AN APPENDIX OF THE SAINTS lately Canonised, and Beatifyed by PAUL the fift, AND GREGORY the Fifteenth.  
DOUAI, By HENRY TAYLOR 1624.   

To the Catholic Readers in England.  
Dear Countrymen, If my ability in Health, Wealth, or Understanding were answerable to my desire of your good, you should hear from me oftener: But these gifts are at the disposure of a higher power: And therefore at the abounding in any one, or all of these aught to tend unto his glory, so their want shall not enforce me to derogate either from that, or hinder me from labouring to the utmost of my power to bring you such merchandise as may refresh your souls with spiritual delight and comfort. Wherefore I have reprinted the Appendix of such Saints life's as were lately Canonised and beatified by Paul the fift and Gregory the fifteenth; translated into English by M. Ed. Kinsman The motives urging me hereunto, next after your good was the general approbation and liking of the book amongst all which had it, the rarity of it amongst many which desired it; it being annexed to the Saints life's of the whole year, and therefore cannot be had, without the byeing of the whole volume, which many will not, for that they have those life's all ready, and others cannot, the volume being of so great a price exceeding their poor ability. These are the reasons moving me to this I have here done, wherefore I hope you will take it in as good part at I mean it, & therest of my endeavours to you which, is sincerely, wishing they may prove happy Mediums to bring you safe to the peaceable harbour of Eternal bliss, still resting.  
Yours in what he is, Henry Taylor.   

AN APPENDIX OF the Saints lately Canonised, and Beatifyed, by Paul the Fift, and Gregory the Fifteen. And First.  

The Miraculous life and Virtues of Saint Isidore Husbandman, and Patron of Madrid in Spain, lately canonised by Pope Gregory the XV. Abridged and translated out of Spanish.  
SAINT Isidore was borne in the ancient Kingdom of Castille, in the famous City of Madrid in Spain, where the King's Court is ordinarily kept, about the year of our Lord 1130. of very Catholic and devout Parents, though of mean condition, whom they piously brought up, and instructed in all kind of virtue, according to their poor ability, especially in Prayer, saying of his Beads, hearing Mass, frequenting of Sermons, Exhortations, and the like: and for corporal exercises, he was brought up and taught to Till and manure the ground in manner of a labourer or Husbandman. After that he was grown to man's estate, and his Parents both dead, he married a wife, of an honest, though poor family, like unto himself, and beginneth to dispose and set in order that little means which he had, still following his manual art of Husbandry, labouring for day-wages and hire, for other Husbandmen of the Country that were rich, and had lands of their own to manure. But yet with all he had got a pious custom and use, which grew up with him even from his Childhood, to hear Mass daily before he began to labour, Which he never omitted, though there were never so great haste of work to be done.  
And for this cause, certain of his neighbours, through the instigation of the devil (who now began to make hot war upon S. Isidore for his sanctity and holiness of life which they could not endure) stirred up against him his master, of whom he had taken a piece of ground to blow, and was to labour by the day, complaining grievously of him, that he came every day very late to work and that beside, he omitted the same oftentimes in the day and went to his prayers. His master the Farmer was much incensed against him, by hearing this their accusation, and one day falling into a fit of choler at their reports, presently went unto him in the field, to see if it were true or no which they had told him by way of complaint. And coming in all haste unto the field, where S. Isidore was to be at his work, he saw three ploughs going, two whereof were drawn & governed by Angels in the likeness of young men, clothed in most pure and white garments.  
At the first sight whereof standing amazed, he drew neeres unto them, when upon the sudden they vanished away. Hear upon he came to S. Isidore, whom he found at the other plough, & seeing so much work done beyond his expectation, he fell down at his servant's feet, and cried him pardon for so easily believing the false reports, his neighbours had made of him, assuring himself of the truth of the words which Saint Isidore had often told him, to wit, that how much time soever he spent in prayer, the same was recompensed largely in his work, by the hands of his sweet Saviour, and rather to the profit, than any way to the  hindrance or loss of his Master. And so he departed with confusion in himself, and full of love and reverence towards his servant.  
As soon as his said master was departed, the Angels returned again unto the ploughs, and as they laboured, they taught S. Isidore, and instructed him in many mysteries of his faith, accompanying him all that day until night, going home with him also, even to his house, whither when he came he found a poor Pilgrim at his door, ask an alms of meat, for the refreshing of his body, who calling his wife, and bidding her give the Pilgrim some what to eat, she replied sadly, and said, there was nothing in the house.  
He bid her look into the Pot for some Pottage and Flesh: but she knowing that all was spent said there was assuredly none left, and withal she took up the Pot into her hands to show that it was empty. But behold a wonder, for she felt the Pot heavy, and looking thereinto, found it full of very excellent Pottage & Flesh, where with she fed the Pilgrim liberally, and with admiration acknowledge the miracle: her husband in the mean time with drawing himself into an inner room, and falling to his prayers as his custom was. The same night he being a sleep, the said Pilgrim appeared unto him again in the same habit, that he had done before in the Evening, and seemed to awake him, and put upon him a Pilgrim's weed, and sailing over the seas, conducted him to the holy land, whether when he was come, he shown him all the places of chief note, where our Saviour had taught, preached, was taken, examined, whipped, condemned, and lastlie suffered death for our sakes. Which places S. Isidore seemed to reverence, and greatly to adore, with gust and affection of hart, and afterward was presently conveyed back to his own house, where the Pilgrim took his leave and departed.  
Upon a time in a great Frost and Snow, one john de Vargas a Farmer sent Saint Isidore to the Mill with a sack of wheat, to have it ground to make bread for his family. Saint Isidore took the sack of corn early in the morning, and passing by a Church, he went in to hear Mass, as his usual custom was, which when he had done, he hasted on towards the Mill, and met on the way others of the same village that went also thither with wheat in like manner. As they went talking and discoursing, they saw a great weather beaten tree growing in the way, on the bows whereof sat white Piggeons so thick, as they seemed even to cover the whole tree, being flocked together and almost starved for want of food that hard season, the ground being every where covered with snow & ice. Saint Isidore when he drew near unto the tree cried out with a loud voice and said: O Earth, the Mother of all living creatures, why dost thou at this time deny food unto these thy innocent Creatures? And then he set down his sack of wheat, and putting away the snow with his feet, uncovered a great broad place of the ground, and taking Corn out of the sack, he strawed it there for the Piggeons, who all presently came from the tree, and before they would eat thereof did come to Saint Isidores feet, and with their becks touched, and pricked them, and his legs, in sign of reverence to his sanctity, and having so done, did feed themselves on the Corne. One of his Company that all this while stood by, and looked on, began to murmur against him, for so destroying and casting away his master's wheat, but the rest were silent and stood amazed at the thing. Then taking up his sack, which was well emptied by his liberality to God's creatures, he came to the Mill, and put what was left to grinding, where the flower thereof did so multiply between the Millstones, that he had his sack as full of excellent meal (and more in measure also) as if he had not diminished any one grain of the corn. So as the miracle was manifest to all that knew what had passed.  
Another time, when at night his work was ended, going homeward from the field, he went into a Church to pray, so as it being late before he came home, supper was ended, and the other workmen had eaten up all the meat, save only a little morsel of flesh & pottage, which they had reserved for him. He took the same very contentedly, and carrying it to the door, he there began to distribute it amongst a great number of poor people and pilgrims that passed by, and behold, the said meat did so multiply in his hands, in the distribution thereof, that he served a great multitude therewith before he ended, and every one went away content & satisfied.  
It so fell out at another time, upon a very hot day in summer, that his master or Landlord, coming into the field where he was at work, and being much parched with hear, demamded if there were no water near, whereby to quench his thirst. Saint Isidore said, there was a little spring not far off, and shown him the place. The man went speedily to quench his thirst, but finding neither spring, nor any sign of water at all, returned in great anger, and thought Saint Isidore had mocked him. Whereupon the Saint said, Come with me again to the place, and I will show it you. They went, and when they came thither there was no sign of any water, but Saint Isidore pricking the earth with a little goad he had in his hand, there presently sprung up a very clear, and excellent fountain of water, which being taken by sick persons, infinite number are daily cured of all kind of diseases. And this miraculous fountain is yet even seen in the fields, not far from the City of Madrid, and is visited with great concourse of people daily, both from fare and near.  
The devil envying the sanctity and simplicity of this holy man, began to device many plots and engines wherewith to entrap him in his snares. And therefore he incited some of his neighbours, to accuse his wife unto him of lightness, and to be less chaste than she ought. Which when Saint Isidore had oftentimes heard iterated in his cares, he was much afflicted and troubled in mind, for that the rumour thereof began now to be spread abroad amonghst his friends to his great disgrace, as they pretended, and he believed. His wife whose name was Marie (being also a very virtuous Godly woman) understanding thereof, and seeing her loving Husband perplexed and troubled therewith, said unto him Dear Husband, I understand, and see also by your countenance, that you are much troubled with suspicion of my Chastity: but be assured thereof there is no such thing, and that it is a mere Calumniation of both our honour: In testimony and confirmation whereof, I am even now ready to pass over this River (which was hard by) upon the water, trusting wholly in the confidence of God's mercy to clear myself of this lewd imputation. And thereupon she presently took her mantle and going to the great River of Xamara, spread the same upon the water, and sat down upon it, and passed over without any hurt or danger. This being done in presence of her Husband, and of many people, she was fully cleared of all suspicion, and the thing accounted for a manifest miracle.  
S. Isidore, being much comforted in soul by the foresaid miracle, did very much honour his wife always after for her virtue, till her dying day, which (full of holiness) followed some few years after, and he left alone, who continually bestowed his time, and followed the manner of life he was accustomed unto before, but yet never omitted his hearing of Mass every day, before he would take any work in hand, nor his other devotions at diverse times in the day, as his usual manner was. He often also repaired to an Hermitage near to Madrid, and spent many whole days and nights in pious discoursing with the Hermit, who was a Monk and a very holy man, and famous also for the gift of Prophecy, of whom Saint Isidore learned many things touching piety and devotion, and was thereby wonderfully illuminated also in many mysteries of our Holy Faith, especially touching our B. Lady, to whom he was always most devout, saying his beads many times a day in her honour.  
The holy Monk also instructed him, and taught him many other divine things, whereby S. Isidore was greatly inflamed with desire of that kind of life, but yet he was always still resigned to the will of God. By the Hermit's counsel also, he entered into the Confraternity of the rosary of our Blessed Lady, with great devotion and exact observance of all ●ules and Constitutions of the said Confraternity, and to the great edification of all his fellows. And there was a custom in that Confraternity that on certain days a distribution of bread and wine was made amongst the Sodales thereof and a certain part assigned to each one, which he had for his own use. Always at these distributions, Saint Isidore gave away his part to the poor. And on a time it happened, that his part assigned by the Confraternity, arrived to a good quantity, sufficient for the relief almost of twenty persons: Whereupon he taking the bread and wine home to his house invited all the poor people round about, who flocked thither in great numbers, to whom he began to distribute the same with his own hands, and it multiplied so much, that it sufficed three hundred persons, all being satisfied, and praising God for the great liberality bestowed upon them, and acknowledging the miracle.  
Other Miracles which he wrought in his life time are innumerable, and would fill a great volume to recount them al. But those which have happened since his death at his holy Body, by his intercession to God, are sat more in number, some few only whereof according to the brevity this place requireth shallbe recounted afterwards, when we have said a word or two of his death, which happened as followeth.  
In the year of our Lord 1170. which was the last of his life, whem by divine Revelation, he known that his death drew near, he entreated to have the B. Sacrament brought unto him, which he received with great Reverence and Devotion, and after made a long and most devour speech to those of his househould and neighbours present, exhorting them to live Christianlike, and in the fear of God, and observations of his holy Commandments. And so with a most sweet and amiable Countenance, rich in merits, and famous for miracles, he quietly and most happily gave up his soul to God.  
When the bruit of his happy death was spread abroad, the people of Madrid came to see and to touch his holy body, whom many held for a Saint for the miracles which they had heard him to have done, but especially those of the villages near about, and of the poorer sort of people, that were better acquainted with the manner of his life, and had seen, and been present at many miracles, which he had wrought. Notwithstanding because he was exteriorly poor, his body was buried in the Churchyard, in an ordinary Grave, among all other people, where it remained for the speace of 40. years, of whom all this while little or nothing more was spoken of, except it were amongst the meaner sort of people of the adjoining Villages, who had been best acquainted with him when he lived.  
But our Lord, who would have this his Saint honoured as well in earth as in heaven, at the end of forty years, revealed his intention to a pious and venerable Matron of Madrid, who had all this time been very devour unto Saint Isidore, for the miraculous things she had heard recounted of him by the fornamed john de Vargas: wherefore to satisfy her devotion, she dealt seriously with the Pastor of the Village, to have his body translated into the Church, and laid in some decent place thereof, promising to defray all the charges there about. The Pastor being a vertuens man, and having heard much talk of the miracles which he did when he lived, made further inquiry thereof, and found that he was in deed a very holy and innocent man, and that the Fountain which was close by the village, and very profitable and commodious for all the people, for the excellent water there of, was mireculously raised out of the ground by his merits: he dealt with the Bishop, expounded unto him the Matrons pious request, and having obtained his licence, appointed a certain day for the removal of the said body into the Church.  
In the mean time there was a little Vault propared, humble and decent, at the cost of the foresaid devout Matron, where his body was apppointed to be laid. And when the day appointed came, the people there about resorted to the solemnity, according as the Pastor had informed and invited them. All being ready, the Pastor with the rest of the Clergy of the Church, came in manner of procession to the Churchyard, and opening the Grave where his body lay, they found it whole and uncorrupt, and as fresh and fair, as if he had been dead but the day before (it being forty years complete after his decease) and from the same there proceeded so sweet and fragrant a smell, that it ravished all that were present. The grave was no sooner opened, but all the bells of the steeple began to ring in excellent tune and order, of themselves, and so continued during the Ceremony, and until he was translated into the Church, and laid in his new Sepulchre, to the astonishment of all that heard them: at which time also were healed many persons of many sorts of diseases.  
After his body was thus decently laid in the Church, very many began to do great reverence thereto, and it pleased God to witness, of what great merit & esteem he would have this his servant to be, by the many and wonderful miracles daily wrought at the same by his intercession, of some whereof we shall speak a word. And first to begin with a continual miracle, which remaineth even unto this day, the water of the fountain which he miraculously raised out of the ground, hath cured infinite people of all sicknesses and infirmities, and is had in very great esteem by all the inhabitants both of the City and Country round about, where you shall scarcely find a house, who hath not some of the said water continually preserved in vials of glass or bottles, ready for all infirmities or sudden sickness that may happen, especially agues, or blue spots. And when oftentimes there happeneth the sickness of the plague, the people find none so present or assured remedy, as the water of the said fountain.  
Another miracle, that hath very often been seen & testified by thousands of all sorts of people is, that the Lamp which hangeth before his sepulchre, hath been oftentimes lighted from heaven, without putting any fire thereto by the industry of man. Nay which is more, when there hath wanted oil in the lamp, and the same filled with water, the week hath burned as clear, and as bright as with oil. Which some curious persons have desired to prove and they themselves, both by putting in water, and lightning the week, because they would not believe the same without their own experience.  
The women of Spain have a very peculiar devotion to S. Isidore when they are great with child, & in labour of childbirth, because very many have been safely delivered, by his intercession, and by commending themselues unto him, in the extremity of their labour, & at such times as there hath been little hope of life.  
Those also who be troubled with the Gout, have great devotion unto him, for that many have been holpen being in great extremity, and cured of that infirmity, by his merits and prayers.  
Upon a time, there was a man who desired to get a relic of the holy Saint, whether for himself, or for another, is not certainly known. This man watching his opportunity, and hiding himself in the Church till all were gone thence, the doors being locked, came to the Tomb, and making shift to open a corner, so as he might reach unto the holy body, cut off a finger from S. Isidore, with intention to carry the same away: and having put it up into his pocket, and beginning to close up the Tomb again, that the theft might not be perceived, he was suddenly there arrested, and made so immoveable, that he could not stir afoot. Whereupon fearing exceedingly to be discovered and punished for fact, he took the finger and put it to the joint from which he had cut it, and it instantly fastened thereto again, and thereupon he was presently set at liberty; and so closing up the sepulchre departed, giving God and S. Isidore thankes, that no worse evil had happened unto him, being also very sorry for the rash attempt, which he had put in practice.  
There have happened many times great Drouthes in those parts for want of rain, which hath caused such barrenness of the ground, that the people have been ready to starve for want of corn: but by carrying S. Isidores sacred body in procession, the said drought hath presently ceased, and rain hath so watered the earth, that it hath become presently fevitefull. And all the husbandmen in Spain have taken this holy Saint for their peculiar Patron, and doeuse, even until these days, whensoever they sow corn, to pray unto S. Isidore, and call upon him to bless the same, offering a candle or some such like gift unto his sepulchre, by whose intercession they hope to have a happy harvest, and their piety in this kind is very seldom frustrated.  
Certain Gentlemen of Spain travailing on a time by Coach, and passing a very strait and narrow way upon the side of a rocky hill, the horses being furious, and their footing slippery, they fell down, drawing the Coach with the people in it after them, into a mighty precipice; who seeing the imminent danger cried for help to S. Isidore, and presently the horses and Coach stayed, hanging upon the side of the rock as it were in the air, until the people all got out, and saved themselves, to the number of 18. persons, and afterward drew up the horses and Coach, without any further hurt. For this so evident a miracle they all gave God and S. Isidore thankes, and sent donaries to his Tomb in testimony of the same. The Angelical Music, and celestial harmony which hath been often heard at his sepulchre is wonderful, in so much, that infinite people have witnessed the same, having been hearers thereof to their great astonishment.  
His apparitions to many have been very illustrious, as may be read at large in the History of his life; and in particular he appeared once to Alfonsus' King of Castille, who making war upon the Moors, obtained a miraculous victory by his intercession & merits. As also he appared in a vision at another time to one that lay sick (and was bereavest of all hope of life by the Physicians) bidding him take comfort and have confidence in God, for that he should recover, and so presently he became well, and received again his perfect health.  
And to conclude, the benefits which many have received by the infinite miraculous Cures done at his sepulchre, are so many and great, that a whole volume might be witten thereof. For there are recounted above twenty blind persons to have received their perfect sight, many dease & dumb to have recovered their hearing and speech, many crooked, lame, and deformed, to have received perfect strength and comeliness of body; many sick of the palsy, to have received perfect cure; and infinite others to have been delivered from all kind of infirmity wherewith they have been oppressed.  
Finally the late famous miracle wrought upon the person of the late King of Spain Philip the third, is testified by thousands of eye-witnesses, that were present at the same. The substance whereof in brief was this. In the year of our Lord 1619. the said King of famous memory going a Progress into Portugal, to visit that kingdom, together with the Prince and his other Children, after he had been received with most noble and magnificent Triumphs, as well in Lisbon as other places, in his return to Madrid, fell very dangerously sick of a hoar pestilent fever or Taberdillo, whereby he was in eminent danger of Death, and almost despaired of, by his Physicians. The court & nobility were strucken into fear at this sudden chance, and this dangerous infirmity of their King, was recommended to the prayers and devotion of all the people, especially of Religious Orders: but he continuing, so 2. or 3. days with out sign of amendment, desired to have the holy Relics of S. Isidore brought unto him, & with all his force and strength of body and mind, humbly commending himself unto him and his merits, that thereby it would please God, he might recover his health: he presently felt himself much better, the fever relenting, and within a few days after became perfectly well.  
As soon as he had recovered, he began to think how he might honour the Saint, by rendering him thankes for so singular a benefit, and presently determined to procure, with all endeavour, his Canonization, thereby to have him the more known & honoured through the world: but the death of Pope Paulus V as his own also ensuing soon after, the business was differred; yet on his deathbed did he seriously commend the same, to Philip the fourth his Son, the now present King of Spain, by whose intercession to the Sea Apostolic, he was, with the greatest honour and solemnity, that perhaps hath ever been made in that kind, canonised for a Saint, by Pope Gregory the XV. the 12. day of March in the year of our Lord 1622. in S. Peter's Church at Rome, that thereby his memory might be famous to posterity.  
His body being taken up the second time, and put into a costly Shrine 450. years after his death, was found wholly uncorrupt, sending forth a most pleasant and sweet smell, to the astonishment of all Spain, and so remaineth even until this day.  
His life is written elegantly, and at large in Spanish Verse, by Lopes de Vega Carpio, Secretary to the Marquis of Sarria, by F. Peter Ribadeneyra, D. Alfonsus Villegas in their Excravagants and others. His feast is celebrated, by many, upon the 12. day of march, on which he was canonised.   

THE LIFE OF THE HOLY Patriarch S. Ignarius of Loyola, Author and Founder of the Society of jesus. Taken out, of the most part, of the Authentical Relation made in Consistory before Pope Gregory the 15 by Cardinal de Monte, upon the 19 day of january 1622. a little before his Cannization, and translated into English.  
IGNATIUS Loyola was borne in that coast of Spain which belongeth to the Mount Pyraeneus, in the town of Aspeythia, within the Dioecese of Pamplona, the year of our Lord 1491. of Bertram Loyola and Mary Sanchez both noble Catholics, and godly parents, who in like godliness brought up their son: and in the first flower of his youth, as one that was of an excellent to wardlines both in mind and body, sent him unto the Catholic King Ferdinand his Court: where after he had remained a while amongst those young gallants, he betook himself to Antony Manriques, Duke of Najara and Viceroy of Navarre, living then in Pamplona, a fair and principal City of that Kingdom, and there began to give himself to the study and exercise of warlike affairs. And when the said City was besieged by an army of Frenchmen, Ignatius, who with other soldiers had undertaken to defend the Castle, (as he was foremost in the Conflict) by means of a stone which a piece of Artillery struck from off the wall, having his left leg sore wounded, and his right grievously crushed & broken, fell down half dead, and endured afterwards at home a long and painful cure, with such singular patience, that all the house did wonder thereat.  
But when by God's help he had begun to be some what eased of his grief, and had escaped all danger of death, seeing that he was yet longer to keep his bed, he desired to have some profane book or other, such as he was wont to read, to pass the time withal; which being not to be found in the house, two other Spanish books were brought unto him, whereof one contained the life of Christ our Lord, the other of his Saints. With the reading of these books he was so vehemently inflamed, that he determined from thenceforth to change his life, to follow the steps of Christ and his Saints, and to go to Hiecusalem, that he might worship those holy places, increase Gods holy spirit in the faithful, and convert Infidels to embrace his holy law and gospel.  
Wherefore as soon as his wounds were healed, he (very much against his Brother Martin Garcia his will) forsaking his country, his parents, & all frail and transitory things, as one that hereafter meant to become a fouldier of Christ jesus, took his journey to the Monastery of Montserat, & there having made a general confession of his former life, & hanged up his sword and dagger in the Church of the same Monastery, putting on a longside coat of course cloth, girded about him with a cord, bore headed, with a staff in his hand, all the night of the Vigil of the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, watching before our blessed Lady's Altar, sometimes standing, & sometimes upon his knees, ask pardon for his sins past, he dedicated himself wholly to God's holy service. From thence he went to a town near by called Manresa, and took up his lodging in the Hospital of S. Lucy, where, in a certain cave at the river's side that runneth by those plains, he began to bring forth worthy fruits of penance, leading a poor and austere life, amongst poor and abject people, whom he daily served even in the basest employments of their necessities.  
Having exercised himself in this place, a good while in this school of penance and other virtues, this Noble Pilgrim came to Rome in the year of our Lord. 1523. from whence as son as he had obtained the Apostolical been diction (which he received from Pope Adrian the sixth, & that even upon Easter day) he went first to Venice, and afterwards to Jerusalem. But when he had there visited those holy places, being afraid that he could not conveniently stay and employ himself in the salvation of souls in Palestine, he returned into Spain; where, to the intent that he might the better procure the spiritual good of his neighbours, not withstanding he was now thirty years old: first at Barcelona he studied Grammar, than heard Philosophy and Divinity in the University of Alcala, for the space of a year and half: and after this again at Paris he renewed all the same studies, living all this while of alms, yet never leaving off, nor interrupting the works of charity, humility and penance, which he was accustomed before to do.  
At Paris he came acquainted with some others, whom he persuaded to the same course of life, and they all together made this vow, that when their studies were ended, all worldly things being despised, they should go to Jerusalem, and there give themselves wholly to the salvation of souls by preaching, teaching etc. But if either within the space of a year there should be no fit opportunity to fail, or that they should not be permitted to stay at Jerusalem, that then as being absolved from the aforesaid vow, they should go to Rome, and present their sernice unto the Pope for the spiritual help of their neighbours.  
But when with over much studying and watching, Ignatius had fallen into a grievous disease of the stomach, by the appointment of the Physicians, and his Companions advice, he returned into his Country in the year of our Lord 1535. and there in an hospital of S. Mary Magdalen in begging his victuals from door to door, and serving of the poor, he very carefully bestowed the space of three months: when having recovered his health he went thence to Venice, whither his companions also of set purpose were to come, and in the same City received the holy Order of Priesthood, and made a vow of Poverty and Chastity before the Lord Verall Archbishop of Rosan, who being then the Pope's Legate, was afterwards created Cardinal.  
