THE DIALOGVES OF S. GREGORIE SVRNAMED THE GREATE POPE OF ROME AND THE FIRST OF THAT NAME DIVIDED INTO fower Bookes WHEREIN He intreateth of the liues and miracles of the Saintes in Italie and of the eternitie of mens soules WITH A shorte treatise of sundry miracles wrought at the shrines of martyrs taken out of S. Augustin Together with a notable miracle wrought by S. Bernard in confirmation of diuers articles of religion Translated into our English tongue By P. W. Ecclesiastic cap. 1. v. 1. 2. A wise man will searche out the wisdome of all the auncient and keepe the sayinges of famous men Printed at Paris 1608. In earth longe life with happie state Queene Anne Christ Iesus sende In heauen that blisse amongst his Saintes Which neuer shal haue ende TO THE HIGHE AND EXCELLENT PRINCES ANNE BY GODS SINGVLAR prouidence Quene of greate Britâ—aine Fraunce and Irelande HAD the consideratioÌ„ of highe dignity most gratious Quone suggesting retiring thoughts more preuailed then the reports of your vertuous inclination inciting for warde neuer should I have presumed to make so meane a person knowne to so great Maiesty But the constant fame of your Princely partes and a soule not stouping to transitory toyes emboldened my feareful hart hoping that with gratious countenance you will beholde the poore and rich present of your deuoted seruant poore in respect of that which my small ability affordeth but most rich in regarde of the thing it selfe being a rare iewell worthy of any Christian Prince and of none more then your most excellent person For to whom coulde so heauenly a pearle more iustly be presented then to your royall Highnes whose hart Gods grace so touched that wheÌ„ the glorious beames of an earthly paradise new kingdome first saluted it mounting aboue all corruptible creature and not complying in complements with this false flattering worlde thought rather vpon the perpetuall pleasure of the heauenly paradise and that kingdome which crowneth Queenes with the diuine diademe of eternall glory For I haue bene credibly enformed how at that very tyme in the middest of those meeting ioyes and the very thronge of those terrestriall pleasures you sent for out of England such principall bookes of piety and deuotion as were there to be founde A zeale verily commendable in the person of a meaner fortune admirable in the highnes of Princes whose eyes vsually the vanishing vapors of earthly coÌ„tent doe with false reflexion dazell deceiue but surpassing all common conceipt in such a spring-tide of the worlds flowing felicity God the inspirer of such heauenly cogitations contine we them with the fire of his diuine grace to the inflaming of your soule with his loue that you may with encrease of spirit walke for warde in that heauenly path and goe sal 83. from vertue to vertue vntill the God of gods be seene in Sion Many alas be the allurements which carry many a mayne from the following of vertue to the embracing of vice from the sweete seruice of Christ to the sowre seruitude of Belial yet none are in such daunger as Potentates and Princes whose florishing fortunes and transcendent soueraigntye commonly so bewitch the powers of the soule that present pleasure profered on all handes is prosecuted with full saile and future endlesse payne the dreadfull dregges of delights enchaunting cupp is not thought vpon or els spedily banished not to disturbe the tiranny of false felicity And that which is lamentable and deserueth an ocean of teares whereas priuate persons finde either friends that of charity doe or enemies that of malice will put them in minde of their errors and imperfections only the eminent dignity of Princes are exempted who meete with fewe friendes so faithfull that in any spirituall necâ—ssity whatsoeuer list to apply any such charitable corsiue not to incurre displeasure and fawning foes to many that with the pleasing venim of flattery will be ready to christen any vice by the name of vertue to gayne royall grace and fauour Holy Dauid though a man according to Gods hart yet was his court haunted with such vermin and his eares acquainted with the musicke of such Sirenes songs The wicked saith he haue Psal 118. v. 85. told me fables but not as thy lawe S. Iohn Baptist is not fouÌ„d in kinges houses and the text of Potent persons shall suffre potent Sapient 6. v. 7. paynes seldome soundeth in the Pallaces of Princes This being the dangerous estate of the worlds dearlings especially of Kinges Queenes passing necessary it is yf they desire froÌ„ the short variable pleasure of corruptible crownes to passe vnto the endlesse and immutable glory of an euerlasting kingdome that they should principally procure such faithful vertuous teachers to instruct theÌ„ in the way of truth and piety of whoÌ„ no suspition can be had that either priuate interest causeth theÌ„ to speake to please or any feare conceiued that they vse silence not to offende such as be the spirituall bookes of auncieÌ„t and learned fathers whose liues for holy conuersatioÌ„ were gratious