The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times past bene brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherentes: faithfully gathered out of the moste faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and nowe newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singuler profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.

Of Monasticall sectes and fyrst of Heremites.

* 1.1POpe Syluester the first, bearyng rule, the Heremites firste of all began, and inhabited the wyl∣dernesse & solitary places. The afore∣said Syluester had them in greate reue∣rence, and confirmed their order. In the yere, &c. 315. Ex libro germanico.

Of the Heremites of Antonies order.

* 1.2POpe Syluester, the aforesaid being bishop of Rome, Antony a mā vn∣learned, and notwithstanding fa∣mous in godly conuersation and notable in workyng miracles, began a streight and solitary life in Egipt. He was the first Heremite: his meat was only bread and water, and he vsed dai∣ly

to fast vntill Sunne sette. He wente willingly vnto the wildernesse, where many resorted vnto him, which made him their Abbote. S. Hierome saieth that he wrote vii. epistles or letters in the Egiptian speach, full of Spirit and mysteries, which afterward were tran∣slated into Greke.* 1.3 Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria writeth his life in a complet booke. He dyed at Thebaida, the 357. yere after Christes byrth,* 1.4 the 105. yere of his age. The aforesaid Antony with all his brethren went in gray clothing and did eate herbes and rootes. They fled all company of men. Some saye, that they fled into the wildernesses of Egipt for the auoiding of persecution and there lyued together with greate loue, geuing themselues to spirituall meditations, and heauenly contempla¦tions, that by this meanes they might the better haue an eye vnto gods wor∣kes, and so offred vp to God with a fre spirit, and a pure & perfect loue, serue him in holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of their life.

This Antony hath had, and yet hath in diuers countreys where the sects of

Antichrist raigne, many Apes, whiche haue laboured to counterfait hym, but notwithstanding so far from the faith,* 1.5 lyfe, and manners of Antony, as dark∣nesse is contrarye to lyghte▪ and Beli∣all to Christe. For where as Antonye sledde into wildernesse, that he mighte serue God with the more free consci∣ence, and be the lesse ledde awaye with worldly vanities, and carnal concupis∣cences: his Apes and coūterfaiters run peakyng into corners, and dwell in some oute corner or hole, onelye to es∣chewe labour, and to liue ydlely, not being content with herbes and rootes, as Antonye was, but faryng delicious∣lye, not of their owne trauayl and get∣tyng, but of the labour of other men∣nes handes. and of the sweat of other mennes browes, contrary to this com∣maundement of GOD geuen by the Psalmographe:* 1.6 Thou shalte eate the labours of thyne owne handes: A∣gayne, In the sweate of thy face shalte y^u eate thy bread, tyll you returne vnto the earth. For earth thou art, and vn∣to earth thou shalt agayne be turned. And whereas Antony and his compa∣ny

fledde the companye of all men, bi∣cause they woulde not bee corrupted with theyr lewde manners, Antonies Apes frequent nothyng more than the fellowship of men and women, easy to be founde in fielde, in village, in towne in citie, in noble mens houses, in poore mēs cotages. They leaue no place vn∣sought, where any thing is to be got∣ten. Agayne, whereas Antony and his brethren wēt in homely gray clothing they nowe weare a blacke garmente wyth a blew crosse thereon. In thys apparel, in theyr long heare and beard in their hatte and staffe, in theyr scrip or wallet, in theyr midnighte rysing and fewe orisons patteryng, dothe all theyr whole religion consiste.* 1.7 They haue a Fraternitie, wherein they ma∣nace and threate folke with sainct An∣tonies fyre: yea they haue brought the matter so farre, that in some parties they haue pygges fatted for them, and geuen for feare of Saincte Antonies fyre, and that theyr swyne and cat∣taile may the better prosper, and bee∣come the more fruitefull, wyth the which pigges these Antichristiā Anto∣nians

fatte their owne paunches, and make the common people their laugh∣ing stockes. Histor. tripart. 2. cap. 21.503. 1 cap. 13. Hier. Polid. de inuent. rerum. 7. cap. 1. Pantal. Lib. germ

Of the Heremites of Paulus order.

