nothing but a poore parcell of linnen cloath Therefore returning in a great furie to Rome thy made their complaint to the Archdeacon For what cause sayd they doth our Apostolique Lord the Pope soe basely esteeme of our Lord and Master who was in hope he had gayned so high a place in his fauour that he would thus delude him and purchase to vs dishonour and blame in his sight For indeed we thought our selues the bearers of some present worthie the worth of our Master as the bones of the holy Apostles or Martirs from soe great a Prelate as this especially hauing taken soe long and hard a iourney to find it and yet we haue receaued noe other treasure then some small parcells of cloath as yf such kind of raggs were not to be found with vs. Surely had not our owne carefull warines been our ayde to make vs find out what we carried we had returned like fooles to our Master and not without the great impeachement of our credditt and fauour with him But the ArchdeacoÌ„ gaue a modest check to their presumptuous boldnes for aduenturing in a matter of such moment to violate the Papall feales exhorting them to returne with honour present what they had receaued to their Master But by noe meanes would they listen to his counsel till they were brought to the presence of the holy Pope who hauing found the matter had great patience with their follie and commaunded them to be present at the Sacred misteries of Masse Which done and come to the place where he accustomed to preach he perswaded the poeple to supplicate for soe much fauour at the hands of allmightie God and his Saincts that he would voutchafe soe to manifest his power herein that those who lesse euidently and who alltogeather ignorantly beleeued might know of how great meritt true fayth was The prayer being ended he tooke a knife from him that had violated the seales and vppon the aultar of S. PETERS bodie thrusting it into one of those peeces of linnen cutt it in two whence straight there issued a streame of bloud that sprinkled the linnen all ouer But the straingers and all the NoÌ„te a woÌ„derfull miracle poeple seeing this wonderfull and hidden miracle of our fayth
fell flatt to the ground adoring our Lord the worker of miracles and crying out with the Psalmist God is wonderfull in his Sainsts the God Psal 67. v. 38. of Jsrael he will giue vertue and strength to his poeple Blessed be God And silence made B. GREGORY among others documents of fayth sayd to those that before soe lightly esteemed of holy reliques Know Brethren that in the consecration of the body and bloud of our Lord IESVS CHRIST when for the Sainctifying of reliques in honour of his Apostles or Martirs to whom they were specially assigned in the oblation of that Sacrifice on the holy aultar their bloud shed for the name of IESVS CHRIST entred these cloathes All that had seene being much edified and strengthened in their fayth he sealed vp the boxes againe with his owne signet and deliuered them the incomparable rewards of his good wishes who returning ioyfully home made a formall relation vnto their Master of what had happened and gaue him the accomplishment of his good desire For he receauing the pretious patronages of the Saincts with great reuerence and honour set them vp in an eminent place where euen to this day it hath pleased allmighty God to the prayse and glorie of his sacred name to worke more frequent miracles then in S. PETERS Church at Rome XV. THERE was a man in Rome powerfull in riches but poore in A maÌ„ that diuorceth his wife religion who abounded noe lesse in vices then in goods for hauing conceaued a displeasure at his wife contrarie to the precept of our Sauiour he gaue her a bill of diuorce This could not lie hid from B. GREGORY for the greatnes of the fact and the persons quickly betrayed it Therefore he earnestly and incessantly endeauoured to perswade this wretched man first with mild admonitions then with the terours of the district iudgement of God to returne againe into grace with his wife from whom he could not be separated but ether by death or the mutuall consent of both parties But he being preuented with a diabolicall stubbornes contemned his good admonitions Whom S. GREGORY by apostolicall authoritie segregated from the communion of the Church till he recanted But the Is excommunicated by S. Gregorie wretch slighting that excommunication and taking it very ill heaped sinns vppon sinnes for breathing reuenge against the holy maÌ„ he hired two magitians with money to exercise the skill of their black art against him Therefore as one day the B. Pope went in procession they stood wayting a farre off for his coming but not knowing him they were tould that to be him riding in Pontificall dignitie with troupes of Church-men on all sides Then looking vppon him they began with their sorcerie to vexe his horse and straight the holy man calsing vppon the name of our Lord IESVS Two magitians miraculously punished CHRIST with the signe of the Crosse droue away those diabolicall practises and casting his eye aside as soone as he beheld the Magitias they were suddenly strucken blind fell downe backwards being them selues assaulted by the same deuills Whereby the Blessed man vnderstood that mischief to be wrought by them and being brought before him they betraved the whole course of the Matter For euer answeared the holy Pope you must remayme in your blindnes left seeing make you attempt your former wickednes againe But in the name of our Lord IESVS CHRIST and the help of S. PETER the Apostle be yee hereafter freed from the affliction of the deuils Being imediately deliuered from those ill spirits they belecued in CHRIST and were purged in the sacred font of Baptisme and remayning for euer in the sentence of their blindnes from thence forward by the commaund of S. GREGORY they were maintained with a stipend from the Church XVI A Tyrant that with an insufferable importunitie wrought See the force of his Eloquence great mischief to the peace of the holy Roman Church most cruelly wasting and spoyling her lands tenantes being often admonished by messengers from the holy Pope he not only neglected those warnings but grew into greater madnes in soe much that he aduentured to sack the Cittie it self Against whom as he came towards Rome B. GREGORIE went him self in person and hauing spoken vnto him he found God soe disposing soe great efficacie in his diuine words that he gaue most humble satisfaction vnto the Holy Pope and promised euer after to be his obedient subiect and a deuout seruant vnto the Roman Church The same man falling afterwards into a mortall disease he sent to entreate the prayers of the holy Pope and it was answeared him that our Lord would as yet giue him time to repent and that being morefully recouered he should be able to fall to his meate as strongly as he had done before Who obeying his commaunds receaued his former health and liued faythfully euer after XVII As the same most perfect gratefull seruant of God GREGORY went one day into the Market place of Traian the Emperour The Emperour Traiaue built with such magnificent workmanship he found that memorable accident that in times past when that Prince of the world entrenched about with thick troupes of armed souldiers went on a hastie expedition he mett there a poore widdow fallen away with old age and greife who with a weeping voyce cried vnto him Most pious Prince Traiaâ—e sayd she behould here the men that haue slaine my only sonne the only staffe coÌ„fort of my old age now desirous to kill me too they will not deigne to giue me anie accoÌ„pt or recoÌ„pence for him To whom he hastily passing by as his busines required wheÌ„ I returne sayd he tell me of this thou shalt haue all iustice My Lord replied she yf thou doe not returne what shall I doe At that word he stayed caused the guiltie persoÌ„s to be brought before him And would not stirrea foote froÌ„ the place allbeit much pressed by all his followers with the great hast of his iourney vntill out of his owne exchecquer he had caused to be payed vnto the widdow all that was adiudged vnto her by the decrees of the law at length being bowed to mercie with the repentant teares and prayers of those supplicant offenders not soe much out of his souueraigne power as by their entreatie and his owne gentlenes he freed them out of the chaines of the Pretor For this cause the venerable Pope GREGORY much grieued in mind began with weeping lamentations as he prayed to ponder with him self these Propheticall and Euangelical oracles Thou o Lord hast sayd Iudge yee for the Orphan Isa 1. 17. and defend the widdow and then come and argue me Forgiue and yee shall be forgiuen For the names sake of thy glory be not vnmindfull and I am allsoe an vnworthy sinner of thy most faythfull promise in the iust deeds of this deuout man And goeing to the holy shrine of S. PETER he prolonged his
in morall matters ought to be preferred before allmost all the doctours of the Church He died the twelfth day of March in the yeare of our Lord 607. the third of Phocas the Emperour But that I may end where I began how farre is the greatest part of our wretched Countrey fallen from that religion which this The conclusion holy Pope first planted therein Nay such as he him self and the Apostles he sent were that is Priests and Monks are now held for wicked traitours and whatsoeuer slanders worse can be vttered against their holy profession and function O what would Blessed Sainct GREGORY say yf he liued now to see his pious labours come at length to soe vnhappie a periode to see Churches pulled downe Monasteries robbed priests tortured imprisoned and hanged all goodnes pietie and religion expelled and beatten into corners all vice impietie and heresie set abroach to lead men hedlong into the bottomlesse gulphes of damnation But let vs hope at lest for better and expect till the goodnes of allmightie God shal please to receaue vs againe into his fauour whose eternall prouidence doubtlesse hath permitted vs to fall into these miseries being pulled therevnto with the weight of our owne heauie sinnes and offences Let vs make our dayly prayers vnto our Lord I. C. that by the merits and intercession of this glorious Sainct our first Father and Apostle whom he soe highly exalted both in heauen and earth that he would graunt vs the grace to imitate that patterne of life and religioÌ„ which he hath layd before vs in his owne workes and sent vs at first by his disciples Whose care of our Countrey as in his life it was verie great soe since his death eueÌ„ to this day he hath not forgotten vs for as then he sent his Benedictin Monks to bring the first tidings of catholick religion amongst vs English soe yet he ceaseth not to send from a monasterie lately built and dedicated to his holy name manie learned men of the same Benedictin order and religion to labour in the conuersion of soules to their auncient catholique and Apostolique fayth For whom I the vnworthiest amongst them dare bouldly auouch soe much that they are all readie to seale the writing of that fayth religioÌ„ which they preach with the testimonie of their owne dearest bloud God of his infinite mercie through the merits of this glorious sainct graunt grace vnto our wretched countrey soe to listen vnto those and others her teachers that she may returne againe to the vnitie of our holy mother the Catholique and Apostolique Church Amen The life of S. PATRICK Bishop and confessor Apostle of Jreland MAR. 17 VVriten by Ioceline a Monk of Furnes SAINCT PATRICK for the excellencie of his vertues worthyly surnamed the Great was borne of the race of auncient Britans in that part of Wales now called Pembrookshire but the glorie and fame of his diuine learning life and miracles shined chiefly among His parents the inhabitans of Jreland who then were called Scotts His fathers name was Calphurnius his mothers Conquessa sister to the great Sainct MARTIN Archbishop of Tours In his Youth togeather with his two sisters and a brother he was taken Captiue and like an other Joseph sould into Ireland to a king named Milcho And as Joseph He is sould into IrelaÌ„d being a Slaue in Egipt was after a long â—uffring of aduersitie raysed at length to the supreme power Princedom of the countrey soe PATRICK hauing endured the affliction of his sale and slauerie in Ireland receaued the dignitie and primacie of the spirituall gouernment of the same Joseph furnished the hunger-starud EgiptiaÌ„s with graine PATRICK in his time nourished the poore Jrish languishing in the blindnes of Idolatrie with the wholesom foode of the Christian fayth They both tasted the smart of bodyly affliction for the greater good of the soule and were as gould in a furnace purified in the scorching flames of aduersitie Then by the commaund of the Prince PATRICK was made gardian of the Kings hoggs in the north part of the Countrey when it was strange to see He keepeth swine the wonderfull encrease of that ffock vnder soe pious a guide The holy youth bowing humbly to his fortune turned that necessitie His exercise of pietie being in miâ—erie into a vertue and hauing by this office purchased to him self a solitarines he piously laboured in the sauation of his owne soule Dwelling in the mountaines woods and caues of a desert he exercised him self in prayer fasting and meditation wherein he tasted the diuine sweetnes of allmightie God being amidst these afflictions often visited and conforted with angels from heauen It was not the crueltie eyther of heate cold frost or snow or anie other roughnes of weather that could fright him from his spirituall exercises But he still went on corragiously in his pious course dayly encreasing and profitting more and more in the way of vertue and growing stronger in fayth and the loue of IESVS-CHRIST II. AT LENGTH the allmightie goodnes that freed the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egipt deliuered his seruant Patrick by speciall miracle out of this affliction and restored him after six yeares seruitude in Ireland to his natiue contrey and friends He hath a vision againe to the great ioy and confort of his parents and kinsfolks He remayned some dayes with them till by the occasioÌ„ of a dreame or vision he was inspired otherwise For he saw a man in his sleepe who as he throught came out of Ireland with manie letters in his hand whereof he gaue him one which began thus This is the voice of the Irishmen And hauing read soe much he seemed at the same instant to heare the voyces of manie infants in Jreland crying out of their mothers wombs We beseech thee holy Father come walke amongst vs and deliuer vs. And a waking he gaue thanks vnto allmigtie God iudging for certaine that God had called him to coÌ„uert that couÌ„trey Therefore he resolueed to settle him self to the studie of holy learning and the better to putt his resolution in practise like an other Abraham he left his countrey parents friends and all and went ouer into France where vnder the learned tutorship of He studieth in France vnder S. German S. GERMANS Bishop of Aâ—xer he spent eighteen yeares in the continuall studie and reading of holy scriptures And at length the fame holy bishop seeing the great signes of vertue learning and religion in PATRICK promoted him to the sacred dignitie of Priesthood Then he departed to his vncle S. MARTIN Archbishop of Tours with whom he stayed some daies reading and conferring what he had learned And because S. MARTIN was a monk he gaue likewise the monasticall habit to his cozen togeather with all his manner of regular obseruance which PATRICK not only receaued with deuotion but perseuering euer after therein was an ornameÌ„t to the habitt he wore with the
corespondencie of his vertuous life and actions And in all things shewed him self worthie of soe noble soe vertuous an vncle and soe excellent a master This done he returned to S. GERMAN with whom he had not stayed long before he reuealed vnto him an earnest desire he had to goe to Rome the fountaine and head of all true religion and Ecclesiasticall discipline S. GERMAN He goeth to Rome approued his good purpose and gaue him all the furtherance he could for his iourney But by the way he chanced to meete with an holy Hermite who gaue him a staffe which was sayd to haue been in the sacred hands of IESVS-CHRIST and by vertue of this staffe he wrought manie miracles afterwards and it was held in great veneration among the Irish and is to this day by the name of Iesus-staffe But S. PATRICK being safely arriued at Rome was very honourably entertayned by Pope Celestin the first who then gouerned the sea Apostolique and finding him to be of a most perfect approoued fayth learning and vertue first gaue him the name of PATRICK for before he was called Suchar or Suchet and hauing inuested him with episcopall dignitie afterwards he sent him to preach the fayth of CHRIST He is sent to Preach in Ireland to the rude inhabitans of Ireland Not long before he had sent thither for the same purpose one Paladius his ArchdeacoÌ„ but the Jrishmen refusing to receaue him and his doctrine he was forced to returne back to Rome and afterwards comming into England died in the confines of the Picts Therefore S. PATRICK not only succeeded him in that holy embassage and labour but farre exceeded him in the fruict he reaped out of both And truely the workes and miracles which are reported of him in the conuersion of that countrey are soe manie soe infinite and some soe beyond the degrees of admiration that they seeme allmost to be beyond fayth too At lest they are farre beyond the limitts of this short treatise and therefore I wittingly omitt the greatest part of them not that I thinke theÌ„ voyd of all truth God forbid but because some are reported with ouermuch pietie or credulitie and by such authours at first whose names are vnknowne and consequently their testimonie cannot carrie his iust weight in the ballaÌ„ce of true historie But before we enter into S. PATRICKS preaching in IrelaÌ„d let the great S. HIEROME tell vs what manner of men he had to deale with That nation sayth he had The rudenes of the Irish poeple not proper wines but as yf they had read PLATOS Policie and followed the example of CATO like beasts they satiated their lust according aâ— euerie one thought best He likewise affirmeth that he him self being in FraÌ„ce had seene lib. 2. contra Jouin. cap. 6. those poeple cate mans Flesh and that they were wont when they did light on shepheards that kept their flocks in woods and desert places to cutt of the buttocks of men and the paps of woemen affirming those to be the only delights of all other meates Noe wonder then that it pleased allmightie God to shew such strange signes and miracles by S. PATRICK as soe manie necessarie instrumeÌ„ts to worke the coÌ„uersion of that rude fierce barbarons poeple whose iron hearts could not be mollified but in the powerfull flames of wonderfull great vertue and sainctitie III. S. PATRICK therefore and his fellowes coming a shore amongst this rude poeple in the north part of the CouÌ„trey called Vlâ—ter found His entraÌ„ce into Ireland a multitude of Pagans expecting his arriuall come to meet him For their Magitians Negromancers had foretould his coming before and therefore the chief king of the Countrey Leogarie by name had prouided that watch thinking to make his entring into the Iland his goeing out of the world Against whom presently that dogged crew lett loose a cruell mastiffe to giue the gripes of death vnto the holy Bishop But the doggâ— forgetting his wonted fiercenes was strucken soe dumbe and starke at the sight of the holy maÌ„ that he stood like a stone without anie shew of motion giuing an euident token that his setters on who worshiped Idols of stone were like the Gods they worshiped Which being perceaued by one Dichu One Dichu endeauoureth to kill S. Patrick a man of mightie strength and stature he straight lifted vp his sword to giue the holy man his death But his strength became feeblenes hauing the force of the Allmightie opposing it for his arme and whole bodie grew in a moment soe stiffe that he could nether moue his foote to goe on nor bring downe the Dichu coÌ„uerâ—ed by miracle threatning blow he intended Wherevppon by the preaching of saint PATRICK he presently became a new man renounced his Idolatrie and was washed in the sacred font of baptisme togeather with all his familie Soe that he who in that Prouince was the greatest and chiefest impugner of Christianitie became the ring-leader and first professour thereof and constantly remayned in the same whilest he liued And as at that time his soule was released out of the bonds of sinne soe likewise all the parts of his bodie were restored againe to the function of their wonted strength and vigour Therefore he gaue vnto saint PATRICK as an argument of his newly conceaued deuotion to Christian religion that land with the appurtenances where this miracle happened to build a new Church thereon and this Church according to the desire of Dichu was not built from East to west as the manner is but from North to south perhapps that from the Northerne coldnes of Paganisme those Idolaters might be incited by the misterie of this edifice to the meridiaÌ„ feruour of Christian fayth and charitie In this place afterwards S. PATRICK built a famous monasterie into which he introduced a conuent of perfect monks and ordayned S. DVNNE his disciple abbot thereof with whom he him self returning from his labour of preaching was wont somes times to remayne IV. AS ONCE he celebrated the diuine sacrifice of masse in the same Church a wicked Magitian malitiously thrusting a loÌ„g rodd in at the window ouerturned his chalice and shed the most pretious Ransom of our Redemption vppon the aultar Whereat the holy man being exceedingly troubled grieued in mind burst out into teares wheÌ„ on the suddeÌ„ behould by the diuine handy work of God the chalice A magitiaÌ„ miracuâ—ously punished appeared againe standing vpright in the place before him and noe â—igne could be seene on the aulthar clothes of that diuine offring But the diabolicall worker of that mischieuous act escaped not a iust punishment for his temeritie for at the same instant the earth it self as it were wearie and ashamed to carrie such a hellish monster opened her bowells and swallowed him vp aliue to send him to his grand-master of darknes in hell And in the same place as a token of Gods reueÌ„ge there remayned a hollow
to preach thirtie fiue yeares he laboured in the conuersion of that and other Ilands and the other thirtie three yeares the remaynder of his whole life he passed ouer attending chiefly to the sweetnes of a contemplatiue life in a monasterie sometimes at Armagh and sometimes in others places Nether was he easyly drawne out of those sacred sainctuaries but vppon the vrgent occasion of some vneuitable and weightie affayre Neuerthelesse once in a yeare he was wont to summon a Prouinciall CouÌ„cell to reduce those that swerued from the truth to the rules of the Catholick Church Being shrowded in the Linnen of S. BRIGITS prouiding he was buried with wonderfull great reuerence honour and glorie within the cittie of Down in the verie place foreshewed by the light from heauen on the east side of the Church Ouer his tombe is writt a latin distick which in English goeth thus At DOWN these three lie in owne Tombe Patrick Brigett and holy Columbe Whereby it is manifest that S. BRIGITT whose life you haue the first Psal 8. of February and S. COLVMâ—A Abbott of whom God willing we will treate the ninth of Iune were both buried in the same Tombe with The conclusion S. PATRICK XIV AND here I inuite all that haue read this historie to crie out with the royall psalmist O Lord our how admirable is thy name through all the world who hast crowned thy Sainct with glorie and honour and seated him aboue the workes of thy hands For these indeed are the works of thy hands which soe much we admire and wonder the conuersion of a whole Countrey by the vntired labours and endeauours of this thy chosen and beloued seruant for him thou didest appoynt thy deputie and lieuetenant in this holy and wholesome affaire wherein when diuers before had employed their greatest zeale and industry yet because he was specially elected and selected by thee for this holy purpose thou didest voutchase to adorne him with the working of manie strange and miracles more then allmost anie other of thy Saincts that on the rudiments and foundations of those his predecessours he might plant the consummation and perfection of the whole worke These works and miracles are thine o Christ only worker of worders who euer truly wonderfull in thy Saincts daignest to glorifie them with soe great authoritie and power as they are able to glorie in the triumph purchased ouer the infernall enemies of mankind God of his infinite goodnes make vs partakers of the meritts and prayers of the glorious Sainct Amen An Annotation Manie wonders are related of a place in Ireland called S 〈…〉 ICKS Purgatorie which he is reported to haue obtayned of allmightie God for the conuersion of those incredulous poeple who refused to beleeue what he preached touching the painâ—â— of hell and â—â—ies of heauen vnlesse by some meanes they might see taste of 〈◊〉 â—â—th in this life Into that place those that entred with a strong constancie of sayth a true desire to doe peanaÌ„ce for their sinnes felt vnspeakable torments after which they enioyed most glorious visions of the ioyes of heauen and returned the third day againe Manie make meÌ„tion of this strange Purgatorie as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishop of Ossor vice primat of all Ireland Henricus Salter an English Monk of the Gistercian Congregation who writt a booke expressely of the Purgatory of S. PATRICK dedicated to the Abbot of Sartâ—s he liued fiue hundred yeares agoe MATHEW Paris an English monk of S. BENEDICTS order Dionisius Carthustaâ—â—â— verie learned and holy â—an in his treatise dequatuor Nouissimis and others But because Joâ—elâ—â—â— the Authour of S. PATRICKS life whom we haue followed maketh noe mention of this his Purgatorie we haue likewise past it ouer in silence yet iudging for certaine that such a place is really â—â—â—â—nt in Ireland as experience hath taughâ—â—â— in manâ—e that 〈…〉 into it and namely in one Owen a souldier who in the raigne of King Stephen passed through those torments for peanance of his wicked life and at his returne related manie wonders he had seene and felt as the foresayd Authours doe testifie Sâ—…â—DWARDVS REX ANGLIAE ET MARTI … 〈…〉 The life of Sainct EDWARD King and martir MAR 18. Written in an auÌ„cient manuscript recited by Surius THE NOBLE King EDWARD lineally descended from the royall and auncient bloud of our English Kings and which is farre more famous being baptised by the most holy Archbishop of Canbury S. DVNSTAN he began from his tender yeares to excell in vertue and pietie of life The incomparable King Edgar was his father a man renowned as well in feats of armes as in peace his mother was called Eifled daughter of a most powerfull duke of the East-Angles But noble Edgar hauing subdued not a few places of that land and brought them vnder his subiection soe that he obtayned the Monarchie ouer all England deuided before between manie and diuers Kings by exhortation of those two columnes of the English Church and Benedistin religion S. DVNSTAN Archbishop The pietiâ— of Edgar his father of Canturbury and S. ETHELWOLD of Winchester caused manie Benedictin monasteries in those vanquished Prouinces to be repayred and reedified at his owne cost chardges and some to be built new from the ground and in some of them he placed Monks of S. BENEDICTS order in others nunnes of the same all which he furnished and founded with ample rents and reuenewes to maintaine therein the seruice and seruants of allmightie God from the iniuries of necessitie He had allsoe by a second wife an other sonne called Ethelred But EDWARD that was the elder being a child of wonderfull great towardlines carefully auoyded all the lasciuious ensnaring pleasures of this world and endeauoured soe to behaue him self towards God and man that before all things he rendred him self most pleasing vnto God by his worthy integritie of mind and bodie and to men he became most gratefull by his modest and courteous carriage in all things shining withall to the world with all industrie wisedome and prudence These things soe highly pleased his renowned father Edgar that he ordayned him for his heyre and successour in the gouernment of the Kingdom and within King Edgar dieth a while all the affayres of the Realme being rightly setled and composed the most pious and glorious King Edgar changed this life for a better in the yeare of our Lord 977. and of his raigne the sixteenth the eight day of Iuly II. EDWARD according to his fathers will was by DVNSTAN and other Peeres of the Realme installed in the royall chayre and inuested with the robes and signes of royaltie But on his verie Coronation day manie of the nobles and Lords made great opposition against him in fauour of his yonger brother Ethelred whom they desired to aduance to the crowne Neuerthelesse the good resolution of saint DVNSTAN was Edward iâ— crowned King nothing daunted herewith nor mooued from his sentence but placing in
leaue the monasterie he had built and returne with CVTHBERT and the rest of his Monkes to Mailros Where CVTHBERT holding on the pious course of his monasticall life gouerned him self and his actions chiefly by the good counsell admonitions of the most holy man Boisil Priour of that place At that time a great plague making He is straÌ„gely recouered of the Plague houock all ouer the countrey laid hould of him allsoe for whose health as a most necessarie and profitable member of that monasticall bodie all his brethren fell night and day to their prayers Which coming to the holy mans knowledge And why sayd he doe I keepe my bed anie longer For doubtlesse the prayers of such and soe manie holy men cannot be voyd of effect before allmightie God No no giue me my staffe and rising at the same instant he committed his weake bodie to the supportment of his legges and staffe when to the great admiration of all the assistants he straight recouered his strength and perfect health Afterwards S. BOISIL being dead CVTHBERT succeeded in the gouernment of the monasterie Which office de discharged with wonderfull great example of vertue and diligence not only for the spirituall profitt of his owne domesticques but allsoe by his fruitfull endeauour in conuerting the common poeple thereabouts from the bad waies of their vices and fond customs to the loue of heauen and heauenly ioyes partly by the good example of his vertuous and holy life partly with his wholsom sermons and exhortations and partly by the miraculous curing of manie diseases For diuers of that countrey had profaned their fayth and religion with their wicked vniust practises and some neglecting the Sacrament of their Christian baptisme made vse of diabolicall and magicall phisick to ridd them selues and their countrey of the plague To remedie these euils the holy man trauclled through that countrey preaching teaching the way of truth and iustice vnto all with verie great profitt and fruict of his pious labours For he had soe great skill in teaching such an amiable Confession of sins enioyning 〈◊〉 penance force in perswading bore such an angelicall maiestie in his couÌ„tenaÌ„ce that manie forsaking their wicked life of theyr owne accord would reueale and confesse their most secret hidden offences for they imagined nothiÌ„g could lie hid froÌ„ him being coÌ„fessed willingly vnderwent the workes of peanance which he enioyned them for satisfaction of their sinnes But he was wont chiefly to visitt those His labour in preaching places and preach in those villages which were seated in the rude and rugged mountaines and hard to come at where by reason of the rusticitie of the poeple and barrennes of the places they were in great want of teachers In these places which bred a horrour to other men were his greatest delights and in these he would stay sometimes a weeke togeather sometimes two three yea a whole moneth neuer returning to his monasterie but labouring with his dayly preachings and examples of good life to reduce that rude poeple to the true knowledge and loue of allmightie God V. IN THE meane time the holy man began to excell in the spiritt of prophesie to foretell things to come and to declare things absent For being vppon some important necessitie of his monasterie to take shipping with two other monks to passe ouer into the land of the Pists called Niduars and the faire calmnes of the weather putting them in hope to make a speedie returne they went forth wholly vnfurnished of prouision in victualls but it fell out otherwise for they were noe sooner on land but there arose such a blustering and tempestuous wind that the sea moued with those furious blasts began-allsoe to be puft vp into whole mountaines of outragious waues which hindred them quite from thinking how to returne soe that being there among the cruelties of cold and hunger for the space of some daies they were allmost starued to death through want of victuals when the holy man was neuer idle but watching night and day in prayers comforted his fellowes with pious discourses inuited them to fall to their prayers and committ them selues into the hands and protection of allmightie God Hee feedeth him self and his followes by mirâ—cle who doubtlesse would succour them in this necessitie as he did the children of Israel in the desert And now sayd he let vs goe to find out what sustenance our Lord hath sent vs his seruaÌ„ts Then leading them vnder the baÌ„ke where he had prayed a little before they found three peeces or portions of dolphins flesh readie cutt to be boiled with which they satisfied their hunger and gaue thankes vnto allmightie God for his benefitts You see deare brethren sayd he how great a grace it is to be confident in allmighty God Behould he hath He forelleth things to come not only sent food to his hungrie seruants but by the number of three signifies how manie daies we must yet remayne here before the tempest cease And it fell out as the holy man foretould VI. GOEING forth one day to preach accompanied only with a litle boy and being both wearied with their iourney and destitute of anie foode to repayre their weakened forces Tell me child sayd the holy man what courage thou hast by this time seeing that we haue nether meate nor drinck to satisfie our hunger nor noe place whither to retire our selues for shelter That is it replied he which greatly troubles mee since we haue nether victuals nor money to buy not friend to assist vs. Be confident An Eagle furnisheth him with meate my Child in the goodnes of allmightie God answeared CVTHBERT and rest assured that he will neuer abandon those in time of necessitie who giue them selues faythfully and with all their hearts to his diuine seruice Doest thou see that Eagle yonder which flies in the ayre marke her well for by her meanes our Lord will send vs succour in this extremitie With such like discourse they held on their iourney by a riuer side when the Eagle hauing taken a fish laid it for them vppon the bancke the owne half whereof the holy man caused to be left for their diuine puruey or and with the remainder he refreshed himself and his companion in the next village yielding most heartie thanks to the diuine goodnes for his benefitts where he allsoe sed the poeple with the spirituall food of the ghospell VII BVT AS he preached in one of those Villages the Deuill The deuill seeking to hinder his preaching a perpetuall enuier of goodnes fearing left he should draw his ministres out of the stench of their vices to the sweetnes of pietie and deuotion cast a fantasticall fier into a house neere to the Church during the time of his sermon But the holy man instructed by the diuine spiritt that is was but a deceipt of his hellish malice warned his auditors to listen only to the word of God
which best becomes all teachers making his owne example and outward manner of conuersation the perfect rule of what he taught And of his internall vertues perfection the signes and miracles which he wrought as he trauelled ouer Manie miracles his diocesse preaching teaching and confirming his poeple gaue sufficiét testimonie One Baldhelm a seruāt of one of King Egsrids noble men and the wife of a great Count drinking only of the water hallowed by his prayers were both suddenly perfectly cured of most grieuous and mortall diseases when all men quite despayred of their health An other holy Virgin who a long time had layn languishing of a grieuous payne in her head and side being annointed with holy oile hallowed by S. CVTHBERT felt her self better at the verie same instant and within a few daies was perfectly cured And Hildmer an officer of King Egsrid in drinking a little water into which was putt some bread hallowed by S. CVTHBERT receaued a perfect recouerie of a disease incurable by anie humane skill XIII As ONCE he visited his diocese he chaunced to come among the rude mountaines and rocks to teach and confirme those rustick poeple who not hauing anie Church neere to receaue the holy man into they erected tents and boothes in the way such as they could make of boughs branches cutt from the greene trees where he remayned for the space of two dayes preaching ministring the The sacrament of confirmation giuen by S. Cuth He cureth two of the Plague sacrament of Confirmation to such as had not yet receaued it whē in the midest of all behould there came some woemen to him carrying a youth grieuously infected with the plague humbly desiring the helpe of his holy prayers benediction by vertue of which presently he restored that diseased person to perfect health whose disease had allreadie giuen the foile to all the skill of phisick But hauing receaued his holy benediction he whose weaknes was carried thither walked home with the rest in health and iollitie In like manner he cured an other child dying of the plague by giuing him a kisse and making the signe of the Crosse vppon him And by vertue of the same Crosse he turned water into wine But we should neuer haue an endyf we rehearse all his vertues in particular XIV THEREFORE hauing exercised the office and dignitie of a Bishop for the space of two yeares with an admirable applause both He leaueth his Bishoprick and returne to the desert of holines and miracles foreseeing by the spiritt of prophesie that the hower of his death was at hand he resigned vp his pastorall charge and withdrew him self againe to the beloued habitation of his solitarie and eremiticall life there to consume with the flames of his auncient compunction whatsoeuer staines he had contracted in the managing of his worldly care and charge At that time of his departure being demaunded by one of his ancient monks when they should hope for his returne He answeared When you shall carrie my bodie hither And hauing passed ouer allmost two moneths in the great ioy of his recouered quietnes bruising his mind and bodie with the rigour of his accustomed peanance being taken with a sudden infirmitie he began through the fiers of a temporall grief to prepare his way to the sweet ioies and refreshments of eternall happines Three weekes togeather he was continually afflicted with sicknes vppon a wednsday he fell first into his disease and vppon a wednsday he died But what sore grieuances he endured all this time as well by his sicknes as the infernall spirits it is not easie to expresse especially for the space of fiue daies in which being destitute of all humane helpe and companie he was not able to mooue out of the place and being tormented with an extremitie of thirst he had nothing wherewith to refresh him self and quench it but one poore onion of which in those fiue dayes space he had scarse consumed the one half Then he desired his brethren to burie him in the same Iland of Farne on the East side of his Oratorie nere vnto a Crosse which him self had there erected but being ouercome with the vehement persuasions and earnest entreaties of the monks of Lindisfarne with much difficultie he consented they should burie him in their Church And at the same time a monk which only touched Touching the holy Bishop cureth the bloudie fluxe his bodie as he assisted him in his sicknes was cured of an otherwise incurable disease of the blouddie fluxe At length coming to the extremitie of his infirmitie which scarse allowed him strength to speake he began to bid his last adiew to his brethren earnestly recommending vnto them the obseruance of mutuall peace and charitie the care of keeping hospitalitie and aboue all things he strictly chardged them to remaine in the vnitie of the Church and in noe sort to haue anie communication with those who contrarie to the rites and custom of the same Catholick Church swearued from the Scismaticques must be auoyded true obseruance of Easter and he wished that they should rather leaue their monasterie and goe seek an habitation where it should please God to direct them then to vnite with such who like Schismaticks celebrated the feast of Easter at a wrong time Moroeuer endeauour most diligently sayd he to learne and obserue the Catholick statuts of our forefathers and particularly be verie carefull to follow those institutions of regular life which by my meanes the diuine goodnes hath voutchafed to bestow vppon you For His departure and buriall I know allthough in the iudgement of some I haue liued contemptibly yet after my death it will appeare what manner of man I haue bin and how my doctrine is not to be contemned With these and such like words this holy man hauing exhorted his dolefull brethrē and the night following hauing armed him self with the Sacred Viaticum of our Lords bodie lifting vp his hands and eyes towards heauen he yeelded vp his Blessed soule to the euerlasting ioies of heauen the twentith day of March in the yeare of our Lord 698. as sayth Baronius but 687. according to Sigebert His Sacred bodie was brought to Lindisfarne and there receaued by the conuent of Monks singing the prayles of allmightie God and with the resounding notes thereof it was buried with great solemnitie in S. PETERS Church in a coffin of stone on the right side of the aultar where with working of new miracles he witnessed the greatnes of the glorie and fauour he enioyed before the face of allmightie God XV. THERE was a child soe vehemently oppressed tormented by A Child miraculously dispossossed by the merit◠of S. Cuthbert the deuil that noe prayers nor exorcismes could worke anie good towards his deliuery from that wicked guest vntill a priest hauing compassion on his dolefull parents tooke some of that earth whereon the water was shed wherewith S. CVTHBERTS bodie was
