Hearing the unworthy Decollation of John Baptist by Herod, 13. he betaketh him to his usual solitariness in the desert, and there feedeth 5000 with five loaves. 23. And then after the night spent in the mountain in prayer, he walketh upon the sea (signifying the wide world) 28. yea and Peter also: whereupon they adore him as the Son of God. 35. And with the very touch of his garment's hem he healeth innumerable.Hearing the vnvvorthy Decollation of Iohn Baptist by Herod, 13. he betaketh him to his vsual solitarines in the desert, and there feedeth 5000. with fiue loaues. 23. And then after the night spent in the mountaine in prayer, he walketh vpon the sea (signifying the wide world) 28. yea and Peter also: wherevpon they adore him as the Sonne of God. 35. And vvith the very touch of his garments hemme he healeth innumerable.
At that time Herod the Tetrarch heard the fame of JESUS:AT that time Herod the Tetrarch heard the fame of Iesvs:In illo tempore audivit Herodes tetrarcha famam Jesu :
2and said to his servants: This is John the Baptist: he is risen from the dead, and therefore virtutes: moral excellences work in him.and said to his seruants: This is Iohn the Baptist: he is risen from the dead, & therfore vertues worke in him.et ait pueris suis : Hic est Joannes Baptista : ipse surrexit a mortuis, et ideo virtutes operantur in eo.
3For Herod apprehended John and bound him, and put him into prison because of Herodias, his brother's wife.For Herod apprehended Iohn and bound him, & put him into prison because of Herodias, his brothers wife.Herodes enim tenuit Joannem, et alligavit eum : et posuit in carcerem propter Herodiadem uxorem fratris sui.
4For John said unto him: It is not lawful for thee to have her.For Iohn said vnto him: It is not lawful for thee to haue her.Dicebat enim illi Joannes : Non licet tibi habere eam.
5And willing to put him to death, he feared the People: because they esteemed him as a Prophet.And willing to put him to death, he feared the People: because they esteemed him as a Prophet.Et volens illum occidere, timuit populum : quia sicut prophetam eum habebant.
6But on Herod's birth-day, the daughter of Herodias danced before them: and pleased Herod.But on Herods birth-day, the daughter of Herodias danced before them: and pleased Herod.Die autem natalis Herodis saltavit filia Herodiadis in medio, et placuit Herodi :
7Whereupon he promised with an oath, to give her whatsoever she would ask of him.Whereupon he promised with an oth, to giue her whatsoeuer she would aske of him.unde cum juramento pollicitus est ei dare quodcumque postulasset ab eo.
8But she being instructed before of her mother, saith: Give me here in a dish the head of John the Baptist.But she being instructed before of her mother, saith: Giue me here in a dish the head of Iohn the Baptist.At illa præmonita a matre sua : Da mihi, inquit, hic in disco caput Joannis Baptistæ.
9And the king was strucken sad: yet because of his oath, and for them that sate with him at table, he commanded it to be given.And the king was strucken sad: yet because of his oth, and for them that sate with him at table, he commanded it to be giuen.Et contristatus est rex : propter juramentum autem, et eos qui pariter recumbebant, jussit dari.
10And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.And he sent, and beheaded Iohn in the prison.Misitque et decollavit Joannem in carcere.
11And his head was brought in a dish: and it was given to the damsel, and she brought it to her mother.And his head was brought in a dish: and it was giuen to the damsel, and she brought it to her mother.Et allatum est caput ejus in disco, et datum est puellæ, et attulit matri suæ.
12And his Disciples came and took the body, and buried it: and came and told JESUS.And his Disciples came and tooke the body, and buried it: and came and told Iesvs.Et accedentes discipuli ejus, tulerunt corpus ejus, et sepelierunt illud : et venientes nuntiaverunt Jesu.
13Which when JESUS heard, he secessit: withdrew from thence by boat, into a desert place apart, and the multitudes having heard of it, followed him on foot out of the cities.Which when Iesvs heard, he retired from thence by boat, into a desert place a part, and the multitudes hauing heard of it, folowed him on foot out of the cities.Quod cum audisset Jesus, secessit inde in navicula, in locum desertum seorsum : et cum audissent turbæ, secutæ sunt eum pedestres de civitatibus.
14And he coming forth saw a great multitude, and pitied them, and cured their diseased.And he comming forth saw a great multitude, and pitied them, and cured their diseased.Et exiens vidit turbam multam, et misertus est eis, et curavit languidos eorum.