Now the year which they had agreed upon for their pilgrimage being expired, and their sailing into the holy Land hindered by the breach of peace between the Turks & the Venetians; Ignatius with his Company, came to Rome in the beginning of the year of our Lord 1537. where being entertained by Quirinus Garzonius a Citizen of Rome, & lodged in a certain farm of his, at the foot of mount Pincius, he offered his service unto the Pope with all readiness possible, to be employed in procuring the salvation of his neighbours. Mean while by instructing the ruder sort of people, in the principles of Christian Faith, and by other godly and landable living, he founded and got confirmed his Order of the Society of jesus, for the defence and increase of the Carholike faith, & good of souls. And albeit in the same Society he ordained three solemn Vows, yet unto those (which are common to other Religious) he added a fourth vow, whereby he promised a peculiar and special Obedience to the Pope, in undertaking of missions even unto the Turks, and Infidels themselves wheresoever, without taking any thing to bear their charges, and in teaching children the Christian Doctrine. This being done, he wrote the Constitutions of the same Society, which he afterwards being choose General, governed with very great praise both for wisdom and virtue; And lastly after many labours and travails, having received of the Pope his Apostolical benediction with a plenary Indulgence of his sins, calling upon the Name of jesus, he piously reposed in our Lord at Rome the last day of july in the year of our Lord 1556. being of the age of threescore and five years, and sixteen years after the Society was confirmed by the sea Apostolic, at what time the same was extended almost throughout the whole world. For he left established twelve Provinces, to wit, that of Portugal, of Castille, of Arragon, of Andaluzia, of all Italy (which comprehendeth Lombardy & Toscan) of Naples, of Sicily, of Germany, of Franders, of France, of Brasile, and of the East Indies; and in these Provinces there were at that time, about an hundred Colleges or Houses of the Society.  
His body was buried first in a low and humble Tomb at the right band of the high Altar, in his own little Church of our Blessed Lady at Rome, and afterward in the year 1587. it was translated solemnly to the new and sumptuous Church of the Casa Prosessa, which Cardinal Alexander Farnesius had newly erected, & there placed in a Vault at the Right hand of the high Altar, where it is yet reverenced with concourse of people from all parts of the world, as well for his admirable life and sanctity, as for the innumerable miracles that have been, and are daily wrought there at by his intercession, some whereof we shall relate, at the end of this narration, after we have briefly laid down his virtues, which follow in this manner: and first of his Faith.  
Such was the excellency of Faith, which the Holy Ghost by means of his perusing the a foresaid books before his Conversion, began to plat in the hart of Ignatius, that reading the wonderful things which God had wrought with his Saints, and believing that he would deal in like manner with him, if he should follow their steps, he therefore without any more ado leaving all, followed only our Saviour jesus Christ. This same Faith made him so meekly and patiently endure so many labours, and overcome so many difficulties, in bringing to pass whatsoever he had once undertaken for the glory of God and salvation of souls. This confirmed him so strongly in his poor and laborious course of life, not only by perpetual perseverance, notwithstanding many great impediments; but also by a formal institution of the same, established with solemn vows.  
Finally hence arose that wonderful care and diligence in procuring the conversion of Heretics, Schismatics, Moors, jews, & infidels: in preaching the Gospel to the Indians, Barbarians, and other nations by means of S. Xaverius and other of his Society: and in always teaching and holding the most sound and Catholic Doctrine as a true scholar of the Angelical Doctor S. Thomas, never giving care to any new fangled opinions, especially about the sacred mysteries of our Faith, which he so firmly believed, that he was wont to say. That although there were no Scriptures for his warrant, yet was he ready with all his hart to suffer death in defence of the same faith, for so much only as God had imparted and revealed unto him while he was at Manresa.  
First out of this so well grounded root of Faith, sprung up that his most singular Hope; whereof his true contempt of all worldly things, his austere penance, his rare confidence so little in himself, and so much in Almighty God, his wonderful courage in strong and hard enterprises for the glory of God, the delight and pleasure he took in the pains, reproaches and persecutions which he suffered for Christ, and to be short, his most sweet and continual meditation of death, are more than sufficient testimonies.  
Secondly, his Charity towards his Neighbours was such, that besides his daily serving of the poor and sick in Hospitals, and not only curing their bodies, but with most profound humility even licking their botches and sores, he also every day went a begging from door to door, bestowing the best part of the Alms he got, upon the poor of the Hospitals, and prisons of the City where he lived, contenting himself with the refuse, and worst part of all.  
Extraordinary was the care he had to instruct children and ignorant people in Christian doctrine. And the zeal wherewith he was carried away in procuring the salvation of souls, could not be contained within the bounds of one Kingdom, but extended itself even unto Jerusalem, whither after one pilgrimage, he vowed another, both for himself & the rest of his Society.  
For his Neighbour's sake, he composed the Book of Spiritual Exercises, which is one of the best that hath been written in that kind: for them he exceedingly furthered and increased the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament in his own Country. For them he was not a bashed at the age of thirty years, to go to school amongst little boys. To conclude, for them after he had ended his studies at Paris, together with a few more that had entered there into his Society, he went to Rome, where for them he offered all his endeavours and service to the Pope; for them he instituted the Order itself of the Society, propagating and multiplying the same with Missions, Colleges, Churches, Schools and Universities, of all kind of sciences, with other pious works (besides in particular the Germane College, the Hospitals of the Orphans and Cathecumen, the monasteries of S. Martha and S. Katherine in Rome) throughout all the world, every where by the exhortation & administration of his subjects, teaching the people to frequent the Sacrament of Penance, and holy Communion, Mass, Sermons, and other holy Exercises. And what wonder in him, who even in the beginning of his conversion after he had been grievously beaten, and almost brought to the point of death at Barcelona, for procuring the salvation of his neighbours, did not only not complain thereof, but gave God thankes for it, forgiving and (to fulfil our Lord's commandment) praying for his persecutors. In so much that after he had recovered his health, he was not afraid to return to his former works of Charity, and to hazard his very life for his brethren; notwithstanding all his friends dissuading him from it, to whom he always gave this answer: Quid mihi optabiliue quàm more pro Christ & salute proximi mei? What can I wish for, that would be more grateful and welcome to me, then to die for Christ, and the salvation of my neighbour?  
Thirdly if we consider how Ignatius did all that hath been touched above, merely for the love of God, how careful he was ever from his first conversion to keep his hart pure and clean from all touch of mortal sin, either in word or deed; how strictly, and often every day he examined his conscience, lest he should have any thing in it that might displease God, were it but the least venial negligence in his daily meditation, how he had withdrawn all his affection from all things that were not good, and fixed his whole hart upon God; how he daily used to meditate upon heavenly things; eftsoons stirring up himself to the love of God, by a certain jaculatory prayer in his book of Exercises which beginneth. Suscipe Domine universam libertatem meam, etc. How he leveled all his thoughts, words, and deeds to the honour and glory of God, in so much as he had always in his mouth (as a token of what was in his hart) this sentence. Admaiorem Dei gloriam. If we (I say) consider all this, we shall, the less wonder how he should out of the fervour of this charity, be forced to say, That he had rather if he were to have his choice, remain alive with uncertainty of his salvation, to the end he might serve God in the mean time, then die and go strait to heaven: and moreover he did persuade himself, if God Almighty should ever thrust him down to hell, that it would be a greater torment for him, to hear those horrible blasphemies against the name of God, then to be tortured with the most cruel pains that the damned suffer.  
Whatsoever he took in hand, first he commended it to God Almighty's providence and assistance; then he maturely consulted and examined what means he was to use, and what impediments he was to avoid which done, with great confidence and resolution, he achieved his intent & final end, which was always the glory of God.  
The great desire he had to satisfy Gods divine justice for his sins past, made him in Monserat, Manresa and Barcelona, go clothed in sackcloth, and girded about the very bare skin with a chain of iron. It made him oftentimes go barefoot, & that he might eschew vain glory, to cut out the soles of his shoes: It made him sleep upon the bare boards and ground, afflicting and punishing his body with iron whips and disciplines, fasting and other such like mortifications.  
To these may be added the fervour of his Devotion; the abundance of his tears; his daily prayer; his hearing or saying of Mass every day; his frequenting of the Sacraments; his visiting of holy places; singular devotion to our B. Lady; to the Angels, Saints, and holy Relics. Finally, his perfect keeping and fulfilling of the vows of Poverty, Chastity and perpetual Obedience, which he had made in the Society.  
Moreover, touching his uprightness towards his neighbour, his words were always sincere, plain and devoid of all deceit or flattery: his hart was pure and simple, ever taking all things in good part.  
His invincible courage, could not be quailed with the many and grievous tentations he had in the beginning of his conversion; nor with the manifold diseases he got in visiting of the sick; No nor all the injuries, reproaches, nor difficulties he found (which were without number) were able so much as once to turn him back, much less hinder him from attaining unto his desired end.  
He took great pleasure in seeing himself wronged, and disgraced, still requiting his enemies with special favours and benefits.  
All the time he was at Manresa & Barcelona, his fare was bread and water every day, except Sundaye.  
Once in a Chapel at Villadord, and another time in the Cave before mentioned, what with continual prayer, what with abstinence, he was found so lean and weak, that he was scarce able to stand. But at Barcelona by reason of the same extraordinary mortification, he fell into so grievous a sickness, that he would hardly have escaped death, if a certain pious and charitable woman, had not taken care of him, which he not without some difficulty admitting, said: Sinite me pati haec levia ut saluetur anima mea: let me suffer these trifles, that my soul may be saved.  
Out of the wonderful great care he had of Castity, both in himself & his subjects, proceeded that clause of his Constitutions, to wit, That those who were of his Society, should strive to imitate the purity of Angels, both in mind and body.  
After he had once made a purpose to change his life, he could not endure to hear his brother talk of his Nobility, Riches, Warlike Prowess, and the like, but as soon as he was well, he forsook the world. And once coming near home into his native soil, to recover his health, for fear of being honoured by his brother & other inhabitants, if they should have notice of him, he left the company of one of his acquaintance, and passing through desert mountains and byways, made choice rather of a poor Hospital, then of his Fathers Hall. Thus every where as much as he could, still hiding his Nobility, he always shunned the speech and conversation of such as he thought would know him. But if it were his chance in any place to mere with any that did know him, or took acquaintance with him, he would be sure never to return to that place any more.  
This rare contempt he had, not only of the world, but even of his own person, is sufficiently seen before in his poor and mean kind of living, and in taking such pleasure when he heard any thing spoken or done to his own disgrace.  
When he was chosen General of the Society of jesus (which he himself having instituted desired therefore it should be accounted and called, The least of all Religious) he altogether refused to undertake the charge, till such time as his Ghostly Father commanded him to take it upon him. And again ten years after, persevering still in the same Humility, he endeavoured by all means possible to be put out of the office, alleging that he himself was not fit to bear it.  
Having taken the office upon him, first he bestowed some days in serving the Cook in the kitchen, and afterwards began to teach children the Christian Doctrine, according to his Constitutions, that he might seal with his own example the Ordinances of Humility, which he was to propose unto others.  
He did what he could to conceal his own virtues and heavenly visions; intermingling ever in his speech some words or other of humility, as Miserum me, miseram animam meam. Woe is me wretch, woe is my wretched soul. Nay and which is more, sometimes he was wont to say, that If he were to ask a boon of Almighty God at the hour of his death, this he would be sure to request of him, that he would permit him to be buried in a dunghill, because he esteemed himself as dung. And to this many times he added, that he was much edified with the example and conversation of all but himself; and in a certain Epistle he wrote, that he never had conference or communication about spiritual matters with any man were he never so bad, that he did not reap some profit by him.  
Amongst the rest of the miracles of this great servant of God, we might well account this one and not the least, to wit, the wonderful light and knowledge he had in spiritual things as by the testimony of Pope julius the third, in the beginning of his book of Spiritual exercises, is sufficiently declared.  
Miraculous was that brightness which S. Philip Nerius, and Father Oliver Mannareus saw shine in his face whiles he lived. And no less miraculous was the speedy concourse and flocking of the people unto his body, as soon as he was dead, and the continual veneration and visiting not only of his Sepulchre, but also of his Chamber, his Cave, and other places wherein he had done penance.  
But besides these, God Almighty by intercession of this Saint, both before and after his happy death wrought many miracles, which are to be seen more at large in the Relation out of which this sum is taken, and in other histories of his life. I will here only rehearse, some few of them for our better instruction and further declaration of his sanctity.  
And first his great charity & zeal in procuring the salvation of souls, was miraculously confirmed in that, when a certain man whose name was Lissanus, for being cast in a suit of law, and hanged himself, and was by all men's judgement stone dead; he by his prayers obtained of God Almighty so much time for him to line again, that might serve his turn to be sorry for his sins, and to conferee them to a Priest, and receive Absolution.  
Secondly to increase our devotion to holy Relics, that may suffice which happened to Bartholomew Contesti, a Chirurgeon and Citizen of Maiorca, who was so tormented with a continual headache, that for vehemency of the pain, he was divers times forced to fall dowen to the very ground. And besides this, he had so grievous a disease in one of his eyes, that being unable to behold the least glimpse of light, he was fain to be shut up in a dark chamber, eating no meat but what others put into his mouth. As many and sundry medicines were applied as could be devised, but all in vain, for his disease still waxed worse and worse. In so much that Bartholomew, out of the intolerable pain he felt, was not afraid to protest, if a certain Chirurgeon, whose name was Pastor, were alive, that he would cause him to placke out his eye by the very root. But as he lay, now in this pitiful estate, hearing by good chance of the manifold miracles that were every where wrought by the intercession of S. Ignatius, with great devotion and hope of recovery by this means, he desired that they would bring him one of his subscriptions, or writings of his own hand: which was no sooner brought unto him, but he found himself well without all pain, either of head or eyes, rising out of his bed, and beholding the light of the sun with great ease and pleasure. And that he might be the better assured that this so sudden a cure was to be attributed to the divine power, and to the intercession of this servant of God S. Ignatius, for two or three several times, the Relic was no sooner taken away out of his chamber, but his former pain returned unto him; and the same Relic was no sooner brought back again into the chamber, but his pain left him. So that Bartholomew was advised to keep the Relic always about him, & thus within three or four days, he came to be so perfectly well, as if he had never been sick.  
In Rome a Lady called Drusilla Tursellina, being very much vexed with a vehement sever, and with the headache, having used many remedies, and been let blood in her arms, nostrils, and head, without profit, her sickness rather increasing every day; was presently healed by a relic of one of the Blessed Fathers bones, laid upon her forehead.  
Another woman named Olimpia Norina, had such a vehement pain in her eyes, that she came to lose her sight, & for the space of three months had such a continual ague, & pain in her head, that she could notrest. They brought her a subscription of the Blessed Father's hand, at the time that her pain was at the greatest, laying it upon her forehead, and eyes, & she began to see, and was rid of her ague and pain.  
In the same City in the year 1597. a noble man's child of seven years old, called Hierome Gabriel, being sick of a pestilent sever (called a Taberdillo) and of a pleurisy, having also the worms, so that there was little hope of his life, was healed with the same subscription of the Blessed Father.  
In the year 1599 the Lady joane Vrsina, being but a child, daughter to Cornelia Vrsina Duchess of Cesi, had so great a cough, that she could scarcely breathe or suck. The Duchess her mother commended her very earnestly and devoutly to blessed Father Ignatius, and beseeched him to obtain the health of her daughter: whereupon the child having been a night and a half without rest, presently fell a sleep, and her cough ceased, & she began to suck her Nurse's breast. For which cause the Duchess commanded a Tablet to be set on the Father's grave, in remembrance of the favour she had received.  
In the same year 1599 Angella Ruggiera was troubled with an extraordinary noise in her head for almost a year, and lost the hearing of her right ear; whereto applying a relic 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, recovered perfect health, and remained free from that infirmity.  
In the City of Naples, in the month of june of the year 1599, Donna of Arragon, Princess of Beltran, & Duchess of Terra-nova, had a great pain, and swelling in her right breast: and finding no remedy, amongst many which were applied in the space of four months, omitting, them all, as unprofitable, and laying upon her breast, with much devotion, the picture of the Blessed Father, she became well the same day: and coming to Rome the last Holy year of 1600. commanded a tablet of silver, with four great wax Tapers to be set upon the Blessed Father's tomb, on Easter day, in thanksgiving.  
In the City of Nola, the year 1599 in the month of November, a knight named Francis Blasius, being much vexed with a pestilent ague, and with a grievous pain in his head and stomach, so that in the judgement of the Physicians he was in danger of his life, his mother Zenobia Tolphia exhorted him to lay a relic of the bone of Blessed Father Ignatius to his head, and to commend himself unto him, desiring his favour. He did so, and remained free from all his pains, and his whole sickness.  
In the City of Lecha (which is in the Province of Apulia, in the Kingdom of Naples) a child of three years old, son to the Baron of Belli-boni, fell from his Nurse's arms upon the ground, and did notably hurt his right knee, which grew every day worse, because the Nurse for fear concealed the fall, and it went so far, that it was necessary to open the child's knee oftener than once, & this helped not: wherefore coming to cut it the third time, the Father fearing his Son's death (whom he did see consumed with the wound, and with the ague which followed thereupon) went to the College of the Society, and there they gave him a Relic of the Blessed Father's bone; which he laid upon the child, before they opened his knee the third time, and when the Surgeons came to do it, they found him much better, and within a few days altogether well.  
I will conclude with one more, which very much confirmeth the veneratiou of holy Images and pictures. In the year of our Lord 1603. in Vall dolid a principal City of Spain, one Ferdinand Pretel of Mendoza upon the 29. day of September, had fallen into a single Tertian ague, which not many days after came doubling and doubling so long upon him, till at last it was turned into a pestilent fever, which some call the black ague, the Spaniards, Taberdillo, and foot all the Physic he took in great abundance, it brought him at length to so desperate a case, that now quite and clean being given over of the Physicians, he made his confession, received the Blessed Sacrament, and desired that in due time he might have the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. All which things done the third day of December holding in his hands an Image of S. Ignatius which he had hanging about his neck, he called upon him with a loud voice, and with all his heart commended himself unto him, that he might obtain his health; when upon the sudden he began to be well, and was delivered from his disease, having his strength restored him again in such sort, that the thirteenth day of the same month, he made nine day's journey from Valladolid to Valentia, through cold and craggy mountains in the very hart of winter.  
These and multitudes of other miracles being daily seen and wrought throughout Europe, together with the Intercession of many Christian Kings and Princes to the sea Apostolic for further declaration of his Sanctity to the world, he was by Pope Paul V beatified in the year of Christ 1613. and his feast kept solemn with great devotion and concourse of people to the Colleges of the Society throughout Christendom. And Pope Gregory the XV. being assumpted to the chair of S. Peter, being moved with the foresaid miracles & many new ones daily wrought, being also thereunto incited at the request of Ferdinand the Emperor, of Philip the fourth King of Spain, Lewis the XIII. King of France, Sigismond King of Polomia, the Archdukes of Austria, Dukes of Bavaria, Savoy, Florence, Parma, Mantua, and others, he was Canonised for a Saint in S. Peter's Church at Rome upon the 12. day of March, in the year of our Lord God 1622.   

THE LIFE OF S. FRANCIS Xavier, of the Society of jesus, and Apostle of the Indies: taken also out of the authentical Relation made in Consistory by Cardinal de Monte the 19 of january 1622. before Pope Gregory the XV. upon the Acts of his Canonization, etc.  
FRANCIS Xavier was borne in that part of Navarre which belongeth unto Spain, in the year of our Lord 1497. in the Castle of Xavier, of noble Parents, to wit, john jasse Precedent of the King's Counsel of the same Province, and Mary Azpilcueta, Lords of the town of Xavier and other places there about, who having piously brought him up, and diligently instructed him in the principles of Christian Doctrine, when he was grown to ripeness of years, sent him to Paris, that he might furnish himself with learning in that famous University. And afterwards when his father was about to send for him home, Marry Magdalen Francis his sister, who then with great fame of sanctity was Abbess of the Monastery of the Reformed Nuns at Gandia, being by divine revelation informed of her Father's present purpose, and the future glory of her brother, wrote unto her said Father, that he should maintain Francis still at Paris in his studies by all means possible, yea though he should be forced to spend all his revenues upon him to that end: For that God Almighty had chosen him to be an Apostle of the new found world.  
Francis therefore at Paris coming to be acquainted with Ignatius Loyola (who was afterwards founder of the Society of jesus) was with many prayers, and tears by the same Ignatius, obtained of our Lord to be his companion in procuring the glory of God. And being instructed by him in the spiritual Exercises, profited so well thereby, that as one set on fire with the love of Euangellicall perfection, and setting naught by all the honours and riches of the world, he courageously undertook and constantly followed, under the bauner of the same Ignatius, an austere and contemptible kind of life, going a begging to get his victuals, giving himself to continual prayer & meditation of heavenly things, and afflicting his body with fasting and other works of penance.  
Departing from Paris he came into Italy, and whilst he expected opportunity to go with his companions into the Holy land, that they might labour there in converting the Turks, as they had made a vow to do, he in Venice, Bononia, and other Cities, with rare example of sanctity & fervour of spirit, by preaching and doing other works of charity, took wonderful great pains in procuring the salvation of his neighbours: Especially at Venice, where after he was made Priest, with great example of humility and charity he served the sick in the Hospital, being more ready and willing to assist and help those, whose very sight by reason of their uncurable diseases and loathsome wounds, others were not able to abide, and that he might get a more glorious victory of himself, he of ten-times drunk of the same water wherewith their sores had been washed.  
When there was no more hope of sailing that year, he and his companions as they had agreed before, came to Rome, that they might offer themselues to the Pope, to be sent whither he would for the spiritual good of their neighbours. And while they were leading there an austere life, very poor in whorldly commodities, but most rich in spiritual exercises and labours, taken for the glory of God, having newly laid the first foundations of the Society of jesus, john, King of Portugal, being very earnestly bend to the conversion of the East Indies, made humble suit unto Pope Paul the third, that he would send him some of Ignatius his companions who for learning and holiness of life were by all men's report judged fit for that voyage, that they might preach the Gospel in those most large and vast Provinces.  
For this exploit, Ignatius by the Pope's commission appointed Francis; who having received of the Pope the dignity and authority of Legate of the Sea Apostolic, as one now chosen by God for an Apostle according to his sister's Prophecy, took in hand his journey without delay. And the signs and tokens of his Sanctity and Apostolical fervour while he stayed in Portugal were such, that by the general voice of all, he was called the Apostle which name not only while he lived, but after he was dead also he ever kept still. In so much that for his sake throughout all Europe, Africa, Asia, and the new found world, as far as the portugals dominions reach, all that are of the Society of jesus, are called Apostles.  
Out of Portugal he took ship for the East Indies, but could not be persuaded to take any thing to bear his charges, except only an old patched cloak; and so begged his victuals in the ship, slept in the open air above the hatches, having a cable rope for his bed. He was always ready to help the sick, not only begging of those who had meat for such as wanted, but with his own hands also dressing and parting it amongst them, thinking no scorn even to wash their , or do any other service were it never so base, for them, in whose persons this holy and prudent servant of Christ, acknowledged and reverenced Christ himself.  
Having spent all day in praying & taking pains, he uncessantly watched all night in comforting the afflicted, and administering the Sacraments to such as were in danger of death. Whereupon some were wont to say, that the only thing Francis took pleasure in, next unto prayer, was serving of the sick. And this was ever his fashion and manner of living, not only in this, but also in all other voyages he made by sea, where in he spent a great part of his life. Neither did this his charity towards poor and sick persons shine only upon the sea, but also upon land while he abode in Cities, the beams of the same charity never lost one jot of their brightness. Nay rather being now made all with all, that he might gain and purchase the souls of all for God Almighty, to those that either by reason of wealth or health, had no need of this kind of service, he was never wanting in other seruioe, of no less importance for them when occasion was offered: never sparing of labour which he was to bestow in furthering the salvation of his Neighbours.  
When he arrived at the Indies after a long years seafaring he would grant no time of rest to his weather beaten body; but presently began to fling about the fire which he came to cast into those Provinces; going up and down the City, and calling together with a little bell into some Church or other, the children and people, there teaching them the Christian Doctrine, with such effieacy of spirit, that it pierced even to the bottom of their hearts, like unto the Doctrine of the Apostles. He persuaded them all to sing the prayers he taught them up and down the streets, and to teach their friends & acquaintance the same at home. Which custom by him brought into the Indies, to the great glory of God, remaineth and is observed there even until this day.  
Those that were come to years of discretion, by all gentle means possible, he invited to confession & penance, and never ceased with an undaunted courage, and many times with evident danger of his life, venturing into strange and uncouth Proninces, & that often times barefoot, with torn and beggailie apparel, to call heathens to the true liberty of the sons of God. In which enterprise Almighty God did specially assist the endeavours of his servant, confirming every where what he preached with miracles, that were most notorious, and like to those which the Apostles wrought, and inwardly moving the hearts of those that heard him, in such sort, that he converted and baptised: many though Lsandes, and drew many out of the puddle of sin, not without many and troublesome journeys both by sea and land. Many are the Kingdoms, Provinces and Lands through which the Legate of Heaven and of the Roman Sea went sowing the word of God. And at length as he was seeking entrance for the Gospel into the great Kingdom of China, this faithful servant, quite bruised & broken with the intolerable pains, which beyond all humane force he had so long endured for the glory of God, and altogether worn out and consumed with the heavenly & burning desire he had to see Christ his Saviour, being now at last, out of a desert I'll named Sancianum, called home unto his country of Heaven, & to the marriage of the Lamb of God, entered into the joy which our Lord had prepared for him, the second day of December, in the year of our Lord 1552.  
The virtues of this holy Apostle are very many and most Heroical, some whereof I shall here recount. The daily profession he made of his faith in receiving of the Sacraments, himself with wonderful great devotion, and with no less pains ministering the same to others; his heroical works; his great and dangerous pilgrimages to preach the same faith to Barbarous and Savage people, and that alone without any humane help at all, expressing and setting forth so lively in himself, the purity and sanctity of the Evangelicall Doctrine; finally the abundance of the fruit which he hath sent out of those foreign countries, into the granaries of the Catholic Church, to wit, so many millions of Christians, amongst whom so many glorious martyrs have watered and fertilized the Primitive Church of those Country with their blood, and so many Confessors in the very middle of most cruel persecutions have defended the faith of Christ, are pregnant proofs of the excellency of that Evangelicall seed of Faith, which he carried with him.  
