the greatest rigour of Pennance and pouerty then to see them seated on the highest Thrones of Monarchs When infine those two great Patriarchs S. Dominick and S. Francis peopled the world with so many quires of Angells and brought Euangelicall perfection out of vnknowne retyrements and solitudes to the Common habitation of men Our country of England though separated by nature from the rest of the world was not excluded from that vniuersall influence of deuine grace wherwith it please'd God to bless those times The blood of the glorious Martyr S. Thomas of Canterbury as the true seed of the Catholique Church was not spilt in vayne and being in this age yet fresh and warm brought forth speciall fruit both in Lay and Clergy But in all none more eminent then another S. Thomas another Chancellor of England another Prelate another Champion of Ecclesiasticall libertyes and though not slayne by the sworde yet lost his life in the cause Thus the mercy of God powr'd downe sweet showers of deuine blessings upon that Kingdome by the mirits of his H. Martyr yet his iustice layd not downe the sword of due reuenge for that bloody sacriledge nor was it yet satisfyed with the personall disasters of that vnfortunate King Henry the second who hauing found as many Absoloms as he had Sonns ready to teare the Crowne from his gray hayres and to bury him aliue who had giuen them life after he had seen two of them lead him the way to his graue followd not long after and left the other two his Curse for inheritance of which they had each one theyr share by succession The former of whome was Richard the first third Sonn of the aforesayd King who though otherwise a valiant and great Prince and therfore surnam'd Coeur de Lion yet for that curse entayld vpon him by his father and much more if there were true cause of deseruing it had his Crowne torne from his head by a violent and vntimely death And that it might not fall to a more innocent hand left no child but a brother farr worse then himselfe who that his royall purple might be of a more lasting tincture gaue it the second dye with the blood of his Nephew Arthur next heyre by birth to the Crowne of England as Sonn of Geffrey Earle or Duke of little Britannie in France which Geffrey was fourth Sonn of Henry the second King of England And though it is not certaine that Arthur was murderd by his Vncle 's owne hands as the French do tell vs yet all agree that Arthur was put in prison in Rouen by his vncle King John and neuer appeard after the manner of his death is best knowne to God alone before whose invisible eyes all things lye visible Howeuer King John fift Sonn of Henry the second and surnam'd Sans terre makes the land his owne and on this wrong builds all his right which he euer mannag'd withan equall tenour as weakly as wickedly Till at last calld to an account by a stranger for oppressing his country left the world like an Outlaw and a poore child to pay his forfeyt Who though otherwise most innocent could not altogeather plead not guilty being he claymd all his right from so great injustice In the midst of this dismall and dark cloud our morning starr first appeard in the hight of this horrid storme which threatned no less then a totall destruction of the nation it pleasd God to giue a pledg of attonement between heauen and earth to bless the world with our glorious S. THOMAS CANTILUPE as a Rayn-bow after a deluge of blood and misery whose birth not like another Benjamin purchasd his life with his Mothers death but finding his country in Agony restord life Neyther was he onely a Common benefitt and happy presage to the plublique but a speciall blessing and reward of his fathers loyalty who when the greatest part and power of the kingdome eyther out of personall offence and hatred of the deceased king would yett pursue him in his image or led by interest the common Idoll of the world thought sitt to combine with the stronger party and rather adore the preualent might and fortune of an a inuading forraigner then to support the weaknes both in yeares and forces of theyr natiue Prince Yett William lord Cantilupe father of our glorious Saint lookd vpon the present state of things with another eye and was resolu'd to lay downe his life and fortune at the feet of iustice leauing the euent to the diuine ballance whether he stood or fell being secure of victory which euer crownes them who sacrifice them selues to truth and loyalty Wherfore as a person of eminent ability and honour he giues strength to the better but lesser party and as he euer maintaynd his fayth inuiolable to the faâ—her though a Prince of most odious and lawless gouerment he could neuer forgett the respect of soueraignty so he continu'd the same vnto the sonn with all the disaduantage of humane