Gilbert

ON SAINT GILBERT

Bishop of Caithness in Scotland.

ABOUT THE YEAR 1240.

Gilbert, Bishop of Caithness, in Scotland (St.)

G. H.

[1] Caithness is the last Northern province in the kingdom of Scotland, very near to the Orkney Islands, under which formerly were also contained the neighboring provinces of Sutherland, Strathnaver, Edir-da-Cheulis, and Assynt.

Over these in the 13th century presided Bishop St. Gilbert, Memory in the Martyrologies: inscribed in various calendars on the present day: of whom Greven in the Supplement of Usuard makes mention thus: "Of Gilbert, Bishop of Caithness and Confessor." Which the same words, copied thence, are read in the German Martyrology of Canisius. But Ferrarius in his General Catalogue refers to him thus: "In Moray of Saint Gilbert, Bishop of Caithness": to which Dempster adds in his Scottish Menology, "Who piously and strenuously defended the Scottish Church against the impotence of the English." Saint Gilbert had formerly been Archdeacon of Moray, between which province and Sutherland (in whose city Dunrodden the Bishops of Caithness afterwards resided) lies the rather widely extended province of Armanothia.

David Camerarius in his Scottish Menology celebrates him with this longer eulogy:

[2] "Saint Gilbert, Bishop and Confessor, most celebrated to this day in the Caithness province of Scotland: Eulogy in Camerarius, for he is held as the Patron and tutelary saint of the people of Caithness. And with good reason: since through the encouragement and vigilance of this holy man, they emerged from the mire of vices, and no few hospitals for the poor were erected in that province: and various other monuments of piety, built by himself, are to be seen; which display the piety of this holy man, and the paternal love toward the people of Caithness, to the eyes of those who behold them. Saint Gilbert was of Moravian origin, and a most ardent defender of the liberty of the Scottish Church against the bold attempts of the Archbishop of York: whence afterwards he received the Bishopric of Caithness, as a token of the liberty of the Scottish Clergy which he constantly defended and strongly won. Liberty of the Churches defended: Concerning this liberty vindicated, under King William XCIII, John Leslie writes these things: 'Hugh the Cardinal, Legate from the Supreme Pontiff, visited England: he summoned the Bishops from all Scotland to Northampton on a certain day: when all had come on the day, for that observance which they owed to the Supreme Pontiff, he exhorted them to obey the Archbishop of York. Gilbert, a Moravian youth, instructed in true piety and intimate learning, argued most keenly on the contrary, with polished oration and supported by the strength of reasons: that the Scottish Church, which hitherto had fulfilled the measures of its duty in the highest liberty, should not now at last be pressed down by alien power, as by a kind of servitude.' He afterwards received the Bishopric of Caithness, as the reward of the liberty of the Scottish Clergy constantly defended and strongly won: and because he was distinguished in the highest sanctity of life, and shone with miracles both living and dead, with the highest veneration, was numbered among the Divine ones, and worshiped by all." So Leslie, whom being cited, the earlier things John Azor relates in part 2 of his Moral Institutions book 3 on the 4th precept of the Decalogue, chapter 36.

[3] Hector Boece, in book 13 of the History of the Scots, expounds at length the proposition of Hugh the Cardinal to the Bishops of Scotland, and subjoins that response of Saint Gilbert: The response of St. Gilbert. "Already from when they had received the Christian faith, Scotland had been free, subject to no one outside their own region, except to the one Pontiff, as Vicar of Christ. It was unjust now for the Pontiff to demand that the Scots be subjected to the English, with whom they waged almost continual wars. But if he sought piety and concord among them, first, nothing anywhere had been committed by the Bishops, on account of which they ought deservedly to be deprived of their liberty. Next, it was not needful to cast abroad a seedbed of new wars among foreigners: if anything among them worthy of correction (which hitherto has not been the case) should be committed, that would be the King's concern. But piety and the other virtues if they sought, they had distinguished men in virtues

and erudition: who by their labors and vigils teach. Therefore the King most greatly besought and entreated the Supreme Pontiff, that for the present he be content; nor to make his kingdom, which had never ill deserved of him or of the Roman See, subject to its enemies." Then it is added: "The matter therefore being unaccomplished, the Legate departed. This Gilbert, afterwards made Bishop of Caithness, while he was among the living, was a man of a certain wonderful holiness of life; and therefore, after he had satisfied the necessity of nature, and had laid down that fragile body of human nature, he was received into the number of the Divine ones." Thus far Boece.

[4] The letter which Pope Clement III then wrote to William, King of Scotland, his death about the year 1240. on the exemption of the Churches of his land, Roger of Hoveden published, in the latter part of the Annals of England under Henry II; Matthew Paris, and the collectors of Councils. The letter was given at the Lateran on the 3rd of the Ides of March, in the first year of his Pontificate, which was the year of Christ 1189. But King William remained alive until 1214: whom his son Alexander then succeeded, under whom Saint Gilbert being ordained Bishop, presided over his diocese for more than twenty years, so that his death may be referred to about the year 1240. Camerarius in his Menology adds these things: "They relate that Saint Gilbert at death said to those standing by: Admonitions before death: Three things I commend to you, which I myself in life always kept. To harm no one: and if anyone should be harmed, not to seek revenge on the one harming. Second, to bear patiently the scourges which God sends upon us: for he chastises every son whom he receives. Third, to obey Superiors and Rulers, and to be an offence to no one."