* 1.8THe yere of our lord. 345. was one Paulus an Heremite in Egipt, a companion to the aforesaid An∣tonye, which spent his lyfe also in wildernesse. They write of hym, that when he was xv. yeres of age,* 1.9 fly∣eng the promotions of Valerianus and Decius Emperours of Rome, thoughe he was of noble progeny, and descēded of a right worthy parentage before the worlde, yet lefte he all, and wente into wildernesse, where he dwelt in a lyttle caue by the space of 98. yeres (vnknow∣en to any man lyuing) in fasting & prai∣er, with water and bread, herbes & roo∣tes and such other nourishmentes as the wildernesse did minister vnto him. In the booke called vitas patrum, we read that the aforesaid Paulus was wel instructed & learned both in the Greke

and Egiptian tonge, He seing the per∣secution of Christen men went into a towne much farre from hys countrey, and from thence into a mountayne ful of rockes, at y^e fote wherof was a great and maruelous pytte couered with a stone, which he tooke away, and loked therein and founde there a much fayre fountaine. With this there was in the sayd mountayne diuerse habitations & dwellings. Paulus then loued the place maruelously,* 1.10 lyke as god had geuen it vnto him. And there he led a solitarye lyfe in occupying deuout prayers, and abstinence maruelouslye. Hys vesture was onely of the leaues of the palme tree, and his meate was the frute ther∣of. These and diuerse other things not altogether to be dispysed, reade we in the booke entituled Vitas patrum. Of thys Paulus the Heremite or solitarye man,* 1.11 ar there rysen and sprong vp cer∣tayne Apes and counterfayters, which haue a name and an order fathered vp∣on him: and yet, to say the truth, haue they no more of this Paulus faith, pray∣er, abstinence, and suche other Godlye and spirituall exercises, than some

Christen men haue of Christ, that is to say, the surname onely. For all hys ghostlinesse, religion, fayth, & lyfe con∣sisteth with them onely in their white garmentes or coules, in theyr cappes and pyked staues: the colour and fashi∣on of whose apparel, we read no wher that Paulus dyd weare the lyke, so that I can not tell from whence they haue theyr name and profession.* 1.12 For Paulus fasted but they are fylbellyes and Epi∣cures. He was pore, but they are riche. He was solitarye, but they runne a∣boute. He had simple clothyng, and a cleane hearte: but they haue a white garment, and blacke heartes: so that of this Paulus, a Godly and religious mā, our Pauliane Heremites haue no more than all other orders haue, I meane, onely the name and title. Theyr rule is S. Austens, wherein are reckened to be .xxiiii. orders. Ex Lib. Germanico, & ex vitis patrum.

* 1.13Besydes this aforesaid Paulus, there was an other Heremite of that name, called Paulus simplex, that is to saye, simple Paule, or Paule the playne.

Thys Paulus as wee reede in vitis pa∣trum, was one of the Disciples of saint Anthonye,* 1.14 and made hymselfe an He∣remite, bycause that hys wyfe had ge∣uen her selfe to an other man, than hym.* 1.15 Of whiche thyng when he was aduertysed, he was maruelouslye trou∣bled. Neuerthelesse he tolde it to no bodye, but wente to the desertes. And after y^t he had long gone in the same, he put hymselfe into the monasterye of Saint Anthonye which among ma∣ny other,* 1.16 lessons taught hym, howe somtyme he must laboure, and vse bo∣dilye exercises to refreshe hys spirites, wherby he shuld after be more prompt and readye to praye vnto God.* 1.17 Also how with al hys thought and strength he oughte to keepe the commaunde∣mentes of God:* 1.18 and at euen in takyng hys refection, he shuld eate and drinke litle, and how he shuld drinke but wa∣ter. Thys Paulus was so simple,* 1.19 that whē s. Anthony w^t his brethrē at a cer∣tain time talked of y^e holy scriptures, he demaūded of thē if god had bene before y^e prophets. But S. Anthony beholdīg his simplicitie, bad hī holde hys peace

