the venerable and B. Prelat S. Dionise bad the headsman to do his office And he being ready began with him and then went to Rusticus and lastly to Eleutherius and cut of all their three heads in that order Although God permitted these his seruants to be put to death as is aboue said yet was not he forget full of them yea because he would the more glorify them and not suffer their bodies to be dishonored his will was to worke a wonderfull miracle in that place The headles body of S. Dionise arose on his feet and tooke vp in his hand his owne head and went as it were in maner of triumph untill it mett a vertuous woman coming out of her own house not farre distant from the place where the holy saints were martired The body of S. Dionise being come vnto that place where the woman was deliuered his head vnto her as a pretious treasure and shee also receued it as a most goodly Iewell The bodies of SS Rusticus and Eleutherius continued still in the place of execution and the headsman and the other officers talked and deuised to cast them into the riuer to be deuoured by the fihses and with all to bereaue the Christians of them who as they knew well would reuerence and esteem them very much A woman called Caâ—ulla who had bin a defender and helper of S. Dionise and his companions in this persecution heard of their wycked designe intention and inuited the headsman and the officers vnto her house to make good cheare and accordingly did sett meat and drink before them In the meane space shee sent for certain Christians secretly who conuayed away and hid the bodies of the holy martirs When the officers and headsman had eateÌ„ their fill they went out to looke for the bodies of the blessed saints to haue put in practise their lewd designe and not finding them they streightwaies made a tumult and threatned exceedingly such as had stollen them away but the discreet woman appeased them with gifts and with fair words and so they departed quietly away The Christians laid the bodies of the holy saints in a priuate house without the walls of Paris and after certein years there was builded for them a goodly sumptuous and stately Church where they now do rest They who do visite their holy relicks do obteine many graces by the intercession of these holly martirs The death of these holy saints fell on the same day that the Church celebrateth the same viz on the 9. of October in the year of our Lord. 96. in the time of Domitian or Traian as others say S. Dionise was 90. years old when he was martired as Trithemius saith He wrote certein books replenished with merueillous and profound doctrine viz De Ecclesiastica Caelesti hierarchia De mistica Theologia De diuinis moninibus and others out of which the faithfull beleeâ—ers reap no les fruit of his doctrine them the former had gathered by the good example of his holy life as the third Countell of ConstaÌ„tinople affirmeth in which place 6. Sinod CoÌ„staÌ„tinop they were acknowledged for his books and were highly esteemed The life of S. Callistus Pope and martir SALOMON saith in Ecclesiasticus cap. 37. The abstineÌ„â— man encreaseth the daies of his life This sentence is verified in Gallen the prince of phisike and medicine who liuing 140. yeares and being asked howe and by what meanes he liued so long answered I neuer rose from the table satiate and full More are they that dy by furfet and to much then by abstinence and too litle This being considered by the B. Pope Callistus he ordeined the fast called the Ember by commaunding the faithfull that in the foure times of the year viz the Spring Sommer Autumne and Winter they should fast three daies in one week in euery one of these quarters and likewise in those daies pray vnto God that he would giue and conserue the fruits of the earth and also that prayer maie be made vnto God for them that take holy orders at those times Also as the church saith in a praier fasting was instituted for the good of body and soule being vnto them bothe a holesome medicine oration Quadrag The life of this holy Pope was written by Damasus and other Authors in this maner BY the death of S. Zepherinus Pope and martir Callistus the first of that name was placed in the Chair of S. Peter He was borne in Rome and was the sonne of Domitius He builded a Church in the honor of the glorious virgin which is called Santa Maria trans Tiberim though as Plaâ—â—na saith it cannot be that which is so called at this present bicause at that time the Christians had not such large liberty as to build sumptuous Churches yea those which they had were litle meane and priuat as this was then because of the persecutions but Gregory the 3. enlarged it and before him Pope Siluester the first that builded publik Churches Pope Callistus at this owne cost caused to be made a Churcheyard in the way called Appia which is called the Churchyard of Callistus where many martirs are buried In this Churchyard was afterward built the Church of S. Sebastian therein are conserued many relicks and many alters and litle chapples are vnder the ground where masses were said in great secrecy for feare of the Pagans This same Pope as is afore said ordeined the feast of the Quaâ—uor tempora or Ember daies And bicause the giuing of holy orders was vsed to be done but once in the yeare which then was not sufficient for that the number of the faithfull was very much augmented it was also necessary to encrease the number of priests and Deacons and so it was permitted to giue holy orders at those foure times of fasting Callistus for bad all faithfull beleeuers to participate or conuerse with persons excommunicate and also commaunded that no excommunicate person should be absolued Cap. Consang 3 q. 4. except the cause was first heard and the party satisfied He also was the first who prohibited matrimony betwene kinsfolks and apointed the same consanguinity vntill the seuenth degree though it after was limited to the fourth degree as it is at this present This good Pope gouerned the Church of God vertuously 6. years 2. months and 10. daies in the which he gaue holy orders fiue times in the moneth of December and ordered 8. Bishops 16. priests and foure deacons and then was martired Vsuardus recounteth his martirdome in this ensuing maner saâ—eng That the Emperour AlexaÌ„der Seuerus hauing kept him long in prison caused many bastanadoes to be giuen him allowing him with all verie litle sustenaunce and lastly he caused him to be thrown out of a window of the prison and in that sort he yielded vp his soule vnto God The Church celebrateth his feast on the. 14. day of October which was the same day he was martired in the year of our Lord. 224. It
verses at the sepulcher of the Apostles SS Peter and Paule and another work in the which he wrot the lifes of the Popes who were his predecessors He also ordeined that the psaâ—mes of Dauid should be song one part of the quier sayeng one verse and the other part another verse which is obserued vnto our time through all the vniuersall Church though it was vsed before in some particuler Churches by the notice of S. Ignatius vnto whom it was reueiled that the Angells in heauen song in this maner as he sawe it himself being in a traunce Also Damasus Councelled thereto by S. Ierome commaunded there should be said at the end of euery psalme Gloria patri filio spiritui sancto sicut erat in principio nunc semper in secula seculorum Amen He ordeined also that the priest before he began masse should say the generall confession He also gaue authority approbation to the translation of the holy Bible made by S. Ierome for before the translation of the 72. interpreters was commonly vsed This good Pope ended this life on the 11. day of December in the year of our Lord 380. in the time of Theodosius being 80. years old of which he was Pope 18. years 3. months 11. dayes He gaue holy orders 5. times in the month of December and ordered 32. priests 11 deacons and 62. Bishops His body was buryed in the Church of the Apostles which he had buâ—â—ded in the same where his mother and sister were buried He was afterward translated vnto another Church which he had builded called S. Laurence in Damaso The life of S. Lucy virgin and Martir AT such time as Gedeon was captaine of the people of God Iudiâ— 7. they were in great danger and feare because their enemies were neere them and verie potent and strong themselues being but fewe in number and weak God commaunded Gedeon to do some enterprise and the people trusting in God hoped to atchieue victorie yet they conceiued not any meanes how it should come to passe For to fight hand to hand they might seeme rash and foolish to run headlong on their owne deaths The people remaining thus in doubt God spake vnto Gedeon and bad him to diuide his people which were 300. into three parts and when night came euerie souldier should haue in one hand a Trompet and in the other hand a vessell of earth and within it a burning light In this manner they should assault their enemies on three sides and when they came neere them they should sound the trompetâ—s and break the vessells of earth knocking one against the other that the burning lampes might be seene on a sodeine and then all of them should make a great shoute As God apointed so it was done The souldiers sounded the Trompets which awaked the Madianits who seing on a sodeine so many lights and hearing such a noise remained astonied and full of dread and knew not how to defend themselues or to offend their enemies but in steed of striking the Hebrewes they wounded one another By this straâ—ageme the madianites were ouerthrewne and quite discomfited and the Hebrewes obtained a notable victorie By this figure we learne that when the vessels of earth are broken the lights are discouered and the enemy ouerthrowne which thing noteth that in the warâ—e which IESVS CHRIST figured in Gedeon maketh against the Madianites which are the diuells vessells of earth are vsed hauing within them burning lampes that shine most clearlie when the vessells of earth be broken These earthen vessells signifie the holeâ— martyrs for their bodies were of earth which being broken when they were diuersly tormented their burning and liuelie faith did shine more gloriously It is seene by experience that holy men are most knowne and reputed the light of the world by the meanes of their death Then is laid open their constancie fortitude and patience their liuely faith and other vertues where with they were adorned whilest they liued their vertues were couered as the torch is in the earthen vessell but when the vessell is broken that is to saie when the holie person dyeth the light is discouered and their death weakneth the diuell vtterlie Though this figure maie be apropriated to all the martyrs yet in perticuler it agreeth verie fulie vnto S. Lucy who by her death showed the light and discouered the brightnes of her liuelie faith and other vertues which were in her soule Moreouer she is the aduocate for the sight the obiect of which is the light Yet we will not saie that she had her name Luce of the light The life of this glorious saint was written by venerable Bâ—dâ— Ado Archbishop of Treuers and other approoued author SAINT Lucy was borne in the Cittie of Syracusa in the is'le of Sicilia of honorable parents and of a great familie She was a Christian from her infancie and so instructed in the faith that shee perswaded her owne mother to exercise her selfe in all vertuous workes and especiallie in giuing large almose and relieuing the necessities of their neighbours The holie damosell finding a fit opportunitie distributed to the poore all her patrimonie which was verie great to set her selfe free from a rich Nobleman who by the consent of her mother and kinsfolke should haue beene her husband though she neuer consented to it An occasion fell out in this sort The mother of S. Lucy called Eutitia had bene sick foure yeares of the bloodie flixe no worldly helpe could be had to cure her At that time the report of S. Agatha was spread ouer all Sicilie who a little before had beene martired her bodie being in the Cittie of Catanea where many miracles were done and many sicke persons of sundrie infirmities were cured by visiting her sepulchre S. Lucy perswaded her mother that they might goe together and visite the reliques of the holie saint not doubting but that by her meanes she might be deliuered from her infirmitie Eutitia was content and went with her daughter vnto Catanea attended in such manner as was fit for their degree and estate When they came vnto the sepulchre of S. Agathata Lucy fell to prayer requesting the glorious Martir to obtaine of God by her intercession health for her mother Lucy being thus in prayer S. Agatha accompanied with many Angels appeared vnto her and with a familier pleasing countenance said vnto her Sister Lucy wherefore doest thou demaund that of me which thou thy selfe maiest giue vnto thy mother Aske thou this fauour of God for if he loue me he loueth thee also and if he will heare my prayers he wil also heare thine and where I haue giuen my life for his sake so shalt thou also giue thy life for his loue And if I be the cause that the cittie of Catanea be famous and and renowned for that it is washed and bathed in my bloud and posesseth my bodie so shall the citty of Syracusa by the same meanes be famous and
our lord and Sauyor IESVS CHRIST was borne therin when he came to liue in this world and also but in farre lower degree for the S. Ierome dyed there to liue in heauen But aboue all other prouinces Spaine oweth an especiall duety vnto S. Ierome for the many epistles he wrote to particular persons therin as also for that after many hundreth years that he dyed in Bethlehem it seemed he was raised to life in Spaine not he in person but his name and religion for in the time of Pope Gregory II. the king Don Alonso the. II. raigning in Spaine there came out of Italy two holy hermites into the kingdome of Toledo in Spaine and by their good example of life and holy admonitions others were conuerted vnto that holy religious order Don alonse Peccia Bishop of Iaen and Petro fernandez Peccia his brother and Hernando Laguez chief chaplen of the kings Chappel Chanon of Toledo who being elected Arch-Bishop therof refused that dignity beside these many other noble men of marke and quality Many of the before named chose that life for that they had conceyued a great dread and fear of the king Don Pedro who at that time reigned in Castile after the death of the king Don Alonso his father because he had a delight to shed mans bloud so much that if the offence or fault were neuer so small he caused very rigorous punishment to be inflicted vpon the delinquents which seuere kind of Iustice was not vsed to be excuted in Spaine Wherefore the king gained thereby the surname of Cruell to this day I cannot tell if the doing of his Chronicler who did smally befrend him as it seemeth for some priuat respect did not help forward to settle confirme that odious name of Cruell vnto him from that time vnto this All these liued together certein years in the desert then they besought Pope Gregory to giue them a habite and a rule vnder the name of the hermitts of S. Ierome but the Pope gaue vnto them the rule of S. Augustine the name and habite they haue at this daie This order was confirmed in the third yeare of the Popedome of S. Gregorie on S. Lukes daie in the yeare of our Lord 1373. The order which is called in Spaine of the Isidori which is also of S. Ierome was instituted in the time of Pope Martin the 5. by frier Lopes de Ouiedo professor of the monasterie of Guada Lupe who out of S. Ieromes workes tooke a rule which is printed with his other workes and with the helpe of some that desired to followe it and with licence from the sea Apastolike he founded certaine monasteries in Italy which are called Isidori or the congregation of frier Lopes Of the first named relligious men of the order of S. Ierome there be in Spaine many worthie monasteries but in especiall fifteene which are called Royall because alwaies they haue bin fauoured by the kings They were especially fauoured by the Catholique king don Phillip the second of that name who built them a monastery an college in the Escuriall vnder the title of S. Laurence the Royall and the rule institution of the glorious S. Ierome In which place be many rare singular reliques of saints many pictures Images the workes of famous painters and caruers manie bookes of great vale we much riche stuffe for the church Challices Crosses and other things for the seruice of the Altar and there also is buried the corps of the mightie Emperour Charles the fifte of that name and other of the blood Royall By these and other the great and costlie things in this Royall house euidentlie appeareth the deuotion of the said king Don Phillip toward the glorious Doctors S. Ierome and his blessed religious order wherefore we maie hope that the same saint wil be his good aduocate vnto God that his Royall person and also his Realme shall encreasein temporall and wordlie goods and also that he shall inioye the celestiall kingdome of heauen by the intercession of this blessed saint To the wich God bring vs also of his infinite mercy Amen The end of the month of September OCTOBER The life of S. Remigius THERE shall spring a fountaine saith the prophet Ioel Cap. 