barbarous natured man to the end that he should draw them to offerre vp sacrifice or put them to most grieuous torments Besides that in this he also had another respecte to haue Sergius the more auiled and disgraced by hauing appointed for his judge Antiochus aman that in former times was one of his followers and had bin preferred to the dignitie of Gouernor of Prefect of the East by the meanes of Sergius The holie Saincts were brought before him and he committed them first to prison where they spent they re time in prayer and deuotion beseeching oure Lord to graunt them strength and affoord them succoure in they re battaile Afterwards Antiochus fending for them vsed all meanes to winne they re willes to offer vp sacrifice to his Idolls But they answearing that his Idolls were diuells and no Gods he commaunded foure lustie and merciless fellowes to whip and scourge Bacchus with the toughest and hardest finewes of Oxen. This torment was so terrible and the lashes so cruell tearing his fleshe and wounding him so deepely that heerewith the martyr ended his lyfe and yielded vp his spiritt to God He afterward appeered vnto Sergius shining with glorie ad heauenly brightnesse he declared vnto him the endless reward which he had receaued for those short torments and encouraged him to vndergoe what paine soeuer was prepared for him to the end that as in they re punishment they might be partners in they re victorie and triumph Antiochus earnestlie to make Sergius more plyant and reduce him to his opinion but seing all he could doe was in vaine led by his fierce and cruell nature and desirous to satisfie the Emperoure he commaunded a paire of shoes all bestudded and thick sett with points of sharp nailes to be putt on his feete so to runne before his chariott and after this manner he did driue him nine miles to the excessiue paine of the holie martyr our of whose feet ranne streames of bloud But the night next ensuing an Angell did come and cherish him and so healed his feet as yf he had suffered nothing at all The iudge attributed to Magicke this fauoure of God and being therewith more enhardened did commaund him to endure againe the same torment Then seeing nothinge would auaile nor worke the martyr to his will he commaunded that his head should be stroken of Sergius kneeled downe vpon his knees and made his prayer to allmightie God beseeching him to accept the loss of his lyfe as a sacrifice to pardon those that did persecute him and graunt them knowledge of his light and his trueth He heard a voyce which inuited him to the kingdome of heauē did congratulate his victorie wherefore stretching forth his necke he was streightwaie beheaded the 7 of october in the yeare of oure Lord 306. God did honoure Sergius from Heauen with miracles and on earth he was honoured with great gyfts of Princes For Cosroes king of Persia though a pagan and Infidell did send to his temple a most riche Cross of gold with other precious gyftes in token of preat fauours receaued at his hands as childen by his wyfe queene Sira and safetie in manie great daungers and perilles Iustinian the emperour built two fayre churches in his name one at Constantinople the other at Ptolemaida At Rome a churche with the title of a Deacon Cardinall is dedicated vnto them And the verie citie wherein S. Sergius was put to death was called by his name Sergiopolis Of these two Saincts there is mention made in the second Nicene councell actione 5. in the Roman martyrologe and manie famous authors The life of SS Marcellus and Apuleius martyrs ON this self same dai the 7. of Octob. the Churche doth make a commemoration of Marcellus Apuleius martyrs They had bin disciples of Simon Magus but seeing by his disputations with S. Peeter that he was nothing but a false deceaver they forsooke and left him astonied at the wondrous works miracles of the glorious Apostle receaued his doctrine were made Christiās followed him all the dai of his life After his death thei liued according to his heauenlie doctrine vntill they came to be so happie as to shed they re bloud for that Faith and religion which they had learned of so good a maister They were putt to death and martyred by the commaundement of a Consull called Aurelian in the raigne of Domitian and in the yeare of our lord 93. the 7. of October and were buried without Rome neere the walles of the cittie The life of S. Dionise Areopagite and others SALOMON in the booke of wisdome saith that God disposeth all things sweetlie ordaining most conuenient meanes to obtaine such ends as he intendeth This was the reason why in his birth he vsed a starre to guide the three Eastern Kinges to adore him For they being Magi that is men skillfull in Astrologie by seing a starre of so new a fashion so different in place in course and motion from all other starres would be the more easilie wonne and allured to seeke the author and cause of that starre as they did effectuallie finding and adoringe IESVS CHRIST To conuert S. Dionise the Areopagite a great Philosopher and Astrologer God vsed the like propertionable meanes and it was that rare and singular Ecclips which at the time of oure sauioures death happened beyond the course of nature For Dionise marking the strangeness there of and maruailing at such a neuer seene wonder noted the yeare the day and houre and after vnderstanding by S. Paule the true cause and misterie of that Ecclipse he was conuerted to embrace that religion which was established by his death who was principall author and only motiue of that wonder which surpassed nature The life of this Sainct with Rusticus and Elutherius his fellow martirs collected out of Michaël Singelus priest of Hierusalem out of Suidas and Simeon Metaphrastes is as followeth THE cittie of Athens was famous in all Greece for that it was the chief place of learning the wellspring of knowledge and mother of Wisemen Dionise the Areopagite was borne therein of a riche and honourable familie and of parents morallie iust and courteous louelie to strangers and liberall in his youth he gaue himselfe to learning wherein he became so eminent that aswell for his knowledge as for his Nobilitie he had the chiefe place amonghst the Magistrates which gouerned the cittie He was most eloquent in the Attick tongue a most skillfull Rhetorician a rare man in the doctrine of Stoicks Epicureans and other Philosophers But aboue all he was accounted a iust man and vertuous in exercising his office not fauouring the riche nor oppressing the poore not cōdemning the innocent nor leauing the culpable without due chastizement He went into Egypt to studie the better vnderstand the course of the heauē the force influence of the starres and all that knowledge of Astrologie Being about the age of fiue and twentie and residing in the cittie
gotten with child and the author of that wickednes was not knowen She being vpon the time of her deliuery her father and mother vrged her to tell the man that had dishonored her that they might inflict vpon him some punishment agreable to his desert Shee to free her self from further reproache for that he was of so base a coÌ„dition and estate that she was ashamed to say who it was laid the blame vpon a deacon of the Apostles saing that he committed that villany The deacon was forth with taken and led before the king The Apostles vnderstanding therof and knowing he was innocent went to the court and requested the king that the parties and the child that was new borne might be brought before him and so it was done The Apostle asked when the child was borne and they said that the same day then they looked on the child and said vnto him we commaund thee in the name of IESVS CHRIST to tell vs if this deacon hath committed the offence that thy mother chargeth him withall The infant aunswered This deacon is good and chast and neuer in his life committed any carnall sinne and he is not my father His ennemies vrged the Apostles instantly to ask of the child who it was that had committed the offence they aunswered It is lawfull for vs to cleare the innocent but it is not fit for vs to disclose them that are faulty And at this the wholle company remained astonied and amazed The faith being well planted in that place they departed from Babilon went preaching through many prouinces of that