a fit time offered for making his iourny especially for that the Rectour of the Roman Colledge out of his desire of the spirituall commodity of so many young men who were likely to profit much by his presence and familiarity did instantly importune it he at last determined to recall him and order is giuen vnto me that I should first certify him by letter of this decree Vpon the receipt of which message he conceaued so much ioy in his mind that fearing least he should exceed the bounds of moderation he requested of Fa. Bernardine Medices that he would say masse for him that he shold humbly beseech almighty God that if it might not stand with his greater glory he might be frustrated of this his desire Receauing not long after a commaund from Fa. Generall himself that he should returne he sent letters vnto diuerse full of certaine singular remonstrances of affection wherin he alleaged the causes wherfore he so much desired to liue at Rome In those which he sent to me he sayth in this manner I belieue truly it is no hard thing to persuade you h 〈…〉 much pleasure it is to me that I am designed for the Roman Colledge and that I may once againâ— see there my spirituaâ— father and brothers In theÌ„ meane timâ— it shall be my hope to enâ—oy that familiarity which I am confident by Gods helpe shall be renewâ—â— betweene mâ— you and other our familiar friâ—nâ—es 〈…〉 n with more fruite then euer heretofore I pray yâ—â— commend me particuâ—arly to them all For vnto the whole Rom 〈…〉 Coâ—eage in general I â—oâ— with my whole hart soule mind and with aâ—l my aff 〈…〉 tion commend my selfe He adeaged another cauâ—e to a certaine Father who was once his fellow No 〈…〉 with whome discoursing of that first message which he receaued of the dâ—tâ—rmination of his comming to Rome he speaketh thus Which with so much the more willing minâ— I will obey so soone as I sh 〈…〉 be recalled for if we may call any Country ours hâ—râ—upon â—arth surely no other would I acknowledge but Rome whâ—râ— I was begotten to IESVS Christ. The commaund being brought vnto him in the beginning of the moneth of May the the yeare 1590. he beginneth his iourny and therin he followed the same course of life which he did in his other He caused to his companion celestiall ioy and went before them in his example They when they perceaued that as far forth as he might he desired to be silent for the most part and that he had his mind as it were abstracted from his senses they did their endeauour to recall him out that continuall meditation A grieuous dearth of victuals at that time infected Italy therfore both in other places in the way and especially vpon the Apennine which at this day deuideth Tuscany from Lombardy they found euery where poore men famished with hunger At the sight of these a certaine Father said vnto Aloysius verily God hath bestowed a great benefit vpon vs that it was not his pleasure we should be borne in so great want as these poore men Vnto whome he presently answered Maius verò est quod in Turcarum ditione nati non sumus But greater it is that we were not borne amongst the Turkes Aloysius thought himselfe too much obserued by these Fathers and according to their charity towards him to be vsed with too much curiosity Therfore he met a certaine other Father and declared vnto him that he could be contented to make his iourny with other companions that would make no account of him Being come to Siena he desired to receaue the Eucharist in the Chappell of S. Catherine of Siena which he had the fauour to doe with great sensible ioy at the Masse which a certaine priest of the Society celebrated Being requested in the Colledge at Siena that he would preach to the young men that are in the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin-Mother after he had promised to performe it he betaketh himselfe into the Quire There before the Blessed SacrameÌ„t meditating for a little time without euer looking into any booke and afterward going backe into his chamber he compendiously setteth downe those thinges which he had conceaued in his mind He made a sermon so proper and effectuall for matter of piety that he put into diuers of those youths who were not ignorant of his place and quality a desire to contemne their fortunes and imbrace Religion Many afterward earnestly intreated him to giue them copies of that sermon And a certaine preacher of the Society keepeth to this day the very originall Copy of this Blessed young man 's owne hand writing as a perpetuall monument of his loue towards him After that he came at last to Rome he was receaued ioy fully and cheerfully of all his companions of the Roman Colledge in generall who seemed neuer to be satiated with seeing him talking with him and enioying his holy company CHAP. XXVIII Of the accomplished sanctity of B. Aloysius IT is a sentence of the Wiseman in the booke of Prouerbes Pro. 4. That the life of Iust me which he calleth a path is like that resplendant light which springing from the duskish light of the dawning and white-shimering morning doth still increase with one degree of clearnesse after another til at last it display a perfect glorious day effected by the Sunnes arriuall to the highest point of heauen at noone-tide Such was the holy life of B. Aloysiut There streamed forth of it euen from the very seauenth yeare of his age a certaine whitenesse of innocency neither did he euer after cease to acquire more and more light as proceeding forward from one vertue to another daily still growing clearer and clearer by new merits new light froÌ„ God till that he shined forth with so great grace splend our that he was not only growne to a perfect day but euen as the Apostle said of the Philippians Phil. 2. seemed himselfe to be become a resplendant light in the world But if truly he shewed himselfe such in any time of his life heertofore certainely in this last yeare of his life he gaue a conspicuous testimony of these things to them that liued familiarly with him For there shined in him so perfect vertues and seated with his whole mind rather in heauen then vpon earth he liued as it were an extaticall life and abhorring from the sense of all things that were subiect to Fortune So soone as he came to Rome he said vnto me it is now a good time since I buried my friendes there is no reason why I shold take any further care of them It is high time now to thinke of another life Not long after his comming he bringeth to Fa. Rectour all his writings both of Diuinity and Contemplation and amongst them certaine other Commentaries which out of his owne industry he had made very learnedly vpon S. Thomas The Rectour asking why he so depriued himselfe of all his
