BLESSED Father Ignatius of Loyola Founder, and Fa­ther of the Society of IESVS, was borne in that part of Spaine, which is called [Page 2]the Prouince of Guipuzcoa, the yeare of our Lord 1491.He is borne 31. of Iuly. 1491. Pope Innocentius 8. sitting in the chayre of S. Peter, and Frede­ricke the third being Empe­rour, and Don Ferdinandus with Don̄a Isabella of glorious memory gouerning the Catho­like Kingdome of Spayne. His Father was named Beltram Iagnez, Lord of Ognez and Loyola, and head of that Ho­nourable and Ancient family. His Mother was named Ma­ria Sonez of Balda, daughter to the Lords of the House and Teritory of Balda, a Ma­tron equall to her husband both in birth and nobility. These two houses of Loyola and Balda are of those which are called Great, and of the [Page 3]most principall in the Pro­uince of Guipuzcoa.

2. Our Ignatius from his child-hood discouered a quick, sharp, and great wit; and after some few yeares he was sent to the Catholike Kings Court, that he might there be brought vp amōg his Equalls. His courage increa­sing with his age, he gaue himselfe earnestly to all man­ner of warlike exercise, that he might obtayne the reputa­tion of being valiant, and of military honor and glory.

3. It happened that in the yeare 1521. the Frenchmen be­sieging the Castle of Pampe­lona, Ignatius entred into it with the Captaynes and soul­diers, that were appointed [Page 4]for the defence thereof. The siege being very straite, and they who were within ha­uing no hope of succour, be­gan to treat of a composition, and had concluded it, if Igna­tius had not opposed him­selfe, incouraging them to re­sist the enemy vntill death. But the French men conti­nuing their battery of the Castle, while Ignatius defen­ded it,He is woun­ded in the de­fence of the castle of Pam­pelona. he was wounded with a bullet in his right legge, so that the bones thereof were not only broken, but also shi­uered in peeces: and besides a stone being driuen out of the wall with the force of the bullet, had also sorely hurt his left legge. Ignatius being thus ouerthrowne, the rest were [Page 5]discomfited, & yiedled them­selues to the French, who ca­rying Ignatius to their Tents, and vnderstanding who he was, caused him to be very carefully looked vnto, and after sent him home in a litter vpon mens shoulders.

4. His sicknes increased in such sort, that there was little hope of his life: but our Lord releeued him in his greatest danger, sending vnto him the most glorious Prince of the Apostles S. Peter,S. Peter appea­reth vn­him, and resto­reth his health. to whom he had euer byn very deuout, vpon the Eue of his Feast: and he appeared vnto him as one, who came to fa­uour him, & restore his health. With this visitatiō of the holy Apostle our s [...]ldier began to [Page 6]wax better, and to recouer his health: but desiring to become a Gallant, and to follow the neatest and finest fashions, he caused a bone which remay­ned sticking out deformedly vnder his knee to be cut of, that so he might (as I haue heard him say) draw on a straite boot. Neyther would he be bound while it was a doing esteeming it a thing vnwor­thy of his noble mind. And though the paine were ex­treme, & very sharp (because they were to cut into the quick) yet he kept his counte­nance, and shewed such cou­rage, as caused admiration, neuer changing colour, nor once sighing or speaking any word, which might discouer [Page 7]any weaknes, as he had done before in all the rest of his cure.

5. In the tyme of his re­couery lying in his bed, and being accustomed to read prophane books of Chiualry, he asked for some such vayne Treatise, to passe the tyme withall, which seemed long, and tedious. They brought him two bookes, one of the Life of Christ, and the other of the Liues of Saints,He is cō ­uerted by rea­ding the liues of Saints. there being none of those others which he would haue had in the house. Wherefore he began to read in these at the beginning, that he might passe away the tyme, but afterward he tooke great delight and affection therin: and our Lord [Page 8]wrought so farre in the hart of Ignatius with that reading, that he was changed, concea­uing a desire to imitate that which he read. So, that though he foūd great repugnāce, ma­ny contentions and grieuous combats within himselfe, be­cause his long and inueterate custome, and the subtilties & tentations of Sathan were of great force to detayne him in the world; yet notwithstā ­ding Grace preuayled against corruption of nature, and the Comfort of heauen against the tyrāny of his former euill life, and the fauour of God who had chosen him for great matters, against all the crafts, and deceipts of the enemy. Wherefore one night rising [Page 9]out of his bed (as he was often wont) to pray, & knee­ling downe before a picture of our B. Lady, with humble and feruent confidēce, he of­fered himselfe by the meanes of this glorious Mother, to her bountifull and mercifull Sonne, for his faythfull soul­dier and seruant, promising him to follow his Ensigne and to forsake the world.

AT the very tyme, that he made this prayer, there was a very great noyse heard in all the house, and the [Page 10]chamber where he was did shake, and a glasse window in it was broken. In this his change of life he greatly fea­red the weakenes of his flesh, but the most sacred Virgin, and most soueraigne Queene of the Angells (to whom he most deuoutly commended himselfe) appeared vnto him one night while he was a­wake,Our B. Lady appea­reth vn­to him with our Sauiour in her armes, and gi­ueth him the gift of cha­stity. with her most pretious Sonne in her arms, by meanes of which heauenly visitatiō our Lord gaue him such great grace, and changed him in that manner, cleansing his soule from all filthy, and dis­honest delight, that from that instant to the end of his life, he remayned pure and chast, without any spot, in great [Page 11]integrity, and freedome.

2. He sought to imbrace that state and manner of life, in which he might afflict his body with more rigour & pē ­nance, and find God more perfectly. To this end he de­termined to forsake his house, kindred, and acquaintance; which he did, his elder brother Martin Garcia of Loyola not being able to disswade him to the contrary: and by occasion of visiting the Duke of Naj­ara, he went to our B. Ladyes of Montserat attended by two men,He go­eth to Montse­rat, and discipli­neth himself euery night. whom he sent back by the way, giuing them part of that which he had.

3. From the day that he departed from home, he vsed euery night to make a sharp [Page 12]discipline, which he conti­nued al his iourney: and being inflamed in the loue of God, and burning with zeale of his honour, he now referred all that he did, & purposed to do, TO GODS GREATER GLORY for this was alway, as it were the Poesy of Ignatius, and the soul, and life of all his workes. Likewise in this iourney he made a vow of chastity, and offered to Christ our Lord the purity of his soule and body,He ma­keth a vow of chastity. with singular deuotion, and a feruent desyre to obtayn it, as he did, in that entyre & com­plete manner, which we haue already mentioned.

4. In a Village not far from Mōtserat he bought him a gar­ment, or habit, which he pur­posed [Page 13]to weare in the Pilgri­mage which he intended to Hierusalem: and this was a coate of sackcloth, or course canuase, down to the foot, and a cord for his girdle, a payr of country buskyns, a little botle, and a Pilgrims staffe.

5. Comming to that Holy place of our B. Lady at Montse­rat, the first thing he did was to seeke (as a sick man who desireth health) the best Phisitian, and Confessarius which he could find, to discouer his wounds vnto him. He found a Holy roligious man of the French nation called Fr. Iohn Clanon, a great seruant of God,He ma­keth a generall cōfessiō. known, & reuerenced for such. With this good Father, Ignatius made a generall Confession of [Page 14]all his life for the space of three dayes, with great diligence, re­morse, and feeling of his sins: And this religious man was the first to whom he opened his purposes, and intents, as to his spirituall Father, and Maister. He gaue his horse to the Mona­stery, and caused his sword, and dagger with which he had ser­ued the world before to be han­ged vp at our B. Ladies Altar, seeking other new & more res­plendent weapons to serue our Lord withall.

6. To this end vpon the Eue of that ioyfull, and most glorious day, the 25. of March, in which the eternal Word clad himself with our flesh in the womb of his most pure Mother the yeare 1522. very secretly in [Page 15]the night he went to a poore Pilgrim, altogether destitute of apparell, which was there, and putting of all his cloathes (vnto his shirt) he gaue him them, & cloathed himself with that his desired sackcloth which he had bought, and with much deuo­tion placed himselfe before the Altar of the B. Virgin, where he remayned all that night, partly standing, and partly kneeling, to watch like a new knight of Christ those his new and in ap­pearance poore,He wat­cheth his wea­pons af­ter the manner of new soul­diers. & weake wea­pons, but indeede very rich, and strong, commending him­self earnestly to the protection of the most Sacred Virgin, be­wayling his sinnes most bit­terly, and purposing to amend them with her fauour.

7. In the morning before it was day, that he might not be knowne, he departed in great hast towards a towne called Manresa, which stan­deth at the foote of the moun­tayn three leagues from Mont­serat, and somewhat out of the high way to Barcelona. In this manner Ignatius went ioyfull being clad with that poore, and course sackcloth, girded with a cord, carrying his pil­grims staff in his hand, with­out any hat, and wearing a shoo but vpon one foot only, which seemed necessary, be­cause that leg was yet weake, and not thoroughly recoue­red, in so much that it swelled a new euery night. But this his ioy was presently diminished [Page 17]by the comming of one to de­maūd of him, whether it were true, that he had giuen his gich apparell to a poore mā, whom the officers had apprehended▪ suspecting, least he had stoln them. By this means he was enforced to tel the truth, to de­liuer him that was innocent, and he shed many teares, thin­king himself to great a sinner, that he could not so much as help his neighbour without doing him harm, and putting him to shame. And though they asked him his Name, who he was, and also from whence he came, yet he an­swered them to none of these questions, thinking that there was no cause why he should, and desyring to be vnknown, [Page 18]and despised in the eyes of the world.

8. In Manresa he went directly to the hospitall of S. Lucie,What pennan­ce he did at Manresa that he might lyue on almes among the poore. He began to afflict, and wast his body with a very sharp, and ri­gorous life, & to mortify al the delights & vayne cares which he had before. And because he had bin curious in the world in trymming his hayre, and a­dorning his person, now he went bareheaded night and day, neuer vsing combe, or any thing els therto: and with the same contempt of himself he suffered his nayles, & beard to grow out of order. He had no other bed but the ground, watching in a manner all the [Page 19]night, weeping bitterly for his sinns. He vsed after this to make three austere disciplynes euery day, and prayed 7. ho­wers vpon his knees, and all this with as great deuotion, & feruour as he could.

9. He heard Masse, Euen­song, and Complyn euery day with great comfort, and con­tentment of his mynd, which being tender in deuotion had easely imprinted in it such di­uine things; and those voices, and praises of our Lord pier­ced to the inmost of his soul. He did vse to eat but once a day a little bread, & therwith drank a litle water, which was giuen vnto him of almes, & he fasted all the weeke in this manner except the Sundayes, [Page 20]vpon which he went to con­fession, & receyued the most Holy sacrament of the Altar.

10. He was so desyrous to mortifie his flesh and to bring it to the obedience, and sub­jection of the spirit, that he de­priued himself of all things which could giue any delight to bis body, by which meanes though he were a strong man, and of great forces, yet in few dayes, he came to be very weak, with the rigour of such austere pennance.

NEYTHER did this out­ward Pennance, and a­ffliction of his body weaken him so much, as the inward scruples, & anxietyes which tormented his spirit. For though he had with all dili­gence, and care made a gene­rall Confession of his synnes as we haue said; yet our Lord who by this way would wash, and purg him from them, a­fflicted him in such sort with [Page 22]the remorse of conscience, and that gnawing worme which did eat, and reare his hart, that he found no rest in prayer, nor ease in fasting, and watching nor remedy in his disciplynes and other Pennances; but deiected as it were with the force of sadnesse, and dis­maide, and discouraged with the violence of that extreme griefe, he prostrated himself on the ground, as one that were ouerwhelmed, & drow­ned with the waues and bil­lowes of the sea. This trouble wēt so far, that hauing almost lost himself, and being deso­late of all comfort, he resolued neyther to eat, nor drink vn­till he found the desyred peace of his soule, vnlesse he should [Page 23]happen to be in danger of death.

2. And with this purpose he remayned seauen whole dayes, without tasting any thing, not omitting for all this his seauen houres of prayer vpon his knees, and his three disciplins euery day, togeather with the other exercises & de­uotions which he was wont to vse, vntill giuing accompt to his Confessarius what he had done, and how he purpo­sed to go forward, was com­maunded by him in Gods name to take some thing: to whome he obeyed, though he found himself to haue his ac­customed forces, and nothing weakened. By this obedience and for the entyre affection, & [Page 24]a boundant teares with which he beseeched his Diuyne Ma­iesty, our Lord vouchsafed to comfort his seruant, and to illustrate him with new light from Heauen, giuing him a wonderfull peace and serenity in his soule,God gi­ueth him peace & di cretiō of spirits. and such an admi­rable discretion of spirits, that there scarce euer repayred to him afterward any scrupulous person, tormented with this infirmity, who was not deli­uered by his chunsayle. Nei­ther did he only enrich him with this so notable a fauour, but likewise cōforted his spi­rit with soueraigne, and mar­uelous Visitatiōs from Heauē, (as shalbe sayd hereafter) that according to the measure of the former sorowes which [Page 25]he had endured, the consolati­ons of our Lord might (as the Prophet saith) refresh, Psal. 93. and re­ioyce his soule.

3. The light which our Lord gaue to this his seruant euen in those beginnings, and the care which he tooke in the courses, by which God dire­cted him, were so great, that being (as he was) a man vntill that tyme giuen to the noise and vanity of war, and so vn­learned, that he could only write and read: in this very tyme he wrote the booke which we call the Spiritual Ex­ercises, which is so replenished with documents, & excellent instructions in spirituall mat­ters, that it clearly appeareth, how the vnction of the holy [Page 26]Ghost taught him & supplied the want, which at that time he had of study & learning. For it cānot easely be thought, how much fruit these haue taken by this booke,He wri­teth the booke of exer­cise. who haue exercised themselues in the meditations & rules, that are in it; and what profit hath ensued in the whole Catholik Church, aswell in religious, as secular people by the vse of these Exercises. This book af­ter much examination, Pope Paul the third of happy me­mory confirmed with his A­postolick authority, by his let­ters dated the yeare 1548. in which he exhorteth all the faithfull to read them, and to exercise themselues in the me­ditations, and rules which [Page 27]they containe; as may be seene at large in his Breue, which goeth printed with the booke it selfe of the said Exercises.

4. But our Ignatius being so seuere towards himself, and not remiting any thing of the rigour of his austerity & pen­nance, broken with the ex­cessiue labors of body, & con­tinuall combats of mynd, fell into a very grieuous sicknes: in which the Inhabitans of Manresa prouided him of all necessaryes with much cha­rity, and many honest, and deuout persons serued, and at­tended him with the same; for they accounted, and esteemed him as a Saint. And the deuo­tion which they of that place cōceaued towards him was so [Page 28]great, that it being now al­most 80. yeares since this pas­sed, there is at this day in Mā ­resa a very fresh memory, and great signes of the life which he lead there: and those of that Citty do very piously frequēt the places where he liued, and vsed to pray, crauing our Lords fauour by his intercessi­on. And for a perpetuall re­membrance thereof, Doctor. Iohn Baptista Cardona, Bi­shop of Vich (in whose Dio­cesse Manresa is situated) and Lord Elect of Iortosa, caused a Piramesse of stone to be e­erected in Manresa at the Church of S. Lucie, which was before an hospitall of poore people, where Ignatius founder of the Society of [Page 29]IESVS beganne to do pen­nance, with an Inscription: which because it is a par­ticuler thinge, and decla­reth greatly the opinion, and estimation which they haue in that Country of the holynesse of our Father, I haue thought it not amisse to translate it out of Latin, and recite it in this place. And this it is.

5. To Ignatius of Loyola the sonne of Beltram of the Prouin­ce of Guipuzcoa Founder of the Society of Iesus, The py­ramesse of Man­resa. who being of the age of 30. yeares, in the castle of Pampelona fought valiantly with the French-men for the defence of his country: and hauing recea­ued some mortall woundes, and be­ing recouered of them, by Gods [Page 30]singular benefit, enflamed with a desyre to visit the Holy Places of Hierusalem, he tooke his iourney making a vow of chastity: and lea­uing the weapons, which (as a souldier) he was wont to weare, hanged vp in the Church of our B. Lady of Montserat, cloathed in sack, and hayrecloth, and al most naked, he began to bewaile the synns of his former life in this place, and as a new souldier of Christ to take reuenge of himselfe with fastings, teares, and praiers.

For the memory of so worthy a thing, and the glory of God, and honour and renowne of his Soci­ety, Iohn Baptista Cardona borne in Valentia, Bishop of Vich, and Elected of Iortosa, for the great deuotion which he beareth to the sanctity of the said Father, and [Page 31]of his Order, caused this stone to be erected as to a most pious man, and to whom the whole Christian Common wealth is so much indeb­ted: Sixtus Quintus being Pope, and the Catholike, and great Phi­lip the second of that name King of Spaine.

BEING a little recouered, he presently returned to his accustomed penances, and so fell downe agayne the se­cond, and third tyme; for with an vnwearyed, and per­seuerant [Page 32]mind he tooke vpon him a heauyer burden then his forces could beare. But in the end ouercome by his owne experience, and with an extreme payne of his stomake, which tormented him, to­geather with the asperity of winter, by the counsaile of his deuout friends, he tooke two short coates of course russet cloth to keep his body warme, and a little cap of the same cloth to weare vpon his head.

2. Our Ignatius stayed almost a yeare in Manresa, leading the life, which we haue related: but our Lord who had ordayned him for greater matters, tooke him out of that solitude, inspiring him to go, and visit the holy [Page 33]places of Hierusalem. To this intent he departed from Man­resa, and went alone to Bar­celona,He go­eth to Hierusa­lem. without taking any other company with him but that of God, with whom he desired to treat by himselfe, and to enioy his inward com­municatiō, without noyse, or hinderance of others, though many had offered themselues to accompany him in that iourney. And likewise be­cause he would wholy de­pend of the Fatherly proui­dence of God, without rely­ing, or putting his confidence in any creature. In Barcelona he went to the Church to heare a sermon, & sate downe among the litle children vpon the steps of the Altar. There [Page 34]was present a Lady called E­lizabeth Rosell, who behol­ding our Pilgrim, seemed (as shee tould me herselfe after­ward in Rome) to perceaue a light, and splendour in his countenance, and that she heard in her hart,His coū ­tenance becom­meth resplen­dent. as it were a voyce, which said vnto her, Call him, Call him. And so she did at the end of the Sermon, & inuited him to dinner with her husband, who was blind, all in the house meruailing much at his words, modesty, and the spirit with which he spake of Diuine things, & ex­horted them to loue the chie­fest good with all diligence.

3. This Lady hindred him from going in a little ship, with which he had al­ready [Page 35]agreed, and it was after cast away in the sight of Bar­celona, and she procured him passage in a great ship, which with strōg, & boistrous winds went from Barcelona to Gaj­eta in fiue daies; from whence he departed towards Rome with great labour, & difficul­ty. For this yeare (being that of 1523.) Italy was much in­fected with the plague, and for this cause he was not per­mitted to enter into the Towns: so that the hunger, & weaknes which he suffred was so great, that not being able to go one step further, he was inforced to stay where the night ouer tooke him. But at last, as well as he could sō ­tyms falling, & rising againe [Page 36]he arriued at Rome vpon Palme Sunday, and visited with great deuotion the sa­cred Stations, & sanctuaryes of that holy Citty, and like­wise obtayned the benedictiō of Pope Adrian the sixt, who at that tyme was the Chiefe Pastor of Gods Church.

4. He remayned a fort­night in Rome, and though many endeauoured to alter his purpose of going to Hie­rusalem, by proposing vnto him the great labours, dan­gers, and difficultyes which were incident to that long Darney in a yeare of such de [...]th, and sicknes; yet they could make no impression in [...].Only they persuaded him [...] 7 or 8 crowns, which [Page 37]they gaue him at his departure to pay for his shipping, and passage: which afterward ha­uing remorse of conscience & thinking that it was not agre­able to the spirit of true pouer­ty, which he desired to follow in all things, he distributed al the said money to the poore that he met vpon the way. In which he endured incredi­ble afflictions, being put back from the townes, lying in the fields; all those who met him flying from him, no lesse then from death it selfe: because they did see him so pale and wan, and forsaken by those who went along the same way.

5. But our Lord (who said, I will not forsake,Io [...]ue 1. not [Page 38]leaue thee,) vouchsafed to vi­sit him, as he went from Cho­ca to Padua in a playne field,Being alone, & desolate IESVS Christ appea­reth vn­to him. comforting him with his sweet, and soueraigne pre­sence, and encouraging him to endure harder things for his sake, after which he found more easy entrance into Pa­dua, and Venice, where he would not speake with the Embassadour, who for the Emperour Charles the King of Spayne was Legier in that Common wealth. For he sought not any humane, but the diuine fauour. In Venice he had new difficulties, and feares to dismay, and hinder him from this iourney, be­cause the Great Turke Soli­man had taken the Ile of [Page 39]Rhodes the yeare before, and by reason of the sicknes, and a­gues which he had in that place: but nothing was suffi­cient to debate our Pilgrims courage, nor to diminish the secure, and firme confidence, with which he had settled in his hart, that if only one ship were to passe that yeare to Hierusalem, yet our Lord would procure him passage therin.

6. Being in venice, he asked his meat of almes from dore to dore according to his custome, and in the night he lay in the publick market place of S. Marke, which is the chiefest of that Citty. But one night a Senatour, and one of the most principall of [Page 40]that Citty sleeping in his bed with much commodity,A Sena­tor ad­monished by God, see­keth, & findeth him lying v­pon the ground. and ease, heard a voyce which awakened him, and sayd: How art thou so daintily, and richly clad, and liuest with so ma­ny commodities in thy house, whil [...]st my Seruant remayneth naked in the streets? Thou slee­pest in a rich, and soft bed, and he lyeth abroad vpon the hard ground. The Senator being astonished at this voyce, ri­seth out of his bed, and in great hast goeth out of his house, vp and downe the streetes, and comming to S. Marks, he findeth our Pilgrim lying vpon the ground, and vnderstanding him to be the man, whom our Lord cōman­ded him to seeke, he carieth [Page 41]him that night to his house, & vseth him with much cour­tesy. But he, being desirous to auoyd such delicacies and honour, went to a Spaniards house, an old acquaintance of his, who by many intreaties had inuited him thither. After this he spake to Andrew Gri­ti, who at that tyme was Duke of Venice, and desired him to commaund,He ta­keth ship for Hierusa­lem, and God cō ­forteth him and deliue­reth him from a great danger. that he might haue shipping. The Duke granted, commanding that he should be caryed of free cost to Cyprus in the Captaynes ship in which the new gouer­nour himselfe went.

7. The 14. day of Iuly of the same yeare 1523. he went aboard, and departed from Venice, hauing immediatly [Page 42]before taken a Purgation by reason a of great ague, which at that very tyme had assayled him: and yet Phisiti­ans tould him, that if he tooke ship that day he would put his life in manifest danger. But he being inwardly guided by an other superiour Phisitian made no account of that which they sayd, and indeed his going to sea was the cause of his perfect recouery.

8. In this ship wherin he went there were great sins & wickednes committed, which our Pilgrim inflamed with the zeal and loue of God, re­prehended with great liberty, so that the Mariners taking this in ill part, determined to leaue him in a desolate, and [Page 43]vnhabited Iland. But at the very tyme that they came to it, a suddaine & furious wynd did driue theyr ship from that Isand, so that they could not performe their wicked in­tent. In this his nauigation our Lord appeared vnto him many tymes, comforting, & cherishing him with incre­dible consolations, and spiri­tuall ioyes, and finally he brought him safely to the ha­uen of Ioppa the last day of August, and vpon the 4. of September before noone, to Hierusalem.He visi­teth the Holy places with ex­traordi­nary de­uotion.

9. It cannot be explica­ted in few words, what ioy our Lord imparted to this our Pilgrim, with the only sight of that holy Citty, and what [Page 44]fauours he did him al the tyme of his abode there, with a con­tinuall consolation, whilst he imployed himselfe in visiting, and reuerencing all those sa­cred places, which Christ our Lord had sanctified with his presence, and delighting ex­ceedingly with the remem­brance of so inestimable a be­nefit. Our Pilgrim had deter­mined to remayne in Hieru­salem, and to imploy the rest of his life in this holy exercise, as likewise in assisting, and seruing his neighbours in all that his forces could asfoard; though he discouered not this last of helping others, to any, fearing popular applause, and the good reputatiō, in which some perhaps might haue of [Page 45]him. But imparting the in­tention which he had to re­mayne in Hierusalem, to the Father Prouinciall of S. Fran­cis his order who liued there, and he finding many difficul­ties and inconueniences ther­in, following his counsaile, and the will of God, who cal­led him for greater matters, he resolued to returne to Spayne, & to take that estate, and manner of life, which our Lord should vouchsafe to shew him.