kingdome and at last they came to a very rich city called Suamir in which place Zaroes and Arphaxat the two magitians told the ministers of the Idolls that the Apostles were in the city Wherfore many of them assembled and took the Apostles and imprisoned them and led Simon to the temple of the Sonne and Thadeus to the temple of the Moone for to adore them but at the praiers of the Apostles the Idolls and their statues fell in pieces and to dust and out of them went two deuills in the shape of Negroes with horrible roaring and houling The painims were moued therat with such indignatioÌ„ that in a rage and with infernall fury they ranne vpon the Apostles and cut them in pieces At that time the heauens and skie was cleare and calme and one a sodein it was couered with black clouds which powred downe a dredfull tempest and withall fell many thunderbolts which beat downe to the ground the temples of the Idolls nere vnto them and slew many of the Painims among whom were the two Magitians whose bodies were afterwards found beaten to ashes The king of Babilon who was a Christian was much grieued for the death of the Apostles and sent men to fetch their bodies vnto Babilon where he caused a Church to be builded vnto them in which place they remained for a while They were after ward caried to Rome and laid in the Church of S. Peter The martirdome of these holy saints was on the 28. day of October and on the same day the Church celebrateth their feast The Apostle Iude Thaddeus wrote one epistle which is numbered in the canonicall scripture God graunt we may be all written in the book of life Amen The martirdome of these two holy saints was in the yeare of our Lord 64. in the time of Nero the Emperour after the opinion of Onuphrius and Canisius * ⎠* The end of the month of October NOVEMBER The feast of all Saincts THe sacred scripture in the booke of Hester recounteth Cap. 1 that king Assuetus to shew the greatnes and majesty of his Empire in the third yeare of his raigne made a most solemne feast to the Lordes and Princes of his court and to all other the subjects of his kingdomes This feast lasted manie daies the tables were allwaies couered and richly furnished with most costlie meat and delicious wines and euerie other thing was in great aboundance No man was forbidden but euery man might eare when and of what it best pleased him Yet that in which the greatnes and maiestie of the king was showed was as said the text that there was great store of wine and that most excellent and such was giuen to euery one as pleased him best When the king made this feast Queene Vasti his wife made also another vnto her Ladies and the damosells of the court in which likewise her magnificence and bountie wasshewed being serued also at her tables with sundrie different dishes of most delicate viandes This feast is a figure and representation of that which passeth in the triumphant and millitant Church The great king Assuerus representeth our Lord God who to shew the glory and maiestie of his Empire in the third yeere of his kingdome made a most solemne feast unto the Princes and Lords of his court and all other of his kingdomes These three yeeres signifie the three estates and ages of the world to witt of the law of nature of the law written and of the law of grace That king Assuerus made this feast in the third yeare signifieth that in the third age and state of the world to witt in the time of the law of grace our Lord God opened heauen for before in the time of the law of nature and law written heauen was shut vp from men and they could not enter thereinto but in the time of the law of grace God opened his royall pallace and inuited all the great Lords of his court to participate and enioy the rich treasors he had therein as the Apostles Martyrs Confessors and Virgins do who sit continually at his celestiall tables and eate that which is most to their content For the viands or meaâ—es being variable to witt the delights and contents in heauen being sundrie euery one taketh and reacheth that which sauoureth best to him But aboue all the wine for that it is most excellent maketh the feast better and sheweth the greatnes thereof This wine signifieth the taste and suauity of the Holie Ghost which is bestowed among them in great aboundance the blessed being as it were inebriated of God are made partakers thereof and haue no mind ner thought of any thing that may bring discontent or anney but all things causeth vnto them vnspeakable ioye and delight This is the feast which the king made It is said also that the Queene made a feast to the Ladies and damosells of the court By the Queene is vnderstood the Catholique Church who maketh a feast vnto her women and damosells that is the soules trauayling in her affaires It is not altogether from the purpose if it be said that they that be in the millitant Church be called woemen and they that be in the triumphant be called men because as man is the more perfect creature then woman so there is found more perfection in them that be in heauen then in them that be on the
the eight daie After he had bene visited and adored by the three kings on the thirteene daie and after he had bene presented on the 40. daie in the Temple of Ierusalem S. Ioseph and the B. virgin with their litle child being returned vnto Nasareth the Euangelist S. Mathew saith that an Angell of our Lord appeared to S. Ioseph in his sleepe and said vnto him Arise and take the child with his mother Mat. 2. v. 13. and flie into Egipt and staie there vntill I bring thee word for Herod will seek to kill the child God hath great care of his friends vnto whom he sheweth the remedy before the hurt God being omnipotent was able to haue made Ioseph and the virgin with the litle child to haue remained saffe in Nasareth by miracle but he doth not alwaies miracles where prouision may be made by mans help This you maie perceiue in Abraham who feared to be murthred in Egipt for his wiues sake who was very beautifull for the Egiptians if they had knowne she had beene his wife would haue killed him and taken her awaye bad her saie that she was not his wife but his sister He might well saie she was his sister for the neere kinred that was betweene them The holie man Ioseph did not staie long to execute the commaundement of God but gaue notice of his reuelation vnto the blessed virgin and without staie they trauelled with their infant into Egipt and there they stayed in secret manner vnto the time of Herodes death The old Adam broke the commaundement of God Gen 3. and fled from him but the new Adam to fullfill the commaundement of God went to hyde himself and laye hid as a stranger for certaine yeeres in Egipt This was done for the consolation of the saints that they should not wonder if they were forced sometimes to flye and if at any time they lye hidden or secret it is no great matter since they be in a strange land But if they will be in all places happie and secure let them haue the child IESVS in their companie though it be in the land of Egipt as Ioseph and Mary had who were well intertained and much made of by that barbarous nation for the child IESVS sake who they had with them A delinquent or offender flyeth often vnto the Church for succour and some times he will take a litle child if he can and get with him vpon some steeple or tower The people will shoot no harquebuze or arrow at him least they might kill the child but they will rather giue him victuals to eat least the inocent child should dye for hunger So also if a iust man seing himself persecuted take IESVS CHRIST which is the child with him in this life he shal be secure and saffe but if he staie to take him in the other life then he shal be potent and strong and then it will litle help to seek to take him vp as it is to smale purpose for them which be in hell to praie vnto God CHRIST in this life maie be taken vp as a litle child and he that shall haue him in his companie maie be secure and assured to haue meanes and remedies to be deliuered out of all dangers and perrills that can come vnto any man Lib 16. Cap 7. though all the men on earth and diuells in hell make warre against him Iosephus saith in his book of Antiquities that Herod had bene busied with controuersies that he had against his owne sonnes for the