contrariewise the humillity vertue of Placidus fauored by the praier of S. Benedict was the cause that he safe aliue came out of a riuer wherinto he fell was in iminiment daÌ„ger of drowning His good successe was very profitable beneficiall for all Christians to whoÌ„ his good example was a light direction in the way of vertue God did shew them many fauors by his praiers merites His life was written by Iordano a houshold dweller with the same saint and at the commaundent of the Emperor Iustinian Laurence Surius rehearseth it in this maner THE Gothes hauing conquered made them selues Lords of Italy Theoderik the secoÌ„d being their kinge Iohn sitting in the chaire of S. Peter and Iustinian being Emperour in Constantinople there came to Rome an honorable man of the order of Senators called Tertullius surpassing all others in posessions and allied to the Emperour in bloud Moreouer he was a iust man and vertuous which made euery one to loue him and manie call him father of the countrie He had a wife of an equall degree vnto him and by her three sonnes and one daughter The eldest sonne was called Placidus the second Eutichius the third Victorinus the name of his Daughter was Flauia they were all holy people for so good a tree did bring forth good fruite From their child hoode their father and mother instructed them to serue God to loue patience humility temperance and charity And though Tertullius was continually emploied in the affaires of the Emperour yet omitted he not to spend much time in visiting Churches and monasteries seeking in what he might the good of his soule and the seruice of God At that time the most blessed father S. Benedict liued in Sublak shining with sanctitie and miraculous deedes Much people resorted vnto him from all parts with a desire to saue their soules to be of his holie religious order so he builded 12. monasteries placed in euerie one of them people of a pure holy and vertuous life who should instruct in the seruice of God those that came newlie to his order yet some of those nouices he kept with himself to be their teacher All these things related in the presence of Tertulius the Senator in Rome moued him to go and visite the saint being nobly accompanied as his state required appareled with scarlet gold and precious stones Assone as he sawe the holy maÌ„ he fell downe with greate reuernce and humility at his feete and with sobbes and teares requested him to pray vnto God for remission of his sinnes S. Benedict beholding the great humillity of this noble Senator raised him vp and conferred long with him about things apperteining to the good of his soule the obtaining of eternall life aduising him to regard thes aboue all thigs At this Tertulius tooke great consolation and left his sonne Placidus being vij yeares old with s Benedict which happened in the yere of our Lord 522. he recomeÌ„ded the charge of the child vnto him and besought him to bring him vp and teache him in his rule so crauing the blessing of the holy man he returned to Rome Placidus staied with his Mr S. Benedicte profitted so in the way of vertue and gaue so good hope what he would be therafter that the holy Patriarch shewed him especiall fauor very carefully instructed him how to a void be freed from tentations and howe to vse them to his profitt Placidus loued abstinence kept his vigills fastings and austeritie and with great care was attent to all things belonging to the seruice of God were it day night or any time whatsoeuer And all though he endeuored to adorne his soule with many vertues yet was he so compleat in obedience that the father S. Benedict wondered therat considering how to shewe himself obedient he did those things that were vnseemely for one of his birth of his linage As he was obedient so he was humble for these two vertues goe alweis together without humlity obedience is rather forced then voluntarie On a day there wanted water in the cell and Placidus went to dippe a paile in the riuer the vessell fell out of his hand into the water as he dipped it and as he would haue reached it he fell in allso and was in daunger to be drowned but in the instant that he fell in God reuealed it to S. Benedict who said to his disciple Maurus that was neere him Sonne Maurus runne speedily for the â—â—hld Placidus is fallen into the water he gaue him iointly his benediction S. Maurus ran apace and behoulding a far of the child ready to sink not thinking whither it was land or water but transported with charity and obedience ran vpon the water and tooke him fast by the heare of his head came out with the same speed he went in Being come to the bank he was astonied to see he had walked vpon the water as if it had bene vpon dry land neuer sinking nor being as much as wette Hauing returned he told hather Benedict the case and the blessed Patriarch said I cannot attribute it to my merit but to thy prompt obedience And Maurus he said that it be fell so for that he had commaunded him that for his part he had no interest in this miracle as done with out foresight delay or reflection Of this same holy and humble contention Placidus was the iudge and said when I came out of the water I sawe ouer my head the habite of the Abbot wich you father do nowe were and so you be the man that hath deliuered me from this great dauÌ„ger and this was a signe of the great vertue and merite of Placidus since he merited to see that which Maurus could not Of the aforesaid 12. monasteries built by S. Benedict in Sublake some were set on the toppe of the hill and therefore the monks were much troubled to fetch water for their necessary vses for they were forced to goâ— farre for the same They requested S. Benedict to remoue theÌ„ to some other place auoid this trouble He coÌ„forted theÌ„ saieng thaâ— yâ— they would returne to their monasteries God would prouide no doubt water for them On the next night the blessed father accompanied with Placidus only went vp to the hill and remained there all night in praier and laid three stones one vpon another and returned to his Cell The day ensuing the monks came to him for water the holy Abbot said vnto theÌ„ Goe to the toppe of the mounteine and digge where ye find three stones lieng one vpon another for God is able to furnish yee in that place with water to ease you of your trauell They did so and went to the toppe of the hill and found as he said In that place they digged making a piâ—t or well deepe and wide like a litle bath which was filled with water and rose in such quantity that it was not only sufficient
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
