Purgatory prov'd by miracles collected out of Roman-Catholick authors : with some remarkable histories relating to British, English, and Irish saints : with a preface concerning the miracles.

Purgatory Prov'd BY MIRACLES: Collected out of Roman-Catholick Authors.

The History of a Man, that having experienc'd the Pains of Pur∣gatory, chose much rather to suffer the Miseries of Humane Life, for many Years together, than Three Days Torments in Purgatory.

WE read in St. Antonin, that a Man who had been ex∣tremely debauch'd, was visited by God with a long and painful Sickness. As he was a great lover of his Pleasure, and his Distemper putting him as it were upon the rack, he at length lost all Patience, and earnestly be∣sought our Lord, that he would send Death to him. An Angel ap∣peared to him, that offered him the choice, either to continue sick as he was two Years longer, or spend three Days in Purgatory. This Man being only sensible of his present pain, preferr'd three Days in Purgatory, before a two Years sickness. But hardly had he been an Hour in those Dreadful Flames, but that the same Angel came to visit him there, and askt him in what condition he found himself. Ah! he answer'd, you have deceiv'd me: For I was to have been but three Days in Purgatory, and whereas I have now been several Years here. No, the Angel retorted, I have not deceived you. But it is the vio∣lence of your pains, that makes you think the little time you have been here so long. Ah! for God's sake, reply'd he, do so as that I may again return into life; For I am ready to suffer all the pains of my Di∣stemper, not only during two Years, but as long as it shall please God to afflict and punish me. He obtain'd what he required, and never after did he complain of the pains he endured. Le Pedag. Christien, p. 508.

How a certain Holy Person was induc'd to Pray for Souls in Pur∣gatory.

A Holy Man, call'd Bertrand, a Provincial of the Order of St. Do∣minique, said Mass daily for the expiation of his own sins, without troubling himself with offering it to God for the repose of Souls in Pur∣gatory. Being one day askt the reason of this, he answer'd, That those Souls were secur'd of their salvation, and by consequence, that they had less need of Prayers than the living. The Night following a dead man appeared ten times to him, knocking his hand against his Coffin, and making a shew as if he would maul him. Which possess'd him with so great a fear, that he rose up betimes in the Morning, and went to say Mass for the Dead; and all the rest of his Life he spent in procuring by all sorts of means their ease and delivery. Pedag. Chrest. p. 512.

The Account of a Man in Purgatory, for neglecting to Pray for the Dead.

IN the Year 1541. a holy religious Priest, of the Order of St. Francis, appeared after his Death to a Novice, who pray'd for him, and told he was in Purgatory, because he had been negligent in praying for the Dead. Pedag. Chrest. p. 513.

A Virgin, after having been in Purgatory, and Heaven itself, returns upon Earth, for the good and Conversion of Sinners.

ST. Christina, a Virgin, and Native of St. Thron in Hasbaye, being dead, her Soul was convey'd into a place, where they suffer'd such horri∣ble torments, that she thought it to be Hell; but an Angel assur'd her, that it was only Purgatory. From thence she was carried into Heaven before the Throne of God, who left it to her choice, whether she would remain eternally with the Blessed in glory, or be re-united to her Body, to labour for the deliverance of those Souls which she had seen suffer such dreadful Punishments, and afterwards return into Heaven, there to receive the Crown which she had merited by her good Works. She took this last course, and at the same instant she re-entred into her Body, which was laid publickly at that time in the midst of the Church, while they were saying Mass. From that time this Saint perform'd such rigo∣rous Penances, and such amazing Mortifications, that she justly acquired the Sir-name of Admirable. Le Pedag. Chrest. p. 513.

The Thanks of the Dead, for the Prayers of the Living.

ST. Liebert, Bishop of Cambray, one day praying in St. Nicholas's Church∣yard, in the same City, for those that were there enterr'd, and with great devotion saying this Verse, which the Church so often sings: May the Souls of all the Faithful that are Dead rest in Peace; a Voice was heard in the Air, that answer'd chearfully and distinctly, So be it. Le Ped. Chrest. p. 514.

A Person that devoted his Whole Life for the Redemption of the Dead.

JEan Ximenes, of the Company of Iesus, a religious Man of extraordi∣nary Vertue, praying for the Dead on the day of All Saints, before the Image of the Immaculate Conception of our Lady, heard a Voice that said to him, Ximenes, remember you the Souls that are in Purgatory. Which so sensibly affected him, that he offer'd to God for them all his Morti∣fications, all his Good Works, and generally all the Acts of Vertue, whether Interior, or Exterior, that he was to do from that time till death. Le Pedag. Chrest. p. 515.

St. Thomas Aquinas his Purgatory Expeditions.

