for the which it is fit those saints should be nominated and none other And it seemeth to be the ordinance of God that in some particuler citties and prouinces the feasts of sundrie saints should be celebrated As through all Spâ—ine the feasts of S. Isâ—â—dore and Ildephonse are celebrated At Toledo is kept the feast of S. Eugenius and at Alcala the feast of the two saints Iustus and Pastor The Popes do also obserue the same order in Canonization of saints concerning the saying of their office and solemnising of their feast For although he that is canonised is to be holden and reputed a saint of all Christians vnto all whom it is comaunded that they honour him as a sainte yet for the celebration of his feast a place is set downe and assigned or els a particuler congregation As to S. Francis of Paula founder of the order of the Minimes his feast is kept in all the places of his religion and in some citties as in Towers in France where he died Of S. Catherine of Siena also who is canonised and her feast is kept through all the order of preachers and in the cittie of Syena in Italy Of S. Romualdus founder of the Calmaldoly whose feast is sollemnised in all the monasteries of his religion and in the cittie of Rauenna where he was borne and in the towne of Fabriano where his body lieth yea not long agoe Pope Gregorie 13 hath granted a plenarie Indulgence to all Christians both men and women vpon the feast day of the said Romualdus which is on the 19 of Iune that shall visite the Churches of the monasteries of the Calmaldoly aswell of monkes as of nonnes And the like is also of many other saints Notwithstanding all this dilligence of the Catholique Church there remaine many thousands of saints of whom is kept no feast nor comemoration neither in generall nor in particuler yea of many there is no memory nor knowledge Of these then which be an infinite number is celebrated the feast of all saints Which is a reason of great consolation for afflicted and tormented mindes for though when the sacred scripture maketh mention of those which be saued it is done with such restriction and limitation that it maketh the most valiant to tremble and desmaieth the faint and weake harted As it is said of them that departed out of Egipt that of so many thousands two only entred into the land of promise and also when CHRIST saith that the gate of heauen is narrow and the way by which we go thither straite As also when he speaketh of rich men and saith that it is more easie for a Camell to passe through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter into heauen As also the parable of the ten Virgins of which sine were excluded out of the gate Yet this I say is matter of great consolation Tho vvald de Sacram tit 16. Gab de canon misse Pighius Coent Vers 13. Eck enchir Cap. 15. Castiâ— lib 13. cont heres to see that the holie saints be so many that there cannot be feasts performed vnto them all through the whole yeare and that they must haue a particuler daie allotted for them all in which the Church singeth for the Epistle a lecture of the Apocalips of S. Iohn where it is said that euerie tribe had so many thousands of saints in heauen The third reason why the feast of all saints is kept is for that we be much bound vnto theÌ„ for many graces and fauours which we continually receaue of them and by their meanes for that cause it is conuenient that in their memory we make some feast reioice for the ioie which they haue by posessing the presence of God in heauen This obligement and bond is so great that before this sollemnitie was instituted by Gregorie or Boniface some Catholiques and deuout Christians were in particuler perswaded to celebrate such a feast of which number S. Angustine was one who saith in a sermon my deare and louing brethren we celebrate the feast of all saints vnder one sollemnitie of whose company heauen reioiceth Serm. 27. tom 10. and the earth is made happy by their aide and the Church renowned by their triumphes That the obligation and bond which we haue to the saints is great we may see by this that not speaking of the fauours and graces which we all receaue of God by their merits and intercession there is not a man in this world if he look into his life but he shall find himself obliged to some particuler saint it being certaine that God for his sake hath done him some good Moreouer it is a cleare case that we be bound vnto the saints hearing CHRIST say of them Luk 15. that they feele an accidentall ioy euery time that a sinner doth repent By which we may gather that if they feele such ioy to see a sinner bewaile his sinues with teares to knock his breast to sigh and lifte vp his voice to heauen if this musick please them so much that for the same they make publike ioy and sollemnise his conuersion what Iubiley triumph and sollemnity make they when such a sinner is freed clearly from his sinnes and from the prison of the body and entreth into heauen If the saints reioice so much at our good it is very fit that we reioice by celebrating their feastes The fourth and last reason why we celebrate the feastes of all the saints is because we should imitate them When the poore man seeth the treasors of the rich his pouerty is more apparent and manifest and the sinner seeth his defects better when the vertues of the saints are represented vnto him The Catholike Church celebrating the feasts of the saints Greg naz orat in Athanas S. E pihhere 26. Basil hom in 40 m art doth not only intend to honor them and God in them but also would lay them before vs for a patterne and example to the end we should imitate them if we would go whither they be gone and be saued as they are saued and posesse Gods glory as they possesse it Assueredly we may say that many that are called the disciples of CHRIST indeed be ChristiaÌ„s for that they be Baptised haue faith in workes are Pagans disciples of the diuell blinded and deceiued and that their consciences be harquebuze proofe as may be seene by that which followeth In this feast of the sollemnitie of all saints the Church readeth a Ghospell which was the first that IESVS CHRIST preached in the world conteineth the despising of all temporall things and as S. Augustine saith compriseth the somme of all that which is necessarie for the perfection of a Christian He staieth not on that point but beginning to preach his new law and Gospell teacheth vs all to make small account of things present and to make most reconing of things to come to extirpate the loue of terrene goode
virgine Mary might be kept on the 21. Nouember The life of S. Cecilie ONE of the vertuous excercises that the holie matrone Iudith vsed in the seruice of God and to please him was that she wore a course haire-cloth by which she tamed her flesh and brought it in subiestion This was the cause that she had the victorie ouer her flesh and that she liued many yeares a continent and chast life and was freed from all danger and brought home an honorable victorie at such time as she was in the handes of Holofernes We maie saie the same of the glorious virgin and martyr S. Cecilie who amongst many other her pious and vertuous excercises wore continually a haire-cloth and she was deliuered from a danger like vnto that of Iudith for she was preserued a virgin though she were espoused and brought her husband to be a Christian and to keep perpetuall chastitie with her which both of them obserued during their liues The life of this holie saint was written by Symeon Metaphrastes after this manner MANY and great were the graces and fauours that IESVS CHRIST bestowed vpon men discending from heauen vnto earth and deliuering them with his owne death from eternall death ouercoming thereby him that had power in the world and then guiding them by his doctrine vnto heauen Many men acknowledging this good done vnto them by our blesses Sauiour followed him The first were the Apostles then the martyrs Confessors priests virgins wydowes and maried people and those that excercise themselues in all vertuous workes To conclude his diuine maiestie calleth euerie one by the meanes of his euangelists saying Come vnto me all you that be wearied and afflicted and I will refresh you I will lighten the waight that lyeth so heauen vpon you This comfortable saying was heard by S. Cecilie a virgin of Rome who was beautifull of bodie noble of bloud and ritch in posessions Shee beleeuing the Gospell caried it alwaies about her reading often thereon and praying vnto God continually Her father had espoused her to a verie goodlie gentleman of Rome called Valerian who being inflamed with the loue of Cecilie desired much the wedding daie At last the daie came and the glotious virgin though she were in rich apparrell of silk and gold conformeable to her owne birth and the estate of her husband yet vnder her said apparrell next to her skinne she wore a course haircloth Three daies before the apointed tâ—me of the wedding she fasted wept and prayed continuallie desiring God to preserue her virginitie for that this mariage was not by her desired neither should it be by her will since she had giuen herself whollie to IESVS CHRIST and offred to him her virginitie And that her praier might the rather be heard she desired the Angells Apostles martyrs virgins and all the court of heauen to make intercession for her The time at last being come that she and Valerian were to be priuate in their chamber alone she spake to him after this manner My honorable Lord and deare loue I will discouer vnto you a waighty matter if you will promise to keep it secret Valerian forth with promised and then Cecilie said vnto him The secret is this I haue an Angell of God in my companie who is iealous of me and guardeth my bodie verie dilligentlie If he see thee so hardie as to come neere or touch me with carnall or lasciuious loue he will chastice thee rigorously but if he see that thou loue me with pure and chast loue he will loue thee as he loueth meâ— and will bestowe the like pretious fauours as he bestoweth on me Valerian hearing thâ—se words was some what troubled and fearefully said If thou my dearest Cecilie desire that I beleeue thy wordes let me see the Angell If I see him not I shall thinck it is some person that thou louest in dishonest sort which is a wrong to me that am thy husband And if I find it so I wil not faile to kill you both To this S. Cicilie answered If you desire to see the Angell you must be Baptised beleeue in one God eternall and Omnipotent Creator of heauen and earth The conclusion of their long speech was they agreed that on the next daie Valerian should talk with the blessed Bishop Vrban who at that tyme sat in the Chaire of S. Peter and by him Valerian being first instructed in the faith was Baptised Then returning home and coming into the chamber where Cecilie was he found her at prayer and an Angell by her in the shape of a beautifull yongman from whose face came a glorious brightnes The yong man had two garlands in his hand made of Lillies and fresh odoriferous Roses The one he gaue vnto S. Cecilie and the other vnto Vallerian When he deliuered them he said I haue brought these garlands for you wrought with flowres gathered in paradise and in signe I saie true they will continew allwaies fresh and smell verie sweet and maie not be seene but of them that endeauour to liue chast as you do And because thou Valerian hast giuen credit vnto thy spouse and hast receaued the faith of CHRIST the same IESVS hath apointed me to tell thee from him that demaund what thou wilt and he will grant it vnto thee When Valerian heard this he kneeled on the ground and rendred thanckes vnto God for the great benefitt bestowed on him and said I desire this fauour that my brother Tiburtius whom I loue most hartelie maie be conuerted vnto the faith I shall not shew the loue that I beare him if I being now deliuered from the blindnes of Idollatrie wherein I liued do not help to deliuer him also out of it if it be in my power To this the Angell answered with a cheerful countenance Since thou hast demaunded so iust a thing God doth grant it vnto thee And as Cecilie thy spouse hath bene the meanes of thy saluation so shall she also be a meanes for thy brother Tiburtius All came to passe as the Angell said for Tiburtius coÌ„ming by hap into the chamber and feeling a sweet smell of lillies and roses and seing none demaunded of them whence the fragrant smell came that he felt Valerian told him that it came from two garlands which he and Cecilie had on their heads and had bene brought vnto them from heauen Valerian took occasion hereupon to giue him knowledg of IESVS CHRIST and told him also that he himself was Baptised Then leading his brother Tiburtius to Vrban the pope he instructed him in the faith and Baptised him also It befell afterward that the two brethren excercising themselues in good works and especiallie in burieng the Christians that were martyred information was giuen of them to a gouernor called Almachius who imprisoning them and tormenting them in diuers manners as is written in their liues on the 14 of Aprill they were beheaded for the profession of the faith of CHRIST and S. Cecilie buried their bodies
that their bodies should be burned and whilest the officers hauing already gotten all their bodies together prepared to performe it and had laid wood on the top of them and put fire vnto them behold on a sodeine the sky was couered with dark and black cloudes and dredfull thunders were hard and thunderboltes killed some of the Pagans who were busied in burning the bodies of the holy martyrs and the other fled away to saue their lifes wherat the Christians took hart and gathered together the reliques of the holy Martirs taking them out of the fire which was alredy quenched and putting them into a bark sailed with them vnto Bizantium and there they buried them very honorably After a few daies the couragious matrone Natalia desirous to remaine in the same place where the holy reliques were passed from Nicomedia vnto Bizantium where shee made a blessed end in our Lord and was buried at the side of S. Adrian her husband whose body was in processe of time caried vnto Rome and buried in a Church builded to his name The death of S. Adrian was on the. 8. day of September and the death of Natalia his wife was on the first day of December in the yeare of our Lord. 306. vpon a munday as the spanish saith Dioclesian raigning iointly with Maximian on the earth and IESVS CHRIST with the father and holy Ghost in perfect Trinity reigning in heauen to whome be all praise and glory for euer Amen * ⎠* The life of S. Gorgonius Martir IESVS CHRIST speaking of his comming into the world Math. 10. saith as S. Mathew writeth in his ghospell Doe not you think that I am come to make peace in the earth for I am come to set warre therin Although that the Angels sang when I was borne Glory be vnto God in the heauens and in earth peace vnto men of good will Although I am become man to treate and conclude peace betwene mine eternall father and men and though my salutations when I rose from death were nothing but peace because I desire that euerie man should haue it neuertheles let not any man be deceaued for I am come to make controuersie and variance betwene the wicked and the good I am come to make a diuision betwene the father and the sonne the mother the daughter the stepmother and the daughter in lawe and I am come to make the houshold seruants and familier freinds enemies vnto the master of the house This is euident and apparant to be so for when the father and the sonne the mother and the daughter the stepmother and the daughter in lawe the master of the house and his houshold people and familiar freinds be wicked and vicious if God touch the hart of any of them and they be conuerted vnto him and the other continue in their wickednes forthwith discord and dissension ariseth among them and they make war one against another but this do the wicked against the good by persecuting them euen to the taking away of their lifes because they forsake and abandon their conuersation Of this we haue an example in S. Gorgonius the martir who was chamberlain vnto the Emperour Diocleasian who as long as Gorgonius was a Gentill and worshipped the Idols liued quietly with him and he shewed much kindnes vnto him but when he vnderstood that Gorgonius was a Christian forthwith he fell out with him and vsed him with great tiranny and lastly with greate cruelty put him to death l. 8. c. 9. Howe it came to passe Eusebius Bishop of Cesarea reherseth after this maner SAINT Gorgonius was borne in the city of Nicomedia and was chamberlein vnto themperour Deoclesian This man hauing receiued the faith of CHRIST IESVS by the meanes of Dorotheus his fellowe companion in the same office These two conferred what they might do to get others of the Emperours chamber to be made Christians It fell out that one day one Petrus that had receaued also the christian faith who was a man noble in bloud of high esteeme in themperours Court hauīg an honorable office in the same sawe in the city of Nicomedia in the high street and edict or proclamation set vp which was made against the Christians threatning death and torments to them that should be discouered This man vpon a greate zeale of our faith took downe the edict and in the sight of all the people rent it in pieces when this happened Dioclesian and Maximian whom the former had chosen to be his colleague and companion in the Empire and had giuen vnto him the title of Cesar were both together in Nicomedia and vnto them it was tould what Petrus had done wherat both enraged and mad with fury commanded he should be brought before theire presence When he was brought and the other two also being there present he reproched and reuiled Peter out of measure and gaue strict commaundment he should not be fauored in his torments which although they were excessiue yet did he neuer showe in his countenaunce any signe but of ioy and neuer spoke word but it declared a vallerous and inuincible mind Gorgonius was present at this spectacle for he and Dorotheus had bene instructors of Peter in the faith of CHRIST These two seeing the cōstancy of the B. martir there grewe in them also a desire to die for the loue of IESVS CHRIST this his example working much in them and by accord betwene them they spoke vnto the Emperour in this maner what meanest thou o Emperour that thou tormentest Peter only for that thing in which if it be in him any fault we also are culpable if thou puttest him to the endurance of these torments because he professeth the faith of IESVS CHRIST the same faith we confesse also The same intention he hath we haue also therfore reason willeth that thou puttest vs vnto the same torments which thou hast made him to suffer when Dioclesian heard them say this he grewe into gret choller The loue he bore towards them before was not so greate and the desire to do them good as was nowe the indignation he cōceiued against them and the determination he had to handle them euill and in his fury and rage he said vnto them Since you seek the way like fooles as this man is to be tormented you shall haue your minds satisfied Then he commaunded they should be scourged without pitty which was performed forthwith so that their flesh was rent and torne in diuers places Then the tirant commaunded the officers to lay salt and power vineger into their wounds and lay them on the gridiron and vnder it a fire to be made but not a greate one to put them to the more torment Peter was nowe dead by this martirdome and bicause Gorgonius and Dorotheus semed yet to liue and the tirant was wearied to see their torment vpon the gridiron he made them to be taken from it and with a rope tied aboute their necks to be hanged by
of th'emperour Traian The life of S. Felicitas Martyr ONe of the affections which parents ought to conquer and bring to a meane is the ouer-great fondness of loue to they re children For though nature hath engrafted a loue vnto them and reason teacheth that loue is due to them yett is it due with such proportion and measure that the loue of they re children depriue them not of the loue of God which ought to be prized and preferred aboue all other Moreouer they ought to marke well and regard wherein consisteth the true loue of they re children For manie times parents desire and procure for they re children the false fayned fading goods of this world with such painfull endeuoure such vnquencheable thirst that euerie thing seemeth to meane and to little in repect of that which most they wish them and faine would haue for them And herein they bound the limitts of they re loue this they prefixe as they re only marke not regarding how to enrich they re children with vertues nor make them worthie of those verie goods which they painfully scrape and carefully heape vp together for them litle mindfull of instructing them how to purchase those euerlastinge vnspeakeble treasures of glorie in whose comparison all the good and riches of earth are only shadowed conterfayted goods To teache and instruct parents in this trueth and set before they re eyes a rule and patterne of they re duety the holie Churche makes this day a commemoracion of Holie S. Felicitas She was a most honourable Matrone of Rome where being lefte a widow with seauen sonnes she liued without blame or reprehension bending her greatest care and endeuoure to serue her selfe and make her children serue allmightie God And so much preuailed her good example and holie education that Gods loue was so deepelie rooted in they re harte as to make them holie martyrs of his in the time of the Emperoure Antoninus when before the eyes of they re blessed mother with cruell torments and sundrie kinds of death they bought one euerlasting lyfe as hath bin said in the month of Iulie But after those glorious Knights of CRHIST IESVS the sonnes of blessed Felicitas had manfully fought and wonne the victorie all the rage and furie of the Emperour was turned againste that holie mother whose woords had encouraged and giuen her sonnes weapons to fight the battaile The Tyraunt therefore commaunded that she should be cast into a loth some prison to the end that sparing for some time her lyfe he might make her grieue daylie more and more for her childrens death For though she reioyced as knowing that now they were cittizens of heauen yett could she not as a mother but feele some sorrow they being lost to her allthough she had gained them to God There he kept her foure months in prison to afflict her and molest her the more and at the length seing that still she perseuered constant in the faith of IESVS CHRIST he commaunded her to be beheaded Of this blessed mother the patterne of all christian mothers of this martyr or as S. Gregorie saith more then martyr for she was eight tymes martyred seauen in her children and once in her selfe the same S. Gregorie hath these words Let vs behold my brethren consider this woeman and be ashamed to see her so much surpasse vs. Often times one only word said against vs doth trouble and vexe and make vs breake all oure good purposes whereas neyther torments nor death it selfe was able to conquer blessed Felicitas nor make her yield or giue backe one foote Wee with a blast of contradiction are streight waies dismayed and shamefully fall she wrought a way thorough steele and flint to obtaine and euerlasting crowne We giue not the least part of oure goods to the poore for the loue of CHRISTE she offered him her flesh in sacrifize Wee when God calleth backe for oure children which he had giuen vs in loane waile euerlastingly without comfort she be-wayled her children vntill they died for CHRISTE and reioyced when she did behold them dead And Peeter Archeb of Rauenna saith B holde a woman whose children liuing were cause of her care dead of her securitie Most happie she that now hath as manie faire shining lights in heauen as heretofore she had sonnes on earth Happie in bringing them into this world most happie in sending them vp into heauen She was farre more diligent and industrious when the tyraunt commaunded them to be slaine and when she walked amonghst they re dead bodies then when she did rocke them in the cradle and gaue them milke with her owne brests she viewed full well with the eyes of her soule that as manie wounds as they receaued so manie should be the pretious jewells of they re victorie how manie they re torments so manie they re rewards the crueller they re combats the more glorious they re crowns what shall I say of this valerous woman only this that she 's no true mother that loues not her children as this loued hers Hitherto are the words of S. Peeter of Rauenna The martyrdome of S. Felicitas was on the 23 day of Nouember the yeare of oure Lord 175. There is mention made of her in the Roman and other Martyrologes * ⎠* The life of S. Chrisogonus Martyr GREAT was the ioje and content the holy man Ioseph conceiued when he was taken out of prison in which he had remayned a long tyme suffring therein many troubles â—fflictions especially being vpon his deliuery ouâ— made gouernour ouer all ihe land of Egipt No lesse was the content and spirituall ioye S. Chrisogonus had when he departed out of prison where he had continued two yeares and had endured the ordinary molestations incident to prisons though he was not taken out to be a prince on the earth but to be a glorious and happie Saint in heauen whether his soule presently ascended by meanes of his martyrdome The life of this holie Sainct was written by Venerable Bede and by Ado Archbishop of Treuers in this manner SAâ—NT Chrisogonus was borne in Rome of a noble and honorable family and was in all his cariage and behauiour no lesse worthie and gracious with all men He was apprehended by the comaund and apoyntment of Dioclesian the Emperour and was kept in prison two yeeres contynually being there releeued with all things necessary by a vertous woman his disciple called Anastasia wife vnto Publius a man great and potent in the cittie but an Idollater This Phlius hauing knowledg of that which this wife Anastasia did shutte her vp and locked her stronglie in a chamber of his pallace setting a guard and watch ouer her to the end she should not send any help or relief vnto Chrisogonus as also that the should not haue any sustenance for here self determining that both the one and the other of them might dye by famine Notwithstanding the blessed woman was shut vp in this sort yet she found meanes to
