The flowers of the liues of the most renowned saincts of the three kingdoms England Scotland, and Ireland written and collected out of the best authours and manuscripts of our nation, and distributed according to their feasts in the calendar. By the R. Father, Hierome Porter priest and monke of the holy order of Sainct Benedict, of the congregation of England. The first tome.

The life of Sainct WILLEICK Priest, and Confessor monck of the holy order of S. Benedict.

MAR. 2. Out of Marce∣line in the life of S. Swibert.

S. WILLEICK borne in England went ouer into lower Germanie,* 1.1 where togeather wich S. SWIBERT, and other English Benedictine Monks he preached CHRISTS ghospell to the Pagans, and conuerted manie to the true fayth. He was one of the first Monk-Canons of the new Cathedrall Church of Vtrei••ght, where, he who had left the world with a pure intention, soe sincerely endeauoured to perfect him self in the seruice of CHRIST IESVS, that he appeared as a sweet vessell of vertues to the rest of his brethren. For from his youth he had liued allwaies with the great S. SWIBERT, in the continuall exercise of prayer, continencie, and meditation of the holy scriptures, euer striuing to make him self as pure wax, to receiue the impression, and seale of that worthie Saincts vertues. He was skillfull in holy scriptu∣res, and well practised in the Latin, and Dutch tongue: verie clo∣quent in his discourse, but meeke, and humble in his behauiour, a conquerour of wrath, and couetousnes, a despiser of pride, and vaine glorie, and a comfortable father to the poore, and sickly. For whom carefully to prouide, he was inclined not only out of an innate pie∣tie of mind, but made that appeare by his great labour, and paines taken in prouiding, and succouring their necessities him self. He con∣uerted allsoe manie Heathens, through the Prouinces as he trauelled, from the venom of Idolatrie, to the sweetnes of CHRIST fayth.

II. AFTERWARDS being made Priour of S. SWIBERTS Benedictine monasterie at Werdt, he became a true mirrour, and paterne of all * 1.2 true vertues to his brethren, whereby manie by his example, and au∣thoritie, were curbed within the rules of a regular life. Neyther was he profitable with his vertues, and good example to the monasterie only, but by his deuout exhortations, and pious sermons, he con∣uerted the neighbouring poeple from the sottish customs of their

Idolatrous life, to the loue of CHRIST, & heauenly things. And the greatnes of his vertue, and meritt was testified by miracle. For being on a time at Cullen with the most deuout Dutchesse Plectrude (of whom mention is made in the life of S. SWIBERT) one Gothebald a chief man of the towne lay languishing vnder the pittilesse burden of such a cruell disease, that depriued of all vse of his limmes, he seemed indeed to be quite dead; when his funerall rites were allrea∣die prepared, and his graue gaped to receiue him. In the meane time Marie (that was his wiues name) obtained of the Dutchesse to haue Willeick the disciple, and priest of great S. SWIBERT to come visitt * 1.3 that diyng man. Who coming into the chamber; and hauing made his prayers to allmightie God, he gaue him his benediction; when presently the sick man arose in perfect health out of his bed, gaue thanks to the supreme giuer of all goodnes, and sate at table with the rest in great ioy, and alacritie, and S. Willeick (whose companie he much desired) could hardly be drawne from his deuotions of thanks giuing to take his repast with the rest. Herevppon the deuout Dutchesse Plectrude held this holy man in farre greater honour, and esteeme, thē before, yeelding infinite prayses to the omnipotent wor∣ker of wonders. But S. WILLEICK, hauing gouerned his monasterie * 1.4 the space of thirteene yeares in all, tenne after the death of his master S. SWIBERT, in great holines of life and conuersation, gaue vp his blessed soule to the neuer-dieing rewards of his labours, to beare a part in the quire of Benedictin Monks in heauen. He died the second day of March, in the yeare of Our Lord 727. At whose tombe in testimonie of his vertues, and holy life, were wrought maine mira∣culous cures of diseases. Of him make mention, besides the foresayd Mar∣celline, Trithemius in his 3. booke and 167. chap. of the famous men of S. Benedicts Order, Molanus in his additions to Vsuard, Wion in his Benedi∣ctine Martirologe, and others.

Notes

• * 1.1

  S. Willeick a Monk-Canon of Vtteicht in low Ger∣manie.
• * 1.2

  He is ma∣de Priour of the Mo∣nasterie of Werdt.
• * 1.3

  He cureth a sickman.
• * 1.4

  His death.