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 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
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
course of life he would chuse what pleasd him best The child freely answerd him that he would be a Souldier Well sayd sweet hart quoth the Bishop thou shalt be a souldier to serue the highest of Kings and figh vnder the colours of his glorious Martyr S. THOMAS These words prou'd not onely propheticall by the euent but also had such efficacy that the Parents as in obedience to a diuine decree directed the whole education of the child to piety and learning And the Child himselfe as if he had learn'd a new lesson from heauen thought no more of those glorious fancyes to which his owne generous nature carry'd him and the examples of his illustrious progenitours incited him but with the same courage betook himselfe wholly to his book and with the little Salomon preferrd it before thrones and kingdomes This resolution was truly to be admird in the child and no less in his parents considering not onely the vehement inclination of men to liue after death in theyr image by posterity but much more the hight of theyr fortune with so rich a stock of antiquity and honour preserud and amplifyd for soe many descents wheras if he took a course of retyremēt from a worldly life and not compatible with succession as his education seemd to dispose him all must dye with him and lye buryed in the same graue None of these respects could euer perswade the Parents of our Saint to let him runn the common race of the world in liberty in plenty in wantonnes in excess of vanity and pleasure without restraint of any thing that flatters the sensuall appetite foments self loue and reiects all command of reason These generally being esteemd in the deprau'd iudgmēt of men as propper attributes of greatnes and on the contrary discipline learning and piety laughd at as a debasement of noble spiritts and meer precisianisme But these pious prudent Parents weigh'd things in another ballance they were fully satisfy'd of this truth that nothing suites better with honour then uertue and that nobility cannot liue in a more immortall Monument upon earth thē in the shrine of sanctity They knew that the nobler the mind the more need of cultiuating otherwise like a rich soyle more subiect to grow wild and degenerate They were not so sollicitous to propagate as to illustrate theyr family the happiness wherof they plac'd not in long continuance but a good conclusion And since familyes are mortall and haue theyr tearme of life as well as each particular man they cannot come to a better end then to dye in the bed of honour with integrity of fame and vertue IV. CHAPTER His first Studyes in Oxford OUr little S. THOMAS hauing now receiud the first tincture elements of learning at home both the autority of his Parents and his owne propension ledd him to a place of higher improuement the vniuersity of Oxford which was at that time in the primitiue vigour and esteemd by all as great a schoole of uertue as learning and therfore the common Nursery of our chiefe nobility of Engeland a thing continu'd euen to our dayes though with different success as but too true experience teaches vs. It was hard to say whether Oxford in that age though it euer bore the preeminence of antiquity or Paris had the greater repute and fame of learning Yet this noble strife bred nothing of that malignity to which the emulous nature of man is but too prone yea rather maintaynd a friendly Commerce and as it were free trade beweene these two great Marts of wisdome and sanctity And as those times were fertill of great persons in all perfections neyther of these two renownd Academyes did ingross any aduantage to themselues nor enuye the others benefitt but mutually imparted to each other what was rare and eminent The two glorious lights of the Catholique Church S. Dominick and S. Frācis his Orders illustrated the world at that time with theyr primitiue splēdour and reuiu'd Christianity with new vigour of learning and piety S. THOMAS of Aquine S. Bone S. Bonauenture Doctour of Doctours Alexander of Hales borne in Glocestershyre master of both these Saints with many others of the foresayd holy Institutes were the Oracles of that age and particularly enrich'd and cultiuated the French and English Vniuersities with theyr admirable doctrine Among the rest that famous learned Prelate Robert Kilwarby was highly eminent who bred and borne in England was one of the first of that nation who Consecrated him selfe to God in the holy habit of S. Dominick But his great abilityes and learning gaue him not leaue to enioy the sweet retyrement of a Religious life He was first calld by the Sea Apostolique to the Primacy of England in which charge he gaue such testimonyes of his incomparable worth that Nicolas the 3. who then sate in S. PETERS Chayre a great admirer of learning and vertue which he onely regarded in all preferments to haue his neerer assistance in the generall gouerment of the whole Church thought fitt to create him Cardinall and Bishop of Porto neer Rome which is the second dignity among those Princes of the Church The holy Prelat hauing receiud this new addition of honour was so farr from that Common disease and dropsy of Soules who the more they haue of greatnes the more they thirst that the first thing he did was to disburden himselfe of his Metropolitan charge of Canterbury not without resentment and repugnance of the king and all the nobility of England who extremely affected and reuerened him for his great learning and holynes of life He left behind him a perpetuall Monument of his piety and loue to his Order which is yett ex ant though applyd to a different vse Commonly knowne by the name of Black-Fryars in London This place when he was Arch Bishop of Canterbury