I will make you Fishers of men at this they left their bark and netts and followed him and from that houre they kept him company and he made them his Apostles S. Iohn maketh mention of S. Andrew in the recouÌ„ting the myracle our Sauiour did on the mouÌ„t when he would seed 5000. persons that followed him and asked S. Philippe where he might buy asmuch bread as would suffice all those people and he made an answer shewing little faith S. Andrew shewed a little more faith then he sayeng there was a boy that had fiue loaues two fishes though he doubted some what sayeng it was too litle for so many The same S. Iohn saith also of S. Andrew that some Gentills desired to see IESVS CHRIST vpoÌ„ the â—ame that was of him spoake to S. Philip to being theÌ„ to see him he spoke to S. Andrew both of theÌ„ told IESVS how some desired to see him There is no other particuler thing written in the Ghospell of S. Andrew though it be very certain that he was present in those things where it is said that all the Apostles of CHRIST were there as being one of them He was present at the resurrectioÌ„ of Lazarus he was at the entrie in to IerusaleÌ„ on Palme-sonday He was at the Supper where he was made priest and Bishop communicated Then with the rest he abandoned our Lord flyeng as the others did hee sawe our Sauiour raised to life and also ascend into heauen and receaued the holy Ghost and his gifts also He preached in Scithia Europea which fell to his lotte He passed into Thracia Epyrus in all which countryes he preached did myracles and conuerted much people to the faith of CHRIST Finally he came to the city of Patras in Achaia and there he staied and made it his place of abode and residence preaching and gainyng many soules by conuerting them to the faith not only in that prouince and city but also in the countreys adiacent in a small space there was not staÌ„ding one temple of the Idolls for that they were all turned into Chappell 's or into oratoryes where the Apostle said masse as occasioÌ„ serued He ordered deacons other ministers to help him in this holy misterie Euery one loued reuerenced him for that they knew our good God had bestowed many benefits on theÌ„ by his meanes His life was an example to them all with his words he coÌ„forted euery one his deeds were very gracyous vnto them for that he healed the sick and cast out the deuills To euery one he did good and did not permitt any to do euill There came into this city as Proconsull Egeas sent by the Romaines to gouern that prouince He seing how matters went began to persecute the Christians compelling them to sacrifice vnto the Idolls S. Andrew came sayd vnto him It is good reasoÌ„ that thou who art a Iudg ouer men shouldst acknowledge thy Iudg which is in heauen and honour him for the true God as he is indeed and leaue the honouring of them who be no Gods Egeas said perhaps thou art that Andrew who did destroy the temples of the Idolls and persuade men to receaue the superstityous sect of the Christians which the Romaines haue apointed to be persecuted and to be rooted out S. Andrew replied The Romaines haue not yet vnderstood how the sonne of God is come from heauen vnto earth for the saluation of mankind who hath taught that these Idolls be deuills and deceiuers who bring men from the true seruice of God that they may depart out of this life replenished with synne and be punished in the life to come with eternall torments Egeas said these be the things your CHRIST preached to the Iewes for the which they crucified him you say true said the holy Apostle that IESVS CHRIST died on the Crosse but that was done by his owne proper will Howe by his will said Egeas Is it not knowen that one of his disciples sold and deliuered him into the hands of the Iewes who presented him before their gouernour and he caused him to be crucified All these things shew that he dyed not of his owne will S. Andrew replyed I was and am still his disciple and I auow that he died by his owne will for that he knew and said these things before viz that he should be taken crucified and rise againe the third day yea and I tell there more that my brother Peeter would haue hindered him to the end he should not haue permitted such thing to be done and was called Satan for the same in which he shewed that the hinderance of his death was vnto him displeasing And wheÌ„ he said that one of vs that were with him at the table should betray sell him his best beloued disciple called Iohn asked him who it was that should be so treacherous he answered that it was he vnto whom he gaue a soppe dipped in the platter at which word he gaue it to Iudas who was the man that sold him and had already bargeined to betray him by this you may know that my maister who knew all things might haue preuented it and if he did it not you are compelled to confesse that he dyed by his owne will Egeas said were it of his owne will were it by force I reckon not but I meruell at thee that thou wilt worshippe for God a man crucified S. Andrew said very great was the mystery of the Crosse and I will declare it vnto thee if thou wilt heare me with patience Egeas said I will hear thee patiently but after that if thou doest not harken and obay me I will make thee to feele the mistery of the Crosse vpon thy shoulders Menace not me said S. Andrew for that if I feared it I would not preach the glory therof The first man hauing incurred the punishment of death for eating the fruit of the forbidden tree it was conuenient that with the fruit of the tree of the Crosse should be cancelled the death of the world and remedy giuen to the losse of mankind And as the first man was formed of the virgen earth and the ruyne of the world was caused by him so it was fitt that CHRIST should be borne of the imaculate virgin Mary true God and true man that he should be the cause of the redemption of the world Adam stretched out his armes to gather the fruit of the forbidden tree and CHRIST stretched his out because they should be nayled to it Adam tasted the fruit and CHRIST tasted gall To conclude I tell thee that my Lord was clothed with mortall flesh and would dye vpon the Crosse that he might cloth vs with immortality and giue vs eternall life Egeas hauing giuen care to the Apostle a while said Tell these thy tales to them that will beleeue thee and beleeue thou me that if thou doest not sacrifice to our Gods I will put thee on the Crosse thou
Iohn the young man began by a little little to fall vnto lewdnes and at the last to be a Captaine of robbers and murderers by the high way S. Iohn being returned and vnderstanding what was become of the young man was aggrieued for the same and went vnto the desert where the young man kept and haunted in fine he met him He at the sight of the Apostle began to fly and S. Iohn followed him saying My sonne why doest thou flye behold I am weary and euen tyred in coÌ„ming to seeke thee in this desert and vnhabited place doest not thou perceiue that it is euill done of thee a young man to flye from me an old man If thou doest it for feare of the account thou hast to render vnto God for thy sinnes I offer my selfe to answer for thee at the day of iudgement The hart of the young man relented at the words of S. Iohn and at the teares he saw to fall on his white beard so he fell at his feere bewayling his sinnes S. Iohn tooke him home and the young man amended his life and serued God with great feruour after that time Sometime this seruant of God shewed indignation against them whom he knew would not amend their faults S. Policarpe his disciple writeth of him that being one time in a bayn Cerinthus the heretike came in and then he made hast to get out saying with indignation Let vs get hence quickly lest the filthy and corrupt water of Cerinthus infect vs meaning by the water the false doctrine of the heretike His disciples importunated him to write that which he preached that they might haue it in continuall remembrance The Apostle condiscended to their request and commaunded a generall fast and continuall prayers to be kept by all the people Then went the vpon a mountaine and tooke only with him his disciple Procurus Metaphrases saith they heard thunders and thunderclaps with whirlewinds which put Procurus in great feare and dread but these tempests being aleyed S. Iohn began to say In principio erat verbum and so Procurns wrot and continued the Gospell after his enditing wherein he laboureth to destroy the errour of the heretiks called Ebionits who held that CHRIST was not God and the principall entent of S. Iohn was to shew and proue that CHRIST is true God And because he flew so high the figure of an Eagle which is a foule that soareth aloft is attributed vnto him The holy Euangelist was now farre in yeares and when he talked with his disciples he had allwayes in his mouth these words My sonnes loue one another and they said Maister let vs heare some other words for we haue heard this very often And he answered them I say this thing vnto you for that this is sufficient and he that doth this doth all Hauing then had reuelation of his death being 99. yeares ald he assembled all his disciples and led them vpon a high mountaine where a Church stood In that place he caused his sepulcher to be opened and stripped himselfe of part of his cloths and put off his shoes and so aliue he went into his sepulcher his disciples making great lamentation and then there came from heauen a cleare brightnes vpon that place enuironing the body and the holy place And they that were present remained in a traunce as it seemed for great dread and being come to themselues they saw S. Iohn no more but the graue couered with earth which seemed to boyle vp a pretious liquor that cured many infirmities This was the passage of S. Iohn and as S. Ierome and venerable Bede affirme his death was without any griefe and his body neuer felt corruption Of which words S. Thomas Nicephorus Callistus and many other Authors take occasion to say that S. Iohn was raised againe and ascended into heauen both in body and soule where he hath an eminent place since the titles he had in the world were so honourable He had the title of Virgin Apostle of Euangelist and of martir at lest in will and desire yea S Augustine S. Iohn Chrisostome and Ruffinus call him martir for when he was put into the vessell of oyle he should haue dyed if God had not myraculously deliuered him and his will was always prompt and ready to dye for the loue of IESVS CHRIST Beside the said titles he had another rare and singular name of the Disciple beloued of CHRIST of his brother and sonnes of the same mother by the will and appointment of the same God This glorious Apostle did spend 70. yeares in preaching and conuerting of soules all which time he continued busy in the seruice of God alwayes louing him and alwayes perswading others to serue him But all this which we haue said is but little to equalize the great glory that he enioyeth in heauen although that which he hath and what place he possesseth there God and he best knoweth Let it suffice vs to recommend vs to him by taking him to our Aduocate and imitating his life asmuch as lyeth in vs And so ayded by him we may be rewarded by God and see S. Iohn in heauen yea God himselfe enioying him in his glory for euer Amen The Catholike Church celebrateth the feast of S. Iohn Euangelist on the. 27. day of December And his death was in the yeare of our Lord. 100. or there about in the time of Traian the Emperour The feast of the holie Innocents THERE is mention made in the booke of Kings of a most cruell woman 4. Lib. Cap 11. called Athalia who was the mother of kâ—â—g Ochozias This woman her sonne being dead vpon ambition and desire to raigne got into her hands the children which were of the bloud royall and put them all to death One only escaped heâ— hands who wâ—s called Ioas. This child was saued by the care and diligence of the nurse that brought him vp and of Ioiada the high priest who hid him so that Athalia could not get him into her possession and power and in processe of time Ioas was king of Israell This crâ—ell Arhalia was a figure of Herod who holding the kingdome of Israell by violence for that he was a forrainer and of a strange countrie to assure himselfe of that kingdome he killed many innocent children as Athalia had done before out of whose hands escaped Ioas by the industrie of his nurse and of Ioiada which kept him secret So IESVS CHRIST figured in Ioas fled from Herod by the care and industrie of his most B. mother and of S. Ioseph who deliuered and kept him free out of Herods furie when they carried him into Egipt Ioas was afterward king of Israell IESVS CHRIST was and is King of heauen and earth and the vniuersall redeemer of all mankind The historie of these holie Innocent infants was written by S. Mathew the Euangelist in this manner AFTER the birth of the sonne of God into the world Luk. 2. and after his circumcision on
of the Church Afterwards kneeling vpoÌ„ his knees continuing his prayers his enemies crying out kill him kill him his head was clouen with many woundes all lighting in one place his braines were scattered about the ground his bodie did fall close besides the Aultar before which he had offered himselfe to God as a sacrifize The Monkes and cleargie men fearing to leese that precious treasure of their Prelats bodie assembling together did strippe him of his cloathes found all his bodie from the neck to the knees couered with a rough haire shirt and his breeches also made of hairecloth With this token of his santity the remeÌ„brance of his vertues they did shed many teares saying one vnto another how farre was he from affecting the Crowne and seeking after earthly honour that did so despise and chastize his owne flesh as if it had bin his mortall enemies They apparailed him in his Pontificall roabes and buried him before the aultar of S. Iohn Baptist and of S. Augustine first Bishop of that citty God that is wonderful in his sainctes working manie miracles to witnesse his santity and glorie This renowned champion of IESVS CHRIST Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of England Legate of the Sea Apostolique and glorious martyr suffered in the yeare of our Lord 1171. in the 53 yeare of his age scarce a moneth after his exile after he had bin Prelate 12. yeares 5. whereof he liued peacebly in his chaire and 7. in banishment Of him Petrus Blesensis a Frenchman by birth a great fauourite of Henry the 2. King of England and a graue writer of those dayes hath these words Thomas was the publisher of Gods word trumpet of the Ghospell friend of the spouse pillar of the cleargie sight of the blinde tonguÌ„e of the dumbe foote of the lame salt of the earth ornament of his countrie minister of the highest Vicar of CHRIST the annoynted of our Lord. All his conuersation was a schoole of vertue the rule of good manners a patterne of saluation He was vpright in iudging industrious in executing discreet in commaunding modest in speaking circumspect in his counsaile most sparing in his dyet most liberall in giuing peaceable in wrath in flesh an Angell meeke in iniuries fearefull in prosperitie well-assured in aduersity allmost lauish in almes giuing and euen altogether mercie the glorie of religious men and the loue and greatest delight of the people with many other prayses to the same purpose Neither is it only hee but all the most famous men of those dayes who extoll S. Thomas as the only patterne and myrrhoure of good Prelats King Henry himselfe did plainely declare how much he did lament his death For he not only swoare that he neuer so much lamented the death of father nor mother nor would haue bin so sorrowfull for the death of his owne childe but he also of his owne accord caâ—â— vnto Canterbury and going barefooted from S. Dunstans Church presented himselfe before the shrine of S. Thomas and bathing the ground with his teares stripped himselfe out of his Princely roabes and vpon his naked backe receaued â— stripes of euerie Bishop and 3. of euerie monke that was present and afterwards fasted all that day and night with great deuotion A rare example of pietie humilitie and deuotion in a Christian Prince such as scarce hath his match and paragon in all Ecclesiasticall Histories And surely God did manifestly declare how acceptable this penance of the King was in his sight For the selfe same day he by his Captaines obtained a glorious victorie wherein the King of Scottes was taken prisoner And manie other prosperous successes ensued this act of humiliation the holy Saint euidently ayding him from Heauen that humbled himselfe so much vpon earth and helping him that subdued and conquered thus himselfe to conquer subdue and gloriously triumph ouer all his enemies Moreouer his murderers notwithstanding they were men of knowen nobilitie and great possessions and in high estimation for their valoure and cheualrie yet forsooke they all riches and voluntarily crossed all the hopes of their preferments going in pilgrimage to Hierusalem where they did publique penance All of them dyed within three yeares after the facte committed verie penitent for their offence calling vpon the sainct desiring his patronage and intercession whose death they acknowledged to haue bin wickedly contriued and executed by themselues yet pretious in the sight of God and glorious in the eye of all the world That time which they liued was alwayes with a perpetuall trembling of bodie and soule like men astonied and distracted hauing euermore winde and weather against them acknowledging all to be the iust Iudgement of Almightie God for their heynous offence But especially he that gaue the saincte his first wound dyed with a consumption and rotte of all his limmes he himselfe casting away the flesh which rotted off from the very boanes and calling vpon the most glorious martyr for pardon and forgiuenesse God of his mercie and by the intercession of this holie Prelate graunt vs pardon and grace to follow his steppes The life of S. Siluester Pope and Confessor SAINT Paule writing vnto Tymotheus his disciple said a Bishop ought to liue sincerely and it is fit that in him be not any thing to be iustly reprooued And for to showe what ought to be in him he setteth downe some properties that a good Bishop ought to haue among other things he saith that he ought to giue good example to them that be without the Church which be the Pagans left he fall into reproach and into the snare of the deuill S. Iohn Chrisostome saith that one of the things wherewith the Apostles spred their doctrine through all the world and the Ghospell was receiued of all men was because they liued without reprehension and gaue good example to euery one and submitted themselues to great paines and desired no reward at all They fled from honours riches pleasures and embraced troubles tribulations and afflictions They did not complaine nor sought reuenge but pardoned and did good to them that did them euill wherefore the pagans said it was not possible for the man that liued so to be in any errour for that God as they said would not haue suffered it and so thereby they iudged the doctrine they preached to be true and veritable and so holpen by god they receued it On the other side those who by their office and function they haue are bound to giue good example and liue euill do very much hurt by their wicked life And these as S. Paule saith Fall into reproach and snares of the deuill for with their euill and wicked life they giue others occasion to do euill and chiefly vnto the painimes who as S. Iohn Chrisostome saith seing the Christians to steale murder commit fornication and other sinnes say that their God cannot chastise them or els that he is like vnto them And so by their fault the holy name of God is
in the Councell of Chalcedon Some holy doctors as S. Cyrill S. Iohn Damascen S. Augustine and S. Thomas declare the maner therof The substance of that which they say is this that the blessed virgin hauing conceiued IESVS CHRIST our Lord shee was his mother for that her most chast pure and more then illustrious bloud serued for matter of which the holy Ghost by his deuine vertue formed the body of IESVS CHRIST for which cause shee became a true and veritable mother as any other mothers be Hauyng layd this foundation of truth I say that to be the mother of God argueth the great noblenes and worthynes of this holy damosell This is proued by a principle the phylosophers hold to wyt that there is not only a proportion betweene the cause and the effect but also if the cause be not empeached or hindered it produceth a like effect to it selfe euen to the Indiuiduum and the accidents as a lyon that hath spots produceth not only another lyon but also with the same spots This being graunted I say that if the naturall guifts of the wyt complexion and proportion of members naturall condition of CHRIST were transcendent and excellent in the hiest degree as it is apparant by the sacred scripture also said by the holy doctors we are by great reason to find all the same in the B. virgin as in his true and veritable mother to witt that shee was of an excellent wyt an amyable complection of an admyrable beauty absolute proportion of limmes and most goodly naturall condition So that saying that IESVS CHRIST was the fairest of all men Psal 44. v. 3. the same may be affirmed of the B virgin wherfore we may well say thus O lady vnto whom shall we liken thee what goodlines shal be like vnto thyne who is so beutifull as thou art The sonne compared vnto thee is foul and vgly the moone is dark and obscure and the starres are as clouds The Angels are far inferior and the Seraphins come not nere vnto thee vnto whom shall we liken thee but euen vnto IESVS CHRIST thy sonne will you haue saith S. Gregory a liuely pattern of the glorious virgin fixe your eys and behold IESVS CHRIST Behold the sonne in him you shall see a picture of the mother note you that there is litle difference between the mother and the sonne Such a sonne and of such and so great perfections was fit for such a mother and such a mother endued with so many graces was fit for such a sonne yee ought also to consider a heuenly workmanship betwene the B. Virgin her sonne for she gaue him one thing which was the humain nature he gaue vnto her another to wit the fulnes of grace The mother gaue vnto him that which she had to wit the humanity and CHRIST being God and fountein of grace gaue it vnto his mother Of this groweth two admirable things The one is that as the glorious virgin for his nature is his mother so is shee his daughter in respect of grace so that the mother is daughter and the sonne is father and that which other mothers say in sport to their sonnes calling them my king my prince my father and my treasor the glorious virgin might say it in truth and verity This also ariseth betwene the mother and the sonne That as the sonne for his humaine nature is made like vnto his mother so the mother in respect of grace is like vnto the sonne Shee was humble in proportion not in equality as he charitable as he obedyent as he and in her proportion full of grace as he so the Angell called her Aâ—haile full of grace The consideration of this mother and sonne Luc. 1. goeth further The virgin in his conception bestowed the bloud of her vaines of which to forme his body and in the nyne moneths that she caryed him in her wombe ouer beside the giuing vnto him her most chast bowells for his rich pallace and the couerings and pannycles of her hart to be the tapissery of his chamber shee also gaue him the very same meate shee took her self so that like a blissed doue with her bill shee put the nutriment in the mouth of her sonne After he was borne the armes of his mother was his cradell holding him vnto her brest she warmed him better then Abysac warmed Dauid IESVS being growen vp his mother gaue him her handes her care and diligence to the end all things shee had might serue him After he was dead taken from the crosse shee took him also in her armes and embraced him with tender affection All this gaue the mother vnto the sonne The sonne gaue vnto the mother grace in her conception in preseuring her from sinne he gaue vnto her the vse of reason before the ordinary time and at three yeres old he conducted her as his owne vnto the Temple Then he aduaunced her higher vntill he made her his mother most fit for such a sonne in such maner that shee is no reproch vnto CHRIST before his eternall father the Angels and all men Yea he glorieth and ioyeth to haue such a mother as Mary is IESVS CHRIST and his mother were in this as other things most faithfull louers for the presents and gifts the one had from the other liked them so well that they neuer left them IESVS had his humanity of his mother and he so firmely embraced it that as the deuines say that which he once vnited to himself he neuer last He lost his life in his passion and in the three dayes he lay in the sepulcher the humane nature was not there for his parts to wit the body and the soule were seperated asunder but the parts were neuer seperated from the diuine Suppositum It is also very cleare that the iewels with which this infant was borne and were bestowed on her in her conception were neuer lost for shee neuer commytted any mortall sinne Let vs then conclude this first tretise to wit of the nobility which accrewed and arose vnto the virgin in being the mother of God with the words of S. Augustine to wyt That to be the mother of God is so great a dignity that by it shee surpasseth not only all mankind but also all the Angels Asmuch as it is more to be the mother rather then the seruant so much is the dignity greater to be the mother of the prince then to be his seruant This reason also conuinceth it for that so much the more is a thing aduanced in perfection the more or nerer it is vnited to God who is the hiest perfection This is the daughter that is borne this day the infant whose feast the Catholike Church celebrateth a litle infant but a great Lady An infant whose graces cannot be expressed but by him that created her THis is a day of great desart a day whose memorie reioyceth both heauen and earth This is the day in which shee is
