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ciples should abstain from wine, as he believed that their intemperance was the cause of their detestable act. The manuscript adds, that for the purpose of testifying his re spect to the memory of Sergius, from whom this Legisla tor had received so much kindness, he ordered his followers to be respectiul to Christian Religious persons.

This is what I have read my self, and the thing appears probable enough. Can this be that famous will, of which Bayle makes mention in his article on MAHOMET, and on which he has a long dissertation in a note?— I cannot bebelieve it is. He says that the manuscript was brought from the East by father Pacificus Scaliger, a Capuchin, and translated into Latin by Gabriel Sionita, was printed at Paris in 1630, at Rostock in 1638, and at Hamburgh in 1690; and that the original found in the monastery of the Religious of Mount Carmel, is in the King's "library. He adds that the learned are divided in opinion a's to its authenticity. Grotius, Voitius, Bespiers, and many other learned Ministers, believe it to be a forgery. Saunaise, Hinkelman, and Ricauit, think it genuine. It is not my business to settle their disputes. Haw. over as the piece which I mention is quite different from this will, whether genuine or forged, I shall keep to that which I have read, and I am sure that Almachin has seen some similar manuscript; for ke says, in his life of Mahomet, that according to Histories which the Christians have, this Legislator was favourable to them and fond of them. These are the words which Saunaise gives. Nar rat Almachinus in rita Makunduis ca historiis Christianorum addictum illum fuisse Christianis & binivo lum. I end with this hitte display of erudition. It is hot beyond the province of a Jesuit Missionary, particu larly when it conceus the honour and glory of Religion. am, Rev. Father,

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&c. &c. &c.

LIFE of St. THOMAS, ARCHBISHOP of CANTERLUKY, present #Continued from page 29.. **

St. Thomas regarded this austere monastery of the Cis ferriña order not as an exile, but as a delightful relig rops

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retreat, and a school of penance for the expiation of his BIOS. Not content with the hair-shirt which he constantly Wore, he used frequent disciplines and other austerities, Bubinitted himself to all the rules of the Order. wore the habit, and embraced with joy the most abject functions and humiliations. He was unwilling to suffer any distinction, and would put by the meats prepared for him and seasoned, that he might take only the portion of the community, and that the driest, and without seasoning or sauce, But this he did with address, that it might not be perceived. King Henry vented his passion avamist hotli The Pope and the archbishop, confiscated the goods of “atb the friends, relations and domestics of the holy prelate, Banished then his dominions, not sparing even infants at the breast, lying-in women, and old women; and obligest By oath all who had attained the age of dis retion to go to the archbishop, that the sight of them and their tears might move him. This oath they were obliged to take at Lambeth, before Ralph de Brock, whom Fitz-Stephens calls one of the most daring and profligate of men ; yet into his hands the king had delivered the temporalities of the archbishopric to be kept, that is, says this author, to be laid waste and destroyed. These exiles arriv ed in troops at Pontigni, and the Prelate could not contain his tears. Providence however provided for them all by the charities of many prelates and princes.-The queen of Sicily and the archbishop of Syracuse invited many others thither, and most liberally furnished them with necessaries. The pope and others laboured to bring the king to a reconcilation; but that prince threa fened his holiness and committed daily greater excesses, by threatening letters to the general chapter of Citeaux that he would abolish their Order in England if they con tinued to harbour his enemy Whereupon the archbishop Joft Pontigni ; but a little before this he was favoured with a revelation of his martyrdom. Whilst he lay prostrate before the altar in prayer and tears, he heard a voice saying distinctly: Thomas, Thomas, my Church shall be glorified in thy blood." The saint asked: "Who art thou, Lord!" And the same voice answered; "1'am Jesus Christ, the son of the living God, thy Brother."