succession of his kingdome and had bene enforced to go to Rome to defend his allegations before the Emperour Caesar Augustus And when he had ended that varyance he began another with the children of the citizens and inhabitants of the territorie of Bethleem Herod called then to his remembrance the three kings which came to seek the new borne king of the Iewes If they had said he had bene in a stable and layd vpon a litle haye it might be he would not haue regarded it but the wisemen told him that they sought the king of the Iewes who was latelie borne Herod kept that kingdome by tyrany and force not comming to it by kinred or bloud for he was a stranger borne yet he had receiued the religion of the Iewes obserued their lawe He knew that people looked for the Messias and king which should set them at libertie and deliuer them from all opression which he vnderstood temporally when he heard the three wise men saie that this king was borne he grew into a great suspition and sought by all meanes to know of the law where this king should be borne and he being told by them that he should be borne in Bethleem he sent the kings thither apointing them to returne vnto Ierusalem and to certifie him where the new king was to be found because he also would go to adore him The cursed wretch said this in deceit because he would haue murthered him The mallice of man cannot preuaile against the wisedome of God for he was so blinded that he had not the reason to send a messenger of his owne with them to certifie him of their doings It happened after that the kings warned by God returned vnto their owne countries by another waie Herod seing that the kings had mocked him and douâ—ing vtterlie to loose his kingdome he called all his captaines and men of warre and as Basill Bishop of Seleucia saith who is alleadged by Simeon Metaphrastes he spake to them in this manner I haue oftentimes had experience my louing seruants and friends of your courage and valiant harts in the affaires which haue happened in my kingdome though they haue bene many and of great difficultie in which you haue not refused to aduenture your liues in my seruice At this time is fallen out a most important busines vnto which if I giue not remedie I shall remediles loose this my kingdome and you your king who hath alwaies shewed you many fauours and graced you and studieth still to do you many more Now it shall appeere if you be as desirous to serue me and if you account your selues valiant souldiers now is the time to shew your valour for euen in mine owne house is a great mischief readie to oppresse me Know then that my royall estate is secretlie threatened yea the vtter subuersion and ouerthrowe thereof There is no open warre proclaimed or made against me neither am I assailed by any publike enemie but a child who is not yet two yeeres old threateneth to depriue me of my crowne and of the scepter of the kingdome of Israell He is borne in the cittie of Bethleem and there he remaineth at this present time and of this child haue the prophets said that he shal be king of Israell and that he shall set my crowne on his head and shall take the scepter of the kingdome out of my hand I feare the prophets because I haue not seene their words
condescended to the Kings request but that S. Thomas alwayes cryed out The Church of God ought not to be ruled and directed with hypocriticall dissembling and worldly crafte and pollicie but with Iustice and Trueth which freeth her followers from all dangers At length the King of Fraunce with entreaty and the Pope with the terroure of the Churches censures made a full attonement and reconciliation betweene his Maiestie of England and the Archbishop the King not only recalling him and all his friends from his banishment but also writing into England that peacebly well and honorably he his might be restored to all which they enioyed three moneths before his departure out of England He led him also aside and talked with him so long and so familiarly as if no disagreement had euer bin betweene them he gaue him leaue to proceede against such of his suffragans as had offended during his absence and at his departure willed him to forget all former hatred and restore vnto each other their auncient loue and affection and so the Archbishop humbling himselfe at his Maiesties feete tooke his leaue and departed towards England after seauen yeares of banishment And although he vnderstood by the Earle of Bullen and manie others comming out of England that no other preparation was made there to receaue him but of prisons and bonds and treacherous proceedings and thirsting after his bloud and his life yet would he not stay his iourney but answered Allthough I should be torne in pieces I wil not break of my intended iourney no feare no force no torment shall stay me any longer let it suffice that the flocke of CHRIST hath for seauen yeares space bewailed the absence of her shepheard At his returne into his Church he was receaued with great ioy and deuotion by the cleargie and all well affected people though some others guiltie of their owne wickednesse repined thereat and endeuoured to haue hindered his landing with armed men Wheresoeuer the Archbishop went there was exceeding great ioy and triumph eache Parish with their crosses and Parish priests wellcoming him with a solemne procession and ioyntly singing and weeping for ioy and praising God that had sent them home their Father againe Whithin some few dayes after at his comming to London there was the like publike ioy and triumphing For all the cleargie and poore-schollers of the cittie to the number of three thousand men went forth to meete him without the cittie So did likewise the flower of the cittie with an innumerable number of people and all-together singing Te Deum laudamus accompanied him vnto his lodging But this reioycing and gladnesse lasted not long for some Bishops and other men of great account that were excommunicated by the Pope resorted vnto the Archbishop and earnestly required to receaue their absolution at his hands He answered that notwithstanding their excommunication suspension was from the Pope yet he would presume so farre as to absolue them in case they would make him a Canonicall caution or assurance of standing to the Iudgement of the Church in those things for which they were excommunicated They esteeming it to much pride in the Archbishop to tye them to any such conditions went ouer to the King in Normandie and complained vnto him That Thâ—mas was rather more haughtie proud and imperious after his banishment then before that he went vp and down with great troupes of men both horse and foote that attended on him as vpon the Kings owne royall person that to be a King indeede he wanted but the name and setting the Crowne vpon his head and saying that he would be King That such as were most loyall to his Maiestie were most oppressed with frequent exactions and excommunications by the Archbishop and manie other aggreeuances and calumnations to the same purpose which so much enraged and enflamed the Kinges indignation that with anxietie of minde he burst forth into these impatient words And is it possible that I cannot peaceably enioy neither Kingdome dignitie nor life and all this for one only Priest Cursed be all such as eate my bread since none will reuenge me of this fellow Vpon these words some principall gentlemen of the Kings chamber conspired together and with oathes and protestations combined themselues to kill the Archbishop imagining it would be most gratefull seruice to the King For flatterie and desire to humoure Princes and execute not only what they commaund but what they incline or bend vnto is a passion that 's ouer-powerfull in Courtes and blindeth many men to worke their owne euerlasting perdition They embarked themselues they landed in England at a castell called Flatwide associated themselues with others of great ranke but little grace and with manie armed men came marching to Canterbury and went to the Archbishop and with discurteous and vnseemely speeches reuiled him for manie treasons coÌ„mitted against the Kings Maiestie The good Prelate answered to all their obiections and with humilitie and modestie and yet with valour and constancie defended him selfe against all accusations