Five things he had in him which cannot possibly consist without a most firm and steadfast Hope. First, a contempt of all temporal things, most manifestly seen in his despising of all worldly honours, dignities and riches which the world in all abondance did assure him of, and embracing an humble kind of life in religious purity, under the yoke of obedience, and that in the very flower of his youth. Secondly, his voluntary sufferance of excessive trouble, labours & miseries, to the which by how much more grievous they were, so much more willingly did he expose himself, as it most plainly appeareth in the whole discourse of his life. Thirdly, an undaunted courage in attempting hard enterprises, putting his very life so often in danger amongst strange and barbarous people. As for example when alone he encountered a whole army of Badagars', which afterward I will rehearse amongst other miracles. Fourthly a wonderful great security in dangers, in so much that in the midst of cares he was without care, and without fear in the midst of fears, ship wracks, enemies, and many other miseries, hanging many times over his very head. Lastly an incredible joy in adversity, which may be evidently proved by his continual cheerfulness of mind and readiness of will, whereby glorying with the Apostle in the hope of the sons of God, he suffered so many labours, and troubles, so many perils and adversities, living justly & holily in this world, and expecting the blessed hope and coming of Almighty God.  
For the love of God, he most exactly and perfectly kept all his commandments, daily meditating upon his sacred Law with a pure conscience, and great horror of never so little transgressing, or doing any thing against the same himself, and never without great care that others should likewise observe the same; wherein, as also in keeping his vows of voluntary Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, he so excelled, that he did not only thereby stop the adversary's mouths, but by the mouths and tongues of all, not only of Christians, but even of Idolaters themselves, he was commonly called by no other name but Saint.  
For the same love, had he so familiar and often conference every day with God, whereby he was so set on fire, that many times with his face all inflamed, & his eyes fastened upon heaven, he was miraculously elevated, and raised up from the ground: sundry times as one not able to contain the abundance of his heavenly consolations, he would cry out, Satis est Domine, satis est: It is enough O Lord, it is enough. He had jesus in heart ad mouth, both sleeping and waking. And so in sleep would he often call upon him, Mi jesus, dulcis jesus and even in the middle of whole multitudes of people, he would burst forth into Faculatory prayers, which greatly moved those that heard him, to the love of God.  
Moreover this same Charity was that, which cast away all fears of so many ship wracks and dangers, in travailing alone through strange and desert countries, & dealing with the harsh, and savage humours and conditions of those barbarous and rude Infidels. Finally his admirable Charity doth so shine in the contempt he had, not only of all worldly things but even of death itself, that he might truly say with S. Paul: Quis nos seperabit à Charitate Christi? tribulatio? an angustia? an fames? an nuditas? an periculum etc. in his omnibus superamus propter eum qui diligit nos. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation? shall anguish? shall hunger? shall nakedness? danger etc. in all these we get the upper hand, for his sake that loveth us.  
Of his Charity towards his neighbour, he gave sufficient testimony in all Hospitals where he came, serving of the sick, dressing their meat with his own hands, watching many times all night with them, assicting them at the hour of their death, washing their dead bodies and burying them, were they never so loath some & full of sores. He was wont to part; not only all that he had himself, but all that he could beg also from door to door of others, amongst the poor, with such feeling of love, that he was not only called commonlv, the Father of the poor, but many also would afirme, that Prayer and Poor men, were his only joy & delight.  
He took very great compassion upon prisoners, whom he often visited, and comforted both with corporal and spiritual sood, pleading for them, and making suit for their deliuéry, as far as he could proceed with any show of reason: and thus without eating any thing he would spend whole days, and feel no hunger, which he could not have done without another special meat which was to do the will of Christ, in works of Charity towards his neighbour.  
He was daily teaching Children the principles of Christian Doctrine, & explicating the same more at large to such as were of more capacity; he was always calling sinners to repentance, and driving away the darkness of error and infidelity, with the light of the holy Gospel. To conclude, in all things whatsoever he did or took in hand, he sought nothing else but the salvation of souls, which he so tenderly loved, that he was ready to shed his blood for them, as is most apparent by the hard and dangerous enterprises he undertook for their sakes.  
No time nor place, were they never so dangerous, no difficulties nor employments were they of never so great importance, could defraud him of his prayer. For whatsoever any extraordinary work of Charity took away from his ordinary hours of meditation in the day times, he would be sure to make that night's rest pay for it, in so much that many times, following the example of our Saviour, after whole days spent in great toil and trouble, from midnight until morning, pernoctabat in oratione Dei, he watched in meditation of heavenly things: thus ordinarily in some garden if the night were clear and the firmament all adorned, with glittering stars, by means of so beautiful creatures, he would stand wholly ravished with the beauty of his Creator.  
The flashing flames and brightness which have been seen in his face while he prayed, did not only evidently show the efficacy of that fire of devotion within his own breast, but enkindled also a new fire of devotion & love of God in the hearts of them that faw it. Now what tongue of mortal man is able to express the sweetness and jubilee of heart which in prayer, his mortal heart being unable to bear, he was often heard to say: Non plus Domine, satis est No more, o Lord, it is enough. And once in Mass he was so raptin ecstasy, that he could not feel him that served him now and then to pull him by his vestment, nor for the space of an hour return unto his senses.  
Notwithstanding all this, he esteemed himself the greatest sinner in the world, & inferior unto all, there was nothing so base, that he thought not good enough for himself; no honour so small, that he deemed himself worthy of, so that he desired to have command over none, but to be subject under all, and therefore did he reverence all as if they had been his Superiors.  
All ambition he trod under foot, blushing no less when he was praised, than others are wont to do when they are dispraised; and whensoever he did miracles, or any thing else that might redound to his praise or commendation, he did what he could to put it off, by attributing what was done to the merits and intercession of his companions, or other people then present.  
He kept the great authority which the Pope had given him so close, that for the space of ten years, none but only the Bishop of Goa knew that he was the Pope's Legate; neither did he ever use the same but only once, and that not without the advice of the said Bishop, when he had no other means at all left to maintain the glory of God.  
In ships and hospitals he always made choice (as we have seen before) of the basest offices. He always bore great respect and reverence, to Bishops, Priests, and all other Superiors: in so much that he never wrote letter to S. Ignatius his General, but upon his knees.  
Out of this Humility did he choose rather a beggar's weed, than a nobleman's robe, finding more content in the gross fare he had by begging of others, them in the dainty dishes which he might have had of his own; and so he ever refused the rich apparel that every where was offered him; But whatsoever dainty dish he got by begging or otherways, he parted it amongst the poor.  
In his chamber he had nothing but a few necessary books, & a bed, with a course coverler, and two hard bolsters, more fit to drive a way, than any way to procure sleep.  
In all his many and long pilgrimages a staff always was his horse, and all his provision depended upon the liberality of the country which he travailed along. But if he were to go through any long desert, where no man lived, he would be sure to provide the poorest victuals he could, and so in all that long and desolate journey which he made to Mexico, he eat nothing else but dried Rice. As for his apparel it was such as made the boys laugh at him as he travailed along the streets. Finally as he would eat nothing but what he begged, so would he take up no lodging but in public Hospitals with beggars.  
Besides all that hath been said, he would never drink wine, nor eat flesh, or bread made of wheat; fasting many times without eating any thing at all for two, or three, or four days together, and sometimes from Passion sunday to Easter Eue. He did very often chastise his body by sharp disciplines plaited with wire, till he had fercht out great store of blood. Once in the beginning of his conversion he went so long with his arms and thighs straight bound, that the cords having buried themselves within his flesh, the Physicians and Surgeons judged him to be uncurable, and that he could never have escaped death, if the ropes had not been miraculously broken. He was contented with two or three hours' sleep, employing all the rest of the night in praying, and visiting of the sick.  
Thus he overcame the world in wholly vanquishing of himself and all his sensual appetites, with such weapons as you have seen, and that which stout stomaches would searce abide to hear of, I mean his drinking of the water wherewith he had washed sick men's sores and botches.  
From the year of our Lord 1541. when he sailed into the Indies, unto the year 1552. when he died, he lived in conunuall travails amongst strange and barbarous people, often enduring intolerable heat, cold, nakedness, hunger and thirst for long time together, going many day's journeys amongst thorues and briers, almost every where entertained with scoffs and reproaches, nay and in some places, with stripes and stones, for which with a merry and cheerful heart he gave thankes to God, humbly ask pardon for his persecutors.  
As soon as he came into any of those strange countries, which were many and diverse where he preached the Gospel, he spoke the language of the same Nation, were it never so different from the rest, as elegantly and readily as if he had been borne and brought up in the same country, and diverse times it happened, that men of diverse nations heard every one their own tongue in one Sermon. Worthy therefore, and thrice worthy of that most renowned title of Apostle, which the people both of Spain and India do give as due unto him, seeing that Christ himself seemed to confirm the same, not only by the prophecy of Xaverius his own sister, but by that special gift also which his Apostles had to preach his holy Gospel.  
Amongst many examples of this rare gift which may be seen in the Relation above written, since the brevity of this sum will not admit all, I have made choice of one no less pleasant than profitable.  
It happened that Xaverius upon a time coming to Peter Vellius a wealthy man then living in a City called Machai, as he was playing at Chess in one of his neighbour's houses, asked an alms of him for some special work of charity. Vellius at the first word gave him his key and bade him go & take as much as he would Xaverius went & took three hundred Crowns, & brought the key back again to Vellius, who as soon as he canoe home, opening the chest found all his money as he had left it, and wondering at the same, the next time he met Xaverius, asked him how much money he had taken. Xaverius answered, that he had taken three hundred Crowns. To which Vellius replied, that he found all his money entire as he left it; and moreover he added that he delivered him his key, to the intent he might have taken the one half of the thirty thousand crowns that were in the chest. Which Xaverius hearing, I therefore (said he) in the name of God do give my word unto thee Vellius, that thou shalt never want, but God shall always send thee whatsoever thou shalt have need of, & all men shallbe liberal and bountiful towards thee; nay and which is more, the last day of thy life shallbe revealed unto thee. And so indeed all fell out just as Xaverius had foretold. For albeit Vellius afterwards had many great misfortunes which might have brought him to extreme poverty, yet all men dealt still so liberally with him, that he never wanted any thing neither for himself, nor for his family as long as he lived.  
To conclude, at length when many years were past Vellius, being by revelation forewarned of his death, after he had given a great deal of his wealth unto the poor, and provided a Mass to be song for his soul, bidding his friend's farewell, he told them all the prophecy of Xaverius & the event thereof. His friends thought that the old man began to dote. But he having heard almost all the Mass solemnly sung for the dead, made no more a do, but went & laid himself along upon his beer, and covered all over with a veil, there waited for death. When Mass was done, and the Priest had said, Requiescant in pace, his servants ran unto him to take the veil off him, supposing that he was yet alive; but he had already yielded up the Ghost, and rendered his soul into the hands of his Creator.  
As the Badagars' (a furious generation of people) were coming in great haste over the tops of mountains, with an huge army to destroy those Christians which Xaverius had baptised in the Kingdom of Travancor, and about the Promontory of Comorinum, Xaverius all alone armed with the buckler of an muincible confidence in Almighty God, went to meet them, and coming unto them began to rebuke them very severely, when upon a sudden the whole army stood still and was not able to go forwards any further. In so much that all their Captains calling upon them, and exhorting them to march on, nothing prevailed with them, for they plainly answered, that they could no longer abide the heat that sparkled out of the eyes, and face of a certain great man of a terrible Majesty I in black that stood over against them with Xaverius. Which the Captains themselves soon after, by their own experience finding o be true, made a retreat to be sounded, and so all the army returned, and Xaverius having wō●e the field, deliveted from all danger his loving children which he had brought forth in Christ.  
Another time as he was travailing on the Mountains of Comorinum, there came unto him a poor Beggar so full of fores and ulcers, that no man was scarce able to behold the loath somnes thereof. Xaverius with great charity and humility, washed his sores, and to get greater victory over himself, drunk up the water wherewith he had washed them: And then kneeling down upon the ground, he fervently prayed unto God for the health of the poor man, who was presently delivered and freed wholly from all his infirmities.  
Again, at another time also, as Xaverius sailed from Ambionum (a City in the Lands of Moluca) unto the Island of Baranula, there arose upon the sudden a cruel Tempest; for the deasing whereof, he took from his neck a little Crucifix about a fingers length, and held it in his hand in the water for a good space, praying unto our Lord for the ceasing of the tempest. The ship being tossed to and fro with the waves, by chance he let it fall from him into the sea, for which he was very pensive, & shown great signs of sorrow. The day following, they all arrived safe at the for said Island whither they were to sail, where Xaverius going a land, with his Companion a long the sea shore towards the town of Tamalum, behold, a great sea-Crabbe leapt from out the sea to land, carring the said Crucifix upright and on high between her Fins, and made haste to Xaverius; who seeing the wonder, fell down on his knees, and reverently took the Crucifix from her, and then prosently without more ado the fish returned into the sea. Xaverius having received the Crucifix, kissed the same devoutly and with his arms a cross for half an hour, lay prostrate upon the ground in prayer with his Companion, giving God thanks for so wonderful a miracle.  
Many more and strange were the miracles which God wrought by Xaverius his intercession in his life time; as when with the sign of the cross, he turned the salt water of the sea into sweet, when he cured the blind, raised three bodies from death to life, whereof one had lain a whole day buried in his grave, and the like, as may be seen at large in the said Relation.  
All which together with his excellent virtues above touched, did so fill the most wide & large Provinces both of East and West, with the great fame of his admirable sanctity, that even while he was yet alive he was called by no other name but Saint, both by Christians and Infidels, all ever calling upon him, though he were absent, in all their dangers and afflictions.  
As soon as he was dead, his body was put into a coffin full of pure lime, and so buried under ground, that the flesh being consumed, his bones might the sooner be carried into the Indies; But four months after, they found both his  and his body as fresh and free from all corruption, as if they had been then newly put into the coffin, and yielding more over a most sweet and comfortable smell unto all that were present.  
Wherefore putting it again into the same Coffin with fresh lime they brought it unto Malaca, at the very first entrance whereof into the City, a great plague which Xaverius had foretold, and had long afflicted the same, wholly ceased; and there likewise finding it yet entire and sweet, they made a new coffin, and by thrusting in the body (for they made it too little) blood issued out of his shoulders, and so they buried him only with earth in a Church of our B. Lady; where also nine months after his death being found as before, and with the veil that covered his face all imbrued in fresh blood, they made him a rich and sumptuous Coffin, wherein being carried into the Indies he was solemnly received in the City of Goa, with great Pompe both of the Viceroy himself, and of all the Clergy & people, who flocked thither from all parts to see and reverence his sacred body, which after many trials found still to remain uncorrupted, and that without balm or an yother precious ointments, was placed at last in a sepulchre made of purpose, at the right side of the high altar in the church of the Society in the same City.  
Unto which as also unto other Churches in which his Images are set up to be piously reverenced, all as well heathens as Christians do make great pilgrimages, obtaining therefore of God no small favours by his intercession. For by this means the blind recover sight, the leprosy and other diseases are cured, the dead raised to life, and many other such like wonders wrought. Nay which is more, and very wonderful, there was a woman called Lucy de Villanzan, who being an hundred and twenty years of age, and had been baptised by Xaverius, after his death got a Meddall made at Coccinum, whereon was engraven his picture: & for the great devotion she had towards the said Blessed Father, for twelve years together she used to touch sick and diseased people therewith, with, as also diverse kinds of ulcers, cankers, and other sores, washing than in the water wherein she did put the said medal, & with great reverence and humility making the sign of the Cross upon them, and saying. In the name of jesus, and of Father Francis Xaverius, be thy health restored to thee etc. they were presently cured; and many other marvellous things were done by the virtue of the said medal, & sincere faith and devotion of that Christian woman.  
So great is the respect which the very Infidels themselves bear to Xaverius, that although they have destroyed a dozen Churches within the Coast of Travancor, near to the Promontory of Comorinum, yet they would never touch, or once meddle with the Church of Cottara, standing amongst the rest, which for having in it the Image of Xaverius, they greatly honour, calling it the Church of the great Father. And so amongst other wonderful works of God in confirmation of the Christian Faith and sanctity of Xaverius, the very lamps that hang before his Image, having nothing else but holy water in them, have been seen to burn for many hours together, as if there had been oil, and that with great admiration and wonder of many Turks and Infidels, whereof some, especially such as the Christians did now and then invite to see the miracle, to the intent that they might make a full trial of the truth, diverse times changed the water, and put new matches or weeks in the said lamps, which nevertheless did burn as before, & sometimes even take fire and kindle of themselves, Mirabilis Deus, in sanctis suis! O how wonderful is God in his Saints.   

THE LIFE OF S. PHILIP Nerius of Floremce, Founder of the Congregation of The Oratory; wittten in Latin, by Antony Gallonius, Priest of the same Congregation; and translated into English.  
SAINT Philip Nerius was borne in Florence, a famous and principal City of Italy, the 23. of july in the year of our Lord 1515. Whose parents were Francis Nerius & Lucretia Soldi, Citizens of Florence. When he was but five years old, he was so obedient unto his father and mother, that whatsoever they commanded him to do, or not to do, he most diligently and carefully observed.  
It happened that on a time a servant of his Fathers, brought from his Farm which he had in the Country, an Ass loaden with apples, which being unloaden, Philip, being now about 8. years old, got upon the Ass, who by misfortune was cast from his back headlong into a Cellar, which thing being known, his parents presently ran with sorrowful hearts to take up their son, without hope to find him alive; but when they came to the Cellar, they found him safe and sound, to their great astonishment. About this Age he was set to school, who not only profited in learning, but in virtue also, fare above his fellows. And seeing he was as it were chosen by the holy Ghost to be a preacher of God's word, he did much delight in visiting and frequenting of churches, and hearing of sermons, greatly reverencing the Priests, and Preachers of the holy Church.  
When he was sixteen years of age and somewhat more, his Father sent him into Campania to his Uncle Romulus, living there in the town of S. Germane, at the foot of Mount Cassine, who was a very wealthy man, and had no children, and who had sent for Philip his nephew unto Florence, to the end to make him his Heir. But after he had stayed there a few days, fearing to be entangled with the world, he left his uncle, and all other friends, and came to Rome in the year 1533.  
When he was come to the City, he went unto the house of one Galeot, who was a Citizen of Floremce, with whom he lived diverse years, in great sanctity, leading an austere life, contenting himself with bread and water once a day, and oftentimes he passed three whole days, without eating any thing at all, delighting himself only with meditation of heavenly things, in the very youth & flower of his age, wherein he spent whole days and nights. And that he might be the better able to help others afterward in spiritual matters he frequented the schools, and heard Philosophy, profiting so well therein, that he became equal to any of his fellows, still retaining the innocency of his childhood, even in that age of his, and amongst so many dissolute students, as than he must needs be conversant withal.  
When he had now ended his Philosophy, and also a good part of his Divinity, he began to bid adieu unto the world, & thought seriously how he might best employ himself, in the honour of God and service of his neighbours. Wherefore he betook himself, unto the Hospitals, where he comforted the ficke, served them with his own hands, assisted them in any thing he could, teaching and instructing them how to make a good Confession, and to die happily if it should please God to call them. He had always a special care, never to come acquainted or be familiar with wicked people. He exhorted as many as he saw had good parts, to enter into Religion, and in this point he happily prevailed with a great number, who by his persuasion daily renounced the world and became Riligious: In so much that S. Ignatius of Loyola, who then lived in Rome, and had newly instituted the Socity of jesus, and with whomthiss holy man was greatly acquainted and conversant, was wont to call him the Bell, for that by his good sound and pious voice, he called so many to holy Religion. And thus labouring on all sides to gain souls to God, he became a most lively example of Piety and Devotion, unto all, even whiles he was yet a lay man.  
In the year of Christ 1551. He took upon him holy Orders, & was made Priest by commandment of his Ghostly Father. In saying of his Mass he was so rapt oftentimes, that he was seen to remain in the air 2 foot above the ground, and was smetimes so taken in ecstasy, through the extreme love and admitation of that Divine mystery, that he known not where he was. His hart was also so inflamed with the lolue of the Holy Ghost, that often times in the very depth of winter, and in the greatest cold weather, he was forced to apply outwardly some cooling and refrigerative thing unto his breast.  
It happened on a time, that by his reading certain Epistles of the Indies, In which he took great delight, he was so moved with compassion towards the Infidels of those vast and remote Countries, for that they were not members of God's Church; that he resolved to go thither in person, with twenty others of his disciples, to preach and teach the faith of Christ unto them, for their Conversion. But this business, as all other of moment, he first commended seriously to God in his daily prayers and meditations, craving his assistance, direction, and declaration of his holy will therein. At length our Lord put into his mind, that concerning this great affair, he should go and consult, and take his direction from a Monk of S. Bernard's Order, who then lived in the Monastery of S. Vincentius and Anastasius in Rome, a greet servant of God, and much reverenced for the holiness of his life. To him S. Philip presently repaired, and expounded unto him his whole intention and desire: who presently demanded some respite to answer, him, saying that this business was to be sought from God for answer, by earnest prayer, and intercession to know his will: wherefore joining both their prayers together, after some hours of recollection, the Holy Monk told him, that he was not to go to the Indies (for that work (was to be done by another) but to remain still in Rome, & that Rome must be the Indies, and the vineyard which God would have him to manure and cultivate: Adding further, that S. john the Evangelist had appeared unto him, and told him so: and that he should gather together many Disciples in Rome, whose works should be very profitable to that City.  
With this answer S. Philip was fully satisfied of the will of God concerning that business, and therefore now began to apply himself to the help of his neighbours, by teacing, preaching, reading of Saints lives, hearing Confessions, and the like; so that in short time, he had many followers, and worthy Disciples (amongst which Caesar Baronius, afterward Cardinal, that famous Historiographer was one (with whom he laid the foundation of his order, beginning by little & little, & calling the people together into the Church with a bell at certain hours of the day; wherein after half an hour of mental prayer spent, which every one made to himself (yet altogether in one place) there were recited publicly te litanies and other prayers, commending therein as well the public, as the private affairs of the holy Church. This order was observed on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and saturdays. The other three days of the week, to wit, Monday, Wednesday, day, and Friday, when they met together, thy made a discipline whiles the 50. psalm and the Anthymne of Salue Regina (or some other Psalm or Hymn) was reading having exposed before them only the Image of Christ crucified, placed in such order in a lantern, that all the Confraternity might behold the same at once in the dark. Which custom weekly observed, doth yet remain in the said Congregation, with great devotion and fruit of spiritual profit.  
This was the first beginning and foundation of the Congregation, of the Oratory which was erected in S. Hieromes Church in Rome, surnamed de Charitate. And after a few years the same was brought into use in the Church of S. john Baptist also in Rome, belonging to the Florentines, at the request and intercession of the Citizens of Florence, and there remained, until S. Philip founded a new Church and house, of his own, at our Blessed Ladies in Vallicella commonly called the Chiesa nuova, where himself lived until his dying day: And now is greatly in creased & spread over all Italy, France, Spain, Germany, & other Provinces, to the great advancement of Piety & Devotion in the faithful.  
His predictions, prophecies, and foreknowledge of secret things (being far absent) are wonderful in him both alive and dead, and to set down an example or two in this place, it will not be amiss. It happened upon a time that Cardinal Baronius, being then a Disciple of the Blessed Father and a layman, came unto him one evening to Confession. The Father as soon as he saw him said, Go Caesar, go presently to the Hospital of S. Spiritus, and help the sick, I will hear thy Confession afterward. Baronius was at this somewhat troubled being now prepared for his Confession, and replied, that the time of serving the sick was now past, and that he should lose his labour in going thither, as coming at an unseasonable hour, when there was nothing to do. Do as I bid thee, said the holy Father without more ado. Baronius being ready to obey, went presently to the Hospital, and when he came to the entrance of the room where the sick lay, he began to reason with himself, saying; Sure, there is some mystery in this matter, that our Father commands me to come hither at this unseasonable hour (for it was now even night & time of rest) and whiles he was thus reasoning with himself, he espied a sick man, with a candle standing lighted at his head, ready to give up the Ghost, to whom he presently went, and began to comfort with words of consolation, demanding whether he had confessed his sins, and received the Sacraments of the holy Church: who being hardly able to draw his breath, answeree no. Then Baronius presently ran to the Chaplain of the Hospital, and willed him to come quickly & hear his Confession. The Chaplain somewhat ashamed of his own negligence, began to excuse it, and came with him instantly to the sick man, who made his Confession, and presently received the holy Sacrament of the Altar, and Extreme Unction, and so strait after departed happily this life. Baronius returned home, & came unto the Father and related the whole story. Why so quoth the holy Father, hence forward learn to obey more readily, and do what thou art commanded.  
After that Baronius was made Priest, and had a long time preached unto the people at S. john Florentines Church aforesaid, who was also superior of the Congregation of that house, he was exempted from his Office, and commanded by the holy Father to write the Ecclesiastical History of the Church, which after many difficulties proposed to the said Father, he obeyed his voice, and began the same, and afterward very happily deduced it to the 13. hundred year after Christ, as may be seen by his twelve Tomes extant every where.  
Another time it happened, that the Parents of a young Gentleman, desirous to promote their soon, caused him to be made Priest at the age of 17. years, by reason that there was a great inheritance fallen unto the second Heir of that family, which yet could not be possessed by him unless he were a Priest: So his Parents concealing his age both from the Bishop, and the young man himself, and all others, he was made Priest & took possession of the Inheritance. Presently after it chanced that Thomas (so he was called) came to Rome, and hearing of the great fame of S. Philip Nerius, he was brought unto him to salute him. So soon as the holy man saw him, he said. You are a Priest Sir: is it not so? Yea, quoth the other, I am without doubt, by the grace of God. You say true, said Saint Philip: and then he could him his age truly, and how all had happened, by his friends means, and for what cause, never seeing knowing or hearing of the man before that hour. Afterward S. Philip was demanded of those that stood by, & heard these things, how he knew, that the was a Priest? He said, that he did see the face of the young man to shine in the same manner, that all others who be signed with the Character of true Priesthood, do use to do.  