he purchasd and built both Church and Conuent for his Religious whome he transferrd thither from a less Conuenient Residence in the suburbs The modesty and humble Carriage of this great Prelat was no less admird in the Court of Rome then his eminent parts and excelling knowledg He would not chāge his poore Religious habitt for the purple of Princes and was the first Cardinall that retaynd his habitt in that dignity as euer synce his example was followd by those who were promoted to that degree of honour from Religious Orders of Monastique discipline He neuer appeard in publick but on foot and neuer had other trayne but two of his owne Religious to accompany him and two other attendants in the nature of seruants In fine though he was admird and honourd as the Oracle of those times and mouth of the See Apostolique as appeard in that famous treaty and letters written by him in the Popes name to the king of Tartary about the Conuersion of that nation to the Christian fayth yett nothing could euer lift him the least thought aboue himselfe out of the profound humility and pouerty of
double Chancelourship both of Uniuersity and Realme of both these we shall treat in the ensuing Chapters Coming to this famous Uniuersity he mett to his great comfort and as great benefitt of spiritt with his former Ghostly father Dr. Robert Kilwarby who as he had before not only knowne him from his childhood but also layd in him the first foundations of a spirituall life so now resumd againe to the same charge he willingly lent his best endeavours to a further advance The spirituall aduises of this good man were to our Saint as so many Oracles and as such he receiue them animated therby to a serious progress in both his vndertakings of learning and vertue For we are to aduert that it was his settled maxime to make these two allwayes individuall companions keeping them in an equall ballance so that both learning adorne piety and piety learning each giuing other a mutuall assistance in so much that no application to studyes could diuert his mind or lessen his feruour to devotion and vertue He knew what the Apostle sayd to be most true „ scientia inflat 1. Cor. 5. 2. that knowledg is a swelling vapour and puffs upp to danger of bursting if it be not keept downe by the waight of piety and bounded with a profound humility Want of this wholsome caueat makes many great witts miscarry while they will be more witty then wise and learned then vertuous As for the effect and success of these his present Studyes by consent of all both friends and foes that is enemyes of God and themselves for on the saints part he neuer bad any nor opposition at all but in the behalfe of God and his right which he was obligd to maintaine by common consent I say he proceded Doctour of Canon-law and so became incorporated into that noble and ancient Uniuersity as a principall and Conspicuous member with a mutuall honour to them both from whome he was not to part till by a speciall prouidence of God not onely with common consent but vniuersall ioy both of King and Uniuersity he was made theyr head VII CHAPTER He is made Chancellour of Oxford SOme space of time elapsd heer in preparing for this Graduation some also affirme that he presided for some time in that study howeuer that interuening space gaue the learned Academy a sufficient knowledg of his singular worth and abilityes letting them know what a treasure they had gott among them In the meane time the Uniuersity is depriu'd of its head or Chancellour and was to be furnish'd nothing seemd wanting in our saint towards a most satisfactory discharge theroff eyther as to morall parts of learning prudence or what is also requisite for the support and countenancing of the same autority splendour of byrth and great allyance Hauing thus cast theyr eye upon him by the ioynt vote and concurrence of that illustrious Body the King is petitiond for his consent and all partyes concernd most readily yeald to the choyse besydes himselfe who neuer was ambitious of any preferrment What a Chancelour of an Uniuersity is can hardly be defind being his power and office wholy depends upon the nationall customes and propper institution of the founders Buh this is generaly receiud by all that the Chancellour is truly head of the Uniuersity not onely in poynts of doctrine but also in morall discipline and comportment both of Masters and Students For England as this office was euer of high esteem and honour so euen in these later times it is for the most part borne by persons great eyther by birth and dignity or of eminent power and fouour in court this being held necessary to support and protect that learned and united Body from all disturbance and disquiett Which that valiant and great Prince King Edward the 3. took so to hart that though hee seemd wholly employd in Armes and warrfare yett vpon an abuse affront offerd by the Citty to the Students of that Uniuisity he Deuested the Major and Magistrates of theyr power they had before and gaue the Chancellour Stow. anno Regis 29. 1355. of Oxford the onely view of the excise of bread ale and wine and other Victualls excluding the Major utterly from that office This king though he was deeply engagd in warrs abroad with such victorious success and conquests as none before or after him perhaps had the like yett was so present in the gouerment of his kingdome at home especially what concernd the nobler and most important part of the Common wealth that is the education of youth both Clergy and Laity in learning and vertue that it might seem the finall mark he aymd at and for all his successfull prowesse abroad that he took it for the greatest honor to be a feudatary to the supreme Dominion of wisdome and in reall effect did profess that infallible and euerlasting truth per „ me Reges regnant by mee Kings rule and raigne from mee they receiue all Prou. 8. 