wherewith they did charge him alleadging that for some of those which they esteemed enormious crimes he had expresse leaue and licence from the King At this they began to crye aloud and say this was to touche the honour of the Kinge appeache his Maiestie of Treason and fearing the nuÌ„ber of the Archbishops seruauÌ„ts they went forth both to arme themselues call in other companie prepared to assist them in the meane time the B. went in to euening prayer At the noyse of armes and armed men all the churche was in a tumult some flying away some hiding themselues some shutting fast the doores of the Church Only the Archbishop did so behaue himselfe as one deuoyde of all dread and feare and comming to the doores did set them wide open saying that Churches ought not to be defended as castles besieged with enemies and that he should ouercome farre better with suffering then with fighting In came they rushing to the Church crying out aloude Where is that Beket the Archbishop Where is that Traytour to the King all his kingdome He without any trouble or alteration answered Heere I am no Traitoure to the King but a Priest and seruant of IESVS CHRIST readie to leese my life for my Lord and shed my bloud in defence of his Church I coÌ„maund yee in the name of God and vnder paine of excommunication that none of yee doe hurt any of these which are present if there be any fault it is wholly mine that haue raken vpon me to defend the cause of the Church for whome I embrace death most willingly hoping that by the effusion of my bloud she shall enioy libertie and peace And theÌ„ ioyning his hands lifting theÌ„ and eyes hart to Heauen setling himselfe to prayer he said these last words To God Ladie to all the sainctes Patrons of this Church and to the blessed martyr S. Dionyse I commend my selfe the cause
THE LIVES OF SAINTS Written in Spanish by the learned and Reuerend Father ALFONSO VILLEGAS Diuine and Preacher Translated out of Italian into English and conferred with the Spanish BY W. E. K. B. Rom. 8. v. 17. Sitamen compatimur vt conglorificemur Yet if we suffer with him that we may be also glorified with him Printed at DOWAY By the Widow of LAVRENCE KELLAM at the signe of the holy Lambe M.DC.XIV To the Reader WE present the now at length deere Chriâ—tian Reader with the foure last moneths of â—heyre glorious liues whose names as renowned Sainctes of God are in the Roman Calender This debt I must confess hath bin due this long time but could not be discharged vntill this present wherein the grace of God hath freed our passage through a maine sea of difficulties For such is the nature of all Catholique writings in oure distressed countrie what through penurie pressure and long imprisonment of they re authors at home ignorance neglect carelesnes of suche as are put in trust abroade wee must wynde oure selues out of a laberynth of crosses before wee can bring to light oure laboures And euen then must they runne so manie hard fortunes and haue suche bad well come and entertainment that only this were able to check all endeuoures not strengthned by the hand of God And yett could I neuer finde anie reason why this worke of oures should not be wellcome to people of all sorts and conditions For yf the liues of those auncyent worthies whose highest ayme was a fayned shadowed transitorie glorie or els the loue and renowne of they re natiue countrie be so gratefull to most men principally suche as follow they re steppes they who taking vp they re crosse and following CHRISTE did beate the narrow path that leadeth to saluation they whose ayme was euerlasting glorie whose loue Hierusalem they re mother citty in heauen they whose valour and violence did winne the Kingdome purchased for them with the bloud of CHRISTE why should not theyr liues be acceptable to all whose name doth wittness theyr profession to be nothing els but a following of CHRISTE Or why should wee gleane with a hungrie delight greedie appetite some few barren eares of morall vertues scattered in the liues of Heathnish authors care not for the chiefe croppe and principall haruest of all naturall supernaturall vertues which are to be found in that hundreth-yielding field of the Churche of CHRISTE Especially seing that what is most emineÌ„t in suche as only walked by light of reason may no wayes compare with the verie beginnings of those sainctes that were guided by the light of faith These God therefore hath placed in the churches firmament to serue vs as light to guide oure steps these he did leaue vs as patternes and myrrhoures wherein wee might behold oure offences to shunne them they re vertues to embrace them In them all callings professions shall finde how to rule and square they re actions to the honoure of God and profiâ—t of they re soules They will teache vs how to wage warre with oure enemies VVorld Flesh Deuill how to preuent they re wiles trappes when they goe about to win vs with coloure of sanctity how to arme order ward oure selues when they assaile vs with open force and hostility There wee shall see howe to behaue oure selues in the boysterous stormes of aduersitie how in the deceytfull calme of prosperitie Finally they re liues will be oure card compasse teaching vs how to direct oure course that without suffering shipwracked of oure soules wee may arriue at the hauen of health saluatioÌ„ VVherefore deere Christian Reader doubt not to wellcome entertain that ghuest whose presence with pleasure will affoord thee such profitt And when thou doest finde some few suche things as are more to be admired then imitated past not thy iudgement vpon theÌ„ with passion measure not the vertues of God his Sainctes by thy owne feeblenes goe not about to weaken or discredit the promisses of CHRISTE nor confine the omnipoteÌ„t hand of God within the narrow bounds of humaine reason for the holie Ghost hath all ready fore told vs that God is admirable in his sainctes and CHRISTE did promise that his disciples should worke greater wonders then they re maisters SEPTEMBER The life of S. Giles Abbot WE READE in the beginning of Genesis that when our Lord God would forme man Gen. I. he said these wordes Let vs make man vnto our image similitude who shal rule ouer the fishes of the sea the foules of the ayre and beastes of the earth The holy Doctors say that if the first man had perseuered in the state of innocency and had conserued original iustice in the which God created him all the creatures had acknowledged him for their Lord and had bene obedient vnto him but for that he was disobedient vnto God all creatures were disobedient and became foes vnto him The same thing happened vnto man which befalleth vnto a hunter who going out to hunt all the dogges leap about him and fawne and lick him but if he should put on a visard it is likly inough they would not acknowledg him but would look angerly grin and swarle at him Euen so befell it vnto our first father Adam after that he put the visard of disobedience on his face Before that all creatures esteemed and serued him and acknowledged him for the superiour but afterward they all rebelled making warre against him as against their common enemy Neuertheles God being merciful to the end that some signe of that happy estate might be seene permitted that there should be some so holie and faithfull that vnto them many creatures should serue and be obedient As we haue an example of S. Giles VVho was cherished by a hinde a while and mainteined by her milk the time he remained in a caue of a soltary and craggy mountaine The life of this holy Abbot and Confessor was written by Gilbertus B. of Carnotum and other Authors in this manner SAINT Giles was borne in Athens of the Royall bloude His father was called Theodorus and his mother Pelagia From his childhood he was instructed in the studies of humanity and diuinity also and in the same age he gaue himself vnto the seruice of God exercising himself in good workes He was of singular charity and gaue much almose He went one day vnto the church sawe a poore sick man in the street who asked an almes of him and he taking the garment he wore gaue it to the poore man who took it and put it on and forthwith he became perfectly whole Not long after this his father died and he distributed al his patrimony which was very great amongst the needy God shewed many miracles by the meanes of this holy Saint one was when he healed a man that was bitten by a venemous serpent so that he was at the point of death Another was he being one sonday
