ABOVT the end of the year 1633. my Lord the Count of Mount Royal, An. Dom. 1634 then viceroy of Naples, hauing deſigned to celebrate, in his own Palace, a magnificent Solemnity, in honor of our Bleſſed Lady, vpon the Sunday within the Octaue of her Immaculate Conception; he ordained amongſt other preparations, that four Altars ſhould be erected, at the four corners of the Court of his Palace; & to the end that nothing ſhould be wanting at them, he aſſigned the care of adorning of them, to four of the chief Nobility of the City. One of which hauing the relation, both of a Kinſman, and alſo of a familiar freind, to R. Father Marcellus Maſtrilli, he intreated the ſaid Father to aſſiſt him, in the erection of the Altar committed to his charge; who moſt willingly yeelded to his requeſt; ſuch was his deſire to concurr, in any manner, to the aduancement of the honor, of the euer Bleſſed Virgin; and all things ſucceeded very happily. Only at night, the ſolemnity being now ouer, as they were taking down the ornaments of the Altar, Father Marcellus from below, giuing directions, to one that was looſning the hangings aboue, by I know not what chance, he aboue let fall a hammer, of about two pound weight, from a loft thirty palms high, vpon the head of the Father, which ſo wounded him in the right temple, that he fell down half dead vpon the ground. Being perceiued to be dangerouſly wounded he was immediately carryed home, and the wound inſtantly ſearched, but more exactly the day following, by the ſurgeons, who iudged him to be in euident danger of his life. For beſides the grieuouſnes of the wound, vpon the fourth day, he was ſeized vpon by a violent feauer, accompanied with a defluxion vpon his right eye, & certain other diſtempers, for the moſt part, mortal. In ſuch ſort, that after diuers conſults, and applications of moſt ſoueraign remidies, but all in vain, vpon the one and twentith day of his diſtemper, which was looked vpon as a critical day, both the Phyſitians and ſurgeons, gaue him ouer for a dead man. For that all vpon the ſudden, vpon the beginning of this day, which was the firſt day of the New year, he began to faint, and to feel certain grieuous pains in his ſtomack, and was not able to eat any thing, no nor euen to open his mouth, but a very litle, to receiue any nourriture, for that the nerues of his jaws and muſcles, were become vnſeruiceable. Other ſignes of preſent death did alſo diſcouer themſelues. Wherefore many Phyſitians of cheif account, profeſſed openly, again and again, which afterwards alſo they atteſted vpon oath, that Marcellus was not curable by any human power. So that his friends deſired of them, that if they could not ſaue his life, that at leaſt they would prolong it for ſome hours, by thruſting ſome litle bits of meat in to his mouth by force. But his mouth was ſhut ſo cloſe, as that the ſurgeon vpon the ſecond of Ianuary, very hardly, by litle and litle, opened it with two Spoons; and yet notwithſtanding, nether art nor force, nor counſel or command of ſuperiors, was able to make the deſpaired patient, to ſwallow down, euen ſom few drops of liquid ſuſtenance, much leſs to eat any thing, which was ſolid. Beſides what has been ſaid, ſuch a vehement cold and chilneſs ſeized vpon his whole body, as they were not able to expell or mitigate it, by any ſomentations, nor euen by the application of fire it ſelf. Wherefore Marcellus, giuen ouer by the Doctors, and deſpaired of by all human art, exſpects death euery hour.

In the time of this his ſicknes, he was often viſited by one, who appeared vnto him in a white ſoldiers-coat, with a croſs vpon his breaſt; who often asked him, whether he had rather dy, or liue? whether there were any thing, he deſired he ſhould ask for him of heauen? whether he deſired a wax-taper, or a Pilgrims ſtaff, both which he brought in his hand? Marcellus alwaies anſwered, he was indifferent to any thing, might he but more ſincerely ſerue the Diuine Majeſty. Vpon another day, F. Marcellus took the freedom, to ask the warrior, whether death, or a journey, [for thoſe were the things, which were ſignified by the Taper & Pilgrims ſtaff] were decreed for him in heauen? The warrior anſwered him, he would conſult the Diuine Majeſty, and in due time, and that very ſhortly, let him know; but at preſent, he ſaid it was not lawfull for him, to reueal thoſe ſecrets.

Marcellus being now, as was ſaid, deſpaired of, the ſame warrior appeared to him again, but attended by a troop of very many others: concerning whom, the Sick perſon asking, who they were, and particularly, whether they were not Iaponian Martyrs, nothing more was at preſent anſwered him, but that they were his friends, and thoſe who would earneſtly cōmend him to almighty God. The ſame together with the ſame attendants, appeared to him immediately before the three daies, in which he was prodigiouſly cured; and Marcellus demanding, whether perhaps they were not ſouls, that were in Purgatory? the warrior anſwered him again, that they were his dear frinds, and thoſe which were very ſolicitous for all his affairs; but with all told him, that the ſouls in Purgatory were not a litle ſorry for his ſicknes, by reaſon whereof, they wanted his help and ſuffrages. Wherefore, replied the Father, methinks it were fitting, I ſhould procure ſome Maſſes and Praiers, to be ſaid for theyr relief by others. By all meās, ſubjoyned the warrior, it were very good to do ſo, nor will they be wanting to return your Charity, and ſo diſappeared. And F. Marcellus procured, many holy ſacrifices and praiers, of his friends, for the faithful departed. Who this was, which appeared in a ſoldiers habit, is not known, but out of a letter of F. Marcellus, to his freind M. Antony Tellez, in which, he wiſhes that his beloued Father, S. Francis Xauerius, would vouchſafe, alſo to viſit him, in a white garment, with a Croſs vpon his breaſt, with a taper and pilgrims ſtaff in his hands, attended by his Royal Train, according to his wonted manner. And indeed S. Xauerius at this time, often and familarly appeard vnto him, ſomtimes by night, otherwhiles by day, now as he was a praying, and then as he was conuerſing with others, ſomtimes ſitting by his bed-ſide comforting of him, bidding him be of good courage, and in fine filling his ſoul with a heauenly ſweetnes.

But now when there was no expectation of any thing but death, S. Francis Xauerius ſignified to a noble matron, that Marcellus would not dy of that ſicknes, but was deſtind to do great things and charged her, immediately to acquaint her Confeſſarius hereof, that he might afterwards be a witnes of the prediction.

F. Marcellus prepares himſelf for death, & rather to ſatisfy his deuotion, then that he had any hopes or deſire of life, with leaue of ſuperiors, makes a vow of going into the Indies for the help of ſouls, in caſe he ſhould recouer; for now he deſired nothing of almighty God, but either Death, or the Indies. After this, towards night, was adminiſtred him the Sacrament of Extreme Vnction: the diuine Viaticum of the Holy Euchariſt, he was not able to receiue, by reaſon of the hard and cloſe compreſſion of his jaws. Wherefore he deſired, a picture of his patron S. Francis Xaue • ius, ſhould be brought into his chamber, and immediately one was brought out of the next room, which repreſented the Saint in the habit of a pilgrim. The ſick perſon earneſtly beſought him, euer and anon applying his holy Relicks to his throat, that he would not permit him to depart out of this life, without receiuing the Diuine Sacrament In the morning, aſſured that his praiers were heard, he called for the holy Euchariſt, which he ſwallowed down without any difficulty. This day, which was the third of the New year, he ſpent betwixt life and death. Notwithſtanding, that very night, he told two Fathers, he muſt ſay Maſs the next day, and they asking him where, whether perhaps in heauen, for they imagind him to be out of himſelf, he anſwered, where he knew not, but that he ſhould celebrate the next day, he affirmed again, & with ſuch confidence, as if it had been reueald to him from heauen. Nay, that very night, be treated with F. Ʋincent Carrafa, then Rector of the College, and afterwards General of the whole Society, concerning his going into the Indies, as if he had been certain of it.