God S. Gregorie obeying forthwith went on his iourney with his familiers and friends that were in his companie As they trauailed they neere benighted were vnto a Temple of Apollo not farre distant from the cittie into the which S. Gregorie and his friends entring he made the signe of the Crosse in the ayre and forthwith flew away a huge companie of diuells which inhabited there and gaue oracles answeres vnto such persons as came to make sacrifice vnto them S. Gregorie spent the greatest part of the night in praiers and singing Himnes and Psalmes so that the place that was before the habitation of diuells became now the house of God In the morning S. Gregorie departing to go on his iourney the ministers of the Idolls who had the charge of the Temple entred therein to and making their acustomed salutations and sacrifices vnto the Idoll in stead of answere there was heard yellings and howlings out of the Temple and the diuells said that they could not enter againe into that house because Gregorie had bene within it Notwithstanding the ministers made sacrifice vnto them and vsed certaine ceremonies to induce them to returne into the Temple but they bad thoÌ„ not to wearie themselfs nor to loose their time for they could not returne into that place by any meanes The ministers were also informed that it was Gregorie and where they should find him Hauing learned this they determined to follow him and found him and his companie as they walked toward the cittie The ministers of the Idolls began to threaten him that they woâ—ld complaine to the maiestrates of the cittie for that he being a Christian had entered into a Temple of their Gods and driuen them from their habitation so making their Oracles to cease S. Gregorie with great mildnes and modesty said Be not offended hereat for I serue such a Lord as I can in his name cast out diuells from any place and make them to returne whither I please They maruailing hereat said vnto him Then make them returne into the Temple where they were before S. Gregorie rent a leafe out of a paper book he had and wrote thereon these wordes Gregorie to Satanas ENTER This note he gaue vnto the minister who laid it vpon the Altar and offred sacrifice and the diuells gaue answeres as beforetime The minister pondered vpon this and considered that when Gregorie commaunded their Gods they obeyed him and that he did it by his seruice vnto one God Hereupon he resolued that this God was very potent and mighty since his seruants could do such great things After this resolution made he departed from the Temple to seek out Gregorie who by Gods prouidence had done these things expecting the fruite to come thereof and found him He told him what had happened and besought him instantly to instruct him what his God was so great and potent for he would serue him and forsake these other Gods so weak and feeble S. Gregorie preached vnto him IESVS CRHâ—T and hauing giuen him notice of the principall misteries of our faith said we do not prooue these things by reasons because they surmount reason and naturall vnderstanding but we confirme them by miracles The minister of the Idolls said do a miracle in my sight that I may beleeue what you haue said and Baptise me What miracle would you haue me do said S. Gregerie The minister beholding a huge great stone like a mountaine said vnto him make this huge stone to raise it self from this place and to go into another S Gregorie doubted not to do it and as if the stone had bene a reasonable creature he commaunded it to go vnto the place the minister had apointed His words being ended the effect followed The minister remained so satisfied herewith that he his wife and children seruants and friends vnto whom he related the matter performed by the saint were all Baptised S. Gregorie came into the cittie and lodged in the house of a great man called Musonius To this house resorted many vnto whom the holy saint preached with such feruour that in a short space there were thousands of Christians in that cittie In this discourses he gaue content and delight to all To the discomforted he vsed such wordes that they took consolation He perswaded the yong men to chastity the old men vnto patience He exhorted seruants to be obedient to their masters aduised masters to be mild and courteous to their seruants He said rich men ought to be stewards and not masters of their goodes To women children and all other that came to heare him he spake that which was conuenient and fitting for their estates reaping daily proffit by his preaching There was in that citty many Temples of the Idolls whereupon the holie saint thought fitt that there should be one at least built to the honour of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST wherein he might be adored and serued The charge hereof he gaue vnto the chiefest of them that were Baptised and himself in person laid the first stone in the foundation Eusebius Caesariensis saith li 7. c. 25. that this holie saint by his praiers made a hill to remooue from one place vnto another because it hindered the building of the Church Gregorie of Nissen doth not saie thus much but he saith that in his time there was a great earthquake in that cittie which threw downe the greater part thereof but that the Church founded by Gregorie Thaumaâ—urgus stood firme stirred not Great were the miracles that God wrought by the meanes of this blessed saint by his preaching the Gospell many people were daily conuerted vnto the faith Among many other wonders this of the two brethren is notable They two deuiding the many posessions and land left vnto them by their father fell at variance about a water which controuersie was caused by a great lake in which much fishe was taken and each of them desired to haue that water for their part This matter came to that height that they had assembled many people and intended to end their quarrelly by the sword The holie saint came betweene them as vmprie but seing no meanes to bring them to atonemeÌ„t they being euen ready to come to handy strokes hard by the lake and it was feared much blood would he shed This glorious saint fell vnto praier and continewed therein so long till the water in the lake was dried vp and the ground thereof was equall with the banckes so that there remained no signe either of water or lake When the morning came the two enraged brethren seing now no cause wondering at this great miracle that God had done by the meanes and prayer of his seruant Gregorie After this miracle ensued another The people dwelling by the bancks of the riuer Lyous which descendeth from the mountaines of Armenia and sometimes encreaseth so much that it ouerfloweth and spoileth the fieldes and villages of the country neere adiacent hauing knowledg giuen them of S. Gregorie
