THE LIFE OF GREGORIE LOPES THAT GREAT SERVANT of God natiue of Madrid WRITTEN IN SPANISH BY Father Losa Curate of the Cathedrall of Mexico AND SET OVT BY FATHER Alonso Remon of the Order of our Lady de la Merced with some additions of his owne IHS PRINTED AT PARIS M.DC.XXXVIII TO HIS HONORABLE AND NOBLE FRIEND S. KENELME DIGBIE LEARNINGS BEST ADVANCER THE opinion which vpon diuers occasions you haue expressed you had of the excellencie of this smale worke and the great esteeme wherin you kept it alwayes by you in spanish enboldned my vnskilfulnes to bestowe vpon it an English beeing such assurance are you able to giue of the worth of whatsoeuer you vndertake to prise or prayse Now if as your word went before the presse so it may please you to permitt your noble name to appeare in the Frontispice and to take it into such a degree of fauour as to stand betwixt the Saint and Censure I dare promis he will be looked on and liked by the most yea euen by the best vnderstandings be iudged to speake excellent truthes with profitt and admiration and herin you shall still adde to the high rate the world putts vpon the riches of your mind which makes you your countries admiration and pride and the enuie of other nations who would iudge it no crime to mistake you for one of theirs did you not by the frequent and feruent testimonies of your incomparable zeale loue and affection to serue our best King and Countrie put them out of that dreame But what doe I doe I dare not giue sayle into the Ocean of your vast soule which is capable of all things from the highest to the lowest in perfection Not that I dread censure of flatterie where euery one is readie to subscribe if I could find any end or to write themselues of they could find any beginning of your prayses plentie making vs all poore in this too plentifull a subiect But that your obligations haue made me too much your seruant to be willing to obscure what I am not able to illustrate I will onely therfor giue my long imprisoned thoughts leaue to appeare in words confessing with all sinceritie and truth that for my part I neuer mett with Magnanimitie matched with such mildnes such admirable knowledg accompayned with such humilitie so great abilitie attended with such affabilitie nor so perfect courtshipe in coniunction with so great pietie In a word the Court meets with nothing more polished more obliging more endearing The Armie with nothing more generous resolute and vndaunted The schoole with nothing that ether makes more deepe and strong cōceptions or more happie and gracefull productions And yet that which is iustly most admired and beloued in you is that that Pietie which you teach the world to practise teacheth you to make frequent and faire retreates from thence to a Religious Cell or solitude which seemes indeed to be the Center where your soule reposeth and where being remoued out of the noyse of the world you better discerne what God speakes to your hart Please Noble Sr. to admit this trifle as a signe of gratitude till tyme present something whose bulke may be better able to beare your prayses ād permitt that I in the interim may honor myself with the title of Your most humble and deuoted seruant N. N. THE LIFE OF GREGORIE LOPES THAT GREAT SERVANT of God natiue of Madrid WRITEN IN SPANISH BY Father Losa Curate of the Cathedrall of Mexico AND SET OVT BY FATHER Alonso Remon of the Order of our Lady de la Merced with some additions of his owne PRINTED AT PARIS 1638. OF THE BIRTH PArents and country of Gregory Lopes and of the beginning of his Vocation THE FIRST CHAPTER GREGORY Lopes was borne at Madrid in the yeare of our Lord 1542. on the fourth of Iulie vpon which day was celebrated at that time the feast of S. Gregory Thaumaturgus Bishop of Neocaesarea in Pontus but since is transferred to the 17. of Nouember He was baptized in the Parish of S. Giles and was named Gregory by his Parents because he was borne vpon that day This is all that is knowne and cā be auerred of his linage house and name for those that were most inward with him were of opinion that Lopes was not his owne but rather that the holy man had assumed it the better to conceale his noble family For there appeared in his behauiour a certaine generosity vnder that humble grauity and that freedome of spirite and resolurion in what busines soeuer a respect and courtesy so accōmodated to euery ones quality as all were persuaded that he was descended of a noble house None could euer heare from his owne mouth what he was for being asked by some graue personages and such as were most familiar with him who he was and of what country he answered what auaileth that Father Francis Losa a great seruant of God who had bin Curate of the Cathedrall of Mexico and left all to accompany and conuerse with holy Gregory and to cherish and tende him as he did vntill his death treating of the same thing in the booke which he did write of his life and how he had earnestly intreated him some few daies before his death that he would tell him who were his Parents he affirmeth that he made answer only in these wordes since I came into the field to lead a solitary life I haue held only God for my Father my brethren by this time are dead of whom I was they oūgest Such was his silēce in this though remarkeable in all things It is probable that he had his calling euen from his childhood because Father Losa askeing him vpon an occasion if God began to dispose him for his seruice as soone as he had the vse of reason he said he knew not certainely whether it was then or a little after but that he was certaine that our Lord had called him very soone and that he neuer was a chid in his manners and so he was wont to say as one that had found it by experience in himself that which the holy Ghost said by Hieremy that the man was happy that caried the yoake of our Lord from his youth In his childhood he did learne to reade and write wherein he became so excellent as that some things which he hath left writen with his owne hands seeme to be printed he did neuer study Latine nor any science so that whosoeuer did heare him treate of many verities both naturall and diuine so clearely and distinctly as he did might easily gather that without doubt he had no other Master but God He had a desire euen almost from his infanty to liue à solitary life far from his parents and therfore being very young he went to Burgos and from thence to Nauarre and liued six yeares vpon a mountaine in the company of an hermire in great pouerty obedience and humility till at lenth God so permitting his Father
