together an infinite number of people from all parts of Christendome as Greeks French Almans Spaniards English and of other nations by all which the blessed S. Antony was heard to preach at once ech one in their proper language as in the Citty of Hierusalem heeretofore the Apostles were heard on the solemne day of Pentecost that supernaturall effect being renewed with the astonishment of as many as heard the same In Arimini the Citty being full of Heretikes S. Antony endeuoured cheifly and not without much trauayle to reduce the Heresiarcke Bonuillus or as some would haue it Bonellus to a better mind who for thirty yeares continuallly had persecuted the Church of Christ and after his amendment notwithstanding many others yet remayning most peruerse in their obstinacy and shutting their ears vnto the truth after that S. Antony with many prayers in vayne had inuited them to a Sermon there being a great number of them as then forth of the wals where the riuer called Marechia discharges it selfe into the Sea with great cōfidence in our Lord he begins to call the Fishes vnto the word of God since men of reason redeemed with his precious bloud would by no meanes seeme to harken to him And incredible thing had it not been euident he had scarce giuen forth the commaund when an innumerable multitude of fishes of sundry formes and bignes were seene to appeare on the waters of the Sea and riuer which euen of their owne accord came in by sholes and with heads erected accommodating themselues to listen to him in so much as the lesser put themselues neer to the bancks side and then the greater and bigger in order with so goodly and fayre a dispose as a more pleasing sight could not be seen To these squadrons so well ordered the blessed S. Antony lifting vp his voyce began to vnfold vnto them the benefits vouchsafed them from the Creatour the guift of swiftnes and colours and of their beauty in particuler the medicine subministred from them by Toby the tribute and food of our Lord himselfe the mistery of the Resurrection represented in the Prophet Ionas For which reasons with many others besides did S. Antony exhort them to yeild God thanks To which aduise of his those Marine troups since they could not by words with sundry motions at least did signify their obedience stooping with the head sporting with iubily and shewing a will to honour the messenger of Christ. Nor would they depart from the place vntil they were licēced thence through his holy benediction And so in the meane tyme the concourse of spectatours being now continually growne greater the man of God taking then occasion vpbrayded those obstinate and peruerse men of their malice and impiety since in acknowledging the high Creatour admitting so his holy law they would so manifestly suffer themselues to be vanquished by beasts whereupon the Heretikes at last remayned confounded and the Catholikes continually more confirmed in the holy doctrine and veneration of the Sea Apostolike Other miracles which S. Antony wrought in the sight of Heretikes to the conuersion of many and confusion of others Chap. 13. MOst famous was that which happened in the exequyes of a certaine publike Vsurer now buryed allready at which exequyes it belonging to the blessed S. Antony to make the sermon he tooke for text that saying of our Sauiour Vbi est the saurus tuus ibi est cor tuum To which purpose with accustomed liberty he inueighed against the disordinate loue of gold and siluer and weighed the inestimable domages which grow from thence finally to let them see with their eyes themselues the truth of that sentence turning himselfe to the neerest parents of the dead Go your wayes sayd he by and by to the chest of the miserable wretch and there within shall you find his very hart it selfe which they did without contradiction and to the great terrour of them and of the whole land in the midst of his monyes they found the said hart as yet not wholy cold We shall now ad another of no terrour awhit but of meere consolation S. Anthony being Custos at Limoges after he had passed through France still preaching heere and there chaunced to discourse with the inhabitants of Burges But the presse was so great of such as came to heare him as that the Canons of the Church putting themselues in procession with the whole Auditory went forth of the gates of the towne into the open fields where while the man of God puts himselfe to discourse in an eminent place behold there gathered togeather very blacke clouds in the ayre which threatned a terrible ◅pest for feare wherof the people flying from thence beginning to shift for themselue S. Antony sayd with a loud voyce Bee of good cheere my maysters stirre not a foot there shall not a drop of water light vpon any of you The people obeyed and behold suddenly a mighty storme of hayle and rayne to fall from heauen which enuironing the Auditory as a wall did not wet the breadth of a palme in the whole circuit but left the people dry vntouched Whence followed many prayses vnto God and extraordinary credit and reuerence to S. Antony And now to speake something likewise of meruails succeeding in his disputations with Heretikes It is reported for certayne how the diuine man being at Arimini on a tyme or as others would haue it in the Citty of Tholouse a malapert minister of