15. theyr power In this Chayre of autority was S. THOMAS Sett and it was his singular integrity and vpright demeanour which purchasd him this great and generall esteem The truth is there is no such purchaser of true worth and ascent to honour as vertue and this is confessd both by friend and foe euen the latter wher off deemes it praise worthy though he can not imitate it but beholds it as the Owle doth the light with disdaigne Of his demeanour in this office the Record testifyes thus In quo officio Cancellariae in omni statu suo quem ante post habuit justè sanctè se gessit viam veritatis quam prius inchoaverat non dimisit sed semper de bono in melius profecit In which Office of Chancellour as also in each other which he bore he demeand himselfe with such vprightnes and integrity that he neuer swaru'd from the path of truth which he once trodd but went on allwayes aduancing from good to better This aduance was made by exalting vettue and learning and depressing vice and idlenes its nurse by an impartiall administration of justice to all giuing euery one theyr due by maintayning Discipline in its vigour without slackning the raynes to a noxious liberty And as his autority extended both to Masters and Schollars and euen to the Citizens themselues so farr as to impede any abuse towards the former so he carryd an equall hand ouer all and fayld not therby to please all How resolute and actiue he was in this his proceeding is wittnessd by a scuffle or Riott which happend at that time betwixt the Southern and Northern Schollars vpon some quarrell of emulation in which the disorder grew so high that to part them he was faine to hazard his owne person and to throw himselfe in to the middle of the throng out of which he came though with a whole skinn yett not with a whole Coat his gowne being torne and he beaten yett he Maisterd the
multitude reduc'd them to order and made them doe pennance for theyr insolency This of Chancellour was the First publick office which S. THOMAS bore this that Candlestick of gold which first shewd that burning and shining light to the world this that Hill where that well built Citty by the hand of God himselfe first appeard and where there neuer was heard any other note but of ioy and Comfort And happy would that University haue deemd it selfe if it might still haue bin exhilarated with these sweet notes enlightend with his knowledg and refreshd with the streames of his wisdome of which they drunk with much gust and he no churle in Communicating them But they like the fountaine of paradise were not to be confind to so narrow a current fitt to water the surface of the whole kingdome to which they were both sufficient and the King at the lowd report which sounded euen to the Court designd them He thought that famous Uniuersity to little a sphere for so great abilityes and that it was an injury to the whole Realme to confine such a person to any particular place though neuer so honorable and therfore resolu'd to make the whole pertake of this vniversall benefitt VIII CHAPTER He is made Lord high Chancellor of England KIng Henry the 3. a pious and gratious Prince as you haue heard before lou'd te employ and preferr the vertuous to great Offices as knowing that weighty affayres were neuer better mannagd and consequently thriue better then in the hands of such For besydes the peculiar blessing and light which they receiue from Almighty God vertue giues them both industry and application and remoues many impediments which lye in the others way towards a due discharge of theyr trust And therfore synce our holy saint carry'd in the opinion of all such a Commendatory of sanctity of life and integrity of conuersation and withall his naturall abilityes corresponded to his supernaturall compleating him in both I wonder not at all that the good King cast his eyes vpon him and entrusted him with the great office of Lord Chancellor As to the Saint himselfe as he neuet sought the employment nay resisted what he could so he came with a disinteress'd hart disburdend of all respects but what he ought to God and his King but seeing himselfe in the eyes of the court and kingdome he thought it stood him vpon to be more circumspect in his actions and behauiour and therfore the Authour of his life sayes Eo honore decoratus mores actionesque arctiori virtutis praescripto deuinxit raysd to that dignity he endeauourd to square his actions and proceedings according to a straighter line of perfection He had learnd to be so farr Master of himselfe that no exaltation could rayse him aboue himselfe Psal 130. so that his hart and eyes were the same nor did he now walk in mirabilibus super se in the cloudes of wonders aboue himselfe He knew he was made the vice-gerent of diuine wisdome as to this pittance of trust and therfore he sayd as it taught him arrogantiam superbiam viam prauam os belingue detestor arrogancy and pride and wicked way and a double tongu'd mouth I doe detest and I wish Prou. 8. 