3 and come from out of the house of God and passe by water the brooke of thornes in which words the prophet doth fortell us what shall happen after the latter iudgemeÌ„t The bodie of a mortall man is fitlie resembled in a brooke for it runneth swiftlie to death and perdition nay further it is a brooke of thornes for that of it selfe it produceth nothing but euill desires and worser deedes shat wound and pierce the soule like thornes But a fountaine after the latter day shall spring from out of the house of God and water these thornes whereby are deciphered those streames of glory which shall ouerflow the bodies of the elect and adorne them together with they re soules The Gloss saith this text may be well applyed to the primitiue Churche when the Apostles and preachers of the Ghospell did in the manner of a fountain spring from out of the house of God from the Catholicke Churche to water wich they re heauenlie doctrine the thornie brooke of Paganisme In this sence it fitteth that glorious Archb. of Rhemes S. Remigius who was indeede a fountaine of lyfe that springing from out of the house of God with the sweete and pleasant streames of his lyfe and doctrine watered that riuer of thornes Clodoueus who being a king and worshipper of Idolls was conuerted to the faith by S. Remigius and with him all his court and armie of men The lyfe of this glorious Saint was written by Hinc marus Archbishop of Rhemes in this manner following VVHEN the hand of our Lord did chastize the Frenchmen for they re sinnes with along bloudie warre which the Vandalls a fierce and cruell nation did wage against them there dwelled in the desert a holy Monk called Montanus who had lost his sight by continuall bewailing the sinnes of his nation For knowing that all they re afflictions and scourges were caused by they re many fold offences he coÌ„tinually prayed and with teares beseeched allmightie God to redress all they re miseries and graunt them pardon for all they re sinnes and be coÌ„tented with that punishment he had allreadie inflicted vpon them God vouchsafed at length to heare his prayers and graunt his request where fore he did reueale vnto him that shortlie there should be borne a child whose name should be Remigius that comming to be Bishop should with his preaching and good example with draw men from vices conuert them to God appease his wrath and stay his punishment He reuealed allso to this holie man the parents of this Childe Emilius and Ciliâ—ia people of great religion and charitie of noble bloud and great reuenews liuing in the tertitory of Laudum Montanus went and acquainted them whith his reuelation whereof both
after this manner iomtlie martired and buried Manie Christians had gathered themselues once together in a caue to celebrate the feast of these holie martirs Numerianus the Emperour vnderstanding this sent a companie of souldioures commaundinge them to stop vp the mouth of the caue and let not one escape with life There was amonghst them a priest whose name was Diodorus he said mass and gaue them all the B. sacrament encouraging them to suffer that death with ioy and constancie for the loue of CHRIST they did according as he did exhorte them and ended theire lifes gloriouslie in that place The Churche doth celebrate the feast of SS Chrisantus and Daria the 25 of October and theire death was in the yeare of oure Lord God 284. in the raigne of Numerianus Emperoure The martir dome of these saints was written by Verinus and Armenius priests of saint Steuen Pope and martir Metaphrastes enlarged it some what more S. Damasus made certain eloquent verses in praise of these saintes In annot and 2. to annal de glor mart â— 38. and set them on they re tombe There is mention of them allso in the Romaine Martirologe and in that of Vsuardus as allso in the 5 tome of Surius in Cardinall Baronius and Gregorius Turonensis The life of S. Euaristus Pope and Martir OVR Sauior saith in S. Mathew Mat 7 that none can gather grapes of thornes nor figgs of thistles This cometh to passe because a mans power is bounded and limitted but the power of God is infinite without bounds or measure he can therefore if he please gather figgs of thistles and grapes of thornes as it appeareth he did by S. Euaristus Pope who was made a sweet and delicious fruite being in his life holy and in his death a martir God gathered this grape from a thorne viz from a Iew that was his father The life of this holy saint collected by Damasus and out of an epistle decretall of the same Euaristus and out of other Authors was this EVARISTVS was sonne to a Iewe called Iudas and was borne in Bethlehem and when then holy Poper Anacletus was dead he was chosen to succeede in his place He was a verie learned and holie man and the first that diuided the parishes of Rome into sundrie titles among sundrie priests which were after-ward called Cardinalls The same Euaristus ordained that seuen deacons should accompany the Bishop where soeuer he went and should stand by his side whensoeuer he preached to the end his ministery should be honoured his doctrine wittnessed and also that he might shew some kind of autority be defended if any Gentill made shewe of violence against him He also prouided that matrimony should be publikly solemnized and not in secret and that the spouses should go vnto the Church to haue the nuptiall benediction Tertull lib 2. ad vxor Ca siour vir 7. q. 1. 2. q. 7. si quâ— sunt though as Tertulian saith the espousalls and marriage were made in the Church euen from the time of the Apostles Moreouer he commaunded that Bishops should not leaue of forsake their Churches to go vnto others which thing is agreeable with the condition of maried folks who may not abandon their own wifes for other women He also ordeined that the accusations of the people should not be receued against their owne Bishops if they had not notice before or els some pregnant suspition of fault in him It is not knowen how S. Euaristus died but that the Catholik Church hath doth account him in the nomber of the Popes which were martirs In such sort that hauing holden the Papacy 9. years 10. months and 2. daies and hauing giuen holy orders three times in the moneth of December and at them ordered 5. bishops 6. priests and 2. deacons he exchanged this temporall life for the eternall and was buried in the Vatican nere vnto the supulcher of S. Peter chief of the Apostles on the 26 day of October and on that day the Church doth celebrate his feast The death of this holy saint was in the yeare of our Lord 120. in the time of the Emperour Traiane The life of SS Symon and Iude Apostles HOLY writ in the first booke of Machabees speaketh of Mattathias who hauing done noble acts in the defence of the people of Israel and finding himselfe now tired old and neere his death called to him his sonnes kinsfolke and freinds and the chief of them that had serued vnder his standard When they were all come he made vnto them a large speech exhorting them earnestly to perseruer in the seruice of God and in his holy faith for that he was able to deliuer them though all the world was against them as he had done in former times when they put their trust in him He to this purpose recounted vnto them the examples of Abraham Phynees Dauid Daniel and his three freinds After this he concluded his speech with these words Behold Symeon your brother is a man of wisedome giue eare to him as to your father Iudas Machabeus also is valiant and corragious euen from his child bode let him be the captein of your hoast This history agreeth much for the B. Apostles Symon and Iude for that Mattathias is the figure of IESVS CHRIST our Lord who hath done worthy acts in the world for the defence of all Christians which haue serued vnder his banner and speaketh thus to them Behold you Christians Symon my Apostle is your brother and a man of wisdome listen to him and esteeme him as your father and imitate him in his holy and vertuous life Iudas also his companion in martir dome is valiant euen from his youth let him be your captein in the battle take him for your Aduocate and commend your self to him for that will help you much to obtein the victory The life 's of these two Apostles taken out of that which is written of them in the holy Scriptures and out of diuers Authors was in this manner SAINT Symon and S. Iude were the sonnes of Alpheus and Mary Cleophae and brethren to S. Iames the lesse and Ioseph the iust Symon was called Cananeus for that he was borne in Cana of Galyly and S. Luke calleth him Zelotes in the Greeke toung for that Cana by interpretation is zelous He was thus surnamed to be knowne from S. Peter who is also called Symon as Iudas was surnamed Thaddeus to distinguish him from Iudas Iscariot It is not written when or howe they were called to the Apostle ship but there is mention made of them in the Ghospell when the names of the twelue Apostles are reconed As also when IESVS CHRIST in the sermon of the supper Ioan. 14. said He that loueth me shal be loued of my Father and I will loue him and manifest my self to him Iudas answered him How is this to be done that hout wilt manifest thy self to vs and not to the world CHRIST spake of his death and of
their labour being very painfulle yet wanted they water to drink and that lirle which they had they were compelled to fetch it two miles of The holy Pope Clement moued vnto compassion with their intollerable paine and toile made his praier vnto God beseeching him to haue pity on his people His praier being finished he lifted vp his eies as Metaphrastes saith and sawe vpon a litle hillock a lambe who held vp his right foot as though he shewed where the Water was S. Clement was fully persuaded that the lamb was IESVS CHRIST because none saw it it but himself only so he went to that place and said In the name of IESVS CHRIST digge heere Some began to digge on the one side and some on the other and to cast vp the earth not in the place where the lambe shewed but in a place hard by S. Clement himself took a spade and making a litle hoale where the lamb had showen there sprang out incontinent a veine of pure and cleare water which gaue great consolation vnto the holy saint and to the other Christians who were much confirmed in the faith by the same This miracle moued also many of the Painims to go and heare his doctrine by which they were conuerted vnto the true faith Because the number of Catholiks increased and the report of that which happened in the IslaÌ„d was so spread abroad that it came to the eares of TraiaÌ„ he was enraged therat and sent thither a Gouernour called Aufidianus who put many of the Christians to death But when he saw they died willingly for the profession of their faith he thought the best way would be to put Clement only as their guide vnto death wherupon he caused him to be apprehended When he sawe him to be firme and stable in his faith he gaue sentence against him that he should be caried into the mayne sea and throwne into the same with an anchor tied vnto his neck The sighes the sobbes the lamentable voices of those afflicted Christians cannot be expressed when they sawe them selues depriued of Clement in whom they found refuge and comfort in their laboursome and discomfortable life hauing him they thought they had a father and a master euery one found him to be their faithfull frend and their louing brother he made much of them all he instructed them all he gaue help to all by all the meanes he could The Christians being in this tribulation seing then that if they lost Clement they lost all these things besought God with great instancy to deliuer him out of that perill and daunger or els that they might end their life 's with him The holy Pope also aggrieued to leaue them in this tribulation lamented for them and yet comforted them in the best maner he could At the very instant that he was to be cast into the sea the people standing on the shore lifted vp their voices and cried aloud Lord IESVS CHRIST saue him and the blessed Pope said Eternall father receaue my soule This being said he was cast into the sea where he ended his life and all the Christians were very pensiue and sadde Among others there were two desciples of the holy saint the one called Cornelius and the other Phaebus who said to the rest of the Christians Brethren let vs make our prayers vnto God and beseeche him through his fauour to shew vnto vs the reliques of his holy saint This counsell pleased them all very well and so they went vnto prayer they had not yet finished the same when the sea began to decrease and to depart away for the space of three miles from the shore and was so firme that men might passe all that way dryfoot where they found a chappell builded in the middest wherof was the body of S. Clement in a sepulcher and there was also the Anchar which had bene fastened vnto his neck This myracle did not only happen at that time but also did befall euery year for seuen daies continually in that place beginning on the day of his martirdome and enduring for sixe dayes following Thither resorted much people from sundry quarters to see the myraculous sepulcher of the holy saint at the time of the annuall discouery which endured and continued many years as affirmeth Symeon Metaphrastes who auerreth that in his time viz about the year of our Lord 620. this myracle was seene And it is also affirmed by Ephrem B. of Chersona venerable Beda Gregory B. of Towers Ado. Arch B. of Tryers l. 3. 〈◊〉 28. and Nicephorus Callistus yea all these Autors writing the life of S. Clement make mention of this myracle Ephrem B. of Chersona and Gregory B of Towres report another strange and admirable myracle as that a woman going with her litle infant a pilgrimage to this place and being in the Church where the body of the blessed martir lay The infant fell fast on sleep and the seuen daies being passed and expired the sea encreased and returned to the wonted place in such hast that the mother of the child which slept whether fearing the speedy flowing of the water or els vpon forgetfulnes saued her self and left him there behind her When shee was escaped all daunger and the sea was risen to the shore remembring then that shee had left her litle sonne behind her shee showed great signes of dollour and grief yet she knew not what to do but ranne now hither now thither by the seashore and looked about that at the least shee might see the dead body of her litle infant but shee could not so shee returned home to her house sadde pensiue and discomfortable and passed all that year in continuall lamentation When the yearly day of the martirdome of this holy saint came againe she made another iourney vnto the sepulcher and comyng to the same shee found her litle sonne sleeping sweetly euen as shee had left him the year before Shee took him in her aâ—mes and kissed him ofte and weeping for ioy and tendernes asked him what had become of him all that year The infant answered her that he knew not that a yeare was passed for he had slept all the while Then in the time of Pope Nicholas 1. being in the yere 860. the body of S. Clement by the ordynance of God as it may well be beleeued was taken out of that place in the sea by a holy man called Cyrillus and was carried vnto Rome buried in a Church builded vnto his name The same Pope caused also another Church to be built in the Island where the fountayn sprang vp by the prayer of S. Clement and intituâ—ed it also to his name S. Clement was Pope 9. years 2. months and 10. dayes He gaue orders twise in the month of December and ordered 15. Bishops 10. priests and 21. deacons The Catholike Church celebrateth his feast on the day of his martirdome which was on the. 23. of Nouember in the year of our Lord 102. In the time