praied deuoutely and ended his praier thus God restore thee to thy former health and all they that were present said Amen And at that instant the headache which had vexed him many yeres departed and he praised allmightie God for the same In that verie city he healed a blind man by making the signe of the Crosse vpon his eies The fame and report of these miracles caused sickmen to come from all parts and though he was displeased therat yet moued with charity he praied for theÌ„ and healed theÌ„ and among other manie were these that followe A child that was yielding vp the ghost one that had the palsey one that had a quartain one that could sturre nothing but his eies in all the rest was like to a dead body one that had the goute a maid blind deaf doÌ„b she was brought to hiÌ„ he called vpon the name of the holy Trinity and forth with she was deliuered froÌ„ three infirmities Wheresoeuer he went he healed sick meÌ„ there was no infirmity nor malady so great but he cured theÌ„ where soeuer he came he could not liue secret for men posessed by the deuill howled and manifested his comming whom he cured and cast the deuill out of them Placidus staied a time in some cities of Italy as in Cairosa which is Puglia a prouince of the kingdome of Naples in Reggio which is in the prouince of Calabria and continually he healed the sick and did many strange miracles At the last he embarked and passed into Sicilia and came vnto the City of Messina and before he went therinto he sent to one Messalino a noble citizen and his fathers great frend to come vnto him which he did and had him home vnto his house All the citty gaue him great honour for that he was the disciple of S. Benedict as also for the miracles and marueillous things they vnderstood he had done in Italy But Messalino for the loue he bare to Tertullius his father and his auncient frend knewe not how to shew him kindnes enough he kept him his companions all that day in his house on the next day Placidus said vnto him Sr. it is not fitting for monkes to lodge in the house of seculer men for that their manner of life is different and therefore I entend to goe vnto my fathers land and posessions where I may build a monastery They went away in the morning and nâ—ere vnto the hauen they found a place fitt for that same purpose Placidus with a staff which he caried drewe out the plott where to the honoure of S. Iohn Baptist the Churche should be built and all the cellâ—s and chambers of the conuent Forthwith he sett theÌ„ to building of it and followed it dilligently and carefully and in that space he restored his sight to one that had bin blind 18. yeres and cast out the deuill from an other wherby the fame of him was spred ouer all the Is'land it passed ouer into Africa so that froÌ„ those costs sick men were brought to be healed by him and by his praiers they were cured For these deeds Placidus was extolled vnto heauen by the mouthes of euery one and the more he was praised and exalted the more he humbled and meeked him self He was mercifull good and gracious vnto all he was euen consolation it self vnto all those that were in distresse comfort to the afflicted health to the diseased helpe and releif to the needy a father to the poore and a teacher to the rich he did good to euerie one and all receaued benefit at his hand He had often conference and communication with the bailies and ouerseers of his fathers land and posessions that were informer times though now belonging to his order about diuers things and left them all well pleased and willed them to administer that which euery one had vnder his charge with all fidelity that making to them selfs some reasonable gaine his religious order might susteine no damage nor haue anie euill report spread of it In the fourth yeare after he came into Sycilia the building of the monasterie with the Church of S. Iohn Euangelist which was coÌ„secrated by the B. of Messina was finished Placidus with his companions led a life of great example whereby manie were moued to abbandon the world and came vnto him so that in a short space there was thirty of them The life of Placidus was wonderfull his words sauoured of celestiall feruour with which he comforted and taught them to despize and contemne the world to hate Lordships dignities delights and noysome pleasures that they might more freely serue IESVS CHRIST to which end he alleaged manie reasons full of autority modesty part of the day he spent in praier and mediation wherin it was strange to see how manie teares he shed to heare the sobbes which came from his brest as he lifted vp his spirite to God In lent he fasted the sonday the tuesay and thursday with bread and water only the other dayes he eate not any thing and in all the yeare he drank no wine and besides he wore a haire cloth next his skinne When he was ouer wearied with praying and kneeling he slept a litle rather sitting then lyeng For any accideÌ„t that befell he was neuer angry but alwais graue mild and benigne He neuer spake but vpon constraint or necessity to giue the monks or the poore consolation or els for affaires belonging to the monastery and notwithstanding all his affaires he had alwaies his spirit eleuated to God When it was made knowen once in Rome that Placidus was in Sicilia and that he had made there a monastery in the whith were already 30. monks what a blessed life he led what great miracles God shewed by him Eutichius and Victorinus his brother and Flauia his sister desirous to see him hauing obtained leaue of their father passed by sea into Sicilia being disembarqued they weÌ„t to the monastery of S. Iohn where they sawe Placidus their brother but knewe him not either for the long time he had bin absent S. Benedict receauing him at the age of 7 yeares or els for that he was so leane and diffigured through his exceding abstinence But vnderstanding he was the man they all embraced him weeping amaine They visited the monastery and staied with him certein daies It befell at that time that a great host of Moores sent by Abdalla a mighty tirant of Africa and guided by Mamucha came into Sicilia with intent to do all possible hurt and damage in the countrey of Christians as it had done alredy in sondry places and because the monastery of S. Iohn was nere the sea they went thither forthwith and brake downe the gates tooke all that they found but Gordianus who came with him from Monte Cassino being a yong man and finding a back gate escaped away Donatus who was an old man and came from Monte Cassino also was beheaded Placidus with his brethen Euâ—chius
our peregrination by all the Churches S. Matthew being among the Hebrews had written his Gospell in the Hebrew toung and S. Mark remaining in Rome among the Romaines in Latin S. Luke wrote his in Greek because he preached among the Greeks It is said that at all times that S. Paule saith in his epistles After my Gospell Ierom. de scri eccles he meaneth of the Gospell of S Luke for that he wrot it being in his company S. Dorotheus B. of Tyrus saith that S. Luke wrot his Ghospell by the apointment of S. Peter not of S. Paule because he saith in the beginning therof that he wrot it by the relation of them who sawe it from the beginning S. Paule did not so This holy man wrot also another treatise which is called the Acts of the Apostles In the beginning of which he speaketh of the Ascension of CHRIST into heauen and of the coming of the holy Ghost Then speaketh he of the miracles and preachâ—â—g of the Apostles of their persecutions the death of S. Stephen the conuersion of S. Paule the death of S. Iames the Great and the imprisonment and escape of S. Peter After this he goeth on with 〈◊〉 peregrinations of S. Paule his persecutions and trauells of all which he himself bore no litle part and goeth on till he leaueth S. Paule in Rome Then S. Luke departing from thence returned into the Orient traueled ouer a great part of Asia arriued in Egipt He visited Thebais the higher the lower in all places preaching the faith of CHRIST sand conuerâ—ing soules in euery place where soeuer he went At the end of his