It happened also that a noble Roman young youth, who was given greatly to the pleasures of the world, was by another like youth and friend of his who was very devout, brought unto S. Philip under colour to see and salute him. When he came, his friend could the holy Father, that he had brought unto him a Penitent. The Noble young man began to be angry, thinking that the other had mocked him, for that he had no cogitation of Confession; Yet in presence of S. Philip, for fear and reverence of his person, he assuaged his choler. And presently kneeled down unto him, saying that he would confess, and so began: but with intention to deceive the Father by not confessing his sins truly as he should. The Father by divine revelation knew his intention, and so let him make an end. When he seemed to have done, the Father exhorted him, that if he had committed any other sins, he should confess them. The other replied, and said, that he had confessed all. Then S. Philip stood up, and imbraching him said: You say not true, my Son, for you have made but a feigned Confession of your sins. Now therefore I advice you in the name of God, that you confess them wholly, that you may be made worthy of pardon and forgiveness. Which words so pierced the hart of the noble young man, that repeating again his Confession, he made it wholly and perfect of all his sins, even from his childhood: and moreover committed himself to be wholly governed and directed for the rest of his life to the holy Father Who profited so well in spirit under so great a Master, that within a while after he became a Religious man, and entered into the order of Saint Francis, wherein he happily continued and made a holy end. His name was Raphael Lupus.  
The miracles which it pleased God to work of his servant both alive & dead, are almost innumerable. In the year of Christ 1552. one Mauritius Anerius, a Roman, fell dangerously sick, who being forsaken of the Physicians, as desperate, prepared himself to die, and had now received the holy Sacraments of the Altar, and Extreme Unction, expecting a happy hour. Saint Philip hearing thereof, went in the evening to visit him, who found his wife and kinsfolks weeping, bewailing the loss of so dear a friend. The holy Father exhorted all present to kneel down with him, & implore the help of the B. Virgin for the sick man, presently they did as he willed, and he in the mean space laid his hands upon his head; which done, he went his way out of the house, the others either not seeing him to departed, or else not marking the same, being all full of grief and sorrow. But see a wonder; he was scarce gone, but the sick man began to open his eyes, look about him, and talk as ready and sensibly as ever he did in his health, saying he was well, and would needs rise out of his head, sounding forth praises to God, and extolling the holiness of S. Philip, by whose help and assistance he had recovered his health; & he lived after this, until the year of our Lord 1593. continually praising God and the How Father for the miracle.  
The like happened unto one Peter Victricius a Citizen of Parma in the year of Christ 1566. who living then in Rome, fell into a dangerous sickness, which so increased, that the Phisirians gave him over for a dead man. In this mean time came the holy Father unto him to comfort, and assist him for his last passage, who holding his hands over him, and praying earnestly to God for his health, he presently felt himself better, and within a dayor two, became perfectly well, extolling and praising the sanctity of S. Philip.  
The same year john Baptista Crescius, a young man of Rome, had such an intolerable pain in his eyes, by reason of a burning water which ran from them, that he could neither endure the light, or the air, or take any rest or repose for many days, whereby he was in danger of his life, the Physicians determined to make him an issue in his neck, but he not willing to have it, desired an uncle of his to lead him to the holy Father Philip, which he did, desiring him, that it would please him to pray to God for his Nephew that he might recover the health of his eyes. The holy man presently touched his eyes with his hands, making the sign of the Cross upon them and said. Thou shalt my Son, by God's help, recover thy eyes; & presently he began to open them, & see perfectly, & could endure the light, which before he could not, and so within two or three days he became perfectly well, without applying any thing at all thereunto.  
In the year 1569. Laurentius Christianus, a young man, and a Clerk of S. Peter's Church, fell into a burning fever, which was so vehement, that in few days he was pronounced for dead by the Physicians. Wherefore having made his Confession, & received devoutly the holy Eucharist and Sacrament of Extreme. Unction, having wholly lost his senses, he expected the happy hour of his departure. The holy Father came to visit him about one a Clock in the night, who having asked of the standers by, how he did, & understanding that he was past hope of recovery, kneeled down by his bed side, and prayed a good while for his health. And then rising he said: Laurence shall not die of this sickness, and drawing near unto him, laying his hands upon his head, he called upon him by his name with a very loud voice. Wherewith the man that was now ready to give up the ghost, was awaked, & began to start, and opening his eyes, after a little pause called for meat, eat well, and within a few hours arose whole & safe from his bed, praising God, and extolling the holy Father. In the morning the Physician was called; and feeling his pulse, found him perfectly cured saying. O Laurence, a greater Physician than myself hath cured thee; thou hast not been helped by humane, but by divine aid.  
In the year of our Lord 1570. there came to Rome from Atella, a certain Gentle woman, who was grievously possessed by the devil, and though she were wholly unlearned, yet did she speak latin, and that very elegantly; and being also asked any thing in latin, she would also answer in the same tongue, to the astonishment of all that heard her. Moreover she was so strong, that four lusty men could scarce take her from the ground and lift her up, although she seemed in outward show, to be a very weak and tender woman. She was brought unto S. Philip, who began to exorcise her, after a strange manner yet in such sort that he made the devil within a while to forsake her: and this was, that he beat her very sorely with little iron chains. And though the Devil cried out a loud, saying, come beat me, strike me, kill me, and the like, yet did the woman not so much as once stir or move her body all the while, but stood still like a statue of stone or wood. Which the holy man perceauing, left her for that time, & caused her body to be refreshed with food. Upon this she became so fearful of S. Philip, that when she did but see any one to come towards her, she suspected they would carry her to him to be again exorcized, which always they were forced to do with four strong men. S. Philip every day caused her to be thus beaten, together with other exorcisms that he used, till he forced the Devil to departed out of her body, who the night after he was cast out, came to the holy Father in his chamber, and with threatening eyes burst forth into these words: You Sirrah, you good fellow, you have used your pleasure upon me to day, but I will not forget the injury: and so vanished away, and the Gentle woman remained always free afterward to her dying day.  
Whiles the fame of this holy man was spread over the City, for his many miracles, and other notable things by him done, he had many secret and malignant adversaries, who envying his works of piety, began to spread abroad some falsities of the man and his life. Some accused him that he drew many noble young youths from the world, and shut them up in Cloisters; Others accused him of simplicity and rudeness; Others, that in his sermons & exhortations he either spoke many ridiculous things, or else did fail in explicatinge the Doctrine of the Church aright. These things at last came unto the ears of Pius Quintus, the Pope, who being a wise Pastor of his flock, did not so easily believe every thing that was said: But sending for two Dominican Friars, that were very learned, commanded them to go every day unto the Church, to hear the Sermons and Exercises which S. Philip made, and to relate unto him truly how the matter went. They did accordingly, and being one of them present every day, for a long time, they never found the least fault, nor cause of complaint, but contrary wise found him to speak with such force, efficacy and fervour of spirit, that he moved all the Anditory, of what matter soever he spoke. Nay which is more, when either he handled any high point or mystery of faith himself in his Sermons, or when in other Exercise of the Oratory, he was asked by any, he did explicate the same so clearly and perspicuously, as any learned Divine could have done in the schools, to the admiration and wonder of the two learned Fathers, that were set to mark and observe him: so as his adversary's inventions vanished into the air.  
Another time he was called before the Governor of Rome (who is always ordinarily an Ecclesiastical man) & accused of making a tumult and uproar in the City, for that at a shrovetide he had gathered together a great number of pilgrims and others of the poorer sort, and some also of good fashion, and by his good exhortation and counsel, had persuaded them to visit the seven Churches on Shrove twesday at what time ordinarily there are more disorders committed in the City then at others: and he himself going before them and they following two & two in a rank, went singing one while the litanies, another while hymns, psalms, and other devotions, to the great profit of their own souls, and edification of the behoulders. When the Governor had heard the complaints general, and believed his adversaries, that their accusations were true, he presently sent for the Father, and sharply reprehended him, for his gathering together of people in that tumultuous manner as he was accused to have done, threatening to send him to prison if he did not desist. S. Philip did not go about to excuse himself, but answered humbly and lowly, that he was ready as well to proceed in the work he had begun, as to desist from the same if Superiors did command, and that he neither sought or aimed at any thing, than the glory of God and good of souls. At which meek answer, the Governor was yet so angry, that he commanded him to appear before him as often as he should be called; that he should not hear any one's Confession for fifteen days space; that he should preach no more at all without express leave granted him a new; and lastly after many contumelious words thrust him out of doors.  
All these things S. Philip bore very patiently, and with so constant and merry a countenance, that he was not perceived to be at all moved therewith. In the mean while now that his adversaries triumphing, had thought to have so prevailed against him, he incessantly prayed unto God for aid, and not in vain. For within the prescribed time, the Governor having made more enquiry of the man, and of his manner of life, and reflecting upon the humble answer he had made him, to wit, That he was ready either to prosecute the work he had begun, or to leave it when Superiors should please, found that he was injured and brought into these suspicions of mere hatred and calumniation. Wherefore he sent for the holy Father, and gave him free leave to live as he pleased, to hear Confessions, teach, preach, as before, with signs of sorrow, that he had been abused. And for that some others, who were also of high authority, were adverse to S. Philip in this business, and would not have had him to be so quit, they died suddenly, before the foresaid fifteen days were expired.  
After that the holy man had suffered these and many such other brunts of calumniation and enmity, and had always gotten the victory by his patience & modest behaviour; he settled himself seriously to erect and found a house of his own, which he did at our B. Ladies in Vallicella, in the year of our Lord 1576. and adjoined thereunto a very fair Church, dedicated to our B. Lady and S. Gregory. In the building of which Church, when some neighbours thereabout did less favour the enterprise, and did seek to hinder the work of God, they were taken out of this world by his just judgement. And which is much to be admired, the holy Father, when he began to lay the foundations of that Church, did not know where to have one penny of money towards the building thereof, but trusted wholly to the liberal hand of God; and his hope was not in vain, for there were so great and abundant Alms daily bestowed upon the work, that the same was finished in a very goodly manner within two years; and in that space, were given in Alms for that purpose above seaventy thousand Crowns, besides other particular great sums of money given by Princes and Senators to the same end.  
This House and Church being thus built and established, and the Order of Congregation of Oratory approved by the Pope S. Philip now begun to entertain a number of very noble & learned Disciples, whom he instructed in all kind of virtue, & exemplar discipline. And in the yeate 1587. he was declared General of the Order, in which dignity he continued until the year 1593. when he resigned the same withal humility. As soon as he was made General, he wrote certain Constitutions, which he prescribed to be observed of all that should addict themselves unto his Order; but yet without binding any by vow, but voluntarily, as is yet observed therein.  
After this he grew to be sickly, & so continued for 2. or 3. years until his dying day; yet nevertheless he left not off any work of piety which he was accustomed to do, as well in visiting the sick, as otherwise; and in this time he wrought many miracles in the City, to the great astonishment and admiration of all Rome. And amongst others, hearing that Pope Clement the VIII. in Easter Holidays, was sore troubled with the gout in his hand, he went unto him to visit him; and coming into his chamber, he began to embrace the Pope according as his custom was, through ancient familiarity. Hold, good Father, said his Holiness, and come no nearer me I pray you, for my hand is much pained. Fear nothing said S. Philip; and there upon taking him fast by the sore hand and kissing it, presently the pain ceased, and was wholly driven away. This happened in the year 1695.  
The same year, and a few days after, to wit in the month of April, the holy Father fell very sick, and upon the 12. day of May he was so surprised on the sudden by a vehement vomiting of blood, which then oppressed him, that it was greatly feared he would be suffocated; wherefore he was presently annoyled by Cesar Baronius, in the presence of Fredrick Borromeus the Cardinal, who at that time was come to visit him. A little after that he had received this Sacrament, he begun to be better, opened his eyes, and his senses to return again. Then the Cardinal asked him, if he would not receive his Viaticum: whereto when he had yielded, the Cardinal in his own person went to the Church, and fetched the same.  
As soon as Borromeus was entered into his Chamber with the Blessed Sacrament, the holy Father, all bedewed with tears, burst forth in to these words: Behold my love, Behold my love: this is he wherein I delight, who only is dear to me. Give him me Give me my love, and that presently, that I may enjoy him within me. And this he spoke with such vehemency of spirit, that he moved all the standers by to tears. The same night he sell again into an agony with vomiting of blood, yet by the Physician's care he was preserved from death. After a day or two, the Physicians coming unto him one morning somewhat early, he said unto them with a loud voice. Get you gone my Masters, for I have no more need of your help for the present. My soitting of blood is now stayed and pain of my breast is gone, & I begin to get strength a pace. The Physicians feeling his pulse, found him to be in very good temper to their great amazement, and by and by he arose out of his bed, and began to follow his exercises as before, and so continued until the 25. of the same month, saying mass every day with great alacrity of devotion, so as he seemed to be now in very perfect health.  
Upon the 25. day of May, which was that year the feast of Corpus Christi, which is in Rome kept most sollemue of all the days in the year in saying of his Mass he seemed to pronounce the words in a new tune, as it were singing for joy: after which he spent a great part of that day in hearing of Confessions, and communicating the people. In the afternone came to visit him very many honourable personages, amongst whom were Cardinal Pamphilius, Augustinus Cusanus Auditor of the Rota, and Spinellus Bencius Bishop of Politianum, whom he entertained with a very merry countenance according to his fashion, although he knew the hour of his death drew very near. These foresaid Prelates that came to visit him, would needs say the Office of the Breviary with him, by which means they stayed there till it was fare in the evening. When supper time came, the holy Father eat very sparingly, and was very well after supper: In so much as himself then said, that he had not been better in health at any time for ten years before, them he was at that present Moreover he was so merry, and of so pleasant a countenance, that death was the least thing thought on of all, but of himself. After this he went to bed, and now desiring to conceal his death no longer, though yet he spoke obscurely, he said to those that stood about him: Behold, we must all die. Then he asked what a clock it was? And they answered that it was almost three; When two hours more shall be added, said he, it willbe five, & after one more added to those, it will be six. Then he said, Go ye all to bed in the name of God. And so they all departed. At six a clock Antony Gallonius, the writer of this his life, that lay in a Chamber next unto him, soddanly awaking, seemed to hear the holy Father to walk up and down in his Chamber. Wherefore he arose speedily, and ran unto him; Where he found the holy man sitting upon his bed, & his mouth full of blood, which he began to vomit in abundance Hereupon others were called, and many remedies applied, but all in vain. About a quarter of an hour after, the vomit stayed of itself, and he took breath, and spoke very readily, so as all now thought the danger of death was passed. By and by after, turning to his Disciples (who by this time were come all into his chamber) he said. Stay with me a while, for now I begin to strive with death: Which words when he had spoken, he held his peace, and seemed to repose as if he had been in prayer. Remaining in this sort a good while. Caesar Baronius read the Commendation of the soul, all the rest answering with watery eyes. When this was done, Baronius stood up, and speaking unto him with a loud voice, desired that he would speak unto his Disciples there present, and impart his benediction unto them before he departed, The holy Father at these words opened his eyes, and lifting them up towards heaven prayed a while, and after that, gave them his blessing, and so without any sign of pain, or any griping, or gasping, with a most sweet and delectable countenance, he gave up his blessed soul to rest, the 25. day of May, being the feast of Corpus Christi, in the year of our Lord 1595. about the sixth hour within night, as himself had foretold.  
As soon as he was dead, he appeared unto many in the City, & in particular to a very devout religious virgin, clothed with a very white & precious garment, saying thus unto her. I am now as thou seest, called to the Crown of my labours; have thou a care, to follow the course of life thou hast begun, and thou shalt enjoy the same glory: and with this he vanished out of her sight. The next morning his body was laid in the Church, whereunto all the City, great & small, rich and poor, made concourse, and the Cardinals and Princes of the Court did no less, all reverencing the body of the holy Father; and well was he that could come near to kiss or touch the same. Others brought Roses, and flowers, and strawed his body all over, but as fast as they were laid upon him, so fast were they taken away, and gathered as pious spoils, and applied to all sorts of diseases & fores, whereby very many were cured.  
And whilst he thus lay upon the Beer in the Church, one Augustinus Magistrius a Roman young man, having a sore in his neck, which had eaten two great holes, one to his mouth, and the other to his shoulder, and was pronounced incurable, came to the holy body, and after he had made his prayers, took the hand of S. Philip, and having kissed the same devoutly, put it to his neck and touched the sore therewith, and was thereby presently cured. As soon as he came home he told a young sister of his, whose name was Margaret, who for six years had laboured of the same disease: presently she hasted to the Church with her mother, and for that it was impossible for her, being but a girl to get unto the body, for the press of people, her mother took her up in her arms & carried her with main strength to the body, who taking the holy Father's hand as her Brother had done, and touching her neck therewith, was also presently healed. Hereupon the Father of the young man and maid, named Alexander, who was 60. years of age, and who had a running also in his eyes, which had continued above 2. months, so grievous that he could not endure so much as the least light of a candle, hearing of the cure of his two children, ran presently to the holy body, and making his prayers, and doing as his children had done, he was also cured.  
These miracles with many more being diuulged, there was such running for the space of three days and neights unto his body, that his disciples of the Congregation had great difficulty to bury him, which at last they found means to do in a wooden Coffin, in an humble grave at the foot of the High Altar. But when Cardinal Pamphilius had understood thereof, he was much displeased therewith that a man so famous, and illustrious for miracles both alive & dead, should be laid in so humble a place; & therefore dealt seriously with the Fathers of the same Congregation to remove him: who consulting the business with Cardinal Medici's, he was taken up, and put into a newfaire Coffin, which the said Cardinal had caused to be made, and placed in a more decent place at one side of the High Altar, with an Arch made over the body; whereat miracles were wrought so frequently, that the walls about were presently hung with votive Tables: and such a most sweet smell, as it were of Roses and violets, was daily felt to proceed from his body, as was wonderful.  
After some years that the holy Body had lain in this place, and so many miracles were daily wrought thereat, a noble citizen of Florence, who had obtained a Son by the prayers of S. Philip, caused a most sumptuous and gorgeous chapel to be erected near to the right side of the high altar, whereto his body was translated, & there remaineth to this day; and is reverenced with great devotion of the whole Christian world. He was canonised for a Saint the 12. day of March by Pope Gregory the fifteenth in the years of our Lord 1622.   

THE ADMIRABLE LIFE of S. Charles Borromeus Archbishop of Milan, and Cardinal. Written in Italian by Doctor Guissano, of the Order of Oblates of S. Ambrose in Milan; and translated in to English.  
SAINT Charles was borne in the year of our Lord 1538 the 2. day of October, Paul the 3. being Pope, & Charles the 5. being Emperor. His father was called Gilbert Borromeus & his mother Margaret de Medici's, sister german to Pope Pius the 4. not inferior to other Lords of Milan either for religion, or for antiquity of their family and nobility. Our Lord intending to decls are that he had designed this child for the honour and increase of the Catholic Church, it pleased his divine Majesty, to honour his birth with a strange and wonderful sign. For in the same moment wherein he was borne, there appeared over his mother's bed chamber a light, like unto the beams of the sun, and as long as a crossbow can well carry, which was attentively considered by sundry persons that beheld the same: foretelling by this unusual light, the splendour and heroical acts, as also the holy and irreprehensible conversation of S. Charles.  
Many were the arguments which he gave of his future sanctity, being yet a little child: as, to erect and adorn little Altars, before which he made his prayer, and other like exercises of devotion. And it is almost incredible how much this little. soul took delight and contentment therein. Which being considered by his Parents, seemed to presage no other thing of him, but that he was especially called of God to an Ecclesiastical estate: for which cause they clothed him in the habit of a Clerk, which he received, & whore the same so inyfully, as it seemed they had in this fully accomplished his desire.  
His virtues increased in him together with his years: where of he gave most rare testimony studying in the University of Milan, where never any heard word to issue from his mouth, which savoured not of virtue and edification: he was exceeding patiented, sweet, peaceable, modest, and humble, so that none ever saw him arrogant, never in any choler, never addicted to pleasures, or any youth full levity. During his studies, he had for master and conductor one Alciatus (who was Cardinal) under whom he made so great profit, that at the age of 22. years, he was with the general applause of all, adorned with the title of Doctor.  
Pius the 4. Uncle to Charles, being made Pope in the year 1559. he ●ent for him unto Rome and created him Cardinal & Archbishop of Milan, giving him charge not only of affairs concerning the government of that Sea, but also honoured him with sundry titles of most rich and wealthy dignities. Being placed therein (although he were set in the highest degree of honour) yet he never omitted to instruct and teach by his wholesome examples, the Provinces as well near at hand, as far off, pursuing the affairs of his charge, faithfully & with singular prudence, to the incredible contentment of every one. Amongst many affairs of importance which were effected and brought to happy end by his labour and industry, one & that of chiefest moment was the concluding and finishing of the Council of Trent, the which Pope Paul the 3. had begun in the year 1537. to withstand and suppress the wicked heresies of Luther, Caluin, Zuinglius, and other seducers, but could not have it ended for sundry difficulties which occured; whereof Pope Pius the 4. having once again undertaken the pursuit, he gave the first & chiefest charge thereof unto his nephew Charles, as to one most zealous in this affair: wherein he traveled with such solicitude, vigilancy, and fervour of courage, as none but himself could so well have effected a business so intricate as that was.  
The Council being ended, himself was the first, who (his Uncle holding yet the sovereign Sea) put in practise the execution of those decrees, in his own bishopric of Milan; and other Bishops moved thereto by his example, did the like by means whereof many kingdoms and Provinces in Christendom, increased incredibly in the service of God, and in Catholic piety: but the greatest fruit remained in the Church of Milan where this holy Pastor desirous to reform his clergy and people, began first with his own person, then with his house and family, dismissing out of his service all such persons as seemed to him less profitable to his desine, to the number of no less than fourscore (yet first recompensing them all well) retaining the Clergy men of who me he hoped for good example and assistance, in that which concerned the reformation of his Church of Milan.  
The Catholic Church hath received an immortal benefit by the means of this holy man, for none so much watched and solicited as he, to bring into use the ancient custom to hold Provincial and Diocesan counsels, according to the decree of the council of Trent. For in the space of ●. years, that he resided in Milan, he held six Provincial counsels, and eleven Synods of the diocese, wherein he instructed his subjects with so many documents and good examples, that the new order of the Church of Milan did illustrate all & especially the adjoining seas. For proof of his zeal, charity, and liberality we may look upon the many Churches, Chapels, Altars which he either builded or repaired, as also sundry Colleges, and Seminaries which he erected for the education and instruction of youth, who should afterwards travel in the vineyard of jesus Christ. In Milan he built a College called the college of gentlemen, therein to instruct the young nobility in all virtue, learning, and discipline: and another for the clergy of the Heluetians and Swissers, where they are instructed in Philosophy and Divinity, to help the the conversion of their countries: which produceth such exceeding fruit, that it may of right be called, the rampaire and defence of the Catholic Faith in the confines of Germany. At Pavia he built another, called the college of Borromeus, which is without comparison, the most goodly and most sumptuous that is in all Europe, and endued the same with great revenues. He founded a congregation of secular priest, called Oblats of S. Ambrose. He built a Church near our Ladies of Rauda, in his diocese, in honour of the Queen of heaven: and another very sumptuous in Milan called the Church of S. Fidelis, which hegave to the fathers of the Society, for whom he also founded the College of Brera in Milan, where they read all sciences, like unto that which was erected in Rome by Pope Gregory the thirteenth. He likewise built a College for the order of Theatins. Two other Seminaries he built in Milan, the one in the Church and house of Saint john Baptist, capable of a hundred and fifty priests. The other, called Canonical, wherein are resident sixty clergy men, who study the holy Scripture, and cases of Conscience to become able to take upon them the care of souls: two others also in the Diocese of Celana. He erected two Conuents of the poor Clares with he babit of Capucinesses, each containing fifty religious, who lead so holy and austere a life, that all th' City of Milan hold for assured, to be succoured by their prayers in any necessity. He built also a house with provision spiritual and temporal for poor maidens, that were left fatherless, that so their honesty should be conserved, and two for women which either were forsaken by their husbands, or by some means had blemished their good name, or were any way in danger of soul or body: and a Hospital for those that were infected with the plague.  
Finally, to omit many more of like sort for brevity's sake, he let pass no work of charity towards poor and distressed persons of either sex, as well of body as of soul. For example, at what time there was in Milan an infinite number of poor beggats gathered together, who were ready to dye for hunger and thirst (the plague being then in chiefest fury) he caused to be given unto them, all the provision that was in his house, and after commanded all his silver and golden plate to be carried to the king's coiners, and to be stamped into money, and given unto them. And moreover he disfurnished his palace of all the tapestry, to the very carpets of his tables, to clothe the poor against the rigour of the cold. Yea his charity extended itself so far, as to lie himself upon the boards, and cause his own bed to be carried to the Hospital. And further, he deprived himself of the Duchy of Auriana in the kingdom of Naples, valued at ten thousand Ducats yearly money of Naples, giving all that sum unto the poor, unto Hospitals, and unto other works of piety: so that one may justly say, that S. Charles was much more affected towards the poor, than he was towards his own kindred. Amongst sixty or seaventy thousand poor persons, sick of the plague, and of other diseases, one was not to be found that wanted food or raiment, so great was the care & solicitude of S. Charles, especially to those who were infected with the plague, to whom this pitiful Pastor, did go in person from tent to tent to succour & visit them as they lay in the fields, which visit he often continued till six or seven hours within the night. And albeit he had in his train a great number of priests, which he had sent for out of Savoy, to administer unto them the holy Sacraments, yet he himself also undertook the same work so full of peril, as to visit them, and to administer the Sacraments unto them with his own hands, making no difficulty to stand by the bed's side of those that died, and to put them in mind of the mercy of God, and to give them full pardon in the hour of death.  
Great likewise was the temperance, abstinence and austerity of life of this holy Saint; who first accustomed to fast once a week: then twice and afterwards four times a week, and so continued until such time, as quite forsaking flesh, wine, and all other meats, he accustomed himself to fast every day (except holy days) taking only a mean refection in bread and water. He likewise got a custom, to eat and to study altogether so to gain time: and many times he was found eating upon his knees, because of his reading of the holy scripture, which he still did read in that posture of body, to declare the great reverence that he bore thereto. Sometimes he remained in the Church by occasion of the forty hours' prayer, all the time that they lasted: and almost in each hour preached to the people, the concourse whereof was great both night and day. To these rigours of fastings, he added the chastisement of his body with whips & scourges, wore a shirt of hair, slept upon a bed of straw, or else upon the bare boards. He would not in the greatest cold, come near the fire, and alwaise had his hands bare, so that sometimes the blood issued from them.  