13. all that beare the place would say the same and especially the last of a double tongue fitt onely for a double hart destroying all syncerity and playne dealing He ownd and practisd that which followes Meum est Concilium aequitas mea est prudentia fortitudo Myne is Counsell and equity prudence is myne strength is mine and how he behau'd himselfe in these particulars shall be shewd in the end of this Narratrue To giue now a small hynt at the nature of this office it may be obserud that the word Cancellarius or Chancellor signifyes not onely now but many ages agoe an employment or trust of highest concern and honour next the King himselfe most eminent for power and autority and till Sr. Thomas More 's time when worse changes and innouations followd the dignity of Chancellour was conferrd vpon single or not marry'd persons though Laymen as not to be vncapable of Ecclesiasticall Prelacy eyther Arch-Bishops or Bishops as the ordinary stile of England was As to the etymology of this word Cassiodorus that learned and graue person deriues it from Cancelli that is the grated enclosure wherin the Chancellour sate separated from the common throng not to be disturbd in his office accessible onely to mens eyes and therfore the same Authour calls these barrs or Cancells lightsome doores open Cloysters gates with windowes This was a friendly admonition or caueat giuen by Cassiodorus to a Chancellour newly exalted to that eminent office to putt him in mind that though he was raysd and separated from the common rank of men yet he was exposd to the common view of all and therfore must proceed accordingly not please himselfe as if he were to dance in a nett but to assure himselfe that he was like to haue as many censures and sharp judgments of him as men had eyes Others say he is so calld because the Chancellour is as it were the mouth the eye and eare of the Prince or Soueraigne and hath the reuie wing of all Memorialls or Petitions presented to the Prince and euen decrees of the Prince himselfe what he finds not conuenient to Law or prejudiciall to the Prince's or publick good it is his Office to cancell or cross out as voyd and wholly illegall and not to signe it From this Cancelling or crossing out with such vncontrould autority they will haue the name of Cancellarius or Chancellor deriu'd As for the Chancellor of England's office it is a dignity that makes him esteemd in the kingdome aboue all and next to the King himselfe In so much that on the other part of the Kings Seale wheroff the custody belongs to the Chancellor he signes his owne Orders that the Kings Chappel be in his disposall and care that vacant Arch. Bishopricks Bishopricks Abbeys and Baronyes falling into the Kings hands be receiud and kept by him that is the Chancellor who likewise is to be present when soeuer the King sitts in Counsell euen when he is not calld that all things of the Clark or Clergy man who carryes the Kings Seale be signd by the Chancellors hand that all things be disposd of by the aduise and Counsell of the Chancellor in fine that by the grace of God his desert and meritt concurring he neuer ends his dayes but in the See of an Arch Bishop or Bishop if he will accept of it And for this reason the office of Chancellor is neuer to be bought as hauing so much connexion and Relation to a Clergy state for danger of incurring Simony The manner or ceremony of creating Chancellors in the Raigne of Henry the 2. Grandfather to King Henry the 3. who enstalld S. THOMAS in that dignity was to hang the great Seale about the chosen
Chancello'rs neck But afterwards both the ceremonyes of enstallment and his court of Chancery was augmented three seales one of gold two of syluer a great one and a lesser and for the Lawyers abuses and quirkes in the Common law the Chancello'rs court or Chancery erected to moderate all as Vmpire meerly out of equity and justice independent of sophisticall tricks and verball cauills This was the office of the Lord Chancellor of England synce the Norman conquest for the most part with some ceremoniall changes rather accidentall then in substance as the Kings who raignd thought fitt In the administration of this office as our Saint shewd great wisdome so did he also great integrity and these two compleated his justice so that the former securd him against mistakes and ignorance the latter against bribes and extorsions neyther of which eyther was or euer could be justly layd to his charge Nay he was so scrupulously nice in the latter that he would not haue so much as the shadow of it to approach him It is recorded particularly that certaine Religious men who had a suite depending at Law applyd themselues to him for his fauour and furtherance in the dispatch of the same and therto presented him with a jewell of value which he rejected not without indignation asking them whether they thought him to be wonn with guifts Nor was his courage inferiour eyther to his wisdome or integrity vpon which account when reason and equity dictated that such a thing was to be done he was vndaunted as to the execution euen though the king himselfe stood in the way yett none more obseruant of his Majesty then he This may be confirmd by what happend at the councill table and was driuen on by many great ones who perswaded the king to conferr an office vpon a new conuerted Iew wherby he was impowerd ouer the liues and persons of such subjects as were found to be coyners of false money He opposd it with much earnestnes saying it was too unlimited a power ouer Christians to be committed to a new conuerted Iew who might easily be tempted according to his former ill habitts to abuse it and therfore besought his Majesty with teares eyther to reuoke it or giue him leaue to absent himselfe for he could not approue it The king mou'd with his teares and candour as well as the force of his reasons bidding him sit still changd ther vpon his determination I shall say more relating to this in the last Chapter Now how satisfactory his mannagement of affayres in this ticklish charge was both to Prince and people is euidenc'd by this that the King vpon urgent occasions being calld into France left to him during his absence the trust and charge of the whole kingdome IX CHAPTER King Henry dyes his Sonn succeeds S. Thomas with License giues vpp his Seale and retyres IN this equall track of justice declining neyther to the right hand nor the left did our Saint walk all the respitt of King Henry's life Full often during this space of time did he sigh after his former Retyrement and ceasd not vpon fitt occasions to importune the same but the good King who had found his assistance and dexterity so seruiceable in the dispatch of