laboured each of thē to make RICHARD his chancelour At length the Archbishop of Canturbury because he had first signified his will and desire to the holy man obtayned to haue him in his seruice who with great reuerēce and dutie obeyed him in all things Then B. EDMOND deliuered vnto him the great seale of his office and committed to his chardge the managing of the grauest and principallest affayres of his whole Diocese Therefore RICHARD began according to his wonted diligence to clime dayly higher and higher in the exercise of good endeauours faythfully and exactly to performe his office without anie pride or state to keepe free his hands from bribes knowing that according to scripture guifts doe blind the eyes of wisemen and varie the words of the iust One might behould in him an vnspeakable equitie a courteous mildnes and modest simplicitie all seated grounded in an excellent Dent. 16. v. 19. prudence and humilitie his gesture and actions well composed and tempered Moreouer he stuck constant to his holy bishop in all his aduersities and afflictions as well at home as in his banishment being not ignorant that those who haue been companions in suffrance shall all soc be companious in time of consolations But S. EDMOND of Canturbury Cor. 1. He studies diuinitie being dead RICHARD freed from Court and courtly cares and affaires went to Orleans in France where in a religious house of Dominicans he gaue him self to the studie of Diuinitie not as most doe that only heare with their eares and doe not applie their mind to vnderstand but bent an inward hearing to whatsoeuer he heard to putt in practise more effectually what he heard There he was He is made Pricst promoted to the sacred dignitie of Priesthood to sacrifice the beloued sonne of God to his allmightie Father And from that time he began to adorne that heauenly function with a more humble plainnes and neate humblenes in his habitt But after he had been long conuersant in the studies of sacred scripture he returned into England to feed the small flock committed to his chardge for he had but one parish wherein he would bestow his necessarie care in doeing the office of a good Pastour IV. BONIFACE a verie venerable man had allreadie succeeded blessed EDMOND in the sea of Canturbury who desired allsoe to enioy the conuersation and familiaritie of RICHARD that was soe gratious in the world Vnto whom making great resistance he He is chosen bishop of Chicester recommended his auncient office of chauncelour In the meane time Radulph Neuill bishop of Chicester being dead the Canons hauing first as the custom was obtained leaue of the King then Henrie the third made choice of one Robert Passeleff who from a mignion at Court was becom a Canon of that Church to be their bishop But that election according to the decrees of the Canons by the authoritie of Boniface of Canturbury and other bishops his suffragans among whom was Robert the venerable bishop of Lincolne was vtterly disanulled and declared to be of noe force because the person elected was in learning life and manners iudged to be little correspondent to soe high a dignitie and by the common consent and sentence of all RICHARD was chosen in his place Which proceedig verie much exasperated the King to see the former electiō The King inuadeth the goods of Chicester cutt off and RICHARD substituted in the place whom he esteemed his vtter enemie in that he stuck soe close to S. EDMOND in all the controuersie betweene him and the King Therefore in a furie he commaunded all the goods of Chicester Church to be confiscated When S. RICHARD according to the counsell of the others Bishops gott the letters of the Archbishop of Canturbury and went to the King humbly entreating his Maiestie to suffer a restitution to be made of all that belonged to the Church of Chicester But all his humilitie could nothing remoue the head-strong King from his stubborne resolution soe that when the holy man had much tired and wearied out him self in vaine and endured manie contumelious and scornfull iniuries he was constrained at length to haue recourse to Richard appealeth to Rome the last refuge vnder God on earth the Sea Apostolique When the Kings Embassadours had preuented him with the Pope of Rome for he found them there all readie readie prouided against him Innocent the fourth then gouerned the Roman sea who verie curteously entertayned RICHARD and hauing heard the reasons of both parties he confirmed his election by Apostolicall authoritie and moreouer by the imposition of his sacred hands consecrated him Bishop with an other of that Countrey in great solemnitie V. BVT a wonderfull thing happened at his consecration For coming to giue them sacred vnction for the first the Pope couid hardly squeeze one dropp of oile out of the box but when RICHARD came to be anneild there appeared as it were a new representation of Elias his oile and miracle for the sacred liquour ranne in such abundance out of the viole that the attendants had enough to doe to stopp it with linnen cloathes from flowing ouer into his neck and shoulders The Pope and Cardinals and all the assistants A strange miracle were much amazed and not without cause when one of the Cardinalls sayd Certaynly this man abounds with a fullnes of diuine grace Then S. RICHARD returning into his Countrey with the Popes letters by the way visited the Sepulcher of S. EDMOND allreadie florishing with miracles at Pontoise in France and coming into England he found all the goods and meanes belonging to his Church of Chicester vtterly dissipated and spent by the Kings ofsiceers And for an increase of miserie the King had commaunded by publick edict that noe man should lend him a pennie to supply His afflictious in the Bishoptick his wants But when he exibited the Popes letters and commaunds before the King and his nobles he not only fayled to gett a gracious fauour but contrary wise rather purchased to him self much more hatred and indignation Wherefore departing from before that incensed Maiestie he went in poore and bare array to his Diocesse where he liued as a priuate guest at an other mans house and table In the meane time he omitted not oftētimes to take a circuite about his diocesse visitting the flock committed to his charge and ministring the sacraments as occasion required And lest he should be accused as a slouthfull and sluggish forsaker and traitour of his owne right sometimes he would make a iourney to the King and humbly demaund the restitution of the goods wrongfully taken away allbeit he allwaies suffered a scornfull repulse and returned loden with iniuries and reproches It happened once that the Deane and Canons of Chicester were much trobled and afflicted in mind with the kings sharp and biting answers but the holy man putting on a cheerfull coūtenance would comfort them with calling that saying of the
within my diocesse And because he hath appealed to my Lord of Canturbury for my part let him doe according as he will answere before the most iust and dreadfull tribunall of CHRIST This couragious constancie of the blessed man putt them quite off from euer more attempting to moue him in that matter In like manner he proceeded against three Vicars who were conuicted for publick keeping of concubines For when they refused to dismisse those lewd mates he gaue sentence against them whereby they were quite discarded from their benefices He compelled others that had violently drawne a theefe out of the Church to the gallowes to digge vp his stinking dead carcas after fifteen daies lying in the ground and carrie him on their owne shoulders into the Church from whence they had taken him at the first X. NEWES being brought him of a great domage he had receaued His contempt of wordly goods by fier which had consumed noe small quantitie of his buildings and houshould stuffe when his whole familie was filled with weeping wayling and lamenting he was nothing moued at all but with a smoothe and pleasant countenance gaue thanks to allmightie God and bad them be of good courage saying Doe not greeue nor afflict your selues there is yet left sufficient abundantly enough to maintaine vs in our necessities And truly I think this losse hath befallen vs in that we haue not vsed such care and liberalitie to the poore as we ought Hence forth therefore I commaund that our almes be more large and frequent O treasure of a generous mind Which in wanting knew not how to wante and in loosing was ignorant how to loose but out of the very losse of his owne goods knew how to heape vp a new increase of vertues vnto himself He was wont seuerely to commaund all the stewards and other officers of his diocesse calling the diuine iudgment to witnes He forbids vâ—â—â—st exactions and on payne of the vtter ruine of their soules that they should not exact anie thing contrarie to iustice nor molest his Diocesans with the vttermost extremitie of anie debt or dutie And he him self would oftentimes out of his mildnes and clemencie remitt a debt otherwise due to those that asked him Furthermore he would neuer by anie meanes admitt his kinsfolks and allies allbeit well deseruing to ecclesiasticall Benefices knowing that the Lord and Prince of Pastours CHRIST IESVS did not deliuer the vniuerfall gouernment of his Church vnto his cozen by bloud S. IOHN the Euangelist but to saint PETER who was nothing allied vnto him at all Matt. 16. XI ALLSOE he vsed soe great moderation and curtesie towards his Clergie that rising manie times verie earlie to performe the office of Mattins and finding his Clergimen yet lying vnder the heauie wings of sleepe he would in the meane time betake him self to his priuate deuotious permitting them to take their sweet rest and repeating with him self those words of our Lord and sauiour Dormite iam requiescite sleepe ye now and rest Otherwise indeede he was woÌ„derfully delighted to see the diuine office religiously deuoutly performed Math. 26. which may sufficiently be prooued with this one example that when he ether visited religious men or entertayned them with a holy salutation when they came to him he was wont to say It is good to kisse those lippes which yeeld a sweet perfume of their holy prayers offered vnto allmightie God which saying as him self did often witnes he learned of his old master sainct EDMOND who was wont to vse the same XII MOREOVER with how great care and diligence this blessed man preached the word of God in other diocesses with what pietie and clemencie he cherished repentant soules heard them confesse their sinnes instructed their ignorance absolued them imparted his good counsell vnto them with-held and encouraged the desperate from falling into desperation exhorted the stronger sort to perseuerance strengthened the vncoÌ„stancie of weaklings and in fine how in all things he conformed him self to all sorts and conditions what penne is able worthyly to expresse For the raysing of an expedition of ayde and rescue for the holy land he vndertooke the preaching of the holy crosse recommended vnto him from the Bishop of Rome and beginning at his owne Church of Chicester he tooke his progresse along by the sea side till he came to Canturburie But tenne daies before he arriued at the famous hauen towne of Douer he fell into a sicknes which he suffered not to hinder his pious interprise for he ceased not to labour on in the vineyard of our Lord all waies preaching confirming children hearing confessions giuing holy orders till he exhausted allmost all the strength of his bodie Coming at length to Douer he was receaued as a guest into a certaine hospitall called Gods-house and at the intreatie of the master of the same Hospitall he consecrated a Church with a Church-yard for the buriall of the poore in honour of his old lord saint EDMOND where he declared publickly in his sermon the same day that from the first time he was made bishop he had allwaies a longing desire to consecrate before he died at the lest one Church to the honour of that holy saint his auncient Lord and master giuing there heartie thaÌ„kes to allmightie God who had not frustrated his desire therein Adding withall that now he knew that the time of his departure was at hand and therefore he earnestly recommended him self to the suffrages of their good sacrifices and prayers XIII THE day following being sunday allbeit he was allmost quite as a man spent and ouerthrowne with sicknes labours notwithstanding Heapplieth him self to diuiâ—â— eâ—â—rcâ—â—es beyond his forces at his accustomed hower of rising he made noe delay but gott into Church where with great deuotion he beganne to sing his office And being present at the holy sacrifice of Masse his sicknes still encreased soe strongly vppon him that not able anie longer to beare vp his feeble limmes he fell flat on the ground Then he was carried back into the Hospitall by some of his seruants and layd on a bed Where to one William his Chaplaine with whom he was euer verie familiar he declared that he should not escape that disease commaunding him to prepare things necessarie for his funerall but priuately lest familie perceauing might be troubled and to Simon Terringes he foretould the day of his death Then he desired them to bring a Crucifix which most deuoutly he embraced piously kissing the place of the wounds as yf then he had beheld our Lord and Sauiour dying and breaking forth into these words I giue thee infinite thanks O my Lord IESVS CHRIST for all thy benefitts bestowed vppon me for the paines and reproches which for my sake thou hast suffered which were such and soe great that thou mightest worthyly say that of thy Prophet There is noe griefe like my griefe Thou knowest O lord that yf it be thy blessed
will I am most readie to endure all Thren 1. reproches and torments and death it self for thy sake and as thou knowest I speake the truth soe I beseeth thee to haue mercie vppon me for into thy hands I commend my soule And he repeated often times that of the Psalmist Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spiritt Turning him self allsoe to the B. Virgin MARIE Psal 10 Mother of God he sayd Maria mater gratiae mater misericordiae tu nos ab hoste protegs hora mortis suscipe commaunding his Chaplains continually to sound those words in his cares And soe betweene the sighs of his pious deuotion and the words of sacred prayer in presence of manie religious priests and Clergimen and other faithfull Christians sainct RICHARD yielded vp his His blessed death soule into the hands of his Creatour to liue in the most happie societie of the heauenly citizens for euer about the six and fiftith yeare of his age the 9. yeare of his bishoprick the third day of Aprill about midnight At what time the heauenly spouse is sayd to Matth. 25. come to the eternall wedding His soule was noe sooner departed but his sacred bodie which in his life time had been tired with The beautie of his dead bodie much watching worne out with lying on the ground consumed with fasting torne and afflicted with stripes and other voluntarie punishments beyond humane suffrance appeared most cleere and beautifull in soe much that it seemed to beare a notable signe or token of the future resurrectior and next his skinne was found a sharp hayre-shirt and manie other iron girdles He was buried in the Church which he had newly consecrated a huge concurse of people coming from all parts of England to the celebration of his venerable exequies euerie one thinking himself happie that could but gett to touch ether the biere he was carried on or the lowest hemme of his sacred garments Rings and bracelets that had but touched his bodie they held for verie holy things and kept as reliques XIV AFTERWARDS his sacred bodie was translated to Chicester according to his desire and buried in a meane place before S. EDMONDS Altar which himself had erected in the north side of the Church Where as in his life time God allwaies wonderfull in his Saincts had wrought by him manie miracles curing the blind lame Manie miracles and diseased soe after his death he shewed by the merits of this holy man noe lesse but rather more wonderfull signes of holines when besides manie other benefitts and strange cures he restored three men from death to life and one child borne dead but reuiued by his meritts was presented at the age of fower yeares before the Inquisitours that were appoynted to take the information of saint RICHARDS life and miracles Nay his apparell being worne or but touched cured manie diseases and the sick persons that lay in his bed presently recouered their health All which miracles and manie more for breuities sake here omitted were written in those dayes as manifest and certaine truths and the booke was reserued in the Benedictin Abbey of saint Albans Which moued Pope Boniface the fourth to enroll him into the number of canonized Saincts about 20. yeares after his death in the raigne of Edward the first and his feast was celebrated in the Breuiarie of Sarum with an office of nine lessons this third day of Aprill This historie of his life is gathered out of that which is written at large by Radulph Bocking his confessor about the yeare 1240. Mathew Paris an 1259. Mathew Westminister an 1262. Nicholas Harpsfield saec 13. cap. 17. Camden and other graue authours make verie worthie mention of his vertues And Baronius sayth that Vrban the fourths letters for his canonization are extant in the Vatican librarie at Rome The life of Sainct ELSTAN Bishop of Wilton and Confessor of the holy order of S. BENEDICT APR. 6. Out of William Malmesbury de gest Pont. Anglo ELSTAN first a monk of the holy order of S. BENEDICT in the monasterie of Abington vnder the gouernment of the famous S. ETHELWOLD afterwards bishop of Winchester was a man of wonderfull simplicitie and obedience A rare proofe thereof is seene in this accident For being commaunded by his foresayd Abbot to see that the workemen and artificers of the monasterie were dayly and duely prouided with necessary victualls he vndertooke that labour with great deuotion and playd the cooke himself in the preparing of their accustomed diet and serued them verie diligently and afterwards washed the dishes and other vessels with his owne hands whilst the Abbot all waies thought he had performed this dutie of obedience by the helpe of a seruant Till one day goeing about the offices of the monasterie as his custom was he chāced vnawares to to find ELSTAN standing by the cauldron that boyled on the fier and all the vessels verie neate and cleane and the roome newly swept The Abbot much delighted hereat Brother ELSTAN said he this Not the vertue of Prompt obedience obedience thou hast stolne from me But if thou art such a champiō as thou seemest to be putt thy bare hand presently into the boyling cauldron and fetch me a peece of meate out of the bottom The commaund was noe sooner out of his mouth but FLSTANS hand was in the boyling water whose vnresistable heate yeelded to the courage of his true fayth and obedience and did him noe hurt at all to the great admiration and comfort of the holy Abbot ELSTAN afterwards was made Abbot of Abington and lastly Bishop of Wilton in both which charges he discharged the part of a holy Prelate and ended his dayes verie happyly to receaue the reward of his obedience in heauen He florished about the yeare of our Lord 980. Thus much of him we haue gathered out of William Malmesbury de Pont. l. 3. Nicholas Harpsfield saec 10 cap. 9 and Wolstan in the life of S. Ethelwold the first day of August The life of Sainct GISLA and Sainct RICTRVDE Virgins of the sacred order of Sainct BENEDICT APR. 9. Out of diuers Authours GISLA and RICTRVDE borne in Kent of noble parents but much more ennobled with vertue and good learning from their verie youth gaue them selues to the studie of the elegancie of the latin tongue and other sciences vnder that excellent master S. ALCVINE a Benedictin Monk After whose departure out of England they liued in a monasterie at Canturbury vnder the holy rule of S. BENEDICT labouring and profitting dayly in the continuall exercises of vertue and learning diligently imitating S. MARIE Magdalen◠in the sweetnes of a contemplatiue and MARTHA in the labours of Their skill in learning an actiue life Being carefull first to profitt them selues in mortifications and meditations and then to shew external workes of charitie to their neighbours and peculiarly to comfort the afflicted Whence it was that hauing attayned to a sufficiencie of
to shift for them selues abroade retayning only the aged men in the monasterie and a few children supposing belike that their weaknes would moue Crowland destroyed by the Danes the Barbarians to compassion But it fell out farre otherwise for when the same venerable Abbot had solemnly sung high Masse and made the remainder of his deuout Conuent participant of the most sacred body and bloud of our Lord suddenly a barbarous route of the Danes broke into the Church and hauing martired the Abbot before the high aultar with the like crueltie they murdered all the rest of the monks some in the refectorie some in the Chapter some in the Cloister soe that noe roome of that sacred Monastery remayned that was not full of bloud and horrour Only one yong Monk called Turgar whose beautifull forme of face and bodie allbeit he desired earnestly to beare his seniors companie in that expedition of death conquered the cruell mind of one of those blouddie Princes was saued and reserued for the companie and sake of a yong Count of the Danes called Sidrock Then those ministers of crueltie breaking vp the tombes of the saincts there buried committed all their bodies togeather with the Church and the whole Monasterie to the mercilesse power of the deuouring flames But Count Sidrok pulling yong Turgars cowle ouer his head gaue him a Danish iacket made him waite at his heeles wheresoeuer he went till the holy youth finding an opportunitie afterwards fled from that Barbarous master and returned againe to Crowland where he found his fellow monkes that had returned the day before labouring and sweating to quench the vnsatiable flames that yet raged among those dolefull ruines where he and fower other monks hauing according as they were able repayred a little habitation of defence only against the violeÌ„ce of the weather made choise of one Godrick for their Abbot and liued in a religious pouertie and a pious expectance to be restored to their auncient state for the space of an hundred yeares and more Till an aged man called Turketill Chancelour to worthy King Edred passing by Crowland as he went on busines for the King to Yorke was mett by those blessed old monkes and with a pious curtesie compelled to lodge in their ruined Monasterie And hearing The monasterie of Crowland reedisied the woefull storie of their miserable desolation he was soe moued to compassion that hauing with much difficultie obtayned leaue of the King he became a Benedictine Monke in the same place and began in his old age to beare the yoake of our Lord in the profession of a monasticall life When by his meanes King Edred helping therevnto that Monasterie was gloriously reedified and the lands liuings and Lorships anciently belonging vnto it restored and confirmed vnto it by the royall charters of the two Noble Kings Edred and Edgar to the great consolation of those good aged Monks who now gaue thanks vnto allmightie God that he had giuen them the grace and patience to see the destruction and restauration of that worthy Monasterie whereof the venerable man Turketill was afterwards made Abbot And herein may be seene a rare example of the wonderfull prouidence of allmightie God who from soe small beginnings bringeth to passe workes of such greatnes and excellencie as from the dwelling of one poore man saint GVTHLAKE in that abiect and horrid place first to lay the foundation of soe mightie an Abbey of worthie monkes as this was and then to conserue the succession thereof soe strangely in those â—â—ueâ— old men of whom one called Clarenbald liued to see the age of an hundred threescore and eight yeares an other named Swarling to the age of an hundred fortie two the third Turgar to an hundred and fifteene all venerable in gray hayre and the profession of a monasticall life The life of S. GVTHLAKE was saythfully written by one Felix a monk of the same monasterie as he receaued it from the forenamed BERTELIN his companion and CISSA his successour in the Ermitage and dedicated to king Elwald of the East-Angles Out of which we haue gathered the foresayd historie All other English Historiographers doe worthâ—y speake his prayses This Felix florished about the yeare of our Lord 730. and S. GVTHLAKI about 706. of whose glorious meritts God of his infinite merciâ— make vs all partakers Amen The life of S. PATERNVS Bishop and Confessor APR. 15. Out of Ioannes Anglicus PATERNVS borne in little Brittanie of noble parents when he came to ripenes of yeares iudging all true nobilitie to be seated in the lappe of vertue he contemned all those things which the world soe much admireth and in the nakednes of religious pouertie followed CHRIST naked And lest his friends and kinred should hinder his pious resolutions he willingly banished him self from his countrey into Jreland where he led a most holy monasticall life in watching fasting and prayer Afterwards he came into South-wales where he built manie Churches and monasteries in the Countrey now called Cardigan-shire and ordered them according to the monasticall rules and disciplines of those times in soe much that in that countrey he gayned his greatest opinion of sainctitie and authoritie But some iarres arising betweene the kings of Southwalles and North-wales which were readie to be decided but by the sword by the mediation of S. PETERNVS they were easily pacified and the He maketh peace betweene Princes princes entred againe into a strict league of friendship Great was the familiaritie and friendship which grew betweene these three Saincts DAVID TTELIAN and PATERNVS And they three deuided all Wales into three bishopricks one whereof fell to the share of S. PATERNVS in a place then called Mauritania where as he exercised the office of a good Pastour teaching and preaching to his poeple he was called back into little Britanie and there through his strictnes of life and doctrine which manie would not endure he Sampson Bishop suffered much affliction of false brethren with patience But Sampson Bishop who aboue all other was magnified in that prouince for vertue and holines of life vsed him with great honour and reuerence as well becomed soe great a sainct And allbeit by the instigation of some of his brethren he once yeelded to make triall of S. PATERNVS his obedience and sainctitie which was then testified vnto him by a wonderfull miracle yet afterwards he humbly craued pardon and became his verie great friend and defender against the other bishops that impugned him commaunding that the Episcopall sea of S. PATERNVS which was in the towne called Guenet should be free from all externe authoritie At length when peace was concluded on all sides S. PATERNVS hauing gouerned his Church manie yeares in a miraculous sainctitie of life in this world he departed hence to receaue an immortall recompence of his labours the fifteenth of Aprill The Inhabitans of little Britanie obserue three festiuall daies in honour of this sainct the day of the peacemaking with
the other bishops the first of Nouember the day he was made Bishops and this day of his deposition which is allsoe yearly celebrated with great honour among the Welchmen in a Church dedicated to him called in Welch Llanpaternan that is saint Paternus Church Thus much of his life we haue gathered out of loannes Anglicus recited by Iohn Capgraue and Nicholas Harpsfield that at lest the memorie of soe great a sainct vnto whom our Welchmen are highly bound might not perish The life of Sainct STEPHEN Confessor and Abbot vnder the holy rule of Sainct BENEDICT APR. 17. Written by VVilliam Mal mesbury lib. 4. reg Ang. cap 1. STEPHEN surnamed Harding borne in England of noble parents was brought vp froÌ„ his verie childhood in Dorset-shire in the monasterie of Sherburne vnder the holy rule of S. BENEDICT till being now in the flower of his youth when the nettles of the world began to sting his mind farre otherwise inclined he fled out of the danger into France where carefully laying the grounds of true learning he receiued the first efficatious motiue to ver tue and the loue of God For when his riper yeares had banished all boyish inclinations he tooke a iourney to Rome with one other in his companie In which allbeit the way were long and difficult and their pouertie little able to defray that charge both going and returning they dayly recited and sung the whole psalter Hauing piously visited the sacred tombes of the Apostles they returned into Burgundie where STEPHEN in a new built monasterie of S. BENEDICTS order called Molismus putt on the habitt and conuersation of a Benedictin Monk And at verie first he grew easily He taketh the habit of S Benedict familiar with the precepts of S. BENEDICTS Rule in which he had beeÌ„ conuersant long before but finding other statuts proposed which he had not read in the rule before he began all waies keeping religious modestie to demaund the ground and reason of those lawes All things sayd he are gouerned with reason but because through slouth and negligence humane frailtie oftentimes falls from reason manie lawes were made in times past and from our holy father S. BENEDICT we receaued a Rule to recall the scattered mutabilitie of nature to the bounds of reason In which allbeit manie things be for which I can giue no reason yet the authoritie of the Author who questionlesse receiued them from heauen bids me yield thereunto Therefore shew an instance out of the Rule vpheld with reason and authoritie and dictated by him who was replenished with the spiritt of all iust men this yf you cannot doe you doe in vaine make profession of his prerogatiue whose doctrine you refuse to follow II. THIS opinion creeping from one to an other much mooued their hearts that feared God lest perchance hitherunto they had or might hereafter follow a wrong course Therefore after a frequent disputation thereof in Chapter S. ROBERT the Abbott approued STEPHENS opinion and concluded that they should surcease from following superfluous statutes and search only into the marrow He departeth to cifterce of S. BENEDICTS Rule But manie refusing to leaue their old customs some few only embraced S. STEPHENS opinion and departed thence with him to the hermitage of Cisterce which at that time was a desert vnhabited place but since through his meanes soe florishing with a worthie conuent of holy monks that it might seeme a litle paradise on earth Here togeather with his fellowes he began to lead a verie holie life in the strict and punctuall obseruance of saint BENEDICTS Rule soe that ROBERT Abbott of Molismus hearing the same of their holy conuersation tooke with him twentie fower other monks and went thither as well to be made a partner of their holy purpose as a promoter of their intended course But his owne monkes caused him shortly after to be recalled back to his monasterie by the authoritie of the Pope And Alberick was created abbot of Cisterce in his stead after whose death and he liued but eight yeares more our STEPHEN succeeded in the gouernment of that new borne-Conuent in whose time the holy Congregation of Cisterce began to extend it self and florish He is made Abbot of Cisterce with a great name of religion and all by the vertue and prudence of S. STEPHEN who with the almes of deuout poeple and happie was the man that through his hands offered his money to God built sixteene monasteries in his life time of all which he was Generall Soe that indeed he may be iustly termed the chief founder of the whole Cistercian Congregation which afterwards florished all the world ouer as may be seene at this present day for that Boore beginning in time of his predecessor Robert and Alberick was soe small and soe vnsetled that excepting the wonderfull and peculias prouidence of allmightie God and this holy mans prudent care and endeauours it was likely to haue taken noâ—great hould in the Church that as at the first he was the occasion and cause of the first planting soe now he was the authour of the great propagation of this famous reforme of the Benedictin order When among other titles of his prayses it is not the lest that he gaue the Benedictin habitt He gaue the habit to S. Bernard to that bright Ornament of the Order S. BERNARD who vnder the obedience of our STEPMEN suckt the sweet milke of his mellifluous learning and deuotion And the same S. STEPHEN composed and left to his brethren as his last will and testament that worthie writing called CHARTA CHARITATIS the Charter or carde of charitie wherein is contayned an admirable manner of maintayning a connection of true peace and charitie in all the monasteries of that Congregation throughout the whole world that all exhibiting honour to each other their whole multitude of Abbeys and monks should make all but one Bodie or Chapter vnder one head and Superior And this was called Charta Charitatis because it chiefly tended to the conseruing of loue and charitie amongst them III. AT LENGTH when this blessed man had setled established and confirmed this new plantation with manie holy lawes of order and discipline and worthyly gouerned his stock according to our Lords true example of humilitie till old age had quite depriued him of his sight he gaue vp his pastorall chardge desiring wholly to betake him self to the contemplation of diuine things according to the royall prophets counsell tast and see for our Lord is sweet In this holie Psal 33. sweetnes he spent the remaynder of his life allwaies expecting the approach of the happie minute wherein he should be released out of that prison to the enioying of the eternall freedom Therefore his time drawing neere manie of the Abbots of his new erected Congregation and a great number of the monks came to offer him the last seruice of their loue and dutie VVho talking amongst them selues as the holy man say gasping
for breath that a man of His wonderfull humilitie soe great meritts and good works in the Church of God might securely passe out of this world to God Peace Brethren peace sayd he for I am as fearfull and carefull of this my iourney towards God as yf I had neuer done good work in all my life For yf by the assistance of diuine grace anie good hath been in me or anie fruit proceeded from my weaknes I greatly tremble and feare lest I haue not conserued the same grace with that reuerence and humilitie as was necessarie And armed with the shield of this prefect humilitie which his dying words testified to be well grounded in his heart he sweetly reposed in our Lord the 28. day of March but his feast is celebrated this seauenth of Aprill which is the day of his canonization This life is taken chiefly out of William Malmesbury who liued in the same time with S. Stephen The Roman mart maketh mention of him this day Baronius tom 11. Sigebertus in Chron. ann 1107. Arnould Wion lib. 1. c. 42. Nicholas Harps field and manie others doe amply speakâ— his prayses S. ELPHEGVS ARCHIEPISCOPVS CANTVAâ— Martir 〈…〉 The life of S. ELPHEGVS Archbishop of Canturbury and Martir of the holy order of S. BENEDICT APR. 19. Written by Osborne a monk of Canturbury ELPHEGVS desceÌ„ding by byrth from most noble Ancestors ordered the whole course of his life according to the rules of excelleÌ„t prudence and humilitie His parents much admiring the inocencie of his industrious mind and life putt him to be worthyly brought vp in the knowledge of good learning and the true wisedome of He taketh the habitt of a Benedictin Monk Christian religion Whâ—n this godly youth made it the whole studie of his philosophie to learne how to loâ—â— God desiring only to know and obey him and all wales to subâ—â—â—â— him self and his actions to the sweet yoake of his diuine seruice Being touched therefore with a spirit of maiestie neglecting his fathers inheritance and forgetting his mothers griefe who dearly loue â—im he forsoke the vaine world and putt on the habitt 〈◊〉 of a monk of S. BENEDICTS order in a little monasterie called 〈…〉 st where he began to sett aside all the self-will of his owne priuate desâ—â—es humbling him self to the seruice and obedience of all his bâ—ethren whose only instrument as it were the sâ—â—wed him self â—o be in aâ—â— occasions allwaies striâ—â—â—g with all to profitt more 〈…〉 ore in the loue of God and by much watching and fasting to 〈◊〉 the rebellious motions of his bodie to the rule and subiectioâ— of reason And indeed not only to him self but to whom soeuer else he was able to doe good he endeauoured carefully to performe it which yf he could not to some 〈◊〉 â—e abstained from doeing thâ—m harme Hauing piously spent 〈◊〉 yeares in a monasticall lifeâ— partly in the monasterie afâ—â—esayd 〈◊〉 partly in famous Ben 〈…〉 Abbey of Glasenbury when he 〈…〉 aued the florishing time of youth to steale away he resolued to vndertake a stricter course of life and to enter into a single câ—â—batâ— with the auncient enemie of mankind Therefore goeing out of hâ—s monasterie he came to the place He vndertaketh a solitarie liâ—e called Bathe where the warme strings that rise out of 〈◊〉 earth are profitable against manie diseases and there he remayne 〈…〉 tt close vp in a little lodge which he built him self chastising his bodie with fasting and abstinence after an incredible rigorous manner Within a short time manie of the better sort of the countrey flocked vnto him to discouer the spirituall wounds of their soules desiring to haue them tented with the sharpnes of his pious correction and cured with the salue of his good counsell Whence it came to passe that within a short time he had gathered togeather no small Conuent of monkes in the same place which him self gouerned according to the Benedictin rule and discipline which he had learned before II. HE WAS wont greatly to blame and rebuke those who did chainge their secular habitt but would not chainge their life Doth not that man sayd he seeme to be full of falsehood who maketh Against those that change their habits and not their manners shew to be what he is not indeed whilst he conterfaits one thing in his habitt and beares an other in his heart For it is better not to chainge our habitt at all then hauing chainged to neglect the conuersion of our manners But hauing erected an ample house for his disciples and prescribed a perfect law of sobrietie and continencie vnto them and taught them how to bridle and curbe their carnall desires he remayned him self shutt vp in a little narrow lodging where be attended only to the more important and weightier affayres of his monks In the meane time manie of his subiects being vnmindfull of their promise and profession made to allmightie God the raines of obedience being lett loose beganne to spend whole nights and dayes in imployments vnworthy their holy profession Against whose greuious offences allmightie God sent a reuengfull punishment For as one night S. ELPHEGVS as his custom The diuine punishmeÌ„t of a negligent monk was stood a holy sentinell at his prayers he heard a great noyse and clamour within the Monasterie And goeing forth found one of the brethren lying along in miserable affliction vppon whom stood two men of most horrid lookes and filthie apparell who cruellie scourged him with whippes and fierie serpents And as he awaked and roared out loud witnesses and signes of his extreme payne his tormentors did vpraid him that as he had not obeyed God nether would they obey him With which words they continued their crueltie till they had beaten his soule out of his bodie At this woefull fight the holy man quite resoluing into teares returned back to his Cell But the rest of the brethren being terrified with this accident confessed their faults did worthie peanance and amended their liues euer after III. BVT the incomparable S. ETHELWOLD Bishop of Winchester being dead a great contention arose betweene the Monks and the A contention about eleâ—ting a â—ishop of Winchâ—ster secular clergie touching the election of a successour For the Clergie of that Church that before led a most wicked life contrarie to the decrees of the holy canons and being oftentimes rebuked for the same by the forenamed Bishop they not only refused to correct their lewd manners but laboured with an obstinnate spiritt to defend their lewdnes it was decreed by a Regall law that they should be expelled and their function committed to others that were more worthie Therefore the clergie being driuen out the Benedictin Monks that feared God were introduced againe Whence it came to passe that in the choosing of a bishop the secular Clergie a Clergie man the Monks desired to promote a Monk to the place each striuing to aduance a man of his owne coate Which great
in the sight and conference he had of his old Master LANFRANCK the Archbishop between whom discoursing of manie graue affayres fell at this time that famous disputation mentioned in his life of S. ELPHEGVS the Martir Afterwards he returned againe to his Monasterie and gouerned the same the space of fifteene yeares with all vertue belonging to a good prelate In the meane time William Conquerour died leauing the crowne to his onne William Rufus who by all indirect waies possible sought to oppresse and empouerish the Clergie and Church thereby to satisfie his owne vnbridled couetousnes and with their gould to giue a glorious outside to his owne wickednes Wherevppon S. ANSELME at the earnest entreatie of the nobles resolued to come againe into England But in the meane time Lanfrank being dead a rumour arose of the aduancing of ANSELME to the Archiepiscopall sea of Canturbury which made him ô wonderfull contēmpt of honour to deferre his iourney for fiue yeares space How manie be there now adaies that would haue taken poste in this case X. COMING at length to Canturbury he was saluted by the Benedictine monks and others as their future Prelate which he tooke soe S. Anselme refuseth the stile of Archbishop heynously that the next day he departed before the sunne was guiltie of his being in towne allbeit it were the verie feast of the Natiuitie of our Ladie refusing to be wonne by anie prayers to celebrate there that solemnitie Thence he went to King William and dealt freely with him to amend his manner of life to order the common wealth in better fashion as well in Ecclesiasticall as temporall affayres telling him withall what an ill opinion of his bad life was blowne ouer the world But the king was deafe to all good counsell till falling into a grieuoussicknes he beganne to make him remember him self and hearken a litle more to his pious perswasions His is chosen Archbishop of Cauturbury In the meane time being putt in mind that the sea of Canturburie was void of a Pilot that that Mother-Church of England had manie yeares been a widdow he proclaimed ANSELME to be the most worthie of that dignitie that the disciple might succeed his master And this his proposition was presently accepted with the common consent and applause of the Benedictin monks of Canturbury vnto whom the election of the Archbishop belonged and the generall liking of the poeple Only ANSELME with might and maine resisted this election and obstinately refused to vndertake the dignitie with teares alleadging manie reasons and excuses he made manie protestations that it was a verie foolish and ouerthwart proceeding to ioyne to the plough an ould sheepe yoakt with an vntamed bull by the bull meaning king William But all in vaine for the pastorall staffe was forcibly thrust into his hands him self violently drawne into the next Church was proclaymed Archbishop and his election witnessed with manie ioyfull acclamations and singing of the himme Te Deum Laudamus c. And now the day of his consecration and installation at Canturbury was prefixed to the fourth of December when by the opening of the bible this Sentence fell to S. ANSELMES lott Homo quidam fecit caenam magnam vocanit multos c. XI AT THE first King William shewed goodwill and friendship Note the couetousnes of the king towards S. ANSELME in hope that being now aduanced to soe great dignitie he would bestow some worthie present vppon him but as soone as he perceaued that ANSELME had noe such meaning he beganne to repent him self of this one allbeit a rare good deed and being wholly giuen by hooke or by crooke as they say to gett money he not soe required as exacted a friendly guift of a thousand pound sterling for a gratuitie for his aduancement to the Archbishoprick But saint ANSELME hating that vnroyall couetousnes in the King was determined not to send him a pennie Till swayed by the counsell of manie friends lest he should greatly exasperate the king to the greater detriment of the whole English Church he sent him fiue hundred pound promising to gratifie his Maiestie more largely when occasion serued William vtterly refused to accept that present as too slender and sparing a reward for a king Whereat S. ANSELME greatly reioyced because by this meanes he cleered him self frō all staine of honour which for this fact malice might haue layd to King William mooued against S. Anselme his charge And without anie delay he distributed that whole summe of money to the poore Afterwards he began to call vppon the King to haue a Councell assembled for the reforming of the Clergie and establishing of Ecclesiasticall discipline in the Church But his good intētions receiued a sharpe rebuke from the king who sought by all meanes to breake all the liberties of the Church in persecuting the Clergie inuading the Ecclesiasticall goods and other such outrages that the holy man could nether hinder his vniust proceedings noe execute his function in peace Soe that allbeit he were wholely disposed to stand strongly in defence of the truth and the freedom of the Church yet then he iudged it more expedient for the auoyding of greater inconuenience which euen the other bishops and countrey backed with the authoritie and power of the King might cause to absent him self a while out of England imagining that to be the safest way both to appease the enraged king and qualifie the tempest of the countrey XII THEREFORE he made a supplication to the king to permitte him to goe to Rome to obtaine from Pope Urban the second the Pall due vnto his archiepiscopall seate The king amazed at this demaund answered that noe man in his kingdom should acknowledge anie Pope of Rome without his consent and that he him self was after a fashion Pope within his owne dominiōs Which answere infinitly afflicted the holy archbishop who to extinguish this sparke of infernall fier before it went anie further assembled a Councell He summoneth a Councell of the Bishops Abbbots and peeres of the realme wherein hauing declared the kings mind the consequence and importance of the matter he found the greatest part of the bishops inclined to subscribe to the Princes will soe great is the power of flatterie and ambition ioyned with the authoritie of a furious and resolute king for they cried out alowd that he was a person impious and rebellious to the king and state whosoeuer would attempt to maintaine anie obedience in England to be due to anie but king William alone as well in Ecclesiasticall as temporall matters robbing the Pope hereby of his primacie and soueraigne power ouer all the Catholick Church S. ANSELME seeing this vnlawfull proceeding and that he could not resist against soe horrible a streame desired leaue of the king to leaue the kingdom and goe to Rome but he receiued diuers times a bitter deniall The king allwaies affirming that he would hould him as an enemie to his crowne
