reprochefull wordes they â—ntreated him where vpon he sent them by and by this message sayinge Amende your tongues otherwise I do excommunicat you which sentence of excommunication notwithstandinge he did not then presentlye pronounce against them but only threatened yf they amended not them selues But they for all this chaÌ„ged thiere conditions nothing at all both which not longe after departed this life and were buried in the churche and vvhen Solemne mass solemne masse was celebrated in the same churche and the Deacon accordinge to custome saide with lowde voice yf any there be that do not communicate let them departe the nurse which vsed to giue vnto our Lorde an Offring for the dead offringe for them behelde them at that tyme to rise out of thiere graues to depart the churche Hauing often tymes at those vvordes of the Deacon sene them leaue the churche and that they could not tarry within she remeÌ„bred what message the man of God sent them whâ—les they were yet aliue For he tolde them that he did depriue them of the communion vnlesse they did amende theire tongues and conditions Then with great sorrowe the whole matter was signified to the maÌ„ of God who straight-waies with his owne handes gaue an oblation saying Go your waies and cause this to be offered Oblation for the deade vnto our Lorde for them and they shall not remayne any longer excommunicat which oblation beinge offered for them the Deacon as he vsed crying out that such as did not communicate shold departe they were not sene any more to go out of the churche whereby it was certaine that seeinge they did not departe with theÌ„ which did not communicate that they had receiued the communion of our Lorde by the handes of his seruant Peter It is very straunge that you report for howe coulde he thoughe a venerable and most holy man yet liuinge in mortall body loose those soules which stoode nowe before the inuisible iudgement of God Gregory Was he not yet Peter mortall that hearde from our Sauiour whatsoeuer Math. 16 thowe shall binde vpon earth it shall be bound also in the heauens whatsoeuer thowe shalt loose in earth shal be loosed also in the heaueÌ„s whose place of bindinge and loosinge those haue at this tyme which by faith and vertuous life possesse the place of holy gouernement and to be stowe such power vpoÌ„ earthly men the creator of heauen and earth desconded from heauen to earthe and that fleshe mighte iudge of spirituall thinges God who for mans sake was made fleshe vouchesafed to bestowe vpon him for from thence our weaknes did rise vp aboue it selfe from wheÌ„ce the strength of God was weakened vnder it selfe Peter For the vertue of his miracles your wordes do yelde a very goode reason OF A BOYE THAT AFTER HIS buriall was cast out of his graue CHAPTER XXIIII Gregory VPon a certayne daye a younge boye that was a monke louinge his parentes more then reason wolde went from the Abbey to thiere house not crauinge the fathers blessinge before hand and the same daye that he came home vnto them he departed this life And beinge buried his bodye the next daye after was founde cast out of the graue which they caused againe to be put in and againe the daye following they founde it as before Then in great hast they went to the man of God sell downe at his feete with many teares beseeched him that he wolde vouchsafe him that was deade of his fauour To whom the man of God with his owne handes deliuered the holy communion of our Lordes body sayinge Goe and lay with great The Sacrament was not buried with him but only laid vpon his brest and taken of againe reuerence this our Lordes body vpon his breast and so burye him which when they had done the deade corps after that remayned quietly in the graue By which you perceiue Peter of what merit he was with our Lorde Iesus Christ seeinge the earth wolde not giue entertainement to his bodye who departed this worlde out of Bennets fauour Peter I perceiue it very well and do wonderfully admire it HOVV A MONKE FORESAKING the Abbey mett with a dragon in the way CHAPTER XXV Gregory A Certaine monke there was so inconstant and fickle of mynde that he wolde needes giue ouer the Abbey for which fault of his the man of God dâ—d daily rebuke him and often tymes giue him goode admonitions but yet for all this by no means wolde he tary amongest them and therfore continuall sute he made that he mighte be discharged The venerable man vpon a tyme wearied with his importunitye in anger bad him departe who was no soner out of the Abbey gate but he founde a dragon in the waye expecting him with open mouth which being about to deuoure him he began in great feare and tremblinge to cry out aloude sayinge Helpe helpe for this dragon will eate me vp At which noise the monkes running out dragon they sawe non but finding him there shaking treÌ„bling they broughte him backe againe to the Abbey who forth with promised that he wolde neuer more forsake the monasterye and so euer after he continued in his profession for by the praiers of the holy man he sawe the dragon comminge against him whom before when he savve not he did willingly followe HOVV HOLY BENNET CVRED a boye of the leprosy CHAPTER XXVI BVt I must not here passe ouer with silence that which I had by relation of the honourable man Anthonye who saide that his fathers boye was so pitifully punnished with a leprosy that all his heare fell of his body swelled and filthy corruption did openly come forthe Who beinge sent by his father to the man of God he was by him quickly restored to his former healthe HOVV BENNET FOVND MONEY miraculously to relieue a poore man CHAPTER XXVIII NEither is that to be ommitted which one of his disciples called Peregrinus vsed to tell for he saide that vpon a certaine daye an honest man who was in debt founde no other meanes to helpe him selfe but thought it his best waye to acquaint the man of God with his necessitye wherevpon he came to the Abbey and findinge the seruant of almighty God gaue him to vnderstande howe he was troubled by his creditor fortwelue shillinges which he did owe him To whom the venerable man saide that him selfe had not so muche money yet giuinge him comfortable wordes he saide Go your wayes and after two dayes come to me againe for I can not preseÌ„tly helpe you in which two daies after his manner he bestowed him selfe in praier when vpon the thirde daye the poore man came backe there were founde suddainly vpon the chest of the Abbey which was full of corne thirtene shillinges which the man of God caused to be giuen to him that required but twelue both to discharge his debte and also to defraye his owne charges But nowe will I returne to speake of such
which he didcarry to BeÌ„net And because from Romanus cell to that caue there was not any waye by reason of an highe rocke which did hange ouer it Romanus from the top thereof vpon a longe rope did let downe the loase vpon which also with a band he tied a little bell that by the ringinge thereof the man of God mighte knowe when he came with his breade and so be readye to take it But the olde enemy of mankinde enuying at the charity of the one and the refection of the other seeing a loafe vpon a certaine day let dovvne threvve a stone and brake the bell but yet for all that Romanus gaue not ouer to serue him by all the possible meanes he coulde At length vvhen almighty God vvas determined to ease Romanus of his paines and to haue Bennets life for an example knovvne to the vvorlde that such a candle set vpon a candlesticke mighte shine and giue lighte to the church of God our Lorde voutsafed to appeare vnto a certaine Priest dvvelling a goode vvay of vvho had made readye his dinner for Easter daye and spake thus vnto him Thou hast prouided goode chere for thy selfe and my seruant in suche a place is afflicted vvith hunger vvho hearing this forth vvith rose vp vpon Easter daye it selfe vvith such meate as he had prepared vvent to the place vvhere he soughte for the man of God amongest the steepe hils the lovve valleis and hollovve pittes and at length founde him in his caue vvhere after they had praied togither and sittinge dovyne had giuen God thanckes and had much spirituall talke then the Priest saide vnto him Rise vp brother and let vs dine because to day is the feast of Easter To vvhom the man of God ansvvered saide I knovve that it is Easter vvith me and a great feast hauing founde so muche fauox at Gods handes as this day to enioye your companye for by reason of his longe absence from men he knevve not that it vvas greate solemnitye of Easter But the reuerent Priest againe did assure him sayinge Verily to day is the feast of our Lordes resurrection and therfore meete it is not that you sholde keepe abstinence and besides I am sent to that ende that vve mighte eate togither of such prouision as Gods goodenes hathe sent vs vvherevpon they saide grace fell to thiere meate and after they had dined and bestovved some tyme in talkinge the Priest returned to his churche About the same tyme likevvise certaine sheepheardes founde him in that same caue and at the first vvhen they espied him throughe the bushes sawe his apparrell made of skinnes they