affayres would by noe meanes harken to that request giuing him leaue to groane vnder his burden and he in complyance with his will submitted to it making the best of the worst and a vertue of necessity At last hauing finishd the course of nature as well as of a vertuous life he payd the common tribute of mortality to death and Edward his eldest Sonn calld the first of that name immediately succeded in the throne of whome it will not be amiss to giue some short account as also how things went in the course of affayres This Edward was not onely a warr-like but wise Prince and as he had receiud both Crowne and life from his father so he restord both againe by cutting off with his owne hand the last and most dangerous Rebellion of all This was raisd by Simon Montfort a great souldier and of a high Spiritt otherwise a pious and gracious person to most men by reason of his forward zeale to engage in what he conceiud did concerne the common good which cost him first expulsion out of France and after his being receiud in England and made Earle of Lecester noe less then his life This great Warriour obseruing the march and approach of Prince Edward to giue him battaile turnd to his Commanders and thus aduisd them let vs commend our soules to God for our bodyes are theyrs as it fell out and he dy'd with the rest The same great Prince Edward the first after he had brought the kingdome of Scotland to the vtmost extremity but preuented by death could not compleat the full conquest he chargd his Sonn Edward the 2. or of Caernaruan calld so from his birth in that castle not to enterre his body till he finishd the work begunn by him of which little remayn'd to be atchieu'd But those court Parasites the young Kings fauorites hating as death the life of a Souldier drew him of from that noble designe to court againe to the shame and infamy of the English Nation and wretched end of that vnfortunate Prince A sad example of disobedience to the last words of a dying father and such a father as England had scarse his like for valour conduct and wisdome In the very beginning of whose Raigne and first stepp into the throne S. THOMAS as his place and office requird brought him the great Seale of England with most humble acknowledgment of his obligation to his Majesty's father for honouring him aboue all desert with that eminent charge which he resignd into his Majestyes hands with this humble petition that with his Majestyes approbation and leaue he may retyre to that knowne mother of learning and wisdome Oxford where he may more enable himselfe for the seruice of God and of his Majesty and the assistance of his country To which the King answerd first with thanks as the manner is for the great seruice done to the King and kingdome and for his petition that he assented to it and for the present gaue him full liberty to dispose of himselfe as he thought fitting This was it which our Saint much more addicted to the Schooles then the court so earnestly breathd after and as cheerfully hastend to them as a stone to its Center or fyre to its element „ trahit sua quemque voluptas And heer I cannot but pawse a while vpon this noble and heroicall act of S. THOMAS which if we measure by a humane ell and mans naturall inclination to greatnes was perchance one of the noblest of his life For where in the world shall one find euen vertuous and holy men who make not preferrments a part of theyr ayme and reward of theyr studyes much less who will diuest themselues willingly of it especially the highest when they
him how to dye well which is one of the most important arts in the world for what auailes it if we gaine the whole uniuerse and suffer shipwrack of our owne Soules This maxime was the study of his whole life and on it all his principles were grounded and so well that he was not a frayd to look death in the face he regarding it no otherwise then as a passage to a better life and therfore amidst all its appalements he sate vpon its Couch as the Phenix on her pile of spices expecting that the same flames which consumd his body should renew his soule to a better and immortall life Of this his passage I shall say no more then I find vpon authentique Record the Process of his Canonization reflecting on two things first his preparation to it secondly the sequels of it And as to the former when he perceiu'd that the euening of life was in a great decline and its sunn neer vpon setting though his whole life had bin nothing else but a preparation to death or disposition to the sleep of Saints by which they rest in our Lord yett the neerer it approachd the more it awakd him to a discharge of his last dutyes And therfore with hart and eyes fixd on heauen the first of his desyres according to the Rytes of H. Church were the last Sacraments or Viaticum of that great journey doing himselfe as he had taught others to doe in that passage These are Confession Communion and Extreme Unction which as no good Christian doth omitt so no good seruant of God but has them in esteem and veneration and the greater the better insight they haue into the Concerns of theyr soule and its happy passage Hauing thus prouided for the substantiall part all the rest of his minutes were lett out at the highest exchange and he vnmindfull of all worldly things inuokd the Spiritt both of life and light by a „ Veni Creator Spiritus to be assistant to him in this last conflict against the Spiritts of Darknes when both life and light lye at the Stake This done he armd himselfe with the signe of the crosse or ensigne of Christianity as formidable to the infernall powers as confortable to a parting soule who whilst he consignd himselfe by it ouer to Alm. God he added these deuout expressions taught him probably in his child hood „ Per signum Crucis de inimicis nostris libera nos Deus noster and againe Per Crucis hoc signum