按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
buried honourably； sending to acquaint the Fathers of the Convent
therewith； that they might come to say their Vigilles； according to
precedent custome； and then on the morrow to fetch the body。 The
honest Friar that had confessed him； hearing he was dead； went to
the Prior of the Convent； and by sound of the house Bell； caused all
the Brethren to assemble together； giving them credibly to understand；
that Master Chappelet was a very holy man； as appeared by all the
parts of his confession； and made no doubt； but that many miracles
would be wrought by his sanctified body； perswading them to fetch it
thither with all devoute solemnity and reverence： whereto the Prior；
and all the credulous Brethren presently condiscended very gladly。
When night was come； they went all to visit the dead body of
Master Chappelet； where they used an especiall and solemne Vigill； and
on the morrow； apparelled in their richest Coapes and Vestiments； with
bookes in their hands； and the Crosse borne before them； singing in
the forme of a very devoute procession； they brought the body
pompeously into their Church； accompanied with all the people of the
Towne； both men and women。 The Father Confessor； ascending up into the
Pulpit； preached wonderfull things of him； and the rare holinesse of
his life； his fastes； his virginity； simplicity； innocency； and true
sanctity； recounting also （among other especiall observations） what
Chappelet had confessed； as this most great and greevous sinne； and
how hardly he could be perswaded； that God would grant him pardon
for it。 Whereby he tooke occasion to reprove the people then
present； saying； And you （accursed of God） for the verie least and
trifling matter hapning； will not spare to blaspheme God； his
blessed Mother； and the whole Court of heavenly Paradise： Oh； take
example by this singular man； this Saint…like man； nay； a very Saint
indeede。
Many additions more he made； concerning his faithfulnesse； truth；
and integrity； so that； by the vehement asseveration of his words
（whereto all the people there present gave credible beleefe） he
provoked them unto such zeale and earnest devotion； that the Sermon
was no sooner ended； but （in mighty crowds and throngs） they pressed
about the Biere； kissing his hands and feete； and all the garments
about him were torne in peeces； as precious Reliques of so holy a
person； and happy they thought themselves； that could get the smallest
peece or shred of any thing that came neere to his body： and thus they
continued all the day； the body lying still open； to be visited in
this manner。
When night was come； they buried him in a goodly Marble tombe；
erected in a faire Chappell purposely； and for many dayes after
following； it was most strange to see； how the people of the Country
came thither on heapes； with holy Candles and other offerings； with
Images of waxe fastened to the Tombe； in signe of Sacred and solemne
Vowes； to this new created Saint。 And so farre was spread the fame and
renowne of his sanctity； devotion； and integrity of life； maintained
constantly by the Fathers of the Convent； that if any one fell sicke
in neede； distresse； or adversity； they would make their Vowes to no
other Saint but him： naming him （as yet to this day they do） Saint
Chappelet； affirming upon their Oathes； that infinite miracles were
there daily performed by him； and especially on such； as came in
devotion to visit his shrine。
In this manner lived and died Master Chappelet du Prat； who before
he became a Saint； was as you have heard： and I will not deny it to be
impossible； but that he may bee at rest among other blessed bodies。
For although he lived lewdly and wickedly； yet such might be his
contrition in the latest extreamity； that （questionlesse） he might
finde mercie。 But； because such things remaine unknowne to us； and
speaking by outward appearance； vulgar judgement will censure
otherwise of him； and thinke him to be rather in perdition； then in so
blessed a place as Paradice。 But referring that to the Omnipotents
appointment； whose clemencie hath alwayes beene so great to us； that
he regards not our errors； but the integrity of our Faith； making
（by meanes of our continuall Mediator） of an open enemy； a converted
sonne and servant。 And as I began in his name； so will I conclude；
desiring that it may evermore be had in due reverence； and referre
we our selves thereto in all our necessities； with this setled
assurance； that he is alwayes ready to heare us。 And so he ceased。
THE FIRST DAY； THE SECOND NOVELL
