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 being at Masse beholds our blessed Sauiour on the Aultar. And being deuoted to S. Iohn Euangelist giues a ring to a Pilgrime for his sake, and dyes soone after. Chap. 8.

KING Edward, was wōderfully deuout to all the Ecclesiasticall Sacraments, and particularly to the most holy Eucharist: and in this point had, from the diuine Goodnes, among others, one notable fauour. For being at Masse one day in the Monastery of S. Peter, before the Aultar of the indiuiduall Trinity, with one Leo∣fricus an Earle (of whome it is said, that he liued very holily in the company of his wife Gothgina, and founded many religious Con∣uents) the Sauiour of the world appeared to him on the Aultar it self, & stretching forth his right hand, gaue him his heauēly benedi∣diction,

with the signe of the Crosse, while the King in bowing with his head, was adoring the diuine presence. The sayd Earle Leofricus was likewise made partaker of the same apparition, who not knowing what passed in the Kings mynd, was approching to aduertise him thereof; whereof S. Edward being aware: Stand still Leofrick, said he, stand still: what thou seest, I see also: and then Masse being ended, he added: I cōiure thee, O Earle, for the Maiesty of him, we haue both seene too day, that while we are in this life, thou speake not a word of this vision, to the end, that eyther throgh popular applause, we may not fall into pride, or through so rare a nouelty, occasion may be giuen of murmuring to those, who belieue no more, then what they can touch or feele with the fin∣gar.

Among these things, S. Edward, being now well stept in yea∣res, and loaden with merits, was certified, that now at last his re∣ward approched, and his certificate was in this manner. He held (next S. Peter) S. Iohn Euangelist the beloued Disciple of Iesus, in greatest veneration: insomuch, as he neuer denyed any honest pe∣tition, that euer was made to him, in the name of S. Iohn Euange∣list. When among other times it happened one day his priuy Alme∣nour being absent, that a certayne Pilgrime, with the sayd inuo∣cation, most importunely craued an almes of him, and he not ha∣uing any thing at hand, pulling off a precious ring from his fingar, very graciously gaue it him. It fell out afterwards, that two En∣glish men, went in pilgrimage to the holy Sepulcher, & hauing cros∣sed the Seas and now strayed vnawares, out of their way, in that errour they were ouertaken by the darke night, wherein very sad and afflicted, they could find neyther Guide, nor Counsayle, till beyond all hope appeared a venerable old man, who conducting them into the Citty of Ierusalem, benignely receyued them as ghests into his house, and after a dainety supper, brings them to their lod∣gings, with great charity. The morning being come, they both hauing giuen thankes, & ready to take their iourney, the good Host sayd to them.

Know Brethren, you are like to haue a good voyage, and shall returne safe, and sound againe into your Country: God shal be pro∣pitious to you, & I for your Kings sake, in all this time, will regard you still. I am Iohn the Apostle, that loues your King very tender∣ly for the excellency of his chastity. You shall carry him backe this

ring, which he gaue me some dayes since, when I appeared to him in forme of a Pilgrime: and acquaint him that the day of his depo∣sition approches, and six months shall not passe ouer his head, ere I put him into the company who follow the Lambe, wheresoeuer he goes. Which said, the Apostle vanished, & they happily arriuing at home gaue faythfull accompt to the King, of what they had heard, and seene. Not was the prediction vayne, because S. Edward, very soone after fell into his last sicknes: wherein purposing to edify by all manner of wayes, as many as conuersed with him, now feeling himselfe to decay apace, ordayned his death, should be presently published, though all the kingdome, that his soule, being loosed from prison might haue the suffrages of the faythfull, assoone as might be, and with this, he passed to his most desired Lord, on the 5. of Ianuary 1066. hauing held the scepter 23. yeares, 6. months, and 27. dayes.

He was bewayled, and buryed with that feeling and concurse of the people, as became such a Ruler and Gouernour. Two tran∣slations haue been made of that vessell of the holy Ghost: the one some 36. yeares after his pappy passage, which vntil the other, was the space of 60. yeares. In both discoueryes, not only those sacred members, but euen also his Princely robe, and habit appeared very whole, and vncorrupted. The first Translation was made, to afford him a more honourable funerall. The other followed, at the tyme of his Canonization, vnder Pope Alexander the III. When deposing the venerable Reliques, there succeeded so many miracles anew, as would be too long a matter & far from our purpose, to make narra∣tiō of them. Whence we may, with reason hope through the merits, and intercessions of this great Seruant of God, that as so many par∣ticuler persons, haue obtayned the graces which they craued; euen so that most noble Kingdome, all scandals being taken away, and Heresies destroyed, may one day be reduced, to the vnion of the faythfull, and to the lap of the holy Catholique Church.