verily thoughte that it had bene some beast but after they were acquainted with the seruante of God many of them were by his meanes conuerted from thiere beastlye life to grace piety and deuotion And thus his name in the country there about became famous and many after this went to visit him and for corporall meate which they broughte him they carried away spiritual foode for thiere soules HOVV HE OVERCAME A GREAT tentation of the fleshe CHAPTER II. VPon a certaine daye being alone the temptor was at hande for a little blacke birde commonly called a mearle or an owzell began to flye aboute his face and that so nere as the holy man yf he wolde mighte haue taken it with his hande but after he had blest him selfe with the signe of the crosse the birde flowe awaye Blessing with the signe of the â—rosse and forthwith the holy man was assalted with such a terrible tentation of the fleshe as he neuer felt the like in all his life A certaine woman there was which some tyme he had seene the memorye of which the wicked spirit put into his minde and by the representation of her did so mightily inflame with concupiscens the soule of Gods seruaunt which did so encrease that almost ouercomc with pleasure he was of minde to haue forsaken the wildernes But suddainly asisted with Gods grace he came to him selfe and seeinge many thicke briers and netâ—le bushes to growe harde by of he cast his apparrell and threwe him selfe into the middest of them and there wallovved so longe that vvhen he rose vp all his fleshe vvas pitâ—fully torne and so by the vvoundes of his bodye he cured the vvounde of his soule in that he turned pleasure into paine and by the outvvarde burninge of extreme smarte quenched that fire vvhich being nourished before vvith the fewell of carnall cogitations did inwardly burne in his soule and by this meanes he ouercame the synne because he made a change of the fire From vvhich tyme forvvarde as him selfe did aftervvarde reporte vnto his disciples he founde all tentation of pleasure so subdued that he neuer felt any suche thinge Many after this began to abandon the vvorlde and to become his schollers For beinge nowe freed from the malady of tentation vvorthily and vvith greate reason is he made a master of vertue for which cause in Exodus commandement is giuen by Moyses that the Leuites from fiue and tvventy yeres and vpvvard sholde serue but after they came to fiftye that thy sholde be ordained keepers of the holy vessell Peter Somwhat I vnderstand of this testimony alleaged but yet I beseeche you to tell me the meaninge thereof more fullye Gregory It is plaine Peter that in youth the tentation of the fleshe is hote but after fifty yeres the heate of the body waxeth colde and the soules of faithefull people become holy vessels Wherefore necessary it is that Gods elect seruantes whiles they are yet in the heate of tentation sholde liue in obedience serue and be wearied with labour paines But when by reason of age the heate of tentation is past they become keepers of holy vessel because they then are made the doctors of mens soules Peter I can not deny but that your wordes haue giuen me full satisfaction wherfore seeinge you haue nowe expounded the meaninge of the former texte alleaged prosecute I pray as you haue begon the rest of the holie mans life HOVV BENNET BY THE signe of the holy crosse brake a drinckinge glasse in pieces CHAPTER III. Gregory VVHen this great tentation was thus ouercome the man of God like vnto a piece of grouÌ„de well tilled and weeded of the sede of vertue brought forth plentifull store of fruite and by reason of the great reporte of his wonderfull holy life his name became verye famous Not far from the place where he remayned there was a monasterye the Abbot whereof was deade wherevpon the whole Conuent came vnto the venerable man Bennet intreatinge him very earnestly that he wolde vouchesafe to take vpon him the charge and gouernemeÌ„t of thiere Abbey longe tyme he denied theÌ„ sayinge that thiere manners were diuers from his and therfor that they sholde neuer agree togither yet at lengthe ouercome vvith thiere intreatye he gaue his consent Hauinge novve takeÌ„ vpon him the charge of the Abbey he
worcke on and be sadd no more HOVV MAVRVS VVALKED vpon the water CHAPTER VII ON a certaine daye as venerable Bennet was in his cell the foresaid yong Placidus the holy mās monke went out to take vp water at the lake and putting downe his paile careleslye fell in him selfe after it whom the water forth with caried awaye from the lande so far as one maye shote an arrowe The man of God being in his cell by and by knewe this and called in hast for Maurus sayinge Brother Maurus runne as fast as you can for Placidus that went to the lake to fetche water is fallen in and is carried a good waye of A strange thinge and since the tyme of Peter the Apostle neuer hearde of Maurus crauing his fathers blessinge and departing in all hast at his commandement ran to that place vpon the water to which the yong lad was carried by force thereof thinckinge that he had all that while gone vpon the land and takinge fast hold of him by the heare of his heade in all hast he returned backe againe and so sone as he was at lande comminge to him selfe he looked behinde him and then knewe very well that he had before runne vpon the water and that vvhich before he durst not haue presumed being novve done and past he both maruailed and vvas afraide at that vvhich he had done Comminge backe to the father and telling him vvhat had happened the venerable man did not attribut this to his ovvne merites but to the obedience of Maurus but Maurus on the contrarye saide that it vvas clone only vpon his commandement and that he had nothing to do in that miracle not knovving at that tyme vvhat hat he did But the friēdly contention procedinge of mutuall humility the yong youth him selfe that vvas saued from drovvninge did determyne for he saide that he sawe when he was drawne out of the water the Abbotes garmēt vpon his heade affirming that it was he that had deliuered him from that great danger Peter Certainly they be wonderfull thinges which you report and such as may serue for the edification of many for myne owne parte the more that I heare of his miracles the more do I still desire HOVV A LOAFE VVAS POIsoned and caried far of by a crowe CHAPTER VIII VVHen as the foresaide monasteries were zealous in the loue of our Lorde Iesus Christ and thiere fame dispersed far and nere and many gaue ouer the secular life and subdued the passions of thiere soule vnder the lighte yoke of our Sauiour then as the manner of wicked people is to enuye at that vertue which them selues desire not to follovve one Florentius Priest of a churche harde by and grandfather to Florentius our subdeacon possessed with diabolicall malice began to enuye the holy mans vertues to backebite his manner of liuing and to withdraw as many as he coulde from going to visit him and when he sawe that he coulde not hinder his vertuous procedinges but that on the contrarye the fame of his holy life increased and many dailye vpon the verye reporte of his sanctitye did betake them selues to a better state of life burning more and more with the coles of enuye he became far worse and thoughe he desired not to imitate his commendable life yet faine he wolde haue had the reputation of his vertuous conuersation In conclusion so much did malitious enuie blinde him and so far did he wade in that synne that he poisoned a loafe and sent it to the seruaunt of almightye God as it were for an holy present The man of God receiued it with great thanckes yet not ignorant of that which was hidden within At diner tyme a crow daily vsed to come vnto him from the next woode which tooke bread at his handes comming that day after his manner the man of God threwe him the loafe which the Priest had sent him giuinge him this charge In the name of Iesus Christ our Lorde take vp that loafe and leaue it in some suche place where no man may finde it Then the crowe openinge his mouthe and lifting vp his winges began to hopp vp and downe about the loafe and after his manner to crye out as thoughe he wolde haue saide that he was willing to obeye and yet coulde not do what he was commanded The man of God againe and againe bad him sayinge Take it vp without feare and throwe it where no man may finde it At length with much adoo the crowe tooke it vp and flewe awaye and after three howres hauinge dispatched the loafe he returned backe againe and receiued his vsuall allowance from the man of God But the venerable father perceiuinge the Priest so wickedly bent against his life was far more sory for him then grieued for him selfe And Florentius seeing that he coulde not kill the body of the master laboureth nowe vvhat he can to destroye the soules of of his disciples and for that purpose he sent into the yarde of the Abbey before thiere eies seuene naked yonge vvemen vvhich did there take handes togither play and dance a longe tyme before them to the end that by this meanes they mighte inflame thiere mindes to sinfull lust vvhich damnable sighte the holy man beholdinge out of his cell and