in the eyes of men and their deathes for the sweete smell of vertue pretious in the sight of God For these be they which far vnlike to many courting Chaplins that chaunt litle other euensonge then in the pleasing tune of placebo teach the way of truth without respect of persons giuing the same documents to great and sinall and without all distinction of dignity powre wine and oile into the woundes of our soules launcing the festered vlcers of obdurate and seared consciences and applying comfortable lenitiues and sweete salues to them that be of contrite harts of tender and timorous disposition For as much therefore as diuine grace that inspired into your soule that heavenly resolution as to seeke for such spirituall masters as may without all feare of erronious direction guide you in the sea of this worlde where not only the surging waues of aduersity but much more the swete gale of delighting prosperity is dangerous to the barbour of true repose and happy tranquillity to whom more worthily coulde I present this rare ie well of glorious Saint Gregories Dialogues entreating of the miraculous liues of diuers renowned Saints then to the Princely person of your Maiesty wherein you may beholde the faith of the Primitiue Church to which by him our couÌ„try was first couÌ„erted and in which so many Kinges and Queenes your predecessours through the current of diuers happy ages gloriously ended their dayes where in also you may finde so many heauenly lessons very delightfull to reade and passing profitable to practise viewe great numbers of familiar examples of diuers holy persons and see the comfortable endes sweete deathes and soueraigne rewardes of Gods seruantes rauishing our soules with the loue of vertue and drawing our thoughts from the shorte vncertayne and false ioyes of this worlde to the serious cogitation of the eternall permanent and true delight of the worlde to come and that in a most
for him selfe Sraighte after the Priest fell sicke and lay not longe before he departed this life and when his body was by the monkes broughte to the graue which he had prouided for him selfe they opened it and sawe that there was not any rome because the Abbots corps filled the whole place then one of them with a loude voice saide O father where is your promise that this graue sholde holde you bothe No soner had he spoken those wordes then the Abbots bodye which laye with the face vpward did in all theire sight turne it selfe vpon one side and so left place ynoughe for the buriall of the Priest and so after his death he performed what he promised aliue concerninge the lyinge of both theire bodies in that one graue But because we haue now made mention of S. Peters Abbey in the city of Preneste where this miracle happened are you content to heare somethinge of the S. Peter buried at Rome keepers of his churche which is in this citye where his most holy bodye remayneth Peter Most willinge I am and beseeche you that it may be so OF THEODORVS KEEPER OF S. Peters church in the city of Rome CHAPTER XXIIII Gregory THere be yet some aliue that knewe Theodorus keeper of that churche by whose reporte a notable thinge that befell him came to my knowledge For risinge somewhat early one nighte to mende the lightes that hunge by the dore and was vpon the ladder as he vsed to powre oile Burning laÌ„ppes in the churche into the lamppes suddainly S. Peter the Apostle in a white stoale standing beneath vpon the pauiment appeared vnto him and spake to him in this manner Theodorus why hast thow risen so earlye and when he had saide so he vanished out of his sighte but such a feare came vpon him that all the strengthe of his bodye did forsake him so that he was not able to rise vp from his bed for many daies after By which apparition what ment the blessed Apostle els but to giue those which serue him to vnderstande by that his presence that whatsoeuer they doe for his honour him selfe for theire rewarde doth alwaies behold it Peter I maruaile not so muche at his apparition as that beeinge before verye well he fell sicke vpon that sighte Gregory What reason haue you Peter to maruaile at that for haue you forgotten howe the prophet Daniell when he behelde that great and terrible vision at which he trembled speakethe thus of him selfe I became weake and was sicke for Daniel 8. verye many daies for the fleshe can not conceiue such thinges as pertaine to the spirit and therfore sometymes when a mans minde is caried to see somewhat beyonde it selfe no remedye but this earthly and fraile vessell of our not able to beare suche a burthen must fall into weakenes and infirmity Peter Your reason hath taken away that scruple which troubled my minde OF ABVNDIVS KEEPER OF the same churche of S. Peter CHAPTER XXV Gregory NOt verye many yeares since as olde men saye there was an other keeper of the same churche called Abundius a graue man and of great humility who serued God so faithfullye that the blessed Apostle S. Peâ—er did by miracle declare what opinion he had of his vertue For a certain