and he gladlye obeyed.* 1.20 The aforesayd Anthony willing to proue y^e obeysance of thys Paule y^e playn or simple soule, ofte tymes cōmaunded him to do thyn∣ges against reasō: as to drawe water out, of a depe pitte al the day long and to caste it on the earth, and sometyme to vnsowe hys gowne, & after to sowe it agayn: and so of many other things. But thys Paul the plaine in al things was much obeysaunt and lowly. And therefore sayd S. Anthony, whosoeuer will be perfect, he ought not to be ma∣ster, ne obey to hys owne wil, be y^e thin∣ges reasonable, or vnreasonable: that are commaunded hym to do. For oure sauioure sayth, that to fore al thynges, one ought to renounce hys owne wil. Thys Paulus as we rede, was a man of such vertue and holynesse,* 1.21 that he farre excelled S. Anthonye in workyng mi∣racles, in so muche that they came vn∣to hym, that were sycke, out of al regi∣ons to recouer theyr health, and anon by hys deuout Orisons vnto God, they were made hole. I rede not, y^t any secte of Heremites, had their beginning of thys Paule. The cause paraduenture

was, bycause he was so symple, playn, and homely a man, without al fraude gyle, and deceate, whiche the monasti∣call sectes, moste chiefely practyse in all theyr lyfe and conuersation. Ex vitis patrum

Of the Heremites of Saint Iohns order.

IN the yere of our lord,* 1.22 iii.C.lxxx was Iohn an Heremite in Egipt of great reputation for hys holy∣nesse. He could comfort the feble min∣ded in God, and bryng them to perfec∣tion, as writeth of hym S. Hierome. He dwelt fyftye yeare continually vp∣on an hyll or rocke in feruente prayer and meditation to God, of whom hee was fedde. He was of so pure mynde, that God opened vnto hym, not onely what was necessarye for hym to know but also thynges for to come. He was so endued with the gyfte of Prophe∣cye, that he Prophecyed not only thin∣ges, that shoulde chaunce thereabout, but also the warre of the Emperoure Theodosius agaynst Maximus the tirant.

When he was an hundred yeare olde, he payed nature her dutye, whose life Hierome doth discribe.* 1.23 Nowe he that will compare the full brethren that weare a blacke cloke and a crosse ther∣on, with thys mannes liuyng (whose followers they aduaunce themselues to bee, beyng called Ioannites of this Iohn) shall fynde them farre vnlyke hym, seing theyr religion is theyr own inuention, and that they lyue of other mennes sweate. But howe can they beare hys name, and chalenge hym to be their patrone, seyng in no poynt they lyue like him, but euen playn cō∣trary? If they wil thinke to be groun∣ded vpon Iohn the Euaungelyste and Apostle, then ought thei to leade a con∣tinente lyfe and to goe aboute, and preache the Gospell of Christ. But they are so farre estraunged from these godly exercises, that in no state of peo∣ple any can bee founde more vnchaste in theyr liuyng, nor greater aduersa∣ryes to the true doctryne of Christ,* 1.24 be∣ing in deede the patrones, defendoures and mayntayners of all superstition and false worshippyng of God. But

I shoulde bee sooner persuaded, that theyr Patrone was some good tan∣kerd yeoman, whose order lyke good Dysciples and brethren they haue euer kepte and followed. It is great pitye and shame, that wee are so peruerse mynded, that we do not see this mocke and abhomination, but rather wor∣ship it as holynesse, geuyng freely vn∣to it both landes and goodes, and disheryte oure naturall children. God bee mercyfull vnto vs. Ex Libro Germanico.

Of Anckers and Ankresses, and all other Recluses.

AS concernyng the monasticall secte of the Recluses, and suche as bee shutte vp within walles, there, vnto the death continual∣lye to remayne, geuyng themselues to the mortification of carnall affectes, to the contemplation of heauenly and spirituall thynges, to abstinence, to prayer, and to suche other ghostlye exercises, as men deade to the worlde, & hauyng their life hidden with Christ