those that assisted in the hospitall did murmur against him for it is no new thing for Martha to complaine of Mary as an vnprofitable impertinent and idle Man But those that did attentiuely consider the actions of Gregory did esteeme of him otherwise for they found in themselues the fauour and aide which God gaue them by meanes of his prayres and that by them was increased their bodily streÌ„gth to assiste the sick both day and night They allso perceiued the gift of counsailing which God had giuen him wherewith he did comfort those that repaired vnto him in their afflictions and paines He had an especiall faculty in pacifying many of the diseased who either through their ill conditioÌ„s or violenâ—…es of their diseases were so testy and froward that the infirmarians could not brooke them so that these things considered he was no small help to the hospitall especially being a man that had no office or obligation to meddle with any of these things for he was neuer one of those brothers that looke to the Conualescents and Bernardin Aluares had as is said before giuen expresse command that he should not be employed in any thing I haue obserued not without profit of my soule that the diuell our enemie hauing got the worst and being ouercome before in any kind of combate returneth to the fight afresh in such manner lifteth vp his head and with that fiercenes assaileth againe as if he had gon away before with the victory so he did againe encounter this man as if he had had only to deale with our weaknes and as if there were not with vs and within vs the fauour of Almighty God and the aide of Christ the strong armed as often as we aske it with faith and hope Gregory knowing well this defence as an old souldiour vnder our captaine Iesus Christ when I did tell him of any of my combates either interiour or exteriour he answered with the holy Ghost he that is not tempted what doth he knowe as if he should say he knoweth nothing In those daies that admirable MaÌ„ Father Peter de Prauia a Dominican a mirrour and patterne of wisedome humility and religion who had renouÌ„ced a Bishoprick being then first reader of diuinity and Vicar Generall of the Archbishoprick of Mexico his soule I hope is endued with much glory in heauen with his holy Father S. Dominick went very secretly to to Guasteca to be assured of the life and conuersation of Gregory Lopes and it is likely that such a personage so free from passion was moued with sufficient cause to goe for that purpose in person in fine he made particular enquiry of his manner of life and was so well satisfied of him that from that time forward he bore him more loue and respect and I noted this allthough the said father allbeit he imparted to me other things of more importance and secrecy yet he neuer made me acquainted with his intention in going thither I haue allso vnderstood that the Bishop of Guadalaiara with all care and diligence made inquiry of the life of Gregory in those seauen yeares which as we said he liued in his Diocese and when Satan had vsed all his power to darken the life and fame of this great seruant of God he allwaies came forth more pure and bright like gold out of the furnace Gregory did another worke of great profit in that hospitall for he writ a booke of Physick partly out of Sundry experiences and partly by the great knowledge of the properties and naturall vertues of the hearbes wher with he was endued The hospitall brothers made great vse of this booke both for the curing of their sick and when they went about all the country toaske almes And such was the good successe of those remedies and medicines which they did apply to sundry diseases by the prescription of that booke as if the authour therof had spent many yeares in the study of physick He spent some time in making and mending his poore clothes for he had a particular faculty euen in that and he did both cut-out and make vp all his owne clothes euen to his gray gaberdine with which he couered himself excepting a hatt which he neuer vsed vnlesse he trauailed much in the Sun He did not make himself any new shooes but he mended them so well as that one paire would last three yeares THE XI CHAPTER By reason of a grieuous sicknes he returnes to Mexico and from thence to Sanâ—afe IT pleased God to remoue that lampe to another place there to shine and giue light for a while and therefore he sent this his seruant a feauer allthough at first it was not knowne to be so he with great courage mortification and patience kept himself on foot for three daies space as well as he could vntill the vehemence of the disease made him ly downe and be let bloud fourteen times which in such a weake body would haue bin enough to haue taken away his life but God preserued him to be an instrument of his greater glory and the profit of many so that allthough he came allmost to the last gaspe yet he recouered againe but so that there were left after his sicknes some very troublesome remnants as was a great inflamatioÌ„ of the liuer and a little lingering ague which was not quite rooted out For this reason he was forced to remoue to a cold habitation to witt to a towne three leagues from Mexico called S. Augustine he lodged in â—he house of Iohn Escouar who had intreated him in Guâ—steca to come to his hoâ—se from thence he writ to me giuing me notice of his arriuall I receiued his letter hauing my foot in the stirrup to goe to see him in Guasteca I went to S. Augustins where I found him very weake and ill accommodated for want of attendance and not thinking it conuenient for iust reason that he should râ—maine in that place I brought him with me to Mexico and kept him in my house some months whilest he was mending during which time he assisted many deuout soules who came to visit him and confer with him about their affaires and such was the good that he did in this kind that it might easily be perceiued that God had brought him for that purpose to this city allthough he neuer stirred out of my house all the time that he liued here but only to heare Masse in the Colledge of the Society of Iesus euen not to see the Lady Marquesse of Villamanrique the viceroies wife who had a great desire to see him and had requested me thrice to bring him to the Pallace but he excused himself to me saying that he had no need of the Lady Marquesse nor she of him and in this act he shewed no small courage especially the Marquis being at that time in great esteeme and his lady obeyed and respected by all Neuertheles some yeares after Gregory vnderstanding that the Marquis was much troubled with a visite that came
