more then the rest seemed to thirst to take away the life of the Holy Man The head of this diuelish faction with three others of the principall being stroken with a theÌ„ derbolt miserably perished the day following were their bodye seene to be blasted disfigured one vpon this another vpon the bough of the trees whersoeuer through the violence of the thunder ech one was furiously cast Three others were fouÌ„d to be halfe deâ—… on the ground The rest of the baser crew were dispersed into diuers parts very confusedly and with exceeding great horrour aâ—… they went about lyke men distracted Whereas those of the part 〈◊〉 S. Malachy so neere to the place amidst so perilous accidents had no molestation with such prodigyes nor hurt at all nay not so much as a hayre of their heads were diminished Which bred a farre greate admiration in the mynds of the people wherby they euidently be held that God himselfe tooke S. Malachyes part The vnhappy Nigrettus with his coÌ„plices through the fury of the people was thâ—… out of the Citty and with the greatest ioy that might be the 〈◊〉 Bishop and Primat of all Ireland introduced into his place being 〈◊〉 that tyme of some thirty eight yeares of age But yet for all this neyther within or without was he wholy free from persecutions anâ—… troubles as shall presently appeare Nigrettus his craft as also the plot of his wicked Complices how all turuâ—… to a perfect Reconciliation Chap. 11. THE Diet being now dissolued and the aforesaid King wiâ—… the other defenders of the right and equity of S. Malachyes causâ—… departed from Ardmach that viperous race not able to brooke thâ—… priuation of the ancient dominion began to exclayme bitterly anâ—… complayne for being ouer borne and oppressed by the more potenâ—… and with all endeauour and art gaue themselues within the towâ—… to renew seditions and tumults against the Seruant of Christ thâ—… fugitiue Nigrettus without was not wanting the while with fraâ—… and subtilityes to stirre vp seditions abroad and to put euery thing into garboyle rebellions and disorders In the Sacristy of Ardmach among other things of best esteemâ—… are two famous Reliques very charily kept Whereof one is a ceâ—…taine Text of the Ghospells which had been heeretofore belonging to the Blessed S. Patrick The other a Staffe all couered with gold beset with most rich Iewels which they call Iesus Staffe as holdiâ—… certayne that our Sauiour himselfe had framed it and vsed it with owne hands Now these two reliques as I sayd are by those â—…le had in so great Veneration as the Simple in whose possessioÌ„ 〈◊〉 see them do hold them to be the true lawfull Successours of â—…tricke Which thing Nigrettus knowing very well flying had â—…ily carryed them away with him and with these tokens and â—…ges did carry himselfe as the true Archbishop and went about withdraw the people as much as he could from their ObedieÌ„ce 〈◊〉 Malachy But a principall man of the same stock seemed to play the fury â—…e the rest who not regarding eyther the promise made to King not to molest the most holy Priestof God nor yet the â—…ages giuen for that end with a crew of seruants and kinsfolkes â—…ractize how to murder S. Malachy And for as much as he could publikely attempt the same without manifest danger in respect â—…e Deuotion which the people bare to so great a Pastour he defined together with the others to rid him away by some treaâ—…ous meanes in causing him to come improuidently to his house â—…r the pretence of confirming a new amity with him With this â—…cept in his head the roomes being furnished in good tyme with â—…ed men one day while the Archbishop was singing of Vespers the great Church he sent certayne men in hast very humbly intreate him the Office being ended to vouchsafe to come to 〈◊〉 as soone as he could it being so needfull for them to establish accord Which thing seemed to be very extrauagant to the folloâ—…rs of S. Malachy and being aware of the deceipt made answere 〈◊〉 more fit it were he should come himselfe to the Prelate that 〈◊〉 Church was a more competent place for acts of that quality â—…e Messengers replyed their Lord could not come with safety 〈◊〉 durst he aduenture for the multitude who but yesterday were â—…y to cut him in peeces While such manner of contentions passed betweene them the â—…ine Man who desired peace and feared not death Let me alone â—…ith he Brothers for Gods sake let me follow the example of 〈◊〉 Maister And shall I be a Christian if I do not in some sort imiâ—… Christ Peraduenture this my submission will mollify the hart â—…ur Aduersary and in the meane tyme with this Example I shal â—…e you some Edification And if this sauage people should teare in peeces I will willingly yeild my life into their bloudy haÌ„ds to the end I might leaue you a patterne how you should order thâ—… course of your life Besides by this occasion you shall truly see whâ—… ther your Superiour haue learned of Christ to be affrayd of death 〈◊〉 Christ or no. And with this rysing vp on his feete he beganneâ—… walke on with an vndaunted gesture howbeyt his freinds Disciples with teares trickling downe their cheeks humbly besoughâ—… him not to be so willfull as to hazard the sheading of his bloud among those bloud-suckers because a great multitude of the faithly were like to be left desolate who in all things wholy depended vpon him But he confiding and fixed