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.

The death and funeralls of the Venerable Bishop, not without some miracles accompanying the same. Chap. 11.

IN those dayes was assembled at Lincolne, a most famous nationall Councell: and S. Hugh being then in the Citty of London, vpon vrgent occasion, with purpose to hye himselfe as soone as possibly he could to the sayd Assembly, being there ouertaken by a suden & vehement feuer, was forced to keep his bed; and yet in despite of the disease, re-enforcing his prayers vnto God, and to the most blessed Virgin, and deuout colloquyes with his Angell Guardian, and with the Citizens of Heauen; he ceased not withall to afford gratefull audience, with holsome admonitions to as many as came to visit him. Being admonished to make his will: It greiues mee (said he) for this custome of making wils, introduced into the clergy. I neuer had, nor haue at this present any thing, that is not wholy of my Church: and yet that the Fiscall may not lay hand thereon, let all be distributed to the poore, as soone as may be, whatsoeuer

may seeme to others I possesse. Heereupon the Feast of S. Mathew being come, wherein he remembred he was consecrated Bishop; he caused the celestiall Viatique, and the Sacrament of Extreme vnction also to be ministred to him, as thinking very probably, that immediately he was to depart: but it pleased our Lord to dif∣ferre the same, vntill the 17. day of the next moneth, in which space he ceased not from deuotious for himselfe, and exhortations for others; and moreouer with the spirit of Prophecy, very cleerely foretold, the great disasters, which soone after, were to happen to that Kingdome, and particulerly to the Clergy.

The foresayd terme being afterwards arriued, the holy Bishop being interiourly certifyed of his departure, caused besides his Chaplyns some Monks and Preists to be called to assist him, and seeing them all to weep bitterly, he sought with interrupted speeches, but graue and affectuous withall to comfort them, and laying his right hand vpon ech one, he recommended them to the diuine custody. And now his feeble voyce began quite to fayle, when he willed, that the flore being swept, a crosse of hallowed ashes should be formed thereon, and that a seruice should be sayd in manner of a Quier, whereat being present with great attention, as soone as he came to that verse of the 90. Psalme: Clamabit ad me & ego exaudiui cum, cum ipso sum in tribulatione, causing himselfe to be lifted from his bed, he stretehed his withered and frozen mem∣bers (being mindfull of the Passion of Christ) vpon the sayd Crosse, and presently beginning the Canticle of Simeon very happily ex∣pired, in the yeare of our Lord 1200. of his age 60. and of his Episcopall charge the 15.

In this manner it pleased the Prince of Pastours, to put an end to the trauailes of his most faythfull Coadiutour, of whose pas∣sage into heauen some persons worthy of credit haue had vndoub∣ted reuelation. The body being spiced with Balme and other o∣dours, was in pontificall habit exposed in a Coffin ready to be car∣ryed, according to the order left by him, vnto his Church: but through the infinite concourse of people, which pressed in, to touch or at least to behold more neere that sacred Treasure; there succee∣ding by turnes very Honourable personnages to carry the corps, the way became to be so taken vp, and stopt the while, as it was there fayne to stay for no lesse then six dayes. In approaching to Lincolne, the two Kinges Iohn of England, and VVilliam of Scotland,

who then were present, came forth to meet them with a most noble trayne, and both being desirous to submit their shoulders to the ve∣nerable Beer, the Scottish King among others (who loued him deerely) powred forth a floud of teares. After that, in the Ca∣thedrall were the solemne exequies celebrated, with the pompe that became both the dignity of the deceased, & the quality of the standers by, among which two crowned heads, three Archbishops, fourteene Bishops, more then a hundred Abbots, very many Earles and Barons, drew the eyes of the people vpon them; the diuine Prouidence so disposing, that the promptnes and perseuerance of S. Hugh in taking so great care to bury the bodyes of others, was thus recompenced with so magnificent and glorious a Sepulture. To this were added for greater splendour, new & famous miracles, which to recount throughout, were a thing too long: it may suffice for example only to add heere also, that within few dayes at his mo∣nument, were cured six Palsey men, three blind receaued their sight, and two dumbe men recouered their speach. Moreouer the deposition, customes, and heroicall prowesse of the Saint, were af∣terwards not only celebrated with a liuely voice, by that age, but by many Writers also registred with a faythfull pen, to the glory of God, the memory of him, and the noble example, & incitement to posterity.