customes and inuentions he did relate very particularly The like he knew from Noe till the comeing of Christ and he spoke of those times and persons as if he had liued in them Hauing spoke of this family of God he discoursed of the bordering nations putting all into one history and accommodating these histories to the times and successes of the said family and he did not only know the warres and other thinges that hapned in the family of God but allso those of the Gentills vntill the comeing of our Redeemer and in my opinion he knew all this as exactly as any other man of his time He had by heart the Prophecies of all the Sybilles he would tell many particulars of the birth infancy child hood youth of our sauiour Christ and allso of his preaching death and the other mysteries and how much the law of grace excelleth the law of nature and the law written He had in a manner before his eies the life and preaching of the holy Apostles and their Disciples He related in particular the liues and Martyrdomes of the Popes and other famous martyrs from S. Peeter to S. Syluester and the most remarkable liues and deeds of the Confessours of most note from S. Syluester to Clement the eighth in whose time he died He told the names time and conuersation of the founders of religious orders and of solitary life and of the Archereticks condemning their errours and alledging the Councells wherin they were condemued setting downe allso the time wherin such and such heresies began and ended He discoursed very particularly of the history of that beast which S. Iohn speakeh of in the Apocalips which was the city of Rome and of the ten hornes which were the ten Emperours who did most of all persecute the Church and he did bring downe this history of the Emperours to Phillip the second in whose time he died He did speake very distinctly of the beginnings and increases of the sect of the false Prophet Mahomet of the many countries which were ouerrun by the Mahometans Turks Ottomans by nation Scythians and off spring of Magog and the Slaughters which they haue made of Christians I haue heard him say that this peruerse sect did possesse allmost three thousand leagues of land reaching from Europe to China He was allso very conuersant in the histories of the heathens both anchient and moderne and had knowledge of those famous men whom the geÌ„tills esteemed Gods as Ianus Hercules and the rest He related the conuersions of all nations and countries to our holy faith and those that preached the ghospell vnto them and allso the memorable thinges that hapned and that with such certainty as if he had seen them or read them Of all this he hath made à Chronology or successioÌ„ of times from the creation of the world to Clement the eighth very short yet exact setting downe the mosâ— memorable both in the Ecclesiasticall and secular affaires so as many learned men doe earnestly intreat me to lend theÌ„ that booke to copy out He had gathered allso out of the said histories the choicest and best thinges that concerned our faith law and customes and had reduced them to a kalendar of the daies which he did sometime tell me by way of recreation to my great content and admiration THE VI. CHAPTER Of the knowledge in other sciences which God gaue vnto this his scholler GRegory did not only know both the holy scripture and morall and spirituall things as we haue said but he was allso an Astronomer Cosmographer and Geographer He had a globe and a map made with his owne handes very truly and exactly for I haue heard skillfull men that haue seen it praise it as such but that which I most wondred at is that ostentimes when there was occasion I askeing him about diuers parts of the earth euen of the Antipodes he answered me presently without studying or thinkeing upon it He did vnderstand well the Anaâ—omy of mans body and sometiâ—es he told very curious thinges of it declaring how admirable the diuine wisdome shewed it felf in man He was allso very skillfull in Physick of which he writ a very elegant booke wherin were many experiences which were easy to be made by poore men and labourers and sundry properties of sâ—mples and compounds The greatest delight which he tooke in this art was to make receits which he gaue to the poore and needy written in his owne hand with the best remedies which the desire that he had of his neighbours health did make him inuent and compose for he was very compassionate and thefore God gaue vnto him wonderfull successe He was likewisse very skillfull in husbandry and was allso an herbalist for he did not only know the properties and vertue of hearbs but allso how to make them better with sundry liquors which he made and gaue to the heâ—bes as it were to drinke I haue seen and earten of them so changed by his hand as that they seemed of another kind and he told me that if he did know of any man that were curious and a good Christian least that if he wanted the feare of God he should make them worse and poison them by this art he would teath him this art for the profit of his neightbours He was a very good penman and did write many kindes off hands singular well at this day there are some things in this kind of his making very admitable especially the map we spoke of before the which being of late much augmented excelleth all that haue come out in print and is so curiously made as that it seeâ—eth printed and therfore a graue â—octour to whose lot it fell esteeâ—eeth it very much He had skill euen in the tailours â—ade and could make his owne cloaths which though but meane yet to be accommodated to his weakenes and sicknes did requite a particular fashion and making and so he was wont to say that none hit so right in the making of them as himselfe He did not make himself shooes but he mended them so well that they serued him three yeares aÌ„d more neither did he make himself a hat for hâ— neuer wore any since he went out into the wildernes and it is noâ— knowne that he euer had more thâ— one and that remayned as good as new This multiplicity of thinges in 〈◊〉 contemplatiue maÌ„ will not seemâ— excessiâ—…e though oÌ„ly one be necesary and many doe rather hinder then otherwise if we consider the sublimity of his spirit to which the great number was no hindrance from the following of that which was the principall and necessary and I to be resolued of that doubâ—… did once aske him if any of those little things did wholy possesse him and he answered me I find God as much in the least of these things as in the greatest and the reason of this seemes to be because his chiefâ—st end and scope was his creatour so as hauing his eies allwaies fixed vpon