neuer arose because she neuer fell The other reason is the holy Catholicke Church celebrateth the feast of the Conception of the B. Virgin not with the title and name of sanctification but of Conception which was on the 8. day of December And this is not instituted for particuler Churches to celebrate but it is instituted to be kept generally in all Christendome since the breuiary of Pius 5. which is receiued by all the Church Finally I conclude that among all the feasts solemnised of the B. Virgin none is so solemnely celebrated by the faithfull as this is and that is done to shew her vertue nobilitie the more thereby and in respect of the great good which beginneth this day for vs all Let vs also consider what a great mayne we should haue had to haue wanted the glorie that we shall receiue by her company in heauen And though that the essentiall glory of the saints proceed from God yet receiue they also a very great accidentall glory from the company of the B. Virgin for though the estate of the kingdome dependeth of the King yet alwayes or for the most part particuler feasts and triumphes as iusts torneys daunces maskes and other pleasant shewes are made for the honour of the Queene and of her Ladies and damosels So also is it in heauen but in another manner it is cleare that there is accidentall glory with ioyes and triumphes continually made for the mother of God But we wretches heere in the world what should we doe without the glorious Virgin to whom should we haue recourse in our troubles and necessities Who should comfort vs who should giue vs helpe who will shew themselues so pittifull and mercifull as this glorious Virgin when we call vpon her deuoutely how great our lost and dammage should be without this gratious mother may be known by the great ioy we ought to make this day of her conception in the which she began to haue her beginning in this world Let vs then reioyce and solemnize this day confessing our selues deuout to this B. mother and her pure Conception that as many haue beene fauoured by her that haue done so some being deliuered from most dangerous perills and others hauing obtained particuler fauours So wee also being deliuered by her meanes from our offences faults may merit to obtaine euerlasting life Amen Spa Cesar Baronius saith in his martyrologe that this feast was first celebrated in England and after at Lyons and then in other countries The life of S. Melchiades Pope and Martir WE read in Leuiticus that God commaunded that salt should be put in all their sacrifices if that any offred sacrifice and did not put salt therin it was not gratefull vnto him neither did he accept in In ihis our Lord would giue vs to vnderstand that in all our works though they be good in themselfs yet must they be done with prudence for if they be done otherwise in steed of seruing him they shall offend him Almese is a good thing yet of one giue almose vnto a strager and let necessaryes in his owne house and for his children be wanting this pleaseth not God Good and holy is prayer but if one kneele on the ground to say his prayer and shall leaue vndone something vnto which he is bound this his work shall not be altogether good One cannot deny but the Communyon is a very holy thing neuertheles if one that is wycked hath a conscience clogged and burdened with mortall synne will â—et comnunicate he doth loose more thereby then he gayneth Fasting is a good thing but he thaâ— will fâ—st as do the Iewes and the moores in stâ—ed of doing the action of a Christian he shall giue a signe to be a painime And therefore we should do well to put the salt of prudence in all our works The holy pope and martir Melchiades considering this made a decree by which he commaunded that the faithfull should not fast vpon the sonday and thursday for that on one of those dayâ—s the Iewes fasted and the moores on the other and a Christian ought not only auoid to be a moore or a Iewe but also to make any shew to be such a one The not fasting the sunday remaineth in generall vse but that of Thursday is growne out of vse The Christian wâ—eÌ„ he fasteth ought to haue the intention pure not to do inwardly as the Iewes and moores do though be doth the same thing outwardly that they do The life of this holy saint was written in this maner by Damasus and other Authors Melchiades the pope was an African and succeceeded Eusebius in the papacy From the time of S. Peter vnto his popedome there had bene 20. popes which had bene martired for the faith of IESVS CHRIST There is extant an epistle of Melchiades written vnto the Bishops of Spaine in the which he sheweth himself to be a godly and lerned man In that epistle he saith that all the Apostles acknowledged S. Peter to be their superior And by cause those Bishops bad moued a question which was the greater sacrament Baptisme or CoÌ„firmation he answered sayeng that Baptisme is of greater necessity for that without it none can be saued but that confirmation was of greater dignity for that none giue it but a Bishop And then he reciteth vnto them the effects of the one and the other sacrament Moreouer he treateth of the great profit the Apostles receaued by the comming of the holy Ghost and how great the goods be Christians attaine by receauing the holy Ghost in Baptisme and then in Confirmation In the same epistle he ordeined that which is already aforesaid viz that Christians should not fast on the sunday and thursday to avoid the imitation of the Iewes and the paynims Melchiades found in Rome many heretiks of the Manichees against whoÌ„ he ordeined many things apperteinyng to the offerings and other dueties to be done in Church Some Authors say that in the time of this pope was celebrated the prouinciall councell of Neocesarea which is at this day called Trapezunda in which be ordeined some things perteyning vnto the state of the Church conformable vnto that time Lastly Melchiades hauing gouerned the Church as Damasus saith 3. yeares 7. months and 8. dayes hauing giuen holy orders one time in the month of December and ordered 6. priests 5. deacons and 11. Bishops was martyred in the tyme of the emperor Maxentius about the year of our Lord 304. Some say that Maximinus did put him to death but in my opinion they are deceiued for that Maximinus persecuted the Christians in Alexandria and Egipt and not in Rome for there Maxentius always remayned and vsed intollerable cruelty vntill the time that Constantine depriued him of his Empire and of his life also The Church celebrateth the feast of this pope on the 10. day of December and his body was buryed in the Churchyard of Callistus in the Via Appia The life of S. Damasus
them one by one and kissed the place where the eye wanted and where the hand beene cut of shedding the whilest teares for deuotion And said they were happy in that they had suffered such torments for the loue of IESVS CHRIST The Counsell was ended and Arrius was declared and denounced an hereticke and his doctrine also And because he was obstinate in his false and erronious opinion he with sixe of his followers were sent into exile by the decree of Constantine And because whilest the Counsell endured this great and potent Emperour did a notable thing worthy of eternall memory it shall not be amisse to write it in particular that other seculer Princes may learne to make account of Ecclesiasticall persons and not to intromit to iudge their lifes nor to breake their priuiledges and immunities Great was the resort of people frō sundry nations vnto the Counsell aswell for to dispute of the propositions of the Arryan heretiques as also to craue Iustice and to be remedyed of many aggreauances Euery day were brought vnto the Emperour supplications sceduls or billes of complaints against some of the Prelats Aswell of those present as of some absent yea the Prelats made complaints one of another The Catholike Emperour tooke all these supplications and kept them and neuer read any of them After vpon a day in a full assembly of the fathers he shewed them all their sceduls and supplications and said vnto them Our Lord God hath made you priests and hath giuen you autority and power to iudge all men and me also among others So then I must be iudged by you and you can not be iudged by me therefore awayt stay you for the iudgement of God Your variances and controuersies let them be of whatsoeuer matter they be shal be reserued vnto the iudgement of God I desire you earnestly yo leaue those priuate quarels and let vs all attend vnto the deciding of matters of faith for the which we are heere assembled When he had said thus he threw all the writings into fier to abolish and extinguish them for euer A worthy deed of a renoumed Emperour Nicephorus Callistus and Gregory a priest of Caesarea say that in this Counsell of Nice there died two Bishops the one called Grisantus and the other Musonius before they could subscribe vnto the decrees of the Counsel and that the other Bishops went one night vnto the place where the two Bishops were buried and one in the name of all the Counsell spooke vnto them requesting them that hauing before their death approoued in the Counsell that CHRIST is God which Arrius denyed that they would also subscribe thereto as the other Bishops had done hauing said thus they laid the paper vpon their graues and in the morning their names were found to be subscribed in that paper and many of them that were present and knew their hand-writing said that it was the hand of the deceased Bishops The Counsell being finished and ended all that had bene determined therein was sent vnto Pope Siluester to be approued and they also certified him how the Emperour Constantine had banished the wicked man Arrius and sixe of his adherents The Pope for the greater confirmation of the truth and for that he could not be in Nice being farre distant from Rome and the voyage long assembled another Counsell at Rome of 227. Spa 284. Bishops who being all of one opinion and with one voyce confirmed that which had bene determined at Nice by the. 318 Bishops and againe condemned Arrius Photinus and Sabellius and other Arch heretiks The Councell of Nice was holden and celebrated in the yeare of our saluation 325. and therein was declared and decreed that the Church of Rome is the head of all other Churchs And that vnto him the next is the Church of Alexandria which had bene gouerned by S. Marke the Euangelist The third in dignity is the Church of Antioch where S. Peter made his first residence and the fourth is the Church of Ierusalem where S. Iames was the first Bishoppe We read of many holesome statutes and ordinaunces made by S. Siluester viz That the priest hauing finished the Baptisme hee should anoynt his forehead with Chrisme though this was vsed before in some particuler Churches as for example in Aphrica for S. Cyprian who was Bishop of Carthage before this writing to Ianuarius saith It is fit and conuenient that thou anoynt with oyle the forehead of him thou doest Baptize So that Pope Siluester commaunded it should be obserued through all the Church vniuersally which before was done but in some particuler places He commanded also that the Corporals should be of white linnen cloth not of silke nor any other stuffe nor of any other collour That Bishops only should consecrate the Crisme and the same he might vse in the sacrament of confirmation He commaunded that the Deacons should vse the Dalmatica or Tunicle and the maniples on the left arme He forbad priests to goe to suite in law before seculer iudges for any occasion whatsoeuer In the time of this Pope was celebrated a counsell in Spaine in a city neere vnto Granada called Illiberis and therefore the Counsell was called Illiberitanum Though that others say that this Counsell was celebrated in another Illiberis to wit in Colybree Another prouinciall Counsell was celebrated in his time at Arlez in Fraunce and some others in other parts Whereby it is apparant that the faith and the Gospell was enlarged and spred very farre in many countries and had taken deepe root in Spaine In the same time the people of Scotia the most northerly parte of the Island Britannia receiued the faith of CHRIST IESVS It is said that Pope Siluester chaunged the name of the dayes of the weeke from the munday vntill the Saturday for that the Pagans called them by the names of the Planets viz. Munday of the Moone Tuesday of Mars Wednesday of Mercury Thursday of Iupiter Friday of Venus and Satterday of Saturne and appointed they should be called Ferias the first the second the third fourth fifth sixth and Saterday but this ordinaunce is not vsed at this present but in the diuine offices that which is commonly called Sunday Pope Leo. 1. called it the Lords day though some called it so euen from the time of the Apostles S. Siluester had very great care of the poore and needy and had many memorialls whereby he had alwayes the better meanes to know their needs to prouide for their necessities He had especiall care that the Reclused Nonnes should haue all things necessary prouided for them to the end they should not go wandering out of their monasteryes vnder pretext to seek their meat and drink or any other necessary thing S. Siluester liued in the papacy 23. years 10. months and 11. dayes and then died and was buryed in the Churchyard of Priscilla in the way called Salaria He gaue holy orders sixe times in the month of December and made 65. Priests and 26. Deacons The Catholike Church celebrateth his feast on the day that he died to wit on the last day of December in the year of our Lord. 333. in the raigne of Constantine the Great The end of the tvvelue monthes
considering this to auoide so euill am vse and custome among Christians ordained by a decree That lawfull othes as those that be made by order and before superiors and by the lawe should be taken fasting as a holie thing where of we should aduise vs well He would for the reuerence of the oath that they which should sweare should be fasting to the end they should doâ— it with more aduise and regard The life of this pope written by Damasus and other authors was in this manner SIXE daies after S. Fabianus the pope was martired Cornelius a man no lesse learned then holy was placed in the chaire of S. Peter who receaued that dignity agaist his will S. Ciprian saith he was a Romaine Lib 4. epist and sonne vnto Castinus When he was chosen pope the Church was in great troubles for beside the temporall sword where with the Christians were sharply afflicted they were encombred also with the treacherous heresie of Nouatus which they could not wholly root out yet this blessed pope Cornelius endeauoured with all dilligence to confound them by preaching and doctrine by which he reduced many of those hereticks to the vnion of the Catholique faith After this the pope being aided by Lucina a noble Romane matron determined to take the bodies of SS Peter and Paul out of the Catatumbae where they then were and to put them in a more comely and eminent place The bodie of S. Paul was caried vnto the posession of the aforenamed Lucina in the Via Ostiensis not far from the place where he was beheaded and there was built a sumptuous and magnificent church to his honour The reliques of S. Peter were caried into the Vatican where in like manner was built a church neere to the place where he was crucified For these good workes and many other which he did as also for that many pagans were conuerted vnto the faith by his meanes Decius the Emperour banished him from Rome and sent him to Centum-Celle S. Cornelius remaining there wrote oftentimes vnto S. Cyprian bishop of Carihage a holy man and very eloquent who in like manner returned him answeres and at this daie many of those Epistles be extant in his workes Decius being certified of the neere and priuate friendship of these two holy men took great indignation thereat and comâ—unded that Cornelius should be led vnto Rome and brought before his iudgment seate which being done Decius said vnto the blessed pope in great coller Thinkest thou Cornelius that thou doest well and that which thou oughtest to doe in doing no reuerence to our Gods nor obeying our Imperial comaundements nor fearing our threats yea thou writest vnto our enemies of the estate of the weale-publike both in disgrace of it and to the preiudice of the same To this S. Cornelius answered the letters that I haue receiued meddle not at all with the comonwelth neither treat of anything appertaining to the same but they be wholy written in the laud and honor of IESVS CHRIST and of matters only appartaining to the saluation of soules Decius was much more moued to indignation then before at this bold answere and commaunded that the blessed pope should be beaten in his sight After that he apointed that he should be led vnto the Temple of Mars and if he refused to sacrifice that he should be beheaded The holy Pope went with determination to suffer not one but a 1000. deathes rather then he would deny his faith his God By the way he met with Stephen his Archdeacon vnto whom he gaue in charge to distribute the Treasures of the church vnto the poore and he gaue vnto him also some records appertaining to the gouernment of the Church When the officers perceiued that there was no way nor meanes to drawe S. Cornelius to sacrifise vnto the Idolls they led him into via Appia neere vnto the Churchyard of Callistus and in that place they cut of his head After his death certaine priestes in the companie of Lucina took vp his bodie and buried it in a possession in the San-field The martirdome of this holy Pope was on the 14. daie of September about the yeare of our Lord 253. the aboue named Decius being Emperour He held the seat of S. Peter 2. yeares 2. monthes and 3. daies He gaue holy orders twise in the month of December and therein ordered 4. Priests 4. Deacons and 7. Bishops There bee in the decrees certaine Canons of this holy Pope as the afore said that he who is by lawfull order and authoritie to take an othe should do it fasting Also 22. q. 5. cap. honest that Priests be not enforced to sweare Also that he that is vnder the age of 14. yeeres should not be compelled to take an othe Some hold this holy Saint for an especiall aduocate against the falling sicknes but the occasion thereof is not knowen It sufficeth that the praiers of the saints are of great force and valewe with the maiestie of God for all humaine infirmities aswell spirituall as corporall We maie well think him an aduocate for the palsey for as they led him vnto martirdome he healed a woman that had the palsey which woman was called Salustia who with her husband Cereall was also martired the same daie This holy S. Cornelius is one of the fiue Popes of whom mention is made in the Canon of the masse The life of S. Cyprian Bishop and Martir THE Apostle S. Paul lothing the world Ca. 1. and all the things therin desired much to go vnto heauen to enioy IESVS CHRIST and to that purpose in the epistle vnto the Philippeans he saith I desire to be freed vnloosed from the bondes of this flesh and to be with CHRIST The notice he had that to come to enioy his desire must be by beheading did not hinder this his longing The glorious martir S. Cyprian seemed to haue the same desire who when the iudge pronounced the sentence of death vpon him aunswered ioyfullie Deo gratias as if he would say that he did not appeale from this sentence but gaue God thanks that it pleased him to call him by that meanes When he came vnto the place of execution to shew that he was beholding to the officer for the good turne in taking away his life he requested some of his freinds who were present there to giue him some mony which he bestowed vpon the headsman as a recompence of his labour Pontius his Deacon wrote the life of this holy Saint faithfully and in an eloquent stile Of Pontius this testimony is giuen by S. Ierome in his book of ecclesiasticall writers Pontius Deacon vnto Cyprian wrote a worthy booke of his life vntill the day of his martirdome for he was familier with him and also his companion in banishment For which testimony of S. Ierome which giueth him auctority I thinke best to followe Pontius and to leaue other authors that wrote that life of this holy Sainâ— THOVGH the memory