And now it was about eight a clock at night, when Marcellus himſelf thought that he had not a quarter of an hour to liue, and all things were ready for his funerals. Many of his brethren of the Society were about him, part of thē praying, others by pious ſpeeches comforting of him, as the time required. Amongſt others, there ſat by his bed ſide, on his right hand, F. Iulius Ceſar Recupitus, to whom with a ſmall and weak voice, he ſpake in this manner. I ſeem to my ſelf to be in a certain valley, and to ſee a litle ray of light a great way off. And a while after he ſpoke again, and ſaid that he ſaw as it were a globe or ball deſcending from heauen, and in it S. Francis Xauerius in a moſt reſplendent glory, and with ſo pleaſant and amiable an aſpect, as that in a moment he had driuen away all grief from his heart, and infuſed into his ſoul, ſuch, and ſo laſting a ſweetnes, as he could not though he neuer ſo much deſired it, as he afterwards teſtified, excite in himſelf, any ſenſe of grief and ſorrow; which he moſt earneſtly endeauored to do, when all alone he was carried in the ſame coach with the corps of his dead mother, of which we ſhall ſpeak afterwards, inſomuch, that the memory of S. Xauerius his gracious and ſweet countenance recurring, in ſtead of grief & tears, he was compelled againſt his will to laugh. F. Recupitus interpreting thoſe his words, as if he had receiued ſome ſpiritual conſolation in his ſoul, endeauored to excite him to a firm hope of eternal happines. Then F. Marcellus ſayd ſome body calld him by his name, but with a low voice: Marcellus, Marcellus; & admiring at it, exclamed; Alas! I do not hear well, and ſtretching out his hand, gaue a ſigne to thoſe which were preſent to be ſilent. Then ſhutting his eyes, he remained quiet as it were muſing or harkning for a litle ſpace, vntil being calld again, he cried out; Hinc, Hinc vocor, I am called hence, I am called hence. And inſtantly he that but euen now was not able to ſtirr himſelf, turnd his body and face to that ſide of the bed whence the voice came. Thoſe which were about him, aſtoniſhed hereat, fix their eies more ſtedfaſtly vpon him, and they hear him ſpeak with a low voice, and giue anſwers as if he were diſcourſing with ſome body, but can hear no body ſpeak to him. They interrupt him calling vpon him, but he takes no notice of what they ſay; inſomuch, that of thoſe which were preſent, ſome thought he was viſited by ſome body from heauen, others that out of himſelf he talked idly. F. Marius Fontanoroſa prefect of the Infirmary, that he might better hear and ſee, what Marcellus ſaid and did, put himſelf betwixt his bed and the wall. The brother who had care of the ſick following him, hindered by an inuiſible power, was not permitted to go on by S. Xauerius who ſtood in his way. Father Marius vnderſtood all that F. Marcellus ſaid, clearly and diſtinctly. F. Marcellus hauing turnd himſelf towards the picture, of S Francis Xauerius in the habit of a Pilgrim, ſeeming to himſelf to be wholly abſtracted out of the ſight of the chamber where he was and all things els, he ſaw S. Xauerius ſtanding betwixt himſelf and the picture, in his full proportion, and in habit very like the manner of his repreſentation in the ſaid picture, his countenance gloriouſly reſplendent, and far ſurpaſſing all human features in grace and • miablenes. To him, S. Xauerius with a pleaſant countenance, Thus. Marcellus, what do we do? Had you rather dy or go into the Indies? Marcellus made anſwer, That liked him beſt, which was moſt pleaſing to Almighty God. The Saint goes on. Do you remember, that yesterday in the preſence of your Prouincial you made a vow to go into the Indies, in caſe you recouerd? I do temember it, anſwerd Marcellus. Go to then, ſaid S. Xauerius; ſay after me: and immediately the Saint recited the Formula of the Vows made by all of the Society of JESƲS in the end of their Nouiſhip, interpoſing certain clauſes, which are noted in a different caracter: all which words as they were repeated by Marcellus, were heard by F. Marius; nay, F. Marcellus not hearing perfectly ſome of the words recited by S. Xauerius, the Saint ſmiling repeated them again. The words by which S. Xauerius, incited F. Marcellus to deuote himſelf to Almighty God, were theſe following.

Almighty and euerlaſting God, I Marcellus Mastrilli, though euery way moſt vnworthy of thy diuine ſight, yet cōfiding in thy goodnes and infinite mercy, and moued with a deſire to ſerue thee, do vow before the moſt ſacred Virgin Mary, and thee Holy Father Francis Xauerius, & the whole court of heauen, to thy Diuine Majeſty, Pouerty, Chaſtity, & Perpetual obedience in the Society of JESƲS; and eſpecialy the Apostolical miſſion of the Indies, which I alſo vowed yersterday before my Father Prouincial: & I promiſe to enter into the ſame Society, with intention to ſpend my whole life in it, vnderſtanding all according to the conſtitutions of the ſame Society, and the Decrees made by Holy Father Francis Xauerius concerning the Indian expedition. Wherefore I humbly beſeech thee of thy immens bounty & clemency, by the blood of JESƲS CHRIST, & merits of holy Father Francis Xauerius, that thou wouldſt be pleaſed to admit as an odor of ſweetnes this holocauſt, and vow made by me though most vnworthy; & as thou haſt giuen me to deſire, offer, and • ow this, ſo thou wouldſt alſo giue me abundant grace to fulfill it, and to • hed my blood for thy loue.

This being don, the Holy Father told him he was cured; & commanded him in thanks giuing for the fauor receiued, to kiſs the wounds of Chriſt crucified, whom he held in his hands. Which he hauing deuoutly, and affectuouſly don; the Saint asked him if he had any of his Relicks. Haue you my Relicks? Marcellus anſwering that he had, and taking them from vnder his pillow where they lay, S. Xauerius ſubioyned; Let them be dear to you. Haue you not alſo Relicks of the Holy Croſs? Marcellus anſwering that he had. Go to then, ſaid the Saint, apply them to the part affected. Marcellus inſtantly applied them to his temple which was wounded. But S. Xauerius making a ſigne with his head, that that was not the place, changing his ſtaff out of his right hand into his left, • ad laying his hand vpon the hinder part of • is head, he ſignified that there lay the force of his diſtemper, and to that the Reliquary was to be applied, which the ſick man hauing don, the Saint forthwith, bad him repeat after him, what he ſhould ſay. Which was as follows. All hail wood of the croſs; All hail moſt pre • ious croſs; I dedicate my ſelf wholly to thee for euer: And I humbly beſeech thee, that thou wouldſt wouchſafe to graunt me, though moſt vnworthy, the grace and fauor to ſhed my blood for thee, which the Apoſtle of the Indies did not deſerue to obtain after all his labors. And a litle after.