the fountaine all was but the same water vnto him I will relate his manner of reading bookes as a thing more then naturall it fell out some times that in ten howers space he would haue read ouer a booke which others reading neuer so sast would scarce haue ended in a month and because some will say that he did that by his great memory and apprehending of things only by seeing the title of the chapter I will bring an example in a matter well knowne for that answer might haue place in bookes of common reading but not of spirituall things such as is that of the holy Mother Teresa de Iesus which as I thinke he read ouer in twenty howers and yet knew so well all that was contained in it as there was scarce any man that knew more of it then Gregory did and I haue often made triall of this for I haue sometimes told him of very small and particular thinges out of that booke and he hath continued on in the bookes discourse as if he had bin reading it when he did read to others his celerity clearnes of pronoūciation and grace in reading was very notable Our Lord endued Gregory with an exceeding great vnderstanding quick apprehension and such a sharp memory as that I haue often heard him say that he neuer forgot any thing which he determined to keep in mind and with soe perfect a will that it is very credible that his continuall exercise was to be allwaies in an act of the loue of God As for his stature we may account him of the highest well proportioned without any defect he was not strong but rather of a tender constitution so as in his latter yeares he was allmost nothing but skin and bone The haire of his head beard and eie-browes of hazellnut colour his forehead somewhat large and hanging out his eiebrowes full and arched and without any space betwixt them his eares little yet it is strange how well he did heare his eies black somewhat inclining to green he had allwaies a very quicke sight so as he could reade the least print without spectacles though after that ague we spoke of he sometimes put them on to see a far off his nose rather little then great his lips thin and equall but that his vnder-lip did a little hāg out his teeth very white and euen his beard well composed not bushey nor great his face long somwhat pale and wan so were his hands allso by reason of his abstinence prayer and continuall mortification This good naturall disposition and well proportioned feature of body with his rare modesty was a pourtraiture and representation of the great beauty of his soule This man whom we haue her◠painted or rather whom God hath painted out being about nineteen or twenty yeares of age left his parents brethren kindred the court of king Philip all his hopes and fled to the Indies a iourney of two thousand leagues and more and finding them in their greatest prosperity renounced all those riches and delights and hid himself amongst the rudest and most barbarous men that were only the better to serue and be more pleasing to his Creatour and many hauing marked him very attentiuely could neuer perceiue any imperfection either in gestures wordes or deedes THE VII CHAPTER How well this seruant of God could bridle his tongue IF the holy Ghost approueth him for a perfect man that doth not offend in wordes worthily may I commend Gregory for his perfection since that in eighteen yeares wherin I conuersed familiarly with him I neuer heard hin speake one worde amisse Herof I can giue euident testimony for since that I made choice of him euen from the beginning for a Master and companion for the rest of my life and that only for his vertue without any hope of temporall gaine or interest it is manifest that I had reason to be carefull that he whom I chose for a patterne of vertue were free from all spot of vice Besides I was warned by wise and graue men to be wary and liue very circumspect hereunto allso I was moued by the desire of Gods honour and Gregory his good motiues of themselues sufficient to be carefull because the diuine maiesty commandeth vs all to haue as much care as we can of our neighbours good yet notwithstanding all this care and diligence that such motiues require I neuer heard him speake a word worthy of reprehension against any man neither heathen nor heretick for he condemned the sect or heresi with many grounds out of Scripture and reprehended their vices and sins wherwith they had so blinded themselues as not to returne to the bosome of the Catholick Church from which they had separated themselues but he cōcealed the parties names When he was told of any that spoke ill of him he heard it very peaceably and midly and the first thing that he answered was as for the first it is certaine that this party hath a good intention afterwardes he excused him as well as he could and he did not only excuse the party himself but allso his fact without excusing himself at all A graue personage perswaded one of the Bishops that liue in Mexico to goe and see Gregory by the way as he went about the Marquesate of Valle where Gregory did liue assuring him that he would be very glad to haue seen a man so admirable for his sanctity and wisdome Herevpon the Bishop resolued with himself and went to see him Gregory came out with much courtesy respect ād humility to receiue the Bishop and after they were both sate downe and those allso that came in his company diuerse things were talked of but Gregory was not asked any thing and therfore he spoke not a word so when the Bishop had bin there about a quarter of an hower being told it was dinner time he went away Some daies after the same man going to giue the Bishop the wellcome at his returne to his BishoPrick and asking him what he thought of Gregory he answered that he seemed to him a sensles foole maruailing at this answer he asked him if he had talked with him of spirituall thinges the Bishop answered no then he I meruaile not said he that not being asked he did not speake and not speaking did not show what he had in him He shewed it very well afterwardes when the same man telling him that the Bishop had accounted him a foole he reioyced and said I should haue thought so too iff I had seē a man of my fashion and this was not much for Gregory because God hadgiuē him a most feruēt loue of his neighbour the which he was vsed to say consisteth not in wordes nor in saying I wish my neighbour well but in doing him good turnes I neuer heard him speake an idle word neither in seing the heauens cleare and beset with starres nor in seing the fiedls green or bedecked with flowers or the chrystall waters neither in the visits of any
