him how to dye well which is one of the most important arts in the world for what auailes it if we gaine the whole uniuerse and suffer shipwrack of our owne Soules This maxime was the study of his whole life and on it all his principles were grounded and so well that he was not a frayd to look death in the face he regarding it no otherwise then as a passage to a better life and therfore amidst all its appalements he sate vpon its Couch as the Phenix on her pile of spices expecting that the same flames which consumd his body should renew his soule to a better and immortall life Of this his passage I shall say no more then I find vpon authentique Record the Process of his Canonization reflecting on two things first his preparation to it secondly the sequels of it And as to the former when he perceiu'd that the euening of life was in a great decline and its sunn neer vpon setting though his whole life had bin nothing else but a preparation to death or disposition to the sleep of Saints by which they rest in our Lord yett the neerer it approachd the more it awakd him to a discharge of his last dutyes And therfore with hart and eyes fixd on heauen the first of his desyres according to the Rytes of H. Church were the last Sacraments or Viaticum of that great journey doing himselfe as he had taught others to doe in that passage These are Confession Communion and Extreme Unction which as no good Christian doth omitt so no good seruant of God but has them in esteem and veneration and the greater the better insight they haue into the Concerns of theyr soule and its happy passage Hauing thus prouided for the substantiall part all the rest of his minutes were lett out at the highest exchange and he vnmindfull of all worldly things inuokd the Spiritt both of life and light by a „ Veni Creator Spiritus to be assistant to him in this last conflict against the Spiritts of Darknes when both life and light lye at the Stake This done he armd himselfe with the signe of the crosse or ensigne of Christianity as formidable to the infernall powers as confortable to a parting soule who whilst he consignd himselfe by it ouer to Alm. God he added these deuout expressions taught him probably in his child hood „ Per signum Crucis de inimicis nostris libera nos Deus noster and againe Per Crucis hoc signum fugiat procul omne malignum and lastly „ Per idem signum saluetur omne benignum All these are put downe verbatim in the record and teach vs how to arme our selues in our last Conflict towards a victory ouer our enemyes This done he calld his retinue about him and imparting to each fayth the lessons of his office the kiss of peace togeather with wholsome instructions for a pious life amidst these embracements he took and gaue the last adieu And now by this time the stock of life being quite spent the pangs of death came stronger vpon him and these increasing he betook himselfe more earnestly to his refuge of prayer making vse of that verse of the Psalmist propper in such a passage in manus tuas Domine commendo Spiritum meum Domine Deus veritatis Commendo Spiritum meum which words whilst he repeated thrice with his hands eleuated towards heaven he renderd his sweet Soule most acceptable to heauen to be receiud according to its meritts into the eternall tabernacles This was the setting of this sweet Sunn shewing much not onely of the Christian but of the Saint and verifying the old saying „ vt vixit sic morixit teaching vs that generall rule without exception he that liues well dyes well Which Sunn though he went downe in a strange horizon yett found a wellcome in the Ocean of bliss or a blessed eternity the true Christian deemes that his Hemisphere where God places him we being all Cittizens of the world and like beggars neuer out of our way while we are tending to Paradise Happy they that can make a happy Conclusion of so important an affayre which when thus concluded our work is done and if not happily all 's vndone and that without redress that is a moment of greatest moment wheron depends eternity Though his festiuity were keept on the 2. of October yett the day of his death happend on the 25. of August or the morrow to the Apostle S. Bartholomew And synce all Authours that I can find vnanimously agree as to the place to witt that it was neer Monte fiascone one would wonder why Bp. God win in contradiction heer of without alledging any ground for his assertion should maintaine that he dy'd at Ciuita Vecchi and in his way to Rome wheras there are vndenyable prooffs both of his arriuall there and obtayning his pretentions returne by land and holy death at the place aforesayd To say the least this cannot but argue a spiritt of contradiction propper to one of his coat and little beseeming the name of a Bishop nor had he more besydes the reuenues Onely it is a knowne trick of such I can call it no better to render the clearest truths disputable and thence doubtfull and so by degrees eneruate all fayth both humane and diuine by vndermining the autority which is theyr basis It happend the night after his decease that one of his officers whome he had left behind him in England his name was Robert of Glocester then his Secretary afterwards Chancellor of Hereford being at that time at London and Lodging in the Bishops owne Chamber had this dreame or vision call it as you please He thought himselfe to be at Lions in France where in the great street of that Citty which leads to the Cathedrall he seemd to behold his Lord and Master going towards that Church whither himselfe was also bound Both being enterd his Lord he thought went into the Sacristy where putting of the vpper garment which he wore he vested himselfe with white Pontificall Robes and those most rich and carrying in his hand the Body of our Lord or most B. Sacrament in forme of a Consecrated Host he appeard suddainly in the midst of a most solemne and stately Procession both of Clergy and religious and those likewise cladd all in white The Procession seemd to moue towards the Cloyster of the Cathedrall while others of that quire enton'd and prosecuted with delicate Musique that part of the Capitulum propper to the Office of S. Peter ad Vincula Occidit autem Jacobum fratrem Joannis gladio But before all were enterd the gate which led into the sayd Cloyster it on a suddain was shutt and Robert who with many others desyrd also to enter were excluded to theyr no small defeatment and left to consider the dreame of which he as the ignorant of the Saints death could look vpon no otherwise then a dreame But when immediately after certaine tydings both of