ST. Thomas Aquinas, saith the Reverend Father Ribadeneyra, in his Flowers of the Lives of Saints, was wont to demand three things of Almighty God with great Instance: The first was force to serve him without ever relenting in that first Primitive fervour wherewith he had undertaken his service. The second, that he would be pleased to keep him always in the humble and poor condition of a Religi∣ous state, which he had made profession of. And the third was, that he would reveal unto him, what state his Brother Arnold was in, whom the Emperour Conrade had put to death, because he stuck to the Party of the Church. All which three things our Lord granted him in ample manner. For he gave him Grace to persevere in his service until death in his Religious Order, with great sanctity; and he revealed unto him in a Vision, that his Brother was in the state of Salvation; our Lord recompencing the Death which he was put unto for his Service and for the Defence of the Church. His Sister, that had taken a Religious Course, appeared once unto him, whilst he was praying, and told him, that she was in Purgatory, demanding the Assistance of his Sacrifices and other Prayers. The Saint was very careful to help her with Masses, Fastings, Prayers,

both by himself and by other Religious Men. And few days after, she appeared again for to thank him for the benefit he had procu∣red unto her, for that she was now in Glory. St. Thomas asked her, of the condition of his two Brothers, and of his own state, Whether it were good in the presence of God? She answered, That their Brother Landul••fe was in Purgatory, and Arnold was at rest; and that for what concerned himself, he was in the Grace of God, and that shortly they should all of them meet together, but he should be far higher in glory, for his good Service and Pains taken in the Church. Moreover, at another time, when he was one Night praying in the Church of his Convent, at Naples, Fryar Romanus, who succeeded him in the Chair of Divinity in France, being lately deceased, appeared unto him, St. Thomas ha∣ving yet understood nothing of his death; after that he knew him, and was told by him, that he was departed out of this World, he inquired of him, Whether his Services were acceptable unto God, and if he were in the state of Grace? Romanus bid him, go on and persevere in the state he was in, for it was very good, and God was well pleased with it. Then St. Thomas asked Romanus, how all things went with him, and where he was? To whom he replied, that he was now in Heaven; but had been fifteen days in Purgatory for a neglect which he had committed in the Execution of the Bishop of Paris his Will, in a Matter which ought to have been performed out of hand, and was delayed by his fault. Some other things did St. Thomas ask him, and was satisfi'd in them all, after which Romanus vanished, leaving him in great comfort and consolation. For when God will reveal some secrets unto his servants, he useth first to give them a Desire, and moveth them by his Holy In∣spirations for to demand them of him, giving them an assured confi∣dence of obtaining what they ask: upon which Ground they walk securely, which they could not do, if that Divine Motion were want∣ing, and if through a vain curiosity they did pretend to know the se∣cret Judgments of our Lord, and the state of Souls departed out of this Life: as many times it falleth out. Fat. Peter Ribadeneyra's Flowers of the Lives of the Saints, p. 204.

Whence came the Custom of saying Thirty Masses for the Dead, which are called the Masses of St. Gregory.

ST. Gregory the great Pope and Doctor, came to understand that a certain Monk that was sick, and ready to die, had hoarded up three hundred Crowns.* 1.1 This seemed unto him to be so grievous an offence, that he commanded the Prior of the Monastery, whose name was Preciosus, to see that none of the Religious should visit him, or af∣ford

him any Comfort; to the end that seeing himself thus neglected by all, he might at least in that Extremity, acknowledge his Fault, do Penance, and come to be saved. The poor man died, and the Saint would not permit his Body to be buried with the rest, but to be cast upon a Dunghil, together with his three hundred Crowns: and all the Monks said, Pecunia Tua tecum sit in Perditionem; Thy Money perish wish thee. This Rigor was very profitable: for when the Proprietory Monk perceived that all abhorred him, he had great feeling of his Crime, and died penitent: and the rest, that they might not incur the like Punishment, laid at the Abbots feet all they had, even those things which they might keep according to the Rule. After thirty days, the holy Father taking compassion of the Soul of this poor man, comman∣ded Preciosus to say Mass for him every day for thirty days consequent∣ly; at the end whereof the deceased Monk appeared to a Brother of his, that was a Religious Man, and told him, That he had been in Pur∣gatory until that day, but that now by the mercy of God he was going to Glo∣ry. And this was the effect of the thirty Masses which St. Gregory com∣manded to be said for him. Whence came the custom of saying thirty Masses for the Dead; which are called, The Masses of Saint Gregory.

St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, raises up a Man to life that had been three years dead, to be his Witness in a Process he had de∣pending.

THE Reverend Father Ribadeneyra,* 1.2 in his said Flowers of the Lives of the Saints, does acquaint us in the Life of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, how that that the holy Bishop had bought, for the benefit of his Church, a piece of Land of a Rich man named Peter, and had faithfully paid him the price of it; but yet could not shew sufficient Evidences for the proof of the same. The man that sold him this Land had now been dead three years: And his Heirs, for to please the King, who bore a great enmity to the Saint, and to make their benefit of so fair an occasion, complained of the Bishop in a Juridical Court, that he had seized upon an Inheritance that belonged to them. The Business was brought to be examined before the King; who find∣ing that the Bishop wanted some necessary Writings, and that the Wit∣nesses, for fear of his displeasure, durst not inform the Court of the Truth, condemned him to restore the Lands to Peter's Heirs, as due and proper to them by right of Inheritance. The Saint demanded three days for to bring Peter before them, of whom he had bought the Land, and who, as we said, had been dead and buried three years be∣fore.