interest The Barons with theyr French Protectour were not only masters of the field both in strength and number but also many months possess'd of the head Citty of the Kingdom a thing euer held of highest consequence as being the ordinary residence and Court of Kings whosoeuer winns it seems to weare the Crowne The little king at nine yeares of age being sollemnly Crownd at Glocester was in a manner Confind to that Citty and other two Bustow and Worcester though some other particular places and Castles in seuerall parts of the kingdome stood firmly to him And chiefly Lincolne which was our Orleans where a lady not inferiour to the french sheepardess in Courage as she was farr aboue her in birth and quality defended the Castle of Lincolne the space of a whole yeare against Gilbert de Gant a prime Commander of the french forces though he had possessd himselfe of the Towne and pressd the Castle with a vigorous siege The kings honour Besydes his interest was Conceiu'd to be not a little Concern'd in the reliefe of so much fidelity especially of so rare and vnusuall example in the weaker sexe The Lord Cantilupe therfore with other Nobles of the Royall party accompany'd likewise by the legate of the see Apostolique with what power they could make marchd forth vpon this designe Being arriu'd within 8. miles of Lincolne they all Confessd and receiud the holy Eucharist with a plenary Indulgence which the Legate granted them and sollemnly declard the aduerse faction separated from the Communion of the holy Catholique Church Thus armd and encouragd from heauen they fall on with such irresistible violence that though the defendants exceeded the assaillants farr in number besydes the aduantage of theyr walls and trenches the Towne was soon ground with a totall defeat of the Enemy THOMAS Earle of Perche a person of highest nobility and Command in the Barons army allyd to both the Crownes of England and France being with many others slaine vpon
we must so commend this as to leaue the other in its due reuerence and esteem To come now to our B. S. THOMAS his father was William Lord CANTILVPE a person for his worth and greatnes often mentioned in the English History and Records of Heralds The father of this Lord was also another william who ioyntly with his Sonn stood euer firme in the Barons Warrs to both the Kings whose fauovr in employments of highest trust and honour they well deserued Though as a knowne Historian of those Matt. Paris times affirmes theyr family receiud not so iust a measure as theyr meritt requird Yett the father of our Saint bore no less a charge in court then that of great Master or Lord steward of the kings house Which as in other kingdoms so in this of England was euer esteemd of chief fauour and dignity being the eye and hand of the king not onely at a distance and in absence but commanding all in his very presence and in a manner seated vpon the same throne Neyther was this honour or whatsoeuer else they receiud from theyr soueraigns aboue the rank of theyr birth and quality The Cantilupes or Cantelowes vulgarly so calld from the originall Champ de Loup or Campus Lup◠were a noble family of speciall note and eminency among those braue Aduenturers who-followd the Norman conquerour in his enterprize of our English Monarchy and purchasd him that crowne with the hazard of theyr liues and fortunes And as they brought with them a fayre inheritance of estate and honour so still continud theyr course with successiue increase as great riuers the further they goe the more they dilate themselues with the reception of other streames The Heyres generall of the Strong-bowes and Marshalls Earles of Pembroke of the Fitz Walters Earles of Hereford of the Breoses or Breuses Lords of Abergauenny left theyr estates and greatnes by right of marriage vnto the Cantelupes Such being the Paternall line of S. THOMAS and his father a person of so high command and creditt the king vpon an exigence being to make a voyage into france could not think of a more powerfull and faythfull hand beyond all exception and enuy to intrust with his crowne and kingdome then VVilliam Cantelupe it was an equall and happy match between this Lord and the Lady Millescenta countess of Eureux and Glocester Mother of our Saint She was daughter of Hugh lord Gournay and the Lady Iuliana sister to Reginald Earle of Dammartin and Boulogne The Gournay's were of the prime nobility of Normandy neerly allyd to the soueraigne Dukes of that country and as neer to our gloirous and blessed King Edward the Confessour The counts of Dammartin were of an inllustrious family in france matchd with the greatest Princes of Europe And this Reginald vncle to the Lady Millescent in right of his wife lda grandchild to Stephen king of England became Earle