family to the Mauri Being fully 20. yeeres old he was sent by his father to Rome to study where he remained in the house of Quintus Fabius his fathers friend vntill S. Peter the Apostle came to Rome to preach the Gospell Then this S. Linus was of his first disciples who followed him asisting him alwaies in his preaching and in the administration of the hely Sacramēts S. Peter seing in him many good partes as his holines learning and curteous affability he made him his coadiutor in the dignity to the which he was also elected after the death of the Apostle So that first he was coadiutor then Pope and head of the Church for the which with great care and prudence he prouided all thinges necessarie for the good gouernement thereof He comaunded in particuler that women hould not enter into the Church with their haire loose and vntied but bound vp and couered as S. Peter had comaunded and S. Paul had left written He gaue holy orders twise in the month of December and at them he consecrated 15. Bishops and ordered 18 Priests with some Deacons In the primitiue Church there was great care had in giuing holy orders and in receiuing any to the office of a priest or the other orders and therefore they kept a reconing and conserued the memory of the times when holy orders were giuen and how many were ordered Those ancient fathers did this for that this office was so reuerend holy and so hard to discharge that many deputed and apointed to take orders refused it yea some there were that cut of some member or other as their finger eare nose or the like to make themselues incapable to receiue an office so great and waighty as Priesthood is Moreouer the Christians at that time were fewe in number so that there was not such need of so many Pastors If the same were done at this present it would surely be a notable benefit aswell for the one part as for the other if that prelates were not so liberall and ready in giuing holy orders nor secular Christians so bold and hasty in procuring to receaue the same the Priests should not be so litle esteemed nor the seculars haue such occasion to murmure of the Ecclesiasticall state S. Linus wrote the deeds and doctrine of S. Peter the Apostle his maister and especialy his martirdome S. Linus being a most holy man cast out diuells and raised the dead to life He deliuered from the diuell a yong woman daughter to the Consul Saturninus who in recompence of that receaued benefitt by the handes of the good Pope comaunded he should be put to death and so he was made the martir of IESVS CHRIST It is no smal honour to S. Linus that the Catholike Church hath put his name in the Canon of the masse among other holy martirs there mētioned The feast of S. Linus is celebrated on the daie of his martirdom which was one the 23 of September in the yeare of our Lord 81. in the time of Vespasian the Emperour This holy Martir held the Papacy 11. yeeres 3. monthes and 12 daies was buried neere vnto the body of S. Peter the Apostle Shortly after his holy reliques were translated vnto the citty of Ostia and laid comely in the Church of S. Lawrence by Gregorie Bishop of that citty S. Paul maketh mention of Pope Linus in the second Epistle he wrote vnto Timothie his disciple in the 4. chapter The life of S. Tecla virgin THE Apostle S. Paule writing vnto the Corinthians saith 1. Cor. 7. that the virgin sinneth not in taking a husband but doth a good work though it should be better not to take a husband but to remaine a virgin I may be that the Apostle preached this doctrin in a sermon and that a yong woman named Tecla who had determined to take a hushand was present therat Who vnderstanding that it was better to conserue her virginity left and forsooke her earthly spouse taking IESVS CHRIST to her heauenly spouse for whose loue she tollerated very great afflictions and torments which were procured vnto her by him that thought to be her husband The life of this glorious saint gathered out of the writings of S. Ambrose Ado Arch of Triers and out of other graue authors was as followeth ON a time S. Paule departing from Antioch went vnto a city called Iconium in the prouince of Cilicia There had bene there before that time Titus his disciple and had giuen notice and signes of him vnto Onesiphorus who was a very vertuous man and dwelt in that city He had related allso vnto him the doctrine which he preached his life and behauior and informed him of the quality of his personage to wit that he was a man litle of body and that he had a hooked nose and faire in the face like an Angell When the Apostle came vnto the city Onesiphorus knew him by the signes before told him wherefore he led him to his house where some people of good intention and desirous to finde the true way to eternall life and happines were assembled The Apostle preached vnto them to the great profit of them that gaue due attention vnto him In the next house to the place where the Apostle preached there dwelt a damosell very beautifull but much more vertuous called Tecla This damosell had a mother liuing who had made a match and apointed to marry her to a yongman called Tamirus It hapened on a time that Tecla standing in a windowe of her house heard from thence the preaching wordes of S. Paul which made very great impressiō in the mind of the yong damosell She being not content to haue heard him this one time endeauored and made meanes to heare him sondry other times and so long that her mother came to the knowledge thereof how the wordes of the Apostle had made her daughter to alter her intent and purpose to marry Yea the virgin Tecla her self who was a pagan before said now boldly that she was a Christian and she that before was resolued to take an husband said now that she desired rather to loose her life then her virginity The mother made report of these things vnto the spouse of her daughter who finding the same to be very true because Tecla her self told him her mind freely and what she entended to do which was that she would not marry but remaine a virgin went vnto the Proconsull of the citty and gaue him notice that there was a forreiner come into the towne who took wiues from their husbands and brought in new and strange Gods to the notable preiudice and damage of them all as being contrary to that their fore fathers had beleeued This information was the cause that the Apostle was apprehended cruelly scourged and put in danger of his life had he not made it knowne vnto them that he had the priuiledge of a citisen of Rome by being borne in Tarsus a citty of Cicilia yet for all
maner of speach their low and disordered stile displeased me much About the middest of Lent a grieuous feuer tooke me and brought me to that state of body that they who were with me prepared for my buriall Remaining thus I was taken vp in spirite and brought vnto iudgment before the roiall throne of IESVS CHRIST and being demaunded of my quality and of my faith I aunswered boldly that I was a Christian Then the Iudge replied Nay thou seemest rather to be a Ciceronian then a Christian for where thy treasure is there is thy hart At this word I was strooke dombe and the Iudge commanded me to be cruelly beaten I sighing and sobbing said Pardon me ô Lord Pardon me ô Lord neuertheles my punishment endured and my teares continewed many Angells who were present seing it fell on their knees before the Iudge beseeching him to pardon me the errours of my youth and to giue me time also of amendment vpon condition that if I did not amend my fault I should vndergo a greater punishment I would at that time and in that estate haue promised greater things so I did sweare to obserue this which whē I had done I was set free and came to my self Let none think it was a vaine dreame witnes is the iudge in whose sight I was beaten the Angells be also witnesses and so be the marks of the scourging which continued in my body for many daies From that time S. Ierome addicted himself vnto the study of Diuinity and spent not his time any more in other vnprofitable and vaine studies and therfore he saith in the prologue before S. Paul vnto the Galathians It is 15. yeares since I took in my hand any book of secular learning and if it happen sometime that I neede the science of any such books I take it out of my memory Writing to Damasus the pope he reproueth ecclesiasticall persons that leaue the reading of holy writt and spend their time in reading of heathnish books and fables which do hurt vnto many S. Ierome thought it time to set downe his rest and to followe some course of life And seing that in the ecclesiasticall state there was daunger for the great obligement they haue to be good and to seeme to be so also by giuing good example to all seing likewise the great charge they had that took wifes he refused this vtterly and feared to assume the other vpon him So he resolued to be a monk Their order at that time was to weare a meane and course garment different from the clergy and the lay men yet did not all the monks vse one maner of appareill for they differed in the stuf collour and also in the fashion for some of them were clothed with course and rough cloth others with beasts skinns sowed together but in this they all agreed that their garments were course bare and very meane They exercise themselues continually in fasting watching and reading of the holy scriptures they could not haue any publique office but all their busines was to serue God Some of them liued in common and had a superior vnto whom they gaue obedience others liued a solitary life in the deserts and S. Ierome determined to take that kind of life He had some frends vntowhom he disclosed his minde and what his determination was to do They although they had followed him vntill that time and had receaued comfort of his holy conuersation aboundantly and had profitted much by his hole some aduises and by the example of his holy life yet at that pinch they all abandoned him only one called Eliodorus staid and took the habite remained within him in the desert a short time but being tired and aweried not able to endure that austerity of life he also forsook him and returned vnto the world S. Ierome wrote of this departure of Eliodorus vnto Iulian the deacon in these gratious words Our brother Eliodorus came vnto the desert with me and for that he is holy and I a great sinner and he not being able to suport my maners is departed and left me Assoone as S. Ierome had taken this course of life he set his temporall goods in order and recommended the charge of them to an honest man During the time he staied in the desert he staid not long in a place because at that time certain heresies were dispersed in those countries and the prelats of Antioche Alexandria and Cypres and of other places vnder whose iurisdiction the monks and solitary liuers were sent ordinarily visiters to examine them of their faith These visiters had no trust in S. Ierome and he had no confidenee in them He was suspitious of them because of some words and phrases they vsed in the mistery of the B. Trinity Ep. 77 ad mar Celeden and they suspected him because their conuersation and company did not like and please him To free himself of this molestation and to auoid the often visitations of his friends who kept him more occupied thē he desired to be he withdrew himself into a desert and solitary wildernes in Siria and there he shutvp himself with his books in a caue where he remained foure years doing pennance and leading an austere life His chief exercise was to lament the sinnes of his youth to chastice his body with fasting watching and other austerities that it would make a man to wonder at them sooner then to imitate them Rawe herbes and roots were his meat faire water was his drink the bare ground was his bed he was neuer Idle nowe he studied then he praied and when he felt him self awearied he song himnes to the praise and glory of God This was the life of this holy saint and though it was thus yet the deuill assalted him with terrible and wicked temptations He saith himself ep 22. writing to Eustochium in this maner O howe many times when I was in the desert where by the vnmeasurable heate of the sunne men are scorched their bodies enfeebled their flesh burned consumed stretching my bones which scarce hong together on the bare ground taking for nutryment herbs and cleare water and thus I continued in this exile yea rather prison vnto which I had voluntarily condemned my self for dread of hell and had no other company but the sauage beasts how often thought I that I was at the daunces of the Damosells of Rome my face was pale with much fasting and yet my will was enkindled with wanton desires In the body cold as ice yet in my dry skinne which was in manner dead liued the motions of dishonest appetits and when I resisted and thought to oppresse them thy laboured stil to bud and encrease like weedes and bad herbs Sometimes finding my self abandoned I fell at the knees of my Lord and washed them with my teares and dried them with my haires I macerated my body with long fasting day by day and eating nothing Do not think that I am a shamed to
vpheld the Church of S. Iohn Lateran with his shoulders And considering the purity and sincerity of his hart howe he despised the world and loued pouerty his constancy in this purpose of following that Euangelicall life written in his Rule according to which he desired to liue and regarding also his great zeale for the saluation of soules his feruent desire to imitate IESVS CHRIST he said without doubt this same is the man I sawe in my sleep I suppose that this man with his good example of life and doctrine will help to susteine and vphold the Church of God and with all he graunted vnto S. Francis his request and desire and confirmed his Rule Viuae vocis oraculo viz by word of mouth Then the holy man made a solemne profession in the hands of the Pope so did all his company promising to liue after that Euangelicall Rule when this was done the Pope ordeinted S. Francis Generall of all the order These things happened in the year of our Lord 1209. But because there was no Bull made therof at this time therefore the confirmation of this order of Friers Minors is not accounted but from the time of Honorius the Pope who 15. years after this confirmed the same by a particuler Bull and other Popes since haue confirmed and illustrated the same with speciall graces and priuiledges S. Francis returned to Assisium and with his brethren withdrew him selfe into a litle house nâ—ere to the city and there continued in praier and meditation From this house they went to a litle Church or chappell belonging to the Benedictine monks who bestowed it freely vpon S. Francis This chappell was called S. Maria de Angelis or by another name S. Maria de Portiuncula This was the first house or formed monastery of al the order The first time S. Francis came thither he seemed to be very ioifull and said to his Friers that this place should be the head of all his order S. Francis then departed from thence and so did all his brethren and went preaching not only in the city of Assisium neere vnto them but also in other places especially the Seraphicall father becoÌ„ming an Euangelicall troÌ„pet passed thorough cities castles and townes preaching the word of God not with eloquent words or worldly wisedome but with feruour and power and spirit of the liuing God The people who sawe and heard him speak thought him to be a man of a higher and another world for his hart and visage was euer â—rected toward heauen and he laboured to direct euerie one in his company to think of the world to come many were conuerted by his wordes and many did keepe him company who for the desire they had to imitate IESVS CHRIST followed the footsteps of the holy saint whom they took for their guide despising all kind of worldly goods and embracing holy pouerty It would be tedious to recount all the things this holy father did as his godly exercises and the holy life he led when he began to found his relligious order First he was most abstinent in eating and drinking his ordinary diet