for their Abbot Who was vnwilling to take the charge on her but the entreaty of the monks who were much pleased with hir holy life preuailed There was in Alexandria a matrone called Melantia who had bin cured and healed of a great infirmitie by the praiers of Eugenius who adiudged her to be a man Eugenius went oft vnto her house at her importunate inuitations The matrone was indeed ennamoured of her and they two being alone without any regard of her estate or credit laid open her loue imagining her to be a man Eugenius sharply reproued her and so departed and left hir alone Melantia seing her self contemned and refused like the mistris of Ioseph shricked out and said Gen. 39. that the Abbot Eugenius would haue forced her And not content with that did also accuse her falsely vnto the Gouernor who was the father of Eugenia The Regent hauing heard the accusation of Melania commanded the Abbot Eugenius to be brought in before him When the blessed Saint vnderstood the cause wherefore shee was called she tooke thhe Eunuchs Protus and Iacinctus in the habite of religious men with her being come before Philip her father he vsed rough words and asked them if CHRIST their God counselled them to force honorable Ladies The virgin with a modest and cherefull face said There is time to be silent and a time to speak Eccle. 3. If Melantia saith that I would vse force it is not true and thou ô Philip peraduenture doest but iest with me in asking if the God that I adore doth will me to do such things Now thou shalt see the verity of this womans acusation Hauing saith this she rent her habite before her breast and opened it that euery one might see by her breastes that she was a woman Then she proceeded and told him that she was Eugenia his daughter and moreouer she spake so well vnto hir father that he was conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST and so was Claudia his wife and all the rest of his family Philip gaue vp his office and place and not long after was chosen Bishop and afterward in the persecution raised by the Emperours Valerian and Gallyen he was martired Claudia Eugenia Prothus and Iacinctus returned vnto Rome where by the labour of the holy damosell Eugenia and of the two holy Eunuches Protus Iacinctus many were conuerted vnto the faith of CHRIST Gallien being certified herof caused Eugenia to be apprehended after the indurance of many torments to be beheadded Then he caused the two Eunuchs Prothus and Iacinctus to be taken and hauing vsed sundry enducements to moue them to sacrifice vnto the Idolls which they refused to do shewing themselues very couragious and constant in the faith of CHRIST the tirant caused them to be cruelly scourged and after many other torments giuen vnto them he caused them in like maner to be beheaded Their martirdome and death was on the 11. day of September and on that day the Church celebrateth their feast It was in the yeare of our Lord. 263. in the reigne of the aforesaid Gallyen The exaltation of the holy Crosse ALMIGHTY God glorieth by the mouth of the prophet Ezechiel to haue done a famous work Ezech. 17. and indeed worthy of himselfe as he showeth by the maner of rehersing the saue saieng I the Lord haue humiliated and abased the lofty and stately wood haue enhaunced the lowly and humble wood S. Ierome saith that this humble wood is IESVS CHRIST and he saith very well for he being so humbled that at the last he died on the Crosse God for that cause did exalt him as S. Paule saith to such height that the Angells in heauen Phil. 2. the men on earth and vnder the earth in purgatory do bowe their knees at his name and do him reuerence And IESVS CHRIST was not exalted only to that height for that he was humiliated but the wood also which was the instrument of his humiliation was exalted and honored by God since as S. Augustine saith the Crosse which was alwaies before reprochefull bicause thieues and other malefactors were put to death on the same now Emperours and kings beare it on their heads for that IESVS CHRIST died vpon the same Themperour Heraclius honored and respected it especially wresting it out of the hands of Cosdroes king of Persia who had taken it from Ierusalem and carried it into his kingdome and putting it in the former place Nowe let vs see howe it passed framing a history therof out of a sermon that Andreas B. of Candia made of the Exaltation of the holie Crosse rehersed by Lippomanus and the lections of the Romaine Breuiary and diuers martirologes and historiographers yet first we will propound an important doctrine which is this OVR Lord God desiring to be serued and not to be offended by men seing their condition and seuerall estates and that some be noble and to be dealt with all mildly and that others be rude and are to be handled roughly he gaue premonitions vnto them to the end they should not lament nor complaine of him as if they had not ben warned He talking with the Hebrewes as we reade in Leuiticus said to them Leuit. 26. If you obserue my commaundements among other good and profit you shall reap therby one shal be this that if you haue enemies that molest and make warre on you five of you shall put a. 100. of them to flight and a. 100. of you shall put to flight 10000. of them But if on the other side you shal be disobedienr to me a fewe of your enemies shall make many of you to fly and that in dread and feare though none pursue you This which God said then vnto the people was apparant and seen as we read in the booke of Iosua where it is said Ios 7. that the Hebrues hauing beseiged Iericho certein daies finally they took it without drawing their sword bicause the walles fell downe and they which were within made no resistance all was put to the fire and sword not sparing any thing for so God had comaunded bicause his indignation was kindled against that nation as also to terrify his other enemies It came to passe in the pilling therof that there came to the hands of a souldier called Achan a scarlet robe some mony and a wand or rod of gold which things he kept against the commaundement of God And to be more secure he hid them all in the ground This being done part of the army dislodged and went to fight against Hay the citisens wherof issued out and encountred with them and preuailed killing many Israelites and fewe returned with this dolefull newes Iosua generall of the host seing the same fell on the ground and weeping said vnto God Howe happeneth it o Lord be these thy promises Doth it seeme to thee a iust thing to haue thy people so euil entreated by thine enemies Assoone as we be entred into this
honorable memorie of him in celebrating the feastiuall day of his martirdome Yet most stupendious is the miracle straunge the wonder that to this day is seen in the same city of Naples which is this His bloud which is kept is in a violl of glasse congealed and hardened very much yet let it be put right before and against the head of S. Ianuarius and it doth melt and dissolue in such sort that if seemeth to boile or seeth as if it were liuely and did issue and spring euen then out of the veines The passion of all these blessed Saints was on the 19. day of September vnder Dioclesian and Maximian Romain Emperours in the yeare of our Lord. 305. Our holie father Pope Sixtus 5. in the first yeare of his papacy by a Bull commaunded that the said blessed Saints should be put in the Calendar and their office and masse should be celebrated by all faithfull Christians on the day of their Martirdome * ⎠* The life of S. Eustachius and others WE READ in the book of Numbers Ca. 22. that Balac king of Moab douting the Israelits would come and make warre vpon him in his realme sent messengers for Balaam the prophet that he might curse them imagining by that meanes to haue the victory against them The prophet went at his request which displeased God and rode on an asse It fell out that the Asse after a litle trauell staied and would not go forward The prophet rated and bet her and stroke her without discretion or iust cause and as the scripture said God opened the mouth of the beast who also speak vnto him Then did an Angell also speak in the defence of the Asse vnto the prophet and moreouer tole him what he should do This history may be fitly applied vnto S. Eustachius who wandering in the paths of Idollatry and heathenishe errors a thing abhominable in the sight of God was admonished of his errors by a wonderfull meanes God vsed toward him to wit he made a hart of stag to speak vnto him and to instruct him what he ought to do The life of this glorius saint and of his fellowe martirs was written by Symeon Metaphrastes and by S. Antoninus Bishop of Florence in this manner IN the time of Traiane Themperour there was in Rome an honorable and noble Lord called Placidus who was Generall of the horse And though he was a paynim yet did he works in them selues good He was charitable pitifull iust and faith full vnto his Lord. On day as Placidus went on hunting he spyed a goodly harte and pricked his horse with the spurres in pursuite therof The â—art or stag made a stand on a high eminent place and when Placidus approched nere it seemed vnto him that the hart had the signe of one crucified betwen his hornes and withall he heard a voice which said why doest thou persecute me Incontinent he alighted from his horse and kneeling on the ground said who art thou Lord that speakest vnto me The voice replied I am IESVS CHRIST the sonne of God who discended from heaven vnto earth and was crucified for the saluation of mankind and rose ageine to life on the third day Placidus replied againe Lord what is thy pleasure I shall do In what sort wilt thou haue me to serue thee It was answered vnto him My will is that thou thy wife and all thy family be Baptised and so thou shalt find the true way to go vnto heauen and when thou art Baptised my will is that thou be patienâ— and tollerat willingly the afflictions that shall be fall vnto thee and this do for my sake This being said the hart ran swiftly away and departed out of his sight Placidus wondered excedingly and at that instant God touched his hart and so enlightened him that he beheld the blindnes and misery in which he then was by giuyng diuine worship to stocks and stones He went home without delay and conferred and shewed his intent vnto some Christians and to conclude he was Baptised wherin he chaunged his name from Placidus and took the name of Eustachius his wife called Theopista and his two soÌ„nes Agapitus Theopistus were Baptised also After a few dayes Eustachius being well instructed in the Christian faith the deuill began God permitting it to persecute him Iob. c. 1. as he did Iob. The first thing was he slewe all his beasts and cattail wherof he had great store then did all his slaues and bondmen dye and briefely he lost all his goods became so poore and was so abandoned of the world that he was forced to depart out of Rome and lead a priuate life in a poore village In that place the fiend did also persecute him for he incited some wicked persons to take his wife from him and he had not power to resist and withstand them but God did always so preserue her that shee was neuer dishonored He lost also his two sonnes and he remained alone in so great necessity that he was faine to dwell with a rich citizen who made him his baily and ouerseer ouer one of his farmes in the countrey Although the good Eustachius sawe himself brought into this great misery yet euidently appeared in him a generous mind and Christian resolution to tollerat euery thing with patience God proued him like another Iob but when he was in this hard case he thought of him and restored him vnto his former estate For the Emperour Traian hauing designed to make a warre of much import and considering that to bring it to the wished end he must haue an expert generall he called Placidus to his remembrance whom he iudged a man fit for that charge After diligent enquiry he was found and madegenerall of the forces which charge he hauing receaued as he was carefull in mustering men for this gret seruice he came to the knowledg of his two sonnes Agapistus and Theopistus who were among the other souldiors of the army He also found again his wife who in poore and mean array was a seruant to an Inholder The ioy Eustachius had and the infinite thanks he yelded vnto God to see him self deliuered and freed from his former miseries and to haue found again his wife and two sonnes cannot with words be expressed After he had accomplished his entreprise committed vnto him he retorned vnto Rome with great honor and found Traian dead and Adrian installed in the empire Eustachius was receued into Rome with gret pompe and triumph aswell by the Emperour as by the wholl senate And because the custome of the Romain Capteins was that when they entred Rome with Victory they went vnto the temple of Iupiter there they sacrificed Eustachius excused himself saieng he could not do it bicause he was a Christian Themperour the Senate and all the people thought that if the accustomed sacrifice was not done they should neuer after haue any victory for which cause thy were very earnest that Eustachius should sacrifice Eustachius
confidently denied to do it saieng he was a Christian and that he would not sacrifise vnto any but vnto IESVS CHRIST Themperour being wroth at this answer commaunded that Eustachius his wife and two sonnes should be put to death and to effect it he bad that they should be put in a place where a fierce Lyon should tear them in pieces The Lyon was let out against the holy martirs but he lay downe at their feet and did them no hurt at all Themperour seeing the same commaunded to make a gret bull of brasse hollowe inward With in this concauity he caused S. Eustachius his wife and sonnes to be inclosed and then to sett fire vnder it and in this torment the glorious saints rendered their soules vnto God The Bull was opened and their bodies were found with out any blemish but that they were dead and had not burnt one heare of their head which astonished the Pagans and much edified rhe Catholiks who tooke those blessed bodies and buried them honourably The martirdome of these holy saints was on the same day the Catholik Church celebrateth their feast to wit on the. 20. day of September in the yeare of our Lord. 118. The seuenth generall Sinode Dam. l. 3. de imag Nicep lib. 3. ca. 29. S. Iohn Damascen and Metaphrastes make mention of S. Eustacius Nicephorus Callistus recounteth his life in particuler and the mistery of the Hart and the Crucifixe also Beside the sayieng of this Author the vniuersall picture of the wholl Church is an important proof for that this holy saint is alwaies painted on his knees before of Harte which hath the Crucifixe between his hornes which was that which spake vnto him The life of S. Mathevv Apostle WE READ that the prophet Elias considering howe few the men were that serued God in his time 3. Reg. 13. Eccles 48 Iac 5. and the multitude of them that offended him being desirous to to correct them that they might amend prayed that it might not raine God graunted his request and in three years and a half there fell no raine The people dyed of famine and yet they did not amend their wicked lifes Helias also remained firme in his purpose that God should not permitt it to raine God said to him as S. Iohn Chrisostome supposeth Behold Helias it troubleth me to see so many peâ—ple dy with famine if thou wilt that all be good get thee into heauen for there be all good and let me remaine here vpon the earth that I may make prouision for the necessities which my people and creatures suffer and endure I would not haue thee think that they haue vtterly abandoned me for I haue yet 7000. men who haue not bowed their knees vnto Baal Among others there is Heliseus 3 Reg. 19. who is following twelue yoke of oxen go and call him bid him leaue all and come with thee and be thy disciple Elias obeyed strait and went to the place where Eliseus was and said to him Come and followe me Heliseus also obayed incontinent only he requested 3 Reg. 19. to go and take leaue of father and mother kinffolk and frends The Prophet was content went with him wher vpon Heliseus made a solemne banquet took leaue of them all entending to followe the prophet Elias Perhaps his father and friends said this to him Heliseus mark well whom thou meanest to followe consider that he is a poore man hath no cloths to his back but only a garment of camells skinne he fasteth much he is much persecuted by Queen Iezabel and many others who desire his death These words were in vaine for he was resolued to followe Elias and it was euident that this his resolution was good for afterward being his disciple 4. Reg. 2. when Elias was taken away from him he did more greater miracles then euer Elias had done This figure fitteth and agreeth to S. Matthew the Apostle and Euangelist for Elias being a figure of IESVS CHRIST was much displeased to see so many offend God and so few to serue him Elias praied God that he would not let it raine that men might dy but IESVS CHRIST did not so Math. 9. for he was by nature mercifull and full of compassion and to see his creatures perish was vnto him a most greuous torment yet went he to seeke out some that might serue God who though they had not done it before time yet might they doe it in the time to come Elias found Eliseus while he plowed so IESVS CHRIST beheld S. Matthew with the eyes of his mercy not plowing but at a worse trade for he lent monie vnto vsurie yet the plowing and sowing hath some similitude with lending to vsurie He that soweth alwaies gathereth more then he soweth So the vsurer alwaies receiueth more then he lendeth out Helias called Eliseus and he fellowed him but he would make a banquet to all his kinsfolke and frends Luc. 5. Marc. 2. So also when CHRIST called Matthew and he fellowed him he made first a banket in his house where IESVS was present with his fellow publicans and toll-gatherers frends vnto S. Matthew These men might say to S. Matthew the same that the kinsfolke of Eliseus said to him or in this maner Matthew wilt thou forsake and leaue all thy goods and money and go with a poore man one that is persecuted as this man is what thinkest thou to get in his company it may be if the Scribes and Phariseys determine once to put him to death they will do the same to thee also for his sake for ordinarily the disciples speed as bad as their maister These words sturred not S. Matthew froÌ„ his good purpose to giue ouer al follow CHRIST The going in CHRISTES company was fortunate to him for he made him his Apostle and Chronicler and gaue vnto him an admirable spirite like the spirit of Eliseus and after the Ascension of our Lord into heauen he did many miracles The life of this glorious Apostle is collected out of the Ghospell and other good Aucthors who do make mention of him SAINT Matthew was a Galylean Iohn 3. borne in Cana where IESVS CHRISTE conuerted the water into wine He was a PublicaÌ„ tollegatherer a vsurer which was the most infamous trade that could be among the Hebrews Math. 9. they reputing it the most heinous oppressioÌ„ that could be Luc. 5. Marc. 2. for the Emperour of Rome to enforce them being the elect people of God to pay tribute and tolles And all though they paied yet they alwais protested that vyolence and force was offered to them their aggreeuances were encreased by the letting out the tributes and tolles to farme which is the cause that the publicans who were they that rented them and moreouer lent money vpon vsury were counted by the Iewes worse then the Pagans and heretiks for which cause the sonne of God conformable to their opinion when he instructed