of Boulogne which title he trāsferrd againe with his daughter Matilde marry'd vnto Philipp Earle of Clermont onely brother to Lewis the 8. king of france and vncle to S. Lewis This the allyance and desent of that noble Lady She was first marry'd to Almerick Montfort Earle of Eureux in Normandy as also of Glocester in right of his mother Mabelle eldest daughter heyre to william Earle of Glocester Grandchild to Henry the first king of England This Almerick being head of that illustrious family of the Mōtforts descended from Robert surnam'd the Pious king of france and dying without issue was the last of that race in Normandy leauing his noble and vertuous Confort the Lady Millescente to be blessd with a happyer and more fruitfull marriage especially in this her sonn who alone illustrated that renownd family with more honour then all the greatnes and titles of theyr famous Ancestres III. CHAPTER Of his Childhood and domestique Education TO looke into the infancy or Childhood of Saints may seeme as little pertinent to theyr meritt as to the glory of God that part of the life of man being Commonly held for a meer Prologue or dumb show before a tragedy of miseryes a dreame or slumber before the soule awake to the light of reason a state of Neutrality betwixt man and beast as vncapable of prayse as blame and onely happy in this that it is vnsensible of all vnhappynes Yett experience and reason teaches vs that this twylight of life is not so dark but that we may read sundry characters though written in a small letter by the hand of God This mute part of the age of man is not so speechless but that it fore-tells vs much of what will follow In fine euen childhood it self hath not so little of the man but that it is capable of deep impressions both of grace and reason as the louely and sweet variety of colours in many flowers receiue theyr first tincture in the very root and the value of Pearles depends much vpon the first dropps of dewe which falls into the shell when thy are newly engendred That the divine Prouidence hath a speciall eye vpon the infancy of man is an vndenyable truth both in humane and diuine history neyther doth this onely consist in certaine prodigyes and dedemonstrations of a power aboue the reach of nature but also and that most vsually in a particular fauour and protection of the diuine hand by connaturall meanes of Education and other circumstances to with draw from euill and lead to vertue The whole sequele of our S. THOMAS his life clearly shewes how highly he was priuiledg'd with both these blessings from heauen A nature he had eleuated aboue the Common strayn a minde full of generous heat and vigour euer tending to a higher sphere like a fire without smoke or mixture of grosser elements which mett with soe noble a temperature of body that though of a prosperous and liuely habitude he neuer knew in his whole life what any thing meant which was not agreeable with the purity of Angells He the first fruit of that happy marriage was borne at a Mannour of his fathers in Lincolnshyre Hameldone by name where he alsoe receiud the Sacrament of Baptisme regenerated therby to the pretious adoption of the Children of God In memory wherof Edmund Earle of Cornwall sonn to Richard once king of the Romans and a great admirer of out saints perfections built there an Oratory to the honour of God and his in the which Oratory our Lord is sayd te haue wrought frequent Miracles by the intercession of the same saint Besydes him his Parents were blessd with a numerous offspring of 3. Sonns and 3. daughters which like so many young Oliues enuironnd theyr table to theyr great loy and the latter were all bestowd in an honorable wed-lock To cultiuate duely these hopefull endowments both of nature and grace by a Good education was the care and endeauour of his pious Parents who as in his infancy they had prouided him of vertuous Nurse the Process of his
The Life and Gests of S. THOMAS CANTILVPE Bishop of Hereford and some time before L. Chancellor of England Extracted out of the authentique Records of his Canonization as to the maine part Anonymus Matt. Paris Capgraue Harpsfeld and others Collected by R. S S. I. AT GANT Printed by ROBERT WALKER at the signe of the Annuntiation of our B. Lady 1674. To the Great Duke of Tuscany Sr. YOur selfe I conceiue as well as others both may and will at first sight wonder more then a little at the title of this Dedicatory and censure it if not presumtuous at least farr fetch'd by a stranger by an English man by one wholly vnknowne neyther in a capacity to deserue well at your hands or oblige you by any seruice All this notwithstanding I come with confidence to your feet to make my address and with soe much the greater as the pre-alledgd circumstances cleare mee