peregrination he came to the great city of Thehais and was the prelate and pastor therof and as such a one laboured to destroy the Idolls and to build Churchs Which he might the better doe by reason of the great multitude that receued the faith of CHRIST and were Baptised by hearing his exhortations S. Luke remained there many years ordered bishops and priests whom he sent into diuers countreis to preache In such sort that this prouince brought forth many good plants worthy of the eternall life This holy Euangelist catied alwais with him two Images he had made himself the one of our B. Sauiour and the other of his B. mother which were good means to conuert the Painims for that not only he did miracles with them but all they that sawe them were moued to great deuotion These two Images were so like the one to the other that he which did not know whose pictures they were might yet easily know that there was some neere kindred between the two persoÌ„s represented by them To conclude the holy Euangelist being 84. years old passed froÌ„ this mortall vnto the eternall life Nicephorus Callistus in his ecclesiasticall history saith that S. Luke died a martir in Grecia and that he was hanged on a Oliue true lib 2. Cap. 43. but it is commonly holden that he died a naturall death The same Author and others with him say that Constantin the sonne of Constantin the Great by the meanes of one Artemius who whas after ward a glorious martir brought to Constantinople the bodies of S. Andrew from Patrasso a city of Achaia though at this time the body be at Amalphi a city of the kingdome of Naples in Italy of S. Timotheus from Ephesus in Asia and S. Luke from Thebes where it remained and that he builded a sumptuous Church to lay in all the said blessed bodies Nowe the citisens of Padoa say that they haue the body of S. Luke the Euangelist in their city in the Church of S. Iustina The Church celebrateth the feast of S. Luke on the day wheron he died which was on the. 18. day of October in the yeare of our Lord. 90. and in the raigne of Domitian as Canisius accounteth * ⎠* The life of S. Hilarion the Abbot THE Apostle S. Peter Cap. 4. in his fiirst Canonicall epistle hath one sentence fear full for the good and dreadfull to the euill viz If the iust shall scant be saued what shall become of the sinner If he that hath serued God all his life doth tremble at the hower of death what shall he do who hath bin a wicked man and is a sinner at that dreadfull hower This was verified in S. Hilarion the Abbot who being at the point of death felt a great fear in his â—oule but he incouraging it said Depart my soule out of my body of what art thou afraid thou hast serued CHRIST 70. years and dost thou nowe fear to dy The life of this holy Abbot was written by S. Ierome in this sort SAINT Hilarion was borne in Tabata fiue miles from the city of Gaza in Palestina His father and mother were both Idollaters so that he grewe as a rose among thornes Being a litle child he was sent to study in Alexandria in which place he made demonstration of his rare towardlines and inclination vnto goodnes rare witt morall vertues which caused all men that knew him to loue him But he was much more beloued of God for in that place he atteined vnto the knowledge of the Christian faith which he receiued and was Baptised So that he who before was only accounted a vertuous man was now such a one in verity and in deed and delighted in nothing but in vertuous actions and the seruice of God spending the greater part of his life in the Church and in the company of godly priests and by meanes of them he came to the knoweledg of S. Antony who dwelt in the desert and amazed all worldly men to see and heare of his strict life and his sanctity in confounding the deuills in which he reioiced the heauenly court Hilarion had a great desire to see him in the desert which when he had done he chaunged his ordinary clothes and put on such weedes as the moÌ„ks that were in the company of S. Antony wore with whom he also staied two months In this time he marked the order of his life his grauity in behauior his incessant praier his humility in the entertainment of straingers his seuerity in correcting offenders the austerity he vsed toward his body in diet apparell and sleeping he sawe the multitudes of people which came from all costs vnto him to obtein remedy and help for all maner of necessities by his intercession and praiers Hillarion thought that this was the beginning of the reward of the long endured trauels of Anthony and that he should do well to follow his steppes This being determined he returned into his country where the found his father and mother deceased wherfore he diuided his patrimony and bestowed part on his brethren and part on the poore hauing in mind these words of CHRIST He that doth not renounce all that he posesseth cannot be my disciple At that time Hillarion was 15. years old and by this means being poore yet accompanied by CHRIST he went vnto
of his determination in the time that was giuen him for aduise Great was the vproare and tumult that the pagans made searching for the kindler of the fire entending to punish him with the greatest torments that might be imagined There was no great difficulty in finding him for S. Theodore himself confessed that he had done it and in his words and countenance he shewed himself to be well pleased with the act and the rather for that an Idoll of the same Goddesse had bene burned therein This on the other side was as dispeasing to the pagās who held that Idoll in high estimation They took S. Theodore and haled him vnto iudgment howling and yelling generally as if they had bene beastes or out of their wittes The iudges demaunded of them if he had kindled that fire The holie saint forthwith confessed that he had done it and willed them to make readie torments for he was prepared to endure them The desire and willingnes which the iudges beheld in S. Theodore to suffer torments made them haue the lesse will to torture him wishing to themselues the like couragious stomake as the yongman had Wherevpon without regard of the complaints exclamations of the common people who fearing their Gods would chastice them all for this trespasse that Theodore had committed against them besought them with great instancy to put him to death In this rage and furie of the people the iudges said to S. Theodore notwith standing thou hast deserued death yet we will pardon thee and make thee high priest of the Idolls if thou wilt sacrifise vnto them and leaue and relinquish the name of a Christian The blessed youngmā deriding them said In deed you promise me great preferment and that which may mooue a man to follow your counsell For the priestes of your Idolls I hold them to be accursed wretches and if I be made chief of them I shal be made the most accursed wretch of them all Long since haue I laughed at this folly and madnes of many great men that sometimes the Consulls yea the Emperours of Rome themselues would take the office of the high priest which you promise vnto me vnder a shew of religion and they which were first clothed in purple were clad after in the habite of fooles or madmen And many times they cut in pieces liuing beastes for their sacrifice putting some part thereof to seethe and some to be consumed with fire Such a blindnes is not committed but by them that be blind as they bee since by leauing the adoration of the God of heauen they adore Gods made of wood stones and mettall The Iudges hearing the reasons perceiued they lost their time and could not preuaile with Theodore wherefore they called him a sacrilegious blasphemous and wicked villaine and commaunded he should be tormented They bound him vnto a post and whipped him then rent they his flesh with crooks of Iron and put burning torches vnto his sides The more dilligēt the execucioners were to torture him so much the more cheerfully the blessed martyr as if he had bene in a pleasant garden song this verse of Dauid I will alwaies blesse our Lord his praises shall euer be in my mouth When the cruell officers were tyred they took him from the post and cast him into a dark dongeon in the which were heard all that night voyces which song sweetly and the roome was filled with an admirable brightnes and those that were