The dialogues of S. Gregorie, surnamed the Greate: Pope of Rome: and the first of that name deuided into fower bookes. Wherein he intreateth of the liues, and miracles of the saintes in Italie: and of the eternitie of mens soules. With a shorte treatise of sundry miracles, wrought at the shrines of martyrs: taken out of S. Augustin. Together with a notable miracle wrought by S. Bernard, in confirmation of diuers articles of religion. Translated into our English tongue by P.W.

OF THE DEPARTVRE OF A poore man, sicke of the palsey, called Seruulus.

CHAPTER XIIII.

HEre also we haue to knowe, that often tymes at the death of Gods seruauntes, heauenly musicke is hearde, to the end that whiles they gi∣ue willing eare to that melodye, the soule may haue no leysure to feele, when it departeth from the bodye. For I remember that in my Home∣lies vpon the Gospell, I tolde howe in that porche which is in the waye to S. Clements Churche, there laye a cer∣taine man called Seruulus, whom I doubt not but you also do remember: who as he was poore in welth, so ri∣che in merites. This man had longe tyme bene a••••cted with sickenes: for from the first tyme that I knew him, to the very last hour o•• his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 neuer

can I remember but that he was sicke of the palsey, and that so pitifully, that he could not stande, nor sitt vp i•• his bedd: neither was he euer able to putt his hande vnto his mouth, or to tur∣ne from one side to the other. His mo∣ther and brethren did serue and atten∣de him, and what he gott in almes, that by theire handes he bestowed vpon other poore people. Reade he coulde not, yet did he buye the holy scriptu∣res, which verye carefull ye he caused such religious men as he entertained, to read vnto him: by meanes whereof according to his capacitie, thoughe as I saide he knewe not a letter of the booke yet did he fullye learne the holy scripture. Very carefull he was in his sicknes alwaies to giue God thanckes, and day and nighte to prai∣se his holy name.

When the tyme was come, in which God determined to rewarde this his great patience: the paine of his bodye strooke inwardlye to his harte, which he feeling, and knowing that his last houre was not far of, called for all such strangers as lodged in his house, desi∣ring them to sing hymnes with him,

for his last far well and departure out of this life: and as he was him selfe sin∣ging with them, all on a suddaine he cried out a loude, and bad them be si∣lent sayinge: do ye not heare the great and wonderfull musicke which is in heauen? and so whiles he lay giuing of care within him selfe to that diuine harmonye, his holy soule departed this mortall life: at which tyme all that were there present, felt a most pleasa∣unt and fragrant smell whereby they perceiued howe true it was that Seruu∣lus saide. A monke of myne, who yet liueth was then present, and with ma∣ny teares vseth to tel vs, that the swee¦tnes of that smell neuer went awaye, but that they felt it continually vntill the tyme of his buriall.

Notes

• Homelia 15.
• Mer••••.