I renounce my parents, family, friends, Italy, and whatſoeuer may retard my miſſion into the Indies: and wholly conſecrate my ſelf to the ſauing of ſouls in India, in the preſence of Holy Father Francis Xauerius, my, my Father, Which two laſt words, Marcellus added of himſelf; and the Saint ſmiling approued of them, and pleaſantly ſubjoynd: Be of good courage, and be merry for the future; and repeat theſe acts euery day: and ſo vaniſhed, Marcellus his ſicknes vaniſhing with him. For their diſcours being ended Marcellus was ſound and whole, and abſolutely reſtored to perfect health, without feuer, without palſy, without defluxions, without wound, without faintnes, weaknes, palenes, meagernes, yea ſound, whole, ſtrong luſty. Then with a cheerful countenance to the prefect of the Infirmary, thus: Dear Father I am hungry, giue me ſome thing to eat. Whilſt meat was prouided, he deſired thoſe which were preſent, to recite alowd the ſolem • praier of S. Francis Xauerius, and would hau • this verſiele, Ora pro nobis Sancte Franciſce Xaueri, S. Francis Xauerius pray for vs, repeate • thrice, and he anſwered, Ʋt dignus efficiar pr • miſſionibus tuis, That I may be made worthy of th • promiſes. This being done and meat brought thoſe about him, were in the beginning at • ſtand, what they ſhould beſt do: and wen • about to cut his meat into litle bitts, tha • he might more eaſily get it down. But he wit • a cheerful countenance ſmiled at theyr vai • fear, and ſitting vpright in his bed, wit • out any thing at his back, fell vpon ſome o • the more ſolid meat: finally he profeſſed tha • by the help of S. Francis Xauerius he was perfectly well, and ſo ſtrong that he was able to to riſe out of bed, and that the next day he would celebrate Holy Maſs as ſoon as the morning would permit, wherfore thoſe which were preſent, aſſured of his recouery, began to cry out, a miracle, a miracle, a prodigious miracle. The noiſe of it was ſoon ſpread all ouer the College, and the whole cōmunity inſtantly was gatherd together, to congratulate Marcellus his happy recouery: & vpon theyr knee • before the picture of S. Francis Xauerius, his reſtorer to ſound and perfect health, they recited the Te Deum laudamus, together with Marcellus, who by this time was riſen out of bed, and had put on his clothes, after he had repaired his decayed forces by eating and drinking with a very good ſtomack, it being now four daies ſince he had taken any thing. After •• is he took off the clothes and plaiſters from about his wound, which was ſo perfectly cured, that there remained no ſcar, or mark of it nay the very haires, which had been ſhaued off for the cōmodious applying of ſalues, were grown again. The next day, which was the fourth of Ianuary, he ſaid Maſs in the Church, at the Altar of S. Francis Xauerius. And, which is not a litle to be admired, inſtead of being enfeebled by his paſt pains & diſtempers, he had ſufficient force, that very night, to ſet down in writing this prodigious miracle, with all the particulars of it, and to recount it, all the next day, in a maner without any intermiſſion, to diuers perſons; and aboue all was able to aſſiſt fiue whole hours at a Iuridical enquiry, which was made in the euening, by the Auditor of his Eminency the Cardinal Archbiſhop of Naples. Moreouer, from this day forward, ſtrong and luſty, he exerciſed the functions of the Society. And a litle after for eight days together, night and day, without euer putting off his clothes, he attended his dying mother, vntill he had happily cloſed her eies: then more free & expedite for his Apoſtolical trauels into the Indies.

Now if any one deſire to know what became of this happy Father, raiſed in a maner from death to life by S. Francis Xauerius; Going into the Indies, according to his holy vow, there to propagate the Ghoſpel of Chriſt, he firſt gaue ſignal teſtimonys of his Heroical vertues at Goa; and finally in Iapony, in the year 1637. according to the preſignification of S. Xauerius vnto him, he died for Chriſt at Nanga • ach • hauing his head cut off with a cimeter vpō th • 17 of October, after he had with an incredibl • conſtancy endured the cruel torments of water, and the pit, which thoſe Barbarians are won • to exerciſe vpon Chriſtians. Ex R. P. Philip. Alegam. Mort. Illust.

I add▪ out of the R. Fathers of the Society of IESVS at Mechlin in their collectio • of certain miraculous fauors obtained by the Inuocation of S. Francis Xauerius at his Relick • there, for the direction of the clients of thi • Great Saint in their Deuotions to him; that the Saint himſelf in an apparition, teſtified to R. F. Marcellus Mastrilly; that nothing wa • more grateful to him, nothing more powerful to obtain his aſſiſtance, then the Deuotion of a Nouena or nine dayes before his Canonization, that is, from the fourth of March to the twelfth, which was the day vpon which he was canonized for a Saint by his Holines Gregory the XIII. This Deuotion, at F. Mastril • is perſwaſion, was much in vogue in Italy, & many haue found great comfort by it, particularly in the year 1658. Alexander Philipuccius of the Society of JESƲS, who ſuddenly recouered of a dangerous ſicknes vpon the laſt day of a like Nouena. So They. And no wonder, that Chriſt our Lord ſhould at that time giue ſpeciall power to his Saints, to beſtow ſingular fauors vpon their Clients, when by his Vicar vpon earth, he propoſes them as ſpecial Patrons, to the Publick veneration of his Church.

RObertus De Haynin by the grace of God, and of the Sea Apostolick An. Dom. 1660. Bishop of Bruges and hereditary Chancellor of Flanders; To all thoſe who ſhall ſee, read, or hear read this preſent Approbation, Greeting in our Lord.

The great God, who is worthy of all praiſe in his Saints, is moſt of all to be honored in thoſe, by whom vpon earth he works wonderful miracles, clear demonſtrations of their ſanctity, and an atteſtation of their ſupereminent prerogatiues in heauen. One of which is the moſt Holy Apoſtle of India and Iapony, Prieſt of the Society of JESƲS, and vnwearied promulger of that holy Name, S. Franci • Xauerius, a moſt true, yea a continual Thaumaturg of this our age. Whom, beſides the remoteſt Indies, Italy highly cōmends, Spayn honores, Germany praiſes, Bohemia prayes to, and ſerues, France extolls, the whole Netherlands experiment as ſuch; and of late Flanders one of the prime Prouinces of the Netherlands, and Bruges one of her faireſt towns, and in the ſame town Mary Pulynck daughter to Henry Pulyuck and Mary Brouckmans his wife, very honorable Burgers of Bruges, & wife to Leo • ard Nariſſien, has actually experienc'd the ſame: who, by a particular, and truly wonderful fauor, as ſhe was calling vpon this Saint, was by God almighty miraculouſly and ſuddenly cured of a grieuous infirmity, ſo that ſhe ſeems to haue been born to encreaſe the glory of S. Xauerius. As ſhe was 21. years old [ſhe is now eight and thirty] and in the winter-time was going along the ſtreets, an vntoward boy hit her with a hard-frozen ſnow-ball vpō her right breaſt, a very tender part in women, ſo that through the greatnes of the pain ſhe was forced to go to bed, and began to be very ill vpon it. But the Doctors and ſurgeons being ſtrait called to her, the pain was a litle and for a ſhort time diminiſhed, but the euil was not expelled. For the blow of the ſnow-ball entring further then they imagined, breeding corruption, and taking deeper and deeper rooting; many years in the winter-time, eſpecially when the air was enclined to ſnow, ſhe ſuffered a new intolerable pain, mixt with pricking and cold, in ſuch ſort that the miſerable woman ſometimes got one infirmity, other whiles another, and paſſed ouer day and night without ſleeping or reſting. Yea the ſore breaſt ſwelling ſomtimes as bigg as two, became vnfit to be ſuckt by the two children, which ſhe bare during this euil, ſeing that the ſame breaſt gaue ſomtimes abundance of filthy matter inſtead of milk. Nay at laſt, as the end will ſhew, it came to a true & putrifying cancker, an euil moſt an end incurable. For the expelling whereof diuers Doctors of Phyſick wer • called together to a conſult. Nor content her • with, they ſought the aduice of diuers Doctors more remote, and called them on purpoſe to her; by whoſe counſel hauing vſed diuer • plaiſters, eſpecially to lenify & ſoften it, th • pain and alſo the aboue mentioned ſwelling as to any thing that was to be ſeen without, wholly vaniſhed. The euil notwithſtanding in very deed ſpreading it ſelf within, & tormenting the infirm perſon with ſharp prickings & and ſhootings, there broke forth after ſome months another ſwelling, accompanied with many and greiuous pains, that for the ſpace of ſix weeks it wholly took away her ſleep, & conſequently almoſt her reaſon, and in like manner all hope from Doctros of being able to cure her: ſeing that, as they ſaid, the cancker was now faſt to the ribbs, for which reaſon this great euil was not curable euen by the cutting off of the breaſt, a wonted but notwithſtanding a dangerous remedy euen as to the life of the patient. Whereupon they judged that nothing more was to be don to her, only ſome comfortable remedies were to be applied, to prolong her life for a time.