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Jie wept in taking leave of the monks at Pontigni., The abbot thought his tears the effect of natural tenderness, But the boty archbishop called him aside, and bidding him not discover it before his death, told him, he wept for those who had followed him, who would be scattered like sheep without a pastor: for God had shown to hìn the night before that he should be slain by four men in his church, whom he saw etter it, and take off the top part of his head. The King of France, sent him the most affectionate assurances of his protection and respect, and rejoicing to be able to serve Jesus Christ in the person of his exiled servant, gave orders with a royal magnifience that he should be entertained at his expense at Sens. St. Thomas was received there with all possible joy and respect by the archbishop, and retired to the monastery of St, Columba, situated half a mile from the city. He excommunicated all those who should obey the late orders of the king of England in seizing the estates of the Church, and threatened that prince himself but mildly, and with strong exhortations to repentance. The king, by his deputies, gained again many cardinals at Rome, and and surprised the pope himself, who began to speak in his favour, and named, two legates a latere who were devoted to him: which drew complaints from the archbishop. The saint, according to summons, met the legates at Gisors, on the frontiers of France and Norandy; but finding that one of them, the cardinal of Pavia, was artfully studying to betray him, wrote to the pope. Cardinal Otho, the other legate, represented to the king his obligation of restoring to the Church his unjust usurpations and revenues of the see of Canterbury which he had received; but his majesty answered, he had no scruple of that, having employed them on the church or on the poor. But the legate said, he could not answer it at the tribunal of Christ." The king of France, at the request of his holiness, undertook to be a mediator between the king of England and the archbishop. The two kings had a conference fogether pear Gisors." The archbishop fell at the feet of his sovereign, and was raised by him. King Henry, among many fair speeches, said, he desired no more than the rights which former has

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ly arcbishops had not contested. The king of France said nothing more could be desired. But the archbishop shewed abuses were meast, which former archbishops had opposed, though they had not been able to extirpate then. If they tolerated some out of necessity, they did not approve them, which was demanded of him. The king of France thought him too inflexible, and the nobles of both kingdoms accused him of pride. The saint was insulted and forsaken by all, and set out for Sens, expecting to be also banished France. But the king of France soon after reflecting on what he had done, sent for the servant God, fell at his feet with many tears, begging his pardon and absolution of his sin, and confessing that he alone had understood the artifices which were made use of. The archbishop gave him absolution and his blessing, and returned to Sens. The pope sent two new legates, Gralian and Vivian, to king Henry, and after them two others; but that prince refused always to promise the restitution of the church revenues, and the like articles. St. Thomas never ceased to pray, fast, and weep for tliese evils of his church. No prelate had ever stronger temptations to struggle with; and certainly nothing but conscience and the most steady virtue eoul ever have obliged him to have renounced his own interests, and the favour of sogreat a king, whom he most affectionately loved, for whose service, in his wars, he furnished more troops at his own expence than could have been thought possible, and to whom he always remained most loyal, and most faithful. King Henry, among other injuries done to the good prelate, caused his son to be crowned king by the archbishop of York in the very diocese of Canterbury, himself wailing upon him at supper, and obliged his subjects, even by forments to renounce the obedience not only of the archbishop, but also of the pope. But it pleased God on a sudden to change his heart, and inspire him with a desire of a reconciliation. The archbishop of Sens conducted the good prelate to his majesty, who received him` with all the marks and expressions of his former esteem and affection, and with tears desired that all their diffe rences might be buried in oblivion, and that they might live in perfect friendship Nor did he make the least mention of the pretended customs which had been the occasion of these disturbances."

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The archbishop of York, a man whose life rendered him noworthy of that character, and the bishops of Londou and Salisbury, mortal enemies to the saint, began again to alienate the king from him, by renewing in his breast former jealousies. The archbishop waited on his majesty at Tours, but could obtain no more than a promise of the restitution of his lauds when he should be arrived in Eugland. In the mean time he gave have to the officers of the archbishop of York to plunder all the goods of his church, and the harvest of that year. Nevertheless, the archbishop having been seven years absent resolved to return to his church, though expecting to meet the crown of martyrdom. Writing to the king, he closed this letter as follows: "With your majesty's leave I return to my church, perhaps to die there, and to hinder at least by my death its entire destruction.— Your majesty is able yet to make me feel the effects of your clemency and religion. But whether I live or die I will always preserve inviolably that charity which I bear you in our Lord. And whatever may happen to me, I pray God to heap all his graces and good gifts on your majesty and on your children." The holy archbishop prepared himself for his journey with a heart filled with the love of the cross of Christ, and breathing Hothing but the sacrifice of himself in his cause. Many French noblemen furnished him with money and all ne cessarios. That he might thank the king of France, he went to Paris, and lodged in the abbey of canon regulars of St. Victor, where one of his hair-shirts is still preserved. On the octave of St. Austin, their patron, he was desired to preach, and made an excellent sermon on those words: And his dwelling was made in peace (4).' In taking leave of the French king, he said," I am going to seek my death in England." His majesty answered: “So I believe" and pressed him to stay in his dominions, pro mising that nothing should be wanting to him there, The saint said, "The will of God must be accomplish ed." He sent over to England the sentence of suspensi on and interdict which the pope had denounced against the archbishop of York and his accomplices, in several uus warrantable proceedings, and excommunication against Renald

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(4) Ps lxxv.

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