15And when it was evening, his Disciples came unto him, saying: It is a desert place, and the hour is now past: dismiss the multitudes, that going into the towns, they may buy themselves escas: food, provisions.And when it was euening, his Disciples came vnto him, saying: It is a desert place, and the houre is now past: dismisse the multitudes, that going into the townes, they may buy them selues victuals.Vespere autem facto, accesserunt ad eum discipuli ejus, dicentes : Desertus est locus, et hora jam præteriit : dimitte turbas, ut euntes in castella, emant sibi escas.
16But JESUS said to them: They have no need to go: give ye them to eat.But Iesvs said to them: They haue no need to goe: giue ye them to eate.Jesus autem dixit eis : Non habent necesse ire : date illis vos manducare.
17They answered him: We have not here, but five loaves, and two fishes.They answered him: We haue not here, but fiue loaues, and two fishes.Responderunt ei : Non habemus hic nisi quinque panes et duos pisces.
18Who said to them: Bring them hither to me.Who said to them: Bring them hither to me.Qui ait eis : Afferte mihi illos huc.
19And when he had commanded the multitude to sit down upon the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up unto Heaven he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his Disciples, and the Disciples to the multitudes.And when he had commanded the multitude to sit downe vpon the grasse, he tooke the fiue loaues and the two fishes, and looking vp vnto Heauen he blessed, and brake, and gaue the loaues to his Disciples, and the Disciples to the multitudes.Et cum jussisset turbam discumbere super fœnum, acceptis quinque panibus et duobus piscibus, aspiciens in cælum benedixit, et fregit, et dedit discipulis panes, discipuli autem turbis.
20And they did all eat, and had their fill. And they took the reliquias: leftovers, what remained, twelve full baskets of the fragments.And they did al eate, and had their fil. And they tooke the leauings, twelue ful baskets of the fragments.Et manducaverunt omnes, et saturati sunt. Et tulerunt reliquias, duodecim cophinos fragmentorum plenos.
21And the number of them that did eat, was five thousand men, beside women and children.And the number of them that did eate, was fiue thousand men, beside women and children.Manducantium autem fuit numerus quinque millia virorum, exceptis mulieribus et parvulis.
22And forthwith JESUS constrained his Disciples to go up into the boat, and to go before him over the water, till he dismissed the multitudes.And forthwith Iesvs constrained his Disciples to goe vp into the boat, and to goe before him ouer the water, til he dismissed the multitudes.Et statim compulit Jesus discipulos ascendere in naviculam, et præcedere eum trans fretum, donec dimitteret turbas.
23And having dismissed the multitude, he ascended into a mountain alone to pray. And when it was evening, he was there alone.And hauing dismissed the multitude, he ascended into a mountaine alone to pray. And when it was euening, he was there alone.Et dimissa turba, ascendit in montem solus orare. Vespere autem facto solus erat ibi :
24But the boat in the midst of the sea was tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.But the boat in the middes of the sea was tossed with waues: for the wind was contrarie.navicula autem in medio mari jactabatur fluctibus : erat enim contrarius ventus.
25And in the fourth watch of the night, he came unto them walking upon the sea.And in the fourth watch of the night, he came vnto them walking vpon the sea.Quarta enim vigilia noctis, venit ad eos ambulans super mare.
26And seeing him upon the sea walking, they were troubled, saying: That it is a phantasma: spirit of a dead person: and for fear they cried out.And seeing him vpon the sea walking, they were troubled, saying: That it is a Ghost: and for feare they cried out.Et videntes eum super mare ambulantem, turbati sunt, dicentes : Quia phantasma est. Et præ timore clamaverunt.
27And immediately JESUS spake unto them, saying: Have confidence: it is I, fear ye not.And immediatly Iesvs spake vnto them, saying: Haue confidence: it is I, feare ye not.Statimque Jesus locutus est eis, dicens : Habete fiduciam : ego sum, nolite timere.
28And Peter making answer, said: Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters.And Peter making answer, said: Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee vpon the waters.Respondens autem Petrus, dixit : Domine, si tu es, jube me ad te venire super aquas.
29And he said, Come. And Peter descending out of the boat, walked upon the water to come to JESUS.And he said, Come. And Peter descending out of the boat, walked vpon the water to come to Iesvs.At ipse ait : Veni. Et descendens Petrus de navicula, ambulabat super aquam ut veniret ad Jesum.
30But seeing the wind rough, he was afraid: and when he began to be drowned, he cried out, saying: Lord, save me.But seeing the wind rough, he was afraid: and when he began to be drowned, he cried out, saying: Lord, saue me.Videns vero ventum validum, timuit : et cum cœpisset mergi, clamavit dicens : Domine, salvum me fac.