endured great and extream thirst for that they were to bring their water from a place distant farre from them This blessed and holy saint strook the earth in a place where our sauiour in the figure of a lamb appeared vnto him and there sprang vp a plentifull fountein of water pure and cleare with the which all the distressed Christians were recreated and conforted The life of this holy Pope was written by Damasus Simeon Metaphrastes and other graue Authors in this maner SAINT Clement was the sonne of Faustinus and borne in Rome in the region called Caeli-montana Where at this present is the Church of S. Iohn La eran This holy saint did helpe the Apostle S Paul in his preaching as he writeth thus philip 4. that thou help the persons that trauell with me in the Ghospell with Clement and my other coadiutors whose names are written in the book of life Yet S. Dorotheus Bishop of Tyrus saith that Clement of whom S. Paul speaketh was Bishop of Caria and was disciple vnto the same S. Paul and that he was one of the first that receiued the faith by his preaching among the Greeks The most common receaued opinion is that this Clement of whom we now treat was the Pope and went with S. Paul for a time neuerthelesse he was after the disciple of S. Peter S. Clement was not only a man of very holy life but also verie learned wrot many things which haue bene lost by antiquity of time There are extant yet his fiue epistles the first of which is most elegant being al repleat with learning and a true Apostolicall spirite which some of the Popes his successors do alleage in many places He wrot likewise the CanoÌ„s of the Apostles the eight books called Apostolique Constitutions which ordeine that in the seuen regions of Rome should be seuen Notaries to write the deeds and martirdome of the Christians He commaunded also that vnto them that were Baptised should be giuen the Sacrament of Confirmation assoone as they had learned the principles of the Christian faith He also ordeined that the Bishops Chaire should stand in a publique and eminent place This holy saint preached thee word of God with such feruour and so great courage that manie Gentills pagans were conuerted vnto the faith and many that were already conuerted not content with the obseruation of the precepts of the Ghospell did keep also and obserue the counsells thereof As a holy damosell did called Domitilla who was niece vnto the Emperour Domitian as daughter to one of his sisters and to Flauius Clemens the Consull which holy virgin was by this Pope consecrated and veyled for a Nunne He also conuerted vnto the faith Theodora the wife of Sisinius a man great and potent in Rome This man desirous to see what the Christians did in their oratories where they vsed to pray and whither his wife vsed to go went thither one time very secretly but by the permission of God he was strook blind This blindnes of his body was an occasion vnto him that he recouered the sight of his soule for the prayer of S. Clement caused the recouery of his corporall sight his holy words and admonitions were the cause that he was Baptised and recouered there with the sight of his soule Sisinius being Baptised many noble men of Rome moued by his example receued the faith So that for this and manie other miracles the holy Pope did he was much malliced by the ministers of the Idolls and other lewd people whom the diuill vsed as instruments and meanes to disturbe the increase of Christianity and to dispatch out of the way Clement who did him much scath and harme These moued a mutiney and vproare against him though there were some that took his part and defence Some accused him at the iudgment seat of Mamorâ—inus gouernour of the city and others defended him saieng that Clement did not any euill or hurt to any person but did rather good vnto them in curing the sick reliuing the necessity of the poore that he quieted controuersies and made atonement betwene many men They that accused him said he brought in a strange relligion and persuaded men to adore for God a man that had bene crucified and did what he could to annihilate the adoration of the auncient Gods that he caused many maides that they maried not to them vnto whom they were espoused making the title of relligion an excuse and collour for the same The Gouernor of the city hearing all this caused Clement to be brought before him vnto whom he said I vnderstand that thou art borne of an honorable family in this city and that thou art of the Roiall bloud therefore thou art more obliged not to transgresse the customes and lawes of thy forefathers Tell me I praie thee what strange relligion is this thou preachest and what is that crucified man whom thou wouldest haue adored for God to the notable despite and disgrace of the knowâ—n Gods adored by out elders S. Clement made this aunswer Most prudent Iudge I desire thee not to be ouer-ruled by the speechs of the vulgar people who are ignorant and malicious but to giue eare vnto me and if of that wherof I am accused I do not with iust reasons defend my self then condemne me without any fauour Mamertinus said I will present thy cause before th'emperour Traiane where thou maiest if thou canst excuse thy self and iustify thy cause for I will neither condemne thee nor absolue thee When the Gouernouâ— sawe time conuenient he made relation of the mutiney raised against S. Clement and what was the cause also vnto th'emperour to the end he might sett downe what should be done therin the person accused desiring to make proofe of his Inocency in showing that the faults imposed vpon him had no sufficient ground Traian decreed that Clement should sacrifice vnto the Gods or els be banished into Chersona Mamertinus hauing this direction laboured all that he could to bring Clement to sacrifice vnto the Idolls and he on the other part endeuored to drawe him to be a Christian to let him knowe that the banishment which he was to suffer for professing CHRIST should be vnto him pleasaunt and acceptable It pleased God to giue such efficacy and grace vnto the words of the holy saint that Mamertinus yelded and shedding many teares for compassion of Clement and his vexations said vnto him The God whom thou adorest help thee in this tribulation which thou art to suffer for his loue Then he prouided him a bark and of things necessary for the voyage and sent him into exile There went many voluntarily in the company of the blessed Pope who being arriued and come in saffly vnto the Island found there more then 2000 Christians who by the sentence of th'emperour had bene condemned to digge stones out of the quarries These holy confessors of CHRIST among their other mollestations had one which vexed them much in that