whatsoeuer nor at the table or afterwardes and I doe not call an idle worde that which the common sort meaneth that is something vnseemly or tending to scurrillity for such as these were not to be spoke nor thought off in such a life as Gregory did leade here I call an idle word as diuines and spirituall men meane a needlesse one and such an one was neuer heard from his mouth for he did so square and measure his discourses as that words neither wanted nor were superfluous I will note here an other thing for the learned it hapned sometimes that there were in his company some learned men talking of sciences wherin he was most eminent yet he held his peace as if he had bin a clowne and ignorant vnlesse he were asked or in other respects which I will speak off by and by This was generally knowne and Dom Fray Pedro de Agurto Bishop of Cibu in the Philippines a man knowne in this kingdome not only for his dignity but allso for his great wisedome religion and sanctity affirmed it in a letter of his in these wordes I loued very much my good and holy Gregory and if I left of conuersing with him the reason was because he not being vsed to speake vnlesse he were aske and I haueing the title of a Master though standing in need of that which I might learne from so good and so well practised a soule it might be that my questions and conuersation might be thought impertinent though it could not be imagined by such an one as he That which I did most admire at in Gregory is that all though it be so commendable a thing to speake of God and that many discreet and vertuous persous came from countries far distant to conâ—erre with him yet he neuer talked to them of God nor of spirit or morality vnlesse he were asked and when he did answer though his answers were profund and admirable yet he spoke without any exaggeration in a very plaine stile and cut off his discourse as soone as he had satisfied the questions and necessitie of his neighbour and as it happened often that to the question which he did answer there did belong foure or fiue more which the standers by would aske of him he answered euery one so prosoÌ„udly and withall so briefely as that he went not an inch farther then he thought was necessary It is a thing truly worthy of much consideration that he being so eminent in the knowledgâ— of the holy scripture so we grounded in morall and spirituall doctrine so conuersant iâ— histories hauing such knowledgâ— of saints liues of the rites and customes of forraine nations and of other thinges which we spoke oâ— before and on the other sid haueing such an excellent memory a to call to mind what thing an whensoeuer he would yet wash sparing of his talke as that he neuer spoke vnles he were asked 〈◊〉 without manifest necessity Methinkes if Eliphas that harsh fried of Iob had conuersed with Gregory as much as I did he would not haue said Conceptum sermâ—nem quis retinere poterit who can keep in a speech once conceiued but to make this his warines more plainly appeare I will here relate a reprehension that once he gaue me A little after that I came to liue at Santase with Gregory he told me vpon an occasion that there was an Emperour who being in the midle of the sea would be serâ—…ed with fresh meate and in the â—idle of the land would haue fish brought aliue vnto him whervnto I said that was Heliogabalus the holy man answered since we haue condemned the fact it had bin sitting to haue concealed the person Another time standing at the window and seing it raine apace I said it raines apace and at the same instant a flash of lightning sell vpon my hand as I held it out of the window I told it vnto Gregory and of the paine that I felt he answered you are well serued since that you speake wordes that are not necessary for I see that it raines apace Haueing one day told me a thing wherwith I was very much edified I asked him why he did not tell it me before if he knew it he answered I doe not tell that which I know but that which is necessary and vpon another occasion he said for two yeares space I shut my lips without speaking more thÌ„e to salute my host whom I saw onely once in foure and twenty howers He did not only keep silence in speaking but also in writing for he neuer writ of any busines himself neither did he returne an answer vnles charity or necessity did require it and then he did only vse those wordes which were necessary for the busines I haue many of his letters in my hands of fiue or six lines and some shorter as that which is in the I. chapter of this booke He wrote some to Don Luys de Velasco the Viceroy in answer of others and he did no more but answer at the end of the Viceroies letter I will doe that which in this you command me which was for the most part to recommend some businesses to God And though worldly men account this manner of answering especially to princes rude and vnmannerly yet in one that was so far from compliments and so wary in his speech as Gregory was it was great prudence and heauenly wisdome He did only speake without being asked when he vndertooke the defence of the honour of God or of his neighbour or of the truth of the holy scripture and our holy Catholick faith and this too when no body else present vndertooke the busines For example if any one was afflicted with temptations or sicknes by reason of which he did seeme in some sort to murmure at God one would not thinke with what pious and graue speeches he would indeauour to bring him into knowledge of his owne errour ignorance and of the bottomles Ocean of the diuine wisdome and mercy which was hidde vnder those tribulations and how much he was bound vnto God and to put himself in his more then fatherly hands He did allso defend his neighbour with very prudent reasons as shall be seen in the next Chapter That wherin he shewed most spirit and vigour was in expounding some places of the holy Scriptures vpon which misunderstood the heretickes had grounded their errours and in such occasions he did not coÌ„tent himself with bringing some few authorities and reasons but he dilated himself as much as he could and alleaged the best senses that he could of the holy scripture and in those places which the heretickes said contradicted one another Gregory vsed the same vigour and Christian liberty yet withall modesty sor he did esteeme it as his owne Mother hauing bin brought vp so many yeares att her breasts THE VIII CHAPTER Of the wisedome which he shewed in his answers sayings and deeds HE did heare very peaceably and midly and with great attention whatsoeuer was