[5] To these we subjoin a compendium of his life, from the ancient Aberdeen Breviary, distributed there into six Lessons, which on his feast, on the first day of April, were accustomed to be recited at Matins: where the Lessons of the Third Nocturn were assigned from the exposition of the Gospel: "Watch, because you know not at what hour your Lord will come," etc. The rest from the Common of a Pontiff and Confessor, except this Antiphon at the Magnificat with its Oration:

"Gilbert taught the norm of charity to all,

Who has already shone with miracles of divine virtue, And gave all his things to works of piety."

"O God, who willed Blessed Gilbert the Pontiff to be marked by the curing of many infirmities, Oration, and by miraculous acts; make us, through his intercession of merits, to be healed from the languors of soul and body; and to come to the glory which you have conferred on him."

COMPENDIUM OF LIFE.

From the Aberdeen Breviary.

Gilbert, Bishop of Caithness, in Scotland (St.)

BHL Number: 3528

[1] Scotland, through the most illustrious princes William and Alexander, most strenuous Kings of the same region, for very many courses of time, surrendered to the dominion under their empire with diadem and scepter; in the northern part of that kingdom, a man of great continence, probity, and faith through times of this kind, Gilbert by name, flourished distinguished in works and miraculous deeds, and shone with virtues; who although from the stem of sufficiently noble Nobles of the kingdom of Scotland had taken his lineage; yet by the honor of the faith of Christ and good morals had existed much more noble and more illustrious. St. Gilbert of noble stock,

[2] In his boyhood years given over to the studies of letters, in the times of adolescence and youth he emerged sufficiently learned. But when he had come to a more perfect age, Archdeacon of Moray, on account of the eminence of his knowledge of the divine Scriptures and the excellence of his honorableness, he was allotted the name and honor of the Archdeaconship of the Church of Moray. Meanwhile, as much as he had advanced in years of age, so much did he profit in wisdom and grace with God and men, praising everywhere in his deeds the Omnipotent God himself and the Saints.

[3] Having perceived therefore by the aforesaid Kings the sagacity of his prudence and circumspection, in both temporal and spiritual things, they set him over individually for the things to be done for the Kings in the northern part of Scotland, set over the northern part of Scotland by the King, and for the guarding and building of castles, and the repair of other buildings for the use of the King and the commonwealth. Wherefore he was held almost hateful by many of that region, and they machinated by means by which they could to stir up enmity between himself and the King. For the account books, in which for the account to be rendered to the King, he used to put in writing the individual things received by him, as the times required, the account books burned, he receives again unharmed. malevolent men secretly at night set on fire: and when these had been consumed, by the King, through the persuasions of those who hated him, he was summoned. Doubtful what he should do, lest he fall into the hatred of the King himself, with prayer poured out to God, the account books formerly burned by fire, are restored unharmed in their entirety.

[4] But several courses of years having passed, the man devoted to God, the Lord Adam Bishop of Caithness, having been slain by some of his own diocesans, Adam, Bishop of Caithness, slain by his own people, with not the least ferocity, with deadly arms brought to death; King Alexander aforesaid, certified of the execrable deed of such a crime, lest that unspeakable and most atrocious crime should be left unpunished, all the male sex of those criminals, up to the fourth and fifth generation (the ones who had laid hands on the anointed Bishop having been slain and crushed for this), immediately had castrated: and soon, with the strengthened assent of all the people and Clergy, by divine grace of the Holy Spirit they took Blessed Gilbert as Bishop, is substituted: and asked that he be consecrated: which also was rightly demanded.

[5] Consecrated therefore as Bishop of Caithness, he ruled his diocese more than twenty years, and governed it on earth. he restores speech to a mute: When a certain miserable man deprived of speech had come to Blessed Gilbert for the restoration of the same speech, and unceasingly entreated him; the man of God moved by piety, by his prayer to God, for him, first making the sign of the Cross, touching his tongue with the thumb of the right hand, at once he was restored from then to his former speech, and spoke rightly, blessing God, who had given such power to his Confessor of healing the sick from languors.

[6] he makes the salmon fishing fruitful. A hired fisherman possessed the salmon fishery, from the Lord of that land of Caithness, on assurance for a certain sum of money: who when he had laid out much money for the sake of fishing, that thence he might satisfy the Lord from the said fishery, and by such sterility of the waters had caught nothing at all; and fearing lest the fatal time for the courses of salmon should roll round soon; asked Blessed Gilbert with earnest mind, to wash his holy hands in the said water, whence he might draw salmon fry to the land. The washing of the sacred hands having been made, the salmon swam to the said fisherman more abundantly; and what he should give back to the Lord, with a hundred-fold interest, they brought back to him. After very many other distinguished miracles, Blessed Gilbert, He dies on April 1. full of grace and great strength, on the Kalends of April flew to the heavens above the sky; and in the Church of Caithness, built with his own hands, he rests in blessed peace hitherto, upheld by and illustrious for various miracles.

ON BLESSED THOMAS OF TOLENTINO, JAMES OF PADUA, PETER OF SIENA, AND DEMETRIUS THE LAY BROTHER,

Martyrs of the Order of St. Francis in India.

IN THE YEAR 1322.

Thomas of Tolentino, Martyr, of the Order of Francis in India (Bl.)

James of Padua, Martyr, of the Order of Francis in India (Bl.)