Victorinus and Flauia with Faustus and Firmatus deacons and 30. monks was bound in chaines and presented to Mamucha who with a sterne look asked Placidus who he was he aunswered a Christian. The Captain replied deny CHRIST thy God blaspheme him and adore God in that maner our mighty kinge Abdala adoreth and I will sett thee at liberty Placidus said I will neuer deny IESVS CHRIST my Lord I rather desire to die for him The tirant was wroth and said to Eutichius and the other 30. monks What say all the rest of yow Obey our king Abdalla deny your CHRIST and adore oure God The holy meÌ„ with one consent as if they had had but one toung aunswered Our will and our desire is all one our faith is one our maner of life is one that which one hath said think thaâ— euery one hath said For CHRISTS sake we are prepared to loose our liues The tirant was verie wroth at their aunswer made theÌ„ all be stripped and cruelly beaten saieng let words giue place to deedes and your presumptuous aunswers to the cudgell The holy martirs reioiced that they were worthy to suffer beatings and torments for CHRIST his sake The tirant on the one side and the executioners on the other side moued them to deny CHRIST but the holy men perseuered in confessing him whom they requsted to giue them strength to susteine the tormeÌ„ts which hourely encreased at the hands of the bloody butchers But finding the constancy of the martirs they were tired to torment them and so was the tirant to see them tormented and left them bound comaunding them to be kept Now because the sea was rough which hindered their nauigation toward Italy where they had a mind to do all the hurt they could they put it first in practise in that Is'land ouerrunning all sauing such strong cities as defended themselfs with robbing adulteriâ—s spoiling of Churches and ruinating them to the verie ground Placidus with his brethren and the other monks remayned certein daies in prison hauing no vitailes giuen them yet the barbarians ceased not to tormeÌ„t theÌ„ with scourging and bastonadoes and when they sawe these things could nowaies make theÌ„ alter their minds by the apointmeÌ„t of the Captaine they tied theÌ„ aloft by the feete making a smoke vnder their heads and beating them again very cruelly When they were taken from this torment the tirant commanded to giue them a litle rawe barley and water to keepe them in life that they might be able to endure their tormentes He made them fayre promisses in the behalfe of his king Abdala if they would once deny their faith but these holy men contemned his promisses and also his torments That night came to them secretly Cordianus who escaped out of the monastery and craued pardon of Placidus and desired to be tormented but Placidus commaunded him to take care to note that which he and others that were with him did suffer that he might certify in particuler the blessed father S. Benedict and the monks of his relligion of all that did happen So he did writing euery particular accident in the martirdome of these blessed saints which endured many daâ—es the tiraÌ„t Mamucha dragging them vnto his sight and tormenting them from the head to the foote with blowes and with renting and scorching they re flesh with fire the blessed damosell Flauia susteined a good part therof she being naked and hoised vp a loft before many people the tirant asked her how being a Romaine of noble parentage she could endure such a shamefull reproach She aunswered That she not only was ready to suffer to be depriued of her cloths and her honour for CHRIST sake but also of her life by sword or fier or any other torment that he could imagine The hellish man seing torments preuailed not sbught to ouer come her by another way And so he caused fiue lusty shameles villanes of the Moores to come and abuse her The good damosell had excessiue griefe to heare this and turned to God allmightie with teares beseech him to help her he heard her praier and made such as came neere and touched her with their lothsome hands to become lame and maimed wherby they let her alone in quyet and shee was freed from that reproache Great was the cruelty these ministers of the deuill exercised in all the Is'land in afflicting the Christians they bound them hand and foote and put in their mouths staues to hold them open and then cast in durt and filth into some and into others salt water of the sea and vineger wherewith they did choake them They caused others to walk barefooted vpon piks of iron seâ— in the grod they dragged others by the leggs vntill they were torne and rent asonder they burned the skinnes of others with plates of iron made red hotte others they rosted others they sawed and cut in pieces of others they bored the brest bones and vntill they came euen to their bowels they dragged others at theire horse tailes and spared not the infants but dashed out their braines against the walles They vsed as litle mercy toward the feeble women some of them they hanged by the heare others by one foote and tied a great stone at the other They rubbed the shoulders and brests of others with plates of iron made red hoate and great was the number of them that died euery day The tyrant Mamucha was not slowe to torment Placidus and his companyons They were brought euery day before him and he persuaded them first to deny CHRIST seeing that to be all in vaine he ageine would cause them to be whipped and because he sawe Placidus praysed God and was confortable in the midst of his torment he made the executioners to stryke his mouth with a greaâ— stone which filled all his mouth full of bloud yet ceased he not to payse allmightie God wherat the tyrant raging more made them cut out his toung which being cut out yet he praised God more more giuing him thanks for that he suffered for his sake The tyrant found out a new torment for them he put vpon theyr thighes glowing hoate the crooked heads of IroÌ„ anchors fastened like boots hanging on their feete In which torment they contyneued a wholl night and Placidus songe himnes and his companions praysed God When the day came and they still remained constant in the confession of their faith he gaue sentence of death against them in this maner For that Placidus Eutichius Victorinus with Flaâ—ia the damosell and Faustus and Firmatus with the other Christians dispise the commandement of our mighty king Abdalla and adore CHRIST for God who was crucified of the Iewes and hated of the God whom we adore our will is that they be beheaded and their bodyes left vnburied to be foode for the beasts of the field and birds of the ayre The ministers of the enraged Mamucha hearing the sentence led the holy saints away scourginge them till
