Church very happily dyed There was moreouer a Woman so afflicted with the spirit of anger and fury as not only her kinsfolkes and neighbours seemed to shun her conuersation but euen her owne children could hardly endure to inhabite with her Wheresoeuer she was there was nothing but scolding rancour and a hideous storme bold fyery audacious gibing light of fingers vntollerable and fastidious to euery one By reason whereof her afflicted Children not finding other way of redresse from so continuall and bitter grieuances resolued to bring her as dexterously they did into the presence of S. Malachy where breaking forth into teares and laments they humbly demaund succour of the seruant of God He taking compassion as well on the danger of the Mother as on the Childrens infelicity tooke her a little asyde and dernaunds of her with great affect and gracious semblance Whether she had euer been confessed in her dayes and she answering No. Do you now then confisse sayd he to her Which the furious woman did through diuine instinct and he hauing enioyned her a conuenient pennance prayed a while ouer her commaunded her on the behalfe of Christ our Lord that from thence forth she should be angry no more A thing incredible there suddenly grew such a meeknes and so great a patience in her that euery one might know there could be nothing therein but meerly a change from Heauen Which was so great a comfort to her children as cannot be expressed She is yet lyuing and is sayd to be of so fayre a condition of so deep a Tranquility as where before she was wont to exasperate and offend euery one she is now not troubled a whit withall the losses iniuries or tribulations that can befall her Now let euery one esteeme of things as he please If with the Apostle it may be lawfull for me to abound in my sense I dare say that greater was the exploit of this amendement then was the recalling of the Gentlewoman spoken aboue from death to life because in the former was the exteriour Man raysed in the later only the interiour But let vs go forward A secular man of good quality came to condole with S. Malachy for the sterility of his soule beseeching him to obteyne for him at the hands of God some plenty of teares With that the holy Man of God with a cheerfull countenance approaching to him in signe as it were of friendship layd his cheeke to his and added withall That grace be giuen thee From that tyme forward had the lay man so great aboundance of water in his eyes as that sentence of the Scripture seemed to be verifyed in him A Fountayne from the gardens A spring of liuing waters This aboundance of teares the Man had to his dying day which made his sould white and pure from the staynes of Mortall sinne And being so washed and cleansed from those spots of Capitall sinnes his innocent Soule ascended on high to him Qui in altis habitat there to giue him laudes and prayses and continually to sing the celestiall Song of Alleluia S. Malachy through his prayers multiplyed Fishes With other Miracles of that kind Chap. 21. SAINT Malachy in trauayling as we haue sayd to preach the word of God did many Miracles whereof this is one The holy Bishop endeauouring withall power to spread the Ghospell of Christ Iesus throughout all the Kingdome of Ireland fell by chance on a certayne Iland in former tymes very famous for fishing 〈…〉 and for the 〈…〉 of the people reduced in so great a sterility as the poore 〈…〉 were brought into very hard strayts for want thereof and ready to be famished It was reuealed through the diuine Clemency to a certain woman that the intercessioÌ„ of S. Malachy were the only remedy to help them to their former aboundance of fishes This was the reason that the people 〈◊〉 about him as soone as he was landed being a great deale more anxious and sollicitous for fish then for preaching or doctrine for they were neuer froÌ„ his sides coÌ„iuning him that laying aside for the present all other care whatsoeuer he would vouchsafe to cast his eyes vpon their foresayd necessity But the true seruant of Christ answered them that he was come thither not to catch fishes but soules yet they not withstanding went still recommending themselues with so much more feruour as at last it seemed good to S. Malachy not to see light by the notable fayth which they shewed Kneeling then downe on the same shore he besought our Lord to affoard the grace to these men though altogether vn worthy thereof His praier no sooner came to the diuine throne then a good quantity of fishes somwhat greater then vsuall asceÌ„ded to the top of the water and euen to this day doth the plenty continue What wonder is it then that the prayer of the Iust which penetrates heauen should likewise diue into the Abysses and call from thence such like and so many squadrons of waterish creatures On a tyme S. Malachy with three other Bishops arriued at the towne of 〈◊〉 where they all lodged at the house of a certayne Priest who finding himselfe but ill prouided for such Ghests as they sayd to S. Malachy How shall I do trow you that haue no manner of fish at all Seeke for some answered he of the Fishermen O replyed the Priest It is now two yeares since that there could none be found in the riuer in so much as these poore men through despaire haue been faigne to abandon the trade Then S. Malachy replyed Do you cause in the name of God the nets to be cast Which was accordingly performed and at the first draught there came vp some twelue Salmons at once as many at the second so as all the company had meate inough to feed on and to celebrate the Eternall Benignity And to the end that â—his thing without all controuersy might be attributed to the Meâ—its of S. Malachy after the feast was consumated the former steriâ—ity did returne and so continued for two yeares From these pleasant aduentures and as it were of sport let vs passe to a graue example of the diuine Seuerity yet euer mixed with his wonted Mercy There was in Lesmor a Clerk of good example for the rest but of Fayth not so orthodoxe This man taking much complacence in his knowledge and for the sharpnes of wit which he tooke himselfe to haue durst impiously affirme that in the Eucharist howbeit the Sacrament were there or Sanctification to say rather yet was there not therefore the Thing of the Sacrament as Deuines vse to say that is the reall Body and Bloud of Christ our Lord. Vpon which so abominable errour of his being often secretly admonished by S. Malachy but euer in vaine at last he was cited to appeare before a certaine CongregatioÌ„ of Ecclesiasticall persons without the accesse of any secular person that with the least shame that were possible he might come to acknowledge
disposed to keep it without exception Then replyed the Abbot on behalfe of the same Lord do I command thee to perseuere to the end vnder the charge of the administration thou hast in hand and couragiously to go forward in the way begun to the glory of God behoofe of the holy Church consolation to the faythfull the support of Widdowes Pupills and Orphans and to continue thy life in good workes in summe to doe what thou dost and to execute the office thou art in to gayne at the Prince of Pastours handes the eternall life and reward a hundred fould Because that if we would but weigh thinges indeed with equall ballances what Monke liues at this day vnder the Sunne of so much abstinence and of so great perfection whose merits and pouerty may seeme to stand in comparison with the care and solicitude thou hast of so many soules and with the sweet dispensation of so great riches So as thou mayst quiet thy selfe with the authority of him whome thou hast taken as guide and consellour in this behalfe And let the diuine honour and publike vtility be preferred before thyne owne particuler gusts and contentments With such reasons S. Otho being lastly conuinced as an enemy of selfe-loue and farre from all pertinacy without more replyes did bow downe his head and putting a fresh the most bitter chalice of gouernement to his mouth with new breath and with redoubled purposes he began to giue himselfe wholy to the spiritual and temporall help of his Neighbours S. Otho was exceedingly giuen to hospitality He dyed blessedly And his body being buryed in the Church of S. Michael was translated afterwardes Chap. 7. FOrasmuch as among Episcopall parts and conditions as hath been sayd S. Otho knew well that Hospitality was one of the cheifest he endeauoured to send before him as much corne victualls cloathes and monyes as he could possibly procure by the hands of the poore but now especially feeling himselfe to be so loaden with yeares and neere to the tearme of his life So as like to an Oliue tree euen stooping as it were with abundance of â—…es he gaue himselfe freely to ech state and condition of mortalls You might haue seene there whole squadrons of Pilgrimes very decently receaued into the chambers and lodgings of S. 〈◊〉 To the desolate Widdowes forlorne Orphans and the needy and necessitous Clerks and Monkes stood his granary open day and night his Purse and Wardrobe neuer shut but like a wise merchant in the short mart of this transitory tyme he attended to barter and exchange terrene for heauenly frayle for eternall and incorruptible ware In summe besides the secret almes of ech day there was not in all those partes a Church Conuent Hospitall or pious place of any sort which he visited not restored and royally prouided of what was necessary for the Maiesty of pure Religion and continuation of Christian verity And it was an admirable thing to see how so much giuen away and so much empting he continually should find no bottome as if the great Lord and his carefull Steward should seeme to striue togeather the one to supply and the other to distribute with a large hand all manner of goodes gold and siluer and what not Amidst such actions as these truly worthy of the lawfull Successour of the Apostles the blessed Man being now arriued to the end of his dayes maturely composed the affaires of his Diocesse and hauing made a pure and deuout confession and after the holy Oyle receauing with great feeling the holy Eucharist being inuironed round with a company of Clerks and Religious most sweet and deare vnto him who in that last passage came all to recommend him to their common Creatour he peaceably yielded vp his soule well fraught and replenished with good workes and full of honours and heauenly graces As for the mourning and great concourse of people wherewith his Exequies were celebrated it importes not much to treate therof while euery one may sufficiently gather how great a desire of his presence might so louing a Father and so vigilant a Rectour seeme to leaue behind him He was praysed then with a solemne Sermon by the Venerable Embrichonus Bishop of Herbipolis and carryed vnto his Sepulcher into the Temple of S. Michael while Barons Counts and Marquesses succeeded by turnes to conueigh the hearse vpon the first day of Iuly in the yeare of our Lord 1139. and of the administration of