Peter of Siena, Martyr, of the Order of Francis in India (Bl.)

Demetrius the Lay Brother, Martyr, of the Order of Francis in India (Bl.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

[1] Among the Apostolic men, who formerly from the Order of St. Francis traversed the Indies and the other regions of the East, with zeal for planting the Christian faith, Blessed Odoric or Oderic stood out, surnamed of Portu-Naonis or of Friuli: whose Life we have illustrated on the 14th day of January. The Acts of the Martyrdom, written by B. Odoric, He returned from the East into Italy in the year 1330, and himself described his own pilgrimage, and in it the martyrdom of these Blessed Brothers of his Order, whose sacred bodies he carried to the convent of his Order, then established in the Indies. This history of his pilgrimage, or book On the Marvels of the World, we had in a very old codex, which Brother Henry of Glatz, of the Order of Minors, at Prague, in the year of Christ 1340, transcribed. The history of the martyrdom of these Blessed Brothers, formerly excerpted thence, are published from two MSS: exists in a noteworthy Passional MS of the monastery of Bödeken of the Regular Canons of St. Augustine in the diocese of Paderborn, which copied thence our John Gamans sent to us, with this title: "Here begins the passion of the four holy Brothers Minor, which is on the Kalends of April": which day is below at number 6 confirmed by these words: "The glorious men completed their martyrdom in the year of the Lord 1322, They suffered on April 1, on the Kalends of April, in the year 1322, before Palm Sunday." So Odoric in both manuscripts. Another testimony of this martyrdom offered Brother Jordan of the Order of Preachers, in a letter given at Thana in India, where, he says, "My holy companions were martyred," and thus it begins: "Let the venerable paternity of you all know, that I am alone without a companion in India, a poor little one and pilgrim: where after the passion of my companions of the Order of Friars Minor, namely Thomas the Saint, and James the glorious, Peter and Demetrius the blessed Martyrs, On the fifth feria before Palm Sunday: for my sins demanding it, I have been allowed to live… and there after the happy martyrdom (which was on the fifth feria before Palm Sunday at Thana in India), I have baptized many in various places… But I, after the martyrdom, coming to Thana, even buried the bodies of the Saints." So Brother Jordan, whose whole letter Luke Wadding published, volume 3 of the Minor Annals, on the year of Christ 1321 number 14, judging that in that year the martyrdom occurred. But all the indicated characters fall on the following year 1322, in which with cycle of the Moon XII, of the Sun XV, Dominical letter C, Easter was celebrated on the 11th day of April, and the Kalends of this month fell on the fifth feria before Palm Sunday, so that nothing could be indicated more accurately.

[2] But because the year in the French manner was begun by various persons at Easter, it was still counted by them the preceding 1321, and this having been afterwards abandoned, (since the history of B. Odoric was lacking) inquiry was made into the fifth feria before Palm Sunday, not on April 9 of the year 1321, which in that year fell on the 9th day of April, when Easter was celebrated on the 19th day of April: and by this reasoning they were referred to April 9 in the Franciscan Martyrology of Arthur du Monstier. The said year 1321 Wadding begins with these words: "With glorious martyrdom they underwent this year, on the 5th of the Ides of April, the fifth feria before Palm Sunday, four illustrious champions of the faith of the Order of Minors, Brother Thomas of Tolentino, Brother James of Padua of the province of St. Anthony, Brother Peter of Siena of the province of Tuscany, and Brother Demetrius the lay brother of Tafelicio, a Georgian by nation, interpreter of the Brothers; who had an excellent command of the Eastern languages." Thus Wadding there: who in the Catalogue of Martyrs, together with the Writers of the Order of Minors printed at Rome, assigns another day of Martyrdom with these words: "Thomas of Tolentino, James of Padua and Demetrius the lay brother, in the year 1321 on the

13th day of April, at Thamna a city of the Saracens, with very many torments for the faith of Christ endured and overcome, victors migrated to heaven." So there, with Peter of Siena omitted through the carelessness of the scribes, whose name being before indicated under the letter P, the reader was sent back to Thomas of Tolentino. But the 13th day of April is indicated by others, nor on April 13 of the year 1318, as if they had died in the year 1318, when Easter was celebrated on the 23rd of April. For the 13th day was thus assigned by Arthur du Monstier in the first edition of the Franciscan Martyrology, where meanwhile in the Notes he marks the year 1321 and the fifth feria before Palm Sunday. But April 13 in that year fell on the second feria after Palm Sunday. The same Arthur wished to emend the detected error in his later edition, and referred the martyrdom of these to March 9. But, having seen these so solid Acts, or March 9 of the year 1319. if the Martyrology be reprinted, it can be referred to the Kalends of April; on which day, in the year 1322, on the fifth feria before Palm Sunday, they obtained the palm of martyrdom. Abraham Bzovius in the Annals twice refers to the martyrdom of these champions, namely in the year 1319 and in the year 1321. But in vain do we relate the conjectures of those who either did not have the ancient monuments, or the leisure to examine them.