yonge maide that frequented his churche was so pitifully sicke of the palsey that she crept vpon her handes and for very weakenes drewe her body vpon the grounde Longe tyme had she praied to S. Peter for helpe of this Praier to Sainctes her infirmitye who vpon a nighte in a vision stoode by her and spake thus Goe vnto Abundius and desire his helpe and he shall restore the to thine healthe The maide as she made no doubte of the vision so not knowinge this Abundius vp and downe she crepte throughe the church enquiringe for the man and suddainly mett with him whom she â—oughte for and askinge for him of him selfe he tolde her that he was Abundius Then quoth she Our pastor and patron blessed S. Peter the Sainctes knowe how our necessities Apostle hath sent me that you sholde helpe me of this my disease Yf you be sent by him quoth Abundius then rise vp and takinge her by the hande he forthwith lifted her vp vpon her feete and from that verie houre all the synowes and partes of her body became so stronge that no signe of her former malady remayned But yf I sholde recount all the miracles in particular which are knowne to haue bene done in his churche questionlesse no tyme wolde be lefte for the relation of any other wherfore I will speake no more of them but come to such holy men as haue bene famous in diuers other places of Italy OF A SOLITARYE MONKE called Menas CHAPTER XXVI NOt longe since in the prouince of Samnium there was a reuerent man called Menas who some ten yeares since led a solitary life and was knowne to many of our friendes and for the truthe of suche his notable actes as I shall reporte I will noâ— name any one author because I haue so many witnesses as there be men that knowe that prouince of Samnium This holy man had no other wealth to liue vpon but a fewe hiues of bees which a certaine Lombarde wolde nedes haue taken awaye for which cause the holy man reprehended him and by and by he fell downe before him and was tormented of a deuill vpon which accident his name became famous both to his neighbours and also to that barbarous nation so that none durst after that but in humilitye come into his cell Oftentymes also there came certaine beares out of the wood which was harde by to deuoure vp his hony whom he strook with a little stricke which he carried in his hande and the beares so feared his stripes that they wold roare out and runne away and they which little feared naked swordes were now affraide to be beaten by him with a small â—ande He desired not to possesse ought in this world nor to seeke for any thinge his maÌ„ner was by heauenly talke to inflame all such as of charity came to visit him with the desire and loue of eternall life And yf at any tyme he vnderstoode that others had committed any great synne he wolde neuer spare them but with true loue to theire soules reprehende them for theire faultes His neighbours and others also that dwelt farther of vsed vpon a custome euery one vpon certaine daies in the weeke to send him theire presentes and offringes to the ende he mighte haue somewhat to bestowe vpon suche as came to visit him A certaine man there was called Carterius who ouercome of filthy concupiscence violently tooke awaye a Nunne and Mariage of Nunnes vnlawful by vnlawfull matrimonye made her his wife which thinge so sone as the man of God vnderstoode he sent him by suche as he could that message which his facte deserued The man guiltye in his conscience of that wickednes which
discontentement and dislike coÌ„cerninge suche secular affaires mighte plainely shewe them selues and all thinges that vsually bringe griefe mustered togither mighte frelye be presented before myne eies in whiche place after that I had satt a longe while in much silence and great sorrowe of soule at lengthe Peter my deere sonne and deacon came vnto me a man whom from his yonger yeres I had alwaies loued most intierelye and vsed him for my companion in the studye of sacred scripture who seing me drowned in such a dompe of sorrowe spake vnto me in this manner what is the matter or what bad newes haue you heard for certaine I am that some extraordinarye sadnes doth nowe afflicte your mynde To whom I returned this answere ô Peter the griefe wich continually I endure is vnto me both olde and newe olde throughe common vse and newe by daily encreasinge For myne vnhappye soule wounded with worldly busines doth nowe call to mynde in what state it was when I liued in myne Abbeye howe then it was superior to all earthly matters far aboue all transitory and corruptible pelfe howe it did vsuallye thincke vpon nothinge but heauenlie thinges and thoughe is was enclosed in mortal bodye yet did it by contemplation passe far beyonde earthly boundes and penetrat to the very height of heauene and as for death the memorye wherof is almost to all men grieuous that it did loue and desire as the ende of all miserye the rewarde of her labors and the very entraunce to an euerlastinge and blessed life But nowe by reason of my pastoral charge my poresoule is