10. But before his depar­ture from Hierusalem he had an inflamed desyre to returne,What happe­ned vn­to him vpō the Mount Oliuet. and visit Mount Oliuet, wher vntill this day are seene in a stone the steps which our Sauiour left imprinted with his [Page 46]Diuine feet, at the tyme of his ascending into Heauen: and with this desyrehe stole secre­tly from the other pilgrims, & alone without guid, or company, or any Turk to defend him (which is a very dangerous thing) he went in all hast vp to Mount Oliuet, & after­ward returned to it againe, ful of incomparable ioy, that he might more attentiuely consider, on what syde the step of he right, and of the left foote were placed, which remayned imprinted in the stone And because he had no­thing els to giue to the watch men, that they would let him passe, he gaue them a little knife, and a payr of sizers which he had caryed with [Page 47]him. And although the Fa­thers of S Francis order, fea­ring his danger, reprehended him for it, and one of the Christians, who had care of the pilgryms, and was sent for him did both chide,Christ our Lord appea­reth vn­to him. & threaten him, yet our Ignatius was not moued or troubled, for Christ our Sauiour appeared vnto him, and went before him, & bare him company vntill they came to the gates of the Co­uent: and with this celestiall fauour he endured this trouble with great comfort

THE tyme in which our Pilgrim returned from Hierusalē into Italy was very troublese me with snow, and frost, being in the hart of winter. His garment was of course canuas, and his doublet which giuen him of almes, was all cut, and open in the back: his cloake was short, and thrid bare, and of bad cloth: he had no stockings at all, but only shoes vpon his feet He found in Cyprus three ships ready [Page 49]to depart:He re­turneth into Ita­ly and the little ship in which he sayling cōmeth home safe the other being lost. one wherof belon­ged to the Turke, another which was very strong, and wel appointed was of Venice: and the third was a little old bark, almost rotten and con­sumed. In this third, our Ignatius shipped himself, for the Captayne of the Venetian ship vnderstanding that he was poore, and had not where withall to pay him, would not admit him: saying, that if he were as Holy, as some gaue out, he might walk vpon the water, for he should not be drowned. All these three ships put themselues to sayle the same day and houre with pro­sperous wynd; but in the eue­ning there came vpon them a tempestuous storme, with [Page 50]which the Turkish ship was cast away with all her people: that of Venice ran herself vpō ground neere to the Isle of Cyprus, and was cast away, though the men in her were saued: and only the little bark, in which the seruant of God went, being old, and worm­eaten, arriued safe at Venice, in the middest of Ianuary the yeare 1524.

2. In Venice he rested him­selfe a few dayes, and after­wards tooke his iourney for Spayn, hauing only 7. or 8. shillings, which were giuen him of almes, and a peece of cloth to couer, and keep warm his stomack, which he felt to be much weakened, and con­sumed, by the force of the cold [Page 51]and his nakednes. But going forward in his iourney,He gi­ueth all he hath to the poore, and as­keth al­mes frō dore to dore. and being at Ferrara praying in a Church, there came certaine poore people to aske of him almes, and he gaue them all the money he had, and going out of the Church, went from dore to dore asking a peece of bread to eat according to his custome.

3. From thence he tooke his way for Genua, and passed by the armyes, and camps of the Spanish, and French soul­diers who at that tyme were at cruell War in Lombardy: & he was taken for a spy & vsed by the Spanish souldiers with little courtesy and modesty:He is ta­ken by the Spa­nish and French souldi­ers. for they accoūted him a foole, bearing him with their fists, [Page 52]and spurning him; all which caused extraordinary comfort in his soule. The French men vsed him more friendly. And finally our Lord guiding him he came to Genua, where he tooke ship, and with great danger of Pirats, and enemyes arriued at Barcelona, ending his nauigation in the same place, where he had begun it.

THE Blessed Father being returned to Spayne, was [Page 53]very desyrous to please God and serue him in whatsoe­uer he would appoint, but alwayes with intention to im­ploy himself in helping of his neighbors. To this end after he had considered, and com­mended the matter much to God, he resolued to study, and to ioyne with the vnction of Spirit which our Lord im­parted vnto him, the study,He be­ginneth to study Grāmer. and exercise of learning: and so he did. And being now 33. years of age he began to learne the first principles of Gram­mer of a vertuous, and deuout Maister called Hierome Arde­balus, who taught Schoole in Barcelona, the Lady Eliza­beth Rosell (of whom we spake before) giuing him all [Page 54]that was necessary for his su­stenance; so great was the spirit & feruour with which he desyred to ouercome him­self & please God. And though the Diuell tooke vpon him diuers formes, and vsed new crasis & deceipts to withdraw him from his study: yet the grace of our Lord, and the perseuerance which he gaue to this his Seruant preuayled more to make him to goe for­ward in his Holy Purpose, then al the deuises of the Ene­my to hinder him.

2. He felt himself in Bar­celona somwhat cased of the payne of his stomack, and he presently returned to the great rigour of his accustomed pen­nances which by reason of his [Page 55]want of health, and the labour of so long a iourney, he had somewhat remitted. Where­fore he made certaine holes in the soles of his shoes, and tore them by litle and litle, so that in the beginning of winter he went barefoote vpon the ground, though his feet were couered with the vpper lea­thers: & this to auoid oftenta­tion, which he also did in his other Pennances.

3. In Barcelona there befell him two notable thinges in which he shewed his pati­ence, and charity:He is misused for the defence of Gods honour. The one was, that hauing notice of certayne light young men, who disquieted the Nunnery called Of the Angells, wherein there liued Religious women [Page 56]of S. Dominicks order, & was scituated at that tyme without the walls of the citty: he pro­cured to perswade the Nunns to auoid those conuersations & occasions, and to giue them­selues to all recollection, and denotion. By which exhorta­tions those good fellowes, not finding their former inter­taynment in that Monastery, were much troubled, and threatned the Blessed Father. And finally diuers tymes they refrayned not from blowes, & once they misused him very much, so that he had necessity to be cured: but for all this he gaue not ouer his enterprize, reioycing greatly to suffer for the loue of Iesus Christ.

4. The second thing was, [Page 57]that comming one day from the foresaid monastery Of the Angells, it happened that a man had hanged himselfe v­pon one of the beames in his chamber,Heresto­reth life to one that had hanged himselfe that he might be sory for his sinnes. into which the good Father speedily entred, and cut downe the rope; and though all held the man for dead, yet did he fall to his prayers, and cryed vnto him, so that the man recouered his senses, and gaue signes of re­pentance, and sorrow for his sins, and a little after gaue vp the ghost. In which accident the circumstances that cōcur­red were such, that it was mi­raculous in the whole Citty, through which it was soone diuulged. He stayed in Barce­lona two yeares studying [Page 58]Grammer, vntill that by the counsail of some learned men in the yeare 1526. he went to the Vniuersity of Alcala, that he might passe to other high­er sciences.

5. In Alcala he lyed in the Hospitall of Lewis of Antezana, which was there founded: & he began to study Logick, and Philosophy: and withall heard the Maister of Sentences, by the counsell of some, who with a desire to haue him end quickly, knew not how to direct him. But he became now so inflamed with the loue of God, & with an insatiable thirst to helpe, and remedy the soules, and bodies of his neyghbours, that he contented not himselfe [Page 59]with the ordinary labour of his studies, and of asking almes from dore to dore,His be­hauiour in Alcala to sustayne himselfe, but that withall he taught children, and ignorant people the Ca­techisme, or Christian Do­ctrine, and guided many in the way of vertue by prayer, and meditation, and gathered almes with which he proui­ded victualls for such poore, as suffered most necessity.

6. This caused great ad­miration in that Vniuersity, and it was more increased by seing our Blessed Father clad with one only coate of course cloth, going barefoot, and in his company other three in the same attyre, who follow­ed him, as moued by his ex­ample; [Page 60]and besides another young man of France adioy­ned himselfe vnto them: So that they were called (as it were in mockery) those of the Blancket, or course cloth. This admiration (caused by the nouelty) gaue occasion, that he and those in his com­pany were diuersly spoken of in the towne, euery one inter­preting that which he did see, or heare, according to his owne affectiō. And although great diligence, and much inquiry was made, & diuers and exquisite informations taken by the Licenciate Iohn Figueroa (who afterward dyed President of Castilla, & at that tyme was Vicar Gene­rall of Alcala to the Arch-Bi­shop [Page 61]of Toledo) of his life, and doctrine: yet there was neuer found in word or deed, any vice in his life, or errour in his doctrine, as the same Vi­car testified. Albeit for the greater tryall of the Blessed Father,He is cō ­mitted to prison without any fault. and that the truth might be more knowne, they afterward apprehended him vpon a false suspition, and kept him in prison 42. dayes with great ioy. of his spirit, to see himselfe suffer with­out fault for Christ, which was the thing that he desired much.

7. Wherfore though some persons of great Authority who were much deuoted to him, offered him their fauour saying, that they would cause [Page 62]him to be set at liberty, if he would; yet he neuer gaue his consent, nor would take any Proctor, or Aduocate, nor any other to plead for his in­nocency, thinking defence not to be necessary, where there was no fault. And like­wise if he had done amisse in any thing, he desired to be corrected by the Ecclesiasti­cal Superiors, to whom all his life he shewed himselfe a child of obedience. After 42 dayes the matter being tryed, and the Processe being conclu­ded, they restored him, and his company to their former freedome, the Vicar afore­said declaring by his sentence that they were found altogea­ther innocent, and without [Page 63]fault in any thing which was obiected against them.

8. There happened one thing to the blessed Father here in Alcala which was ac­counted miraculous,A knight is consu­med by fyre who said, that Ignatius deser­ued a fa­got. and this it was: that the Vicar ha­uing commaunded when he deliuered him out of prison, that he should go apparreled like other schollers, he com­mended the matter to a Priest named Iohn of Lucena, who imployed himselfe in workes of charity, desiring him to procure some almes, to buy him cloathes. They two went one day asking this almes, & they came to a street where many of good sort stood loo­king on those who were play­ing at bal, nigh to the house of [Page 64]a principall Knight, whom I wil not name for iust respects. This Knight vnderstanding that they asked almes for that effect, in a great rage, tur­ning to the said Iohn of Lu­cena, asked him, Why one of his quality would procure that almes? And he added, Let me be burnt, if this fellow de­serue not to be burned. Which words were cause of great scandall to those, who after came to know it, and were acquainted with the Fathers sanctity. But the same day, there came newes, that King Philip the second was borne, in joy whereof there were great feasts, and triumphs made in Alcala, and through­out all Spaine. Vpon which [Page 65]occasion the foresaid Knight went vp to a Turret in his house, where then was a great quantity of gun-powder pla­ced, to make artificiall fyers, and by chance a sparke fell into the powder; which pre­sently blew vp the Tower, the Knight being therwith killed and burnt.

9. When the blessed Fa­ther was told of this, sheding many teares of pitty, and compassion, he sayd: He fore­told it himselfe this morning, when I passed by his house, for I wished him no such harme. This accident was very publick, and notorious in Alcala, and accounted rare, and miraculous, for the decla­ration of the Fathers sanctity.

10. From Alcala he went to speake with Don Alfonsus of Fonseca Arch-bishop of Toledo, who at that tyme was at Valliadolid, and he inter­tayned him with great benig­nity, offering him his fauour and protection, if he would vse the helpe of him, or his in Salamanca, giuing him mo­ney to carry him thither. When he came thither he be­gan to implov himselfe (as he was wont) in stirring vp the peoples harts to the holy loue, and feare of our Lord: In so much, that within a few dayes, some Religious, and zealous persons, moued with the danger of the tymes, and the freedome wherwith he spake, and the concourse of [Page 67]the people who heard him (fearing least vnder the cloke of holynes, some euill might lie hidden which after­ward could not be so easely remedied) gaue aduise to the Bishops Prouisor, and procu­red that he, and one in his company should be appre­hended and cast into prison, being locked togeather so straitly in a great and long chaine,How & why he was ap­prehen­ded in Sala­manca. that they could not go one from the other, vpō any occasiō whatsoeuer But in that very place the B Father, omitted not his accustomed exercises, nor to speake freely in the commendation of ver­tue and reprehension of vice, exciting mens harts to despise the world.

11. The concourse of people which went to heare him was great, as likewise the fruit which proceeded from his words; but the ioy of his hart was far greater, to see himselfe in fetters, & chaines for Christ. For all his desires, and wishes were to dye for our Lord, who dyed for him vpon the Crosse; and so he tould to some, who went to comfort him, and shewed much griefe for his sufferings, reprehending this their false pitty and compassion, because they knew not the treasures, which are contayned in the Crosse of Christ. They re­mayned in prison 22. dayes, receauing many fauours of our Lord in their soules, and [Page 69]were well prouided of all that was necessary for their bodies,They set him at li­berty, and de­clare the goodnes of his life and doctrine. by the charity of such deuout persons, as had taken notice of them, and bare them affection. At the end of these 22. dayes, the forsayd Prouisor with the aduise, and consent of other learned men set them at liberty, declaring them to be men of pure and sincere life, & that he had not found any spot, or suspition at all in them.

IT was Gods will, that this Blessed man should be Fa­ther [Page 70]of many children, & ther­fore, though with contrary wynds, and boysterous wa­ues, he guided him to that ha­uen where he might serue him according to that which he himselfe had decreed. To this end, he gaue him a great, and inflamed desire, to draw others into his company, and to im­ploy himself wholy with them in the spirituall help of his neighbours: and withall he moued him, to go to the Vni­uersity of Paris; which at that tyme was the Mother of all Vniuersities, & the common Schoole, and Theater of the world.

2. The motion, and in­clination which he had to this iourney, was with so great [Page 71]force & vehemency, that many spirituall men, and his best friends could not diuert him from it, by proposing vnto him the sharpnes of the tyme and hard winter, & the open and bloudy war which was betwixt Spayne and France togeather with the many dangers by the way,He go­eth to Paris in a cold season, & with danger. alleadging vnto him many, and late examples of horrible crueltyes, which the souldyers had pra­ctised against those, that tra­uailed in those parts. But all these thinges were not suffici­ent to stay him, because he felt himself caryed with the fauourable wynd of the Holy Ghost, fynding peace in war in dangers security, and rest in labours. And so he tooke hi­iourney [Page 72]through France on foot, and with the fauour of God, who guided him, arri­ued safe at Paris, without pas­sing any danger in the begin­ning of February 1528.

3. At Paris before he went forward in other higher stu­dyes, he perfected himselfe in the Latin tongue, studying Humanity almost two yeares. After this he began his course of Philosophy,His stu­dyes, la­bours & persecu­tions at Paris. and ended it with great commendation, taking the degree of Maister of Arts, by his Maisters per­suasion, and that by this degre he might (before men) haue some testimony of his lear­ning, the better to help others. Hauing ended his course of Philosophy, he studyed Di­uinity, [Page 73]our Lord doing him great mercy, and fauours: and besydes the labour which he tooke in studying, he endured other great, & extraordinary incommodityes For in the be­ginning he liued in the Hospi­tall of S. Iames, asking from dore to dore that which he was euery day to eat, and he was also inforced the 3. first yeares to go diuers tymes to Flaunders, and once into En­gland to gather some almes of the Spanish merchants who resided there) with which he might poorely sustayne his life. He gaue himselfe likewise to very austere pennances, & to such a rigorous life, that it alone was sufficient to be­reaue him of his health, as in [Page 74]effect it did, in such sort, that he was constrayned (not wi­thout euident perill of his life) to interrupt the course of his studies.

4. Now what shall I say of his other imployments in helping, inflaming, and di­recting his neighbours to all vertue? What of the most grie­uous persecutions which he endured for this cause, which were many, and very conti­nuall? For certaine young schollers, being noble and of excellent witts, hauing forsa­ken al that they had, to follow the counsailes of Christ our Lord, and moued with the wordes and example of this Blessed Father, made a great change in their life, and gaue [Page 75]all their wealth to the poore, begging themselues from dore to dore, and lyuing as poore people in the hospitall. This caused a great styrre in the Vniuersity, and their kindred & friends (who were not plea­sed with such courses) concea­ued great hatred against him, whome they knew to be the author of that new life, which they accounted folly. And so they began to persecute, and calumniate him, raising many false testimonies against him, as the world is wont to do, a­gainst Gods seruants.

5. Neither did the mat­ter end in words alone: for in the Colledge of S. Barbara▪ where at that time, he studyed Philosophy, they would haue [Page 76]corrected him publickly, with a seuere, & publick kind of pu­nishment which vsed to be in­flicted vpon such as were vn­quiet, and of a turbulent be­hauiour: and this, because he exhorted his schole-fellowes to the deuout frequentation of the Holy Sacraments, and to giue themselues vpon festi­uall dayes, more then at other tymes, to prayer; and because by this his counsail, a certaine Spanish schollar, named Ama­dore, had left the Colledge, & the world to follow Christ naked vpon the Crosse.

6. And although the Fa­ther knew before, what was intended, and deuised against him, and after that the Col­ledge gates were shut, and the [Page 77]bell rung,His for­titude & alacrity in igno­minies and in­iuries. and the Maisters ready with their rods in their hands to correct him, and all the schollars gathered toge­ther to behould this spectacle, he remayned so vndaunted, that he was neither troubled, nor shewed any weakenes: yea, least the glory of Christ should be diminished, & Ver­tue dishonoured, and accoun­ted an ignomy amongst Chri­stians, & those tender plants, which had begun to florish should be blasted with that whirld wind, he spake to the Rector of the Colledge with such a maiesty, and freedome (offering himselfe on the one syde very prompt, and ioyful to haue that Sacrifice made of him; & on the other declaring [Page 78]the harme, which those who were as yet but beginners, & tender in vertue, would re­ceaue, if he should be puni­shed, for hauing exhorted them thereunto) that the Rector there befor all those who were gathered together asked par­don of him, as of a Saynt, who made no account of his owne ignominy, but only of the honour of God, and the good of his neighbours.

7. Thus this chastisement was omitted, and Vertue re­mayned with more reputatiō, and the Holy Father came to be more known & the Rector (who was named Doctor Iames Gouea, of Portugall, a Jearned and pious man,) re­mayned with such affection to [Page 79]the Father,What meanes God took to open the gate, for the chil­dren of Ignatius to goe to the East Indies. and for his sake to his children, that in progresse of tyme, he was the principal Author who persuaded the King of Portugall, Don Iohn the third, to send the Fathers of the society of Iesus to the East Indies, who since haue done so much good in those remote, and large Prouinces, conuerting innume [...]able sou­les of Infidells, to our Holy Religion: our Lord taking so small and ignominious an oc­casion, for so great a thing, & so much to his glory.

8. Out of all that which men did against the Blessed Father, God drew profit for the Father himself who endu­red it, & for those who euery day ioyned themselues vnto [Page 80]him with desyre to imitate the examples of his vertues;The In­quisitor of Paris appro­ueth the procee­dings of Ignatiꝰ. and they serued also for a greater, and more cleere testimony of the truth. As it happened here in Paris, where his Aduersa­ries not contenting themsel­ues with the calumniations, & false suspitions which they had raised against the Blessed Father, they denounced him also to the Inquisitor, who was a learned, and a graue Deuine, called Maister Mat­thew Ory, a Friar of S. Domi­nicks order. But the Inquisi­tor remayned so well satisfyed with the Fathers life, & lear­ning, that he demaunded of him the booke of Exercises, which he composed in Man­resa (as we haue said) and it [Page 81]pleased him so much, that with his leaue he tooke a copy of it for himself: & gaue a testimony by authentical Writing, of the innocency, and purity which he had found in his life & be­hauiour. And afterward in Rome, in a great storme, which was raised against him, and against those of his com­pany, the same Inquisitor was one of the witnesses of the innocency of Blessed Father Ignatius, and an approuer of his doctrine, as shall be decla­red hereafter.

AND because the Father had an eye, and desire to get, and procure Company which might help, and con­curre to the saluatiō of soules, our Lord hauing called him to this so great an enterprise; he was attentiue to nothing more then to gayne some yong men of good ability, and laudable cōuersation, who might haue the same intention: and so he gained Peter Faber of Sauoy, Francis Xauier of Nauar [Page 83]Iames Laynes of Almacan, Alfonsus Salmerō of Toledo, Simon Rodericus of Portugal, and Nicolas Bobadilla, who was of a place night to Palen­tia. After these their came like­wise to him other three, who were Claudius Iaius of Sauoy, Ioan Codury of the Delphi­nat, and Paschatius Broüet of the Prouince of Picardy; so that they were in all ten. And though, they were of so different Nations, as some of Spayne, and others of France, at the tyme that those two Kingdomes were at such ter­rible warres, notwithstanding they were all of one and the same hart, and will.

2. All these were Mai­sters of Art, and studied Diui­nity, [Page 84]and the day of the As­sumption of our Blessed Lady at a Church not farre from Paris called Mons Martyrum, after they had confessed, and receiued the body of Christ our Lord, they made a vow to leaue, vpon a certaine day appointed, all that they had, and to imploy themselues in the spirituall profit of their neighbours, and to goe in Pilgrimage to Hierusalem, if cōming to Venice they might haue commodity to doe it within a yeare. And if they could not goe within that yeare, or if in going they could not stay at Hierusalem, to of­fer themselues at the Popes feet, the Vicegerent of Christ our Lord, that his Holynes [Page 85]might freely dispose of them, in the seruice of the Church, and the saluation of soules.

3. This being agreed vpon among themselues, Blessed Ig­natius gaue order to the rest to take their iourney towards Venice, when their studyes were ended, where he would expect them, after that he had byn first in Spaine, and dispat­ched there certaine businesse for some of them, and other important affaires for the ser­uice of God, which caused him to goe thither. With this resolution he departed from Paris, and came to his owne Countrey, where though his Brother were Lord of the Place, yet he would by no meanes lodge in his house, [Page 86]nor take that, which he needed of him,What he did in his owne Coūtry but liued in the hospitall, asking his poore Victualls from dore to dore. There he taught the Cate­chisme, of Christiā Doctrine, and preached with such con­course of people which came from many villages, that he was inforced to preach in the fields, because the multitude could not be contayned in the Churches, and many that they might heare, and see him the better, climbed vp into trees: and though the Father was very weake, and sicke of an ague, yet he preached thrice euery weeke; and all the words which he spake, were plainely heard more then a quarter of a mile, from the [Page 87]place wherin he stood, which semed very strange, and mira­culous.

4. With these his Sermons he rooted out many vices, and established many things profi­table for sustayning the poore, and the amendment of those who were in mortall sin, pro­uiding in all things for the good both of soules & bodyes, and leauing all that Country in admiration, and replenished with a most sweet odour of his vertues,He cu­reth a man of the gout, & a womā in a con­sumptiō, and ano­ther pos­sessed. and the miracles which God wrought by him. For in that place he healed a man named Vastida, who had byn many yeares much trou­bled with the gout; and a ver­tuous woman who had byn in a cōsumption for some space; [Page 88]and deliuered another, who had byn tormented by the Di­uell foure yeares. And our Lord wrought other things by his meanes, which were held for miraculous; by reason wherof, and for his holy life, all the people respected him so much, that they did striue to touch his garments, esteming him as a Saint, and a great Seruant of God.

5. From hence alone, & without money, asking almes by the way, he went to Pam­pelona, and from thence to Almacan, Siguença, & Tole­do, to dispatch the busines which was commended vnto him. Afterward he took ship, neere to Valentia, for Italy, and with great labour, incom­modityes [Page 89]and dangers, he ar­riued with our Lords fauour at Venice, to expect his com­pany there, as they had agreed in Paris. But the Diuell este­ming him now his open ene­my, and foreseeing the warre which he was to make against him, did persecute him there also,He is ac­cused at Venice and de­clared innocēt. and by certayne of his ministers published, that he was a fugitiue, and that his statua being burnt, was fled from Spayne, and other things of like nature, but all false; and were declared to be such by Hierome Verall Archbi­shop of Rosa, who after was Cardinall of the Church of Rome, and at that tyme Apo­stolicall Nuncius in Venice In the tyme that he stayed for [Page 90]his company he did much good, drawing many learned, & pious men to Gods seruice, who vnited themselues with him, and directing some of those Senators to all vertue, and leauing a most sweet me­mory of himselfe, with all that knew, and conuersed with him.

6. His company came from Paris to Venice the 8. of Ianuary 1537. hauing endu­red much by the way, it being long,The rest of his compa­ny com­meth to Venice, & there serue in the hos­pitalls. and the tyme sharp, and rigorous, and they comming also on foot with much dis­commodity: but they ouer­came all difficultyes by the particuler graces, which God gaue them; and with an infla­med desire to suffer much for [Page 91]him. In Venice they found their Father, and Maister Ig­natius, with the other cōpany which was come vnto him, and they imbraced on another with exceding great content­ment. They presently deuided themselues into diuers Hospi­talls, to serue and assist the poore. Afterward they went to Rome on foot, with ex­treme pouerty, and need, as­king almes, and fasting euery day, because it was in Lent: where hauing receiued the be­nediction of Pope Paul the 3. to goe to Hierusalem with the same pouerty, they returned to Venice, where Father Igna­tius remayned.

