to be made a Catechumen. Within two yeares after, he de∣sired likewise to retire himselfe into the desert: & he had done it in effect, if his tender age had not been an impediment to him. To wch disturbance of his holy designes, was further added a new leuy, which then was made of military men, with expresse order, that all the sonnes of old Souldiers, should be put into the roule, and conducted to the war. Whereupon S. Martin, being now some fif∣teene yeares old, being discouered by his owne Father, was against his will, enforced to repayre to the Ensignes of Constantius the Em∣perour. He would haue no other in his company, then a slaue only, whome yet he would be seruing rather, then be serued by him, to wit, in often pulling off his shoes, and brushing his clothes, & fur∣nishing the table with what was needfull.
With this disposition of mind, being come to the field, some three yeares before his baptisme, he allwayes preserued himselfe wonderous pure, and vntouched of those vices and debauchements, •…•…n which Souldiours are for the most part wont to be inuolued. First for his person, he would seeme to content himselfe with fare so moderate and simple, as from that tyme he seemed to be rather a Monke, then a Souldiour: besids he would seeme to content him∣selfe with those kind of meates, which others vtterly refused to eate off: moreouer he would shew himself very benigne and courteous, to his Camerades, and to all others, bearing with their defects, and supplying the necessity of euery one, with extraordinary charity, patience, and humility. He would comfort the afflicted with loue and dexterity, and be very helpfull to the sicke: and without thin∣king of the morrow, he would feed most liberally the hungry, but with particular tendernes cloth the naked; in which worke of piety, was a certayne act of his very memorable, which we shall tell you in the next Chapter.