Afterwards in the ſame breaſt there bread a litle vlcerous ſore, which being opened was the forerunner of two and twenty more. Out of which there coming nothing but a purulent moyſture, vpon new aduice they applied to it leeches, which ſucked out of the ſame breaſt well nigh forty ounces of blood. When then all theſe things had been made proof of to no purpoſe and without effect by the Doctors & skilfulleſt ſurgeons, they vnanimouſly • udged, that the wit of man had no more to do here, but that the matter muſt wholly be commited to God; and admoniſhed the ſick party to receiue the moſt Holy Sacraments of the Holy Church, which are neceſſary for thoſe who are in danger of death, quietly and contentedly to enter in to the way which leads to eternity, and for good and all to ſet her houſe in order. But when the good woman ſaw that her health was deſpaired of, and that no human help could ſuccor her, ſhe reſolued with herſelf to make her addreſs to Almighty God; and with a liuely confidence, and ſtrong faith looking vpon a Picture hard by her of S. Francis Xauerius, ſhe ſaid within herſelf: This Saint, who is the friend of Almighty God, and my protector in all my indigencyes; and who has made himſelf great by the wonders which he daily works: and who by his merits, and prompt charity is wont to aid, and help the miſerable, will pray for me and my health to the ſupreme God: and by his interceſſion, wil obtain for me of the Author of nature, that which ſurpaſſes all human power. But in the mean time her ſicknes dayly encreaſing and growing wors, and together a true loue to S. Xauerius alſo encreaſing in her, at laſt ſhe reſolued, prouided her ſtrength would permit, together with her husband vpon the twentith of May 1660. to viſit the famous Church of the Fathers of the Society of JESƲS, dedicated to S. Xauerius, in the town of Bruges, and there to cleanſe her ſoul by the Holy Sacrament of Confeſſion, and to add new ſtrength to the ſame by the moſt wholeſome food of the Diuine bread: and thus by the hands of the Saint, to offer vp to the good & great God both the Sacraments, beſides the praiers of others who had taken vpon them to do the ſame at another Altar renowned for the inuocation of S. Xauerius, and hereby to expect a moſt certain remedy of her euil.

So then the day appointed being now come, all her pains and achings, which were much encreaſed, ſeemed as if they would oppoſe her good reſolutions: but ſhe notwithſtanding not much heeding them, goes very early in the morning to the Church, deſirous to accompliſh the promiſe of her good will: ſhe goes to confeſſion, and afterwards to Holy Communion. Then being riſen vp from the Communion banck; commending all her affairs from the bottom of her heart to God, and S. Xauerius, & begging of him her health with feruent praiers, ſhe fell into a ſownd before his picture at the firſt pillar of the body of the Church, againſt which ſhe leaned as ſhe ſat vpon her knees. But being now after a litle time come again to herſelf, and perceiuing alſo in her ſelf a ſudden change: to wit that the ſwelling of her breaſt was falne, and that ſhe was freed from all pains and achings, with which notwithſtanding heretofore, yea vpon that very day, ſhe had been ſorely tormented; ſhe riſes vp amazed, and leapes for joy, and with an extraordinary gladnes of heart ſhe greatly bleſſes the good God, the author of all good things; and his great friend S. Xauerius, her protector and truſty helper in the her miſeries, & praiſes them with a thouſand thankes.

All theſe things being don, ſhe returned towards home very jocond and ouerjoyed, recounting the wonders of God wrought in her by S. Francis Xauerius, to her husband not a litle aſtoniſhed at this ſo ſudden a change; aſſuring him that there was nothing of the pain, nothing of the ſmart remaining, which but a few houres agon was ſo great & grieuous; ſhewed him alſo her breaſt ſo falne of its ſwelling, that her clothes which before were too ſtrait, were now much too wyde, in fine that ſhe felt herſelf perfectly cured.

Being come home, her breaſt was ſearched in the preſence of her husband: inſtantly the ſurgeons were ſent for, her friends called in: who all vnanimouſly Confeſſed, that this ſo inueterate an euil, now was wholly vaniſhed: that the breaſt was now cured, and the cancker gon, but Diuinely, miraculouſly, & aboue all human power: attributing the cure to the Diuine mercy alone, moued herevnto by the merits, and inuocation of S. Francis Xauerius. The ſores which remained were within a few daies dried vp, and hardened, no matter more coming out of them, all the ſwelling that remained vaniſhed, & the before ſick, but now well parties appetite returned to her again: the meat, which before was prohibited her, and in ſuch like ſickneſſes is deadly, ſhe now eates freely and without any prejudice to her health: ſo that of ſo great an euil ſhe retaines nothing but the bare memory, and to refreſh the memory of it, to the end ſhe may continually thank God for ſo great a benefit, a ſcarr or hardnes, but very litle, proceeding from the drying vp of the veyns of the breaſt, without the remaining within of any root, or ſeed of the foregoing infirmity, yea or any danger of falling into it again.

After all theſe things with the declaration of many honorable Perſons, as alſo with the informatiōs or examen, & inſtructions hereabout, legally and duely taken before our coming to the Epiſcopal Seat of Bruges, according to the wonted order and rules of the law, had been repreſented vnto vs; and after we had vnderſtood & attentiuely obſerued all; hauing moreouer in our Perſon heard the moſt experienced Doctors of Phyſick, & the ſurgeons, who with theyr own eies had ſeen the ſame, confirming with oath that the aboue-related cure muſt needs be miraculous, and aboue the power of nature; and now at laſt hauing alſo asked the Counſel of many, who were verſed in the ſtudies of Diuinity, and in the Laws, and of ſpiritual perſons in Eccleſiaſtical dignities; and now hauing maturely conſidered all things hereabout; hauing alſo inuocated the name of God, we haue judged & declared, as by theſe preſents we judge and declare, to the greater glory of God & S. Francis Xauerius, that the cure of the right breaſt of the before named Mary Pulynck, which for ſo long a time as has been ſaid, was grieued with a true and putrifying cancker, & ſuddenly and inſtantly became whole, is miraculous and aboue the power of nature. Exhor • ing all Chriſtian belieuers, which ſhall come to know and vnderſtand this matter, eternally to praiſe and magnify the moſt High & moſt mercifull God, & to bleſs him before all the liuing, for that he has ſhewed mercy to his handmaid; and moreouer we acknowledge that we in theſe afflicted times of the Chriſtian commonwealth [in which we moſt of all need the interceſſions of the Saints] not without Gods particular prouidence do enjoy S. Francis Xauerius for ſo great a helper of the faithful, who may truly be called a Helper in miſeries, and neceſſities, and is to be worſhipped with all feruor, & to be inuocated with moſt profound deuotion, and to be exalted with all praiſe and honor.

We alſo, who in this place, in which God has placed vs, though vnworthy, as Paſtor, haue a particular care of our flock of Bruges; do praiſe and thank his mercy to vs, that he has kept the fulfilling of ſuch a work for our firſt coming to this Biſhoprick; and we humbly beſeech him by the merits of S Francis Xauerius, that he would be pleaſed to defend with his Diuine protectiō, and filled with heauenly benedictions to keep ſound & in perfect health, vs & the ſheep committed to our charge, who haue ſuch a Deuotion to ſo great a Patron.