Sathan of the Sect of Berengarius being not able to maintayne himselfe in a controuersy of the most holy Sacrament agaynst the reasons alleadged by S. Anthony sayd finally vnto him Thou confoundest me with words as more learned then I but not because they haue more foundation of truth But let vs come to some more cleere experiences in effect Whence I may be certifyed indeed that God is really present in the consecrated host and I promise and sweare vnto you when it shall succeed that I will confesse to be vanquished and belieue this article in the manner as you teach it S. Anthony accepts the condition nor doubts awhit to put the quality of the tryall to his owne choice Let vs do it then in this manner replyed the Heretike This day will I beginne to keep my Mule without meate after three dayes againe shall I bring him forth so hungry into the market place togeather with a pecke of oats for the purpose And at the same tyme thou likewise come thither with thy azime or host and if the beast in presence of the one and other shall forbeare to eate the oats and turne to bow vnto thy bread I am content also to adore the same without more adoe In the name of God sayd S. Antony let the matter be published through the Citty The third day being come both parties repayre to the market-place with such a thronge of people as euery one may iudge Heere S. Anthony sacrificeth vpon an Altar set vp
Church very happily dyed There was moreouer a Woman so afflicted with the spirit of anger and fury as not only her kinsfolkes and neighbours seemed to shun her conuersation but euen her owne children could hardly endure to inhabite with her Wheresoeuer she was there was nothing but scolding rancour and a hideous storme bold fyery audacious gibing light of fingers vntollerable and fastidious to euery one By reason whereof her afflicted Children not finding other way of redresse from so continuall and bitter grieuances resolued to bring her as dexterously they did into the presence of S. Malachy where breaking forth into teares and laments they humbly demaund succour of the seruant of God He taking compassion as well on the danger of the Mother as on the Childrens infelicity tooke her a little asyde and dernaunds of her with great affect and gracious semblance Whether she had euer been confessed in her dayes and she answering No. Do you now then confisse sayd he to her Which the furious woman did through diuine instinct and he hauing enioyned her a conuenient pennance prayed a while ouer her commaunded her on the behalfe of Christ our Lord that from thence forth she should be angry no more A thing incredible there suddenly grew such a meeknes and so great a patience in her that euery one might know there could be nothing therein but meerly a change from Heauen Which was so great a comfort to her children as cannot be expressed She is yet lyuing and is sayd to be of so fayre a condition of so deep a Tranquility as where before she was wont to exasperate and offend euery one she is now not troubled a whit withall the losses iniuries or tribulations that can befall her Now let euery one esteeme of things as he please If with the Apostle it may be lawfull for me to abound in my sense I dare say that greater was the exploit of this amendement then was the recalling of the Gentlewoman spoken aboue from death to life because in the former was the exteriour Man raysed in the later only the interiour But let vs go forward A secular man of good quality came to condole with S. Malachy for the sterility of his soule beseeching him to obteyne for him at the hands of God some plenty of teares With that the holy Man of God with a cheerfull countenance approaching to him in signe as it were of friendship layd his cheeke to his and added withall That grace be giuen thee From that tyme forward had the lay man so great aboundance of water in his eyes as that sentence of the Scripture seemed to be verifyed in him A Fountayne from the gardens A spring of liuing waters This aboundance of teares the Man had to his dying day which made his sould white and pure from the staynes of Mortall sinne And being so washed and cleansed from those spots of Capitall sinnes his innocent Soule ascended on high to him Qui in altis habitat there to giue him laudes and prayses and continually to sing the celestiall Song of Alleluia S. Malachy through his prayers multiplyed Fishes With other Miracles of that kind Chap. 21. SAINT Malachy in trauayling as we haue sayd to preach the word of God did many Miracles whereof this is one The holy Bishop endeauouring withall power to spread the Ghospell of Christ Iesus throughout all the Kingdome of Ireland fell by chance on a certayne Iland in former tymes very famous for fishing 〈…〉 and for the 〈…〉 of the people reduced in so great a sterility as the poore 〈…〉 were brought into very hard strayts for want thereof and ready to be famished It was reuealed through the diuine Clemency to a certain woman that the intercessioÌ„ of S. Malachy were the only remedy to help them to their former aboundance of fishes This was the reason that the people 〈◊〉 about him as soone as he was landed being a great deale more anxious and sollicitous for fish then for preaching or doctrine for they were neuer froÌ„ his sides coÌ„iuning him that laying aside for the