7. There those who were not priests tooke that order, [Page 92]the day of S. Iohn Bapt. in the same yeare 1537. hauing before made the vowes of Chastity, and Pouerty,They are made Priests & deui­de them­selues in the state of Ve­nice. in presence of the Apostolicall Legate. And to expect their going to Hieru­salem, they deuided themselues in the Citties of the dominion of Venice: and Fa. Ignatius, with Father Faber, & Father Laynes remayned 40. dayes without the Citty of Vincen­za, in a little house, or Hermi­tage, which was left desolate & halfe falne downe, without dores, or windowes, so that the wind, and water entred in on all sides. They slept on the ground vpon a little straw, and had nothing to eat, but a few hard, and mouldy crusts of bread, which were [Page 93]giuen them of almes, not with out difficulty, seething them first in a little water, that they might be able to eat them.

8. But afterward hauing wholy lost their hope of going to Hierusalem, they resolued to deuide themselues in the chiefe Vniuersities of Italy: & B. F. Ignatius with Father Faber and F. Laynes went to Rome, whither God called them, to begin the new Soci­ety, & Order, which through the whole world, was so much to increase his glory. It was a very markeable thing that for many yeares before that of 1537. & after that vntil 1570. there neuer fayled some ships for pilgrims to go to Hierusa­lem, but only that yeare. For [Page 94]our Lord directed the courses of this Blessed Father, and of these in his company for higher matters, then they vn­derstood, or thought of in the beginning.

THE Blessed Father, after he was made Priest, had takē a whole yeare to prepare himselfe for his first Masse. In this tyme,Ignatius his de­uotion to our B. Lady. he imploied himself with all the forces of his soule most humbly beseeching the glorious Virgin Mary, the Mother [Page 95]of God, that shee would bring him vnto her Sonne: & that since she is the Gate of Heauen, and a singular Aduo cate betwixt God and Man, she would procure him en­trance; that her most Blessed Sonne might take notice of him by her meanes, and he might come to knowe her Sonne, & reuerēce him with a most entire hart & deuotion. He added moreouer, that since the enterprise, which he had vndertaken for his seruice, was so great and hard, that shee would open the gate, and take away the difficulties which might hinder in so, im­portant an affaire.

2. With these desyres, & wishes the B. Father tooke [Page 96]his way towards Rome, on foot, with F. Faber, and F. Laynes in his cōpany, asking almes, as they were wont: and he receiued the most Sacred Body of our Lord euery day at their hands: and in all his iourney, he was illustrated, and strengthned with heauen­ly inspirations, and spirituall comforts. But one day dra­wing nigh to the Citty of Rome, leauing the two Fa­thers in the field, he went into a desert, and solitary Church some mile from the Citty to pray. There amidst the grea­test feruour of his prayers, he felt his hart changed, and God the Father appeared to him, together with his most Blessed Sonne, who carried [Page 97]the Crosse vpon his shoulders: and with the eyes of his soule, illustrated with that resplen­dent light, he saw that the E­ternall Father, turning to his only begotten Sonne, com­mended Ignatius, and those in his company vnto him, with exceeding great loue,Christ with his Crosse appea­reth to him and promi­seth him his fa­uour. putting them into his hands. And our most benigne Iesus hauing re­ceiued the vnder his patrona­ge, & protectiō, as he stood in that manner, with his Crosse, turned to Ignatius, and with a louing, and mild countenance said vnto him: Ego vobis Romae propitius cro: I will be fauou­rable to you at Rome.

3. With this diuine reue­lation, our Father remayned very much comforted, and [Page 98]strenghtned, and he related it afterwards to those in his cō ­pany, to animate them the more, and to prepare them for the troubles which they were to endure. And with this visi­on, together with many other excellent illustrations which he had, the most Sacred name of IESVS, was so imprinted in his soule, with an earnest de­syre to take our Sauiour for his Captaine, carrying his Crosse after him; that this was the cause, that at his, and the other first Fathers humble su [...]e, and request, the Apo­stolicke Sea,Why he called his order the Soci­ety of IESVS. at the Confirma­tion of our Religion, called, & named it, THE SOCIETIE OF IESVS; I which was first done by Pope Paul the [Page 99]third of that name, after a ter­rible tempest, which was rai­sed against it in Rome, by oc­casion of a certaine hereticall Preacher, to whome our Fa­thers opposed themselues. Which storme soon ceased, by reason that our Lord brought in that occasion, and in that very tyme, not without a sin­gular & particuler prouidence, those who had been the Bles­sed Fathers Iudges in Spayne, France, and Venice, that now they might be witnesses of his innocency, and vertue. By which meanes the truth being knowne, the Gouernour of Rome, pronounced sentēce in fauour of our Blessed Father, and of those in his company, by order of his Holynes.

4. Who to proceed more maturely in the busines of the Confirmatiō of this Religion,What [...] there was in the con­firmatiō or the Society. committed it to three Cardinalls, who in the beginning were very opposite & auerted, especially Cardinall Bartholo­maeus Guidichion, because he iudged, that new Orders of Religion were not fit to be be­gun, but the ancient reformed, according to the Decree of In­nocentius the third in the La­teran Councell, & of Grego­ry the tenth in the Councell of Lyons. Which very diffi­culty, those two great, and glorious Patriarks S. Domi­nick and S. Francis had in the Confirmation of their Sacred Religions: for the workes of God must passe through this [Page 101]examine, and fornace.

5. But our Lord Iesus ha­uing now taken Ignatius vn­der his wings, and promised to fauour him in Rome, chan­ged the mind of Cardinall Guidichion in such sort, that he was heard to vtter these words: I like not new Religions but yet I dare not omit to approue this: for I feele inwardly in my hart such extraordinary motions, that the diuine Will carryeth me to that, which I am not inclined to by reason; and imbrace that with my affection, which by the force of humane reasons I vtterly disliked. And thus this very Cardinall commended the In­stitute of the Society very ear­nestly to the Pope: & his Ho­lynes read it, and with the spi­rit [Page 102]of the Chiefe Bishop said: Digitus Deiesthic: This is the finger of God; affirming, that from so smal, and weak begin­nings he hoped for, and ex­pected no small fruit for the Church of God. And so he confirmed the Religion of the Society, in the yeare 1540.Pope Paul the the third confir­meth the Society. the 27. of September, which is the feast of the S. Cosmus & Darnianus: but yet he added a certaine Limitation, which he tooke away three yeares after, cōfirming the Society a new. And the yeare 1550. Pope In­lius the third, who succeeded Pope Paul, approued it againe: and the other Popes, who haue followed since, haue establi­shed, & enriched it with many Graces, & priuiledges, as may [Page 103]be seene in their Bulles, and in the Summary therof.

6. But returning to our blessed Father Ignatius, when the Society was thus confir­med, by the Vicegerent of Christ (as we haue said) there met in Rome, the Lent fol­lowing in the yeare 1541. the first Fathers who remayned in Italy, for the election of a Generall, and the others sent their suffrages by writing.He is made General. And by common consent of all, the B. Father was decla­red Generall. His humility was so great, that he could not possibly be persw [...]ded to accept of it, but intreated the Fathers most effectuo [...]sly not to giue him that charge, of which he was so vnworthy, [Page 104]and which he could not exer­cise without the domage, and harme of the Society. So that finally they were inforced to comfort him, and to con­descend to him so farre, as to take other foure dayes to commend that affayre to our Lord anew, and to beseech him to discouer vnto them his holy will. But they conti­nued in their former resolu­tion the second time also, which notwithstanding was not sufficient to ouercome the Fathers humility, and the true contempt which he had of himselfe, vntill being re­tired for some dayes, and ha­uing made a generall Con­fession in S. Peters de Monte aureo, to a Father of S. Francis [Page 105]Order, called Fryar Theo­philus, a holy man, and of great parts (with whom be­fore the confirmation of the Society, he was wont to con­fesse) he tould him, that he resisted the holy Ghost, in re­sisting, his Election.

7. To this voyce our humble Father Ignatius yeil­ded himselfe, bowing his neck to the yoke, which our Lord laid vpon him: and the 22. day of Aprill of the same yeare 1541. he went with the other Fathers, and three Brothers (of which my selfe was one) to visit the 7. Churches and Stations of Rome, and in the Church of S. Paul he said masse, and made his pro­fession, giuing the B. Sacra­ment [Page 106]to the other Fathers, who likewise made their pro­fession in his hands,Ignatius and the other Fathers make their profes­sion. shedding many teares, for their spi­rituallioy, and feruent deuo­tion: Yeelding many thanks to our Lord, because he had vouchsafed to bring that to effect, and finall perfection, which himselfe had begun. From that day forward the Society was acknowldged, for a Religion approued by the Sea Apostolike, hauing in it Religious men obliged with their solemne vowes, and profession, and with a Superiour and head, who was to gouerne it for Gods grea­ter glory, and the good of his Church.

PRESENTLY after he was made Generall, the first thing that he did, was to rise very early the next mor­ning, and to awake all the house; iudging it to be his of­fice to watch prepetually ouer all, and to procure, that all his subiects should watch & euery one attend carefully to their imployment. And to humble, and debase himselfe so much the more, by how much the degree in which God had pla­ced [Page 108]him was high and emi­nent, he went into the kit­chin, and performed the of­fice of Cooke, and such other things of like quality for ma­ny dayes, with such diligence that he seemed a Nouice, who did it only for his owne grea­ter profit, and mortification.

2. This being ended he began to catechize, or teach the Christian Doctrine in our Church, which he continued for the space of six, and forty dayes, explicating daily the commandements, articles, & other things appertayning to the principles of our holy faith. All which he declared in Italian, with improper, and vnpolished words, but vttered with such spirit, and [Page 109]force, that they moued the hearers to compunction; in such sort, that they were so pierced with sorrow, that presently vpon hearing him they went to confession, and could scarce speake by reason of the aboundance of teares and sighes, with which they bewayled their sinnes. Of which I my selfe am witnes, being at that tyme but very young, and repeating euery day that which the B. Father had taught.

3. Besides all this, the holy Father attended to plant, pro­pagate, and extend his new order of religion throughout the world. He sustayned it with his prayers, ruled it with his wisedome, gaue it life [Page 110]with his spirit, defended it with his valour, and edified, and inflamed it to all vertue with his example. And our Lord, who had chosen, and preuented him with the bles­sings of his sweetnes, fauou­red him with so large a hand,The propa­gation of the Society within a yeare af­ter the confir­mation. that whatsoeuer the B. Father vndertooke, seemed prospe­rous and sucure. In so much, that after the Society was confirmed by the Sea Aposto­like, (they at that tyme being so few) our Lord spread them in such sort ouer the world, that within the space of one yeare, they were in France, Italy, Germany, Spayne, Por­tugall, Ireland, and the West Indies, not without much ad­miration.

4. Our B. Father was Ge­nerall for the space of fifteene yeares, three moneths,The B. Fathers employ­ments being General. and nine dayes, from the 22. of Aprill, in the yeare of our Lord [...]54 [...]. vntill the last of Iuly 1556. in which he de­parted this world. All this tyme he remayned in Rome, without going thence, vnles it were twise, once into the Kingdome of Naples, and an­other tyme to the Citty of Oruieto, where Pope Paul the third was at that season; both which iourneis he vn­dertooke for affayres of great importance.

5. In all these yeares his imploy ments were to found, and gouerne by himselfe, the house of Rome (which is the [Page 112]mother, and Head of the rest) and to send his children to preach in the world, giuing them instructions, by obser­uation wherof they might be­come worthy workemen of Iesus Christ; who with the edification, which by Gods fauour they caused in all parts, drew the peoples affe­ction vnto them, & increased their deuotion in such sort, that many desired: Colledges of the Society, to the end they might receiue the more profit by their doctrine, and holy in­stitution. And 20 this the holy Father did carefully coo­perate, sending those of the Society to the places, which seemed most necessary, and conuenient for the founda­tion [Page 113]of such Colledges, and houses, as were required: and that this plant, which our Lord of his goodnes would haue to increase so much in his Church, might dayly be more firmely rooted.

6. And because the Diuell bare great hatred, and enuy to the B. Father, and his reli­gion, and in all parts moued great contradictions, and per­secutions against it; he as a valiant Captaine encountred the common enemy, making as fierce resistance against him, and clearing the truth, not permitting that such lyes, as the Diuell by his ministers spread abroad should preuaile against it. Notwithstanding the Father was not content [Page 114]with these so many, & so great imploymēts, which had beene able to weary a Gyant: but with an enflamed desire, and charity to helpe his neigh­bours (as if he had nothing els to do) he laboured to pro­fit them abroad, and procu­red to extirpate certayne vices out of the Citty of Rome, & to institute therin many workes much to Gods glory, and the spirituall benefit of soules.

7. As for example: that the Phisitians should not cure the bodyes of the sick, before their soules were cured with the holy sacrament of Confes­sion,The pi­ous wor­kes which he did in Rome. according to the Decre­tall of Innocentius the third. That there should be a house erected in Rome for the Cathe­cumeni; [Page 115]in which the Iewes, and Infidells, who desired baptisme, and are brought to the knowledg of the Truth, might be receyued and main­tayned. To him likewise is the worke, commonly knowne by the appellation of Our La­dy of Grace, to be attributed, which was begunne in the monastery of S. Marcha, wher there was a Confraternity, or brotherhood instituted to re­collect, and retyre all such maryed, or vnmaryed womē, as remained in euill estate, vn­till they were reconciled to their husbands, or had some other condition wherin they might liue without our Lords offence.

8. And the charity of the [Page 116]Blessed Father was so great, that when these poore women forsooke their euill life, he himselfe would accompany them through the Citty, not­withstanding his yeares, au­thority, or office of Generall. And whereas some tould him, that he lost his tyme, because these women through their euill custome, did easely re­turne to their former vices, the holy man answered with maruelous repose: I account not this labour lost, yea I assure you, that if with the labours & cares of my whole life, I could procure any one of these to passe only one night without sinning, I would esteeme them well bestowed, that the in­finite Maiesty of my Creator, and Lord, might not be offended in [Page 117]that short space.

9. He laboured no lesse to re­lieue the necessity, & solitude of Orphanes. And so the two houses which are in Rome, for such children of both sexes were by his meanes erected. Likewise with no lesse, yea with more care, he procured the foundation of the Mona­stery of S. Catherine in Rome, called de Funarijs, in which Virgins, who eyther by the negligence or defect of vertue in their mothers, or by reason of their pouerty are in danger, doe retire themselues, as to a sanctuary. For his charity was so great, that he alway treated of such things, as might pro­fit his neighbours, and further their saluation. And that this [Page 118]charity of the Blessed Father, togeather with his fortitude, and constancy, in the workes which he vndertook for Gods greater seruice, might the bet­ter appeare, our Lord permited terrible persecutions, and tem­pests to be raised against him, for these his good, and pro­fitable labours: which not­withstāding finally did breake their furious waues vpon the rocke of truth, and the workes remained more firme with these contradictions; and the Fathers sanctity more appro­ued, and knowne.

10. It cannot easely be be­lieued, how many things were borne vp, and sustayned with the shoulders of this diuine Giant, and with what valour, [Page 119]and spirit he sustayned them, especially hauing so weake, and sickly a body. For besides the affaires already mentioned which had byn sufficient to weary many men, diuers Prin­ces, and persons of all quali­tyes, did write vnto him, from almost all the parts, and Prouinces of the world. Some for their deuotion commen­ded themselues to his prayers: others to benefit themselues by his prudence and wisdome, demaundinge his counsell: others to help themselues with his fauour, and industry in dispatching businesse: others to giue him thankes for the benefits, and good assistance receiued from his children: and others for other respects. [Page 120]And they were so many, that only this emploiment had byn sufficient to tyre any strong man, if he had not byn vp­holden by the mighty hand of our Lord, who gaue him forces for all. So that when he was most weary, sickly, and alone, and without the helps which were necessary for so great a charge, he seemed most stronge; and in his weaknes was discouered, and shined the vertue and force of God.

THE blessed Father with the force of his soule sup­ported [Page 121]ported the weakenes of his body, enduring with great patience the troubles of this pilgrimage, and conforming himselfe in all things to the will of God: but he had such an enflamed desire to see, and enioy him, that he could not suppresse the gladnes which he cōceiued in thinking vpon his passage out of this world, without teares. Wherfore be­ing now loaden with yeares, wearied with sicknes, afflicted with the perturbation, & new calamityes of the Church, and hauing an ardent desire to be with Christ, he began to be­seech him with many teares, and sighes, that he would vouchsafe to take him out of this exile, and banishment and [Page 122]carry him to that place of rest, where he might praise him, and enioy his blessed presence, with the freedome, which he desired.

2. And our Lord heard his request, giuing him cer­tayne signes, and pledges ther­of. Whereupon, in a letter which he wrot to Don̄a Leo­nora Mascaren̄as,He fore­knew his death & wrot of it to Don̄a Leono­ra Ma­scaren­as. who had byn Nurse to Phillip the se­cond, the Catholike King of Spayne, and his very deuout daughter, he tooke his leaue of her, telling her (as she her selfe afterward told me) that, thet should be the last letter, which he would write vnto her, & that he would earnestly commend her to God in hea­uen. Wherefore vnderstan­ding [Page 123]that this so happy, and ioyfull a day for him approa­ched (though at that tyme he had not any great sicknes, but only his ordinary weakenes, and indisposition, which see­med not strang to them that lyued with him) the Blessed Father went to Confession, and receiued the blessed Sa­crament, as he was wont to do, when he could not say Masse: and vpon the 30. day of Iuly at three of the clocke in the afternoon, he called for Father Iohn Polancus Secre­tary of the Society: who litle thinking what he would haue with him, the B. Father tould him with exceding great re­pose, that the houre of his de­parture out of this world drew [Page 124]neere, willing him presently to go kisse the Popes Holynes feet in his name, and to craue his blessing for him, and a Plenary Indulgence of his sinnes, that so he might enter with more confidence and comfort into that his last iour­ney: all which his Holynes graunted very willingly, gi­uing great signes of loue, and griefe.

3. The Phisitians being called, said, that the sicknesse was not dangerous, and the Father made no alteration in his proceeding (for being so humble, he would not make any ostentation of the gifts re­ceiued from our Lord, nor of that which he knew, but let the Phisitians do their office, [Page 125]and permitted, that their opi­nion, and counsell should be taken, and followed in all things:) and in this manner the next morning, which was Friday, one houre after sunne rising, lifting vp his hands, & fixing his eyes on Heauen, calling vpon IESVS with his toung and hart, with a serene and quiet countenaunce, he rendered his Blessed soule to him, who had created it for his so great Glory,His de­parture the last of Iuly. 1556. the last of Iuly in the yeare 1556. A man truly humble which he she­wed euē in that his last houre: since that knowing (as he did) the tyme of his death, he na­med no Vicar Generall (as he might haue done) nor would call his children to exhort [Page 126]them, and to giue them his Blessing, nor make any other demonstration of a Father, to signify that he had done no­thing, and accounted himself as nothing in the foundation of the Society.

4. He deceased at the age of threescore and fyue yeares, and in the 35. yeare after his Conuersion: in which space he liued in extreme pouerty, pennances, peregrinations, labours in study persecutions, prisons, fetters, with other great troubles, and molesta­tions, all which he endured with a cherefull, & admirable constancy, for the loue of Iesus Christ, who gaue him victory ouer the Diuells & all his other aduersaryes which [Page 127]procured to ouerthrow him. He liued 16. yeares after the Society was confirmed by the Sea Apostolick,What houses, and Pro­uinces of the So­ciety he left foū ­ded. and in them he saw it multiplyed, and ex­tended almost thoroughout the whole world. He left esta­blished 12. Prouinces, that of Portugall, of Castilla, of Ara­gonia, of Andaluzia, of Italy (which cōprehendeth Lum­bardy, and Toscan) of Naples, of Sicily, of Germany, of Flaunders, Fraunce, of Bra­sile, and of the East Indies: & in these Prouinces there was at that tyme about one hun­dred Colledges, or Houses of the Society.

5. The death of so Holy, and excellent a man caused great feeling, and sorrow in [Page 128]Rome, especially amongst his children, who remained there, & afterward in the rest of the Society, in which presētly after his decease, the fauour which proceded from their dead, or rather truly lyuing Father was perceyued. For through­out the whole Society there ensued a most tender feeling of his most fragrant memory, ioyned with teares of cōfort, and a desyre replenished with holy hope, togeather with a certayne vigour, and forti­tude of spirit: so that they all seemed to burne with new de­syres of labouring, and suffe­ring for Christ.

6. His body was placed in a low, and humble tombe, the first day of August at the [Page 129]right hand of the high Altar, in our litle Church of the B. Virgin Mary in Rome. After­ward vpon the same day of his death in the yeare 1569. it was trāslated to another place in the same Church, because the high Altar was changed: and finally in the yeare 1587. vpon the 19. day of Nouember which is dedicated to S. Pon­tianus Pope, and Martyr, it was translated againe, with great solemnity to the new, and sumptuous Church of the Professed House, which Car­dinall Alexander Farnesius had erected.

7. It was placed in a chest of lead, vnder a vault, at the right hand of the high Altar, with a playne stone, which [Page 130]couereth the graue, and in the will a black shining marble, in which these words are en­grauen.

That is,

To Ignatius Founder of the Society of Iesus, as to their most louing Father his childrē in Christ erected this memory. He rested in our Lord in the 65. yeare of his age, and in the 16. after the Confirmation of [Page 131]his Religion by the Sea Apo­stolick, and in the yeare of our redemption 1556. the day be­fore the Calends of August.

8. In this place remay­neth the body of this Blessed Patriarch at this day, reueren­ced not only by all his childrē, but also by the people, and Court of Rome, & those who repaire thither for their deuo­tion; by reason of the great o­pinion, which they haue of his admirable life, and excel­lent sanctity: as also for the Miracles, which our Lord worketh euery day by his in­tercession, to exalt him, and make him glorious in the world: and by reason of the fruit, which they see brought forth by the labours, industry, [Page 132]and trauaile of his children: iudging that the roote, which hath produced such a plant, could not choose but be excee­ding perfect, nor the foun­tayne but very plentifull, and acceptable to our Lord, from which hath flowed so aboun­dant, and holesome waters of vertue, and learning, to water the world, which was before so dry & barren, and repleni­shed with bryars and thornes.

9. His stature was with the least: his conntenaunce very graue: his forehead broad, and playne: his eyes were some­what hollow; the lids wherof were a little wrinckled, & gathered together by reason of many teares which he conti­nually shed: his eares of a mid­dle [Page 133]sise: his nose somewhat high, & lifted vp in the midst: his colour though sallow, yet liuely, and his head venerably bald. The māner of his gesture was cherefully graue, and gra­uely cherefull: so that with his serenity he reioyced those who beheld him, and with his gra­uity composed them. He hal­ted a little of one lege, which was somewhat shorter then the other (by reason of the wound, which he receiued, & the bones, that were taken out of it) but without defor­mity; and with the modera­tion, which he obserued in his gate, it could hardly be per­ceiued.

BVT who can worthily relate in this place, that harmony, and comfort of ad­mirable vertues which were to be seene in the Blessed Fa­ther?The vertues of the Holy Fa­ther. Who can discouer the treasures, and heauenly gifts, with which God enriched, & adorned him? Who is able to explicate the asperity of his pennance? the perfectiō of his contempt of the world? his profound humility inuincible patience? amiable meeknes? [Page 135]his so rare spirituall prudence? so sweet, and effectuall gouer­ment of his subiects? his fortitude, and constancy in aduer­sityes, and contradictions? his confidence, and courage in vndertaking hard, and diffi­cult attempts for our Lords loue? his vigilancy, and solli­citude in seeing them perfor­med? his burning, and enfla­med loue of God, and of his neighbours? his continuall prayer with which his soul en­ioyed the visitations of her sweetest spouse? and finally his miracles, and the wonder­full workes which our Lord hath done, and dayly doth by his meanes?

2. For to omit the rigour of his pennances, his naked­nes, [Page 136]hunger, and cold, his dis­ciplines, and hayrclothes, and all other kynd of penaltyes, with which he afflicted his body, from the tyme that he began to serue our Lord,His hu­mility. he most affectuously imbraced the vertue of Humility, as the foundation of all other ver­tues: going torne, and halfe naked, and liuing in the Hos­pitalls as a poore man, among other of that quality, despised, and contemned and desyrous not to be knowne, or estee­med of any, and very ioyfull when he was neglected, and persecuted for the loue of Ie­sus Christ our Redeemer; by which he taught vs, that he who pretendeth to ascend on high, must begin very low, [Page 137]and that according to the hei­ght of the building, the foun­dation must be layd low; and that for the conuersion of sou­les this affect of true humility helpeth more, then to shew au­thority, which hath some tast, or sauour of the world.