implying both parts of Christian duty to decline from euill and doe good and doe good not how euer but after a good manner and as beseems such a Majesty for God loues not slubberd seruices but wil haue them done as well with the hart as hand and tongue or else they 'l find a cold acceptance By a due complyance in this Kind we shew our loue to him and this complyance in our Spirituall functions is calld Deuotion which is esteemd greater or less as our performance is more feruorous or remiss Deuotion is an effect of loue and an issue of diuine grace which if not sourc'd from these two is not esteemd genuine and currant but to want of its graines of weight and this may be counterfeyted as well as other vertues The subject of his deuotion or his spirituall exercises relating immediately to Alm. God were chiefly Prayer the H. Sacrifice of Masse his Canonicall Houres or diuine Office and in the discharge of these he was not onely sayth the Record deuout but most deuout performing them with a most profound attention and Reuerence Prayer is calld an Incense and this inconse he was I may say continually offering according to the aduise of S. Paule sine Thess 5. 17. intermissione orate be allwayes praying not onely as each good work in the opinion of S. Basil is a good prayer but also by a more neer interiour and familiar Conuersation with Alm God by the powers of our soule employing them not onely in a Consideration of his attributes but an vnion of will And what could a pious hart nursd vpp in its baptismall grace and consequently the throne and Aultar of the H. Ghost Sacrifice to so diuine a guest besydes prayers and prayses the former to begg new blessings the latter in thanks giuing for them receiu'd To attend the more freely to this was the chiefe reason why he cutt his sleep so short and rise by night that he might watch and pray and offer early a morning oblation to God and his Saints in an odour of sweetness killing as the Royall Prophet did in the feruor of his prayer all Psal 100. 8. the sinners of the earth He knew that in a spirituall life no great matter could be atchieu'd or aduance made without this and therfore he made it his dayly bread and was much more frequently feeding his soule with it then his body with Corporall deeming it the life which was to animate all his actions We treated in the 12. Chapter of his Retyrement and vnion with God and this vnion was chiefly effected by Prayer and intimates a frequent and constant practise of the same euen to an intimate familiarity whose result it is Euen before he was Bishop he was particularly noted for his singular Reuerence and Deuotion in reciting Diuine office which argues a true feeling of Spiritt and the presence of Alm. God in which his exteriour Composure of body and attention of mind was such that it was of great edification to the beholders Thus he begunn thus he perseuerd vntill the end fullfilling exactly what our H. Mother the Church requires of vs for a due discharge of that great function and it were to be wishd all those to whome this obligation is incumbent were imitatours of the same He was most exact in the administration of the Sacraments and performance of Ecclesiasticall Ceremonyes so mixing piety with a Majestick grauity that both the one and other begott a Reuerentiall esteem towards those Sacred Rytes in them that were present But aboue all he was most singularly deuoted to the H. Sacrifice of Masse heer his deuotion seemd to triumph and he at the Aultar to be in his Center so full was his hart fraught with pious affections with such a spiritt of humility and Contrition did he approach it such an ample testimony heeroff did he giue by his abundance of teares that one would haue thought he had rather sayth the Record actually be held the bloody Sacrifice it selfe and his Lord and Sauiour therin immolated then an vnbloody and Mysticall representation of the same an argument both of his liuely fayth and ardent charity To indulge the more to these pious affections he gaue heer ample scope to his deuotion much beyond the ordinary stint of halfe an houre letting his soule feed at leasure on these sweet Mysteryes and Alm. God did so concurr that he was frequently alienated from his senses and as it were in a rapture so that it was necessary for the seruer who deposd this vpon oath to cough and make a noyse to bring him to himselfe and make an end of his Mass and this sayth the same happend frequently while he liu'd at Rouen from the feast of S. Peter ad Vincula till the feast of S. Michael next ensuing To shew how acceptable this his piety in the H. Sacrifice and other spirituall deuoyrs was to Alm. God it pleasd his diuine Majesty to grace him particularly at the same with a fauour which all that were present attributed to Miracle and as such it was approu'd by the Lords Commissioners and those that beheld it On the feast of Pentecost or Whitsunday he was inuited by Edmund Earle of Cornwall a great admirer of his Sanctity to Celebrate the feast and say Mass at his Castle of Wallingford and it happend in the second or third yeare of his Pontificate While he was preparing and disposing himselfe therto by singing the Hymne „ Veni Creator Spiritus vpon the entonement of the first verse a flock of byrds in the sight and hearing of all with Musicall notes and beating theyr wings against the Chappell windowes seemd to applaud the Saint while he sung and he hauing ended they retyrd while the Quire prosecuted what he had enton'd till the end of the strophe But he entoning the first verse of the second they returnd againe and while he sung both with voyce and wing they accompanyd him and applauded as before and soe strophe after strophe till the hymne was ended This seemd a great Nouelty to the sayd Earle and all that beheld it which were many and to satisfy themselues the better they went out of the Chappell abroad and had a full sight of them judging them to be about 40. and beheld them Coming and going as before nor could interprett such an vnusuall thing neuer obseru'd before nor after otherwise then as orderd by God to wittnes the sanctity of our Saint and the acceptablenes of the great work he was about Then it was that the Earle in the hearing of all Bishop Richard then Chancellour of Hereford being present made that expression cited in the end of the 18. Chapter of his singular Confidence in the prayers and patronage of S. THOMAS no less then in those of our great Apostle S. Austin The liuely fayth and high esteem he had of the dignity of this diuine Sacrifice as it made him recollect all his powers and attention for its better performance so it
