The holy court in five tomes, the first treating of motives which should excite men of qualitie to Christian perfection, the second of the prelate, souldier, states-man, and ladie, the third of maxims of Christianitie against prophanesse ..., the fourth containing the command of reason over the passions, the fifth now first published in English and much augemented according to the last edition of the authour containing the lives of the most famous and illustrious courtiers taken out of the Old and New Testament and other modern authours / written in French by Nicholas Caussin ; translated into English by Sr. T.H. and others.

The twelfth SECTION. The retreat of Hermingildus, and his Conversion.

HErmingildus who knew nothing of what had passed, beholding her somewhat pase, and weakened with such harsh usage, asked her if she felt any pain of body, or affliction of mind, to dis∣colour her so much more than ordinary; but the wise Princess replied, It was nothing, and that there was not any thing so important, as to be worthy of his knowledge.

He, who well perceived that she by her discretion dissembled some great affront, enquired very curi∣ously of those who might inform him, and some∣what too soon discovered the cruel disgrace, which his mother-in-law Goizintha had put upon his wife. This transfixed him with a dolour so sensible, and so enkindled him with fire and choller in his heart, that if the fear of God, and the sweetness of his wife had not served for a counterpoize to his passion, he had torn this wicked Queen in pieces. But the good Indegondis prostrating her self at his feet, besought him by all that which was most noble in him, not to precipita••e the matter into such extremities, and pre∣vailed so well with her natural eloquence, that he was contented to remove presently from the Court, and retire to Sevil, which his father had given him for his lively-hood.

Then was the time, when those chast loves, which had been crossed by the disturbances of Goizintha, all obstacles being overcome, enlarged themselves as a river, which having broken his banks, poureth it self with a victorious current in the wideness of his channel. Hermingildus could not sufficiently satisfie himself to behold so many virtues in so great a beau∣ty: the modesty, which she had witnessed in this last disgrace, gave him apprehensions of her piety above all may be said.

Those, who seek nothing in marriage but sensual pleasure, which is more thin than smoke, and much lighter than the wind, cannot imagine how much these fair amities, which are the daughters of vir∣tues, nourish holy delights. These are celestial fires, which are ever in the bosom of God, as in their sphere: It is he, who begetteth them, and breedeth them, they being not constrained to descend upon earth, to beg a caytiff nourishment from perishable creatures, which promise so many wonders, and pro∣duce nought but wind.

These two great souls beheld one another with the eyes of the dove, and were mutually enflamed with affections so honest and innocent, that Angels

would not be ashamed to entertain the like fires, since they are those of charity, which is the eternal fur∣nace of all souls the most purified.

Indegondis perceiving she had already great power in the affection of her husband, and that there was no longer any step-mother to dissolve her designs, sollicited him seriously for his Conversion, and said:

Sir, I must confess unto you, the honour I have received from your alliance seemeth not accom∣plished, whilest I behold between us a wall of divi∣sion, which separateth us in belief and Sacraments. Since our amities are come to that point, as to en∣joy all in common, and that they unite things most different, why should we divide God, who is most simple of nature? Why should we make two Re∣ligions and two Altars, since we now live in such manner, that we have but one table, one heart, and one bed?

Verily, Sir, if I saw the least ray of truth in the Sect you profess, and some hope of salvation, I would submit thereunto, the more to oblige me to your person, which I love above all the things in the world. But it is most undoubted, that you are ill rectified, that you pursue a fantasie in stead of a verity, and that dying in this state, you loose a soul so noble, which I would purchase with expence of my bloud. I boast not to be learned, as you Arians, who have so many goodly allegations of Scripture, that you make the ignorant believe God is all that which to your selves you imagine.

Sir, I for my part think the chief wisdom in mat∣ter of religion, is, not to be so wise as you are, and to have a little more submission of spirit; for faith is the inheritance of the humble, and never doth the day of God shine in a soul, which hath too much light of man. You well see this heresie of the Ari∣ans is a revolted Band, which hath forsaken the high way, to wander cross the fields: you are not ignorant, that this Arius was a wicked Priest, who raised an heresie for despight, that he was not made Bishop; and was rejected, and solemnly condemn∣ed in a Councel of three hundred and eighteen Bishops. These men were wise enough for you and me; I fix my self upon their resolutions, I follow the generality of the Church, I adhere to the bo∣dy of the tree, and you tie your selves to a rotten branch. I have no argument more strong, than the succession of lawfull Pastours, than the conformi∣ty of the Universal Church, than the succession of all Ages, than the wisdom, sanctity, and piety, which I see resplendent on our side.

Besides, I come from a Countrey where we have seen all the Arian Kings our neighbours round a∣bout, to have had most unhappy ends: when in the mean time my great grand-father, King Clodovaeus, for having sincerely embraced Catholick Religion, received so many blessings from Heaven, that he seemed to have good hap and victories under his pay. I am not the daughter of a Prophet, nor do I vaunt to have the spirit of prophesie; but I dare well foretel, the Kingdom of Spain, shall not be of long continuance, unless it vomit out this pesti∣lence of Arianism, which lies about the heart of it: I would to God, with expence of my life, I might establish my Religion, then should I account my self the most contented Queen of the world.

Hermingildus knew not what to answer to the strength of truth and love, two the most powerfull things in the world; onely he said it was a business which well deserved to be pondered, and that these changes in persons of his quality are subject to much censure, if they have not great reason for caution. The good Princess to give him full leisure to advise thereupon, handled the matter so by her industrie, that he conferred with S. Leander, who was a strong pillar of the Catholick faith in Spain. The sage Pre∣late so well mannaged the spirit of this Prince, that with assistance of God, and the good offices of Inde∣gondis, who moved Heaven and earth for this con∣version, he drew him from errour. This brave cou∣rage so soon as he saw the ray of truth, needs would acknowledge and freely confess it, taking the Chrism of Catholicks with pomp and solemnity, even to the giving a largess of golden coyns, which he purposely caused to be stamped a little too sudden∣ly, making his own image to be engraven thereon, with a motto; which said, Haereticum hominem devita: that is to say, we must avoid an Heretick; alluding to his father Levigildus.

Disputation, which concerneth the estate of Prin∣ces is a ticklish piece; where the most part of those who speak of it, use their own interest for text, and their passion for Commentary. Silence and peace, which are the two mansions of a good conscience, are of much more worth, than all the questions which enkindle divisions. I think the best doctrine is that, which best knoweth how to cement up concord a∣mong Miters, Diadems, and Crowns, entertain the obedience of people towards their Sovereigns, and if there be verities, which are the daughters of the abyss, and silence (as those Ancients said) to leave them in the house of their father and mother, where, though they nought avail, they shall ever be better lodged than in publick.

It is not vice, but the times, which divideth Saints, and every one thinketh an affair probable, which he hath taken upon the byass of his own understanding. S. Leander approved the separation of Hermingildus in Spain: S. Gregorie of Towers blamed it in France. I enter not into all the considerations of them both, but I think this Prince took ways too violent in his beginnings, levying arms against his father, which were not according to the counsel of his wife; and I will have no other Authour, but himself, since he condemned his own design, so soon as he began to become holy.