[3] These things about the time of the Martyrdom. The place is assigned in the Acts as Chana or Chanaa, by others Thana, Tanaha, or Thamna, where they came driven by a contrary wind, when they had embarked on a ship in Ormes: we call it Hormuz, a city situated in the gulf of the Persian sea. Nicholas Orlandini, in book 11 of the History of the Society of Jesus, number 87, places Tanaa in the Salsettes of Bazain, and "this is Tanaa," he says in number 88, The place of Martyrdom is Tanaha in India. "once a city, as even at this time the traces show, great and magnificent, now a middling town: which Consalvius began to raise far above its ancient felicity, with many of the inhabitants enrolled in the town of heaven." Thereafter there was erected there a College of the Society of Jesus, with various residences round about. Maffei often mentions Thana in his Indian History, and in book 9: "Hali the leader, having seized a lighter vessel, went to Thana and thence to the town of Bazain": and under the end of the said book, "The dynast of Thana, with a yearly tribute imposed, was received into trust by the Portuguese." Of this tribute then paid he makes mention in book 10.

[4] B. Thomas on account of his zeal to observe poverty He who is placed first of all, and was the senior to the rest, Thomas of Tolentino, is often mentioned by Wadding in the Minor Annals. And first in the year 1275, that is 47 years before the martyrdom: when as a Defender of ancient poverty, but with a zeal, as it seemed to others, indiscreet, with a certain Raymond and Peter of Macerata, with two others enclosed in prison in the year 1275, he was stripped of the habit, and in a certain hermitage was enclosed in prison as a schismatic: from which in the following year he was called forth, and after a three-day disputation with Brother Benjamin, a veteran Doctor, he was gently brought along with his companions to the opinion of the others. But they returned in the year 1289 to their previously conceived affection for poverty, which Wadding so explains in number 24: "Pious men also, and again in the year 1289. zealots of their institution, of whom a copious succession was never lacking in the Order, were vehemently distressed by so many manifest transgressions of the rule, especially in the province of the March. Many came out in public, at the head of whose band were those three champions of poverty, of whom we have treated above, Brother Raymond, Brother Thomas of Tolentino, and Brother Peter of Macerata, and they resisted to the face the masters of laxer discipline… But others, judging them as authors of schism and disturbers of religious peace, to perpetual prisons, first threw three into chains, those whom we have mentioned, leaders of the others: and lest a tumult should arise in the Order, it was enacted by another law, that none of them should dare to defend their causes, or call those unjustly condemned."

[5] But when in the following year 1290 Raymond Gaufridi was made Minister General, "nothing," says Wadding in number 10, "did he so care for from his election, brought out by the order of the General in the year 1290, as to lay to rest the troubles of the Order and of the province of Picenum… He examined the cause, on account of which those religious men, whom we said above, had been cast into chains. Nor could those Fathers give any solid reason, other than that their zeal was too much and superstitious about the observance of poverty. 'And would,' he said, 'that I and the whole Order labored under this sin,' and he ordered that they be brought to him. Receiving them as they came with open arms, with affable and placid words he spoke to them, and persuaded them to forgive their persecutors from the heart, to persist firmly in their pious resolve, and to know that they would have in him a diligent helper in promoting the observance of holy poverty. But to escape the persecutions of others, he decided to send them, with three other men of the same spirit, by him sent to the King of Armenia: to the King of Armenia, from whom a little before he had received letters: in which he asked that some men of this institute be sent to him, both for the solace of his soul and of his people, and to instruct the people, who were very many, who were daily coming to the faith of Christians. But the Brothers sent by him, and received by the King of the Armenians as Angels of heaven, others did not cease to harass. For Paul of Marchia was then acting as Guardian of Ptolemais, Companion of the Minister of Picenum, who was present when they were cast into chains; and he accused them before James, Minister of the province of Syria: in whom he put such an opinion of them, that he forced him to write sinister things to the Armenian, accused before him by his own, and to warn him to beware of them, as schismatic men and cut off from the Order. The King on receiving the letters called in his intimate Councillors, and at their suggestion having called the Fathers to him, inquired of them about many things, and warned them to show him the obediential letters of their Prelates. When he read and saw that they were highly commended by the Chief of the Order, he exhorted them to be of good courage, and spread out before them the letters of the Minister of Syria. They, in order to refute the calumny, narrated the whole matter in order: which having been understood, the King conceived a better opinion of them, and wrote to the Minister General, rendering innumerable thanks, he is received with greater affection; that he was pleased to send to him not common, but perfect men, whom he would venerate as disciples of Christ."

[6] In the year 1292 sent by him as Legate into Europe. The kingdom of Armenia did not remain long in quiet, with the Saracens infesting it in the year 1292; "to whose innumerable and most powerful army," says Wadding in number 1, "while the Armenian judged that he, unequal in strength, could not resist them; he sent his Legates, Brother Thomas of Tolentino and Brother Marcus of Monte-Lapone, and the noble man Gaufridus Comitissae, to signify to the Pontiff and the Kings of France and England, in what a miserable state his affairs and those of Christians, everywhere exposed to the barbarous ferocity of the Saracens, were. The Pontiff pitying so great a calamity… sent the same messengers to the Kings of France and England, with letters given, in which he commends them, that for Divine and Apostolic See reverence they be kindly received, and in the affairs of the aforesaid King the ears of piety be applied, and the mind of royal favor be extended. They arrived at Paris at the time of the general Chapter, and is praised at Paris in the General Chapter. and with the letters delivered to Raymond the General, rendered many thanks in the King's name, for the Brothers sent to him, whom he venerated as Angels of God. The letters delivered contained this very thing, which the Minister had read in the public assembly. And that noble Legate added more, making full faith of the integrity of life and excellent morals of the aforesaid Brothers." So Wadding in number 14.