3. I heard him say, that al those of the house gaue him example of vertue, and mat­ter of confusion, and that he was not scandalized at any of them, but only at himselfe. And in a letter, which I haue seene, he wrot, that he had ne­uer treated with any of spiri­tuall affayres, how great a sinner soeuer he was, that he seemed not to haue gayned much by that communication. Doubtles because he esteemed [Page 138]himselfe a greater sinner. And to this purpose he was wont to say, that he did not think, there was any in the world, who on the one side recey­ued so great, and so conti­nuall fauours at Gods hands: and on the other, was so defectiue, and carelesse in his seruice. One day, as we were togeather alone, he tould me, that he was to beseech our Lord, that his body after his death might be cast vpon a dunghill, that it might be ea­ten by foules, and doggs. For I being (saith he) as I am, an abhominable dunghill, yea very dung it selfe, what other thing should I desyre, for the punish­ment of my synns?

4. He desyred, that all [Page 139]should iest, and mock at him, and said, that if he would suffer himselfe to be caryed away by his feruour, and desire, he should goe vp, and downe the streets naked, and al bemyred, that he might be accounted a foole. But he repressed this so great an affect of Humility with his charity, and desyre to helpe his neighbours. Very seldome (and then not without great cause) did he speake of any thing belonging to himselfe, and when others d [...] speake of them in his presence, or of any thing els, which might redound to his prayse, he presently recollected him­self, not without feares, and blushing.

5. The Blessed Father [Page 140]had at one tyme for his Con­fessarius an ancient Father of the Society, of the Kingdome of Nauar, who was called Don Diego Eguia, so perfect, and holy a man, that our Father himselfe said vnto me: when we shalbe in Heauē Don Die­go wilbe so far eleuated aboue vs, that we shall scarse be able to see him. This Father spake most earnestly of the vertue, and sanctity of our B. Father, as one who knew his consciēce, and the purity, and the orna­ment of his soul. The B. Father tooke this very ill, and com­maunded him in vertue of holy obedience, that he should not speake any word therof so long as he lyued, and not be­ing able to represse him, he left [Page 141]of confessing with him. And the holy ould man was wont to say, that he desired to liue some dayes after the death of our Father, that he might de­clare, what he knew; but our Lord so ordayned, that he died three dayes before, and as it was thought, at the request of our Blessed Father.

6. He arriued by Gods grace to so great, and perfect a knowledge of himselfe, that for many yeares before his death, he had not any tempta­tion of vayne glory. For his soule was so illustrated with light from heauen, that he was wont to say, that he feared no vice lesse then vayne glory, which is a worme, wont to eat, and consume the Cedars [Page 142]of Libanus, and is bred by the blynd loue, and estimation of our selues. All that belonged vnto him sauoured of Humi­lity: his apparell was poore though cleanly, his bed poore, his food & sustenance poore, and so sober and temperate, that it was a perpetuall absti­nence, being also course, and homely. He imploied himselfe willingly in the most humble offices of the house, and in ma­king of the beds, and dressing vp the chambers of the sicke: and he suffered himselfe to be so easily ruled by the iudgment of others, that though he were Superiour, yet he equalled himselfe in all things to his inferiors; yea he did not only equall, but also submit, and [Page 143]subiect himselfe vnto them, with admirable meekenes, & humility.

7. In the tyme that he taught the Catechisme, or Christian Doctrine, a boy, which was in the house told him with great plainesse and simplicity, that he spake bad Italian, and that he should do wel to labour to speak better. To whom the Father answe­red. Thou hast good reason, Boy, I pray thee note my faultes, and tell me of them. One of the causes why he desired to haue his re­ligion called the SOCIETY OF IESVS, was, not to be named, and mentioned him­selfe, and that it might be thought, that he had no part in it: and when he spake of [Page 144]it, he alwayes said this least Society: for as he was the least in his owne eyes, so he would haue his children to esteeme themselues such. Now what shall I say of that Humility, with which so earnestly, and so often he refused to be Gene­rall, and would neuer accept that Office, vntill his Con­fessarius charged his cōscience and obliged him therunto?

8. Neither was he con­tent with this, but afterward also in the yeare 1550. he cau­sed the grauest Fathers of the Society to meete in Rome, that he might resigne his Charge, protesting before our Lord, and affirming in a letter, which he wrote vnto them, that he had many, and diuers [Page 145]tymes seriously iudged, that he wanted in a manner infi­nito degrees of those parts, and talents which were required in him, who should haue that Charge, and Office. For these were his very wordes: Wher­as all wee who were acquain­ted with him, knew, that he had so great, and notable a gift in gouerning, that all the excellent Superiours of Reli­gions might take him for a patterne, and example. And though he could not obtayne his desire at this tyme, yet he omitted not to treat of the same renunciation againe, that he might retyre himselfe, aswell to giue himselfe with more freedome to contempla­tion, and enioy by solitari­nesse [Page 146]his soueraigne Good, as also because (as he tould me) it seemed to him, that he was good for nothing, and that he hindred some other from gouerning the Society, who might profit it more. But he went not forward with his intentiō at this tyme: for he was told, that the So­ciety would in no sort yield vnto it, nor consent to haue any other Superiour, so long as it pleased God to prolong his life.

9. From this so excellent humility proceeded the con­tempt of himselfe,His con­tempt of the world & forti­tude in tribula­tions. and of the world, and all wordly things which this Blessed Father had. For he who is truly humble, desireth to be humbled, and [Page 147]taketh humiliation, as S. Ber­nard saith, for a meanes to ob­tayne humility. From the same humility likewise came his fortitude in troubles, and his patience in aduersities, and tribulations. For he, who is truly humble, dwelling with­in himselfe, accounteth him­selfe so great a sinner, and so vnworthy of comfort, that he thinketh all to be to much for him, and that no euill happe­neth vnto him, which seemeth not litle in comparison of that which he deserueth, and re­ioyceth to see all creatures take reuenge of him, as instru­ments of the diuine Iustice.

NOvv what shall I say of the mortification of his passions, and of all inordinate affections, by which he had obtayned an admirable peace in his soul, and so great quiet­nes, and tranquillity, that no­thing seemed able to disturbe him?The mortifi­cation of his passi­ons. His complexion was very cholerike, but notwith­standing both in his words, and workes he was so mild, and sweet, that he seemed ra­ther flegmatike, and of a cold complexion. So that hauing wholy ouercome the vicious [Page 149]excesse of his choler, he retai­ned the efficacy, and force which it is wont to giue, and is necessary for the execution of such busines, as we deale in. He alwayes kept one, and the same tenour, and equality in all things: and although that of his body varied, yet his mind, and inward dispo­sition was alwayes one: ney­ther was he altered or chan­ged with any diuersity of things, or difference of tymes. Yea this equality of mynd, and perpetuall constancy re­dounded in some sort to his body, which was ready to re­ceaue that outward demon­stration which reason prescri­bed.

2. Being once sicke, the [Page 150]Phisitian aduised him, that he should not giue place to such thoughts, as might afflict him. And with this occasion he be­gan to examine, what thing in this world could cause him affliction; and after the con­sideration of many things he foūd this only one: If by some casuality our Society should be dissolued; and withall it see­med to him that if this fell out without his fault, after a little recollection in prayer for the space of one quarter of an houre, he should returne to his accustomed peace, and al­lacrity. Yea he added further, that he should haue his peace and quietnes in his soule, al­thought the Society were dis­solued, as salt in the water. [Page 151]How wholy then had he for­saken himselfe, and rooted himselfe in God, who in so great a matter, and so proper, and peculiar to himselfe was so subiect, and resigned to the will of our Lord? Which is an euident signe, that his passions were prefectly mortifyed.

3. By this mortification,His cha­rity to­ward God. and by that perfect knowledg, and contempt which he had of himselfe, this Blessed man, attayned to a most high, and excellent degree of charity, which is the summe of all ver­tues, and the complement of all perfection. This his bur­ning, and enflamed loue to­wards God, appeared in no­thing better, then in that, which he did, and suffered for [Page 152]him. For true loue is neuer idle, and is not content with only doing much for his belo­ued, but in suffering much al­so, and giuing his life for him. How much then did this Bles­sed Father, and what great things did he suffer for our Lords honour, and to amplify his glory in the world? Part of it may be coniectured by that, which hitherto hath byn said.

4. But the Father himselfe auouched, that all the things of the world put togeather in one ballance, were to him of no esteeme, if in the other were placed the fanours which he had receyued of our Lord, in the persecutions, prisons, and fetters which he had en­dured [Page 153]for his loue. And that there is no created thing, which can cause so great a ioy in a soule, as that is, which she receiueth in hauing suffred for Christ. To which purpose being demaunded by a Father, which was the shortest, and most certayne, and secure way to attayne perfection: he an­swered, that to endure many, and very great aduersityes for the loue of Christ. Aske (said he) this grace of our Lord, for to whom he doth it, he doth many more togeather, which are con­tayned in it. Thus the Blessed Father both did himselfe, and taught others, by which we may gather his great chari­ty towards God.

5. But we haue other more [Page 154]cleare arguments of this his loue to God, and to his neigh­bours for the loue of God. The scope to which all his a­ctions, cares, and intentions were directed, was Gods grea­ter glory. For he contented not himselfe, that God were not offended in that he did, but procured that he might be glorified. And when two things of Gods seruice offered themselues vnto him, he did alwayes choose that, out of which he thought Gods greater glory would ensue. And this was, as we haue said, alwaies his Poesy: and to this scope he alwaies aymed. Many times speaking with God from the inmost of his hart, he said vnto him: O Lord, what do I [Page 155]desire, or can I desire besides thee? And his desire to see him, and to be dissolued from the pri­son of his body, was so great and ardent, that when he thought on his death he could not refrayne from teares, which distilled from his eyes for pure ioy. And this not only to obtayne that soue­raigne good for himselfe, but much more to behold the glory of that most sacred hu­manity of the same Lord, whom he loued so greatly; as a friend is wont to reioyce to see the honour, and glory of him, whome he hartily loueth.

6. In the yeare 1541. in the moneth of Iuly (I being present) he sayd, that if our [Page 156]Lord God would giue him his choise, eyther presently to depart out of this life, and to enioy eternall happynes, or to remaine in the world, without hauing security to perseuere in vertue; he would choose this second, if he might vnderstand, that by remay­ning for some space in this life, he could doe some great, and notable seruice for his Maiesty, casting his eyes v­pon God, and not vpon him­selfe, nor respecting his owne danger, or security. And he added the cause: for what King (said he) or Prince is there in the world, who if offering some great reward to one of his seruants, he should refuse to enioy it presently, that [Page 157]he might doe some notable seruice for his Prince, would not thinke himselfe obliged to conserue, yea increase the reward of that seruant, since he depriued himselfe of it for his loue, and that he might be able to doe him more seruice? And if mē proceed in this mā ­ner, what are we to hope for of our Lord? or how can we feare, that he will forsake vs, or permit vs to fall, for ha­uing prolonged our happy­nes, & differred to enioy him for his sake? Let others thinke so if they please (said he) for I will not conceiue so hardly of so good a God, and so gra­tious, and soueraigne a King.

7. There came one tyme to his mind a thought, what [Page 158]he should thinke, if God should put him in hell: and he explicated his conceit in a paper written with his owne hand in this manner: There were two things represented vnto me: the one, what paines I should suffer there: the other, how his Name was blaspemed. In the first I could not feele, nor find any affliction: and so me thought, and it was represented vnto me, that my greatest mole statiō should be to heare his holy Name bla­sphemed. These are his very words. Now what an enfla­med loue did he beare to our Lord, who found this effect, and disposition in himselfe to­wards him? What flames of heauenly fire burned in that breast, since that those of the [Page 159]fire of hell could not quench them, nor make him feele af­fliction in his owne paynes, but only in the iniury, and of­fence of his beloued?

FROM this ardent, and feruent loue towards God proceeded as from a foūtaine,His cha­rity to­ward his neygh­bours. the inflamed loue which he bare to his neighbours. For he beheld them in God, and God in them: and so he said that if it were profitable for the saluation of soules to go through the streets barefoo­ted, and loaden with infa­mous; [Page 160]& ignominious things, he would make no doubt to do it. And that there was no habit in the world so base and vile, which he would not wil­lingly weare to gaine a soule.

2. In Paris he desired to deliuer a wicked man, who kept a Concubine, from that euill estate; and diuers reme­dies which he had put in practice, taking no effect, he went one day into a Lake of exceeding colde water, by which the other was to passe, and from thēce he spake aloud vnto him in these words: Goe wretched creature to inioy thy fil­thy delights: seest thou not the stroke of Gods wrath which com­meth vpon thee? Goe, for I will remayne here tormēting my selfe, [Page 161]and doing pennance for thee, vn­till God release his iust punish­ment: which is already prepared against thee. The man was a­mazed with so wonderfull an example of charity, he stayed, and being touched with Gods hand, returned back, forsaking that dishonest company, to which he had beene captiue so long.

His cha­rity to­wards those who did iniury or perse­cute him. 3. He obserued alway with exceeding great care not to render any man euill, but striued to do good to his persecutors, procuring that his benefits towards them should be greater, then the euills, & iniuries which he re­ceiued from them. One of his fellow schollers who remained in the same house with [Page 162]him in Paris, ran away with certaine money, which was sent in almes to the B. Father, and was committed to his cu­stody. Afterward this man being in Roan, fell dange­rously sick, and knowing the Fathers charity, wrote vnto him, in what afflictiō he was, requesting him to take some order for his reliefe. The Fa­ther hauing made much and earnest prayer for him, went presently to Roan (which is 28. leagues from Paris) to find him our, & help him in what he could, and with great ala­crity of spirit, and force of mind, he went in three dayes those 28. leagues barefoot, without eating one bit of bread, or drinking one drop [Page 163]of water, offering this labour and penance to our Lord, for the health and life of him, who had deceiued him in that manner.

4. Another likewise, who in Paris had receiued much charity at the holy Fathers hands, assaulted by Sathan, & becomming as it were furi­ous, resolued to kill him, and being gone vp the stayres for that purpose heard a dreadfull voyce, which said vnto him: Thou wretch what wilt thou do? who terrified with this voice, cast himself at the Fathers feet weeping, and related vnto him, what his purpose was. The Father cherished, and comforted him; but his cha­rity, and meeknes was not [Page 164]sufficient to with-hould this very man from blowing the coales of diuers calummati­ons & lyes afterward in that storme, which (as we haue said) was raised in Rome, be­fore the Confirmation of the Sooiety: whore the Iudges ha­uing punished him for that cause, and the tempest being past (to requite good for euill) the Father receiued him into the Society at the request of those, who had raised that persecution: but he perseue­red not in his vocation. If the B. Father dealt thus with strangers, and with those that pretended to do him iniury, what maruaile is there, that he vsed the same charity vvith his subiects, and children?

5. One of the nine Fa­thers which came vnto him in Paris, being much afflicted & disquieted with a trouble­some, and dangerous tempta­tion, so that he was in a man­ner lost; the B. Father deli­uered him from that danger, by weeping bitterly, & pray­ing to God continually for him, without eating, or drin­king in three whole dayes, be­seeching our Lord to com­fort, and strengthen him and so he did. Another tyme ano­ther Father was much out of order, exceeding the bounds of reason, by which meanes the holy Father was much grieued, and afflicted for the harme, which the other recei­ued. The reuenge which he [Page 166]procured, was to put himselfe in prayer, and to shed many teares for him, and saying Masse, from the bottome of his hart, he cryed, and sighed vnto our Lord, saying: Pardon him, O Lord, Pardon him, my Creator, for he knoweth not what he doth.

6. Another tyme a Bro­ther of the Society, being grie­uously tempted in his voca­tion, and resolued to forsake God, who is the fountayne of liuing waters, and returne to drinke of the broken cisternes of the world, which containe no water of grace, nor of true repose; the Father vnderstan­ding that the cause of that per­turbation was the shame, that the brother had to confesse a [Page 167]sinne which he had commit­ted, he went vnto him, and declared his former life, and how blynd he had byn in fol­lowing the vanity of his senses and how much addicted to the false loue of creatures, that by this meanes the Brother might be lesse ashamed, and learne to haue a true cōceit of the good­nes, and mercy of our Lord.

7. Now what shall I say of the meekenesse,His meeke­nesse, & benigni­ty to­wards those who were vnder his charge. and benig­nity, which he vsed towards all men, & especially to those, that were vnder his charge? Of the care he had, least they should be ouerlayd? Of the sweetenes wherewith he con­descended to the weake: ray­sed those that were fallen: comforted the afflicted: en­couraged [Page 168]the faint-harted: and tooke compassion of the disea­sed, and sickly? For certainly it was a thing which caused admiration, to see the care that he vsed, for the cure, and com­fort of the sicke. And he told me sometymes, that our Lord had with particuler proui­dence prouided that he should haue so little and vnperfect health, that by his owne sick­nes & infirmityes, he might learne to esteeme those of o­thers, and take compassion of the weake.

8. Being in Vincenza sick of an ague, he vnderstood, that Father Symon Roderi­quez, one of the Fathers, was in Bassana (about a dayes iourney from Vincenza) very [Page 169]sick, and in danger of death: and presently the B. Father tooke his iourney towards Bassana, in the company of Father Faber, to visit, and comfort Father Symon, and he went with such courage, and force of spirit, that Father Fa­ber could not follow him. An­other tyme, being on the way, Father Laynes, who was with him fell sudainly into a very great payne, for remedy wher­of, the Father presently sought him, an horse, giuing six pence for him, which was all the money they had gotten of al­mes, and wrapping him in his poore thrid-bare cloke he set him vp, and ran before him with such alacrity, & lightnes, that Father Laynes told me, [Page 170]he could scarce keep him com­pany being on horsbacke.

9. But he discouered this his Fatherly loue towards his children in nothing more then in prouiding for their good name, and spirituall profit, and in burying in per­petuall obliuion such faults as they committed, eyther by hu­mane frailty, or negligence, when they themselues did ac­knowledg them with sorrow, and desire of amendement With this, and other louing, and Fatherly proceedings he did win the harts of all his chil­dren, and might do with them what he would, they were so subiect, tractable, and obedi­ent to his will; and he p [...]ouo­ked them to his imitation in all [Page 171]perfection, and in that pure, sincere, and diuine loue of our Lord in which it consi­steth.

10. Notwithstanding this loue towards his children was not feeble and remisse, but sweet and strong,The Fa­thers loue was sweet & strong. mild and seuere. For as he was sweete, and gentle with the humble and obedient: so he was terri­ble to the rebellious, and stiff­necked, hauing great care to further his subiects in vertue, and encourage them to perfe­ction, vsing euery one mildly, or seuerely according to their capacity, but yet shewing loue to all. And he was so dextrous in ioyning sweetnes with seue­rity, that thought he desired much to haue all his children [Page 172]indifferent in matters of obe­dience, without inclination to any one thing more then to another, notwithstanding he examined the naturall disposi­tion of euery one with great diligence, and applyed him­selfe vnto them in all things, wherein he saw them to be well giuen. For he vnder­stood, how troublesome that is, which is done with natu­rall repugnance, and that no violent thing is durable: she­wing his religious seuerity in requiring indifferency, and his Fatherly mildnes, and be­nignity in condescending to their inclinations.

VVE should neuer make an end,His o­ther ver­tues. if we would particulerly treate of the admi­rable charity of this glorious Father, and of all his other ver­tues, which were without number. Of his prudence ra­ther diuine then humane, which our Lord imparted vn­to him, to the end he might draw the whole frame of the Society. Of his so excellent fortitude and magnanimity to vndertake great things, and resist contradictions, and dif­ficulties. [Page 174]Of his mildnes, and meekenes with which he did ioyne the harts of those that treated with him, changing, and bending the wills, and af­fections of his very aduersa­ryes. What shall I say of his Vigilancy, and admirable sol­licitude in bringing to an end the workes, which he did vn­dertake? For he did not only seeke out with prudence what meanes might help him to the compassing of them, but ha­uing found them he vsed them with great efficacy, neuer giuing ouer that which he had once begun, vntill he had brought [...] to perfection.

2. What should I say of the wonderfull confidence, which he had alwayes in God? [Page 175]In his imprisonments that he would protect him: in his la­bours that he would help him: in his difficult enterprises, that he would perfect them with his powerfull hand? And in his pouerty, that he would re­lieue him, and sustayne his children, as he did many tymes miraculously, shewing that the hope of this holy Father had not byn in vayne? What shall I say of the modesty, and effica­cy of his words? What of his auoyding to iudge, or con­demne other mens liues? What of his circumspection in spea­king or hearing others speak of their neighbours faults, thought they were publicke, and talked of in the very stree­tes? What of his warines and [Page 176]wisdome, with which he inter­rupted all speaches, that might be occasion, though neuer so light or small, of any murmu­ration? What of the other ver­tues which he had, and all so perfect, as if he had only one, and with such eminency, that no man knoweth in which of them he excelled most? But let vs omit them al, to speak of that vertue which is the guide, and mistresse of the rest, & the passage, or conduct, by which our Lord imparteth his giftes to our soules, that is Prayer, & Deuotion, and the familiar conuersation with his Diuine Maiesty.

3. The Father himself cō ­fessed, that our Lord had large­ly imparted vnto him the grace [Page 177]of deuotion, which he for his humility attributed to his own weaknes; & misery;His de­uotion, & pray­er. be­cause being now old, sickly, & wearyed, he was good for no­thing, but to giue himselfe wholy to God. Presently after he was made Priest; when he said the Diuine Office, the a­boundannce of Gods comfort was so great, and the teares, which he shed so many, that he was enforced to stay almost in euery word, and to inter­rupt the houres, or part of the office, which he said: And this went so far, that he had almost lost his sight with weeping▪ In matters of importance, he was neuer wont to take any reso­lution, though he had neuer so many probable reasons, be­fore [Page 178]he had commended them to our Lord in Prayer. There was no houre in the day, in which he did not inwardly re­collect himselfe, and setting aside all other businesses, exa­mined his conscience: and if peraduenture some great, or vrgent businesse permitted him not to fullfil his deuotion in one houre, he did presently recompence it so soone as he might: albeit he neuer gaue himselfe so much to outward affayres, that he lost the in­ward deuotion of his spirit.

4. He had God alway present before his eyes in all things, and they all serued him for a booke to read his diuine perfections in, and to eleuate his hart to him, draw­ing [Page 179]spirituall documents, and profitable aduises out of euery thing that he did see; teaching that this manner of prayer is very profitable for all, princi­pally for those who are im­ployed in exteriour things be­longing to Gods seruice. Be­fore his prayer he prepared his soule, and entred into the O­ratory of his hart, and there he inflamed himselfe in such sort, that it appeared in his countenance, and he seemed to be all set on fire, as we no­ted, & discouered many tymes. He vsed such attention in eue­ry thing, though neuer so litle, belonging to his conuersation with God, and he was so re­collected, and present in him­selfe when he did it, that he [Page 180]seemed to behold the Maiesty of God present, as when he said grace before or after meat and in other like occasions.

5. He had a very excellent gift of teares, which he shed in great aboundance in his prayers, with great ioy of his spirit, and no lesse harme to his body; of which he made no account, that he might not loose the spirituall fruit of his soule. But finally ouercome with reason, and because the Phisitians shewed him, how much that continuall effusion of teares did hurt his health, he beseeched our Lord to giue him the maistery, and com­maund ouer them. And he ob­tayned it so entirely, that he seemed to haue them in his [Page 181]hand to shed, or represse them when, and how it pleased him. And this with to great fauour of the diuine Mercy, that though his eyes were dry, yet his spirit remayned alwayes moist, and his heauenly illu­strations were not diminished, how much soeuer his teares were moderated by reason but their fruit remained in all force and vigour. No noise, how great soeuer it were, did trou­ble, or hinder him in his prayer if he had giuen no occasion therof. But any obstacle what­soeuer was an impediment vn­to him, if it were in his power to auoid it, so that, it was not the noise, but the negligence, which he seemed to haue com­mitted, in not taking away, [Page 182]that which disquietted him at his prayer. The B. Father him selfe being once demaūded by Father Laynes of the manner of his prayer, gaue him this an­swere: that in matters concer­ning our Lord, he found him­selfe rather Passiuely then Acti­uely, (for these are the words which the contemplatiue, and those who treat of this matter do vse:) accounting this the highest degree of contempla­tion; in the same sort, that S. Dionysius Areopagita, spea­king of his master Hierotheus, sayth of him: Erat patiens Di­uina.

6.His de­uotiō to our B. Lady.He was exceedingly deuout to the most Sacred Vir­gine Mary our B. Lady, whom from the tyme that he opened [Page 183]his eyes to behold the light of heauen, he alwayes tooke for his especiall Patronesse & Ad­uocate; hauing recourse to her in all his necessityes, difficul­tyes, and labours; and recey­uing great graces, and fauours from her mighty, and bounti­full hand; as may be gathered by that, which we haue said hitherto, and shall appeare by that which we will say heare­after.