his pleading that with sharpe threatning words he affirmed that the king would rather hazard the losse of his whole kingdom then be depriued of this right Nether would I answered the pope graunt him this power allthough it were to saue my owne life And with this resolution he dismissed the Embassadours who returned towards England But by the way the fornamed William declared by the kings commaund vnto S. ANSELME that he must cease from entring more into England vnlesse he were resolued to obey the Kings will Soe that sainct ANSELME diuerted to his ould lodging at Lions where he remayned the space of a yeare and fower moneths XVI IN the meane time king Henry seazed on all the goods and lands belonging to the Archbishoprick and challenged them for his owne vse When the Pope seeing noe hope of reconciling the King to S. ANSELME purposed by excommunication to cutt him off from the communion of the Church Which resolution of his being made knowne to the king touched him to the quick and made him begin more exactly to take saint ANSELME cause into his consideration And at length he called him to him out off France into Normandie where they came to a parely at the Abbey of Bec In which the King patiently taking the holy Archbishops reprehension for manie abuses promised a future amendment and neuer more to disturbe the peace or exact anie fruits belonging to the Church or Churchmen and herevppon he receaued S. ANSELME into his fauour and sent him in peace to his Archbishoprick to the great contentment and enioy of the whole Kingdome Here now we may see of what power the constancie of a good Prelats is when purely and sincerely for the only loue and seruice of God they defend the authoritie of the Church without anie pretence of temporall respects by flattering kings in their iniustice and suffering them selues to be carried away with the wind of wordly fauour We may see allsoe the great grace which God shewed to kings that respect his Church Church-men for as soone as King Henry had submitted him self our Lord gaue him a noble victorie against his Brother Robert by meanes whereof he gott the Seigniorie of the Dukedom of Normandy Of which victory he presently made sainct ANSELME acquainted by letters ending thus Werefore Venerable father Wâ—ll Malm. l. 1. de PoÌ„t sayd he humbly and deuoutly prostrate at the feete of thy sainctitie J beseech thee to pray vnto the supreme iudge by whose will and arbitremeÌ„t J haue gayned this glorious and profitable triumph that it be not to my domage and detriment but for a beginning of good works and the seruice of God to settle and confirme the state of Gods-holy Church in peace and tranquillitie that from hence forth it may liue free and not be shaken with the tempest of warres XVII AFTER the kings returne out of Norman-die a famous Synod A sinod held at London was held at London in which in presence of S. ANSELME and all the bishops Abbots of England he resigned all the power which hitherunto he had vsurped in creating ordayning bishops to the Pope and Clergie S. ANSELME therefore being installed againe in his Church in great peace and quietnes performed the part of a most holy and vigilant pastour the space of about three yeares S. Anselme falleth sick when loaden with old age labours and merits he fell into a great sicknes and specially in his stomake which made him abhorre all sustenance till by little and litle the forces of his bodie being exhausted he fainted And when the infirmitie of his bodie was such that it would not suffer him to goe to the Church notwithstanding he was carried thither euery day in a chayre to be present at the sacred misteries of the masse whereunto he bore a singular great deuotion pierie and reuerence At length seeing him self to draw neere his end he receiued the holy sacraments of the Church and gaue his benediction no the assistance humbly recommending the king queene and all the whole Kingdom to Gods holy protection and lying on a hayre-cloath strewed with ashes according to the pious custom of those times he rend râ—d vp his blessed soule to the euerlasting possession of all blessednes on wensday morning His happie death before Easter the one and twentith day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord 1109. the sixteenth since he was made bishop and the threescore and sixt of his age He was buried in great solemnitie and lamented by his Church and the whole Kingdom of England which lost a Master a Father and a Pastour soe holy soe wise soe couragious and soe venerable XVIII Our Lord ennobled this glorious Sainct with manie miracles His wonderfull miracles both during his life and after his death 1. As he was one night at his prayers he was seene to be encompassed round about with the brightnes of a heauenly splendour 2. One that dranke only of the water in which he had washed his hands was cured of a most pittifull leaprosie that raygned all ouer his bodie 3. By the signe of the crosse he quenched a mightie fier that was readie to deuoure the chamber where he â—ay 4. One of his religious most cruelly possessed with the deuill was cured only by the well-wishes of S. ANSELME 5. Manie diseased persons were cured by his prayers or eating only the reliques of his dinner 6. The shipp which carried S. ANSELME allbeit a boord brake out of it yet the water was miraculously hindered from entring 7. At his death the balsome which anoynted his bodie like vnto the flower of Holy was miraculously encreased 8. And the stone in which his bodie was to be buried being not of sufficient capacitie to receaue it was suddainly enlarged without humane helpe to the great admiration of the beholders Manie other miracles we omitt But the greatest miracle that euer God wrought by saint ANSELME was saint ANSELME himself and his life more diuine then humane He writt manie admirable workes with which he enriched the Catholick Church and with the singular reach of his vnderstanding and doctrine and a peculiar guift from heauen he gathered togeather His admirable writings the subtilitie and excellence of manie Theologicall questions seasoned with the sweetnes of pietie and deuotion Of whom a graue authour Trithemius in his worke of the famous men of S BENEDICTS order sayth That he was a man well acquinted in holy scripture and the learnedeâ—st of his time in humane doctrine most holy in iâ— life and con 〈…〉 tion most deuout in his soule eloquent in his discourse and full of effiâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 his workes He was of an angelicall countenance of a graue gate of an exemplar life continuall in the studie of holy scriptures and one in whom lay hid a goulden mine of vertues and goodnes He was mirrour of Prelates the glorie of his countrey a pillar of Gods Church and a bright ornament of the Benedictine
doe worthyly speake his prayses The life of S. ERKENWALD Bishop and Confessor of the holy Order of S. BENEDICT APR. 30. Written by Gotzelinus Morimnensis ABOVT the yeare of CHRIST 676. sayth Baronius the English Church florished as a Paradise of our Lord abounding with the lillies Tom. 8 an 676. of sacred virgins and the violets of whole troupes of holy Benedictin monks lying hidd in the humble valleies of the cloisters It was allsoe fraught with an abundance of most worthie Prelats taken from vnder the vaile of monasticall humilitie to be iâ—â—ested with the Pontificall robes of dignitie among whom sainct ERCONWALD of whom we now treate shined as a bright sunne of the Benedictin familie in all vertue and sainctitie And that nothing might be in him wanting for the making vp of a man in al things most perfect he was ennobled with the splendour of an illustrious parentage being sonne to Offa King of the East-Angles Who allthough he defiled all his princely nobilitie with his owne perfidiousnes and impious worshiping of Idols yet ERKENWALD as the holy branch growne out of a rotten stock amplified and ennobled the greatnes of his race with the true profession of Christian fayth and the aduantage of manie noble vertues For being first grounded in Catholick religion in the time that S. AVGVSTIN our Apostle the Benedictin preached in England he adhered euer after to the doctrine of S. MELLITVS Bishop of London following his precepts and manner of life in all things Till at length desiring to draw him self out of the vanities of this world and wholly to enter into a contemplatiue life in religion out of his owne royall patrimonie he built two monasteries one at Chertsey in Surrey for him self and other monks and the second at Berking in Essex for his sister S. Ethelburg with a conuent of Nunnes both of the holy order of S. BENEDICT And soe he made a happie change of his terrene dignitie and wealth to become the holy inheritance of CHRIST and his Church At Chertsey he putt on the habitt of a Benedictin monke where his vertues soe answered that monasticall profession that Theodore Archbishop of CaÌ„turbury moued with the fame thereof called â—rconwald made bishop of London him to preside in the bishoprick of London This Benedictin Abbey of Chertsey greatly florished in religion till the furie of the Danes who spared no religious houses committed the Church with the Abbot and monks thereof to the mercilesse power of the fier But the incomparable prince King Edgar whom the peculiar prouidence of allmightie God ordayned the great aduancer of the Benedictin order not content with the new monasteries which by him self and others he caused to be built in diuerse parts of England vnlesse he repayred the ould restored the Abbey of Chertsey to its former splendour and dignitie searching out the auncient writings and Charters by the testimonie and power whereof he recalled the goods and possessions that thereunto belonged out of the hands of manie noblemen which eyther by force or the power of antiquitie had holden them as their owne rights II. BVT let vs returne to sainct ERKENWALD who now seated in the Episcopall sea of London soe worthyly discharged himself of that function that he omitted nothing belonging to the dutie and prayse of an absolute good pastour being a man of soe great vertue that his working of manie miracles the vnresistable witnesses of holines deposed him and his seruice to be most acceptable and pleasing to allmigtie God Being fallen soe Note a strange miracle sick and weake towards the end of his daies that he could not visitt his diocesse to preach and teach to the poeple but carried in a litle waggon one of the wheeles and it had but two it is vncertaine by what chance happened to fall off the beame when to the wonderfull great admiration of all the assistants the waggon went on vppon one wheele the other side being sustayned by the diuine power of him that wheeles about the frame of this world for the declaration of the great vertue and holines of the holy bishop that was carried And herein the ayre seemed to attend this holy man supplying the want of that wheele and by the touching of the same waggon manie sick persons after the holy mans death were cured of feauers and other diseases which human skill had giuen vp for incurable The water allsoe obeyed A great riuer giues way to his passage him when in the same waggon being to passe through a most swift riuer too deepe for his humble coach to wade in the curresie of those streames was soe great that they stopped the violence of their owne furious hast and expected till the sainct like an other Josue passed through on the drie bottom and then the riuer which all this while had made as it were a collection or vniting of its owne forces more lowdly to proclaime and roare out the prayses of the vertue and holines of the glorious Bishop Sainct ERKENWALD ranne in his accustomed and wonted manner The hower of his death reâ—ealed III. AT LENGTH when he had gouerned his bishoprick for the space of manie yeares in the continuall exercise of vertue and holy life the blessed man goeing for his deuotion to the monasterie of Berking and staying there some time in the continuall exercise of diuine contemplation it pleased allmightie God to reueale vnto him the hower of his departure which he truely foretould and to the last gaspe comforted all that were about him with the words of life that flowed from his dying voyce And at the very instant that his blessed sould left her house of clay and miserie to flie to the glorious dwellings of the happie soe sweet an odour filled the whole house where the body lay that the hearts of all the assistants were wonderfully stirred vp in the prayse of allmightie God and deuotion towards this holy sainct The newes of his death being spread abroad the Clergie and His bodie is translated to LoÌ„don poeple of London came to Barking to fetch theÌ„ce the sacred reliques of their bishop to burie them solemnly in sainct PAVLS Church But coming with their holy loading to a riuer called Hesord they found the waters encreased and swelled to such greatnes that they were faine to lay downe their sacred treasure and fall to their prayers to obtaine passage by the meritts of the glorious sainct which otherwise was vnpossible without a boate When behould to their great admiration and comfort the water which in his life time had giuen A strange miracle him free passage now allsoe diuided it self into two parts that like vnto the Israelites loaden with the Arke of our Lord they passed drie foote through the midst of the riuer And that noe sooner done but an other miracle followed for the candles by his bodie which had been extinguished were suddenly lighted without mans help by a light from heauen Soe that two elements
at once gaue a double testimonie of his great vertue and sanctitie And as in his life he was replenished with manie wonderfull spirituall graces and vertues soe at his death as manie sick as touched the biere whereon his bodie lay receaued perfect health and were cured of all diseases His bodie was buried in sainct PAVLS Church at London by the high aultar where it lay manie yeares couered with a palle of verie He is buried in S. Pauls of London meane value But allmightie God decsared an length by a wonderfull miracle that the reliques of this glorious Sainct deserued greater honour and reuerence For during the raigne of William Conquerour in the yeare of our Lord 1087. a most cruell fier sayd hold on the cittie of London by night which consumed all before it from the west gate to the East at which horrid spectacle the cittizens greatly affrighted were glad to saue their owne lines by flight some of them leauing their cuill-gott goods to the mercie of those London fiered mercilesse flames which hauing entred the Cathedrall Church of sainct PAVL and soe entred that there was noe hope to dispossesse those outrageous guests the people were stricken with greater grief with the thought of loosing the sacred reliques of soe great a Patrone then with the sight of their owne harmes But allmightie God was zealous and carefull of the glorie of his Sainct For when His tombe miraculously preserued froÌ„ fier the Church was wholly in flames when the lead powred downe on all sides when whole beames of fier came tumbling to the earth amidst all this dolefull wrack of ruine where the conquest was the death of the conquerour the sacred tombe of sainct ERKENWALD allbeit of drie wood apt to take fier remayned most free and vntouched And which is more the cloath that couered it when the two Bishops of London and Wincester came to be eye-witnesses of this miracle was found most pure without anie hurt where the piercing force of the melted lead and eating fier was of noe force against the vertue and meritts of this worthie sainct O wonderfull sight whatsoeuer was in the Church within the power of fier was turned to ashes and yet in the midst of all the palle of his sepulcher was not one threed the worse eyther in matter or colour The poeple flocke thither in troupes to be witnesses of that strainge spectacle giuing manie thanks to allmightie God for his goodnes when the noueltie of this miracle banished out of their minds all thought of their owne misfortune receiued Mauritius then bishop Mauritius Bishop of London of London layd the foundation of the mightie Church of S. PAVL now extant which by his successours was brought to that wonder of perfection in which now it is And six and thirtie yeares agoe as I haue learned from faythfull witnesses that saw it there was in the vpper end of the Quire in Pauls Church a table which testified where the holy body of S. ERKENWALD lay in these words Vnder here lieth the bodie of S. ERKENWALD fourth Bishop of London Manie other miracles were wrought by the merits of this glorious sainct which here we omitt He died about the yeare of our Lord 690. His life is written by Gotzelinus Morimnensis sainct Bede William Malmesburie de Pont. lib. 2. Iohn Capgraue Nicolas Harpsfield saec 7. cap. 13. and others out of whom and the records of sainct Pauls Church we haue taken this historie Polidore Virgil Trithemius amougst the Saincts of S. Benedicts order Baronius Matthew Paris the Romane Martirologe and all our English writers doe highly speake his prayses The end of Aprill The life of Sainct ASAPH Bishop and Confessor MAY 1. SAINCT ASAPH borne in that part of great Britaine now called His countrey and youth North-wales was from his youth brought vp vnder the gouernement and discipline of great sainct KENTIGERNE in the monasterie of Elue in Flint-shire where amongst nine hundred and three score other monks his fellow-schollers he sâ—ined in all manner of vertue and bore the prize of obedience and sainctitie from them all He descended from a noble race and seemed to haue the rootes of vertue engraffed in his soule from the cradle which by his diligent and carefull managing brought forth a worthie baruest of pious fruits at their time He putt forth him self in nothing soe much a sin labouring to make his owne conuersation and manner of life conformable to the austere patterne of vertue and mortification which appeared in his holy Master saint KENTIGERNL To whom his obedience was such that it deserued to be witnessed for excellent by miracle For saint KENTIGERNE coming one night out of the cold water in which as his custom was he had recited the whole psalter of Dauid and being soe extremly frozen that he was allmost quite depriued of heate the necessarie companion of life he The strainge vertue of prompt obedience sent his holy disciple ASAPH for fier to recouer the forces of his decaying bodie He that had noe lesson soe perfect as obedience ranne hastily to the fierie ouen and finding noe other instrument to carrie his fier tooke the hott scortching coales into his lapp and without anie signe of burning in his coate brought them to his master who admiring soe great vertue in his scholler held him in great estimation euer after and committed to his charge the whole regiment of the monasterie and made him his successour in the Bishoprick of Elue now called S. ASAPHS retayning allwaies the name but farre wide of the vertues and fayth of saint ASAPH Who when he had gouerned his sea for the space of manie yeares in great sainctitie and miraculous workes in venerable old age he gaue vp his blessed soule to receaue the crowne of euerlasting life the first day of May about the yeare of our Lord 569. whose name to this day is very famous throughout Wales in the mouthes of all true-hearted Welchmen to the great confusion of our Protestant-Heroticks who are not ashamed to honour the saincts by calling their Churches by their names to whom in catholick times they were dedicated and in their confession of fayth to denie anie honour at all to be due vnto them contrarie to the generall doctrine of the Catholick Church and all auncient fathers Thus much we haue gathered out of Molanus in his additions to Vsuard Arnold Wion Iohn Capgraue and others The Roman martirologe this first of May makes mention of S. Asaph The life of S. EADBERT Bishop and Confessor of the holy order of saint BENEDICT MAY. 6. Out of Venerable Bede hist. de gest Ang. lib. 4. EADBERT surnamed the Almner a man as excellent in learning the knowledge of diuine scriptures as in the obseruance of Ecclesiasticall and monasticall precepts and most excellent in the vertue of giuing almes was raysed from the humilitie of a Benedictine monk in the monasterie of Lindisfarne to succeede that glorious ornament He
before him making the signe of the holy crosse vpoÌ„ his tongue he receaued not only the perfect vse of his speech but allso was cured of the scabbie scuruines in his head Soe that he that before bore the shape or dumb-shew of deformitie was suddenly become readie in his speech quaint and fayre in his countenance and curled locks and glad to heare himself play the crier of his owne happines III. ALSOE with his benediction he cured a Nunne of a great swelling Manie miracles cruell payne in her arme caught by letting bloud And being by an Earle whose countesse lay languishing in a mortall disease inuited to consecrate a Church he sent her of the holy water which he had vsed in that act of consecration and she noe sooner dronk thereof but presently rising sound out of her bed she came like S. PETERS mother-in-law cured by our Sauiour and wayted on them Luc. 4. at the table shewing thereby that she had not only recouered her health but her lost forces allsoe The like benefitt he shewed to a yong man of whose health his friends were soe hopelesse that his graue was allreadie prepared when contrarie to all expectation by the prayers benedictioÌ„ of the holy bishop and drinking a cupp of wine by him hallowed he was restored againe to perfect health But one Herebald who sometime had been his scholler receaued a farre greater benefitt at his hands being by his meanes preserued from the ruine both of bodie and soule as him self being afterwards Abbot of Tinemouth related to venerable Bede in this manner When in my youth I liued vnder the tutorship of the B. bishop IOHN Note this miraculous historie to betrayned vp in the studies of Ecclesiasticall discipline learning my mind being at that time carried away with the wild vntamed sports of an youthly ardour we happened being one day in a iourney with the holy man to come into a fayre plaine and large way which seemed to inuite vs to ruÌ„ne a course with our horses And the secular yong men of the companie began earnestly to entreate the Bishops leaue to haue a course whereuÌ„to he was loath to coÌ„sent till ouercome with their importunitie he yielded to their request but The punishment of disobedience to S. Iohn vpon coÌ„dition that Herebald should abstayne froÌ„ that sport But then I begaÌ„ earnestly to pleade my owne cause that I might trie my horse with the rest knowing him to be of very good speed but could by noe meanes preuayle to gett his consent Wherevpon being no longer able to contayne my vntamed desires within the limitts of obedience I set spurres to my horse and ranne amongst the rest when I could heare him behind me fetch a great sigh say O what a grief thou giuest me in soe riding NotwithstaÌ„ding I held on that forbidden course till leaping ouer a hollow place I caught a fall which left me as dead without anie sense or motion a iust punishment of my disobedience From seauen of clock till the euening I lay there for dead and then reuiuing a little my companions carried me home where I passed that night without speaking one word But the holy bishop who bore a singular affection to me grieued exceedingly at this mischance and that whole night he spent only in watching and prayer for my recouery In the morning he came to me and out of a diuine instinct asked yf I were certaine of my baptisme to whom hauing now recouered my speech I answered yes and named the Priest that had washed me in the sacred Font. Yf that were the Priest that did it replied he thou art not rightly baptised For he is both of witt and vnderstanding soe dull that he could neuer learne the true manner of catechising or baptising and for that reason I haue commaunded him to cease froÌ„ the exercise of that function which Se the auncient ceremonies of baptisme he could not execute in due maÌ„ner This sayd he beganne presently to catechise me and it happened that breathing in my face as the manner is I straight began to find my self much amended of my hurt He caused the Chirurgean to settle and compose aright the dissolued ioynt of my skull and hauing giuen his benediction to the worke at the same instant I recouered foe well that the next day I was able to ride an other iourney with him by whose meritts I was restored to health And within a while after being fully recouered I receaued the sacrament of baptisme soe that I am indebted the saluation both of soule and bodie to Blessed Sainct IOHN Thus was Herebald wont to relate of him self to Venerable BEDE IV. But S. IOHN hauing gouerned his bishoprick the space of S. Iohn leaueth the Bishoprick thirtie three yeares between Hagustald and Yorke desiring now after soe manie labours to retire his vnseruiceable old age out of the manifold affayres of the world to the sweet and quiet harbour of his auncient religious life the better to prepare him self for his neere-approaching end he departed to the Benedictin monasterie which him self had built at Deirwood or Beuerley where amongst the monks he led a holy and angelicall life the space of fower yeares famous for vertues and miracles At length loadeâ— with merits and good works he was called out of this mortall life to the happie enioying of the immortall the seauenth day of May in the yeare of our Lord God seauen hundred twentie one Which place and the memorie of this glorious Sainct was afterwards ennobled with soe manie wonders that scarse anie place in England is comparable vnto it for the familiaritie of miracles or enlarged with greater priuileges and exemptions from Princes One therefore and not the left of those signes Bullâ— straingely tamed which commend the pietie of saint IOHN and the sainctitie of this place is that strainge spectacle which was wont often times there to be exhibited Bulls otherwise most fierce and vntamed being with great paines and sweat brought bound to the Church-yard of Beuerley as soone as they entred therein deposed all their fiercenes that they seemed rather to be meeke lambs then madd and vnruly bulls Allâ—oe in the yeare of our Lord one thousand three hundred and twelue on the feast of saint BERNARD a wonderfull oyle issued miraculously out of his sepulcher for the space of a whole day which was verie medecinall and soueraigne against manie diseases V. KING ETHELSTANâ— being much molested by the frequent incursions Ethelstanâ— molested by the Scots of the Scotts gathered an armie togeather and went to Beuerley where falling on his knees at the tombe of this Blessed Sainct he humbly recommended him self and his cause to his sacred protection And hauing ended his prayer he drew out his knife and layd it on the aultar saying Behould most glorious Sainct I putt this for a pledge before thee that yf by thy meritts I returne victorious of mine enemies I will enrich
thy Church with ample guifts and reuenewes Then causing a banner of that Church to be carried before him he marched couragiously against the Scotts who hearing of his coming fled ouer into Scotland and there expected him Ethelstane hauing fixed his tents on the other side of the riuer Ethelstane victorious by the merits of S. Iohn S. IOHN appeared to him and bad him goe ouer couragiously and assault his enemies Which the next morning he performed and in that conflict manie of the Scotts were slaine and their whole armie discomfited Then King Ethelstane hauing humbly desired of saint IOHN to haue some signe which might serue as a perpetuall testimonie of the King of Englands prerogatiue ouer the Scotts he struck his sword into a hard rock neere Dunbar castle where for manie ages after remayned a marke the length of a yeard made hollow in the same stone with the blow And for proofe hereof wee haue that king Edward the first when there was question before Pope Boniface of his right and prerogatiue ouer Scotland brought this historie for the maintenance and strength of his cause VI. KING ETHELSTANE hauing obtayned the foresayd Beuerley a Sainctuarie victorie honoured saint IOHN euer after as his peculiar Patrone and Guardian and ennobled the Church of Beuerley with manie great freedoms graunting vnto it the right of Sainctuary to be a safe refuge for all criminall and suspected persons of what offence soeuer Manie other famous miracles here omitted haue been done by the meritts of this glorious Bishop all which moued Alfrick the seauenteenth Bishop of York after him Translation of S. Iohn to take vp his holy reliques three hundred and sixteen yeares after his death and place them in a precious and rich shrine the fiue and twentie day of October which is the feast of his translation on which verie day in the yeare of our Lord one thousand foure hundred and fifteen the most inuincible King of England Henry the fift of that name wonne the memorable battle of Agiâ—court against the French Which the King ascribing to the meritts of the most blessed Bishop saint IOHN at his triumphant returne into England caused the feasts both of his deposition and translation to be solemnly celebrated throughout the Prouince of Canturbury as it was allreadie in that Yorke And in the Prouinciall Tit. de script Constitutions of England made in a Prouinciall Synod vnder Henry Chicheley Archbishop of Canturbury is found a decree hereof made at the instance of the same most Christian King Henry the fift Whereby it appeares that this most holy Bishop saint IOHN of Beuerley hath been an ayde to the Kings of England in the necessitie of their warres not only in auncient but allsoe in these later ages God of his infinite Mercie make vs partakers of his glorious merits His life we haue gathered out of Venerable Bede de gest Aug. lib. 5. cap. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. William Malmesbury de gest Pontif. Aug. lib. 3. Mathew Westminster anno 680. 686. 721. Nicholas Harpsfield saec 8. cap. 22. Thrithemius of the famous men of saint BENEDICTS order lib. 3. cap. 129. lib. 4. cap. 68. and 170. and Iohn Capgrà ue or Ioannes Anglicus The Româ—â— Martirologe Polidore Virgil Vsuard Arnold Wion Camden and all our English writers doe worthyly celebrate his prayses The life of Sainct WYRE Bishop and Confessor of the holy order of Sainct BENEDICT MAY. 8. Out of an auncient manuscript recited by Su rins SAINCT WYRE borne of worthy parents in Scotland hauing passed his infancie was sett to schoole when being preuented by the inspiration of an heauenly grace he began in his tender His vertues and exercises age to beare the yeares of a man both in mind and manners proposing to him self the examples of his elders to be the rule and guide of his youthly actions In the meane time he encreased in yeares but more in mind neuer yeelding to anie vaine allurements nor drawing back his foote once sett forward in the stepps of vertue contemning all transitorie and wordly things aspiring with all the forces of his soule to the loue of the eternall soe that his holines of life increasing dayly with his yeares he became gratefull and beloued both to God and man He was nether broken with aduersities nor exalted with prosperitie neuer tired with watchings Herefuseth a bishoprick prayers were his foode and fasting his delights in summe nothing could mooue him from the desire and pursuite of vertue Not long after whilst thus he shined to the world in all kind of true religion and holines of life the Church of that countrey was voyd of a pastour when all with one voyce desired WIRE for their bishop him the clergie him the people him all the world proclaymed to be a man sent from heauen to gouerne his natiue countrey with episcopall dignitie But the holy man being quite of an other mind farre from desiring to clime the slipperie degrees of fading honours lay close vnder the wings of humilitie and vtterly refused to accept anie such charge affirming that he had more need him self of a Master then to become a teacher and ruler of others II. AT length ouercome with much opportunitie of the poeple he yeelded to goe to Rome to be consecrated reioycing for soe good an occasion to performe that soe desired pilgrimage And thither he went not out of an ambition of worldly dignitie but of a desire he long had had to vndertake that iourney of deuotioÌ„ Being come to Rome togeather with sainct PLECHELME a venerable priest and monk and Otgerus a deacon they all three visited with great deuotion the sacred shrines of the Apostles watring the pauements with the holy baulme of their deuout teares The Pope vnderstanding of them sent presently for sainct WYRE who togeather with The Pope compells him to be bishop his fellowes came before him where he was receaued with wonderfull great ioy and familiaritie When sainct WYRE hauing first plainly tould the cause of his coming fell prostrate at the Popes feet humbly crauing to be freed from the charge of the Bishoprick But the Pope nothing mooued with his prayers chose rather to prouide Gods poeple with a holy prelate then to hearken to sainct WYRES priuate deuotions and therefore he ordered him Bishop much against his will and sent him back into the countrey with a strict commaund to cease from vndertaking anie pilgrimage before he returned to his poeple Whose precept the holy man obeyed and returned straight ouer the frozen Alâ—es and swelling waues of the sea to come againe into his countâ—ey where he was receaued His returne from Rome with great ioy honour and solemnitie Then it was wonderfull to see how he shined in all vertue religion and pietie amongst his subiects making allwaies his owne lifâ— correspondent to the doctrine he preached vnto others And allthough then he none could better discharge the office of that high calling with all parts
couragiously into his countrey where for his first welcom he found his father and a great part of the Christian armie slaine by the Pagans III. BVT one Oswy who formerly had been a great friend of sainct FREMVNDS father and now had forsaken the Christian fayth cooke part with the Danes hoping as they promised to inherite the Kingdom of Offa and now fearing lest by the arriuall of Sainct FREMVND into the countrey he should be putt by his hopes he came secretly vnto him and with a traiterous blow strake off his head when the bloud that issued out of that mortall wound and fell vppon the murderer like soe manie drops of scortching fier burnt his bodie with such an intollerable heate that presently he repented him self of his wicked deed and fell vppon his knees to demaund pardon of the Martirs dead bodie Sainct FREMVND was martired the eleauenth of May in the yeare of our Lord 466. His holy bodie was buried by Oswy his murderer and others in a place called offe-Offe-Church within the compasse of the Kings pallace But afterwards it was translated to a place between Thâ—â—ranslâ—â—â—n of his bodie Charmell and Bradmere were the diuine prudence soe disposing it lay hid for manie yeares vnknowne till the place was reuealed to a holy man and the bodie taken vpp and honorably buried at Redick In the meane time manie wonderfull miracles were wrought through the merits of this B. Sainct in all these places Sainct FREMVND was enrolled into the number of canonized Saincts in the yeare 1257. during the raigne of Henry the third His memorie heretofore hath been very famous in the Iland of great Britaine His life is written by one Burchard of Dorcester a monk and his indiuiduall companion and bâ— Iohn Capgraue out of IoaÌ„nes Anglicus whom we haue followed Vsuard Molanus Nicholas Harpsfied saec 9. cap. 12. and Mathew Paris an 1257. make honourable mention of him The life of S. DIMPNA Virgin and martir MAY 15. Written by Peter a Canon of Cambray WE cannot better perceiue the weaknes of blind loue the horrible darknes that possesseth the Gentils depriued of the true light nor the vnderstanding and strength which our Lord giueth to the feeble sexe of woeman-kinde to defend their chastitie and shed their bloud for his loue then in reading the life and martirdom of this glorius Virgin sainct DIMPNA In Ireland there liued a verie potent King but a Heathen who had married a fayre woman whom as well in regard Her father a Pagan king of her beautie as her other goods parts he dearly loued Out of this marriage was borne a daughter called DIMPNA nothing behind her mother in beautie whom her parents verie carefully and daintily brought vp Neuerthelesse as soone as she had attayned to yeares of discretion coming to the knowledge of IESVS CHRIST she became a Christian and vowed perpetuall virginitie vnto him vtterly She voweth her virginitie to God despising all the Pompes banquets dances and other vanities of the Court. In the meane time her mother being dead her father hauing dried vp his superfluous teares for her death was desirous to marrie a secoÌ„d wife which he would haue to be a fayre yong mayd like vnto the former But fayling to find such an one in the countrey his flattring courtiers perswaded him to cast his eyes vppon his daughter DIMPNA then whom none could be fayrer and in whom being verie like her mother he might reuiue the figure of his late Her father â—â—keth her in marriage wife What more this detestable counsell noe sooner arriued at his eares but straight the deuill who desired to bring DIMPNA to Idolatrie incensed the king with the flames of an incestuous and impure loue towards his daughter Here vppon he beganne to souÌ„d her intention with all manner of sweet speeches and allurements promising to giue her her whole hearts desire yf she would but marrie him DIMPNA stopt her eares at the hissing of this venommous serpent and answered that she would neuer consent to such an abominable iâ—nceste The king still earnestly vrged and she as couragiously resisted till in the end growing extreamly angry he could her that he hould marrie her whether she would or no Then recommending her self heartyly to the deare spouse of her soule CHRIST IESVS she answered her father that since he was resolued therevnto she desired fortie daies respite and to haue all her rings and royall ornaments that she wanted to sett out her self for his greater aduantage He most willingly graunted her request thinking that his daughter had chainged her intention II. IN the meane time there was a holy priest in the countrey called Gerebert who had been Confessor to the Queene and had baptised DIMPNA and administred the venerable Sacrament of the Aultar both to her mother and her With him DIMPNA 〈◊〉 ted what was best to be done in this terrible case The Priest counselled her to flie away for feare of being forced to such a mischief and offered him self to be her companion Soe that they tooke shipping priuatly taking but one seruant and his wife in their companie God permitted them to arriue at Antwerp whence through vncouth wayes they passed from village to village fearing to be noted and followed At length they came to a secret wood where they clensed a place growne ouer with thornes and brakes to build a lodge in and there liued securely and vnknowne III. THE King her father ouercom with ioy and rauished with content in the impatience of loue expected the desired wedding-day The king her father goes to seeke her of his daughter but when he vnderstood she was escaped being allreadie dronke with the wine of his owne affection he began presently to make warre with himself with terrible cries and exclamations of grief and furie He resolued to goe seeke her him self and to search the verie bowells of the earth to find her where soeuer she was hid He trauelled all his countrey ouer and found noe newes of her He passed ouer the seas to Antwerp where he made some stay whilst his seruants ferretted all the countrey ouer for his daughter when by meere accident some of them hauing lodged in a village thereabouts payed their host with their countrey money who tould them that he had some money of the same kind but knew not the value of it These Jrishmen demaunded of the host how he came by it he answered not imagining to what purpose they asked that a very beautifull virgin come out of Jreland to liue in those parts gaue it him in payment for such necessaries She is found as belonged to her maintenance this gaue them sufficient ground to suspect and indeed to presume that it was the kings daughter they sought therefore by the Hosts direction they went and found her and returned with the glad newes thereof to her father IV. THE king like a man raysed from death to life went with all his companie and hauing found the