same being the 21 of October oure holy mother the church doth celebrate the Martirdome of S. Vrsula and and the 11000 virgins her companions Beda Adon in Martâ—ol Molan in Addit ad Maâ—â—â— Vsuar in whose historie some things are certaine other some doubtful This is certaine that S. Vrsula and all her holy compainons were Virgins martyrs and were 11000 in number For although neither he Romaine Martyrologe nor the Collecte vsed in their feast doe affirm that they were 11000 yet because venerable Bede and Adon in their Martyrologies and Molanus in the additions he made vnto the Martyrologe of Vsuardus and other authors together with the tradition of the church do auerre it we haue sufficient authoritie to beleaue it But that which is vntertaine and doubtful is the maner of theire martirdome the voyage which these virgins made to Rome with soe great a traine and theire returne from thence with Pope Sâ—ricius when he left his Popedome and other such things which some write without either ground authoritie or any probabilitie contradicting the trueth of Ecclesiasticall Histories and reason it selfe Wherefore leauing out that which commonly is reported of the maner of their meeting and the end for which these 11000 were gathered together and that they all died for the faith of Christ our Lord therby purchased vnto them selues the crounes of virgins and martirs I will relate heere what Cardinalle Baronius and William Lindanus Bishope of Rurimund men of rare learning Baron in An not Maâ—tirol 21. Octo. br tom 4 Annal an 383. Lindan apud Baron haue iudged most probable and secure taking it out of a very ancient booke of the Vatican librarie of Rome which treateth of Brittanie whose author is Gaufridus Bishop of Assaffe in the kingdom of England and is after this maner GRACIAN sonne vnto Valentinian the elder being Emperour a certaine captaine of his called Maximus a very stout and valiant man naturall of the Is'land of Britanie which now is called England rebelled against him and was proclaimed Emperour and by the fauour of the soldiers and of other Englishmen his friends and acquaintance entered into France and possessed himselfe of it all but especially of one prouince which then was called Armorica is that which now we call litle Britanie because the Brittons and Englishmen did conquerre and raze it and with great rage and furie putting to sword all the naturalls thereof left it vninhabited as a wildernes Maximus thought it necessarie to people that prouince againe because it lay fit for him therin to conserue and transport his English soldiers and for that purpose he deuided the fertill fields and lands of the lesser Britanie amongst his soldiers which came to him out of England to the end they might till and husband and mannure them reape the fruit therof But because his soldiers might marry and haue succession and settle them selues in that prouince where there were noe woemen for that they were also putt to the sword he determined to send vnto the Ilands of Britanie which comprehend England Scotland and Ireland for a great number of virgins which being brought vnto the newe lesser Britanie might marrie with those soldiers whoe were for the greatest part naturals of their owne countrie The chiefe commander of all that army was called Conanus a man of great birth and of greatest estimation of all the English nation whom Maximus had made his lieuetenant generalle Warden of all the ports of that coaste Conanus desired to marrie with the daughter of Deonocius kinge of Cornwall called Vrsula a most noble and vertuous lady in whom did shine all the gifts of chastitie beautie grace which might be desired in a woman Throughout all the prouinces of Britanie there were culled forth 11000 virgins as well for the intent aboue mentioned as also that they might accompaine Vrsula who was to be their leader and lady Some of these virgins went of their owne accord and others by constraint but seing the coÌ„maund of Maximus then Emperoure or rather tirant was soe peremptorie that no excuse could be admitted they imbarked them selues in those ships which were prepared for their passage vnto the new prouince of Brittanie It pleased our Lord that these ships lanchinge out of the hauen meâ—t with a quite contrary winde which in stead of carrying that blessed and holy companie towards Brittanie it furiously carried them quite contrarie and passing by the Ilands of Zealand and Holland droue them into the mouth of the riuer Rhene a riuer of greate capacitie depth and bredth and carried them soe highe as the water did ebb and flowe At that time which this hapned Gratian the Emperour vnderstanding what Maximus had done in England and France and that he carried himselfe as Lord and Emperour not as his Captaine and creature for to represse and chastize him he entertained into his seruice the Picts Hunnes a fearce cruell and barbarous people who had conquered the Gothes and done wonderous thinges by their force of armes These beinge gathered together vnder the commande of Melga Captaine of the Picts and Gaunus generall of the Huns began to molest the seas and to lye coastinge about after the manner of pirats robbinge and spoilinge all that fell into their hands with intent to passe ouer into England to expulse Maximus the tirant and to serue Gratian th'emperour who for that purpose had entertained them These barbarous people were at that present where these blessed virgins arriued perceauinge that the ships which brought the virgins belonged to their enemies and to Maximus in particular against whome they had vndertaken that voiage they encountred with them seing that they were loaden with virgins beinge as dishonest and lasciuious as they were cruell and furious they entended to rauish them But those holy virgins Vrsula their leader incouraginge and exhorting them determined rather to loose their liues then their chastetie and heere vpon as well in deedes as in wordes shewinge their valour and coÌ„stancy that they were prepared rather to suffer what torments soeuer then to offend God those barbarous people conuerting their loue into fury and detestation of the Christian faith fell vpon them like wolnes vpon a flocke of lambes and put them all to the sword because they would remaine there no longer but passe ouer speedely into EnglaÌ„d which they thought had been vninhabited because Maximus had drawne so many soldiers from thence Of all that holy and virginall companie onely one called Cordula remained aliue who through feare hid herselfe at the time of that slaughter but seeinge what had passed and that all the rest of her companions were martirized being encouraged by the motion of our Lord A don in suo Mart. 21. Oct. who had chosen them all for himselfe the next day followinge discouered herselfe and was also martirized as the Roman martirologe recounteth The principall of these virgins which there shed