of all self-endedness in the case And why should I not synce I haue to doe with a Prince who is a cherisher of ingenuity whose goodness promises an acceptance not onely beyond but euen without meritt Therfore I come as full of Religious simplicity as voyd of complements nor seek admittance but by my syncerity which aymes at nothing besydes gratitude and an humble acknowledgment But how come I engag'd as to these If I am not for my owne sake at least for my friends if not in my selfe at least in my Country if not explicitly or personally at least implicitly but yett really With a small trespass on your Highnes patience I le tell you all Euer synce you were pleasd to grace England with your presence many Princely expressions of your value for our Nation are reported to haue falln from your mouth as indexes of your affection euen to a more then tacit preference of the same before others I dare not attribute this so much to its meritts as your goodnes but howeuer it were it is both honorable to it and obliging to vs out of the abundance of the hart the tongue speaks Nor should we easily haue belieu'd reports had we not seen them vnder your hand and seale and in such tearmes as import euen a kind of passion both for the generall and much more diuers particulars It s inbred to Princes to Compassionate the afflicted and with what a deep ressentment were you pleasd to express your selfe to my Lady of G. ouer the Sufferings of Romane Catholiques euen so farr as to profess so particular a kindnes for all those of that Kingdome that say you I could be Content to spill my blood to assist them and contribute to theyr selicity in this world synce theyr invincihle Constancy in Suffering persecution usakes them meritt an eternall Crowne in the next These are your owne words and hugely significant The truth is the Cause of Romane Catholiques there is so clearly good that no Prince of that beliefe can doubt of it but he must together doubt of his owne fayth Euery such Prince ownes this truth but not euery one with such a protestation the protestation is glorious to you and encouraging to vs. Why may we not then nay why ought we not Syr in a due returne of Ciuility take notice of it by Registring it to the world that so it may be at least its owne Monument to posterity if we can erect no other Sr. this is one part of the Acknowledgment I am to make the other is yett more Reall as much as deeds are before words You were pleasd not onely to say much of English Catholiques but also to doe much for them this was verifyd by that noble supply of charity wherwith you relieu'd a distressd Religious Community of that nation ready to sink vnder the burden of its wants If I could deem it fit to giue scope to my pen here is a large field and ample subject wherin to dilate But I dare not presume to sound the trumpett contrary to Scripture to your almes deeds charity louing to speak rather by hynts and intimations then boasting language on such a theme And therfore Modesty bids me for beare to say much as well as gratitude something least I may seem eyther to flatter or to begg a new The Charity indeed was as signall as vnexpected and as vnexpected from such a hand as if it had dropt downe from heauen as surely it did a meer piece of prouidence and a Master one of that great Master of the Family to his Religious Seruants Sr. I pretend not here to make a panegyrick of your vertues that requires a more refin'd pen but yet neyther must wee shutt our eyes against the Shining Sun though it dazle them but with reuerence decline the sight Yett I must not omitt to reflect how well you plac'd your Charity among all the little ones of our Lord who neerer or dearer to him then his Virginspouses the noblest part of himselfe or his Mysticall body as S. Cyprian stiles them and least able to help themselues Noble also euen as to the world and this renders theyr case more Compassionate for what greater object of Commiseration then such nobility in a deep or necessitous decay where shame retards as much as want presses from exposing theyr Condition when euery Common beggar can doe it without blushing and Consequently not so much to be pitty'd And hence great Prince arises another part of my Obligation and present engagement a Common tye of Spirituall interest linking mee and that Community so into a Common vnity that I cannot but deem its good and bad Concerns my owne and be deeply Concernd in both Obedience by my present employment for some yeares has entitled mee to a reliefe of theyr Spirituall necessityes as Charity and Compassion did your Highnes to theyr temporall In this Spirituall interest I cannot but be sensible of theyr temporall and though the former alone be my Concern yett I cannot but be Concernd for the latter as the