his Episcopall charge the 37. The translation was made afterwardes vnder Pope Clement the III. on 89. yeare the last of September on which day is celebrated his memory as eternally consecrated vnto immortality euen by the learned penns of the noblest wits Among which Iohn Trithemius affirmes that besides what we haue spoken of aboue this S. Otho was no lesse in his death then life most illustrious and famous for many and most euident miracles FINIS S. BERNARD THE ARGVMENT THE eye that is vnblemished and free From colours their defects can better see Soules not forsaken better can descry The Worlds deceits and note her Vanity He that the world abandons this doth gaine Thinges dark to others are made cleare and plaine To his vnstained soule I well could sound Her deep impostures by experience found And them display to others whome I taught To slight her and to ends more noble brought I triumph'd ore her and her Prince and lead Thousandes most happy to be vanquished Gayning heereby eternall liberty And by their thraldome freed from slauery If thou the world wilt conquer her contemne And this contempt shall gaine a Diademe THE LIFE OF S. BERNARD ABBOT OF CLAREVALL Written by three of his Monkes Of the Family and Parents of S. Bernard with a notable vision his Mother had before his birth which gaue great hope of his future Sanctity Chap. I. IN the partes of Burgundy is a place which is called Fontaine obscure heertofore and vnknowne but deseruedly famous and renowned after it had so affoarded to the world that mirour of vertue and light of Sanctity which now to the glory of God we beginne to describe In that very place was an honourable Knight called Tesselinus who according to the Euangelicall precepts being contented with his paye and farre from all insolency and rapine whatsoeuer so applyed himselfe to Military discipline as he forgot not the profession of Christ. This man had a wife both chast and fruitfull by name Aletta de Monte Barro who amidst the familiar and transitory cares of the world keeping her mind still fixed on eternall goodes did increase so much in deuotion that as many children as she brought forth into the world which were in number some six Sonnes and one Daughter taking them all one by one in her armes she suddenly offered them to Iesus and from that tyme forwardes as thinges made sacred in a certaine manner would she nurse ech one at her owne breasts instilling into them togeather with the milke the feare of
neare Little things great Or as that hellish art By altering the Medium doth impart Chimera's to the Senses and doth make Th' astonisht Powers for Truth Impostures take We should discerne the glossed Alchimy Of our allurements and the vanity Of worldly pleasures and vndoubting know Our ioyes are dreames how euer faire in show Wee are but In-mates heere and entertain'd As if no Denizens or rather chayn'd In golden fetters When first Life began A darkesome prison clos'd vp wretched man Whence if we rightly come we fall vpon An ominous precipitation So witty's ruine so importunate Vpon mankind so seemeth angry Fate To enuy vs the least conceipt of ioy As all things doe conspire to our annoy The Elements that so much disagree Band against vs their common Enemie Yea that which void of substance Essence takes From that first motion which all motions makes Time measure of our ioyes is tedious growne And not by pleasures but afflictions knowne Whome Tyrant-like we would deceiue and bend Only to shun what least we wish to end Yet as if Sorrowes we might not enioy Or as the Fates did enuy our annoy So as they would not grant vs Time for woe Our Time 's contracted as Tymes larger grow And their increase doth hasten to their waine Hopelesse to bring them to their spring againe For in the worlds first infancy when man Aequall wellnigh vnto the Spheares began His being then was absolute and he Enfranchized to Immortality But forfaiting this state though Death could claime And challenge part in him yet the strong fraime And firme connexion of his parts did cause A lasting vnion and a during pause Th' immortall Starres and Man then seemd to striue Ioint-tennants to the world who should suruiue Now Time hath Time abridg'd our Life 's a breath Which scarcely drawne is stopped straight by death The world 's in a Consumption not as then We seeme mankind nor the same sonnes of men And seiz'd as with an Hecticke seemes to dance His sickly motions led with discordance Behold how those which as they moue do giue By sympathie to moue to breath to liue The golden Spheares are in their motions chang'd And from their former courses seeme estrang'd The liuely Spring the Summer we behold Like those weake children who are borne of old And sap-lesse Parents quite degenerate Void of their ancient strength their vigorous state In vaine we seeke the stations of the Sun And falsely thinke the wandring Planets run Their wonted courses Southward still they flye And leaue our Clime stain'd with Impietie So when our Proto-martyrs Holy gore Guiltlesse it self made guiltie Verlam's shore The siluer Thames recall'd his ancient floud And left the soile distain'd with sacred bloud Distracted Nature seemeth to haue lost Coherence with a thousand Monsters crost A thousand Prodigies Proportion's gone Strength is decay'd lost is Connexion Sometimes strang Starres affright th' amazed skie The ayre oft thunders it not knowing why More strange Coniunctions do the Heau'ns infest And bloudy Comets rayse a worser crest Winter yields Flowers the lusty Ramme that bore Through the salt-waues young Phryxus to the shore The barren Earth oft ceaseth to supply And leaues to yield his wonted fragrancie Summer is bare The Dogge whome heat did vex With moisture oftner doth the world perplexe The furious Winds are fiercer growne and more The thundring billowes rend the conquered shore As when our Ile from Belgia's fore-land rent Did yield her selfe to that proud Element So when the Chariot of the golden Sun By the first cradle of the world did run In wandring from its path did often stray And ignorant did leaue th'vntracked way Or with its proper weight deprest did take A doubtfull course and different times did make Confusedly the same when Heate did cloy The Thracian shafts and Cold the Dogge annoy Strange signes are these yet more then these doth rage Feare in our Harts that nothing can asswage Mis-giuing minds foretell our ills and show Th' vnsure condition of the world below Whose Loue is sourse of all these feares Then kill And sacrifice the Cause of all this ill This offring shall thee expiate and giue By death deseru'd deserued power to liue O would our Soules vpon themselues reflect And search from whence Content they might expect Which mindfull of their birth do scorne to flye At other marke then faire Eternity Then should wee see how like the Towring Fyre They would to Heau'n their home their Spheare aspire Which only is their Center Heere below Hope sailes with Feare and Ioyes with Sorrowes flow No true content is had A tottring sand That fleeting yields and leaues not where to stand Is our short life Our pleasures like the gold The Alchymist produceth to behold Beauteous inough but by the powerfull flame Straight turn'd to smoke or matter whence it came Our Ioyes are dy'de with Oaker euery showre Defaceth their false Lustre Honours Power Are only vapours which the growing day Or hoater Sun dissolues and driues away Beauty's vnperfect like that plenteous fry Halfe flesh halfe mud that on Niles bancks doth lye Riches a crazed Ship vnsure defence In need to those that there put confidence Our Knowledge skilfull Ignorance and Art The plague Prometheus did to man impart By his stolne fire that makes ouâ—… soules to fry With feauers of fond Curiositie All vnder Heau'n is vaine Wealth Dignitie Knowledge and Beauty Principalitie Are distant from the Spheare where Ioy doth moue Rest d wells below them Happinesse aboue Then giue a little time and see how heere These Heròes scorning what the world holds deere Did make a way to Immortality And by Contempt attain'd Felicity Heere shall you see no sumptuous Houses fraught With Banquets or with Viands dearely bought No costly Beds shining with Tyrian dye No Iewell faing'd for glistering brauerye No roomes replete with Musickes charming sound No Followers with eyes fixt on the ground But Woods and naked Rocks and thereupon Horrour express't Heere base Refection Small time to sleep allotted Bodyes clad In basest rayment Men in penance glad Delighted in their paynes whome Life did tyre Whose Hope was Heau'n and Death their cheif Desire But yet no cruell Furies do perplexe Their quiet rest no pining Cares do vexe Or trouble their Content nor Enuy clad In faire appearance euer made them sad True Rest great Ioyes in their small Cells reside And perfect smiles from spotlesse hearts do glide Whose soules remembring whence they came contayne Themselues and Heau'n and striue it to regayne Then loose thy selfe with these with these to winne That Heritage which thou hast lost by Sinne. THE TABLE OF THE LIVES S. Malachy Bishop of Conner then in Ireland pag. 1. S. Antony Abbot Ermite in Aegypt pag. 64. S. Pachomius Abbot in Thebais of Aegypt pag. 121. S. Martin Bishop of Towers in France pag. 155. S. Fulgentius Bishop of Ruâ—…pa in Africke pag. 193. S. Theodosius Abbot of Magariassa in Cappadocia pag. 217. S. Benet Abbot
