Fuga sæculi. Or The holy hatred of the world Conteyning the liues of 17. holy confessours of Christ, selected out of sundry authors. Written in Italian by the R. Fa. Iohn-Peter Maffæus of the Society of Iesus. And translated into English by H.H.

S. Fulgentius leaues Carthage, and goes to Alexandria, where he met with Eulalius Bishop: and returnes back againe by Rome. Chap. 4.

NOt farre from the Citty of Loda, began S. Fulgentius and Felix to found them a new Monestery: Where while they attended to their accustomed offices of piety, S. Fulgentius lighted on a booke of the Liues and spirituall Conferences o•…•… the Monks, and Hermits of Egipt. Through this reading and meditation, he became so en∣flamed to the greater study of al perfect vertue, as without more ado he resolued to go his wayes secretly into those parts, as wel to lay off the name, and charge of Abbot; as also to ty•…•… himselfe to a more ri∣gorous and streight Rule. Which mutation of place, was in those dayes tolerated, in certaine Religious, as then not hauing made any expresse vow of any particular congregation.

So as S. Fulgentius, vnder the pretext of dispatch of some affayres in Carthage, being arriued to the wals of that Citty, with only one companion, by name Redemptus, insteed of entring into the Towne tooke shipping for Alexandria, without other viatique with him, thē a firme confidence in God, through whose disposition being cary∣ed by the winds to Siracusa of Sicily, he there met with the holy Bi∣shop Eulalius, a person of great sanctity, and much affected to Reli∣gious persons, as hauing moreouer a proper Monastery of his owne where he would recollect himselfe sometymes from his other Ec∣clesiasticall occupations. S. Fulgentius with other Pilgrims being courteously receiued by this good Prelate, while at table they dis∣coursed

of spirit and learning, it could not be, but the 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 dent Bishop, must needs be aw•…•…re of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doctrine and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 After dynner then calling him aside, he sayd to him: Th•…•…u 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mention at table of certayne Institutes, and Collations of the Fa∣thers, I pray thee now, bring me the Booke if thou hast it: which S. Fulgentius did without delay, and withall at the earnest instan•…•… of the Bishop, declared the whole argument therof, in a few and very apt words.

The Bishop admiting the yong mans wit and erudition, and so∣lacing himselfe, with hauing such a Ghest in his howse, began fa∣miliarly to request of him an accompt of his trauayle. And S. Fulgen∣tius, to couer with humility his designe, said he went to seeke his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, whome he vnderstood to liue in the parts o•…•… Egipt; & he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but truth in saying so, since he held all thē for his parents, that might further him in spirit. The Bishop perceyued the answere was ambi∣guous, & easily gathered by discourse from the other cōpanion, who was a man of much simplicity, what passed in effect: When the blessed Fulgentius, now finding hims•…•… besides expectation to be be discouered, confessed of himselfe, how the matter stood with him; to wit, that he had left his home, with the mynd to enter in∣to the inmost solitude of Thebais, to be able there, being altoge•…•…∣ther vnknowne, and dead to the world, to lead his life more per∣fectly, with hauing euery day new examples of vertue and pe•…•…∣nance from so great a number of the s•…•…ruants of God. Thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 well answer•…•… •…•…ulalius, to desire continually a greater perfection but know on the other side, it is impossible for any to pl•…•… God▪ without the •…•…iue •…•…ayth. The land wherto thou •…•…endest, is separated now long since from the Sea Apostolique. Al those Monkes, who•…•… rigour and abstinence is growne •…•…o renowned, will be ware of com∣unicating with thee. And then what shall it auayle thee, with fa∣stings to afflict the flesh, while the soule shall want its nourish∣ment? Wherefore returne my Son▪ whence thou camest, least whi•…•… thou desirest a more holy conuersation, thou sufferest shipwrack•…•… of a sound Religion. I likewise, for my part in my youth, before vnworthy as I am I was assumpted to this degree, haue had the se•…•… same thought, which now thou hast, but the respect which I no•…•… told thee of, did quit me of it.

The blessed Fulgentius, yielded to the counsayles of the holy Bi∣shop: yet neuerthelesse, for the more perspicuity in that point, •…•…d∣ged

it expedient, to seeke also thereupon the iudgment of the Bishop R•…•…nianus; who being fled out of Affricke for the persecution of the Vandals, as hath been sayd, hid himselfe vnder amonasticall life, in a certayne litle I land neer vnto Sicily. From whome hauing like∣wise receiued the same answere without seeking any further, he de∣termined by all meanes to returne backe agayne; yet so as he fayled not by the way, to repayre, of meere deuotion, to the Citty of Rome. Where after he had liumbly visited those holy places; it chanced besides, beyond expectation, that he was present there, at a spectacle of the greatest pompe & magnificence of that Court; there ariuing at the same tyme. Theodoricke King of the Gathes, where in a place called the Golden Palme, •…•…e made a speach to the whole Nobility, distinguished according to the degrees, and the honour of ech one: and where like wise were heard the acclamations and applauses▪ which the people vniuersally gaue.

Through which sight notwithstanding S. Fulgentius being no∣thing caught with those transitory things, but lifting rather vp the mind and affect to the celestiall glory, sayd to his Friends: How •…•…e 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 you, must the heauenly Hierusalem needs be, since Rome so glitters heere beneath? And if heere in this world, so great a pompe and splendour be affoarded to the friends of vanity; what glory •…•…ow you, and triumph, is due in the other to such as con∣template the truth? And after he had spoken many things to this purpose, with the profit and consolation of the hearers; taking his iourney againe, with diligence, he passed into Sardinia, and from thence into Affrick▪ where he was receiued with extreme ioy, not only of the Monks, but euen of thelay men also, & strangers there; among which, a wealthy gentleman, noting with how much pe∣till and incommodity, the seruants of God there inhabited in those confines; being moued of piety, offered them a good and secure sci∣•…•…uation in the Prouince of Bizacco. Which proffer Fulgentius accep∣ting, with great thanks, heere founded a new howse, with a notable increase of Monks, and extraordinary helpe of soules in those coun∣tryes.