sent messengers requesting him to vouchsaffe to come giue remedie hereunto for they were not able by mans wit or any strength to restraine it The holie prelate went thither and veiwed well the place and considering withall that it would be inconuenient for them to remooue their dwellings hauing their houses ready built and their ground about them He took his staffe which he vsually carried in his hand and planted it a prettie distance from the Riueâ— on that side from whence the ouerflowing came and where the plaine fields were and many houses of the inhabitants This holie saint hauing planted his staffe went vnto praier and not long after the staffe waxed greene grew and became a verie great tree Then S. Gregorie said this shal be the boundes of this floud and the water shall not passe this marke This blessed man returned into the cittie and it was after seene by experience that when the riuer rose to the hghiest assoone as the waters came vnto that tree they returned back and ran downe the channell againe not ouerflowing as they had done before-time By these and such like workes that S. Gregorie did both in the cittie and in the countrie abroad the number of the faithfull encreased continually all sortes of people making great account of him being aduised and directed by his counsell in all their important and waightie affaires The citisens of a cittie thereby sent vnto S. Gregorie beseeching him to come and apoint ouer them a prelate S. Gregorie comming thither and examining some of those that stood for that dignitie was neither satisfied nor liked not at all of them The people with one voyce said as it were in scorne If Gregorie like none of these let him take Alexander the collier S. Gregorie hearing these wordes demanded what that Alexander was and apointed them to bring him to his lodging This Alexander was a man of middle age meanlie apparrelled his handes and face being black with coales Those that brought him laughed and so did they that were with S. Gregorie and the collier himself laughed seing them to laugh at him being well pleased to be contemned and scoffed at by them S. Gregorie beheld him not as others did but thought that vnder that contemptible shewe lay hid things of greater valew He called him aside and charged him deeplie to tell him sincerely who he was The collier opened trulie his whole life vnto him to witt that he was a philosopher and that to auoid the vaine-glorie of the world he had taken this course of life and had made himself a collier not for necessitie to get his liuing but for the desire he had to liue chast for liuing thus saith he I haue no mind of any dishonestie nor any woman will tempt me vnto lewdnes seing me so black and vnlouelie moreouer this good collier said that the greater part of the gaines of his coales he gaue vnto the poore fullfilling the counsell of the Gospell S. Gregorie caused him to be stripped out of his clothes his hands and face to be washed and then to be apparelled with the like garments as he wore himself Then assembling the people together he told them he had now found out and made choise of such a Bishop as was fitt for place They with great attention expecting the person elected by so wise and holie a man behold Alexander the collier came out apparailed after the same manner that S. Gregorie was and accompanied by the same familiers and friends Those that were present knew not whether they should laugh or take it in euill part that such a one should be giuen them for their Bishop S. Gregorie made aspeech vnto them aduertising them what a man Alexander was whom he comaunded to preach in their hearing The new Bishop obeyed and preached in such sort that they all remayned no lesse astonied then satisfied Thus they being all pleased to haue him for their prelate Gregorie consecrated him Bishop of that cittie and he discharged his office with great comendation After this the holie man returning vnto his cittie was met by two Iewes in the high way who knowing him accorded together to deceaue him The one of them lay flat on the ground faining himself to be dead and the other wailed and made great lamentation The holie saint coming by demanded of him the cause of his sorrow The Iew answered O seruant of God vouchsaffe to help comfort me look with pittie vpon the miserie of this my compagnion who is fallen dead on a sodaine and I haue not any thing to wrap him in before he be buried The good man being mooued to coÌ„passion put of one of his garments as we may saie his rochett and laying it on the counterfaite dead man went on his â—ourney leauing the Iewes alone The man that had vsed this deceit toward the holie saint and had told him that his fellow was dead came merrilie to his companion and said Come fellow rise vp now we haue gotten a good prise see we haue gained this good garment and deceiued this man whom the Christians hold to be so wise But the Iew which lay on the ground answered not nor sturred any whit at all The other spoke louder and said O how cuninglie thou canst counter faite but I praie thee rise now for heere is not any bodie neere vs. Yet for all this the Iew laie still and stirred not For assoone as the garment of S. Gregorie laie vpon him and touched him he was depriued of his life And so the iest and scoffe returned and light vpon himself in good earnest In those times there was raised a most grieuous persecution against the Christians and the Edicts of the Emperours of Rome were proclaimed wherein they comaunded that the Christians should either sacrifise vnto the Idolls or else that they should be put vnto most cruell death These proclamations came vnto Neocesaria and S. Gregorie being certified thereof admonished publiklie and aduised the Catholiques to giue place vnto this furie by departing from the cittie vntill this tempestuous storme were passed ouer And himself also by diuine inspiration as afterward appeared went with one of his disciples who had bene minister of the Idolls and was conuerted and made deacon by him vnto a mountaine and there lay close certaine daies Other Christians dispersed themselues into diuers partes It was a lamentable thing and would haue mooued a stony hart vnto compassion to see the crueltie that was vsed in Neocesaria and the persecution by the pagans who continuallie prepared chaines gallowses swordes sauage beastes and an infinite number of other tortures and all to torment the Christians You should haue seene the fathers to persecute their sonnes and the sonnes to persecute their owne fathers The brother procured the death of the brother and one friend sought the death of another friend Some did this vnder shew of relligion others for mallice and most to make themselues rich with the goods of Christians For these causes