fugiat procul omne malignum and lastly „ Per idem signum saluetur omne benignum All these are put downe verbatim in the record and teach vs how to arme our selues in our last Conflict towards a victory ouer our enemyes This done he calld his retinue about him and imparting to each fayth the lessons of his office the kiss of peace togeather with wholsome instructions for a pious life amidst these embracements he took and gaue the last adieu And now by this time the stock of life being quite spent the pangs of death came stronger vpon him and these increasing he betook himselfe more earnestly to his refuge of prayer making vse of that verse of the Psalmist propper in such a passage in manus tuas Domine commendo Spiritum meum Domine Deus veritatis Commendo Spiritum meum which words whilst he repeated thrice with his hands eleuated towards heaven he renderd his sweet Soule most acceptable to heauen to be receiud according to its meritts into the eternall tabernacles This was the setting of this sweet Sunn shewing much not onely of the Christian but of the Saint and verifying the old saying „ vt vixit sic morixit teaching vs that generall rule without exception he that liues well dyes well Which Sunn though he went downe in a strange horizon yett found a wellcome in the Ocean of bliss or a blessed eternity the true Christian deemes that his Hemisphere where God places him we being all Cittizens of the world and like beggars neuer out of our way while we are tending to Paradise Happy they that can make a happy Conclusion of so important an affayre which when thus concluded our work is done and if not happily all 's vndone and that without redress that is a moment of greatest moment wheron depends eternity Though his festiuity were keept on the 2. of October yett the day of his death happend on the 25. of August or the morrow to the Apostle S. Bartholomew And synce all Authours that I can find vnanimously agree as to the place to witt that it was neer Monte fiascone one would wonder why Bp. God win in contradiction heer of without alledging any ground for his assertion should maintaine that he dy'd at Ciuita Vecchi and in his way to Rome wheras there are vndenyable prooffs both of his arriuall there and obtayning his pretentions returne by land and holy death at the place aforesayd To say the least this cannot but argue a spiritt of contradiction propper to one of his coat and little beseeming the name of a Bishop nor had he more besydes the reuenues Onely it is a knowne trick of such I can call it no better to render the clearest truths disputable and thence doubtfull and so by degrees eneruate all fayth both humane and diuine by vndermining the autority which is theyr basis It happend the night after his decease that one of his officers whome he had left behind him in England his name was Robert of Glocester then his Secretary afterwards Chancellor of Hereford being at that time at London and Lodging in the Bishops owne Chamber had this dreame or vision call it as you please He thought himselfe to be at Lions in France where in the great street of that Citty which leads to the Cathedrall he seemd to behold his Lord and Master going towards that Church whither himselfe was also bound Both being enterd his Lord he thought went into the Sacristy where putting of the vpper garment which he wore he vested himselfe with white Pontificall Robes and those most rich and carrying in his hand the Body of our Lord or most B. Sacrament in forme of a Consecrated Host he appeard suddainly in the midst of a most solemne and stately Procession both of Clergy and religious and those likewise cladd all in white The Procession seemd to moue towards the Cloyster of the Cathedrall while others of that quire enton'd and prosecuted with delicate Musique that part of the Capitulum propper to the Office of S. Peter ad Vincula Occidit autem Jacobum fratrem Joannis gladio But before all were enterd the gate which led into the sayd Cloyster it on a suddain was shutt and Robert who with many others desyrd also to enter were excluded to theyr no small defeatment and left to consider the dreame of which he as the ignorant of the Saints death could look vpon no otherwise then a dreame But when immediately after certaine tydings both of
his death and the precise time of it came to be knowne and that it and his dreame iumpt so patt togeather he could not but think it more then a fancy and that Alm God would intimate therby that as he dy'd though not in persecution yett in prosecution of the rights of his Church and in some sort lost his life for the same the Saint had not onely deserud but receiud the reward of a Martyr This Relation I haue Coppy'd out of the Process of his Canonization where it was juridically deposd before the Examinants and approu'd as suiting well with what I sayd aboue of the Common apprehension of all that God wrought Miracles by him for his actings and sufferings for his Church And the same Relation adds yett further to let vs know it was more a vision then dreame or rather a Vision by way of dreame as is not vnusuall in H. Scripture both old and new that after this first apparition the B. Saint was seen often to the same party not indeed sayth it as one in glory but yett such as that his ioyfull contentednes spoke him to be in a must happy Condition XVIII CHAPTER The buriall of his H. Bowells there and Returne of his sacred Bones into Engalnd THus much as to his sacred death and other Circumstances which accompanyd or related therto now we must pass to the other part to witt the sequeles that followd thervpon He dy'd a passinger in this lifes pilgrimage and in a Common Inn and indeed what other are all the lodgings in this world we take them vpp we bespeak supper we forecast our future journey we goe to bed and rest promising our selues like the man