They easily granted him his demand, making a jest and sport of it. But the Saint fasted, watcht and pray'd with great fervour and instancy, begging of our Lord, That seeing the Cause was his, and that it was he who was wronged and injured by that unjust Sentance, he would be pleased to take the whole Business in hand, and rise up in his own defence. At the end of three days, having offered up the Holy Sacrifice of Mass, he went unto the Grave where Peter lay buried, and made the Grave-stone be taken away, and the Earth opened until the Body ap∣peared: Then touching the said Body with his Grosier-staff, com∣manded Peter to rise. At which instant the dead Body obeying the Voice of the living Saint, Peter rose up and followed him to the Court, where the King was, accompanied with all his Nobles and Judges To whom St. Stanislaus spoke thus: Look here is Peter, of whom I bought the Land; who having been dead, is risen again, and now standeth before you. Ask of him if it be true that I paid him entirely that for which he sold and I bought that Land for the Church. The man is sufficiently known, his Grave is open: It is God who raised him to life, for the confirmation and assured proof of this Verity. His Word ought to be a more certain and infal∣lible Argument of it, than all the Testimony of Witnesses, or Evidence of Writings that can be alledged. This so great and manifest a Miracle did extreamly daunt the Courage of the Bishop's Adversaries, and struck them to the very heart, so that they remained quite dumb, and had not one word to say: For Peter declared publickly the Truth, and ve∣ry gravely and seriously warned his Heirs to do Penance for this their sin, and for having so much molested the holy Prelate, contrary to all Equity and Iustice. St. Stanislaus offered Peter, if he desired to remain some years in Life, to obtain it for him of Almighty God. But he chose rather to return to his Grave, and die again presently, than to abide in so troublesome and dangerous a Life: and told the Saint, That he was in Purgatory, and that yet he had something to suffer in satisfaction for the remnant of his sins: and that he had rather be secure of his salvation, al∣though it were by undergoing the rest of the pain and torment due to his for∣mer sins, than engage himself in the hazard and jeopardy, by embarking a∣new to be tossed in the stormy and tempestuous Sea of this wicked World. That he begged of him to beseech our Lord to remit and pardon him the rest of his Punishment, and to release him soon out of that Prison, and bring him to enjoy his glory in the blessed company of Saints. When he had said this, St. Stanislaus accompanied him to the Grave, and a multitude of peo∣ple went along with them. Peter laid himself down in his Tomb, and composed himself for his last Rest; and begging of all the Assembly for to recommend his Soul unto our Lord, died the second time, for to go to live eternally with Almighty God.

St. Teresa by her Prayers rescues a Person out of Purgatory.

A Certain Gentleman,* 1.3 who had given the Saint (viz. Teresa) an Inheritance for the founding of a Monastery in Valliodolid, not long after suddenly fell sick and died, and his Speech failing him, he was not able to make a full Confession, although he gave great signs of Contrition. She hearing of his Death, was much afflicted for him, fearing lest perhaps his Soul was damned; and as she was recommen∣ding him to God, our Lord told her, That his salvation had been in great danger, and that he had shewed him mercy for the service he had done his Mother, giving her a House for the building of a Monastery there of her Order, and that he should come out of Purgatory when the first Mass should be said there, and not before. The Saint having heard this, being so full of Charity as she was, for that she had always before her Eyes the grievous pains that this Soul endured, could find no repose until she had founded the Monastery. And to the end that we might know of the compassion that our Lord has of the Souls that are in Purgatory, and how pleasing and grateful that is unto him, which is done for them, himself one day, seeing that the Saint, by rea∣son of certain Affairs which occurred, made some delay to go to Vallio∣dolid to found the said Monastery, hastened her on as she was in Pray∣er, bidding her to make hast away, for that that Soul suffered much. And all was fulfilled as had been revealed unto her: for Mass being ended, and the Saint approaching to receive the Holy Communion, the Gen∣tleman who had been Master of the House and Garden, where she and her Companions now were, appeared unto her with a glorious and chearful countenance, and thanked her with joyned hands for that which she had done for his delivery out of Purgatory; and after this he mounted up to Heaven.

A Vision of Purgatory, Hell, and Paradise.

A Certain Husbandman, called Thurcillus,* 1.4 living at Tidstude a Vil∣lage in the Bishoprick of London, a person very hospitable to his capacity, while he was in his Field, Iulianus the Hospitator appeared to him, bidding him be ready at night, when he would call upon him, there being matters to be divinely shew'd him, that were beyond the apprehensions of Humanity. Accordingly he came, and bidding Thurcillus to leave his Body to rest in his Bed, for that his Soul was only to troop along with him.