strictnes of â—…ligation we haue to God He truly is our lawâ—…full Lord and we â—…s naturall vassayles and slaues Now then as a slaue dares neâ—…r to matter thus much and say I haue laboured yesterday in ough â—…o day therefore I will do nothing No but day by day as the â—…ospell sayth still shew forth the selfe-same promptnes which he â—…d before presuming not at all vpon his passed toyles nor thinke â—…ereby to be idle eyther now nor heerafter to the end he â—…ight conserne himselfe in grace with his Mayster and not to be â—…ust out of his seruice so likewise should we euery day be encouâ—…ging ech other to Religious Discipline assuring ourselues that 〈◊〉 we cease from working one day only we shall not obtayne reâ—…ission in vertue of any former seruices done but shall be punished â—…ther for this dayes demerits For so sayd the Prophet Ezechiel That â—…ter death euery one shall beiudged according to the state he shall then be â—…nd in And Iudas also for his ill carrage if I might so say of one â—…ght onely did loose the fruite of all his yeares for passed So as attend we my children to the true Obseruation of our Ruâ—…s and not suffer our selues to be vanquished with tediousnes as knowing that according to the Apostle Our Lord is not backward whit to cooperate with him that hath a good will and endeauours to help 〈◊〉 selfe It shall likewse auay le vs not a little to chase away Slouth carry alwayes in the memory that saying of the Apostle himseâ—… Quotidie morior And if we likewise would be alwayes thinâ—… with ourselues that this present day were to be our last a wakâ—… in the morning we would but suppose not to arriue to the Eueniâ—… and agayne being layd downe at night not promise to our seâ—… to liue till morning If we would regard how vncertayne theâ—… is and how the diuine Prouidence seemes to measure and numâ—… our steps how it hath continually the Eyes vpon vs we shoâ—… certainely not sinne nor sufferre our selues to be carryed awâ—… with vnbrideled desires nor should we be angry with our Neiâ—… bour nor giue our selues to lay vp treasure in earth but we sheâ—… hubly yeild to others in all through out should abhore all 〈◊〉 suall pleasures as a lewd and transitory thing remayning alwayâ—… with our wits about vs with the Eyes turned towards the Tâ—… bunall where we are all to be iudged And after this manner sâ—… the feare of euerlasting torments be of more power to extinguiâ—… then the delicatenes of the flesh to enflame the desires of the 〈◊〉 man And with such a Stay shall the Soule sustayne it selfe thâ—… enclining already to a miserable precipice S. Antony proceeds yet in his Exhortation And giues them other 〈◊〉 sides Chap. 7. NOw therefore beginning a new as if to day we but enâ—… into the way of Perfection let vs enforce our selues to arâ—… to the End and let no man turne his face to looke back as diâ—… wife of Lot especially our Lord hauing said so expressely Thâ—… soeuer hauing once set his band to the plough should turne his face to heed 〈◊〉 remaynes behind were not apt for the heauenly kingdome And this 〈◊〉 back is nothing els then for a man to repent himselfe of his goâ—… beginning to returne yet agayne to wordly thoughts actiâ—… But some peraduenture may be affrighted with the name of veâ—… Go to then yet let it not seeme strange or impossible since â—…ey 〈◊〉 is it farre from vs or extrinsecall to vs but rather within vs and 〈◊〉 matter is easy to him that truly disposeth himselfe to seeke it 〈◊〉 Let the Grecians and other profane Louers of themselues go thâ—… wayes to seeke it out in forren Prouinces let them plough the â—…as crosse mountaynes runne ouer the playnes countries For â—…s there is no need to make any voyages for it by sea or land since â—…at as the Prime Verity affirmes The Kingdome of Heauen is with in vs. â—…n so much as to obteyne the same supposing the diuine Grace as â—…nclined to all on our parts there requires no more theÌ„ a meere effiâ—…acious will For so much as looke when the superiour part of the â—…oule should be reduced to its naturall state it would come to â—…aue in it selfe a solid and formall vertue indeed since the naturall â—…ate seemes to be nothing els but the great rectitude much goodâ—…es wherein it was framed by the soueraygne Creatour And hence it was that the captayne Iesus Naue sayd to the Heâ—…rew people Direct your hart to the Lord of Israel And S. Iohn Baptist â—…o you rectify your wayes Because it is proper to the nature of a Soule â—…o haue no wrinesse or crookednes in it But wheÌ„ it goes bending to â—…his or that side then looseth it the naturall rectitude that benâ—…ing so is worthily termed malice From whence may appeare â—…hat the enterprise is not so bad as it seemes For that if we with â—…he helpe of our Lord but conserue ourselues such as we were fraâ—…ed by him we may come without more a do to possesse Vertue â—…ut if through election we adhere to the euill we do voluntarily â—…ecome wicked If then the matter be not to be sought for elsewhere but only consists in our selues let vs beware of vncleane cogitations and since from God we haue receyued our soule as in â—…posito let vs so deale that in his time he may acknowledge his own workemanship in vs and find the soule to be such as himselfe had â—…ormed at first Let vs fight manfully that we be not tirannized by wrath nor yet ouerswayd with concupiscence While it is written The anger of â—…a man workes not the iustice of God and concupiscence after its conception doth bring forth sinne and sinne being put in effect beâ—…gets death Let vs then be circumspect in the gouernement of our selues and stand we alwayes vpon our ward and as the sacred Scripture aduiseth vs let vs guard our hart withal the warynes that may be because though our enemyes on the one side be infeebled and deiected notwithstanding on the other are they very sagacious great dissemblers and most subtle withall and as the holy Apostle well notes Non est nobis colluctatio aduersus carmen sanguinem sed aduersus principatus potestates aduersus mundi rectores tenebrarum harum contra spiritualia nequitiae in caelestibus Great is their number in this lower region of the ayre nor are they in truth farre off from vs They are likewise very different from ech other in nature and species of which differences surely might a long discourse be had but being a matter so litle necessary to our present purpose worthy of a more sublime vnderstanding then mine is It shall suffice me for this tyme to touch that only which more imports vs to wit the fraudes and stratagemes which those maligne substances do worke to the
the care of others as to be any whit vnmindfull of himselfe but rather assoone as could be in imtation of Christ leauing the multitude he would retire himself to prayer and solitude Nor was the sweetnes of friends or power of Princes able to withdraw him from such manner of obseruance To which purpose we are not to passe ouer in silence how a certayne Captayne after he had visited him being willing to entertayne him further in discourse he gently excused himselfe with that similitude of Fishes so renowned afterwards and brought into a Prouerbe that euen as those remaining on the land giue ouer and dye so Monkes abiding too much with Seculars do loose the feruour of the spirit with which comparison the Captayne was well satisfyed though much grieued the while to be seuered from him But what great matter may it seeme that S. Antonyes friendship should so be desired of Rulers or Prefects of some Prouinces only since we see it sought for no lesse of very Monarkes themselues and of the Emperours of the world It is a knowne thing how Constantinus Augustus and the Princes his sonnes Constans and Constantius sent him letters as to a Father intreating him to vouchsafe to send them greeting and good counsayle but he was so alienate from worldly fauours and so abhorred he euery least apparence of vanity as he was vpon the point not to accept the Epistles sent saying to the Monkes to whome it seemed to be some great honour to be so courteously greeted by the Caesars Why meruayle you that a King should write to a man Nay wonder rather the immortall God should write so his law to mortals yea euen speake to them face to face by meanes of his only begotten Sonne The magnanimous Abbot then as we haue sayd within a litle had refused to receiue the letters at least he was resolued not to answere them at all if through the prayers of his Monkes and scruple which would arise of litle Edification he had not been enforced in a manner to write backe as he did first with praysing those Lords for the sayth they professed then exhorting thē to make no great reckoning of their present greatnes but to haue alwayes the future Iudgement in mynd to acknowledge Christ only for the true and eternall King he concluded lastly in persuading them to be courteous and benigne and to haue speciall care of the poore and of Iustice. Which aduises were receyued of the Emperour and Princes with great ioy and confolation This was the credit and reputation whereto the Seruant of Chist euen in his tyme was arriued surmounting the Enuy and detraction of the world and the same not so much through same of great learning or of extraordinary Eloquence or of Bookes ◅ut forth to light or of any of those arts which are in price with ◅he world as through a sanctity of manners only and by the grace of God who is delighted to exalt the humble to manifest such as are willing to hide themselues and withall to giue the world to vnderstand how the diuine precepts and counsayles are not impossible to those that will disentangle themselus and walke couragiously in the way of vertues But be this sufficiently sayd for the present of the glorious acts and rare parts of S. Antony rather as intimated to the faythfull only then any wyse explicated as they deserue And now remaines it for vs to touch somewhat of his Death that to him was a sweet and blessed Birth-day S. Antony being now come to the end of his dayes presageth his death With his happy departure out of this life Chap. 22. THe holy Old man was now arriued to the age of one hundred and fiue yeares old with a great ability of body He wāted not a tooth though his gumms indeed were somwhat fallē He had his sight very excellent good hauing his eyes yet sound and quite without blemish his feete and armes he had still very actiue and that which is more to be merueyled at was this that notwithstanding he was so giuen from his childhood to Fastings Vigils Solitudes Cloysters with other of the sharpest penances that are without shifting as we sayd aboue his garments or euer bathing himself he had yet so fresh and fayre a skynne as if he had beene alwayes trayned vp in feasts and banquets stoues and baths and other addresses of human delicacyes In this state had he an interiour feeling in himselfe of the speedy approach of his last dayes Wherupon going forth againe from the in most part of the wildernes to reuisite and comfort the Conuents abroad and causing the Brothers to be assembled together as to a Congregation he cleerly spake to them in this sort This is the last visit and surely is it much that in this present life we haue enioyed one another so long But now it is tyme at last that I goe my wayes For I haue liued in the world my part already The disciples in hearing this beganne to weep and to giue very deare imbraces and holy kisses of peace to their Mayster Who being now very glad to go forth of this exile and to passe into his Countrey in the meane while he went about to put them in mynd that they would not suffer the trauayles of Religion to seeme tedious to them but dayly seeme to expect death that they endeauour to keep the soule from vncleane thoughts that they purpose to imitate the manners of Saints and wholy fly the cōmerce of Schismatiques and Heretiques not suffering themselues to bend this way or that way through feare of Magistrates or Princes whose forces are but little and not durable With these and other such like aduises making an Epilogue as it were of the rest he tooke leaue of his children who vsing all violence to reteine him there that they might be receiuing his last spirit they could not procure the fauour as well for many respects which he cōcealed as principally to auoyd a certayne abuse which the Egiptians had to conserue with some art or other the bodyes of persons of quality vpon certaine beds in performing their wonted Exequies indeed en wrapping them after their manner in sheetes but yet auoyding to put them vnder the ground as a thing wholy vnworthy of them Now was this abuse alwayes very much displeasing to S. Antony and he had been reprehending the people for it at sundry tymes and intreated the Bishops often to remedy the same alleadging that euen from the auncient Prophets themselues were seen to bee sepulchers extant yea that the body of Christ our Lord himselfe had beene put in to a Monument and was couered with a great stone who arose the third day With which examples howbeyt already he had reduced many persons to bury their dead yet neuerthelesse knowing the custome and inclination of that people he would not trust the multitude with his spoyles but retiring himselfe into his Cell from whence had he departed within few months