made him waue all humane respects when he was about it not admitting any interruption whatsoeuer not euen from the King himselfe though otherwise most obseruant and submissiue to his Commands It happend once that while he was ready to vest a Messinger came in all hast from the King to call him to Councell without delay vpon matters of great importance and it was his office to attend he being of the Priuy Councell What must he doe after a short pause he calls the Messinger who was a Priest wishing him to tell his Majesty if he pleasd in these tearmes That he was now engagd in the seruice of one greater then himselfe who requird his present attendance but when I haue sayd he dischargd my duty to him I will not fayle to wayt on his Majesty After all done and his deuotions ended he repayrd immediately to Court then keept at the Pallace at Westminster and receiuing a gentle rebuke for his delay the matter was proposd and discus'd in the handling wheroff he deliuerd his aduise so pertinently and suggested beyond the rest such expedients so patt and fecible that all without reply embracd them as sent from heauen And the King ouer-ioyd heer with is sayd to haue spoken to him in these words Many blessings my Lord light vpon you and euer praysd and magnifyd be that highest master whome you serue and long may you serue both him and vs. So true it is that if we seek in the first place the Kingdome of heauen and its justice not fayling of our duty in that all these secondaryes will be cast into the bargaine I will conclude the loue he shewd to God by the religious performance of these his Spirituall obligations with the deuotion he carry'd to his Saints and chiefly to the Queen of Saints the Virgin Mother The Prouerb sayth loue me and loue my friend and God sayth loue me and loue my Saints my dearest friends and deseruedly for how can they be sayd to loue him who loue not those that are one with him In his loue to our B. Lady I will comprize all the rest and although this were notedly great that is so great that he was publiquely noted for it yett we haue not much left vpon Record wherby to illustrate and amplify it This not withstanding if we may measure the Lion by his Clawe and guess at Hercules by his foot we haue sufficient hynts or grounds both to informe and inflame vs to his imitation in this particular I haue shewd aboue out of authentique Records that in his younger dayes he was wont to fast the Vigills of her feasts with bread and water which custome he continu'd till want of health disabled him therto and what greater expression of a tender deuotion could he exhibite The expression is as extraordinary as is the fast and the fast speakes as much deuotion as a fast can doe and ranks it with the tenderest He chuse her Natiuity as I noted aboue for his Episcopall Consecration receiuing that sacred Character vnder her patronage and diuers apparitions of her with him after death in a ioynt Concurrence of both to the cure of many shew how deare he was to her during life And I find that abroad he carry'd the Common esteem of one singularly deuoted to her and was poynted at as her particular client and this perswasion wrought so farr with some that they vsd it for motiue of mediation to obtayne what they desyrd beseeching him for the loue and deuotion he bore her to grant theyr request And to this purpose it is recounted of one who before had bin of his houshold and falling into a great fitt of sicknes for ten weeks space 3. wheroff he passd sleeples turning himselfe to the Saint he earnestly besought him for the loue he bore to the Mother of God that he would obtaine for him the benifitt of sleeping This sayd he fell into a slumber and in it thought he saw two men bring into his Chamber a very fine bed in which being layd by them he sleept soundly and quiettly till the morning when being awakd and missing the bed though he was more then a little concernd that it should be carryd away yett neuer the less he found himselfe quite Cur'd of his infirmity and vpon the score of the Saints deuotion to our B. Lady As for his loue towards his Neighbour I had rather waue then mention it as not able to treat of it in that due manner I ought and it deserues not but that it was mainly great in it selfe but time and records haue bin so injurious as not to conuey the particulars to our knowledg and in these things we must not goe by guess but certaine relation Who can rationally doubt but that he who was a flaming furnace of loue towards God was enkindled with the same towards his Neighbour for loue of God Or he that playd the good Sheapard for 7. yeares to geather in feeding his flock had not a tender loue for the same flock without which he had prou'd himselfe rather a Mercenary hyreling then good Sheapard Or if he were so zealously couragious for the maintenance and Recouery of his Church Lands and Libertyes would he not be much more sollicitous for her childrens soules and saluation If he took her dead Concerns so much to hart how much more would he her liuing if he were so charitably charitable after death in the cure of theyr bodyes how much more while he hu'd in curing theyr soules We know that he was assiduous in preaching and teaching in reconciling enmityes in hindering debates in administring justice in promoting piety in depressing vice in redressing abuses in administring the Sacraments c. but what 's all this to his boundles zeale which not contenting it selfe with obligatoryes would branch into supererogatoryes and none of these latter are come to our knowledg besydes what is already specifyd I cannot satisfy my selfe as to what I would and ought to say on this poynt and therfore I pass to the next XXIV CHAPTER Of his Purity of body and mind AMong all the vertues which like so many Starrs embellishd our Saint 3. seem Conspicuously eminent aboue the rest and as I may say of the first magnitude One was his zeale and courage in the vindication and maintenance of his Churches Libertyes and of this we haue treated in the 15. Chapter The second his parsimony and sobriety of dyett to such a degree of Sparenes and mortification of his appetite that he might be sayd as we mentiond a little before to haue obseru'd for many yeares of his life a strict Ecclesiasticall fast and of this in the 22. The third was a wonderfull innocency of life by which he is thought to haue preseru'd the baptismall garment of his soule pure and vnspotted all his life long at least from any mortall stayne a priuiledg granted not to many and this I call his Purity of body and mind and shall be the subjectt of