present all other care whatsoeuer he would vouchsafe to cast his eyes vpon their foresayd necessity But the true seruant of Christ answered them that he was come thither not to catch fishes but soules yet they not withstanding went still recommending themselues with so much more feruour as at last it seemed good to S. Malachy not to see light by the notable fayth which they shewed Kneeling then downe on the same shore he besought our Lord to affoard the grace to these men though altogether vn worthy thereof His praier no sooner came to the diuine throne then a good quantity of fishes somwhat greater then vsuall asceÌ„ded to the top of the water and euen to this day doth the plenty continue What wonder is it then that the prayer of the Iust which penetrates heauen should likewise diue into the Abysses and call from thence such like and so many squadrons of waterish creatures On a tyme S. Malachy with three other Bishops arriued at the towne of 〈◊〉 where they all lodged at the house of a certayne Priest who finding himselfe but ill prouided for such Ghests as they sayd to S. Malachy How shall I do trow you that haue no manner of fish at all Seeke for some answered he of the Fishermen O replyed the Priest It is now two yeares since that there could none be found in the riuer in so much as these poore men through despaire haue been faigne to abandon the trade Then S. Malachy replyed Do you cause in the name of God the nets to be cast Which was accordingly performed and at the first draught there came vp some twelue Salmons at once as many at the second so as all the company had meate inough to feed on and to celebrate the Eternall Benignity And to the end that â—his thing without all controuersy might be attributed to the Meâ—its of S. Malachy after the feast was consumated the former steriâ—ity did returne and so continued for two yeares From these pleasant aduentures and as it were of sport let vs passe to a graue example of the diuine Seuerity yet euer mixed with his wonted Mercy There was in Lesmor a Clerk of good example for the rest but of Fayth not so orthodoxe This man taking much complacence in his knowledge and for the sharpnes of wit which he tooke himselfe to haue durst impiously affirme that in the Eucharist howbeit the Sacrament were there or Sanctification to say rather yet was there not therefore the Thing of the Sacrament as Deuines vse to say that is the reall Body and Bloud of Christ our Lord. Vpon which so abominable errour of his being often secretly admonished by S. Malachy but euer in vaine at last he was cited to appeare before a certaine CongregatioÌ„ of Ecclesiasticall persons without the accesse of any secular person that with the least shame that were possible he might come to acknowledge
one to attend vpon him This miserable wretch turning himselfe to S. Malachy with a lamentable voyce and full of teares sayd Ay me Father you go now your wayes and know in how great and how many afflictions you leaue me and yet can you help it if you please and though I for my sinnes haue and do deserue all euill yet alas what fault haue these poore Brothers done to whome for my sake is not permitted an houre of rest with this plaint the hart of the Blessed Bishop was as it were now spilt asunder When he deerly imbracing the sick man made the signe of the Crosse on his breast saying Rest secure yet and be confident that you shall not fall into the like fit agayne till my returne That malady the poore man had susteyned for six yeares togeather But now at the only speach of S. Malachy he was recouered in such sort as he neuer fell more thereinto being in a moment deliuered from so grieuous bitter a payne and the assistants themselues from a long and yrksome a custody After which as S. Malachy was taking ship came two of his most inward friends to him for to craue a notable boone at his hands and he demanding what their request was we will not tell you sayd they till you promise vs first to comfort vs he promised so to do then they replyed We will sayd they that you faithfully promise vs another thing which is to make your returne to Ireland agayne very safe and sound the very same did all the others beseech him Whereupon the seruant of Christ retiring a litle as he was wont within himselfe and being sorry first for hauing so engaged his word not knowing how to discharge himselfe being â—…ing on the one syde to come out of debt and sory on the other 〈◊〉 leaue Clareuallis But after the same at last resolued with himselfe to comply with that which pressed him most that is not to fayle in his promise remitting the rest to the diuine pleasure Then though with an euill will he answered yea and his disciples being comforted not a litle heerwith he caused them to hoyse vp sayle But in the midst of the Sea he was driuen backe agayne vpon the cost of Ireland by a sudden contrary wind Where he landed and passed the night in a Church of his acknowledging and thanking the diuine goodnes for that without the preiudice of any he had by that meanes acquit him from all wherein he was bound to his Monkes And in the morning being afresh embarqued he landed very happily on the same day in the Kingdome of Scotland after two dayes more arriued at Verdestagnus where leauing certayne subiects for a Cistercian Abbay which he had founded there