fearinge the danger which thereby mighte enseewe to his yonger monkes and consideringe that all this was done only for the persecutiuge of him selfe he gaue place to enuye and therfore after he had for those Abbeyes and oratories which he had there built appointed gouernors and left some vnder thiere charge him selfe in the company of a fevve monckes remoued to an other place And thus the man of God vpon humility gaue place to the others malice but yet almighty God of iustice did seuerely punnishe his vvickednes For vvhen the foresaide Priest beinge in his chāber vnderstoode of the departure of holy Bennet and vvas very glad of that newes beholde the whole house besides continewing safe and sounde that chamber alone in which he was fell downe and so killed him which strange accident the holy mans disciple Maurus vnderstādinge straighte-wayes sent him worde he being as yet scarse ten miles of desitinge him to returne againe because the Priest that did persecut him was slayne which thinge when Bennet hearde he was passing sorrowfull and lamented muche both because his enemye died in such sorte and also for that one of his monkes reioiced thereat and therfore he gaue him penance for that sending suche newes he presumed to reioice at his enemies death Peter The thinges you reporte be strange and muche to be wondered at for in making the rocke to yelde forth water I see Moises and in the yron which came from the bottom of the lake I beholde Heliseus in the walkinge of Maurus vpon the water I perceiue Peter in the obedience of the crowe I contemplat Helias and in lamenting the deathe of his enemy I acknowledg Dauid and therfore in myne opinion this one man was full
man of God he bad them to lay him in his cell and in that place vpon which he vsed to praye and then puttinge them all forth he shuâ—t the dore and fell more instantly to his praiers then he vsed at other tymes And ô strange miracle for the very same howre he made him sound and as liuelye as euer he was besore and sent him againe to his former worcke that he also mighte helpe the monkes to make an ende of that wall of whose deathe the olde serpent thought he sholde haue insulted ouer Bennet and greâ—tlye tryumphed HOVV BY REVELATION VEnerable Bennet knewe that his monkes had eaten out of the monastery CHAPTER XII AMonge other miracles â—hich the man of God did he began also to be famous for the spirit of prophecye as to foretell what was to happen and to relate vnto them that were present such thinges as were done in absence The order of his Abbey was that when the monkes went abroade to deliuer any message neuer to eate or drincke any thinge out of thiere cloister and this beinge diligently obserued according to the prescription of thiere rule vpon a certaine daye some of the monkes went for the vpon such busines and being enforced about the dispatch therof to tary somwhat longe abroade it fell so out that they staied at the house of a religious woman where they did eate and refresh them selues And beinge late before they came backe to the Abbey they went as the manner was and asked thiere fathers blessinge of whom he demanded where they had eaten they saide no where why do you quoth he tell an vntruth for did you not goe into such a womans house eate such and such kinde of meate and drincke so many cuppes when they hearde him recount so in particular both where they had staied what kinde of meate they had eaten and howe often they had druncke and perceiued well that he knewe all whatsoeuer they had done they fell downe tremblinge at his feet and confessed that they had done wickedlye who straight vvaies pardoned them for that faulte persvvadinge him selfe that they vvolde not any more in his absence presume to do any such thinge seeinge they novv perceiued that he vvas present vvith them in spirit OF THE BROTHER OF VAlentinian the monke whom the man of God blamed for eatinge in his iorny CHAPTER XIII A brother also of Valentinian the monke of vvhom I made mention before vvas a laye man but deuout and religious vvho vsed euerye yere as vvell to desire the praiers of Gods seruaunt as also to visit his naturall brother to trauaile from his ovvne house to the Abbeye and his manner vvas not to eate any thinge all that day before he came thither Beinge therfore vpoÌ„ a tyme in hâ—s iornye he lighte into the company of an other that carried meate about him to eate by the vvaye vvho after the daye vvas vvell spent spake vnto him in this manner Come brother quoth he let vs refreshe our selues that vve faint not in our iornye to vvhom he ansvvered God forbid for eate I vvill not by any meanes seeing I am novv goinge to the venerable father Bennet and my custome is to fast vntill I see him the other vpon this ansvvere saide no more for the space of an hovvre But aftervvarde hauinge trauailed a little further againe he vvas in hande vvith him to eate some thinge yet then likevvise he vtterly refused because he ment to go throughe fasting as he was His companion was content and so went forwarde with him without taking any thinge him selfe But when they had nowe gone verye farr and vvere well wearied with longe trauailinge at lengthe they came vnto a medowe where there was a fountaine and all such other pleasant thinges as vse to refreshe mens bodies Then his companion saide to him againe Beholde here is water a greene medowe and a very swete place in which we way refreshe our selues and rest a little that we may be the better able to dispatche the rest of our iornye which kinde wordes bewitchinge his eares the pleasant place flatteringe his eies content he was to yeld vnto the motion and so they fell to thiere meate togither and comming after warde in the eueninge to the Abbey they broughte him to the venerable father Bennet of whom he desired his blessinge Then the holy man obiected against him what he had done in the way speaking to him in this manner How fell it out brother quoth he that the deuil talkinge to you by meanes of your companion could not at the first nor seconde tyme perswade you but yet he did at the thirde and made you doe what best pleased him The goode man hearinge these wordes fell downe at his feete confessinge the fault of his frailty was grieued and so much the more ashamed of his sinne because he perceiued that thoughe he were absent that yet he did offende in the sigate of that venerable father Peter I see well that the holy man bad in his soule the spirit of Helizeus who was present with his seruant Giezi beinge then absent from him HOVV THE DISSIMVLATION of kinge Totilas was discouered and founde out by venerable Bennet CHAPTER XIIII Gregory YOu must goode Peter for a little while be silent that you maye knowe matters yet far more important For in the tyme of the Gothes when Toâ—ilas thiere king vnderstode that the holy man had the spirit of prophecyc as he was goinge towardes his monasterye he remayned in a place some what far of and before hand sent the father worde of his comminge to whom answer was returned that he might come at his pleasure The kinge as he was a man wickedlye disposed thoughte he wolde trye whether the man of God were a prophet as it was reported or no. A certaine man of his garde he had called Riggo vpon whoÌ„ he caused his owne shoes to be put to be apparrelled with his other princely roabes coÌ„maÌ„ding him to go as it were him selfe to the man of God to giue the better colour to this deuise he sent three to attende vpon him who especially were alwaies about the kinge to witt Vsiltericus Rudericus and Blindinus charging them that in the preâ—ence of the seruaunt of God they shold be next about him and behaue them selues in such sorte as thoughe he had bene king Totilas indeed that diligeÌ„tly they shoulde doe vnto him all other seruices to the end that both by such dutiful kinde of behauior as also by his purple roabes he mighte verily be taken for the kinge him selfe Riggo furnished with that braue apparrell and accompained with many courtiers came vnto the Abbey at which tyme the man of God satt a little waye of and when Riggo was come â—o nere that he mighte well vnderstand what the man of God saide then in the hearing of them all he spake thus Put of my good sonne put of that apparrell for that which thou hast on is none