they came to the sea shore where they were for to loose their heads Placidus made his prayer in that place and lifted vp his eyes and sayd My lord IESVS CHRIST sonne of the liuing God which didst descend from heauen vnto earth for our saluation didst abyde death vpon the Crosse haue mercy on vs ô lord and by thy merits and intercession of Benedict thy seruant our maister wee beseech thee to giue vnto vs the vertue of constancy to the end that passing this cruell passage of death without any impediment or stay layd in our way by our enemy the deuill we may come to enioy the eternall felicitie of thy heauenly kingdome let thy holy Angell S. Michaell receaue oure soules in peace and present them before thy heauenly tribunall This we request and beseeche of thee who art our God blessed and gloryous for euer Placidus hauing said these words all the other auÌ„swered Amen And as they kneeled they were beheaded forthwith in Sicilia in the hauen of Messina and their bodies remayned foure dayes vnburyed The Barbaryans not content herewith destroyed the monastery so that they left not one stone vpon another and though the Church of S. Iohn Euangelist stood very neere it whether it was for deuotion for the moores do reuerence him highly or whether for Gods pleasure it was not touched nor defaced And for that the stormes and roughnes of the sea was now ceased Mamucha comaunded euery one to be embarked to goe vnto Reggio in Calabria As they were passing the Faro there rose such a tempest that they could not goe forward nor returne back and by the iust iudgment of God they were drowned and sunke all of them being 100. vessells and 16800. men The bodyes of the holy martyr Placidus and of his brethren were buryed in the Church of S. Iohn Baptist by Gordianus his familier freind who came with him froÌ„ Monte Cassino The same man buryed the other 33. martirs in the same place where they were beheaded And in the one place and the other God did for them many myracles many sicke men recoueryng from all diseases by theyr intercession S. Placidus at his death was 26. yeares old for when he was 7. years old the blessed father S. Benedict receaued him into his company he remayned in Sublacque 5. yeares and vpon Monte Cassino 9 years in building the monastery he spent foure and there he was Abbot one year All which make the somme of 26. years He was borne in the yeare of our lord 515. and he was martyred in the yeare 541. on the first day of October being saterday The life of S. Marke Pope and Confessor BY the death of that holy Pope Siluester was chosen to succeede in his place in the chaire of S. Peter Marke a cittizen of Rome sonne of one Priscus endued with rare and excelent vertues The churche of God enioyed in his dayes great peace outward tranquillitie being fauoured freed by Christian Princes from all forreine enemies Yet inwaâ—dly the Arian hereticks infested the same as spitefullie as they could They had wonne them selues fauoure and wrought an entraunce in to the Emperours house and familie and inueagling one of his verie sonnes drawen him into the snares of they re heresies which was after a cause of great persecution in the churche of God and manie afflictions layed vpon Catholiks The old Emperour continued sound and allwayes a good Catholique and accordinglie affected and fauourâ—d S. Marke asmuch as he had before honoured S. Syluestre Wherefore this holie Pope furthered and cherished with the Emperours countenance employed his care and best endeuoures in resisting these Arrian hereticks and setling and ordaining such good orders as for the gouernement of the Churche were adiudged necessarie Amonghst which one was to prescribe that on Sundayes and chiâ—fe festiuall dayes the Creed or beliefe should be said in the masse to the end that the hearers might the better learne it and be more strengthned in they re fayth by this publique profession made thereof He moreouer builded two churches one in the way to Ardea three miles from Rome the other in the cittie called by the name of him that built it both which churches Constantine endowed with great reuenues and possessions and adorned with vessells of gold and syluer He graunted the Bisshop of Ostia leaue to vse the Pallium by reason it was his auncient priuiledge to consecrate the Pope of Rome He gaue holie orders twice in the moneth of December wherein he ordered 8. Bisshops 25. Priests and 6. Deacons And hauing liued 2. yeares 8. moneths 20. dayes in the chayre of Peeter he dyed the 7. day of october on which the churche doth celebrate his feast and in the yeare of oure lord 340 and was buried in the churchyard of Balbina in the same churche he made in the way to Ardea Spa S. Ierome saith he dyed in the yeare 334 Onuphrius 336. * ⎠* The life of SS Sergius Bacchus Marcellus and Apuleius Martyrs THE holy martyrs Sergius and Bacchus liued in the time of the Emperoure MaximiaÌ„ serued him in an honorable office the one being Primicerius the other Secundicerius that is Sergius principall and Bacchus second secretarie of staâ—e both for their vertues especiallie beloued and honoured by the Emperoure ignorant as yett that they were Christians Being in the cittie of Augusta in the prouince of Eufratesia he came to haue some knowledge heereof by reason of certaine accusations layd against them And desiring to be further certefyed he called them to waite vpon him to Churche wither he was going to sacrifize vnto his Idolls The holie Saincts accompanied him and gaue they re attendance yett in such sort that hauing brought him to the churche doore they stayed without when the Emperours went in When the time came to offer sacrifice Maximian looked about for them and not seeing them commaunded others to looke where they were The messengers found those holie Saincts at the gates of the temple making they re prayer vnto God who vnderstanding the Emperouâ— did send for them came to his presence He shewing himfelfe displeased dimaunded of them why they came not in whith him and offered sacrifice to the great Iupiter They answeared boldly bicause thei were Christians and thought that sacrifice was due to none but onlie him who was the true God that made heauen and earth The Emperour all in a rage coÌ„maunded to plucke of they re golden chaynes from they re neckes and strippe them out of they re rich apparail the tokens of rheyre nobilitie then to cloathe them in woemens garments lade them with yrons with gyues and fetters leade them with open reproache and ignominie through out all the cittie and soe cast them in prison And hauing tryed that all his cruelltie and craft could not make those noble spiritts relent nor swarue in in the least thing from they re Religion he sent them to Antiochus gouernour of the East a fierce cruell
barbarous natured man to the end that he should draw them to offerre vp sacrifice or put them to most grieuous torments Besides that in this he also had another respecte to haue Sergius the more auiled and disgraced by hauing appointed for his judge Antiochus aman that in former times was one of his followers and had bin preferred to the dignitie of Gouernor of Prefect of the East by the meanes of Sergius The holie Saincts were brought before him and he committed them first to prison where they spent they re time in prayer and deuotion beseeching oure Lord to graunt them strength and affoord them succoure in they re battaile Afterwards Antiochus fending for them vsed all meanes to winne they re willes to offer vp sacrifice to his Idolls But they answearing that his Idolls were diuells and no Gods he commaunded foure lustie and merciless fellowes to whip and scourge Bacchus with the toughest and hardest finewes of Oxen. This torment was so terrible and the lashes so cruell tearing his fleshe and wounding him so deepely that heerewith the martyr ended his lyfe and yielded vp his spiritt to God He afterward appeered vnto Sergius shining with glorie ad heauenly brightnesse he declared vnto him the endless reward which he had receaued for those short torments and encouraged him to vndergoe what paine soeuer was prepared for him to the end that as in they re punishment they might be partners in they re victorie and triumph Antiochus earnestlie to make Sergius more plyant and reduce him to his opinion but seing all he could doe was in vaine led by his fierce and cruell nature and desirous to satisfie the Emperoure he commaunded a paire of shoes all bestudded and thick sett with points of sharp nailes to be putt on his feete so to runne before his chariott and after this manner he did driue him nine miles to the excessiue paine of the holie martyr our of whose feet ranne streames of bloud But the night next ensuing an Angell did come and cherish him and so healed his feet as yf he had suffered nothing at all The iudge attributed to Magicke this fauoure of God and being therewith more enhardened did commaund him to endure againe the same torment Then seeing nothinge would auaile nor worke the martyr to his will he commaunded that his head should be stroken of Sergius kneeled downe vpon his knees and made his prayer to allmightie God beseeching him to accept the loss of his lyfe as a sacrifice to pardon those that did persecute him and graunt them knowledge of his light and his trueth He heard a voyce which inuited him to the kingdome of heauē did congratulate his victorie wherefore stretching forth his necke he was streightwaie beheaded the 7 of october in the yeare of oure Lord 306. God did honoure Sergius from Heauen with miracles and on earth he was honoured with great gyfts of Princes For Cosroes king of Persia though a pagan and Infidell did send to his temple a most riche Cross of gold with other precious gyftes in token of preat fauours receaued at his hands as childen by his wyfe queene Sira and safetie in manie great daungers and perilles Iustinian the emperour built two fayre churches in his name one at Constantinople the other at Ptolemaida At Rome a churche with the title of a Deacon Cardinall is dedicated vnto them And the verie citie wherein S. Sergius was put to death was called by his name Sergiopolis Of these two Saincts there is mention made in the second Nicene councell actione 5. in the Roman martyrologe and manie famous authors The life of SS Marcellus and Apuleius martyrs ON this self same dai the 7. of Octob. the Churche doth make a commemoration of Marcellus Apuleius martyrs They had bin disciples of Simon Magus but seeing by his disputations with S. Peeter that he was nothing but a false deceaver they forsooke and left him astonied at the wondrous works miracles of the glorious Apostle receaued his doctrine were made Christiās followed him all the dai of his life After his death thei liued according to his heauenlie doctrine vntill they came to be so happie as to shed they re bloud for that Faith and religion which they had learned of so good a maister They were putt to death and martyred by the commaundement of a Consull called Aurelian in the raigne of Domitian and in the yeare of our lord 93. the 7. of October and were buried without Rome neere the walles of the cittie The life of S. Dionise Areopagite and others SALOMON in the booke of wisdome saith that God disposeth all things sweetlie ordaining most conuenient meanes to obtaine such ends as he intendeth This was the reason why in his birth he vsed a starre to guide the three Eastern Kinges to adore him For they being Magi that is men skillfull in Astrologie by seing a starre of so new a fashion so different in place in course and motion from all other starres would be the more easilie wonne and allured to seeke the author and cause of that starre as they did effectuallie finding and adoringe IESVS CHRIST To conuert S. Dionise the Areopagite a great Philosopher and Astrologer God vsed the like propertionable meanes and it was that rare and singular Ecclips which at the time of oure sauioures death happened beyond the course of nature For Dionise marking the strangeness there of and maruailing at such a neuer seene wonder noted the yeare the day and houre and after vnderstanding by S. Paule the true cause and misterie of that Ecclipse he was conuerted to embrace that religion which was established by his death who was principall author and only motiue of that wonder which surpassed nature The life of this Sainct with Rusticus and Elutherius his fellow martirs collected out of Michaël Singelus priest of Hierusalem out of Suidas and Simeon Metaphrastes is as followeth THE cittie of Athens was famous in all Greece for that it was the chief place of learning the wellspring of knowledge and mother of Wisemen Dionise the Areopagite was borne therein of a riche and honourable familie and of parents morallie iust and courteous louelie to strangers and liberall in his youth he gaue himselfe to learning wherein he became so eminent that aswell for his knowledge as for his Nobilitie he had the chiefe place amonghst the Magistrates which gouerned the cittie He was most eloquent in the Attick tongue a most skillfull Rhetorician a rare man in the doctrine of Stoicks Epicureans and other Philosophers But aboue all he was accounted a iust man and vertuous in exercising his office not fauouring the riche nor oppressing the poore not cōdemning the innocent nor leauing the culpable without due chastizement He went into Egypt to studie the better vnderstand the course of the heauē the force influence of the starres and all that knowledge of Astrologie Being about the age of fiue and twentie and residing in the cittie
him he learned the knowledge of holy writ This holy saint vnderstanding that the Blessed Virgin was yet aliue in Ierusalem had a great desire to see her and so he went thither and sawe her Hubertinus recounteth of him that seeing the great brightnes of her face her heauenly beauty her celestiall words and the great company of Angells that attended vpon her he said of himself that he had adored her for God if by faith he had not knowen there could be none but only one God The same S. Dionise relateth how he was present at her glorious passage out of this to euerlasting lyfe and reckoneth the names of the Apostles there present also He returned to Athens where he continued exercising his office of pastour and in conuerting soules vnto God vntill the last year of the raign of Nero in the which he went to Rome to see his maister S. Paul at whose martirdome he was present as he saith in an epistle of his to S. Timothee who was also the disciple of S. Paul Then he returned vnto Athens where he staied vntill S. Clement the disciple of S. Peter came to be Pope who beholding in S. Dionise good qualities enioyned him to go and preach the faith of CHRIST in Gallia nowe called Fraunce and adioined vnto him a priest called Rusticus and Eleutherius a deacon S. Dionise thus accompanied went into Gallia and came vnto Lutetia now called Paris which city he found to be great and rich populous and furnished abundantly both from Heauen and earth the climat very temperate producing noble and haughty minds the earth very fertill bringing forth all things necessary for the body S. Dionise reputed it euen another Athens as Diuining it should be both in literature and study such as it after wards came to be He resolued to make his abode it that place and began to open his heauenly brest and show the riches inclosed therin by preaching the Gospell He added to his words many great miracles and wonders as restoring theire sight vnto the blind hearing to the deafe and speache to the domb curing many also of sondry other infirmities Wherfore in a short space such was his fame he grafted in that place most fertill plants and there made a garden which brought forth quicklie abundaunce of fruit He not only preached IESVS CHRIST in that city but also blessed and sent his disciples to preach in sondry costs of the world He sent S. Eugenius the first prelate of Toledo a great city of Spaine into that countrie where he preached the Ghospell and conuerted many vnto the Christian faith Some others were sent into Germany who likewise gained many soules unto God yea not only many men were conuerted and made Christians but also the temples of the Idolls were razed to the gorund and moreouer many Churches built where the name of IESVS CHRIST was lauded and praised This was a grat tormēt to the deuill the deadly foe of mankind wherfore he incensed diuers to persecute S. Dionise imagining that with takinge away his life all this would fade and vanishe like smoake and the adoration of Idolls would returne to its former estate and credit So some of his ministers instigated by him went to Rome to certefy themperor Traian therof as Suidas and other Authors affirme though Metaphrastes saith it was vnto Domitian who in his deeds was a deuill incarnate it may be these complaints were addressed vnto Domitian and that he ment to send Fessenius Sisinius the gouernor of that prouince to apprehēd S. Dionise or put him to death and that Domitian deceasing in the meane space and the Senate reuoking and repealing all the decrees of that bloudy tirant the execution of this decree was staied vntill the time of Traian vnto whom new complaints of Dionise being come he reuiued the decree made by Domitian vpon which Fessenius caused the B. Bishop to be apprehended S. Dionise was 90. years of age when he with Rusticus and Eleutherius were taken The gouernor discoursed a long time with them accusing S. Dionise very much for preaching of new gods against the edict of themperour and Senate of Rome and for labouring to extinguish the adoration of the auncient Gods so much renowned in the world gods which had bin so fauourable to the Romain empire as to extend and enlarge their dominion ouer all the world Haue compassion ô Dionise said the gouernor of this they old age And make some recompense for the harme thou hast done Confesse they errors and recant thy opinions which be vaine and with out all foundation persuade the people to abandon these new fangles and returne to their former vsages S. Dionise hearing this repleat with the zeale of Gods honor answered that he had persuaded many to leaue the adoration of the Gods knowwing it to be a vaine and foelish thing to account those for gods who were vnworthy to be called men their wickednes and infamy was such when they liued that it was a great blindnes to adore stocks stones pieces of wood that what he had preached was verie true concerning IESVS CHRIST his being true God and that neither fear nor threats nor torments should moue him or stur his fellows from their faith The gouernor was angrie at this aunswer and arose on a rage out of his chaire and said The Gods be despised the Emperour disobeied his subiects and people seduced by your forceries in doing false and counterfeit myracles These your transgressions deserue a rrigorous punishment wherfore I giue sentence that you be forth with put to death SS Dionise Rusticus and Euleutherius not shewing anie the least signe or token of feare or basenes of mind said with a cheerfull countenaunce Let them that adore your Gods be like vnto them we only adore the God of heauen and by his power and not by sorcery we haue restored sight to the blind speeche to the dōb health vnto the sick and freed many that were posessed with the deuill Let the ministers of the Idolls do such things if they can to conserue their credit estimation but they are farre from working such wonders whose Idolls haue mouths yet cannot speake haue eies and see not they haue eares and heare not They doe only kindle and nourish the fire wherin they themselfs burne and they that serue them shal be partakers therof with them These words put the gouernor into a further chafe so that he confirmed the sentence of death and committed them to the hands of the executioners So the glorious martirs were led forth of the city to the toppe of a high hill where they were to be executed Then S. Dionise kneeled downe lifting vp his eies and hands vnto heauen said O Lord God omnipotent IESVS CHRIST sonne of God Holy Ghost the comforter holy and vndeuided Trinity receaue in peace the soules of thy seruants who for thy sake do loose our lifes Rusticus and Eleutherius aunswered with a loud voice Amen After this
earth though they be all holie persons the reason is this they which be in heauen cannot fall any more but they that be holie on earth may fall againe and so do many and often tymes Before Queene Vasty kept this feast she gaue vnto her damosells to eate sometimes of one kind of meat sometimes of an other yet moderately and in measure but on the festiuall daye she gaue them all kind of delicacies most freely So also the Catholique Church maketh ready her table daily for all faithfull beleevers yet diuersly some dayes with one ind of meat somedaies with another Sometimes she maketh a feast and giueth meat to all them that haue been good all the time of their liues and this she doth in celebrating the feast of S. Iohn Baptist Another day she dres seth a dinner for great sinners presenting vnto them a Mathew a Marie Magdalene which for a season offended God by their wicked liues She also maketh a feast for religious men on the day of S. Benedict S. Dominik S. Francis and such others as they be She maketh a feast to the religious recluses on the day of S. Clare of S. Catherine of Siena and such others To the maried people when she celebrateth the feast of S. Ioseph Vnto Kings and great Lords on the daie of the Epiphanie when the feast of the three kings is celebrated vnto Bishops and Prelates on the daie of S. Ambrose S. Martin S. Nicholas of such like Vnto virgins and damosells on the day of S. Agnes S. Lucy and many others But the day of all Saints signifieth the day that Queene Vasty made the feast and prepared the royall banquet vnto all her ladies damosells because on this day the Catholique Church doth prepare and dresse meat for all manner of people when she celebrateth the feast-day of all the saints in heauen who be a patterne and example for all men in the world that by imitating them they may reforme their liues and amend all loose and lewd behauiour DIVERS and sundrie reasons haue been diuersly alleadged why the Church of God doth celebrate a feast of all the saints together One reason is the dedication of a temple which was consecrated in Rome in the name of all the Saints Ado Bishop of Vienna and those authors that write the liues of the popes and Emperours relate it in this manner In chro aetat 6 ano 604. About the yeare of our Lord 608. Boniface the 4. being pope there raigned in Constantinople Phocas the Emperour who though he be noted to be couetous and cruell yet was he a Catholique prince very affectionate to the Church of Rome and a priuate friend vnto Pope Boniface There had been built in Rome a most sumptuous temple in honour of Cybele that false goddesse mother of all the Gods and in the name of all the other Gods also This was built by Marcus Agrippa a noble man of Rome who called it by a greek name Pantheon that is to say the habitation of all the Gods The temple is round and hath no other windowe but one great hole in the top thereof which giueth light to all the temple It is said Agrippa caused it to be built in that fashion for that he would not shew himself partiall toward the Gods in setting one in a more honorable place then another but to make them all equall and by the iudgment of those that haue skill in Architecture it is held the most artificiall building that is in our knowne world Of this temple with the consent of the Emperour Phocas because he had iurisdiction and comaunded in Rome and a great part of Italy Boniface made a Church consecrated it to the mother of God and of all saints His reason was that euen as the pagans in this temple had adored the diuells and all the crew of their heathenish Gods with Cibele their mother so from thence forth there should be honored in the same place the Blessed mother of the true sonne of God and all the whole court of heauen with the holie martirs also For at that time they did not so ordinarilie celebrate in the Church the festiuall daies of the Confessors The Pope called this feast S. Mariaad Martires and willed it should be kept on the ninth day of May. Afterward Pope Gregorie the 4. who liued in the yeare of our Lord 827. after the opinion of Onuphrius Panuinius translated the feast vnto the first of Nouember because of the infinite number of people that resorted to Rome to sollemnise that feast Wherefore he thought it more conuenient to transferre it vnto a season wherein the fruits of the earth were inned and brought into the barnes that there might be sufficient store therof and no scarcity for the pilgrimes and strangers as there was wont to be and is ordinarilie in the month of May. At this present that Church is called S. Maria Rotunda the daie is called the daie of all saints On the first of Nouember it is celebrated with great sollemnitie and marueilous concurse of people to the honour of the B. virgin Mary and all saints And this may be one of the reasons why the Catholique Church celebrateth this sollemnity Another reason is for that the Church endeuoureth to satisfie in honoring all saints in common since it is not possible so to do in particuler feastes The holie Ghost by whom the Church is ruled and gouerned apointeth some feast daies of saints to be kept festiuall besides those daies which are kept holie in the honour of CHRIST his B. mother and the Apostles The reason why feast day of one faint is celebrated more then another may be because they were martired in Rome which is the head of the world and the perpetuall sea of the vicar of CHRIST as long as the world endureth as S. Laurence S. Agnes and others Or for that their bodies haue been translated thither from other countries as S. Anastasius and S. Gorgonius Or else for that they haue been renowned martirs as S. Vincent of Valentia the Spaniard and S. Catherine of Alexandria or it may be for some other such like cause The reasons of them all are not knowne but secret As of the saints which the same Church putteth into the Canon of the masse Sup Canon Leâ—â— 32. lit K. for though they imiâ—ate liuely as Gabriell saith the passion of CHRIST yet it seemeth there be saints of more fame which might haue beene set in that most rare singuler place as well as other that be there as S. Sebastian S. Georg many others Yea as the same Gabriell saith it hat beene knowne that some men in particuler Churches haue taken some saints out of the Canon put others in their place it hath beene found that they that haue beene blotted out haue beene put in againe and they that were newlie written were cancelled and blotted out So that it seemeth there is in it some misterie