BVT what meruaile was it,What reuela­tions he had. that he should giue himself so much to prayer, who was [Page 184]so greatly fauoured by God in his prayers, and that he should be absorpt in contemplation, who was illustrated with so many diuine visitations, and reuelations? For from the tyme of his first sicknes, and before he was conuerted from the va­nity of the world to our Lord, his diuine Maiesty began to fauour him, and sent him (as we haue said) his Apostle S. Peter, in his greatest daunger, to restore him his health. And after that he had put himselfe vnder the banner of our Lord Iesus Christ, fearing the weakenes of his flesh, the most Excellent, and Soueraigne Queene of Angels, hauing [...]er most precious Sonne in her [...]mes appeared vnto him, as [Page 185]he was awake, and with the splendor of her glory enlight­ned him, with the sweetnes of her presence recreated and strengthned him, blotting out of his soule (as it were with her hand) all vncleane cogita­tions, and dishonest represen­tations.

2. In the tyme, that he remayned at Manresa, affli­cting himselfe with▪such au­stere pēnances (as hath beene related) after he had passed those torments, tentations, and scruples, which brought him so low, and to such extre­mity; our Lord comforted and cherished him, with his soueraigne, and heauenly vi­sitations. For sitting one day vpon the steps of S. Domi­nicks [Page 186]Church, saying the Of­fice of our B. Lady with much deuotion, our Lord illustra­ted his vnderstanding, and represented vnto him,His reue­lation concer­ning the most B. Trinity as it were a figure of the most holy Trinity, which exteriourly signified vnto him, that, which interiourly he percei­ued: & this with such aboun­dāce of comfort, that he could not represse his sobs, and teares, nor thinke or speake of any thing, but of the mystery of the most Holy Trinity, with so many similitudes, and examples, that all who heard him, remayned much admi­red, and astonished. And from that tyme forward, this ine­fable mystery was so imprin­ted in his soule, that euen then [Page 187]he began to write a booke of this profound matter, which contayned 80. leaues, know­ing at that tyme no more then only to write, and read. And after likewise the intelligence which he had of the most B. Trinity, the Diuine Essence, the distinction and propriety of the three Persons was so continuall, excellent, and ab­stract, that the B. Father him­selfe in a Note-booke of his owne hand (which was found after his death) sayth, that he could not haue knowne so much with many years study. And in another place he sayth, that it seemed to him, that there was no more to be knowne in this life of those matters of the [Page 188]most Holy Trinity, then our Lord had imparted vnto him in a certaine vision.

3. But returning to Man­resa another tyme with great ioy of his spirit, he had repre­sented vnto him the man­ner which God obserued in creating the world. Another tyme hearing Masse in the Monastery of S. Dominicke,He seeth Christ in the B. Sacra­ment, & in his Huma­nity, with our B. Lady. at the tyme of eleuation, he did clearly see with the eyes of his soule, that vnder that veile, and forme of bread, our Lord. Iesus Christ true God and Man was truly couered, and contayned. Many tymes being in prayer, and for a good space, with the same in­ward eyes of his soule, he did behould the sacred Humanity [Page 189]of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. And some tymes likewise the most glorious Virgin Mary his mother: and this not only in Manresa, but also after he was departed from thence neere to Padua, and at Hieru­salem, and in many other places.

4. He went once out of Manresa to pray in a certaine Church, distant from that towne a little mile,He is il­lustra­ted and taught by God. and in the way being transported, and eleuated in contemplation of our Lord, he sate him downe vpon the banke of the riuer, not far from the way, and casting the eyes of his body vpon the water, those of his soule were opened, and illuminated with a new, and [Page 190]vnwonted light, not so, that he did see any sensible shape or figure, but after another more high, and intelligible manner. With this light, he vnderstood very perfectly many things, aswell of those which appertayned to the mysteries of our faith, as of other, which belong to the knowledge of sciences: in so much, that the same things, that he had seene before see­med afterward not to be the same. And this Diuine rapt, and suspention endured for a good space.

5.His exta­sis of eight dayes.But that other accident which happened vnto him while he was yet in Manresa is more to be admired. For v­pon a Saturday, at the tyme [Page 191]of Complyne, he remayned so alienated, and bereaued of his senses, that he was held for dead: and they had buryed him, if they had not discerned that his hart did still beate though very weakly. He con­tinued in this rapt or Extasy vntill Saturday of the weeke following, at the same tyme of Compline, when many be­ing present who obserued him, he opened his eyes, as if he had awaked out of a sweet, and pleasant sleepe, and with a still, and louing voyce, said. O IESV. And this is testi­fied by those who were wit­nesses of it, or at least heard it related by them who were present.

6. That reuelation which he [Page 192]had at his comming to Rome (as we said before) was very notable,How Christ appea­red vnto him. when being at his prayers in a Church, the Eter­nal Father appeared vnto him, and his Blessed Sonne with his Crosse vpō his [...]houlders, who spake vnto him these most cō ­fortable words, Ego vobis Ro­mae propitius ero. Likewise being at Monte▪Cassino (where S. Benedict did see the soule of S. German Bishop of Capua▪ ca­ryed by Angells in a globe of fyre to Heauen, as S. Gregory writeth) the B. Father beheld the soule of Bachelour Hozius, who came vnto him at Ve­nice, go vp to heauen, and he knew that it was the soule of Hozius one of his Society, who being in the Citty of Padua [Page 193]with Father Iohn Codury pas­sed to a better life. And when the same Father Iohn Codury died in Rome, vpon the day of the Decollation of S. Iohn Baptist, in the yeare of our Lord 1541. the B. Father go­ing that morning before he dyed, to say Masse for him at the Monastery of S. Peter de Monte aureo, which is on the other side of the riuer of Ty­bur, while he was passing the bridge called of Sixtus, he saw the soule of Father Iohn Co­dury, which went to heauen with great glory: and turning himselfe to Father Iohn Bap­tista Viola, who accompanied him, and told me of it, he said: Father Iohn Codury is now de­parted

7. Father Leonard Kessel borne in Flaunders, was one of the ancient Fathers of that Prouince, and a very great ser­uant of God,He ap­peareth in Cullē to F. Le­onard Kessell. and so accoun­ted in the Society. I knew him in Cullen, where he laid the first foundations of the Col­ledge which we haue there, & did gouerne it many yeares with great fame, and opinion of sanctity. This Father Leo­nard desyred much to see, and conuerse with his B. Father, & Maister, Jgnatius. He wrote vnto him, asking leaue to go on foot from Cullen to Rome, which is aboue 300. leagues, only to see him, and enioy his holy communication. The Fa­ther answered him; that his presēce was necessary in Cul­len [Page 195]for Gods seruice, & there­fore willed him not to remoue from thence; for our Lord could so ordayne, that he might see him without vnder­taking so long, and difficult a iourney. After which Father Leonard being in Cullen, the Holy Father Ignatius appea­red vnto him on a tyme being awake while he was yet aliue, & stayed for some space there present with him: and when he departed, he left Father Leonard very much cōforted for hauing obtayned his desire in so strange, and maruelous a manner.

8. To Iohn Paschall sonne of Agnes Paschall (who was wont euery morning to go to the first Masse, which is said [Page 196]in the Chappell of S. Eulalia, in the Cathedrall Church of Barcelona, vnder the high Altar) he appeared one mor­ning before the same high Al­tar, some yeares after his death; and Iohn Paschall knew him, and said vnto him, O my Fa­ther, going towards him; but the B. Father made him a signe with his hand, that he should come no neerer, and so depar­ted. He had other visitations, and fauours of our Lord like vnto these, and wrought o­ther meruails, which we omit to auoid prolixity. But that, which caused vs, who knew and conuersed with this Holy Father, most admiration, is: that these fauours of our Lord being so ordinary, and dayly [Page 197](as may be seene in the pa­pers, which he wrote with his owne hand, when he made the Constitutions, and were found after his death) we scarse euer heard him speake, or make any mention of any reuelation, vision, rapt, exta­sie, or other thing of this kynd: but only of humility, chari­ty, patience, contempt of him­selfe, zeale of Gods glory, la­bouring for the good of soules, prayer, mortification, & other such vertues of which he made great account. For these be such as make men, Saints, and friends of God: and those other things, though they shyne more in the eyes of men, are but signes, and not alwaies certayne, of sanctity & grace.

NOT only the soule of this Seruant of our Lord was illustrated with the visitatiōs, and fauours which we haue mentioned: but part of that ful­nes,The Fa­thers head, & counte­nāce be­come resple­dent. which the soule receiued, redounded likewise to his bo­dy. Whereupon many tymes, diuers looking vpon him, did see his countenance resplen­dent, and casting forth bright beames; as it happened in Bar­celona to Elizabeth Rosell, [Page 199]whē the B. Father sate among the children on the steps of the Altar, as we haue said: and to Iohn Paschall, the sonne of Agnes Paschall, who kept him in his house a long tyme, in the same Citty of Barce­lona: and in Loyola, when he went from Paris, and lyued in the Hospitall, others did see the same. And at Rome the B. Father Philip Nereus, a man of knowne sanctity, & the foun­der of the Oratory of those venerable Priests of our Blessed Lady De Nauicula, which hath done so much good in that Citty (with whome I was ve­ry wel acquainted) was a most deuout child of our B. Father Ignatius, and came to him for counsell in all his doubts, and [Page 200]perplexityes: and when he was sad, did feele his heart lightned, and reioyced with only seeing him, & was wont to recount that he had many tymes seene him with a light about his head, which did cast bright beames from it. This B. Father deceased the 26. day of May in the yeare 1595 and vpon his day and memory, his Children make a great feast.

2. But that is more notable, which happened to Alexander Petronius, a famous & much esteemed Phisitian of Rome, and a great friend of our B. Father, who being once grie­uously sicke, Father Ignatius went to visit him, and entred into the sick mans chamber, which was very darke, all the [Page 201]windowes being shut; and at his entrance it was repleni­shed with a new light, which Alexander did see, and de­maunded of his wife, what light that was; and presently he felt himselfe well, attribu­ting this benefit to the Blessed Fathers presence. And though he dissembled the matter at that tyme, passing it ouer in silence; yet after the B. Fathers departure to a better life, he did publishe, and manifest it with great admiration, and e­steeme of his Holynesse. In o­other places likewise he was seene with this supernaturall light and splendor, and in Bar­celona Iohn Paschall often be­held him in prayer eleuated in the ayre, a foote & more aboue [Page 202]the ground, speaking with God, and saying: O my God, O my Lord, O that men knew thee.

3. Our Lord likewise im­parted vnto him the gift of Prophecy,He had the gift of Pro­phecy. so that being illu­strated with a Diuine light, he foretold many things long be­fore they fell out. At the tyme that he departed from Manre­sa towards Ierusalem, Iohn Paschall aforesaid who then was but a youth about eigh­tene Yeares old, would haue accompanied him; but the Fa­ther willed him to returne, & assist his Mother; further tel­ling him, that he should mar­ry, & haue children, togeather with many troubles, and mo­lestations counselling him to [Page 203]beare them with patience and the like: all which came to passe, as the Father had fore­told.

4. Being in Flanders, whi­ther he went sometymes from Paris to aske almes for his su­stenance (as hath been said before) dyning one day at Ant­werp with certaine merchants who had inuited him, he cast his eyes vpon one of them, who was somewhat far off, a young man, called Peter Qua­dratus, borne in Medina del Campo. And beholding him at­tentiuely, he bad him come neerer, for being to be so great a benefactor of the Religion of the Society of Iesus, it was fit­ting, that they should present­ly come acquainted, and take [Page 204]notice one of another: adding that he had great reason to thanke God, because he would vouchsafe to vse him, making him the founder of a Colledge of the Society (this being so long before the Society it self, began) all which was veri­fyed. For many yeares after Peter Quadratus, and Don̄a Francisca Manjona his wife founded the Colledg, which the Society hath at this present in Medina del Campo.

5. When the Father went from Vincenza to Bassana, to visit Father Symon, who was very sick, and in danger, ha­uing in his company Father Faber, leauing him vpon the way, he went a litle aside to pray for Father Symon, and in [Page 205]his prayer was certifyed, that he should not die of that sick­nes, as he told Father Faber at his returne. And comming to the place, where the sicke man was, he imbraced him saying: Feare not, Brother Sy­mon, you shall not dye at this tyme; & with these words he presently recouered, as the same F. Symon often testifyed, and Father Faber related it to Father Laynes, who remay­ned sicke at Vincenza, of whom I knew it.

6. Likewise in Bassana one of the Fathers began to doubt of his vocation, and whether it were not better to remayne in the cōpany of an Hermite, who liued a very Holy life, gi­uing himselfe to contempla­tion, [Page 206]then to follow the B. Father, and imploy himselfe in helping the soules of his neighbours. And going one day to consult this doubt with the Hermite himselfe, he had great visions, and was much terrifyed in the way: and com­ming in that feare, and out of breath, into the lodging, where Father Ignatius was, he with the light of Heauen kno­wing what he had in his breast, said vnto him; Modicae sidei quare dubitasti? Man of of litle faith why didst thou doubt? And he was confirmed with these words, & perseue­red vntill death in his voca­tion.

7. In the yeare 1541. Ste­phen Baroelus an Italian, en­tred [Page 207]into the Society at Rome, and not long after fell dange­rously sicke, whereupon the Phisitians hauing in a manner giuen him ouer, our Blessed Father went to S. Peter de Monte aureo to say Masse for him. I did accompany him that day (as I vsed to do many other tymes) and I serued him at Masse: which being ended, and after he had giuē thankes, he said to me: Stephen shall not dye at this tyme. And he pre­sently recouered, and went afterward to Portugall, and returned back againe to Italy and liued many yeares, and fi­nally made an holy end in the Society.

8. Doctour Arrouira a very Honorable Cittizen of [Page 208]Barcelona, who a few yeares since came to Madrid for Em­bassadour of that Citty, to King Philip the second, who is now in glory, tould me that being in Rome, he had much acquaintance, and familiarity with the Blessed Father, and that one day comming from Ara Caeli, he met him in the street with a letter in his hand, which was giuen him from Don Frācisco de Borgia, Duke of Gandia, who at that tyme was marryed, and Viceroy of Catalun̄a, and that speaking of that letter, which he had re­ceyued, he said: Little would you thinke, that this Noble man, who hath written this letter, shall come to Rome, to be the head of our Religion. Which was fulfil­led [Page 209]afterward, when the Dut­chesse his wife being dead, the Duke entred into the Society, and hauing byn many yeares Cōmissary Generall in Spaine, in the yeare 15 [...]5. vpon the day of the Visitation of our Blessed Lady, the second of Iuly, he was chosen to be the third Generall.

9. And th [...] same Doctor Michaell Arrouira affirmed, that he being then a young man, and in doubt what state of life to choose, afterward he determined to marry: and be­fore he told the Father his resolution (for he kept it secret) the Father himselfe said vnto him. I know well inough, that you are resolued to marry; O how you will bewayle it, and in what troubles [Page 210]will you see your selfe! All which fell out in that manner and this which he reported to me, he also affirmed vpon his oath, as a witnes before the Bishop of Barcelona. When Agnes Pas­chal dyed, they sent him word of her death to Rome, that he might commend her to God: and he answered, that before the receipt of the letter, he knew, that she was depar­ted, and in heauen.

10 Father Laynes being in Venice, procuring that that Common Wealth would put vs in possession of the Priory of S. Mary Magdalen in the Citty of Padua (which Pope Paui the third had vnited to the Colledge of the Society there) found very great difficulties, [Page 211]and potent aduersaryes: in so much, that he in a manner des­payred of that busines: wher­upon he wrote to the Blessed Father, requesting him to say a Masse, that God would giue him good successe, which he expected not by humane meanes. The Father said the Masse vpon the Natiuity of our Lady, and wrote to Father Laynes in these words: I haue done that which you desired: be of good courage, and take no care for this busines; for you may well ac­count it ended according to your desire. As the Father wrote, so it came to passe; for vpon the octaue of the same Natiuity of our B. Lady, the Counsell met which in Venice is called Pre­gai, and in a manner all the Se­nators [Page 212]with one accord agreed that we should haue the posses­sion giuen vs, to the great ad­miration of those, who had experience in the gouerment of that Common Wealth. He likewise told the same Father Laynes, that he should succeed him in the office of Generall, and so he did.

11. In the yeare 1555. sending the Fathers Hierome of Nadall, and Lewys Gonsa­lez de Camera to Spayne, he willed them to ship themselue presently at Genua, for with out doubt, they should haue a prosperous nauigation; and so they had, though it were in winter. The German Colledg being in extreme necessity, and without hope of remedy, [Page 213]in so much that the Cardinalls who had care of it, were so dis­mayed, that they counselled the blessed Father not to weary himselfe in so disperat a matter: he answered, that he would not giue it ouer, and that the tyme would come, in which that Colledge should be suffici­ently prouided, and stored of all necessaryes. And so it was. For the Holynesse of Pope Gregory the XIII. endowed, & founded it liberally, so that now it hath completly all things needfull.

12. The like succeded in the prouision of the Roman Colledg of the Society, which being in great want, and not knowing by any humane means, from whence or how [Page 214]to be prouided, the Father be­tooke himselfe to prayer, and after told certayne Fathers, that there was no care to be ta­ken for that busines: and that within a few moneths, our Lord would prouide for it, as he did, & sometymes as it were miraculously, vntill the same Pope Gregory the XIII. of holy memory, founded it. He foretold other things like to these, before they happened: all which were fulfilled, as he said, and I omit them for bre­uity

BESIDES the gift of Pro­phecy, which our Lord imparted to this holy Father, he also gaue him the grace to do many, and great Miracles, both whilst he liued, and after his descease. Some of those I meane to touch briefly in this place, but not all (for that would be too long) which our Lord hath wrought by this his seruant. For though when I first set forth his life in La [...]yn, [Page 216]which was in the yeare 1572. I had notice of some other mi­racles of the holy Father, then those that I there set downe: yet I knew them not so cer­tainly, that I thought it fit to publish them: but since, with the authenticall informations which haue byn taken for his Canonization, they haue byn proued by sufficient witnesses: and our Lord, who will exalt and make him glorious vpon earth doth euery day so many miracles by his meanes, that I am obliged to declare some part of them heere, taking them out of the Authenticall and Iuridicall Informations which many Prelates haue made, and are at this tyme in my hands; and out of the depositions, [Page 217]which the partyes themselues, on whom these miracles haue byn wrought, haue made vnder their corpo­call oaths, & by the testimony of others, who deserue credit.

2. First then, he had great dominion, and commaund ouer the Diuels, and they ab­horred, and persecuted him, as theyr cruell enemy; fearing him in that respect and decla­ring him to be so. For in the tyme that he remayned in Manresa,What hatred the Di­uels bare him, & what do­minion our Lord gaue him ouer them. the Diuell appeared vnto him many tymes in a shy­ning, and beautifull figure till at length illustrated with diuine light, he knew, that it was the Diuell, who would deceiue him. And not only in Manresa, but also in his iour­neyes, [Page 218]and at Parys, & Rome, he appeared many tymes vnto him, but so contemptible, and deformed, that not making any account of him, he did easely driue him away with the staffe which he had in his hand (as if he had byn a cat, or a little dogge:) This malignant spirit procured to terrify him whilst he remayned in the hos­pitall of Lewis de Antecan̄a in Alcala, but he could not preuaile. He would also haue choked him another tyme at Rome in his sleep, & he throt­led him in such sort, that he was inforced to inuocate, and call vpon the sweet name of Iesus, with so great a force, that he remayned hoarse many dayes after.

3. Another tyme being in his bed, the Diuells did strike and beat him, and a brother called Iohn Paul of Catalun̄a who was his companion (and told me of it) heard him, and rose twice to helpe, and assist him; but they could do him no harme, because our Lord permitted them not. They ac­counted him their mortal ene­my, who made cruell warre v­pon them, & tooke the soules out of their clawes; and they published many tymes, that he was the greatest enemy, which they had vpon earth.

4. In the yeare 1541. I my selfe heard a Diuell, which tormented a poore young man in Rome called Matthew, say, that he desired vs not to speak [Page 220]of Ignatius, because he was the greatest enemy he had. Another souldier possessed in the Citty of Padua; and a wo­man in the Citty of Trapana in Sicily said as much. By rea­son of this hatred, and enimi­ty of the Diuells towards him, they persecured him so much, and raised so many, and so furious blasts, and tempests a­gainst him, which argued their great anger, and malice; but by the grace of our Lord, he ouercame them all, & subdued them with so great dominion, as may be gathered by that which we shall here declare.

5. At the tyme that he re­mayned in the hospitall of Az­peritia (as hath byn said before) by reason of the fame of his [Page 221]sanctity,He ca­steth out a Diuell at Azpe­ritia and also one at Rome they brought a wo­man vnto him, who had byn possessed foure yeares, that he would exorcize her, and pray vnto God for her. He answe­red with much humility, that he was no Priest, nor deserued so much at our Lords hands; but that he would pray to his diuine Maiesty for her, which he did, and the woman was presently deliuered. At Rome, he cured that forsaid young man, called Matthew, who was greuously tormented by the Diuell, by only spea­king vnto him, and shutting himselfe with him alone in a chamber.And an­other at Rome. I knew him both before, and after, and he be­came religious in the wilder­nesse of Camaldula, and was [Page 222]called Fryar Basill.

6. In the yeare 1554. the Colledge of the Society which we haue at our B. Ladyes of Loreto was begun, and the first Rector therof was Father Oliuerius Manaraeus, who li­ueth at this day in Flanders, a man of great religion,He fre­eth the Colledg of Lore­to from the mo­lestation of the Diuells. & very well knowne in that respect in the Society: who testifyeth, that the Diuells beganne pre­sently to make warre vpon our Fathers which dwelt in that Colledge, & to disquiet them day, and night; sometyme ma­king a great stirre, and noise, others times appearing in di­uers shapes, and formes, as of a blacke Mare, or of a dog, or cat, or other beast, not per­mitting them to repose, and [Page 223]sleep in the night; and that ha­uing vsed all possible meanes of Masses, prayers, holy-water, exorcismes, reliques, and o­ther like, without profit, to deliuer: themselues from that trouble, and importunity of the Diuells; he wrote what had passed to Blessed Father Igna­tius, crauing the help and fa­uour of his prayers: who an­swered, that they should trust in the goodnes of our Lord, that he would deliuer them, and he in their behalf would intreat the same very instantly.

7. When Father Oliuerius had receyued this letter, he presently called togeather all the Fathers, and brethren of the Colledge, and read vnto them, what the Father had [Page 224]written, and from that houre (a meruailous thing) all those troubles, and fearefull repre­sentations of the Diuells cea­sed, in such sort that there was no more signe of them, then if there had neuer byn any such thing. This happened while our Blessed Father was aliue. But presently after his death, there was a woman in the Citty of Trapana in Sici­ly exorcized, being tormented by the Diuell, and the Vice­roy Iohn de Vega (who had newes of the Fathers descease,The Di­uell con­fesseth that the Father is his ene­my. though it were not yet publi­shed) caused them to demaūd, where B. Father Ignatius the founder of the Society of Iesus was? And the Diuell answe­ [...]ed: that his enemy Ignatius [Page 225]was now dead and in heauen with the other Founders of Religions S. Dominicke, and S. Francis.

8. In the yeare 1561. I knew, in the Citty of Siena in Italy, a very vertuous, and simple mayd called Iacoba de Prado, seruant to a Lady, who was Aunt to the Arch­bishop of the same Citty.The Fa­thers pi­cture deliue­reth a maid from the Diuells cruelty. This mayd was very much tormented, and persecuted by the Diuells, who appeared vnto her in diuers shapes, misusing, striking, and beating her in very strang, and cruell manner. The poore maid en­dured this torment for the space of twelue yeares, vntill she began to carry with her a picture of our Blessed Father [Page 226]Ignatius: and presently the Diuells, though they visibly appeared vnto her, and cryed out, saying: that he was their enemy▪ willing her to cast a­way that picture; yet they durst not come night her, nor touch her; yea shewing them the picture, they cast downe their eyes, saving: that they could not behold so bad a thing: and though shee pro­uoked them to strike her, if they could, yet they neuer durst do it, so long as she kept the picture.

9. At one tyme desirous for curiosity to be certified, whether that feare of the Di­uells proceeded from the pi­cture of the Blessed Father, or from some other cause, she [Page 227]layd it aside, and presently they came vpon her, beating her so terribly, that they left her dead. And this happened vnto her another tyme long after, she thinking, that she had byn wholy free. And with this experience she resol­ued not to bereaue herselfe of that strong brest-plate, and buckler of the Blessed Fathers picture, which terrifyed the Diuells in that manner, who not being able to strike her, gaue great blowes vpon the chamber walls, and vpon cer­tayne coffers, & chests which were in it, without euer tou­ching any one wherein there was a picture of the Blessed Father.

10 The same in a manner [Page 228]happened in the Citty of An­cona in the yeare 1599. to a Schole-maister called Leopar­ [...]ius. For he perceyuing cer­taine spirits to frequent his howse, who in the beginning, while he was absent, swept his chāber, made his bed, brought light, and afterward disorde­red, and fouled it againe; placed a picture of the Blessed Father in his chamber, and afterward found no molesta­tiō in it. But without the dores they made a great noise, ope­ning & shutting them, & the windowes, and striking as vpon drummes; but by pla­cing the picture of the Blessed Father in those roomes also, al that stir ceased, & he was not troubled any more.