afterwards in due time by the hands of the same Bishop his cozen he He liueth in a moâ—â— narrow cell was promoted to the sacred dignitie of Priesthood Neere vnto the Church of our Ladies of Glastenbury he built him self a little Cell soe straight that all that saw it were astonished how a liuing man could dwell in it For I my self saith the Authour of his life haue measured the place contayning but fower foote in length and two and a half in breadth The height was proportionable to the ordinarie stature of a man In the midst of the doore was a litle window In this slender lodging he led his life in prayer and contemplation working in such things as the narrownes of the place would permitt but aboue all things labouring to please allmightie God in all and through all his actions He braue's vanquisheth the de uill dayly gayning to him self an higher place in his diuine fauour But the deuill enuying his pious exercises endeauoured to disturbe his deuotions presenting him self one day vnto him in the forme of a mayd that fayned to be in want of his helpe about some peece of worke and as the holy man prepared him self to satisfie her demaund he perceaued that enemie of mankind to transforme him self into diuers shapes that he seemed to see the forme and heare the voyce now of an old man now of a yong man and straight of some lasciuious woeman that stood before him Then vnderstanding what it was he caught the fierie tongues out of the fier and tooke that hellish monster by the nose and held him fast There then was to be seene a braue combat between the friend and enemie of Allmightie God Till at length sainct DVNSTAN remayning conquerour the deuill fled away with confusion horribly roaring and complayning that his pride and cauie had receaued the foyle and neuer after aduentured to molest the holy man in that place When from this time DVNSTAN was indued with soe great puritie of heart and His rare puritie of mind and body such a rare chastitie of bodie that he more ressembled an Angel of heauen then a mortall man Whence it came that manie poore and rich flocked vnto him from all parts to vse his counsell for the health of their soules and to be by him informed and directed in the way of good life and vertue Amongst others that came to be instructed by his zeale and prudence one was a vertuous Matrone called Elsgine whom when he had piously directed and well grounded in the way of vertue for a long time and armed at length with the last sacraments the happyly ended this life and left all her goods and possessions to the disposition of her pious Father sainct DVNSTAN who presently distributed the moueables to the poore Fiue monasteries built by his meanes and with the rest and his owne inheritance being the only child of his parents he built and enriched afterwards fiue monasteries and filled them with holy Conuents of Benedictine Monks VII NOT long after king Ethelstan being dead Edmond his brother succeeded in the kingdom of England who vnderstanding of An. 940. the rare prudence sainctitie and discretion of sainct DVNSTAN sent for him to his Court that by his worthy counsell and industrie he Dunstan in great fauour with King Edmond might the easier rule the scepter of his kingdom with iustice DVNSTAN offring this seruice to God and the good of the common wealth condescended to his desire When it was rare to behould how prudently he behaued him self in disposing of the affayres of the realme in composing of contentions that arose and establishing true peace and concord among the subiects to the great comfort and ioy both of the king and Nobles Neuerthelesse within a while he lost all fauour and grace with them both by the enuious detractions By enuiâ—he he i. expelled the Court. of those that could not support the lustre of his resplendent vertues nor endure one alone to beare more sway and be in greater credit then all the rest What shall I say The malignant words of his aduersaries preuayled soe farre that DVNSTAN was not only depriued of all auncient honour but allso banished the Court. This done after three daies the King goeing on hunting and being carried by the vntamed courage of his horse pursuing the game towards a mightie precipice that threatned both him and his beast with destruction seeing iminent death before him the iniurie done to DVNSTAN came suddenly into his mind whereat sighing from the bottom of his heart he was much grieued promising straight in his mind that yf by Gods helpe he escaped that danger aliue he would againe receaue him into his fauour When to his great comfort and admiration his horse which before noe force could hould stopped suddely on the ridge of that huge downfall He is recalled to sauour and deliuered him from his expected ruine Then hauing related this accident to his Nobles and caused DVNSTAN to be sent for he humbly demaunded pardon for his fault did worthy peanance for the iniurie and restored him to his ancient honour place and dignitie faithfully promising to be his true friend and protectour euer after Moreouer as a testimonie of his future friendship he gaue him the lands of Glastenbury where he was borne and bred to be disposed according to his good will and liking Sainct DVNSTAN by the kings meanes built there a goodly Monasterie and gathered He buildeth the monasterie of Glastenbury into it a worthie Conuent of Benedictine Monkes whom he himself gouerned in quallitie of Abbot Soe that by his good example and industrie that Abbey encreased wonderfully both in the excellencie of monasticall profession and in the abundant possession of temporall goods And that place became a Nurserie of learned and holy men that through all England cast the foundations of a religious life vnder the rule of sainct BENEDICT like soe manie Pillars of the Catholick Church And now it came to passe that as in this Church as it is about sayd the whole multitude of people recouered light from sainct DVNSTANS Mothers candle soe out of this place thus instituted by the learning and industrie of DVNSTAN him self all the Churches of England receaued the light of true Religion and monasticall discipline by the example and vertue of manie worthie men called hence to the dignitie of Abbots and Bishops in the kingdome VIII AMIDST these things the holy life and conuersation of sainct DVNSTAN purchased him wonderfull hatred from the deuill the perpetuall enemie to the Benedictine order But he allwaies found him to be as his name signifies a firme Rock of the mountaine He hearet 〈◊〉 the songs of Angles whom all the hellish practises of that Master of mischief could not mooue from the ground of vertue And by soe worthyly triumphing ouer that infernall monster he deserued to to be partaker of the sweet harmonie of Angelicall voyces which at
by the hands of S. ODO the Archbishop Then this holy Prelat returning to his Church discharged the part of a most worthy Pastour vsing an extreme vigilance ouer his flock which he gouerned with wonderfull integritie vnremoued constancie and discrete seueritie XI BVT the bishop of London being dead after mature deliberation for a successour noe man was found soe worthy as S. DVNSTAN And of London soe that he was coÌ„pelled to vndertake the gouernment of that Sea allsoe wheÌ„ how rarely he did the office of a holy Prelat in both these places it goes beyond the force of weake words to declare At length by the vnanimous consent of all he was chosen Archbishop of Canturbury when he went to Rome according to the custom of those times and obtained his Palle of the Pope who sent him back with all the authoritie and dignitie belonging to the Metropolitan of England At his returne with great honour applause he was receaued and installed in the Archiepiscopall Sea of Canturbury when assuming for his armour of proofe the word of God he strengthened him self against the Prince of the world and began on all sides to destroy and ruine his members with a resolute constancie and a coÌ„stant resolution of true pietie vertue and religion XII A COVNT noe lesse rich the powerfull had vnlawfully married He excommunicateth an incestuous Count. his owne neece against whom S. DVNSTAN hauing the second and third time admonished and sharply rebuked for that incestuous offence seeing noe hope of amendment vsed the sword of abscision and by the sentence of excoÌ„munication cutt him off from the communion of the Church The Count much incensed herewith had recourse to the King and to the Pope to make his peace with DVNSTAN but finding that both their entreaties could nothing moue the holy Prelate who remayned firme as a rock that could not be shaken with anie thing admiring the coÌ„stancie of the Sainct fearing left his malediction should cause the ruine of his soule he diuorced him self from that vnlawfull wife And when DVNSTAN presided in a Nationall Synod of the whole realme the Count came barefoote Behould a rare example of publick peanance into the place cloathed in a poore wollen habit with a handfull of rods in his hand casting him self in that full assemblie at the feete of the holy Prelate with a woefull pietie craued pardon of his fault offring him the rods to be chastised and absolued from the excommunication and admitted to the sacrameÌ„ts of the Church At which sight the whole companie was mooued to pittie and coÌ„passion and DVNSTAN more then the rest Yet obseruing all waies the rigour of discipline in his countenance a while he coÌ„tayned his vrging teares but with difficultie till being entreated by the whole Councell with weeping words he gaue him pardon and absolution XIII BVT this was nothing in respect of that which he did to King King Edgars offence Edgar whom soe highly he honoured in the punishing of an enormious sinne which he had committed to the great scandall of the countrey The King coming once to the Monasterie of 〈◊〉 Nunnes at Wilton chanced to see a fayre yong mayde excelling both in nobilitie and beautie that liued there as a tabler amongst the other Nunnes of whom he became fondly amorous and desired to haue conference with her in a secret place The Mayde being carefull of her owne chastitie and fearing left the king might offer violeÌ„ce in such an opportunitie tooke the vayle froÌ„ one of the other religious woemen putt it on her owne head supposing that he would attempt noe dishonestie against her thus vayled Whom when the King beheld in that manner Thou art quickly made â—â— Nunne sayd he and pulling the vayle off her head rauished her by force such cruell enemies to the soule our eyes are that they robbe vs of our hearts This fact was cause of great scandall in the Kingdom till the newes arriued at the eares of saint DVNSTAN who was strucken with great sorow thereat Therefore hastening presently to the King and he as his manner was coming to meeâ—e him and offring to take him by the hand to leade him in with honour DVNSTAN with a frowning looke drew back his hand and Would not suffer him to touch it Whereat the King greatly amazed demaunded the reason of this strangnes To whom saint Note the zeale and constancie of S. Dunstan DVNSTAN Thou breaking all lawes of shamefastnes hast playd the adulterer thou despising God and not fearing the signe of chastitie hast robbed a Virgin of her integritie and doest thou aske why I giue the not my hand that sacrificeth the Sonne of the Virgin to his allmightie Father to be polluted with thy impure fingers First wash thy hands from filth with the teares of penance and then that thou maiest be reconciled to Gods grace honour and embrace the sacred hands of a Bishop The King who suspected nothing lesse then DVNSTAN to be guiltie of that secret was The great humilitie of King Edgar strangely amazed at these sharpe words and presently like an other Dauid he became penitent and throwing him self prostrate at the Bishops feete with words full of teares and sighs acknowledged his fault and desired penance DVNSTAN seeing soe great an example of humilitie in the King ranne to him and hauing lifted him from the ground began with a pleasing countenance to deale familiarly His seauen yeares peanance with him touching his soules health and inioyned him seauen yeares penance for satisfaction Who hauing obtayned a Pontisicall absolution ioyfully performed his penance and exercised manie other workes of pietie ouer and aboue by the instinct and counsell of S. DVNSTAN Moreouer remayning euer after constant in the loue and seruice of Allmightie God he very worthyly promoted both the ciuill and the Ecclesiasticall discipline of his realme was verie carefull to see iustice obserued to which end he established manie good lawes whereby he deserued to haue his kingdom adorned with soe manie heauenly benefitts and blessings that during his raigne nothing seemed to be wanting that any way belonged to the commoditie of a well-ordered and happie Common-wealth XIV NETHER doe I sayth Harpsfield beleeue this great felicitie Saec. 10. cap. 3. to haue flowed from anie other fountaine then that Edgar from a child allthough sometimes in his youth he suffered vnder human frailtie was allwaies piously affected to God and diuine things by which the rest of the common-wealth all his happines depended and that he vsed these most faythfull most friendly most wise and most holy Counsellours OSWALD ETHELWOLD and aboue all DVNSTAN who piously and holyly gouerned his youth in the way of vertue and good life And the holy documents which he suckt from their mouthes he afterwards fullfilled in his deedes and examples Whence it came to passe that by his royall meanes and by the counsâ—ll and ayde of these three worthie Bishops and
eyes darting their beames vppon thee from the bright clime of heauen heart these plaintif wordes of his with a certaine pietie resounding in thine â—ares Thou O father Dunstan An Apostrophe of King Edgars father to Dunstan didest giue me bolesom counsell to build Monasteries and found Churches thou wast my helper and coadiutour in all things J chose thee to be the Pastour and spirituall father of my soule and manners When did I not obey thee What treasures did I euer preserre before thy counsells What possessions did I not contemne at thy commaund If thou didest iudge anie thing to be giuen to the poore I was readie yf thou didest affirme anie thing to be bestowed I differd it not If thou didest complaine that anie thing was wanting to the Monkes or Clerkes I supplied it Thou didest asseuer almes deeds to be eternall and of them none to be more fruitfull then what was bestowed on monasteries and Churches whereby the seruants of God are maytained and the remainder distributed to the poore O the excellencie of almes O worthy ransom of the Soule O wholesom remedie of our sinnes which hanging at the bosom of a wanton Tibbe stinkes of muske which adornes her prettie eares which braceth her delicate bedie in silke and purple Js this the fruit of my almes Father is the effect of my desire and thy promise Psal 49. 18. What wilt thou answere to this complaint of my father I know I know when thou sawest a theefe thou didest not runne with him neyther didest thou take part with adulterers Thou hast Tim. 4. 2. argued thou hast beseeched thou bast rebuked thy words ar contemned we must come to blowes Here thou hast with thee the â—V enerable father Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester and the most reuerend Prelat Oswald of Worcester To you three I committ this busines and commaund that by episcopall censure and my regall authoritie the lewd liuers be cast out of the Churches and those that liue soberly introduced XVI THEREFORE saint DVNSTAN and the other holy Bishops ETHELWOLD and OSWALD being of them selues prompt enough to purge the Church of Christ and free it from this 〈◊〉 of vncleannes and their owne propension thereunto being much See the particulars hereof in the lines of Oswald and S. Ethelwold incited with this wonderfull zeale of the King neuer ceased vntill hauing expelled the secular Clergie-men out of Winchester and â—â—cester and other Churches they introduced the Benedictine Monkes in their steed vnto whom those seates anciently and truly belonged O then truly blessâ—â— church of the English fayth Alured of Rhâ—â—â—â— De reg Angl. which the integriâ—e of innumerable Monkes and Virgins did adorne which the deuotion of the poeple the sobrietie of the souldiers the equitie of the Judges the fruitfullnes of the earth did make to reioyce The most blessed King did triumphe with a pious ioy that in his time nature had sound the true order of all things when man to God the earth to man and the heauens to the earth did performe their duties with iustice fruit and temperance But the Clerkes and secular Canons thus cast out of the Churches went poasting to the King and demaunded iudgement and iustice for them selues in this expulsion wherein they thought they had receaued great wrong The matter was referred to the hearing of S. DVNSTAN the Metropolitan who iudged their petition to be iust and reasonable Thefore by his authoritie a Synod of all the A Synod held at Winchester Peeres and Bishops of the realme was assembled at Winchester in the presence both of the King and Queene to determine the complaints of this affayre Manie pleas were brought in on both sides all which by the vnshaken constancie and found reasons of DVNSTAN were destroyed who resolutly affirmed that the secular Clergie which through lewdnes of life was fallen from the order of Ecclesiasticall discipline could not iustly chalenge anie part of that which was giuen to the Churches in behalf of such only as liued according to the rules of good life and conuersation Wherevppon the whole controuersie being omitted the King and manie of the Peeres much moued to pittie by the prayers and petitions of the Clerkes interposed them selues and made intercession to saint DVNSTAN to spare them for this time and restore them to their Churches hauing now vnderstood how they should be handled yf they did not amend their liues Then DVNSTAN was silent and plodding with him self what was best to be done in this busines all the whole companie stood in silence and suspense to heare his answere Behould a strange thing when suddenly to the great astonishment of them all a voycâ— came from the Crucifix that hung in the same roome that sayd It shall not be done Jt shall not be done yee haue iudged well yee would change not well The King and all the assistants being much amazed and terrified hereat saint DVNSTAN inferd Brethren what more will yee haue God hath pronounced the sentence and decided the whole controuersie By this meanes all yeelded to the voyce of heauen the secular Clerkes being depriued of their pretensions durst attempt no further appeale and the Monkes gaue humble thankes vnto allmightie God who had soe miraculously maintayned them in the quiet possession of their owne right XVII NEVERTHELESSE in successe of time the children and bastards of these Clergiemen attempted once more to recouer the This happened in the raigue of King Ethelred an 979. goods and benefices of their sacrilegious fathers and to this end with a summe of money they suborned a famous Oratour called Berneline to vndertake the defence of their cause and with the force of his eloquent tongue to perswade saint DVNSTAN to restore the goods of their Progenitours vnto them Therefore a troupe of this vnhappie offspring being gathered togeather they sett vppon DVNSTAN and the King at a Village called Clane where their rhetoricall Aduocate in whom was the greatest hope of their victorie very elegantly alleaged his reasons in their behalf with all the tropes and figures he could inuent To whom saint DVNSTAN with a smiling graue countenance briefly answered Doe not yee know that this controuersie hath long since been ended by the mouth of Allmightie God And therefore ought no more to be called in question Hitherunto I haue endeauoured to assist the Church with all the litle force I had and now old age and labours haue soe exhausted my whole strength that I desire to end that small remnant of life which remaynes in peace and traquillitie I laboured while I was able and now I being not fitt to dispute and contest in controuersies anie longer I wholly The Monks cause againe confirmed by miracle committ the cause of the Church to the protection of allmightie God who vndoubtedly will defend it from all vnlawfull and vniust assaults At these words that part of the chamber-floore where the Aduocat and his Clients stood fell downe suddenly
cannot come this day to the desired place yee inuite mee The Saincts finding his hindrance reasonable bad him be readie prouided against the saturday following to enioy their companie sing with them Holy Holy Holy for euer DVNSTAN promised he would and those glorious spirits vanished out of his sight A holy Priest named Elfgar was at the same The witnes of his vision time made participant of this heauenly vision who afterwards became a faythfull witnes thereof vnto the world XXII THEREFORE S. DVNSTAN acknowledging that the time of his death was at hand and being secure of his eternall happines piously reioyced in our Lord and was replenished with a spicituall mirth towards all men And now the hower of the diuine office was come when the holy Bishop went ioyfully to the Aultar to sacrifice the Sonne of God to his eternall Father The Church was filled with a greater multitude of poeple then euer drawne thither by I know not what instinct as it were to heare some strange newes that had not been spoken off before Therefore the Ghospell at Masse being sung the Bishop went to preache vnto the The excellencie of his â—ast sermon poeple when the holy Ghost gouerning his heart and tongue he spoke more excellently then euer he had done before Then returning to the aultar he finished that dreadfull sacrifice and being come to the Benediction at the end of Masse which by bishops is more solemnly giuen he went againe into the pulpit where soe admirably he treated of the reall presence of the future resurrection of our bodies of the ioies of euerlasting life that one vnacquainted The reall presence with him before would haue iudged those words to haue proceded from the mouth of an Angell This done he returned to the aultar and solemnly gaue the poeple his benediction But being much wounded in his mind with a pious feare lest his dearest friends and children being strucken with the sudden blow of his death should grieue more vehemently then they would being forewarned of that dolefull separation to the great admiration of all he went the third time to the poeple WheÌ„ he noe sooner opened The wonderfull brightnes of his face his mouth to speake but like an other Moyses his face shined with such glittering beames of glorie that not one of all that huge assemblie was able to fixe his sight vppon him The inestimable sweetnes and ioy that then possessed the hearts of the assistants noe penne is able to describe But when the Seruant of God began to discouer the day of his death then all that mirth was turned to mourning and such mourning that DVNSTAN him self who was now destined to euerlasting ioies being mooued with naturall pittie and compassion seemed to beare a part in that dolefull consort But vsing violence to him self weeping he endeauoured to comfort the weeping affirming that they ought not to be sorow full for his departure whom noe labour or payâ—e but eternall rest and glorie would receaue and noe man that is grounded in the roote of true charitie should more esteeme his owne priuate and temporall comoditie then the eternall benefitt of his neighbour And allbeit he were absent from them in bodie yet The spirituall presence of the Saincts in spirit he would be allwaies present to helpe and ayde them with his prayers Hauing spoken to this purpose he recommenced them all to CHRIST and left them vnwilling to be depriued of the sight of his glorious countenance XXIII THE same day after dinner accompanied with a venerable troupe of monkes and other his friends he returned to the Church and hauing designed a place for his buriall he commaunded S. Dunstan falâ—eth sick to haue his graue opened And then a cruell sicknes seazing one his holy bodie confined his weake limmes to rest in bed where he lay all the friday following incessantly attending to God and diuine things and inciting all that came about him to adhere to the examples and footstepps of CHRIST-IESVS Thus conquering the strength of his disease with the weapons of a fir me fayth and deuotion he passed ouer that day till the morow which was the last of his labours and first of his desired rest arriued Then the Clergie and poeple flocked about him with a fearfull expectation of the euent which he had foretould of him self And DVNSTAN being most desirous to enter into the ioy of his Lord and hauing strengthened him self with the sacred bodie and bloud of CHRIST ioyfull expected the happie hower foretould in He is miraculously raysed togeather with his bed the foresayd vision When suddenly to the great astonishment of them all by the hidden power of the allmightie Deitie togeather with the bed wherein he lay he was miraculously eleuated three times to the top of the chamber and as often let quietly downe againe Then the holy man behoulding a companie of his amazed monkes and spirituall children about him sayd My most deare brethreÌ„ His last speech the beloued sheepe of my pasture your owne eyes haue beheld whither I am called whither I am going Yee are well acquainted with the path of my footstepps yee know the labour of my life past behould now the consummation thereof lifts me on high Wherefore with the briefe admonition of my dying voyce I exhort and counsell yee that yf yee desire to come whither I am going yee be not flack to apprehend the way that I haue walked in Allmightie God him self who hath directed my iourney to him self direct allsoe your hearts and bodies to fullfill his diuine will in peace And the whole coÌ„panie hauing answered Amen that blessed soule passed His glorious departure out of this world and by a sacred conuoy of heauenly spirits was coÌ„ducted into the heauenly lodgings to enioy the ineffable vision of Iâ—SVS-CHRIST God and man the glorious crowne and euerlasting reward of his labours XXIV THIS glorious Prelate died in the yeare of our Lord 988. His buriall when he had gouerned the Mettopolitan Sea of Canturbury twentie seauen yeares He was buried with greate reuerence and lamentation of his Monkes in the place which him self had designed within the quire before the degrees ascending to the high aultar in CHRISTS-Church Which we doubt not to haue been by him with great affection of pietie soe disposed that lying in bodie before the face of his beloued children whom he had left in the turbulent dangers of the world they might confidently haue recourse to him in thier necessities who in spirit according to his promise made would allwaies be present amongst them And indeed the manie miraculous effects wrought there at his intercession are manifest testimonies hereof Of which we will briefly relate some few only out of such authors as were Manie miraces wrought at his Tombe eye-witnesse of them Fiue woemen and one man receaued their sight as they prayed at his tomb others recouered their legges and other parts of their
the hedge But he resolued with him self not to depart without the good leaue and licence of sainct DVNSTAN which out of his deceaued mind he falsely hoped for Therefore hauing setled the purpose of his flight togeather with an other companion whom he had made guiltie of his intention therein he prepared for that vnhappie iourney and taking his opportunitie when the other Monkes rested after dinner be went first to sainct DVNSTANS Tombe where he layd open manie complaints of the iniuries he had receaued from his brethren humbly desiring See yf the Saincts are ignorant of mortall affaires him that he would not take this last refuge of his departure in ill part And going presently out of the Church he mett with a MoÌ„ke of a verie reuerend countenance who with a staffe in his hand hindered his expedition and commaunded him to returne to the Tombe and there to chainge his mind and manner of prayer He returned to the holy tombe renewed his former petition and streight prepared him self for the flight Againe he happens vppon the same Moke who gaue him the same but a much sharper rebuke for that attempt threatning to make him feele his staffe vnlesse he obeyed But he allbeâ—t much affrighted returned to the Tombe where againe he repeated his old song came back to the Church-doore and finding the Monke his opponent to be gone he thought that now he was right and therefore hastened towards the monasterie gate to depart But there he mett with the same Monke againe who now the third time stayed his euill-intended iourney and reuealing him self to be DVNSTAN the Archbishop and carefull prouisour of that place he not only with words chastised him S. Dunstan beateth back a fâ—gitiue monke as a light fugitiue of his vowes and religion but allsoe with manie sore blowes layd vppon his head back and sides he made him seele the piously cruell reuenge of his staffe and presently vanished out of his fight The poore Monke who out of weakenes could now nether goe nor stand was carried by his brethren into the Infiâ—marie where his griefes grew dayly soe vehemently vppon him that the Monkes despayring of his health began with prayers to recommend his departing soule to God and his saincts In which hauing recited the seauen Penitentiall Psalmes and being come to these words in the Litanies Sancte DVNSTANE intercede pro anima cius which out of their deuotion to the holy Sainct they repeated the Prayer to Saincts profitable sick man began to be better to looke vppon the assistants with more liuely tokens of life â—nd hauing sent for Henry the Priour of the monasterie he made knowne vnto him the whole manner of this storie of his intended flight and how and by whom he was hindered affirming that now he was greeuously sorrowfull repentant for his fault from which he humbly desired to be released by the power of his priestly absolution Which done finding his conscience eased from the guilt and burden of sinne he departed ioyfully Confession o◠〈◊〉 oâ— a Priest out of this life The Priour relating all these things afterwards to the monkes behould he that was guiltie of this flight of whom no man knew anie thing nor he him himself hitherunto what had passed between Edward and S. DVNSTAN fell prostrate before the whole Conuent and with teares trickling downe his cheekes ingenuously confessed his fault that he had allsoe been consenting to the others desire of flight And the Authour of this storie allsoe is a witnes beyond all exception since he relates a thing which him self both saw and heard XXIX MANIE other miracles are reported by verie graue Authours to haue beene wrought by the merits of this glorious Sainct Of the träslation of S. Dunstan both during his life and after his death which fearing to be ouer teadious I omitt Only I will admonish my good readers yf perchance they light vppon those fabulous writings which affirme the sacred reliques of Sainct DVNSTAN to haue been translated froÌ„ Canturbury to Glastenbury in the yeare of our Lord 1012 and about the fower and twentith yeare after his death that they suffer not them selues to be easily deceaued For Eadmer a man most worthie of credit and one very familiar with Sainct ANSELME Archbishop of Canturbury doth vtterly hisse out that fiction from the schoole of true historie and cleerly sheweth that he being a boy by LANFRANK Archbishop Gunduphe Bishop of Rochester Scotland Abbot of Sainct AVGVSTINES in Canturbury in presence of the Conuents of both those Monasteries and an infinite multitude of all order sexe and condition that sacred bodie was translated out of the auncient Tombe in which it was found with the mitre ring palle and other pontificall ornaments with a plate of lead and a writing which testified that it was Sainct DVNSTANS bodie into the new Church newly built by blessed LANFRANK Moreouer a few yeares Sec. 10. cap. 7. before I was borne sayth Nicholas Harpsfield that is the yeare 1508. William Warham then Archbishop of Canturbury caused this tombe allsoe to be opened when the head and all the bones were found as allsoe the leaden plate spoken off before All which manie besides the Archbishop men famous for dignitie and learning had the happines to behould and reuerence And in the perpetuall testimonie and memory hereof by three publick Notaries John Barreâ— John Colman and Willian Potkins the matâ—er was written testified and subsigned And the letters of the Archhishop to the Abbot and monkes of Glastenbury who against soe great and soe certaine proofes bragged that with them reposed the reliques of Sainct DVâ—STAN and not at Canturbury are yet extant to be seene to the vtter disproofe of that vaine assertion XXX To conclude at length the life of this most glorious The Conclusion Prelate vnshaken columne of the English Church incomparable restorer of our Ecclesiasticall and monasticall discipline worthy Pillar and ornament of the Benedictine Order vndaunted Tamer of vices and most zealous Aduancer of vertue religion and iustice I thinke I can wish noe greater happines to the Christian world then that at this day it were adorned with manie such Bishops as Sainct DVNSTAN and manie such Princes as the noble EDGAR was that soe the Spouse of Christ the Church might be purged from all spott of vncleannes and Kingdoms gouerned with true equitie and iustice in the waies of all pietie fayth and religion But alas where is that Bishop now that dare attempt to rebuke or curbe the vices of a king or a Prince as DVNSTAN did And where is that king that being iustly repreheÌ„ded will huÌ„ble him self as our EDGAR did Surely the zeale coÌ„staÌ„cie of this admirable Bishop in curbing of vice was excelleÌ„t and the humilitie of this noble king in obeying the reprehension of the Church was most memorable God of his infinite goodnes graunt grace vnto the spirituall and temporall gouernours of his Church to imitate
the worthie examples of them both soe to rule the flock of CHRIST committed to their charge that they may attaine to the euerlasting happines which these enioy in heauen Amen The life of Sainct DVNSTAN is written by Osberne a monke of Canturbury who florished in the yeare 1020. Surius recites it in his 5. tome Out of which and NICOLAS HARPSFIELD saec 10. cap. 3. 6. 7. we haue chiefly gathered this whole historie of his life The Roman martirologe maks mention of him And not loÌ„g after his death Canutus King of England in a famous sinod at winchester ordayned amongst other things that the memorie of Sainst DVNSTAN should be yearly celebrated in the English Church as it is in the Sarum Berniarie But in an auncient manuscript Breâ—iary of Sainct BENEDICTS Order J find the seast of his holy deposition celebrated the 19. of May with an office of twelue tessons Baronius tom 10. Trithemius in his worke of the illustrious men of Sainct BENEDICTS Order lib. 3. cap. 221. lib. 4. cap. 100. william Malmesbury de gest reg Ang. l. 2. and more amply de gest Pont. lib. 1. and ali our English writers doe worthyly speake his prayses And glorious mention is made of him in the lines of S. Edward king and martir march the 18. of Sainct ELPHFGVS Archbishop and martir Aprill the 19. and elsewhere The life of S. ETHELBERT King and Martir MAY. 20 Written by IoaÌ„nes Anglicus ETHELBERT sonne to Etheldred king of the East-Angles from his verie infancie gaue worthy signes of great towardlines and vertue which in riper yeares he brought to an higher degree of The exercises of his yout h. Christian perfection Coming to yeares of discretion he was sett to schoole wherein he not only profitted much in learning but allsoe auoyding all the fond allurements and vaine pleasures of the world contrarie to the custom of children nobly borne he spent his greatest endeauours in dayly prayers giuing of almes and other vertuous workes of Christian pietie excelling all his equalls in yeares as farre in vertue and learning as in the royaltie of his bloud for when they were sweating in the dustie exercises of their youthfull games ETHELBERT was deuoutly weeping in the Church He is made King of the â—â—st-Angleâ— at his prayers At length death hauing robbed his father of the cares of this world ETHELBERT succeeded in the gouernement of the Kingdome when it was rare to behould with what prudent counsell mercifull iustice meeke iudgement and all other vertues beloÌ„ging to a good Prince he ruled his subiects liuelily expressing both in word worke and example that by how much the more a man is exalted to the height of dignitie by â—oe much he ought to beare a mind more submissiue and courteous vnto all whereby he wonne a wonderfull and singular grace in the hearts of his nobles and people To his mother the Queene he allwaies dutifull loue and respect as vnto his gouernesse and whatsoeuer was pleasing to her desire stood euer with his good liking II. IN THE meane time allbeit of him self he were wholly bent His Nobles perswade â—im to Martie to embrace perpetuall chastitie soe naturall a propension he had to the loue of all vertue yet being earnestly perswaded by the vrgent prayers of his Nobilitie lest otherwise being destitute of an heyre his Kingdom might fall into some danger he yeelded to their desires and gaue his mind to mariage Then the name and fame of one Seledrid only daughter to a Prince rich and potent in the south part of England to whom after her fathers death that Kingdom fell for a dowrie being in the mouthes of all men her our noble ETHELBERT was perswaded to take to wife thereby to ioyne the possession of that principalitie vnto his owne Kingdom But he refused to listen to this counsell affirming that Egeon her father allbeit he were not vnnoble yet he was reported to haue been allwaies much inclined to guile deceipt part whereof sayd he he hath in former time practised against my father At length after a long deliberation he made choise of Alfred daughter to Offa King of the Mercians and the more strictly to oblige her and her father vnto him this vertuous Prince went him self with a He taketh his iourney into Mercia small garde of his owne countrey into Mercia or Midle-England to fetch her in pompe from her fathers court But at his very entrance into this iourney he was terrified with manie strange prodigies and accidents as soe manie fatall signes of his death to which he hastened Ascending on horseback the earth was shaken vnder him and all the cleernes of the day was suddenly darkened with a thick clowd in which appeared a pillar of light breaking out by times that only gaue him light to see his way at length that being buriâ—d in those sad â—lowdes the sunne it self seemed to haue forgotten his office of lighting the world becoming dreadfully darke and black to the sight of him and his companie Where manie being much amazed deuined strangely what those signes might portend only the holy King ETHELBERT in whose heart was engraffed soe pious a candour of nature that he constered all sinister suspicions of deceit in the best sence and constantly perseuered in his proposed A free coÌ„science is voyd of feare iourney with a merrie heart and speech comforting and encouraging his companie to let a firme confidence in the mercie and goodnes of allmightie God banish out of their hearts all vaine feare of worldly dangers And falling downe on his knees amongst them all he made his prayer to our Lord and presently the sunne dispersed those darke cloudes and gaue them perfect light againe III. THEREFORE he arriued safely into Mercia and to the court of King Offa at a place in Hâ—refordshire called Sutton-Wallis where he was at first most courteously and royally entertayned by Offa. But the night following holy ETHELBERT was much terrified and troubled in his sleepe with manie strange dreames and visions presaging his ensuing death as allsoe the immortall glory which should follow This King Offa had a wife called Quendred who hearing her daughter Alfrid highly extolling the See the enuy of wicked woemaÌ„ nobles dotes vertues and riches of Ethelbert and his Kingdome and preferring them before her owne fathers was presently wounded to the heart with the sharpe thornes of a iealous enuie with which she laboured soe cruelly that she could not be deliuered but by the death of King ETHELBERT and the possession of his kingdom Therefore going presently to King Offa her husband she dealt earnestly with him to further her damnable proiect in murdering that innocent Prince For behould sayd she how God hath deliuered your enemie into your hands that by his death his kingdom may passe vnto the right and title of you and your successors In summe whether Offa consented to her deuilish purpose as some Authours say he did or whether he were
vtterly against it as others affirme or whether at length he did winke at her wicked course and seeme to be ignorant of her mischieuous practise as manie asseuer howsoeuer I say it came to passe certaine it is that betweene them was shewne an example of as detestable perfidiousnes as anie that is recorded in historie For breaking the sacred lawes not only of hospitalitie but allsoe of all goodnes and pietie they caused holy king ETHELBERT to be cruelly murdered in king Offas owne house by the bloudie hands of one winebert who had been brought vp a seruant Ethelbert cruelly murdered vnder Sainct ETHELBERTS father and now to recompence his former fauours receaued became the cruell Minister of his death being drawne thereunto with the couetous desire of reward To what wickednes doeth not the vnsatiable hunger of gould compell mortall hearts This false winebert brought holy ETHELBERT from his faythfull companie into a priuate roome who like an innocent lambe suspecting noe harme at all went securely with him Then hauing bound him fast with a most cruell blow he strake off his head who with his hands and eyes lifted vp towards heauen yeelded vp his soule soe pure in innocencie and soe glorious with martirdom into the hands of his deare creatour and redeemer the twentith day of May. Which being perceaued by his intended spouse Alfrid with a mind quite ouerthrowne with sorrow to see her royall hope soe suddenly dasht she went forth to his companie that without doores expected the coming of their beloued Master and with a lamentable noyse related the crueltie of this tragicall scene Who bearing this sorrowfull newes and being not able to reuenge his death returned in dolefull manner into their downe countrey being compelled insteed of a wedding-song to sing an Epitaphe for the losse of their holy King Then Alfrid renewing her complaints Alfrid becometh a Nunne Jngulphus in hist Croyland foretould manie miseries to her Mother which afterwards fell out accordingly And she her self refusing to admitt anie other mortall woers consecrated her virginitie to her immortall spouse CHRIST-IESVS and in the fennes of Crowland she tooke the habit of a Nunne and lead a solitarie liâ—e vnder the holy rule of saint BENEDICT for the space of fortie yeares after But King Offa her father which much encreased the suspition that he had been allsoe consenting to saint ETHELBERTS death presently lead his armie into the prouince of the East-Angles soe suddenly depriued of their King and by force of armes subdued it to his owne dominion IV. THE bodie of this holy King thus traiterously slaine was by the commaund of Offa committed to an ignoble buriall in the bankes of the riuer Lugge at a place now called Marden Whither as those cruell ministers carried it in great scorne it was found to be soe light as if it had been allreadie ennobled with the dotes of heauenly glory But the allmightie Goodnes euer zealous of his seruants suffered not the holy reliques of this Sainct to be buried in obliuion in that base place but miraculously testified his vertue and pietie to the world For the night following was made glorious with a heauenly A light appeareth ouer his graâ—e light that appeared ouer the graue of this holy martir to the great astonishment and terrour of the countrey adioyning And the third night after his sacred Martirdom saint ETHELBERT appeared in a vision to a simple man thereabouts and commaunded him to transport his bodie to the monasterie built on the bankes of the riuer Wye Which was faythfully performed and by the way a blind man was restored to sight by the merits of the holy Sainct It was then buried in a place aunciently called Ferne-wood where now stands the towne of Hereford And ouer his holy sepulcher for the space of manie yeares glittered euery night a heauenly splendour to shew of how great merit his blessed soule was in the sight of Allmightie God V. BVT King Offâ— greatly terrified with these miracles and the A Church dedicated to S-Ethel bert guilt of his owne conscience became wonderfull penitent for his former life and making his sonne Egfrid a King with him self in great deuotion went to Rome the better to expiate his foule and bloudie deeds past At Rome following the zeale and example of INAS King of the West-Saxons he made his Kingdome subiect to a Tribute then called Peter-pence afterwards Rom-scot After his retune into England for the greater satisfaction of his sinnes at a place in Hartfordshire then called Holmehurst now saint ALBANS he built a magnificent Monastery in honour of the worthy Protomartir of great Britaine saint ALBANE whose sacred reliques See more in the life of S Albane Iune 22. after long lying hid came miraculously to light about the same time which was in the yeare of our Lord 795. He allsoe endowed the same Monastery with manie lands and rich reuenewes for the maintenance of a goodly Conuent of aboue an hundred Monkes of the holy Order of saint BENEDICT Allsoe for a further testimonie of his penance he gaue the tenth of all his goods vnto the Church and the poore He founded allso the Benedictine Abbey of Bathe and in Warwickshire he built a Church where the adioyning towne from it and him beareth the name of Off-Church But after the death of King Offâ— which was in the yeare of our Lord 797. Milfrid a pettie King of the Mericans moued with the continuall and dayly miracles wrought at saint ETHELBERTS Tombe gaue infinite treasure thereunto and built a famous Church of stone to his honour which remayneth to this day in Hereford by the name of saint ETHELBERTS Church and is the Cathedrall of that cittie S. Ethelberts well And then that place was first made a Bishops-sea But out of the place where the holy bodie of saint ETHELBERT had layne before issued forth a fountaine of most cleere water called saint ETHELBERTS well ouer which now stands a Church which without doubt was built in honour of this holy martirs buriall there For it must needes be some strange motiue that made men build a Church in that place which is within tenne yards of the riuer Lugge which at euerie floud ouerflowes it soe that it cannot be come at but by boate The well I haue seene my self it is of a most pure water and much esteemed of all good Christians thereabouts In which one thing to this day is most strange and miraculous that when the riuer Lugge adioyning ouerflowes his bankes and that within Note a strange thing the forsayd Church it is knee-deepe and more of that muddie-red water this Well of saint ETHELBERT allbeit it be quite â—uerâ—lowne yet it remaynes most pure and cleere amidst those â—roubled waters vnworthy to be mingled with the puritie thereof And this I haue heard constantly and faythfully affirmed by manie of the Inhabitants thereabouts who are not ashamed to acknowledge a miracle done by the meritts of
