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.

How S. Hugh addicts himselfe to bury the dead: with a strange progno∣sticate of his owne death. Chap. 10.

VVHat meruayle is it, that S. Hugh should shew such cle∣mency and compassion to the liuing, who vsed such Cha∣rity and sollicitude towards the dead, and that not only to their soules, but euen likewise to their corps; he no sooner vnderstood that there lay heere or there any body vnburyed, but setting, as a new Tobyas, all other businesses aside, he would goe thither in hast, and with due exequyes, according to the condition of ech one he would commit them to the earth. And he was so giuen to this holy occupation, as that being sometymes inuited by the King himselfe vnto dynner, he would let him expect some whole howers together, vntill his worke were finished: and while the messengers came in one after another, to sollicite him, with saying, the King yet differred his dynner for his sake, and remayned still

fasting, S. Hugh freely would answere: Why doth he expect me? For better it were an earthly King should eate without me, then for me to consent that the commaundement of the King of Heauen should be contemned. My food is to fullfill the will of the eternall Father.

It happened one day, that he buryed a most stincking & cor∣rupt corps of a drunken and dissolute sinner, to which none durst approach without stopping the nose; and yet S. Hugh went about to handle him without any auersion at all, vntill he had layd him and couered him with earth: the standers by being amazed therat demanded of him, whether he felt not any noysomnes or loathing from the corrupt corps, and he answering, that he felt no offensi∣uenes thereat, and how they were deceaued with their owne ima∣gination; being full with new wonder, they ceased not to glotify the diuine Goodnes in his Seruant.

Newes being brought him one day, of the death of a bitter persecutour of his, he suddenly puts himselfe in order to goe vnto that house of mourning, and to be present at the hearse: and being told for certaine, there were traynes layd for him on the way, and therefore by no meanes he should go thither: I deserue well, in∣deed, answered he, to haue fetters at my feet, and bolts on my legges, if I should once but neglect such a visit. And so causing the rest of his trayne, to stay behind, he went thither but with two only familiars of his, and there arriued without any stop or hinde∣rance at all, and procuring a decent funerall for him that hated him so much, and placing the body in a vault, be returned home agayne replete with ioy and merits.

How acceptable these and the like exercises of S. Hugh, were in the sight of God, was euen manifested also in this present life, with the precious guifts of healing infirmityes, and expelling the wicked spirits, and quenching flames. In the meane while, from his indispositions, from his trauailes, and yeares, S. Hugh continu∣ally feeling himselfe to decay, attended with more feruour the•…•… euer, to prepare himselfe for that passage, whereto in this short & vncertaine course of mortality, all the cares and studyes of men, should be most intent and fixed. A notable presage of the end of this Saint approaching, were the actions of a certaine Swan of an extraordinary greatnes, which on the selfe same day whereon S. Hugh being created Bishop entred into Lincolne, was now like∣wise

come from parts farre remote vnto a certaine Castle, whither the Bishop afterwards resorted sometymes for honest recreation: and when he arriued at any tyme, that white bird would imme∣diately fly to receiue him: and where to others it shewed it selfe very shye, and coy; to the Bishop only it would be most domestike, and giue forth infinite shewes of welcome; it would take meate from his hand; it would thrust, as in a poole, the head and neck, within those large and ample sleeues of his, and not contented therewith, leauing the fresh waters, and its accustomed haunts, would stand all night a watching, and keeping centinell at his chamber doore. Moreouer it had taken vp a custome, as often as the Bishop was to retyre thither, to be very iocund, to cry out, and flap with the wings, in so much as the keepers of the castle, as they had been aduertized by some harbinger, would be accited thereby to prepare the chambers, and to put all things in order a∣gainst his coming. Now the last tyme that S. Hugh came thither, the amourous Swan leauing its accustomed dauances, would so hide it selfe, with the head drooping, and with other signes of sad∣nes, and frowardly sequestring it selfe from his sight, which it was neuer to behold more; as the seruants were fayne to take it, and bring it in by force. And thus much of this new prognosticate.