Then turninge back to Galla that came raginge after he saide This is father Bennet of whom I tolde you who lookinge vpoÌ„ him in a great fury thinckinge to deale as terribly with him as he had with others cried out aloude to him sayinge Rise vp sirrha rise vp and deliuer me quickelye suche wealth as thowe hast of this mans in keepinge The man of God hearinge such a noise straighte-waies lifte vp his eies from readinge and behelde both him and the countrye fellowe and turninge his eies to his bandes verye straungelye they fell from his armes and that so quickelye as no man with any hast could haue vndone them Galla seeinge him so wonderfullye and quickely loosed fell straighte a trembling and prostratinge him selfe vpon the earth boowed downe his cruell and stiffe necke to the holy mans feete and with humilitye did commende him selfe to his praiers But the venerable man for all this rose not vp from his readinge but callinge for some of his monkes commanded them to haue him in and to giue him some meate And when he was broughte backe againe he gaue him a goode lesson admonishing him not to vse any more suche rigour and cruell dealinge His proude minde thus taken downe away he went but durst not demande after that any thinge of the countrye fellowe whom the man of God not with handes but only with his eies had loosed from his bandes And this is that Peter which I tolde you that those which in a more familiar sorte serue God doe sometyme by a certaine power and authority bestowed vpon them worcke miracles For he that sittinge still did appease the furye of that cruell Gothe and vnloose with his eies those knottes and cordes which did pinion the inocent mans armes did plainelye shewe by the quickenes of the miracle that he had receiued power to worcke all that which he did And nowe will I likewise tell you of an other miracle which by praier he obtayned at Gods handes HOVV BY PRAIER VENERABLE Bennet raised vp a deade childe CHAPTER XXXII BEinge vpon a daye gone out with his monkes to worke in the fielde a country man carrying the corps of his deade sonne came to the gate of the Abbey lamentinge the losse of his childe and inquiringe for holy Bennet they tolde him that he was abroad with his monkes in the fielde Downe at the gate he layd the deade bodye and with great sorrowe of soule ranne in hast to seeke out the venerable father At the same tyme the man of God was returninge home ward from worcke with his monkes whom so sone as he sawe he began to crye out giue me my sonne giue me my sonne The man of God amazed at these wordes stoode still saide what haue I taken awaye your sonne No no quoth the sorrowfull father but he is deade come for Christ Iesus sake and restore him to life The seruaunt of God hearing him speake in that manner seeinge his monkes vpon compassion to sollicit the poore mans sute with great sorrowe of minde he saide Away my goode brethren awaye Suche miracles are not for vs to worcke but for the blessed Apostles why will you lay suche a burthen vpon me as my weakenes can not beare But the poore man whom excessiue griefe enforced wolde not giue ouer his petition but swore that he wolde neuer departe excepte he did raise vp his sonne Where is he then quoth Gods seruaunte he answered that his body lay at the gate of the Abbey to which place when the man of God came with his monkes he kneeled downe and lay vpon the bodye of the little childe and rising he helde vp his handes towardes heauen and saide Beholde not o Lorde my synnes but the faithe of this man than desireth to haue his sonne raised to life and restore that soule to the body which thowe hast taken away He had scarse spoken these wordes and beholde the soule returned backe againe and there with the childes bodye began to tremble in such sort that all which were present did beholde it in straunge manner to pant and shake Then he tooke it by the hande gaue it to his father but aliue in healthe Certaine it is Peter that this miracle was not in his owne power for which prostrat vpon the grounde he praied so earnestly Peter All is most true that before you saide for what you affirmed in wordes you haue nowe verified by examples and worckes But tell me I beseche you whether holy men can do all suche thinges as they please and obtaine at Gods handes whatsoeuer they desire OF A MIRACLE VVROVGHTE by his sister Scholastica CHAPTER XXXIII Gregory VVHat man is there Peter in this worlde that is in greater fauour with God then S. Paul was who yet three tymes desired our Lord ro be deliuered from the pricke of the fleshe and obtained not his petition Concerninge which pointe also I 2. Cor. 12. must nedes tell you howe there was one thinge which the venerable father Bennet wolde haue done and yet he could not For his filter called Scholastica YouÌ„g children dedicated to a religious life dedicated from her infancy to our Lord vsed once a yere to come and visit her brother To whom the man of God went not far from the gate to a place that did belonge to the Abbey there to giue her intertainement And she comming thither on a tyme accordinge to her custome her venerable brother with his monkes went to meete her where they spent the whole daye in the praises of God and spirituall talke and when it was almost nighte they supped together as they were yet sitting at the â—able talkinge of deuoin matters and darcknes came on the-holy NuÌ„ne his sister entreated him to stay there all nighte that they mighte spende it in discoursinge of the ioyes of heauen But by no perswasion wolde he agree vnto that sayinge that he mighte not by any meanes tarry all nighte out of his Abbey At that tyme the skye was so clere that no cloude was to be sene The Nunne receiuinge this deniall of her brother ioyning her handes together laide them vpon the table and so bowing downe her heade vpon them she made her praiers to almighty God and liftinge her heade from the table there fell suddainlye such a tempest of lightninge and thundringe and such abundance of raine that neither venerable Bennet nor his monkes that were with him coulde put theire heade out of dore for the holy Nunne restinge her heade vpon her handes poured forth such a flod of teares vpon the table that she drewe the clere aier to a watrye skye so that after the end of her deuotions that storme of rayne followed and her prayer and the rayne did so meete together that as she lifted vp her heade from the table the thunder beganne so that in one and the verye same instant she lifted vp her head and broughte downe the rayne The man of God seeinge that he could
man of God ansvvered your seruaunt I am quoth he vvhom you tooke for the ransome of the vvidovves sonne but vvhen he vvolde not be satisfied vvith that ansvvere but did instantly presse him to tell not vvhat he vvas novve but vvhat he had bene in his ovvne countrye and did vrge him very often to ansvvere to this pointe the man of God adiuered so strictlye not beeâ—nge able any longer to deny his request tolde him that he vvas a Bishop vvhich his master and Lorde hearinge became vvonderfully affraide and humbly offered him sayinge demaunde vvhat you vvill that you may be well rewardred of me and so returne home to your countrye To whom the man of God Paulinus saide One thinge there is where in you may muche pleasure me and that is to sett at libertye all those that be of my citye which fute he obtained for straighte waies throughout Affricke all were soughte out theire shippes laden with wheate and to giue venerable Paulinus satisfaction they were all discharged and in his company sent home and not long after the king of the Vandals died and so he lost that whipp and seuere gouernemeÌ„t which to his owne destruction and the punnishement of Christians by Gods prouidence he had before receiued And thus it came to passe that Paulinus the seruant of almightye God told truthe and he that voluntarilye alone made him selfe a bondman returned not back alone but with many from captiuity imitatinge him who tooke vpon him the forme of a seruaunt that we sholde not bee seruauntes to synne for Paulinus followinge his example became him selfe for a tyme a seruant alone that afterwarde he mighte be made free with many Peter When I heare that which I can not imitate I desire rather to weepe then to saye any thinge Gregory Concerninge this holy mans death it remayneth yet in the records of his owne church how that he was with a paine of his side broughte to the last cast and that whiles all the rest of the house stoode sounde the chamber only in which he lay sicke was shaken with an earth quake and so his soule was loosed from his bodye and by this meanes it fell out that they were all strookeÌ„ with a great feare that mighte haue sene Paulinus departing this life But because his vertue by that which I spoke of before is sufficiently handled nowe yf you please we will come to other miracles which are both knowne to many and which I haue hearde by the relation of such persons that I can make no doubt but that they be most true OF SAINCTE IOHN THE Pope CHAPTER II. IN the tyme of the Gothes when the most blessed man Iohn Bishoppe of this churche of Rome trauailed to the Emperour IustiniaÌ„ thelder he came into the countrye of Corinth where he lacked an horse to ride vpon which a certaine noble man vnderstandinge lent him that horse which because he was gentle his wife vsed for her owne saddle with order that when he came where he coulde prouide him selfe of an other his wiues horse shold be sent backe againe And so the Bishop rodd vpon him vntill he came to a certaine place where he got an other and then he returned that which he had borrowed But afterwarde when his wife came to take his backe as before she vsed by no meanes could she do it because the horse hauing caried so greate a Bishoppe woulde not suffre a woman to come any more vpon his back therfore he began with monstrous snorting neying and continuall stirringe as it were in scorne to shewe that he coulde not beare any woman vpon whom the Pope him selfe had ridden