thereby through the iust iudgement of God most miserably abused and oppressed by the Diuell To these besids corporall suâ—…stenance he would also giue wholesome aduises and seeke to take away the false opinions from their mynds and a good part of thâ—… tyme which they had free from torments he would cause them to spend in prayers and psalmes He would enter moreouer by day night into the sickmens chambers and with particular tendernes comfort the lame the wounded and leaprous feeding them with his owne hands washing the stincking and noysome vlcers now of this and then of that man and lastly with frequent kisses and amourous armes be deerly imbracing them The great Hospitality of S. Theodosius in the tyme of a Dearth and 〈◊〉 God concurred therwithall with his great zeale for the Catholike Church Chap. 5. AT the same of so great charity of S. Theodosius were a great 〈◊〉 of persons of all qualityes assembled together at the said place to all which with much patience and with very good order was both diet and lodging affoarded and it would fall out now and then especially at some principall Feasts of the Motâ—… of God that at diuers houres of the day they were fayne to furnish 〈◊〉 hundred tables And there happening afterwards an vniuersal deaâ—… almost through all the prouinces of the East there came such a multitude to that noble Monastery as that the Officers fearing some disorder resolued to keep them out of the Cloysters and with exist measure to deale them victuals by weight The which as soone â—…t S. Theodosius once vnderstood confiding now more then euer in the diuine Goodnes causing the gates to be set open in the sight of all most cheerefully admitted the presse of people and in vertue of his firme fayth and enflamed prayers the prouâ—…on in creased of it selfe in the Cellars and Pantryes in such sort as that all being satisfied at table there was plenty inough yet left for such as wayted Among which occupations of theirs by how much fuller of distractions they are of themselues so much the more vigilantly watched the good Pastour for the spirituall conseruation and the 〈◊〉 piety of his Monks endeauouring by all meanes that at certaine houres they might be recollected in necessary meditation of vertues and of the 〈◊〉 acknowledgment of their owne defects and to the end the ordinary meanes vnto purity of hart might not turne into ceremonyes and their frequent victoryes ocâ—…asion security to which perils religious are commonly exposed â—…esides his owne example as we sayd with workes he would likewise excite the Family froÌ„ tyme to tyme with enflamed words 〈◊〉 thus I beseech you would he say my brothers by that Lord who â—…ath giuen himselfe for our sinnes let vs once apply our selues in earnest and truly indeed to the care of our soules Let vs bitterly bewayle our dayes vnprofitably spent and endeauour not to loose those same which remayne Let vs not suffer our selues to be slouâ—…full in sensuality nor the occasions of this present day escape out of our hands through the foolish hopes of the morrow least death surprizing vs voyd of merits with the foolish virgins we come to â—…e excluded from the blessed nuptials whence we shall afterwards bewayle when it will be too late to repent Behold now is the â—…cceptable tyme behold the day of saluation This is the course of â—…abours that same shall be the ioy of rewards This the sowing of teares and that the fruite of consolation For the present God is very fauourable to such as conuert themselues to him then shall â—…e be a terrible Iudge and a strict examiner of ech worke word â—…hought of ours We now do enioy his Longanimity then shall we experience his Iustice when we come to arise agayne some to eâ—…ernall felicity and others to the qualityes and demeâ—…nours of ech one How long then shal it be ere were fully obey the counsayls of Christ who with so especiall a vocation inuites vs to the heauenly kingdome Shall we not awake from the sleepe of slouthfulnes Shall we not rayse our selues from baseâ—… thoughts to Euangeliâ—…all perfection And yet forsooth we professe to aspire to the couÌ„â—…ry of the blessed and on the other side we 〈◊〉 the meanes that â—…ades vs to it And surely this is a great vanity of ours that flying the labours of the warfare we should promise to our selues 〈◊〉 crownes of the victory With such like reasons S. Theodosius awaked his subiects and confirmed them as need required not only with ancient and moderne examples but also with diuers authorityes of the sacred wâ—… explayning the difficult places thereof with such clarity and impressing them strongly with such an energy withal as the Audiâ—… remayned therewith much illumined in the vnderstanding enflamed in the will He was more ouer exceedingly versed in the aâ—…cient Traditions and in the Orthodox and sincere doctrine of the Fathers and especially of the Great Basil whose writings principally those of monastical constitutions he held in great veneration Nor was this great zeale of his restrained a whit within the bounâ—… of that house or among the inhabitants of that Prouince only bâ—… nobly dilated it selfe vnto the common benefit of the Catholique Church and to the conseruation of the right fayth against the subtilityes and lewd machinations of perfidious people ambitious friends of nouelty as appeares in the chapter following The ancient Heresies arising are maynly resisted by S. Theodosius 〈◊〉 that cause he is banished by the Emperour who dying shortly after 〈◊〉 Church flourished agayne Chap. 6. THere arose agayne in those dayes through the secret iudgeâ—… of God reuiued by diuers Sectaries worthily called 〈◊〉 the pestiferous opinions of Nestorius Eutiches Dioscoruâ—… and Seuâ—… already condemned by foure Generall Councels the Nicen 〈◊〉 CoÌ„stantinople Calcedon and among the other multitude was 〈◊〉 Emperour Anastasius very miserably seduced by them insomuch as 〈◊〉 laboured to amplify his Sect by all meanes possible But the prâ—…cipall assault he vsed was to gayne the holyer Prelates to him oâ—… to take them away by disquietting and assayling now this now that by himselfe and his Ministers now with prayers and thâ—… with perswasions now with monyes and titles and then wiâ—… menaces depressions and banishments In this manner hauing tempted and preuayled with diuers he finally resolued to sâ—…t vpon S. Theodosius as seeming to himselfe that he should make a great conquest if he could but reduce an 〈◊〉 of so great a â—…ame and reputation vnto his part To this inâ—… by men for the purpose he sent him letters full of feygned friendship peruerse counsayles and deep malice and for the greater efficacy vnder the shew of piety adioyned therunto a rich present of thirty pounds of gold for the holy man to bestow at his pleasure in workes of mercy With this deuise the Emperour thought to batter the fortresse of S. Theodosius but he found himself to be much deceyued of
Kings mynd was approching to aduertise him thereof whereof S. Edward being aware Stand still Leofrick said he stand still what thou seest I see also and then Masse being ended he added I cōiure thee O Earle for the Maiesty of him we haue both seene too day that while we are in this life thou speake not a word of this vision to the end that eyther throgh popular applause we may not fall into pride or through so rare a nouelty occasion may be giuen of murmuring to those who belieue no more then what they can touch or feele with the fingar Among these things S. Edward being now well stept in yeares and loaden with merits was certified that now at last his reward approched and his certificate was in this manner He held next S. Peter S. Iohn Euangelist the beloued Disciple of Iesus in greatest veneration insomuch as he neuer denyed any honest petition that euer was made to him in the name of S. Iohn Euangelist When among other times it happened one day his priuy Almenour being absent that a certayne Pilgrime with the sayd inuocation most importunely craued an almes of him and he not hauing any thing at hand pulling off a precious ring from his fingar very graciously gaue it him It fell out afterwards that two English men went in pilgrimage to the holy Sepulcher hauing crossed the Seas and now strayed vnawares out of their way in that errour they were ouertaken by the darke night wherein very sad and afflicted they could find neyther Guide nor Counsayle till beyond all hope appeared a venerable old man who conducting them into the Citty of Ierusalem benignely receyued them as ghests into his house and after a dainety supper brings them to their lodgings with great charity The morning being come they both hauing giuen thankes ready to take their iourney the good Host sayd to them Know Brethren you are like to haue a good voyage and shall returne safe and sound againe into your Country God shal be propitious to you I for your Kings sake in all this time will regard you still I am Iohn the Apostle that loues your King very tenderly for the excellency of his chastity You shall carry him backe this ring which he gaue me some dayes since when I appeared to him in forme of a Pilgrime and acquaint him that the day of his deposition approches and six months shall not passe ouer his head ere I put him into the company who follow the Lambe wheresoeuer he goes Which said the Apostle vanished they happily arriuing at home gaue faythfull accompt to the King of what they had heard and seene Not was the prediction vayne because S. Edward very soone after fell into his last sicknes wherein purposing to edify by all manner of wayes as many as conuersed with him now feeling himselfe to decay apace ordayned his death should be presently published though all the kingdome that his soule being loosed from prison might haue the suffrages of the faythfull assoone as might be and with this he passed to his most desired Lord on the 5. of Ianuary 1066. hauing held the scepter 23. yeares 6. months and 27. dayes He was bewayled and buryed with that feeling and concurse of the people as became such a Ruler and Gouernour Two translations haue been made of that vessell of the holy Ghost the one some 36. yeares after his pappy passage which vntil the other was the space of 60. yeares In both discoueryes not only those sacred members but euen also his Princely robe and habit appeared very whole and vncorrupted The first Translation