in the Ghospell many dayes of life when calld fooles for our paynes we are surprizd with a feauer and all the journey we make afterwards is onely to our graue Our B. Saint was too watchfull to be stolne vpon by that ngihtthiefe they onely are so surprizd who are found vnprepard that is keep no watch and ward and Consequently are vnprouided for the assault and therfore we pray togeather with the Church to be deliuerd not from death nor from suddain death but from suddain and vnprouided death for indeed to one that is prouided no death is propperly suddaine The Records tell vs that his sacred Corps lay exposd in the same place for 6. dayes togeather and this is but suitable to what is done to persons of his extraction and quality according to the respect euery where giuen them Though heer another reason occurrd which might more then probably autorize the same for no sooner was the sweet soule departed like the extinct flame of a stick of parfume but such a heauenly fragrancy filld the whole room that it was most dilitious to the sent and recreatiue to all that were present This to witt was a blessing redounding to the body for the ioynt concurrence that copartner afforded it in his vertuous excercises in the seruice of God and his Church and a testimoniall of the odour of sanctity of that holy guest which lodgd therin Such sensible wittnesses of an innocent integrity in his seruants doth Alm. God somtimes impart for theyr glory and our incitement wee being not easily mou'd but by our sences eyther to conceiue highly of them or be eggd on to imitation though the odour of vertue and sanctity in it selfe farr surpass what euer is of sense In the meane time the same heeroff together with his death being bruited abroad as vertue and nobility is euer in esteem with the noble and vertuous it made many great Personages resort thither and some Cardinalls among the rest who acquainted with him during his abode at Rome or the opinion that went of him had bin no strangers eyther to him or his perfections By theyr Concurrence chiefly an honorable funerall was prepard for his Enterrment the sunday following when he was burryed in the Church of S. Seuerus belonging to an Abbey of that name situate neer the old Citty of Florence at what time a funerall Sermon was preachd by one of the Cardinalls who could not want matter to dilate vpon while he commended him for his noble discent exquisite learning and eminent sanctity All these particulars are thus farr minutely specifyd in the Record but its warrant carry's vs no farther nor any other that I could meet with as to the sequeles of his Enterrment And consequently we are at a loss both as to that present and future times how to know whether any or what publique Veneration was there giuen at any time to his sacred Corps or whether graces and Miracles were wrought there at as in England at his Sacred Bones what memory remaind of him and how long all this must be left to Doomsday book and its Register when all will be publishd to the glory of God and the Saint and satisfaction of all In the interim we may know that in the Catholique Church not euery one that dyes with opinion of sanctity is forthwith honourd as a Saint the publique Declaration of the Church to preuent abuses and regulate all in an orderly way is therto requisite and nothing permitted but vnder this warrant He dy'd t is true a Saint but his sanctity was not autorizd he dy'd a stranger and an alien and how little notice is taken of such 5. yeares elapsd before any Miracles were noysd abroad euen in England it selfe and 25. before his Canonization what wonder if the memory of him not preserud by any speciall graces or signes grew cold and in that coldnes vannishd to obliuion Though God were pleasd at his mediation for the comfort of the people incitement of theyr deuotion and other reasons best knowne to himselfe to work such wonders at his Sacred bones yett he does this when and where and how long he thinks good and no body must presume to ask why do you so All these are the secretts of his Dispensations and he says to vs as he did to the Apostles „ Non est vestrum c. it is not for you Act. 1. 7. to know times or moments which the Father has putt in his owne power The newes of his death we may imagine brought heauy tydings to his flock at Hereford who as it was most happy in his gouerment during life so sustaynd an imcomparable loss by his death the sorrow of the priuation answering proportionably to the ioy of the possession But these are blowes which all must be content to suffer when God inflicts them nor is there any redress besydes an humble acquiescence in his holy will when we haue payd a little tribute to nature all the rest is a submissiue resignation who dare say to him why doe you soe Yet though his people could not haue him aliue it would haue bin some comfort to haue had him dead that is him in his Corps to the end they might haue enioyd him in his Reliques which euen then for the great opinion they