the Archbishop of Arles in France wherein he commended saine AVGVSTINE and his fellowes to be by his charitie courteously receaued and assisted in what was necessarie for that holy enterprise III. SAINCT AVGVSTINE and his companie being strengthened and encouraged with these pious lines of the holy Pope ioyfully vndertooke the iourney which before they soe greatly feared But coming to Angeow in France being there much derided and scoffed at by the rude poeple of the Village and especially the woemen for their poore habits and humble manner of cariage they were compelled one night to take a hard lodging vnder a tree in the open view of the heauens where allmightie God who is neuer forgetfull of his seruants by the prayers of S. AVGVSTINE sent them a cleere fountaine of water which miraculously sprung out of the earth to quench the extremitie of their thirst Refreshed wherewith they sung the prayses of allmightie God all that night ouer whom in the A pillar of light ouer the Saincts meane time appeared a heauenly splendour which droue away the horrid shades of the night to the great comfort of his seruants and confused amazement of those rusticks that flocked thither the next morning ashamed and sorrowfull for their fault in soe reiecting Gods seruants Neere vnto the fountaine S. AVGVSTINE writt these words in the earth Here lodged Augustine the seruant of the seruants of A Church buâ—â— to S Augustine God whom the Blessed Pope Gregorie sent to conuert the Englishmen Whereby the poeple vnderstood who they were and the cause of their iourney greatly repenting for their insolencie shewed towards them And in the same place afterwards a church was built in memorie of S. AVGVSTINE into which entrance was forbbidden to all woemen because their sexe had most of all iniured the holy man in that place But a rich Matrone that by force as it were gott into that Church presuming on her owne guiltlessnes towards the Sainct by the miraculous and sudden losse of her owne life taught all men to beleeue who before would beleeue noe man she that thought with her presumption to ouercome all by her example gaue a plaine interdict to all neuer to presume the like But now let vs follow our diuine Legate AVGVSTINE entring the Ocean towards England IV. HAVING performed therefore all this long iourney by land on foote he now sayles into the Ocean world of great Britaine till he arriued with his fellowes to the number of fortie at the Iland of Kent called Tanet which may worthily triumphe that it was the first that receaued CHRIST in his legats And in the rock that S. AVGVSTINE first sett his foote he left the impression of his steppes as in a peece of waxe which place was of great deuotion manie yeares after Hauing taken interpreters out of France according to the direction of saint GREGORIE they marched into the land carrying a siluer Crosse for their ensigne with the Image of our Sauiour painted in a table finging litanies as they went as well for their owne health as for the saluation of those they came to instruct Behould here wretched England in what manner thy first Apostles brought thee the first tidings of the true Ghospell vnder the sacred banner of CHRISTS holy An Apostrophe to England Crosse and Image which since thou hast soe oftentimes broken and defaced out of thy dominions and which at this present by the greatest part of thy Inhabitants is held in soe great scorne and contempt that they will shew more iniurie thereunto then to the picture of the poorest of their owne auncestors Canst thou thinke of this and not be ashamed at thy owne madnes What hope canst thou haue of remayning still in the same truth of Christian doctrine which they planted in thy land since thou hast not only rooted out of thy bowells the sacred enfignes vnder which they brought thee the truth but allsoe art become a cruell enemie to men of the same profession as were thy first Apostles and Preachers How canst thou glorie with the Apostle PAVL in CHRIST crucified since soe traiter ously thou destroyest the sacred Image of CHRIST crucified How canst thou hope to be saued by CHRIST crucified the image of whose memorie thou seeketh to blott out of thy dominions Returne returne at length out of thy blindnes and reforme thy self to the life and manners of thy glorious Apostle saint AVGVSTINE who now marching with his companie in the Catholick manner of procession aforesayd expects to haue audience of the King of Kent then called ETHELBERT who kept his court at Ethelbert King of Kent Canturbury the head cittie of that countrey and who had dominion ouer all the land from thence to the riuer Humber in the North. This King had married a daughter of the royall blond of Erance called Bâ—rtha who coming of Christian parents was giuen to him in mariage on condition to be let remayne in the profession of Christianitie And this good Queene was now as a gate to these menssengers of CHRIST to lay open their way to the King V. THEREFORE saint AVGVSTYNE sent fitt messengers vnto King ETHELBERT to let him vnderstand that he and his fellowes were Augustine sendeth to Ethelberts come from Rome sent by the vniuersall Pastour of the Church to bring the happines of health and saluation to him and his poeple yf they would but yeeld to those blessed tidings The King in whom the royaltie of a courteous mind seemed by nature to be incorporate commanÌ„ded them to expect him in the same I le of Tanâ—t and gaue order in the meane time to haue them prouided with all necessarie sustenance and entertaynment And after some few daies he went him self in person to the Iland to heare what newes those strangers brought VVhere sitting in the open ayre without anie other canopie of estate but the heauens be caused AVGVSTINE and his fellowes to be brought before him for led with a vaine and auncient superstition he had purposely refused to let them come to him in anie house lest they should deceaue him with witchcraft But they came not to charme him with anie such deuilish art but to winne him being allreadie charmed and blinded therewith to Our first Apostles caried a Crosse the diuine knowledge of allmightie God carrying a siluer Crosse and picture of CHRIST for their standard and singing Litanies for the saluation of him and his poeple Then after manie wishes of health and happines to the King AVGVSTINE in a long speech discouered vnto him the misteries of CHRISTS holy Ghospell and the euerlasting ioyes that followed those that truly beleeued therein To whom King ETHELBERT answered that indeed their words and promises were verie fayre but because to him they seemed to be Ethelberts answere to Augustine new and vncertaine he could not soe suddenly leaue his auncient customs and ceremonies soe long before obserued in his countrey to yeeld his consent vnto their nouelties
more stately manner retaynes the name of christs-CHRISTS-Church and is the mother and Metropolitan of all England IX BVT our new Apostolicall Archbishop vehemently desiring to reioyce holy Pope GREGORY with the newes of his happie successe S. Augustine consulteth Pope Gregorie presently after his returne from Arelas sent his holy fellow-Monkes and Preachers LAVRENCE and PETER to Rome to make relation to saint GREGORIE that the English nation had admitted the fayth of CHRIST and that he was made Bishop thereof desiring allsoe to haue his prudent counsell in manie difficulties that did arise in the plantation of that new Church The ioy that the holy Pope receaued with the breath of this newes I leaue to our hearts to imagine for doubtlesse it was such that noe tongue nor penne can expresse it Then he sent back with these holy legats more preachers and labourers into the new vineyard of our Lord of whom the chiefest were these holy Benedictine Monkes Mellitus Justus Paulinus and Ruffinianus and by them all things necessarie for the diuine seruice holy vessells chalices aultar-cloathes ornaments for the Church Priestly robes and vestements manie holy reliques of the Apostles and martirs and great store of bookes He allsoe dispatched letters to saint AVGVSTINE in which he signifieth the sending of the Palle vnto him insinuating withall after what manner he ought to ordaine Bishops in England Heare his Epistle X. GREGORIE Seruant of the Seruants of God to his most reuerend Pope Gregoâ—â—e â—eâ—terâ— to S. August and most holy Brother Augustine Bishop Allthough it is certaine that the vnspeakable rewards of the eternall Kingdom are rescrued for those that labour â—or allmightie God it behooues vs neuerthelesse to bestow on such the benefitts of honour that out of this recompence they may be encouraged to endeauour more abundantly in the exercise of their spirituall labour And because the new Church of the English by the peculiar bountie of our Lord and thy industrie is brought to the grace of allmightie God we graunt to thee there the vse of the Palle in the performance of the solemnities of Masse only soe that thou maiest ordaine twelue Bishops in diuers places all to be subiect The auncient vse of the Palle to thy iurisaiction because the Bishop of the Cittie of London ought allwaies hereafter to be consecrated by his proper Sinod and receaue the Palle from this holy and Apostolique Sca to which by the authoritie of God J serue But to the Cittie of Yorke we will thee to send a Bishop whom thou shalt thinke fitt to ordaine only soe that if that cittie with the countrey adioyning â—hall receaue the word of God he may allsoe ordaine twelue Bishops and enioy the dignitie of a Metropolitan because to him allsoe by the helpe of God yf our life last we resolue to giue the Palle whom notwithstanding we will haue to be subiect to the disposition of thy Fraternitie But after thy death August hath iurisdiction ouer all England let him soe preside ouer the Bishops he hath odayned that by noe meanes he be subiect to the Bishop of London But let this distinction be between the bishop of London and Yorke that he be accompted the first who was first ordered And with common counsell and peaceable dealing let them vnanimously dispose those things which are to be handled for the zeale of Christ let them iudge rightly and not performe their iudgements with disagreeing minds But let thy Brotherhood haue iurisdiction not only ouer the bishops by thee ordayned those ordayned by the bihop of Yorke but allsoe ouer all the bishops and Priests of Britaine by the authoritie of God and our Lord Iesus-Christ To the end that from the tongue and life of thy Sainctitie they may learne the forme both of rightly beleeuing and well liuing that executing their office with true fayth and good manners they may when our Lord will attaine to the heauenly Kingdom God keepe thee in health most reuerend brother Giuen the tenth of the Calends of July in the ninteenth yeare of the raigne of our most pious Emperour Mauritius Tiberius XI BY this Epistle it appeases how our holy Apostle AVGVSTINE What the Archbishops Palle is and meaneth receaued the dignitie of metropolitan Archbishop and Primate of of all England and the Palle the chiefe armes of that dignitie vsed in auncient times to be sent from the Roman Sea to all Archbishops But this Palle to satisfie the ignorant is a little poore cloath in breadth not exceeding three fingers which Archbishops going to the aultar putt about their necks after all other Pontificall ornaments it hath two labels hanging downe before and behind adorned with little black crosses all rude and vnpolisht made of the verie wooll as it comes from the sheepes back without anie other artificiall colour and this being first cast into the tombe of saint PETER the Pope sends to those that are designed to be Archbishops This auncient ceremonie fignified chiefely two things The first that the Bishop shining and glittering at masse in glorious robes adorned with gould gemmes looking vppon the pouertie of this cloath should learne not to grow insolent with the greatnes of his dignitie but cast off all high-aspiring spiritts The other that he should diligently and exactly obserue the sâ—me fayth which S. PETER taught at Rome in whose tombe this cloath was throwne and that which the other Bishops of the same sea haue followed This much by the way be sayd of the Palle XII BVT our foresayd holy legats being departed from Rome the blessed Pope GREGORIE sent letters after them worthie of memorie by which he manifestly she weth with what an industrious affectionate zeale he was carried towards the saluation of our couÌ„trey Oâ—her letters of S. Gregory writing in this manner GREGORIE seruant of the seruants of God to Mellitus Abbot After the departure of our Congregation which is with thee we were held greatly in suspense because we chaunced to heare nothing of the prosperitie of your iourney Therefore when allmightie God shall haue brought yee safe to the moct reuerend man Augustine our brother tell him that I haue long discussed with my self concerning the cause of the English and am now resolued that the Temples of the Idols ought not The vse of holy water in oâ—â— first Apostles time to be destroyed in that countrey but let the Idols them selues only be demolisht Let holy water be made and sprinkled in those Temples let altars be built and reliques placed therein because if those Temples be fittly built it is necessarie that they be chainged from the worship of deuils to the seruice of the true God that whilst the poeple them selues seeing their self same Temples vndestroyed may depose out of their hearts all errour and acknowledging and adoring the true God may more familliarly frequent their accustomed places And because their custom is to kill manie oxen in sacrifice to their God in this
matter allsoe some solemnitie must be chainged that on the day of the dedication or the feasts of the Saincts whose reliques rest there they build them selues boothes and harbours of boughs about the same Church soe chainged from a prophane Temple and with religious banquets obserue the solemnitie therein not sacrificing beastes to the â—â—uill but to the prayse of God killing them for their owne eating and giuing thankes to the Giuer of all things for their plentie For doubtlesse it is impossible at once to cutt of all things from such hard minds because he that endeauoureth to clime to the highest place must ascend by paces and degrees and not by leapes c. These things therefore it behooueth thy charitie to intimate to our foresayd Brother that being present there in person he may consider how to dispose all things God keepe thee safe most beloued sonne Giuen c. XIII ALLSOE at the same time this boly Pope sent letters S. Augustine famous for great miracles to saint AVGVSTINE him self touching the miracles which he had vnderstood were wrought by his meanes in which he exhorteth him in these words I know most deare Brother that allmightie God sheweth great miracles by thy Charitie in that nation which he hath disposed to be elected Whence it is necessarie that thou reioyce with feare and feare with ioy for that heauenly guist Thou mayest reioyce indeed because by thy exteriour miracles the soules of the English are drawne to an interiour grace But thou oughtest to feare lest among those signes which are done thy weake mind be raised in presumption of it self and whence it is exteriourly listed vp to honour thence it fall interiourly through vaine glorie For it behooues vs to remember how the disciples when returning with ioy from their preaching thy sayd to their heauenly Master O Lord in Luc. 10. thy name the deuils are allsoe subiect vnto vs They presently heard Reioyce not for this but rather reioyce that your names are written in heauen For they had fixed their minds on a priuate and temporall ioy who reioyced of their miracles but they are recalled from a priuate ioy to a generall from a temporall to an euerlasting gladnes to whom it is sayd Reioyce in this that your names are written in heauen For all the elect doe not worke miracles and yet the names of them all are held written in heauen And the disciples ought to haue noe ioy but of that good which they haue common with all and in which they haue noe end of gladnes Jt remaynes therefore most deare brother that amongst those things which by the power of God thou A remedie against vaine glorie doest outwardly worke thou doe all waies exactly iudge thy self interiourly and curiously vnderstand both who thou art and how great grace is in that nation for whose conuersion thou hast receaued the guifts of working miracles And if at ame time thou remember that eyther by word or worke thou hast offended our Creatour call allwaies those things to thy memorie that the remembrance of thy owne guiltines may keepe downe the rising glorie of thy heart and whatsoeuer thou ether shalt or hast receaued of doing miracles impute it not as giuen to thy self but to them for whose saluation they are bestowed c. XIV MOREOVER the same blessed Pope sent an Epistle allso to King ETHELBERT with manie rich presents endeauouring with temporall honours to glorifie the King to whom by his industrie the knowledge of the Kingdom of heauen was arriued In his letters he giueth thankes to allmightie God for his conuersion admonishing and encouraging him with the example of Constantine the Great to maintayne and aduance the profession of the Christian fayth in his dominions And amongst others he thus exhorteth him to follow the direction and counsell of saint AVGVSâ—Iâ—E Our S. Augustine pray sed by S. Gregory most reuerend Brother and Bishop Augustine being tanght in the Rule of a monasterie replenished with the science of holy scripture indued by the handy-worke of God with good workes you ought willingly to heare deuoutly to performe and carefully to keepe in mind whatsoeuer he doeth admonish you Because yf you heare him in what he speaketh in behalf of allmightie God the same god will sooner heare him making intercession for you For if which God forbid you contemne his words how can allmightie God heare him from you whom you neglect to heare speaking for God With all your heart therefore bind your self with him in the feruour of fayth and helpe his endeauours with the power which God hath giuen you that he may make you partaker of his kingdom whose fayth you cause to be receaued and kept in yours Therefore these and such other writings and Epistles of the most holy and zealous Pope saint GREGORY replenished King ETHELBERT with soe great ioy that he was much more enkindled to the aduancement of the Catholick cause and the desire and loue of heauen Augustine buildeth a Mo nastery to the Apoâ—â—â— XV. BVT Sainct AVGVSTINE when he had placed his Episcopall Sea at Christs Church in Canturbury and made it a perpetuall habitation for him self and his successours he allsoe built a Monasterie by the meanes of King Ethelbert without the walles of the same towne towards the East dedicated to the Princes of the Apostles PETER and PAVL which he adorned with manie guifts and possessions and ordayned it to be the buriall place of him self and all his successor-Bishops as allsoe of the Kings of Kent which Church notwithstanding was not consecrated by saint AVGVSTINE but by S. LAVRENCE his successour The first Abbot of this Monasterie was one PETER a BENEDICTINE Monke whose life you may reade the thirteenth of Ianuary And this Monasterie with the appurtenances was giuen graunted and confirmed to the Benedictine Monkes by the royall charters of King ETHELBERT whereof this is one King Ethelberts Charter to the monastery of S. Peter Paul at Canturbery Iâ— the name of our Lord IESVS-CHRIST be it knowne vnto all men as well present as future that I ETHELBERT by the grace of God King of the English from an Idolater made a Christian by my Euangelicall father AVGVSTINE haue deliuered by the same bishop some part of the land of my owne right situate vnder the east-wall of the Cittie of Canturbury to wit where by the same teacher in CHRIST I haue built a monasterie in honour of the Princes of the Apostles PETER and PAVL and togeather with the same land and all things which belong to the Monastery itself I haue endowed with perpetuall libertie soe that it may not be lawfull nether for me nor anie of my successor-Kings nor for anie other person eyther Ecclesiasticall or secular euer to vsurpe anie thing from thence but let all things be in the free power of the Abbot him self But if anie one shall attempt to diminish or disannull anie part of this our donation by the authoritie
with populous townes and forreigne marchandise most famous for fayre poeple wealth and riches This huge and goodly Iland was long since destined for thee his elect Agent by the diuine prouidence of the mightie creatour of all things who from the beginning hauing made the world perfect in beautie gaue it into the possession of man his creature This nation soe fayre in face but black in soule with the filth of Idolatrie being by thee washed in the waters of Jordan ascendeth wholly pure and white as the Blackmoore woman by Moyses Now to the greater glory of God and thy owne crowne that new pillar of light which led the Israelites out of Egipt being erected in the fayth and Crosse of CHRIST thou leadest vs Heathens out of the Egiptian darknes of infidelitie and out of the shades of death into the true land of promise flowing with milke and honie For to thee as our Apostolicque Captaine the diuine grace of the Ghospell gaue that which was denied to Moyses the lawmaker of the Iewes and that which he could not obtaine in the law thou art found worthy to accomplish in IESVS-CHRIST the End of the law Now out of the spoiles of the fettered Tirant and out of the Kingdom of the captiue spoiler of our soules thou shalt make our God a Kingdom and a poeple of purchase now next to the heauenly Kingdom and those vnspeakable rewards of thy labours this countrey shall be thy perpetuall possession which by thee was purchased and gayned to CHRIST and whose temporall commodities thou hast forsaken thou shalt now possesse the hereditary gaines And being seated in the high towers of Paradise thou 〈…〉 iest as an holy sentinell perpetually watch and defend the whole countrey dedicated to thy honour and glory XXIV AT LENGTH this most victorious Champion of our Lord hauing runne the race of this mortall life in all sainctitie and perfâ—ction His last 〈◊〉 of coÌ„uersation hauing laboured in the conuersioÌ„ of our wretched countrey with continuall and vn wearies diligence care and industrie came to the goale and long desired rewards of the heauenly Kingdom Now our Lord knocking at the gates of his soule with sicknes he willingly opened with great and vnspeakable thanksgiuing Then with a couragious affection of a fatherly loue he exhorted as well the King Queene and princes as the Clergie and poeple allsoe inuiolably to remayne in the feare and seruice of allmightie God to obey the diuine precepts and obseruances proposed and preached vnto them by his Seruants Which done the end of his worldly tempests approched and the bright morning of his eternall ioies appeared and hauing giuen his benediction to the King and confirmed the infancie of his new-borne Church in CHRIST leauing vnto all manie holy pledges of his perpetuall loue and documents of his pious fellowes and disciples in presence of S. LAVRENCE his successour and a populous multitude of poeple he gaue vp his blessed soule into the hands of him that had created 〈◊〉 happy deaâ—â— it for his honour and in the triumphe glorie of the heauenly citizens he was receaued into the euer lasting blisse of all blessednes the 26 day of May about the yeare of our Lord 614. His sacred bodie was first buried without the Church of saint PETER and saint PAVL which me spoke off before and which was not yet finished nor dedicated But soone after it was consecrated by saint LAVRENCE and his bodie was honourably buried in the north Porch thereof where the bodies of the Archbishops his successors were allsoe buryed vntill the place would hould noe more Ouer Sainct AVGVSTINES tombe was written this Epitaphe in proâ—e Here resteth Lord Augustine the first Archbishop of Canturbury who His Epitaphe being in times past sent hither from blessed Gregory bishop of the Roman Cittie sustayned by God with the working of miracles brought King Ethelbert and his coâ—â—trey from the worshipping of Idols to the â—â—yth of Christ and the daies of his office being finished in peace he died the seamâ—â—th of the Calends of Iune the same King raygning XXV THE miracles wrought at is tombe are such soe manie and Miracles at his tombe soe great that they would require a whole volume farre beyond the limits of our purpose Gotzeline the Authour of his life whom we follow maketh mention of verie manie it shall suffice vs to relate one or two briefely When the Danes were outrageous in England the Benedictine Monasterie of saint PETER and S. PAVL without the walles of Canturbury which was afterwards called Sainct Augustines became allsoe a part of their prey But one of them as he endeauoured to steale the cloath that couered S. AVGVSTINES Tombe it stuck soe close to his hands as yf it had been his owne skinne till hauing asked pardon of the Sainct he restored it againe to the place Which miracle cloathed him and manie of his fellowes with the white robes of Christianitie and made them deuoted to sainct AVGVSTINE euer after Canutus King of the Danes and English being Canutus freed from shiprack at sea in imminent danger of shipracke calling vppon saint AVGVSTINE for helpe whose patronage he had oftentimes proued most comfortable the fearfull tempest ceased and he arriued quietly to a secure hauen and coming afterwards to the tombe of his holy Patrone with the royaltie of manie gratefull rewards and prayses of thankes he witnessed the great fauour he had receaued The Speech restored to the Dumbe same benefitt was bestowed vppon manie others in the like case that called to this holy Sainct for ayde A yong gyrle that by I know not what mischance was strucken dumbe when all art of phisicke had been foyled in curing her offering a candle at saint AVGVSTINES tombe and in heart recommending her self to his merits perfectly recouered her speech And the same fauour was shewed to an other of her sexe praying in the same place In a word all manner of diseases were cured at his holy reliques to those that humbly and religiously craued helpe And as to such he was allwaies mercifully indulgent soe those that endeauoured to wrong him his tombe or his Church escaped not the diuine punishment XXVI BVT O England England how farre art thou swerued An Apostrophe to England Thren 4 v. 1. from the religion of this thy first Apostle How is the gould made darke and the best colour chainged of thy first Fayth and charitie in IESVS-CHRIST In times past thou didest learne that Fayth only which is the beginning head and foundation of eternall saluation of those that were Catholick Roman Priests and Monkes whom now thou doest persecute they celebrated the dreadfull solemnities of Masse which now thou abhorrest they honoured and called vppon the Saincts in heauen whom thou despisest they acknowledged the supreme authoritie of the Bishop of the Roman and Apostolicque Sea whence they were sent to deliuer thee out of the blind night of Idolatrie to the bright day of
Ecclesiasticall causes risen which can no longer be left without examination we haue need of learned men to conserre with we exhort the godly and He is sent for to Rome beloued goodnes of thy pietie that as it becomes a deuout maintayner of our holy mother the vniuersall Church thou fayle not to leud obedient deuotion to this our desire but without anie delay send the religious seruant of God Bede the Venerable Priest of thy monastery to the shrines of the Princes of the Apostles Peter and Paul thy louers and protectours and to the sight of my meaunes and by the grace of God and thy holy prayers thou needest not mistrust but that he will returne safely againe vnto thee after the celebration of the foresayd articles by the helpe of God are finished For we hope it will be profitable to all vnder thy charge whatsoeuer by his worth shall be made famous and imparted to the whole Church V. BVT doeth not this greatly redound to the prayse and honour of our saint BEDE that the Roman greatnes should desire his counsell in matter of learning who lay hid in a poore cowle and cloister in the farthest corner of the world Surely William De gest Reg. Ang. l. 1. c. 3. Malmesbury iudged aright when he calls him A man whom one may with more ease admire then worthyly prayse who borne in the furthest corner of the world dazeled all countreies with the lightning of his learning Nay more his writings were of soe reuerend esteeme and authoritie in the Christian world that during his life time first by the ordonance of an English Synod and afterwards the whole Catholick and Apostolick Church approouing it they were read and sung publickly in the Ecclesiasticall office a thing which after the Apostles and their immediate disciples was neuer graunted to anie of the auncient Fathers or Doctours of Gods Church And hence it was to omitt other fabulous Why he is called Venerable stories hereof that both in his life time and after his death he was qualified with the title of VENERABLE BEDE For his homelies being to be read in the Church he yet liuing and a title of the Author to be prefixed before the lessons as the manner is because they could not stile him Sainct Ante obitum nemo Supremaque funera faelix They worthyly adorned him with the name of VENERABLE eyther by reason of the singular grauitie and modestie of his cariage or else because that Pope Sergius in the aboue cited epistle qualified him with that Epithete And the same title grew soe vniuersally then in vse that to this present day he is commonly called thereby and it remaynes still prefixed to all his Homelies which are read or sung in the Church VI. SVCH then was the incomparable learning of this our famous Doctour of England Sainct BEDE who liuing in a Benedictine Six hundred Benedictine Monks in his Monastery Abbey in which were at that time aboue six hundred monkes he not only excelled them all and became a Master to them all but an amazement to the whole Christian world besides But what was BEDE soe eagerly bent to the studies of learning during the time of his life that he neglected the studie of vertue and pietie It can not be sayd For as an auncient authour doeth testifie aâ— his very first entrance into the lists of the sciences togeather with his yeares the grace of spirituall guifts encreased in his soule that with the spirit of wisedom vnderstanding he might receaue allsoe the spirit of the feare of our Lord where with chastising his bodie and bringing it into obedience to his mind he learned to Malmesb de reg lib. 1. cap. 3. possesse the vessell of the flesh in sanctification and honour Furthermore all doubt of the holines of his life is banished from humane thoughts by this irrefragable sentence which the Maiestie of diuine wisedom left to the world In animam maleuolam non introibit sapientia nec habitabit in corpore subdito peccatis Wisedom will not enter into a malitious soule nor dwell in a bodie subiect to sinne Which is not spoken of worldly wisedom that entreth indifferently into the harts of all men and in which oftentimes wicked persons and those that to the last gaspe set noe limits to their wickednes are found to excell according to that of our Sauiour The children of this world are wiser then the children of light But that the Wiseman calls wisedom which auoydes the faynednes of good discipline and which separateth it self from thoughts that are without the true vnderstanding of well-liuing and well-saying Whence it is that Quintilian rightly defined a true Oratour when he sayd Orator est vir bonus dicendi peritus An Oratour is a good man skillfull in speaking Therefore this our Ecclesiasticall Oratour saint BEDE did first purifie his owne conscience that soe he might worthyly attayne to a diuine knowlege to discouer the vnderstanding of the misteries of holy scripture For how could that man be subiect to vice who tasted the most inward marrow of those diuine writings and employed all the thoughts powers of his soule in the continuall explication thereof This his owne words doe proue when he sayth that his expositions Lib. 3. sup Sam yf they brought noe other profitt to the readers at lest they were anayleable to him in this that whilst he applied his whole studie thereunto he sett aside and auoyded the lightnes of the world and all vaine cogitations Therefore this holy man being free from all vice displayed the vayle of the hidden misteries and with a modest and deuout eloquence layd open to the world those diuine secrets which he had learned VII HIS custom was to be by his reading greatly enkindled to Trithem de vir illust l. 3. c. 155. deuotion and compunction which he oftentimes witnessed with bitter teares that flowed from him at his booke And after his reading and studie our pious Doctour betooke him self to his prayers hauing learnt that the way to attayne the knowledge of holy Scripture lay more in the grace of God then his owne forces O man worthy to be honoured of all ages who enriched the treasure of his mind with vertue and prayer and adorned the Christian world with learning Noe man euer saw him idle soe vehemently he burned with the loue of sacred studie and deuotion He had manie famous schollers whom he not only taught by his owne studie and example the secrets of all humane and diuine learning but which is the chiefest made them excellently perfect in religion and holy life He was a man in all things most worthy of prayse and according to his title VENERABIE in learning and good manners In charitie towards God and his neighbour most excellent admirable in deuotion and glorious in chastitie of life Of a decent and comly stature graue in his gate of a high voyce an eloquent tongue and a goodly aspect or
to the fayth of CHRIST and continually ruminating with him self how to bring his desire to perfection rightly vnderstanding euery good thing to be soe much the more absolutely perfect by how much it was more common and of all things that to be the best and excellentest by which men were brought from the blindnes of Idolatrie to the diuine and euangelicall light of the truth contemning all domestick hopes and honours and setting aside all dangers of health and bodie he was wholly carried to that holy worke Germanie was the place at which he aymed where manie had neuer or very slenderly heard of CHRIST or his Ghospell others had indeed receaued the knowledge of the true religion and professed the Christian fayth but were allmost fallen againe into Idolatrie and bore only the bare name of Christians as the Thuringians and Banarians and Frisians To guide the first in the truth and reduce the others to the truth was the height of his desires Therefore hauing with much difficultie obtayned the free leaue of He sayleth into Germany his Abbot and brethren whose prayers and teares wayted vppon his departure he fosooke his owne friends and countrey and sayled into Frizeland in which place he employed the first and last part of his holy labours IV. AT that time Raâ—bod the impious prince of the Frisianâ— hauing ouercome Charles King of France returned newly from the victory when the matter went very ill with those in that countrey that professed the fayth of CHRIST whom he out of hate to Charles and the Christian name did grieuously persecute Him therefore See the diuine courage of the holy man swelling in the triumphe of this victory saint BONIFACE allbeit vnknowne and abiect in the world was not afeard to meet in the very pursute of his conquest desiring him to abstaine from vexing those poore soules and to embrace â—lemencie as the greatest ornament of a Prince and the Christian fayth as the only true religion The prince reuerencing the boldnes of this Christian champion abstayned from offring him anie further wrong But BONIFACE finding after manie labours that there was little or noe hope of reaping anie profitt in Friseland returned back to his owne countrey And Winbert his Abbot being dead in the meane time the Monkes his brethren turned all their studies and desires towards him and earnestly requested him to vndertake the gouernment of the monastery But he desiring still to perfect his old desire wished them to thinke of an other ruler and suffer him to liue a Pilgrim He refuâ—â—th the dignitie of Abbot for the loue of CHRIST and the good of his poeple Therefore hauing communicated the matter with the venerable Daniel Bishop of Winchester and being strengthened with his commendatorie letters he returned to his former pilgrimage And to the end that being armed with greater counsell and authoritie he might disperse the euangelicall seed he went to Rome the head-head-Church of the world and made knowne his holy purpose to Pope Gregory the second Which when he had approued and perceaued BONIFACE to be a man very fitt for that function he sent him with letters into Germanie whereby he gaue him full power and authoritie to announce the fayth of CHRIST to all the Pagans throughout that whole countrey admonishing him withall that whatsoeuer difficultie arose of which he could not conueniently discharge him self to referre it to the Roman and Apostolick Sea The profitt of his first labours in Germanie V. FROM Rome therefore he returned to Thâ—ringia in Germanie where he very profitably imployed his labour both with the Princes of that Prouince whom he reduced to the knowledge of the true religion and with the Priests that liued farre vnworthy their calling whom with his pious exhortations he caused to amend their liues Then hearing of the death of Radbod he went againe into Frifeland where togeather with saint WILLIBRORD Bishop of Vtreicht an English Benedictine Monk he laboured for the space of three yeares in preaching teaching destroying of Idols and building of Churches whereby manie were reduced to the Christian fayth Then saint WILLIBRORD whom old age had now made vnable to gouerne his Church desired to lay the burden of his episcopall charge on the shoulders of saint BONIFACE but noe entreaties could moue him to yeeld thereunto soe ardent a desire he He refuseth a Bishoprick had to hould on the course of his preaching to gayne soules to CHRIST Therefore with the good leaue and benediction of WILLIBRORD he trauelled into Hassia hauing first built a Monastery and stored it with Benedictine Monkes in Frifeland and there when he had conuerted manie thousands of poeple and imprinted in their soules the Christian character of baptisme insteed of the black markes of Idolatrie by letters and a Messenger he reioyced the Pope of Rome with the glad newes of his happie successe and not long after being sent for by the Pope he went to Rome in person whom the Pope receaued with all curtesie and humanitie and admitted He goeth againe to Rome him often times to his presence and spent with him sometimes allmost a whole day togeather in discourse VI. IN THE meane time the Pope hauing exactly vnderstood his happie progresse in promoting the Catholick cause and receaued an accompt of his fayth which he teÌ„dered vnto him in writing that greater estimation and authoritie might be added to his preaching made him bishop and gaue him the name of BONIFACE for before He is made Bishop he was called WINFRID In receauing which dignitie he religiously called to witnes allmightie God and the sacred bodie of S. PETER at which he stood that he would faythfully keepe and maintaine the sinceritie of the Catholick fayth as long as he liued and humbly obey the Bishops of the Roman Church as the successours of S. PETER and hould noe communication with those Bishops that violated the decrees of the Canons and auncient Fathers of the The Pope commendeth him to the German princes Church Then Pope Gregory dismissed him with letters to the Prince Charles Martellus and to the Bishops Clergie Princes and poeple of Germanie in which he carefully recommended BONIFACE vnto all desiring them to aduance the good endeauours which he employed in promoting the Christian cause and obey his admonitions And that he might be the better prouided and instructed exactly to exercise all the duties belonging to his episcopall function he imparted manie precepts vnto him touching ecclesiasticall matters and at his departure gaue him a booke contayning the decrees of the Popes and auncient Fathers Returning therefore from Rome he went againe into Hassia where manie yet lay groueling in the night of Idolatrie and manie that before had professed the Christian fayth had now eyther perfidiously forsaken or wickedly defiled it with the impious and detestable actions and superstitions of the Heathens VII THERE grew in that Prouince a certaine tree of a mightie Iupiters tree destroyed mâ—â—â—culously greatnes