Coming to about the middle of the World, they entred into a glo∣rious 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

Then came an Adulterer and an Adulteress, representing the very act of Copulation, with the most filthy venerial motions, and immodest postures, before the whole Assembly. And then becoming as it were distracted, they fell bitterly upon one another, changing their superfi∣cial Love into Cruelty and Hatred. And then were by the Infernals, in like manner as the former, as also all Fornicators are, with punish∣ments beyond description.

Then two Backbiters enter'd with wry faces and odd grimaces. The two heads of a burning Spear were put into their mouths; which knawing upon with distorted looks they quickly met at the middle, and then tearing one another, they all embru'd their faces with biting.

Then Thieves, Incendiaries, and Violators of holy places, were in∣troduc'd, and were rack••d by the Devils upon burning Wheels, and sundry other Instruments of torment.

The Rustick likewise saw near the entrance of the lower Hall as it were four Streets; the first was full of innumerable Furnaces and Caul∣drons fill'd with flaming Pitch & other Liquids, and boiling of souls, whose heads were like those of black Fishes in the seething Liquor. The second had its Cauldrons stor'd with Snow and Ice, to torment souls with horrid Cold. The third had thereof boiling Sulphur and other mate∣rials affording the worst of stinks for the vexing of souls that had wal∣low'd in the filth of Lust. The fourth had Cauldrons of a most horrid salt and black Water. Now sinners of all sorts were alternately tor∣mented in these Cauldrons.

Now returning to the Temple, upon the Mount of Joy, the Rustick had a sight of the introduction of pure white souls, and was made sensi∣ble how much they were help'd to the possession of eternal Joys, by the means of the Masses of their Friends in the World: nay, and saw ma∣ny of his Acquaintance dancing Attendance upon St. Michael for ad∣mittance. That Saint likewise shew'd him the several Mansions and Apartments of those that gradually mounted up to infinite Happiness; and how they at certain hours each day heard Canticles from Hea∣ven, as if all the sorts of Musick in the World had joyn'd in consort.

Then he led him to a place all bedeckt with infinite variety of Flow∣ers and Herbs, having a most clear Fountain branching it self into four streams of a various Liquor and colour. Upon this Fountain stood a most beautiful Tree of a wonderful bigness, and immense height, afford∣ing all sorts of Fruits, and the flavour of all Spices. Under this Tree, near the Fountain, lay a man of a graceful mien and Gigantick stature, having a Vestment on from his breast to his feet, of various colours and wonderful beauty: he seem'd to laugh with one Eye, and weep with the other. This is Adam, quoth St. Michael, who by his smiling Eye

denotes the joy he receives from the ineffable glorification of his Sons that are to be ••aved; and by the other weeping one, denounces the sorrow he undergoes on the account of the rebrobation of some of his Sons, and the just Judgment of God upon the damned. The Vest∣ment with which he is covered, but not a compleat Robe, is the Vest of Immortality and Glory, which he was stript of at his first prevari∣cation: for he began to receive this Vest from Abel his just Son, till now thro' the whole succession of his just Sons. And as the Elect shine with various Virtues, so this Vest is pictured of a various colour. When the number of the Elect Sons shall be compleat, then Adam shall be all o∣ver cloath'd with a Robe of Immortality and Glory; and so the World shall be at an end.

Then the Saint led the Rustick into a much more ravishing place than any yet seen, and there shew'd him St. Catharina, St. Margareta, and St. Ositha, whose beauty having admired, St. Michael bid St. Iulian con∣vey him back to his Body, and accordingly did so, but how is not known. He lay as it were in a Trance for two days and two nights after, but after that repairing to Church, he was sollicited by the Priest and his Parishoners to acquaint them with his Revelations; but he de∣clining so to do, St. Iulian appear'd to him the night following, and commanded him to gratifie them in that point. And in obedience to the Saint, he gave an account of his Vision in the English Tongue, with such Eloquence as created admiration in all his Auditors; and the more as having been known to have ever been a man of narrow sence and few words.

The occasion of the Institution of a set and solemn day, for the Praying for Souls out of Purgatory.

THE Cardinal Peter Damian, a very holy and very learned man,* 1.5 writes in the Life of St. Odilo Abbot of Cluny, (who died in the year of our Lord 1048) that a Religious man of France returning from Hierusalem, was by a Tempest carried to an Island or Rock, where there was an holy Hermite, who told him, that there hard by were great burn∣ing flaming fires, where the souls of the Dead were tormented; that he heard the Devils oftentimes howl and complain, for that by the Prayers and Alms of the Faithful, the pains which those souls suffered were mitigated, and the souls freed out of their hands; and that parti∣cularly they complained of Odiolo Abbot, and his Monks, for their care and vigilance in favouring and helping them: and conjured the Reli∣gious man, because he was a French-man, and knew the Monastery of Cluny, (as he said) and the Abbot Odilo, to entreat the said Abbot, and