he pursued his iourney and being honorably receiued by King Dauid in the confines there staying in that place for some dayes not without a great deale of fruite he passed into England In Gisburne in England S. Malachy cures a woman of a Canker And after arriues at Clareuallis where he fals mortally sick Chap. 26. SAINT Malachy at his entrance into the kingdome of England lodged in the Canonry of Gisburne where he contracted a very streight friendship with those Priests there of singular fame Moreouer in that place a woman was presented to him very much deformed and eaten with a horrible Canker He blessed a little water therewith sprinkled the soares so efficaciously as the paines therof sudenly ceasing the next day they could hardly be seene Departing from thence he went to the Sea side where he met withan vnlookt for impediment caused through certayne differeÌ„ces risen at that tyme betweene the Apostolique Sea and the King of England about iurisdiction which were then growne so hoat as he through aboundaÌ„t iealousy permitted no Prelate to go forth of the Iland and for the same respect was the Bishop Malachy likewise reteyned for some tyme. Who on the one syde though he were sory to be delayed in that sort from his businesses yet was he not aware on the other syde that this very delay seemed to fauour his vowes designes Because if he had presently gon into Fraunce he had been feigne leauing Clareuallis and passing the Alps with diligence to haue measured the greater part of Italy the Pope Eugenius being already gone forth of France approached to Rome Where as now by this delay through a sea-passage his iourney by diuine prouidence came to be disposed in that manner as he arriued at Clareuallis euen at the point himselfe desired Where being receiued by vs as an Angell descended from Paradise what a light seemed to shine vpon this our habitation and what a solemne Feast was it for vs al and I my selfe now trembling and weake as I was being reuiued with the newes ran full of exultation and iubiley to his holy kisses and imbraces and he reciprocally shewed himselfe to vs as he was wont very pleasant and affable and wonderfully gratefull to euery one Now by this tyme were some foure or fiue dayes of our common gladnes passed ouer when behold on the Feast of the glorious S. Luke the Euangelist after he had with extraordinary deuotion celebrated Masse in publique he was taken with a feuer Wherupon falling downe on his bed he fell sick and all our ioy was turned â—…o sadnes though somewhat moderated the while in that the feuer as yet was not very violent nor rigid So as recouering hope you might haue seene what running there was vp and downe in the howse some to prouide medicins some to apply someÌ„tations some to bring him meate some to exhort and intreate him to eate euery one striuing to serue such a Ghest and accompting themselues most happy that could haue most accesse to that holy blessed man WheÌ„ S. Malachy beholding theÌ„ with a benigne countenance All these paynes would he say are too much for you to take but yet for your sakes I refuse them not and willingly do what you coÌ„maund me He knew right well his latest hower approched and to his companions who would seeme to comfort him with saying there appeared in him no mortall signe It is conuenient would he answere by all meanes that Malachy this yeare depart this life The day approches now which I as you very well know haue alwayes wished to be the last of my short dayes I know well in whome I trust and now that I haue part of my intent I am certaine and secure in like sort that my desire shal be graunted in the rest He that brought me through his clemency to this place I desired so much will not deny me the tyme nor terme and for as much as concernes this weary body of myne I will heere repose it for the soule he shall prouide for it who giues saluation to such as put their trust in him Nor haue I any small confidence in the same dya wherin by the lyuing is purchased so great a help to the dead And now
preach the Ghospell his Nephew Sebert who ruled the Easterne part of England at that tyme was likewise baptized by the same Seruant of Christ in signe of his true piety built a Church in honour of S. Paul within the walls of his principall Citty by name London gaue good rents to Mellitus for that purpose newly created Bishop Then after without the walls to the West-ward he built and richly endowed another with a sumptuous Monastery in honour of the Prince of the Apostles Now being to make the Dedication of the Temple the night before the same Apostle S. Peter appeared to a Fisherman of the Riuer of Thames which passeth along that Monastery vpon the banks therof on the other side in the habit of a Pilgrime who promising the Fisherman a good reward made him to waft him ouer and passing out of the barke in sight of the Fisherman went directly into the Church and behold on a sudden a splendour so bright and glorious as banishing all darknes made of an obscure night a goodly day There was then present with the Apostle a multitude of the Blessed who by turns went in and out and melody was heard from Heauen while odours of vnspeakeable sweetnes were spread vp and downe The Consecration being finished the Great Fisher of Men returned agayne to the Fisher of Fish and finding