enforced to endure the burden of secular mens busines after so excellent and swete a kinde of rest defiled it is with the dust of worldlye conuersation and when it doth at the request of others attende to outwarde affaires no question but it returneth backe far lesse fitt to thincke vpon those that be inward spiritual and heauenly Wherfor at this present do I meditat what I suffer and consider what my soule hath lost and the memorye of my former losse doth make that more grieuous which I do nowe eÌ„dure For do you not be holde at this present howe I am tossed with the waues of this wicked world and see the shipp of my soule beaten with the storms of a terrible tempest and therfor wheÌ„ I remeÌ„ber my former state of life I caÌ„ not but sighe to looke backe cast myneâ—eies vpon the forshaken shore And that which doth yet greiue me more is bycause I see my selfe so carried awaye amayne with the boisterous blastes of this troublesom worlde that I can not nowe scarse beholde the porte from whence I did first hoise saile for such be the downe falles of our soule that first it loseth that goodnes and vertue which before it possessed yet so that it doth still remember what it hath lost but afterwarde carried awaye more and more and strayinge further from the pathe of vertue it coÌ„meth at lenghte to that passe that it doth not so muche as keepe in mynde what before it did daily practise so in conclusion it falleth out as I said before that saylinge further on we go at length so far that we do not so muche as once beholde the swete harbor of quiet peace from whence we first sett forth Sometyme also my sorrowe is encreased by remembringe the liues of certain notable meÌ„ who with theire whole soule did vtterlye forsake and abaÌ„done this wicked worlde whose highe perfectioÌ„ when I beholde I can not also but see myne owne infirmities and imperfection verye many of whom did in a contemplatiue retired kinde of life much please God and least by dealing with transitory busines they mighte haue decaied in vertue Gods goodenes voutsafed to fre theÌ„ from the trobles affaires of this wretched worlde But that which I haue nowe saide will be far more plaine and the better perceiued yf the residue of my speche be dialogue wise distinguished by setting downe eache of our names you askinge what you shal thincke conuenient I byanswere giuing satisfaction to such questioÌ„s as you shall demande at my handes Peter I do not remember any in Italye that haue bene verye famous for vertue and therfor ignorant I am who they be that comparinge your life to theres yowe shoulde be so muche inflamed to imitate theire steppes for althoughe I make no doubte but that there haue bene many goode men yet do I verily thincke that none of theÌ„ wroughte any miracles or at least they haue bene hitherto so buryed in silence that whether any suche thing hath bene done or no not any one man can tell Gregorye Yf I sholde Peter but report onlye those thinges wich my self alone haue vnderstoode by the relation of vertuous and credible persons or els learned by my selfe concerninge the life and miracles of perfect and holy men I sholde soner in myne opinion lacke daye to talke in then matter to speake of Peter Desirous I am that yowe wolde vouchsafe to make me partaker of some of them and not to thincke much yf vpon so goode an occasion you interrupt your other studie of inter pretinge the scripture because no lesse edification doth growe by the relation of miracles For as by the exposition of that we learne howe vertue is to be founde and kepte so by recountinge the miracles of holy meÌ„ we knowe how that wich is founde out and possessed is declared and made manifest to the worlde And some there are that be soner moued to the loue of God by vertuous The profit of sainctes liuâ—s examples then by godly sermons and ofâ—eÌ„tymes by the liues of holy fathers the heart doth reape a doble commoditye for yf by comparing of his owne life with theirs he findeth him selfe inflamed with the loue of heauen althoughe before he had haply a goode opinion of him selfe yet seing novve hovve far others do excell him he becommeth also more humble and is broughte to haue a more lowly conceipte of his owne actions and vertue Gregory Such thinges as venerable and holy men haue tolde me I will now without any further delay make you partaker of and that following the example of sacred scripture for sure I am that S. Luke and S. Marcke learned that gospel which they wrot not by sighte but by the relation of others yet lest any in reading sholde haue occasioÌ„ to doubte whether such thinges as I write be true or no I will sett dovvne by vvhat meanes and of vvhom I haue learned them yet in some of them yow haue to knovv that I remember not all the particulars but only the matter in other some both the matter and also the vvordes And besides yf I sholde haue bene so curious as to haue kept in mynde each mans particular vvordes many vttered after the countrye manner vvolde haue made the stile of my discourse nothinge handsome nor semelye That story vvhich I meane first to begin vvith I had by