After their deaths the gouernor Almachius entended to get the goods of the two brethren into his hands but vnderstanding that Cecilie had distributed them vnto the poore he caused her to be brought before him She confessed vnto him the truth namelie that all the goods of the two noble gentlemen Tiburtius and Valerian were giuen vnto the poore The gouernour therefore seeking a quarrell and desiring to be reuenged on her said in a great rage I think we shall haue a Christian of you also but I will haue you to sacrifice vnto the Gods in my sight that I maie be witnes whether you deserue the same punishment that those brethren deserued and had The officers of the gouernour vrged her to sacrifice to whom she said Harken to me brethren You be the officers of the gouernour and you think it meet that I should obey his comandement but I on the other side think it verie vniust in him to comaund me to sacrifice vnto those Gods which be not such indeed and to leaue of to sacrifice vnto the true God that is IESVS CHRIST Be assured that I will suffer and endure and the torments that can be inflicted vpon me and at the end rather lose my life then do his cōmaundement The officers made shew of pittie compassion toward her seing a damosell so yong so discreet so faire and gratious readie to abandon and leaue all these yea life and all for her faith and religion They said vnto her Consider thy youth and beautie haue compassion on thy self and change not all other thy good parts in these tender yeares for vntimelie death The holie virgin said vnto them To change earth for gold is not to loose but to gaine Or to giue a cottage half-ruinated for a house built with perles and pretious stones or a life repleat with troubles and miseries which shall quiklie end for a life replenished with riches and treasure that shall endure for euer These and the like speaches vsed S. Cecilie and her words were of such force and wrought so that many that were present resolued to be Christians and were afterward Baptised by S. Vrban The gouernor was astonied to heare the holie virgin speak and viewing her angelike beautie asked what her name was for till that time he knew no other name but only that she was the wife of Valerian She told him that her name was Cecilie and then the gouernour replyed knowest thou not that the Emperours of Rome haue comaunded that the Christians either do sacrifice vnto the Gods or else that they be put to death I know it right well said the holie saint What wilt thou then do said the gouernour I determine to die said she For it is farre better to dye for confessing IESVS CHRIST then to liue denying him Consider said the gouernour that it wil be best for thee to leaue and forsake this thy oppinion and to sacrifice vnto our Gods S. Cecilie said It were better for thee to open thine eyes and to consider that those whom thou callest Gods be but stocks and stones If thou wilt not beleeue me touch them with thy hands or throwe them into the fire and there will come lime from the stones which maie serue to build with so shall there be no deceit in them as there is nowe Then said the gouernour How should I suffer thee to speak such words in my presence knowest thou not that I haue power to giue thee life or to take it awaie at my pleasure S. Cecilie answered thou thinkest my words void of reason and I know thy words to be false and no truth in them Almachius said doest thou saie Cecilie that I speak not truth The holie virgin said I saie it and auouch it in that thou saiest thou hast authoritie to giue and take awaie my life Thou maiest take life from the liuing but to giue life vnto the dead it is most cleere and certaine thou canst not So that I maie well call thee the minister of death I wil be such an officer vnto thee said Almachius if thou wilt not sacrifice So when he sawe she was constant and resolute and would not sacrifice he caused her to be put into certaine bathes which were in her owne house and hauing shut her in one of them being empty without water they made a great fire vnder which burned a whole daie and a night The holie saint receaued not any hurt thereby but it seemed to her a place rather of pleasure and refreshing then other wise when Almachius heard thereof he comaunded one to cut of her head in that place The hangman gaue her three blowes yet did he not cut of her head altogether but left it euen as it was hanging by the skinne The blessed virgin being thus wounded liued three daies many Christians coming to visite her Among these were some that had receaued the faith by her meanes whom she seing sorowfull comforted They dried vp the bloud that ran from her wound with napkins and other clothes with intent to keep them as reliques S. Vrban went also to visite her and she told him that she had desired of God to liue three daies that she might dispose of her goods and request him to consecrate that house of hers into a Church When the three daies were ended this holie virgin and glorious martyr being in prayer yeelded her blessed soule vnto God on the 22 of Nouember Her bodie was buried by pope Vrban in the Chruchyard of Callistus and her house was consecrated into a Church In processe of time pope Paschalis translated the bodies of SS Cecilie Tiburtius Valerian and pope Vrban into the Church of S. Cecilie The Catholique Church celebrateth the feast of this holie saint on the daie of her martyrdome At the end of the life of SS Tiburtius and Valerian on the 14. of Aprill is rehersed the saying of Canisius to wit that these saints were martyred in the time of Alexander Seuerus in the yeare of our Lord 225. the same he saith of S. Cecilie also and because mention is made there of pope Vrban the account cometh to be iust at that time But the Romane Breuiarie of Pius 5. putteth her martyrdome about 50. yeeres before in the times of the Emperours Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Commodus Her name is in the Canon of the masse The life of S. Clement Pope and Martir GREAT was the fame and credit which Moises the guide Exod. 27. and captein of the Hebrewes acquired and got when the said people being in the desert and at the point to dy for thirst he by the apointement of God strook a rock out of which issued water in abundance sufficient for them all to drink and to be refreshed and comforted No lesse glorious and worthy of fame was S. Clement the holie Pope and martir who did the like He liued in a desert banished thither with many other Christians for the profession of the name of IESVS CHRIST and they all