in the Diuine protection 〈◊〉 eares being stopt to sighes and laments went boldly on accompanyed which no more then with three disciples only being proÌ„pâ—… and disposed to lay downe their lyues with him In this manner he came to the Enemyes gate he had no soone put in his feete but he was seene to be encompassed round with great Troupe of terrible Hacksters he standing the while like aâ—… innocent Victime exposed to the strokes of whosoeuer had thâ—… will to sacrifice the same But O force O power of Christian confidence while they were all expecting the signe to set vpon him he with the only cast of an Eye with one serene looke only diâ—… mitigate them in such sort as there was none of the most forward est or couragious durst so much as offer any manner of violent vnto his person the diuine power did so bridle their fury Nay 〈◊〉 ther the Prince himselfe and Captayne of them suddaynely changed his inhumane intention and insteed of tearing him to peeces 〈◊〉 destroying him wholy arose to do him great Reuerence and honour shewing an incredible desire of a sincere concord At whicâ—… wordes S. Malachy exceedingly reioyced and was no whit slack in a matter sought for by him with so great daunger of his life A solemne peace then was ratifyed between them with such sinceriâ—… as that he who before was so grieuous and dangerous an Aduersary was not
which by meanes of the flesh make warre against the spirit and if I shall not haue learned to obserue thy Law inuiolable But I hope Lord through the help of thy high and mighty hand I shall do that which may like thee best and thou pardon all my defects In such accusations of himselfe as these ioyned with bitter playnts with burning prayers and with solid purposes spent he all that night at the apearing of the day he found on the ground a certaine durt which was there caused through the continuall teares that streamed from his eyes as also with the excessiue sweat which tricked downe from all his body Nor let any one seeme to attribute this to an exaggeration of words for that besides the humour which contrition wrong from him and affliction of mynd it was then likewise the season of Summer and the place of its nature was exceeding hoat nor was the seruant of God then making his prayer in a carelesse kind of composition of body but eyther on his knees or prostrate or bolt vpright with the armes erected distended in forme of a Crosse without letting them once to fall or leaning himselfe to any thing vntill the tyme he had purposed to himselfe and this as well to suffer something with Christ and for Christ as by that meanes to keep his mynd more vigilant and attentiue With this sacrifice of an humble and penitent hart he obteyned so much fauour from heauen as for the tyme to come he perseuered with his Brother in meruaylous Peace and Patience and assoone as he passed into a better life he interred him with all due piety with the wonted Exequyes Frō hence remayning quite alone as he had but then entred into the Wildernes he gaue himselfe with a fresh vigour to his accustomed spirituall exercises not forbearing the while like another No◅ to be building the Arke for those that were to be saued therin according to the Angelicall prediction which howbeit slow in coming to passe yet was he certayne it would not fayle S. Pachomius is tempted by Deuils in sundry sorts He sees a vision many repayre vnto him to be admitted into his Institute Chap. 5. IN the meane tyme S. Pachomius was very grieuously molested by Hellish Monsters being all enflamed with Enuy against him desirous to put any obstacle soeuer to so great a good so as putting in practize whatsoeuer was permitted them with diuers apparitions and strange phantasmes they sought to affright the seruant of God Among other on a time being about to kneele to his Prayers the earth on a sudden fell a gaping before him in forme of a deepe Cesterne to swallow him vp At other times returning from the more remote deserts where sometymes through desire of greater solitude he was accustomed to retire himselfe vpon the sudden the same peruerse spirits were before him marching as it were in order of battaile and saying with a loud voyce Giue place to the Man of God They endeauoured likewise to shatter the new building in such sort as it seemed they would haue turned it topsy-turuy from the very foundations Besides sitting on a day at some handy worke after he had made his prayer there seemed a Cock to be represented to him of an vnmeasurable greatnes which redoubling very fierce and horrible crowings aduentured from tyme to tyme to fly in his face and with the clawes and spurs most cruelly scratched him These and other affrights and iniuryes S. Pachomius being full of a high confidence in God very easely repelled now with the signe of the most holy crosse now with some verse of the sacred Psalter Wherupon the malignant spirits perceiuing the way of feare succeeded not with them turned themselues by agreement to tempt him with laughter in shewing themselues very busy earnest to remoue certayne leaues of a tree therby tying them with great ropes and exhorting one another to pull hard with voyces and vnited forces much after the manner as Carpenters are wont to do when they lift some huge piece of tymber But this trick of theirs was not any whit sufficient to moue the grauity and constancy of the Christian Philosopher but