was made to afford him a more honourable funerall The other followed at the tyme of his Canonization vnder Pope Alexander the III. When deposing the venerable Reliques there succeeded so many miracles anew as would be too long a matter far from our purpose to make narratiō of them Whence we may with reason hope through the merits and intercessions of this great Seruant of God that as so many particuler persons haue obtayned the graces which they craued euen so that most noble Kingdome all scandals being taken away and Heresies destroyed may one day be reduced to the vnion of the faythfull and to the lap of the holy Catholique Church S. ANSELME THE ARGVMENT SEe in the West Arabia's wonder bred With gorgeous lustre fayre embellished Rich in all colours which our eyes behold Vying agaynst the Sunne his natiue Gold The Phoenix of his age His Parents left And of all help and succour quite bereft Heau'n vndertooke his charge He needs not feare The want of friends whose friends whose Hopes are there Deuided from the world can England be The worlds chiefe Grace hauing espous'd in thee Or seeme discourag'd now or hartlesse growne When such a Saint is denized her owne No she may hope that though some clouds may hide A while the light it will at length be spi'de And that th' offended Sunne will glister more And spread his rayes far brighter then before When you Deare Saints shall put an helping hand That you agayne may on our Altars stand THE LIFE OF S. ANSELME ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBVRY Written by Edinerus a Monke of Canterbury vvho liued in his tyme. What the condition of S. Anselms Parents was The presage of his future life His good inclinations and first vocation to Religion Chap. I. WE being to vnfold the Life and manners of S. Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury a most noble Citty of England will first touch some things of his Parents His Father then was one Gondolfus who being borne in Lombardy of Italy and comming to liue in the Citty of Augusta Pratoria now called Aust in the confines of Piemont tooke to wife a gentlewoman whose name was Ermenberga These two consorts for riches nobility were equall but in manners and disposition far vnlike Because the husband being giuen to his pleasures was held to be no good husband for his family While the wife on the contrary being serious in the gouernment of the house and a wise dispenceresse of his goods gaue alwayes forth a most excellent odour of her life vnto her last leauing Gondolfus aliue who seeing himselfe vnloosedfrom the bands of Matrimony being now growne of great yeares became a Monke and dyed in his Monastery Of this couple S. Anselme was borne of whome as through a certayne presage of his future sanctity it is reported in his tender yeares hauing heard his Mother say that aboue in Heauen was but one God only who ruled and maynteyned the whole Vniuerse he thought with a childish imagination that the Heauens were shored vp and susteyned by the mountaynes that from the tops of them one might reach to the royall pallace of that great Monarke and as he often had this thought it happened one night that he seemed to mount vp by one of those tops to the forsayd pallace and beholds at the foote therof certaine seruants of the King reaping of corne
and at the same instant were the Deacons aduised that the vessell of Chrisme was not to be found for which there arising a great cry vpon good aduise and discreet coniecture the foresayd Clerke was immediately apprehended and the vessell being found about him vnder his cloake with menaces and rating he was brought to S. Anselme who being moued with compassion towards the wretch with cheerfull countenance reprehended him Fatherly for it and ordayned he should be let go forthwith without punishment and immediately the Man went directly home to his house This Dedication being finished S. Anselme was very suddenly recalled agayne to the Court of purpose to giue his benediction to the King before he crossed the seas He went then presently thither and for that the wind in those dayes was very contrary vnto him he thought it his duty in the meane tyme with all care and diligence to admonish K. William agayne of the great disorders many abuses introduced into the kingdome and to exhort him to relieue the afflicted Churches and to help to reforme the same He did it then in the best manner he could but the King being now troubled already and wholy vncapable of good counsayle not only slighted the man of God with the Fatherly correction he gaue him but euen also with great disdayne and contempt did banish him his presence Whereupon some wicked and insolent men present tooke new courage and boldnes agayne to offer wrongs and iniuries to Ecclesiasticall persons and their goods bearing but li◅le respect to the dignity and merits of S. Anselme himselfe who being much more seen and expert in the knowledge of spirits then in the manage of temporall affayres partly suffered himselfe to be deceyued not being able to persuade himselfe that any one for trāsitory things would willingly loose the eternall and partly also was enforced to yield hauing as we sayd the King for aduersary and his grieuous enemy So as now being wholy anxious he neuer ceased to bemoane himselfe for the quiet and peace of a religious state nor found he any comfort but when he could now then retire himselfe from company into Cloysters Nor would he neither within the Bishoprique nor yet without euer liue without the company assistance of some vertuous and approued Monkes to his exceeding gust and to the great edification of as many as knew him Besides which he fayled not to steale some tyme for meere contemplation and to remedy the troubles of the Catholique Church by meanes of his most learned writings Among which is that worke of his most worthily renowned which he wrote in the midst of so great afflictions vpon the subiect of the Incarnation of the Eternall Word wherewith the errour of the Greeks remayned discouered and conuinced being so audacious as to deny the Procession of the holy Ghost from the second person of the Blessed Trinity Not only thus in his Cell and studies but euen likewise at table when they had giuen ouer reading as a most excellent Deuine he would solue very intricate knots expoūd difficult passages of the sacred Scripture He likewise feared so much euery offence how light soeuer as he often affirmed with sincerity that if he had on the one side the horrour of sinne before his eyes and the paynes of Hell on the other with the necessity of being drenched or engulted in this or that he would doubtles make choyce rather of the infernall paynes then of the offence of God and sooner accept of Hell as pure and innocent then the heauenly mansion being polluted with sinne What occasions S. Anselme would vsually take of spiritual Conceyts How K. William returnes from beyond Seas and S. Anselme goes to Rome Chap. 15. THe Seruant of Christ was wont with the gift which he had of knowledge to gather spirituall fruitfull conceipts from the things which daily occurred as once certaine Seruants of his had a course at a Hare who after she had diuers wayes very nimbly tryed to escape from them by secret instinct came at last to squat euen vnder S. Anselmes horse who suddenly thereupon made a stop so as the dogs not daring to set vpon her stood aloofe baying at her expecting her starting agayne At which sight the company laughing and making much sport S. Anselme fell a weeping You laugh my Maysters sayd he but this poore little beast heere laughs not at all or finds any sport Her enemies encompasse her round about and she with the agonies of death recurres to vs for succour The same indeed succeeds very often to the reasonable soule of man which no sooner yssues from the body but the hunters malignant spirits pursuing her as long as she liueth in flesh by the diuers turnings crooked pathes of vices and iniquityes euen to the article of death do then cruelly stand ready to snatch her away and to cast her headlong to eternall perdition laughing making great sport thereat whiles the poore wretch lyes depriued and despoyled of all helps And after these words S. Anselme spurd on his horse and commaunded them not to molest the poore creature when by by hauing escaped the dāger she skippes againe into the meadowes woodes from whence she had fled Another day the holy Father seeing a boy in the stretes holding in his hand a certaine little Bird fast tyed by the feete with a long thrid taking much pleasure to let the thrid go and come now and then and in the midst of its flight to pull it backe on a sudden agayne and let it fall often to the ground Whereat S. Anselme tooke compassion on the poore creature and much desired to see the bird at liberty when behold on a sudden the thrid brake and the bird flew away and the boy cryed S. Anselme reioyced the while calling to his companions haue you sayd he taken heed to the sport of the litle Boy heere Whereto the others answering yea he then replyed And now such manner of sport for all the world the ancient aduersary makes euery day with many sinners he holds them so entangled in his snares and playing at his pleasure precipitates them now into this and then into that vice As for example some be giuen to auarice or els carnallity or to some other such like miseries To these will it happen now and then that being touched with pennance and compunction they make reflexion vpon the euill life which formerly they haue lead for which they are moued to teares for that time make good purposes to amend themselues And now it seemes verily to them they are loose already at full liberty but yet with the thrid or lyne of euill custome in the very loose and iumpe as it were of their flying away they are suddenly pulled backe agayne by the Deuill and made to fall as before into the same sinnes And this thing happens very often nor do they euer come to get forth of so abominable a seruitude till with some