formers necessary support without which it cannot subsist A spirituall tye as more partaking and neerer Relating to charity is or may be equally if not more forcible to engage one then the temporall and this is a further ground of my present presumption The first Address I made as an English-man and on the score of my Nation this second as a Religious and for theyr sake whome charity obliges me to wish as well as my selfe and I know it will be gratefull to them that I acknowledg the fauour Hauing thus farr giuen some account of my Address I must now apologize for the Present I make and that in more respects then one The first is its slendernes for which it may seem to resemble the Widdowes Mite in the Treasury of so many rich Dedicatoryes as are and haue bin made to your Highnes And I doe not mislike the resemblance both because truly expressing its Worthlesnes as also because as that this not withstanding found a gracious acceptance so doe I hope through
Canonization calls her deuout noble and holy insomuch that euen togeather with his milk he suckd in Sanctity so in his childhood they were no less wanting to furnish him with fitt Masters for his instruction in these first rudiments and this was to be done vnder theyr owne eyes that they might be wittnesses of all Thy knew right well how important the first impressions are in Children and consequently how choyse they ought to be since that tincture is retaynd a long time and giues ordinarily a rellish to theyr proceedings His Parents were so chary in this poynt and sollicitous to haue the blessing of heauen second theyr industry that we may say they imitated dayly the anciente Illyrians who when they gatherd theyr sweet Flower-de-luces lifted them vpp as an offering to heauen from whence they had receiud them so these noble Personages looking vpon this theyr first fruit as a guift of God and acknowledging it to be more his then theyrs endeauour'd with all gratitude to make him a fitt present for the diuine hand and to raise him from earth to heauen by carefull and vertuous breeding Theyr vsuall habitation was at court by reason of the charge which the father of our saint bore and the obligation he had of personall attendance for the dayly seruice of the king The reputation of Courts hath euer bin as of a place where vertue is laugh'd out of countenance and denyd admittance as too Coursly cladd for such fine company Infamy is no where more in credit nor vice so Canoniz'd it is a Schoole of Aegyptian Hieroglyphicks where beasts and Monsters are supposd to signify heroique vertues What care therfore and vigilancy were these pious and noble Parents to vse in preseruing this sweet flower from blasting vnder so malignant a climate What caution and preuention to bannish all folly and vanity from the sight of those innocent eyes to stopp his eares from the least whisper of charming plasures What a perpetuall watch and ward not to lett a word fall not the least action or gesture appeare before this little one which might leaue any noxious impression in his tender soule Though to say the truth and to guie those happy times theyr due which is also to be obserud as a speciall prouidence of God towards the aduancement of our Saint in all perfection the stile of that Court was farr different from the vsuall Course of others and might well be tearmd a Sanctuary of Piety and schoole of vertue Such an influence hath the example of Princes ouer the harts of men drawing them whither they list with a kind of magnetique force eyther to good or euill We had then a king who thought it no vnderualuing of Majesty to visitt spittles and Almes houses to serue and feed the poore with his owne hands to embrace and kiss lepres Insteed of reuells and masques his chief pleasure was in his Chappell where he heard euery day three Masses with sollemne Musique and neuer omitted to be present at the rest as long as there was a Priest at the Aultar where he euer vsd this Ceremony in honour to the king of heauen to support the Priests arme whilst he eleuated the Sacred Host then with reuerence kissd his hand Insomuch as his neer kinsman and brother in Law S. Lewis then king of France obseruing that out of his deuotion to the holy Sacrifice of Mass he left no Considerable time for Sermons aduisd him to allow some part of his pious Exercises to the word of God to which he answerd that for his part he had rather see his friend then heare him spoken of Our Queen as long as this king her husband liud agreed with him as well in piety as in Coniugall loue and as soon as his death left her free to her liberty she retyrd to a Cloyster of Consecrated Virgins where the world might see her hart had euer bin The Consort of our Prince Sonn of Henry the 3. now king and after successour by the