[7] The said Legates afterwards returned to Armenia: and then in the year 1302, as the same Wadding has in number 8, "Brother James of the Mountain and Brother Thomas of Tolentino, having traversed Armenia, crossed to Italy; and obedience being paid to the Minister General, together with Conrad Offidan asked license to depart to the East to the parts of the infidels with twelve companions; alleging that they, while they were conversing in those parts, a second time in the year 1302 returned from Armenia, had perceived that the harvest was very copious, and the fields already white for harvest, nor was anything lacking except workers. The Chief easily assented to the pious desire, and permitted that they themselves, (whom he knew to be honest and perfect men), should choose those twelve companions… With the companions chosen crossing the sea, they landed at Negropont; then at Thebes. They learned here of tumults stirred up between those Brothers and the province of Romania, with new companions he goes to the East; and being asked, they interposed their labors to reconcile the dissenting parties." So there, with the rest of the journey and labors in the East among the Tartars passed over: which one may conceive from the return of the said Thomas to Europe, in the year 1307 for the third time returned to Europe, in the year 1307: when "Brother Thomas of Tolentino," (again the words of Wadding in number 7), "returning from Tartary, who for many years had preached among infidels, and coming to Italy, approached the Roman curia beyond the mountains in Gascony, where Pope Clement was staying with the Cardinals; where he first announced these great things to Brother John of Muro, formerly Minister General of the Friars Minor, and then Cardinal; and Brother John reported to the Lord Pope and the Cardinals. With the fruit of the mission reported to the Pontiff, Brother Thomas having been called into the consistory before the Lord Pope, Cardinals, and Prelates, in a distinguished sermon recited these admirable works of our God, so marvelously begun and continued through Brother John of Monte-Corvino and other Brothers; asking the Lord Pope and the Cardinals, that direction be given, that this work of God might be increased and perfected." So there. By the mandate of the Pontiff, seven Friars Minor were created Bishops, and sent into the interior of Tartary, and into the regions of India: nor do we doubt that with them returned Thomas of Tolentino, he obtains 7 Bishops. having been made a leader of the journey; and spent the rest of his life in converting infidels to the faith, which God crowned with the palm of glorious martyrdom. His skull afterwards was carried from India to Italy, His skull is preserved at Tolentino. and is preserved with great veneration at Tolentino, and his feast day is honored there; on which the people of Tolentino open public fairs. So the same Wadding on the year 1399, number 30.

[8] B. James of Padua. Another of the Martyrs is James of Padua, whom Bernardinus Scardeonius, in book 2 of the Antiquities of the city of Padua, class 6, page 111, adorns with this title: "On Saint James the Martyr of Padua": and so begins the eulogy: "James the Martyr was of the same Franciscan Order, but from what Family he was born at Padua, no one can truly say: but it is agreed that he was of the common people." There is in the Paduan territory the castle of Piove di Sacco with a Franciscan monastery, whence, whether he was born from the Castle of Piove di Sacco, says Wadding on the year 1399 number 50, "they relate that Blessed James the Martyr, surnamed of Padua, took his origin; perhaps, because Scardeonius wrote that he was of the common people,

who at the end of the eulogy adds these things: "After a brief space having passed in that region, whether declared Martyr by Benedict XI? he obtained that celestial crown of martyrdom from God in heaven, and here on earth was rightly and deservedly decorated with the name of holy martyrdom by Benedict XI the Supreme Pontiff, together with his companions. His natal day is celebrated in the Holy Week of Easter, on the 4th feria." Thus there. The predecessor of Benedict was John XXII, which John XXII had assigned. with whom the Brothers had acted for the canonization of these Saints, to whose requests he had indicated he would subscribe. But with the controversy arising and growing about the poverty of Christ, and the schism of Peter Corbari, whom Cesena and the other Minorites adhered to, he easily put off what he had before proposed. So Wadding on the year 1321, number 15.

[9] B. Demetrius from where? The third who suffered on the same day, was Demetrius the lay brother, whom the Acts below surname "Zortzanus," either from the city of Sarzana, which is on the borders of Etruria under the Genoese? Wadding says he was Georgian by nation and surnames him "of Tafelicio." Pisano at folio 95 calls him "Demetrius of Tefolio the Virgian." The fourth, who two days later was killed, was Peter of Siena; Whether B. Peter was a lay brother? whom Arthur du Monstier asserts was also a Lay Brother, which is not had in the Acts.

ACTS OF MARTYRDOM

By the Author Blessed Odoric of Portu Naonis.

From two MSS.

Thomas of Tolentino, Martyr, Order of Francis in India (Bl.)

James of Padua, Martyr, Order of Francis in India (Bl.)

Peter of Siena, Martyr, Order of Francis in India (Bl.)

Demetrius Lay Brother, Martyr, Order of Francis in India (Bl.)

BHL Number: 8264, 8265

BY THE AUTHOR B. ODORIC. FROM MSS.

CHAPTER I.

The Martyrdom of the Blessed Thomas, James, and Demetrius.