I Ʋdocus Houbraken Canon of the Cathedral An Dom 1662. Church of Anwerp, and Vicar General of the vacant Dioceſs of Bolduke, To all that shall ſee theſe, Health in our Lord.

Amongſt the vndoubted ſignes of the true Church are miracles, which are ſometimes wont to be wrought, as well for the conuerſion of Infidels to the faith, as alſo for the confirmation of the faithful in the ſame faith: for theſe miracles was ſingularly famous, both in his life, and after his death, S. Francis Xauerius of the Society of JESƲS, the glorious Apoſtle of India and Iapony, who, as we haue vnderſtood, has extended to our ſubjects his miraculous and benefical arm, [a litle peece whereof is expoſed to publick veneration at Mechlin in the Church of the Society of JESƲS.] Which that it may more manifeſtly appear, by theſe our preſent letters we teſtify, that we haue particularly examined, and cauſed to be examined the cure of a malignant feuer, and the ſudden reſtoring of ſtrength and forces, which by his means a certain yong woman in our Dioceſs of Bolduke obtained in the manner following.

When in the year 1662. the plague was at Breda, N. N. a farmers wife of the territory of Bolduke aſſiſted her brother who was there ſick of it: ſhe being return'd home fell ſick of a contagious feuer, and infected her husband, two ſons, and her daugter Catharin being two and twenty years old. Firſt of all the mother, and afterwards the father being taken away by this peſtilential malady, and the two brothers alſo infeſted with the ſame, Catharin, from the ſix and twentith of Iuly to the three and twentith of Auguſt, was ſo exhauſted with the continual burnings of the ſame peſt, as that ſhe loſt at length not only her natural forces, but alſo her vnderſtanding, in ſuch ſort as there being no remedy for her in human art, a skilful ſurgeon auouched that there was no hopes of her life, who amongſt diuers others, both with his hand and oath confirmed this our narration. Their friends & neighbors vndoubtedly perſwaded themſelues that this houſe was infected with the plague; whereupō there was none who would afford comfort & neceſſary aſſiſtance to the ſick parties. Notwithſtanding their good Pastor, confiding through the merits and interceſſion of S. Francis Xauerius both to be preſerued himſelf from infection, and alſo to free the ſick from theyr infirmity, did not deſert thoſe who were deſerted by all their friends. Hauing therefore late in the euening adminiſtred to Catharin the Holy Sacrament of Extreme Vnction, returning again the ſame euening, he brought with him a picture of S. Francis Xauerius, which had touched his Holy Relicks famous for miracles at Mechlin, and preſenting it to Catharin, who was in a manner juſt a dying, by the hands of her brother, he incited them all to put their confidence in the interceſſion of that Bleſſed Saint to God for them. Catharin had now layne four or fiue dayes, without being able to moue herſelf: the picture being offered her, ſhe took it and kiſt it with a great confidence, the Paſtor hauing exhorted her to contiue that her Deuotion all night, he returned home. The next day early in the morning, without any bodies help or knowledge, Catharin roſe out of her bed, and put on her clothes herſelf, and walked about the houſe: nay euen that very day, ſhe would haue gon out into the field to get forrage for the cattel, had not her brothers hindred her. The day after ſhe indeed went abroad, when in the mean time, the Paſtor being come to viſit her, expecting to finde her in her bed, either dead or dying, he ſees her come in at the door loaded with a great baſket of forrage, which ſhe had gathered in the field. The good man was wholly aſtoniſhed at this vnexſpected miraculous change, but withall reprehended her imprudence, for ſo raſhly expoſing herſelf to the open air, and danger of a relapſe, being but immediately recouered of ſo dangerous a malady. The maid hauing heard him with reſpect due to his perſon, confidently replied, Sir, be not ſolicitous for me, I am out of danger, the Saint has perfectly cured me, and restored me my ſtrength euer ſince yesterday morning.

All theſe things hauing been declared to vs by a legal Inſtrument, to which, the Reuerend Paſtor, Catharin herſelf, and the ſurgeon, her two brothers, and others of her kindred and neighbors had ſubſcribed with oath, we firſt approued a Commiſſary in thoſe parts, an honeſt and vnderſtanding man, who after he had examined all things in our name, and had again, interpoſing the fidelity of an oath, receiued knowledge of the ſame things from Catharin, confirmed all with his own ſeal. Afterwards we our ſelues, here at Anwerp, examined the foreſaid Catharin, in the preſence of her Paſtor conſcious of all that had paſſed, and we found vnder the ſame Religion of an oath, that all had ſo happened. Which things being manifeſt, moreouer, there hauing been ſent vnto vs in writing, the judgements of moſt skilful Phyſitians, who had been conſulted about this matter, to wit of Tungers, and Bruſſels, & eſpecially of two famous Profeſſors and Doctors of Phyſick, & alſo of two others of the famous vniuerſity of Louain, who vnanimouſly agreed, that this reſtauration of forces and ſtrength in ſo ſhort a ſpace of time could not be obtained by any power of nature; to the end that we might do nothing but legally, and according to the Decrees of the Councel of Trent, we haue conſulted learned men and skilful Diuines, and haue again in preſence and with them heard the foreſaid Catharin, and finally all things hauing been maturely, and as in the preſence of God conſidered, after a long and often repeated examination, we thought it was fitting that we ſhould decree, and by theſe preſents we haue decreed, that the cure of the ſaid Catharin may be eſteemed and publiſhed as miraculous, and wrought by God, and obtained through the merits of S. Francis Xauerius, and we do publiſh it, and teſtify, that we eſteem it as ſuch: beſeeching God the Author of all things, that as he has been pleaſed to gather to his Church the nations of the Indies, by the preaching and miracles of S. Francis Xauerius while he liued, ſo he would now vouchſafe in theſe parts, by the miracles and interceſſion of the ſame Saint, to conſerue & confirm his faithful people in the ſame Church, & graciouſly to gather thoſe vnto her, who are by any error whatſoeuer ſeparated from her. In confirmation of all theſe things, I haue ſubſcribed theſe preſents with my own hand, & ordered them to be ſigned with the ſeal of our vicarſhip, vpon the 19. of the Month of March, in the year of our Lord 1664.

MAdam Mary Castelli had for her father Don Lancelot Castelli Marqueſs of Capizzi, Prince of Caſtle Ferrato, at preſent one of the three maſters of the chamber of Counts who carry the ſword, & Preſident with a like number of the Robe at the adminiſtration of the Royal patrimony; and for her mother ſhe had the Lady Hippolyta Lareara of the houſe of the Counts of S. Charles. This honorable Gentlewoman, after ſhe had attained to ſufficient age to delibera • e of a ſtate of life, contemning all worldly hopes, well founded as well vpon the promiſing qualifications of her own perſon, as vpon her family, it being one of the moſt flouriſhing & richeſt in all Palermo, conſecrated herſelf to God by a perfect Holocauſt, by taking the name of Hippolyta Lancelotta, and the habit of S. Baſil in an ancient Monaſtery, called Del Saluatore: where ſhe had a litle before, amongſt thoſe exemplar Religious, ſpent the firſt years of her tender age, in an education as well noble, as holy.