them were in handling they remayned in the sayd place some six mōths at least But perceauing afterwards a manifest danger in a longer aboad there especially for that in fine two being miserably seduced by the Diuell were fallen backe it seemed good to S. Bernard and the others to stay there no longer so as all impediments being remoued or cut off calling on the diuine assistance they repayred to the Monastery of Cisterce some fifteen years after the sayd house began The number of these new disciples of Christ were about thirty a very seasonable supply no doubt to that Congregation which now already through the foresayd occasions was euen almost brought to nothing Whereupon the Abbot Stephen who gouerned at that tyme being Roberts successour and those few which as yet were remayning with him receaued incredible comfort with a firme hope of a long posterity according to a certaine reuelation had a little before by one of those first Monkes to whome being anxious about fayling of the Order at the end of his life was represented an innumerable multitude of persons who at the fountaine neere vnto the Church were all washing their owne garments By this meanes through diuine grace was Cisterce restored And to this good worke was added another to set vp at Villeo a place hard by a Conuent for the wiues of as many of those Nouices as concurring piously to the promotion of the diuine seruice had beene content to acquit their husbandes of the coniugal band and by consequence to offer vp themselues also in Holocausts to the Creatour of all to whose diuine Maiesty how gratefull that sacrifice was may well be comprehended by the notable increase which the sayd Conuent of Nuns made in a short tyme as well of number of subiects as of meanes to liue But to returne to the Saint as soone as he saw himselfe in the schoole of Christ the first thing was to plant in his hart an immoueable perseuerance in speaking within himselfe at what tyme eyther case inuited him or labours deterred him Bernard Bernard to what end didst thou enter in And for repressing of vnprofitable appetites for the soule because he knew well how much the custody of senses auayled he was so wary and diligent in the heed thereof and especially of his eyes as that after a whole yeare of his Nouitiate when he went from thence he knew not as then whether the seelings of the chamber were painted or of fret-worke And though he had entred so often into the Church where there were indeed many windowes at the vpper end he neuer thought there had been more then one Besides he kept himselfe at all tymes from all leuityes and sports and from all those things which are wont to slacken the soule Much laughing a thing so proper vnto man was seldome in him and when it was it was without excesse and forced as it were vsing it sometymes nor to seeme froward in things wherin commonly others hardly could forbeare He was moreouer exceeding sober and vigilant refection was a torment to him at his rising from table he would allwayes make examen vpon what he had eaten and if he had found he had passed the boundes in any thing he would not let the fault be vnpunished He had sleep in horrour as a resemblance of death and that repose which enforced through extreme necessity he was wont to take was superficiall only and so small as to any but him would haue giuen no refreshment at all Whence if he saw any of the Religious to sleep vndecently or snoring he could hardly endure it saying such an one slept like a secular But such excesse of watchings and fastings could not chose but bring also exceeding hurt and detriment to his health since in progresse of tyme his stomack together with the diminution of naturall heate came very much to be depriued of the retentiue faculty and the tongue and palate the body being of so noble a temperature thereby came so to loose the tast as that among other things through imprudence of him that serued for some dayes he liued of sheeps-suet insteed of butter drinking some tymes very oyle insteed of water his eyes not looking vpon it And these vnctuous meates he would hardly endure to be set before him euen in tyme of conualescency for ordinartly hefed for most part on nothing else then bread dipt in hoat water or some broath made of pulse or else a little milke and if perhappes sometymes he were fayne to tast any wine the cup would returne from his mouth agayne as if it had not been touched at all The continuation of the rare Vertues of S. Bernard with an example or two of the deepe attention of his mind to heauenly things Chap. 6. FRom this mortification of the flesh though otherwise but litle rebellious or disobedient to the spirit and by such manner of recollecting of the interiour powers came that blessed soule of S. Bernard in short tyme to square it selfe and to be purifyed in such manner as like to a polished and lucid glasse it receaued right well the rayes of eternall Wisedome and he not only purchased a most excellent habit of meditation and prayer but euen mounted also anone to a very high degree of contemplation by meanes whereof being abstracted from exteriour operations and liquifyed with ineffable sweetnes in a deep silence he would vnite himselfe with most chast embraces of the highest good Besides in the very mechanical occupations themselues through a certayne priuiledge he had the grace together with the whole outward man to attend to the worke in hand and with interiour to deale and discourse with God satisfying the conscience with the one with the other feeding the will For indeed S. Bernard was none of those who vnder pretext of contemplation eschew trauayle or els for priuate gust forgo the publique good so as hardly with greiuous and most irksome maladies could he be drawne from the Quire where with grauity and wonderfull modesty he would perseuere in praysing and blessing God In the labours of the hand likewise he abhorred all liberty or any manner of exemption at all as if he euen but then entred into the Monastery Going once with the Monkes to reaping of corne and not knowing well how to vse his sikle he was bid to sit downe and rest himselfe whereat he being sad prayed with such feruour to God that he might not be vnprofitable as that changing on a sudden his manner he began to reape so readily and dexterously as if all his life he had neuer practised any thing els True it is that in the exercises which required much strength of lymmes as in carrying of burthens in digging and deluing the ground and other such like workes when through his delicate complexion he was ready to sincke vnder the same he would get himselfe to some seruices lesse difficult but yet more abiect and vile so recompencing in that manner the paynes and trauayle of
euen the daungers of death it selfe neyther lost he the peace of his soule nor the conuenient repose of his body So as being one night for some graùe accidents transported in imagination into diuerse thoughts which tormented him without fruite after he had thus roued with his fantasy a pretty while at last was aware thereof and smiting his breast with a deepe sigh be began to reprehend himselfe sharply for not suddenly remitting all anxieties vnto the diuine Prouidence but being troubled and grieued for thinges so happening as if the direction of them had depended on his owne knowledge and care and scarcely was the day come but calling for a Confessour he declared that sinne with much contrition and surely not without reason especially the hand of the Highest so concurring with him by wonderfull effects as well in other actions as particularly in Censures Wherof some euents which happened in this matter will purchase a firme beliefe Certaine rebellious and conturnacious fellowes being by him giuen ouer vnto the power of the Diuell vanished immediatly nor were euer seene more A Souldier who at the instigation of his wife vniustly vsurped the goods of another and being often reprehended for it by the holy Bishop with diuers pretexts and falshoods still couered the same this man being excommunicated by him one day was on the next night following strangled by the infernall enemy and yet for all that another pursuing the same vniust suite being gone to bed well fed merry continuing sleep with death payd the fee of his iniquity A Deacon for hauing calumniated others of high treason against his Maiesty being worthily condemned by the Bishop by diuers colours and policyes vsed obteyned the absolution therof from the Metropolitan himselfe which S. Hugh knowing to be vayne and surreptitious stucke not to renew the Censure and to the end it might appeare which of the two was the true sentence it pleased God that the Deacon within few dayes after most miserably ended his dayes A certayne yong woman who in presence agaynst the reprehension of the Bishop ceased not to spit in her husbands face being stifled by a Diuell very sudenly expired A vertuous Clerke through the faction of the more potent being quite depriued of his right which he had in a Church after he had without any profit at all gone to suite a good while both at home in his Country and at Rome abroad and consumed his substance therein tooke finally resolution to recurre to the Bishop of Lincolne who being well informed of the cause and mooued to pitty vpon the trauayles of the suppliant resolued through diuine instinct no doubt to thunder against all those wicked sacrilegious men although they were not of his owne iurisdiction An admirable thing The bolt was no sooner shot but some of the impious company hauing lost their senses became furious others ended their life vnprouided others lost their eyes with excessiue torments and finally the Heauenly vengeance ceased not vntill such tyme as the Client of S. Hugh was restored to his Benefice againe This also was of much consideration which I shall presently tell you Seauen of the Kings Court hauing by stealth taken out a thiefe from the holy Church-yard whither for feare of iustice he had fled to saue himselfe without the Bishops consent hung him vp The seruant of God resented the matter as was fit and with his wonted armes chastized them straight And they from others example likewise fearing the worst very sorrowfull and compunct cast themselues at his feet all crauing pardon of him one excepted and hauing obteyned the same vpon condition that among other satisfactions being halfe naked it being then winter they should carry on thâ—… shoulders the man that was hanged for a good distance vnto the said Church-yard whence so temerariously they had taken him forth and there bury him with their owne hands So did the six penitent not without publike scorne and a great deale of trouble the while and had no other hurt that ensued thereon When lo the seauenth proud and pertinacious wretch after seauen yeares came also 〈◊〉 last to prostrate himselfe in the sight of the Bishop declaring to him a strange story of the hurts and domages befallen him in this while as well in his honour as in his goods and person besides and hartily craued absolution at his hands for mitigation at least if not an end of so great miseryes The conuersion supplication was not in vaine when S. Hugh not to add affliction to affliction absolued him with a light pennance and restored him agayne to the Communion of the faythfull The sweet manner of behauiour which S. Hugh carryed towards all VVith his Charity and Prudence in the manage of things Chap. 9. IN these and such like affayres touching the honour of God and Ecclesiasticall immunityes S. Hugh would shew so much rigour and seuerity as may seeme perhaps to be attributed to a certaine asperity or harshnes of mind and rusticity of manners if otherwise he had not alwayes vsed much humanity still reteyned the wonted bowels of Mercy At Table and Feasts he shewed himselfe very soberly pleasant and merry would exhort his friends to the same cheerefulnes with giuing thankes to the giuer of all good As for â—…nquets sports and musicke if he could not auoid them sometymes he would make vse of them eyther to refresh himselfe for new trauayls or for a tast of celestiall delights Not only in the publike preaching of the Word but euen also in familiar conuersation would he loose no occasion most sweetly to allure men vnto solid vertues and through their amendment very manifestly appeared the profit thereof His conceipts were efficacious and liuely and fitly accommodated to each condition and quality of persons Of which kind may serue as a certayne patterne that with diuers demonstrations he would giue Religious to vnderstand the necessity they haue of fighting continually with themselues and ascending alwayes to the top of perfection Vnto seculars especially to such as traffike aboue all things would he inculcate faith and truth in all things without which of necessity all human commerce must vtterly perish The women he was wont to incite to diuine Loue in putting them in mind particularly of the singular priuiledge the inestimable fauour done to that sexe by the soueraigne Maiesty in vouchsafing to take flesh and become the sonne of a woman and whereas man had neuer the honour to be called the Father of God a woman yet hath had the grace preheminence to be named the Mother of God In this manner he stirred vp alwayes mortals from slouth and tepidity and was most vigilant in encountring with the first origines of discords and maintayning peace as well in priuate as in publique hauing among other guifts so great a iudgment and light touching the point of equity as that not only neere at hand but also from remote countryes and euen from Rome it selfe