without were partakers hereof When the keeper of the prison perceiued it he called some companie vnto him and went into the place where S. Theodore was finding no more persons there but the holie saint the rest that were prisoners as he was who were all a sleep The next daie they tormented him againe and seing him firme and constant in his faith they gaue sentence that he should be burned and the iudgment was put in execution As the holie saint stood in the fire praising and glorifying God the fire indeed took his life away but spared his bodie for it did not consume nor scorch one haire of his head Wherefore a religious woman called Eusebia wrapped it in a cleane sheet and enterred it that we might enioy this pretious treasure which hath caused this assembly of people to honor him and celebrate this daie of his tryumph where euery one is holpen for his sake Out of this man he casteth diuells another he deliuereth from infirmities vnto others he releeueth the infirmities of the bodie vnto others the necessities of the soule There those that be tossed with the tempests of the world find a safe port secure hauen There the Orphants find a father the pilgrins an Inne the afflicted a comforter and help for them that are in necessitie O thou holie saint and glorious martyr Theodore that art among the quiers of Angells vouchsafe to go vnto the presence of God and praie before the throne of his maiestie for vs that be in this place assembled to celebrate the tryumph of thy blessed martyrdome Encline to vs that call vpon thee honor thee and be present at the sollemnity of thy feast And though our corporall eyes cannot see thee yet cast downe thine eyes vnto our sacrifises and bowe thine eares vnto our prayers make present hereof we beseech thee vnto the maiestie of God desiring him to harken vnto vs and to heare thee that vnto him may be recommended thy country which is also ours thy brethren kinsfolk friends and they that vnto thee be religiously minded who be here present and that he would defend vs from all our enemies in generall and in especiall from these barbarous Scithians Thou as a valiant souldier fight for vs as a holie martyr praie for vs. Obtaine for vs a perpetuall peace that we may imploy our selues in the seruice of him whom thou seruest And if perhaps there needeth greater help speak vnto thy brethren to acompany thee Call vnto Peter head of the Church speak vnto Paul doctor of the Gentiles and vnto Iohn the beloued and famous diuine that the Churches which these men haue founded and the soules whom they haue conuerted may remaine constant in the holie and Catholike faith which they once receiued That they may be also freed from heretiks and heresies from tyrants and their tyrany and by confessing IESVS CHRIST boldly and faithfully seruing him they may afterwards posesse and enioye him eternally being partakers of his grace in this world and of his glorie in the kingdome of heauen The holie Church maketh commemoration of S. Theodore on the daie of his martyrdome which was on the 9. of Nouember about the yeare of our Lord 300. Diocletian and Maximian being Emperours The body of S. Theodore is in the Church of S. Sauiour in Venice whether it was brought from Constantinople And it is certainly belueeued that it is he whose life we haue heere written though there were more martyrs of this name The life of SS Trypho Respicius and Nimpha
the hangman began to vntie him he lyfted vp his voice to IESVS CHRIST and said Lord I beseech thee for thy holie names sake permitt me not to be taken from the Crosse aliue Receaue me my master whom I haue loued whom I haue confessed whom I haue preached and of whom I hope to be rewarded Oh good IESVS receaue my spirit in peace for now is it time to come to thee whom I haue so much desired Whilest the Apostle said these wordes there discended from heauen a great brightnes in manner of a beame of the sunne which euerie one saw and couered the bodie of the Apostle that for half an houres space it could not be seene at which time it vanished awaye and then they perceiued that the was dead One Maximilla a deuout woman a disciple of the Apostle being of that cittie and verie rich went to the Crosse with some of her seruants and took the bodie of the saint and buried it anointing it first with pretious ointments When Egeas vnderstood what Maximilla had done he ment to complaine vnto the Emperour both of her and of many other that asisted her Whilest he was in the publique hall taking informations thereof tâ—e diuell entred into him making him to roare and crie out as a beast and tormenting him in the sight of the people made him to yield his soule to be tormented in hell This iudgment of God caused many to be conuerted to the faith of CHRIST The martirdome of S. Andrew was on the 30. of Nouember and on the same daie the Church celebrateth his feast His death was in the yeere of our Lord. 62. as Canisius saith in the raigne of Nero. In the time of the Emperour Constantine the bodie of S. Andrew was translated to Constantinople and from thence to diuers other places till lastlie it was carried into Italie to the cittie of Amalfy in the kingdome of Naples where it is at this present And it is said that out of this blessed bodie cometh a most pretious liquor that cureth and healeth diuers infirmities When Pius the second was Pope his head was brought to Rome and set in a tabernacle made for that purpose in the Church of S. Peter S. Gregorie of Toures recounteth many miracles done by the intercession of S. Andrew namelie the curing of diuers and sundrie infirmities He saith also that in the time of Clodoueus king of France in a warre he made in Burgundie and in the sacking of a countrie fire was set on the Church of a holie martir called Saturninus within the which were some reliques of S. Andrew The fire enereased and the people were much agreeued that the reliques of the holie Apostle should be so consumed There was a souldier borne at Toures who perceiuing the sorrow of the people entred resolutlie into the middest of the fire and went vnto the place where the reliques of the holie Apostle were and brought them awaie safe without hurt And God was pleased to shew how acceptable this pious deed was to him preseruing the souldier from the fire that it hurt him not at all We read also of other miracles of S. Andrew as of a Bishop whom the diuell in forme of a damosell would haue deceiued and the holie Apostle went to his house in the shape of a pilgrime and told him of the deceit but for that I haue not read it in any approoued author I do not auerre it yet God can and vseth to do those or the like things by the intercession of his holie saints And we ought not to doubt but he hath done many miracles by the intercession of S. Andrew who followed and loued him so that at last he died on the Crosse for his loue as himself had done It is iust therefore that we be deuout to this holie saint that by his prayers and meritts we maie obtaine of God eternall glorie Amen DECEMBER The life of S. Bibiana virgin and Martir MANY were the vexations and great were the tribulations the holy man Dauid suffered at the haÌ„ds of sondry persons who without any cause giuen on his part endeuored to do him all the mischief they could as amoÌ„g others his father in lawe Saul did yet he supported all these troubles with patience and myldnes but the insurrection of his sonne Absalon nipped him to the hart and mollested him aboue all the rest wherefore he said in one psalme If myne enemy had said euill of me and had persecuted me Ps. 54 I would haue supported it bycause that of an enemy no friendly kindnes is expected but I am aggreiued that this my sonne he who satt at my table and eate with me in the same dish should be the maÌ„ that should persecute me Oh how worthy was he and such as he was to descend aliue into hell Many were the tyrants that persecuted the Church and many more were they that put the Christians to death but S. Bibiana had reason to complaine of none more then of Iulyan the Apostata because the others were her professed enemyes in that they were Idollaters But this wicked and damnable man was a Christian and within holy orders who put her to very great sorrow and moued her to desire God to chastise him as indeed he did by