rather sighing insteed of ◅aughter and setting his mynd on the Crucifix he attended to prosecute the exercise in hand in such wise as the powers of darknes being thus scorned by a mortall man and put to confusion went their wayes But yet for all this they ceased not afterwards to renew the battaile agayne by taking the habit and forme of beautifull women and endeauouring to sit downe at the Table with the Man of God in tyme of refection and to be impudently putting their hands into that poore fare which he had before him when seeing themselues to be howerly vanquished and despised chaunging their figures by diuine dispensation to the greater crowne of the Saint they afflicted him more then once with sundry paynes cruel torments Wherin as he through the help of Christ remayned alwayes victorious so according to the saying of the Scripture it often happened that he walked and that without hurt vpon venemous beasts and which is more being to passe the Riuer of Nilus when need was the Crocodils themselues insteed of a bark would securely be wasting him ouer With such proofes and so glorious victoryes S. Pachomius now being arriued to the highest degree of hope and charity the Angell appeared to him anew and sayd to him God is pleased O Pachomius with thy seruice and would haue thee reconcile the Gentils vnto him When not many dayes after some persons desirous to saue their Soules and glutted with the world beganne to repayre vnto him from diuers places who benignly receiued them all but yet gaue thē not the Monasticall habit till first he had proued euery one with a long and exact probation The manner he held in the instructing of all together and ech one in particuler consisted in keeping them free and farre off from all traffique and transitory cares and to vnite them first from the world then from the hauing of things proper and lastly from thēselues And forasmuch as to exhort others to the Crosse examples do moue a great deale more then words he was the first in obseruing of Silence in Edification Lessons Fasts Vigils and other labours and austerityes of the Monastery to prepare the Table to cultiuate the garden to answere at the gate to be seruing of the Sick both night and day and hence with louing aduices and remembrances withall would he afterwards very easely conduct others to liue according to the obligation of such a vocation It was not long ere the good odour same of this new Institute was spread euery where in such sort as the multitude of Monks came soone to ariue to the number of a hundred S. Pachomius highly regardeth the Clergy and visits the great Athanasius Chap. 6. AMōg these Monkes was not yet seene to be any Priest wherupon when they were to
while laying hold of the Psalter â—…egan to read the first verse as it lay before him being iust that same of the 8. psalme which saith Ex ore infantium lactentium perfecisti â—…udeÌ„ propter inimicos tuos vt destruas inimicum defensoreÌ„ the last word 〈◊〉 that Text being so translated insteed of vltâ—…rem At which word â—…o pronounced was lifted immediately a cry of the people vnto â—…eauen to the extreme confusion shame of the aduersary and S. Martin with out more resistance of any besides himselfe was elected â—…r rather forcibly constrayned to the Bishopricke In which administration it may not easily be explicated how fully or rather suâ—…er aboundantly he gaue correspondency to the full expectation which was had of him forasmuch as being disposed to that degree with the exquisite addresses of a most chast mynd in the sacred Vnâ—…ion besids he receyued so great aboundance of new graces and gifts of Heauen as continually outstripping himselfe he reteyned â—…oth the vertue of a priuate person further added to his singular prayse all the good qualtyes of a publique man S. Martin retires himselfe out of the Towne with his Monkes and their manner of liuing there Chap. 6. SAint Martin in the treating of his owne person would change nothing of his wonted manner his fare and apparell was still the same as before for habitation only he betooke himselfe into a litle Cell hard by the Cathedrall Church but euen likewise from thence through too much importunity of frequent Visits he suddenly retyred himselfe out of the Citty into a maruey lous commodious place to distribute his tymes vnto Martha and Mary since it was about two miles distant from the Towne On the one side it was girt in with a high in accessable rock on the other enuironed with the riuer Loyre in so much as there could be no entrance therinto but by a narrow path Within that enclosure S. Marâ—… had built him a litle Cell of boards a part of his Monkes who were some eighty in number had done the like and some agayne with instruments had digged them in the rocky hill certayne receptacles but narrow and more fit to medicate vpon Death then to coâ—… life withall Heere no man held any thing proper to himselfe all thingâ—… were in common To buy or sel was not there permitted To no manner of art applyed they themselues but to writing and to the only were the yoâ—…ger deputed Those of the more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 attended as it were to nothing els then to things diuine Very râ—…rely went any out of his Cell but when they all assembled togâ—…ther in the Oratory to pacify God besides they did eate all togâ—…ther in the Euening Wine was not affoarded to any