[1] There is a city in middle India, which is called ^a Thana. This city was of old very great, for it was the city of King Porus, who joined battle with Alexander the Great. The people of this land are idolaters; for they worship fire, serpents, and trees. This land is ruled by Saracens, who seized it violently. In this city of Thana four Friars Minor suffered a glorious martyrdom. For when these Brothers were in ^b Hormuz, they hired a ship to go to Polumbum. When sailing in it, with a contrary wind blowing, they were carried as far as Thana. There are fifteen houses of Christians there; They come to Thana: namely, of the Nestorians, who are schismatics and worst heretics. And when they had disembarked from the ship, they received hospitality in the house of one of them. Where, while they remained, it happened that a quarrel arose between their host and his wife, who struck her severely for a second time. She, not being able to bear his afflictions, went to ^c the Cadi, which means the Bishop of a certain city, and before him complained of her husband. When the Cadi asked her whether she could prove what she said or bring witnesses, she answered: "Four Raban Franks, that is, Religious men, are in my house, who can bear witness of all things." As the woman was thus speaking, a certain man of Alexandria stood by, who asked the Cadi to send for them: "and since they are men of the greatest knowledge, understanding the Scriptures well, therefore it would be good to dispute about the faith with them."

[2] Hearing this, the Cadi sent for them, and they were brought, three brought to the Cadi, namely Brother Thomas of Tolentino, Brother James of Padua, and Brother Demetrius Zortzanus, who was a Lay Brother, knowing those languages very well. But Brother Peter of Siena was not with them, because he had then gone out of the house for the completion of some business. He therefore began to question the three aforementioned Brothers, and to inquire much about our faith. The Saracens also standing by, disputing against them, said that Christ was only a mere man, and not God. Then Brother Thomas showed them that Christ is true God and man, they defend the divinity of Christ: with reasons and examples; and so greatly did he confound the Saracens, that they had no counter-argument. But the Cadi, seeing that he could not profit in the inquiry into our faith, began to lead them to answer him about his own sect; and specifically what they thought about Mohammed and about his law. But they answered: "As we have proved by strong reasons that Christ the Son of God is true God and man, who gave the Evangelical law, which is the most excellent, to all to be saved on earth; but Mohammed came, who made a most vile law contrary to this: if you are wise, you can best know what is to be thought of him." Then the Cadi with the Saracens cried out with loud voices: they condemn Mohammed and his followers: "What do you say of Mohammed?" Brother Thomas answered: "He is the son of perdition, and with his father the devil is set in hell: where all will be with him, who keep his pestilential law, which is wholly against God and the salvation of souls." But the Cadi drawing his sword and brandishing it over their heads, began vehemently to insist that they should confess Mohammed to be a great Prophet and messenger of God. They with steadfast mind repeated the same things which they had said before.

[3] But they unanimously made an attack upon the happy Brothers, bound they are exposed to the heat of the sun, afflicted them with insults and blows, then bound hand and foot exposed them to the sun, that by the power of the heat their bodies might be extinguished: for the heat there is so intense, that if anyone stood in the sun for the space of one Mass, he would utterly die. But they glorifying God remained in the sun from the third to the ninth hour, cheerful and sound. Seeing these things the infidels took counsel, and said to the Brothers themselves: "We wish to kindle a great fire, into which you being cast, if, as you say, your faith is just, the flame will not harm you; but if evil, you will be consumed by the fire." The Brothers responded, saying: "O Cadi, we are ready for fire, prisons, and all kinds of torments which you will wish to inflict upon us, to endure for our faith: nevertheless you ought to know this, ready to endure fire and whatever torments, that if the burning of the fire should burn us up, do not believe that this proceeds from the defect of our faith; but from our sins, on account of which God could permit us to fall into temporal death; this always being preserved, that our faith is so perfect and good, that without it no one ever could attain eternal salvation."

[4] But when it had been ordered that the Brothers be put into the fire, the rumor sounded through the whole city: whence all of both sexes, small and great, hastened to the spectacle. A copious fire therefore being kindled in Maydan, that is, in the square of the city, Brother Thomas, fortifying himself with the sign of the Cross, wished to enter that fire. Whom a certain Saracen seized by the hood, saying: "Do not enter the fire: because you are ^e old, and have experienced many things in the world: perhaps you have something about you, by whose virtue the fire would not act about you: but allow another younger one to go first." Thomas is not permitted to enter the fire: Then four wicked men seizing Brother James strove to cast him into the flames: to whom he said: "Let me alone, for I shall voluntarily enter this fire for my faith." Not caring for his words, they cast him into the fire. James, cast in, But the fire was so great and high, that he being inside could hardly be seen. Yet with the wind blowing and sometimes pressing down the flames, the voice was heard invoking the name of the Virgin. The fire therefore being totally consumed, invoking the name of Mary, remains unharmed: Christ's athlete was standing upon the coals, with his hands extended in the manner of the Cross, with sound body and pure heart praising the Lord. Seeing this the people began unanimously to cry out: "These are saints: these are just: it is impious to kill them. Now indeed we have not only heard, but also seen how just their faith is." Brother James therefore being called by them from the fire, came out unharmed. But the Cadi crying out against the people, called out saying: "He is not a saint, nor just; but he is not consumed by the burnings of fire, because the tunic in which he is clothed is of wool from the land of Abraham; which wool, it is said, can long endure in fire." Again the fire is kindled, again naked and anointed with oil, he comes out unharmed: and with oil and fat poured on it, it was twice or thrice larger than before: then Brother James is stripped of his clothes, and anointed with oil on his whole body, naked he is pushed into the fire. But Brother Demetrius and Brother Thomas; outside the fire on bent knees, most devoutly supplicated the Creator of all. But by the grace of the Most High, as with an Angel descending from the heavens, the fire forgot the force of its power: and Brother James, it being totally consumed, as before came out unharmed. But the people cried out with a loud voice: "It is a sin to kill them, since they are saints and friends of God."