name of Edward the 1. was a daughter of Spayne who was so little read in the Platonique of our dayes that she knew not how to loue any thing but Christ and her husband whome she followd through all hazards and terrours to the holy land where the Prince being treacherously stabbd by a Saracen with a poyson'd knife when no skill of Surgery could preuaile the inuincible loue of this lady vndertook the cure and gaue her the courage to suck out the poyson and putrifaction of the wound with her owne mouth to make it good that loue is as strong as death Cant. 8 6. The piety of the whole court was answerable to theyr Souveraign's example which appeares euidently in that so many of the prime nobility deuoted theyr liues and fortunes to the seruice of the holy land and the greatest ladyes ended theyr dayes in holy monasteryes Neuertheless though that court then was such a Paradise the pious and prudent Parents of our saint knew well that serpents might lurk euen there Vipers creep into gardens of balsome poysons and antidotes often grow in the same bed They were not strangers to the infirmity of humane nature especially in youth which like a distemperd Stomack longs for that which is most hurtfull and in such variety of obiects as at a full table seldome or neuer feeds without a surfett They resolud therfore to place this pretious treasure which god had giuen them in a safe retreat as nature or rather the Authour of nature teaches the little Pearles when they are soft and tender in the shell to retyre under shady hollow rocks being otherwise not only exposd to violence of waues and weather but alsoe subiect to change colour and be truly sun-burnt if they float in the open sea They follow'd therfore the aduise of the holy Ghost giuen to all Parents if they loue the safety of theyr children to put them under the shade and protection of wisdome „ Statuet filios suos sub tegmine „ illius „ with a promise not only of security but also of glory „ Protegetur sub tegmine illius a feruore et in gloria eius requiescet „ This holy and Ibid. 27. prudent resolution of theyrs was it seems much furtherd by a neer kinsmaÌ„ frind Walter Cantilupe Bishop of worcester a person of mind and courage equall to his birth and of such zeale that to aduance the heroicall designe of Christian Princes in the holy land he went himselfe thither accompany'd with one of the greatest men of that age for piety and valour William Longuespee Earle of Salisbury whose happy death in that quarrell was sollemnizd with a triumph in heauen as it was reueal'd at that uery instant to his Mother in England who then led a Religious life in a Monastery of her owne founding The sayd noble Prelate Walter Cantiâ—ilupe being in familiar conuersation with William Lord Cantelupe father of S. THOMAS and the child being present the Bishop askd him what
youth the vniuersity of Oxford But before he leaue Paris and we conclude this Chapter it will not be impertinent to our purpose to shew what a lilly he was at that time amidst those thrones of Philosophy able enough to choake all spiritt and sentiments of piety and deuotion if great care be not taken that is how pure and nice a conscience he keept how sensible of the least blemmish of imperfection and this will appeare by an example which stands on record and happend in this interim While he study'd his Philosophy at Paris the window of his closett was a little at fault and to sett it right without trouble or the help of a workman he serud himselfe of a stick or propp of a vine out of the next vineyard The matter God wott so very inconsiderable to an ordinary conscience would not haue created any scruple at all yett he though otherwise not scrupulous in his tendernes apprehended the transgression so deeply that euen then for its expiation he enioynd him selfe a 7. yeares pennance and each of them with great remorse confessd the same From whence we may gather how Angelically pure that blessed soule was which checkd so ressentiuely at so minute a thing and how farr it was from harbouring any great offense which deemd the least to be so heynous A tender conscience is like a tender eye which the least moat disturbs and annoyes making it water to wash of the stayne and express regrett that euer it came there VI. CHAPTER His study of the Canon-law at Oxford THe resolution which S. THOMAS took after he had ended his Philosophy with such success and applause sufficiently declares that his intention was not to make vse of those studyes as an additionall ornament of his other eminent parts and quality that as his birth and fortune raisd him aboue the vulgar sort so he might also excell them in perfection of mind and knowledg Which could not but be esteemd a motiue worthy of a generous Spiritt in setting so true a