and a very fit plot of grounde left to make them a gardin At an other tyme the same holye man beinge washinge of lamppes made of glasse one of them by chaunce fell out of his handes and brake into manye peeces who fearinge the great furye of the Abbot did forthwiâ—h gathere vp al the fragmentes laide them before the altar and there with great sithinge fell to his praiers and afterwarde liftinge vp his heade he founde the lampe entire whole And thus in these two mâ—racles did he imitat two notable fathers to wit Gregory and Donatus the first of which remoued a mountaine and the other madâ— a broken chalice safe and sounde Peter We haue as I perceiue now miracles after the imitation of old sainctes Gregory Howe say yowe ar you content also in the conuersation of Nonnosus to heare howe he did imitat the facte of the prophet Ileliseus Peter Content I am and most earnestly desire it Gregory Vpon a certaine daye when the old oile was spent and the tyme to gather oliues was nowe at hande the Abbot bycause there owne trees toke not thoughte it best to sende the monckes abroade to helpe straÌ„gers in the gatheringe of theires that for the recompeÌ„se of theire labor they might bringe home some oile for the necessities of theire owne house This determinatioÌ„ the man of God Nonnosus in great humility did hinder least the monckes goinge abroade from theire cloister to gett oile mighte lose somwhat in the deuotion of theire soules And therfore bycause he savve that theire owne trees had yet a fevve oliues he willed those to be gathered and put into the presse and that oile which came forth to be broughte vnto him thoughe it were neuer so little which being done he sett the little vessell before the aultar and after theire departure he offered his praiers to God which being ended he called for the monckes commandinge them to take awaye the oile which they brought to powre a little thereof into all the vessels which they had that each of them mighte haue some of the benedictioÌ„ of that oile which beinge done he caused the vessels empty as they were to be close stopped and the next day they founde them al full Peter We finde daily the wordes of our Sauiour to be verified who saith My father euen to this tyme doth worcke and I do Ioan. 5. worcke OF ANASTASIVS ABBOT OF the Monastery called Suppentonia CHAPTER VIII Gregory AT the same tyme the reuerent man Anastasius of whom I spake before vvas notarye to the churche of Rome whereof by Gods prouidence I haue nowe the charge who desirous only to serue God gaue ouer his office and made choise of a monasticall life and in that Abbeye which is called Suppentonia he liued many years vertuously and gouerned that place with great care and diligence Ouer the Abbey there hangeth an huge rocke and beneath it there is a stiepe downefall Vpon a certaine nighte when God had determined to rewarde the labours of venerable Anastasius a voice was hearde from the topp or that rocke which very leisurely did cry out Come away Anastasius who being so called straighte after seuen other monkes were seuerally called by theire names And then the voice staied for a little tyme and then called againe the eighte moncke Which strange voice the ConueÌ„t hearinge very plainelye made no doubte but that the death of them that were so called was not farr of wherfore not many daies after before the rest Anastasius him selfe and then the others in order departed this mortal life as they were before called from the topp of the rocke And that moncke who was called after som pausing did a little while suruiue the rest and then he also ended his life whereby it was plaine that the stayinge of the voice did signify that he sholde liue a little longer then the other But a strange thinge happened for when holy Anastasius lay vpon his death bed a certaine monke there was in the Abbey that wolde needes dye with him and therfore fel downe at his feere and there began with teares to begg of him in this manner For his loue to whom you are nowe goinge I beseche and adsure you that I may not remayne in this worlde seuen daies after your departure and indede it so fel out that before the seuenth day was come that he lefte this mortall life and yet was not he that nighte named by that voice amongest the rest so that it appeareth plainelye that it vvas only the intercession of Anastasius vhich obtayned that his departure Peter Seinge that monke vvas not called amongest the other and yet by the intercession of that holy man vvas taken out of this life vvhat other thinge can vve gather hereof but that suche as be of great merit and in fauor vvith God can somtyme obtayne those thinges vvhich be not predestinate Gregory Such thinges as be not predestinat by God caÌ„ not by any meanes be obtained at his handes but those thinges which holy men do by theire praiers effect were from all eternitye predestinat to be obtained by praiers For very predestination it selfe to life euerlastinge is so by almighty God disposed that Gods elect seruantes doe throughe theire labor come vnto it in that by theire praiers they do merit to receiue that which almighty God determined before all worldes to bestowe vpon them Peter Desirous I am to haue this pointe more plainly proued to wit that predestination may by praiers be holpen Gregory That which I inferred Peter may quickly be proued for ignorant you are not that our Lorde saide to Abraham In Isaac shal sede be called to the to whom also he saide I haue appointed thee to be a father of many nations and againe he Gen 21. Gen. 27. Gen. 22. 