ON S. WILLIAM MARTYR AT ROCHESTER IN ENGLAND.
Life from the Legend of John Capgrave.
William Martyr, at Rochester in England (S.)
BHL Number: 8930
BY G. H.
The memory of this holy Martyr is inscribed on this 23rd of May in the Supplement of Greven to Usuard, printed in the year 1515 and 1521, in these words: Sacred cult. "Of William Martyr of Rochester, whose body when it lay hidden, divinely through miracles was revealed." Which plainly the same things are read in the Germanic Martyrology of Peter Canisius, with only the title of holy Martyr added. John Molanus, in his additions to Usuard, has these things: "In England, in the city of Rochester, the passion of S. William." Ferrarius in the general Catalogue thus mentions him: "At Rochester in England of S. William the Martyr," and cites the Tablets of the Church of Rochester, and the Anglican Martyrology, in which he is said to have been buried with great solemnity in the Cathedral Church of Rochester, dedicated to S. Andrew, and there with due honor and veneration his natal day to be celebrated. The same reports David Camerarius in the Scottish Menology, Life from the Legend of Capgrave. citing the Chronicles of Scone, which we have not seen, and reports the Life and martyrdom from the English Legend of John Capgrave, just as we here subjoin.
[2] A Scot by nation, So Blessed William the Martyr was born in Scotland, in the city of Perth, which is commonly called St. John's-Town. Who when he was still flourishing with the bloom of youth, embracing secular wantonness, until the time which the heavenly Father had disposed in his power, is converted from secular life: like a dry wood remained unfruitful. But the beautiful things of the desert germinated, while this wood in its time bore fruit, watered by the water of saving wisdom. At length when the down sprouting hairs came forth by nature disposing, and gave to the youth's mother cheeks dissimilar, into another man suddenly he was changed. And taking heed indeed for the future, he emptied those things which were of the little one, and chastised his body, a baker, he gives the tenth loaf to the poor: and forced his flesh to serve the spirit. By the baker's art, which he had learned from youth, sustaining his little household, the tenth loaf out of regard for charity to the poor he distributed; that among the heaven-dwellers with the bread of Angels he might merit to be refreshed. Therefore this man simple, and upright and fearing God, and turning from evil, in the people appeared most mild, father of orphans, defender of widows, a diligent helper of the poor existing. Nor in God's service did this true Christian remain at any time tepid, but daily the thresholds of holy Mother Church he frequented.
[3] But on a certain dawn while it was still dark, he takes care of an exposed infant to be raised, approaching before the doors of the temple of the Lord for devotion's cause, he found a wailing infant, wrapped in cheap and rough little rags. Whose misery the Saint pitying, secretly seized the little one, handed the seized to a woman to be nursed, after he was nursed and grown he carefully instructed in the baker's art, and the instructed also above all the household servants of his house specially loved. So it happened that the same man bound himself by vow, to visit the place of the Lord's passion: who disposing his house, called his servants, and handed over to them all his goods. and about to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem And having heard one [day] with great devotion the Catholic Mass, caused for himself, as is the custom, the pilgrim's pouch and staff to be consecrated, that he might immediately set out; not unaware, that through many tribulations of this world's vale of tears we must enter into the kingdom of heaven. With permission received from all his household, and to all both neighbors and kinsmen bidding farewell, no companion of journey he led with him, he takes a companion: except the above mentioned foundling, in whom, as a most faithful and most pious father in his carnal son, he trusted. But the servant's name was Cokerman Deveni, which in the language of the Scots, "foundling David" is interpreted. So the Israelite man, coheir of Christ, going out from his land and from his kin, left his brothers and sisters, and all his substance, that he might receive a hundredfold: and at once set out. Crossing however the first and second province, he comes to Rochester: and proceeding by the king's road through England, they came to the city of Rochester, which in the Saxon tongue is called Roffecestria. But Rochester is a town in the province of Kent, on the river Medway most well situated, distant from the city of London, the metropolis of England, twenty-four miles toward Dover, which anciently was called Kacerkarir, but now Canterbury.