meritts we may deserue to be associated to the quires of Angells and the first lesson of the same Office calls him Angelicus homo an Angelicall man And the loue and esteem he had for this vertue was not onely verball or from the teeth outwards but he made good in deed what he professd in word and Alm. God was pleasd to permitt Certamen forte dedit ei ut vinceret Sap. â—0 12. some trialls in this kind and to giue him a strong Combatt for the greater glory of his victory While he liu'd at Paris he like another chast Joseph was assaulted in the same as dangerously as impudently and he like him forc'd to flye and leaue his cloak behind him nor can that flight by deemd disgracefull when by it we gett the victory He gott it and in this was more happy then Joseph that he wonn not onely the Combatt but also the Tempter into the bargaine reclayming her to a chast life from her impudent lubricity and so deseru'd a double reward Such a chast body was fitt to be the consort of so pure a soule to make vpp an Angelicall Compound and it s but meet that such a jewell of purity should be keept in a suitable Cabinett that both parts might beare proportion and mutually correspond A Christian ought to trayne vpp his body to immortality and labour to leaue it such in life and death as he desyres to find it in the Resurrection such that it may be acknowledgd and ownd for a Member of Chtist as indeed it is and what a shame then is it as the Apostle argues to make it the member of a harlott Our B. Saint vnderstood this right well both as to proportion decency and other aduantages which thence accru'd and therfore he made it allwayes his busynes to procure and maintaine a good Correspondence betwixt both Now he that was so industrious in the Cultiuating and preseruation of his body what would he be for his soule and Conscience the other 's but the seruant this the Mistress that but the Shell this the Pearle and he knew very well how to giue euery one its due All he was to doe in this kind was to keep it to Christian duty according to his state to cultiuate it in piety and the seruice of God sowing in it the seeds of all vertues and how he did this euen in his youth and in what a nice and delicate temper he keept it maybe knowne by what we related in the end of the 5. Chapter of the vine-propp taken out of anothers vineyard and the 7. yeares pennance he did for the same Whence we may gather how Angelically pure that delicate soule was which checkd so feelingly at so small a matter and how farr it was from harbouring any great offence which deemd the least to be so great Nor yett was it one of those which flea a gnatt and swallow a Camell according to the expression of our B. Sauiour or stumbles at a straw and leaps ouer a block but pure illuminated soules in theyr quick-sightednes can espye a blemmish where a dimm eye of a grosser Complexion makes no discouery at all This was the Constitution of his mind and tenour of proceeding when he was now in the flower of his youth and nature pronest to lubricity where nothing but the speciall grace of God in an eminent sanctity could work such effects so opposite to nature and aboue it And as he went allwayes aduancing to Sanctity euen till death so did he also in purity sanctity as S. Anselme defines out of S. Denys being a most perfect and vnspotted purity free and entyre from all blemmish and to what a pitch of eminency must he needs arriue I shall conclude all in this that he liu'd and dy'd a pure Virgin both in body and mind XXV and last CHAPTER Of his Justice and Prudence BOth these are Cardinall Vertues and when I haue shewd with what a rich stock our Saint traded in them I shall haue made him Conspicuous in in all fower As for his temperance and fortitude I haue already giuen a character of them the former while I treated of his abstinence the latter of his courage and magnanimity in defence of his Church As to what we treat of at present he had great practise of the former to witt Iustice in both his Chancellorships and dischargd his trust with such integrity that all partyes concernd were abundantly satisfyd And he took the true way to doe it for he sought it not himselfe and made its advance his end not his owne nor the enrichment of his estate while others peruersly inuert true order by taking the quite contrary course The ordering of this depends much vpon the well or ill ordering of theyr owne Conscience which must be the beame of the ballance and to be right stand allwayes perpendicular inclining neyther to one syde or other but as the scales sway it in the one wheroff must be justice in the other the thing controuerted to the end an eeuen and vnpartiall hand may be keept It were much to be wishd that all distributers of justice did this more indeed to be wishd then hopd for while so many make a trade of selling what they ought to giue and gratis theyr honesty becoming venall to auarice and them selues imitatours of Iudas who as he sold his Master so they theyr Mistress for what are all in office but her Seruants and Ministers that which Captiuated the other Captiuates them peruerts theyr sense and misleads them from the paths of equity This proceeds from being not so well principled in poynt of Conscience and justice which goe allwayes hand in hand togeather and are attended by vprightnes and syncerity and thus our B. Saint walkd in them with the Common approbation of all guided not by the dictamens of this world but Diuine Wisdome by whose Prou. 8. 15 direction all both Lawgiuers and Administers of justice decree and execute just things Thus he purchasd that vogue of integrity which euery where accompany'd his proceedings growing vpp with him euen from his youth and so habitually rooted and relucent in all his carriage that it is noted as the prime Motiue why he was chosen first to the Chancelorship of the Vniuersity and then of the whole Kingdome And Certainly such an integrity of justice is an excellent Cemmendatory to preferment as giuing great aduantages to a full discharge of trust and strange it is that men do not take this way to Compass it when they seek so greedily after it If naturall abilityes be so much regarded how much more in all reason ought supernaturall if witt how much more vertue Witt without vertue and grace degenerates for the most part into Craft and turnes publique justice into priuate ends and selfseeking Euen those that are not vertuous are great admirers of it in others as being praise worthy in a very enemy and synce no body but loues to haue theyr things well done and