from him because he would serue his king for his Maiesties owne sake and not vpon hope of receiâ—ing those spirituall coÌ„tentments in part of paiment of his good will and loue for at the begining God had bestowed on him the gift of teares but he besought him to take it away for the said reason He had allso a most ardent desire to see the Humanity of our Sauiour Christ in this life but perceiuing that this desire did keep him back aÌ„d in a manner diminish his resignation he did presently endeauour to mitigate it contenting himself with this that God â—ould shew it him when it was â—is holy will Gregory put away â—rom himself all those comforts â—ecause he desired to serue God â—ithout pay or any charges borne in this life and therfore he died so well content that God led him by the way of the Crosse For all the many murmurings which he heard against himself some iudging him an heretick others a foole others a vagabound he neuer excused nor answered for himself but defended and excused those that spoke ill of him Some of his freinds vpon a certain occasion told him of a great stirre that was raised against him he answered them God forbid that I should trouble and distract my mind with thinking on it and therwith continued still as quiet as he was before they told him of it A certaine man of great account desired me to informe him of the estate of the Hospitall of Guasteca and after I had giuen him account of all things I told him that there was a man there called Gregory Lopes of such and such vertues spirit and prayer and what doth this man said he in the Hospitall I answered that he was there allwaies in a chamber at his prayers and neuer went forth then he said to this man could I willingly giue two hundred stripes and when we told this story afterwardes to Gregory he smiling excused him saying he saith well for an idle fellow doth well deserue two hundred stripes and gentlemen that are full of busines cannot easily vnderstand what inward exercises are It was neuer perceiued that he had any desire to be esteemed or knowne and he hath often reprehended me for praysing him he neuer cared for the visits of the Viceroies Prelates and nobility but rather shewed when occasion was withall modesty and good respect that he did not take any content in those visites when they did not concerne the glory of God or his neighbour his good and though the holy man did much esteeme the great piety and wisedome of Don Luys de Velasâ—o the Viceroy yet he intreated him to excuse his visits alleadging good reasons for his request In those visites that great persons made vnto him he did allwaies shew an humble grauity and assured token of his great mind The Inquisitours gaue order that his booke which he made vpon the Apocalips should be seen and perused by Don Fray Pedro de Augusto Bishop of Cibu who gaue in approbation that he had neuer seen a better exposition of those diuine reuelations that he admired how he could say so much with such certainty and shortnes that he did beleeue he had supernaturall light giuen him for the writing of that booke and wheÌ„ the Inquisition medled with that busines Gregory did not shew nor doe we think he had any trouble of mind nether would he keepe a copy of it nor speake a word of it euen as if it had bin none of his worke Such was his greatnes of mind as that he neuer acquainted any man with his griefes and afflictions nor sought comfort from any creature yet he was wont to tell for the good of his neighbour things that had hapned vnto him in times past Many times in they eare he did endure great paines of the stomack and of the collick yet he neuer complayned nor changed countenance nor the good posture that he was vsed to keep when he was in best health so as I did not know his infirmities but only by his great weaknes aÌ„d extraordinary ill stomack One time seing him much falne away I asked him what aile you that you are so weake He replyed 15. daies together I haue bin troubled with à fit of the collick and by these meanes I came to know his diseases which were so great as that they made me pitty him and wonder how he could exercise such constancy and austerity of life with them He was ordinarily sick of a feauer which he cured by diet enduring hanger if need were for three or foure or fiue naturall daies he neuer vsed bed euen in his great sicknesses whilst he was in Santafe he had the toothache for a yeare together and I had neuer knowne it but that he went twice into the field for hearbes that he knew were good to cure him and sometimes he could not eate for paine Hauing once hurt one of his great teeth he would not let me send for a barber to pull it out but pulled it out himself by a very painefull meanes such was the desire that he allwaies had of finding some occasion to suffer for men that are vnited to God vse to find as much content in suffering as others find commonly in their ioy and ease This valiant man told me that the diuell did once assaile him in a visible shape and I askeing him how he did defend himself he answered me in these wordes I thought that I could not doe a better thing then that which I did so I continued it with all my strength and he vanished away and neuer tempted me visiblily againe We neuer heard him speake any good sentence which he did not put in practice when need was and he was wont to say to this purpose misery it self is not to be desired but a will to endure it with moderatioÌ„ of mind and so he endured all these that hapened vnto him with such an inuincible and constant mind as that he did not seeme subiect to change therfore from the first day that I saw him which is 18. yeares agoe I presently perceiued in him a certaine excellence which I had not seene in any other man This opinion increased in me euen till his death and allso since his death it increaseth with the wonders which God doth daiely worke by him But to returne to the intent of this Chapter what courage and valour might a souldier haue who from a poore country fellow should come by feates of armes to be a Grandy of the king his court but how much greater valour is necessary for a spirituall souldier of himself poore and abiect a son of Adam to become great in the court of God and since that Gregory is come to that height of honour as to be great in the court of heauen it is fitting that his valour and courage should be knowne that so we may glorify God in this Sainte gathering by that little which is written here the great aboundance that God hath bestowed