him amazed astonished at that vnquoth diuine light entring agayne into his boate with him sayd to him Hast thou not something to eate and he replying The hire you promised so contented me at first and then those heauenly rayes did so quite bereaue mee of my senses as I had no thought at all of taking any fish Go to then sayd S. Peter cast thy net into the water And so he did without resistance when in a moment he tooke a huge multitude of fishes and all of one sort saue one of an vnmeasurable Greatnes which being drawne to the shore the Apostle sayd Thou shalt make a present to the Bishop Mellitus of this heere which exceeds so much the other in worth bignes The rest do thou keep to thy selfe for thy hyre know that as long as thou liuest thou shalt also haue store of them likewise thy Successours for a long time after so that you all take heed not to fish vpon Sundayes I am Peter that speakes so vnto thee and who in company of other Citizens of Heauen haue dedicated this Church as Titular to me and with this ceremony haue been pleased to supply the Episcopall rite therein Do thou tell then Melli◅ what thou hast seen and heard and for his more security heereof do thou shew him the signes which are left in the walls Whence he shall not need to reiterate the same any more but there only to celebrate a Solemne Masse and preaching to the people giue them plainly to vnderstand that I shall often visit that place and there be fauourable to the vowes and praiers of the faithfull to open them the gates of Heauen and to euery one heere beneath who shall lead a sober pious and iust life At the end of these words the Saint was seene no more When the morning being come and the Bishop now in going in procession to dedicate the Church the Fisherman went to meete him with that great fish and declared to him faythfully what was recommended to him Mellitus stood wonderfully in suspence heerat and opening the Church finds the flore to be all markt with the Greek and Latin Alphabet and the walls in twelue seuerall places to be anoynted with holy oyle and as many ends of wax tapers set vpon twelue Crosses and all these things as fresh as they seemed to haue been but now finished At which sight the good Bishop with all the multitude beginnes to blesse and thanke the diuine Goodnes without end Nor fayled the prophecy of its effect likewise in the promise made to the Fisherman forasmuch as he and all his posterity had euer after a lucky fishing in signe of gratitude for it they were volūtarily wont to giue the Monastery the tithes therof till at last one of them who would needs craftily haue subtracted the wonted tribute came to be depriued of the benefit vntill such tyme as being humbly confessed and penitent for it he had made restitution thereof and promised not to fall any more into that fault S. Edward sends to Pope Nicolas to confirme the Grants of his Predessour which was accorded He cures a Cripple and the Kings euill with diuers other Cures besides SAint Edward hauing had certayne notice of such a tradition by diuers wayes without more ado was enflamed to the restauration and reedification of the ancient Thorney and for the obteining to that end the confirmation of the priuiledges and spirituall graces already affoarded by the Sea Apostolique he sent againe certaine men of purpose to Rome with an Epistle to the new Pope in this tenour To Nicolas chiefe Father of the vniuersall Church I Edward throgh the grace of God King of the English do present all due subiection and obedience Let vs glorify God who hath care of his elect and who in place of a good Predecessour hath substituted in his place a very excellēt Successor Wherupon we do thinke it meete to come to your Holynes as to a solid rocke to refine and examine ech action of ours how good soeuer it may otherwise seeme to be that betweene vs in our Lord may still be receyued a due acknowledgement and sweet accord togeather by meanes whereof it may not be grieuous vnto you to renew and amplify at our instance the graunts and fauours which your sayd Predeceslour heertofore hath affoarded vnto vs especially in dispensing with the vow by me formerly made of my comming to Rome being changed not without the full remission of my sinnes into the building of a Monastery of Religious vnto the honour of God and the blessed Peter his Apostle as I also for my part will notfayle to confirme augment the good customes of annuall contributions which are made to the sayd S. Peter in these my Prouinces of which Collections with other appendices I do send your Holines a present to vouchsafe to pray for me and for the peace and tranquillity of my Kingdome and to ordayne that continuall and solemne memory be had of all this Nation before the Aultar where the sacred Bodyes of the two most glorious Princes of the Earth be kept The Pope very easily assented to his suites so iust he confirmed the dispensation ratifyed the priuiledges exempted those Monks from the iurisdiction of the Ordinary and recommended to the King not only the protection of the said place but euen likewise the defence and good direction of the Churches of the Iland So that all things were done in name of the Roman Bishop with the assēbly and counsayle of the Abbots Bishops In this manner an end was put to the busynes of the Pilgrimage the