superiour as brass or syluer with gold Whence I conclude that the greatest Saints are fittest to make the gratest Statesmen not onely because they are freeest from Corruption and least swayd with passion and interest two great blinders of judgment but also for the singular aduantage theyr naturall abilityes receiue from the light and assistance of diuine grace Whence it is obseruable in our Historyes that in Catholique times Learned Bishops and vertuous Prelates were employd ordinarily both at home and abroad in the mannagement of weightyest affayres and who I pray more knowing then they or ought to be of greater integrity As a generall opinion acquird by his just and vpright Carriage preferrd him to the Chancellorship of the Vniuersity so his prudent demeanment in the same made King Harry the 3. preferr him to that of the Kingdome And though vpon that good Kings death at his owne earnest request he were licenc'd by his Sonn Edward to relinquish it yett he keept him still of his Priuy Councell and how much he esteemd his aduise is seen by what we recounted in the 23. Chapter He that could wade through the deep affayres of two Chancellorships and a Bishoprick and keep still aboue the waters of any dislike or dissatisfaction where so many sinke must needs haue bin supported with a great prudence The meanes he vsd for this support was to haue knowing and conscientious men about him who vnderstood both what in prudence was to be done and would execute it honestly and when all Circumstances duely weighd he found that according to the Dictates of prudence and Conscience this was to be effected or that omitted he stuck so close to his principles that neyther feare nor respect could moue him in the least and this we confirm'd with an example in the 8. Chapter We must also Consider the times in which hee bore the aforesayd Offices most vnquiett and turbulent and to keep sure footing on such slippery ground argues a great prudence and wisdome it argues that he could Master both the times and himselfe not they him And now hauing giuen as good á Character of this vertue in our Saint as my breuity and informations will allow it is time to make an end and though I haue sayd little in regard of what might be sayd yett I think I say much to its and his Commendation when I shew that by it he orderd both his Spirituall and temporall Concerns so as to proue himselfe a great Saint in the former and a great Statesman in the latter In his declining age especially after he was made Bishop he withdrew himselfe as much as he could from all worldly employments the more to apply himselfe to heauenly and that was the greatest poynt of prudence which euer he exercisd teaching him that the Kingdome of heauen was to be sought in the first place and aboue all For what will it auaile one to gaine the whole world if he loose heauen and his owne soule or with what exchange will he be able to redeem that loss What matters it if one enioy all the pleasures of the world all the treasures of the world and all its highest preferrments if he haue not heauen at the end of them that is to say what matters it to enioy heer a seeming momentary happynes and be most vnhappy heerafter for all eternity To be truly prudent is to be prudent to eternity and so was our Saint and who euer is not thus prudent proues himselfe a very foole True prudence guides to true happynes as there is no true happynes but eternall so neyther true prudence but which leads to this eternity This is true prudence indeed its great Act and Master piece at which all our practicall prudence in this great mannagement must leuell as at its finall scope and the purchase of all our endeauours in this lifes Commerce As nothing less then eternity will doe our work that is make vs eternally happy so must we acquiesce in no other none but that being truly satiatiue and all the rest an empty shadow The prudence of the flesh sayth the Apostle is death Rom. 8. 6. and operates it the wisdome of this world sayth the same is folly with God that Cannot be a guide of our 1. Cor. 3. 19. proceedings Ours must be refin'd aboue the world and death the issue of diuine Wisdome and therfore is calld by it the Science of Saints Scientia Prou. 10. Sanctorum prudentia This Science our B. Saint study'd all his life long and learnd more true knowledg out of it then he did out of all the Philosophy of Aristotle or Idaeas of Plato He learnd to be vertuous to keep a good Conscience his duty towards God his Neighbour and himselfe to subdue sense to reason and the whole man to the Obedience of the Diuine Law He learnd to preferr a solid happynes before a seeming one eternity before time the soule before the body and God and his Seruice aboue all Christ our B. Sauiour Matt. 10. 16. sends vs to the Serpent to learne this prudence and it teaches vs a twofold to expose the whole body to saue the head the seat of life and so must wee all our externall goods body and all for the preseruation of our fayth and safety of our Soules The Serpent say Naturalists stopps one eare with its tayle the other it clapps close to the ground so to become deafe to charmes and enchantments and prudence bidds vs imitate this amidst the enchantments of Sinnfull pleasures according to that of the 57. Psalme to which our Corrupt nature inclines Common errours lead the way Custome like a torrent carry's vs head long and engulfs vs in a sea of Spirituall Miseryes To these two we may add a third and it is that the Serpent by forcing her passage through a narrow Cranny stripps her selfe of her old coat and togeather of her old age and so becomes young Wee by endeauouring as our Sauiour aduises to Luc. 13. 24. enter by the narrow gate may effect the same and stripping our selues of inueterate habitts putt on a newnes of life Let vs learne at least to auoyd gross mistakes against prudence if we cannot all Euen Common prudence bidds vs secure the mayne Concern when we cannot all particulars it being accounted no indiscretion to hazard something to saue the whole What is our main Concern but our Soule if we loose that we loose all to venture a limb to saue our life is a dictate of nature and to exspose both body and estate to saue our Soule is a Certain Maxime of grace If we must quitt eyther a lease for life or an inhereritance it would be deemd madnes to part with the latter to secure the former this being as much in its Kind as to exchange pearles for peebles and gold for Clinquant and is the same when euer Soule and body time and eternity heauen and this world come into Competency To make heer a right Election is the part of prudence and our glorious S. THOMAS both did it and teaches vs to doe it and of all the vertuous lessons of his whole life none then this is more important none more prudent God in his grace and light giue vs strength to make the same resolues and execute them with an equall fidelity Amen FINIS APPROBATIO LIbellum cui titulus The Life and Gests of Saint Thomas Cantilupe Bishop of Hereford Anglicè conscriptum à Theologo mihi noto lectum praelo dignum censeo Actum Gandavi 27. Augusti Anno 1674. H. HESIUS Libr. Censor ERRATA Fol. Lin.   17 12 glorions glorious 19 20 theyr they 23 11 hough though 31 29 inlustrious illustrious 33 5 chidhood childhood 45 9 figh fight 57 15 particulari particular 69 4 thiter thither 73 18 buh but 106 19 bee hee 117 20 reccuid receiu'd 135 11 aftording affording 160 3 oue one 175 4 fitting sitting 186 20 the hee 256 18 reahd reapd 270 7 many may 310 13 by bee
