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. Edward beholds, in vision, the King of Denmarke drowned, in comming to inuade England. With diuine iustice shewed vpon Earle Godwyn, for his periury. Chap. 7.

The hatred of the inhabitants of Denmarke (as we haue said) against the English continued still. And so much the more increased their rage, as more happy, and glorious were the successes of this good King. In summe, the Enuy augmented so much, as that after long consults, they determined to vse all endeauours to recouer the pol∣session agayne, whence they were so shamefully thrust out. In the meane tyme, S. Edward being at Masse, on the day of Pentecost, while the Body of Christ was eleuated, shewed a smiling countenāce, with the eyes attentiue, and fixed more then ordinary. The same, was much noted by the standers by, & the Sacrifice being ended, his most familiars were so bold in confidence, as to craue the occasion of such a nouelty: and he with his natiue candour, and humanity confessed what passed, saying thus.

The Danes had agreed with their King, to returne to their ancient exploits of armes, and to come and disturbe with hostili∣ty, that peace & quietnes, which the diuine Goodnes hath vouch∣safed

to affoard vs: and for that they placed the foundation of the whole enterprise in their owne valour, not regarding the Highest to be the only Maister, and Distributer of victoryes; his diuine Ma∣iesty hath been pleased, to let them see their vnmeasurable confi∣dence. Now had they their army in readynes, and being iouiall, and proud of a prosperous gale, were at the point of hoysing sayle; when the King in leauing his long Boate, to board the Admirall, slipping with his foote betweene both the decks, fell downe into the sea, & was drowned without remedy, deliuering his followers at once from a new sinne, and vs from a new daunger. And this happened iust this very morning; and I hope in our Lord my God, and his most sweet Mother their impious designes shall take no effect in my tyme: & this is that which our Sauiour Christ hath cleerely shewed my this day. Great ioy and iubiley was this newes to the hearers; especially when fending some of purpose, to be ful∣ly enformed thereof, they found and reported the fact, the day and houre, to be iust the same, which was told by the King.

The Seruant of Christ, on a tyme sitting at table, and the Earle Godwyn his Father-in-law by him, it happened, that two Sonnes of the sayd Earle, yet children, the one Harold by name and Tosto the other, in playing together, in the presence of the King grew hot (as it happens) into a kind of quarell, & with bitter rancour, their sport was turned to a Duell. Harold being some what the more robustious and bold, sets vpon his Brother, and with both hands pulling him by the hayre of his head, ouerthrew him to the ground, & would haue stifled him doubtles, had he not beene suddenly taken forth of his hands. Then S. Edward, turning himself to Godwyn asked him if he did see nothing in the scuffling of these two boyes, but a sim∣ple •…•…ray? And he affirming, he did not. But to me, replyed the King in this childish brable of theirs, farre greater things then it, are re∣presented. For that, as soone as both shell arriue to mans estate, they shall be taken with blind Enuy▪ and wicked Ambition: as first with traynes, and hidden frauds▪ they shall seeme to sport, and be in iest, with one another; but the stronger at last shall preuayle, & •…•…hase away the other: and then againe attempting to rebell, he shall againe be suppressed by him; and after he hath put him to death, it shall not be long ere himselfe do likewise come to •…•…uine. Which to haue fallen out effectually, England itselfe saw afterwards, and truly may testify the same▪

And since now we are fallen to speake of Earle Godwin: it is sayd of him, that he another tyme being at table with the King, one of the Squires stūbling with his foote vpon a rub, was ready to fall on his nose, had not the other foot which stood fast vpheld him the while. At which sight, the standers by reflecting, how one foot had helped his fellow; the Earle iested. Euen so it is (said he) when a Brother helps a Brother, and one succours the other, in his grea∣test need. Whereupon, replyed the King: And so might my Bro∣ther likewise haue done for me, had Godwin beene so pleased. At these words the Traitour was afrayd, and with a sad cheere sayd withall: I see Syr, I see very well you suspect me likewise for the death of your Brother, and giue credit to those that falsely terme me a Traytour. But God be the Iudge heerof, who knowes all secrets, and so may this morsell in my hand heer, do me good, as I was far from working any plot eyther agaynst thee, or thy Bro∣ther.

K. Edward accepted the condition, and gaue benediction to the meate, which as soone, as it came to the midst of the Earles throat, stucke thereso fast, as he was neuer able, withall that he could do, eyther to swallow it downe, or to put it vp agayne, so as the pas∣sages of respiration, being stopt, his very eyes started forth in fear∣full manner. Whereupon, as many as were present, were astonished and cleerly acknowledged the heauenly reuenge; when the King sayd to them: Take away this dogg, as they did. This wicked man, a∣mong many things, committed agaynst the diuine, and humane lawes, was growne at last to be so bold, and abused so much the goodnes of the King, as that to sway and rule alone, through di∣uers calumnies, he had banished by litle and litle, all the friends & kinsfolks that came from Normandy with the King. Nor was Edward vnaware thereof; but politiquely proceeding, not to put things into hurly-burly, referred, and reserued all to the Highest, as knowing certaynely, he would make some demonstration therof in its time, which he foretold more then once, not only to others, but euen to Godwin himselfe.

One Easter day, the King sitting likewise at table (where euen amidst the royall Feasts and great assemblies of people, no lesse then when alone, he was wont to take many occasions to enter into God) he recollected himself more strictly then ordinary, & musing vpon the celestiall goods, with an eleuated mynd, acknowledged

the vnworthines and basenes of all worldly things: & while he re∣mained thus in this consideratiō, his face was seen to be more •…•…eren then vsually, and his lips to moue with a modest smile, and then anone to become wholy sad and pensiue: the same was noted by by such as were present, and the Table being taken away, Duke Harold, with a Bishop, and an Abbot accompanying him to his chā∣ber, were so bold, as to demaund, what had happened to him: When S. Edward answered.

The more a man shall seeme to subtract himselfe from transi∣tory, and externall things, shall the true and essentiall make the more impression in him. Behold how I amidst the precious wines, and cates most delicate, and amidst the lustre of vessels of gold, & siluer, lifting the eyes of my mynd, to my Lord God, haue first felt myselfe to be replenished with spirituall consolation, and then in vnspeakable manner, haue been with the mynd, raysed to the signt of very sad disaduentures, which for these seauen yeares next, with a sudden mutation, shall hang ouer the head of mortalls. Because God, shall not fayle to vsit the iniquityes of the Christian people. He shall deliuer them into the hands, and power of the Infidels, the subiects shall rebell agaynst their Lords: and Kings shall lay traps for Kings, Princes for Princes: and in euery Country, the cruell sword, shall reuenge the iniuries done to the Redeemer. Which things, and others like to these, fell out afterwards, euen iust in the manner, as the King had presaged. And this may suffice vs for his Prophecyes.