26. promised him sayinge I wil blessâ—hee and multiplye thy sede as the starres of the heauen and as the sand of the sea Out of which places it is plaine that almighty God had predestinat to multiply the seede of Abraham by Isaac and yet the scripture Gen. 25. saith Isaac did praye vnto our Lorde for his wise bycause she was barren who did heare him and Rebecca conceiued Yf then the increase of Abrahams posteritye was predestinat by Isaac how came it to passe that his wife was barren by which most certaine it is that predestination is fulfilled by praiers when as we see that he by whom God had predestinaâ— to increase Abrahams seed obtained by praier to haue children Peter Seing reason hath made that plaine which before I knewe not I haue not herein any further doubte Gregory Shall I now tell you somewhat of such holy men as haue bene in Tuscania that you may be informed what notable persons haue florished in those partes and how greatly they were in the fauor of almighty God Peter Willing I am to giue you the hearinge and therfor beseche you to procede forvvarde OF BONIFACIVS BISHOPPE OF
in castinge out of deuils in so muche that sometyme he did cast out of possessed bodies whole legions and by the continuall exercise of praier he ouercam all thiere tentations Iulianus who had an office here in our church and not long since died in this city was familiarly acquainted with him by whose relation I learned that which I will nowe tell you for by reason of his great and in ward familiarity often was he present at such miracles as he wroughte and did diuers tymes talke of him to our instruction and his owne comforte A certaine noble matrone there was dwellinge in the hither partes of Tuscania that had a daughter in lawe which not longe after the marriage of her sonne was togither with heâ— mother in lawe inuited to the dedication of the oratory of the blessed martir S. Sebastian and the nighte before this Dedication of churches solemnitye ouercome with carnall pleasure she coulde not abstaine from her husbande and thoughe in the morninge her former delighte trobled her conscience yet shame draue her ProcessioÌ„ forth to the procession beinge more ashamed of men then fearinge the iudgement of God and therfor thither she went togither with her mother in lawe And beholde straighte vpon the bringing of the reliques of S. Sebastian Translation of â—eliâ—es the martir into the oratorye a wicked spirit possessed the foresaide matrons dawghter in lawe and pitifully tormented her before all the people The Priest of the oratory beholdinge her so terribly vexed and lifted vp toke a white lynninge cloth and cast vpon her and forth withe the deuill also entred into him and bycause he presumed aboue his strengthe enforced also he was by his owne vexation to knowe what him selfe was Those that were present tooke vp the yonge getle woman in thiere handes and carried her home to her owne house And for as muche as she was by the enemye continually and cruelly tormented her kinsfolke that carnally loued her with thiere loue did persecut her caused her caused her to be caried for helpe to certaine witches so vtterlye to cast awaye her soule whose body they went about by sorcerye for a tyme to relieue Comming into thiere handes she was by them broughte to a riuer and there washed in the water the sorcerers laboring a longe tyme by theire inchantementes to cast out the deuill that had possessed her bodye but by the wonderfull iudgement of almightye God it fell ouâ— that whiles one by vnlawfull arte was expelled suddainly a whole legion did enter in And from that tyme forwarde she began to be tossed with so many varieties of motions to shrike out in so many sundry tunes as there were deuils in her bodye Then her parentes consultinge togither and confessing thiere owne wickednes caried her to the venerable Bishop Fortunatus and with him they left her who hauinge taken her to his charge fel to his praiers many daies and nightes and he prayed so muche the more earnestly because â—he had against him in one body an whole army of deuils and many daies passed not before he made her so safe and â—ounde as thoughe the deuill had neuer had any power or interest in her bodye At an other tyme the fame seruant of almighty God cast forth a deuil out of one that was possessed which wicked spirit when it was no we nighte and sawe fewe men stirring in the stretes takinge vpon him the shape of a