vpward being so painfull and he said Let me look vp toward heauen since that very shortly my spirit is to go that way which I behold When the agony of death came he saw the deuill the ennemy of mankind and said vnâ—o him what doest thou heere thou cruell beaâ— Thou shalt find in me nothing for which I shall eâ—damned and hauing said thus he rendered his spirit to our Lord being 81. yeares old His blessed soule was borne into heauen accompanyed with many Angells who made much ioy and song melodiously This musique was heard by sundry persons that were in places farre distant as of seuerinus Arch B. of Collein and by S. Ambrose Arch Bishop of Millan Who sayeng of masse fell a sleep from the which he awaked after three howers and then said to the standers by know you that my brother Martin B. of Towers is departed out of this life and I haue bene present there to bury his body S. Martin liued on the earth poore and humble and intred into heauen rich and with great maiesty His death was on the. 11. day of Nouember and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast and it was in the year of our Lord. 399. in the time of the Emperour Honorius This holy saint did many myracles in his life time and also after his death Whilest he liued he was the meanes that many were conuerted vnto God by his good example and excellent doctrine and after his death many were holpen by his merites and in tercession God of his great bountie and infinit mercie graunt that we may be in the number of the chosen to the end we may enioy his glory in the company of S. Martin Amen Many Authors write of S. Martin beside Seuerus Sulpitius as S. Paulinus Bishop of Nola Fortunaus the priest Gregory of Towers Odo the first Abbot of Cluny Hebernus Bishop of Turen and many others The life of S. Menna Martir OVR sauiour CHRIST saith vnto his seruants in S. Mathew Ca. 30 WheÌ„ you shal be brought before kings Iudges take no thought what you shall speak for at that time you shal be tought howe to answere This sentence is verefied in a holie souldier called Menna who haning spent his time in the warre among swords and lauâ—ces being brought before a tirani that did examine him of the faith of CHRIST which he professed made some answeres as if he had bene exercised in the studie of the holie scriptures all the daies of his life Of this holie saint Metaphrastes writeth as ensueth IN the second yeare of Caius Valerius Dioclesianus and in the first yeare of Caius Valerius Maximianus after the death of Numerianus who had gouerned the Empire before them there was raised a sore persecution against the Christians through all the lands subiect to the Empire Into which were sent publike proclamations conteining the will of the Emperours and the punishment that should be inflicted vpon those that disobeied the same There was in the cittie of Cottieum which is in the prouince of Phrigia or in Asia minor a president calsed Pirrhus Arginiscus who had the gouernement of that prouince had also authority ouer the men of warre which were resident in the same as a garrison for defence therof Notwithstanding they had a generall captaine ouer them called Firmilianus Among the souldiers there was one in the regiment of Rutilus called Menna by nation an Aegiptian and by profession a Christian whose vertue shone among the rest as the sunne doth aboue the starres The Emperours edict came vnto this cittie the tenor whereof was this Dioclesian and Maximian Emperours to all their subiects seÌ„deth greeting Forasmuch as we acknow ledg to haue receaued many fauours and graces of of the soueraigne Gods for which we thinck our selues obliged and bound to procure all honour and seruice to be done vnto them and their Temples We therefore coÌ„maund all magistrates and captaines of our Empire that assoone as they haue notice of this our Edict that they endeauour with all dilligence as a thing that concerneth the saffetie of our estate the honor of the Gods our benefactors that all our subiects aswell men as women of what estate or condition soeuer they bee do worship and adore them and do offer sacrifice in visiring often their temples And those that be disobedient and rebellious against our comaundements that they be tormented in the most cruell forte that may be inuented This was the tenor of the Edict Assoone as the president receaued it he caused it to be proclaimed through all the cittie other places of his prouince CoÌ„maunding withall that presently after the proclamation all men and women should go vnto the Temples to the end the disobedient persons might be knowne In most places where the proclamation was made there were great murmurings amongst the people for that it was thought both vniust and cruell yet the greatest part of people went of force vnto the Temples to obey the Edict When the valiant souldier so Menna vnderstood hereof he was not able to endure so vniust and vnrighteous proceedings as to haue the veneration and worship of the true GOD IESVS CHRIST to be abolished and that in stead thereof reuerence should be done vnto the fiends Because he would be free and not be partaker of this wicked transgression nor so much as see it he departed from the armie and withdrew himself into a desert where he remained fiue yeares leading a sollitarie life in continuall fasting and works of penance which was as an exercise and an entrance into the warre and battaile which he expected shortly to make At the last inspired by God he returned into the cittie vpon a day which was kept very sollemne as the birthdaie of one of their Godds The people of the cittie were generally assembled into a Theatre expecting certaine martiall exercises as Iusts and turneis And there was also the president Pirrhus for the same purpose S. Menna entred into the middest of the show and with a loud and cleere voice he rehersed a text out of the Pophet Esay Ca. 65. which saith I haue bene found of them that sought me not and manifested to them that asked not after me At these words all the standers by fixed their eies vpon him and seing him to be a rude plaine man meanely apparelled they know not what to make of his words nor what he ment by them The president Pirrhus causing him to be brought neerer vnto him demaunded of him who he was He aunswered I am Menna the seruant of IESVS CHRIST who is Emperour of heauen and earth The president enquired further Art thou a stranger or a citisen that thou seekest to disturb our feastiuall showes in this manner what is thy meaning herein One of them which stood by said vnto Pirrhus I know the man well He is a souldier of the regiment called Rutilica whose Coronell is Firmilianus and it is about fiue yeeres since he abandoned
the Ensigne and left the warre Then said Pirrhus vnto him Tell me Art thou a soudier as this man saith S. Menna answered It is true I was a souldier but when the wicked Edict of your Emperours was proclaimed I left the army and departed from the warre What mooued thee said Pirrhus to leaue the warfare Art thou a Grecian or a Christian S. Menna answered I haue bene I am and I desire to be euer a Christian I left the host because I would not be partaker of your impieties So Pirrhus comitted him to close prison On the next daie giuing audience he comaunded that Menna should be brought before him and then he said vnto him Come hither thou presumptuous fellowe what mooued thee to come into the Theater and to hinder our festiuall daies which are celebrated in the honor of our Gods Whence art thou why diddest thou leaue the armie S. Menna answered I am of Egipt and because I desire to fight vnder the banner of IESVS CHRIST I forsook your armies which be but seeble and weak And where hast thou bene said Pirrhus all this time Menna answered I had rather liue a sollitarie life for the loue of my God in the companie of sauage and wild beastes then contine we with you that know not the true God and loose my soule for it is written Lord do not destroy my soule with the sinners nor my life with the bloodthirstie men Softe not so many words said Pirrhus Offer sacrifice vnto the Gods and they will restore vnto thee the honorable offices thou haddst in the host and augment the same also Menna said I only desire to please the eternall king and of him to receaue the crowne of imortallity Loose not time in threatning mee for I regard not thy torments at all but desire rather to suffer for the loue of Iesvs CHRIST my Lord and my God The Iudg comaunded that Menna should be laid flat on the ground and then to be beaten with rawe sinewes of beastes vntill he obeied the commaundment of the Emperours The executioners began to beat him rigorouslv and during the torment a minister of the Idolls laboured by perswasion to bring him to sacrifice to their Gods The blessed Mâ—itir said to him Why doest thou perswade me thus thou counsellor of darknes and captaine of iniquitie If I would not do it at the commandment of the Iudg doest thou think that I will do it at thy perswasion I giue thee to vnderstand that I haue by my side IESVS CHRIST who for this which I suffer and endure for his sake will giue vnto me an eternall reward and vnto you and your Emperours he will giue perpetuall torments not only for your owne sinnes Idollatrie but also because you do your endeauour that he should not be loued not serued by his owne faithfull seruants goe to said Pirhus make ready the other torments to tame the stub brone hart of this fellowe Forth with was prepared for him the torture with the cord in the which the holie saint hanging on high the Iudg said vnto him Menna doest thou yet remeÌ„ber thy self wilt thou yield or shall we prouide greater torments The blessed martir answered very litle is that I haue yet suffred to that which my Lord and king deserueth I should suffer for his sake because he keepeth about me many Angells that asist and help me encouraging me not to shrink at thy torments Pirrhus said Scourge this villaine and rebell yet more seuerely who having a king alreadie faith he hath another which is not knowne Then said the saint Thou indeed doest not know him for if thou diddst to haue his loue thou wouldest forsake thine Emperours since he can better reward thee then they can And who is this great and potent king said Pirrhus S. Menna answered This is IESVS CHRIST the sonne of the liuing God creator of all things vnto whom all that is in heauen and earth is subiect Then said Pirrhus Doest thou not know Menna that to be the only cause why our Emperours haue commaunded you Christians to be tormented namely that you should neither professe IESVS CHRIST for God nor adore and worship him Menna answered what is that to me If that be their intention their power and torments are of no auaile Rom. 8. to make me forsake my dearest Lord God It is said Who shal be able to seperate vs from the lone of CHRIST or from his seruice not tribulation nor affiction nor famine nor persecutson nor dangers much lesse the world Be assured that what soeuer persecution is raised against vs shall not make vs alter our mindes The Iudg commaunded his gashed and wounded body should be rubbed ouer with rough sharp clothes which paine he tollerated very patiently Pirrhus remained astonished hereat and said vnto him verely Menna it seemeth thy bodie which is thus tormented is not thine owne but borrowed of some other The martir answered him I feele not thy torments because I haue my God by me who doth helpe defend me vnto those that haue him with them all things succeed prosperously Then said Pirrhus set other burning torches vnto his sides that we may ouercome this his obstinacy The fire was brought applied and although they burned his sides two whole houres together yet the martir spake not one word Where vpon Pirrhus said Doest thou not feele the fire that burneth thee S. Menna answered I feele it not for CHRIST giueth me strength who hath said to me in his holie writt Esay 43. That if we passe by the fire the flame shall not burnevs He saith also in another place Mat 10. that we must not feare them that kill the bodie and cannot kill the soule but him we must feare that can send both bodie and soule into euerlasting fire Then said Pirrhus How canst thou alleadg these testimonies out of the bookes of thy God being a souldier when hadest thou time to read and study them Then said the blessed martir The same IESVS CHRIST our God said vnto vs That when we should be brought before kings nad Iudges for the profession of his name we should not care what to speak for that he would direct vs what we should answere Pirrhus said Tell me Menna whether your CHRIST did foretell you that you should suffer those torments yet surely said Menna for that he being God knew right well all that was to happen in after times Well well said Pirrhus leaue this vaine talk made and diuised of thine owne head and sacrifice vnto the Gods or I will condemne thee to be consumed with fire Do thy will said Menna for as I haue told thee already although thou hast power to torment my bodie yet hast thou none ouer my soule The Iudg said wilt thou haue daies of respitte to consider of this matter that thou maist free thy self from this thy blindnes and error The blessed martir made answere Long since haue I determined and resolued
who being offended with mankind for the first man many damosells were sought who were kept inclosed in the Temple of Ierusalem to the end his iust indignation might be mitigated and asswaged In that place were the damosells furnished of all things necessarie to make their soules faire and beautifull by adorning them with vertue and perfuming them with the holie excercises of prayers and meditations Thither was brought the most faire and prudent Esther to witt the soueraigne Quene of the Angells Mary the virgin who was elected to be the mother of God and who pacified and appeased the wrath of the heauenly father This is the solemnitie which is this day celebrated in the Church that is to say when the most blessed virgin was presented in the Temple There she remained for a tyme vntill she was presented to the heauenly Father who was pleased with her fauour and beautie and crowned her Queene of heauen and earth The eternall Father elected her for his daughter the Sonne for his mother and the holie Ghost for his spouse This historie is recountéd by Simeon Metaphrastes German Archbishop of Constantinople George Archbishop of Nicomedia and the Bishop Lippoman reherseth it in this manner THE most blessed virgin being come vnto the age of three yeares her father Ioachim conducted her vnto the Temple of Ierusalem and there offred her vnto God leauing her in a colledge of damosells where they being most of theÌ„ of noble blood were brought vp and especiallie the first borne daughters of the royall tribe of Iuda and of the priests tribe of Leuy and there they stayed vntill they came vnto the age to be marryed In this meane space they were continually imployed in holie excercises as prayer and working spending the time in all vertuous occupation and to that purpose they had many mistresses who taught and instructed them without intermission We may very well beleeue that Anna the propheâ—esse of whom S. Luke the Euangelist maketh mention that she spake of our Sauiour IESVS the same day that he was presented in the Temple we may beleeue I say that she had friendship and familiarâ—tie with the B. virgin they liuing both together in the Temple in that vertuous manner As also that her loue was exceeding much towards her as expecting that God should work the great misterie and benefitt of our redemption by her When the glorious virgin was brought vnto the Temple shee was placed on the first ascending step of the fifteene while the offring was prepared that was to be offred with her The Priests went to meet her and the B. infant leauing the hands of them that brought her thither and without the help of any person only fauoured and susteined by the grace of the holie Ghost began to climb the steppes and went euen to the Altar without other help as if she had beene of perfect age so that the priests of the Temple and they that were with her wondred but yet they reioyced much thereat hauing knowledg thereby that God began to shew maruaillse in the childhood of her that should be his mother The litle holie virgin remained in the Temple because her capacitie vnderstanding were excellent she profitted exceedinglie in such things as the damosells learned in that place which was to read write sowe weaue sing the Himâ—es of Dauid and to pray at certaine times and houres The blessed virgin surpassed all others in these excercises and in all vertue In her shone cleerly Charitie deuotion and all other vertues which made her beloued of euerie one This B virgin remaining there made a vowe to obserue virginitie yet some doctors say that her vowe was conditionall and not absolute so that we may pyously beleeue that she kneeling on her knees with her hands eyes and hart lifted vp vnto heauen might say these or the like words Oâ—ny God maker of heauen and earth who of thy only goodnes and bountie hast created my soule and body I promise withall integritie asmuch as is expected of me and as shall please thy maiestie to serue thee with them both to obserue virginitie and neuer to know man carnallie but to applly my self whollie in thy seruice This we may beleeue to be the vowe the holie virgin made When by the prouidence of God she was espoused vnto the patriarch Ioseph she gaue him notice of the vowe she had made and that â—â—er desire was to obserue it He reioyced and was well content there with for that as it is thought he also had made the like vowe though conditionate in such sort that both of them by inspiration of the holie Ghost had made a like vowe of virginitie This noble guiâ—t virginity was alwaies highlie esteemed both of God and men both of beleeuers and vnbeleeuers All the time Eue stayed in paradise she was a virgin but assoone as she went out she lost her virginity The high priest of the Hebrewes could not marry one that was not a virgin The Gentiles did nor permitt any woman that was not a virgin to inhabite in the Temple of the Goddesse Vesta If woemen desire to keep this pretious treasure it is requisite that they liue apart from the world and retyred Dyna the daughter of Iacob by her walking abroad to see the country whereunto she was new come with her father and brethren and to see the woemeÌ„ of that country lost both her virginitie and honour and was also the cause that all the men of that place lost their liues If the mother of God contynued withdrawen and shutt close vp let not yong damosells be grieued to be kept in and to liue retyred For if they remaine retyred and shut in they shall be out of daunger in security but if they will walk abroad gadding and gasing they shall incurâ—e great perill and danger and oftentimes come to reproach as some find by experience who to late perceaue their error when there is no remedy For as S. Ierome saith the losse of virginity cannot be recouered and being once lost it is without remedy Concerning the feature and corporall disposition of the B. virgin I will say that which S. Epiphanius said as Nicephorus Callisthus reherseth it which doth also agree with the Image S. Luke painted who sawe her and drew her picture whilest she lyued The virgin Mary was of a middle stature her collour was of the wheat her face was some what long her eyes great and of a good collour the eyeliddes black her mouth little lippes of a liuely collour her teeth white and little her haire yellow her hands and fingers long all her other lyneaments well proportioned She was surpassing faire and gratious of countenance her look was very graue and her speach delectable Shee neuer wore any cloth that had bene died She couered her forhead somewhat with her mantle Pope Pius 2. who sate in S. Peters chayre in the yeare of our Lord 1461. gaue lycence that the feast of the presentation of the glorious
them though they shall suffer before thee thou shalt be crowned with the crowne of martyrdome With this the Angell vanished awaie and Catherine was led before the Emperour the great and famous philosophers of the gentiles being on the other side against her There resorted vnto this great meeting an infinite companie of noblemen and gentlemen The philosopher that was accounted more learned theÌ„ the rest turning toward Catherine and as it were in scoffing manner said disdainfully vnto her Art thou shee that with saucy and malapert words hast so wronged our Gods yea said Catherine I am euen shee yet I do it not with saucie and malapâ—rt words as thou saiest but with true and certeine arguments The philosopher replied If thou hast read the famous poets thou shouldest also haue noted the statelie and magnificent names that they attribute vnto them farre different and more honorable then those that thou giuest them S. Catherine answered what be those ports and what be the names they giue vnto thy Gods The philosopher said Homer is one of them who calleth Iupiter the most glorious and greatest Orpheus also a famous poet speaking of Apollo the sonne of Latona calleth him potent that seeth and comaundeth mortall men These by them honored and highlie esteemed and called Gods you cannot shew me that any of them said that a crucified man was a God To this S. Catherine answered It is true the poets that thou hast named giue vnto thy Gods names of excellencie yet with all thou canst not deny but many times they lay vpon them most hainous crymes and abhominable deedes Mark what Homer chieif of the poets saith of Iupiter Sometimes he calleth him a lyer and peruerse then a deceiuer and that the other Gods haue coÌ„spired to chaine him with fetters that if he had not bene certified thereof he had come into manifest daunger Orpheus also who is the other poet thou hast named saith of thy Gods that they know not the troubles and afflictions of men and when they do know them they cannot deliuer them out of them Sophocles also affirmeth that those that adore and do reuerence to the statues and Idolls of many Gods do euill and offend greeuously for saith hee there is but one true God which is none of these who created heauen and earth and all that is therein Where you saie that IESVS CHRIST crucified whom I adore is not famous nor knowne of the poets and ancient wise men this sheweth plainlie your small reading Know therefore that the Sibills were renowned for their excellent skill in poetrie being illuminated by the holie Ghost One of the Siâ—ills wrot long before it came to passe that IESVS CHRIST should be taken by enuy and slaine by his owne people That he should rise againe and ascend into heauen and that he should come at the last daie to Iudge the quick and the dead Another Sibill said IESVS CHRIST being God is made man conuerseth with men and doth great marueiles and miracles both on the sea and land But let vs leaue the Sibills The same Apollo not vsing his accustomed dark manner of speeche said in plaine words long before it came to passe He that is the light and splendor of heauen he that is God and man hath suffred not in the diuinitie but in his bodie he hath suffred reproaches and was buried he hath shed many teares form his eyes he fed 5000. men in the wildernes with bread by the power of God â—he was crucified and dyed on the Crosse was buried and after ascended into heauen These be the words of Apollo thy God and by his oppinion thou oughtest not to adore him but him whom he calleth God These and the like were the words of S. Catherine alleadging the sayings and sentences of the philosophers and wisemen who contemned the Gods of the Gentiles proouing how coÌ„trarie it was to good philosophie to saie there should be many Gods But yet if it were possible that there should be many Iupiter Saturne Mars the others which the pagans adored were not nor could not be Gods for certaine it is that they were men And if they had bene good for any respect or had done any notable proffit vnto the people by their industrie or new inuâ—ntion as of plowing and reaping graine of making armour of defence or offence and such like yet in some respects they were most bad and vitious The holie virgin prosecuted her speach and declated what IESVS CHRIST preached of his life his deeds his miracles and shewed how they were all conformable to the nature of God This holie sainte spake these things so discreetlie and eloquentlie and with such feruencie of spirite that is was most euident and apparant that it was the work of God and that within her was somewhat more then humane wisedome And in such sort that the philosopher which began the disputation was not only conuinced but also turned to her side whereof he gaue plaine proof by his words The Emperour perswaded the other philosophers to take the defence of the matter which the chief had giuen ouer as being ouercome and to dispute with the damsell but they answered that it was to no purpose For now their chief man being vanquished they were also ouercome And they confessed withall that the damosell had said truth and that themselues till that time had benâ— blind worshippers of those for Gods which were not so indeed and that there was but one God to wit IESVS CHRIST whom Catherine confessed and adored It cannot be expressed how these words caused the Emperour to storme and rage which he shewed by this for without staie or obseruing any order of law or course of Iustice or without any examination he commaunded there should be kindled a huge fire to burne them all to ashes The fire being kindled forth with the wisemen fell at the feet of S. Catherine and weeping besought her to praie vnto God for them that he would pardon the sinnes they had committed against him through ignorance and they said they were prepared and desirous to receaue the sacrament of Baptisme The glorious saint reioycing in spirite as we maie well think to haue gained so good a praie animated them saying Assure your selues that God will pardon you since that for his sake you leaue the earthlie king and loose your owne liues The fire which is prepared shal be in steed of Baptisme vnto you and shall cleanse your soules that they maie be forth with presented vnto God who will bestow vpon you a reward for the seruice you now do vnto him These words confirmed the wisemen exceedinglie and they often making the signe of the Crosse and naming IESVS CHRIST were in this manner cast into the fire where they yealded their soules vnto God on the 17. daie of Nouember Some Christians came in the euening to gather together the reliques of the saints and they found their bodies entire and whole and not a haire of their heads