as we insinuated aboue there came controuersyes delegated to him of no light importance He was wonderfully beloued and reuerenced by his Chanons though for their sakes he would not swarue from righteousnes and with his prudence and sweetnes he knew how to manage them so as he neuer pretended any thing from the Chapter which he obtayned not at last he had likewise very admirable successe in the highest affaires of the Kingdome and among other his actions was remarkeable that peace which he concluded betweene King Philip of France and Iohn King of England being the immediate successour of his brother Richard who in punishment of the troubles brought vnto Ecclefiasticall persons within a few yeares of his Crowne was miserably slaine in battaile And to the purpose of this pacification of his it seemes not good to passe ouer in silence how S. Hugh returning from Normandy with the accord established happened by the way to lodge in a Monastery of his Carthusians called Arneria and some of those Fathers familiarly crauing he would make some particuler relation of the sayd expedition and quality of the articles Saint Hugh mortifying such a will in them sayd These secular businesses may well be declared by Bishops indeed but should not be curiously enquired into by Monks So tenacious was he at all times of Monasticall discipline of chaâ—…t silence This also was a matter of much edification in this great Prelate that hauing lost as we haue sayd through excessiue abstinence all appetite was vexed with most bitter gripes of the cholike yet fayled he not for all that to employ himselfe when need was with a most exact diligence in consecrating or rehallowing of Churches and administring the Sacraments especially of Confirmation of Order obseruing euer the Catholike rites in al things beginning sometimes before day perseuering therin some houres of the night following without any refection at all He spared not to bestow a good part of his tyme in informing himselfe of the behauiours of the people and Clergy of the necessiryes of the poore to relieue them in visiting and louingly comforting the sicke But though he shewed himselfe most pittyfull and beneficiall to all yet felt he a singular tendernes of affect towardes the infected with leaprosy he would goe into their Hospitalls in person and after that in common he had giuen benigne consolations and fatherly aduises to that wretched people he would approach to ech one in particular and humbly inclining himselfe vnto them he abhorred not to kisse their loathsome vlcers and lastly refreshed them with conuenient almes The Chauncellour of Lincolne called VVilliam one day was present at such a spectacle who being first astonished at so great humility and afterwards doubting some vaine glory in the Bishop began to tempt him with saying S. Martin with a kisse only cured the leaprous but you me thinks doe not so Towhich iest of his S. Hugh made answere S. Martins kisse eured the leaprous in flesh but the kisse of the leaprous euen cures my soule He was wont also most ordinarily to wash secretly the feet of thirteen poore folkes and to serue them at table And finally his workes of piety were so notable and famous as he was universally called the Father of Mercyes and euen sucking Babes as it were through naurall instinct would stretch forth their little armes to call and imbrace him How S. Hugh addicts himselfe to bury the dead with a strange prognosticate of his owne death Chap. 10. VVHat meruayle is it that S. Hugh should shew such clemency and compassion to the liuing who vsed such Charity and sollicitude towards the dead and that not only to their soules but euen likewise to their corps he no sooner vnderstood that there lay heere or there any body vnburyed but setting as a new Tobyas all other businesses aside he would goe thither in hast and with due exequyes according to the condition of ech one he would commit them to the earth And he was so giuen to this holy occupation as that being sometymes inuited by the King himselfe vnto dynner he would let him expect some whole howers together vntill his worke were finished and while the messengers came in one after another to sollicite him with saying the King yet differred his dynner for his sake and remayned still fasting S. Hugh freely would answere Why doth he expect me For better it were an earthly King should eate without me then for me to consent that the commaundement of the King of Heauen should be contemned My food is to fullfill the will of the eternall Father It happened one day that he buryed a most stincking corrupt corps of a drunken and dissolute sinner to which none durst approach without stopping the nose and yet S. Hugh went about to handle him without any auersion at all vntill he had layd him and couered him with earth the standers by being amazed therat demanded of him whether he felt not any noysomnes or loathing from the corrupt corps and he answering that he felt no offensiuenes thereat and how they were deceaued with their owne imagination being full with new wonder they ceased not to glotify the diuine Goodnes in his Seruant Newes being brought him one day of the death of a bitter persecutour of his he suddenly puts himselfe in order to goe vnto that house of mourning and to be present at the hearse and being told for certaine there were traynes layd for him on the way and therefore by no meanes he should go thither I deserue well indeed answered he to haue fetters at my feet and bolts on my legges if I should once but neglect such a visit And so causing the rest of his trayne to stay behind he went thither but with two only familiars of his and there arriued without any stop or hinderance at all and procuring a decent funerall for him that hated him so much and placing the body in a vault be returned home agayne replete with ioy and merits How acceptable these and the like exercises of S. Hugh were in the sight of God was euen manifested also in this present life with the precious guifts of healing infirmityes and expelling the wicked spirits and quenching flames In the meane while from his indispositions from his trauailes and yeares S. Hugh continually feeling himselfe to decay attended with more feruour theâ—… euer to prepare himselfe for that passage whereto in this short vncertaine course of mortality all the cares and studyes of men should be most intent and fixed A notable presage of the end of this Saint approaching were the actions of a certaine Swan of an extraordinary greatnes which on the selfe same day whereon S. Hugh being created Bishop entred into Lincolne was now likewise come from parts farre remote vnto a certaine Castle whither the Bishop afterwards resorted sometymes for honest recreation and when he arriued at any tyme that white bird would immediately fly to receiue him and where to others it
able to contayne the same with full resolution determined to passe likewise ouer himselfe into Mauritania and preaching couragiously the fayth of Christ to purchase to himselfe a precious death for the glory of Christ and saluation of Soules Now by this tyme he was made Preist and had arriued to the age of 26. yeares He was for his singular vertue and rare talents so deere to his whole Congregation as diffiding wholy to get leaue of the Abbot for such an enterprize concealing his purpose vnder the pretext of choosing a more austere and strict rule he determined to passe into the new religion of the Fryars Minors holding for certaine that thence he might more easily compasse his desired enterprize Wherefore making very feruent prayers thereupon at last he found out this way to execute his designe which followes in the next Chapter S. Antony is admitted into the Conuent of the Fryars Minors where he pursues his intent but all in vayne Chap. 3. AMong other Conuents of S. Francis dispersed through the kingdome of Portugall there was a litle one vnder the protection of S. Antony the Great without the walls of Conimbria where those Fathers philosophizing rather with life and manners then with questions and disputes gaue themselues to let the world vnderstand the vanity of things present and solid hopes of voluntary pouerty Some two of this Conuent from tyme to tyme were wont to come to the sumptuous and rich Monastery of the holy Crosse according to their institute very humbly to craue Almes So as Don Hernando taking them one day aside with a liuely affect of Charity vnfolded vnto them as to two Angells of Paradise his holy purpose and besought them keeping it secret where need was to deale with their Superiours about his admission into their Order but yet with expresse condition to send him by obedience as soone as may be vnto the land of the Moores to worke some fruit in the conuersion of Gentils Euen from that tyme was the name of Hernando famous for learning and goodnes so as the Fryars Minors tooke it to be no small fauour so to enrich themselues with such a purchase Wherefore the busynes being concluded on their parts on the other Don Hernando began to craue humble licence of his Prelates who made a very strong resistance for a tyme but his prayers were so continuall and vehement as they finally preuayled So as deuoutly taking the habit of S. Francis from the Minous in their Cloyster he went his wayes thence with such displeasure of the Chanons as he heard at his going forth such a bitter taunt in the way of iest cast forth by one of them