to charge him in his name to persevere in that holy Exercise, and by his fervent Prayers and continual Alms, to endeavour to give refreshment to the souls of our Brethren that are tormented in Purgatory, that so the joy of the Blessed might be increased in Heaven, and the sorrow of the Devils in Hell. The Religious man returned into France, com∣municated that which he had heard of the holy Hermite with Odilo Abbot, and with all that blessed Congregation which was under his charge: And the Abbot ordained that in all his Monasteries, upon the second of November, the day after the Festivity of All Saints, should be made a particular Commemoration of the Dead, and that especial care should be used to succour and relieve them, by Prayers, Alms, and Mas∣ses. And that which St. Odilo instituted in his Convents, was after∣wards received and established by Apostolical Authority in the whole Universal Church. Peter Galefinus Protonotary Apostolical, says, that many write, that Pope Iohn XVI. instituted this Commemoration by the counsel and advice of St. Odilo. It is true, that Almarius Fortunatus Bishop of Trevers, who lived about 200 years before Odilo, in a Book of the Ecclesiastical Offices, which he wrote to Ludovicus Pius Empe∣rour, after the Office of the Saints, he puts that of the Dead; and he says that he did so, because many depart out of this Life, who do not go presently to Heaven, for whom that Office was wont to be said: which is a sign that even in his time this was done, as Cardinal Baronius has noted. And this is sufficient to declare the Institution of this Comme∣moration of the Dead, and the occasion of making of it.

Certain Revelations which the Saints have had concerning the Souls in Purgatory.

* 1.6St. Gregory the Great writes, that the Soul of Paschasius appeared to St. German, and testified unto him, that he was freed from the pains of Purgatory for his Prayers. When the same St. Gregory was Abbot of his Monastery, a Monk of his, called Iustus, now dead, ap∣peared to another Monk, called Copiosus, and advertized him, that he had been freed from the Torments of Purgatory, by thirty Masses, which Pretiosus, Prefect of the Monastery by the Order of St. Gregory, had said for his Soul, as is recounted in his Life. St. Gregory of Tours writes of a Holy Damzel, called Vitaliana, that she appeared to St. Mar∣tin, and told him, that she had been in Purgatory for a venial sin which she had committed, and that she was delivered by the Prayers of the Saint. Peter Damian writes, that St. Severin appeared to a Clergy-man, and told him, that he had been in Purgatory, for not ha∣ving said the Divine Service at due hours, and that afterwards God

had delivered him, and carried him to the company of the blessed. St. Bernard writes, that St. Malachy freed his Sister from the pains of Purgatory by his Prayers, and that the same Sister had appeared unto him, begging of him that relief and favour. And St. Bernard himself by his Intercession freed another, who had suffered a whole Year the pains of Purgatory: as William Abbot writes in his Life. And St. Rem∣bert, Archbishop of Bremes, fasting forty days for a Priest, called Ar∣nolfus, freed him out of Purgatory: and the same Arnolfus appeared to him, and gave him thanks for it, as Surius relates in his Life. And St. Thomas of Aquin, being at his Prayers, a sister of his, a religious woman, now dead, appeared unto him, and told him, how that she was in Purgatory: and afterwards she appeared to him again, giving him thanks for the benefit, which by the means of his Fasts, Prayers, and Masses, she had received, and for the glory which she now had in Heaven. Pope Benedict the Eighth, being now dead, appeared to St. Odilo Abbot, (of whom we spoke before) glorious and beautiful, and gave him thanks, with profound reverence, confessing, that by his Prayers, and the Prayers of his Religious, God had done him the favour to take him out of the prison of Purgatory, and to place him in Heaven amongst the Elect.

St. Martin raises one from the Dead.

WIthout the City of Poictiers, St. Martin built a poor Monastery for himself and for some of those that followed him.* 1.7 Amongst these was one, a Catechumen, who, when St. Martin was upon a time out of the Convent, fell sick of such a violent Disease, that within a few days it took away his life, and he died without being baptized. The Saint returned home, and found his Monks much afflicted, for what had hapned, and the Corpse of the dead Man, ready to be carried to the Grave: He approached near unto him, sad and disconsolate: looked stedfastly upon him with great feeling, and by a particular impulse from God, commanded them all to go out of the Chamber, and the Doors being shut, stretched himself upon the cold Body of the Dead Man, and making a servorous Prayer to our Lord, besought him to restore him to life: and our Lord did so, insomuch that those who were without, expecting the event, entring into the Chamber, to their great admiration and astonishment, found him alive, whom they were about to bury. The Catechumen they revived, received immediately the Water of Holy Baptism, and lived many years; and recounted how that his Soul being gone out of the Body, was pre∣sented before the Tribunal of God, and that it was condemned to be

in certain obscure and dark places, but that presently after it un∣derstood by the Angels, that St. Martin prayed for it, and that the Judge had commanded them to carry it back to the Body, and to pre∣sent it as from him to his Servant St. Martin.

Of Fishermen that fish up a Soul in a Piece of Ice.

