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. Bernard endeuoured in vayne to withdraw the king of Sicily, from the part of the Anti-pope; through whose death peace was restored to the Church agayne. Chap. 17.

FRom these errours S. Bernard did endeauour, and not without fruite, to deliuer that blind people, when the Embassadours of Roger King of Sicily arriued at Rome, who with a dissembling zeale of the common good, made shew of being desirous to enforme himselfe fully of the truth, and to become arbiter of so great and pertinacious discords, though in secret (as we sayd) he were held to be a fautour, of the peruerse faction, and therefore craftily requi∣red Anaclet, to send him Peter of Pisa, a most wise and eloquent man on his behalfe, and made instance to Innocent for the Abbot of Cla∣reuallis, that these two as aduocates being to argue and plead in his presence, might giue him true notice of all, hoping by this meanes the lowlynes and simplicity of one poore Monke might be ouer∣borne and opprest, through the eloquence and cunning of that fa∣mous Doctour.

The sayd King was very potent, and was at that tyme with a puissant army in the kingdome of Naples, so as the Embassadours had no great difficulty to obtayne at Rome what they would. But through diuine disposition the matter had a farre different euent from that which the King thought of. Because that Peter and S. Bernard being arriued at his Court, after they had discoursed apart with him, and the principall Officers, there was finally deputed a certaine day to both the Procuratours togeather for publique au∣dience.

Now what successe was to follow of this duell, a certaine battayle fought betweene the sayd King, and the Duke Ranulphus, who was a Prince, and a very vertuous Catholike, gaue no small demonstration at that tyme. S. Bernard, with Charity had ende∣uoured to hinder the sayd conflict, and to make peace betweene the two Christian armyes; and to Roger had manifestly threatned and foretold, that if he fought he should loose the battayle. But he finding himselfe to haue much odds, and aduantage ouer Ranulphus in number and forces, with haughtynes and pride contemning the aduises and protestations of the man of God, would needs by all meanes encounter and set vpon him, neer vnto the Citty of Sa∣lerno: where, with the astonishment of all, there suddenly entring a feare into the campe, he was vanquished by the Dukes army, routed, and put to flight. And yet notwithstanding hauing reas∣sembled together the vnhappy remainder, and with new succours made vp a Royall army agayne; he presents himselfe in Councell and Tribunall on the day assigned for the dispute, hauing first in priuate, with great promises and large offers set the Pisan Doctour on fire to purchase himselfe honour, in sustayning the cause of Pope Anaclete, and in that assembly of noble and learned men to stop the mouth of the French Abbot.

Peter then full of vayne hopes, and of high thoughts, appeared in the Court, where with much eloquence, and great memory and art, depainting forth first the fact, with handsome coulours, then alleadging and interpreting in his manner the decrees and Canons, he endeuoured to proue how the election of Anaclete had been most sincere and legitimate. On the contrary the holy man hauing heard the Oratour with much patience, began his discourse with great humility and modesty, and by little and little grew into so great vehemency and liberty of heauenly spirit, and with such pregnan∣cy of reasons, and weight of Scriptures, and variety of examples, and comparisons, so defeated the foundations, and discouered the falshoods of the aduersary, as not only almost all the auditory then remained perswaded, but euen the Aduocate Anaclete himselfe of be∣ing conuinced with the truth, and returned to himselfe, repented he had euer vndertaken the protection of the wicked and false Pope; and being afterwards further assisted with the priuate exhortations of the seruant of Christ, fayled not to reconcile himselfe to Innocent.

But Roger, how beit he could now pretend no ignorance, yet

being ouerwhelmed with diuers passions, could neuer be brought to the sayd demonstrations and acts, which in a matter of so great importance ought publiquely to be done. Whence S. Bernard being satisfyed with his owne conscience, and remitting the rest to the diuine Iustice, returned back to Rome, and renewed agayne the interrupted labour of reducing the soules to the obedience of the Pope, & vnion of the Church, which till that time had been eyther seduced through opinion, or enchayned by malice. For so great a hurt and notorious a scandal, S. Bernard was exceedingly afflicted: but it pleased the diuine goodnes soone to deliuer him from that greife through the death of Pierlonio: who being seized with a pesti∣lent malady, though he had three dayes space, to acknowledge his offences, yet obdurate & impenitent, he passed to render accompt to the eternall Iudge of his misdeed.

Being dead, his followers did presently substitute, and set vp an other Anti-pope, who yet being conscious of his owne weakenes, and the dangers which hung ouer his head; went by night to seeke out S. Bernard, who hauing louingly reprehended him, and made him to lay downe the ornaments vsurped, led him with his owne hands to the feete of Innocent, from whom benignly recei∣uing absolution, he was admitted into grace. And from thence be∣gan the Pope to giue dispatches without disturbance, to attend to reformation, and to take away the abuses introduced in tyme of the discord. For so ioyfull successe next vnto God, they all gaue the glory and honour to the Abbot of Clareuallis, & not without reason, since trauayling in the enterprise, into diuerse parts of the world, for more then seauen yeares togeather, finally in the Citty of Rome with the diuine helpe most happily concluded the same.

But the true disciple of Christ being not able to endure the hu∣man prayses, applauses, & the extraordinary veneration wherein he was held of the whole Court and Citty, within the tearme of fiue dayes and no more, hauing got leaue of the Pope with all im∣portunity, he suddenly went his wayes towards Clareuallis. And for asmuch as his Holines required some of his Monks to inhabite neere to Rome, he made choyce of them, and sent them at that tyme vnder the care of one Bernard of Pisa a good Religious man, & a per∣son much honoured in the world, who not long after, Innocent being dead and his successours Celestin and Lucius, was with much approbation made Pope, by a new name, called Eugenius, and to

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him S. Bernard wrote those most learned bookes Of Consideration. In this manner then did S. Bernard cary himselfe in repayring the torne coate of our Lord, and reuniting to their head the members of the Church, with most wicked example so seuered and disioyned. And no lesse vigilancy and sollicitude shewed he in oppressing and roo∣ting out heresyes, which discouered themselues in his tyme as shall presently appeare.