we must so commend this as to leaue the other in its due reuerence and esteem To come now to our B. S. THOMAS his father was William Lord CANTILVPE a person for his worth and greatnes often mentioned in the English History and Records of Heralds The father of this Lord was also another william who ioyntly with his Sonn stood euer firme in the Barons Warrs to both the Kings whose fauovr in employments of highest trust and honour they well deserued Though as a knowne Historian of those Matt. Paris times affirmes theyr family receiud not so iust a measure as theyr meritt requird Yett the father of our Saint bore no less a charge in court then that of great Master or Lord steward of the kings house Which as in other kingdoms so in this of England was euer esteemd of chief fauour and dignity being the eye and hand of the king not onely at a distance and in absence but commanding all in his very presence and in a manner seated vpon the same throne Neyther was this honour or whatsoeuer else they receiud from theyr soueraigns aboue the rank of theyr birth and quality The Cantilupes or Cantelowes vulgarly so calld from the originall Champ de Loup or Campus Lup◠were a noble family of speciall note and eminency among those braue Aduenturers who-followd the Norman conquerour in his enterprize of our English Monarchy and purchasd him that crowne with the hazard of theyr liues and fortunes And as they brought with them a fayre inheritance of estate and honour so still continud theyr course with successiue increase as great riuers the further they goe the more they dilate themselues with the reception of other streames The Heyres generall of the Strong-bowes and Marshalls Earles of Pembroke of the Fitz Walters Earles of Hereford of the Breoses or Breuses Lords of Abergauenny left theyr estates and greatnes by right of marriage vnto the Cantelupes Such being the Paternall line of S. THOMAS and his father a person of so high command and creditt the king vpon an exigence being to make a voyage into france could not think of a more powerfull and faythfull hand beyond all exception and enuy to intrust with his crowne and kingdome then VVilliam Cantelupe it was an equall and happy match between this Lord and the Lady Millescenta countess of Eureux and Glocester Mother of our Saint She was daughter of Hugh lord Gournay and the Lady Iuliana sister to Reginald Earle of Dammartin and Boulogne The Gournay's were of the prime nobility of Normandy neerly allyd to the soueraigne Dukes of that country and as neer to our gloirous and blessed King Edward the Confessour The counts of Dammartin were of an inllustrious family in france matchd with the greatest Princes of Europe And this Reginald vncle to the Lady Millescent in right of his wife lda grandchild to Stephen king of England became Earle of Boulogne which title he trāsferrd againe with his daughter Matilde marry'd vnto Philipp Earle of Clermont onely brother to Lewis the 8. king of france and vncle to S. Lewis This the allyance and desent of that noble Lady She was first marry'd to Almerick Montfort Earle of Eureux in Normandy as also of Glocester in right of his mother Mabelle eldest daughter heyre to william Earle of Glocester Grandchild to Henry the first king of England This Almerick being head of that illustrious family of the Mōtforts descended from Robert surnam'd the Pious king of france and dying without issue was the last of that race in Normandy leauing his noble and vertuous Confort the Lady Millescente to be blessd with a happyer and more fruitfull marriage especially in this her sonn who alone illustrated that renownd family with more honour then all the greatnes and titles of theyr famous Ancestres III. CHAPTER Of his Childhood and domestique Education TO looke into the infancy or Childhood of Saints may seeme as little pertinent to theyr meritt as to the glory of God that part of the life of man being Commonly held for a meer Prologue or dumb show before a tragedy of miseryes a dreame or slumber before the soule awake to the light of reason a state of Neutrality betwixt man and beast as vncapable of prayse as blame and onely happy in this that it is vnsensible of all vnhappynes Yett experience and reason teaches vs that this twylight of life is not so dark but that we may read sundry characters though written in a small letter by the hand of God This mute part of the age of man is not so speechless but that it fore-tells vs much of what will follow In fine euen childhood it self hath not so little of the man but that it is capable of deep impressions both of grace and reason as the louely and sweet variety of colours in many flowers receiue theyr first tincture in the very root and the value of Pearles depends much vpon the first dropps of dewe which falls into the shell when thy are newly engendred That the divine Prouidence hath a speciall eye vpon the infancy of man is an vndenyable truth both in humane and diuine history neyther doth this onely consist in certaine prodigyes and dedemonstrations of a power aboue the reach of nature but also and that most vsually in a particular fauour and protection of the diuine hand by connaturall meanes of Education and other circumstances to with draw from euill and lead to vertue The whole sequele of our S. THOMAS his life clearly shewes how highly he was priuiledg'd with both these blessings from heauen A nature he had eleuated aboue the Common strayn a minde full of generous heat and vigour euer tending to a higher sphere like a fire without smoke or mixture of grosser elements which mett with soe noble a temperature of body that though of a prosperous and liuely habitude he neuer knew in his whole life what any thing meant which was not agreeable with the purity of Angells He the first fruit of that happy marriage was borne at a Mannour of his fathers in Lincolnshyre Hameldone by name where he alsoe receiud the Sacrament of Baptisme regenerated therby to the pretious adoption of the Children of God In memory wherof Edmund Earle of Cornwall sonn to Richard once king of the Romans and a great admirer of out saints perfections built there an Oratory to the honour of God and his in the which Oratory our Lord is sayd te haue wrought frequent Miracles by the intercession of the same saint Besydes him his Parents were blessd with a numerous offspring of 3. Sonns and 3. daughters which like so many young Oliues enuironnd theyr table to theyr great loy and the latter were all bestowd in an honorable wed-lock To cultiuate duely these hopefull endowments both of nature and grace by a Good education was the care and endeauour of his pious Parents who as in his infancy they had prouided him of vertuous Nurse the Process of his