He ca­steth out another Diuell in Rome.11. In Rome the yeare 1597. the eight day of Iuly there being an exorcisme in a Church, Father Iohn Bapti­st a Perus [...]o of the Society of Iesus came in to say his prayers hauing a Reliquary, in which among many other reliques, there was one of the Blessed Father. He was no sooner come in, but the diuell began to cry out, and say, that the Father did burne him with that which he brought about him: and finally being infor­ced with the exorcismes, he confessed, that the reliques which that Priest had at this breast, were of Blessed Father Ignatius, a great Seruant of God, and founder of the reli­gion of the Society of Iesus: & [Page 230]that he was a Saynt in heauen, though not yet knowne, but ere long he should be canoni­zed on earth: and the said Fa­ther Perus [...]o taking the Reli­quary from about his neck, & laying it vpon the possessed woman, the Diuell gaue great shoutes, sayings that the Re­lique of that Father burned him, and so he left the wo­man free; it being our Lords pleasure that shee should re­ceyue that notable fauour by the intercession of the Blessed Father.

Another Diuell cast out in Ma­jorca.12. In the Citty of Ma­jorca a womā called Catharin Roca, was for the space of eleuen yeares, almost euery, day griueously tormented by the Diuell. He made her beat [Page 231]her hands, and head against the wall; he lifted her vp in the ayre, he made her body so heauy, that diuers strong men could not lift her from the ground. Sometymes she how­led like a dog, and other tymes grunted like a swyne: and like­wise she was somtymes with­out iudgment or sense, foa­ming at her mouth. Yt was a pittiful thing to se her without remedy, hauing aplyed many, vntill the yeare 1598. the last of August, a Priest called Iohn Peé, tooke a subscription of Blessed Father Ignatius, and layd it vpon the possessed wo­man, who at that tyme was depriued of her senses; & she vsed great extremityes, ma­king many motions and vi­sages, [Page 232]and the Diuell presently departed, and left her, she re­mayning free, and returning [...]o her former, and naturall health, retyring her self to giue our Lord thanks for the fauour receyued at his Blessed hands by the meanes of his seruant Ignatius.

13. In Monti-caelo which is a towne in the territory of Siena, there was a mayd cal­led Vlna,Also an­other dispos­s [...]ssed in the coū try of Siena. and her fathers name was Gra [...]an Gala: who in the moneth of Iuly the yeare [...]99. was much afflicted by [...]he Diuells, who appeared vn­ [...]o her in corporal shapes, spea­ [...]ing vnto her, and solliciting [...]er to filthy, and dishonest [...]ings, to which when shee would not consent, they did [Page 233]beat her cruelly, leauing the signes and scars of their blo­wes vpon her brused body: but our Lord deliuered her by meanes of the picture of Bles­sed Father Ignatius.

BVT that is more notable, & declareth more the Dominion which our Lord hath giuen to this his Seruant, ouer the Diuells, which happened in the yeare 1600 in Modena, a Citty of Lumbardy, which I wil relate heere in the same mā ­ner, [Page 234]that it hath beene written from thence, though briefly, and in fewer wordes,Foure sisters & a niece terribly tormen­ted by the Di­uels, are cured in Modena by his interces­sion. yet with more then I am wont, because it is so notable a thing There were in that Citty of Modena foure sisters, noble, and honest women, one wherof was ma­ryed, & the other three mayds: al which, together with a niece of theirs (likewise a maide) were for many yeares tormen­ted with a great multitude of malignant spirits: & this with such rigour, that it was a very pitifull thing to see the mani­fold, & diuers vexatiōs which they cōtinually suffered of the Diuells. They were ordinarily very sickly, the Phisitians not knowing how to cure them being ignorāt of their sicknes; [Page 235]sometymes the Diuells caryed them to high places, to cast them downe headlong; and other tymes to the most re­mot places of the house, when shutting the Dores they rent theyr garments, pulled of the haire from their heads, beating them, and casting them to the ground, with danger of their liues; neither did they leaue misusing them in this manner vntill those of the house, hea­ring the noise, came to help them.

2. All of them being ver­tuous women, brought vp in the feare of God, and very mo­dest in theyr words, they were many tymes inforced by those infernall beasts, to vtter vn­seemely speaches, and horrible [Page 236]blasphemyes against God, with such terrible shoutes▪ as amazed all that heard them. They could not without great violence apply themselues to prayer, nor say, nor heare any word in the praise of God. It was an intollerable thing for them to be at Masse, and there the Diuells made them sound, and fall to the ground, ma­king outryes, & shouting with such violence, that they could scarcely conteyne themselues. VVhen they went to confes­sion, they hindred them from telling their sinns, & bereaued them of their forces, making them to faynt, and causing them to put out their tongues after a foule manner, in moc­kery of the Holy Sacrament of [Page 237]Confession, and of their Con­fessours. But that which tor­mented them most, were the motions, and temptations of the flesh, which continually afflicted them. For they were very honest women, and some of them had dedicated their virginity to God by vow. And the Diuels themselues, com­pelled by the exorcismes of the Church, confessed, that their intent was to depriue them of their chastity, and to put them in danger of loosing both their spirituall, and corporal health: but that they had laboured in vayne by reason of the vse of the Sacraments, with which these good women defended themselues, when they were most of all afflicted.

3. Furthermore, these in­fernall spirits not being con­tent to afflict them so many wayes, enraged with excee­ding great fury, to see that weake women made them so great resistance, they killed the only sōne of the maryed sister, who was but 14. months old & before they murthered him they threatned her, that they would kill him vpon such a certayne day, and so the child dyed at the tyme appointed, to the great griefe of his Mother, and of all the family. (How secret, and profound are the iudgments of our Lord!) These deuout, & afflicted wo­men had taken all the spiritu­all remedies which they could imagine, to deliuer themselues [Page 239]from this tyranny of the ene­myes of mankynd. They had vsed Prayers, Masses, Exor­cismes, Holy water, Reliques of Saynts, and other meanes which the holy Church vseth. They had byn a long tyme at the directions of Priests & re­ligions men of excellent ver­tue and prudence, that they as good Phisitians might help, and cure them. They had visi­ted often the Holy house of Loreto, and other Sanctuaries of great deuotion, and espe­cially some in which our Lord is wont more particulerly to shew his power against the Diuells, but nothing auailed, because our Lord reserued this occasion to glorify his seruant Ignatius withall: by [Page 240]whose merits, and intercession they all foure, and the niece also were deliuered from the torments which they suf­fered: and had as good health, and forces, with their dispo­sition both in wardly and out wardly to their great content­ment, as euer before. They found themselues free from the temptations of sensuality, and from the difficulty in vocall, & mentall prayer. They heard Masse with great deuotion, & cōfort. They liued with great modesty, decency, and com­position, and conuersed with those of the house with great affability, & sweetnes, as they were wont, before they were tormented by the Diuells; which hath beene a matter of [Page 241]great admiration to [...]ll that were acquainted with them: and much more by reason of the manner with which our Lord cured them, by the inter­cessiō of his Seruant Ignatius, which was in this wife.

4. Father Rector of the Col­ledge of the Society of Iesus, which is in the Citty of Mo­dena, hauing vnderstood the pittifull case of those poore women, after he had throughly considered, and commended it to our Lord, by his instinct (as the effect declared) went one day to the house, carying with him a picture of the B Father, which he kept for his deuotiō. He entred into the roome where the women were, at the very tyme, that a Priest was [Page 242]exorcising the Diuels; & with­out saying any thing, or tel­ling any what he brought, he put vp that picture of the Fa­ther vpon the wall, and be­tooke himself to prayer. Wher­upon presently those hellish spirits began to giue horrible shouts, and to say, that it was the picture of Ignatius Foūder of the Society, with which they were grieuously tormen­ted. And withall they begā to reuile at him egregiously, cal­ling him, bald, lame, & blynd: & being pressed by the Priest who exorcised them, to tel the reason why they called him so: they answered that they cal­led him bald, because he had not much hayre on his head nor beard; and lame, because [Page 243]his leggs were not of the same length, one of them hauing beene broken; and blynd, by reason of his aboundance of teares, wherby he had been in great danger to loose his sight: & they cōplayned, that he came so farre, as Spayne, to persecute them both in his life, and after his death. And at the same tyme many principall Diuels departed with horrible roarings from one of the si­sters, leauing her almost dead, and confessing the vertue of Ignatius.

5. By this meanes the fore­said sisters, theyr mother, and all the house conceyued great deuotion towards the Blessed Father, with hope by his inter­cession to obtayne the health [Page 244]which they desyred; and they made a vow to obserue holy all the dayes of their life, the day of his death, and to fast the Eue. This deuotion increa­sed with another new acci­dent, for a Father of the So­ciety called Augustine Viualdi, being come at that tyme from Rome to preach in Modena, brought with him a reliquary, in which among other, he had a relique of the B. Father, which being placed secretly, and without saying any thing to any body, in the roome where the sisters were, the Diuels cryed out, saying: that it was the Relique of Ignati', telling from whence it came, and who had brought it: con­fessing the intolerable tormēt [Page 245]which they suffered, and that by his intercession they should all be cast forth of those bo­dies: For God had determined to glorify him in the world.

6. Another day a great Diuell hauing mocked and blasphemed at Ignatius before his going out, being inforced by God at the tyme of his departure, confessed to his great confusion, that he was burnt with that little peece of bonet and he called him three tymes a Saynt, saying: S Ignatius, S. Ignatius, S. Ignatius casteth me forth by his humility and patience, and by the deuotion, which he had to the most Holy Virgin. Other times, the Diuells desvring to conceale that they were cast [Page 246]out by the prayers of B. Igna­tius, attributing that effect to the vertue of other Saynts, to whom the said sisters had par­ticuler deuotion, at the tyme of theyr going out, were in­forced to cōfesse the lye which they had told, and to giue the glory to Ignatius, saying: that God would serue himselfe of him alone, in that occasion.

7. Other tymes with great fury, at theyr departure, they cryed out, saying: where is thy might O Lucifer, since that a peece of paper, with the picture of this Priest casteth vs forth, thou not being able to make resistance? And many tymes hauing beene exorcised the whole day without profit, they said, that they should ne­uer [Page 247]depart, vnlesse Ignatius were inuocated, and called v­pon, because God would haue it so. And when the Priest said, Impero vobis per merita B. Igna­tij &c. I command you by the merits of B. Ignatius &c they presently went away with great rage, and fury. Other tymes they said: O God how doest thou depriue vs of glory, to giue it to this lame, & wrin­kled Priest.

8. The same effects which the Picture and Relique of the Blessed Father had wrought, were likewise caused by the booke written of his life: for it being caryed to the womens house, for them to read vpon, and layd vpon their head, or breast, or some Chapter of his [Page 248]life being read, the Diuels were in forced to depart, and to yeald themselues to the wil of God, who is meruailous in his Saynts, and giueth them strength and vertue to tread vpon Lyons, and to triumph ouer al the powers of hel. This battayle and contention, la­sted for two months, at which tyme the perfect victory was obtayned. For as S. Bernard saith, speaking of a Diuell, which S. Malachy cast out of two women; this delay was not for want of power in the Saynt, but by diuine dispen­sation, that the presence of the enemy, and the victory of the Saynt, who cast them forth, might be the better vnder­stood.

What force he had to moue mens harts. HE had not only this do­minion ouer the Diuels, but also ouer the harts of men, with whom he dealt. For certainly the force which our Lord gaue vnto his words, were wonderfull and seemed more then humane, mouing mens harts, not with the sweetnes or elegācy of his speach, but with the weight of his spirit, and of the things which he spake. He mol­lified hard, and obstinate men [Page 250]like wax, and altered them in such sort, that they meruailed at themselues, and at the change, which they had made. With two or three words he often quieted, and cured the infirme, and affli­cted consciences and soules of men, strengthing the weake, and giuing them peace, and security.

2. There was in our house at Rome a Iew, called Isaac, to be catechized, or instru­cted, because he would be­come a Christian. He fell one day into a great temptation, and as one that were furious, and besides himselfe, began to say, that he would begone, & would not be a Christian. The holy Father commaun­ded [Page 251]him to be brought before him, and said vnto him only these words: Stay with vs Isaac: presently he was quie­ted, and of a furious Lyon became a gentle Lamb, and remayned in the house, and was baptized.

3. A brother called Iohn Paul, who accompanyed our Blessed Father, was for a tyme so assaulted, and afflicted with the Diuell, by an occa­sion of a certayne vayne, and friuolous scruple, that he could not breath, nor find any peace in his soule, eyther by prayer, or pennances, or the vse of the holy Sacramēts, or in any other thing which he vsed for his remedy: so that he was so sad, and melancho­ly, [Page 252]that he seemed a lyuing statua of death. He imparted this his trouble to our Blessed Father, who with only two words, in answere, tooke a­way, as with his hand, all that perplexity, and agony, and pulled vp the rootes of it so perfectly, as if he had neuer endured any such matter.

4. I knew another also (whom I will not name be­cause he is yet aliue) who be­ing but a child, by reason of a certaine fright fel in to so great a feare, that he trembled at his owne shaddow, and acquain­ting our B. Father with that passion, and vayne feare, he with two words, that he spake vnto him, restored him to his former peace, and secu­rity. [Page 253]There happened two other things to the same man, which do very well declare the efficacy, which God gaue to the words of this his Ser­uant, and what force he had to moue their harts, who trea­ted with him. The one is, that being once very rebelli­ous, and obstinate, in not fol­lowing the wholsome coun­sells which the Father gaue him, with one only word, that he said vnto him, he was in such sort changed, that he began to cry out a loud, I will do it Father, I will doe it. And so he did, it seeming to him, that he had not power to do otherwise, by reason of the great motion, and impulsion, which he felt in his soule

5. The other was that the same brother being tempted, and in a manner resolued not to perseuere in the Society, and making his generall Confes­sion with the Blessed Father, with only these words, that he said vnto him, I desire you, not to be vngratefull to one who hath done you so many fauours, as our Lord hath done, he healed, quie­ted, and pacifyed him in such sort, that in that instant he de­termined to perseuere in his vocation: and hath deuoutly perseuered euer since, without hauing any the least trouble in this kind. And we might re­late very many other things of this quality, by reason of which Father Francis Borgia, a man of such sanctity, and [Page 255]prudence as is knowne, was wont to say, that B. Father Ignatius did speake, tamquam potestatem habens, as a man that had power, to imprint in mens harts what he would, and to moue them to what he would.

6. S. Bernard saith, that the holy Bishop S. Malachy tamed an vnruly, and very cholericke woman: & that in his opinion, this was a greater miracle, then if he had raysed one from death, because in the one miracle, he had raised the outward man and in the other the inward. This saith S. Ber­nard. But let vs follow the course of our narration, and declare some of the other mi­racles, which after the death [Page 256]of the Blessed Father, our Lord hath wrought by his interces­sion, and especially these latter yeares, in which his Canoni­zation hath byn treated of. For those which God hath done in diuers Prouinces, haue byn many, diuers, and great, to stirre vp the deuotion of the faithfull towards him, and to make him glorious vpon earth as he hath done in heauen.

At the instant in which he de­parted at Rome, he ap­peared to a La­dy at Bo­nonia.IN the very instant, that the Blessed Father gaue vp his Ghost, he appeared shyning, [Page 257]and glorious, to a noble and most deuout Matrone in Bo­nonia, who was a widdow, called Margaret Dellio, and greatly affected to the Society: and he said vnto her; Margaret I depart now, and I commend the Society vnto you. Hauing said these words, he ceased to appeare. And the pious wo­man related presently, what she had seene to Father Francis Palmius her Confessarius, and the Rector of that Colledge, telling him, that without doubt Father Ignatius was de­ceased, and that she had seene him, describing him as liuely as if she had knowne him be­fore, whereas in truth she had neuer seene him. And though this were not held for certaine [Page 258]when she related it, notwith­standing afterward, when the newes, of the Fathers death came, and of the day, and houre in which he went to a better life, the thing was ma­nifest.

2. The first day of Au­gust in the yeare 1556. in which the Father was buryed, great multitudes of people concured in Rome to his fune­rall,He cu­reth a maid of the Kings Euill. to see and reuerence him. Among others which came, there was a very deuout wo­man who bare affection to the Society, called Bernardina, and she had a daughter about the age of 14. yeares, who was molested with a dangerous, and troublesome infirmity of the Lamperons, or Kings [Page 259]Euill. And though she had spēt a good part of her wealth in curing her daughter, yet she could not get her health, but, rather was euery day worse and worse. Her mother carryed her that day to the Church of the Society, with desire, that she might touch the holy Fathers body, and commend her selfe vnto him, and by his intercessiō obtaine of our Lord her health, which the Phisitians could not pro­cure. But the throng was so great, that how much soeuer the mother, and daughter en­deauored, they could not by any meanes come where the F. body lay. Seing their desire thus frustrate, they requested to haue something that had [Page 260]touched the B. Fathers body, and the mother with great de­uotion and faith, applyed it to her daughters neck, touching with it the Lamperons, and sores, which were in a manner festered: and by the mercy of our Lord, and the merits of his seruant Ignatius, the mayd was perfectly cured, to the ad­miration of all those that heard of it, and acknowledg­ment of the Fathers sanctity, who after his death gaue he­alth to those, which hartily commended themselues vnto him.

3. In the yeares 1569. vpon the 31.Musick hard in his tōbe. of Iuly (which was the day of his decease) the body of the Blessed Father was translated the first tyme, and [Page 261]there was heard by a certaine deuout seruant of God for the space of two dayes, most sweet musicke and harmony, as it were of voices, in his Sepul­cher.

4. In Rome a Lady called Drusilla Tursellina being very much vexed with a vehement feuer,He cu­reth a burning feuer. and with the head-ach, hauing vsed many remedyes, & byn let bloud in her armes, nostrills, and head, without profit, her sicknes rather in­creasing euery day; was pre­sently, healed by a relique of one of the Blessed Fathers bo­nes, layd vpon her forehead.

5. Another woman na­med Olimpia Norina had such a vehement payne in her eyes, that she came to loose her sight, [Page 262]and for the space of three mo­neths had such a continuall ague,He gi­ueth sight to a blind woman and payne in her head, that she could not rest. They brought her a subscription of the Blessed Fathers hand, at the tyme that her payne was at the greatest, laying it vpon her forehead, and eyes, and she began to see, and was ryd of her ague and payne.

6. In the same Citty in the yeare 1597. a noble mans child of seauen yeares old, called Hierome Gabriell, being sick of a pestilent feuer (called a Tauerdillo) and of a plurisy;He re­storeth health to a child in a mā ­ [...] past [...] hauing also the wormes, so that there was litle hope of his life, was healed with the same subscription of the Blessed Fa­ther.

7. In the yeare 1599. Lady Ioane Vrsina, being but a child,He deli­uereth another child from a dange­rous cough & short­nes of breath. daughter to Cornelia Vr­sina Dutchesse of Cesi, had so great a cough, that she could scarsely breath, or suck. The Dutches her mother commen­ded her very earnestly and de­uoutly to Blessed Father Igna­tius, and beseeched him to ob­tayne the health of her daugh­ter: wherupō the child hauing byn a night and a halfe with­out rest, presently fell a sleepe, and her cough ceased, and she began to sucke her Nurses breast. For which cause the Dutches cōmaunded a Tablet to be set on the Fathers graue in remembrance of the fauour, which she had receiued.

8. In the same yeare 1599. [Page 264]Angela Ruggiera was trou­bled with an extraordinary noise in her head for almost a yeare,He re­storeth hearing to a deafe woman. and lost the hearing of her right eare; wherto apply­ing a relique of the Blessed Fa­ther, and making a vow to fast with bread and water the day of his departure, and to communicate the day follow­ing, recouered perfect health, and remayned free from that infirmity.

9. In the same yeare 1599. vpon a monday, being the 19. of Iuly Father Michael Vaz­ques a professed Father of the Society of Iesus,He fre­eth one from a vehe­ment fit of the stone. and Prefect of the studyes in the Roman Colledge, had such a terri­ble fit of the cholicke, & stone, that being in a cold sweat, and [Page 265]as it were in an agony, and without feeling, seemed ready to giue vp the ghost. They ap­plyed many remedyes to ease his payne, but all without pro­fit: yea it seemed that his payn increased by the multiplying of remedyes. He desired them to bring him a Relique of B. Father Ignatius, which they did, and he tooke it with great deuotion, and commending himself very deuoutly to his Holy Father, he put it to the part where his payne was most sharp and vehement: and presently the payne ceased in that part, but remayned in others, which likewise afflicted him much. But laying the sa­cred Relique vpon those also, the payne seemed to fly from [Page 266]before it, so that at length he re­mayned altogether whole & free.

10. And foure or fiue houres after he began to cast forth without any payne many pee­ces of the stone, imbrued with bloud, and as it were enwrap­ped in little peeces of flesh; the Phisitians iudging, that the stone was dissolued by the vertue of that Relique, and be-because it was sharp, had torne the passages. Forthwith the sick Father rose out of his bed, against the opinion of many, because he iudged that health not to be humane, but from Heauen, and obtayned by the merits of the B. Father, & con­sequently that it would be per­fect, and that he had no cause [Page 267]to feare. The said Father Mi­chael Vazques had at that tyme the care to deale with the Cardinalls of the Congrega­tion of holy Rites, or Ceremo­nies, concerning the Canoni­zation of the B. Father, and it seemed, that our Lord sent him that so suddaine, and sharp a sicknes, that hauing had ex­perience of the Blessed Fathers fauour in his owne person, he might be the more earnest in procuring his Canoni­zation.

11. The same yeare 1599. a godly Matron of Rome,He cu­reth a canker. ha­uing a canker in one of her breasts, and by the iudgment of Phisitians being so far gone, that it seemed she would short­ly dye; making her prayers, at [Page 268]the B. Fathers tomb, she began presently to feele the benefit of his intercession, and without any other corporall medicine, she became well within few dayes: for which cause her husband caused an Hearse of cloth of siluer to be layd vpon his tomb, and the woman her selfe sent the portrature of a breast made of siluer and gilt, in remembrance of the benefit receyued.

12. Another called Orin­thia Casali, being with child, and without hope of life, be­cause the said child was dead in her body,He deli­uereth a woman of a dead child. applying a sub­scription of the Blessed Father therto, was deliuered of the dead childe, the mother her self remayning in good health.

13. Let vs omit the other miracles which God hath wrought in Rome (being many) and let vs come to other Prouinces of Italy. In the Marca of Ancona is sci­tuated the Sacred House of our Lady of Loreto, in which the most Holy Virgin was borne, and the Eternal Word clothed himselfe with our flesh. In this place a child of six yeares old,A child past cure recoue­red. fell into so grieuous a sicknes, that the Phisitians gaue him ouer. They laid a litle peece of B. Father Ignatius his garment vpon him, commending him to his prayers, and presently he began to be better, and was perfectly cured.

14. In the Citty of Recanati,He heal­teth di­uers dis­eases. which is about 3. miles from [Page 270]Loreto, the yeare 1599. a wo­man much troubled with an ague, and payne in her sto­make, commending her self to the Blessed Father, was freed from both. And a youth being in danger of his life, by blee­ding at his nose so aboundan­tly that it could not be staun­ched, hauing a Relique of the Blessed Father applyed, left bleeding. And another wo­man, which had a great payne in her breasts, there being an impostume bred in them, the impostume did breake by ver­tue of the same Relique.

15. In the same Citty a Gētlemā named Horatius Leo­pardus, being in the moneth of October of the same yeare 1599. in danger of his life by [Page 271]a fit of the stone, & retentiō of vrine, not finding any remedy, he commended himselfe very affectuously to our B. Lady, beseeching her by the merits of B. Father Ignatius to heale him, and desyring the Father himselfe to be his good aduo­cate. At that very instant his payne was eased, and he be­gan to make water; and after­ward, he cast forth much gra­uell, and stones, broken in litle peeces, and so remayned altogether free.

16. Heere also the same yeare & moneth, a Lady called Lucandia, wife to Pompeius Georgij,He cu­reth paynes of the hart. hauing beene very sick for the space of fiue monthes, and endured great paynes, and palpitations of [Page 272]her hart, applying vnto it a little peece of the Fathers gar­ment, presently found herself well. And the same woman hauing gone with child nyne moneths, and cast out of her body twēty pounds of bloud, being therewith much weak­ned and in a manner without sense,He deli­uereth a woman twise from dā ­ger of death. she earnesty commen­ded her self to the B. Father, & that bloudy flux ceased, and she came to her selfe: and af­terward being much oppres­sed with the paynes of child­bearing, not being able to be deliuered, she was brought to bed of a dead sonne with­out payne, she herselfe remay­ning in life, and health, com­mending her selfe to the B. Father.