except to 〈◊〉 sicke The greaâ—… part would be wearing of cilices clothes whiâ—… had any fineâ—…â—…sse in them were abhorred of â—…ch one 〈◊〉 manifest scandall A thing so much more admirable as many 〈◊〉 them were Noble of bloud and dainetily bred But for the louâ—…d Christ and the Crosse they did all very voluntarily submit themâ—…ues to such a peâ—…ance Of which number afterwards were many of them seen to be Bishops while Ciâ—…ties striued to be gouerned 〈◊〉 spirit by the Children of such a discipline Nor could it be oâ—… wise but needâ—… must succeed very excellent men vnder S. Mâ—… because not only with aduises and words went he alwayes 〈◊〉 them but euen with workes and liuely incitements also of all pâ—…fection and especially sincere humility togeather with an ardent â—…oue of the Neighbour Sulpitius Seueras declared who liued in those tymes knowing the Saint domestically as he did very diligently wrote his life how that going sometimes to visit him from countryes somewhâ—… remote he could neuer hinder him from washing his feet and â—…ing to sit downe at table from reaching him water as well â—…t his hands as for those of his fellowes The same man adds how after he had fed the bodyes of his ghests with moderate victâ—… 〈◊〉 would be afterwards affoarding them a most sweet food of â—…tuall discourses for their soules exhorting them with like modesty and efficacy to nothing more then to fly the sensualityes of the present life and to leaue the perilous trash of the world to be able tâ—… more â—…imbly and free to follow Iesus And to this purpose he would set before them the fresh example of S. Pâ—… Bishop of Nâ—…a who after he had distributed very â—…mple 〈◊〉 â—…or the loue of God and help of the poore did finally with an example of Christian piety neuer heard of before sell himselfe into a most cruell bondage for the ransome of his subiects who were held in Affricke slaues to the Saracens With such manner â—…f comparisons as this and moreouer with precepts taken out of the â—…red Writ went S. Martin exciting in spirit as many as came beâ—…re him Nor was it any great matter for him that he should haue 〈◊〉 much to giue to others who so continually treasured vp for himself remayning euen amidst exteriour actioÌ„s alwayes with the hart 〈◊〉 vnited with God as neyther in words nor deeds he would euer â—…o forth of his presence And as Smithes without other matter to worke on through vse for their pleasure only will sometymes â—…e laying on the anuile so S. Martyn not only in the tymes depuâ—…d to the Sacrifice and diuine worship but likewise at all houres â—…sides would eyther read or write or be dealing with men and â—…hrough the great habit he had gotten he would be continually â—…collected in the interious man conuersing sweetly with the heaâ—…enly Spouse and with the giuer of all Graces He would neuer loose tyme in the day and whole nights he would often passe ouer in labours and watchings To the body â—…e gaue that refection and that repose which extreme necessity reâ—…uired lying on the bare ground couered only with a sharp cilice He tooke heed with all caution from iudging the intentions of oâ—…ers interpreting what he could ech thing to the better part and â—…wayes very highly esteeming the reputation fame of the neighâ—…our the iniuryes detractions the enuyes of Persecutours which 〈◊〉 the whole course of his life were not wanting to him he would â—…compence with weeping bitterly for their offences and also as â—…ccasion serued with affording them benefits seruing them not â—…xcluding any what lay in him from his holy freindship He was â—…euer seen to laugh vainely or to be contristate at any thing conâ—…ruing alwayes the same tranquility of hart and serenity of counteâ—…ance amidst al the varietyes of human accidents eyther prosperous â—…nd cheerefull or how straung and aduerse soeuer they were Wherof those few actions which we shall tell you anon shall giue â—…rth a very euident testimony though in ech one of these preciâ—…s examples do shine withall as often it happens many other verâ—…es besides S. Martyn is much honoured by a miracle from God for a charitable
indeed not far frō hence but there is no refection to be had for you and your company saue only bread and cheese Then sayd S. Anselme with a cheerfull countenance Doubt you not good brother go thy wayes then before and cast a net into the riuer there and thou shalt presently find fish inough for vs all So did the Monke without any doubt a whit and calling in hast a fisherman to him bad him to throw in his net Now was it indeed neyther tyme nor place for such a draught and therefore the fisherman laughed at such a bidden thing and tooke himselfe to be mockt at by the Monke But at last being thereunto cōstrayned as it were though his prayers and persuasions he resolued to obey and behold agaynst all hope came forth of the water a Trout of an vncouth bignes with another litle fish also So as that fish was more then inough for S. Anselme and his company That other accident differed not much from this which happened to him in another house of a deere friend of his called Walter Tuel who being sory for want of fish and with words of courtesy excusing himselfe for not hauing prouision worthy of such a ghest S. Anselme smiled and replyed There is now a Sturgeon brought in vnto you and do you complayne for want of delicacies As yet