The king of Virgins did not delay, to teſtify, with what particular ſatisfaction he accepted the generous oblation of this his new Spouſe; and he did it by beſtowing vpon her one of thoſe fauors, with which he is wont ordinarily to grace thoſe whom he loues moſt tenderly; that is by a very ſtrange, and very troubleſom infirmity. Which began vpon the firſt of Iune, in the year one thouſand ſix hundred ſixty one, with a litle Catarr accompanied with a cough: which as then was not very troubleſom vnto her, and alſo no great matter was made of it, but afterwards it did ſo extremely encreaſe, that hauing ſurmounted the force of all human remedies, it reduced the patient to ſuch a condition, as ſhe had no hopes to recouer, whilſt that, before ſhe was brought if not to dy • , at leaſt to deſire death, ſhe felt in her ſelf the effects of death, according to the proportion of the frequency of the ſymptoms of death which did aſſault her, and according to the meaſure of the experiments, which the Phyſitians made of theyr art vpon her perſon, endeauoring to cure her. Vpon the ſixth of Auguſt in the ſame year, this malignant humor diſcouered it ſelf to be of another nature, then before it was apprehended to be: for it tormented ſiſter Hippolyta for ſome hours together without one moments reſpit, with a moſt violent cough. From henceforward, as in caſe of open and proclaimed war, ſhe was forced euery day to ſuffer the ſame aſſault of the ſaid cough, which did cruelly ſhake her and ceaſed not to torment her for ſix hours together in the afternoon. Her pains were encreaſed by new accidents in the month of Ianuary. Her cough, after a ſhort truce of a few daies, hauing recouered its forces, returned again with more violence; and ſometimes the ſhaking was ſo violent, the impetuoſity ſo great, & the ſtraining to cough ſo frequent, that euery body wondered, how ſo delicate and feeble a yong maid was able to endure it, and not to dy of it. But that which gaue greateſt cauſe of fear, was the falling of ſome drops of this peſtilential catarr into her throat, where ſtopping the paſſage, it brought her to the very point of expiring. Wherefore fearing leaſt ſome time or other ſhe ſhould be ſtifled herewith, and ſo dy ſuddenly, without further delay they gaue her the moſt ſacred Ʋiaticum or laſt Communion, & commended her ſoul to God. This ſlimy and biting diſtillation at length came out; and juſt as a torrent, makes the moſt hideous noyſe when it breaks its bounds, ſo the Violence, which was neceſſary to caſt out of the throat, this dangerous dam or ſtopping, was accompanied with ſo vehement a cough, as it reſembled the bellowing of an ox, and all the monaſtery rung of it. Nor muſt any one wonder at this, or hold it for leſs credible, for it is not yet ſix years, ſince that at Macerata, the noyſe, with which the air round about rung, by a cough of a yong Father of the Society of IESƲS, was ſo ſtrong and lowd, as that it was heard half a mile off. The horrible noyſe of this cough and painful ſhaking of her whole body, was followed with moſt ſharp head-achs with a great defection of her ſtrength & forces, with languiſhings, faintings and ſownings. She remained without ſtrength, without ſpeech, without motion, and was for a good ſpace of time, ſomtimes for a quarter of an hour, with her mouth gaſtly open, without being able to ſpeak one ſyllable, or euen to moue her lips. Nor did the ſtrange effects of this obſtinat rheum ſtay here, but brought the patient, after an extreme weaknes, to an extreme contortiō or gathering vp of her body; ſo as ſhe was not able to ly along in her bed, but was forced to ſit vp in it. Then juſt as Watermen managing theyr oar, at euery ſtroke, moue all their limbs back wards and forward, ſo ſhe ſeized vpon by a cruel conuulſion, throwing herſelf with her arms and breaſt, now to the feet, and then again to the head of the bed, ſhe toſſed her ſelf vp and down with great pain and torment. Four of the ſtrongeſt of the Religious, to the end that they might ſomwhat aſſwage her dolors, endeauored to hold her as ſtill as they could, but at length being not able any longer to endure the toyl, nor all four of them able to maſter the force of only one, & ſhe ſick too, they ſet beſides her certain litle chairs, to the end that ſhe laying hold of thoſe, & throwing thē about, might finde wherein to weary herſelf, and by that means abate the force of her ſtrange frenſy, which remaining in its vigor more grieuouſly tormented her. Palpitations and oppreſſions of heart, frequent neceſſity of breathing now on this ſide, then on that, an extreme difficulty of drawing her breath, conuulſions, ſownings, were the ſymptoms which followed one in the neck of the other, with ſo violent an agitation of the ſick party, that many of the Religious, who were more tenderly affected towards her, forbore to viſit her, to the end they might not ſee her in this pitiful conditiō. In the fifteen months, in which the malady continued in this violence, many conſults of Doctors were made with great expences. Beſides abundance of Medecins of Iulips & Quinteſſences, they applied the burning heat of red hot irons twice, and cupping-glaſſes eight times or more, but all without doing her any good. Moreouer, if we will belieue Galen, there is no remedy on earth for this malady, which for its contumacious and inſuperable fiercenes is called Distillatio Ferina. But while ſiſter Hippolyta, her ſtrength & forces exhauſted, giuen ouer by the Doctors, who deſpaired of ſauing her life, hauing loſt her ſpeech, at the end of a three dayes violent agony, wholly reſigned to the Diuine will, was expecting the laſt mercy of God, the recompence of her patience with the end of all her dolors; behold, beyond all human hopes, ſhe is rewarded with the gift of her loſt health, to the end that ſhe might multiply the crowns of her vertues by her faithful ſeruices of her bountiful ſpouſe. She remembred herſelf, how that Father Thomas Buſcemy of the Society of JESƲS, hauing entred into the Monaſtery ſome few daies before to hear her Confeſſion, had recounted vnto her a miracle, wrought in the City of Macerata vpon a Father of the ſame Society who being aflicted with the ſame malady, with very ſemblable ſymptoms of oppreſſion of the heart, a violent cough, & thoſe other rude paroxiſms, which I haue aboue related, by taking for his Aduocate the Holy Apoſtle of the Eaſt, was by the Saint immediately and perfectly cured: ſhe remembred alſo that the ſaid Father, bringing to her a Relick, had exhorted her to make vſe of a like recours to the Saint, for the recouery of her health: moreouer that the Father being returned to the College, had receiued a letter, by which ſiſter Hippolyta demanded of him permiſſion to pray to God & S. Francis Xauerius, not to prolong her life, but to haſten at leaſt her death; but he perſiſting in his firſt Counſel, had anſwered her, that ſhe ſhould for the preſent quit that her deſire of happines, and with a due indifferency pray to God to reſtore her health, if it were to his greater glory, to the end that ſhe might employ it to the ſeruice of his Diuine Majeſty, and of her Religion, and that ſhe ſhould repeat this praier three times. She then being now gaſping for life, remembred that ſhe had not been ſo punctually obedient to her ſpiritual Father, for which ſhe was a litle troubled, and had ſome ſcruple of it, & ſo whether in recompence of her obedience, or as a diſpoſition to the merit of that grace which was prepared for her, ſhe felt her heart encouraged & ſtrengthned by a great faith, ſuch as ſhe had not experimented ether in her firſt, or ſecond praier: by means wherof, without delay, ſhe repeats her praier in thought [being not able to do it by words] & beſeeches God the third time in the form preſcribed by her Confeſſarius, that through the interceſſion of his faithful ſeruant, and Apoſtle of the Eaſt S. Francis Xauerius, he would deliuer her from this mortal infirmity. No ſooner had ſhe don this, but the torment of her agony being changed into a ſweet repoſe, ſhe fell into a quiet ſleep: In her ſleep ſhe ſeemed to herſelf to hear an interior voice, which ſaid vnto her, that ſhe was now perfectly cured: and for that ſurprized, between aſtoniſhment and joy, ſhe did not yet belieue it, and demanded how this was don ſo ſuddenly, & why ſhe ſhould receiue ſo great a reward for ſo ſmall an act of obedience? Not ſo, replied to her clearly the ſame voice, but S. Francis Xauerius, whom you haue taken for your aduocate, has interpoſed his praiers for you to God; wherefore take his Relick, and lay it vpon your heart, for it is this Saint who has obtaind you this grace. And ſhe had no need of any thing els quite to free her of her malady, but immediatly ſeized on by a ſublime rauiſhment of ſpirit, what return, ſaid ſhe, ſhall I be able to make to my deliuerer, that I may acquit my ſelf worthily of ſo conſiderable a fauor? Nothing els [replied again the diuine inſpiration, whick ſpoke to her in her heart without the noyſe of words] but that firſt you communicate euery Friday in honor of S. Francis, offering to the ſoueraigne Lord the moſt adorable Euchariſt, the abridgment of all graces. Secondly that you baniſh from you that day all other thoughts, & ſpend it in a Deuout recollection, keeping ſilence exactly. Thirdly that by particular acts you employ your ſelf in the exerciſe of ſome vertue and aduance your ſelf in the acquiring of it. At this very moment ſhe raiſes her ſelf vp, and hauing with a great Deuotion applied to her breaſt the Holy Relick, the true remedy of her incurable diſtillation and all other infirmity, ſhe cryed out with a lowd and clear voice: I am well, S. Francis Xauerius has cured me, giue me my Habit, for I will go immediately to the Quire, to giue thanks to God and the Saint for my recouery. The mothers, who in a great number kept her company in this extremity, looked vpon theſe words, as the rauings of one that was out of herſelf; but preſently after acknowledging them to be what they were indeed, an vndoubted teſtimony of the very truth, they were greatly aſtoniſhed at them, which amazemēt ſoon changed it ſelf into a hearty joy, and praiſes of the Diuine bounty and the Holy Apoſtle: & without exſpecting any further, they went all in a modeſt & Deuout Order to the Quire with the ſick perſon, who was then perfectly recouered: and ſung the Te Deum laudamus in a ſweet and harmonious conſort with the applauſe & vnſpeakable joy of the whole Monaſtery. After which, they immediately gaue notice of all that had paſſed to my Lord the Archbiſhop: by whoſe ordination, neceſſary informations hauing been taken, and a proceſs juridically formed, this preſent relation in an authentical form was drawn out of it. From the day on which the ſick perſon was miraculouſly cured, vnto this preſent that we write this narration, are paſſed ten months: during which time ſhe has conſtantly enjoyed the grace of as perfect health as at the firſt moment in which ſhe receiued it, except that when through forgetfulnes, or ſome vnexſpected accident, ſhe has ſometimes failed exactly to fulfill the dutyes ordained her by the Saint: for then ſhe found her ſelf to be ſeized on by certain ſymptoms of the ſame euil, but which were ſent her only as an aduertiſment, in ſuch ſort, that acknowledging her defect, and not deferring to correct it, the grudgings of her diſtemper ſtrait vaniſhed, and ſhe was as free from them as before. Amongſt others, for that hauing vpon one day of the Octaue of the Holy Apoſtle, lighted certain candels to honor his memory, ſhe reſolued afterwards, out of I know not what human reſpects, to put them out again, ſhe was immediately aſſailed with thoſe furious conuulſions, which we haue aboue recounted, together with loſs of her ſpeech, and was nether able to recouer the vſe of her tongue, nor to free herſelf from thoſe contorſions, vntil ſhe had again lighted the candels. In like manner another time, her voice failing her in the Quire, in ſuch ſort that ſhe could not ſing one ſyllable of the diuine office; & all remedies which were vſed to make her voice return, ſeruing to no purpoſe, ſhe remembred that ſhe had not payed to her liberal benefactor, the ſmall tribute of a lamp, which was to burn before his picture. Wherefore ſhe ran to it immediately: and at that very inſtant, ſhe was freed from the ſtopping of a watry humor, which was falne down into her throat. I could here recount a multitude of ſuch like amiable paſſages betwixt the Saint & his dear Deuote, but content your ſelues with theſe, which were alledged and authentically proued in the aboue-mentioned proceſs.