For an evident sign of the fanctity of this servant of God and in approbation of his great zeal in defending the rights & privileges of the Church, and reforming of corruption, crept in amongst the religious and clergy under his care, behold how the hand of Almighty God was very present, assisting him, at such time as a wicked Apostata attempted to slay him: the occasion of which crime, was as followeth. This holy Archbishop endeavouring to reform the order of the Religious called Humiliats' (of whom he was Protector by order of the Apostolic Sea) and labouring to restrain their scandalous liberty, and to reduce them to the first observation of their ancient rule; four of them who stiffly withstood this reformation conspired his death, not otherwise able to avoid restraint, by reason of the great zeal and authority of their zealous pastor and protector. Whereupon one of them named Hierom Farina, for a sum of money received, promised to be executioner of this murder. This fellow therefore conducted by the devil as a second judas, in the year 1569. the 26. day of October, at one a clock in the night, finding S. Charles according to his custom at prayer in his Bishop's chapel, even as the quire sung these words of the gospel; Let not your hart be troubled, nor fear you not. This wicked murderer, having got on secular apparel approaching near unto the Bishop, shot off a pistol, charged with a bullet, & sundry other murdering shot: the bullet whereof lighted full upon his back, & some of the other lesser shot pierced his garments even to his flesh, and others went through a table of an inch thick, and the residue did notably batter the walls the were before him. Suddenly all the assistants rose up on their feet, and began to be sore affrighted, he only who had received the blow sitting still upon his knees remained in peace not showing any sign of fear. But because the blow had made him much to bow downward, fearing they should think that he were slain, holding his hands still joined together, he at the last lifted up his head towards heaven, and having appeased those that were present, he ended the prayer he had begun, without so much as once more moving his body. Afterwards retiring himself to go to rest, he found that his Rochet was soiled with the bullet, and his other garments also, but were not pierced. Notwithstanding, there appeared upon his back a bunch of a bluish colour, like to dead flesh where the bullet had light, which fell at the feet of Saint Charles, as it were for reverence, not drawing so much as a drop of blood: which mark remained until his death, for a memory of the fact. The Doctors of physic, and many others which had seen & considered the place that was shot, judged that it was a clear & manifest miracle. In fine the murderer was apprehended with his four companions, by the commandment of the Duke Asburquerco covernour of Milan, by an edict which he published the self same night, and shortly after were put to death for their horrible fact.  
Having walked in the narrow way of this world, triumphed over vices, and adorned himself with all the excellent virtues before rehearsed, the hour of his departure approaching near, he first visited the holy Sudary of our Saviour jesus at Turino, with a singular & unspeakable devotion, and from thence went to the mount of Varalla near unto Novara, where there is a devout solitary place of Religious men, and the sepulchre of our Saviour is erected like unto that in Jerusalem with diverse other monuments of Christ's passion, whereunto the holy man was specially devoted: where he abode the space of fifteen days, exercising himself in most austere works of penance, & rendering his soul capable of celestial glory by a general Confession of all his life, with many sighs and abundance of tears. But falling sick by his too much rigour, and feeling that his sickness increased, he returned towards Milan, enflaming those that went in his company in the love of God by a burning charity wherewith he was wholly inflamed, and by his sermons which he made of the glory of the blessed, which were so full of fire, and so piercing, that the hearts of those that heard him were touched therewith in such sort that from their eyes distilled fountains of tears.  
He arrived at Milan, upon the feast of All Souls towards evening and having passed the day following in holy discourses, and received the Sacraments of the Church with singular devotion and humility (holding his eyes fixed upon a picture of the sepulture of the dead) covered with a shirt of hair, and with ashes, like unto another S. Martin (whose virtues he had diligently imitated during his life) with great tranquillity and quiet of body and mind, he rendered his soul up to God, about three hours after sun setting, the last year of the Popedom of Gregory the 13. & 47. year of his age. It is impossible to declare what sorrow what lamentations and what sigh, the unexpected death of this most holy pastor, caused both in poor and rich. The Church, deplored her vigilant Pastor; the tribunals, their incorrupted judge; the orphans, their protector and defender; and the needy, their most liberal benefactor. Finally, to satisfy the great devotion of the people, which flowed thither on every side, it was necessary to expose the body the space of three days in the Church, to the view of every one. The Bishop's Palace was filled with deep sighs, the streets with sobs, and the houses with tears & mourning: so that there was not any in so great a multitude of people, which did not bewail the loss of his good father (for hard it was to judge, whether there were more people in the streets then upon the tops of the houses) and who pursued not his most holy Pastor with complaints and inconsolable sorrow: in such sort, that all the people cried out aloud, Mercy, mercy: every one thinking himself right happy, to touch with their beads or Rosary, his venerable body.  
The miracles which Almighty God wrought by the intercession & merits of S. Charles, were very many whereof these which follow were in part examined and approved for his canonisation. He healed by the virtue of his holy prayer, john Pietro Stopano, at this day Archbishop of Maccia in the valley of Telino, of a deadly disease, being forsaken of the physicians. By the sign of the cross, he preserved the Abbot Bernardino Tarusi, and joseph Cavallerio being drowned in the r●uer of T●cino. By the force of his prayer, he saved from the peril of death, julio Homatto, who being on horseback, fell from the top of a most high & horrible precipice. He drove away by the benediction of his hands, diverse devils who had long time obsessed a young youth. With the same benediction he healed in an instant, one Margarete Vertua, who had a double tertian ague for the space of eight months, & was brought unto so low estate, that she could not (lying always on her bed) move so much as any one part of her body. In an instant, he likewise healed by his blessing, a noble woman, of a disease proceeding of witchcraft & devilish art.  
These miracles with many others, were wrought by him during his life, but he wrought a great many more after his death: whereof for brevity sake, I will recount only some, omitting the circumstances, which make the miracles the more famous, & declare only the matter itself and substance of the things. Dame Paula justina Casara, religious in the great monastery of Milan, having been for the space of eight years and a half paralitique, altogether dead on the one side, infected with diverse other diseases, and lastly given over of the best Physicians of the City, finally invocated S. Charles Borromeus, and that with very great fruit: for as soon as she had made her prayer before the picture of S. Charles, by her steadfast faith she was healed, the year 1601. upon the feast of S. John Baptist. And at the self same instant, fearing to be more slack in giving thankes unto the Saint, than he had been to give her health, she went forth of her chamber, entered into the Church, and sunge Te Deum, together with the other religious who were all assembled to see this miracle.  
Sister Candida a religious woman of the convent of Capucinesses in Milan, having lain three years sick, and her disease being judged incurable by the Doctors: having received the Sacraments ready to dye, arose up whole and cheerful from her bed, for that at the same instant, she had made a vow unto S. Charles, and had caused to be laid upon her the gown which he was wont to wear in his chamber: which she then went and carried with her own hands into the Church, to the great amaze went of the other religious. This happened the year 1601. upon the feast of S. Peter and S. Paul.  
In the month of October, the year 1604. Philip Nava of Milan, had a son borne blind, his interior organs being offended, that there ran down continually a pricking humour, which had caused to grow without, two strange clods or bunches of the bigness of half an egg, under the which the eyes were wholly hid and buried. This caused Lucina his mother, seeing the defect to increase from day to day (the 25. day after his birth) to implore the assistance of S. Charles, beseeching him, that amongst the many of his miracles, he would restore her infant his eyes, and in particular for the love of the name of Charles given unto the infant at his Baptism. Instantly S. Charles appeared in a visible form, and having given his benediction, restored to the child both sight and perfect health of his deformity.  
The like happened to one Martha Vighia of Milan, who having been afflicted for fix whole years with the pain of her eyes, and after all sorts of medicines, out of hope to recover her sight, S. Charles appeared unto her in her sleep, anno 1601. willing her to go visit his sepulchre, & so she should return in perfect health: hereupon she was led by the hand unto the Church upon a friday, where she made her prayers; & as soon as she had kissed the stone of the sepulchre of S. Charles, her sigh was entirely & perfectly restored.  
Candida Francisca, religious of S. Agnes in Milan, having kept her bed 22. months, was so greatly afflicted in all her body that the Doctors gave her over as a dead woman: the 22. of june, anno 1601. holding in her hand the picture of Saint Charles, and invoking him by most urgent prayers presently all her pains ceased and at the same instant, her right leg, which was a handful shorter than the left, was reduced to the just length and quantity of the other.  
john jacques Lomati, a gentleman of Milan, had his legs so grievously eaten and full of holes, that he could not stand upon his feet, nor go one step without a staff: so that the Surgeons of the City said, that there was an end of Master Lomati. It chanced one day, that he was more sorely tormented then ordinary; whereupon he went to the sepulchre of S. Charles, and besought his help. And to the end to obtain the same so much the sooner, he adjured this celestial citizen saying: If thou be that Saint whom all the people do so honour, obtain help of God formee. Suddenly as he had made this prayer, & that he had attentively heard the holy Mass, he found himself healed of all his evils, & his sores converted into sound and lively flesh the 24. of September 1587.  
John Baptista Tiron being a child of five years old, falling into the river of Ticinio, as soon as he had called to memory the name of S. Charles, before whose picture he was daily wont to make his prayers (instructed herein by his father) this holy Prelate appeared presently in visible form, who drew him forth of the flood, led him upon the waves thereof above a hundred cubits, & brought him safely to the bank, before the sight of sundry persons, who despaired of the life of the child.  
Margaret, daughter of Angelo Monti of Milan, came out of her mother's womb, with her two feet twisted together, so that the soles of them were turned backwards, & the upper part was under. She being six years old, and having still this deformity, her mother called Militia Verga, carried her to the sepulchre of S. Charles anno 1601. to crave help, offering a burning wax light unto this friend of God for her daughter. The child lighted the wax, & at the same instant, her right leg was set straight and put in his place, and of just length. By and by after she came again, & made and repeated her former prayer, and her left leg received the like cure: but yet a little mark still remained of the precedent defect, in memory of the miracle.  
joane daughter of John Baptista Maroni, citizen of Milan, had from her birth her legs and her feet so exceeding crooked, that she could in no manner of sort walk upon them: and the joints of her knees being out of their place, she could make her legs turn this or that way, as she listed, and easily could cast them upon her shoulders so that she trailed herself whither she would go, upon her hands & knees, with little creepers made of wood. The 4. year after her birth, her mother being praying at the sepulchre of Saint Charles, the child received full and entire health in all her members, in the month of july 1604.  
Anastasia de Magis, of the same City, had been for the space of 36. years, obsessed by sundry malignant spirits. And albeit that in so long a space of time, she had proved sundry means, as Exorcisms and Invocation of other Saints, made many voyages, and pilgrimages, and the like, yet nothing at all did profit her: At the last she had recourse to this holy Cardinal, and as she was in great devotion before his picture, craving to be delivered, the 24. of October. 1601. she felt herself smitten upon the breast, and that with so great a stroke that she fell down half dead upon the ground; And remaining so the space of two hours, she arose free from all infection of the devil, and was never after troubled more. The life of this Saint is extracted out of the Italian Abridgement set forth by the very Reverend Prelate Francis Penia Auditor of the Rota in Rome, and put into French by Charles de Canda, Prior of Dompmartin, in Artois. He was canonised by Pius V the first day of November anno 1610. & his feast is celebrated the fourth of the same month.   

THE LIFE OF S. FRANCISCA of Rome gathered out of the writings of her ghostly Father, and the Acts of her Canonization, by julius Vrsinus of the Society of jesus.  
SAINT Francisca was borne in Rome the year 1384. Her Father's name was Paul de Buxis, and her mother jaquelina de Rofredeschi, both of a noble, and illustrious family, & possessed with great riches. She was baptised in the Church of Saint Agnes in Navona. Her parents had a singular care to bring her up in the fear, and love of God: who made the same appear, even in her infancy, what a one she should one day become. For not only did she reject those plays and toys, with which children use to be pleased and delighted, but which is more admirable, even in her cradle she whould never permit so much as her parents, to touch, or handle her, unless she were first clothed.  
Growing more in years, she fled from all the pastimes of that age, and delighted only with solitude, by the benefit of which, she applied herself to prayer and devotion, which together with her age so increased in her, that at eleven years old, she discovered an earnest desire to retire herself from the world, and to serve God the rest of her days in some Monastery.  
One day she saw in spirit a beauteous, grave, & noble matron, fiercely and nearly pursued, by many fearful & furious Giants, wherewith she being moved to compassion, prayed for her deliverance with such fervour, that at last the matron seemed to be wholly delivered from the danger of her pursuers: which matron she understood after to be the holy Church, & the Giants that pursued her, those which at that time had disturbed her peace by a dangerous Schism.  
In another vision her glorious Patron Saint Paul the Apostle, together with the Holy Patriarch S. Benet, & S. Mary Magdalen appeared to her, admonishing her to redouble her preys and fervour, thereby to appease and avert the anger of God, and his plagues (which were already prepared) from falling on the City of Rome, to whom she obeyed, with such fervour and earnestness, that she left not praying until she was given to understand, that the wrath of God was withdrawn, and turned from Rome, and from the holy Church.  
She had likewise another Revelation from S. Benet, that she was come into the world to help, to the salvation of souls, and that she was the particular gift of God to men in those miserable and wicked times, for the good of humane generation, and that therefore she was to apply herself wholly unto their aid.  
This child admirable in virtue and piety, having sought & desired to dedicate herself wholly in some Religious monastery to God, at twelve years old, by the express, and absolute commandment of her parents, was constrained to espouse herself to Laurentius de Pontiano, a Roman Gentleman. After which marriage, she living in a House of her husbands, on the other side of Tiber made it known, by a great, and violent sickness that she there had, how grateful that kind of life was unto her. Being recovered from her sickness, she lived as much retired as she could, excusing herself from banquets and feasts both of parents and friends, and shunning all kind of sports, wherewith others of her years and condition, used to be much recreated and delighted.  
All her delight was in prayer, meditation, and frequent visitation of Churches, where she attended to the Divine Office & Sermons with great tenderness of devotion. She exercised notwithstanding all those virtues towards her husband, which were most rare, or any way commendable in a wife: but above all, obedience, joined with such a great respect and reverence unto him, that it is most certain, that for the space of 40. years that they lived together, the peace of sacred marriage was never violated between them, by the least unkind word: for so perfectly and wholly had she subjected her will & desire unto her husband, that upon what occasion soever, she never seemed to have other will than what she saw to be his, If at any time she were called by her husband, or by any other of the house, to put in order any household affairs, she would promptly leave her prayers or any other kind of devotion unsinished, and go to do what she was required.  
It pleased our Lord one day by an especial miracle, to sheew how acceptable this her promptitude was unto him: for in saying the Office of our B. Lady, she being called away four times, and as often being forced to leave off in one, and the self same verse, and at last returning, found that verse written in god-den letters, which was done by her good Angel, as S. Paul afterward in a vision declared unto her, by which it pleased our Lord to show, in what manner we ought to prefer the obedience which we own to our Superiors, before his own service.  
The holy Sacrament of wedlock, together with matrimonial chastity, this holy woman conserved in such perfection, that every one of her acts, was a several testimony of her continency, and purity: especially by the continual afflicting of her body, with wearing of hair cloth, disciplines, & such like austerities, it was easy to gather in what esteem she had all carnal concupiscence & delight. Her austerities were so severe, that her husband pitying her great and excessive mortifications, accorded with her, for many years before his death, to pass the rest of their lives in perfect continency.  
The sight of men not only was unpleasing unto her, but also afflicted her; but yet much more the sight of unchaste and dishonest women, whom nevertheless (moved by an ardent charity) she laboured earnestly to convert to God, and to retire from their lewd and naughty lives. One day passing towards the jews street, she saw diverse devils dancing in a certain house, & making great cheer, which moved her to inquire of the neighbours who they were that dwelled in that house; and having understood that there inhabited two famous Courtesans, who were much frequented, she persuaded their Landlord to put them out of his house, which was done, and the devils abandoned their lodging.  
The foul Fienns for this cause, & diverse others, were greatly enraged & animated against this S. and therefore desirous to revenge themselves, appeared unto her, some times in the likeness of a man, sometimes of a woman, ever in some or other lascivious and dishonest manner: whom she made still to departed confounded, and ashamed, through the invocation of the holy name of jesus.  
But one day especially the devil being enraged against her, by reason of a notable conquest, that she had gotten over him, he brought into her chamber in the night, the body of a dead man, half putrified, casting forth a most pestilent and intolerable stink, which he drew over all the parts of her naked body, so often, that he left her all over infected with that most horrible stink, but especially there remained a lively, & loathsome memory in her imagination, that for ever after, she never eat without vomiting and loathing; and which is more, she conceived thereupon such an aversion from all men, that whensoever she came near unto any afterward she trembled with fear, and even supposed then to feel the same most loathsome savour.  
She desired of God to have children, not for earth, but for heaven, & therefore when they were borne in bringing them up, she was more careful to frame their minds then their bodies, and to teach them the art to die well, rather than any art whereby they might apply themselves to line. She had one Son named Evangelist, who in his infancy was not only endued with more than mature wisdom, but also with the gift of Prophecy. This child playing one day with his Father, drew out a knife from the scabbard of his Father's sword, and putting the point thereof to the reynes of his said Fathers back, told him, that in that very place he should shortly after receive a dangerous wound, as it happened unto him in the year 1406. in a sedition between the Romans, and the people of Ladislaus King of Naples. This Child likewise seeing another time a Friar passing along the way, told him that ere long he should change that habit for a more honourable, which proved true, for the Friar was shortly after created Bishop.  
The City of Rome being visited with the plague, this little Saint feeling himself strooken with the contagion, and knowing that he should shortly die, made great instance for Confession; after which he told his mother, that S. Antony, and S. Onuphrius, to whom he was particularly devoted, were come with a glorious company of Angels, to conduct him to heaven, and so this blessed child being only 9 years old, with an inexpressible joy, passed from this fading life, unto the joys of an everlasting bliss. At the instant of his departure, a little girl them lying sick of the plaguein another house, & having for a long time before been speechless, suddenly cried out, that she saw Evangelist de Pontiano, with great glory borne up by Angels into heaven. S. Francisca his Mother praying in her oratory about a year after, Evangelist appeared unto her, of the same stature, and form (only that he was above all expression more fair and glorious) as he was when he died, having another Child with him of the same age, and no less glorious, who declared unto his mother, that he was placed in heaven among the second choir of Angels, and that the principal cause of his coming was to lead along with him to heaven, his sister Agnes, she being only 5. years old, whose place was prepared in heaven equal to his. Agnes therefore shortly after falling sick, her mother saw a fair white dove flying up & down over her bed, not departing, till this child had rendered her innocent soul, into the hands of Angels.  
God had given to S. Francisca an Angel, not only to defend and guard her from evil spirits, but also to rule, and direct her in all her actions: he never left her one moment, and by especial privildge she enjoyed the sight of him continually. He was of an incredible beauty, a countenance wondrous gracious, more white than snow, more ruddy than the rose, his eyes ever looking up towards heaven, his arms crossed on his breast, his hair long and curled, more clear & shining, than the polished gold, his robe extended long unto the ground, and was for the most part of a pure white colour, other times skyblew, sometimes also red. Fron his face proceeded so great a light & brightness, that it often dazzled her eyes to behold it, and sometimes there proceeded such beams, that only by their brightness, she saw to read her Matins at midnight. Her Ghostly Father commanded her once to disclose unto him, the form, and shape of her good Angel, which she did (holding her Angel by the little hand, & the whilst looking friendly upon him) so properly, and so particularly, that thereby her Confessor easily perceived his proportion, not to exceed a child of 5. or 6. years old.  
If at any time the devil molested her, either with horrible apparitions to affright her, or by transforming himself into some holy shape to delude her, her faithful Guardian Angel at the same instant by the shaking and moving of his golden locks, would cast forth such comfortable beams, as would make her soul at once both fearless and secure.  
On the contrary, if in company of her parents or friends, there escaped from her either any inconsiderate thought, word, or deed, or if she were to solicitous of her domestical affairs, presently she might behold this blessed spirit turn away his eyes from her, whereby she became to reflect on herself, and careful to examine her conscience, & so by knowledge of those small faults that had caused his aversion, by this means she became daily more wary and vigilant over herself, ever renewing her purposes to amend, whereby she recovered the sweet regard of her Angel. If any one in the company of this Saint forgot themselves in doing any thing that was undecent, she presently perceived her Angel, as it were, in horror of their sins and imperfections, to close his eyes with his hands.  
A Gentlewoman, a dear friend and kinswoman of hers, called Vannosia, being in a desperate sickness, had a great desire to eat of a Crab fish, after which Francis carefully seeking, and finding that in that season of the year they were impossible to be had, she put herself, in prayer, desiring one from God, when behold in the sight of all the household, there fell one from the ceiling of the Chamber fresh and alive, as if newly taken our of the sea, which she presently prepared for Vannosia, who eating thereof was not only satisfied of her desire, but also perfectly recovered of her sickness.  
She never dismissed any poor from her gate without alms, and once in a great famine at Rome, Andreas her Father-in-law having made his provision of an excellent ton of wine, she being importuned by the poor, & not having wherewithal to satisfy them, gave to all that came of the said wine as long as it lasted. Which when her Father-in-law understood, he was much offended with her therefore, of which she humbly excused herself, assuring him that his wine was not spent, but even as he left it, which to confirm she went with him down into the Cellar, where drawing of the same ton, they found it full of most excellent wine. Whereupon Andreas being not ignorant of her bestowing it, was confirmed of the miracle, and she acknowledging God's bounty, remained thereafter more animated to do the works of charity.  
Another time having given to the poor a little quantity of corn which she had swept from the beams and rafters of her husband's granary, by chance returning thither not long after, she found there forty measures of fine wheat, neither she nor any other, knowing how it came thither. She used to reserve for herself those hard and mouldy crusts & chip of bread, which were appointed for the poor, and in the place thereof, would secretly give unto them the best and purest bread, that was in the house.  
Although all the actions of this Saint's life, were full of rare examples of Humility, notwithstanding it appeared in nothing more, then in her art and holy subtlety to conceal the frequent miracles that she wrought: for whereas she healed all sorts of diseases by her only touch, yet she would withal apply a certain ointment to the diseased, which she had made of Mariolane, or Rew, thereby to conceal the miracle, although this ointment for some diseases was altogether unprofitable, and for many absolutely hurtful. She never went vested but in course cloth, although her condition was no less than Noble. She had a vineyard out of Rome, without S. Paul's gate, from whence she used ordinarily to bring faggots made of vine branches (or of other wood which the place afforded) unto Rome on her head, and there to distribute it amongst the poor, and oftentimes she hath been seen together with her Companion Vannosia, begging in the City from door to door, during a great famine, for the relief of poor people.  
Her patience is incredible, in bearing as well the adversities of the body as of the mind, for when her husband (for being engaged in the civil broils of the City) was banished, and his goods confiscated, and her brother-in-law Paulinus sent likewise into a miserable exile, and her son I hon Baptista, taken forcibly away from her for hostage, the spirit of this S. remained victorious and undaunted, as well in the loss of her childrne as of her husband & friends. She praised God, in the ruin of so rich & honourable a family so nearly concerning her as that of her husbands did: in brief, in all the assaults and afflictions with which the devil assailed her patience, she got the victory, put him to shame & confusion, and ever praised God.  
She did eat ordinarily but once a day, and then very sparingly, and for the most part fed upon herbs or roots, which she did eat only with salt. She abstained both from wine & fish, and never did eat flesh but in great necessity, and then in very little quantity. She always eat without appetite, for she had so lost and mortified her taste by her continual fasting and abstinence, that the most sweetest things seemed to her bitter and unsavoury. When she was not with her husband, she used to repose her body upon a bed so straight, as she mightmore properly be said to sit and lean, then lie or rest thereon. She used to sleep in her clothes, and that only but two hours in the night, and yet (contrary to the general custom of Italy) she never slept in the day. She girded a sharp haircloth unto her naked body, with a great girdle made of horse hair, that it might the more afflict her: she disciplined herself ordinarily with a discipline of six cords, each cord having a rowel at the end. She used also a hoop of iron, which she fastened so straight unto her skin, that it became almost buried in the flesh: which hoop & the discipline, her Ghostly Father commanded to use nomore, and which, together with her haircloth, are to be seen at this day in her Monastery.  
She made her a cup of a dead man's Scull, for to drink that little water in, which she used for the sustenance of nature, both to diminish the little pleasure she might have in drinking, by the horror of that spectacle, as also to have ever before her eyes, the memory and image of death. She had accustomed so often, and so violently to beat her breast, that it became hardened like brawn: & if it happened, that she offended never so little, by any one part of her body, upon the same part would she presently and pitifully revenge herself. And if her tongue had offended, she would bite it till the blood followed, and so in like manner on any other part or sense.  
This Saint went customarily to confession every Wedensday, and Saturday, and to Communion at the least once a week, she visited often the Churches of S. Peter in the Vatican, S. Paul's out of the walls of the City, our Blessed Ladies the Ara Caeli, Sancta Maria Nuova, our Blessed Ladies on the other side of Tibur, and Saint Cecilies', where desiring one day to communicate, the Priest not approving that married women should communicate so often, gave unto her in place of the Blessed Sacrament, an vnconsecrated host, by which S. Francis was deceived of her expectation, but not by his imposture: for presently she feeling the want of those inteteriour comforts of her soul, which she used to receive by the presence of her spouse, knew he was absent, whereof (with a great and sensible feeling of the loss) she complained to Father Antony de Monte Sabellio, at that time her Ghostly Father, who thereupon examined the Priest, and he confessed the crime, and humbly begged pardon, and secrecy of the offence.  
This Saint being one day retired with her Holy Companion Vannosia, to a hidden Oratory which she had made in her garden, under the shadow of an Arbour, being then the month of April, it pleased God to show them both how grateful their retirement, as also their communication together (which was about the withdrawing themselves wholly from the world) was unto him, by his great bounty, in causing that from the Arbour there dropped down at their feet ripe pears both fair and excellent, although both out of season, & not the natural fruit of that tree; which they having tasted, & finding wonderful pleasant and delectable, bare the rest unto their husbands, thereby to stir up in them greater devotion and confidence in God.  