[5] Moved by this duty, Melich, that is, the Power or Justiciar of the city, calling Brother James to him, had him clothed in his own garments, and said: "Now we see, Brothers, that you are just, dismissed, they are sent away to a neighboring town: and your faith best and perfect: only depart from this city and land quickly, because the Cadi is working as hard as he can, in order to save the faith of Mohammed utterly to extinguish you." But it was then about the hour of Compline. But the whole people of Saracens, and all the idolaters stupefied and terrified cried out saying: "So many and so great marvels have we seen from these Saints, that we do not know whom we should believe." Melich therefore ordered the Brothers to be transported across a certain arm of the sea, which was a little distant from that city; and caused that man in whose house they had formerly been hosted in Thana to accompany them. Transported therefore to a certain suburb, in the house of a certain idolater they had hospitality.

[6] Meanwhile the Cadi went to Melich, saying to him: "What have we done, by letting go these Raban Franks, who have done so many and such great marvels in this city? which the simple people seeing, having left the law of Mohammed, will be wholly converted to their law. You ought also to know that Mohammed himself in the Alcoran, that is in his law, commanded that if anyone should kill one Christian, he would have as much merit for it as if he made a pilgrimage to Mecca. Where it is to be noted that the Alcoran is called the Law of the Saracens; but Mecca, the place where the body of Mohammed lies; and there the Saracens go, as Christians to the Sepulcher of the Lord or to other holy places." Then Melich said to the Cadi: "Do as you wish, with four lictors sent and as your mind has desired." The Cadi therefore taking four armed men, sent them after the Brothers,

to kill them. But as they came to the water, night came; and so being prevented by the darkness, they did not follow them until near midnight. In the meantime Melich had all the Christians in Thana seized and committed to prison. But when midnight had come, the Brothers arose to perform the Office of Matins to the Lord. Soon those four men rushed into the house, and seizing the Brothers, led them outside the suburb, under a certain tree, and said to them: captured they are led outside the town at night, "Brothers, you ought to know that we have the mandate from the Cadi and Melich to kill you: which although we do unwillingly, since you are just and holy men, yet we dare not do otherwise. For if we do not obey their orders, we ourselves with our wives and children will die." The Brothers answered saying: "We know that through temporal death we shall obtain eternal life, therefore fulfill more diligently what has been commanded to you; for our faith and the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, whatever torments you inflict upon us, we are ready humbly to endure." That man also, who had accompanied them, manfully answered those four lictors, sharply arguing with them about their infidelity, for he said: "I also am of the same faith, and I confess him whom these preach, and I shall be subject to the same sentence." and for the faith of Christ are cruelly killed, But they, not attending to his words, stripped the blessed Brothers of their garments: and Brother Thomas, with his hands firmly bound in the manner of a cross, they made a Martyr of Christ by the cutting off of his head. Likewise one of them cruelly seizing Brother James by the beard, split his head with a sword as far as the eyes, and after this cut it off entirely. But one transfixed Brother Demetrius with a sword through the breast, and with the cutting off of his head sent him to the reward of those above. The glorious men completed their martyrdom, in the year of the Lord 1322, in the year 1322 on April 1, on the Kalends of April, before ^f Palm Sunday.

[7] But the Divine Majesty showed their souls crowned in heaven, while in their passing it displayed certain miracles on earth. For suddenly, not without the astonishment of all, the shadow of that night was illuminated; night is illuminated. and the air, before dark, shone with the greatest brightness: likewise the moon also showed an unusual light and splendor. A little after, three times voices and thunders and lightnings came, so that all cried out that the peril of death was threatening them. That ship also which they had hired, to go to Polumbum, but which had violently brought them to Thana, with all things that were in it, was plunged into the deep, which otherwise had never been heard of in that sea.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER II.

The Martyrdom of B. Peter, the Judge punished, the bones of all translated by B. Odoric. Miracles.

[8] But in the morning ^a the Cadi sent to take the things of the holy Martyrs, and Brother Peter of Siena was found, Peter is seized on April 2, who with the three Brothers had not been presented: whom seizing they led to the Cadi. But the Cadi sweetly addressing him, promised great gifts, if he would deny the faith of Christ and profess the Saracen faith. Whose words he derided with fine answers, and despised his gifts. Then they began to afflict him for two days with diverse kinds of torments. On the third day ^b when Christ's soldier remained constantly in his holy resolve, and in vain suspended, they hung him by his throat to a certain tree. There he hung from morning until night, feeling no injury at all. But taking him down about twilight, he is divided by a sword. they divided him through the middle with swords. But in the morning they found nothing of his body: but to a certain trustworthy person it was revealed, that the Lord had hidden him until the time, predetermined by the good pleasure of His will.