called Ioues-Tree which was superstitiously worshipped by the Pagans This as a chiefe monument of their Heathenish superstition saint BONIFACE endeauoured to cutt downe and ouerthrow Which his labours greatly vexing the minds of those Infidels made them take armes against him when to the great astonishment of them all that tree which by litle and litle he had begunne to cutt was by a certaine diuine power suddenly broken and shiuered into fower peeces This spectacle soe terrified the fierce hearts of the Pagans that togeather with their malice conceaued against the holy man they deposed they errours and embraced the Christian fayth which from this time wonderfully encreased euery day To which happines by the labour of saint BONIFACE the Christian cause in Thuringia aswered with the like good successe where allbeit the false Christians Dorth winus Bertherus Erimbertus False Christians excommunicated and Humedus men wholly addicted to withcraft adultery and all other vices cruelly afflicted and hindered for a time his holy endeauours yet being at length vtterly conuinced with the force of his diuine arguments they were ouerthrowne and by the censure of excommunication cutt off from the Communion of the Catholick Church Whilst he laboured in preaching teaching and baptising in this Prouince happened to pitch his tents neere vnto the riuer Oraham an heauenly splendour glittered all one night ouer the place where the holy bishop lay and in that light S. MICHAEL S. Michael appeareth to S. â—oniface the Archangell appeared vnto him with words of wonderfull consolation and encouragement On the morrow hauing rendred thanks vnto allmightie God for soe peculiar a remonstrance of his fauour he celebrated the sacred misteries of Masse in the same place where in great extremitie want of victualls a strainge byrd vnexpectedly brought him a fish of sufficient quantitie to serue him and his fellowes for a meale And here hauing afterwards obtayned a parcell of land of one Hugo surnamed the Elder saint BONIFACE built the Church and monastery of Ordosse to the honour and name of saint MICHAEL and in memory of this diuine fauour there receaued VIII THEREFORE the Christian fayth greatly encreasing euery He seâ—deth 〈◊〉 more preachers out of England day by the preaching of saint BONIFACE and finding the labourers to be too few for soe large and ample an haruest he sent for more religious men and woemen out of England and diuided the burden of his labour amongst them The chiefest of the men were Bâ—rehard Lullus Willibald and Wincbald his brother Witâ—â— and Gregory and of the religious woemen Tecla Lioba and Walburg all Monkes and Nunnes of the holy order of saint BENEDICT by whose pious labours and endeauours His obedience to the Roman sea the Monasteries built by saint BONIFACE were gouerned in the profession of monasticall discipline the Benedictine Order much aduanced in that Countrey and manie thousands reduced to the Christian fayth In the meane time Pope Gregory the second being dead an other Gregory succeeded vnto whom saint BONIFACE sent messengers out of hand to testifie his dutie and obseruance towards him and the Roman sea to signifie withall how and in what manner he had laboured in Germanie and to desire his counsell in manie difficulties that did arise To all which the Pope not only gaue particular answere by letters but allsoe an honour which he desired not made saint BONIFACE Archbishop of Germanie and sent him the Palle due vnto that dignitie IX Then this blessed man hauing built two Monasteries one in the honour of the Prince of Apostles saint PETER an other to saint MICHAEL the Archangell and filled them with Monkes to sing the prayses of Allmightie God he trauelled into Bauaria then gouerned by a Duke called Hubert where with his sacred preachings and the excommunication of a willfull sck Ermwolfe whose poysonous doctrine infected manie he greatly promoted the Christian fayth And not long after saint BONIFACE went His third iourney to Rome againe to Rome where he was honourably entertayned by the whole court and chiefly by the Pope who sent him back into Germanie loaden with manie sacred guifts and with commendatorie letters to men of all orders and conditions as well Ecclesiasticall as secular throughout the Countrey Being returned Vtilo Duke of He reformeth the Churches of Bauaria Bauaria sent for him to sett in order the Churches of that Prouince where there were manie that impudently assumed vnto them selues the sacred functions of Priests and Bishops without anie authoritie but their owne and corrupted the poeple with diuers errours These the holy man banished out of that countrey and with great care and prudencie prouided against the like deceipts in future The Prouince it self he deuided into â—ower Diocesses which before was gouerned by the sole Bishop of Pataâ—â—a vnto which saint BONIFACE added the Episcopall seas of Saltzburg Frisengen and R 〈…〉 bone and this his proceeding was ratified by the letters of Pope Gregorie who with his hands lifted vp towards heauen fignified the infinite thankes he gaue to allmightie God for the Euangelicall seed soe happily sowne by Boniface in Germanie where he had gayned a hundred thousand soules to Christ out of the slauerie and bondage of the Deuill X. Bvt death hauing depriued the pious Prince Carolus Martellâ—â— Carolomannus King of France of the vse and cares of the world Carolomannus togeather with his brother Pipin ioinctly succeeded their father in the crowne of France To Carolomannus therefore who was the elder S. Boniface went whom when he had carefully exhorted to imitate his fathers pietie towards the Churches of God for the aduancement of the Christian sayth he found nothing degenerate from his father in that matter Therefore saint BONIFACEâ— beseethed his authoritie and consent for the assembling of a Synod whereby the Ecclesiasticall A Synod held in Germanie discipline greatly impayred both in the Clergie and poeple might be reduced to the exact obseruance of the Canons de 〈…〉 s of the Church For noâ— Synod had 〈◊〉 held there for the space of foweâ—score yeares before The dec 〈…〉 of the Canons were neglected the ordinations of Bishops were dispatched by those that had no authoritiâ— men of wicked liues were without distrinction raysed to priestoâ—d and other Ecclesiasticall functions Therefore in this Synod in which by the authoritie of Zacharie Bishop of R 〈…〉 saint BONIFACE presided manie things very profitable to the Church were decreed and amongst others that noe bishops or Priests contrarie to the state of their dignitie and office should follow â—eats of armes those only excepted who serâ—â—ed the 〈◊〉 with the sacrifice of Masse and the sacramenes Manie allsoe that were feared with the markes of wicked life and teaching of 〈◊〉 sâ— doctrine were depriued of their degrees and amongst others two notable masters of damâ—able opinions Clement and Aâ—elbeâ—◠〈◊〉 â—ast out of the Church as allsoe Gâ—â—uilio Bishop He is made Archbis hop of
Meâ—â—s of Mentâ— who had cunningly slaine the murderer of his father was degraded 〈◊〉 whose place the two Princely brothers 〈◊〉 and Bâ—pâ—â— substituted our Boniface And for the greater ornament of him and â—his sea they not only exempted it from the iurisdiction of the Church to which it was subiect before but allso made it the prime metropolitan Sea of all the Churches of Germanie and by Legaâ—s sent to Rome obtayned to haue their decrees established by the honourable suffrage of the Pope His labours con firmed by the Pope XI BVT our holy BONIFACE being strengthened and adorned with this Archiepiscopall authoritie endeauoured dayly as his honours enâ—reâ—sed to encrease allso his former labouâ— and diligence of preaching â—eaching and baptising making manie hard iourneies oâ—er the countrey to that end founding new Churches and Monasteries and ondâ—yniâ—g new bishops and Pastours to gouerne them especially at Eiâ—hâ—tat Wirzburg and Erphesfort who were all confirmed by the authoritie of Pope Zachary who writt manie letters to saint BONIFACE him self and to the bishops and Princes of Germanie in his behalf And saint BONIFACE likewise â—o take counsell touching diuers Ecclesiasticall affayres senâ— manie epistles to Pope Zacharie which the purpose of our breuitie will not permitt to rehearse at large But the foreâ—amed Hereticques Adelbert and Clement were condemned in a Synod at Rome not Tâ—â—o Meâ—ericks condemned for vvicked opinions as bishops and Pastours of the flock but as deâ—ourers of their sheepe and Apostatas against the Catholick Church Adelbert like vnto an other Simon Maguâ— assumed a new deitie to him self yet aliue and refusing to dedicate Churches to the holy Apostles and Martirs did consecrate or rather pollute a Temple to his owne name and honour and gaue his hayre and nayles for holy reliques to that deceiued poeple And when they came humbly to him to make a confession of their sinneâ— In vaine sayd he yee seeke to reueale those things to me all which I perfectly know allreadie and from which I absolue yee all therefore with a secure and quiet conscience returne home But Clâ—ment who was a Scott by nation being possessed with See the insolent pride of hereâ—ie a spiritâ— of wonderfull great pride preferred him self not only before all the learned and pious bishops and others of that age but allso before all the auncient Fathers and holy Doctours of the Church and besides other monstrous opinions tickling the eares and minds of that foolish poeple with the flattering language of his preaching he promised a certaintie of saluation to all euen Idolaters whom togeather with the rest he sayd Christ had redeemed by descending into Hell But let vs returne to saint BONIFACE XII WHO allthough he were encompassed with soe manie and soe great cares and labours in Germanie yet did he not depose all thought and care of his England where when he vnderstood that manie things were done amisse both by the bishops and Kings he piously admonished them of their dutie by letters Whereof one written to Ethelâ—ald King of the Merciaâ—s to reclaime him from his wicked life because it is a liuely patterâ—â— of the zeale and affection of this holy man we will here sett downe for the profitt of these times and of posteritie Thus therefore he writes To Ethelbald his most deare Lord and to be preferred in the His Epistle to King Ethelbald loue of Christ before other Kings of the English BONIFACE Archbishop German Legâ—t of the Roman Church sendeth perperuall health of Charitie in CHRIST Wee confesse before God that we reioyce when we heare of your prosperitie â—ayth and good workes Fâ—â— we haâ—e vnderstood that attending to almesdeeds thou for 〈◊〉 〈…〉 beries and â—â—pes and louest peace and thou 〈◊〉 deâ—â—ndes of widdowes and the pooâ—e and thence we giue God thankes but in that thoâ— despisest lawfull matriâ—onie yf thou didest doe it for loue of chastitie it were laudable but because thou wall â—â—est in lust and 〈◊〉 eueâ— with sacred Virgins it is to be 〈◊〉 and damnable For it confoundeth the same of thy glory before God and men and rankes thee amongst idolaters because thou 〈◊〉 violated the temple of God Wherefore most deare sonne doe penance and remember how fowle a thing it is that thou who by the guift of God art Lord of manie poeple to the iniurie of him becomest a slaue to Lust Moreouer we haue heard that allmost all the Nobles of the Merciaâ—s by thy example forsakâ— their lawful wiues and committ adulterie with others Which how farre it is from honestie let the institution of other nations teach vs. For in auncient Saxonie where there is noe knowledge of CHRIST yf a Virgin in her fathers A strainge punishment of Adultâ—ry house or a married woman vnder the dutie of a Husband committ adulterie they burne her being strangled with her owne hands and hang vp the adulterer on her graue or else being naked to the gyrdle some chast matrones doe scourge her and punish her with kniues from towne to towne where she is euer meâ—t by new tormentors vntill she be 〈◊〉 to death Aâ— Widen allso which is a most faythfull generation of men they haue this custom that a woman when her husband is dead doe throw her self hedlong into his funerall â—ier to burne togeather Yf then the Gentils ignorant of God haue soe great zeale for chastitie what becometh thee most deare sonne who art a Christian and a Kingâ— Haue compassion therefore on thy owne soule and on the multitude of poeple perishing by thy example for whose soules allso thou must render an accompt Againe yf the English nation as it is reproached against vs in 〈…〉 e From vnlavvfull lust a bad generation and â—â—aâ—â— yea and by the Pagaâ—â— them 〈◊〉 said along law full mariage fall wholly to fiâ—thy 〈…〉 s that 〈◊〉 generation it will breed a slugg iâ— poeple that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God and with their wicked manners ouerthrow the whole countrey as it hath beâ—alâ—â— to the 〈…〉 ans Proâ—â—s 〈…〉 and S 〈…〉 ds whom the S 〈…〉 haue 〈◊〉 yeares vexâ—â— for t 〈…〉 sin 〈…〉 Furthermore it is 〈◊〉 vs that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Churches and Monasteries of 〈…〉 ges thou do 〈…〉 by 〈…〉 uoke thy Nobles to 〈◊〉 the like But call to 〈◊〉 I 〈…〉 thee The diuine punishment of Church â—obbers what a terrible reuenge 〈…〉 e God hath ex 〈…〉 against other Kings thy pre 〈…〉 that were gu 〈…〉 of the 〈◊〉 we now â—eprehend in thee For 〈◊〉 thy 〈…〉 ing a 〈◊〉 of sacred Virgins and a breaker of 〈…〉 ges was suddenly as he fate 〈…〉 ully ba 〈…〉 g with his Nobles 〈…〉 sed vppon by a wicked Spirit that 〈…〉 tly robbed him of his soule without eyther confession 〈◊〉 Via 〈…〉 but talking with the de 〈…〉 and â—etesting the law of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 King of the 〈◊〉 and B 〈…〉 being gu 〈…〉 of the 〈…〉 be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 madd that by a contemptible death he was
depriued both 〈◊〉 his Kingdom and youthfull age All so Charles a Prince of the â—rench being a destroyer of maâ—â— Monasteries and one that turned Church-goods to his owne vles was coâ—â—med with the long torment of a fearfull death Wherefore most deare sonne with f 〈…〉 and earnest prayers we beseeâ—h sheâ— not to despise the counsell of thy Fathers who for the loue of God endeauour to call vppon thy Highnes to remember thy dutie for nothing is more wholesom for a good King then yf such faults be willingly amended when they are reprehended because Salomon sayth Who â—oneth 〈…〉 â—oueth wisedome Therefore most â—eare sonne making 〈◊〉 our counsell we Prou. 12. v. 1. be 〈…〉 h and conâ—â—re thee by the â—uing God and by his deare sonne 〈◊〉 and by the holy Ghost to remember how fleeâ—ing this present life is and how short and momentarlâ— are the delights of the 〈…〉 thy flesh and how igâ—omiâ—â—â—ous a thing it is that a man but of a short life should leaue a pâ—â—perâ—â—â— remembrance of bad examples to his posteâ—â—e Beginne then to or 〈◊〉 thy life with 〈◊〉 manners and to correct the former 〈◊〉 of thy youth that here thou â—â—iest purchase prayâ—â— before men and ioies of eternall glory in future Who wish thy Highnes to enjoy health and profit dayly in good 〈◊〉 XIII The â—hould saint 〈…〉 CAL 〈◊〉 King E the 〈…〉 wherein 〈◊〉 did 〈◊〉 wholly loose his labour 〈◊〉 the King being Etherbald reformed by â—aint Boniface terrified with this sha 〈…〉 and pioâ—s remem 〈…〉 in maâ—le things reformed his 〈◊〉 and restored di 〈…〉 so the 〈…〉 riâ—s of soâ— great 〈◊〉 was the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of the holy manâ—◠〈…〉 kes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meane time saint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 btayned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prince K 〈…〉 man a peâ—ce of land in the desert of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into the â—iuer Fâ—ldâ— beganne to lay the foundation of the famous Benedictine Monasterie which 〈…〉 heth to this day and is called the Aâ—bey The building of the Benedictine Abbey of Fulda of Fulda famous for religion and 〈◊〉 The first Abbot thereof was called 〈◊〉 a man of Vâ—â—â—rible conâ—â—sation to whom and 〈◊〉 holy 〈◊〉 of Morikes the land where the 〈…〉 nasterie now stands was by the royall charter 〈◊〉 〈…〉 confirmed and graunted for euer Which done this ver 〈…〉 Prince growing dayly more and more perfect in the loue of God and finding that in the world he could not see purely and perfectly 〈…〉 ine to the height thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with Magdalen of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Caroloman beco meth a Benedictine Monke â—hall neuer be taken from him For leaâ—ning the ample Kingdom of his terrene dominions to the gouernment of his brother Pâ—piâ— he departed to Mount-Ca 〈…〉 in It 〈…〉 the place 〈…〉 holy Father saint BENEDICT layd the foundation of his ver 〈…〉 Order and in which was yet obserued a most strict discipline of 〈…〉 sticall life And now in that place this noble Prince chaâ—nged his â—oyall robes of maiestie to the simple weedes of a self-punishing humilitie and made profession of a Monke vnder the MASTER 〈…〉 OF DISCRETION the holy Rule of the great Patrianke of Monkes saint BENEDICT Then King 〈◊〉 hauing â—â—raynâ—â— the whole iâ—heritance to him self imitating the pl 〈…〉 of his brother 〈◊〉 all waies to loue honour and promote all the pi 〈…〉 〈…〉 rs of saint BONIFACE vnto whom by his owne letters he confirmed his Brâ—thers donation of the monastery of Fulda XIV BVT now saint BONIFACES time drâ—◠〈◊〉 wherein he should receaue from CHRIST the reward of his great hours and tast the most ample fruit of the soed of his Enangelicall preaching which he had 〈◊〉 worthily 〈◊〉 in the hearts of the G 〈…〉 poeple Therefore foreseeing the diss 〈…〉 of his owne body S â—onitace retor neth into Frisia to be neere at h 〈…〉 by the suggestion of the holy Ghost he returned into F 〈…〉 there to finish his humane 〈◊〉 where he tooke his beginning there he might all sâ—e make an end of his e 〈…〉 licall preaching and his mortall life together Thi 〈…〉 then he went not without a presage of what should befall vnto him For being 〈◊〉 take his iourney be appoynted his saythfull disciple and companion L 〈…〉 us to succeed him in the Metropolitan Sea of M 〈…〉 z diligently recommending vnto him carefully to sert forward the building of the Monasterie of Fulda and togeather with some bookes to send him a shrowd to mind his body in after death and cause it to be translated to Fulda These words 〈◊〉 blessed 〈◊〉 to performe with teares the holy mans commaunds XV. BEING arriued into Friseland by his preaching he conuerted a The sacra ment of Confirma tion great multitude to CHRIST and washed them in the sacred Font of baptisme vnto whom departing away he appoynted a day to returne in which by the imposition of hands and anneyling with sacred chris 〈…〉 they â—igh 〈…〉 the sacrament of Confirmation When in the meane time those Neophites had by a wicked persidiousnes suffered a relapse from the Fayth into their old errours and now being chainged from lambes to wolues they came not in peace to 〈◊〉 the holy Ghost by the imposition of hands but armed with fearfull weapons and countenances more terrible then their weapons and broke into the tents of the Saincts to lay violent hands on the spirituall father of their soules and to take away his life for whose â—afetie they ought to haue spent their owne Then some of Sainct Bonifaces companie prepared to defend them selues S. Bonifaces desire of Martirdom by resistance meaning to venter their owne bloud to saue the shedding of his but they were strictly by him forbidden that enterprise 〈◊〉 that desire of reuenge did not become true Christians and that they ought not to loose soe fayre an occasion of 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 them selues the purchase of soe great glory He sealeth the patent of his Apostles hip with his bloud as now one minutes patience would bring Therefore that surious multitude of P 〈…〉 sett vppon the holy Bishop and with their 〈◊〉 weapons madâ— soe manie wounds in his sacred body that through those bleeding sluses his blessed soule tooke a most happy flight to the immortall crowne of martirdom in heauen And thus this Apostolicall man hauing to his death performed true Apostolicall labours at length after the manner of the Apostles left his Apostle ship signed with his owne bloud that Germanie noe lesse then otâ—â—r Churches erected by Apostolicall men might glorie with the euerlasting memorie and high glory of soe great an Apostle and Martir from whom it receaued the Ghospell testified with his bloud sealed with his death confirmed with manie miracles and lastly that nothing might be wanting â—ortified with store of writings XVI THIS glorious bishop suffered martirdom the fiâ—t day of June The companions of his martirdom the sixtith yeare of his age and fortith after his
coming out of England in the yeare of grace 755. At the same time togeather with saint BONIFACE Eâ—banus whom he had newly made bishop in Frisia and fiâ—tie persons more some Priests some deacons and other sacred ministers of whom manie were English Monkes walked the same pathes of death to receaue the euer-florishing crowne of Martirdom But the wicked actours of this tragicall scene escaped not the diuine punishment of heauen for as they returned The iust punishment of the murderers from the slaughter a controuâ—rsie arose amongst them touching the diuision of the spoyles which they had taken which when they could not decide by words they fell to blowes and slew one an other with the same weapons which soe lately had been embrewed in the bloud of these glorious Martirs And as manie of them as escaped out of this mutuall slaughter were soone after slaine by the Christians and soe payd a iust tribute to death for their former sacrilege The sacred body of saint BONIFACE was first buried at Vtreâ—ctht afterwards translated to Mentz and lastly to the Benedictine His sacred buriall Abbey of Fulda according as he had desired in his life time And at all these three places his holy Tombe was adorned with manie wonderfull miracles as soe manie vnresistable witnesses of his holy life and meritts The life of this glorious Sainct was written by S. Willibald an English Benedictine first bishop of Eistat in Germanie and by Othlonus Priest and monke of the Benedictine Abbey of Fulda out of whom we haue gathered the foresayd Historie The Roman Martirologe maketh glorious mention of him the fifth day of Iune and all Historiographers doe largely speake his prayses The life of Sainct GVDWALL Bishop and Confessor IVNE 6 Extracted out of an auncient Authour GVDVVALL borne in great Britaine of the noble bloud of Britans seemed to be sent to that troubled countrey as the sonne of peace For at his birth the seucritie of the diuine iustice was chainged into clemencie and meeknes and the three common scourges of Kingdoms plague famin and warre which long had afflicted that nation ceased Being baptised togeather with his yeares the grace of the holy Ghost encreased in his soule and the vnderstanding and knowledge of diuine learning When he came to mans age all men presaging that he would one day prooue a worthy pillar of the Catholick Church he was adorned with the sacred dignitie of Priesthood Then he beganne to lay open the hidden treasures His learning and schollers of his wisedom and learning gotten in his tender yeares and to instruct others with the vndrayneable fountaine of his diuine science Whereby manie were soe rarely enkindled with the beames of the true Sunne that they became fitt to lighten and enflame others with the vertue and learning which they had suckt from his breast At length the fame of saint GVDVVALL was of soe He is made Bishop great estimation in the world that he was aduanced to the height of Ecclesiasticall dignitie and made Bishop when by how much he was exalted higher to honours amongst the poeple of Gods Church soe the more abundantly he spread abroad the sweet odours of his holy life and conuersation to the great consolation and ioy of the whole countrey He was borne to a very large and ample patrimonie but despising all the riches and wealth of the vaine mortall world he gaue all that he had to the Church of CHRIST his immortall King And perceauing allsoe that his pastorall He leaueth his Bishoprick chargetied his mind with the chaines of care to worldly affayres more then he desired he found meanes to discharge him self thereof and hauing substituted an other in his place retired him self to a Monasterie within his Diocese where he entred into a contemplatiue life seruing our Lord in watching fasting and prayer and all other austeritie and discipline of a perfect monasticall life II. BVT desiring within a short time after to enter into a more He leadeth an Heremiticall life secret solitarines wholly to apply his mind to the contemplation of diuine things he departed with one only companion and went to a great rock that stood like a litle Iland within the Sea where hauing cutt him self a litle caue in the hard stone he led a most retired and solitary life according to the example of the auncient Hermites Till the brethren of the monastery which he had left being not able to endure the hard burden of the absence of GVDVVALL who had endowed them with the learning of heauenly discipline made a pious search ouer all the countrey to find him And being found they ioyfully ranged them selues in the institution of his vertuous schoole carefully studying to imitate his holy simplicitie and liuely mortification But being pressed with the narrownes of the place they hewed manie litle habitations in that hard rock to defend them selues from the violence of the weather Therefore the rock which before bred a solitarie horrour to the behoulders The number of his disciples being now turned into a house of prayer was made an habitation of Monkes where solemne watches were obserued and the Ecchoes of Gods diuine prayses resounded amidst the roaring of those swelling waues When the fame of the holy man encreasing dayly the number of his disciples likewise encreased soe that one hundred fourescore and eight monkes are reported to haue liued vnder the gouernment of his pious institution in soe much that the quantitie of that place being not able to contayne soe great a number at a low water saint GVDVVALL went downe vppon the The seas obey his commaund sands and with an assured and strong confidence in the diuine goodnes making the signe of the crosse in the sand commaunded those vnruly waues in the name of IESVS-CHRIST noe more to flow beyond the limitts which he had there prescribed When to the great admiration and comfort of Gods seruants that vntamed element contayned the accustomed pride of its swelling furie and obeying the holy mans commaund neuer more dared to trangresse the bounds by him prefixed Hence it appeares that the miracles of the old law haue been reuiued in the Christian Church for Moyses deuided and our GVDVVALL bridled the waues of the vntamed He 〈…〉 prayers seas And not only in this but in an other act allsoe this holy man was replenished with the spirit of the Prophet Moyses when in the same place being in want of fresh water by his prayers he obtayned a fountaine of cleere streames to spring out of that hard rock III. WONDERFVLL surely was the life that this holy man led in this horrid place He dayly celebrated the dreadfull sacrifice of Masse Angels appeare at hâ—â— masse and that with soe great puritie of mind and such deuour preparations thereunto that sometimes the Angells descending visibly from heauen assisted at that venerable misterie and togeather with him sung the diuine prayses of allmightie God to the great
afterwards Queene of Scotland who according to her name appeared indeed as a pretious Margarite before God and man For in the prime of her florishing age when others of such royall byrth are wont to decline to the vaine pleasures of the world she beganne to order her life according to the rules of continencie to loue God aboue all things to applie her self to the reading of diuine learning and with a delight to exercise and follow the rules and precepts of her reading Afterwards compelled by the importunitie of her friends more She marrieth Malcoline King of Scotland then her owne desires she was giuen in marriage to Malcoline King of Scotland when allbeit necessitie constrayned her to deale in worldly affayres yet she neuer soe tied her mind thereto as to forgett or omitt her spirituall exercise for she was more delighted with doing good workes then in the royall possession of her wealth and riches By her prudent counsell discretion and industrie the lawes of the realme were maintayned and the Catholick religion encreased Then her nothing was more firme in fayth more constant in patience grauer in counsell iuster in giuing iudgement and pleasanter in discourse II. MOREOVER she was wonderfully liberall to adorne Churches Her liberalitie to the Churches enriching them with gould and siluer vessells and very pretious ornaments in the place where her royall wedding was celebrated she built a fayre Church in honour of the holy Trinitie and beautified it with great store of riches and amongst others with a fayre Crucifix garnished with gould and many pretious stones She gouerned her familie in the loue and feare of God and especially her The gouernment of her children and familie children whom she would her self iustruct oftentimes in Christian doctrine vsing soe sweet a seueritie and soe seuere a sweetnes towards those vnder her charge that they all loued her with feare and feared her with loue in soe much that noe man in her presence durst presume to speake an vnseemly word Nay besides the often admonitions and continuall instructions of her children this pious Mother who may rightly be termed the Margurite of mothers would dayly powre out her deuout prayers and teares for them that hauing attayned to the knowlege of allmightie God they might truely serue him and by seruing him come to his loue and by his diuine loue purchase eternall happines with his Saincts Manie times all soe she would putt the She moueth the King to good workes King her husband in mind to exercise the workes of iustice mercie almes-deeds and all other acts of Christian vertues whom by the inward working of allmightie God in his soule she made to be most obedient to all good things In summe she omitted nothing that belonged eyther to the maintenance of Christian religion and pietie or the prudent gouernment of the Kingdom III. WHEN the king went in progresse ouer the realme with his court and a great traine of attendants this holy Queene kept his followers in soe good order that noe man durst attempt to steale anie thign by the way nor wrong or oppresse the poore A rare vertue in so great a dame countrey poeple in the lest And as in all things she was carefull to correct faults in others soe was she most patient and willing to haue her owne reprehended by others And to this end she would her self oftentimes desire her Confessor to giue her notice of whatsoeuer in her words or deeds was worthy reprehension desiring that for an encrease of vertue which others are wont to take as a calumnie According to the counsell of the royall Psalmist Let the iust man correct me in mercie and rebuke mâ—â— but Psal 140. let not the oyle that is the flatterie of a Sinner fatten my head IV. SHE was carefull allsoe to correct manie errours and bad She correcteth an erronr in keeping the Lent customs which had crept into the Scottish Kingdom against the vniuersall practise of the Catholick Church First she reformed an abuse touching the obseruance of Lent For the Scots beganne not their Lent till the munday after Ashwensday endeauouring to couer their errour with the authoritie of the Scripture which relating the fast of Christ proposeth but fortie daies to be obserued But she on the other side in an assemblie before the King made it plainly appeare that taking away the six Sundaies on which the Church is not wont to fast there would remaine but thirtie six daies and therefore the fower daies of the precedent weeke ought to be reckoned in the number of fasting-daies to make vp the iust summe of fortie daies and that for this cause they ought to beginne the Lent vppon Ashwensday Moreouer when manie And an other touching communion at Easter 1. Cor. 11. refused to receaue the Sacrament of the Eucharist at Easter alleadging their owne vnworthines and these words of the Apostle He that eateth drinketh it vnworthily eateth drinketh his owne iudgement she shewed them that to compare the worth of that dreadfull Sacrament with our vnworthines is noe comparison for he that is most worthie is in some kind vnworthy considering the infinite worth of that excellent Sacrament neuerthelesse allthough we be all indeed Sinners yet we may haue recourse to the sacrament of Peanance which is instituted to reconcile sinners to our Lord who sayth Vnlesse yee eate the flesh of the sonne of man and drinke his bloud yee shall haue noe life in you And this is it that the Apostle admonisheth Iâ—an 6. 53. sinners to doe when he cries Probet autem scipsâ—m hoâ—â—â— sic de paâ—â— illo edat de calice bibat Let euery one examine and discusse his owne conscience and by confessing his sinnes and doing peanance Who receaues the sacrament worthily come with feare and reuerence to to the sacred misteries and then he shall not eate his owne iudgement as those doe who presume to receaue that venerable banquet with their soules loaden with the filth of sinne Allsoe she reformed manie other abuses touching the due obseruance of the Sunday the celebration of Masse and the sacrament of mariage within the degrees of consanguinitie prohibited by the Church and others V. DISCOVRSING at times with her Ghostly father touching the health of her owne soule and the sweetnes of euerlasting life her words seemed to 〈◊〉 replenished with a certaine diuine grace and her self was touchâ—â— with soe great compunction of heart that she seemed wholly to resolue into teares During the diuine seruice in the Church she shewed soe great deuotion and attention that she would neuer speake word to anieman touching anie worldly or secular busines but atteÌ„ded wholly to her prayers which were oftentimes accompanied with dâ—uout teares I 〈◊〉 her singular charitie Her charitie to the poore towards the poore whom she would oftentimes relieue with her greatest iewells becoming her self more poore them they for they being in want deâ—ired to haue riches
and she dispersed all she had I say nothing of her great care and pietie shewed to sick persons orphans and widdowes to whom she was allwaies a most indulgent and pious Motheâ— I passe ouer in silence the affâ—ction reuerence she bore to Hermites and true religious mâ—n whom sometimes she visited and dayly furnished with sufficiencie Euery morning she The rare pretie of the King and Queene nourished nine orphan-children and gaue them victualls with her owne hands Besides these her custom was to receaue three hundred poore poeple into the pallace and hauing 〈◊〉 the doores she ranged them into order when the king on the on side and the Queene on the other serued CHRIST in his poore and gaue them meate with their owne hands peculâ—rly prouided for that purpose O the wonderfull pietie of these royall persons This done she went to the Church where during the time of the holy sacrifice of Masse she sacrificed her self to allmightie God with the long continuance of manie prayers sighs and teares And before the high Masse beganne she heard fiue or six priuate Masses euery day VI. THEN she returned to dinner rather to maintaine life then Her spare diet to satisfie the delights of her appetite for in her diet she was soe sober and sparing that her meales rather sharpened then extinguished her 〈◊〉 and she seemed rather to â—ast then to â—are her meate Throughout the whole Lent and fortie daies before Christmas she mortified her bodie with an incredible abstinence in soe much that out of the austeritie of her fasting she endured most sharpe paynes and gripings in her stomake all the daies of her life but the weaknes of her bodie could nothing weaken the strength of her vnconquered vertue At length falling into a grieuous ficknes she sent for her Confessor 〈◊〉 the second Prior of the Benedictine Monastery of Durham of wâ—om hauing first declared the manner of her life and at each word of the consolation which he gaue her powred out whole flouds of deuout teares she tooke her last farewell for sayd she I shall not long remaine in She desireth Masses and prayers after death this mortall life and thou wilt shortly follow me Two things therefore I desire of thee the first that during thy life thou be allwaies mindfull of me in thy masse and other prayers the second that thou take care of my children and keepe them allwaies in the feare of God lest the prosperitie of the world wheÌ„ they attaine to the height of terrene dignitie make them loose the happines of eternall life VII AFTERWARDS the vehemencie of her disease encreasing she was noâ—able to rise but seldom out of her bed But the fourth day The slaughter of King Malcoline before her happie departure the king being then abroade in a warlick expedition she grew on the suddaine more sad then her wonted custom saying to the assistants I feare more misfortune hath happened this day to the Kingdom of Scotland then in manie yeares before And soone after they vnderstood that the King and his sonne Edward had that very day lost their liues in the warres The fourth day after the kings death her sicknes giuing some truce to the former vehemencie of her paine she rose and went into her chappell and armed her approching end with the last Sacrament and the Viaticum of our Lords most pretious bodie Then the crueltie of her griefes laying her againe prostrate on her death-bed she vnderstood by the new arriuall of her sonne Edgar from the arâ—ie of the late ouerthrow receaued by their enemies when lifting vp her hands and eyes towards heauen she gaue infinite thankes vnto allmightie God who at the hower of her departure out of this A vvorthy example of patience world had sent her an occasion of soe great anguish for a triall of her patience by the suffrance of which she hoped to be clensed from some of her former sinnes In the meane time feeling the secret messengers of death to summon her departure she beganne deuoutly to recite this prayer Domine Iesu Christe qui ex voluntate Patris cooperante She dioâ—â— happily spiritu Sancto per mortem tuam mundum viâ—ificasti libera me and and at that word her soule being deliuered out of the chaines of the bodie quietly passed to the Authour of all true libertie CHRIST-IESVS whom soe dearely she had loued in her life time being made participant of the happines of those glorious spirits whose vertuous examples she had been all waies carefull to follow And her face which during her sicknes was soe wane pale returned after death to soe fayre a mixture of a red and white complexion that to the astonished behoulders it seemed to sett forth the countenance of a sleeping or liuing bodie rather then of one that was dead She died the tenth day of Iune in the yeare 1097. and was buried in the Church of the Blessed Trinitie which she had built in her life time The life of this glorious Queene hath been written by S. Alured Abbot of Rhieuall recited by Surius tom 3. and by Turgot second Prior of Durham whom we haue followed Allso Deidonatus lib. 12. hist Scotorum maketh ample mention of her as allsoe the Roman Martirâ—loge Vsuard Molanus and others The life of Sainct EADBVRG Virgin and Nunne of the holy Order of Sainct BENEDICT IVNE 15. Out of William Malmesbury and others EABVRG daughter to Edward the Elder King of England and Queene Elsgiue his wife Her parents at the age of three yeares gaue a notable proofe of her future Sainctitie For her father being desirous to trie whether the litle infant would be inclined to God or the world layd the ornaments of diuers professions in his chamber before her on the one side a chalice and the Ghospell and iewells rings and bracelets on the other Thither the litle gyrle being brought in the armes of her dandling nurse she was seated on her fathers lappe who sayd Choose my EADBVRG which of these things doe most delight thee She with a countenance as it were despising the rest greedily layd hould on the chalice and booke embracing them with Note her choise of a religiouslife a childish innocencie The whole companie of assistants cried out that it was an euident presage of future sainctitie in the gyrle and the father most tenderly kissing clipping his child Goe thy waies sayd he whither God calls thee follow happily the diuine spouse whom thou hast chosen and happy indeed may thy mother and I esteeme our selues being in religion ouercome by a daughter Therefore when riper yeares allowed her the perfect vse of discrecretion she went to the Benedictine Monasterie which her father had She taketh the habit of a Nunne built at Winchester and putt on the habit and profession of a Nunne vnder the holy Rule of saint BENEDICT when soe rarely she conformed her life to the lawes of her profession that by the