stranger began to go vp and downe the citye crying out O holy Bishop Fortunatus beholde what he hath done he hath turned a stranger out of his lodginge and nowe I seeke for a place to rest in and in his whole citye can finde none A certaine man sittinge in his house by the fire with his wife and his little sonne hearing one to crye out in that manner went forth and enquired what the Bishop had done and withall inuited him to his house where he caused him to sett with them by the fire and as they were amonge them selues discoursinge of diuers matters the same wicked spirit on a sudcâ—ain entred into his little childe cast him into the fire and forth with killed him then the wretched father by the losse of his sonne in this manner knewe full well whom he had entertained and the Bishopp turned out of his lodginge Peter What was the cause that the olde enemye presumed to kill his sonne in his owne house who thinckinge him to be a stranger voursafed him of lodging and entertaynement Gregory Many thinges Peter seme to be goode and yet ar not because they be not done with a goode mynde and intention and therfor our Sauiour saith in the gospell Yf they eye be naughte al thy Math. 6. bodye shal be darcke for when the intention is wicked all the worcke that followeth is naughte althoughe it seme to be neuer so goode and therfore this man who lost his childe thoughe he semed to giue hospitalitye yet I thincke that he toke not any pleasure in that worcke of mercye but rather in the detraction and infamy of the Bishoppe for the punnishemeÌ„t which followed did declare that his entertainement goinge before was not voide of synne for some there be which are carefull to do goode worckes to th ende they may obscure the vertue of an other mans life neither take they pleasure in the good thinge which they doe but in the conceipt of that hurte which thereby they imagin reclouÌ„deth to others and therfore I verilye suppose that this man which gaue entertainment to the deuill was more desirous to seme to do a goode worcke then to do it in dede to th ende that he mighteseme more charitable then the Bishop in that he entertained him whom the man of God Fortunarus had thrust out of his house Peter It is verilye so as you saye for the ende of the worcke declared that the intente of the doer was not good Gregory At an other tyme likewise one that had lost his eysighte was brought vnto him who craued his intercession and obtayned it for so sone as rhe man of God had praied for him and made A miracle of the signe of the crosse the signe of the crosse vpon his eies straighte waies he receiued his sighte Beside this a certaine soldiars horse became so mad that he colde scant be holden by many and so cruel he was that he rent and tare the flesh of all such as he coulde reach with his tethe at lengthe as well as they coulde they tied him with roopes and so brought him to the man of God who puttinge An other miracle of the signe of the crosse forth his hande made vpon his heade the signe of the crosse forth with all his madnes departed in such sort that he became more gentle then euer he was before Then the soldiar seing his horse so miraculously cured determined to bestowe him vpon the Bishop which because he refused and yet the other instantly entreated
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
because theire hartes could not endure to beholde any such misery The olde man yelded to theire request and so caried away the boy home to his owne monastery where he remayned longe tyme safe and sound the deuill not presuminge to touche him Wherevpon the olde man seeinge him to continew so wel was immoderatly glad thereof therfore in the presence of the monkes he spake thus The deuill did dally with those sisters but nowe he hathe to doe with the seruauntes of God he dare not come nere this boye He had scarse vttered these wordes when as in that verye instant the poore childe was in the presence of them all possessed anâ— pitifully tormented which the olde man beholdinge straighte-waies lamented and fell a weepinge and perseueringe so a longe tyme the monkes came to comfort him but he answered them sayinge Beleue me quoth he none of you shall this daye eate any breade vnlesse this boye be dispossessed Then with the rest of the brethren he fell prostrat to his praiers and there they continewed so longe vntill the boye was deliuered from his former tormentes and besides so perfectly cured that the wicked spirit neuer after presumed to molest him any more Peter I verily suppose that he synned a little in vaine glorye and that Gods pleasure was that the other monkes shoulde cooperate to the dispossessinge of the deuill Gregory It is euen so as you saye for seing he could not alone beare the burthen of that miracle it was deuided amongest the rest of his brethren Of what force and efficacye this mans praiers were I haue founde by experience in my selfe for being vpon a tyme when I liued in the Abbey so sicke that I ofteÌ„ sounded and was by meanes thereof with often panges