31And continuo: lacking self-restraint JESUS stretching forth his hand took hold of him, and said unto him: O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt?And incontinent Iesvs stretching forth his hand tooke hold of him, and said vnto him: O thou of litle faith, why didst thou doubt?Et continuo Jesus extendens manum, apprehendit eum : et ait illi : Modicæ fidei, quare dubitasti ?
32And when they were gone up into the boat, the wind ceased.And when they were gone vp into the boat, the winde ceased.Et cum ascendissent in naviculam, cessavit ventus.
33And they that were in the boat, came and adored him, saying: Indeed thou art the Son of God.And they that were in the boat, came and adored him, saying: In deed thou art the Sonne of God.Qui autem in navicula erant, venerunt, et adoraverunt eum, dicentes : Vere Filius Dei es.
34And having passed the water, they came into the country of Genesar.And hauing passed the water, they came into the countrie of Genezar.Et cum transfretassent, venerunt in terram Genesar.
35And when the men of that place understood of him, they sent into all that country, and brought unto him all that were ill at ease:And when the men of that place vnderstood of him, they sent into al that countrie, and brought vnto him al that were il at ease:Et cum cognovissent eum viri loci illius, miserunt in universam regionem illam, et obtulerunt ei omnes male habentes :
36and they besought him that they might touch but the hem of his garment. And whosoever did touch, were made whole.and they besought him that they might touch but the hemme of his garment. And whosoeuer did touch, were made hole.et rogabant eum ut vel fimbriam vestimenti ejus tangerent. Et quicumque tetigerunt, salvi facti sunt.
Annotations
3Because of Herodias. It is too ordinary in Princes to put them to death that freely tell them such faults: women, whom they fancy, especially inciting them to such mischief.
12Buried. An example of duty toward the dead bodies of the Faithful: wherein is the difference of Catholic Christian men, & of all Infidels, be they Pagans, Apostatas, or Heretics. For whereas the Christians had laid the body of this Blessed Martyr in Samaria with the Relics of Elias and Abdias, by virtue whereof wonderful miracles were wrought in that place, in Julian the Apostata's time, when men might do all mischief freely against Christian religion, the Pagans opened the tomb of S. John Baptist, burnt his bones, scattered the ashes about the fields: but certain religious Monks coming thither a pilgrimage at the same time, adventured their life and saved as much of the holy Relics as they could, and brought them to their Abbot Philip, a man of God: who esteeming them too great a treasure for him and his to keep for their private devotion, sent them to Athanasius the B. of Alexandria, and he with all reverence laid them in such a place (as it were by the Spirit of Prophecy) where afterward by occasion of them was built a goodly chapel. Theod. lib. 5. c. 6. Ruff. lib. 2. c. 27. 28. Mark here that the Heretics of our time do as those Pagans, to the bodies & Relics of all Blessed Saints that they can destroy: and Catholics contrariwise have the religious devotion of those old Christians, as appeareth by the honour done now to his head at Amiens in France.
13Retired. Christ much esteemed John, and withdrew himself aside, to give example of moderate mourning for the dead, and to show the horror of that execrable murder: as in the Primitive Church many good men seeing the miserable state of the world in time of persecution, and the shows that abounded withal, took an occasion to forsake their tumults, and to give themselves to contemplation: and for that purpose retired into the deserts of Egypt, and elsewhere, to do penance for their own sins, and the sins of the world. Whereupon partly rose that infinite number of Monks & Eremites, of whom the Fathers and Ecclesiastical histories make mention. Hiero. lib. 10. in vit. Pauli Eremite. So. 20. lib. 1. c. 12, 13.
19The Disciples to the multitudes. A figure of the ministry of the Apostles, who as they here had the distribution and ordering of these miraculous loaves, so had they also to bestow and dispense all the food of our souls, in ministering of the Word & Sacraments; neither may laymen challenge the same.
26Walking. [print: 16] When not only Christ, but by his power Peter also walketh upon the waters, it is evident that he can dispose of his own body above nature, and contrary to the natural condition thereof, as to go through a door, Io. 20. to be in the compass of a little bread, Epiphan. in Anchorato.
29Walked. Peter (saith S. Bernard) walking upon the waters, as Christ did, declared himself the only Vicar of Christ, which should be Ruler not over one People, but over all. For many waters, are many peoples, Apocal. 17. Bernard lib. 2. de consid. c. 8. See the place, how he deduceth from Peter the like authority and jurisdiction to his Successor the Bishop of Rome.