[9] ^c On that day when the Most Holy Brothers completed their martyrdom, Melich had given himself to sleep, lying in his bed: and behold the glorious Martyrs appeared to him, The Judge is terrified by the Martyrs appearing to him: shining like the sun, each holding swords in their hands, and brandishing them over Melich, as if they wished to divide him. Seeing which, from fear, he bellowed like an ox, so much so that his whole household roused came running to him, asking what was the matter, or what he wanted. Waking up and at last returning to himself, he said: "Those Raban Franks, whom I had killed, coming here were threatening me with death by their swords." But Melich sent for the Cadi: to whom narrating all that he had seen, he consulted him what he should do, to avoid such a peril. Therefore the Cadi advised him, that for those Brothers who had been killed he should build a great church, if he wished to escape their hands. At whose counsel Melich sent for all the Christians, whom he had shut up in the prison, humbly asking pardon from them, for that he had inflicted many evils on them. After this he established a precept, that if anyone should offend any Christian, he should be punished with death: then he permitted all the Christians to go freely. Moreover Melich himself ordered that four mosques, He builds churches to the Martyrs: that is churches, be built in memory of the blessed Martyrs: and in each church he had Saracen Priests reside.

[10] But, since it is impossible to please God without faith, the infidel Melich himself was suddenly followed by divine vengeance. For the Emperor hearing that the said Brothers had been consumed by so miserable a death, sent that Melich being captured and with his hands bound should be brought. He is ordered to be killed with his family by the Emperor. Whom the Emperor looking upon said: "Why did you act so cruelly against those Brothers." To whom he responded: "I permitted them to die so rightly, because they wished to subvert our law, and they spoke evil of Mohammed the prophet of God." The Emperor said: "Most cruel dog, yet you saw that the Lord twice freed them from fire, how did you dare to inflict such tortures on them?" And when he had thus rebuked him most gravely, he ordered him to be split through the middle with his whole family; so that as he had made the blessed Brothers suffer death, he should suffer such a death.

[11] In this land a very bad custom is preserved: for never is any dead body buried; but the corpses are left in the fields, where from the excessive heat they are quickly corrupted and briefly consumed: The bodies of the Martyrs long incorrupt are translated by B. Odoric, whence also the bodies of those Brothers lay a good fourteen days, fresh and whole, as on the same day on which they underwent martyrdom. Seeing which, the Christians in ^d that land, took the bodies, and with great reverence (which would be long to tell), committed them to burial. Then I Brother Odoric of Friuli, hearing that the happy Brothers had migrated from this world through martyrdom, came there: and with the graves opened, I humbly and devoutly took up their bones, and wrapped them in beautiful linen cloths, and brought them to upper India, to a certain place of our Brothers, with one Brother as companion and a servant.

[12] ^e Also Almighty God, who by the Prophet is said to be wondrous in his Saints, also through these Saints willed to show his wonders. through them he escapes a fire, For when I was so bearing those sacred bones on the way; in the house of a certain man I received hospitality: and when late I went to rest, I placed those bones at my head, and slept. And behold suddenly the house, by Saracens threatening death to me, is set on fire: and with my companion and servant going out of the house quickly, I alone was left in the flames. Set therefore in a tight place, I took the holy Relics; and with the help of God and the suffrage of the Saints invoked, I gathered myself in one corner of the house. The wondrous mercy of God, which does not withdraw itself from those who piously call upon it, protected me. Three corners of the house were totally burned, with only that one safe in which with trust I sat. As I at last left the fire without injury, that whole house and very many adjoining it were utterly burned.

[13] Another thing also happened to me going on the way: for when I was going by sea toward the city which is called ^f Polumbum, where pepper grows abundantly, the necessary wind failed entirely. Wherefore the idolaters invoking their Gods, that they might deign to grant them a favorable wind, profited in nothing. Then the Saracens by praying labored much, nor yet could they obtain wind by their supplications. After this all who were on the ship commanded my companion and myself, saying: "Rise and adore the Lord your God, and if through your prayers we obtain safety, we will bestow the greatest honor on you: but if not, we will submerge you with those bones in the sea." he obtains a favorable wind, Then we rising with trembling, yet having trust in God, who is near to those who are troubled in heart, promised prayers to God and to celebrate many Masses to the glorious Virgin. But when even so we had not the desired wind, I cried out to the Lord Jesus Christ, that through the merits of those Brothers he would deign to hear our desire: and taking one bone of the sacred Relics, with one bone cast into the sea I gave it to our servant secretly, and commanded him that he go to the head of the ship, and cast that bone into the sea without delay. Which when it had been done, the Lord magnified his Saints, and us crying to himself in their name, he mercifully heard: for soon came the wind of the desired prosperity, which in safety led us to the port.

[14] The rest of the bones are sought in vain by the impious: But when we had come to Polumbum, we boarded another ship, that we might come to upper India, as has been said. I crossed to a certain city ^g named Sandon, where two places of our Brothers

are built, that we might place the holy Relics there. But in this ship there were seventy idolatrous men, besides certain other merchants. But these idolaters have this custom, that before they land at a port, they search the whole ship, considering what is in it; and especially if they find there bones of the dead, they at once throw them into the sea. But when they were thus searching in the ship, although they were in great quantity, yet they could never find or touch them; with the Lord God, who had already hidden their souls in the hiding-place of his face, concealing their bones from the infidels. We therefore came to the place of the Brothers, they are deposited in the temple: and there the bones of the blessed Martyrs, with great, as was fitting, reverence, we buried; and so even to this day Almighty God works miracles, not only in his faithful, but even in infidels: for both idolaters and Saracens, when they are held by some disease, take some of that earth, on which the blessed Martyrs poured out their blood; and washing it, drink that washing: they shine with miracles. and many at once are freed from all sickness, at the bestowing of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.