which thinge her husbande wisely consideringe straight wayes sent him againe to the holy man beseechiÌ„g him to accept of that horse which by riding he had dedicated to his owne seruice Of the same man an other miracle is also reported by our auncetors to witt that in Constantinople when he came to the gate called Aurea where he was mett with great numbers of people in the presence of them all he restored sight to a blinde man that did instantly craue it for laying his hande vpon him he bannished awaye that darcknes which possessed his eies OF S. AGAPITVS THE Pope CHAPTER III. NOt longe after about busines concerninge the Gothes the most blessed man Agapitus Bishop of this holy churche of Rome in which by Gods prouidence I do now serue went to the Emperor Iustinian And as he was trauailinge throughe Grece a dumbe and lame man was brought vnto him for helpe The holy man carefully demanded of his kinsfolke that brought him thither and stoode there weepinge whether they did beleue that it was in his power to cure him who answered that they did firmely hope that he mighte helpe him in the vertue of God by the authoritye of S. Peter vpon which wordes forthwith the venerable man fell to his praiers and beginninge solemne The sacrifice of the masse masse he offered sacrifice in the sighte of almighty God which beinge ended he came from the aultar toke the lame man by the hande and straightwaies in the presence and fighte of all the people he restored him to the vse of his legges and after he had put our Lordes bodye into his mouthe The real presence that tongue which longe tyme before had not spoken was loosed At which miracle all did wonder and began to weepe for ioye and forthwith both feare and reuerence possessed theire mindes beholding what Agapitus coulde do in the power of our Lorde by the helpe of S. Peter OF DATIVS BISHOPPE OF Millan CHAPTER IIII. IN the tyme of the same Emperour Datius Bishopp of Millan about matters of religion trauailed to Constantinople And comminge to Câ—rinthe he soughte for a large house to receiue him and his company and coulde scarse finde anye at length he sawe a far of a faire greate house which he commanded to be prouided for him and when the inhabitants of that place tolde him that it was for many yeares haunted by the deuil and therfor stoode emptye so much the sooner quothe the venerable man oughte we to lodge in it yf the wicked spirit hath taken possession thereof and will nor suffer men to dwell in it Wherevpon he gaue order to haue it made readye which being done he went without al feare to combat with the olde enemye In the deade of the nighte when the man of God was a slepe the deuill began with an huge noise and great outâ—ry to imitate the roaringe of lyoÌ„s the bleatinge of sheepe the brayinge of asses the hissinge of serpentes the gruntinge of hogges and the skreaking of rattes Darius suddainly awaked with the noise of so many beastes rose vp and in great anger spake aloude to the olde serpent and saide Thowe art serued well thowe wretched creature thowe art he that diddest saye I will Isai 14. place my seate in the northe and I will be like to the highest now throughe thy pride
the moÌ„kes made choâ—e of Euthicius to take the charge thereof who condescendinge to theire petition gouerned the Abbey many yeares And not to haue his former oratory vtterly destitute he lefte the reuerent man Florentius to keepe the same who dwelt there all alone and vpon a daye beeinge at his praiers heâ— besoughte almightye God to vouchsafe him of some comforte in that place and hauinge ended his deuotions he went forthe where he founde a beare standinge before the dore which by the bowing downe of his heade to the grounde and shewing in the gesture of his bodie no signe of crueltie gaue the man of God to vnderstande that he was come thither to do him seruice and him selfe likewise did forth with perceiue it And because he had in the house fower or fiue sheepe which had no keeper he commanded the beare to take charge of them sayinge Goe and leade these sheepe to the fielde and at twelue of the clocke come backe againe which charge he tooke vpon him and did dailye come home at that howre and so he performed the office of a goode shepheard and those shepe which before tyme he vsed to deuoure nowe fastinge him selfe he tooke care to haue them safely kepte And when Gods seruaunt determined to fast vntil three of the clocke then he commanded the beare to returne with his shepe at the same houre but when he wolde not fast so longe to come at twelue And whatsoeuer he commanded his beare that he did so that bidden to returne at three of the clocke he wolde not come at twelue and commanded to returne at twelue he wolde not tarry till three And when this had continewed a goode while he began to be famous far and nere for his vertue and holy life But the olde enemy of mankinde by that meanes which he seeth the goode to come vnto glorye by the same doth he drawe the wicked throughe hatred to procure theire owne miserie for fower of Euthicius monkes swellinge with enuye that theire master wroughte not any miracles and that he who was left alone by him was famous for so notable a one vpon very spighte went and killed his beare And therfore when the poore beast came not at his appointed howre Florentius began to suspecte the matter but expectinge yet vntill the eueninge verye muche grieued he was that the beare whom in great simplicitye he called his brother came not home The nexte daye he went to the fielde to seeke for his shepe and his shepheard whom he founde there slayne and making diligeÌ„t inquisition he learned quickely who they were that had committed that vncharitable fact Then was he verye sorye bewailing yet more the malice of the monkes then the deathe of his beare whom the reuerent man Euthicius sent for and did comforte him what he mighte but the holy man Florentius wonderfully grieued in mynde did in his presence curse them sayinge I must in almighty God that they shall in this life in the sighte of the worlde receiue the rewarde of theire malice that haue thus killed my beare which did them no harme whose wordes Gods vengeance did straighte followe for the fower monkes that killed the poore beast were straighte so strooken with a leprosye that theire limmes did rott away and so they died miserably whereat the man of God Florentius was greatly affraide and muche grieued that he had so cursed the monkes and all his life after he wept for that his praier was hearde crying out that him selfe was cruell and that he had murdered those men Which thinge I suppose almighty God did to the end that he shold not beeinge a man of great simplicity vpon any griefe whatsoeuer afterwarde presume to curse anye Peter What is it any great synne yf in our anger we curse others Gregory Why doe you aske me whether it be a great synne when as S. Paul saith Neither 1. Corint 5. cursers shal posses the kingdome of God Thincke then how great the synne is which doth exclude a man out of heauen Peter What yf a man haply not of malice but of negligence in keepinge his tongue doth curse his neighbour Gregory Yf before the seuere iudge idle speche is reprehended howe much more that which is hurtefull Consider then howe damnable those wordes be which proceede of malice when that talke shall be punnished which proceedeth only from idlenes Peter I graunt it to be most true Gregory The same man of God did an other thinge which I must not forget For the reporte of his vertue reachinge far and nere a certaine Deacon that dwelt many miles of trauailed vnto him to commend him selfe to his praiers And comminge to his cell he found it rounde about full of innumerable snakes at which sighte beeinge wonderfully affraide he cried out desiringe Florentius to praye who came forth the skye beeinge then verye clere and lifted vp his eies and his handes to heauen desiringe God to take them awaye in such sort as he best knewe Vpon whose praiers suddainly it thundred and that thunder killed all those snakes Florentius seeing them all deade saide vnto God Beholde ô Lorde thowe hast destroied them all but who shall now carry them awaye and straighte as he had thus spoken so many birdes came as there were snakes killed which tooke them al vp and carried them far of discharginge his habitation from those venemous creatures Peter Certainly he was a man of great vertue and merit whose praiers God did so quickly heare Gregory Puritye of harte and simplicity Peter is of great force with almighty God who is in purity most singular and of nature most simple For those seruauntes of his which doe retire them selues from worldly affaires auoid idle wordes labor not to lose theire deuotion nor to defile theire soule with talkinge doe especially obtaine to be hearde of him to whom after a certaine manner and as they maye they be like in purity and simplicitye of harte But we that liue in the worlde and speake oftentymes idle wordes and that which is worse sometyme those that be hurtefull our wordes and praiers are so muche the farther of from God as they be nere vnto the worlde for we are drawne too much downe towardes the carthe by continuall talkinge of secular busines which thinge the prophet Esaye did verye well reprehend in him selfe after he had beheld the kinge and Lorde of armyes and was penitent cryinge out woe be to me for beeing silent Esai 6. because I am a man that haue defiled lippes and he sheweth straighte after the reason why his lippes were defiled when he saithe I dweâ— in the middest of a people that hath defiled lippes For sorye he was that his lippes were defiled yet concealeth not from whence he had them when he saith that he dwelt in the middest of a people that had defiled lippes For verye harde it is that the tongues of secular men shoulde not defile theire soules with whom they talke for when we doe