that which was conuenient Fiat voluntas tua sicut in caelo in terra Amen Iesus teaching him the same prayer that he had taught his Apostles and in this prayer he gaue him for his exercise one of the most excellent workes and hardest to be done because it coÌ„prehendeth all the doctrine of the conformity of our will with that of God which spirituall men call resignation and that not in any degree whatsoeuer but in the perfection which those wordes require namely that there be such conformity vpon earth with the will of God as is talked of and practised in heauen It is much to be noted that the diuine goodnes would haue Gregory practise himself so long in this exercise as our Sauiour Christ was in preaching his ghospell to giue vs therby to vnderstand that all the perfection of his holy doctrine consisteth in the perfect execution of those wordes The carefull and studious scholler embraced this diuine prayer and lesson with such good will and resolution as that for 3. yeares together a wonderfull thing without ceasing or euer omitting he said it mentally as often as he did draw breath when he was awake and considering the little time that he slept and the great vigilance which he allwaies vsed it is allmost impossible to tell how often he said those wordes Fiat voluntas tuasicut in caelo in terra Amen Iesus and he told me that after a yeares space he did no more trouble himself to call them to mind thereby to make his acts more intense amorous and feruent I heard him allso tell once vpon a certaine occasion of spirituall discourse that if he did not make those acts with great dâ—uâ—tion allthough at other times he did the diuell at the very instant did assaile hâ—m with a multitude of temptations so that as he told me in those times by reason of the many temptations that came vpon him he could not possible take any booke in hand and that those only wordes serued him insteed of bookes and study and with them as with armour of proofe he defended himself from all his enemies and ouercame them and because he had found by experience the great force and vertue of those wordes he counfailed many persons to repeate them often with deuotion During those breathings his operations were so vehement as that he was allmost allwaies eleuated and thought of nothing of this world and such was the intensiuenes wherwith he employed his memory vnderstanding and will in this diuine exercise that allthough while he was in it he was assailed with many grieuous temptations yet as soone as they were past he did not remember them From this exercise of resignation as from a solid roote grew out all his wisedome and spirit When he had exercised himself for the space of three yeares in this spirit of resignation it pleased his heauenly Master to aduance him to another degree of perfection instructing him inwardly that the height of perfection in this life was in the practise of these wordes Thou shalt loue God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy mind and with all thy strength and thy neighbour as thy self and that he was allwaies to practise this vsing all his forces in it louing God and his neighbour with one act of loue imitaring herein God himself therfore afterwardes he did not repeate so often as before that act of resignation wherin he said Fiat voluntas tua sicut in coelo in terre Amen Iesus because this often making of acts would rather hinder then further the continuall act of loue wherin his soule now was as he himself said For the same reason he left of other meditations and exercises which he vsed before because they should not diuert him from his coÌ„tinuall act of loue Gregory endeauoured to follow this exercise with the same fortitude as he had practised that of resignation yea and with greater for row his strength was increased So in few yeares he became so expert a louer as that he told me that it seemed vnto him a very hard thing to leaue off that diuine exercise of loue euen for a short time and that therfore without breaking it off he did eate and talke and performe all other operations both of body and mind Together with this heauenly employment he began to reade the bible and most of all at this time for it hapned sometimes that he spent three or foure howers in the day in reading of it and by this great loue towardes God he attained to the vnderstanding of the Scripture Hereby he got that great poise and measure in his wordes the greate prudence and wisedome he shewed in his answers and counsails and the equality in louing his neighbour and himself wherin he did much excell for in all his good workes he esteemed himself as one of the rest of the world and desired as much to obtaine mercy for them as for himself From hence allso proceeded his purity of mind in prayer freedome and Dominion against his enemies and the seuere mortification of his senses Now in praying he did not vse such violence and force as he did before but a more refined and de-delicate act lesse sensible but more prefect In this manner he went on euery day increasing in perfection and that after such a manner as that many spirituall men were deceiued seing him so conuersant in other arts and scieÌ„ces it seeming vnto them that this would diuert him from praying but he was so far from that as that in his last yeares he attained to such high degree that as he hath often told me his interiour man did worke without imparting any thing to the exteriour and that he did not reduce the conference that he had with God into mentall wordes but to another language which should seeme to haue excellent effects To conclude by meanes of this exercise he attained vnto that excelleÌ„t vnion with God which he allwaies endeauoured to practise and his heroicall vertues and to say all in a word together with this there came to him all that is good THE XVI CHAPTER The spirit of Gregory is made more manifest by the answers which he gaue to certaine questions I haue thought conuenient here to set downe some answers which Gregory Lopes gaue vpon certaine occasions to the end that by them his spirit might somewhat more appeare which since that it was so interiour may be the better knowne out of these A certaine religious man both spirituall and learned one whom Gregory well esteemed and conuersed with more then with any other asked him if he had any particular times and howres of the day or night appointed to make his act of loue more inteÌ„se if peraduenture it grew slack or cold whilest he was at table or otherwise emploied in offices of charity towardes his neighbour or for the comfort of those that conferred with him he answered that he had no set times neither that he