value vpon the better part of man and not suffering the flower and vigour of his age to vannish and wither away without fruit In prosecution of such happy beginnings to carry all on before him and perfect him selfe in each kind and for all Callings he resolud for his next task to apply his thoughts to the Ciuill law which though a hard and knotty knowledg yett he hopd to draw some honey out of these flints for his improuement He took it as the Israelites did the spoyles of the Aegyptians to apply it to the seruice of the true God and hearing that there was a famous Professour at Orleans who read that lecture with much applause he betook himself thither and frequented his Schoole with such esteem of progress that he farr outstript his fellow students being iudgd not onely fitt but fittest to supply the chayr in his Masters absence This knowledg enabled him much as to the mannagement of secular busynes which though it were not the thing he aymd at yett did good seruice therby and especially in the discharge of his double Chancelour-ship Having possessd himselfe of this study he vndertook another of some affinity but more sacred with the former and that was the Canon-law This suited more with his inclination and intentions besydes the speciall prouidence of God which ledd this Saint by the hand from his first infancy and guided him stepp by stepp to that hight of greatnes to which he had designd him both in Spirituall and temporall gouerment for it seems euident that our Saint had euen then deuoted himselfe entyrely to the seruice of the Church and a Clergy life otherwise what pretension could a person of his condition haue to apply himselfe to that sad and laborious study of Canon-law as voyd of pleasure as profitt or any other ambitious interest for his particular being nature and fortune had raysd him to such a pitch that he had little need of skill and industry to aduance him further The motiue then of lodging his thoughts vpon this serious and learned study was to enable himselfe for that holy function to which God had calld him from his very Childhood He knew that a Clergy life ought to be a shining light not onely in it selfe but to illustrate others as well by doctrine as example He was assurd that ignorance in such a state was blindnes in the eye deaffnes in the eare a palsey in the limms and a whole priuation of life and vigour through all the body That it was to play the Pilot without Card or Compass to Command in warr without practise of armes or Discipline to undertake the cure of others without knowledg eyiher of the euills or remedyes Neyther was the circumstance of time unseasonable to undertake that Study in the prime and vigour of his Yeares when he had improu'd himselfe in the perfect knowledg of Philosophy which quickens the mind with a new life teaches men to speak and call things by theyr true names giues them eyes to see what is invisible and makes the senses owne what they neuer knew upon the word of reason Much about this time while he was delibirating to leaue Paris a Generall Councell indicted at Lions in the same kingdome by Innocent the 4. was to take its beginning on the ensuing feast of S. John Baptist it being summond not onely upon the score of the holy land but also for redress of other Eccleasticall abuses The emulous Spiritt of our Saint desyrous to benefitt himselfe in each degree repayrd thither togeather with his younger brother Hugh knowing well that such Assemblyes summon as to a generall Muster what is valiant so to this what is wise learned and in vertue eminent He knew that a generall Councell is like a Constellation where many propitious lights Combine in one to the illuminating of the Christian world as the great interpreters of Gods will as an Oracle giuing to know undoubtedly what we are to belieue and doe in the great practises of Christianity and whither can one recurr with more aduantage and satisfaction then hither in doubtes of this nature These two lesser lights euen then darted forth such conspicuous beames that notice being taken of them they were both made Chaplans of the sayd Pope and the rather for that besydes theyr owne Meritts the presence of theyr father sent thiter by the King of England Contributed not a little to this dignity The Councell ended our B. Saint return'd full fraught with what he had heard and seen and taking Paris in his way hasten'd ouer to his Mother Uniuersity of Oxford towards the accomplishment of his fore mentiond task of canon-law designing when he had Maisterd it to proceed forth with to his diuinity But we may say that in this he reckond without his host and while we propose God disposes much otherwise for about 14. yeares interuen'd eer he could beginn the latter and in the interim he was to undergoe a