perished God suffered this to shew and manifest the new friendship he had made with theÌ„ This strange accident caused many pagans to be conuerted to the faith The Emperour was sollicitous what he should do with Catherine and it came into his head to deale mildlie and louinglie with her He made her great offers and promises and said vnto her yong and tender damosell be content at least to do sacrifice vnto Mercurius father of the Muses of whom thou hast receaued thy great wisedome and vnto whom thou art much bound If thou do but this thou shalt remaine in my pallace I will haue the same care of thee as I haue of myne owne daughter The blessed virgin answered him loose not time in vsing such flattering and deceitfull words those cannot perswade me for I had rather lose a 1000. liues then to forsake the profession of IESVS CHRIST my God whose pleasure is without any desert of myne to take me for his spouse and to giue me those Iewells which he giueth to his best beloued and I hope he will giue me the garment of Martyrdome which I more esteeme then all the purple and princelie roabes that be Aduise thy self said the Emperour or I will cloth thee with the purple roabe thou speakest of and I will cause thee though against my will to be put to most cruell torments S. Catherine answered do what pleaseth thee for thy torments be they neuer so cruell will quicklie end but the reward that I shall enioye shall endure for euer I hope IESVS CHRIST my spouse will giue me grâ—ce that by my meanes many of thy house and familie shall obtaine eternall life and be saued It pleased Almightie God to confirme in heauen the words his holie seruant spoke vpon earth The Emperour beginning now to shew rigor and seueritie against her caused her to be stripped naked which was no smalle affliction vnto the modest virgin being so honest and shamefast as to be seene naked in the sight of so many people After she was stripped the Emperour commaunded she should be beaten with all cruellty and the officers for two houres together whipped that yong and tender virgin Her bodie and flesh which before was as white as snow was altred in coullor being black and blew all bathed in her owne bloud This did so pittie the standers by that many of them wept aboundaÌ„tly The holie damosell endured this torment so couragiously as though her body had bene made of stone and not of flesh yet no man could imagine it seing the bloud run downe in streames ouer all her bodie Then the holie sainte was taken from the torment and put into a dark dongeon a watch being set that none should dresse her wounds nor giue her any comfort yea he forbad also to giue her any meat The mallice of man is of no force against the power of God as apeareth by this God prouiding all necessarie things for his spouse by the ministerie of his faithfull seruants the Angells who not only comforted her but also cured her and brought her victualls And for twelue daies that she remained in prison a doue prouided her things necessarie S. Catherine remaining thus in prison the Empresse Faustina desired to visite her which at the last she did by the meanes of a great captaine of the Emperours called Porphirius The Empresse had heard much of Catherine and had affection vnto her in her absence but when she had seene her and heard her profound speaches and enioyed her delightfull conuersation it came to passe that she Porphirius and 200. souldiers of the Emperours guard receiued the faith of CHRITS and were made Christians with a firme purpose to laie downe their liues for the profession of his name when occasion serued The twelue daies being expired the Emperour caused her to be taken out of prison for he vndersterstood she was yet aliue which made him to wonder both for that she had bene so long without meaâ— as also for that her bodie was in so pittifull estate as the whipping had brought it vnto He was much astonied to see her more cherfull then before for that in stead of beatings imprisonment famine and other afflictions it seemed she had bene in continuall comforts and cherishings Vpon which occasion the Emperour with a dissembling and fained smile said vnto her Trulie thou deseruest to be an Empresse for thy excellent parts and rate beautie The virgin said It is to no purpose to esteeme or regard temporall beautie which is soone lost the estimation and account must be made of the beautie that lasteth for euer which the saints in heauen enjoy With this there came vnto the Emperour a gouernour being a conning enginer but of cruell disposition and said vnto him My Lord if you be pleased I will inuent and make an engine wherewith this rebellious damosell shall either do that which you commaund or els she shall be torne in pieces vnto death This engine shal be made with foure wheeles in the which shal be sawes of Iron sharp nalles and sharp knifes the wheeles shal be turned one against another and the sawes the knifes and the naiâ—es shall meete and when they be mooued they shall make such a noise as when she seeth them she shall fall downe with feare and so she shal be brought to do your will but if she be still stubbeâ—ne in her opinion she shall be put betweene the wheeles and shall dye a most cruell death This wretched inuention pleased the Emperour well and he commaunded the engine to be made vp within three daies In that time he laboured to perswade the holie virgin to leaue her stubbernesse and not to be so obstinate but seing that he laboured in vaine that the engine was now readie he brought the holie saint thither and caused the wheeles to be turned in her sight She showing no signe of feare he commaunded to tye her to one of the wheeles to the end that the other being turned the contrarie waie might rent her bodie in diuers places with the sharp instruments S. Catherine was tyed to a wheele and they laid their hands on the other wheele to turne it about but it fell our farre otherwise then was expected by the cursed wretches for an Angell of God descended from heauen who brake the bands where with the virgin was tyed and she fell to the ground without any hurt Then the same Angell strook the wheeles which fell among the pagans and killed many of them Those which escaped the daunger by running awaie cryed out with a loud voice Great is the God of the Christians This altred not the wicked Emperour from his cursed purpose but he studying to dâ—uise new torments for S. Catherine the Empresse his wife came vnto him and sharplie reprooued him for his crueltie vsed against that holie damosell and the other Christians and told him plainlie that she also was a Christian The Emperor astonied and almost madde with anger to see
the hangman began to vntie him he lyfted vp his voice to IESVS CHRIST and said Lord I beseech thee for thy holie names sake permitt me not to be taken from the Crosse aliue Receaue me my master whom I haue loued whom I haue confessed whom I haue preached and of whom I hope to be rewarded Oh good IESVS receaue my spirit in peace for now is it time to come to thee whom I haue so much desired Whilest the Apostle said these wordes there discended from heauen a great brightnes in manner of a beame of the sunne which euerie one saw and couered the bodie of the Apostle that for half an houres space it could not be seene at which time it vanished awaye and then they perceiued that the was dead One Maximilla a deuout woman a disciple of the Apostle being of that cittie and verie rich went to the Crosse with some of her seruants and took the bodie of the saint and buried it anointing it first with pretious ointments When Egeas vnderstood what Maximilla had done he ment to complaine vnto the Emperour both of her and of many other that asisted her Whilest he was in the publique hall taking informations thereof tâ—e diuell entred into him making him to roare and crie out as a beast and tormenting him in the sight of the people made him to yield his soule to be tormented in hell This iudgment of God caused many to be conuerted to the faith of CHRIST The martirdome of S. Andrew was on the 30. of Nouember and on the same daie the Church celebrateth his feast His death was in the yeere of our Lord. 62. as Canisius saith in the raigne of Nero. In the time of the Emperour Constantine the bodie of S. Andrew was translated to Constantinople and from thence to diuers other places till lastlie it was carried into Italie to the cittie of Amalfy in the kingdome of Naples where it is at this present And it is said that out of this blessed bodie cometh a most pretious liquor that cureth and healeth diuers infirmities When Pius the second was Pope his head was brought to Rome and set in a tabernacle made for that purpose in the Church of S. Peter S. Gregorie of Toures recounteth many miracles done by the intercession of S. Andrew namelie the curing of diuers and sundrie infirmities He saith also that in the time of Clodoueus king of France in a warre he made in Burgundie and in the sacking of a countrie fire was set on the Church of a holie martir called Saturninus within the which were some reliques of S. Andrew The fire enereased and the people were much agreeued that the reliques of the holie Apostle should be so consumed There was a souldier borne at Toures who perceiuing the sorrow of the people entred resolutlie into the middest of the fire and went vnto the place where the reliques of the holie Apostle were and brought them awaie safe without hurt And God was pleased to shew how acceptable this pious deed was to him preseruing the souldier from the fire that it hurt him not at all We read also of other miracles of S. Andrew as of a Bishop whom the diuell in forme of a damosell would haue deceiued and the holie Apostle went to his house in the shape of a pilgrime and told him of the deceit but for that I haue not read it in any approoued author I do not auerre it yet God can and vseth to do those or the like things by the intercession of his holie saints And we ought not to doubt but he hath done many miracles by the intercession of S. Andrew who followed and loued him so that at last he died on the Crosse for his loue as himself had done It is iust therefore that we be deuout to this holie saint that by his prayers and meritts we maie obtaine of God eternall glorie Amen DECEMBER The life of S. Bibiana virgin and Martir MANY were the vexations and great were the tribulations the holy man Dauid suffered at the haÌ„ds of sondry persons who without any cause giuen on his part endeuored to do him all the mischief they could as amoÌ„g others his father in lawe Saul did yet he supported all these troubles with patience and myldnes but the insurrection of his sonne Absalon nipped him to the hart and mollested him aboue all the rest wherefore he said in one psalme If myne enemy had said euill of me and had persecuted me Ps. 54 I would haue supported it bycause that of an enemy no friendly kindnes is expected but I am aggreiued that this my sonne he who satt at my table and eate with me in the same dish should be the maÌ„ that should persecute me Oh how worthy was he and such as he was to descend aliue into hell Many were the tyrants that persecuted the Church and many more were they that put the Christians to death but S. Bibiana had reason to complaine of none more then of Iulyan the Apostata because the others were her professed enemyes in that they were Idollaters But this wicked and damnable man was a Christian and within holy orders who put her to very great sorrow and moued her to desire God to chastise him as indeed he did by depriuing him in a short time both of his empire and life it being not knowen by whom nor in what maner This is only certain that the lewd and wicked man being in the middest of his army was wounded with a speare wherof he dyed blasphemyng and reuiling at IESVS CHRIST his cursed soule falling as a pray into the diuells hands S. Bibiana was martyred in the time of this wicked emperour Venerable Bede and other Authors of martyrologes write her martyrdome in this maner SAINT Bibiana was borne in Rome and was daughter vnto Faustus and Drafosa who were both Christians and holy matâ—yrs S. Bibiana being very yong did exercise her self in holy and vertuous woorks Shee was taken in the time of th'emperour Iulian the Apostata a cruell foe vnto Christians and deliuered to the custody of Faustus the gouernour who was apointed to heare and determyne her cause He persuaded her to sacrifice vnto the Idols the souer to drawe her to the same he threatned to put her vnto grieuous torments if shee refused it But the holy saint answered with such godly reasoÌ„s that shee persuaded the Gouernour himself to forsake and relinquish the Idolls and to be made a Christian and consequently to endure torments and death couragiously for the same The holy damsell Bibiana was very ioyous that shee had made that gaine as to gaine a soule to her spouse IESVS CHRIST Then was shee led before the Emperour who exhorted her to sacrifice vnto the Idolls and shee aunswered him that the God creator and gouernour of heauen and earth was only worthy to be adored Th'emperour hearing this answer commaunded Bibiana to be beaten with cudgells which was done with such cruelty that shee
and fury as Dioscorus did at the hearing of these words and he was repleat with indignation and choller and as a man posessed to see his daughter so much contrary vnto him in relligion Then he called to remembraÌ„ce that many times when he talked with her concernyng marriage shee had wished him not to take care for her for she had no thought of any husband wherupon he perceued that shee answered him so for that shee was a Christian and he knew that among them many obserued chastity It came into his head that th'emperour Maximian persecuted the Christians and that in the city was a gouernour that tormented and put many of them to death All these things together caused Dioscorus to be so much distracted that being ouercome with passion and forgetting that he was her father and taking on him the person of a tyrant and parricide he layd hands on his sword with a full intentioÌ„ therwith to runne through the breast of his owne daughter The holy damosell that shee might be reserued to a more glorious triumph departed away and fled from her fathers sight By this meanes Dioscorus had space to be aduised that by killing his daughter he might fall into some trouble and could not justify it if he did not declare and publish the cause and reason of his doing he staied not so much for any piety as to haue an occasion and meanes to be more reuenged on her and to shewe vnto the other Idollaters how great his zeale was to the honour of his Gods Wherfore he took order that his daughter Barbara should be brought before the gouernor Martianus whom he informed that she was a Christian and moreouer he humbly besought him to proceed against her according to the late decrees of th'emperour The gouernour much wondered at Dioscorus seeing him so cruelly bent against his owne daughter but he was much more astonied to see her Angel-like beauty which was so goodly that it seemed to him though she had done the greatest offence in the world the sight of her only would haue obteined her pardon And yet her owne father was the only man whâ— without any wrong offered on her part laboured all he might to procure her death The iudge spake vnto her mildly sayeng Babara I see thou art a tender delicate virgin and very beautifull therefore haue compassion on thy self sacrifice vnto our Gods for I cannot be rigorous against so beautifull a damosell The blessed maid answered I offer sacrifice vnto my God who created heauen and earth but of those whom thou callest Gods heare what a holy king and prophet called Dauid saith The Gods of the Gentills be gold and siluer the work of mens hands Psal. 130.113 and they who are represented by them be deuills but the true God made heauen and earth I say and confesse the same and therefore trouble not thy self to persuade me to adore them The gouernour was so vexed with this speeche that taking no pitty of this beautyfull damosell he caused her to be stripped and to be beaten without mercy with the sinewes of oxen and when all her body was wounded and made sore he commauÌ„ded the officers to rubbe her with a course heare-cloth which put her to a greuous paine and the bloud ranne aboundantly from her body vnto the ground then he caused her to be led back into prison that he might haue time to deuise some more greeuous torments for her On that same night there was a great brightnes in the prison where Barbara lay in the midst wherof appeared IESVS CHRIST who comforted and encouraged his handmaide and told her that he would alwais assist her and keep her in his custody and that the inuentions of cruell tyrants should not preuaile any thing against her These words were scant ended when the blessed damosell perceued her body to be healed of all her hurts and wounds which thing did excedingly reioyce her in spirite and for the same shee rendered infinite thanks vnto the highest God for that he vouchsafed to visite her as also for that he had healed her in this maner On the next day the holy virgin came againe before the iudge he seeing her hole sound was amazed therat and so were many other who had seene her the day before when she was led vnto prison brused and wounded The gouernor said vnto her See Barbara howe the Gods haue had compassion of thee and haue healed againe thy wounds they be so desirous to reduce thee vnto their seruice by mildnes Be not thou vnto them vnthankfull nor obstinate in thy errour lest thy do hereafter vse rigour and seuerity against thee To this the holy damosell answered They who be blinde as thou art think as thou doest but I will tel thee the truth how I was healed if thou desire to know it It was IESVS CHRIST the sonne of the liuing God whom thou canst not see thy soule being blinded and drowned in the profound darknes of iniquity The gouernour seeing he preuailed not with this â—light commaunded two lusty fellowes to take the sides and brest of the damosell with iron combes and then burning torches to be sett to her sides and many strokes to be also giuen her on the head with a hammer The holy damosell Barbara in the midst of these torments lifted vp her eyes vnto IESVS CHRIST sayeng Thou o Lord who seest the secrets of harts behold like wise I haue put all my trust in thee I beseech thee Lord not to abandon me but susteine me with thy pityfull hand for as without thee I cannot do any thing euen so with thee I can do all things The tirant not content with this cruelty but proceeding further bad them to cut of the nipples of her breasts which put her to much paine but much more was the loue that shee bore vnto IESVS CHRIST which caused her with patience to suffer the paine for all which respect shee said with the prophet Dauid Psal 50. O Lord my God turne not thy face from me and do not take a way thy holy spirite from my hart The very sight of her body so misused and bruised put men in feare wherfore the tyrant to do her the more shame and for to terryfie the Christians the more by her example coÌ„maunded her to be led through the high streets naked all the whiles to be beaten with staues When the holy damsell vnderstood the sentence of the tyrant perceuing they ment to put it in execution shee lifted vp her eyes vnto heauen and said O soueraigne king and my sweet Lord thou couerest the sky with the thick clouds and the earth with darknes of the night may it please thee to couer my naked body so that it be not seene of the vnbeleuers who if they see me will blaspheme thy holy name Our pityfull Lord who giueth care vnto his seruants who resort for his help in their tribulations heard her prayer and couered her boâ—y with a