continually at deathes dore and in such case that vnlesse I did continually eate some thinge my vitall spirit was goinge awaye Easter daye was at hande and therfore when I sawe that vpon so sacred a vigill I coulde not refraine from often eating Prescript daies of fasting in which not only olde persones but euene children vse to fast I was more afflicted with griefe then grieued with myne infirmitye yet at length my sorrowfull soule quickly founde out a deuise and that was to carrye the man of God secretly into the oratorye and there to intreat him that he wold by his praier obtainâ— for me of God so muche strength and abilitye as to fast that day which fell out accordinglye for so sone as we came into the oratorye with humilitye and teares he fell to his praiers and after a while hauinge made an ende he came forthe and vpon the wordes of his blessed praiers my stomacke grewe so stronge that I did not so much as thincke of any meate nor feele any griefe at all Then I began to marâ—aile at my selfe and to thincke in whaâ— case I was before and how I felt my selfe nowe and when I thoughte vpon my former sickenes I founde none of those panges with which before I was trobled and when my minde was busied about the affaires of the Abbey my sycknes was quite out of my memory yea as I saide yf I did thâ—ncke thereof yet feelinge myselfe so well and stronge I began to doubte whether I had eaten or no. When euening was come I founde my selfe so lustye that I coulde very well haue fasted vntill the next daye And by this means hauinge experience of his praiers in my selfe I made no doubt but those thinges also were true which in other places he did thoughe my selfe was not then present Peter Seinge you tolde me that he was a man of great compunction desirous I am to be better informed touchinge the efficacye of compunction and teares and therefore I praye you let me vnderstande howe manye kindes of compunction there be OF THE DIVERS KINDES of compunction CHAPTER XXXIIII Gregory COmpunction is deuided into many kindeâ— to witt when euery synne is of penitent men in particular bewaileâ— whereof the prophet Ieremye in the person of penitent synners speaketh thus Myne eye hath Thren 3. brought forth diâ—isions of waters But speaking more properlye there be especiallie two kindes of compunction for the soule that thirsteth after God is first sorrowfull in harte for feare and afterwarde vpon loue For first it is grieued and weepeth because callinge to minde former synnes committed it feareth to endure for punnishment of them euerlastinge â—ormentes but when longe anxiety and sorrowe hath bannished awaye that feare then a certaine securitye of the hope of pardon doth followe and so the soule is inflamed with the â—oue of heauenly delightes and whereas before it did weepe for feare of eternall payne afterward it powreth out teares that it is kept from euerlastinge ioyes For the soule doth then conâ—emplat those glitteringe quires of Angels that heauenly companye of those blessed spirites that great maiesty of the eternall beholdinge the face of God and doth lament so muche more now because it wanteth that euerlasting felicitye then it wept before at the feare of eternall punnishement Which thinge in scripture is mystically sett downe in an holy and true historye for there we reade howe Axa the daughter of Caleb riding vpon an asse did sighe when her father demaÌ„ded what the matter was she ansvvered him thus Giue me your blessinge a southern Iosue 15. and dry lande you haâ—e giuen me ioyne also a wattery and he gaue her a watterie grounde aboue and beneath For Axa then rideth vpon the asse when our soule doth subdue and gouerne the sensuall motions of the fleshe which sighinge doth craue wett grounde of her father when it doth with contrition and sorrowe of harte desire of our creator the grace of teares weeping For some there be vpon whom God hath bestowed such a gifte that they will speake freely in defence of iustice helpe them that be oppressed giue almes to the poore and be zealous in religion but yet haue they not obtained the grace of teares these be they that haue grouÌ„de towardes the South and that which is drye but yet do they want that which is moist and wett because albeit they be diligent and feruent in goode worckes yet requisit it is that they sholde also either for feare of hell or the loue of heauen bewaile the sinnes of theire life past But because as I saide there be two kindes of compunction therfore her father gaue her that which was wettaboue and also wett beneathe for our soule doth then receiue that which is wett aboue when it is grieued and doth weepe for the desire of heauen and it doth then possesse that which is â—â—ett beneath when it is affraide and poureth forth teares for the feaâ—e of hell fire and albeit that which is â—â—ett beneathe is bestowed vpon our sâ—ule before that which is weet aboue yet because the compunction of loue is the more excellent conuenient it was that the grounde which was wett aboue shâ—ulde be first named