was bread and water with some pulse and sodden herbs If at any time he was forced by sicknes to eat flesh when he was recouered he would for a requitall repaire the abstinence brokeÌ„ with double austerity on his body He so diuided the yeare into lents that he fasted almost all of it eating but only once a day His first lent began at th end of twelftyde vntill Easter Another he kept after Easter for the coÌ„ming of the Holy Ghost Another for the Apostles S. Peter and Paul Another against the Assumption of our Lady and when that feast was gone he fasted tille the feast of S. Michaell tharchangell and then at the blessed feast of All Saints he began his Aduent vntill Christmas The bare earth was the ordinary bed for his weak and feeble body and for a pillowe he laid a stone vnder his head He slâ—pt very litle but watched almost all night in praier His apparaill was one gowne with a hood and a rope was his girdle he went some times vnto the desert places and mountains to pray the more quietly It happened on a time that S. Francis being in the night in the desert Sacianum in a litle caue the deuill called him by his name and the blessed man answered him not knowing who it was that called him The fiend said to him There is not so great a sinner in the world but God will pardon him if he be conuerted but they that will shorten their daies with rigorous penances shall find no mercy before the heauenly maiesty The seruant of God hearing these words was astonied and studied whither he did well or no in doing such and so austere penance But that he might know who it was that talked with him by the permission of our good God he was surprised with a greuous temptation of carnallity assoone as he perceaued it he threw of his cloths and gaue him self a very sore discipline and bicause it did not repell the assault he hasted out of the caue naked as he was and tumbled vp and downe in the snowe of which there was much in that desert When he had so done he made seuen heapes of snow in a round compasse and coming into the middest of them said to himself Thou my body yonder great one thou seest is thy wife these four be thy children two boies and two girles the other two be thy seruants nowe thou must take paines to maintein them and prouide cloths for them all least they dye for cold But if thou thinkest it chargeable endeuor thy self to liue chast and to serue God only which is a great deale better and more easye In this sort the holy saint ouer came the tentation and the deuill with shame departed away The glorious father aduised his friers to be abstinent and to auoid Idlenes if they would be freed from such tentations The great loue S. Francis bare to CHRIST may be knowen by this that there was neuer any so much desired to liue as he did to dye for CHRIST his sake this moued him to go into Siria among the Infidells that he might obtein the crowne of martirdome but he returned for that he could not obtaine his desire Also the glorious father bare great loue vnto his neighbour helping euery one in their necessities aswell of the body as of the soule It was his ordinary vsage if he sawe any poore man with ragged clothes to exchange with him he vsed to all of them great respect and reuerence for he thought he sawe CHRIST in euery one of them The wonderfull miracles he did worke as casting out of deuills healing of the sick and raising of the dead be so many that only of them a iust volume might be made many of them are mencioned in the Bull of his Canonisation which is a sufficient proofe that they be of good credit and Authenticall
Such being his life and deeds not only men and they which embraced his Rule imitated him but also women as S. Clara a maide of a worshipfull family in Assisium who went to the conuent of S. Francis accompanied with the people of her fathers house although shee had not said any thing to them of her intention and the glorious father S. Francis receaued her and gaue vnto her a Rule wherby to liue in a monastery And within few daies many other well disposed damosells came to her who all liued vnder the Rule that S. Francis gaue her which is called the order of S. Clara. So that this blessed father hauing also founded another order there were three Rules ordeined by him all which were confirmed by the popes The first was of the friers minors whose end is to exercise themselues in contemplations and in the actiue life by the exercise of preaching The second Rule was of Nonnes of the order of S. Clara who be of two sorts some haue reuenews and lands and liue in common Some other haue no reuenews and these are called of the first Rule and liue of almose The third is of the Penitents which are called of the third Rule and these also be of two sorts some haue reuenews and liue in colledges and in common and these be properly called relligious persons and the vowe they make is solemne be they men or women The women of this Rule do differ from the Nonnes of S. Clara in this that they were no veiles and be not bound but only to the obseruance of the three essentiall vowes vnder paine of mortall sinne as Pope Leo 10. declared The other of this third Rule liue in their owne house and haue reuenews and their vowe is not sollemne and these by consequence are not properly relligious persons but persons of honest behauiour and are called vsually in Italy Pizzoâ—cheri The seraphicall father S. Francis was not satissied with sending some of his relligious men into sondy countreis to preach the Gospell to coÌ„uert soules vnto God but he himself in person trauelled into diuers kingdomes and realmes as into a great part of France and then into Spaine and especially to the church of S. Iames in Galizia Then he imbarked and passed into Egipt and preached in Siria and in the countreis of the Souldan with whom the holy man talked and persuaded him to receaue the faith of CHRIST and ha gaue him leaue to preach vnto his moores but for that he gathered no fruit in that country he returned into Italy and went to Rome where Honorius 3. was pope after Innocent 3. in the year of our Lord 1216. There he found the glorious father S. Dominick who came too haue his Rule and order confirmed Whilest S. Dominick treated therof he had one night a reuelation in the which IESVS CHRIST displeased for the many sinnes of the world seemed to be redy to ruinate destroy it Then sawe he our blessed lady to kneele before him and intreate him to spare it And to moue him to mercy shee presented vnto him the same S. Dominick and S. Francis saieng to him by the meanes of those two his seruants there should be great reformation of life in the world At this our Lord was appeased In the said vision S. Dominick sawe S. Francis and when thy mett in Rome he knew him and embraced him very kindly and tenderly and conferred with him of the seruice of God and the profit of their religious orders and told him also of the vision he had seene This B. father being in Rome was presented to the pope Honorius 3. and talked with him of many things And the pope with the consent of the cardinalls confirmed his Rule and they all receaued sperituall ioy in hearing his diuine discourses For though his speech was lowely and familiar yet did it leaue such an impression in their minds that it made them euen melt and relent and though it made them lament their sinnes yet were they not therefore weary of his company but desired it the more His profound humility made euery one â—o wonder for though his life was so holy yet reputed he himself to be the vilest sinner in the world And if any said to him say not so for it is not true he would aunswer in this maner If God had shewed such fauors and mercies vnto any man as he hath to me how wicked and lewd so euer he had bin he would haue rendered greater thanks and haue kept his commaundements better then I haue done And if my sweet Lord should abandon and leaue me I should commit more euills then all the men in the world do good and therefore I am a greater and more vnthankfull sinner them they The holy saint bare a most reuerent respect to all priests and vsed to say that if he mett a priest and a saint of heauen he would giue the greater reuerence to the priest and that he would first kisse the hands of the priest and then he would do reuerence to the saint for wee are to giue most reuerence to him at whose hands we receiue the blessed body of our Lord. A great volume might be written of the particuler accidents that befell to him aswell with his relligious as with other seculer men he shewed in them his vertue and the great fauors and mercies God bestowed on his blessed soule and they be briefly written in the chronicle made of him for say or write neuer so much of him yet much more shall remaine to be said or writen I will speak only of the speciall mistery that God wrought in him when he imprinted his blessed wounds in his body a thing most certein For not only many relligious men who conuersed with him and among others S Clara who sawe them with her eies and touched them with her hands giue testimony of the truth therof but also Gregory 9. who canonised him affirmeth that he himself sawe them It fell out in this maÌ„ner The holy Patriarch being retired and with drawen into a solitarie place to fast his Lent of S. Michaell in the mouÌ„teines of Aluerne two yeares before his death one morning very earely about the feast of the Exaltation of the holy Crosse in SepteÌ„ber he sawe the likenese of a sixe winged seraphin burning with fire and casting beames glittering exceedingly which descended with great swiftnes and drewe nere to the place where S. Francis was betwene the said wings appeered the figure of a man crucified The vpper most wings he held aboue his head the two in the middle with which he flâ—we were spread abroade in the manner of a Crosse and the two other were gathered vp together couering all the body from the head to the foot The holy saint maruelling at the presence of this glorious vision felt in his hart an excessiue ioy mixt with liuely coÌ„passion caused by the signe of his deerely beloued CHRIST IESVS crucified He streight wayes fell into an
a desert place which was haunted by robbers Wherfore they that heard of his boldnes wondered therat and told him in what danger he was like to be by dwelling there but he feared no temporall perill to escape eternall death This holy saint was of a weak complexion slender and leane but in mind he prepared himself to endure all maner of heat and cold though it afflicted him neuer so much neuerthelesse he was clothed with a â—ackcloth vpon which he wore a garment like a mantle wouen with rough haire of beasts as of camels this S. Antony gaue him at his departure from him His diett was this after the setting of the sonne he took 15. fruits of Carica which is a fruit peculier to Siria much like figgs but bicause as it hath bin said aboue many robbers dwelt in those deserts he staied not long in a place so that he had no cell Lucifer being much aggreiued to see himself so ouer maistred by a monk before he had beganne warre against him began nowe to molest him with sundry temptations He represented vnto him filthy and lasciuious things so that the seruant of God was enforced to think of that which he knew not and to haue that in his imagination which he had neuer proued nor tried He was wroth with himself and knocked his brest at this thinking he was able by force to vanquish this temptation with blowes he was enraged against his own body and said vnto it Thou Asse I will so vse thee that thou shalt not kicke for I will take thy prouender from thee and I will giue thee no meate but strawe I will quell thee with hunger and thirst and will lay heauy loads on thy back I will torment thee with heate and cold and will make thee to haue more mind of thy meat then of thy pleasure This said the blessed yong man and as he said so he did for the continued some times 3. or 4. daies with out meat and yet he laboured hard in digging the ground not entending to sowe any graine theron but only to get out the thorns and euill herbes that budded in his owne body He also made baskets of bulrushes as the monks of Egipt vsed to do yet not omitting for it his oraisons wherin he spent the greatest part of the night and day When he felt his body faint and weak by trauell he tooke ordinary diet which was a few wilde herbs whilst he eate he said to his body Take heed my body for thou shalt not eate before thou dost faint and for that thou nowe doest eate prepare thee and fall to thy labour By this course he brought his body to such a state that he had nothing on it but skinne and bone The holy hermite was one night at his praiers and he heard the crieng of children the weeping of women the alarums of armies the bleating of sheep the bellowing of bulls the roaring of lions the hissing of serpents and sundry voices of different monsters At the first hearing he was some what affrighted therwith but calling to his mind the craft of the deuill he fell flat on the ground and made the signe of the Crosse And as he looked on either side if with his eis he could discerne what it was that he had heard with his eares the moone shining bright he sawe sodeinly a chariot drawn by furious horses who made a shewe to kick and runne ouer him The holy young man with a zelous and feruent voice called on IESVS and in an instant he sawe the earth to open and to swallow the chariott and ther with departed the noise and fear the chariott made The blesssed man rendered thanks to God saing that which the Israelits said when the red sea ouer whelmed and drownes Pharao and all his hoast Viz Our Lord hath drowned in the sea the horse and the horseman Many other were the temptations where with the deuill did try him Sometimes as he lay resting on the earth to giue a litle repose vnto his afflicted body there was presented before his face naked women an other time when he was mollested with famine there appeared vnto him moste costly tables couered and loden with many delicate viands If he was at his praiers wolfs semed to go about him houling If he song himnes in prais of our Lord he sawe some braule or fray made before him and some of them semed to be dead at his feet seeming to say Burime On time being at his praiers and some what distracted as thinking vpon some thing not belonging to his oraisons there came close to him a grime and stern fellow like vnto those they call Sworde players in Rome and gaue him two terrible kicks on the sides with his feet and then with a whippe lashed him on the shoulder saieng to him Holla what nowe why doest thou sleep and hauing said this laughed out of measure And hauing thus soundly beat him said to him ageine Wilt thou haue a litle barley but Hillarion said not a word vnto him This holy saint from the age of 16. vnto 20. to defend his body from the cold and from the beames of the sunne in the place where he staied vsed the shelter of a litle cottage made of bulrushes and of another prickled herb called Carica from that time afterward he builded a litle Cell which as S. Ierome saith stood vntill his time was 4. foot wide and 5. foote highe so that it was some what lower then he was and some what longer theÌ„ his body was So that it is was more like the graue of a dead body then the lodging of a liuing man It was his vsage to cut the heare of his head once euery yeare and that at Easter He slept vpoÌ„ a bundle of bulrishes laid on the bare ground and had no other bed all the daies of his life He neuer chaunged the sackcloth which he once put on nor euer mended it for he said it was a thing superfluous to seek finenes in a sackcloth He had by hart the greatest part of the holy scripture and after he had said many psalmes and himnes he recited a great part therof by order and alwais continued in deuout and reuerent behauiour for that he considered God allwais present and speaking with him He vsed to alter his diet according to his years in some years he eate lentills steeped in cold water at another time he eate bred only steeped in water with a litle salt at another time herbs and rootes were his only sustenaunce and another season he did eate euery day sixe ounces of barly bread with some litle pittance of sodden herbes when he came to be feeble and weak he put a fewe oliues vpon the herbs and this was dainty meate And thus he spent the time vntill he was 63. years old from this time vnto 80. he would eate no bread nor any other thing but a certein meat made of floweâ— and of stamped herbs mingled together which