After the death of her husband, she retired herself into a Monastery, which she had so long and earnestly desired, wherein she attained to a most high degree of perfection, & became a most perfect pattern of all sanctity of life & holiness: In so much, that after a while she was chosen Governess of the whole house, & had many worthy disciples and Virgins under her, whom she instructed with such sweetness, & fervour of spirit, having received a wonderful new light, & learning from heaven, that she was a mirror to them all. She was very often rapt in ecstasy, and had therein such sweet and sensible communication with her Lord and spouse Christ jesus, as was wonderful; of whom she learned infinite mysteries, and became endued with so divine and prophetical a spirit, that God gave unto her the privilege of kowing the state of all such persons souls, as came in her presence.  
And thus this Blessed S. heaping up daily more and more merit, by her great Sanctity of life, she fell into her last sickness the year of our Lord 1440. who by divine revelation was admonished of the day and hour of her death. Wherefore she making continual preparation thereto, without any great sickness of body, when the day came, she heard mass, and communicated, and spent all the rest of the same day in spiritual communication with her sisters and disciples, saying the hours of the Breviary, Evensong, and Compline with them: and when the night grew on, she seemed to take her last leave of them all, and setting herself as it were in prayer, being rapt into an ecstasy, and talking with her spouse, she pleasantly rendered her holy soul into the hands of her Creator.  
When it was known she was dead, there was such a wonderful concourse of people to do honour to her holy body, as was strange: and the miracles that were wrought thereat, are sufficient to make a good volume by themselves. Her body was carried to our blessed Ladies new Church, near unto Campo Vaccino, commonly called S. Maria Nuova, and there with great solemnity and veneration interred, whereat miracles have been daily ever since wrought, and the same is greatly honoured and reverenced, by all the people of Rome even until this day. She was Canonised for a S. by Pope Paul the fifth, the 29. day of May, in the year of our Lord 1606. Her feast is usually celebrated upon the ninth day of March.   

THE LIFE OF THE HOLY Virgin S. Teresa of jesus, of the Order of our Blessed Lady of Mont Carmell, & Foundress of the Congregation of the discalced Carmelites.  
IN the famous City of Auila, in the Kingdom of Castille in Spain, was borne the holy and glorious Saint Teresa, upon the 28. of March, in the year of our Lord 1515. Her Father was called Alfonso Cepeda, and her mother Batrixe Ahumada. Both were noble, and excelled in all kind of piety and virtue; wherein with great care, they brought up their children: & in particular this their young and tender daughter.  
She being about the age of seven years, & contemplating of the joys, and glory of heaven, would often pronounce to herself these words, and say: O Eternity, Eternity, Eternity! using also daily many prayers, especially the Rosary, & (by her mother's instruction) made very devout to our Blessed Lady.  
In these her young years, reading in the lives of Saints, the torments, & deaths of the Blessed martyrs, and the glory they had obtained thereby, she judged that they had gotten heaven at an easy rate; wishing, that she might suffer the like pains, to attain the like glory. And being inflamed thus with the love of heaven, and of death for Christ his sake, she instilled the like desire into her young brother, in such sort, that they determined jointly, to go together among the Moors, that at their hands they might receive the crown of martyrdom. But beginning their journey; they met with their uncle, who (by intercepting) hindered them, and brought them back to their parents.  
Their intention thus crossed, as they remained in their Father's house, they passed their time often in the Garden, and Orchard, where they would build little houses, like Cells, and Hermitages, and though after the manner of children, yet it fore shown what she should afterward accomplish, as indeed she did.  
At the age of 12. years her mother died, whereat being much afflicted, she presented herself before an image of our B. Lady, desiring her to be her mother, whom she ever after found ready with her protection, help, and assistance in all her necessities.  
Now our Lord began to enkindle in this his servant, the spirit of prayer and inward devotion, in so much, that at the age of 20. years, she fully despised the world, and desired earnestly a Religious course of life; though her Father out of his extraordinary love to her, would not consent thereto. Yet she remembering the counsel of S. Hierome, broke violently from all, and entered into the Monastery of the Order of the Incarnation in Auila, where she passed her Noviceship, with great alacrity and comfort.  
Shortly after, she falling into an extreme sickness, her Father was enforced to covey her into the country, to the house of a physician for help. But it availed not, for her infirmity did daily, and diversely increase, and in such sort, that all being out of hope of her life, the last Sacraments were ministered unto her, & she lay a dying. At which time she was in a trance for four days, and coming to herself again, she complained of those, that had called her back from heaven, where she said, she had seen many mysteries, as also the salvation of her Father, & diverse other friends which should be saved by her means, and many Monasteries which she was to erect, and her own happy death: all which proved afterward true.  
After her recovery, by her prayers, she obtained health for a Religious person of their Monastery, and new amendment of life for a Priest, who was besotted with the dishonest love of a woman, who had bewitched him with her devilish enchantments, by a Copper Idol which she had given him to wear, which this holy woman obtaining of him, cast into a river, whereby he was freed, and lead afterwards a virtuous life, and died blessedly. And for diverse others she obtained health, and many she reduced to virtuous life, by her example and prayers, and by the intercession of S. joseph, to whom she was very affectionate, and devout.  
Being on a time at her prayers, she cast herself prostrate before a piteous Picture of our B. Saviour, beseeching his grace, and assistance, to protect her, from offending him any more: from which time ever after, she found continual increase of spiritual comforts, and also amendment of her former life. For after this time, our Lord did communicate himself unto her in diverse manners, aswell in inward and spiritual comforts, conversing & speaking to her soul, as also by outward and plain apparitions; guiding, and directing her with his counsel in all her affairs of difficulty, and speaking to her in his own voice.  
She being once surprised with an ecstasy, our Lord said to her; My will is that hereafter thou be not conversant with men, but with Angels: which words made such impression in her, as from that time, she wholly abandoned the world, and all humane things, & adhered only to God. Our Lord himself from this time teaching and advising her (her sanctity being suspected by others) what she should say, & answer, to stop their mouths, as she ever did. And our Lord said also to her: Fear not daughter, for I will not leave thee. Fron which time forward, she seemed wholly united to God.  
Being once in her devotions, our B. Saviour appeared to her again, having with him S. Peter, & S. Paul and shown to her first his hands shining beautifully, and after that his face: and thus continued with her the space of three days.  
Also hearing Mass upon S. Paul's day, our Blessed Saviour appeared to her in his humanity very glorious. And these apparitions of our Saviour at Mass time in diverse forms, continued to her, more than three years. These visions being very frequent & increasing, her Confessor, and diverse others grew suspicious, that they might be illusions of the devil, and she be deceived: but our Lord himself did with his presence and speech to her, both satisfy, and instruct her, how she should stop the slanderous mouths of all. After this a Seraphim appeared to her with a flaming dart in his hand, wherewith he seemed to pierce her hart so, as from that time forward she remained wholly inflamed with the love of God, and of which wound she felt at diverse times very sensible pain.  
Once in a vision she was taken up to heaven, where she saw such mysteries, and fullness of glory and joys, as cannot be expressed: Our Lord saying to her: Consider daughter, how great joys worldlings deprive themselues of. These visions came to her very often, and in diverse kinds: As of the blessed Trinity, of our blessed Saviour, of our B. Lady, of S. Peter and S. Paul, & of the Angels: yea, and these were not only in spirit, but her body also hath been seen many times elevated from the ground, until through her humility she desired of our Lord the cessation of that miraculous favour, which he granted her.  
This holy Saint was fearful herself, lest it might be a deceit of the devil, and therefore was content to be narrowly sifted, and examined with all diligence, not only in her Confessions, but also in her life, particular actions, and proceed, which were searched, by very many Fathers of the Society of jesus, and almost by forty other principal, and the most famous learned men in Spain, and other Countries, all grave, and reverend, and the best spiritual Masters then living: who all allowed and approved her life, & her proceed for good and virtuous, free from illusion, or deceit.  
After this, the holy Saint beginning to build a Monastery, our B. Lady & S. joseph appeared to her, and promised to protect, and assist her, which did encourage her so much, as though she found many difficulties, yet she brought at last to good effect and finished the same. Adding to their former rules, some others concerning Mental Prayer, and Meditation, all which were approved by the Pope's Holiness. And at the end, our Blessed Saviour appeared to her, and set a crown upon her head, as a reward of her former travails.  
She founded diverse other Monasteries after this to the number of seventeen well known, as in Medina del Campo, in Duruell, in Malaga, in Valladolid, in Toledo, in Pastrana, in Salamanca, in Alva de Tornes, in Segovia, in Bea, in Seville, in Caravaque, in Xare, in Palencia, in Sorry, in Granada, in Burgos. Besides these, she founded diverse others, as namely, fifteen for the discalced Brothers, all well known in Spain.  
In all these her Monasteries she caused a reformation, with addition of many good, and spiritual constitutions, all approved by her Superiors, and confirmed by the Pope. And during her life time (with her infatigable labour, and continual travel from one to another) she governed them all, in most exact observance of their rules, and exemplar life; to the great edification of all, & amendment of many in the way of more virtuous life.  
She wrote four books, One, of her own life, by command of her Ghostly Father, one, of the way of Perfection, one, Of the Foundation of her Monasteries. And afterward three other books, containing relations of her life, and of devout prayers. All which said books, being approved both by the Inquisition, and the grave, & learned Father aforesaid, her Confessors, with diverse others, and being sound and Catholic Doctrine, and full of divine learning and wholesome precepts, were thought good to be translated into diverse languages, that others reading her holy life, & following her counsels, might profit thereby, and increase in virtue, to the salvation of their souls, as very many have done, by her means, as was before showed unto her in a vision.  
The virtues of this Saint, were very many and manifest, and great store of examples there be thereof in every kind, though for brevity sake, I will but touch, and only name a few of them. First she was so careful in observance of the Commandments of Almighty God, as her Confessor thought, she never committed any mortal sin. Her obedience was extraordinary to all her Superiors, and Prelates, in all things, both humane, & divine. The gift of Chastity, given her by our Blessed Saviour, was such, as she was surnamed by her Confessors: The treasure of Virginity. And the purity of her mind appeared well, by theuncorruption of her body after her death, and by the modest observances she appointed for her Nuns, as the covering of their faces with a veil, their strict in closure, their silence, and other the like.  
She had a great love to poverty, praising it, and commending it to her Nunnes, & that not only in their holy estate, in having their means without certainty of maintenance, and their house without rent, but also in their habit, which she chose to be very mean. Yet principally she commended and preferred inward poverty of spirit, wherein she was a rare, and exemplar pattern to all.  
In taming of her flesh, she was very rigorous, and austere, for besides her spare diet, she used sharp disciplines, sometimes with cords, with keys, with Iron chains, wearing continually a haircloth next her skin, and ordaining her Order to be one of the strictest in the Church of God. And if any meat was made something more dainty by the fire, as either roasted, or baked, she would refuse it, saying: Meat is to nourrish our bodies, not to delight the taste. Her sleep was seldom above three hours in a night, all the rest she spent in prayer.  
In humility she excelled, giving many worthy testimonies thereof, in diverse places both at Rome and abroad, serving all the rest of the sisters (by her good will) in the lowest, ad basest Offices in the house. Her courage was great, as appeared by her continual travels, and troubles, in erecting Monasteries, which yet at last she always brought to good effect: Besides the often apparition: of devils, which she feared not, but ever chased a way from her, even as flies.  
Such was her admirable patience in all crosses, and afflictions, as she took great joy, & comfort in suffering them, having an ardent desire to die for Christ his sake, and having these words often in her mouth: O Lord grant me either to die, or at least to suffer for thy sake. In her body, she suffered long and grievous sicknesses and infirmities, besides her continual travail, and toil. In her reputation & honour she suffered great detriment, and no less inward spiritual combats and desolations in her soul. To speak of the wonderful Prudence of this holy Saint, in governing of her many Monasteries, of her simplicity, & sincere virtue in religion, and above all, her extraordinary devotion to the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, and her other virtues, wherein she did excel, and was so exemplar, it would truly fill whole volumes.  
The same may be said of her divine contemplation, of her eminent Faith, of her Hope, of her inflamed Love to God: of her Charity to wards her neighbour, of her forcible, & persuasive virtue of speech, her grace of interpretation of Scriptures, and Prophecy, and in discerning of spirits. And for all these her virtues, service, and love unto our Lord, it may well cause admiration in us to consider his reciprocal love, and his continual, high and divine favours doneunto her: His often consolations to her soul, and inward spiritual apparitions, as also corporally and frequently in diverse forms and manners, instructing, and directing her from time to time, how she should proceed, in all her affairs of importance, best to his liking and service: As also dictating to her with his own voice, the very words she should speak, to satisfy doubts, and answer all objections.  
She had an extraordinary gift in healing of the sick of all infirmities by her prayers, and working other miracles so usually, & as I may say familiarly, as it seemed our Lord never denied her any thing that she requested of him. The aged, & weak body of this holy woman, almost spent and worn out with continual travel from one Monastery to another, being now at Burgos, and foreseeing her end approaching (which she had prophesied 8. years before) hastened towards Auila, where she was borne, desiring to end her days therein her first own House. But reposing (as she traveled) at the house of the Duchess of Alva, she was enforced there to make stay, partly by her importunity, as also by reason of a fever she had which continued with her, & increased so incessantly, that at the end of three days, having received all the rites of the Holy Catholic Church, recommended herself to God, with many devout prayers, and given many wholesome precepts and admonitions to those that were present, to their great comfort, & edification, with a joyful, and peaceable serenity of mind, she sweetly yielded up her soul to her beloved spouse & Saviour, upon the 4. day of October, being the feast of S. Francis, in the 68 year of her age, & 47. of her being religious.  
It pleased our Lord to show the holiness of this Saint by some signs at her death, & by many miracles after. For at the instant of her death, a certain Religious woman, saw two stars to descend upon her Cell. Another sister saw a bright star shining over her Monastery, & another star at the window of the chamber where she died. A Religious man in Valladolid saw (at the instant of her death) the heaven's open, and a glorious way prepared, whereby a soul ascended. The prioress of Segovia, smelled in her Cell a most sweet odour at the instant of her death, with an extraordinary light. Another Prioress in Paris saw our Saviour ascend to heaven with great glory, & many Angels with him. Another sister saw a white dove to ascend from her mouth. All her Convent at the instant saw a great light, and felt a very sweet smell, filling the house: as also from her habit, and all things that she had touched.  
The body of this holy Saint lying fair, fresh, and lively, as though she had been yet living, a certain Religious man came, and touched with her hands his head, and eyes, and presently recovered of two infirmities which he had in those parts. Another Religious woman kissing her feet, recovered her smelling which she had lost. And that night after her death, she appeared to diverse Religious persons.  
After that her body had been by many and with great devotion visited, she was with great solemnity, & due reverence interred. Her habit, and all things that she used, be kept still in Alva, with great reverence for holy Relics, and many miracles have been wrought by them.  
This holy Saint appeared to diverse after her death: and first, to one Mother Antonetta, in Granada, she wing her the glory that she was in, and encouraging her in her virtuous course of life. Also to a Religious woman in Auila, she appeared in great glory. She appeared also in Segovia (with a sweet odour) in the midst of the Quire, with a rich crown on her head. And to the Earl of Osorne, to the Bishop, and diverse others there.  
The miracles after her death were many. As the miraculous incorruption of her body. The pleasant odour, and sweetness thereof, filling the place where it was kept, as also of her habit, , and all things she had touched. By which (being religiously kept) many of sundry infirmities were healed. Also there was a precious oil, or liquor, that distilled continually from her body, and from every small part thereof, though separated a sunder, whereby many miracles were done, as appeareth by one of her hands that was carried by the Provincial of her Order to Lisbon, and by one of her fingers at Malaga. Also a linen cloth died with her blood, continued pure, and fresh, whereby many miracles were done, in diverse places, and in diverse manners.  
Don Aluarez de mendoza Bishop of Alva, having in his life time built a fair chapel, with a Tomb therein for himself, an (by a fore-contract with the Provincial of her Order) another by it for this holy Saint, and hearing now of her death and burial, made suit jointly with the people of the town to the Provincial for her body, which not being obtained, she was translated to Auila in the month of November 1585. with great solemnity, and joy. But the Duke of Alva, and Ferdinand of Toledo Prior of S. Ihons', made suit to Pope Sixtus V for her return to Alva where she died, which he granted, and so with greater joy, and applause she was brought back to Alva the 23. of August 1586. where she remaineth, and God by means of this his servant doth work many miracles, even to this present: as is daily seen by those that be devout unto her, and frequent her sepulchre; the which hath been adorned & enriched with many great gifts, and precious jewels, of many of the greatest Princes, and Religious Bishops, and Persons of Spain, and Christendom. And after all due diligence, and examinations of her life, and miracles made, as in such cases appertaineth, she was Canonised for a Saint by Pope Gregory the XV. upon the 12. of March 1622. But her feast is celebrated upon the 4. day of October.  
To rehearse the manifold examples in every of her several virtues, the frequent apparitions of our Blessed Saviour, and other Saints, her visions, raptes, and miracles, according to the truth thereof, and her desert, I should never be able to say enough, all the aforesaid things being so certain, and so well known in Spain, as they be yet fresh in memory, and many are yet living that knew her well, and were present, and eye witnesses to all that which is here written of her. And he that shall read her life written by herself at the command of her Ghostly Father (translated lately into English) and also her life written by Brother John of S. Jerome, and Brother John of jesus Maria, of her own Order, from whence this is extracted may be there further satisfied with examples in every kind: these things being here only touched for brevity sake, as a taste, out of abundance. God grant that we following her heavenly documents, & instructions, & imitating hervertuous life, may by her intercession merit to come to that heavenly glory, which she, with her deerespouse jesus, now enjoyeth. Amen.   

THE LIFE AND VERTVES OF Blessed Lewis Gonzaga of the Society of jesus: taken out of his history written at large by Virgilius Ceparius of the same Order.  
BLESSED Lewis Gonzaga was borne in that part of France which lieth beyond the Alps, at the Chastle of Castilion in the Diocese of Brixia, in the year of our Lord 1568. of Ferdinand Prince of the Empire, and Marquis of the above named Castilion, and of Martha Tana-Sanrenia no less Noble, as the Inhabitants about the Alps can testify, and virtuous, as appeareth in that even from the first day of her marriage, she began to pray like another Anne, not for fear of barrenness, but for the glory of God, that it would please our Lord to send her a son, that in some Religion might wholly dedicate himself to his holy service. And so it seemed that God Almighty therefore vouchsafed to sand her this Samuel, permitting him to have a dangerous entrance into this world, that he might the sooner mark him for his own, with the character of Baptism, which by the Physician's advice was given him before he was half come forth of his mother's womb; but the danger of this passage at length by theintercession of our B. Lady was taken away, although for a space there remained some fear and doubt, whether he were alive or dead. For he lay still without moving for the space of an hour, when, to show that he was alive, he gave one little cry only, & so gave over, and never used to cry any more as other children are wont to do; a presage doubtless of his future behaviour and conditions, which were always most gentle, mild, and courteous.  
After his mother had brought him up in all piety and fear of God, unto the age of five years or thereabout, his Father desiring to train up his son in warlike affairs from his very cradle, took him away with him to a town called, Casall the greater, in the Territory of Milan, where whensoever he mustered his soldiers, he made him march before them in light armour, with a little spear upon his shoulder. From hence the Marquis his Father being to march with his army to Tunis a City in Africa, sent Lewis back to Castilion, where growing now towards seven years of age, at which time children begin to have discretion to discern between good & bad, he withdrew himself by little and little from the conversation of soldiers, and began to apply himself to the service of God, saying every day at home upon his knees the prayers which are, The Daily Exercise, together with the seven Penitential psalms, and the office of our Blessed Lady, with so great fervour and care that he never omitted the same were he never so sick: and was wont to call that, the time of his conversion.  
When the Marquis came home, and saw his son's warlike audacity, changed into a pious and prudent modesty, he rejoiced exceedingly to see how wise and discreet an heir he should have to succeed him in the government of his subjects. But Lewis his intentions were leveled at a fare higher mark, which he was not afraid now and then to signify unto his mother; who albeit she desired nothing more, then that one of her sons should become a Religious man, yet was she half afraid to hear her eldest son and heir, talk of taking that course of life, much more to persuade him to it.  
Not long after, the Marquis upon some occasion going to visit the Duke of Florence, took both Lewis and his younger brother with him; and there set them both to school, to the end, that in that Great Duke's court, they might not only learn good manners, but other sciences also. Lewis at the age of nine years being left there by his father, began to exercise himself in all kind of virtues, especially of Chastity and purity, whereof, out of the great devotion he had conceived towards our Blessed Lady, he made a vow to keep the same perpetually, before an Image of hers which the whole City hath in great devotion. He heard Mass every day, and besides mass upon holy days, he always was present at Evensong. And although he knew not yet how to meditate, yet the never let pass the daily Exercise, and other Offices which we haHe spoken of before, rising to say them every morning, as soon as it was day. Hear finally he began to wain himself from all kind of pleasures, and pastimes eschewing all conversation that might give him occasion to speak the least idle word; for he had now begun to frequent the Sacrament of Penance with much fervour. And so ever after he was wont to call Florence, the mother of his piety and devotion.  
Two years being now past in Florence, Lewis and his brother taking their leave of the great Duke, with Order from the Marquis, went to live at Mantua, where he came to take so great delight in abstinence and fasting, which was for a time prescribed him for the health of his body, that afterwards to the great damage of the same, he could not be dissuaded from using still the same medicine for the good of his soul. Here now as he began to think with himself, how he might make all his inheritance over to his Brother, and take upon himself an Ecclesiastical kind of life, being called home from the heats of Mantua at the age of twelve years, he received of our Lord the gift of prayer and contemplation, and by advice of Saint Charles Borromeus Cardinal, then visiting that Diocese, he began to frequent the holy Communion, with exceeding great devotion. But his stomach now with praying and fasting was grown so weak, that he was scarce able to digest any meat at all. Wherefore his Father sent for him to Montserrat, to see if by any means he could draw him a little from that austerity, that he might recover his health. But Lewis there for the space of half a year could take pleasure in nothing but in his former exercises, using for his pastime only to visit holy places and Monasteries, flying from the conversation of all but Religious men, by whose examples he was so efficaciously moved, that he fully purposed to take upon him some Religious habit or other, although, being not yet full thirteen years old, he had not yet determined of what Order he would be.  
In the mean time being returned home again with his Father to Castilion, he went forward exceedingly in all kind of virtues, especially in extraordinary abstinence and mortification. From hence not long after as he travailed into Spain in company of his Father, and other noble Italians, he never omitted his accustomed contemplations and holy Exercises. But he so behaved himself for the space of two years and more that he lived in the King of Spain's Court, that no Proverb was so much in the mouths of the chiefest Coutiers, as that the younger Marquis of Castilion, seemed not to be made of flesh and blood. Such progress had he made in the contempt of all worldly honours and pleasures.  
Hear how Lewis being at the age of fifteen years and an half began to feel in himself so ardent a desire of forsaking the world, that after many days, commending the matter to God Almighty in his prayers, it pleased his divine Majesty by a voice from heaven, to give him a particular vocation to the Society of jesus. Which thing his Ghostly Father understanding, approved his good intention, so that it might be put in execution with the Marquis his Father's leave. Whereupon Lewis having first told his Mother (who with a joyful hart soon offered up her Samuel to gods holy service) without delay went unto his Father, and with all humility and reverence declared his mind unto him. At which the Marquis was so enraged, that he bade him either get him gone, and talk no more to him of any such matter, or he would cause him to be whipped presently. To whom Lewis very modestly answered: Would to God I might receive such a benefit, as to suffer that for his sake, and so departed from him. And after a long trial by which he was undoubtedly confirmed it was from God, and seeing his Father still remained inexorable, he going one day to the College of the Society, (as at other times he was wont to do,) to visit the Fathers, he desired his younger brother and the rest of his acquaintance that were with him, to go their ways home, and leave him, for that he did not mean to stir one foot out of that place.  
Now, the Marquis his Father seeing the firm resolution of his Son, with much a do persuaded him not to enter into Religion in Spain, but to stay till they returned home into Italy, and that there he should have his own will accomplished. As soon as they were arrived in Italy, Lewis claimeth promise of his Father, but he thinking by that and other delays, to make his vocation at length wax cold, answered that he could by no means condescend unto his request, before that he and his brother, had saluted all the Princes of Italy. Which Lewis having performed, returning home found his Father more obstinate against him then ever he was before. In so much that after he had endeavoured all he could, by means of diverse grave Bishops and Prelates to dissuaded him from that course of life, finding at last to be true which a certain Cardinal, whom amongst others the Marquis had sent unto him, afterwards confessed. Diaboli parts apurl hunc Adolescentem agendas mibi imposuerunt. Eas, quia necesse erat, quanto potui study & ingenio sustinui. Verum nec hilum profeci, stat immotus: percelli nequit. They made me play the devil's part and tempt this young man with all the wiles and allurements which I could possibly invent. But I prevailed nothing. He stands altogether immoveable and invincible: he cannot be daunied. After (I say) that the Marquis saw the matter came to that pass having sent for Lewis and examined him by himself with an angry countenance, & sharp words as he lay in bed sick of the gout, he biddeth him get him out of his sight.  
But hearing, that his words had made him leave the house & recollect himself in a Monastery of Franciscans, he sent for him home again and did so bitterly reprehend him for it, that Lewis every day, as one in great anguish and trouble of mind, to see his Father so to cross his holy intentions, casting himself down prostrate before a Crucifix with many tears and cruel disciplines, began to act such a bloody Tragedy upon himself, as those which beheld him through the chinks of his door, could not endure so pitiful a sight. In so much that the Marquis himself not believing others report, being brought unto the door in his bed, and seeing it mith his own eyes, was so amazed and moved to pity, that without any more resistance, he wrote unto Scipio Gonzaga then Patriarch of Jerusalem, to offer his Son unto Father Claudius Aquaviua, General of the Society of jesus, who willingly accepted of him, and after admitted him by a letter, which was the answer to one that Lewis had familiarly before written unto him, to thank him for so great a benefit.  