[4] But when in the aforesaid city they were lingering for three days, that rest might render their relaxed limbs fit for the use of labor; Satan entered into the heart of the wicked servant, that drunk with the venom of avarice, the death of his Lord he might wholly intend. led aside by his companion he is killed But the parricide and traitor was seeking opportunity, that he might destroy him without crowds, lest perhaps a tumult among the people. After three days going out from the city toward Canterbury, when they had come to a certain crossroads, with B. William wishing to take the right way, the deceitful traitor through perfidy could not at all acquiesce, but with bold face looking at him said: "Why this loss of way? Why have we labored in vain abandoning the right way, which yesterday, while you were at the solemnities of the Masses, I learned from the inhabitants of this province? Far be it that by the way which you desire we should walk, lest perhaps something adverse should happen to us." These and other superfluous things with the whisperer persuading, he undauntedly proceeded with him. But while they went through bypaths, the cunning rogue obtained a time opportune to his purpose: and brandishing his axe the spurious and degenerate alumnus, the most pious father and pilgrim, advancing penitentially, struck on the back of the head; and the struck and prostrate weak man most impiously slew: and so the innocent lamb is torn by the wolf, so the grain of wheat falling into the earth dead, and even pressed with the chaff of treason, brings forth much fruit: so the spirit of B. William, going out from the darkness and shadow of death, was clothed with light as with a garment. And because he lawfully strove, enduring temptation, he merited to receive the crown of life, which God promised to those loving him. Why say more? The wicked scoundrel, whom crime drives, fled as a fugitive; worthy not of refuge, but of meeting the death of a thief.
[5] With the glorious triumph of Blessed William the Martyr aforenoted, how he migrated from the body, he shines with miracles. it is worth the trouble to insert the miracles in writings, which on account of his merit the heavenly power works: of which both old ones to pursue and new ones to forge is permitted. Nor let it displease you, Dearest, if at any time avoiding * martyrologia, I pass over briefly: because both pleases you parsimony of speech; and although much matter of things to be said may smile, a prolix style nevertheless generates tedium. A lamp henceforth lit should not be placed under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine, and with the alabaster broken the whole house may be filled with the odor of ointment.
[6] So at the same times in the borders of Kent aforesaid was a certain woman insane with a fierce spirit, also evilly vexed by a demon, so that mountains and hills she leaped over, and through streets and villages naked ran about, The energumen, placing a crown upon the corpse mocking, miserably showed the symptoms of insanity. And when one day through the place, where the lifeless body lay, she was passing, beholding it among thorns and briars, said: "Friend, how long do you sleep? Sleep now, and rest. Why, wanton youth, since you are white, do you not use a white crown?" These and similar things, like a chattering magpie, standing by jabbering, a crown plaited from honeysuckle she placed around the head of the blessed Martyr. Returning then the daughter of Canaan, evilly vexed by the demon, like a lioness with cubs snatched, the steep places of mountains all she crosses, in the deepest of the valleys leaps about, altogether ignorant whence she comes or whither she goes. But the next day returning through the place, where the holy body she had left, again approaching said: "Give back to me, dreamer, the crown which I gave you, since you befit it over gold and the precious stone much. For shame! you still snore and do not speak to me?" These and other things chattering unworthy of relating, to the dead as if to the living, from the head of the Martyr the crown, the same she places on herself and is freed. with brain and gore bloodied, indeed consecrated, she took, and on her own head placed it. Wondrous is God in his Saints, immediately he manifested the Martyr elect to him. He manifested it thus. For the foolish woman, with the bloody coronet crowned, more quickly than said, with bestial fury laid down, human reason she obtained. Whence from shame the whole day until evening she lay hidden among bushes, and returning to herself said: "Now I know truly, that the Lord has sent his Angel, and rescued me from the hand of Satan by the merits of this Martyr, that the works of God may be manifested in him, with our Lord Jesus Christ granting, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns God forever and ever. Amen." And the aforesaid glorious Martyr lies near the city of Rochester aforesaid.
[7] Thus far that Life in Capgrave, whose author Wilson and Ferrarius hand down to have been Thomas the monk of Monmouth, whether the Life was written by Thomas of Monmouth. Benedictine of the Cluniac Congregation, who is said to have flourished in the year 1160, and to have written to William of Turbe Bishop of Norwich about William the boy and Martyr, seven books, about the miracles of the same one book. So John Pits in De Scriptoribus Angliae. But these things about S. William the boy, killed by the Jews at Norwich, seem to be understood, of whom we also treated on March 25. Whether moreover he wrote the Life of this S. William, is not sufficiently clear: but neither concerning the time at which the matter happened does any verisimilar conjecture offer itself: wherefore to the last place we refer it here.
NOTES.
* perhaps "Mataeologia" (idle talk)?
May V: May 24
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