THe Author of Purgatories, Knell, relateth from * 1.8 Antoninus of cer∣tain Fishermen, who drawing their Net to Land, found therein a massy piece of Ice, whereof they were not a little glad, because they knew it would be a welcom Present to Theobald their Bishop, who was exceedingly tormented with a burning heat in his Feet; Neither were they deceived, for it stood him in great stead. One day amongst the rest, as he was cooling his Gouty Toe, he heard a Voice from out of the Ice, whereupon he conjures it to tell, who or what it was. The Voice answers, I am a Soul afflicted for my sins in this Ice, and unless you say thirty Masses for me, thirty whole days together; I shall not be delivered. Theobald instantly betakes him to his Beads, and begins his task. Whilest he was at his work, there is News brought of an Army approaching to sack the Town. The Bishop is driven to give over his Devotion for that time. When the Hurly-burly was past, he falls to his Bus'ness the second time, but with as ill success; for then there arose a Civil Com∣motion in the Town. The third time he means to make all sure: but see, (as the Devil would have it) the whole City, with the Bishop's Palace, was all on a light fire; his Servants were importunate with him, to cast away his Book, and to provide for his own safety. Do what they could, they could not prevail. All the Answer they could get is this, that though the Town should be burnt to the ground, he is resolved not to give over, till he had made an end. To be short, he was as good as his word. Would you hear the issue? He had no sooner finished, but the Ice melted, the Soul was delivered, and the Fire va∣nished; neither was there any damage at all received. If this be not true, ask the Fishermen; Poor Souls, they little thought they had ta∣ken such a Booty.

The Choice of a Soul in Purgatory.

A Certain * 1.9 Author writes, that there was a Soul which had lain 30 Years in Purgatory, and at last there came an Angel, who did bid the Soul chuse, whether it would tarry yet one short Winter's day in Purgatory, or that it would return into the World again, and there do a marvellous hard Penance, to wit, for one long hundred

Years space, should go bare-foot, and tread still upon sharp Iron Nails, eat nothing else but brown Bread, and drink bitter Gall, mingled with Vinegar, and wear a Cloth of Camel's Hair next the Skin, and a Stone under the Head, in place of a Pillow. This Soul did chuse much rather to do all that same hard Penance on Earth, than to tarry one day longer in Purgatory.

Of the miraculous Efficacy of Alms and Prayers for Souls departed, in an Instance of their Extending to the Living when mistakingly applied.

THe Author of the Defence of Purgatory, and of Prayer for the Souls De∣parted,* 1.10 recounteth as from Bede in this his old English; how that in a fighten Field betwixt Egfride and Edeldred, two Princies of our Land, it fortuned that a yonge Gentleman of Egfrides Army, should be so grievously wounded, that falling down both himself without sense, and in all mens sights, stark dead, he was letten lye of the Ene∣mies, and his Body sought with care to be buried of his Friends. A Brother of his, a good Priest and Abbot, with diligence making search for his Body, amongst many happened on one that was exceeding like him, (as a man may easily be deceived in the alteration that streight falleth upon the Soul's departure, to the whole form and fashion of the Body) and bestowed of his Love, the duty of Obsequies, with solemn Memorials for the rest of him, whom he took to be his Brother decea∣sed: burying him in his own Monastery, and causing Mass to be done daily for his pardon, and Soul's release. But so it fortuned, that his Brother Huma, (for so was he caulled) being not all-out dead, within four and twenty Hours came reasonably to himself again: and gathering withal some strength, rose up, washt himself, and made means to come to some friend or acquaintance, where he might salve his Sores, and close his Woundes again: But by lacke of strengthe to make shifte, and by misfortune, he fel into his Enemies handes: and therby the Capi∣taine examined of his Estate, he denied himself to be of Name or De∣grie in his Coontry. Yet by the lykelyhoods that they gathered of his coomly demeanure, and Gentleman-lyke taulke, which he could hardly dissemble, they mistruste (as it was indeede) that he was a Man of Arms, and more than a Commen Souldear. Therfore in hope of good gaine by his raunson, they thought good after he was full recovered, for fear of his escape to lay Irons upon him, and so to make sure-work. But so God wrought, that no fetters could howld him: For every day once at a certaine houre, the bandes bracke lowse without force, and the man made free. The Gentleman marvailed at the case himself, but his