But this was not the end of Lewis his persecution; for the Marks not content with employing him for nine months after, about certain affairs at Milan, which Lewis, by reason of his Father's sickness, and to give him the greatest satisfaction he could, with no less speed than prudence dispatched; not content I say with this (when the writings and all were come, with letters patents from the Emeperour, so that Lewis seemed to have nothing else to do but by delivering the writings to his brother to desinherit himself, and so departed in peace) he came to Milan, and raised another tempest against him, so much the more terrible, by how much he himself (besides many others) did sundry times more earnestly plead his own cause before him, with such speeches as we may imagine the passionate affection of a Father, overflowing with tender love towards such a son, could afford.  
But seeing all his labour to be in vain, he caused himself to be carried in a chair into the house of the Society of jesus, and there sending for a grave Father of account in that City, he declared the matter unto him, concluding that he was determined to stand to his judgement, upon condition that he would there in his presence examine his son's vocation, and urge him with all the reasons he could device, to avert him from his purpose. To be short Lewis was called, and the Father in all sincerity, and with all severity set upon him, and did the best he could. But Lewis gave so good satisfaction to all the doubts and difficulties which were opposed against him, that the Father after great admiration burst forth into this verdict: Aequum postulas, Domine Aloysi, aequum postulas; néque dubium ess potest quin sit ut dicis. Mihi quidem stimulos admovists, neque ullum praeterta quaerendi locum reliquisti. Which is as much as to say, as that there could be no more doubt, but Lewis his petition was just and reasonable.  
The Marquis also being for this time fully persuaded to grant the same, returned home to Castilion, and Lewis presently, (all things being put in good order,) followed him: and after he had with an undaunted courage passed one brunt more of his Father's fury, at last taking his leave of Cast lion (all the people with many tears lamenting their own loss, and exceeding sorry for that they were not whorthy of so good and gracious a Lord) he departed with his Father to Mantua: where in presence of other Noble men that were to be witnesses of the deed, having renounced his title of Marquis, and cast from him all other ornaments and toakens of that dignity, he went immediately, and the same day put on the habit of the Society, which he had before prepared and brought ready with him. And having spent a whole day in taking leave of his father and mother, the next morning he took his joyful journey towards Rome. He was scarce lighted from his horse in Rome, when going immediately to the house of the professed Fathers, he cast himself down prostrate at the General's feet, professing and acknowledging to be his Subject. Then with his leave, he went to visit the holy places, to salute his friends, and other Princes there, and to receive the Pope's benediction. All which being dispatched, upon Saint Catherine the Virgin and martyrs day, at the age of seventeen years, eight months, and six days, he entered into the Noviciate of the Society of jesus at S. Andrews in Rome, with as great joy and jubilee of heart, as if he had entered into a paradise of all delights and pleasures, giving immortal thankes to God, for bringing him out of Egypt, into that Land of Promise, flowing with milk and honey.  
Hear now Lewis having passed through all kind of exorcises in Humility and Obedience, with great admiration of all, almost the space of a year, was sent to Naples to recover his health, and to make an end of the course of Philosophy, which he had begun at Milan. But after half a year, finding by experience that that place, nor air agreed with his health, he was called back again to Rome, and sent unto the Roman College, where he defended his Philosophy publicly with great applause, and so proceeded to hear his higher courses of divinity. After he had lived now two years in the Society, upon Saint Catherines day, being the day on which first he entered, he also made the three vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, as the custom is. For albeit he had not spent all this time in the Noviciate, yet God by his holy grace did so supply in his soul the want of that time, which the infirmity of his body took from him, that wheresoever he lived all his life after, he remained still as it were a Novice.  
The next year upon the eight abd twentith day of january, he began to take Ecclesiastical Orders, and by the 26. of Frebruary he had received one after another, upon several days, all those which are called the Minores, or inferior Orders. The year following, he was sent to Castilion and Mantua, to compose certain contentions and debates between his Brother the Marquis (his Father being now deceased) and the Duke of Mantua, which if he had not, by the great authority, which for his sanctity he always had amongst them, taken up and decided, would have cost much bloodshed on both sides.  
The next year he withdrew himself, with order from his Superiors, to Milan, where it pleased God to reveal unto him, that the hour of his death approached, with which revelation he returned joyfully to Rome, with his thoughts so fixed on heaven, so dead to the world and to all worldly things, that he appeared rather as one dead, then living: his only sight stirred up devotion in others, and his very words incited his hearers to the love of God: In fine, he was in the estimation of all, alively pattern of all perfection.  
In the year 1591. the City of Rome was sorely visited with a mortality, by reason of the multitude of poor people that were enforced by a former famine, to repair thither for to beg their sustenance, at which time the General and others of the Society, inforcinge themselves to the aid and secure of the poor, besides the large alms that they daily procured for them, they laboured the foundation of an Hospital to relieve and cure the sick, which were in great number visited, with sundry dangerous and infectious diseases, where those of the Society attended them with great diligence and charity; of which number Lewis by much importunity obtained of his Superiors to be one, where he served the sick with wonderful devotion, humility, and charity, exercising himself ever most willingly about those that were the most loathsome and dangerously infected. In this employment, he together with many others of the Society, got that infection whereof afterwards he died, which he feeling, and knowing that our Lord was pleased to do him that favour, to deliver him from the prison of his body, and to take him to rest, he rejoiced exceedingly, giving God most humble and hearty thanks for so great a benefit, and the more, for calling him, in such an age and before he was Priest, whereby he esteemed himself secure of rendering account, either for the unprofitable expense of many years, or the abuse of so great a dignity. He made a general Confession, and having received his Viaticum, and Extreme Unction, he attended the hour of his death: nevertheless it pleased our Lord that the seaventh day of his sickness the fury of it ceased, and there remained only a gentle fever which held him three months, in all which time he never willingly entertained discourse of any thing but of heaven, and heavenly things, in so much that we may say (as it were) he had sent his hart before him.  
He being by little and little sore weakened by the fever, it pleased our Lord to reveal unto him the hour of his decease: whereupon with great signs of joy, he said Te Deum laudamus, and told those that were about him, that he should dye on the Octave of the feast of the Blessed Sacrament, notwithstanding on Corpus Christi day, as also during the Octave, he seemed so well to recover, that on the Octave day they said unto him. That he should rather think of his recovery, then of his death that day, since there appeared no danger at all. To whom he quietly answered: The day is not yet past, I shall assuredly dye this night. The evening being come, the Provincial came to visit him, who demanded of him how he did? Lewis answered. I go Father. Whither said the Provincial? To heaven (answered Lewis) I trust by the great mercy of God, if my sins do not hinder me.  
Pope Gregory the fourteenth, hearing that he was in the Agony of death, sent unto him his benediction, with a plenary Indulgence of all his sins, and drawing towards his end, he desired earnestly to take a discipline, or at least (by reason of his own weakness) that one might be given him upon his back: which being denied, he humbly beseeched leave of Father Provincial that he might dye upon the ground, so great was his fervour and desire of suffering, even then when his sickness had rendered him almost incapable of suffering. In brief, after that he had taken leave of the Fathers and Brothers of the College with many tears, he entered into long and sweet interior Colloquies with our Lord, kissing often a Crucifix which he held in his hands, with his eyes fised thereon, and often calling upon the holy name of jesus, he rendered his soul to rest on Thursday at night, being the Octave of the B. Sacrament, the one & twentith of june, in the year of our Lord 1591. and in the three and twentith year of his age, three months and eleven days, after he had been of the Society five years, and almost seven months.  
He was interred in the Chutch of the Annunciation in the Roman College, with so great concourse of people, not only of those of the Society and Scholars, but also from the Court and City of Rome, that not without great difficulty could his body be buried, every one striving to kiss his hands, and for some relic of him; some cutting his hair, others his garments, others even his finger's ends. He was put into a Coffin, and laid in the Chapel of the Crucifix, and from thence in the year of our Lord 1598. he was removed to a more eminent place of the same Church; finally the thirteenth day of May in the year 1605. he was solemnly translated with music, and lights, into the great Chapel of our Blessed Lady in the same Church, and there placed in the wall near the right side of the Altar. This translation was caused by reason of the many miracles that it pleased out Lord to work by him, in diverse places, and the multitude of people that came daily to his Tomb to offer up their vows, which exceedingly increased the devotion of the people, and the concourse to his B. Relics; which was a thing so celebrated at Rome, that Pope Paul the fifth, in the month of September 1607. gave order, that an inquisition might be made of his life and miracles for his Canonization.  
Among the many miracles that have been wrought by the intercession of Blessed Lewis, there be forty and four approved and recorded, which he hath done in the State of Castilion, his own proper Country and patrimony, where his Image is placed on an Altar with twelve lamps before it continually burning, besides the other innumerable lights which the people daily offer unto his honour, and before the same are hanged on the walls more than three hundred votive Tablets, offered in remembrance, and for devotion, of his miracles.  
Our Lord in diverse other places hath likewise showed forth his wonders by the means of this blessed Saint, rendering health to diverse dangerously sick of fevers, and other diseases, restoring the blind to sight, the deaf to hearing, helping of women in the peril of childbirth, with many others, which are all at large recorded in the Book of his life, out of which I will only rehearse briefly these few that follow.  
In the year 1593. his mother being in danger of her life, having received the holy Sacraments of Communion, and Extreme Unction, her son appeared resplendent and glorious unto her, with the comfort of whose presence she presently began to amend, and in few days recovered her perfect health, which was the first miracle that it pleased God to work by him after his death.  
The Duke of Mantua, coming to Rome in the year 1605. visited with great devotion the tomb of his Cousin Lewis, and had there given him (by his Brother Francis Gonzaga, then Ambassador for the Emperor) a relic of his, with which returning by Florence, to Mantua, he was taken with a grievous pain in his knee, which had long & sorely vexed him, to which applying this holy Relic of B. Lewis, he was presently cured: the which was testified by his own letter, written back to Rome to the Marquis his Brother.  
He had likewise the gift of Prophecy, & foretold unto his mother, that his Brother Francis (who was the youngest of his Brothers) should be the Rayser up and glory of their House, which proved true; as likewise diverse other things which he foretold.  
Who seethe not in this life, and admireth not the bounty and liberality of our Lord, who had so filled with his grace, this Blessed young man, whom he made choiceof, even from his mother's womb, to render glorious both in heaven and earth? How great spirit in so young age, what recollection in so many troubles, what mortifications in the miedest of pleasures and delights, what humility in greatness, what misprise of all worldly things, and earnest seeking after heavenly? To what greater degree of perfection can a soul arrive in this life (beyond the preservation of the grace received in Baptism) them not to feel in their body the tentations of the flesh, not to suffer in prayer distractions of thoughts, and to live on earth, as an Angel in heaven? All which virtues are apparent to have been eminent in this blessed young man, whose life we all ought to imitate, to the end that imitating his virtues, we may be also made partakers of his rewards and merits.  
He was Beatified by Pope Paul the fifth, by whom leave was also granted to say mass of him. His feast is kept by the Fathers of the Society of jesus, with great solemnity; & plenary Indulgence, and in the Diocese of Mantua, is for the most part, kept holy.   

THE LIFE AND VERTVES of B. Stanislaus Kostka, of the Society of jesus, abridged out of his life, written by Peter Rybadeneira and others, of the same Society.  
BLESSED Stanislaus was borne in the Kingdom of Polonia, in the year of our Lord 1550. in a Castle of his ancestors called Kostkovo, His Father's name was john Kostka, his mother's Margaret Keysban, both Illustrious, and of the principal houses of that Kingdom, but much illustrated by this, that never any of that house was tainted with heresy. Out of their family have issued diverse Lords, Palatines, Electors, Senators, Captains, Bishops, and other of great dignity in that kingdom. God blest them with diverse children, and amongst others with this Stanislaus, who having laudably passed his infancy at home, was ●●●t by his Father, being the but thitteene years of age, together with another of his Brothers, elder than he, to Vienna in Austria (where the Emperor Maximilian, at that time kept his Court) for to study there, in the College of the Fathers of the Society of jesus, which was at that time very famous for the education of youth.  
Stamnislaus studied so diligently there, being of an excellent wit, that he surpassed all the rest of his School-fellowes, of whom for his gentleness & modesty he was generally beloved. Every morning before he went to school, and every evening after he came from school, he used to make his prayers in the Church of the Society. He avoided all ill company, all conversation with Libertines, or any other thing that had not the odour of devotion. With all diligence he was a great lover of silence, and never spoke but what he had first well weighed & considered. He was modestly cheerful, and cheerfully modest, & affable. He conversed most willingly with those that were simple and sincere: he was very compassionate, and succoured to his power, all those that were in need or extremity: he was ever the first up (of his school-fellowes) in the morning: he contented not himself with hearing one mass daily, nor on feasts with fewer than all he could possibly hear. He went meanly clad, and for all the cold season (which in those parts is very bitter in the winter) he never wore gloves, nor would ever use the help of any servant, unless when he was commanded by his master, or brother. Almost all his Orations and Declamations that he made, in the exercise of Eloquence, were in the praise of the glorious Virgin Mary, to whom he was singularly denoted. He said every day his Beads: he prayed not only many times of the day, but would rise in the night to pray (while his companions slept) accompanying his prayers with diverse acts of humility and mortifications: he used sundry times secretly to sweep his brother's Chamber, fasted in private diverse days, and with sore disciplines often chastised his tender body. And although his Brother often chid him for living so retired, yet he having his eyes fixed on God (who above all he desired to please) would never omit his ordinary exercises and devotions.  
Stanislaus being thus virtuously employed and disposed, our Lord enkindles in him more and more the flames of his jove, & inspired him with a vocation to the Society of jesus; which he vowed although he discovered not his resolutions to any one, besides his Confessor, until six months after.  
About that time he was visited with a dangerous sickness, in the beginning of which, being in his Chamber, the devil appeared unto him in the shape of a great black dog, horrible and fearful, who took him thrice by the throat, attempting to have strangled him: but he recommending himself fervently to God, by his grace, with the sigue of the Cross, chased him away, in such manner that he never appeared after unto him.  
His sickness had reduced him to such extremity, that the Physicians had given him over: and the Blessed youth lay so afflicted, not so much for the death which he saw before his eyes, as because he had no means to receive the Blessed Sacrament, which he exceedingly desired, by reason that the Host of the house where he lodged, was an Heretic. Wherefore he commended himself earnestly to our Blessed Saviour, & to S. Barbara, both because she was Patroness of the Scholars of the College of Vienna, where he studied, as also that he remembered to have read in her life, that whosoever that was devoted unto her should never die without the Sacraments of the Church. And for that the last time, which he had communicated, was upon the feast of Saint Barbara aforesaid, which is the fourth of December, he humbly desired of our Saviour by the intercession of that glorious Saint, that he might not yet departed this life, without first having received the Sacraments of the Church. And at that present finding himself almost in the agony of death, he renewed this his petition with greater fervour & earnestness; which our Blessed Saviour granted. For being one night awake, languishing in the agony of death, he saw enter into his chamber the holy Virgin S. Barbara, accompanied with two Angels, environed with Celestial brightness, bringing with them the B. Sacrament, from whose hands with wonderful reverence he received it, and began to be a little better.  
After this great favour, he received another most singular, and no less marvellous: for being overcome with the violence of his sickness, and in the extremity of his life, our B. Lady appeared unto him with the child jesus in her arms, and with a gracious countenance and regard admonishing him to enter the Society of jesus, she vanished away, leaving the child jesus, lying on the bed by him. Stanislaus aided by the celestial favour, suddenly began to recovet his strengt & to amend, at which the Physicians were astonished, as at a thing contrary to all rules of Physic. These two admirable favours, B. Stanislaus manifested a little before his death, to one of his fellow-novices, named Stephen, as also unto Father Emanuel Sà, which notwithstanding having done it at unawares, he remained so much confounded, that the tears stood in his eyes.  
Being now restored to perfect health, not unmindful either of the private vow that he had made to enter into the Society, or of the admonition of our B. Lady, & desirous to put it in speedy execution, he discovered the same to his ghostly Father, who told him that they could not by any means receive him in the College at Vienna, without the consent of his friends, and blessing of his Father. But he not willing to expect so long, and despairing to obtain leave of his Father; knowing likewise the averse nature of his Brother Paul, who had often times entreated him with bitter words, and sometimes with blows, which he ever had endured, with great patience and inward consolation, for the love of virtue; notwitstanding that he might have some fit occasion to put his good desires in practice, he ceased not to give many outward testimonies of his inclination; & one day he discovered it unto his brother, who was thereat so much incensed against him, that he rated him out of his presence, threatening to advertise his parents of his proceeding. But still continuing to appease his Brother, & to get at least his good will, he spoke unto him one morning in very loving manner; who in a rage answered, that he should get him gone with a mischief chief whither he would.  
Stanislaus, as an occasion fitly sent him from heaven, gladly embraced what his Brother had said, and so putting himself in poor apparel, having confessed and communicated, & earnestly commended himself to God, and out B. Lady, took his journey on foot from Vienna to Ausburge, there to find Father Canisius Provincial of Germany, to whom he had letters of commendations from a Father of the Society, preacher to the Empress Maria.  
So son as Paul miss his brother, he was much afflicted, knowing that he principally by his choler and ill usage had chased him away: he searched diligently many Churches and Religious houses in Vienna, but could hear no news of him, until by an Hungarian Gentleman who had been school-fellow with Stanislaus, and by a little note that he had written to his Tutor and left within a book, his resolution was known, and also the way that he had taken. Wherefore his brother, with his said Tutor, taking with them also their Host and one servant, followed him with all speed in Coach, whom they overtook on the way, but it pleased God that they went on without knowing of him, & shortly after by reason that the Coach-horses were young and unfit for travail, they were forced to return without passing further.  
Stanislaus now seeing himself delivered from this peril, was much animated and comforted: and passing on his way, he went one Sunday morning to a Church in a village, which he supposed to be Catholic, with a desire to receive the Blessed Sacrament: but perceauing to belong to Heretics, he was much troubled, & in his trouble had recourse to our Lord, beseeching him with tears in his eyes, that he might not be deprived of the food of his soul which he so much thirsted after. Our B. Saviour vouchsafed to hear him and grant his request; & as a pious Father desirous to cherish the devotion of his son, he sent unto him an Angel of admirable beauty, from whose hands he received the B. Sacrament, in the same manner as he had done before during his sickness, by the prayers of Saint Barbara.  
With this Celestial food Stanislaus, in short time arrived at Ausburge where not finding Father Canisius, he went unto Dibsinge a town ten leagues from Ausburge, where the said Father was, and where he was charitably entreated, and shortly after with other two Companions, sent up to Rome: and in the eighteenth year of his age, he arrived at his desired port, and where after a most wearisome journey, for that he had travailed more than two hundred & threescore leagues on foot, he was received into the Society of jesus, by Father Francis Borgia, than General, upon the eight and twentith day of October, being the feast of S. Simon and jude, in the year of our Lord 1567.  
As soon as his Father understood that he was entered into the Society at Rome, he was lively touched with sorrow, because according to flesh and blood, he loved him dearly. Therefore he wrote unto him a letter full of passion and threats. That he had dishonoured his House and family by the course he had taken, and that if ever he returned into Polonia, he would either force him from that state of life, or send him to his grave; and that instead of those riches, chains of Gold, & jewels that he intended to bequeath him, if he had remained in the world; he would load him with captivity, and chains of iron.  
Stanislaus answered this letter with great humility and modesty, and with no less courage and constancy, that he was most unworthy to suffer for God, who had suffered so much for man: yet nevertheless if it should please God to be so bountiful unto him, there could not happen any thing more desired by him, then even to die for the testimony of those vows, that he had made & promised to God.  
He gave also incessant thankes to God even with floods of tears, when he saw himself in the Noviciate, free from the molestations of parents, in the assured port of religion, having escaped the storms and dangers of the world, he thought of no other Father but what he had in heaven, nor of other mother than the blessed Virgin: he contemplated all his fellow Novices as Saints, to the end to imitate their virtues, and esteemed himself fare unworthy to live among such Angels, and to be employed (by the great favour and mercy of God) in the service of them, that were his most devout and profitable servants. He was truly humble, and well instructed in the knowledge of himself: his desire to be despised, and not accounted counted of (for the love of Christ) appeared in his poor habit, his earnest seeking for the most abject and painful Offices of the house: he always ranked himself with the last, accounting every one much more worthy than himself. When he was at Vienna before his entrance into the Society, he gave himself so much to prayer, that by reason of his long continuance and attention, his heart and senses had often failed him, in such sort that not without diverse remedies, he hath been brought unto himself again. And if this Blessed Youth did so apply himself to prayer and devotion, living in the world, how much more did he excel, being now secure in Religion? This only may suffice, that he did not only spend in prayer all those hours of the day in which he was not otherwise employed, but also the most part of the night, reserving only so much for sleep as would hardly serve to suffice nature.  
By his long exercise and custom to pray attentively, he had obtained such a particular gift of our Lord, that the Master of the Novices, and his Confessor have affirmed, that he had never any distractions in prayer: so perfectly had he subdued his imagination to his will. And when any one complained of distractions or wand'ring thoughts in prayer. Stanislaus wondered at it, as a most strange thing unto him: nor was he only so united unto God in prayer and meditation, but also in his exterior and domestical works, which he performed with such recollection, that it was easy to see, that no outward thing could trouble the inward quiet of his mind, nor attention of his spirit; which was increased in him to such perfection, that in time of prayer many of the Novices would endeavour to pray where they might see him; for in beholding him they learned to compose themselves, and were incited to an extraordinary recollection of spirit. Many repaired unto him in their troubles and tentations, recommending themselves unto his prayers, by which means diverse were delivered from sundry tentations, and restored to quietness of spirit.  
One time a Brother of the Society of jesus, who is now a Priest, being assaulted with a great and vehement tentation of aversion from a Superior, communicated the same with Staniflaus (who at that time served in the Kitchen) desiring him to pray to God that he would grant him grace to overcome it. Stanislaus presently went into the Church, and by his prayers obtained his present delivery from that tentation. He had the great gift of tears, which he shed in great abundance with a mernailous sweetness of spirit: & our Blessed Saviour had illustrated him by his divine light, with such a knowledge of spiritual things, that every one admired to see so much prudence, discretion, and spirit in so young a Novice.  
Our Lord had bestowed diverse great and celestial gifts and consolations on his B. Soul, whereby he became so inflamed with the divine love, that divers times with the force and fervour thereof, he sell into ecstasy out of which they could not sometimes recall him, without applying to him of linen dipped in cold water, whereby in short time his health was much impaired. But who can imagine the singular devotion that he had to the sacred Queen of Heaven, being dissolved in sweetness of mind as often as he thought upon her admirable virtues: & it seemed that both night & day he had no other care, but how to serve her, and meditate upon the mysteries of her holy life. For his affection to her was so ardent in his breast, that it could not be contained from discovering itself, by his words, saluting her often, speaking always of her graces and virtues, making even whole nights most amorous Colloquies with her, whom he ever used to call his mother.  
This devotion of Stanislaus to our blessed Lady, was so notable among the Novices, that they to content him when they were together, would always hold discourse of the praises, privileges and excellencies of this most excellent Virgin; and for his sake the Master of the Novices ordained, that both at rising in morning, going to bed, and likewise at night after litanies, all the Novices should, kneeling towards the Church of S. Maria Maior (which is situated in Rome, near to the Nouitiate of S. And rews) salute the B. Virgin, demand her benediction, and desire her to favour & protect all those that desired to enter into the Society. This devotion that he bore to the Blessed Virgin, made him desire to die the Eve of her glorious assumption, which he long before foretold should be granted him.  
What shall I say of the other rare and singular virtues, which, as from the lively fountain of the divine liberality, filowed plentifully in his soul? And of his so entiere and perfect Obedience, that he never found repugnance in any thing that was commanded him: he obeyed the voice of his Superior as the voice of God, and had ever a perfect comformity of will with his.  
What shall I say of his sweetness & affability, or of his Compassion, modesty and silence, of the rigorous and austere mortifications with which he afflicted his body, by fasts, disciplines, and haircloth, as if he had been a most grievous sinner, it being certain by the report of his Confessor, that in his life he had never sinned mortally, & that often in his ordinary Confessions, he could not find him culpable of any sin, for which to give him absolution. In brief all the Novices beheld him as a mirror & model of the Society, & the Master of the Novices would exhort them to imitate his example. All those which frequented him familiarly, esteemed him as a soul particularly elected by God, rich of virtues & merits, & even in beholding him they were inflamed in the fear and love of God.  
Stanislaus thus rich in virtues, having made so great a progress in so few days of his Noviceship, consumed with the divine love and desire to honour the Blessed Virgin in heaven, humbly beseeched our Lord to take him from hence, into his kingdom, that he might see and enjoy his glorious presence: which petition our Lord granted him, as followeth. The Eve of Saint Laurence, he meditaring of his martyrdom, with a fervent desire to imitate him, & to be burned in the lively flames of the love of God, demanded of the rest of the Novices, who were all them assembled, how one might burn and suffer for jesus Christ in the imitation of Saint Laurence? Every one said his opinion; to which he answered, that he would suffer some mortification in honour of that blessed Saint, to the end that he might pray for him unto the B. Virgin his Mother, to take him quickly out of this exile, and that he might be present in heaven at the celebration of her Glorious Assumption. To this intention he made a public discipline in the refectory on his knees, could his fault, kissed the feet of every one, begged his meat, and eat it on the ground. From thence he went to serve in the kitchen, where by occasion of the fire that he saw, he contemplated the torment of Saint Laurence on the Gridiron, with such vehemency and attention, that his spirits languished & senses failed him: In that manner he was carried to his bed, and was found to have a fever, which althought at the beginning it was light, and the Physicians secure of any danger, yet Stanislaus told the Rector, that for certain he should not live, nor ever rise from his bed.  