within The next morninge verye earelye the Arrian Bishop came thither with many in his company meaninge by force to breake open the dores But suddainlye by miracle the lockes were cast far of and the dores of them selues making a great noise flewe open and all the lampes before putt out were lightened againe by fire descendinge from heauen and the Arrian Bishop that came to enter the churche by violence was suddainly strooken blinde so that other men were faine to leade him backe againe to his owne lodginge Which strange accident when the Lombardes there about vnderstoode they durst not any more presume to violate catholique places and so it fell out wonderfully by Goddes prouidence that for as muche as the lampes in S. Paules churche were by reason of him put out that at one and the selfe same tyme bothe he lost the lighte of his eies and the churche receiued her former lighte againe HOVV A CHVRCHE OF THE Arrians in Rome was hallowed according to the catholick manner CHAPTER XXX NEither is that to be passed ouer in silence which God of his mercye vouchsafed two yers since to shewe in this citye to the great condemnation of the Arrian heresye for parte of that which I intende nowe to speake of many of the people knowe to be true parte the Priest and keepers of the churche affirme that they sawe and hearde A churche of the Arrians in that parte of the city which is called Subura remayned vntil two years since with the dores shut vp at which tyme being desirous that it shoulde be hallowed in the catholique faithe we brought with vs thither the reliques of the blessed martirs S. Steuene and S. Reseruation translation and reuerence of relickes Agatha and so with great multitudes of people singing of praises to almighty God we entred the churche and when the solemnitye or masse was in celebratinge and the people by reason of the straighte place thruste one an other some of them that stoode without the chancell heard an hogge runninge vp and downe throughe theire legges and eache one perceiuinge it tolde it to his next fellowe but the hogge made towardes the churche dore to go forth striking all those into great admiration by whom he passed but thoughe they heard him yet none there was that sawe him which strange thinge God of pietye vouchsafed to shewe to the end we shoulde vnderstande how that the vncleane spirit which before possessed that place was nowe departed and gone when masse Masse was done we went awaye but the nighte followinge such a noise was hearde in the toppe of the churche as thoughe some body had there runne vp and downe and the next nighte after that a far greater and withall of a suddain such a terrible cracke there was as thoughe the whole church had bene quite fallling downe which forthwith vanished awaye and neuer after was the churche troubled any more by the olde enemye but by the great stirr which he kept before his departure he made it apparaunt that he went very vnwillinglye from that place which so longe tyme he had possessed Not manye daies after in a passinge faire and clere daye a cloude miraculouslye descended vpon the altar of the same churche couering it as it had bene with a canopye and filled the churche with suche a kinde of terror and sweetnes that thoughe the dores were wide open yet none durst presume to enter in The Priest also and the keepers of the churche and those which were come thither to saye masse Saying of mass behelde the selfe same thinge yet could they not goe in althoughe they felt the sweetenes of that straunge perfume Likewise vpon an other daye the lampes hanginge without lighte fire came from heauen and sett them a burninge and a fewe daies after when masse was ended and the keeper of the churche had putt out the lampes and was departed yet returninge backe againe he founde them burninge which before he had putt forth but thinckinge that he had done it negligently he did it nowe more carefully the second tyme and so departed the churche and shutt the dore but returninge three houres after he founde them againe burning as before to the ende that by the very light the worlde mighte manifestly knowe how that place was from darckenes translated to lighte Peter Althoughe we be in great miseryes and tribulations yet these straunge miracles which God vouchsafeth to worcke do plainly declare that he hath not vtterlye forsaken and giuen vs ouer Gregory Albeit I was determined to recount vnto you only such straunge thinges as were done in Italye are you for all that content to the further condemnation of the saide Arrian heresy that I turne a little my speeche to Spaine and so by Africk returne backe againe to Italye Peter Goe whether you will willingâ—ye will I trauaile with you and ioyfullye returne home againe OF KINGE HERMIGILDVS sonne to Leuigildus kinge of the Visegothes who was for the catholicke faithe put to deathe by his father CHAPTER XXXI Gregory NOt longe since as I haue learned of many which came from Spaine kinge Hermigildus sonne of Leuigildus kinge of the Visegothes was from Arrian heresye lately conuerted to the catholicke faithe by the most reuerent man Leander Bishoppe of Seuill with whom I was not longe since familiarly acquainted which yonge Prince vpon his conuersion his father beinge an Arrian laboured both by large promises and terrible threates to drawe againe to his former error but when most constantlye his sonne answered that he wolde neuer forsake the true faithe which he had once imbraced his father in great aÌ„ger tooke awaye his kingdom and beside depriued him of all wealth and riches and perceiuinge that with all this his minde was nothinge moued he committed him to straight prison laying irons both vpon his necke and handes Vpon this the yonge kinge Hermigildus began nowe to contemne his earthly kingdome and to seeke with great desire after the kingdome of heauen and VVearing of heare cloth lyinge in prison fast bounde he prayed to almighty God in heare cloth to sende him heauenly comforte and so muche the more did he despise the glorye of this transitory worlde by how muche he knewe him selfe in that case that he had now nothinge that coulde be taken from him When the solemne feast of Easter The feast of Easter was come his wicked father sent vnto him in the deade of the nighte an Arrian Bishop to giue him the communion of a sacrilegious consecration that he mighte thereby againe recouer his fathers grace and fauour but the man of God as he oughte sharpely reprehended that Arrian Bishop which came vnto him and giuing him such entertainement as his desertes required vtterly reiected him for albeit outwardly he laye there in bandes yet inwardly to him selfe he stoode secure in the height of his owne soule The father at the returne of the Arrian prelat vnderstandinge these newes fell into such a rage that
so he will depart from you very well contented But they seeing no oile to runne forth and hearinge him yet for all that so earnest to haue his bottle filled fell into a greate rage and railed mightely vpon him Then the man of God seeinge that no oile came from the presse called for vvater vvhich he blessed before them all and vvith his owne handes cast it vpon the prâ—sse A miracle wrought by holie water and forthwith by vertue of that benediction such plentye of oile ranne forthe that the Lombardes who before had longe laboured in vaine did not only fill theire owne vessels but also his bottle giuing him thanckes for that comminge to begge oile by his blessinge he bestowed that vpon them which him selfe had demanded At an other tyme when a great dearth was in the countrye the man of God being desirous to repaire the church of S. Laurence burnt before by Churches dedicated to sainctes the Lombardes he hired for that ende many cunning workemen and diuers other labourers who of necessity were daily to be maynetained but so greate was the scarsitye that he wanted breade to relieue them where vpon his worckmen cryed out for meate because they were fainte and could not labour The man of God hearing this gaue them comfortable wordes promisinge to supplye theire want yet inwardlye verye muche was he grieued beinge not able to performe what he had saide Goinge therfore vp and downe in great anxietie he came to an ouen wherein the neighbours that dwelt by had the daye before baked breade and stooping downe he looked in to see whether they had by chance lefte any breade behinde them where he founde a loase both greater