as this Goe your wayes now perhaps you will be a Saint in that Religion At which words sayd he with a cheerefull countenance VVhen that shall be I beleiue you will giue praise and thanks to the Redeemer for it In this manner passing into a new habitation and institute the first thing he did was to lay aside all secular habits and quite to forget his fathers house to be also himselfe the more vnknowne and quite forgotten of the world from the title of that litle Church or to say better Oratory of the Minors in changing his name he caused himselfe to be called Fryar Antony From thence renewing his supplications to God and his Superiours and preparing himselfe continually with fit meditations to each cruelty of punishments that might be it was not long ere he was sent into the desired parts of Marocco where as in a most certaine field of battayle he hoped to obteyne by dying for Christ a glorious victory But soone appeared very euident signes of the inscrutable disposition of our Lord who accepting herein the good will of his seruāt had preordeyned him for other labours and to other merits Because that in the very beginning of his departure being oppressed with a greiuous malady he was constreyned for the most of that winter to keepe his bed Where though after many profers and endeuours made in vayne he coniectured the diuine Maiesty was no wayes propitious to his purposes yet by the beginning of the next yeare hauing scarcely recouered any forces he valiantly began afresh to make proofe of himselfe and to sayle towards Affrick But the barke had hardly hoysed sayle departed from the hauen when behold a contrary storme of the South-west winds by force transported the Mariners to Messina of the Iland of Sicily This aduenture gaue S. Anthony much more matter to reflect vpon the interpretation of the diuine will and had yet a more euident signe therof As soone as he landed he vnderstood by the Fryars Minors there resident how of late a generall Chapter was intimated of the Order at Assistum and therefore it apperteyned to him also as a Preist not hindered by any lawfull cause to goe thither Through this citation ioyned with passed accidents he came to be satisfyed it was not the diuine pleasure he should aspire to preach to the Mahometans or Gentils From which barre of exclusion the wary Merchant went about to make a double profit one of his owne confusion accusing himselfe of too much boldnes and presumption in himselfe the other of a stable purpose to suffer himselfe heereafter to be wholy guided by the Creatour by meanes of his Ministers without making choyce on his owne head of this or that manner of procuring the diuine glory And withall since it was not permitted him to expose himselfe for the holy fayth vnto the fury of the people to the cruelty of Tyrants to the scourges kniues of the mercyles hangmen he determined to offer vp himselfe another way to Christ in a liuing hoast vpon the aul◅ of Religious iustice by mortifying the flesh with whips fastings prayers and vigils slaying and annihilating the will and vnderstanding with perfect obedience and full contempt of priuate respect How S. Antony goes hiding his talents for humility sake and is vnknowne to men Chap. 4. S. Antony going with such designes in his breast vnto the Congregation of Assisium since by reason of his celebrating of Masse euery day and reciting the canonicall howers his Priestly dignity could not be hidden he endeauoured at least with all care to conceale the nobility of his bloud the force of his wit and the variety of learning which he had which so cunningly he did as with the whole Chapter he remayned in opinion of an Idiot or simple man and not apt eyther for subtilityes of speculatiue learning or manage of practicall matters Whence it followed that the assembly being dissolued while distribution of subiects according to the vse was made and the Superiours requiring to haue some this some that man along with them vnto their residences S. Antony remayned alone without being required or requested of any Meane while the diuine man exceedingly reioyced in beholding himselfe in imitation of his great Maister and Sauiour Iesus without fault of his to be slighted and neglected
heauenly banquet And thus with the stupour and amazement of all came the Oracle to be verifyed Of sundry apparitions of S. Antony made in his owne person vpon seuerall occasions Chap. 11. THe apparitions of God made to S Antony of him to others are worthy of eternall memory Being one day receaued as a Ghest by a certayne Knight no lesse deuout then illustrious he had a lodging appointed him farre from noyse where he might the better attend to study and contemplation Now while the Knight passes in the night by the house he sees a most bright splendour to proceed from that chamber whereat merueiling much he secretly approches to the doore and looking through the key hole beholds vpon an open booke before S. Antony a child of a celestiall beauty who sending forth rayes more bright then the Sunne threw himselfe tenderly about the necke of the blessed man and imbraced him without end and S. Antony likewise him with ineffable ioy and affection Amidst these chast imbraces the most sweet Babe shewed him how his Host was standing at the doore beheld al things remayning in a rapt S. Antony not enuyed him so happy a sight letting him enioy it at his pleasure vntill such tyme as the glorious child did vanish away when lastly he opened the doore and with a thousand prayers coniured him to keep the matter in secret vntill his death So promised the Knight and obserued the same and as soone as the Seruant of Christ was quit of the bandes of his body he vnloosed the same of silence and began to proclayme the aforesayd spectacle and to affirme it with oaths and teares togeather with so much gust as he could neuer be satisfyed with recounting it And hence it is that the images of the Saint are seene so depainted with a child in his armes sitting on a booke for a difference of others of his Order In this manner was S. Antony among other tymes as then made worthy of the presence of our Sauiour And he also as we sayd more then once affoarded himselfe in seuerall places vnto diuers persons at once and that allwayes eyther for the diuine seruice or for edification and the helpe of neighbours as particulerly happened to him in France while he was preaching first in Mompelier in the great Church after in Limoges in S. Peters which they call of the Quadrino Because S. Antony being in the pulpit and remembring suddainely he had forgot to substitute one in the Quire of the Conuent who should supply his part that belonged to him suddenly by diuine power not fayling neyther the people assembled nor pulpit was present with his Fryars to sing his Lesson and Antiphone At other tymes his Father being falsely accused in Lisbone for intercepting the monyes of the Fiscall and then agayne for killing a yonge man which by certaine wicked men was of purpose put into his garden with many signes of bloud vpon him S. Antony in the meane while being certifyed by diuiue reuelation of what had happened at both tymes from places and Prouinces most remote was found to be present in the same moment in the Citty of Lisbone and as for the monyes he made the Magistrates to vnderstand that the Kings Treasurers though fully satisfyed heertofore yet maliciously had denyed the receipt thereof and acquittances giuen For the homicide it pleased him to demaund it publiquely of the dead himselfe whether his Father though sentenced already for it were guilty of the said wickednes whereto hauing answered no without the vrging of S. Antony to name the malefactours he demaunded absolution of the seruant of God for a certayn excommunication he had formerly incurred and intercession for his synnes which hauing obtayned in the sight of all the multitude he fell downe dead into the sepulcher agayne And thus S. Antony conserued his innocent Father in his goods honours and life Moreouer the seruant of Christ was wont to shew himselfe cleerly in the night in sleep to some inueterated in sensuality and other vices who for feare or shame durst not to lay open their enormious synnes to the Priest and vpbrayding them their of crymes and circumstances thereof now to admonish them with sweetnes and now to constreyne them with seuerity and menaces to repayre to this or that Confessour as he esteemed most for the purpose so with the Sacrament of penance they had tyme to deliuer themselues from the power of the diuell which euen the penitents themselues related afterwards not without the great meruayl of euery one So as neyther in this also may the blessed S. Antony be accompted inferiour to S. Nicholas to S. Ambrose to S. Francis and others of whom it is read how they had the same very fauours from the Almighty in diuerse occurrences And since we haue newly made mention of penitents we may not fold vp in silence how efficacious the words of S. Antony were concerning that holsome Sacrament Other notable examples of the efficacy of S. Antonyes preaching not without manifest miracles Chap. 12. A Certaine Cittizen of Padua by name Leonard confessing vnto him among other iniquityes discouered being very contrite that he kickt his Mother on the belly so hard as he threw her to the ground For which the Saint reprehending him most grieuously in processe of discourse sayd to him How that foot which had had the boldnes to strike the belly whence he came forth deserued to be cut off The wordes were not spoken to a deafe man the absolution receaued Leonard goes his wayes home and interpreting the sillables as they sounded taking a hatchet really in hand he cut off his foot and presently being seised with a mortall sooning began to cry out aloud to these cryes the vnfortunate Mother full of feare came suddenly in the Chirurgians are sent for the wound is swathed with little hope of remedy or cure the neighbours run in one cryes another weepes all are astonished The wofull woman scarcely yet recouering breath goes her wayes with her haire disheueled to the Saint and with womanish plaints bitter sobs charges him with the death of her deare sonne The Blessed Antony with the newes thereof remayned extremely disconsolate and afflicted and not content to haue discharged himselfe with iust excuses he went immediatly to the lodging of that simple man and there sending vp enflamed prayers to God he tooke vp the foot cut off and laying it to the stump of the legge with the benediction of God so vnited the same as the yonge man without griefe or scarre remayned safe and sound The fame of so great a miracle dilated it selfe throughout and thankes were rendred to the diuine goodnes on all sides These and other such like shinges befell S. Antony in Confessions But turne we now to his Preaching againe we may not let passe how the Crusado for the holy Land being proclaymed vnder Gregory the IX and a most ample Iubiley published for such an intention in Rome there assembled