Walter verily belieued he had but iested with him and would by no meanes giue any credit to it when behold two of his men came entred into the house with a Sturgeō the greatest they had seene a long tyme being found as they sayd by the Stepheards vpon the bankes of the riuer of Alteia Whence though in a base and materiall subiect yet may it well be gathered that S. Anselme amongst other gifts of heauen had likewise the spirit of Prophesy About the same tyme he composed three very subtile Treatises one of the Truth another of Freewill the third of the Fall of the Deuill By which treatises may well appeare wherein he had truly fixed his mind though by such considerations and labours he neuer subtracted himselfe from the care consolation of his Monkes He wrote also another booke which he entituled The Grammarian wherein he introduceth a Scholer to dispute with him he also in that booke goes soluing of many Logicall difficulties He annexed thereto a litle Tract which he called by the Greeke terme Monologion for that speaking with himselfe alone without medling with quoting of the holy Scripture with meere reasons he proues There is a God and that by no meanes it can be otherwise After this it came into his mynd whether with one short argument only that same might not be solidly proued which is so belieued and preached of God to wit that he is Eternall Incommutable Omnipotent Incomprehensible whole in euery place iust pious mercifull true or rather Truth it selfe Goodnes Iustice and some other attributes and how all these things are one thing in him This same proposition now did affoard himso much to do as partly it tooke away his meate and sleep and partly also for which he felt the greater griefe held him exceedingly in suspence and greatly distracted him in his Psalmody and in the other diuine Offices and by how much more violence he vsed thereunto so much the more was he troubled with the foresayd question vntill such tyme as waking one night it pleased the diuine Mercy to illumine his vnderstanding and to giue him the knowledge of what he desired with so much clarity as he felt therewith a great iubiley of hart and a wonder full sweetnes and consolation of mynd And supposing he might help others therewith as he was far from all enuy or basenes of mynd he went suddenly about to put the thing in tables of wax according to the vse of those tymes and then gaue them in keeping with great charge to one of the Monkes Some dayes being now passed ouer he demaunded the same of the party himselfe and suddenly they were sought for in the self same place where they had been layd but could not be found Wherupon good diligēce was vsed to learne out if any of the house had taken them away but yet could neuer come to haue the least inckling of thē S. Anselme went about then againe to make others of the same matter and with especiall recommendation gaue them in charge to another of his Monkes He hides them in the secretest part of his owne bed and the next day beyond all suspition finds them all to pieces on the ground and the wax with the characters scattered heere there He gathers them vp as they were brings them to S. Anselme who endeauours the best he could to set the pieces together and fits them at last with much ado so as they might be read and so kept them close vnited togeather And to the end the same might happen no more he causes them to be transcribed in parchment and from thence he drew afterwards a Volume though litle in bulke yet great and very admirable in conceipts speculations and called it Prosologion wherein he discoursed eyther with God or with himselfe Which litle Worke being written against by a learned man S. Anselme seemed to reioyce the◅ and to yield thankes to the Censour but made notwithstanding his Apology for it and sent it backe to the sayd friend beseeching him or any other whosoeuer that should once go about to taxe the aforsayd doctrine not to publish the reprehension without likewise annexing the defence A most pious and Excellent Epistle of S. Anselme to a certaine Launce-Knight who was newly entred into the Monastery of Cluny Chap. 8. VVIth all these occupations as well of gouernment as also of more grauer studies the Seruant of God neglected not to write also sundry letters of edification Of one of which we will heere insert a chapter about the subiect of mutation of place to the end yt may appeare how much the same was impugned by this holy man when it is not done through Obedience or for some important occasion He wrote then among other things some aduises to a certaine Launce-knight who was newly entred into the Conuent of Cluny of the tenour following Thou art now entred my dearest into the lists and warfare of Christ in which yt behoues thee not only to resist the open battayles of the Enemy but to beware likewise of the subtile traynes which lye hid vnder the shew of a goood spirit Because many tymes when the wicked aduersary cannot come to ouerthrow a Nouice with obiects of manifest sinne he seekes to ruine and murder him with the poyson of false but probable and apparent reasons and so being not able to induce him to the harted of Religion and the Institute which he hath made choyce of at least he endeauours to make the conuersation and dwelling tedious to him where he abides for the present and though in some manner he permit to reteyne yet the Monasticall life