diligence of her dutifull seruice she greatly inuited all the rest of her sisters and fellow-Nunnes highly to loue and honour her Nether did the greatnes of her bloud and royall byrth make her more nice or backward to vndergoe the austeritie of her profession because she iudged it a thing most glorious to be huÌ„bled vnder the sweet yoake of the seruice of CHRIST-IESVS Her sainctirie encreased with her age and her humilitie florished with her youthfull yeares in soe A rare example of humilitie much that by night she would play the part of a pious theefe and steale the sockes of all the other nunnes hauing carefully washed and annoynted them she restored them againe to their bed sides Wherefore allbeit allmightie God hath ennobled her aliue with manie famous miracles yet this one example is before all most worthie of prayse that charitie beganne and humilitie finished all the workes of her whole life At leÌ„gth passing happily out of this world Her happy death her pure and innocent soule was carried on the wings of these two vertues to be perfectly vnited with her euerlasting spouse in heauen the fifteenth day of Iune about the yeare of our Lord 920. Her bodie was first buried in the same Monasterie but some of her bones were afterwards translated to the Benedictine Abbey of Pershore in the Diocesse of Worcester where they were reserued with great reuerence and deuotion at both which places the holines and integritie of her life was witnessed with manie famous miracles as the gouernours of the same Churches could affirme in the time of my Authour The life of S. Eadburg sayth Iohn Pits is written by one Osbertus Clarentius a Benedictin Monke of Winchester about the yeare of Christ 1136. which I haue not seene But thus much of her I haue taken out of William Malmesbury de reg lib. 2. cap. 13. and de Episcop lib. 4. de monasterijs diocesis Vigorn and Nicholas Harpsfield saec 10. cap. 8. Mention is made of her by Roger Houedon priori part Annal. an 899. Polidore Virgill lib. 6. Molanus in his additions to Vsuard Peter de natalibus in his catalogue lib. 11. cap. 69. and others And in an auncient manuscript breniary of S. Benedicts order with belonged to the Monastery of Burton vppon Trent I find her feast celebrated this fisteenth of Iune with three lessons and a proper Collect. The life of Saint BOTVLPHE Abbot and Confessor of the holy order of Sainct BENEDICT IVNE 17 Written by Folchard a Monke of Thorney BOTVLPHE and ADOLPHE brothers borne of noble parents were both as neere of kinne in vertue as in byrth and both equally ennobled the nobilitie of their bloud with the resplendent excellencie of their holy life Who because in England then but newly conuerted the Catholick religion and discipline of a monasticall life was not yet established in that perfection as their minds aspired vnto went on pilgrimage ouer into France or Belgia Where because vertue is no where a stranger but is euery where honoured euen amongst strangers ADOLPHE was at length aduanced to the sacred dignitie of Bishop and BOTVLPHE hauing been a long time He professeth a religious life exercised in the stricter discipline of a monasticall life togeather with his brother and putt on the habit and profession of a Monke vnder the holy rule of S. BENEDICT resolued to returne into his owne countrey being courteously recommended to ETHELMVND king of the South-Saxons by his two Sisters who at that time led a religious life in France Therefore S. BOTVLPHE hauing passed the seas was kindly entertayned by king Ethelmund who hauing vnderstood the desire of his sisters gaue him a peece of land in Lincolneâ—hire not farre from the cittie of Lincolne The name of the place was Icanhoe a forsaken vnhabited desert where nothing but deuills and goblins were thought to dwell But S. BOTVLPHE with the vertue signe of the holy Crosse freed it from the possession of those hellish He buildeth a Monastery inhabitants and by the meanes and helpe of Ethelmund built a monasterie therein which he filled with a Conuent of religious monkes vnder the rule of our holy father S. BENEDICT II. THESE he gouerned both by word worke and example according to the stricter discipline of a monasticall life which he had learned in forreigne countreies drawing them by the mildnes of his dayly pious admonitions to embrace the sweet austeritie of a vertuous and holy life in soe much that he was highly esteemed and His pietie in sicknes beloued of all and by a speciall fauour of allmightie God ennobled with the guift of prophesie and working of manie miracles Being oppressed with sicknes of bodie he imitated the patience of holy Iob and gaue infinite thankes vnto the diuine goodnes for that visitation all waies discoursing of the soules departure out of the bodie and of the ioyes of euerlasting happines which followed With these and such like pious exercises he spent his whole time till he attayned to the happines to be by old age ouertaken in the diuine seruice When the end of his life drawing neere and the vehemencie of his sicknes encreasing he ceased not to exhorte his deuout children carefully to obserue the rules of monsticall life which he had planted amongst them and to maintaine peace and charitie in the Monasterie Till adorned with the long studies of all vertues this vntired Hâ—s happy death champion of CHRIT being oppressed with the crueltie of a teadious disease of bodie yeelded vp his blessed soule out of her mortall habitation to the immortall reward of her labours the seauenteenth day of Iune about the yeare of our Lord 680. He was buried in the same Monasterie where his memorie was yearly celebrated being famous for miracles both in his life and after his death But that place being afterwards destroyed by the Danes the worthy restorer of the Benedictine discipline S. ETHELWOLD bishop of Winchester caused his sacred reliques to be taken vp and translated to the Translation of his bodie two Benedictine Abbeies Ely and Thorney And it hath been found writteÌ„ in the booke of S. BOTVLPHES Church neere Aldergâ—â—e in London that part of his holy bodie was by King Edward giuen to the Abbey of Winchester The memory of this glorious Sainct hath in former times been very famous in our Iland of great Britaine and in Lincolneshire there remaines yet a renowned towne which from his name was called Botulphs-Towne but now by corruption of the word is named Bâ—ston situate on the bankes of the riuer Witham His life hath been written by Folchard a monke of Thorney and by Ioannes Anglicus recited by Iohn Capgraue in his legend of English Saincts S. Bede in his history of England Florentius Wigorniensis an 654. Mathew Westminster in the same yeare Nicholas Harpsfied saec 7. cap. 24. William Camden in descriptione comitatus Lincolâ—iâ— Molanus in his additions to Vsuard and manie others make worthy iâ—eâ—tion
built in times past to the name and honour of saint ALBAN where in a very rich shrine made of gould and siluer and adorned with pretious gemmes they reposed those sacred spoiles Whereby it is made manifest that as in times past to Lucian Priest the bodie of the Protomartir of Iurie sainct STEPHEN and to King Dagobert the reliques of saint DENIS the first Martir of France soe to our noble Offa allmightie God miraculously reuealed the bodie of the prime Martir of great Britaine S. ALBAN But this inuention and translation of S. ALBAN happened in the yeare 794. the first day of August X. IN the meane time king Offa built founded a most magnificent King Oâ—â—a foundeth a Benedictine Abbey to S. Albau Church and a Monastery for the Benedictine Monkes to the honour of S. ALBAN in the very same place where the holy Martir had shed his bloud for the Christian fayth This Monastery he not only adorned with great wealth and reuenewes but went him self to Rome and obtayned for it large and ample priuileges of Pope Adrian whereby it was exempted from all Episeopall power and iurisdiction and by the royall charter of Offa the exercise of all ciuill authoritie within the territorre thereof was deliuered into the hands of the Abbott And lastly Pope Adrian defined in his Priuilege graunted thereunto that as S. ALBAN whom at the earnest desire of King Offa the whole countrey he had enrolled into the nuÌ„ber of canonized Sainct was knowne to be the first Martir of Britaine soe the Abbot of his Monasterie should allwaies haue the precedence before all the other Abbots of that Countrey and that Abbey be accompted the principall and head of the rest The Abbots of this S. Albans the head abâ—ey of England Monastery in times past were Barons of the realme and Parliament men and from the Abbey the towne built there abouâ—s is to this present called by the name of Sainct-Albans XI BVT a farre greater and more excellent honour came to this Monasterie by the wonderfull miracles which allmightie God wrought there by the merits of this glorious Martir S. ALBAN then by all the other glorie of priuileges wealth and riches added thereunto Nay more the whole countrey receaued infinite benefitts of cures of all manner of diseases as we may vnderstand out of Venerable BEDE an Authour beyond all exception who auoucheth miracles wrought there euen vnto his time and by the auncient annalls of the same Monasterie wherein the wonders which yearly happened are diligently and faythfully sett downe Let vs heare the Authours them selues make an Affidauit of their owne sinceritie Whatsoeuer we goe about to relate say they of the holy Martir let noe man esteeme as fayned or friuolous for we take God to witnes that they are such as eyther we haue seene with our owne eyes or heard reported by men of approued creditt Out of which it shall Miracles wrought at his Tombe suffice vs for the glory of our Protomartir briefly to rehearse some few 1. His reliques being opposed to a furious fier oftentimes extinguisht it 2. In extremitie of drought his holy bodie being carried in procession with the vsuall Litanies and supplications of the Church obtayned rayne and in time of immoderate rayne purchased fayre weather 3. Those that by an iniurious violence presumed to robbe him of land or riches dedicated to his honour were oftentimes punished with a miserable end 4. One A notable punishment Hugh who with an impious mouth vttered reproachfull speeches against the blessed Martir and his sacred solemnitie cast forth the excrements of his bodie at his blasphemous mouth all his life after being iustly punished in that part which had offended 5. A woman sick of a cruell palsey who for manie yeares was not able to goe her self being admonished from heauen entred into the holy Martirs Church where hauing made her prayer vnto God and his Sainct at the very time when the Priest at Masse offered the sacred Bodie of our Lord to his father she felt her self strongly recouered and presently walked home in perfect health of all her limmes 6. The water which had washed his holy shrine was oftentimes prooued soueraigne against manie deseases 7. And the dust gathered out of the place where he was buried and putt into drinke wrought the like miraculous effects But we shall neuer come to an end yf we goe about to loade this paper with all the miraculous cures done at his tombe blind lame deafe broken and contracted persons receaued the wished benefitt of their health by the meritts of this thrice glorious Martir Scarse anie disease could be named that was not here cured Yea and manie dead persons were recalled againe to life by the The dead raysed to life Beda Hist Eccl. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 18. And others as Constant. in vita S. Germ. Baronius tom 5. an 429. Camden in descrip Herford com Harpsfield sex primis sae culis cap. 9. Westm an 794. malm de gest reg l. 1. c. Surius â— Tom. 6. Iun. 22. intercession and patronage of this glorious Martir sainct ALBAN XII HERE it shall not be amisse to admonish my good reader yf perchance he light on the writtings of some forreigne Authours vnskilled in our English histories that affirme the bodie of our sainct ALBAN to haue been by the sorenamed sainct GERMAN translated to Rome and thence afterwards againe transported by the meanes of Theophana the Empresse to the Benedictine Abbey of sainct PANTALEON at Cullen that he suffer not him self to be easily deceaued for all our English writters maintaine the contrary First sainct BEDE following the auncient Annalls of sainct ALBANS auoucheth that sainct GERMAN tooke only with him some of the dust where his body was layd and not only left the bodie it self behind but as we haue sayd placed manie other reliques of other Martirs which he had thither brought in the tombe of sainct ALBAN as soe manie sacred witnesses and pledges of his deuotion to the holy Sainct which reliques to the manifest confutation of the contrary opinion were found there togeather with the bodie of S. ALBAN three hundred fortie and odde yeares after S. GERMANS coming into England as Mathew Westminster William of Malmesbury and other English writers doe testifie Therefore his bodie could not be carried out of England by saint GERMAN Moreouer in Surius whom I take to be the chiefe Authour of the aduerse opinion I cannot but admire one thing as a signe of great partialitie in him for hauing gathered the whole life of Saint ALBAN out of Venerable BEDE he willingly passeth ouer in silence that act of Sainct GERMANS putting the reliques into Saint ALBANS tombe and carrying away of the earth embrewed with his bloud And why doeth he soe I leaue the reason to the iudgement of the iudicious reader being loath to touch the authoritie of soe great a man It may be because he was him self of Cullen he had rather for
the honour of his towne report it to be enriched with the whole bodie of saint ALBAN then only with some of the dust of his tombe vsing a figuratiue speech of Rhetoricians and putting the VVhole for a Part. Or else the identitie Authours that affirme his bodie to be a S. Albaâ—s of the names of sainct ALBAN martir of Mentz and our saint ALBAN of England drew him to report that of ours which he should haue sayd of the other Howsoeuer he was deceaued this much we can say on our owne behalf ommitting to make an argument of the vnliklihood of the contrary assertion that Mathew Paris in the yeare 1179. Mathew VVestminster in the yeare 1259. VValsingham in the yeare 1313. Henry Huntington in the ninth booke of his history Thomas Rudburne in his greater Chronicle and others English writters of great creditt and authoritie and farre more conuersant in our histories then anie stranger can be doe constantly affirme that the sacred reliques of saint ALBAN remayned allwaies in his owne monastery in England and this the auncient records of the same place which I haue in my hands doe largely testifie by the vndiscontinued relation of the yearly miracles wrought at his tombe to the raygne of Heâ—â—y the second And in the yeare of grace 1257. Certaine workmen that were busied in repayring the Church of saint ALBANS digging somewhat deepe into the ground happened vppon the marble tombe in which his bodie had been layd presently after his martirdom at which time a heauenly splendour shined ouer his graue and the rauishing notes of Angelicall harmonie warbled fourth the prayses of the holy martir But the garment of Amphibalus sainct ALBANS His garment found spotted with fresh bloud Master in which sainct ALBAN suffered martirdom was afterwards carried to the Benedictiâ—e monasterie of Ely and there in a certaine tombe reserued which King Edward the second caused to be opened in his owne presence when it was found vncorrupted and stayned with fresh spotts of the bloud which he had sâ—ed for CHRIST who be for euer glorified in his Saincts Amen All Ecclesiasticall writers make very honourable mention of S. ALBAN of whom amongst others Fortunatus sings this verse Albanum egregium faecunda Britanniaprofert And Hiericus a Frenchman who florished seauen hundred yeares agoe hath these verses of him in the life of sainct GERMAN in which he mentioneth the executioners losse of his eyes Milliapaenarum Christi pro nomine passus Quem tandem rapuit capitis sententia caesi Sed non Lictoricessit res tuta superbo Vtque caput Sancto ceciderunt lumina soeuo His life we haue gathered out of Venerable Bede in his history of England and an other old Authour ancienter then Bede which we haue in written hand And besides the writers aboue named Gyldas Sapiens epist. de excidio Britanniae Geffrey of Monmouth hist Brit. lib. 5. cap. 5. the Roman Martirologe Vsuard Molanus and others doe largely speake his prayses In the Sarum Breuiary he hath an office of nine lessons in an auncient Manuscript breuiary of S. Benedicts Order which belonged to Burton vppon Trent he is serued with twelue lessons whereof eight are proper and which make large mention of his life and miracles An Appendix to the life of Sainct ALBAN contayning The Passion of Sainct AMPHIBALVS and other Martirs at the same time IVNE 22 Out of an auncient manuscript cited before THE famous miracles which went before and followed the death of our glorious Protomartir saint ALBAN moued The miracles of S. Alban conuerteth manie manie of the astonished assistants to be farre better affected to the Christian fayth then they were in soe much that had they had but a teacher it seemed they might easyly be brought not only to approoue but to embrace it for truth being of their owne accord allreadie well inclined thereunto Nether was the diuine goodnes wanting to their good will in this poynt by whose instinct one boulder then the rest stood vp and in this manner spake vnto them Yf only with words O fellow-citizens ALBAN had maintayned the truth of A citizeÌ„s speech to his fellovves his fayth it were not to be admired yf all men had reiected it as vayne and vnprofitable doctrine condemned by publick lawes and contrarie not only to the institutions of our ancestours but euen to reason the guide of all things But now since he hath confirmed his words and fayth with such admirable workes whosoeuer shall presume to denie it will seeme in resisting ALBAN to resist God him self by affirming that these wonderfull signes proceeded from anie other authour but God or that that fayth is not grounded in truth which is authorized by the testimonies of such diuine workes For when I pray you did our Gods euer performe the like When was the like heard off in our religion Moreouer the singular integritie The praise of S. Alban meekenes patience constancie pietie and other vertues of of this diuine man doe sett him forth amongst his other wonderfull workes for the greatest wonder Being vexed with soe manie taunts and reproches he reuiled noe man being afflicted with soe manie iniuries he was soe farre from making the lest shew of anie indignatioÌ„ of mind that he seemed more tobewayle our case then his owne Nay he went with soe ioyfull and cleere a countenance to his last deadly punishment that one would haue iudged him going to a banquet of mirth not to the scaffold of death Who doeth not see in this man a diuine power greater then humane frailtie Yf then these guifts doe proceed only from God surely he is not wont to bestow them on wicked impious and sacrilegious persons but on those that piously and holyly serue and worship him Nether is it to be doubted but that he will adorne vs and our common wealth with these and farre greater guifts then these yf we shew our selues plyant and dutifull to his diuine calling Let vs therefore follow ALBAN our Captaine and courragiously embrace his fayth and pietie which God graunt to be fortunate and happy to vs our children and our common wealth II. THESE and such like words being spoken in a great assembly of the Citizens of Verulam all publickly proclaymed that then the religion of CHRIST nothing was more diuine nothing more holy nothing more true Therefore they resolued to search the whole countrey ouer to find out AMPHIBALVS Aâ—BANS guest who was a teacher of the Christian discipline But he was gone into VVales where with soe happy successe he had cast abrode the diuine seed of the Ghospell that he had filled all the countrey thereabouts with fruits of the Euangelicall haruest and the sweet odour of his owne fame and name whereuppon the cittizens of Verulam to the number of about a thousand left their house home and following the sent of his holy deeds vertues came at length to AMPHIBALVS who hauing vnderstood of the martirdoÌ„ of his deare Host
ALBAN They are baptised and the cause of their coming thither receaued them all to the sacrament of the Christian fayth which they desired And they ioyfully embracing those diuine institutions were incensed dayly with soe ardent a desire to profitt and perfect them selues in their new-receaued fayth that the multitude of faythfull Christians grew euery day greater in number and more famous and renowned in Sainctitie III. BVT the ancient and common enemie of mankind perceauing the Euangelicall kingdom to be amplified dayly with such ioyfull increases and his possessions to be greatly diminished by these purchases iudged it high time to oppose him self against those proceedings and to that end he incensed the citizens against their fellow-Cittizens those remayning at Verulam against the others whom AMPHIBALVS had now made Cittizens of the kingdom of heauen Against whom the Burgesses of the earth being incensed with the furie of the Prince of darknes determined to rayse a cruell warre grounding their quarrell on noe other theame theÌ„ that their fellow Cittizens had forsaken the desire and loue of the world and were by the meanes of AMPHIBALVS raÌ„ged into the warrefare of CHRISTS A thousaÌ„d Christians cruelly murdered holy Ghospell Marching therefore against them when they perceaued them to be soe resolute in the opinion of their new-receaued fayth that with courragious minds they were readie to expose their necks to the furious swords of their persecutours setting aside all thought eyther of the name of fellow-CittizeÌ„s or affinitie of bloud or dignitie of their innocencie they made a furious assault vppon them being vnarmed and in most cruell manner bathed their swords in the bloud of their owne fellowes and countreymen they in the meane time ioyfully and willingly offring their bodies to the deadly blowes of CHRISTS enemies whereby his triumphant Church was adorned with the fresh roses of new troupes of holy Martyrs IV. BVT apprehending the Captaine of this holy warre AMPHIBALVS Amphibalus reserued for greater paines in the midst of those murdered bodies they brought him back to Verulam to be there reserued for greater and more exquisite torments Whither when the newes of his coming arriued all the towne flocked out to meet him though not in curtesie but to reuenge on him the losse of their fellow-cittizens and kinred of whose slaughter they iudged him to be the sole and principall authour Therefore falling violently vppon him with soe great inhumanitie they tormented and beat the bodie of the holy man that they left noe place thereof without the cruell markes of manie hurts and wounds All which he is reported to haue endured with soe great fortitude of mind that no signe of anger or trouble appeared in his countenance When all men held it for a miracle as indeed it was that his aged bodie was able to indure soe manie and soe great torments with such an vnmoued constancie and that they could not force his soule out of that weake lodging with such paines the lest whereof seemed more then sufficient to martire the strongest champion in the world V ALL being astonished and manie much grieued at this spectacle Manie coÌ„uerted to Christ made as the manner is diuers interpretations and constructioÌ„s of the matter some imputing it to witchcraft others to a diuine power in soe much that there waÌ„ted not those that affirmed it to be a most vnworthy act to exercise soe manie torments on an innocent man which without note of great crueltie could not be inflicted on the wickedest malefactour that euer was for what offence is it sayd they to draw men from the horrible rites of profane sacrifices and from a sauage manner of life to an holy and pious way of seruing God Therefore because AMPHIBALVS teacheth these things we ought rather to honour his vertue with all due reuerence and with benefitts to requite him labouring for the common good then soe vngratefully and cruelly to persecute his innocencie And this proceeding seemed to them to besoe vnwarrantable that they feafeared not to affirme the patient to be most gratefull to God in suffering such cruelties for vertues sake and the doers them selues to They are martyred with S. Amphibalus be of God most hated for soe outrageously persecuting a poore innocent On these then speaking in this manner and recommending them selues to CHRIST and the prayers of AMPHIBALVS the barbarous multitude exercised their madding crueltie and togeather with AMPHIBALVS their captaine with swords kniues and stones battered their soules out of their mortall lodgings to take an happie flight to the immortall VI THIS holy man was martired at the village of Rudburne three miles distant from Verulam where Thomas Rudburne reportes that two great kniues which had been instruments of this crueltie were reserued to his time And for the space of allmost seauen hundred yeares the reliques of this blessed Martyr lay buried in obscuritie The inuention of his bodie till about the yeare of our Lord 1178. they were miraculously found out and brought honourably in procession to the Benedictine Abbey of S ALBAN when the monkes of the same place went solemnly to meet that treasure carrying with them S. ALBANS shrine The towne of Verulam neuer beheld a more comfortable and ioyfull day One martyr mett an other the disciple his Master the Host his guest a heauenly citizen his fellow-citizen of heauen His deare guest whom S. ALBAN in times past had secretly dismissed lest he should fall into the hands of his enemies he now receaueth with publick honour and triumphe at his returne And whom then his weake lodging could not keepe secure from harme he now introduceth into a most magnificent Church And this happened in the The wonderfull miracles wrought at his toÌ„be yeare aboue sayd and the fiue and twentith day of Iune At what time that countrey was burnt vp with intollerable heate and drought but at the holy Martyrs returne there fell a great aboundance of rayne and they receaued a common medecine of allmost all diseases But the manie heauenly benefitts and miracles which were then wrought in the sight of the whole countrey that flocked thither drawne with the noueltie of the thing and the diseases that were cured after these sacred reliques were brought into the Church we omitt to recite here in particular being contented only to say thus much that nether Gallen nor Hipocrates nor anie other of the skillfullest phisitians that were could euer cure soe manie and such desperate diseases as this holy Martir being piously called vppon did without eyther potions or plaisters by his only intercession to allmightie God whereby some dead persons were recalled to life a thing which noe human phisick was euer knowne to performe Thus much of this blessed martir we haue gathered out of the annalls of S Albans Monastery Mathew Paris anno 1179. and 1217. Mathew Westminster anno 1178. Ioannes Anglicus in his goulden legend and manie â—â—â—er writers especially of the Britans doe make very
honourable mention of S. Amphibalus and speake all agreable to that which we haue sayd of him S. ETHELDREDA REGINA VIRGO ET ABBATISSA Ordinâ—â— S. 〈◊〉 in Anglia Junij 23. M. baâ—â—… The life of sainct ETHELDRED or AVDRY Queene Virgin and Abbesse of the holy Order of sainct BENEDICT IVNE 23 Out of the auncient records of Ely LEt the fabulous Greekes talke noe more of their chast Penelope who in the twentie yeares absence of her husband Vlisses liued continently in despite of the tempting importunitie of manie noble woers and let the proud Romans cease to bragge of their fayre Lucretia that chose rather to become the bloudie instrument of her owne death then to liue after the violent rauishment of her honour and lett all the world turne their minds to admire and their tongues and pennes to sound the praises of the Christian vertues and chastitie of our blessed ETHELDRED who being ioyned in wedlock to two kings one after an other preserued her self most pure in chastitie to be spiritually vnited to her heauenly spouse the king of Kings CHRIST-IESVS Let all the married admire and the vnwarried in their degree endeauour to imitate this example of wonderfull continencie the like whereof very few are to be found in the Ecclesiasticall histories Heare her life I The glorious Virgin ETHELDRED being daughter to Anna king Her pareÌ„ts of the East-Angles and his wife Hereswith adorned the royaltie of her bloud with the glory of her vertue and sainctitie For from her very infancie she studied to order all her actions to the seruice of allmightie God by auoyding the toying companie of other maydes The vertue of her youth her equalls and wholly betaking her self to embrace chastitie modestie humilitie and all other vertues as the only ornaments of a deuout soule And that they might be the better planted and rooted therein she nourished them with the food of her continuall prayers and watred them with the streames of her deuout teares making it her chiefest exercise to be present at the diuine seruice to visitt and frequent Churches wherin she was more delighted then in the splendour of her fathers royall pallace In a word she led soe holy a life in this her tender age that to her may be truly applied that saying of wisedom Aetas Senectutis vitaimmaculata A pure and immaculate life adorned with manie vertues begetts more veneration then manie yeares of old age for he liues long that liues well II. At length when this holy virgin had in this vertuous manner She is desired in mariage passed ouer her yonger yeares and was come to an age in which she appeared mariageable her vertue of mind wherin she excelled and beautie of bodie wherein she paralled allmost all yong virgins of that time being by flying fame made celebrious all ouer the contrey manie Princes and nobles that frequented her fathers court were much taken therewith and iudged it a wordly blisse which they greatly aymed at to be wedded to such excellent parts seated in soe fayre a throne of beautie But she contemning all wordly pleasures aspired only and wholly to the bedchamber of her eternall spouse CHRIST-IESVS for whose loue she desired allwaies to preserue her chastitie vntouched singing continually spirituall himnes and canticles to his honour and prayse and dayly sacrificing her self vnto allmightie God In the meane time the diuine wisedom soe disposing it and that her vnshaken resolution of chastitie might in this world be made more famous and deseruing a greater crowne of victorie and triumphe in the next she was earnestly She marrieth against her will desired in mariage by one Tunbert a Prince of the South part of the I le of Ely who hauing obtayned her fathers consent iudged him self sure of his desire till the flat refusall of the holy Virgin made him perceaue that more then one word was requisite to a bargaine Then her father interposing his royall authoritie his vertuous daughter ETHELDRED obeyed vsing violence to her owne desires to make them subiect to her fathers will Therefore being married in royall manner to the forenamed Prince behould that which amazeth the fond world and worldlings she was found worthie to imitate the Blessed Virgin MARIE and to lead a chast life togeather with her husband yf he may be called an husband who neuer rob A chast marriage bed his spouse of her virginitie But allbeit they were not as two in one flesh yet were they both of one mind in deuotion passing ouer their daies in prayer almes deedes and other good workes for both parties were consenting to the obseruance of chastitie till an happie death made a separation of that pious vnion and called Tunbert into an other world to receaue the euerlasting reward of his continent and chast life when he had liued in the bands of an vnexperienced wedlock the space of allmost three yeares III. THEN allthough our holy Virgin ETHELDRED piously lamented She retireth to Ely the death of her husband yet in heart she rather reioyced that now she was freed from the yoake of matrimonie hoping by that meanes more easily to escape the vaine allurements of the world Therefore in her owne house at Ely she began to lead a most retired and deuout life hoping in that place which was an Iland encompassed with store of shadie woods more securely to auoyd the vaine honours of the world There her deuotion encreased dayly and her pious desire was more and more enkindled with the fier of the holy Ghost But now her former labour being ouercome she is to be drawne out and ranged into a greater conflict that the palme and glory of her virginitie might more excellently be made manifest to the world For Egsrid King of the Northumbers made very earnest sute to haue her for his wife To which his petitioÌ„ allthough Her second maâ—â—â—ge to King â—gfrid to her it seemed rather odious then glorious yet being ouercome by the importunitie of her frieÌ„ds she vnwillingly yeelded for the gayning of a greater triumphe ouer those vaine pleasures againe she putt her virginitie to the hazard of mariage But with King Egfrid who was a yong man that boyled in the flower and ardour of youthly yeares she endured a farre greater combat allwaies remayning vnconquered In whom the loue of heauen was soe powerfull that it still preserued her holy purpose free from all carnall desires A straiâ—ge resoâ—utâ—oâ— of câ—asttie And in her kings pallace where other ladies are woÌ„t to be inflamed with those vnchast fiers she burned with the flames of His heauenly loue whom the Angells desire to behould and gaze on In a word for the space of twelue yeares our pious Virgin ETHELDRED liued in an holy marriage with her husband king Egfrid without suffering anie the lest blemish to her virginitie A thing soe worthy of admiration that it is hard to say whether the constancie of her or the patience of him that boyled with
which was her dowrie giuen by her first husband Tonbert and the place destined for the perpetuall habitation of her and her successours But trauelling this long iourney on foote accompanied only with two other sisters being all more then vsually wearied with the labour and heate of the way they sate downe vnder the protection of a shadie groue a while to refresh their tired bodies with a desired rest Where after a short sleepe they arose and as it is A strainge miracle constantly reported by the Authours of her life they found the holy Virgins staffe which she had stuck in the ground at her head to be miraculously growne into a fayre greene tree which afterwards came to be a mightie Ashe bigger then anie of the same kind in all that countrey and the place was euer after called by the name of Etheldredstowe where a Church was built in honour of the holy Virgin and in memorie of this miraculous accident VIII AT the I le of Ely therefore she at length arriued where in Ely first built by S. Augustine times past as manie Authours affirme sainct AVGVSTINE our Apostle had built a monasterie at the charge of Ethelbert King of Kent and dedicated it to the Blessed Virgin MARIE and placed therein a Conuent of Benedictine Monkes about the yeare of our Lord six hundred But afterwards when Penda that tirannous King of the Mercians had layd to wast all the countrey of the East-Angles that Monasterie was allsoe made to fall into the confusion of an vntimely ruine which now our holy ETHELDRED not only reedified againe but allsoe restored to a farre greater state of glorie When manie other Virgins drawne thither with the fame of her holy life and vertues ranged them selues into the discipline of a regular life vnder her gouernment for by the authoritie of S. WILFRID she was made Abbesse of the same place soe that within a short time she Etheldred made Abbesse of Ely had gathered a worthy Conuent of holy Benedictine Nunnes that night and day sung the prayses of allmightie God and led a most strict and holy life Then by the meanes of the same Saint WILFRID and the instance of our holy Virgin this new Monasterie of Ely was established with manie priuiledges and liberties by the authoritie of the Pope exempted from the iurisdiction and power of Bishops IX BVT with how great sainctitie vertue and pious example of With how great vertue she gouerned life our holy ETHELDRED gouerned the same Monasterie with how great continencie she liued and with what heauenly guifts and graces she was adorned by allmightie GOD it farre exceedeth the weaknes of this penne to rehearse From her first entrance into the monasterie she neuer vsed anie other cloathing but of wollen which she wore allso next vnto her skinne She seldom made vse of warme bathes a thing much practised in those daies but against the greatest solemnities of the yeare as Easter whitsuntide and the like nether then would she take them but after all the rest of her Sisters when she had first playd the part of a diligent seruant in helping them in that act In her diet she was so sparing that she allwaies cōtented her self with on small meale a day vnlesse ether the solemnitie of some great feast her owne infirmitie of body or some other greater cause compelled her to enlarge her ordinary allowance In diuine prayer and contemplation she was soe vntired that after the performance of the mid-nights office in the quire she alwaies continued her deuotion in the Church till the next morning Herevppon the diuine goodnes that is neuer wanting to his seruants adorned his vertuous Spouse with the grace of doing manie miraculous cures on the bodies of possessed and diseased persons and allso indowed her with the guift of prophesie by vertue whereof she foretould the cōming of an ineuitable sicknes to the monasterie which to her and manie of her sisters should be the messenger of death specifying withall the certaine nūber of those that should come vnder the cruell arrest of that fearefull seargeant X. AT length the time drawing neere in which the Spouse of all She falleth sick pure soules CHRIST-IESVS had determined to take this his beloued spouse out of the frayle barke of this mortall state to the heauenly dwellings of his glorious Kingdom she was attached with a sicknes which brought with it such a cruell swelling and impostume in her neck and throate that her body growing dayly to lower and lower degrees of weaknes she was compelled to entertaine both those incommodities in her bed When allbeit the swelling gaue her most sharpe feelings of her paine she neuerthelesse being attentiue to her accustomed deuotions ceased not to render thankes vnto almightie God who vseth the scourge of a pious chastisement to correct those he truely loueth Then nothing but weeping and lamenting was to bee seene or heard in the house her familie and the poeple adioyning grieued to loose soe good a Mistresse and her holy and chast quire of virgins sorowed more then can be expressed with feare to be deuided from soe good a mother Only she her self for whō was made all this lamentation seemed in heart and countenance most ioyfull whose confidence in the diuine goodnes was such and soe great that she was nothing terrified with the apprehension and feare of death And when the paine of her impostume gaue her the sharpest remembrance she seemed much delighted therewith and endured it as the delights and ornaments of her glorie vsing these words to the by-standers Most certainely I know that I deseruedly suffer this swelling in my neck about which in my youth I was wont to weare manie vaine bracelets and goulden ornaments of pride Therefore I giue heartie thankes vnto the diuine goodnes that thence my grief springs where I was wōt to make shew of a delightfull vanitie And I beleeue and trust that my pious Redeemer by afflicting me with this paine will mercifully absolue me frō the punishmēt due vnto my former leuitie A rare example of vertue * Harpsfield saec 7. c. 24. Our English woemen are wont to weare about their necks a certaine chaine made of fine small silke which we call Etheldreds chaine it may be in memory of what we haue here sayd And would to God this monument would stirre vp our minds as indeed it ought to imitate the vertues and holy life of S. ETHELDRED which surely is the end for which it was first instituted and vsed And the same I wish vnto those Peeres and noble men both of England and other nations who carrie a chaine about their necks called A Collar of S. S. which letters signifie the name of Saint Simplicius who borne of the bloud of Roman Senatours generously suffered death for the loue of CHRIST Truely then these chaines would become of no lesse ornament both to men and woemen then in times past that chaine was to Titus Manlius
the Roman which being prouoked to battle he had taken from his conquered enemie wherevppon he afterwards was surnamed Torquatus from Torques which in Latine signifies a chaine But let vs returne to Sainct ETHELDRED XI THEREFORE whilst this holy Virgin lying amidst the tormeÌ„ts of a most cruell sicknes gaue thankes vnto her Creatour for soe pious a visitation boyling with a desire to be dissolued to liue with CHRIST some of the assistants in whom yet remayned a small hope of her recouery caused a skillfull chirurgean to launce the swelled place and make way for that corrupted matter to issue forth as being stuffe to base and loathsome to be imprisonned in soe pure a bodie Which done the holy Virgin seemed for two daies space to be greatly eased of her payne and to wax better in health soe She seemeth to recouer that manie conceaued a new hope that she might escape this danger which was cause of great ioy vnto her friends and Sisters But all this was but as a glimpse of lightuing before death for the third day when all wounds and incisions are most panifull she her self perceauing that the happie minute of her wished departure was at hand caused the whole Conuent of Nunnes to be gathered togeather about her vnto whom hauing first signified that her hower of death was come she imparted as well as the violence of her payne would suffer her the dying words of her last farewell soe full of the sweetnes of diuine documents and deuotion that she wonderfully moued the minds and hearts of them all to the loue of heauen and heauenly things Then hauing strengthened her iourney with the Viaticum of our Lords holy bodie she rendred vp her pure soule into the pure hands of her Creatour and ending this mortall Her happy deâ—th life entered into that which neuer ends leauing the whole Conuent of her deuout Sisters soe ouercharged with sorrow that not being able to containe so hard a burden within doores their coÌ„passionate eies let forth liuely signes thereof to ease the heauines of their pious hearts This glorious Virgin died the 23. day of Iune in the yeare of our Lord six hundred seauentie nine when she had been Abbesse seauen yeares Aldulph her Brother then raygning ouer the East-Angles XII BVT when her sacred bodie had layne buried in the earth the space of sixteen yeares her holy sister SEXBVRG who had succeeded in the gonernment of the same Monasterie moued with the manie miracles dayly wrought at her tombe was desirous to take vp those sacred spoiles and honour them with a more eminent place in the Church Therefore a day being appoynted for the more solemne execution of this translation a great multitude of deuout poeple flocked thither to be present at that act amongst whom allso was S. WILFRID Archbishop of Yorke and Kinefrid the Chirurgean that two daies before her departure had made the incision in her neck which we spoke of before But before they opened her sepulcher the holy Abbesse SEXBVRG sent some of the Monkes to prouide A tombâ—stone miraculously found for her bodie a stone to be the tombe of those sacred reliques Who because the I le of Ely it self being a place encompassed round with waters Marshes was voyde of all manner of stones of such greatnes went to a litle towne not farre from thence called Grandacester where neere vnto the walles of the same towne they streight found a fayre tombe curiously cutt in white marble with a couer of the same matter most iustly fitted thereunto All much amazed at this good fortune especially because the neighbouring poeple affirmed that they had neuer before seene anie such stone in that place they vnderstood that our Lord the wonder-working spouse of the glorious Virgin ETHELDRED had miraculously prospered their iourney and prouided a shrine for her holy bodie Therefore singing himnes of prayse thankes vnto his diuine goodnes they brought the new-found tombe-stone to the Monastery which was a great comfort and encouragement to the vertuous Abbesse to hearten her to proceed in the execution of her intended purpose Her body found vncorrupted after sixteen yeares XIII THEREFORE all things being worthyly ordered and prepared the whole Conuent came in procession and stood singing about the sepulcher which was couered and hidden vnder a pauillion Then the Abbesse with some others entered into it to take vp the holy body which being discouered they fouÌ„d to be as whole fayre fresh and vncorrupted as the same day it was layd in the earth and appeared vnto the amazed beholders more like vnto one asleepe then dead Nay which is most wonderfull the incision in her neck which at her buriall was a wide and open wound was now soe perfectly cured that there remayned only to be seene a small and slender skarre as a token of what it had been before Soe that the earth which is wont to corrupt and consume the dead bodies of other mortall men serued here as a soueraigne baulme not only to preserue her virginall flesh vncorrupted but euen to cure and heale the wounds made therein Then the bodie being eleuated to the publick view of the whole multitude of assistants with astonished eyes they all beheld the wonder of allmightie God who worketh his owne will and pleasure both in heauen and earth and here to shew the integritie of this holy Virgins chastitie during her life had preserued her bodie allsoe from all spott of corruption for the space of sixteen yeares after her death And of this were witnesses besides manie others great S. WILFRID and Kinfrid the Chirurgean who being a faythfull recorder of this accident was De gest lib. 4. c. 9. wont to relate the same as it is here writteÌ„ vnto Venerable BEDE and others as BEDE him self doeth testifie affirming allso that not only the bodie but the linnen cloathes in which it was wrapped were found allso to be as entier and new as the first day they were employed to enclose that chast bodie XIV THEN hauing washed the sacred bodie and shrowded it in fresh cloathes fitt to containe soe worthie a treasure they placed it with great reuerence in the new and miraculous tombe of white marble which they found to be soe fitt in length and bignes to containe that sacred relique that the cunningest workman by line and measure could not haue made one fitter and brought it with Miracles at her tombe great ioy and solemnitie into the Church of the B. Virgin MARY which she had founded in her life time This translation or eleuation of her holy bodie was performed on the seauenteenth day of October and sixteeÌ„ yeares after her death Manie great miracles were afterwards wrought there at her toÌ„be the only touching of the cloathes that her bodie had been wrapped in droue deuills out of the bodies of possessed persons and cured manie diseases by the power of Him that is all waies wonderfull in his Saincts And the woddeÌ„