serued him both for meat and drink This thing may cause men rather to wonder then to put any in hope to be able to imitate him because the grace of God strengthened him and the long vse of therof and abstinence in his youth from all carnality which debilitateth the body made it to him more easy and more able to liue such an austere life wherin he merited much and perhaps an other man should offend God by shortening his daies in doing the same S. Hillarion liuing now in his cabbin the thieues had notice and came to him but seeing the estate he was in they said vnto him scoffingly What wouldest thou do to see they self assailed by thieues He aunswered The poore and naked man feareth not the thief They replied At left thou maist lose they life And he said It is true they may depriue me therof but I care not a beane if they do so at this present The thieues were astonied and amased to heare his words and to see his constancy which might haue bene a motiue for them to amend their life spent in wickednes seing a man that had chosen rather to lead such a streight life then to fall into any offence toward God Hilarion liued in this maner 22. years and was knowne in all the Land of Palestina Vpon a day a woman came vnawares vnto him and fell at his feet shee perceiuing that he seemed to be displeased to see her in that place and to make signes to haue her depart she shed many rears and said vnto him Oh Seruant of God pardon my presumtion and boldnes for my great afflictions enforce me so to do Do not shunne me turne thy eies of pitty toward me behold me not as a woman but as a person afflicted Remember that a woman was mother vnto our B. Sauiour They that be hole haue no need of the phisition but they that be sick At the words S. Hilarion staied and asked of her the cause of her coming thither and why shee wept The woman made aunswer That this 15. years she had bene maried and neuer had child for which cause her husbande determined to depart from her and leaue her desolate The holy saint lifted vp his eies vnto heauin and praied for her and so dismissed her After a yeare that same woman retorned to visiâ—e him with her sonne in her armes which God had giuen her at the praiers of S. Hilarion and this was the first miracle that God shewed by him After this fellowed another mroe wonderfull viz A noble lady returned home from visiting S. Antony with her three litle sonnes and being come vnto Gaza all three fell sick there and died whether it was by the chaunge of the aire or whether God would haue it for the honor of S. Hilarion The disconforted mother seing such a desolation in her house was in maner out of her witts and called vnto mind one whiles one sonne another time the other sonne and knew not which of them to bewaile first And hearing that in the desert nere vnto the city Hilarion did Dwell came vnto him accompanied with two hand maies and said vnto him with vnspeakable grief I besech thee o holy man by IESVS CHRIST by his sacred bloud to come with me vnto the city of Gaza and raise my three sonnes lying dead in that place which thing wil be for the glory of God and the confusion of the Idollaters S. Hilâ—rion refused to do it saieng it was not his vsage to go into the city no not out of his Cell but the woman weeping bitterly said o Seruant of God giue me thy three sonnes whom Antony hath seen aliue in Egipt cause that I and thou may see theÌ„ aliue also in Siria The people present heating the womans words wept aboundantly and so did S. Hilarion who vanquished with the tears of the woman went into the city of Gaza at sonne sett and called one the name of IESVS vpon the dead chileren who arose incontinent and gaue thanks vnto the holy saint and all the company rendered infinite praised vnto God This miracle was diuulged in many places wherfore much people resorted only to see the holy man And many that were heathens and pagans by the only sight of him receued the Christian faith and took the order of monasticall life and staie with him There had not bene before his time any monks in Siria so that S. Hilarion was the first bringer of that holy institution and to liue in monasteries in to thos parts There was brought to him a woman who had bene blind ten years and had spent all her goods in phisike which when S. Hillarion vnderstood he said vnto her It would haue done thee more good to haue giuen all thy possessions vnto the poore bicause IESVS CHRIST would haue cured thee When he had said this he laid a litle of his spittle vpon her eies and incontinent shee recouered her fight perfectly There was in Gaza a Chariott man posessed with the deuill who had left nothing free in him but his toung This poore man was brought to S. Hillarion who said vnto him Beleeue in IESVS CHRIST and vse this trade no more which is perilous for thee thou being of an impatient nature And he promised so to do and instantly he was hole and sound both in body and mind Another man called Marsitas was able and did cary on his back 15. bushells of corne and was in great estimation for it for there was neuer an asse in all Siria that was able to carry such a load Into this man the deuill entred and made him so fierce that he did much harme and it was in vaine to bind him with cords or chaines for he brake them all in sonder One while he assailed this man another time that man and with his teeth did bite of the nose of some and the eares of others He was led vnto S. Hillarion in such sort as men vse to lead a bull when he goeth to be baited When the monks sawe him they were all afraid because he was a man of a great stature of a terrible aspect and of a grimme countenance S. Hillarion commaunded them to vnlose all his bands and to take of all his fetters he wore When he was vntied he said vnto him Come hither vnto me Marsitas trembled and held downe his head fell at his feet and licked them with his â—oung all his former fiercenes being vanished away The Blessed man kept him seuen daies in his company and made continuall praiers vnto God for him and to conclude perfectly cured him There was brought also vnto him another man posessed with the deuill whose name was Orion a very rich man who had a legion of Deuills in him S. Hillarion expounding a passage of holy writte vnto his monks the roan posessed came on a soodein and flipping out of the hands of them that led him ranne toward the holy saint and took him vp in his armes and hoised
But the couetous churle who would not suffer any to enter within his vineiard had much lesse then he vsed to haue and that litle which he had became sower and then he repented but to late that he had ben so churlish and discourteous toward the holy saint This blessed old man had a guift of God by the smell of bodies of garments and things which any man touched to know the vices they had and to what euill spirit they were subiect and with what vertues they were adorned Being now fully 6 years ole and seing the multitud of relligious men that were vnder his obedience and the great concourse of people that came to him dailie to haue remedy of their afflictions he was much discontent there at lamented for the same His religious men askindg him the cause he aunswered them It seemeth to me being esteemed holy by men that God hath rewarded me in this life for the small seruice I haue done vnto him It seemeth to me also that I retorne vnto the world sins vnder the colour of susteining and mainteining the relligious men there are presented vnto me many occasions of sinne His disciples hearing thes words did watch him dilligently especially Isichius for the great loue and affection he bore vnto him fearing he would strale away from thence One a time a venerable matrone came to visite him with intention to go further and visite S. Antony also He vnderstanding her intention wept and said vnto her I was also of that mind if the gouernement of this monastery had not said and with hed me but nowe it is to late for two dais since the worle is depriued of that worthy father This matrone credited his words and went no further and within a few daies after came vnto their eares the newes of S. Antonies death It were a wonderfull thing to consider the graces and gifes of this saint his miracles his abstinence and his profound humility S. Ierome saith of him I am amazed and astonied to consider the great enmity Hillarion had with worlely pompe and glory and with the estimation of men This blessed old man was visited by priests by relligious men by clerks by all maner of people and he to fly from honour which was dome vnto him by euery one determined to depart and trauell into some other country When this was knowen he was beset and enuirouned with more then 10000. persons who besought him not to leaue them but he striking the earth With his walking staffe said I cannot abide that my God should be accounted a deceuier or a lyer I cannot endure to see the Churchs demolished theâ— Altars troden vnder feet and my children slaine with the sword By thes words he said many gathered that God had reuealed vnto-him some great euill and persecution that should ensew vnto his brethren as it came to pase after in the time of Iulian the Apostata To conclude the blessed man would not stay with them any longer and told the people he would neuer eate bit of sustenannee if they did not permit him to go quietly and they hindring him be would not eate any thinge for seanen daies to geathey They seing his resolution to be such permitted him to depart in peace thought it was much against their willes and because the good old man was so feeble that he could not trauell on foote he rode and choose for to keep him company 40. monks whom he iudged to be most abstinent and most prepared to abide trauell and paine Passing with them through many countreis he at the last arriued at the Cell of S. Antony There he talked with the disciples left by that blessed man and conforted them being sadde for the death of the death of their master He recreated himself a while with them in visiting diuers places which they showed vnto him In this place said they S. Antony vsed to pray here he exercised himself in digging the earth These trees were planted with his hands here he made the founâ—ein handsome for their vse with his owne hands Then they shewed him his Cell the length wherof was fit to receue a man lieng out in length They also rehersed vnto him some of his miracles S. Hillarion demaunded of two of those monks for the place of S. Antony his buriall they only knowing it It is not knowen if they did shew it vnto him or no bicause S. Antony had commanded them and bound them by othe not to disclose it vnto any and he did it lest any man should honor or reuerence his body After the death of S. Anthony for three years space it had not rained in all that prouince wherefore the common people said it was bicause the clements lamented for the death of that blessed man They besought S. Hilarion to pray for them which he did and then it rayned Wherfore he was for that benefit highly esteemed among the people of that country they sayeng that God had sent him vnto them in the steed of S. Anthony He departed from thence and went to visite two holy Bishops Dracontius and Philo who were banished from their churchs by themperor Constantius for that they would not follow the heresy of Arrius These holy bishops were comforted much to see S. Hilarion who departed from them and went to Alexandria and was lodged by certein relligious men neere vnto the city When night came he saddled his litle beast meaning to depart and when they asked of him why he would go a way thus sodenly he aunsweted lest my stay be the cause of some great trouble On the next day it proued euen so as he had said for thither came officers of themperour Iulian the Apostata guided by some of the citisens of Gaza to apprehend him by order from that tirant but when they found him not they wondred saieng nowe we find it true that hath bene said vnto vs of this man viz that he is a coniurer and a sorcerer knowing things to come Behold howe he is escaped out of our hands The B. Abbot went like a pilgrime in diuers countreis but he was easilie knowen where soeuer he came for men posessed with the deuill discouered him He knew that Iulian the renegat had made a search for him and his disciple Isichius with an intention to put them to death if he had taken them In which because he missed he set their monastery on fire and persecured the monks with extreme rigour But within a while after the wicked emperour being dead and also Iouinian who liued a very short time Valentinian succeded in the Empire S. Hilarion was entreated to returne and gather his monks together and to reedify his monastery which he would not do but rather be took sea to go and dwell in some Islands vnhabited that the sea might keep that secret which the land did diuulge and publish but he could not be hid for the people came likewise vnto him in that place also So he departed from that Island and
Surius we read Iacob phil in sumpt vinâ— in spec historlib 25.106 that a religious man returning from the visitation of the holie sepulchre in Ierusalem and other places of the holie land the ship where in he sailed was driven forceably vpon certaine vninhabited I'lands which were full of rocks and craggie hilles neere vnto Thessalonica be called the Iles of Vulcan The religious man took land in the I le and found in an obscure and secret place an hermite vnto whom he went and among their conferences the religious man told him that he was of the prouince of Aquitaine in France The hermite hearing that was very glad as appeared by his countenance and asked him if he knew the monasterie of Cluny and Odilo the Abbot thereof The religious man said yes and desired to know the reason why he demaunded that question The hermite answered know you that in this Iland be hollow places full of wind and fire which some call the mouth of Vulcan by the which are seene divells to enter in and to go out ordinarilie in diuers and sundrie shapes and formes Sometimes by their externall looks they seeme to be cheerfull and iocund and at other times they see me to be pensiue and sadde I being desirous to know the causes of this different behauiour adiured and charged them in the name of Almightie God to tell me the true cause and they said vnto me that they make show of ioye and gladnes when the soule of any person that hath liued well in the world whom they could neuer induce to committ mortall sinne is brought vnto purgatorie for some veniall sinnes and the diuells seing them to suffer in the flames are satisfied therewith and shew their gladnes by externall signes But if there be giuen any almes any masses said or any good workes done by good people as fasting and prayer whereby the soule departeth sooner out of that place and flyeth vnto heauen this causeth the diuells to be afflicted They complayne especiallie of the monkes of Cluny where continuall prayers are made for the soules of the dead that they may be deliuered out of that paine Therefore I praie thee said the sollitarie hermite and I coniure thee in the name of God Almightie to request the Abbot Odylo and the other to say masse and prayers without ceasing for the soules in purgatorie since so much good aryseth thereof The religious man wondred at his wordes and promised him faithfully to deliuer the message So being returned into France he visited that monasterie and recyted vnto the Abbot and his monkes all that which befell in those caues and mouth of Vulcan The holie Abbot Odylo vnderstanding the same ordeined and commaunded that in all his monasteries they should haue the soules in recomendation Then he made a generall constitution throught all his order that euerie yeare on the next daie after the feast of all saints they should make a generall Aniuersary for the soules of the faithfull deceased The Bishop of Rome who was at that time Iohn the 16. hauing notice hereof examining well the deed and seeing it to be holie and repleat with vertuous compassion not only approoued it but also comaunded the same to be done through the vniuersall Church This Catholique article that there is a Purgatorie being certain and also explaned ye must vnderstand that the proper place is one of the partes of hell of which there be foure One is of the damned the other of the children that dye without Baptisme before they haue the vse of reason the other is Purgatorie and the fourth is Limbus Patrum or the place of the holie fathers where the holie soules remayned before CHRIST dyed and were then deliuered out of the same place which now at this present is vacant It is also very certaine that by especiall order and decree of Almightie God some soules haue their Purgatorie in places particuler to them selues diolo lib. 4. cap. 40. 55. as S. Gregorie saith of one that had his Purgatorie in a Bayne for his faultes committed therein and it being manifested vnto a priest and that he should celebrate Masse for him he was quitte and freed and went vnto heauen Concerning the paines of Purgatorie you must vnderstand that it is fire and as S. Augustine saith it is the same that the fire off hell is and is yet discreet and different For as the naturall fire consumeth the straw and puryfieth the gold so this fire consumeth eternally the soule in hell after the manner of straw and the soules in purgatorie which be like gold it burneth and purifieth It hath also another propertie that it tormenteth not all men equally and therefore it is called discreet fire for it maketh one to feele more paines another lesse according to the faultes and sinnes they haue committed It is vsually said thereof and it is most true that the stoning of S. Stephen the grydiron of S. Laurence the arrowes of S. Sebastian the Iron combes of S. Vincent and all the martirdomes the saints endured do not come neere the paines of them that suffer in purgatorie And there is as great difference betweene the one paine and the other as betweene the soule that suffreth in purgatorie and the bodie that suffreth heere in this world There is adioyned vnto the paine of feeling a greeuous longing and desire the soules haue to see God which is so great that in some sort it doth surmount the paine of feeling which is the fire They see themselues there without remedy for any thing they can do of themselues they know they must paye the vttermost farthing if they in the world do not help them In that place doth afflict them the negligence and carelesnes of their kinsfolk and friends they sorrow also for the ingratitude of their heires and slownes of their excecutors in acomplishment of their willes They say many times with the holie man Iob Haue mercy and compassion of vs you at the least who in the world are said to be our friends for the hand of our Lord hath touched vs. we be in those paines Iob 3. out of which we cannot deliver our selues you may well do it but why then do you not you may help vs why be you then so forgetfull you may ridde vs from and out of these sharp and byting torments why be you then so negliâ—gent or rather cruell as to let vs lye still therein The father coÌ„plaineth of his soÌ„ne the wife of the husband the sister of the brother and the friend of his friend Sometimes God permitteth those that haue not remembred their friends deceased to he forgotten themselues and to suffer that which they haue permitted other men to suffer and to be tormented by the torments from which they would not help to deliuer others Lastlie you must vnderstand that to do good vnto the soules in Purgatorie is not only profitable vnto them but also vnto those that do it sins it is a