a Religious man It was a speciall prouidence of God that this great person was chosen to be the Spiritual guide and Gouernour of our holy Saint from his tender yeares which we may esteem a mutuall happynes and honour to them both being the wise child is the fathers ioy as the fathers worth is the Childrens glory The learned and wise Prelat seeing how pure and generous a soule he had to mannage omitted no care and industry to sett him forward to the highest perfection Wherin finding his Angelicall pupill so ready and pliable and euen to out-runn his wishes he conceiud such vnspeakable ioy and comfort that all the dayes of his life he could neuer name him with out excessiue admiration and praise He neuer mett with stone or bramble in that soule to choak or hinder the full fruit of the heauenly seed he neuer found weed in that bed of Lillyes he neuer saw spott in that virgin stole which he had receiud in baprisme Noe flashes of leuity frowardnes or vnconstant giddynes so incident to that age All his soule in fine Apoc. 4. 6. like that chrystall sea of the Apocalipse without waue or wind not disturbd with the least blast of disorderd passions yett still in motion abhorring nothing more then that canker and bayne of vertue sloath and idlenes He neuer omitted to be dayly present at the holy Sacrifice of Mass with all reuerence and attention which he took for a common duty of all pious Christians and therfore would oblige himselfe to a greater task reciting dayly as young as he was the Canonicall houres or Priests Office which in him was a remarkable act of piety and not onely a presage of his future intentions but also a token not improbable that euen then as much as lay in him he deuoted himselfe to a Clergy life hauing otherwise no tye at all eyther of Benefice or Orders his yeares being vncapable of the one and the discipline of those better times not allowing Ecclesiasticall fruits and titles to any other but such as for ability and age could worthily performe the functions In this manner did our B. Saint pass his first course of litterature with such success and profitt in the Latine tongue that it gaue him new appetite and courage to apply himselfe to the study of higher sciences As they who discouer the first veynes of a rich myne work on with more alacrity to attaine the mayne treasure Wherfore though at that time Oxford florish'd with all aduantage of learning both for knowledg and discipline and could furnish other nations with choyse masters in all sciences yett considerable motiues drew S. THOMAS out of his natiue contry into France and inducd him to chuse Paris for his schoole of Philosophy V. CHAPTER S. Thomas his Study of Philosophy THat Antiquity plac'd the Temples of theyr goddess of learning and wisdome in forts and Castles seated vpon a higher ground and at a cōpetent distance from the common habitation of theyr Townes and cittyes did not onely signify that wisdome and knowledg is the chiefe protection and safeguard of men and a thing highly eleuate a boue the vulgar reach but also that the proper seat of learned Exercises is to be at a conuenient distance from the throng and tumult of the world this being no less an enemy to speculatiue and studious mindes then smoak and dust to the eye and a confusd and iarring noyse to a delicate and harmonious eare This considerd the most populous Citty of Europe and the greatest court might seem very impropper for the improuement of S. THOMAS in his studyes especially for his particular hauing more occasion of distraction then any other by reason of his neer relation and allyance with the greatest Princes of that Court namely Reginald Count of Dammartin and Boulogne great vncle to our Saint and Matilde Countesse of Clermont daughter of the foresayd Reginald marry'd to Philipp onely brother to Lewis the 8. and vncle to S Lewis who raignd at that present time These circumstances might well haue putt a youthfull Spiritt vpon other thoughts then serious and paynfull studys and forcd him euen against his will to spend the greatest part of his time in receiuing and paying courtly visitts But the generous resolution of the Saint and the great light which he receiu'd from heauen to make a true estimate of things gaue him strength and vigour to prosecute his course without diuersion And such were those happy times that he found rather helpe then preiudice in court where the king a Saint taught the world this truth that the disorder of courts is not the fault of the place but men and that vertue is euer at hand where it finds admittance Neyther did the court and Army the two propper spheres of this great Prince and Soldier of Christ onely partake of his holy influences he was as great a Patron of learning as Armes and as piety and discipline is the chiefe support and aduancement of both his powerfull example and industry and the concourse of so many great persons renownd for learning and Sanctity inuited thither by the fame of that happy raigne gaue such life and vigour to the vniuersity of Paris that it neuer flourishd more then in those holy times The famous Colledg of Sorbone so esteemd euen till this day that it is a speciall mark of honour to be a member therof was then first founded and owes the glory of so prosperous a continuance to that happy beginning which made them heyres not onely of the name and patrimony butt also of the eminent learning of theyr worthy Founder Robert de Sorbona The persons also who then eyther taught or study'd in that vniuersity are a sufficient testimony of the flourishing state of these times which bred them whome the Schooles euer since haue reuerencd and admird as chiefe Masters and mirrours of humane and diuine sciences and observe continually theyr method and forme of teaching as the ready and onely way to attaine solid and perfect knowledg That S. THOMAS made the best vse of these aduantages appears euidently by the effect and that publick testimony of his singular ability and learning when hauing finishd that course of studyes he proceeded Master of Arts which honour in those impartiall times was not to be bought with fauour nor vpon any other account then desert Neyther did he satisfy himselfe with that specious ornament of his youth as commonly persons of his ranke and quality are wont to doe and then apply the rest of theyr life to the designments of ambition and pleasure As after his returne into England he changd not his mind with the place but still continu'd like a faythfull louer his constant affection to wisdome whose amiable beauty had so possesst his hart that it wip'd away all other impressions And that he might enioy his happynes without disturbance he retyrd from court and the restles noyse of the world to his knowne repose and first nursery of his