kepers and the capitaine were much more astoyned thereat, and straite∣ly examined him by what cooning or crafte he could with such ease set himself at libertie: and bare him in hande, that he used Characters or Letters of sum sorcery and which crafte, with the practise of unlaw∣full artes. But he answered in sadnesse, that he was alltogether unskil∣ful in suche thinges. Mary (quod he) I have a brother in my coontry that is a priest, and I knowne certainly, that he saithe often Mass for my soule, supposing me to be departed and slaine in batayle, and if I were in an Other Lyfe, I perceive my soul by his intercession should be so lowsed out of paines, as my body is now from bondes: The capitaine perceiving so much, and belyke in sum awe of Religion, seeinge the worke of God to be so straunge, sould him to a Londoner; with whome the same things happened in his bondes lowsing every day. By which occasión he was licensed to go home to his friends, and procure his ransom, for chargeing him with divers sorts of surest bands, none could sallfely howlde him. And so upon promisse of his returne or pay∣ment of his appointed Price, he went his wayes, and afterward truely discharged his Credit. Which doone by friendship that he fownd in the same Coontry, afterward returned to his owne parties, and to his bro∣ther's howse: to whome when he had uttered all the History of his straunge fortune, both of his misery and miraculous relieving, he enquired diligentlye the whole circumstance, with the howre and time of his daily lowsinge, and by conferring together, they fownde that his bondes brake lowse, especially at the very juste time of his celebration for his soule. At which times he confessed, that he was otherwise in his great adver∣sities often released also. Thus hath that holy Writer allmost word for word, and att thende he addeth this: Many hearing thus much of the Party himself, were wonderfully inflamed with faith and zeale, to pray, to give almese, an•• to offer sacrifice of the holy Oblation, for the delivery of theire wel-beloved frendes departed out of this life. For they understood, that the health∣full sacrifice, was availeable for the redemption of both Body and Soule everlast∣tingly. And this storie, did they that heard it of the Parties owne Mouthe, re∣ported unto me. Whereupon having so good proofe, I dare be bowlde to write it in my Ecclesiastical History. And thus much saithe Beda abowte eghte hun∣dred yeares ago, when our Nation being but yonge in Christianity, was fedde in the true Belief, by sundry wonderous Workes of God.

Allin's Defence and Declaration of the Catho∣lick Churches Doctrine of Purgatory, p. 211. Printed at Antwerp, by John Latius, with Priviledge, 1565.

St. Catherine of Sienna's Vision of a Soul in Grace.

St. Catherine of Sienna, conceived an ardent Desire to behold a Soul in Grace, and advantaged with all the Beauties thereof: Full of this Desire, she was no sooner departed from a Sermon, but she heard a Voice from He••v••n, saying unto her, Catherine, presently th••u shalt see the fruit of thy Desire. And retiring her self into her Oratory, she there besought God for the performance of his Promise, and suddenly beheld a Person of incredible Majesty, all circled about with Light, and shining with clear Splendor; at the sight of which, she was so wrap't in Admiration, and Reverence, as she presently prostrated her self be∣fore its Feet, with intention to adore it, had it not with these words pro∣hibited her: Catherine forbear, for I am not God, as thou imaginest? And who then? answered the Saint. I am, said It, the Soul of a certain Murtherer you prayed for, not long since, in seeing me led to Execution; who being new cleansed in the Fire of Purgatory, and going all purified to Heaven, after I shall have left you satisfied of your Desire by the Command∣ment of Almighty God.

An admirable Method to love, serve, and honour the Blessed Virgin Mary. Written in Italian by the R. F. Alexis de Salo, Ca∣puchin: And Englished by R. F. Permissu Superiorum, 1639. p. 179.

The Efficacy of the Rosary to free a Soul from Purgatory.

AT what time St. Dominick preached in the Kingdom of Aragon, a certain young Virgin of good account, called Alexandria, made Instance unto him, as he came down from out of the Pulpit, (where he had omitted nothing that might make for the Commenda∣tions of the Rosary,) to be admitted into the Sodality thereof; which she obtained, although for the rest, her Life was no ways according∣ly, she being one who spent much more time in adorning her Body, than to have her Soul well adorned. Now it hapned, that two Gentle∣men at once making Suit unto her, it was sufficient ground of Quar∣rel (as they in their Madness thought,) one to challenge the other in∣to the Field, where they both remained dead upon the place. The Friends of either hearing of this sad Accident, and imagining her (as it was true,) the Cause, to be revenged on her, they rushed into her House, and notwithstanding she desired, at least, but so much respite as to Confess her self; they would not allow it her, but presently cut off her Head, and threw it into a Pit. But our Blessed Lady, who