had of his sanctity were esteemd for such In the present circumstances that could not be conueniently done but care was thus farr taken that the bones being separated from the fleshy parts they togeather with his head and hart were transported into England and deposited as a most pretious treasure in the Church of Hereford These were receiu'd with much Deuotion by the people who went forth togeather with the Chapter and Clergy to meet them and were enshrynd in the Chapell of our B. Lady in the same Cathedrall that they might repose in her bosome after death to whome liuing and dying he was so singularly deuoted and where could his hart rest better then in her hands to whose honour he had sacrific'd both hart and hands Among others whome eyther deuotion or curiosity mou'd to meet this wellcome pledge one was Gilbert Lord Clare Earle of Glocester betwixt whome and our Saint as we insinuated heertofore there was no good vnderstanding vpon the account of some lands which the Earle detaynd and the Saint claymd as due to his Church and recouerd from him by force of law with much both cost and paynes He now approaching to the sacred pledge it was very remarkable and lookd on as a Miracle by all the Company that the dry Bones in his presence begann to bleed a fresh and in such a quantity that he and all might see the Cask in which they were carryd imbru'd with the same The Earle much amazd heerat was struck with compunction and acknowledging his fault made a full restitution of all to the Church expiating by pennance what he had rashly committed as the onely way to make the best of an ill bargaine In the retinue of the deceasd Bishop the chief mannager of affayres was Richard Swinfield his Secretary first in autority aboue the rest he was a Priest of great parts and vertuous conuersation for which he was afterwards promoted to succeed in that vacant See and in process of time chief sollicitour and informer in order to the Saints Canonization To him as such belongd the charge of conueying the Sacred Depositum and he tells vs in his deposition before the Commissaryes Apostolicall what happend to himselfe the night before he with it arriu'd at Hereford To the end all things might be the next morning in a better readynes he cast his journey so as to lodge with his Company that night in a village 2. miles distant from the Citty where weary with journeying and going late to bed he ouersleept himselfe beyond his time the next morning His chamber was remote from all Company and so high that without a ladder there was no access to the windowes and yett 3. knocks were giuen as with the knuckle of a bended fingar on the same and soloud that they seru'd for an alarme to awake and tell him it was time to rise And in that sense he vnderstood them and ther vpon calld vpp his Company concluding with-in himselfe that this was a fauour done him by the Saint towards the pursuit and furtherance of what they had in hand to witt the solemne Reception and placing of the same bones And what indeed could it be else synce humanely speaking no body without a ladder could come there and looking curiously about he saw there was none therfore he ascribd it to the meritts of the Saint and very thankfull for such an extraordinary fauour to his honour he recorded it to posterity making thence a conjecture that this piece of seruice the conueyance of his bones was acceptable to him synce he had bin pleasd to giue it such an vnusuall concurrence While S. THOMAS was yett aliue no body seemd to carry a greater respect and Veneration for his sanctity then Edmund Earle of Cornwall Sonn to Richard King of the Romans He it was that inuited the Saint to keep his Whitsontyde with him at his Castle of Wallingford where whilst he sung the „ Veni Creator Spriritus the strange Miracle of the birds happend which we shall relate heer after in the 23. Chapter Howeuer it was procurd this great Deuotist made meanes to gett his Hart a treasure he esteemd aboue any iewells and to testify this esteem thought he could not honour it sufficiently any other way then by enclosing it in a most costly shryne togeather with a parcell of our Bl. Sauiours Blood and founding a Monastery of Bons-Hommes at Ashridg in Buckingham shyre to its honour where it might be dayly and duely venerated to the praise and glory of Alm. God who had raisd his Seruant to such an eminency of perfection This deuout Earle had such a Confidence in his patronage and intercession that he was wont to profess he had not greater in those of our glorious Apostle S. Austin XIX CHAPTER The Translation of his H. Bones into a more eminent place THe neer approach of the most wellcome Treasure being knowne at Hereford stirrd vpp the Cittizens both Ecclesiastiques and laymen to ioyne as we sayd in a solemne Procession to fetch it in so shewing by theyr Veneration to the dead how much respect they had for him aliue and how deeply they ressented theyr incomparable loss It was done with as much splendour as the shortnes of the time would permitt and so amidst all the festiualls of deuotion it was brought into the Cathedrall a small parcell God wott of what they desyrd yett euen as such most wellcome They wishd him such in his returne home as they sent him abroad aliue and gouerning as theyr Pastour they wishd if dead not onely his Bones but whole body for a treasure the greater it is the better and more pretious but as it was content with what necessity imposd they lent theyr concurrence towards a solemne enterring it in the Chappell of our B. Lady the place designd for its Reception Heer it was layd in a Coffin of stone and a fayre Grauestone such as beseemd his quality plac'd for a Couer to the Orifice cimented on all sydes as close and handsomely as art could make it Heer it lay 5. yeares amidst the priuate veneration of deuout persons partaking of no more honour then theyr Deuotion gaue it each one according to the opinion they had of his Sanctity For though diuers things more then ordinary and such as begott much wonder and Veneration were related on seuerall passages as the fragrant oudour it exhald the blood it sweat morning call c. Yett formall Miracles none were wrought nor pretended to and the Catholique Church hath allwayes vsd a speciall warynes to preuent disorders of this nature that nothing may be publiquely ascribd before attested by legall autority and we need not doubt but the Saint himselfe among so many decrees as he made had left this enacted During this interuall of time the Vacant Chayre was prouided of a successour the party elected was Richard Swinfeld of whome we sayd somthing in the precedent Chapter the same that accompanyd our Saint to Rome and by his good