WHEREIN IS CONTAINED AND EXPRESSED； THE LIBERALITY AND
GOODNESSE OF GOD； EXTENDED TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
Abraham a Jew； being admonished or advised by a friend of his；
named Jehannot de Chevigny； travailed from Paris unto Rome： And
beholding there the wicked behaviour of men in the Church； returned
backe to Paris againe； where yet （neverthelesse） he became a
Christian。
The Novell recited by Pamphilus； was highly pleasing to the company；
and much commended by the Ladies： and after it had beene diligently
observed among them； the Queene commanded Madam Neiphila （who was
seated neerest to Pamphilus） that； in relating another of hers； she
should follow on in the pastime thus begun。 She being no lesse
gracious in countenance； then merrily disposed； made answere； that
shee would obey her charge； and began in this manner。
Pamphilus hath declared to us； by his Tale； how the goodnesse of God
regardeth not our errors； when they proceede from things which wee
cannot discerne。 And I intend to approove by mine； what argument of
infallible truth； the same benignity delivereth of it selfe； by
enduring patiently the faults of them； that （both in word and worke）
should declare unfaigned testimony of such gracious goodnesse； and not
to live so dissolutely as they doe。 To the end； that others
illumined by their light of life； may beleeve with the stronger
constancy of minde。
As I have heeretofore heard （Gracious Ladies） there lived a
wealthy Marchant in Paris； being a Mercer； or seller of Silkes；
named Jehannot de Chevigny； a man of faithfull； honest； and upright
dealing； who held great affection and friendship with a very rich Jew；
named Abraham； that was a Merchant also； and a man of very direct
conversation。 Jehannot well noting the honesty and loyall dealing of
this Jew； began to have a Religious kinde of compassion in his
soule； much pittying that a man so good in behaviour； so wise and
discreete in all his actions； should be in danger of perdition
thorow want of Faith。 In which regard； lovingly he began to intreate
him； that he would leave the errors of his Jewish beleefe； and
follow the truth of Christianity； which he evidently saw （as being
good and holy） daily to prosper and enlarge it selfe； whereas on the
contrary； his profession decreased； and grew to nothing。
The Jew made answer； that he beleeved nothing to be so good and
holy； as the Jewish Religion； and having beene borne therein； therein
also he purposed to live and dye； no matter whatsoever being able to
remove him from that resolution。 For all this stiffe deniall；
Jehannot would not so give him over； but pursued him still day by
day； reitterating continually his former speeches to him： delivering
infinite excellent and pregnant reasons； that Merchants themselves
were not ignorant； how farre the Christian faith excelled the Jewish
falshoods。 And albeit the Jew was a very learned man in his owne
Law； yet notwithstanding the intire amity he bare to Jehannot； or
（perhaps） his words fortified by the blessed Spirit； were so
prevailant with him； that the Jew felt a pleasing apprehension in
them； though as yet his obstinacie stoode farre off from Conversion。
But as he thus continued strong in opinion； so Jehannot lefte not
hourely to labour him： insomuch； that the Jew being conquered by
such earnest and continuall importunity； one day spake to Jehannot；
saying。
My worthy friend Jehannot； thou art extremely desirous； that I
should convert to Christianitie； and I am well contented to doe it；
onely upon this condition： That first I wil journey to Rome； to see
him whom thou sayest； is Gods general Vicar here on earth； and to
consider on the course of his life and manners； and likewise of his
Colledge of Cardinals。 If he and they doe appeare such men to mee；
as thy speeches affirme them to be； and thereby I may comprehend
that thy Faith and Religion is better then mine； as with no meane
paines thou endevourest to perswade mee； I will become a Christian
as thou art： but if I finde it otherwise； I will continue as I am； a
Jew。
Jehannot hearing these words； became exceeding sorrowfull； and sayd
within himselfe； I have lost all the paines which I did thinke to be
well employed； as hoping to have this man converted heere。 For； if
he go to the Court of Rome； and behold there the wickednes of the
Priests lives； farewell all hope in me； of ever seeing him to become a
Christian。 But rather； were he already a Christian； without all
question he would turne a Jew。 And so going neerer to Abraham； he
said。 Alas my loving friend； why shouldst thou undertake such