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
in clothes and laid in a manger O thou blessed Angell these signes that thou giuest are more like to make one misse God theÌ„ to find him How is God an infant God wrapped in clothes God in a manger Haue regard what thou saiest thou glorious Angell for all these things denote and shew basenes contrarie to the state and maiestie of God The Angell replyed beleeue me it is as I haue said God without being changed hath made a wonderfull mutation He being eternall is now a little infant newlie borne He whom the earth cannot containe and for whom the heauens are too little is now in a poore small chamber wrapped in course clothes God who hath his seat aboue the Cherubins at this present is laid to rest in a manger of beasts O great misterie O strange wonder All yee that be full of curiositie and loue to heare things the like were neuer heard and to see strange maruailes the like were neuer seene see and consider this marualie Go to the stall of Bethleem with the sheapheards to see God a little infant newlie borne to see the Virgin Mother that hath brought forth a child and that in so strange admirable a place Let me aduise and counsell you that you goe not thither with emptie hands since the poore sheapheards brought presents vnto him Let vs carry that which is most agreeable for our profit He was found in a base place let vs bring vnto him humillitie He lamented let vs come vnto him shedding teares for that we haue offended him Let vs beseech him to vse vs fauourablie and to shew his mercy toward vs since he was borne for that end and purpose And in especiall let vs beseech him that among all others he will do vs this fauour that is to giue vs that grace that we may be worthie to enioy his glorie Amen Nicephorus Callistus saith that the Emperour Iustinian commaunded that the feast of the natiuitie of our Lord should be celebrated Before the time of this Emperour this festiuall day was celebrated in some particuler Churches But he hauing as we may assuredlie thinke conferred the matter with the Pope the Bishop of Rome ordained it to be celebrated vniuersallie through all Christendome on the 25. of December and on the same manner as it is kept at this present accompanying the same with other festiuall dayes as of S. Stephen S. Iohn and of the holie Innocents The aboue-named Iustinian gouerned the Empire in the yeare of our Lord. 565. The natiuitie of our Sauiour CHRIST was in the yeare of the world 3962. by the most common receaued opinion The life of S. Anastasia Martyr KING Dauid talking with God in the person of the martyrs saith We be passed by fire and water and thou hast brought vs into a place of refreshing This maie be well applyed to the glorious martyr S. Anastasia who after a long imprisonment suffred martyrdomes the one of water the other of fire and being deliuered from the one by meanes of the other her blessed soule obtained the place of refreshing which she enioyeth at this present in heauen The life of his holie saint was described in the manner that ensueth by venerable Bede and Ado Archbishop of Treuers SAINT Anastasia was borne in Rome and was maried vnto Publius a noble man of great account but yet a pagan He hauing knowledge that his wife gaue much almose vnto the Christians which were in prison iudged that she was a Christian also And fearing to loose his goods though he had the greater part thereof in mariage with her he determined to accuse her the persecution of Dioclesian and Maximian being at that season very sharp and rigorous And least any other should accuse her and so gâ—t his goodes he determined to do it first him self This cruell man shut her vp in a chamber where he kept her many daies giuing her meaâ— by stint and measure and entending to famish her he did euerie daie dâ—minish it Whilest the holie saint remained thus in prison she wrote certaine letters to a holie martyr called Crisâ—gonus who was likewise in prison and returned her answeres whereat she receiued great consolation Shortlie after Anastasia was freed of her imprisonment but she fell into other troubles for she was taken by a gouernour who kept her two months in prison where shee was relieued by a good and vertuous woman called Theodora who was martyred also afterward The two months being expired the gouernour put her in a Bark together with 270. Christians men and women that they might be cast into the sea The officers performed the decree of the gouernour yet the water pardoned and did not drowne them but cast them on the shore in saftie in the Iles called Palmaria To that place came the gouernour of Illiria or Sâ—lauonia with his souldiers who had in charge also to put the Christians to death He put them againe in prison and tormented them after diuers manners S. Anastasia was bound to foure postes somewhat high from the ground and when they had racked her by the hands and feet in most cruell sort they kindled a fire vnder her which by litle and litle depriued her of her mortall life whereby she obtained life euerlasting Among these holie Martyrs there was one called Eâ—titianus a man verie rich plaine and void of mallice From this man they took all his goods of which he seemed to make no regard and if any thing had bene spoken to him thereof he would answere thus Take from me what you will yea all that I haue to lose you shall take my head before you take CHRIST from me The bodie of S. Anastasia half consumed was buried by a matrone called Appolonia after she had dressed it with costlie oyntments And when she had many times embraced and kissed it she wrapped it in most pure white linnen and buried it in a garden she had where shortlie after she caused a Church to be builded after the name of the saint This glorious martyr is one of the saints named in the Canon of the masse which is no small priuiledge Her martyrdome was about the yeare of our Lord 300. Dioclesian and Maximian being Emperours on the 25 of December And because on that daie the natiuitie of CHRIST is celebrated the commemoration of this saint is only made in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Masse of the three which on that daie are 〈◊〉 Some write that Pope Telesphorus ordeined that three Masses should be said on that daie And some Authors saie that the first Masse signifieth the Gentiles who were in a manner blind in their Idollatrie and therfore it is said at midnight The second is said at break of day when the light is seene although but a litle and this signifieth the Hebrewes who had some light from God which was but litle for they had all things in figures and shadowes The third Masse which is said at the cleare daie signifieth the Christians who haue the cleare light of