has ever a special care of her devoted Servants, (though never so de∣fective••) revealed the Fact unto St. Dominick, who, in order to her merci••ul Commands, went to the Pit, and called on Alexandria by her Name; when, behold! (a wondrous Accident,) the Angels, visibly, in sight of all the People, brought up the Head from the bottom of the Pit, which joined unto the Body. She besought the Saint to hear her Confession; which being done, she declared three Things, worthy of particular Note, arrived unto her both before and after she was dead. The first, That by vertue of her being of the Confraternity of the Ro••ary, she had a perfect Act of Contrition at the Instant of her Death, without which infallibly, she had d••ed Eternally. The second, That as soon as she was dead, the Devils putting her to great Asright, she was marvellously secu••ed and comforted by the glorious Queen of Heaven. The third, That for Penance, and satisfaction of the death of those two Gentlemen, she was condemned to Purgatory for Two hundred Years, and for Five hundred more, for her Vanity in Attire, the cause of that so lamentable effect; but that she hoped, by the Merits of the same Confraternity, to be soon delivered from that Pu∣nishment. And having said this, after she had remained alive two whole days, for the Confirmation of the Miracle, and to augment the Devotions of the Sodality, she left this Li••e again, whose Body was honourably Interred by the Sodalists there: When Fifteen days after, she appeared aga••n unto St. D••minick all in Glory, cloathed in resplen∣dent Beams of light, declaring unto him, after a world of Thanks for the inestimable benefits she had received of him, two Things of espe∣cial Note concerning this Devotion of the R••sary. The one was, That she was delegated to him from the Souls in Purgatory, with a Petition to be likewise inroll'd in the Sodal••ty, to receive the benefit of it amongst the rest•• The other, That the Angels much rejoiced at the Erection of this Sodality•• and that God instiled himself the Father of it, the Bles∣sed V••rgin the Mother, &c. And having said this, she flew away to Hea••en.

A Method to serve the Blessed Virgin Mary, p. 481, 482, 483, 484, 485.

Peter of Clugny, surnamed the Venerable, and esteemed in his time as the Oracle of France, was a man who proceeded in these Affairs with much consideration, not countenancing any thing either ••rivolous or light•• Behold the Cause, wherefore I w••llingly make use of his Au∣thori••y: He telleth, that in a Village of ••p••in, named the Star, there was a Man of Quality, called P••t••r of Engelbe••t, much esteemed in the World for his exc••llent Parts, and abundant Riches.

Notwithstanding the Spirit of God had made him understand the Vanity of all humane Things, being now far stepped into years, he went into a Monastery of the Order of Clugny, there the more piously to pass the remnant of his days, as it is said, The best Incense cometh from old Trees. He often spake, among the Holy Friars, of a Vision which he saw, when he as yet was in the World, and which he acknow∣ledged to be no small Motive to work his Conversion. This brute came to the Ears of venerable Peter, and who, for the affairs of his Order, was then gone into Spain. Behold the Cause why he, never admit••ing any Discourses to be entertained, if they were not well verified, took the pains to go into a little Monastery of Nazare, where Engelbert was, and to question him upon it in the presence of the Bishops of Ol••ron, and O••ma, conjuring him, in the virtue of Holy Obedience, to tell him punctually the Truth touching the Vision he had seen, whil'st he led a secular Life. This Man being very grave, and very circumspect in all he said, spake the words which the Author of the History hath couched in his proper terms.

In the time that Alphonsus the younger, Heir of the great Alphonsus, warred in Castile against certain Factions disunited from his Obedience, he made an Edict, That every Family in his Kingdom should be bound to furnish him with a Soldier; which was the Cause, that for Obedience to the King's Commands, I sent into his Army one of my Houshold Servants, named Sancius. The Wars being ended, and the Troops discharged, he returned to my House, where having some time so∣journed, he was seized by a Sickness, which, in few days, took him away into the other World. We performed the Obsequies usually ob∣served towards the Dead, and four Months were already past, we heard nought at all of the state of his Soul, when, behold! upon a Winters Night, being in my Bed, throughly awake, I perceived a Man, who, stirring up the Ashes of my Hearth, opened the burning Coals•• which made him the more easily to be seen. Although I found my self much terrified with the sight of this Ghost, God gave me Courage to ask him, Who he was, and for what purpose he came thither to lay my Hearth abroad? But he, in a very low voice answered, Master, Fear nothing, I am your poor Servant Sancius: I go into Castile, in the company of many Soldiers, to expiate my Sins in the same place where I committed them.

I stoutly replied, If the Commandment of God call you thith••r, to what purpose come you hither? Sir, saith he, Take it n••t amiss, for it is not with∣out the Divine Permission. I am in a state n••t despe••ate, and wherein I may be helped by you, if you bear any good will towards me. Hereupon I required what his Necessi••y was, and what ••uccor he expected from me? You know, Master, said he, that a little b••fore my death, you sent me into a place wh••re ordinarily men are not sanc••ified. Liberty, ill Ex∣ample, 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

Notes

• * 1.1

  Flowers of the Lives of the Saints, p. 223.
• * 1.2

  The Flow∣ers of the Lives of the Saints, p. 324.
• * 1.3

  The Flow∣ers of the Lives of the Saints, p. 793.
• * 1.4

  Matt. Pa∣ris, F. 181.
• * 1.5

  The Flow∣ers of the Lives of the Saints, p. 828.
• * 1.6

  Flowers of the Lives of the Saints, p. 830.
• * 1.7

  Flowers of the Lives of the Saints, P. 856.
• * 1.8

  Part 4. Sum Major. tit. 14. ca. 10. de Sep∣temp. Purg. Sect. 7.
• * 1.9

  Sermones discipuli de tempore, & de sanctis promptu••∣rio exemplo∣rum, in the 160 Serm. of the Souls.
• * 1.10

  Of Prayer for Souls Departed, P. 211.