There is only one thing, which although it diſcouer it ſelf, notwithſtanding, methinks I may not omit particularly to aduertiſe thoſe of it, who ſhall read or hear this Relation: and 'tis for the ſpiritual comfort of the Deuotes of the Holy Apoſtle, who by the obligation he impoſed in recognizance of a fauor don by him, does vndoubtedly aſſure vs all, how greatly he is delighted in the exerciſes of that chriſtian Piety, which the Deuotion of the faithful has begun, to honor Friday in a ſpecial manner, the day on which this Saint, departing out of this life in the Iſle of Sanciano neer China, in an vnſpeakable deſtitution of all human comfort, and conſequently very like to that of our Lord, receiued from his Diuine Majeſty an abundant recompenſe of his infinite and Apoſtolical labors, which he had vndergon for ten years in the Eaſt, to the great aduantage of ſouls, and glory of the faith.

Let vs pray vnto him then, that from aboue he would pleaſe to kindle in vs alſo a deſire of meriting by good works, the effect of his protection and patronage in this happy ſpouſe of IESVS CHRIST.

ANDREW by the grace of God and An. Dom. 1662. of the Sea Apostolick Archbishop of Mechlin, to all thoſe who shall ſee theſe preſents, health in our Lord.

As amongſt diuers places which giue ſingular marks of their zeal towards the miraculous Relicks of S. Francis Xauerius, the City of Mechlin Metropolis of our Dioceſs in the low-countreys, does ſignally continue her Deuotion with an extraordinary feruor, where that ſacred Depoſitum was firſt of all expoſed with our approbation to the veneration of the people in the Church of the Society of JESƲS, ſo alſo the Diuine hand there opens it ſelf largely, daily to diſtribute more conſiderable fauors by the miraculous and benefical arm of his faithful ſeruant. For beſides the fauors and miracles which we haue leaſurly examined and duely approued hitherto, as alſo other Prelates of the Church haue don, we vnderſtand that this great Apoſtle of the Indies, has lately made again appear the indeed prodigious power of his arm. To confirm this verity, we do declare by theſe preſents, that we haue commanded with all poſſible exactnes to ſearch out the truth of a ſudden cure of a rupture of nine years, which a certain inhabitant of Mechlin has obtained by the interceſſion of this glorious Saint, and which to this day he ſtill perfectly enjoyes, as will appear by this authentical narration, which was ſent to vs.