who besydes other great parts wher with Nature had endowd him was so farr fauourd by grace as to be eminent in sanctity of life in attestation wheroff after death his sepulcher was gracd with many Miracles the blind lame and dumb finding there a present cure Now what wonder if one Saint giue another an honorable reception this is no more then to giue vertue its due and from whome may that be more justly expected then from Saints The legality of Appeales to Rome in Church affayres when a decision cannot be had in an inferiour court is ratifyd by the custome and practise of all nations and ages to her all fly as to a common and disinteressd Mother who holds the weights of the Sanctuary and without byass and partiality diuides a distributiue justice according to equity This is no more then to appeale from an inferiour court to a superiour which the course of justice deemes lawfull nor indeed in our present controuersy which was betwixt a Bishop and his Primate could any other court giue a finall verdict To it therfore our Saint appeald and in prosecution of it made his long journey and as he was allwayes happy in this that he undertook nothing but vpon mature aduise and circumspection grounded on the sound judgment of wise Councellors so he seldome or neuer miscarry'd in any cause but all being well digested the very laying it open prou'd its decision Yett a legall course of law was to be obseru'd and things by degrees brought to an issue and his was such as he desyrd that is an enioyment of the rights he was inuested in by the decrees of former Popes without suffering any infringment therin by his Metropolitane who had not power to explicate Papall Constitutions as our Saint objected to him in the fore mentiond Councell of Redding and vpon his owne explication to lay a clayme Where all proceeds according to rigour of justice fauour pretends no place nor did it heer further then to obtaine a quick dispatch and remouall of those delayes which render law-suites both costly and tedious This was all the fauour that was or could be shewd him and he took it for no meane one longing as he did after a speedy returne his hart being at home where was also the chiefest of his concerns while the rest of his body was at Rome He did t is true by an interiour vnion of mind enioy God euery where hauing long habituated himselfe in the same but yett his content was in Recollection he lou'd not the Ceremonious visitts of courts nor the loss of time that 's made in them they being toylsomly fruitles and fruitlesly toylsome while he was Lord Chancellor he felt the smart of that and the surfeyt causd then made him less able to disgest them all his life after Yett to omitt them would haue bin deemd a solecisme against ciuility and argu'd at the best a stoicall sanctity therfore who can blame a seruant of God if he indeauour to withdraw himselfe out of the concourse of such courtshipps He that touches pitch shall be defild by it XVII CHAPTER Of his Returne homewards and death on the Way HAuing thus obtaynd a fauorable dispatch and taken leaue of that great court he putt himselfe with ioy vpon the way as to himselfe though he left it in a kind of regrett for his departure and the priuation of the sweet odour of his sanctity causd therby What is admird as present is regretted as absent nor doe we ordinarily know the worth of things better then by theyr priuation It cannot be prudently doubted but that according to his settled practise of piety during the space of his abode there he left many monuments both of his Wisdome and Sanctity most richly worth recounting had they come to our knowledg But synce they doe not we must rather content our selues with a patient silence then discourse vpon less groundles conjectures contenting our selues that all is registerd in the book of life or Annalls of heauen to be publishd at the day of judgment Nor can I doubt but according to the vsuall strayne of sanctity which has for its motto „ ama nesciri loue Concealment he playd the silent Eagle not the talkatiue parrot and that the course of his vertuous actions the more profound they were the more silent like deep riuers and with less noyse did they imperceptibly flow and therfore no wonder if they escapd the record Hauing putt himselfe on his journey as soon as the heats would permitt all his endeauours now after Alm. God were to render it as speedy as he could much reioycing in the success of his negotiation and longing earnestly to make the concernd neighbouring Churches at home as well as his owne partake of the same Thus doe the Wisest many times project according to humane reasons and motiues while reckning as I may say without theyr host they propose and God disposes Little did he dreame that his journey was destin'd to a better home and himselfe design'd not for new labours but a fruition of the past the euening being at hand when the Master of the Vineyard was to call his Workman to receyue his hyre and inuite him into the ioyes of our Lord a thing if not sought for yett alwayes wellcome as being the much better home He was resignd for life and death putting both in the hands of God and hauing learnd to possess his soule in patience he was not sollicitous to dye soon or liue long but to liue and dye well which latter can be done but once and giues the vpshott to all He was now in the Clymactericall yeare of his age 63. and his crazy body was worne out with former labours and not onely what he now did but what he had done these diuers yeares was more by the vigour of his spiritt then Corporall strength This is a thing propper to holy soules who measuring theyr ability as indeed they ought rather by the former then the latter make this against its will keep pace with that as hath bin obseru'd in S. Basil S. Gregory and others and eyther by Communicating a new force or reiecting the sleeules excuses of self loue or by a speciall blessing of God they doe wonders in this kind This vigorous resolution had now brought him as farr as the state of Florence and in it to a place knowne by the name of Monte Fiascone but its stock or viaticum being spent could carry him no further Heer his debility destitute of vitalls for a reinforcement causd a distemper that was hightned to a feauer this in its accesses as a certaine fore runner of death by its symptomes told him that the dayes and wayes of his pilgrimage would shortly be ended and so they were in not very many houres Compass all its periods concluding in one poynt to witt Alm. God in whose sight the death of Saints is pretious Now we must look on him a while as deaths victime and learne of