brightnes in maner of a loÌ„g vesture euen to the ground so that the paynims could not see her The holy saint was let thorough all the city and brought back vnto the gouernour who seeing her constancy gaue sentence that shee should be beheaded The cursed father of the blessed damosell who had bene present at this dollorous spectacle and was not any thing mollified but rather more incrudelized desired the gouernour to shew him the fauour to execute the sentence pronounced by him against his daughter which request was easily graunted The glorious saint was led out of the city vnto a hâ—lâ—e where was the ordinary place of execution and there kneeling on her knees shee made a deuout prayer vnto God rendering him thankes for bringing her to that passage Then bowed shee her head before her father who voide of pitty lifted vp the sword and cut of her head Then returned the cursed wretch vnto the city vaunting he had done a memorable act for the seruice of his Gods saying he deserued to be honored by th'emperour and to haue his name eternized But God almighty was not pleased with his boasting of so inhumane an act for vnexpectedly it thundered and therwith a thunderbolt fell which strook and killed him out of hand So that at one time the daughter ascended to heauen where shee was receued with ioy and triumph of the heauenly citisens and of the celestiall king and the father descended into hell where he is and shall be perpetually tormented by the deuills The body of this glorious damosell and martir S. Barbara was buryed by a holy and religious man called Valentinian with musique songs to the praise laude of God of S. Barbara his spouse The martirdome of this blessed damosell was on the. 4. day of December in the year of our Lord. 288. in the time of Diocleâ—ian and Maximian This holy saint is a speciall aduocate against tempests thunder and thunderbolts Petrus Galesinus the Apostolique protonotary wrote the life of S. Babara and saith that he collected it out of S Iohn Damascen out of Arsenius and out of other Grecians and it is conformable to that which is here written The life of S. Sabba Abbot SAINT Theodoret writeth in his relligious history that holy Abbot called Publius congregated together many hermus and builded a conuent On a day conferring with them among other things he said That as one going to the high stret or market place to prouide things necessary for his house and at one shop buieth cloth at another shoes out of this is furnished with bread out of another is prouided of wine euen so the relligious man in the conuent is from one man to lern patience from another humility from an other chastity and he like of other vertues For this cause in ancient timme some seruants of God although it was pleasing and to yous for them to like in the desert and wildernes yet did they gather many disciples together and make conuents to the end that some being instructers of others and some lerning of their superiors or betters all might be saued One of these was S. Sabba the Abbot whose life collected out of Cyrill the monck and some Authors of martirologes was in this manner SAINT Sabba was borne in the prouince of Cappadocia in a city called Mutalasium his fathers name was Iohn and the name of his mother was Sophia and it was in the time of Theodosius 2. th'emperour of Rome It fell out that the father of S. Sabba went to serue in the warre that was then in Alexandria and recommended his sonne vnto his brother called Ieremy whose wife hated the child and could not abide to see him but vsed him hardly This was in part the cause that S. Sabba went vnto a monastery in the which Gregory a holy man was Abbot He receaued Sabba into the monastery and gaue him the relligious habite where he liued a holy life exercising himself alwayes in vertue but his abstinence was most remarkable and his mortification was admirable and so was his humility and patience wherfore God shewed by him some myracles and one in especiall which befell in that monastery and this it was The baker had one day put his cloths into the ouen which was somewhat hotte to dry and forgetting them put in fire which already flaming thorough all the ouen he remembred the cloths but could not gett them out by any meanes The poore man made moane for his mis-happe and by chance Sabba was there present who made the signe of the Crosse in the ouen and then he went into the ouen flamyng as it did and took out the cloths whole and without any hurt Then he asked leaue of his superiour to depart from that monastery and to go into a desert where he liued a solitary life certaine yeares and endured many terrible tentations of the deuills He went also vnto Ierusalem to visite the holy places where the misteryes of our redemptioÌ„ were wrought And being one day in that city neere vnto the Church of S. Iohn Baptist he healed a woman that had a bloudy flixe he cured another that was cruelly tormented by the deuill Whiels S. Sabba was in Ierusalem there was exceeding scarcity of water and there was not any to be found not to be had to drink in such sort that the people were ready to dye for thirst The good father Sabba fell to praier prostrated on the earth with his body but his soule being lifted and fixed in heauen in that manner he continued in praier all night the teares which bathed the place on earth where the holie saint was gaue testimonie with what efficacie he had requested God to succour and relieue his people in their necessitie It pleased God to shew fauour vnto his seruant for there fell a verie great shower of raine that filled the cisternes and satisfied the people euerie one yielding infinite thanks vnto God that had showen compassion vnto them though many of them did not know who had been the meanes to obtaine so notable a fauour Then did this good father collect and assemble toger her many disciples and founded some monasteries and liued a holie relligious life and finallie died in Ierusalem in the yeare of our Lord. 424. being 94 yeares old His body was buried between two Churches was afterward caried vnto Venice where at this present he â—eth in the Church of S. Antoninus The life of S. Nicholas Bishop and Confessor WE read in the book of kings that God talking of the noble king Dauid 2. Reg. â—3 said of him that he had found a man according to his owne hart and herefore made him captaine and ruler ouer his people These words though at the first said of Dauid may be very well applied vnto the glorious S. Nicholas for he was a man according to Gods owne hart They were verified of Dauid because he was pitifull and myld and the same may be said of S. Nicholas
for he was mercifull and myld also and endued with other good qualities and verâ—ues â—â—r which cause God elected him to be the captaine and pastor of his people in the city of Myrrea The life of this glorious saint was written by the Patriarch Methodius Symeon Metaphrastes and other Greeke authors our of whom Iohn the Deacon and Leonard Iustinian made a collection Out of these two was this sumarie taken and is in this manner SAINT Nicholas was borne in Patarae a city in the prouince of Licia His father and mother were Christians noble by birth and deuote seruants of God To this good couple God graunted a sonne in reward of their many teares praiers and continuall almes deeds desiring him to send vnto them an heire who should vse their goods in his seruice God heard the prayers of his dâ—uouâ—e seruants and comforted them by gyuing vnto them their sonne Nicholas Of him it is thought that he had the spirite of God euen from his infancie for that assoone as he was borne he began to serue him Assoone as he knewe what it was to eate he knew also what it was to fast for he would not take the brest to sucke but one time only in a day especially twâ—se a weeke to wit on the wednesday and the Friday and this fast he obserued all the dayes of his life Being somewhat growen in years he shewed signes of great vertue which increased in him as his yeares did His father sent him to schoole to learne to read and also other sciences where Nicholas made proofe of his delicate wytt because in very short time he profitted very much He would not keepe company with other yong men of his yeares who suffred themselfs to be transported into all vices and wantonnes but his conuersation was only with the most vertuous and honest people He avoyded also not only the conuersation of women but abhorred them euen as a deadly poyson for youth And to eseape the warre which is made by wicked thoughts and carnall cogitations against youth he tamed his flesh with watchings fastings hayrecloths and such like exercises He frequented the Churches and oratories of the Christians for he desired to be as the Temple of the Holy Ghost These holy exercises and other vertues in which Nicholas was employed did so shine in him that he was praysed and commended of euery one For as to see old men behaue themselues like yong men see meth a monstrous thing so on the other side to see a yong man to haue the deportment and cariage of old men is a thing very commendable and laudable S. Nicholas had an vncle who was Bishop of the city where he was borne a learned and a holy man He persuaded the father and mother of Nicholas to dedicate their sonne vnto God in the seruice of his Church and to be a priest It was an easy matter to obteine it of them for they remembred God had graunted that sonne vnto them through their many praiers therfore they willingly rendred him vnto God againe with right good will that he might alwaies be employed in his seruice The father and mother of S. Nicholas hauing made this grauÌ„â— his vncle made him priest whilest he gaue him orders he sayd these words vnto them that stood by Brethren I see a newe sonne arise in the earth who shal be a great consolation and repose for the world Happy is the pasture and happy be the sheepe that shall deserue to haue such a sheapherd The day shall come also when you shall see him reduce many straying sheepe vnto the flock of CHRIST you shall see him to be the consolation of the coÌ„fortles health of the sick and rest for them that be in tribulation All that which this good Bishop said was afterward found in S. Nicholas When S. Nicholas sawe he was a priest he thought it conuenient that with his newe dignity he should encrease his austerity and strict life imitating heerin the trees and plants which the more they spred their braunches the larger their roots grow also vnder the ground So the holy saint stroâ—e to be more sober and temperate more continenâ— more rygorous toward his owne body chastising the same with more seuerity not to make it dye but to make it more subiect vnto the spirite He depriued it of the ordinary sleepe of eating and of apparell although he did not like to go in stayned or spotted apparell as some hypocrits do but such as was comely and fitting for one of his dignity of function He frequented the Church more â—hâ—n he had vsed he was more earnest at his prayer then before time he would neuer read any book nor take it in his hand but the booke of the holy scripture or els some holy lecture treating of some ghostly matter He showed more modesty in his countenance more grauity in his speech so that it seemed although he were in mortall flesh that he led the life of a man imortall There befell in the country of Lycia and in all the East a great contagious pestilence which killed very many and among others within the space of three dayes died both the father and mother of S. Nicholas and he remayned sole inheritor to all their goods The yong man being already dedicated to God regarded not to be the heite but rather desired to be the dispenser of his fathers goods giuing out of them continually many almes deeds And because among many other he did one rare deed of charity it shall not be amisse to make a recitall therof by particulers There was in the city of Patara a gentleman of a good house who had bene before time very rich and nowe was become poore This man had three daughters which were of good yeares and maâ—igeable but because he had not wherewith to maynteine endowe theÌ„ with portions he vrged and sollycited them to get their liuyng and his also by dishonest life The poore father though he was ashamed so to doe spake to them to that purpose the distressed maydes shed teares incessantly considering to what a miserable estate their fathers pouerty had brought them S. Nicholas had an inkeling hereof and thought he could not bestow his almes better then with the same to delyuer their bodies from shame and their soules from synne He took a good some of mony all in gold and lapped it in a napkin and departing from home by night he went to the house of the poore decayed gentleman The holy man looked about to put in the mony in some place where the distressed man might light vpon it taking care that he should not know who bestowed in vpoÌ„ him whilest he studyed therof hesa wâ—y Mâ—nâ—light the casement of the chamber windowe where the poore man lay not fully open S Nicolas cast the gold wrapped in the cloute in at the wyndowe and went downe The pooâ—e man rising vp and finding there the mony the benediction of God he was in
verses at the sepulcher of the Apostles SS Peter and Paule and another work in the which he wrot the lifes of the Popes who were his predecessors He also ordeined that the psaâ—mes of Dauid should be song one part of the quier sayeng one verse and the other part another verse which is obserued vnto our time through all the vniuersall Church though it was vsed before in some particuler Churches by the notice of S. Ignatius vnto whom it was reueiled that the Angells in heauen song in this maner as he sawe it himself being in a traunce Also Damasus Councelled thereto by S. Ierome commaunded there should be said at the end of euery psalme Gloria patri filio spiritui sancto sicut erat in principio nunc semper in secula seculorum Amen He ordeined also that the priest before he began masse should say the generall confession He also gaue authority approbation to the translation of the holy Bible made by S. Ierome for before the translation of the 72. interpreters was commonly vsed This good Pope ended this life on the 11. day of December in the year of our Lord 380. in the time of Theodosius being 80. years old of which he was Pope 18. years 3. months 11. dayes He gaue holy orders 5. times in the month of December and ordered 32. priests 11 deacons and 62. Bishops His body was buryed in the Church of the Apostles which he had buâ—â—ded in the same where his mother and sister were buried He was afterward translated vnto another Church which he had builded called S. Laurence in Damaso The life of S. Lucy virgin and Martir AT such time as Gedeon was captaine of the people of God Iudiâ— 7. they were in great danger and feare because their enemies were neere them and verie potent and strong themselues being but fewe in number and weak God commaunded Gedeon to do some enterprise and the people trusting in God hoped to atchieue victorie yet they conceiued not any meanes how it should come to passe For to fight hand to hand they might seeme rash and foolish to run headlong on their owne deaths The people remaining thus in doubt God spake vnto Gedeon and bad him to diuide his people which were 300. into three parts and when night came euerie souldier should haue in one hand a Trompet and in the other hand a vessell of earth and within it a burning light In this manner they should assault their enemies on three sides and when they came neere them they should sound the trompetâ—s and break the vessells of earth knocking one against the other that the burning lampes might be seene on a sodeine and then all of them should make a great shoute As God apointed so it was done The souldiers sounded the Trompets which awaked the Madianits who seing on a sodeine so many lights and hearing such a noise remained astonied and full of dread and knew not how to defend themselues or to offend their enemies but in steed of striking the Hebrewes they wounded one another By this straâ—ageme the madianites were ouerthrewne and quite discomfited and the Hebrewes obtained a notable victorie By this figure we learne that when the vessels of earth are broken the lights are discouered and the enemy ouerthrowne which thing noteth that in the warâ—e which IESVS CHRIST figured in Gedeon maketh against the Madianites which are the diuells vessells of earth are vsed hauing within them burning lampes that shine most clearlie when the vessells of earth be broken These earthen vessells signifie the holeâ— martyrs for their bodies were of earth which being broken when they were diuersly tormented their burning and liuelie faith did shine more gloriously It is seene by experience that holy men are most knowne and reputed the light of the world by the meanes of their death Then is laid open their constancie fortitude and patience their liuely faith and other vertues where with they were adorned whilest they liued their vertues were couered as the torch is in the earthen vessell but when the vessell is broken that is to saie when the holie person dyeth the light is discouered and their death weakneth the diuell vtterlie Though this figure maie be apropriated to all the martyrs yet in perticuler it agreeth verie fulie vnto S. Lucy who by her death showed the light and discouered the brightnes of her liuelie faith and other vertues which were in her soule Moreouer she is the aduocate for the sight the obiect of which is the light Yet we will not saie that she had her name Luce of the light The life of this glorious saint was written by venerable Bâ—dâ— Ado Archbishop of Treuers and other approoued author SAINT Lucy was borne in the Cittie of Syracusa in the is'le of Sicilia of honorable parents and of a great familie She was a Christian from her infancie and so instructed in the faith that shee perswaded her owne mother to exercise her selfe in all vertuous workes and especiallie in giuing large almose and relieuing the necessities of their neighbours The holie damosell finding a fit opportunitie distributed to the poore all her patrimonie which was verie great to set her selfe free from a rich Nobleman who by the consent of her mother and kinsfolke should haue beene her husband though she neuer consented to it An occasion fell out in this sort The mother of S. Lucy called Eutitia had bene sick foure yeares of the bloodie flixe no worldly helpe could be had to cure her At that time the report of S. Agatha was spread ouer all Sicilie who a little before had beene martired her bodie being in the Cittie of Catanea where many miracles were done and many sicke persons of sundrie infirmities were cured by visiting her sepulchre S. Lucy perswaded her mother that they might goe together and visite the reliques of the holie saint not doubting but that by her meanes she might be deliuered from her infirmitie Eutitia was content and went with her daughter vnto Catanea attended in such manner as was fit for their degree and estate When they came vnto the sepulchre of S. Agathata Lucy fell to prayer requesting the glorious Martir to obtaine of God by her intercession health for her mother Lucy being thus in prayer S. Agatha accompanied with many Angels appeared vnto her and with a familier pleasing countenance said vnto her Sister Lucy wherefore doest thou demaund that of me which thou thy selfe maiest giue vnto thy mother Aske thou this fauour of God for if he loue me he loueth thee also and if he will heare my prayers he wil also heare thine and where I haue giuen my life for his sake so shalt thou also giue thy life for his loue And if I be the cause that the cittie of Catanea be famous and and renowned for that it is washed and bathed in my bloud and posesseth my bodie so shall the citty of Syracusa by the same meanes be famous and
entred in and shut the dore fast leauing it sealed with the virginall seale There that venerable prophet that Gyant that could not be comprehended neither in heauen nor on earth lay flat on the humanitie took it on him conioyning face vnto face hand on hand and feet with feet All this God did in conioyning vnto him humane nature in hipostaticall vnâ—on He cryed aloud seuen times when he infused in it the seuen giftes of the Holie Ghost Then mankind began to waxe warme to open the eyes and was restored to life and so holie Church remained glad and well content to see that she had so long praied for and desired The glorious virgin was replenished with great ioye seing her sonne and the sonne of God also in her armes as she sawe him this daie of his birth This historie is recounted by the Euangelist S. Luke in this manner THERE was a proclamation and decree made by the Emperour Caesar Augustus called Octauianus wherein was commaundement giuen that all the subiects of his empire should go vnto that cittie which was the head of the places where they dwelt and there they should register their names and pay a certaine piece of mony confessing thereby their subiection vnto the Romane empire This Octauianus being Lord of almost all the world he was thus cuâ—ious desiring to know exactly how many people were vnder his subiection peace being then generally â—uer all which lasted sixe yeares before the birth of CHRIST and sixe yeares after This decree was published in Nazareth where S. Ioseph with his blessed spouse the mother of God did then dwell and this happened in the last mouth of her being with child And for that Ioseph was of the house and familie of Dauid he was to goe to Bethleem both to pay the mony and to be inrolled to which place also all other of that linage went The deliuerie of the blessed Virgin being neere at hand although she was not bound to go thither for the decree did not oblige any but men yet would be haue with him God had giuen to him in charge that most pretious treasure and he thought it not fit to trust any other person with her nay loth he was to be depriued of so great a good as to be present at the birth of the Sonne of God not onlie to adore the Sonne but also to attend the mother All this came to passe by the apointment of God to the end IESVS CHRIST should be borne in Bethleem and so the prophesies of him be fulfilled If we consider this well we shall see that the birth of our blessed Sauiour in Bethleem came not so to passe because the Prophets had foretold it though it was coÌ„uenient their prophesies should be accomplished but rather they said so because God had determined he should be borne there This mooued almightie God to choose so poore and abiect a place for the birth of his sonne agreable to that he saith by the mouth of the Prophet Esay Cap. 55 My wayes be not as yours be my wayes be of one sort and yours be of another Men striue and desire to be honored and esteemed and they seeke all meanes that may bring them to estimation in the sight of men and auoid all things that may hinder them thereof To be borne of Noble bloud and a rich house pleaseth all and euerie one seeketh it but God doth the contrarie He came to manifest his glorie to the world and when he should be borne he chose not to that purpose the glorious Cittie of Rome much lesse the royall Cittie of Ierusalem but the little village of Bethleem He was not pleased to be borne in the house of men but in the stall of beasts And his birth being so honored by the Angels and his death so ignominious in the companie of theeues hee couered his honors in the cottage of Bethleem and published his reproaches in the Cittie of Ierusalem giuing vnto vs hereby a notable example of humillitie O happie Bethleem O fortunate stall that pleased the Lord of heauen more then the statelie Capitall of Rome or the rich pallaces of Ierusalem Thus we see how God chose Bethleem to giue vs an example of true humillitie and therefore the prophets wrot it and they hauing written it it was conuenient that it should be fulfilled Holie Ioseph as is said went vnto Bethleem and tooke with him the most blessed Virgin It cannot be expressed what troubles the holie damosell endured by the way not for her being with child which annoyed not her as it doth other women but because it was midwinter when there be snowes Ice winds and tempests If men in their houses doe often feele them much more must a young and tender Virgin trauailing at such a time and being but meanly appointed as may well be presumed her husband Ioseph and she being but poore If in their iourney on the way they had toile and trouble when they came vnto Bethleem they had little refreshing for the chambers were taken vp and filled with the great concourse of people that came vnto that towne for the same purpose The good Ioseph demaunding for a lodging was answered that they were all full so hee seeking and enquiring further the same answer was made him as before Hereupon the good old man with the holie Virgin seing they could haue no lodging got them vnder a shead or penthouse where also was a stall for beasts We may well thinke this good couple shed teares to see themselues in such a miserable straite plight Ioseph had with him two beasts as is gathered out of the prophet Abacuc Cap. 3. after the translation of the 72. interpretors which saith Our Lord shall appeare in the midest of two beasts Holie Church singeth the same in a Responsorie of this sollemnitie at Maâ—tins and of this the vsage is to paint the natiuitie of our Lord with an Asse and an Oxe by him Ioseph tooke the Oxe with him to sell aswell to pay the tribute as for the expences of the voyage and on the Asse was our B. Lady the mother of God to ryde At that time was the solstice of winter when the Sunne beginneth to rise vpon our hemispheare and maketh the day to increase And if at this time the solstice cometh before Christmas day it happeneth by reason of the day that is added in the leap yeare which yet lacketh 8. minutes being about the. 7. part of an houre and these be so increased that they haue made as many daies as be from the day of the solstice vnto Christmas day It was on the 25. of December on the saterday and in the night as Peter Comâ—stor the Maister of Histories prooueth by the computation of that yeare saying that then it was midnight the glorious Virgin knew that the houre of her deliuerie was at hand but not as other women doe who perceiue it by the afore-comming paines which be as reuengers of the delight in their lustfull