the auncyent souldyers should be enrolled and serue in person in the warres By this occasion the father of Martin who disliked the holie desires of his sonne caused him to be enrolled and sent him vnto the warres being then 15. yeares old and in those warres of Constantius the sonne of Constantine the great and Iulian he serued He was in the ordinary garrison of Pauia a city of Italy and with him he had a seruant vnto whom many times he gaue attendance such was his humility They eate at one table and sometimes Martin pulled of his bootes and made them cleane yea it is said that once hauing a seruant of a good nature he dismissed him looked for another that should be stark naught that he might haue occasion to merite more He serued in the warres 3. yeres before he was Baptised yet he eschued the vices which be ordinary and vsuall amongst souldiers He was affable curteous and charitable to his equalles lowely among his companions he was sober and temperate in the cherishing of himself in such sort that he seemed rather a relligious man then a souldier and before he was baptised he did all that a good Christian should doe He took that wages which was giuen him and reserued no more therof for his owne vse then that which was necessary for the mayntenance of his person the rest he gaue vnto the poore for those vertues and charitable acts which were in him he was beloued of all men On a time as he entred the city of Amiens which is in Gallia Belgica he saw a poore man naked that craued almes of them that passed by It was winter and extreame cold S. Martin was at that time armed and had no other garment but his souldiers coate The holy saint seeing no man to bestowe any thing on the poore man cut his cote in two parts with his sword and gaue one halfe therof to the poore man and the other part he reserued for himself Many saw this deed and some laughed to see him with half a garment and others were ashamed to consider they had not done the like charitable deed in all their life and better might they haue done it since they might haue clothed the poore man and not haue vnclothed themselfs The next night S. Martin being in a sound sleep he saw in a vision CHRIST couered with the piece of the garment he had giuen vnto the poore man and drawing nere vnto him asked if he knew that garment Then he heard CHRIST say to his Angells Martin being yet a Catechumen hath couered me with this garment By this doth euidently appeare that which IESVS CHRIST said in the ghospell That which is done vnto the poore is done vnto me S. Martin was not proud of this but yelded thanks vnto CHRIST for it and was very earnest and diligent to obteine Baptisme and desired to leaue the seruice of the warres but at the entreaty and importunacy of his Coronell he staied vntill his time was expired He was Baptised at the age of 18. yeares and remained still a souldier for the space of two years after which time he lefte the warres by reason of a peace ensuing which seemed to be miraculous and was thus The armies being ready to ioine battell a peace was made vpon very honorable condicions for the side wheron S. Martin was yea it is thought that almightie God made it for his holy saints sake who being abused in words by his captaine who called him coward and base fellow saying also that he desired to leaue the souldiers life that he might not be indangered in that battell S. Martin offered to passe through the enemies squadrons with out any armor for which cause God to preserue him from that iminent daunger procured an honorable peace to be made for his side Then went S. Martin to S. Hillary Bishop of Poiters with whom he remained some certeine dayes enioying his holy company and was edified by his vertuous behauior Then desirous to returne into his owne countrey he tooke leaue of S. Hillary both of them weeping aboundantly at their departure at which time S. Hillary gaue vnto S. Martin the order of Acolite besought him to retorne back vnto him speedely S. Martin trauelling on the way was like to haue bene murdered for certain thieues lying in waite for him one of them striking a full blow with his sword to wound him and another bearing it of with his weapon S. Martin shewed no feare at all And being demaunded the cause he made aunswere I neuer had lesse feare in my life for that I serue a Lord who I am assuered will not abandon me in a greater daunger then this is Herof the holy saint tooke occasion to preach vnto them IESVS CHRIST and one of those thiefs was conuerted and entred into relligion and died a blessed man At last he came to his owne countrey and preached the faith of CHRIST vnto his father and mother His mother was conuerted but his father continued still in his Idollatry and after that many other persons were conuerted to the faith by his meanes At that time the Arrian heresy was spred very much in the countrey where S. Martin preached and because he only publikely resisted them the heretiks did persecute him with all extremity and on a time they imprisoned him and scourged him publikely so shamelesse they were and not content herewith they sent him into exile S. Martin departing from his natiue countrey returned into Fraunce and there he vnderstood that S. Hillary was also banished by the Arrians wherfore he passed into Italy and builded a monastery nere vnto Millan where some Catholiques assembling together liued iointly with him a monasticall life But he was there also greuously persecuted by a principall Arrian heretique called Auxentius who after he had done him many wrongs and abuses neuer ceased vntill he had driuen him from thence also S. Martin yealding to the time took sea and came to an Island called Gallinaria in the cōpany of a holy priest where they two remained a good space susteining themselfs with the rootes of herbes only Then newes came vnto him that S. Hillary was returned vnto his Bishoprique wherefore he determined to find him out and when he came thither the holy father receiued him very louingly S. Martin dwelling there built another monastery nere vnto Poiters vnto which place came a Catechumen to be instructed in the faith and holy behauior It happened that S. Martin being absent the yong man fell sicke and died and whilest the other relligious men prepared to bury him the holy saint came and made great shew of sorowe for the death of that his disciple and coming into the roome where the dead body lay he bad all the other depart out then he shutt the dore and remained there two houres in praiers and he that was dead began then by litle and litle to recouer his sences and returned to life and perfect health When theother
rather to die then to deny my Lord CHRIST I am a Christian and therefore expect not that I will sacrifice vnto the diuells The Iudg was so wroth with this answere that he caused calthropes to be set thick on the ground the blessed martir to be dragged and haled ouer them In this torment the holie saint said Seek out other tortures for these be of too smalle force to make me worship thy diuells Pirrhus being now more enraged said Beat him with cudgells and knotted thongs of leather and buffet him on the face till he cease to call our Gods by the names of diuells But all these things preuailed not to make the valiant souldier of CHRIST shew any signe of feare or yeelding There was present a noble man of the court called Eliodorus who said vnto Pirrhus my Lord these Christians be a people which regard no torments yea death is more welcome vnto them then life Do not vexe nor trouble thy self any more with this man but giue iudgment of death vpon him as he hath well deserued for that he hath abandoned his captaine and refused to serue in the warres Thâ—n Pirrhus said vnto Menna If thou wilt resolue to sacrifice vnto the Gods I will cause thy captaine to pardon thy former offence and to giue thee more honorable office and degrees Menna said God forbid that I should desire such offices and honors I desire to haue them in heauen where true honor is to be had not those of the world which be vaine and transitorie The president seing the constancy of the blessed martir by the aduise of the other courtiers coÌ„demned him to die with these words Because Menna the souldier doth not obey the proclamation of the Emperours and because he followeth the religion of the Christians and will not sacrifice vnto our Gods we comaund that he be beheaded that others by his example may feare to comitt the like trespasses The blessed martir was led by the officers vnto a place called Potemia vnto which all the cittie was assembled The holie saint with a cheerefull countenance though meanely apparelled as making smalle account of any worldly thing went comunicating with some of his acquaintance as if he had not bene going vnto death Recomending them vnto God and taking leaue of them he lifted his eies toward heauen saying I blesse and praise thee o father eternall for that thou hast hitherto kept me and hast not turned thy face from me Thou hast giuen me strength that I should not loose my soule with this treacherous and faithles people but that I might confesse constantly thy blessed name and thy holie lawe I beseech thee through IESVS CHRIST thy sonne that thou wilt help me at this houre of death and deliuer my soule in granting it victorie in this last assault that it may appeere free before thy iudgment seat and there worship thee Saying this he came to the place of execution where falling on his knees and looking toward heauen the hangman cut of his head Then they cast his bodie into a great fire but the fire consumed it not so that some deuout persons took it and buried it in a place conuenient whither many Christians resorted crauing mercy at Gods hands by the praiers and merits of this his faithfull seruant Menna Who was of Egipt honorablie borne iust faithfull mild and vertuous and replenished with the grace of the Holie Ghost He was martired in the cittie of Cottieum in the prouince of Phrigia on the. 11. of Nouember in the yeere of our Lord 301. Spa saith 296. And on the same daie the Church maketh of him a commemoration The bodie of this holie saint was after ward translated vnto Constantinople The life of S. Martin Pope and Martyr THE noble king Dauid would not giue leaue 2. Râ—g 2 nor permit one of his souldiers to kill his father in lawe Saul when he might easily haue done it and theother well deserued it coming to pursue and search him out with an army and a full intention to kill him if he could haue gotten him within his daunger And though Dauid found him fast a sleep in his pauilion and in like maner all his guard who should haue watched in his defence yet would he not once touch him The reason which Dauid alleaged was because Saul was the anointed of the Lord. It happened farre otherwise vnto the glorious S. Martin Pope and martir who being annointed and consecrated and moreouer the vicar and lieutenant of CHRIST in earth yet some Christians in name but in their deeds worse then Pagans were so bold as to take him and vse him villanously as may appeare by his life collected out of the book of Poper lifes called Pontificall and out of other good Authors SAINT Martin the first Pope of that name was the sonne of one Fabritius and borne in Todi a city in Tuscane a very holy man and vertuous Assoone as he was elected to the gouernment of the Church he emploied all his vttermost dilligence endeuor to extirpat roote out some heresies about the person of IESVS CHRIST already condemned in former Councells The man who did bring them againe out of hell where they had bene a good space buried into the world was a Patriarch of Constantinople called Paulus who had some other prelaâ—s that abbetted him and were wrapped in the same error These wonne th'emperour Constans the second of that name to be of their sect and opinion such sleights and deuises they wrought with him The legats of the Pope who resided there certefied him of the proceedings of Paulus the Patriarch The Pope incontinent apointed by his letters what order should be taken therin and wrot vnto the same Paulus louing letters beseeching him not to be so determinately stubborne in ruynating the peace of the Church and in patronizing of his errors so many times condemned by the holy prelats ingreat assembles and generall Councells Paulus being by nature proud and obstinate to shew what small accouÌ„t he made of the Popes aduertisements caused an Aultar which the legats had set vp in the Church founded by Placida vpon which they said masse after the Roman vse to be cast to the ground and defaced The malice of Paulus was so much augmented that because the legats on the Popes behalf required him when they sawe his obstinacy to amend his fault and reforme his errors or els they would proceed against him as a contumacious person by the censures of the Church he made meanes to th'emperour to cause the legats to be restrained of their liberty and euill entreated and afterward he sent them into banishment into sondry parts of Christendome which was as if he had sent trompets to sound and publish the malignity of the Patriarch the tiranny of th'emperour and the misbelief of them both being obstinate in the error condemned by all the Catholike Church when Pope Martin had vnderstanding thereof he had recourse vnto the ordinary remedies in the