So he began to decline daily towards his end, which when he felt approaching, he desired that they would suffer him to dye upon the ground. He was taken with a great flux of blood, and there upon ensued a cold fever. Having received the blessed Sacraments of the Altar, and of Extreme Unction, most devoutly he fixed his eyes on heaven, and so remained a small space, with his thoughts ravished and lifted up to God, until the Rector demanded of him, if he were resigned into the hands of our Lord, & prepared either to live or die, according to his pleasure. To which he answered cheerfully: My God, my hart is ready. Then having lovingly embraced all those that came to see him, he embraced also an image of our blessed Lady which he had ever held most dear: he said some prayers proper for the time, and made a Colloquy in Latin unto the Crucifix which was before his eyes, thanking out Lord with his whole heart for all his benefits & mercies bestowed upon him, and desiring him for the merits of those blessed wounds of his feet, his hands, his side, and head, which he often kissed, to pardon him all his sins, and to receive his soul into his blessed hands in peace.  
The B. Virgin Mother of God appeared unto him, accompanied with diverse other Virgins, to whom he spoke a long time, and a little after with a sweet silence he delivered his soul into the hands of his Creator, about the ninth hour of the night, the 14. day of August 1568. the 19 year of his age, and sixth month of his Noviceship, having with few day's labour, obtained as many crowns & merits, as others perhaps in many years.  
His body remained so fair, his cheeks so ruddy, his eyes so clear, as one would have thought him living. It was observed, that during his sickness (except when he was spoken unto) his eyes were always closed, although he were awake; and when upon any occasion he opened them, he lifted them up towards heaven, with a smiling countenance, as if he had beheld some pleasing object. His body was put in a Coffin (which was extraordinary, but granted to him in particular by reason of the great opinion of his sanctity) in the Church of the Noviciate of Saint Andrews, he being the first of the company that was there interred. There came thither such multitudes of people to kiss his feet, that Doctor Tollet, afterward Cardinal, was amazed, thereat, and said: Is it not a strange thing, that all Rome should run to reverence the body of a yenge Polacke Novice, as a Saint?  
The opinion of his sanctity much more increased, by a book written in Italian of his life, printed in Rome two years after his death, wherein he was styled Blessed; and in Polonia the same was written in Latin, where it was so frequent & affectuous, that many only with reading thereof have been incited to enter into the same Society. Presently after his portraiture was painted in Polonia, and his pictures were set up publicly with the tittle of Saint, and reverenced not only by the vulgar, but even by the Bishops, Prelates, Palatines, Lords, & also by the King himself, who placed the same among the rank of Saints pictures in his Palace, upon the feast of S. Michael the Archangel, in the year of our Lord 1604.  
Some of his relics being carried to the twone of Gallici in the year 1602. were received there with a solemn procession, and kissed with great devotion by all the people. Clement the eight, (who had been legate in Polonia before he was Pope,) granted out two Breves, in one whereof he beatified Stanislaus, and in the other, granted six years, and six quarentens of pardon, to those that should visit (on the day of his decease) a certain Chapel, built and dedicated to his honour in Polonia. His body is still honoured at Rome with great veneration and concourse of people: & in the year of our Lord 1605. the fourteenth day of August, Pope Paul the fifth having perused the Summary of his life & miracles, permitted that his Picture might be publicly set up near unto his Tomb, with lights burning before it, and the memories and votive Tables of the miracles, which our Lord had wrought by his intercession, to be there likewise publicly hung upon the walls: the which was done with a wonderful & extraordinary concourse of people, both from the City & Court of Rome, the King of Polonia his Ambassador being present; & the Sunday following, the Bishop of Servia sung Mass at his body, assisted by the foresaid Ambassador of Polonia, and other of the Nobility of Poland, that were then in Rome.  
Likewise in Polonia in diverse Churches, mass was publicly said in his Commemoration, where the Altars were richly adorned with his Relics, and Images placed thereon: diverse rich gifts and presents were sent from Polonia, and other Countries to adorn his Tomb & Altar in Rome, which are visited every day with singular devotion, by reason of the many miracles that it hath pleased our Lord to work by his intercession in diverse places of Europe.  
Many praying at his sepulchre, have felt a most sweet odour to proceed from his body, which being opened a long time after his death, his said body was found entire without any corruption at all. The miracles that it hath pleased our Lord to work by this his servant are very many, & at large set down in the book of his life, out of which these few that follow, are briefly taken forth.  
In the Province of Rusia, a venerable Priest being grievously sick, B. Stanislaus appeared unto him, with two other Saints, assuring him that they shortly should meet all together in heaven: upon which the Priest, who was much devoted unto him, was greatly comforted and shortly after died.  
One that was possessed by the devil at Rome, & exceedingly tormenred with evil spirits, was delivered by the intercession of B. Stanislaus. A certain Lady in Frence, being become lame and impotent, by reason of certain poison that had been given her, desired to be carried in a chair to a certain Church, where humbly beseeching our Lord by the merits of B. Stanislaus, to restore unto her her health and strength, she was suddenly healed, and rising from her chair, in the sight of many people, she walked alone, to the wonder & astonishment of all that were present, especially of the Physicians who had long before esteemed her incurable.  
divers other women have been succoured by his intercession in their travails of Childbirth; others have been delivered from fevers, swellings, blindness: many broken legs and arms have been made whole, & many diseases almost incurable, healed. By drinking a little wine wherein one of his bones had been steeped, one was cured of a dangerous sickness. Another was cured by the touch of one of his teeth, and by other his Relics, diverse others. At Rome in the year 1602, a Gentleman of Poland visited with a continual fever, desired a certain Priest to pray unto B. Stanislaus for his recovery, who with great confidence, in the name of God commanded the fever, by the merits of that B. Seruamt of his, to departed and no more afflict the Gentleman, which God by his intercession effected, and the Gentleman was suddenly restored to his health.  
For these, and diverse other testimonies, by which it hath pleased God to show forth the Sanctity of his Servant Stanislaus, his sepulchre or shrine is wonderfully frequented and reverenced at Rome, and adorned by the piety of devout people, with so many ornaments and riches, that of the number of the remarkable and memorable things to be seen at Rome, this is reckoned for one. He was of small stature, his hair black, of fair complexion, full faced: he always looked cheerfully, and was of a pleasing composition of body, & of so rare and singular modesty, that the only beholding of his face, did move others to devotion, and purity of life.  
His holy life is of very great esteem, and read with admiration both in France, Italy, Flaunders, Bohemia, Germany, Polonia, and Spain (whereof this is only an abridgement) the which whosoever shall peruse attentively, shall find full of rare examples of virtue, and learn that there is no age so young that may not with its own endeavours, cooperating with God's grace, & employing itself wholly in his service, gain to itself the treasure of many merits, the testimony of an holy life, the blessedness of an happy death, and finally the glory of an everlasting kingdom.   

THE LIFE AND VERTVES OF Holy Alphonsus Rodriquez, a Brother coadjutor of the Society of jesus: abridged by Father Michael julian of the same Society.  
ALphonsus Rodriquez, was borne at Segovia a famous City in Spain, and studying in Valentia heard his Humanity and Rhetoric two years, leading a very exemplar kind of life in all modesty & devotion. He was called miraculously to the Order of the Society of jesus, & was received therein for a coadjutor. The first year of his Noviceship, he was sent to the College of Maiorca (an Island between Sicily, and Spain) and because the story of his whole life is now in hand to be written at large, remitting myself thereunto, I will only touch some few principal things out of an infinite number which might be recounted.  
From the first day that this holy Brother begun to serve God in the Society of jesus, he made a firm resolution to serve him with great diligence, and therefore he besought his divine majesty, that he would be pleased to exercise him in continual pains and travails. He was so excellent in all kind of virtues, that he was a perfect model and pattern of the same. He was so humble, that he esteemed himself the greatest sinner in the world; and though he knew by revelation that he should be saved, without going to Purgatory, yet was he wont to weep for his sins; neither did any thing so grieve him, as when he saw himself esteemed by others, wondering how any body could endure to treat with so base and vile a creature; such was his opinion of himself. He was very notable in mortification both exterior and interior, seeking in every thing, that which was most repuguant to sense & fensuall appetite, as well in distasteful meats, which if they were by chance given him, he eat in great haste lest they should be changed, as also in other pennances and corporal mortifications, fastings, wearing of haircloth, and the like: and even in these latter years wherein he hath benevery sickly, to have desired leave he might not omit any fasting days, besides that every week he used to take three disciplines, during the time of his infirmity.  
He was so given to fervent prayer, that he passed many ho were of the night, and the whole day in continual prayer, in so much that his exterior exercises, did not any way interrupt it; giving sufficient testimony by his rare modesty, and singular good carriage, how fervent his prayers were, so that he never lost the presence of God, not for one minute.  
His obedience was so rare, as you shall hardly find more perfect in these our times. For trial whereof being once bid by his Superior to go into the Indies, the word was scarcely spoken, but he was presently ready to have put it in execution, if the Porter would have opened the door. And the rector demanding afterwards of him, how he thought to have gone, not having either provision or commodity of shipping? he answered that he went with great confidence in God, whom his Superior represented, and who would provide him of all things necessary, & that if he had not found the commodity of a ship, relying upon holy Obedience, he would have adventured to have gone upon the seas. He shut a door (through which he had occasion to pass) almost continually, every time he passed, for the space of many years, because his Superior had asked him once why he did notshut it.  
Another time the good Brother being sick of a vehement ague, the rector discoursing with him of spiritual matters as his manner was, asked him, if his head did not trouble him? whereun to he answered, that it did. Then said the rector unto him, Brother talk no more; which he so punctually observed, that he spaken or one word all that night, thou the infirmamarian did ask him many questions. He continuated in the same manner the next day, and when the Infirmarian told him he might well answer, because it was a necessary matter; he said, not without leave of Father rector: hereupon the rector was called, and the Brother began to say: If your Reverence will give me leave, I will answer the Infirmarian and Phifitian when they ask me any thing. The rector asked him why he did not answer before? Because, said he, your Reverence yesterday, bade me speak no more.  
He had a great zeal of souls, yet always conformable to his estate, for by his spiritual talk, his modesty, and good example, he continually preached, being Porter of the College of Maiorca, for the space of 30. years, with virtuous reputation at home, and edification abroad. He hath done admirable things in conversion of souls, stirring up all those who treated with him, to great devotion and holiness of life. He was very careful to pray continually for the conversion of the whole world, and that with so great fervour of mind, that he did offer himself to endure the pains of hell for all eternity, for gaining the soul of one poor Blackmore, or slave, if God were pleased therewith. And once or twice God did so elevate him in spirit, that he faw and knew all the men & women in the world, and revealed unto him, that by those godly desires of his, he did merit as much as if he had converted all that multitude.  
Concerning his modesty; there was no man that ever saw him to have swerved from the least point of perfection: he went with his eyes still fixed on the ground, without casting them any way, so that for the space of 40. years, he never looked any woman in the face, though he usually gave wine to the Communicants after receiving the B. Sacrament at Mass. He was so given to silence, that albeit he conversed all his life both with domesticals and strangets, yet he is not known to have spoken the least idle word. He delighted much to talk of God, and if others did hap to talk of others matters, he presently fell a sleep. He spoke of spiritual things with so much affection, that many persons of this Island, came of purpose to treat with him about their spiritual affairs, and to ask his advice in their doubts. By frequent conversation with Almighty God, he had attained to so great and height of spiritual knowledge, that he left some Books written with his own hand, in which he speaketh so excellently of virtues, that he fare surpasseth many learned men, writing of the same subject. By reason whereof the Viceroy of this Island, Bishops, Counselors, Magistrates, Knights and gentlemen, had such an opinion of his wisdom, that they would not undertake any business of importance, without his advice: to whom he gave great satisfaction, & by his plain and pious discourses dismissed them, with assured hope of the good success of their business, which was never frustrated if they observed his counsel. His poverty was so extraordinary, that he was never content but when he tried some effects thereof. He was sorry when the worst things of the house were not given him. If he found but a pin, he would not keep it without leave. He desired continually to feel some want both in his diet, and apparel, lodging and the like.  
It could not be, but that he who was so careful over his senses, should have attained unto such angelical purity, as Saint Ignatius his Father required in those of the Society, both of body and mind. And therefore he never looked any man in the face, but he wept most bitterly for a good while after; which he did all his life time, for having once cast his eye by chance upon a coach passing by. To be brief, by his practice of all sorts of virtue, he seemed rather to be an Angel than a man: for not only in these later years, but for 40. years together, he hath not been noted to have done any thing, not only not imperfectly or according to his own humour, but so that it might seem to be done most perfectly: in so much that although the whole world, and the forces of hell itself should have opposed against him, he would not have ceased to do that which was most perfect, and for the greater glory of God, which he had continually in his mouth, and much more in his heart. He was so punctual in the observation of his Rules, that he would rather have been cut in pieces then break the least of them. He did so hate singularity that even in these later years wherein he was subject to infirmities, he could not endure to sit at the table of the Conualescentes, or such as were weak, and in recovering of their health, much less to have any particular thing brought him. Many have conceived so great an opinion of him, that they would willingly have passed the seas, only to have seen him: and many great men both Secular and Ecclesiastical, were wont to come to the College, and stay there sometime, only to converse with him, who went away astonished with his readiness in answering at the gate, satisfying of all which came, with his good carriage, sweet answers, and diligence in his Office.  
Thus going on, and mounting by degrees, he came at last to that perfection of love towards almighty God, that if his divine Majesty had notin a manner by miracle preserved him, he had died through the vehemency of his love, as himself hath left written, and also delivered in giving an account of his conscience to his Superior, which his rule commandeth twice a year. And to the end those things may be more assured, he hath for these ten years past, by order of his Superiors, given the account of his conscience in writing.  
He had great conjunction with the Angels and Saints, with whom he conversed both in heaven and earth, and especially with 24. of the more principal, amongst whom he divided the 24. hours to treat and recommend himself unto them; wherein he never failed, though in the night and in his sleep, awaking duly at the beginning of every hour, to perform his accustomed devouotion: which diligence of his, our Saviour recompensed, by discovering unto him his glory, wherein he saw more perfectly, and knew all 〈◊〉 B● in Heaven, their names, and all particulars as if he had conversed with them all his life time. From his very infancy he bore so extraordinary and tender devotion towards the Blessed Virgin, at whose hands he received many favours, that one time discoursing and recreating as it were with her, he said: O Queen of heaven, I love thee more than myself, I love thee more than thou lovest me. The motherly affection of the Blessed Virgin could hold no longer, but appearing presently, she made answer unto him, No, no, Alphonsus, it is not so, I love the more than thou lovest me. His familiarity with the Blessed Virgin and her Son was such, as is wont to be between friends, one to another, or as of a little child with his father and mother: and indeed he esteemed them for such, who afforded him often their corporal presence, he spoke unto them (but once especially when they entered into his heart) with such devotion & sweetness, that he caused the same effectinall those that did hear him, whom he exhorted wholly to forget themselves, & only to delight in his sweet Lovers, jesus and Mary, for so he was wont to call them, because they would be careful both of body and soul.  
For 40. years together he daily said the Office of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Lady, to which mystery he was much devoted: and the Blessed Virgin one day told him, that she was very much pleased with his devotion; which he did exhort all the Society daily to practise, telling them that one of the principal reasons of the Institution of the Society, was to preach and defend the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Lady. And this he said with so great affection, that he never used the like fervour: thereby assuring them that he spoke it nor of himself, but had recaved it by revelation from heaven. The continual use of his beads, as was found after his death, had caused an extraordinary hardness in his fingers ends.  
I omit an infinite number of things which might be said of his rare virtues, of his admirable lights and divine favours, remitting the Reader to the history of his life (which without doubt is one of the most rare and perfect amongst the lives of those Saints, which have received extraordinary favours from almighty God) and will briefly recount his last sickness, death, and burial, though from the very beginning of the 47. years which he lived in the College of Maiorca, our Lord exercised him in all sorts of pains, as well diverse persecutions of the devil which vexed him for many years, as corporal infirmities & grievous sickness wherewith he visited him from time to time; yet he seemeth to have made choice of the last 7. years, wherein, besides those infirmities which ordinarily accompany old age, he began to be extremely troubled with the stone, which caused him to keep his bed continually; and the three last months of his life, to lie only upon one side, being not able to turn himself. He spent all his time in prayer, begging earnestly of almighty God, not that he would mitigate or take away his pains, but rather he would augment them, and lay upon him others more grievous.  
His ordinary complaints in his sickness were, that there was too much care had of him, who desired rather altogether to be forgot or detested, as a carrion or dead beast. When the rector once bade him take a few conserves, of sweetmeates to comfort him, he answered: Believe me Father, those sweet things are pains unto me, and these pains sweetness, which he usually also answered to those who asked him how he did. By reason of great familiarity and conversation with his Father and mother jesus & Mary, he spoke unto them with great affection those words which he had learned of our Saviour himself. O jesus and Mary, my only comforts, grant me that I may suffer and die for your love, and that, I may be wholly yours, and not mine own. Once when he could scarcely speak, the Infirmarian ask what troubled him, he answered. Nothing but self love.  
Some few days before his happy death, he was taken with such a vehement ague, that renewing all his pains, it seemed God would take him away within one hour, in which time he did nothing but repeat these words: Yet more good Lord, yet more. Therefore he received the B. Sacrament (which for many years he had received twice a week) for his Viaticum, with his accustomed devotion, as also the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, still begging of God with invincible patience, to increase his pains. He bore such extraordinary respect to the Fathers, that when he could scarce stir his arms, yet he would always, when any came to him, pull off his night cap. Upon Saturday in the evening being the 29. of October, almighty God performing that which he had promised him before, he fell into an ecstasy, much like to those which he had diverse times the year before, in which he persevered the three last days of his life. And although his sickness had disfigured his body, yet after his ecstasy, he became as beautiful as an Angel, and as red as a Rose, which were certain proofs of the great flame which burned in his breast, & broke out by those exterior signs, and exclamations which he uttered from time to time, O sweet jesus, O my dear mother, and the like. About ten a clock in the night, having given some sign of death approaching, all the house came unto him, & they often repeating the name of jesus, and giving him a Crucifix to adore, he presently opened his eyes, which for three days before he had kept shut, and looking upon the Crucifix, they perceived them to be more quick and lively then when he was in best health. And with this, kissing the feet of the Crucifix, and saying O sweet jesus, he gave up the Ghost, the Eve of All-Saints about midnight in the year of our Lord 1617.  
The rare virtue of this holy Brother was in such esteem, that not only those of this Province, but also those of Italy, Cast le, And alusia, Portugal, and the Indies, have sent to Maiorca, with earnest entreaty for some of his Relics. Many wrote unto him, commending themselves to his prayers, & only to have his name written with his own hand, as grave Ecclesiastical and Secular men, Gentlemen of great note, Grandees of Spain, & Cardinals Upon the report of his death the whole City came flocking to kiss his hands, & feet, and among others the Viceroy with all the Nobility and kings officers, the Ecclesiastical, and Religious men. After dinner his body was carried into the Church, & with much ado to pass through the press of people, it was laid upon a hearse. All the Religious Orders came to sing the office of the dead, the Dominicans, Mercedes, Franciscans, Augustine's, Trinitarians, Minims, with their Superious and Provincials: as also the whole Chapter of Canons, and all the Priests & Pastors of the town. Incredible it is to one that did not see it, what a multitude there was of those who came to touch his body with their beads, or to get some little piece of his garment for Relics, & of sick folks who came to touch him; in so much that six of the Society, and two Fathers of S. Dominicke who afforded their help, were not sufficient to reach the beads and medals, wrapped in handkerchiffes, and thrown by the people that could not come near, to have them touch his body. The Office of the dead being said, as the custom is, there was made a short Sermon only to declare unto the people some few particulars of his life, during which time, no man presumed to cover his head in presence of the holy Corpse, though the Church was as full as it could thrust; & all as devout and silent, as if there had been no man there.  
The next day, being Friday, he was most solemnly interred in the Church of the Society, whereat the foresaid Viceroy, Nobility, Ecclesiastical & Regular were again present, as also the Lord Bishop, who the day before was sick and could not be present. The Mass was song with Organs, music, and other significations of devotion. At the same instant that he was carried to be buried, a young man who by reason of a thin skinn covering his eyes caused a great dimness, was almost become blind, came full of hope to the holy Brother's Hearse, & kneeling down & kissing his hands, presently all the pain ceased, and the little skin which before covered the ball of his eyes falling away, he received his sight most perfectly.  
And to the end that some there present might open the eyes of their minds shut with incredulity, Blessed Alphonsus opened also his own eyes which death had closed; a thing no less admirable than profitable, that might conceive a great opinion of his holiness, whom almighty God did honour with so great miracles. For a certain Priest amongst the rest not being very well contented to see the Viceroy, and all the Senate one after another to kiss the Blessed Brothers hands, yet lest he might give offence by omitting that duty which all others did perform, resolved with himself, not to kiss the holy man's hands as others did, but coming with the rest, to kiss the cross which he held in his hands, thereby intending to conceal his thoughts from the standers by, which yet he could not do from the dead man. For as soon as he came near, to the astonishment of all, the dead man opening his eyes, cast them with a smiling countenance upon the Priest, & stretching out his hand, seemed to invite him to kiss it. The Priest astonished presently with great reverence kissed the same, and departed thence, and wholly became another man. The same day a child was healed of a rapture by the only touch of a piece of his cassock. The same time also a sucking child was cured of a vehement ague whereof it lay desperate, whose throat being stopped with a great swelling in the jaws, it had not sucked for 4. days: therefore a certain gentlewoman having confidence of supernatural help, encouraged the parents of the child, and applying an handkerchief wherewith she had touched the holy man's body, recovered the child presently, that there remained not so much as any sign of infirmity.  
Two days after Blessed Alphonsus his death, there came a woman afflicted with many grievous infirmities and diseases, and among the rest with a dangerous bloody flux, in so much that there being no hope of her life, a Father was called to assist her at her death. Before the Father came she was past sense, having turned up the white of her eyes ready to give up the ghost, when on the sudden, a peace of B. Alphonsus' his cassock being applied by the Father, she cried out that she was cured. Her flux ceased, the ague went away, in so much that one might doubt whether was first, the Relics applied, or she healed. As son as she was come to herself she made her Confession to the Father, with the same joy of mind wherewith she had received her corporal health. Being thus restored to the health both of body and mind, she lived after with much devotion towards him, by whose means she received it. Some 4. days after his funerals another woman being desperately sick of an ague, which came every day upon her, with a great headache, made recourse to God, sending her little Son of 7. years old to say his beads at B. Alphonsus' his Tomb, and to touch the Tomb therewith: the child did so, & returning home, his mother took the beads & touching her head, put them about her neck, & the pain presently ceased, God Almighty recompensing the child's prayer & the mother's devotion and confidence, with restoring her health: and by and by she falling a sleep, saw B. Alphonsus compassed with a great light, who for the accomplishment of the benefit restored also her strength, so as she presently rising out of her bed, as well, & as strong as ever before, began with all her forces to sing his praises by whose intercession she had obtained that benefit.  
Another woman having a sore breast extremely swollen and hardened for the space of two months, had in vain tried all humane remedies, who being wonderfully encouraged by the example of others, began to have hope in Alphonsus, and laid a piece of his cloak to her breast, saying a Pater noster, which before she had ended, the swelling began to be assuaged, & the corruption to break forth in such abundance, that she begun, to fear least all her breast being inwardly putrified would fall away: which fear increased the miracle, and the miracle the joy. For two days after, both the holes of the ulcer were so grown up, that there remained not so much as any mark thereof; & out of the same briest, having two days before come such abundance of corruption, now the third day there came forth milk, as good and pure as ever before; by which miracle the mother was preserved from death, and her young sucking child, from starving.  
These miracles recounted, are testified by the disposition of sworn witnesses. Many other things be daily related which shall after be publshed: for God seemeth to have set up this holy Brother as a light to the world, who also 〈…〉 the same before by his virtues. The general devotion of the people doth witness it sufficiently, who from morning to night never cease coming, some offering candles, others making vows, and the like; in so much that he seemeth to live in his sepulchre, such are the wonders he worketh. A man may guess of what sanctity he was in his life, which being dead, causeth such devotion in the people that resort unto him, and he recompenseth their rears by granting their desires. That you may expect many the like things hereafter, I will briefly recount one, worthy of a large relation.  
Some days before his death as he lay in his bed, thinking on the heavenly felicity which was prepared for him from all eternity, he began to taste of those delights so much the more purely and abundantly, as being abstracted from sensible things, he drew nearer to Almighty God, who represented unto his mind the kingdom of Maiorea, as he did the whole world to S. Benet, in a beam of light, adding these words: Dost thou see this kingdom? I have resolved to make t●ee famous in ●● by Working of many miracles, by means of thy prayers. And we already hoping of this promise, I conclude, wishing that whosoever hath been stirred up to admiration by these, may likewise be stirred up to devotion to this Holy man; that as the better part of him doth live immortally in heaven, he may also in some sort live still immortally with us on earth. For the Divine Goodness hath seemed to determine with itself, so to recompense the Devotion of Holy Alphonsus Rodriquez; that as in his life he made him a pattern of Religious perfection for the example of others: so now being dead, for the glory of himself & his Saints, he maketh him wonderful to the world; causing many to have confidence in his patronage; that being departed hence he may not have less Honour by this confidence in his sanctity, then whiles he remained here alive he had gained by the opinion of the same. His body lieth buried at Maiorca, in the Church of the Fathers of the Society, in the same Island, the which is so honoured by all the Inhabitants thereof, that it is wonderful to see: and the daily and certain miracles wrought thereat, are already sufficient to make a whole volume. His memory is very famous all over Europe, and his Picture is exposed to be publicly reverenced, with licence of the Pope's Holiness, in many Churches and Oratories, thereby to put us in remembrance of that saying of the Holy Prophet: Mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis. God is wonderful in his Saints. To whose prayers and merits, let all good Christians commend themselves. Amen.  
La●s Deo.  
FINIS.    

APPROBATIO.  
HORUM Sanctorun Vitae, ex alijs linguis in Anglicam à D. Eduardo Kinsman versae, tutò & cum fructu edi possunt.  
Audomarop. 27. Maij M. DC. XXIII. joan. Floydus Soc. jesu Theologus.