depriuing him in a short time both of his empire and life it being not knowen by whom nor in what maner This is only certain that the lewd and wicked man being in the middest of his army was wounded with a speare wherof he dyed blasphemyng and reuiling at IESVS CHRIST his cursed soule falling as a pray into the diuells hands S. Bibiana was martyred in the time of this wicked emperour Venerable Bede and other Authors of martyrologes write her martyrdome in this maner SAINT Bibiana was borne in Rome and was daughter vnto Faustus and Drafosa who were both Christians and holy matâ—yrs S. Bibiana being very yong did exercise her self in holy and vertuous woorks Shee was taken in the time of th'emperour Iulian the Apostata a cruell foe vnto Christians and deliuered to the custody of Faustus the gouernour who was apointed to heare and determyne her cause He persuaded her to sacrifice vnto the Idols the souer to drawe her to the same he threatned to put her vnto grieuous torments if shee refused it But the holy saint answered with such godly reasoÌ„s that shee persuaded the Gouernour himself to forsake and relinquish the Idolls and to be made a Christian and consequently to endure torments and death couragiously for the same The holy damsell Bibiana was very ioyous that shee had made that gaine as to gaine a soule to her spouse IESVS CHRIST Then was shee led before the Emperour who exhorted her to sacrifice vnto the Idolls and shee aunswered him that the God creator and gouernour of heauen and earth was only worthy to be adored Th'emperour hearing this answer commaunded Bibiana to be beaten with cudgells which was done with such cruelty that shee
fullfilled yet Do not you remember the three kings that came from the East who plainlie reported that this king was borne and that they came to worship him and to giue him obedience If these kings so farre distant stood in awe of him much more cause haue I to feare that am so neere vnto him I appointed these kings that they should giue me notice when they found him because I would haue gone to see him and then I would haue beene freed from this danger But they I know not for what cause haue mocked me and be returned into their countries and kingdomes by another waie and haue giuen me no notice I feare I doubt I faint and consume with sorrow when I studie on the successe of this busines I haue no remedie and I know not vnto whom to resort but vnto you My will therefore is this I would haue you go vnto Bethleem Math. 2. v. 16. and into all the territorie thereof and the countrie thereabout and with your naked weapons rushe into the houses pardon the old men touch not the young men spare the women only kill all the children all of them from two yeeres old vnto a daie old My will is that you kill them all spare none of them for if one of them remaine aliue that same one shall depriue me of my kingdome Take no regard nor pittie not the teaâ—es of the mothers yea in their armes I would haue you search our mine enemies And if any woman will defend her child kill her also with him Feare not to be accused for this fact for it is by my commaund that you do it Go into the cittie like Lyons search it through diligentlie least any remaine hidden and perchance it maie be that child that the kings came to adore The captaines vnderstanding the kings mind and intention gathered all the armie recyting vnto them the same reasons that the king had alleadged before They all accorded and agreed to performe this mischeiuous act and so to Bethleem they went and he seemed the best and worthiest fellowe that trauelled thither with most speed So comming to Bethleem they began the massacre the cruell butchers slaughtering the quiet lambes All the houses were repleat with the outcries of the afflicted mothers the waies streamed with riuers of blood and the streets were filled with bodyes of the hoie Innocents Herod desired to slay IESVS CHRIST in the person of euerie one of them and so euerie of them dyed for CHRIST who being in Egipt had yet compassion on them seing they dyed for his sake Trulie Herod did vnto them herein more good then harme and more proffit then damage since they be all saued If these children had not bene put to death at that age and by such occasion it might haue come to passe that many of them might haue beene damned But IESVS CHRIST our blessed sauiour and of all mankind would not that nay of them that were borne in that prouince and at the time that he was borne should be condemned The slaughter and butcherie continewed the waies were all stayned with blood and the number of dead bodies increased but the rage and cruell furie of these barbarous ruffians was no whit diminished The most secret roomes could not defend the holie infants from the slaughter neither was the Temple where God was honored a sufficient refuge or safftie for their liues In that their Temple they assembled to make their prayers but they offred no sacrifice therein for that was to be done only in the Temple of Ierusalem They began now to make sactifices in the Temple of Bethleem not of brute beasts but of innocent children Euerie thing was stayned with blood graues and diâ—ches were filled with children and their dead bodies were lying in euerie place And if perhaps any mother did hide her sonne from the souldiers the child manifested himself seeming with his crying to call those butchers to kill him because he would not be depriued of so happie and blessed death Some mothers that were more bold thrust forward on the executioners desirous rather to receaue the blow themselues then it should light on their children but his was to no purpose for themselues were wounded and their children slaine Some other mothers held them so hard in their armes that they could not get them from them then would they cut and deuide them in the middle so that one part of the child remained in the hands of the mother and the other in hand of the souldier Some women ran to and froe with their children in their armes to get out of the place where the slaughter was and stumbling on the dead bodies killed their owne children themselues Some other turning vnto these bloodie fellowes said vnto them How is it that you become so senceles and voyd of pittie Haue none of you a mother haue you not wiues and children Do none of you know how great the loue of pareÌ„ts is toward their children How sauage and beastlie is this your cruelltie If in this cittie hath bene comÌ„mitted any offence these whoÌ„ you kill haue not done it Slaievs that deserue death the rather for that we haue liued in coÌ„panie with such men as you bee brought theÌ„ children The souldiers hearing these words were mooued vnto compassion and shed teares but remembring the commaundement of king Herod they became more fierce and enraged then before killing a fresh the children in their mothers armes S. Augustine who also wrote hereof faith in a sermon when our Lord was borne ser de sanct 1. huius fest there was heard many plaints not in heauen but in earth The Angells in heauen reioyced and the mothers which were in earth lamented God was borne a litle child and his will was that vnto him should be offred a sacrifice of children He that was to be sacrificed like a lambe on the Altar of the Crosse would haue the Innocent children sacrificed vnto him It was a lamentable spectacle to see souldiers with naked swords in their hands to kill so many litle infants and not to know the cause seing none of them could committ such an offence as might merit so vntimelie a death It was euident therefore that enuy was the only cause Theire poore mothers tore their haire stroke their breasts and made pittiful outcries their eyes running like fountaines of water The more they laboured to hyde their litle infants the sooner they were discouered they not hauing the skill to hold their peace for they had not learned to feare such butcherly ruffians The mother and the souldier strugled together the one to deliuer her sonne the other to take him awaie The mother said why will you pull froÌ„ me him that was borne of me Ah my prettie tender infant I haue not brought thee so carefully vp that thou shouldest be thus rudelie handled If any fault or offence hath bene committed I haue done it let this babe liue and kill me Others said If