like occasions and assembled a Councell of 105. Bishops in the Church of S. Saluator neere vnto S. Iohn La'eranne And the question of the aforementioned errors being againe disputed certein Canons were published by which all the auncient heresies and this also being lately reuiued were condemned and anathematised and with them Peter Cirus and Sergius their Patriarchs deceased accursing detesting and depriuing Paulus the Patriarch now liuing and all his followers and adherents of what state condition dignity or function so euer and depriuing them also of all offices and benefices ecclesiasticall And to the end this holy Councell and all the decrees and Canons of the same should be diuulged and published through the world Pope Martin caused many coppies to be sent into most parts thereof Th'emperour CoÌ„stans vnderstanding what the Pope had done in the Councell tooke such indignation therat that he determined to apprehend if he did not kill the Pope in reuenge of this iniury as he estemed it For this purpose he sent into Italy in which at that time the Emperours of Constantinople had some cities and countreis one Olimpius a noble man of his chamber but an heretike as he himself was and gaue vnto him the title of Exark or Regent with secret instructions what to do Olimpius arriued at Rauenna which was the ordinary place of residence of the Exarks and hauing amassed and gathered huge forces as he could went toward Rome where he endeuored to make a schisme in the Churche of God But not being able to compasse and effect it because the Bishops of Italy and the Clergy of the city were of one accord and held together in the defence of the faith and of the Pope he then diuised meanes to entrap the Pope and to take him prisoner But finding it hard to be effected because he could not get him out ' of Rome where he was well beloued and had many frends he lastly determined to kill him For the effectuating of this deuise he agreed with one of his seruaunts an auncient souldier and told him he had procured the Pope to say Masse the day following in S. Maria Maior where he would require the Pope to giue him the B. Sacrament and as he communicated this desperate fellow should come nere and stabbe the Pope with his dagger The souldier promised so do The next day came and the Pope said Masse and Olimpius like another Iudas came vp to communicate yet lingered till his man came that should do this treacherous deed but our B. God altered all this for he caused the man to loose his sight and though he was hard by the Pope yet he sawe him not which thing he confessed many times after with solemne oths By this meanes this infernall sacriledg was not committed and the holy Pope escaped free from this trecherous inuention Aftetwadrs the Sarracens inuaded the Island of Sycile in the which they made great spoile and by cause at that time it was subiect vnto th'emperour Olimpius was obliged to go and defend them and so he did being first reconciled to the Pope and making vnto him a relation of the true causes of his comming into Italy Olimpius fought with the Saracens in a pitcht field vanquished them yet so great was the toile he took in the battaile that a few dais after he deceased When th'emperour was aduertised of his death he sent in his place as Exark Theodorus Calliopa who had bene there before and had behaued himself so well that he was beloued in Rome and all Italy Euery one reioiced at his coming but at the end euery one was deceiued and deluded for th'emperour had drawne him vnto his opinion and had enioined him that assoone as he had imprisoned the Pope he should send him vnto th'emperour with a strong guard And because he had no assured confidence in him he ioined with him in commission for the affaires and busines with the Pope only one Paulus Pallurius a seruant of his of whom he had this opinion that he would not faile to performe what soeuer he should command him Calliopa and his associate arriued at Rauenna and with outlong stay went vnto Rome where he staied some fewe daies treating with the Pope about many and seuerall businesses but all that he did was in deceit The Pope who was a plaine meaning man had no conceit of the treachery which Calliopa entended toward him So that Calliopa one day fained being in the lodgiing of S. Iohn Laterane to go and visite the Pope but in steed thereof he laid blowes on him and the Pope being vnable to defend him self from that violence was put in prison Calliopa sent him incontinent in bonds vnto Paulus Pellarius who conueied him withall speed vnto Rauenna and from thence vnto Constantinople The wicked emperour Constans reioiced exceedingly that he had gotten the Pope into his hands and endeuored with flattery and faire promises to drawe the good Pope to fauor his error but finding him stedfast in his faith he banished him vnto the city of Chersona which is in the outmost borders of the sea Euxinus a very cold country almost inhabitable There the good Pope was so afflicted and euill entreated that within fewe daies he died very patiently as a glorious martir of IESVS CHRIST Pope Martin the first of that name after the most certain account died in the year of our Lord. 654. on the. 12. day of Nouember and on the same day the Church celebrateth his feast His body was after this brought to Rome and buried in the Church dedicated vnto him and S. Siluester God did many miracles by the meanes of this saint who was his vicar in earth 6. yeares one moenth 26. dayes He gaue holy orders twice in the month of December in which he ordered 11. priests 5. deacons and 33. bishops The life of S. Gregorie Thaumaturgus HE that beleâ—ueth in me saith CHRIST Iohn 14. shall do the works and miracles that I do and greater also This sentence was most plainly verified in S. Gregorie Bishop of Neocaelarea which is the same that is now called Trabisonda Of him it is written that by his prayers he made a huge great rock as bigge as a hill to go from one place vnto another And also that he made a lake which caused discord betweene two brethren to drie vp and he stayed a great riuer that it should not ouerflowe to hurt the inhabitants by the bankes thereof We do not read that our Sauiour CHRIST did any of these thinges we doubt not but he could haue done them yet he did them not that his words might be fullfilled when he said that his faithfull seruants should do greater miracles after a certaine manner then those that he did And because it was euident in this holie saint he had the surname of Thaumaturgus that is a doer of marueilous things giuen vnto him His life was written by S. Gregorie Nissen in this manner SAINT Gregorie surnamed Thaumaturgus
not tarry to be tempted by the deuill for they themselues seek occasions to offend God and especially at those times when we be most obliged to to serue him viz on the feast day or in their Octaues which were ordeined that we might haue more time to be emploied in the seruice of God and to solemnize them The reason then why a greater feast is kept on one holy day then another and more to one saint then to another is because one signifieth a more higher mistery then another The Resurrection and Ascension of CHRIST be two high and principall feasts yet there is greater solemnity obserued in the first then in the second for the cause aboue-mentioned The same reason is of the saints The Catholike Church maketh a greater holy day vnto one saint then vnto another for that the deeds of one haue bene greater then of the other or for that his estate and dignity was greater or els for that he had done more good in the Catholik Church And for this reason the feasts of S. Peter S. Paule of S. Iohn Baptist of S. Laurence and other like saints be higher and more principall feasts then others though they which haue the lesser feasts and they who haue the greater be all in heauen contented enioyng God in his glory vnto which he bring vs for his great mercy Amen The life of S. Pontianus Pope and Martyr GOD commaunded Moises that to snuff the lights that burned in the temple vpon a candlestick which had seuen braunches he should cause to be made snuffers of the most fine and purest gold These lights be a figure of the priests who are called light by IESVS CHRIST By the name of seuen is giuen to vnderstand the seuen gifts of the Holy Ghost Then he commaunding that the snuffers where with they must snuffe the said lights should be of gold would demonstrate that vnto them they ought to beare great respect And that the reprouing and chastising of them though they deserue it is not graunted vnto euery one but only to him that shal be of such perfection that he is likened vnto the most pure gold And he that knoweth of himself that he is not gold but that he hath some defect and imperfection Let him not touch the light to wit Let him not murmure or speak euill of the priests but leaue the matter to God or els to his superiors who haue the office from God to reprehend and chastise them But if they leaue the matter vnto God the reproof punishment wil be more seuere and worthily shall the priests deserue it if their life be not correspondent vnto the dignity and function they haue aboue other men The holy Pope Pontianus hauing in mind the respect and regard that ought to be giuen to priests maketh mention and giueth many aduises in one of the two epistles he wrote out of his place of exile vnto all the faithfull for he was banished into the Island of Sardegna not for any fault he had committed but for confessing the faith of IESVS CHRIST The life of this holy saint was written in this manner by Damasus and other Authors BY the death of Pope Vrbane the first of that name there was placed in the seat of S. Peter Pontianus the sonne of Calphurnius borne in Rome He liued peaceably in the Papacy a while and attended to the gouernement of Church to the good contentment of all the Clergy people At the end of that time Alexander Seuerus th'emperour who of his owne nature was milde and no ennemy to the Christians persuaded by the priests of the Pagan Gods banished him from Rome and with him a priest called Philip by some martirologes called Hippolitus Those two were conducted into Sardegna and commanded not to depart out of that Iland In that place the blessed Pope Pontianus endured very great troubles and afflictions yet for all that he forgot not to gouern his Church with good and holy aduises and counsells when he could not do any other thing In that Island he wrote two epistles vnto all the faithfull Christians In the first he commendeth as hath bene aboue said the veneration and reuerence that ought to be vsed toward priests in regard of the high mistery they deale in consecrating by their words and holding in their hands the most Blessed Body of CHRIST our Lord. In the other he exorteth them all generally vnto charity brotherly loue Some Authors attribute vnto Pontianus the vse which is kept in the Church of singing the psalmes of Dauid in the office of the Howers and that he ordeined that the priest before he began Masse should say the psalme Iudica me Deus but to conclude the troubles and molestations of the holy Pope were so extreme which he endured in this banishment that he died in the same Island of Sardegna on the. 19. day of Nouember when he had ben Pope fiue years 5. months and. 2. dayes He gaue holy orders twise in the month of December and ordered 6. Bishops 6. priests 5. deacons His blessed body was buried in Sardegna but some years after S. Fabian the Pope caused it to be brought vnto Rome and buried it in the Churcheyard of Callistus among many other Martirs And because he died in exile through the vexation and trouble he endured he was accounted among the holy martirs His death was in the year of our Lord 236 Maximinus being then emperour of Rome * ⎠* The presentation of our B. Lady THE great king Assuerus hauing depryued Queene Vasthy his wife of the royall crowne and hauing expulsed her out of his pallace because she would not obey his commaundements All the princes and great lords of his kingdome were assembled to seeke out another wife for the king which should not only be equall to Vasthy but should rather surpasse her in all fauour and beauty For this end all the choysest damosells were sought out through the realme to whom there was apointed a roome by themselues and an Eunuch called Egeus had the charge of them who sawe them prouyded of all things necessarie aswell for their dyet as also for their apparell and adornements There wanted no odoures perfumes or Iewells which might aggrandize and shewe forth their beauties This was done the more to please king Assuerus vnto whom they were led one by one as their turne was to the end he might choose one that lyked him best to be Queene in stead of Vasthy The prudent and beautifull Esther being elected out of the rest for that purpose the day came that she was to be presented before the king Assoone as the king sawe her he was so pleased with her fauour and beautie that he chose her out from among the rest for his wife and Queene and set the royall crowne on her head commaunding all his subiects to honor her and to regard and esteeme her as their soueraigne Queene and ludy This king Assuerus is a figure of our Lord God
of their coming The holie Bishop fetching a great sigh made them this answere Arrius is already dead in the sight of God for that he hath so grieuously blasphemed against the diuine essence denying that there is one naturality of all the three persons Peter then took the two priests aside and said to them in secret Although I be a grieuous sinner God out of his mercy hath called me to martyrdome and I will shew you part of mistery reueiled vnto me and I do it the rather for that you two are to succeed me in this dignitie wherein I now am the one after the other first Achillas and then Alexander I was at my prayers with great attention as my custome is and on a so daine IESVS CHRIST my Lord and God appeared to me in the likenes of a little infant The glorie of his face could not be seene so great was the splendour and brightnes that did proceed from it He was apparailed with a long harment which reached downe to the ground but it was rent from the toppe to the bottome and with his two hands he pulled it together to couer the nakednâ—s of his breast which when I saw I was in a great feare but after being somewhat reuyued I asked him Omy Lord IESV what is this that I see how petifully is this your garment torne And he answered me Thou talkest often hereof but doest not endeuour to know it But know thou that Arrius hath done this evill vnto me who seeketh to get away may people from me which be my heritaâ—ge and which I haue purchased with the shedding of my very deerest blood This which thou hast seene I wishe thee to shew to Aquila and Alexander which are to succeed the that they may as thou hast done Anathematize and excomunicate him that his soule may he saued This being saied and charging and enioyning them so to do it being the will of God he dissimissed them and sent them away in peace And it happened that people perseuering and awayting at the dore of the prison for the defence of the life of their Pastor to auoyd a tumult and the effusion of blood the tirannous ministers of the Emperour gaue direction and order that in the nigh at the officers should make a breach through the back side of the prison and take out of the same the holie Bissop Peter and to lead him to the place where S. mark had before time beene martyred and euen thus the cruell officers did and there beheadded him His body wad buryed in the same cittie of Alexandria by the Christians This was on a wedensday being the 26. of Nouember on which day the Church celebrateth his feast And it was in the yeare of our Lord 312. Maximinus being Emperour Of this holie saint maketh mention the Councell of Ephesus and the seuenth generall Synode S. Gregorie Nazianzene Eusebius in his 8 book 14. Chapter and 9. book 6. chapt Nicephorus The Tripartite historie Vsuardus Venerable Bede and Ado. The life of S. Saturnine Martyr OVR first father Adam hauing offended Almightie God in breaking his comandement God â—â—ioyned him in penance for his sinne to digge and till the ground Hereof it cometh that all men being partakers of his sinne for as S. Paul saith all sinned in him we be also partakers of his penance and punishment So it befell to S. Saturnine that glorious martyr who being old was condemned by the Emperour Maximian to labour about the building of certaine Thermi or hote bathes by carying sand morter and stones from one place to another though the cause why he suffred this slauery and drudgery was not for any sinne he had comitted but only for that he was a Christiane which this tyrant hold and accounted to be the most heynous offence of all other and therefore he layd on him these grieuous afflictions The life of this holie martyr with the life of S. Marcellus the Pope was written by the notaries of the Romaine Church and is rehersed by Laurence Surius in this manner The Emperour Maximian returning from Africa to Rome and being desirous to please Dioclesian that had aduanced him to high estate and made him his partner in the Empire and knowing that Dioclesian had comaunded certaine artificiall hote Bathes to be made was very dilligent to further and hasten the workes for which cause he comaunded all them that were conuicted of any grieuous or heynous oftences among which he held and accounted the Christians not to be the least to worâ—k and labour about that building vnder a saffe guard and watch hauing many ouerseers and masters ouer them Among other that were condemned to this slauery an honorable old man called Saturnine was one His work was to digge sand and to carry it from one place to another and for that through his weakenes and debillitie of age he fainted and tyred oftentimes and was not able to doe his taske as the ouerseers of the work required they often rated and reuiled him But he was holpen out very charitably by other Christian that were yonger and especially by one Sisinnius who carried those burdens that were apointed for himself and most of those that belonged to Saturnine and that so cheerefully that they went singing Hâ—mnes and psalmes in the praise of IESVS CHRISTE The surueiors of the work wondering at the same acquainted a Tribune called Spuriuâ— there with and he certyfied the Emperour Maximian thereof who comaunded they should be brought to his presence They being before him he said to Sisinnius what is your name Sisinnius answered I am a sinner and a seruant of the seruants of IESVS CHRIST and I am called Sisinnius The Emperour said vnto him what verses be those that you sing as you work Sisinnius answered If thou diddst vnderstand them or haddst notice of theÌ„ thou shouldest also know thy ceator who is the Creator said Maximian but the inuincible Hercules To vs Christians said Sisinnius it is a thing abhominable and detestable to speak such a word or to name him in such sort Choose one of these two things said the Emperour eyther sacrifice to our God Hercules or els assure thy self thou shalt be put to a terrible death Sisinnius answered I haue alwaies desired to dye in that manner and to be worthie to obtaine the crowne of Martiredome for the profession and loue of my Lord IESVS CHRIST Maximian chasing at these wordes deliuered him to Laodicio a prefect charging him either to compell Sisinnius and Saturnine to sacrifice to their Gods or els to put them to a cruell death He put them into prison where they remained a while and there they conuerted many Pagans to the faith of CHRIST Then were they taken out from thence loaden with giues and fetters bare foote and barelegged and so lâ—d into a Temple to do sacrifice when they were brought before the Idoll Saturnine lifted vp his voyce and sayd O lord confound the Idolls of the Gentilles At these wordes the
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