17. In the Citty of Mace­rata, rata, which is about three leagues from Loreto,He ap­peareth to a sick woman, resto­ring her health. Blessed Father Ignatius appeared to a woman called Elizabeth Mo­rena, Niece to the Lord Bi­shop of the same Citty, she being like to dye, and without hope of life, in the moneth of Nouēber of the yeare 1599. & taking her by the hād, he tould her, that she should ere long be restored to perfect health, willing her to rise, and giue thankes to god for the mercy which he vsed towards her.

18. In the Citty of Na­ples, in the moneth of Iune of the yeare 1599. Don̄a Ioana of Aragon, Princesse of Bel­tran, and Dutchesse of Ter­ra-noua, had a great payne, & [Page 274]swelling in her right breast:He deli­uereth a Lady from a paine & swelling in her brest. & finding no remedy, amōgst many which were applyed in the space of foure moneths, omitting them all, as vnpro­fitable, and laying vpon her breast, with much deuotion, the picture of the B. Father, she became well the same day: and comming to Rome this last Holy yeare of 1600. commaunded a Tablet of sil­uer, with foure great waxe Tapers to be set vpon the B. Fathers tomb, on Easter day, in thankes giuing.

19. In the Citty of Nola, the yeare 1599. in the moneth of Nouember,A Knight cured of a pesti­lēt feuer. a knight named Francis Blasius, being much vexed with a pestilēt ague, & with a grieuous payne in his [Page 275]head and stomack, so that in the iudgmēt of the Phisitians, he was in danger of his life. His mother Zenobia Tolphia exhorted him to lay a Relique of the bone of B. Father Igna­tius to his head, & commend himselfe vnto him, desyring his fauour. He did so, and re­mayned free from all his paynes, and his whole sicknes.

20. In the Citty of Lecha (which is in the Prouince of Apulia, in the Kingdome of Naples) the yeare 1594. a wo­man called Patientia,A womā cured from a payne in her side. seruant to a Lady named Antonina Cubella, had such a terrible payne in her side, that it was accounted incurable, in so much, that they prepared her graue. They brought her a [Page 276]Relique of the Blessed Father Ignatius, and presently she fell a sleep (which she could not do before) and in her sleep, the Father appeared vnto her, in priestly attyre, & sayd vnto her: Daughter, commend thy self to God, and he will heale thee: vpon hearing of which wordes, she found her self free from her payne.

21. In the same Citty of Lecha a child of three yeares old,A child healed of a wound in his knee. sonne to the Baron of Be­gli-boni, fell from his Nurses armes vpon the ground, & did notably hurt his right knee, which grew euery day worse, because the Nurse for feare concealed the fal. And it went so far that it was necessary to open the childs knee oftener [Page 277]then once, and yet this helped not: wherfore comming to cut it the third tyme, the Father fearing his Sonnes death, (whome he did see consumed with the wound, and with the ague which followed thereu­pon) went to the Colledge of the Society, & there they gaue him a Relique of the B. Fathers bone; which he layd vpon the child, before they opened his knee the third tyme, and when the Surgeons came to do it, they found him much better, and within a few dayes alto­geather well.

22. A Father of the Society,A Father deliue­red from a tēpest, and cap­tiuity. called Natalis Masuca, sayling to Sicily, was taken by the Turkes, and afterward a great storme arose, in which he ex­pected [Page 276] [...] [Page 277] [...] [Page 278]to be drowned. He cō ­mended himself to B. Father Ignatius, and heard presently a voyce, which said vnto him. Doubt not, for thou shalt not be drowned in this tempest, nor be caryed into Turky. The storme ceased, and the Turkes ship was taken by the Christians, neere to the Ile Lampadosa, & so he was deliuered both from the sea, and the Pyrats.

23. In the Citty of Paler­mo, a child of three yeares old called Cosmus Ferier, sonne to a famous Phisitian,A child cured of an ague, & loose­nesse. had such a terrible ague, & loosnesse of his body, that his Father him­selfe hauing giuen him ouer, prepared all things necessary for his buriall; but hauing layd vpon him a peece of a vesti­ment, [Page 279]in which Blessed Father Ignatius had said Masse, he forthwith began to be much better, and the same day reco­uered his health to the great admiration, and ioy of his Father, and those of the house. Now let vs come to Spayne.

IN the yeare 1570. or 1571. in the Citty of Toledo, one day in winter,He deli­uereth a woman from a payne in her side. a little before night, an ancient woman, called Vega, seruant to Alonso of Villa-Real Duron▪ and of Mary de Torres his wife, fell [Page 280]into an exceding payne of her side, which was so vehement, that the Phisitiās willed her to cōfesse, & receiue the most B. Sacramēt, & make her last wil & testament the same night, fearing that she would not lyue till morning: a deuout & vertuous, man called Iohn of Mesa, friend to the said Alonso of Villa-Real, vnderstanding this, hauing first betaken him­selfe to prayer, layd vpon that syde of the sicke womē where the payne was, a little peece of a lynnen cap, and another of a lether stomacher, which B. Father Ignatius was wont to vse, and the said Iohn of Mesa caryed about him for his de­uotion & at the very instant, that he did this, the sick wo­man [Page 281]became whole, and well, saying: O Maister Iohn of Mesa, what haue you done to me, that you haue taken away my payne, and sicknes?

2. In the Citty of Burgos, Don̄a Francisca of Beruy,He cu­reth the colicke stone, & blee­ding. a professed Nunne in the mona­stery of S. Dorothy, of great recollection, and vertue, be­ing very much tormented with the cholick, and stone, hauing recourse to the inter­cession of the said Blessed Fa­ther, in the space of one yeare little more or lesse, came to cast forth, more then an hundreth stones, little, and great, in a manner without any payne at all. And in the yeare 1593. hauing broken a veyne in her breast, not being able to [Page 282]staunch the bloud, which she cast out of her mouth, laying vpon her breast a little peece of the first sackcloth, which the Blessed Father clad him­selfe withall in Montserat, when he gaue his apparell to the poore man, the bloud pre­sently ceased, and stayed.

3. There was in the Con­uent of the Nunnes, commō ­ly called Huelgas, one named Don̄a Ioanna of Gongora, very sickly, in so much, that she had procured a Breue of his Holynes,He cu­reth o­ther in­firmi­ties. that she might go out of her Monastery to take Phisick: but commen­ding her selfe to the Holy Fa­ther, and keeping his picture in her Cell, she remayned so free, and sound, that she stood [Page 283]no more in need of leaue to go abroad for her health.

4. Another deuout wo­man of the order of S. Fran­cis, named Mary of Auala, who was much afflicted in spirit, had counsell to com­mend her selfe to Blessed Fa­ther Ignatins,He hel­peth the trouble of the mind. that by his meanes, she might obtayne ease, & remedy of her trouble: and she betaking her selfe to prayer, forgot the name of Ignatius, and sayd: O Saynt Athanasius, help me in the sight of our Lord, that he will be plea­sed to deliuer me from this great temptation, and affliction which I endure. When she said these wordes, she heard a voice, that answered: He is not called A­thanasius, but Ignatius: & doubt [Page 284]not, but that by his intercession, thou shalt obtaine that, which thou desyrest of our Lord: as in­deed she did.

5. Another man named Lancelot Ruffin of Flanders being sick of a pestilent ague, and giuen ouer by the Phisi­tians,He cu­reth a dange­rous feuer. by the meanes of a sub­scription of the B. Father, re­couered perfect health, and rose vp sound, and well, to the admiration of the Phisiti­ans, & of all those that knew his danger.

6. The same happened to to Don Lopez of Castro, nephew to Don̄a Eleano­ra Gallo, who at that tyme was Abbesse of the Mona­stery of S. Dorothy, who being giuen ouer by all the [Page 285]Phisitians which had him in hand, aswell by those who li­ued in Burgos, as by others whome he had sent for from Valliadolid, commēding him­selfe to Father Ignatius, & pro­mising to giue a certayne almes in his name, was presently healed, & deliuered of his in­firmity.

7. A religious, and graue Father of the order of Saynt Augustine, belonging to the Conuent of the Citty of Bur­gos,A maid infected with the plague is healed with the Fathers picture being in Quintanilla of Somun̄on a Town within the Archbishoprick of Burgos, whither he went, moued by charity, to administer the Sa­craments to those who were sick of the plague: vpon the eleuenth of Nouember in the [Page 286]yeare 1599. heard the confes­sion of a yong woman about 22. yeares old, called Mary, daughter to Iohn Gomez hus­bandman, who was sick of a strong ague, & infected with the plague, he gaue her coun­sell to commend her self very earnestly to Blessed Father Ig­natius,Many that had the plague recouer by drin­king of the wa­ter in which one of the Fa­thers bones had byn dipped. and he gaue her a pi­cture of the same Father, to put in her bosome; & with this only remedy, within an houre after he found her without eyther soare, or ague.

8. Many that were infe­cted with the plague, in the Citty of Burgos, drinking of the water, in which a bone of Blessed Father Ig­natius had beene dipped, and commending themselues to [Page 287]him, recouered perfect health. And Francis Ortiz Curate, & Pastour of S. Peter and S. Fe­lix auoucheth, that many were so healed, and that he gaue them the water For when hu­mane remedyes fayled, he be­tooke himself to diuyne, and that this was publick in the Citty.

9. The same is testifyed by Bachelour Sanchius of Can­tabrana, Curate, and Pastour of the Church of S. Stephen, to haue happened to himselfe, being infected with the plague, and hauing a great and vehe­ment tertian feuer, & that taking of the foresaid water, and commending himselfe to Father Ignatius, he was healed. And Abel de-la-Torre, Cu­rate, [Page 288]and Pastour of S. Mar­tyns, in the same Citty of Bur­gos, being infected with the plague, drinking of the said water, which his mother brought him, at the same in­stant that he tooke it, felt himselfe well, and was freed from his ague.

10. Francis Ortez afore­said, Curate, and Pastour of the Church of S Peter and S. Felix in the same Citty of Bur­gos,He hel­peth one from a lamnesse in his knees. hauing endured by the space of fyue yeares a great in­firmity of certayne humors in his knees, and ankles, with much payne and trouble, by cōmending himselfe to the B. Father, was healed, neuer fee­ling that infirmity afterward.

11. In the Citty of Ma­drid [Page 289]Father Michael Garses,He sud­denly taketh away a vehemēt payne of the eyes with his subscrip­tion. a professed Father of the Society of Iesus, had a rhewme that fell into his right eye, and did put him to such excessiue payne, that he could fynd no ease, eyther in letting bloud, or in any remedy which was vsed: but rather the payne seemed to increase by the multiplying of remedyes, so that he could not take any rest day or night. Finally the ninth of Septem­ber in the yeare 1596. hauing endured a most vehement payne in his said eye, vntill seauen of the clock at night, Father Bartholomew Perez, who is at this day Assistant of the Society at Rome, taking compassion of him, gaue him a subscription of B. Father Ig­natius [Page 290]his hand, and willed him to commēd himselfe vnto him, and to lay it vnto his eye: for he hoped that he would deliuer him from that payne, as he had done othres who had commended themselues vnto him. Father Garses kneeled downe, betaking himselfe to prayer, and layd the subscrip­tion vnto his eye, when his payne was at the greatest; which presently was taken a­way, and a little after he went to bed, and slept all that night with good repose, and the next morning heard confes­sions in the Church: and we of the house did see his eye well, which we had seene the day before very bloudy, and full of water.

12. In Gandia a maide of 13. yeares old, called Francis Vinoles, had byn ill at ease for the space almost of a yeare,He hea­leth a lame woman. of a great payne in one of her leggs, which made her halt, & did put her to much payne, especially when the weather was cold, which was very contrary to her disease. This mayd the day of the Circum­cision of our Lord, in the yeare 1600. went to Masse (not without great difficulty) be­cause it was so great a day, and returned home much afflicted, by reason of the payne which greatly tormented her. Her mother willed her to cōmend herself earnestly to blessed Fa­ther Ignatius, and layd one of his subscriptions vpon her: [Page 292]and in that very instant the sick maid felt her selfe perfect­ly well, and free from that payne: and began to go, as if she neuer had any. Her Father (who was a Phisitian) and all the house accounted it a mi­racle: and in signe of thank­fulnes, presently the day follo­wing, the mayd, and her mo­ther came to the Church of the Society of Iesus, to render thankes to our Lord, and to his great Seruant Ignatius, presenting him with a picture of wax.

13. Like to this miracle is another, which happened in the moneth of October in the yeare 1600. in the same Citty of Gandia, to Iosepha Borgia wife to Gaspar Harrera. For [Page 293]the said Iosepha,He cu­reth a payne in the knee. not being a­ble for the space of more then a moneth, scarse to moue her selfe by reason of an exceeding great payne in her knee, and finding no remedy by any me­dicine, she began to commend herselfe to the Blessed Father, with great deuotion, and to say fiue tymes the Pater noster, and Aue Maria. And hauing done this for three dayes, be­ing one night in her bed, and commending her selfe vnto him with many teares (be­cause she felt her selfe much tormented with that payne) she presently reposed, & slept, and in her sleepe the Blessed Father appeared vnto her, and with a serene, and cherefull countenance told her, that he [Page 294]came to cure her, & touching her knee with his blessed hand, he freed her from al that payne, and she awaking found her selfe perfectly well, and presently the next morning came to the Church of the So­ciety, and brought a picture of wax in testimony, and re­membrance of the fauour re­ceyued at our Lords hands.

14. But yet more notable is that which happened in the same Citty, in the moneth of Nouember following, to a re­collected Virgin of the age of 40. yeares, called Iosepha Ca­stella, who was sick of the goute,He cu­reth the Gout. which was wont to take her with such great force, and violence, that it depriued her of her iudgment, and many [Page 295]people could scarse hold her from hurting, and beating her selfe: and when she was out of this fit, she remayned with such a terrible payne of her hart, and so great affliction of mynd, her body also being so wearied, and broken, that for all that day, and the day follo­wing, she could not moue her selfe, nor do any thing. But hauing vnderstood of the fa­uours, which our Lord did in this tyme in diuers places by the intercession of the Blessed Father; one night when her disease had assayled her more fiercely and violently, then at other tymes, comming a litle to her self, she cōmended her selfe, as earnestly as she could, to the Blessed Father [Page 296]with great confidence, saying fiue tymes the Pater noster, and the Aue Maria, and presently in the same instant, she found her selfe altogeather well, and as sound, and free from that sadnes, and payne of her hart, and from the other accidents with which she had remained all that tyme, as she was wont at other tymes before. She slept, and reposed that night very well (which she could not do at other tymes, when she had those fits) and present­ly so soone as it was day, she rose out of her bed, whereat her sister, and brother-in-law meruailed to see her goe vp and downe the house. She bad them not wonder, but giue thankes to our Lord, who by [Page 297]meanes of B. Father Ignatius had giuen her most perfect health, so that she had not so much as any signe of her sick­ness. After eight, or tenne dayes, the same mayd fell into such an extreme fit of the Cholicke,Also the cholike. that she expected death: and with the deuotion, which she had conceiued to­wards the Blessed Father, she commended her selfe to him, and presently remayned alto­geather free from that payne also. And in token of acknow­ledgment, she came to the Church of the Society, and brought two pictures of wa [...], all that were present concur­ring with her in praysing our Lord.

15. We may add to these [Page 298]miracles another, which God hath wrought in the same Cit­ty of late, vpon the 12. of De­cember of this last yeare 1600. A Girle of 7. yeares old was so sick of an ague, and a swelling in her face, that for two dayes, and two nights she could take no rest, nor drinke so much as one drop of water, so that her parēts thought rather of bury­ing her, then of curing her. One of the childs Aunts saw by chance a picture of Blessed Father Ignatius,A child healed of an A­gue and sweel­ling in the face. which had byn brought to her Father, that he might set it in a frame (for he was a ioyner) she tooke it, and layd it vpon the sick childs head, with great confi­dence, bidding her commend her selfe to that Saint, and to [Page 299]make a vow, that she would performe some deuotion to­wards him for nyne dayes to­geather, if she recouered. With­in a quarter of an houre, the child called her mother, and told her, that she was sound and well, and that the holy Father Ignatius had healed her, desiring her to giue her some thing to eate. She did eate, drink, and sleepe that night, as one that was perfe­ctly well; and forthwith the day following, she and her Aunt went to the Colledge of the Society, to giue our Lord thankes, and began to per­forme the deuotion promised, and presented a picture of wax.

NOvv let vs passe to the Iland, and Citty of Ma­jorca, in which our Lord hath wrought great wonders these yeares past, by the intercession of Blessed Father Ignatius. Ioane Claray: Noguera, a ver­tuous, and exemplar widdow being very ill of her eyes, and hauing lost the sight first of her right eye,A wid­dow re­stored to her sight. and afterward of her left, applying a subscrip­tion of Blessed Father Ignatius his hand vnto them, was so perfectly healed, that present­ly [Page 301]the day following she could worke with her needle, and fixe her eyes as sted fastly v­pon her worke, as before she was blind.

2. Another Lady called N. Sureda, wife to George Sureda who being in exceeding great payne of child-bearing, and could not be deliuered in many dayes; with the subscription of the Blessed Father brought forth a sonne safe and sound,He hel­peth ma­ny wo­men in their la­bour of child-bearing. the mother also hauing her he­alth, and receyuing great con­tentment, and ioy, as all the rest of that family likewise did.

3. This also happened more notably to another woman, wife to Saluador Mereader, who hauing wholy lost her [Page 302]forces, so that she could not be deliuered: and fearing least her child were dead, by the same subscription recouered her courage, and strength, and brought forth a sonne, to whome at his baptisme they gaue the name of Ignatius, be­cause he was borne by his in­tercession.

4. Magdalen Suau wife to Peter Suau, endured for three dayes most terrible paynes of child-bearing, and vpon S. Laurence his day, in the yeare 1598. the subscription which we haue mentioned of the Blessed Father, being brought vnto her, whilest she was in that distresse in her bed, she rose out of it, and after a new manner, all that were present [Page 303]calling vpon the name of Bles­sed Ignatius, she was deliuered of a child, hauing his head gro­wing betwixt his leggs. And yet our Lord vouchsafed to preserue the mother, who was very faynt and weake, with­out any hurt or harme; the child also being fayre, and in good health, which caused all the standers by to praise our Lord, for the wayes which he taketh to honour his Saints. With these, and other like ac­cidents the fame of the fauour which God our Lord doth to women in childbirth, by the merits of Father Ignatius was so spread abroad, that both poore, and rich, when they found themselues in that dan­ger, did take him for their ad­uocate, [Page 304]and vse his subscrip­tion, by which meanes they found remedy, and reliefe in their necessities.

5. Another woman, called Ieronyma Rebaça, was many dayes in danger of her life, by reason of the great, and terri­ble paynes, which she suffered in child-bearing, being also ex­ceeding weake and faynt, and hauing vsed many remedyes without profit, thinking that the child was dead (because it moued not) they would haue giuen her a certayne strong medicine, to make her voyd it forth, though not without much danger of her owne life. But she insteed of that dan­gerous potion, betooke her­self to the remedyes from hea­uen, [Page 305]and desired to haue the subscription of Blessed Father Ignatius brought vnto her, by which God did worke so ma­ny, and so great wonders in Majorca. They brought it to her vpon the 20. of October of the same yeare 1598. and within halfe a quarter of an houre she was deliuered of a sonne, being aliue, and in good health. And that which caused most admiration was, that the child had his mouth full of the potions, which the mother had taken three dayes before. The midwife tooke them out of his mouth, and the child presently cryed, which made all the rest to laugh for ioy.

6. One of the women, [Page 306]which was present at this mi­racle, was Ieronyma Pỳ, wife to Raphaell Pỳ,He hea­leth a woman of a paine, with which she had beene trou­bled 16. yeares. who for six­teene yeares had endured most vehement, & continuall payne in her iawes, not hauing found any remedy which could mi­tigate the same, and togeather with this, she was troubled with a loose tooth, which cau­sed her much payne when she did eate. This woman hauing seene what God had wrought in that deliuery of Ieronyma Rebaça, moued with deuo­tion; desired to haue the said subscription of the Blessed Fa­ther, which she kissed, and reuerenced; and presently in that instant, she was deliuered from her paynes, and the loose tooth also, became as fast as [Page 307]any of the rest.

7. This good woman, & her husband were so thankful, and deuout to Blessed Father Ignatius, that they deserued to receaue, another greater benefit at our Lords hand,One cu­red be­ing in danger of death by his intercession. For the day following, being the 21. of October, a sonne of theirs cal­led Iohn Pỳ, fell sick of so ter­rible, and dangerous a double tertian ague, that hauing con­fessed, and receyued, he lost his iudgment the fourth day, his toung was thicke, his eyes holow and cloudy, togeather with the other accidents and signes of death. Vpon the 19. of October, they laid the sub­scription of the Blessed Father vpon him, beseeching our [Page 308]Lord with much deuotion, & teares to graunt the sicke man his health. And at that very instant the ague was quite ta­ken away, & he recouered his iudgment and speach, and his eyes became cleare. And this being at eight of the clock at night, forthwith the day fol­lowing in the morning he rose out of his bed found and well, and the Phisitian comming at that houre to visit him (thin­king that he would be either dead, or in his last agony) he found him walking, without any signe of his ague, or for­mer sicknes.

8. By chaunce a horse ran ouer a Surgeon called Bartho­lomew Constantius, and brui­zed him so sorely, that his head [Page 309]seemed to be frozen,He reco­reth a bruised, & blind man. and he had so great a payne in his eyes that he could not take any rest eyther day, or night. He lost the sight of one of his eyes, & the other remayned so weake and tender, that he could not endure any glimpse of light. The Phisitians had giuen him ouer for incurable, and vpon Holy Wednesday in the mor­ning, the yeare 1599. he desi­red with singuler deuotion to haue the subscription of the Blessed Father. At the tyme that they brought it, and it came into the chamber where he was, before they gaue it him, that great cold in his head, and the vehement payne in his eyes ceased, & he found both in body, and spirit an ex­traordinary [Page 310]comfort. Hauing seene the meruailous effects of that subscription, he presently tooke from his head the ker­chers, and caps, which he had to defend it from the cold that he endured, and he cryed out, saying: I am now well, and sound, and without payne eyther of eyes, or head. Whereupon he commaunded the dores, and windowes of his chamber to be opened, (which before he had kept shut to keep out the light) and the day following being soūd and cheerefull, he went to the Colledge of the Society, to praise our Lord, for hauing de­liuered him by the intercession of the B. Father, and to relate what had happened vnto him

9. A woman called Co­lonia Vich,A womā recoue­reth her sight. wife to Lewes Vich, hauing endured a most vehement headach three mo­neths, and finally lost the sight of one of her eyes, the lyd therof falling downe and co­uering it, so that the Surgeons could by no meanes lift it vp againe, and thereupon gaue her ouer as incurable. They brought her the subscription vpon the fift of May, and in the very instant, that they layd it vpon her sore eye, calling vpon the name of the Blessed Father, the lyd was presently lifted vp of it selfe, and she re­couered her sight, and went to the Colledge of the Society, to giue praise to our Lord.

10. Let vs not forget Ger­many, [Page 312]where in a Towne cal­led Ebesperge,He deli­uereth a woman from danger of death in child-bearing. not far from the Citty of Monachium (in which the Dukes of Bauaria reside) a woman being in ter­rible paynes of child-bearing, and hauing continued two dayes, and two nights in la­bour, with great affliction and anxiety, not being able to be deliuered, the third day she found her self so faynt, & without strength, that she seemed more likely to dye, thē otherwise. Her Husband be­ing very much afflicted, went to a Father of the Society, who was there, crauing his aduise and help in that tribulation. The Father remembring the Miracles, which our Lo [...]d wrought in many places, by [Page 313]the intercession of B. Father Ignatius, especially with wo­men who were in Danger by child-bearing, kneeling downe, beseeched the Blessed Father with great deuotion to fauour that poore woman in such extreme necessity. And because he had no other Reli­que of the Father to send her, he tooke the rules which the same B. Father had written for the Society, with much deuo­tion, and many teares, and in­foulding, and bynding them vp in a paper, he gaue them to the womans husband, that he might lay them vpon her, as a sacred thing, willing him not to doubt, but that God would fauour her. He did so, and the woman presently recouered [Page 314]strength, & within fiue houres was deliuered of a son,He pro­cureth another happy deli­uery. strang­ly wrapped vp in a thinne skin, to the great admiratiō of the Midwife and other womē of experience, and both the sonne, and the mother lyued.

11. In Hungary in the Towne called Turroz, the yeare 1594. a woman hauing beene 3. dayes, in very terrible paynes of child-birth, and in feare both of her owne, and her childs death, with a Re­lique of the B. Father, was forthwith deliuered of a son; she remaying in perfect health, and yealding thankes vnto our Lord.