William Plougart being threeſcore and fifteen years old, was grieuouſly tormented with the extreme pains of a Rupture, the ſwelling whereof fell down ſometimes in ſuch ſort, as it was as bigg as the head of a child. Margaret de Hoogh his wife was eyewitnes of it, and alſo Lewis van Dael felt it with his hand a few daies before he was cured, when he found him lying vpon the rampairs without force and ſtrength, not being able to moue himſelf for the vehemency of his pains, which he has often confirmed by oath, and auouched that diuers times, for theſe fiue laſt years that he wrought with him, he obſerued he was ſo weak and feeble, that he was forced to leaue off his dayly labor. The violence of this infirmity had from the beginning ſo oppreſſed the poor old man, that his ſufferings growing euery day to be more violent then other, they made him wholly vnfit for labor. The falling of his malady did ſo torment him in the night-time vpon the eleuenth of December 1662. that he verily perſwaded himſelf he ſhould dy of it, proteſting amidſt the violence of his pains, that he ſhould eſteem himſelf extremely happy, might he but dy, and that by a death neuer ſo violent. Amongſt others of his neighbors who were awaked by the doleful noyſe of his ſad groans, a certain yong woman moued with compaſſion towards him, at one a clock in the night, made a vow in his behalf to S. Francis Xauerius, and promiſed to perform it at his miraculous Relicks at Mechlin: no ſooner had ſhe made her vow, but the complaints and ſighes of the infirm perſon ceaſed. Early in the morning ſhe went to ſee him, and demanding how he did, his daughter Magdalen made her anſwer, that he had ſlept queitly euer ſince one a clock in the night. Ʋertly, then replied the good maid, I made a vow at the ſame time to the great Apostle of the Indies, S. Francis Xauerius, for the caſe of your father, and I will forthwith accomplish it, with as much fidelity as ſpeed. Vpon the making & performance of this promiſe, the ſaid William was perfectly Cured, and has not ſuffered any inconuenience from his infirmity, for the ſpace of two years now paſt. He has walked vp and down, trauelled, and don his ordinary labor, with as great caſe and alacrity, as if he had neuer known what meant the torments of a troubleſom rupture; and which is more to be wondred at in an old man of his age, ſix months after his cure, vpon the firſt day of May, he went from Mechlin to Anwerp, Tvvelue miles. and returned again the ſame day on foot, & this loaded with a heauy pack. A while after in the moſt vehement heats of the ſummer, he went from Mechlin to Bruxels, Tvvelue miles. & came back again the ſame day ſtrong and luſty. Moreouer he proteſts that ſince his recouery of his health, for theſe two years, he has performed without any pain his accuſtomed functions, although hard & laborious, [for that he is a gardener by occupation] that he has digged, ſowed, and oftentimes in the cold and moſt dangerous moiſt ſeaſons, bowed • o the ground, plucked vp herbs by the roots in his garden; and in fine, that he has don other labors, which experience teſtifies to be wholly contrary & pernicious to ruptures; that he has planted and tranſplanted trees; and that in the ſummer laſt paſt, being vpon a tree of a moderate height he fell down off it to the ground, without any hurt, or reſentment of his malady, although that heretofore, during the nine years he was tormented with it, it fretted and ſwelled with cutting pains, according as the air grew cold or moiſt, or if that in laboring he vſed any violence.

The News of this cure hauing been brought vs by many perſons of credit, The Reuerend Iohn Baptista Bernaerts curate and canon of our Metropolitan Church, and Antony Vermeulen Licentiat in Diuinity, authorized to this purpoſe, took by our command the informations with theyr vſual forms, which the ſaid William, his wife, his daugher, and Lewis van Dael ſubſcribed with oath, as alſo the worſhipful commiſſaries, who ſent them vs ſigned with their own ſeal. In confirmation whereof, many other teſtimonies were added of the moſt famous Phyſitians of Mechlin. Anwerp, and Bruxels, and of the two prime profeſſors and Doctors of Phyſick in the famous vniuerſity of Louain, who vnanimouſly aſſure vs, that ſo ſudden and perfect a cure of a rupture of nine years, wrought vpon a man of threeſcore and fifteen years old, was aboue the power of nature, which we hauing vnderſt •• d, and conſidered in the preſence of God, as alſo hauing required the judgements herein of diuers Diuines, and other perſonages of great ability and Integrity, according to the Decree made by the Council of Trent concerning the approbation of New miracles, conforming our ſelues to the faithful report of the Reuerend Commiſſaries, who haue moſt diligently and maturely examined, and conſidered the matter, we judged it fitting, as we do alſo by theſe preſents judge it fitting, that this cure of William Plougart, both may and ought to be held and publiſhed for ſupernatural and miraculous, wrought and obtained of the Diuine goodnes, by the interceſſion of S. Francis Xauerius, and for ſuch we publiſh and decree it. In credit whereof we haue commanded our Secretary to diſpatch theſe preſents, ſigned with our hand and ſealed with our ſeal, humbly beſeeching the good God, who glorifies thoſe which glorify him, and is honored in the honors of his Saints [as we acknowledge, from our own experience and with all kind of ſubmiſſion the glorious merits and ſignal fauors of the bleſſed S. Francis Xauerius] that we may hereafter more frequently experiment the effects of his fauorable protection.

Theſe ſad effects made the mid-wife and her kindred judge that there was no hopes of her life: notwithſtanding the ſick party, although her ſtrength and forces were exhauſted, and ſhe giuen ouer by all, yet did ſhe not ceaſe to expect from the abundant charity of S. Xauerius, together with the end of her dolors, the recompenſe of her faith, which wonderfully encreaſed when they brought her a Relick and picture of the Saint; to whom ſhe offered a heart of ſiluer, and promiſed to procure a ſolemne Maſs to be ſung, and in caſe ſhe were deliuered of a ſon, ſhe would giue him the name of Francis Xauerius.

As ſhe rolled this ſweet thought in her minde ſhe ſowned away, & remained ſo a long time without motion, ſo that euery one thought ſhe was dead. Coming to herſelf again, ſhe comforted thoſe which were about her, with words which abundantly teſtifyed the confidence of her heart, ſaying vnto them with a languiſhing voice, Aſſuredly S. Xauerius will help me, he will cure me of my Pain • , and in fine he will ſaue my life, and the life of my child.

The Phyſitian being conſcious of theſe ſtrange kinds of euils and miſeries of the good woman, fearing leaſt the bowels of the mother might come to be the graue of her vnborn child, cauſed a Surgeon to be called, to be ready to open the womb of the ſick party, in caſe ſhe ſhould come to dy, that ſo the infant might be baptized if it were yet aliue. A litle after, ſownings, and the ordinary ſymptomes followed one another with ſuch violence, that the ſick party had the Holy candle in her hand a long time without any ſigne of life. Hauing continued in this manner inſenſible for a time, by litle and litle ſhe opened her eyes, and beſought her friends to ſay one Pater and Aue in honor of the great Saint, from whoſe bounty ſhe hoped to obtain her cure.

A Father her Cōfeſſarius, who was in a chamber neer her, ſet himſelf to ſay the Lytanies of all the Saints, and when he had pronounced three times the name of S. Xauerius, behold without feeling the cruel approches, and ſharp pangs of child birth, ſhe was deliuered of a ſon, whoſe happy birth ſweetned the grief, which the ſad loſs of her other children had cauſed in her. Since this her ſafe and fauorable deliuery, ſhe, together with her litle Infant, has enjoyed perfect health, without being troubled from that time with thoſe charmes and witchcrafts, which oppugned her child-bearing with ſo many anguiſhes & grieuances.

The Approbation of this last Fauor by the most Reuerend Bishop of Anwerp, F. Ambroſius Capello, for breuity ſake I haue omitted. In which approbation, after due examen by commiſſarys by him to that purpoſe appointed, he declares that this Fauor, [for ſo he stiles it only, and not an abſolute Mrracle] may piouſly and prudently be belieued to haue been receiued by the ſingular aſſistance of S. Francis Xauerius. The omnipotent and most merciful JESƲS, through the interceſſion of the ſame his great Instrument in the conuerſion of ſouls, work many like fauors for his humble Catholick Clients in England, and compell by his Holy grace all misbelieuers to ſay to this Great Apostle and Doctor of the Roman-Catholick Church, what Ni •• demus ſaid of old to Christ our Lord, in like circumstances, Rabbi ſcimus &c. Sir, we know that you are a maſter come from God, for no man could work thoſe ſignes which thou doeſt vnles God were with him. But may they neuer deſerue to hear that of our Bleſſ • d Sauiour concerning the obſtinate Iews Io. 15. Si opera non fec • ſſem in eis quae nemo alius fecit, peccatum non hab • rent &c. If I had not don works amongst them which no other has don they would not haue ſinned. If I had not come and ſpoken vnto them, they would not haue ſinned, but now they haue no excuſe for their ſin. Amen.

REceive, O LORD, all my Liberty, my Memory, my Underſtanding, and my whole Will. You ave given me All that I Have, All that I Poſſeſs; and I give back, and ſurrender All to Your Divine Will, that You may abſolutely diſpoſe of All. Give me only Your Love, and Your Grace, and I am Rich enough. I have nothing more to Ask.