I haue not to write: forasmuch as I cā¦not hitherto fynde probably in any au∣thor,* 1.25 whence the profession of Anckers and Anckresses had the beginning and foundation, although in thys behalfe I haue talked with men of that profes∣sion, which could very litle or nothing saye in the matter. Notwithstanding as the white Fryers father that order of Helias the Prophete (but falsely) so lykewyse doe the Anckers and Anc∣kresses make that holy and vertuous Matrone Iudith their patronesse and foundresse. But how vnaptly, who se∣eth not? Their profession and religion diffreth as farre from the manners of Iudith, as lyght from darkenesse or god from the deuill, as it shall manifestlye appeare to them that wil diligentlye, conferre the history of Iudith with their lyfe and conuersatiō.* 1.26 Iudith made her selfe a priuy chamber where she dwelt (saieth the Scripture) beyng closed in with her maydens Oure Recluses al∣so close themselues within the walles but they sufferre no man to be there with them Iudith ware a smocke of ha••re▪ but our recluses are both softly

and finely apparelled. Iudith, fasted all the daies of her life, few excepted. Our Recluses eate and drinke at all tymes of the beste, beyng of the number of them Qui curios simulant, & Bacchanalia viuunt. Iudith was a woman of a very good report. Our recluses are reported to be supersticious and idolatrous per∣sons, and such as al good men fly their companye. Iudith feareth the Lorde greatly▪ and liued accordyng to his ho∣lye word. Our Recluses fear the pope and gladly do what his pleasure is to commaund them. Iudith lyued of her owne substaunce and goods, puttyng no man to charge. Our Recluses as persons onelye borne to consume the frutes of the erth, liue idlely of the la∣bour of other mens handes. Iudith, when tyme required, came oute of her closet to do good vnto other. Our Re∣cluses neuer come out of their lobbeis sincke or swimme the people Iudithe put her selfe in ieopardy for to do good to the commune countrey. Our reclu∣ses are vnprofitable clods of the earth, doing good to no man. Who seeth not now, how farre our Anckers and Anc∣kresses

differre from the manners and life of this vertuous and Godlye wo∣man Iudith, so that they can not iust∣ly clayme her to be their patronesse?

Of some idle & superstitious Heremite borowed they their idle and supersti∣tious religion.* 1.27 For who knoweth not that our recluses haue grates of yrō in their spelunckes and dennes, out of the which they looke, as Owles out of an yuye todde, when they will vouchsafe to speake with any man, at whose hād they hope for aduauntage? So read we in vitis patrum, that Iohn the Heremite so enclosed himselfe in his Heremitage that no man came in vnto him. To thē that came to visit him,* 1.28 he spake thorow a window onely. Our Anckers & Anc∣kresses professe nothyng but a solitary life, led in contemplation all the day∣es of their life in their halowed house, wherein they are enclosed, wyth the vowe of obedience to the Pope, and to their Ordinary Bishoppe. Theyr apparell is indifferent, soit bee disso∣nant from the Laitye. No kynde of meates they are forbidden to eate.

At midnighte they are bound to saye

certayne prayers. Their profession is counted to bee amonge all other pro∣fessions so harde and so streighte that they maye by no meanes bee suffered to come oute of their houses, excepte it bee to take a streighter and an har∣der life vppon them, whiche is to bee a bishop.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The first beginning of Here∣mites.
• * 1.2

  Antony the first Here∣mite.
• * 1.3

  Antonies diet & lyfe.
• * 1.4

  Antonies app••rell. The life of An••hon•• and h•••• brethren.
• * 1.5

  Antonies Apes.

  The diuer¦sitie of An∣tony and of our Here∣mites.
• * 1.6

  Psalm. 128. Gene. iii.
• * 1.7

  S. Anto∣nies fyre.
• * 1.8

  Paule the Heremite.
• * 1.9

  Paule the heremites life.
• * 1.10

  Paule the Heremites apparel and meate.
• * 1.11

  Paule the Heremites Apes.
• * 1.12

  A compari∣sō betwene Paule and hys Apes.
• * 1.13

  Paule the simple.
• * 1.14

  ☜
• * 1.15

  ☜
• * 1.16

  Laboure.
• * 1.17

  Godlinesse
• * 1.18

  Diet.
• * 1.19

  ☜
• * 1.20

  ☞
• * 1.21

  Paule the playne, a worker of miracles
• * 1.22

  Iohn the Heremite.
• * 1.23

  Iohn the Heremites apes.
• * 1.24

  The wic∣kednesse of y^e Ioānites
• * 1.25

  The begin¦ning of the A••ckers pro••ession incerten.
• * 1.26

  Iudith. viii. A compa∣rison be∣twene Iu∣dith & oure R••cluses.
• * 1.27

  The yron grates of the Ankers
• * 1.28

  The An∣kers profes¦sion.