12. Let vs not passe in si­lence, what our Lord hath wrought in the Indies (though [Page 315]they be far from vs.) In the yeare 1598. in the moneth of September, a little ship, cal­led Sancta Maria de Regla, de­parted out of the hauen of the Blessed Trinity (which is in the Iland of Cuba) towards the Citty of Carthagena: in which with don Bartholomeo Lobo-Guerrero, Archbishop of the new Kingdome of Gra­nada, there went at his request and in his company, the Fa­ther Alphonsus Medranus, & Francis Figueroa of the So­ciety of Iesus, with other Priests, and Laymen. Sayling thus, and comming within sight of Iamaijca, vpon the 23. of September, they were as­sayled with such a terrible, and fearefull storme, that they all [Page 316]accounted themselues lost mē. For both the great and fore masts of the ship were broken, & their sayles torne in peeces, and the wind so furious, that they could not set vp any other, and the waues of the sea entered into the ship, with such violence, that it rather seemed to sayle vnder, then a­boue the water. The Pilot, called Domingo Rodriguez did let it run at all aduentures thinking that it was past all humane remedy, if God did not send them some from Hea­uen. The tempest hauing en­dured thus one whole day, & waxing euery houre greater, the passengers made their re­course to our Lord imploring his Diuine help. The Fathers [Page 317]of the Society calling to mynd the miracles, which our Lord did at that tyme by the inuo­cation of their Blessed Father Ignatius, commended them­selues vnto him, with great af­fect, and deuotion, and with a loud voyce aduised the Arch­bishop, and the other passen­gers to do the same, with hope to obtayne by this meanes that, which they could not procure by other. They did so all with one voyce, crying out with much feeling, and many teares, Holy Father Ignatius re­leeue vs in this our necessity. Pre­sently in that instant they sen­sibly perceiued the efficacy of the Blessed Fathers intercessiō. For the wynd being at the hi­ghest, became presently quiet, [Page 318]and calme, to the great admi­ration and ioy of all those who were in the ship, and did now see themselues aliue, where as before they esteemed them­selues but dead mē. The Arch­bishop promised, to celebrate yearely the feast of the Blessed Father Ignatius, saying his Masse in Pontificalibus, so soone as the Apostolicke Sea should canonize him: and the other passengers promised other things, euery one according to his deuotion, as appeareth by the informations made in the Citty of Santa—fè of that new Kingdome, before the same Archbishop Don Bar­tholomeo, and also in Cartha­gena by the authority of Don Iuan de Ladrada, of Saynt [Page 319]Dominicks order, Bishop of that Citty.

13. The Fathers Alphon­sus Medranus,Another miracle vpon the sea. and Francis Figueroa, with the others that went in their company, were not deliuered only by this mi­racle, and at this tyme, from the euident dangers of the Sea by the intercession of Blessed Father Ignatius. For returning in the yeare 1600. from the foresaid new Kingdome of Granada, towards Spayne, in the Gallion, named Our Lady of Arançaçu, passing out of the straites of Bahama, they endured many, and very ter­rible stormes. For the tyde with them was very strong & vehement, against which en­countred a coutrary wynd, & [Page 320]of both sides they were inuiro­ted with sands, and shallowes, and in very great danger. Fa­ther Frauncis Figueroa cast a Relique of the Blessed Father into the sea, beseeching him deuoutly to help them; which he did in such manner, that the sea was presently calme.

14. But this fauour from Heauen, and the force of the Blessed Fathers intercession ap­peared much more in another greater daunger wherein they were, neere vnto the Ilāds, cal­led Terceras. For one morning at the dawning of the day, so­dainly the wind arose so furi­ously, that it ouerturned the Galleon and the maryners and passēgers seing imminent dan­ger of death, kneeling downe, [Page 321]confessed their sinnes publik­ly with a loud voice, besee­ching our Lords mercy. The wynd brake downe the grea­test sayle, and those of the Gal­leon remembring the benefit which they bad receyued be­fore in the chānell of Bahama, by meanes of the inuocation, and Relique of Blessed Father Ignatius, cryed out with great instance to Father Francis Fi­gueroa, desyring him to cast a­gaine the same Relique into the sea, that God might be plea­sed to deliuer them the second tyme also from so euident dā ­ger by his intercession. The Father did so, and presently (ô goodnes of God, who honou­reth his seruants in this man­ner!) the ayre became calme, [Page 322]the sea quiet, the sun shining, which was before couered, & al in the ship were comforted, and moued to thankesgiuing, seeing themselues free from that feare, danger, and terror wherein they were before, as the same Fathers, and others who came in the Galleon, did testify.

15. There was a woman in India so much inflamed with filthy, & dishonest loue, that nothing seemed able to quench it.He deli­uereth an Indiā woman from tempta­tions a­gainst chastity. She had a Relique of B. Father Ignatius giuen her, & by the meanes thereof, that Diuellish inflammation ceased, which had almost con­sumed, and put her out of her witts. And in the same māner there haue beene many others [Page 323]in diuers Prouinces, & places, who commending themselues earnestly to our Lord, & cra­uing his fauour by the merits of his seruant Ignatius, haue obtayned victory of their temptations, peace, and sere­nity in their soules, health for their bodyes, case in theyr troubles, security in their dan­gers, and remedy in their ad­uersityes.

BVT though the miracles, which are here related, & many other, which I omit for [Page 324]breuity, be so great, & so cer­tayne; notwithstanding the greatest of all (in my opinion) is, that God hath chosen this Blessed Father to institute, gouerne, and extend an Order of Religion, which amongst Catholikes, Heretickes, and Infidells, hath in so short a space done so much good in the world. And this Mi­racle is so great, and so noto­rious, that although there were no other, this alone ought to be sufficiēt, to know and esteeme the sāctity which our Lord hath giuen to this venerable Father. Synce it is certayne, that when our Lord chooseth one for any great matter, he giueth him such grace and talents, as are ne­cessary [Page 325]for the conuenient ex­ecution, & accomplishment therof.

2. And I think that any wise, and vnpassionate man will iudge the same, if he con­sider the alteration, which God made, changing Ignatius from a worldly, and vayne souldiar, & making him Cap­tayn of this Sacred Warfarre, and Father of so many, and such eminent Children. He that shal think vpon the hard wayes, by which he guided him, and the perseuerance, & victory, that he gaue him: what company he ioyned to him in Paris, some being Spa­niards, and others Frenchmē, at the very tyme that Spayne and France were at cruell [Page 326]wars: and how he vnited, and bound them together with the band of perfect charity. The persecutions, & stormes, which this Vessel hath endu­red, from the tyme that our Lord launched it into the sea, and that it hath alwayes arri­ued at a secure hauen, what wynd soeuer it had, when weak men, and such as were worldly wise, made account that it would haue perished.

3. He that shall ponder with attention the frame, and forme of the Institute of this Religion, which God inspired to this B. Father, so like in the essentiall poynts to other or­ders, and so vnlike in some, which are proper to it selfe. The progresse and propaga­tion [Page 327]which the hand of Almi­ghty God hath giuen vnto it, since that in sixty yeares which are past (frō the yeare 1540. in which the Pope con­firmed it, vntil the yeare 1600. in which I write this history) our Lord hath multiplyed, & enlarged it throughout all the Kingdomes of Christēdome, and in so many, & so remote countryes of the Indians, and barbarous people, where the light of the Ghospell had not before appeared. So that in Angola, Monacongum, Mo­nomotapa, Brasil, Ethiopia, Ormuz, Goa, Malaca, Malu­cas, China, and Iaponia, and in the kingdomes of Mogor, and Pegù, with others, our Fathers are resident (to omit, [Page 328]as more known, the firme lād Perù, new Spayne, the Ilands of Manilla, or the Philip­pines:) and the Society hath more then three hundred, and fifty Colledges, and Houses, distributed into three and twenty Prouinces, and two vice-Prouinces.

4. He will also iudge the same, who shall cast his eyes vpon that which more im­porteth, to wit, the fruit which our Lord hath drawne out of the labours of this B. Father, and of his children among Catholiks, Infidells, and He­reticks. There is no cause to relate in this place, that which belongeth to Catholiks, but only to consider, & ponder it, since that we haue it before [Page 329]our eyes, and we see, & touch with our hands the care, and sollicitude, with which our Fathers imploy themselues in teaching children the Chri­stian doctrine and the youth good learning, and manners: in visiting and comforting those, who are detayned in prisons, & the sick in the ho­spitalls, and in releeuing the poore, and needy, & helping men to dye well.

5. And it cannot be de­nyed, that though the Com­mon wealth hath fallen, and beene impayred much in o­ther things: yet there hath been great reformation in many seruants of God, con­cerning preaching more pro­fitably, and more oftner, tou­ching [Page 330]prayer, and meditation of the diuine Misteryes: the vse, and frequentation of the Holy Sacraments of Confes­sion, and Communion; and in mortification, & pennāce: though al that is done be litle, if we cōsider, what we ought to do. Likewise the other or­ders of Religion haue been re­plenished with many scollers of the Society, who perseuere, and florish in them with great praise, and commendation. And these Religions them­selues, encouraged with the help and succour, which our Fathers haue afforded them, haue more discouered their holy zeale, and extended grea­ter beames of their sanctity, and learning, sustayning the [Page 331]Common wealth vpon their shoulders, & mouing vs with their exāple, to labour more, and to attend with greater vigilancy, and carefulnes, to our ministeryes & functions.

6. That which concer­neth the Infidells, is so much, that it cannot be explicated in few words, neyther is it conuenient, that we should spend many, in declaring, what innumerable soules a­mong the Gentills, the chil­dren of this Blessed Father haue illuminated with light from heauen, and brought to the knowledg of Iesus Christ, and to the sweet yoke of his holy law: And what labours they haue endured, and do en­dure to bring this to passe; & [Page 332]how many, and what great miracles God hath wrought by them, by reason that they were necessary for the plan­ting of the faith in those pla­ces. Neyther can any, who inioy the peace and quietnes, that those who were borne in these Kingdomes do enioy (Blessed be our Lord, who giueth vs this peace, & than­ked be our Pyous Princes who conserue it,) easely be­leeue, vnlesse they see it, what profit our Lord hath done, & cōtinually doth in the King­domes, and Prouinces infe­cted with Heresyes; and what battayles, and combats our Fathers haue with Hereticks without intermission.

7. But that, which they [Page 333]who haue experience of those countryes, say, and which we who haue seene it, know, is that with the exemplar life of our Fathers, with the Catho­like & sound doctrine taught in Scholes, preached in Pul­pits, published in printed bookes, examined and tryed in disputations with Heretiks themselues, and the institutiō of the youth (which in these prouinces only was in former yeares to the nūber of aboue thirty thousand schollars, and now is far greater) the holy Catholicke faith which see­med to be decayed and fallen in the Northern Prouinces, is reuiued, & hath taken head, & recouered strēgth, to resist, cōuince, conquer, & triumph [Page 334]ouer lyes, and falsehood. And an innumerable number of those which wauered, haue been confirmed in the obe­dience of the Romā Church: and many Heretiks, who had forsaken it, haue returned to it agayn; and those who con­tinue obstinate, and blynd for theyr interest, and ambi­tion, haue notwithstanding lost their former fury; and feare those of the Society (whome they call Iesuites) and confesse playnly, that they are their vtter enemyes, and as such, they abhorre; calumniate, and persecute them.

8. There haue been many Colledges, & Seminaryes e­rected for the education of [Page 335]poore schollers, especially of those, who are banished, and suffer persecution for theyr faith: and there lyue in them many Priests, and Religious men of all orders, vnder the disciplyne, and gouerment of the Society, who hauing en­ded theyr studyes, returne to theyr Churches, and Mona­steryes, and are profitable for theyr reformation, and to pro­uoke others by their examples. And by this meanes, and by reason, that many from the Scholes of the Society haue entered into Religion, the Clergy, and the Orders of Re­ligious themselues (which in those parts were much de­cayed) haue beene reformed, and haue recouered theyr an­cient [Page 336]beauty, and splendour.

9. In like manner, whole Villages, Townes, Cittyes, and Prouinces haue byn con­serued in the Catholicke faith: & with Cōgregations, Houses of Conuictors, Sermons, vse and frequentation of the holy Sacraments, fasting, pennan­ces, and workes of mercy, they haue reuiued their faith, and shewed by their actions, that they are children of the Catholike Church. And that this fruit may be more dura­ble and lasting, and more ac­ceptable and pleasing to our Lord: the sonnes of Ignatius water these plants with their bloud, dying for the Catholik faith, and testifying by theyr death, that it is the truth; since [Page 337]that they giue their life in de­fence therof For besides aboue 25. of the Society, which in both the Indies haue sealed the preaching of the Ghospel with their bloud: more then 60. o­thers haue dyed by the hands of Heretiks.

10. For because the Here­ticks abhorre so much those of this religion, and thinke that by bereauing them of their liues, they shall find lesse hin­derance in their mischiefe; it is a very ordinary thing, to persecute, apprehend, tor­ment, and vse them like Tray­tors, as may be seene daily, and experience it selfe hath made it manifest. The which also is a great argument, that it is the worke of God, and that he [Page 338]who founded it, was chosen by him, especially with his owne and his childrens la­bours, to amplify and enlarge the glory of the same Lord who did chuse him, and to il­lustrate his holy Catholike Church.

11. And this is (as I haue said) the greatest, of all the mi­racles of this Blessed Father, and the Miracle of Miracles, in which are contayned so ma­ny, and so notable Miracles, as the wonderfull things are, which our Lord hath wrought by him, and his children. Be he therfore Blessed, and glori­fyed, as the Author, and wor­ker of all that is good: since that (as the Apostle saith) Neither he who planteth, is any­thing, [Page 339]nor he who watereth: but God who maketh that to encrease and fructify, which is planted and watered: and to whom, as to the roote thereof, all the beauty and fruit of the tree is due.

VVE haue enlarged our selues much, in this life of our Blessed Father Ignatius; but for that we ha­uing knowne, and conuersed so much with him, it hath giuen vs leaue to exceed our [Page 340]ordinary course, & indeed we know certainly that all which hath byn said to be too litle in respect of that which might be said. And because as yet he is not a Canonized Saint, nor proposed to the whole Church by the holy Apostolick Sea to be inuocated, and reuerenced, as the others are, whose lyues we haue written: it hath bin necessary to relate some more particuler [...]ngs, & miracles, which in the liues of other Saints might be for breuity well omitted. Though it be certayne, that we pretermit many other, esteeming these sufficient for that which we pretend in writing this life: that is, to glorify our Lord, who hath made him a Saint, [Page 341]to discouer his vertues, for our example: and that they who are ignorant of them, may come to know them, and conceiue deuotion to­wards this holy Father.

2. And for this cause be­fore I make an end, I will add, that as this Blessed Father was a Saynt in his life, so he was knowne, esteemed, and re­uerenced for a Saynt by all those, who treated with him, and much more by them, who were more familiarly acquain­ted with him, because they did see more neerely his admirable vertues, and touched, as it were, with their hand, the great gifts, and graces which God had endued him withall.

3. Father Frauncis Xauier [Page 342]an Apostolicall man, and of such rare sanctity, by whom God wrought so many, and great miracles, who illustrated innumerable Gentils, bare so great deuotion, and reuerence to Father Ignatius, that he did carry a subscription of his in his bosome, as a firme buckler against all dangers. And from the remote Countryes of In­dia, he wrote letters vnto him, vpon his knees.

4. Father Peter Faber, who was the first that ioyned with him, in the erection of the Society, an admirable man, and of maruelous diuine illu­strations; tooke Father Igna­tius for his patterne, and ex­ample of Holynes, and of all vertue.

5. Father Iames Laynes, the second Generall of the So­ciety, and a man so much e­steemed in the world, for his great learning and religion, told me, that because God was so much pleased, with the soule of his Seruant Ignatius, he did so much good to the Society, and so greatly fauou­red the children therof.

6. Father Frauncis Borgia, the third Generall of the So­ciety, a man so well knowne to the world, by reason of his Nobility, and much more of his Sanctity, went to Rome the yeare 1550. principally to see, know, and conuerse with Blessed Father Ignatius And when he said his first Masse, (which was in the [Page 344]house of Loyola) he kissed the floore of the Chamber where the Father was borne, by reason of the great deuo­tion, which he bare vnto him, as vnto so holy a man. And this was the opinion of all others who treated fami­liarly with him. But not on­ly those who liued with him, had this estimation of his san­ctity, but likewise those a­broad had the same conceit and respect of him in like manner.

7. Pope Paul the third, of blessed Memory, who was the first that confirmed the Society, did very many im­portant things by the coun­sayle of this Blessed Father; and among others, one was [Page 345]to institute in Rome the su­preme Counsell of the Inqui­sition, and to appoynt foure most graue Cardinalls to haue care of matters belonging to the Catholick faith, in that holy Tribunall.

8. Pope Iulius the third would not make Father Peter Canisius Bishop of Vienna, as the King of the Romans Don Ferdinand requested ve­ry earnestly, because B. Fa­ther Ignatius would not giue his consent therto: so great was the respect, which the Pope bare vnto him.

9. Pope Marcellus the second, who succeeded to Iu­lius the third, said: That in matters of the Society, the authority of Father Ignatius [Page 346]alone was of more weight with him, then all the rea­sons, which could be allead­ged to the contrary.

10. Pope Paul the fourth, (in the tyme of whose Pope­dome the Blessed Father de­parted,) honoured him so much, that when he spake with him, he bad him rise vp, and couer his head.

11. Pope Gregory the 13. in the Bulls which be graun­ted the yeare of our Lord 1582. and 1583. in confirmation and defence, of the Institute of the Society, expresly saith, That the holy Ghost inspired Ignatius to institute the Socie­ty, and to prescribe the forme, which the Iustitute thereof contayneth. He saith more, [Page 347]That all the Christian Com­mon wealth is eased, and re­freshed by the children of the Society.

12. And he, and his Pre­decessors Pius 1111. and Pius v. do so exceedingly, and with such exaggeration, praise and extoll the ministeryes, and functions of the Society, and the fruite which God hath drawne, and daily dra­weth out of them, that for modesty I will not relate them in this place: but all this fruit proceeded (as from the roote thereof,) from Ignatius, by the assistance of our Lords grace.

13. The King of the Ro­mans (whom we named be­fore) Don Ferdinando, be­sides [Page 348]the Colledges of the So­ciety which he founded, and his great fauour towards vs in respect of B. Father Ignatius, being much inclyned to make Father Claudius Iayus (one of the first Fathers) Bishop of Trieste, he did it not, vnder­standing that Father Igna­tius was of a contrary opini­on, and did not like it.

14. Don Iohn the third, King of Portugall, by reason of the great deuotion which he bare to this Blessed Father, commaunded Father Lewis Gonzales de Camera, when he went from Portugall to Rome, in the yeare 1553. to be attentiue, and consider all the actions of Father Ignatius, and write them in particuler [Page 349]to him. Which the Father did, and wrote to the King, that concerning the matter, which he had commended vnto him, he was not so much in­flamed in the loue of God, by any spirituall readinge, or prayer, as by the attention, which he vsed in behoulding Father Ignatius.

15. The Cardinall Don Gaspar de Quiroga, Archbi­shop of Toledo, and Generall Inquisitor in the Kingdomes of Spayne, who in Rome had byn the said Fathers great friend, testifyeth of him, that he was a most perfect man, truly humble, meeke, patient a despiser of the world, and inflamed with the zeale of Gods glory, and the good of [Page 350]soules: and that he was neuer troubled, nor changed counte­nance, for any variety of pros­perity, or aduersity.

16. Cardinall Gabriel Paleotto, Bishop of Bono­nia, calleth him, The light of the Church: and saith, That God moued him to in­stitute the Society, for the grea­ter strengthening, and for­tifying, of Ecclesiasticall dis­cipilne.

17. The Duke of Bauaria, Albertus, was very much a­dicted to Blessed Father Igna­tius, and wrote vnto him many tymes, and reuerenced him as a Saint, and for his res­pect imbraced, and fauoured his children, as his Successors haue done euer since; who [Page 351]haue inherited no lesse the Piety of theyr Auncestors, then the Greatnes of their House.

18. The President of Ca­stilla, Iohn Vega, being Em­bassadour for the Emperour Charles the fifth, in Rome; held very great friendship with the Father; and in a letter which he wrote to the So­ciety, at the tyme of his dis­cease, he called him Blessed, and Holy Captaine, and wor­thy to haue his banner placed in Heauen, with those of S. Dominick, and S. Francis.

19. Maister Iohn of A­uila, an Apostolicall Prea­cher, (whose life was written by Father Lewis of Granada, deseruing so excellent a Re­corder) [Page 352]said of his humility, That Blessed Father Ignatius was a Giant, and he in his comparison but a dwarfe.

20. The same Father Lewis of Granada, speaking of the Blessed Father, saith: That he meruailed at the life, heroyical, and most admirable vertues of that new Mirrour of Vertue, & Prudence, which God had sent vnto the world in our tymes, for the saluation of infinite soules. So are his wordes.

21. And in this manner do many other very wise, and graue men think, and speak. And many authors of Diuers nations, who haue written since the Society be­gan, do speak of him as of an [Page 353]Holy man:Surius in commēt. return in orbegest. an. 1540. Molanus in addit­ad Vsu­ard. die 31. Iuly. Gene­brard in chro. an. 1521. S [...]der. in hist. Schis. Aug lic. an: 1540. Bozius de signis Eccl. lib. 5. cap. 3. sig. 11. & [...]ib. 7. c. 1. sig. 25. & l. 9. c. 12. sig. 37. Morig. in hist. de Origine relig. c. 77. Angelus in tract. de prae­pos. ad commun. p. 121. Mambri. in hist. l. 3. Ygles. c. 2. part. hist. Pon. tific. lib. 6. in vita Pauli 3. Villeg. tom. 1. in vita Ign. Garibay hist. His­pan. l. 30. cap. 5. Paiua l. 1. orthod. instit. As Laurence Surius a Germane by Nation, who briefly writeth his life. And Iohn Molanus of Flaun­ders, who calleth him, Most Blessed. And Genebrard a French-man, who saith, That God sent him against Lu­ther. And Doctour Nicolas Saunders, an Englishman, who calleth him, A man of God, and moued by our Lord to do the worke, which he performed. Thomas Bozius nameth him, A most famous man for the sāctity of his life. Paulus Morigia, of the Order of the Iesuati, and Angelus del Paz, of S. Francis Or­der, and Mambrinus Rosa, all foure Italian Authors, write, and commend the life [Page 354]of the Blessed Father. And Gonzales de Yglesças, and Maister Alphonsus of Vil­legas, and Stephen of Gari­bay, Spanish Historiogra­phers of our tyme, write the same of him, and call him, Blessed, Happy, and Saynt. And Doctor Iames of Paiua, a Portugese (who as a Doctor of Diuinity for his King, was present in the Councell of Trent) nameth him an Illustri­ous example of Sanctity, An ad­mirable man, and giuen to the world for a particuler benefit from heauen.

22. And if we turne our eyes to the Kings, and Prin­ces, who accounting him a Saynt, haue beseeched our most holy Father Pope Cle­ment [Page 355]the eight, that this day sitteth into the chayre of S. Peter, to declare him to be so, and to put him into the Cata­logue of Saynts; we shall find, that the greatest, and most mighty Princes of Christen­dome, haue desired, and be­seeched it with great instance. For the Emperour Rodulphus the second of his name, and the Empresse Don̄a Maria of Austria his mother, and the Catholick King Philip the se­cond of glorious memory, and King Philip the 3. his Sonne, who raigneth at this day, to­geather with Queene Mar­garet, and Duke William of Bauaria, the Archdutchesse Don̄a Maria his sister, and others, haue written letters to [Page 356]his Holynesse, in which they call him Blessed, and Holy Fa­ther, and from whose most Holy, and Religious life, as from their fountayne, the current of many gifts, and graces hath reioyced the Citty of God.

23. And not only these, and other great Princes haue shewed their piety and deuo­tion, which they beare to the Father, making intercession for his Canonization; but also whole Kingdomes haue done the same: as that of Castilla in their Parlament; that of Ara­gon, that of Valentia, and the Princedome of Catalun̄a, with their Viceroyes, and Go­uernours; the holy Churches of Toledo, Ciuill, Granada, [Page 357]and Corduba; the Cittyes of Saragoza, Valencia, and Bar­celona, and the Prouince of Guipuzcoa (where the Father was borne) and many other Bishops, Dukes, and Lords.

24. And this is the com­mon consent, and opinion of Christian, wise, and vnpas­sionate men of all Nations: only the Hereticks thinke, and speake euill of this Blessed Fa­ther, and write bookes against his life, and against his Reli­gion; as a great Caluinist he­reticke hath done, named Sy­mon Lithus Missenus, who wrote fiue bookes against the other fiue of his life, which are in print; which is no lesse testimony of his Sanctity, then the praise, which so ma­ny, [Page 358]and so graue men, that haue byn heere recited, do giue him. For as it is a great praise, to be praised by the good: so it is no lesse, to be dispraised by the bad, as S. Hierome saith, writing to S. Augustine in these words. The Catholickes reuerence, and admire you, as the repayrer, and restorer of the ancient faith, and that which is a signe of greater glory, all Hereticks hate, and reuile you: and they persecute, me with the same malice, killing in desire those, whom they can­not bereaue of their life with the sword.