chest in which her body had been first buried healed manie of sore eyes by only laying their heads close vnto it and in their prayers calling on the helpe of allmightie God and the intercession of his glorious Virgin S. ETHELDRED Allso out of the place where she was first buried sprung forth a fountaine of cleere water which was proued to be most soueraigne for manie diseases euen vntill the time of our Authour who had seene the experieÌ„ce thereof himself Diuers other miracles are faithfully related by this Authour Thomas of Ely to haue been wrought in the same Monastery by the meritts In the manus cript history of Ely of this glorious Virgin There the blind recouered their sight the dumbe their speech the lame the vse of their legges the dease their hearing and allmost all kind of diseased persons were restored to perfect health as may be seene at large in the history of Ely XV BVT as this holy Virgin was piously gratious to all that deuoutly The diuine punishmeÌ„nt against one that wronged her Tombe implored her assistance in their necessities so was she manie times no lesse terrible in punishing those that maliciously endeauoured to wrong her Tombe Church or anie thing belonging thereunto For proofe whereof it shall suffice to relate one example only In that outrageous spoile which the barbarous Danes mad throughout the kingdom of England during the troublesom raignee of the two kings Etheldred and Elfred when all Churches Monastes ries and religious houses togeather with their inhabitants were committed to fier and sword the Monasterie of Ely was allso made a prey to their vntamed crueltie When one of those Pagans more prone to wickednes then the rest attempted to breake open the holie shrine of saint ETHELDRED hoping to find it furnished with store of golden treasure which his couetous mind greatly thirsted after And hauing with much labour made a hole through the marble chest which remayned in the same vntill our Authours time the diuine punishment was soe suddaine against him that his vnworthines was not suffered to behould the treasure contayned therein For at the very same instant his eyes fell out of his head and he him self falling downe to the earth vomitted out his miserable soule to carrie newes to the next world how seuerely God punisheth those that wrong the reliques of his Saincts And his wretched end taught his fellowes not to presume to touch that sacred tombe allbeit they committed the Church and Monasterie to the vnsatiable flames of fier But after a long desolation in the time of the peaceable raigne Kind Edgar repayreth the Church of Ely of the most noble King Edgar the same Monasterie was magnificently restored to its former and a farre greater glorie by the royall munificence of the same King and the secular Clerkes that had crept into it in the meane time were for their incontinencie and bad life cast out by the meanes of that worthly Pillar of the English Church and the Benedictine familie sainct ETHELWOLD and by the speciall commaund of King Edgar the Benedictine Monkes placed in their steed one Brithnode made Abbot vnto whoÌ„ in successe of time nine other Abbotts succeeded in order After whom in the yeare of our Lord 1108. during the raigne of King Henry the first the Abbey it self was turned to an Episcopall sea and the Conuent of Monkes gouerned by a Priour who had the title of a Cathedrall Priour vnto whom and his Chapter of Monkes belonged the election of the Bishop XVI BVT our glorious sainct ETHELDRED was allwaies held and Etheldred the Patronesse of Ely reuerenced for the speciall and principall Patronesse of this place and such she shewed her self to be both by the continuall working of manie miracles and cures at her tombe as allsoe by diuers apparitions after her death for the peculiar good thereof One whereof we cannot omitt In the sixteenth yeare of the raigne of King Henry the first there liued in the Prouince of Ely a maÌ„ called Bricstan who being from his very infancie intangled with the crosses and aduersities of the world gaue himself amongst other vices to deale in the damnable trade of vsurie by which only he was maintayned in the world Till hauing drawne his line of life to a great length in such wickednes he fell into a sicknes soe vehement that it made him apprehend death to be nigh When the extremitie of his disease forced him to enter into consideration of the miserable state he had liued in and being inspired with a heauenly glimpse of diuine grace he made a faythfull promise to deliuer him self to the seruice of allmightie God vnder the habitt of a Benedictine Monke in the Monasterie of sainct ETHELDRED at Ely And without anie further delay hauing gathered all his goods togeather he went to the Monasterie BricstaÌ„ resolueth to be a MoÌ„ke and made liuerie and season of them him self vnto the Monkes humbly crauing mercie for his former life But the coÌ„mon enemie of mankind by whose enuie AdaÌ„ fell out of Paradise stirred vp an instrument of his and a seruant of the Kings called Robert Malartes who in behalfe of the King hindered poore Brickstans taking the habitt He is maliciously hindered of Religion and hauing layd theft and other great offences to his charge affirmed that not to saue his soule but to cloake the hay nousnes of his wicked life he sought now to enter into religion In fine Brickstan hauing noe other weapon but his owne innocencie stood stiffely vppon his deniall as indeed he had reason being guiltlesse of the crimes he was accused off But the authoritie of his aduersarie soe preuayled against the iustice of his cause that he was clapt vnder guard and led fettered and bound to London where he became an vâ—willing guest to the Iaylour in a darke and loathsom prison and loaden with bolts and iron chaines in great miserie he a long time fed vppon the two common dishes of the poore prisoners ordinarie cold and Hunger XVII IN the meane time allbeit he found in him self no former meritts whereby he might deserue much before the face of allmightie In prison he calleth vppon S. Benedict and S. Etheldred God yet he ceased not to call to his diuine goodnes for helpe with a sorrowfull heart and voyce desiring the intercession of the glorious Patriarch of Monkes sainct BENEDICT to whose order he had vowed him self and of S. ETHELDRED in whose Monasterie he purposed to haue embraced the same order And this was his dayly and nightly exercise whilst he liued in this wretched state of imprisonment which dured fiue moneths What more One night when the bells in the cittie rung to the mid-nights office of Mattins our Prisoner hauing fasted three daies before lay as he thought at such a poynt of extremitie that he expected nothing but death to be the period of his miserie yet still calling eyther in mouth or heart on
the names of those glorious saincts the diuine goodnes shewed him a heauenly token and signe of his mercie For S. BENEDICT and sainct ETHELDRED with her sister sainct SEXBVRG appeared visibly vnto him in the prison with such a glorious lustre to He hath an apparition that darke place and such a lightning of comfort to his weake soule darkened with sorrow that betwixt ioy and amazement he was allmost traÌ„sported beyond him self not knowing what to say or what to thinke Till those heauenly cittizens hauing made them selues knowne vnto him demaunded yf he would be deliuered out of that captiuitie At which words awaking as it were out of a deepe sleepe he answered that he would most willingly enioy libertie yf he thought he could anie longer liue but because the forces of his bodie were quite spent he had now no further hope to escape Then S. BENEDICT drawing neere vnto him very gently pulled off his He is releaâ—ed by S. Benedict shackles and threw them with such vehemencie against a beame in the same roome that they broke in peeces and the noyse awaked the keepers who fearing lest their prisoÌ„ners might haue made some escape came hastily with lights into the same roome where to theyr great astonishment they vnderstood first by an other of the prisoners and next of Brickstan him self what strainge guests had been there and how he had been miraculously loosed out of his fetters by the heauenly visitation of S. BENEDICT and S. ETHELDRED Therefore the next morning they made relation hereof to the vertuous Queene Mawde who happened to be in London at the same time and she presently sent one Raphe a chaplaine of the Court to be more certainly informed of the truth of this accident He hauing found how Brickstan was released out of his fetters and seeing the irons soe straingely burst in peeces brought him to the Queenes Great ioy for his releasement presence at court Then the noyse of this miraculous accident being blowne all ouer the cittie of London made the cittizens with their mouthes full of the prayses of allmightie God come flocking to the Court. And the Queene being replenished with an extreme ioy at the noueltie of the miracle caused all the bells in the towne to make the ayre resouÌ„d with peales of ioy for the straingenes thereof all Conuents of Ecclesiasticall persons to sing forth prayses of thanksgiuing vnto the allmightie worker of wonders for soe great a remonstrance of his goodnes And Brickstan him self going in pilgrimage to visitt manie Churches throughout the cittie to giue thankes for this heauenly fauour was followed with whole troupes of poeple that desired to looke vppon him as vppon a wonder and at the Benedictine Abbey of Westminster he was receaued by Gilebert the Abbot and the whole Conuent of Monkes that came in procession to meete him In fine by commaund of the Queene he was honourably conueyed out of all his troubles to the beloued hauen of his desires the Monasterie of Ely carying with him as the trophies of his victorie ouer the world the chaines and fetters which had bound him in prison and out of which he was soe miraculously released At Ely he was very honourable receaued where he brought Briestan becometh a Monke at Ely his former purpose to perfection and putt on the habitt and profession of a Benedictine moke And his fetters were hung vp in the same Church before the high aultar for a perpetuall spectacle and monument of the miracle This happened in the time of Herueus first bishop of the same place XVIII THOMAS WalsinghaÌ„ in his historie of England in Richard the secoÌ„d in the yeare 1389. relateth how during the same kings raygne the holy Virgin ETHELDRED appeared at two seuerall times to distinct persons and foretould strainge accidents and punishments that should happen vnto the Countrey yf they were not auerted by the prayers and sacrifices of good men Other particularities thereof we omitt fearing to be ouer teadious hauing shewed sufficiently how great a care this glorious Sainct had of her countrey Let vs make intercession vnto her that by her meritte and prayers she would obtaine vs grace of allmightie God to be freed from the yoake oppression of Heresie which in these our daies beareth soe great a head ouer onr miserable couÌ„trey Her life we haue gathered out of the Chronicles of Ely which we haue in an auncient manuscript written by Thomas of Ely a Monke of the same place aâ— allso out of Venerable Bede de gestis Ang. lib. 4. cap. 19. Nicholas Harpsfield sec 7. cap. 24. and Ionnes Anglicus recited by Iohn Capgraue in his legend of English Saincts Mention is made of her in the Roman Martirologe and in that of Bede Ado Vsuard and Wion Allso William Malmesbury lib. 2. de gest reg cap. 13. Mathew Westminster anno 679. Polidore Virgill lib. 4. Wigorniensis annis 672. 673. and 679. Trithemius in his third booke of the famous men of sainct Benedicts Order chap. 122. and manie other writers doe worthyly sound forth her prayses and in auncient times her feast was celebrated in England with great solemnitie The life of sainct BARTHOLOMEW Priest and Monke of the holy Order of sainct BENEDICT IVNE 24 Written by Ioannes Anglicus SAINCT BARTHOLOMEW borne in Yorkeshire in the Prouince of Whiteby in times past called Streanshall was by his parents first named Tostius but when he left the world and entered into a monasticall life he left allso that name and was called BARTHOLOMEW In his verie infancie he gaue manie rare signes of future sainctitie and receaued from heauen manie speciall fauours to confirme the His diuine visions same being diuers times visited by our Lord IESVS-CHRIST him self in person and by his glorious Mother the Blessed Virgin MARY and the holy Apostles S. PETER and sainct IOHN In his youth he trauelled into manie forreigne countreys and in Norway he was adorned with the sacred dignitie of Priestood But returning into England he receaued the habitt of a Monke in the Benedictine monasterie Note a miracle of Durham where entring into the Church and making reuerence to the Crucifix the sacred Image of Christ hanging on the Crosse seemed with an humble bowing of the head to resalute him againe In this monasterie he led a verie regular and strict life profitting dayly more and more in humilitie obedience and all other vertues belonging to a Monasticall life Till at length aspiring to a more solitarie manner of liuing segregated from all humane companie the great Patrone of that Order and monasterie S. CVTHBERT appeared to him in a vision and inuited him to liue in the Iland of Farne which was the place that he him self in his life time had honoured with his holy conuersation BARTHOLOMEW being glad of soe heauenly an offer soe suting with his desires promised to spend the remnant of his life in that Iland to that end with much difficultie and importunitie he
obtayned leaue of his Priour who fearing lest soe strict a life might be too hard for him to vndertake hauing yet liued but a yeare in the obseruance of the Monastery was the more vnwilling to consent to his purpose II. TO the Hermitage of Farne then he went where he led a most His strict life in the the Ermitage strict and rigid manner of life He wore a hayre shirt next his skinne for manie yeares vntill his Priour commaunded the contrarie His bed was no other then the hard ground his diet bread and herbes he neuer tasted anie flesh and after some yeares he abstayned from fish allso his drinke was fayre water and seauen yeares before his death he is reported not to haue dronke at all His cloathing was a wollen stamin a cowle and a black cloake lined with skinnes His stockins were allso of leather which he neuer putt of vntill they were quite consumed with age For he was wont to say to his brethren that our bodies were to be vsed to all manner of hardnes and filth yf we desired to bring our soules to the perfection of beautie and puritie But in all this rigorous manner of life he allwaies carried so pleasant and merrie a countenance and had his face soe well tempered with its naturall colours that all that beheld it would haue iudged him rather a great louer of bodily delights and dainties then soe seuere a chastiser and tamer of his owne flesh In prayer soe vnwearied that besides his ordinarie office he recited ouer Dauids Psalter sometimes twise sometimes thrise euery day In the mean He ouercometh the temptations of the deuill time he was grieuously vexed and assaulted by manie hellish temptations of the deuill all which with a firme confidence in allmightie God and by the figne of the holy crosse and the vertue of holy water he vtterly vanquished and ouerthrew III. HE is reported allso to haue wrought manie miracles in his life time and to haue beene comforted with diuers heanenly visions during the time of his strict life in this Hermitage amongst which he beheld the soule of Thomas Priour of Durham who hauing left the regeÌ„cie of the Monasterie had liued a retired life togeather with him died in the same Iland caried vp into heauen by the ministerie of angelicall hands And at length sainct BARTHOLOMEW him self when he had liued fortie yeares and six moneths in this hermitage in all sainctitie and holines of life hauing a long time before had a reuelation of the hower and time of his death was called out of the thraldom of this world to receaue the euerlasting rewards of his labours in heauen on the very feast of sainct IOHN the Baptist the fower and twentith day of Iune He was buried in his Oratorie in the same place at whose tombe manie miraculous cures were wrought by the all mightie power of him who is for euer glorious in his saincts What yeare he died is not specified by the Authours of his life but he must needs haue flourished since the yeare 1100. about which time the Benedictine Monkes were first introduced into the Cathedrall Church of Durham in the reigne of William Rufus The life of S. Bartholomew we haue gathered out of Ioannes Anglicus recited by Iohn Capgraue in his legend of English Saincts with whom let the truth of this history stand for J haue not yet found anie other Authour that makes mention of him The life of sainct ADALBERT Deacon Confessour and Monke of the holy Order of saint BENEDICT IVNE 25. Out of an auncient manuscript recited by Surius to 3. THIS holy man was one of those twelue Benedictine Monkes which S. EGBERT sent as soe manie elect Apostles to preach the fayth of Christ in Germanie of which mission you may reade more in the life of sainct Swibert March the first and in that of saint EGBERT Aprill the twentie fourth He was sonne to Edilbald king of the Deiri and nephew to saint OSWALD king of the Northumbers But esteeming the gayne of the kingdom of heauen before all worldly greatnes he despised the royall wealth dignities and honours of his birth embraced first a Monasticall life in England afterwards he became a disciple to sainct EGBERT in Ireland in a more rigid strict obseruance of the Benedictine rule and profession and lastly being made Deacon he was ioyned to eleauen other Priests and Benedictine Monkes to make vp the number of twelue Apostolicall men which as we haue sayd sainct EGBERT sent to announce the He conuerted manie in Germanie Christian fayth to the barbarous Pagans of Germanie ADALBERT therefore for the loue of CHRIST and the aduancement of his holy Ghospell went couragiously with the rest and at Egmond in Holland he employed his best labours for the coÌ„uersion of soules to CHRIST and his Church Where after he had reaped a most happie and fruitfull haruest in the vineyard of our Lord and reduced great multitudes of Heathens out of the blind night of Idolatrie to the comfortable light of Christs Ghospell famous for his holy life and miracles which it pleased allmighiie God to worke by his meritts for the better confirming of what he preached he ended his toilesome daies in this world and departed to the eternall reward of his labours in heauen the fiue and twentith day of Iune about the yeare of our Lord 705. He was buried at Egmond in Holland where his tombe flourished wonderfully with manie great miracles wrought thereat II Afterwards in the time of Theodoricke the first Duke of Holland his holy bodie was taken out of the earth where vnder his coffin there appeared a fountaine of most pure water springing out of the ground and the palle in which that sacred treasure was wrapped they found to be as entier and vncorrupted as it was at the first And The eleuation of his bodie the same Theodoricke built a chappell in a place called Hallen in which the holy bodie was placed with great reuerence and solemnitie But his sonne Theodoricke the Yonger being a most feruent follower of his fathers deuotioÌ„ founded there a goodly Monasterie of S. Bâ—nedicts order in honour of S. ADALBERT by whose meritts his sonne Egbert A monastery dedicated to his name afterwards Archbishop of Treuirs was cured of a teadious cruell feauer which had giuen the foyle to all the skill of human phisick This Monasterie of Egmond is held for antiquitie and dignitie the noblest in all Holland in which lie buried the bodies of manie Princes expecting the deadfull summons of the last trumpett who in their liues endowed it with manie rich guifts and possessions Manie other miracles were wrought at the same place by the merits of this glorious Sainct which are contayned in the history of his life written by the Monkes of Medeloc and recited by Surius in his third tome out of which we haue gathered thus much of him The Roman Martirologe maketh mention of him as allso that of Ado and Wion Allso Molanus in his Index of the Saincts of Belgia Trithemius in his third booke of the famous men of S. Benedicts order chap. 294. Baronius tom 8. anno Christi 697. Marcellinus in the life of S. Swibert and others The end of Iune and the first Tome TO THE READER VOutchsafe good Reader courteously to receaue this first tome of our Saincts liues which allthough it come alone to thy view and sâ—e beare an imperfect face yet I doubt not it will giue thee some consolation in the reading The second part is going to the presse and shall by Gods holy assistance come with as much speed as is possible to thy hands In the meane time let thy kind acceptance of this adde wings of courage and hast to the accomplishment of the other Farewell AN ALPHABETICALL TABLE OF THE SAINCTS CONTAYNED IN THIS FIRST TOME A. A DELBERT Deacon 612. Adrian Abbott 42. Alban Martir 574. Aldelme Bishop 487. Alfwold Bishop 325. Alured Abbot 56. Amphibalus Martir 587. Anselme Archbishop 380. Asaph Bishop 412. Augustine Archbishop 496. Aydo Abbott 200. B. Bartholomew Priest 610. Bathilde Queene 104 Bede Priest 523. Bennet Biscop Abbott 46. Birstan Bishop 114. Boniface Martyr 535. Bosa Bishop 245. Botulphe Abbott 571. Brigitt Virgin 118. Brithune Abbot 432. Brithwald Bishop 45. C. Cadock Martir 102. Cedde Bishop 35. Cedmon Monke 153. Ceolulphe King 70. Chad Bishop 224. Columba Abbott 562. Cuthbert Bishop D. Dauid Bishop 218. Deicola Abbot 82. Dimpna Martir 426. Dunstan Archbishop 434. E. Eadburg Virgin 569. Eadbert Bishop 413. Edilwald Priest 324. Edward King Confessor 1. Edward King Martir 292. Egbert Priest 402. Elfled Virgin 14â— Elphegus Bishop Martir 361. Elstan Bishop 340. Erkenwald Bishop 407. Ermenburg Queene 100. Ermenild Abbesse 157. Ethelbert King Confessor 179. Ethelbert King Martir 466. Etheldred Queene Abbesse 593. F. Felix bishop 244 Fremund King 424. Furseus Abbot 72 G. Gilbert Confessour 135 Gregory Pope 246 Godrick Hermite 472 Gudwall Bishop 505 Guthlake Confessour 343 Gyldas Abbot 112 Gysla and Rictrude 341 H. Henry Hermite 78 Herebert Priest 322 I. Inas King 142 Iohn of Beuerley 415 K. Kentigerne bishop 61 Kyneburg Abbesse and Kineswide virgin 237 L. Laurence Archbishop 126 M. Margaret Queene 564. Melliâ—us Bishop 399. Milburg Abbesse 173. Milgith Virgin 187. O. Oswald Bishop 188. Owen Confessour 235. P. Paternus Bishop 356. Patrick Bishop 270. Peter Abbot 69. Pyran Bishop 236. R. Richard Bishop 327. Robert Abbot 554. S. Sexulphe Bishop 111. Stephen Abbot 357. Swibert Bishop 202. T. Thelian Bishop 149. Theorithgid Virgin 101. Translation of S. Edward King and Martir 159. Trumwine Bishop 152. V. Vlrick Confeffour 162. W. Walburg Virgin 183. Wereburg Abbesse 131. Wilgis Confessour 116. Willeick Priest 229. William Archbishop 559. Winwaloke Abbott 231. Wolstan Bishop 84. Wulsine Bishop 39. Wyre Bishop 421.
fluxit Atque Magistrorum veneranda caterua cucurrit In number of HIS children gladly stand All that haue place in fruitfull Britaines land From HIM to vs baptismall grace did flow To HIM our troupes of Teachers we do owe. Whereby he euidently concludeth that not only the Apostles them selues who brought the Grace of Baptisme into our countrey were children of sainct BENE DICT but euen that all the faythfull people of great Britaine were Foster-children vnto the same sainct BENEDICT whose disciples had nourished fed the infancie of their faith with the milke of CHRISTS holy Ghospell and first brought them into the bosome of his true Church And this same passage of sainct ALDELME was quoted seauen hundred yeares agoe by Amoinus a monke of the samous Benedictine Abbey of Amoinus Fleury in France in a sermon of the prayses of sainct BENEDICT which hath bin lately sett forth by Ioannes a Bosco in his worke intituled The Library of Fleury This Amoinus who is a very graue and auncient authour following the aforesayd truth embraced by our sainct ALDELNE bouldly and without anie difficultie affirmeth sainct GREGORY the great to be a child of sainct BENEDICTS in the prologue of his second booke which treateth of the Miracles of our holy Father Nether is he content to say it only as the opinion of his owne head but constantly asseuers it a thing receaued by the whole English nation For thus he speaketh in the life of sainct ABBO extant in the Librarie of Fleury chapter the 4. In the meane time came an embassage from the English natioÌ„ to Fleury desiring to haue the helpe of some prudent and wise men Because this nation came to the loue of our holy Father S. BENEDICT and of that See the life o◠〈◊〉 Oswald Feb. 28. foresayd place for two causes One was because Blessed Pope GREGORY hauing sent thither preachers of Christs faith more peculiarly beat into their memories the obseruance of the Rule of the same beloued seruant of our Lord BENEDICT And the other because one called OSWALD a man of great authoritie amongst them hauing despised the world embraced the seruice of Christâ— in the about named Monastery of â—leury Therefore by the authoritie of this graue Authour a witnes of soe great antiquitie it plainly appeares that sainct GREGORY professed the holy Rule of S. BENEDICT and that the Preachers he sent into England did the like But lest some impertinent cauiller for such an one he must needs be that calls in question the authoritie of our Aldelme whom the Church approueth for a Sainct should say that these and such like writers professing the Benedictine Order them selues are parties in the controuersie and that consequently their authoritie cannot decide this question I will here briefly bring Authours of allmost all other Orders and Professions who doe expressely auouch that sainct GREGORY and his disciples our Apostles were Benedictines And bicause Baronius the Father of the contrarie opinion Thomas Bozius which we impugne was a Priest of the Oratorian CongregatioÌ„ let the Venerable Father Thomas Bozius Priest of the same Oratorie proceed first against him This Bozius who was a learned graue and prudent writer seemeth of sett purpose to condemne the iudgemeÌ„t of his fellow-Priest in this point soe plainly he speaketh for vs in manie places especially in his fift booke of his excellent worke intituled Of the signes of the Church chap. 3. GREGORY the great saith he borne of a most noble race and hauing througly performed his office in the chiefest honours of Rome at length despising all things and bequeathing him self to the Order of sainct BENEDICT he made profession of a monke and besides others founded in other places he built a Monasterie at Rome on the side of the hill Scaurus in that place verie manie did learne both solid pâ—etie and heauenly learning and addicted themselues to the Order of sainct BENEDICT Hence GREGORY drew out Augustine Mellitus Iustus Paulinus Laurence and Iohn and other Monkes whom BEDE and others doe mention and by whom the seruice of Christ was dispersed and confirmed amongst the English and maniâ— monasteries of the same Order builded And in his third booke of the state of Italie chap. 5. which booke he writt after this controuersie was set a broach by Baronius that he might shew him self notwithstanding the arguments of Baronius to be constant in the veritie of his former opinion he sayth thus Wee haue shewed at large in the fourth booke of the Signes of the Church signe the 6. that by noe other endeauour then that of the Roman Bishops the Christian religion waâ— planted in England Scotland and all places seated beyond the riuers Danubius and Rhene And in the fift booke signe 12. we haue made it euident that allmost all those that imployed their labours in this matter were Monkes of the Order and institute of sainct BENEDICT the Italian Allso in his sixt booke of the same worke chap. 6. he sayth of our holy father sainct BENEDICT that He drew soe manie followers after him that the number of them cannot be mustered Out of his familie issued forth soe manie and soe great men flourishing in all kind of prayses and vertues that which way soeuer thou turne thy self thou maiest stand fixed in admiration For how manie Martyrâ— I pray you came out of his Order How many men most holy in sainctitie and miracles How maniâ— great and admirable Popes Let vs produce one able to be compared with them all GREGORY the first to whom the Englishmen are indebted whatsoeuer goodnes is amongst them Thus we see how learnedly solidly and constantly this Venerable man asseuereth the truth and our intent against Baronius who was his fellow-Priest and the ornament and flower of the Oratorian Congregation No man I am sure can except against his authoritie who doubtlesse If there had been anie probabilitie in the contrarie assertion would haue been most willing to haue subscribed to the opinion of soe great a man as Baronius being of his owne coate and profession To Bozius let Onuphrius Panuinus an Augustin Frier and a most diligent searcher of the Roman antiquities Onuphrius Panuimus succeed who in his Epitome of the Roman Bishops giueth this most cleere testimonie for our purpose GREGORY by nation a Roman borne of the most auncient and noble familie of the Anicij forsaking all the Pompes of the world entred into a Monastery of Monkes vnder the Rule of the holy Father BENEDICT and gaue all his goods lands houses tenements vineyards c. to the Monasteries of monkes and at length built a Monastery of Monkes in Rome c. This testimonie of Onuphrius is of great authoritie for liuing in the cittie of Rome he gaue him self wholly to search into Ecclesiasticall antiquities whereof he hath published manie famous and profitable monuments to the world Next to him let vs heare ANTONINVS Bishop of Florence whom the Church honoureth for a learned
Antonine Bishop of Florence man and a Sainct He not only calleth our holy Father Sainct BENEDICT by a generall name Patriarch of all the Monkes of the west but peculiarly termes him the Spirituall Father of S. GREGORY and consequently of His disciples and our Apostles tit 15 cap. 12. His life replenished with vertues sayth he speaking of S. BENEDICT is written by GREGORY in the second of his dialogues throughout the whole booke the sweetnes whereof He himself allsoe sucked and liued a Monke and an Abbot vnder the same RVLE before he was made Pope thus S. ANTONINE who was a Dominican Frier But S. THOMAS of Aquin not only the ornament of the Dominicans S. Thomas of Aquine but the verie height and Zenith of the Deuines who had receaued the first rudimēts of his infancie in the Monasterie of Cassine and is sayd to haue breathed his last gaspe in an other Benedictin Abbey called Fossa noua being a most exquisite weigher of those things which he meant to affirme in that goulden work which he writt against the impugners of Religions and religious men speaketh these words for our purpose The same consideration sayth he is to be had of blessed GREGORIE who built Monasteries according to the Rule commenced by S. BENEDICT And Joannes de Turrecremata a Cardinall and an other fayre light of the Dominican Order writing vppon Joannes de Turrecremata S. BENEDICTS Rule affirmes the same in these words Saint GREGORIE confirmed the Rule of the Blessed Father BENEDICT vnder which allso he liued and was a most worthie Monke and Abbot Thus he And Wernerus Rolwinck in his historie confirmes it GREGORIE sayth he noble by byrth nobler in vertue but Wernerus Rolwinck most noble in sainctitie was a most worthy Monke of the Order of the most holy Father S. BENEDICT c. But it would be to long for vs in this short discourse to sett downe at length the words of all the graue Authours that strengthen this veritie it shall sufice to rehearse A list of Authour◠against Baronius the names only of some of the chiefest writers them selues and referre the reader to their owne writings The same therefore is auouched by IOANNES MARIANVS rerum Hispaniarum lib. 5. cap. 12. lib. 6. cap. 22. HIERONIMVS PLATVS in his second booke of a Religious state cap. 28. and 32. PETER RIBADENEIRA of the societie of IESVS in his Historie of the liues of Saincts which he writt in Spanish in the life of S. BENEDICT FRANCIS SVARER of the same societie in his last tome or treatise of Religion 2. booke chapt 17. FRANCIS RIBFRA in his prologue to S. Teresias life IOANNES AZORIVS in the first part of his morall institutions 12. booke chap. 22. GREGORIE LOPEZ of Madera Doctour of both lawes Counsellour and Iudge Palatine to Phillip the third King of Spaine who in a treatise of the veritie of the reliques which were miraculously found in the holy mont of Granado hath a very learned and solid discourse against Baronius in our behalfe And lastly to omitt thousand others of all orders conditions and professions IOANNES DIACONVS in the historie of S. GREGORIES life doeth constanly asseuer the same truth to wit that both S. GREGORY and the Monks he sent to preach in England were professours of the holy Order of S. BENEDICT Let vs bring in the last place some witnesses of our owne nation not all that haue written of this matter for they would require a whole volume but some whose authoritie is beyond all exception How great a man in all manner of learning and chiefly in the Ecclesiasticall history as well of the vniuersall Church as of our English nation was Doctour Nicholas Sanders it is well inough knowne to the world He in the beginning Nicholas Sanders of his historie intituled Of the English Schisme hath these words Gregory the great sent Augustine Mellitus other Monkes of S. BENEDICT to the English Saxōs who brought that nation from Idolatrie to Christianitie and indued Ethelbert King of Kent with the baptisme of Christ And NICHOLAS Harpsfield a man no lesse skillfull in the antiquities of England then SANDERS in his Dialogue written against the Magdeburgenses and in other places of his workes confirmes the same veritie But let the most illustrious Cardinall WILLIAM ALLEN conclude this Controuersie who in an Epistle to Athanasius an English Monke of Cassine in Italie writeth these words I could rehearse vnto thy pietie sayth he speaking of the Benedictine Order manie things out of the histories of our nation of the great reuowne and Sanctitie of this Order for both Sainct AVGVSTINE him self and the other disciples of Sainct GREGORY that conucrted the countrey to the Fayth were all of this Order and all the Monasteries first instituted which Venerable BEDE mentioneth and BEDE him self were of the same institution and all the Cathedrall Chapters which in after times came to be of Secular Canons were from their beginning of the Order of S. BENEDICT Truely the authority of these three men who in these later times were three fayre lights of our Countrey and second to none in the knowledge of the Ecclesiasticall history as their workes now extant doe declare who had searched into all the anncient monuments and charters of England deserueth soe much creditt that in respect of them the opinion of anie other man whatsoeuer may be neglected and contemned in this point It remaynes therefore confirmed by the authoritie of all the forenamed Authours that both S. GREGORY the great and the Monkes he sent to preach the fayth of Christ in England were all of the holie Order and institution of Sainct BENEDICT For no man I thinke can be soe peruerse vnlesse he be a professed enemie to the Benedictine Order as to forsake the assertion of soe manie Holy learned graue wise and prudent Writers both auncient and moderne and follow the innouation and noueltie of one Baronius whose arguments against vs are soe weake and whose coniectures soe vnlikely that the whole streame of his opinion seemeth rather to proceed from some other spring then from the mind and learning of soe great a man It would be too long to recite them here It shall suffise that ouer and aboue the foresayd Authours and thousands more we haue the auncient and common tradition of the whole world against Him It is a sufficient and more then a sufficient answer for him that our assertion hath been allwaies receaued in the Church for a truth euen since the time of sainct GREGORIE him self yea and that all the whole streame of antiquitie doeth conuince him of innouation in this poynt Of which his mistake I could easily pardon him for allthough by seeking to robbe the Benedictine familie of sainct GREGORY he thought to haue done a disparagement to the whole order yet it fell out farre otherwise for his deniall of a thing that had been alwaies before embraced for a truth in auncient times moued manie
those dreames Notwithstanding he washed his hands and went away into the Church as not desiring to be present at the miracle thereby to auoyd the occasion of being tempted with vaine glorie But the Chamberlaine hauing reserued the water brought it to the blind man wherewith he had noe sooner washed his eyes and face but presently to the great wonder of all he recouered his sight and with ioy beheld the light againe whose losse he had long bewailed The like fauour was shewed to a citizen of Lincolne who An other cured in like manner hauing lost his sight came to the kings pallace and obtayned of this water applied it to his vnprofitable eyes and was immediatly cured and his perpetuall night chainged to a most wellcome and long desired day-light An other blind man being admonished to goe to the king to haue his sight restored desired the Chamberlaine to make knowne his case vnto him which done Let him come answeared the holy king for why should I be greiued but rather reioyce if the diuine goodnes be soe pleased as by my vnworthy hands to bestow this promised benefitt vppon him The man was brought in and by the only touching and blessing Manie blind cured of the king betweene his royall hands a filthie bloud ranne aboundantly from his eyes whereby they were cleered and all the swelling of his eyelidds asswaged Then he that before could not see cried out I see thee my souueraigne Lord and King and thy face shineth like vnto the face of an angel standing before me Allsoe at an other time two blind and one hauing but one eye being sprinkled with the water in which the holy man had washed were all three restored to perfect sight XX. AS HE some time sate at table with Earle Godwin Harold and Tostins the Earles two sonnes as yet but children according to what the fight of Godwins children did portend their age and condition played in the hall before them but as one of them handled his brother more rudely then the sweetnes of their game required their iest was turned into earnest and their sport to a plaine fight For Harold somewhat abler in strength of bodie violently setting vppon his brother fastned both his hands in his hayre and hauing layd him along on the ground had gone neere to thrattle him if by the standers by he had not bin preuented The king behoulding this skirmish turned to Earle Godwine and sayd Doest thou consider nothing in this contention of thy children but a childish sport or battle Nothing else my liege replied he But by this boyish cōflict the blessed king vnderstood by reuelation what would afterwards befall to the children For sayd he noe sooner shall they be out of their childhood in mans estate but an inward malice towards one and other will mutually possesse them and at first as it were in iest they will seeme to goe about to ruine each other by priuate deceits till at length the stronger hauing gott the vpper hand will banish the weaker and ouerthrow him giuing him death for his rebellion But his death will in a short time be recompenced with the ensueing calamitie of the authour And all this fell out as England it self may be the Their cōtention ruine bleeding witnes of her owne miseries For Tostius being by Harold put to flight and he a while after had succeeded King Edward in the kingdom Tostius togeather with the King of Norway that came to his ayde was vtterly ouerthrowne and slaine and allmost all his armie destroyed The same yeare William Duke of Normandie comeing into England to claime his right to the crowne in one blouddie battle vanquished Harold who at once was depriued both of life and kingdom or as some thinke reserued in miserie to doe peanance for his former wickednes XXI AT AN other time Godwine sitting by the King at table one of the seruingmen comeing towards them chaunced to stumble so much with on of his feet that he had caught a fall had he not recouered him self againe by the nimble bringing on of his other foote by help whereof he was sett vp right againe The beholders talking diuersly as the manner is of this accident and reioyceing to see how opportunely one foote releeued the other Earle Godwin as it were in iest put in these words Soe a brother helpes his brother and both relieue each other in necessitie The King calling to mind the death of his brother Alfred In like manner replied he might myne haue bine a comfort vnto me had Godwin permitted it Hereat Godwin trembling and makeing fayned signes of sorrow in his countenance I know my Liege I know sayd he that your mind doeth yet accuse me as accessarie to your brothers death and that you iudge them to be beleeued that wrongfully giue me the title of traitour both to him and you But let God the great eye-witnes of all secrets be iudge betweene vs and let him not permitt this morsell which I hould in my hand to passe downe my throate without causing my death if I be eyther traitour to you or guiltie of your brother's death And the King makeing the signe of the Crosse vpon the morsell the wretched Earle putt is into his mouth Gods punishmeut against the traitour Godwin which being chewed went into the midst of his throate where it stuck soe fast that notwitstanding all his labour and paines he could gett it neyther vp nor downe But rather the more he striued the more it seemed to fasten soe that in a short time the sluses of his wind were stopped vp his eyes turned round in his head and without speaking one other word he vomitted out his traiterous soule to receiue her iudgement in the next world The king that saw him make this lamentable end perceiuing God's iust punishment to haue befallen him spake aloud to the standers by Cast out this dogg and burie him in the high way which was presently performed This Godwin abusing the king's pious simplicitie wrought manie villanies in the kingdom against both God and iustice By his wilie fleights and craftie dealing he had chased out of the Realme allmost all the kings kinred friends which he had brought with him out of Normandie imagening to haue all things goe according to his owne desires when the king being depriued of his friends should onely make vse of his counsell and follow his dictamen in all things But the blessed man neuer tooke notice of his bad doeings allwaies performing his owne dutie towards God foretelling to manie that in the end allmightie God would punish his wickednes yea and some times he stuck not to say as much to Godwine him self XXII THIS HOLY king next after the Prince of the Apostles S. Edwards loue to S. Iohn Euangelist bore a singular affection and deuotion to S. IOHN Euangelist in soe much that he would neuer denie anie thing demaunded in his name For proofe whereof it happened that a