had need of any because there was not any created thing that did hinder him or make him grow remisse that his inward operation was allwaies in the same estate that it was allmost become naturall that he had neuer gone back in the perfection of the vnion which God had giuen him but that he allwaies went forwardes and that by meanes of this vnion he had got whatsoeuer he knew because God had allwaies bin his Master not bookes though it was a great comfort to him to see those thinges writen by Tauler and Rusbroque which God had imparted to him and he neuer ceased to praise and extoll the spirite of the holy Mother Terresa de Iesus At another time being asked by the same religious man sir if you were a Priest what would you doe he made answer as I doe now he replied how would you haue prepared you self to say Masse he said as I prepare myself now he asked him further and how would you haue made your Mementos he answered him after the same maÌ„ner as I doe allwaies and he added moreouer saying if I were certaine to dy within these few howers I should not doe any thing more then I doe for I am now actually giuing vnto God all that I haue and I cannot giue him more vnles he out of his mercy giue it me But because it often falleth out that as the soule is louing God with all her strength in great quietnes our Lord sodainly raiseth her vp for a short time to the height of vnion drawing as it were the curtaine which is betweene God and her God himself dilating her and making her capable of such thinges as she can neither expresse nor conceiue and when she desireth to thinke and stay vpoÌ„ that which God wrought in her she findeth that those fauours are now past the affections of them only remaining behind the said religious man asked him againe whether hauing receiued such fauours he remembred them afterwardes and whether his soule did allwaies remaine in that height to which God is wont to raise others for a little time as is said he answered him that as it is not in mans power to obtaine such singular fauours of God so neither is it in his power to remember or continue them for a long time and that he doubted whether there euer had bin any pure creature except the B. Virgin that did allwaies perseuer in such an excellent vnion which God is wont to giue though in the ordinary kind of vnion such as God had giuen vnto him one might allwaies continue and profit And prosecuting this matter he said further that vnions reuelations extasies and rapts were not the top of perfection nor that it did not consist in them though God is often wont to giue them because he worketh with euery soule according to her capacity necessity aÌ„d dispositioÌ„ they that are perfect and well exercised in the act of loue doe not require that the senses should be suspended from their operation to the end that they may be more vnited vnto God because the senses are no hindrance to them in their enioying God for he had neuer had any extasy reuelation or rapt that deprined him of his senses the which had neuer hindred him At another time the same man talked with him of some soules which attained to great peace and â—hward quietnes together with a â—assiue vnion and as it were enioying loue which God gaue vnto them Gregory answered him that such as those were good soules and were in a good way but that perfection and merit is not so much in those workes of enioying as in that the soule of her part endeauoureth with all her might to loue God with the perfectest manner and act that she can for this is rather to doe then to enioy and the other is rather enioying then working because the soule that loueth God perfectly cannot giue him more then she doth giue him neither doth God require any thing else of her for hereof dependeth all our law and Prophets I was once talking with him how gratious in the sight of God certaine persons were who doe allwaies employ themselues in praying for the whole Church with a great zeale of Gods honour and desire of the saluation of soules he said that this was a great perfection but such as few had attained vnto and that he had vnderstood that Mother Isabell de la Natiuidad a nunne of the Monastery of the Conception in Mexico now deceased had obtained it who as I thinke for certaine knew by reuelation from God that Gregory Lopes allso was wholly giuen to this exercise for in a letter which she writ she said these wordes I am coÌ„tinually in the office which God hath put me in of praying for the whole Church as my brother allso doth she said this by Gregory and she was one free from all falshood and euen from suspicion Thinges haue bin said in this Chapter which in the opinion of those that treat of prayer and spirit are for confirmation and testimony of great sanctity more then miracles because they are more infaillible signes of it then miracles THE XVII CHAPTER Of some other manners of prayer which he vsed NO lesse wonderfull height of perfection and sanctity is proued by other kindes of prayer wherin this admirable man though his continuall emploiment was to exercise that act of lone towardes God and his neighbour and in this worke he vsed all his strength employed himself without diuerting his mind but rather allwaies increasing the vnion we spoke of When any inward combates presented themselues he was very willing to fight them for the loue of God and after he had ouercome he offerred him in sacrifice the victory and all the spoiles of of that war and therfore by reason that he was wont often to ouercome and through the great confidence which he had in God he reioiced when he saw whole troupes of temptatioÌ„s come against him as huntsmen doe when they see their pray that they may see it on their Masters table and he did not only offer vp in sacrifice vnto God the victories and the spoiles of his combates but also the gifts and strength wherwith God did enrich and adorne him making an offering of them vnto his God and giuer with a very humble prayer and acknowledgment wherin he confessed him to be the chiefe good and source of all good and therfore most worthy to whom all thinges which we haue receiued should be offered so that Gregory as soone as he receiued any fauour or gift presently with a more cleare knowledge and feruent charity directed it to his Lord without staying on it himself because he desired all whatsoeuer he receiued should be his Such was his fidelity and loue towardes God and in these times he was vsed to repeate that sentence of the wise man you shall find many mercifull but a faith full man who will find He was allso wont to offer vp vnto the Eternall