and whiter then commonly they vsed which he tooke awaye but yet wolde he not by and by giue it to his vvorckemen least perhappes it belonged to some other body and so mighte as it vvere of compassion to other haue committed a synne him selfe and therfore he did first shevve it to all the vvemen there about inquiringe vvhether it vvere any of theirs but all denied it sayinge that they had all receiued theire iust number of â—oaues Then the man of God in great ioy vvent vvith that one â—oafe to many vvorckemen vvishinge them to giue thanckes to almighty God tellinge them hovve his goodenes had prouided them of necessarye foode and forthvvith he sett that loafe before them vvhereof vvhen they had satisfied them selues he gathered vp more pieces of breade vvhich remayned then the vvhole loafe it selfe vvas before in quantitye The daye follovvinge againe he sett it before them and againe the pieces remayninge vvere far more them the former fragmentes so for the space of tenne daies together all those artiâ—icers and vvorckemen liued vpon that one loafe and vvere very vvell satisfied some thinge remayninge euerye daye for the next as thoughe the fragmentes had by eatinge encreased Peter A strange thinge and not vnlike to that notable miracle of our Sauiour and therfore vvorthye to be admired of all Gregory Our Sauiour at this tyme Peter voutsafed by his seruaunt to feede manye vvith one loafe vvho in tymes past by him selfe feed fiue thousande Ioan. 〈◊〉 vvith fiue loaues and doth daily of a fevve graines of corne produce innumerable eares of vvheate vvho also out of the earth brought forth those very graynes and more then all this created all thinges of nothinge But to the end you shoulde not maruaile any longer vvhat by Gods assistance the venerable man Sanctulus vvrought outvvardlye I vvill novv tell you vvhat by our Lordes grace he vvas invvardlye in his soule Vpon a certaine daye the Lombardes had taken a Deacon vvhom they kept in prison vvith a purpose to put him to death When eueninge vvas come the man of God Sanctulus intreaâ—ed them to set him at liberty and to graunt him his life but vvhen he savve that he coulde not obtayne that â—auor at theire handes but that they vverefully resolued to haue his life then he beseeched them that they wolde at least committ him to his keeping vvherewith they were content but with this condition that yf he scaped away that then him selfe should dy for him The man of God was very well content and so he receiued the deacon into his owne charge and custodye The midnighte followinge when he sawe all the Lombardes fast a slepe he called vp the Deacon willing him quickly to rise vp and to runne away as fast as he coulde and almighty God quoth he deliuer the out of theire handes To whom the Deacon knowing what he had promised saide Father I can not runne away for yf I do out of all doubt they will putt you to death yet for all this Sanctulus enforced him to be gone with all spede saying vp and awaye and God of his goodenes defende and protect you for I am in his handes and they can do no more vnto me then his diuine Maâ—estye shall giue them leaue Vpon these wordes awaye went the Deacon and he that had vndertaken his safe-keepinge as one that had bene deceiued remayned behinde In the morning the Lombardes demanded of Sanctulus for theire prisoner who tolde them that he was runne awaye Then quoth they you best knowe what is conuenient for you to haue yea marye that do I answered the seruant of God with great constancye well quoth they thou art a goode man and therfore we will not by diuers tormentes take avvay thy life but make câ—oise of what death thou vvilt to vvhom the man of God ansvvered in this manner Here I am at Gods disposition and pleasure kill me in such sort as he shall vouchsafe to giue you leaue Then all the Lombardes that were present agreed to haue him beheaded to the end an easy and quick death mighte sone dispatche him When it was giuen out abroade that Sanctulus vvas to dye whom for his vertue and holines they greatly honoured all the Lombardes that were in those partes repaired thither being glad such cruell mindes they haue to beholde him putt to death and when all the a â—mye was gathered together they brought him forth to execution and the strongest man amongest them was chosen out to cutt of his head at one blowe The venerable man besett with armed soldiars betooke him selfe to his vsuall weapons for he desired them to giue him a little leaue to praye which when he had obtained he cast him selse prostrat vpon the earth and fell to his deuotions in which after he had continewed for a goode space the executioner spurned him vp with his foote bidding him rise kneele downe and to prepare him selfe for death The man of God rose vp bowed downe his knee and helde forth his heade and beholding the drawne sworde readye to dispatch him these only wordes they saide that he spake aloude O Sainct Iohne holde that sworde Then Praier to Saint Iohne the foresaide executioner hauing the naked weapon in his hand did with all his force lifte vp his
and the badd haue knowledge of the badd For yf Abraham had not knowne Lazarus neuer wolde he haue spoken to the riche man being in tormentes and made mention of his affliction and misery past sayinge that he had receiued euil thinges in his life And yf the badd did not know the badde neuer wolde the rich man in tormentes haue remembred his brethren that were absent for shall we thincke that he knewe not them that were present with him who was so carefull to praye for them that were absent By which we learne also the answer to an other question which you demanded not and that is that the goode do knowe the badde and the badde the goode For Abraham knewe the rich man to whom he saide Thow hast receiued goode thinges in thy life and Lazarus Gods elect seruant vvas also knovvne to the rich reprobat vvhom by name he desired that he mighte be sent vnto him saying Send Lazarus that he may dippe the tippe of his finger into water and coolemy tongue by vvhich mutuall knovvledg on both sides the revvarde like wise to both partes encreaseth for the goode do more reioice when they beholde them also in felicitye whom before they loued and the wicked seeing them whom in this worlde not respecting God they did loue to be now punnished in theire coÌ„panye tormented they are not only with theire owne paines but also with the paines of theire frendes Beside all this a more wonderful grace is bestowed vpon the saintes in heaueÌ„ for they knowe not only them with whom they were acquainted in this worlde but also those whom before they neuer sawe and conuerse with them in such familiar sort as thoughe in â—ymes past they had sene and knowne one an other and therfore when they shall see the auncient fathers in that place of perpetual blisse they shall then knowe them by sighte whom alwaies they knewe in theire liues and conuersation For seing they doe in that place with vnspeakeable brightenes common to all beholde God what is there that they knowe not that knowe him who knoweth all thinges OF A CERTAINE RELIGIOVS man that at his death sawe the Prophetes CHAPTER XXXIIII FOr a certaine religious man of my Monasterye that liued a vertuous life dying some fower yeres since sawe at the very tyme of his departure as other religious men do report that were present the Prophet Ionas Ezechiell and Daniell and by there names called them his Lordes saying that they were come vnto him and as he was bowing his heade downewarde to them for reuerence he gaue vp the ghost whereby we perceiue what perfect knowledge shall be in that immortall life vvhen as this man beinge yet in corruptâ—ble fleshe knewe the Prophetes whom he neuer sawe HOVV SOMETIME SOVLES READY to depart this worlde that know not one an other know yet what tormentes for theire sinnes or like rewardes for theire goode dedes they shall receiue And of the death of Iohne Vrsus Eumorphius and Steuen CHAPTER XXXV ANd sometyme it falleth out that the soule before it departeth knoweth them with whom by reason of equalitye of synnes or rewardes it shall in the next worlde remayne in one place For old Eleutherius a man of holy life of whom in the former booke I spake muche saith that he had a naturall brother of his called Iohne who liued together with him in his Monasterye who fourtene daies before hande tolde the monkes when he was to dye and three daies before he departed this life he fell into an agewe when his time was come he receiued the mysterye of our Lordes body and bloude and calling for the monkes about him he willed them to singe in his presence prescribing them a certaine antheme concerning him selfe sayinge Open vnto me the gates of iustice Psal 17. v. 19. and being gone into them I will confesse vnto our Lorde this is the gate of our Lorde iuste men shall enter in by it and whiles the monkes about him were singinge this antheme suddainlye with a loude and longe voice he cried out saying Come awaye Vrsus straighte after which wordes his soule departed this mortall life The monkes maruailed because theye knewe not the meaning of that which at his death he so cried for and