conception The holie Virgin as S. Augustine affirmeth had not that delight in the conception of the redeemer of the world and therefore she had not sorrow and paines Moreouer it was not fitting that shee should suffer paine that brought forth the ioy and comfort both of heauen and earth The sacred Virgin was aduised of that houre by new ioy which she felt in her soule euen as her virginitie and puritie deserued and it being now midnight all creatures after their trauaile were at their rest and vsuall repose The Moone shewed clearlie the Sunne enuying her himselfe being absent and she attended on that misterie with her bright beames The starres that straved in the midest of heauen desired to stay to see that great and new maruaile Those starres that were passed desired to turne back againe and those that were behind desired to hasten their iourney to be present at this happie and fortunate houre All things created yea nature it selfe stood astonied and amased beholding this strange manner of deliuerie The happie houre being come the blessed Virgin lifted vp her hands and eyes vnto heauen and said Behold O father eternall the time is come that thy only begotten Sonne is borne the pretious treasure is giuen vnto the world to pay the debt it oweth thee I offer vnto thee that art the giuer of all good things this fruit of life gathered out of the tree of my bowels I offer also vnto thee this pretious pledge which thou gauest me and which vntill this time I haue faithfully kept The blessed Virgin speaking these or the like words she felt in her soule an vnspeakable content and casting downe her eyes she saw the Sonne of God and her Sonne also newly borne Forthwith she kneeled downe before him and shedding teares for tendernes and ioy adored him and rendered thankes to him that he was made man and that he had elected her to be his mother yet kept her a most pure Virgin as she was before her deliuerie Then tooke she him in her armes and said vnto him Oh the most tender and deare Sonne of my bowels how can I now cherish thee With what shall I couer thee to keep thee from cold which is thy first torment Thou didst determine to be made man wherefore didst thou choose so poore a mother Were there not in the world many great Ladyes and Queenes that could better haue bene able to haue clothed thee in silke and gold as thou doest deserue being God as thou art I can giue thee but meane and course clothes But since it was thy pleasure to choose so poore a mother why wouldest thou be borne in so base abiect a place If thou haddst bene borne in Nazareth where thou wast conceiued I could yet something better haue attended and serued thee in my poore house but what can I do heere my dearest Sonne Thou my God hast deliuered me from the panges and throwes that other mothers endure in childbirth why wouldest thou permit me to feele now this torment I meane to see this heauenlie visage on which the Angels and all the Court of heauen desire to gaze as in a mirrour to looke sorrowfully with the cold Oh my Son how is the ioy that I haue to haue brought thee forth and to see my selfe thy mother mingled with griefe that I haue not where withall to attend and cherish thee as I would If not as thou deseruest yet at least as thou hast need I beseech thee therefore my deere Sonne that since it is thy will to choose me for thy mother that thou wilt supplie our wants so that to my will which to thee is best knowne and manifest there may be no want which my be for thy seruice We may imagine the blessed Virgin said such like words either outward and openlie or at least inwardly in her soule Then againe adored she the infant as her God and kissing his face as of her sonne and his feet as of the creator lapped him in those clothes which she had Although the Euangelist had not said as he did yet we might well beleeue that the holie Virgin was prouided according to her abillitie and was not negligent in that case especially she knowing the time of her deliuerie to be at hand Hauing then wrapped and swathed him she laid him vpon a little haye in a manger as the Euangelist saith in these words She brought forth her first begotten Sonne Luk. 2. v. 7. and wrapped him in clothes and laid him in a maâ—ger for there was no other place for him in the Iâ—ne And if when the Sonne of God was borne there was not present any humaine creature but the B. Virgin and her beloued Ioseph yea some are of opinion that he was gone to prouide victuals for himselfe and the B. Virgin there wanted not thousands of Angels who discended from heauen apparailed in the liuerie of their king that is in the shape of men and began to make triumph with musicke singing with sweet delectable and true Angellicall voyces Very fit it was that those blessed spirits should accomodate and applie themselues vnto the vsage of the world wherein at the rising of the morning Sunne the little birds sing sweetlie as it were saluting it and reioysing for the comming of the same So also when the Sunne of Iustice was borne in the world it was fit that the birds of heauen which be the Angels should shew their ioy by their sweet singing Some Authors say that the song of the Angels was begun by the blessed Virgin and that thereof began the vsage that at Masse the priest that celebrateth beginneth the Gloria in excelsis and the Quier followeth So the glorious Virgin hauing laid her Sonne in the Manger and againe adored him began to say with a loud voyce Glorie be to God in the hyest v. 14. The Angels forthwith answered And in earth peace vnto men of good will with the rest which followeth And that which was song in that stall the Angels song likewise throughout the places where they carried tydings of the birth of IESVS CHRIST The Euangelist S. Luke saith ver 8. At that time there were sheapheards watching keeping their flocks vnto whom according to the opinion of diuers Authors the Angell Gabriell appeared accompanied with many other Angels and vnto them hee told the newes of the birth of the Sauiour of the world S. Iohn Chrisostome saith he went not vnto Ierusalem to tell the Scribes and Pharisies Hom. de nat dom â—om 2. much lesse vnto king Herod because they were proud and drowned in vices deserued not that God should do them that fauour but he went vnto the sheapheards which were meane and humble And allthough at the first they were afraid yet the Angell secured them and told them the Messias was born And to the end that they desiring to go and adore him might find him he gaue vnto them sure tokens saying you shall find the infant wrapped
fullfilled yet Do not you remember the three kings that came from the East who plainlie reported that this king was borne and that they came to worship him and to giue him obedience If these kings so farre distant stood in awe of him much more cause haue I to feare that am so neere vnto him I appointed these kings that they should giue me notice when they found him because I would haue gone to see him and then I would haue beene freed from this danger But they I know not for what cause haue mocked me and be returned into their countries and kingdomes by another waie and haue giuen me no notice I feare I doubt I faint and consume with sorrow when I studie on the successe of this busines I haue no remedie and I know not vnto whom to resort but vnto you My will therefore is this I would haue you go vnto Bethleem Math. 2. v. 16. and into all the territorie thereof and the countrie thereabout and with your naked weapons rushe into the houses pardon the old men touch not the young men spare the women only kill all the children all of them from two yeeres old vnto a daie old My will is that you kill them all spare none of them for if one of them remaine aliue that same one shall depriue me of my kingdome Take no regard nor pittie not the teaâ—es of the mothers yea in their armes I would haue you search our mine enemies And if any woman will defend her child kill her also with him Feare not to be accused for this fact for it is by my commaund that you do it Go into the cittie like Lyons search it through diligentlie least any remaine hidden and perchance it maie be that child that the kings came to adore The captaines vnderstanding the kings mind and intention gathered all the armie recyting vnto them the same reasons that the king had alleadged before They all accorded and agreed to performe this mischeiuous act and so to Bethleem they went and he seemed the best and worthiest fellowe that trauelled thither with most speed So comming to Bethleem they began the massacre the cruell butchers slaughtering the quiet lambes All the houses were repleat with the outcries of the afflicted mothers the waies streamed with riuers of blood and the streets were filled with bodyes of the hoie Innocents Herod desired to slay IESVS CHRIST in the person of euerie one of them and so euerie of them dyed for CHRIST who being in Egipt had yet compassion on them seing they dyed for his sake Trulie Herod did vnto them herein more good then harme and more proffit then damage since they be all saued If these children had not bene put to death at that age and by such occasion it might haue come to passe that many of them might haue beene damned But IESVS CHRIST our blessed sauiour and of all mankind would not that nay of them that were borne in that prouince and at the time that he was borne should be condemned The slaughter and butcherie continewed the waies were all stayned with blood and the number of dead bodies increased but the rage and cruell furie of these barbarous ruffians was no whit diminished The most secret roomes could not defend the holie infants from the slaughter neither was the Temple where God was honored a sufficient refuge or safftie for their liues In that their Temple they assembled to make their prayers but they offred no sacrifice therein for that was to be done only in the Temple of Ierusalem They began now to make sactifices in the Temple of Bethleem not of brute beasts but of innocent children Euerie thing was stayned with blood graues and diâ—ches were filled with children and their dead bodies were lying in euerie place And if perhaps any mother did hide her sonne from the souldiers the child manifested himself seeming with his crying to call those butchers to kill him because he would not be depriued of so happie and blessed death Some mothers that were more bold thrust forward on the executioners desirous rather to receaue the blow themselues then it should light on their children but his was to no purpose for themselues were wounded and their children slaine Some other mothers held them so hard in their armes that they could not get them from them then would they cut and deuide them in the middle so that one part of the child remained in the hands of the mother and the other in hand of the souldier Some women ran to and froe with their children in their armes to get out of the place where the slaughter was and stumbling on the dead bodies killed their owne children themselues Some other turning vnto these bloodie fellowes said vnto them How is it that you become so senceles and voyd of pittie Haue none of you a mother haue you not wiues and children Do none of you know how great the loue of pareÌ„ts is toward their children How sauage and beastlie is this your cruelltie If in this cittie hath bene comÌ„mitted any offence these whoÌ„ you kill haue not done it Slaievs that deserue death the rather for that we haue liued in coÌ„panie with such men as you bee brought theÌ„ children The souldiers hearing these words were mooued vnto compassion and shed teares but remembring the commaundement of king Herod they became more fierce and enraged then before killing a fresh the children in their mothers armes S. Augustine who also wrote hereof faith in a sermon when our Lord was borne ser de sanct 1. huius fest there was heard many plaints not in heauen but in earth The Angells in heauen reioyced and the mothers which were in earth lamented God was borne a litle child and his will was that vnto him should be offred a sacrifice of children He that was to be sacrificed like a lambe on the Altar of the Crosse would haue the Innocent children sacrificed vnto him It was a lamentable spectacle to see souldiers with naked swords in their hands to kill so many litle infants and not to know the cause seing none of them could committ such an offence as might merit so vntimelie a death It was euident therefore that enuy was the only cause Theire poore mothers tore their haire stroke their breasts and made pittiful outcries their eyes running like fountaines of water The more they laboured to hyde their litle infants the sooner they were discouered they not hauing the skill to hold their peace for they had not learned to feare such butcherly ruffians The mother and the souldier strugled together the one to deliuer her sonne the other to take him awaie The mother said why will you pull froÌ„ me him that was borne of me Ah my prettie tender infant I haue not brought thee so carefully vp that thou shouldest be thus rudelie handled If any fault or offence hath bene committed I haue done it let this babe liue and kill me Others said If
Victorinus and Flauia with Faustus and Firmatus deacons and 30. monks was bound in chaines and presented to Mamucha who with a sterne look asked Placidus who he was he aunswered a Christian. The Captain replied deny CHRIST thy God blaspheme him and adore God in that maner our mighty kinge Abdala adoreth and I will sett thee at liberty Placidus said I will neuer deny IESVS CHRIST my Lord I rather desire to die for him The tirant was wroth and said to Eutichius and the other 30. monks What say all the rest of yow Obey our king Abdalla deny your CHRIST and adore oure God The holy meÌ„ with one consent as if they had had but one toung aunswered Our will and our desire is all one our faith is one our maner of life is one that which one hath said think thaâ— euery one hath said For CHRISTS sake we are prepared to loose our liues The tirant was verie wroth at their aunswer made theÌ„ all be stripped and cruelly beaten saieng let words giue place to deedes and your presumptuous aunswers to the cudgell The holy martirs reioiced that they were worthy to suffer beatings and torments for CHRIST his sake The tirant on the one side and the executioners on the other side moued them to deny CHRIST but the holy men perseuered in confessing him whom they requsted to giue them strength to susteine the tormeÌ„ts which hourely encreased at the hands of the bloody butchers But finding the constancy of the martirs they were tired to torment them and so was the tirant to see them tormented and left them bound comaunding them to be kept Now because the sea was rough which hindered their nauigation toward Italy where they had a mind to do all the hurt they could they put it first in practise in that Is'land ouerrunning all sauing such strong cities as defended themselfs with robbing adulteriâ—s spoiling of Churches and ruinating them to the verie ground Placidus with his brethren and the other monks remayned certein daies in prison hauing no vitailes giuen them yet the barbarians ceased not to tormeÌ„t theÌ„ with scourging and bastonadoes and when they sawe these things could nowaies make theÌ„ alter their minds by the apointmeÌ„t of the Captaine they tied theÌ„ aloft by the feete making a smoke vnder their heads and beating them again very cruelly When they were taken from this torment the tirant commanded to giue them a litle rawe barley and water to keepe them in life that they might be able to endure their tormentes He made them fayre promisses in the behalfe of his king Abdala if they would once deny their faith but these holy men contemned his promisses and also his torments That night came to them secretly Cordianus who escaped out of the monastery and craued pardon of Placidus and desired to be tormented but Placidus commaunded him to take care to note that which he and others that were with him did suffer that he might certify in particuler the blessed father S. Benedict and the monks of his relligion of all that did happen So he did writing euery particular accident in the martirdome of these blessed saints which endured many daâ—es the tiraÌ„t Mamucha dragging them vnto his sight and tormenting them from the head to the foote with blowes and with renting and scorching they re flesh with fire the blessed damosell Flauia susteined a good part therof she being naked and hoised vp a loft before many people the tirant asked her how being a Romaine of noble parentage she could endure such a shamefull reproach She aunswered That she not only was ready to suffer to be depriued of her cloths and her honour for CHRIST sake but also of her life by sword or fier or any other torment that he could imagine The hellish man seing torments preuailed not sbught to ouer come her by another way And so he caused fiue lusty shameles villanes of the Moores to come and abuse her The good damosell had excessiue griefe to heare this and turned to God allmightie with teares beseech him to help her he heard her praier and made such as came neere and touched her with their lothsome hands to become lame and maimed wherby they let her alone in quyet and shee was freed from that reproache Great was the cruelty these ministers of the deuill exercised in all the Is'land in afflicting the Christians they bound them hand and foote and put in their mouths staues to hold them open and then cast in durt and filth into some and into others salt water of the sea and vineger wherewith they did choake them They caused others to walk barefooted vpon piks of iron seâ— in the grod they dragged others by the leggs vntill they were torne and rent asonder they burned the skinnes of others with plates of iron made red hotte others they rosted others they sawed and cut in pieces of others they bored the brest bones and vntill they came euen to their bowels they dragged others at theire horse tailes and spared not the infants but dashed out their braines against the walles They vsed as litle mercy toward the feeble women some of them they hanged by the heare others by one foote and tied a great stone at the other They rubbed the shoulders and brests of others with plates of iron made red hoate and great was the number of them that died euery day The tyrant Mamucha was not slowe to torment Placidus and his companyons They were brought euery day before him and he persuaded them first to deny CHRIST seeing that to be all in vaine he ageine would cause them to be whipped and because he sawe Placidus praysed God and was confortable in the midst of his torment he made the executioners to stryke his mouth with a greaâ— stone which filled all his mouth full of bloud yet ceased he not to payse allmightie God wherat the tyrant raging more made them cut out his toung which being cut out yet he praised God more more giuing him thanks for that he suffered for his sake The tyrant found out a new torment for them he put vpon theyr thighes glowing hoate the crooked heads of IroÌ„ anchors fastened like boots hanging on their feete In which torment they contyneued a wholl night and Placidus songe himnes and his companions praysed God When the day came and they still remained constant in the confession of their faith he gaue sentence of death against them in this maner For that Placidus Eutichius Victorinus with Flaâ—ia the damosell and Faustus and Firmatus with the other Christians dispise the commandement of our mighty king Abdalla and adore CHRIST for God who was crucified of the Iewes and hated of the God whom we adore our will is that they be beheaded and their bodyes left vnburied to be foode for the beasts of the field and birds of the ayre The ministers of the enraged Mamucha hearing the sentence led the holy saints away scourginge them till
gotten with child and the author of that wickednes was not knowen She being vpon the time of her deliuery her father and mother vrged her to tell the man that had dishonored her that they might inflict vpon him some punishment agreable to his desert Shee to free her self from further reproache for that he was of so base a coÌ„dition and estate that she was ashamed to say who it was laid the blame vpon a deacon of the Apostles saing that he committed that villany The deacon was forth with taken and led before the king The Apostles vnderstanding therof and knowing he was innocent went to the court and requested the king that the parties and the child that was new borne might be brought before him and so it was done The Apostle asked when the child was borne and they said that the same day then they looked on the child and said vnto him we commaund thee in the name of IESVS CHRIST to tell vs if this deacon hath committed the offence that thy mother chargeth him withall The infant aunswered This deacon is good and chast and neuer in his life committed any carnall sinne and he is not my father His ennemies vrged the Apostles instantly to ask of the child who it was that had committed the offence they aunswered It is lawfull for vs to cleare the innocent but it is not fit for vs to disclose them that are faulty And at this the wholle company remained astonied and amazed The faith being well planted in that place they departed from Babilon went preaching through many prouinces of that kingdome and at last they came to a very rich city called Suamir in which place Zaroes and Arphaxat the two magitians told the ministers of the Idolls that the Apostles were in the city Wherfore many of them assembled and took the Apostles and imprisoned them and led Simon to the temple of the Sonne and Thadeus to the temple of the Moone for to adore them but at the praiers of the Apostles the Idolls and their statues fell in pieces and to dust and out of them went two deuills in the shape of Negroes with horrible roaring and houling The painims were moued therat with such indignatioÌ„ that in a rage and with infernall fury they ranne vpon the Apostles and cut them in pieces At that time the heauens and skie was cleare and calme and one a sodein it was couered with black clouds which powred downe a dredfull tempest and withall fell many thunderbolts which beat downe to the ground the temples of the Idolls nere vnto them and slew many of the Painims among whom were the two Magitians whose bodies were afterwards found beaten to ashes The king of Babilon who was a Christian was much grieued for the death of the Apostles and sent men to fetch their bodies vnto Babilon where he caused a Church to be builded vnto them in which place they remained for a while They were after ward caried to Rome and laid in the Church of S. Peter The martirdome of these holy saints was on the 28. day of October and on the same day the Church celebrateth their feast The Apostle Iude Thaddeus wrote one epistle which is numbered in the canonicall scripture God graunt we may be all written in the book of life Amen The martirdome of these two holy saints was in the yeare of our Lord 64. in the time of Nero the Emperour after the opinion of Onuphrius and Canisius * ⎠* The end of the month of October NOVEMBER The feast of all Saincts THe sacred scripture in the booke of Hester recounteth Cap. 1 that king Assuetus to shew the greatnes and majesty of his Empire in the third yeare of his raigne made a most solemne feast to the Lordes and Princes of his court and to all other the subjects of his kingdomes This feast lasted manie daies the tables were allwaies couered and richly furnished with most costlie meat and delicious wines and euerie other thing was in great aboundance No man was forbidden but euery man might eare when and of what it best pleased him Yet that in which the greatnes and maiestie of the king was showed was as said the text that there was great store of wine and that most excellent and such was giuen to euery one as pleased him best When the king made this feast Queene Vasti his wife made also another vnto her Ladies and the damosells of the court in which likewise her magnificence and bountie wasshewed being serued also at her tables with sundrie different dishes of most delicate viandes This feast is a figure and representation of that which passeth in the triumphant and millitant Church The great king Assuerus representeth our Lord God who to shew the glory and maiestie of his Empire in the third yeere of his kingdome made a most solemne feast unto the Princes and Lords of his court and all other of his kingdomes These three yeeres signifie the three estates and ages of the world to witt of the law of nature of the law written and of the law of grace That king Assuerus made this feast in the third yeare signifieth that in the third age and state of the world to witt in the time of the law of grace our Lord God opened heauen for before in the time of the law of nature and law written heauen was shut vp from men and they could not enter thereinto but in the time of the law of grace God opened his royall pallace and inuited all the great Lords of his court to participate and enioy the rich treasors he had therein as the Apostles Martyrs Confessors and Virgins do who sit continually at his celestiall tables and eate that which is most to their content For the viands or meaâ—es being variable to witt the delights and contents in heauen being sundrie euery one taketh and reacheth that which sauoureth best to him But aboue all the wine for that it is most excellent maketh the feast better and sheweth the greatnes thereof This wine signifieth the taste and suauity of the Holie Ghost which is bestowed among them in great aboundance the blessed being as it were inebriated of God are made partakers thereof and haue no mind ner thought of any thing that may bring discontent or anney but all things causeth vnto them vnspeakable ioye and delight This is the feast which the king made It is said also that the Queene made a feast to the Ladies and damosells of the court By the Queene is vnderstood the Catholique Church who maketh a feast vnto her women and damosells that is the soules trauayling in her affaires It is not altogether from the purpose if it be said that they that be in the millitant Church be called woemen and they that be in the triumphant be called men because as man is the more perfect creature then woman so there is found more perfection in them that be in heauen then in them that be on the