therfore after his departure all the Monastery was in sorrow and affliction Fower daies after necessary busines they had to send some of theire brethren to an other Monastery far distant to which place when they came they founde all the monkes in great heauines and demanding the reason they tolde them that they did lament the desolation of theire house for fower daies since quoth they one of our monkes died whose life kept vs all in this place and when they inquired his name they vnderstoode that it was Vrsus asking also at what houre he left this woâ—lde they found that it was as that very instant when he was called by Iohne who died with them Out of which we may learne that the merites of either were alike and that in the next worlde they liued familiarly together in one mansion who at one tyme like fellowes departed this life Here also will I tell you what I hearde from the mouthes of my neighbours at such tyme as I was yet a lay man and dwelled in my fathers house which descended to me by inheritance A certain widow there was not far from me called Galla which had a younge man to her sonne whose name was Eumorphius not far from whom dwelt one Steuen called also Optio This Eumorphius lying sicke at the pointe of death called for his man commanding him in all hast to goe vnto Steuen Optio and to desire him without all delaye to come vnto him because there was a ship ready to carry them both into Sicily But because his man refused to goe supposing that through extremitye of sicknes he knewe not what he spake his master very earnestlye vrged him forwarde sayinge Goe thy may and tell him what I saye for I am not mad as thow thinckest Here-vpon away he went towardes Steuen but as he was in the middest of his iornye he met one that asked him whether he was goinge and when he tolde him that he was by his master sent to Steuen Optio You lose your labour quoth the other for I come nowe from thence and he died this verye houre Backe againe vpon this newes he returned to his master Eumorphius but before he coulde get home he founde him deade And so by conferring theire meeting together and the length of the waye apparaunt it was that both of them at one and the selfe same instant departed this mortall life Peter Very terrible it is that you saye but what I praye yow is the reason that he sawe a shipp at his departure or why did he sayo that he was to goe into Sicily Gregory The soule needeth not any thing to cary it yet no wonder it is yf that appeared to the soule being yet in the
his none of the other monkes euer vnderstoode But at lengthe it came forth by this meanes for falling grieuously sicke so that no hope of life remayned he caused all the monkes of the Conuent to be called together who all willingly came verily thincking that at the departure of so notable a man they shoulde haue hearde some sweete and goode exhortation but it fell out farr otherwise for with great trouble of minde and tremblinge of bodye he was inforced to tell them that he died in a damnable state saying when you thoughte that I fasted with you then had I my meate in secret corners and beholde nowe I am deliuered to a dragon to be deuoured who with his taile hath in wrapped fast my handes and feete and his heade he hath thrust into my mouth and so he lieth sucking and drawing out of my breath and speaking these wordes he departed this life and had not any tyme giuen to deliuer him selfe by penance from that dragon with he sawe By which we learne that he had this vision only for the commoditye of them that hearde it seing him selfe could not escape from the enemy which he behelde and into whose handes he was giuen to be deuoured Peter Desirous I am to be informed whether we ought to beleeue that after death there is any fire of Purgatorye VVHETHER THERE BE ANY FIRE of purgatorye in the next worlde CHAPTER XXXIX Gregory OVr Lorde saith in the Gospell VValke whiles you haue the lighte Ioan. 12. and by his Prophet he saith In tyme accepted haue I hearde the and in the day of saluation haue I holpen the Esai 49. which the Apostle S. Paul expounding saith Beholde nowe 2. Corint 6. is the tyme acceptable beholde nowe the the daye os saluation Salomon likewise saith whatsoeuer thy hand is able to doe Ecclesiastes 9. v. 10. worcke it instantlye for neither worcke nor reason nor knowledge nor wisdome shal be in hel whether thow doest hasten Dauid also saith Because his mercy is for euer By Psal 117. which sayings it is plaine that in such state as a man departeth out of this life in the same he is presented in iudgement before God But yet we Purga ry fire the â—â—â— life foâ— smal si nes Math. must beleeue that before the daye of iudgement there is a Purgatorye fire for certaine small synnes because our Sauiour saithe that he which speaketh blasphemye against the holy Ghost that it shal not be sorgiuen him neither in this worlde nor in the worlde to come Out of which sentence we learne that some synnes are forgiuen in this worlde and some other may be pardoned in the next sor that which is denied concerninge one synne is consequentlye vnderstoode to be graunted touching some other But yet ths as I saide we haue not to beleeue but only concerninge little and very smal synnes as for example daily idle talke immoderate laughter negligence in the care of our family which kinde of offences scarce can they auoide that knowe in what sorte sinne is to be shunned ignoraÌ„terror in matters of no great waighte all which synnes be punnished after death yf men procured not pardon remissioÌ„ for them in their life tyme for wheÌ„ S. Paul saith that Christ is the fouÌ„datioÌ„ 1. Corin 3. and by by addeth And if any man build vpon this soundation gold siluer pretious stones woode hay stubble the worcke of euery one of what kinde it is the fire shal trye if any mans worcke abide which he built therevpon he shal receiue rewarde if any mans worcke burne he shal suffre detriment but him selfe shal be saued yet so as by fire For althoughe these wordes may be vnderstood of the fire of tribulation which men suffre in this worlde yet yf any wil interpret them of the fire of purgatorye which shall be in the next life then must he carefully consider that the Apostle saide not that he may be saued by fire that buildeth vpon this foundation â—ron brasse or lead that is the greater sort of synnes and therfore more harde and consequently not remissible in that place but woode haye stubble that is little and very lighte synnes Litile and light synnes which the fire doth easilye consume Yet we haue here further to consider that none can be there purged no not for the least synnes that be vnlesse in his life tyme he deserued by vertuous worckes to finde such faâ—or in that place OF THE SOVLE OF PASchasius the Deacon CHAPTER XL. FOr when I was yet in my yonger yeares and liued a secular life I hearde from the mouth of myne elders who knewe it to be true how that Paschasius a Deacon of this Romane churche whose sounde and eloquent bookes of the holy Ghost be extant amongest vs was a man of a wonderfull holy life a maruailous giuer of almes a louer of the poore and one that contemned him selfe This man in that conteÌ„tion which through the exceding hote emulation of the clergye fellout betwixt Symmachus and Laurence made choise of Laurence to be Bishop of Rome and thoughe he was afterwarde by common consent ouercome yet did he continewe in his former opinion vntil his dying daye louinge and preferring him whom the The Biâ—shop oâ—Rome â—uernor the church Churche by the iudgement of Bishoppes refused for her gouernor This Deacon ending his life in the tyme of Symmachus Bishoppe of the Apostolike sea a man possessed with a deuill came â—elickes â—isposses â—euiles 4 dalma â—icke or â—unicle is â—hat veâ—timent â—vhich the Deaâ—on vseth â—â—t the tyme of Masse and touched his dalmatike as it laye vpon the biere and was forthwith deliuered from that vexation Longe tyme after Germanus Bishop of Capua before mentioned by the counsell of Phisitions for the recouerye of his health went to the bathes into which after he was entred he founde there standinge in those â—ote waters the foresaide Paschasius ready to doe him seruice At which sighte being much affraide he demanded what so worthy a man as he was did in that place to whom Paschasius returned this answere For no other cause quoth he am I appointed to this place of punnishement but for that I tooke parte with Laurence against Symmachus and therfore I beseche you to pray vnto our Lorde for me and by this token shall you knowe that your Praier for soules deâ—parted praiers be hearde yf at your comminge againe you finde me not here Vpon this the holy man Germanus betooke him selfe to his deuotions and after a fewe daies he went againe to the same bathes but founde not Paschasius there for seing his fault proceded not of malice but of ignorance he mighte after death be purged from that synne And yet we must with all thincke that the plentifull almes which he bestowed in this life obtained fauour at Gods handes that he mighte then deserue pardon when he could worcke nothing at all for him selfe Peter What I praye you