of his affection to that quiet kind of life he grew by little and little weary of all humane conuersation he at last determined that yielding vp the honors and riches of Marques to his brother Rodulph he would deuote himselfe to the Church not out of any hope to obtaine Honours therein which being by many often offered him he had alwais most constantly refused but for that he might in that kind of life bestow himselfe wholy more frely quietly in the seruice of God Whē he had determined this in his mind he began earnestly to importune the Marques that he wold giue him leaue being discharged of Court imployments to apply himselfe vnto the study of learning Notwithstanding he concealed frō him in the meane while his determination of following an Ecclesiasticall course of life CHAP. IX Returning to Castilion he obtaynes from God an excellent hability in mentall prayer THAT which for the most part the Princes Gōzaga's do euery yeare to wit the winter being ended they retire themselues from Mantua into diuers places till the sūmer-heates be past the same doth the Marques commaund Aloysius by letters that he should with his younger brother returne to Castilion as thinking indeed that his naturall climate would be more holsome to him then that of Mantua Neyther did his hope deceaue him for he was much amended with the pleasantnesse of that place situated vpon a faire hill most pleasant to behould and I do not doubt but especially by that cure which his mother would haue applied to him he might haue bene wholy recouered if he could haue perswaded himselfe to haue remitted any thing of that rigor of life vnto which he begā to giue himselfe at Mantua But he doubtlesse being more solicitous of the health of his mind then of his body was so far from any relaxatiō of those endeauours of piety vnto which he had accustomed himselfe as that he did rather straighten them For he added vnto that strictnesse of diet which he had imposed vpon himselfe with great rigour continuall solitarines in which he shrowded himselfe for the loue of diuine thinges auoiding all humane society Wheras therfore he daily separated and estranged himself from the common sort of men who are only drawne with these mortall respectes God according to his singular goodnesse in rewarding those who faythfully serue him did vouchsafe to declare how gratefully he accepted this mynd so pious and so desirous of his honour with which a youth but of twelue yeares of age did with so much innocency of manners cosecrate himselfe vnto him Therfore for so much as to that very day he was instructed by no man of the manner of meditating vpon celestiall matters nor had any vse therof it was the pleasure of God that without humane help he would himselfe instructe him with his owne inspiration For hauing once most fitly prepared his mind in respect of the excellent purity therof for the receauing of heauenly riches he brought him to the most hidden treasures of his guiftes and powred vpon him with a full hand as they say his endowments For when as he had enlightned his mind with a certaine celestiall light which exceeded in clearnesse all human capacity he taught him a way of meditating pondering vpon the Almighty power and greatnesse of God far more curious and high then it could haue bene done by the precepts of any mortall man Whē he perceaued that this so easy an entrance as it were to the plentifull pasture and cheerfull food of his soule was so boūtifully laid opē vnto him by way of seruiceable gratitude for this his loue shewed towards him he remained whole dayes trasported in thinking sometimes of those admirable things which fell out in the working of our saluation other sometimes in meditating vpon the titles and attributes of Almighty God when in the meane while he was surprised with so great ioy that he could by no meanes moderate his teares So as with them he often moistned not only the garments which he wore but euen the floor of his chamber Therfore for the most part all the day he was close shut vp least if he shold haue gone forth any whither he might ether haue lost that sense of piety or being found by any one to haue wept might haue bene hindred from prosecuting the same This when his seruants obserued they would often throgh the chinkes of the doore descry what he was doing For oftentimes they saw him kneeling before a crucifix for diuers houres together with his eyes fixed vpon it with his armes sometimes stretched out sometimes placed before his brest in the forme of a crosse when he shed so many tears that the very sobs grones might be heard throgh the doores And sometimes they perceaued him to remaine vnmooued with his mind abstracted from his senses euen like a statue with his eyes not so much as once cast down At which time his Gouernour others that were of his chamber do affirme that he was therin so alienated from all sense that neither with passing through his chamber nor with making any other noise they could diuert his mind When the fame of these thinges had spred it selfe abroad not now his familiar acquaintance only but they also who were none of the Court being admitted to the same chinkes and made eye-witnesses of the same thinges could neuer sufficiently admire them Oftentimes also did the domesticall seruitours heare him in going vp the staires say vpon euery staire an Ane Maria But now both at home and abroad whether he was carried in coach or went on foot he neuer cast off his mind from the meditation of heauenly mysteries In which exercise of piety as I said before he made vse of no Maister but the holy Ghost who endued his mind with this diuine guifte as it were with a pretious ointmēt And although he now obserued a certaine manner of meditating notwithstanding he had not as yet learned to performe it in methode order neither did he sufficiently vnderstand what places he should especially choose for it Therfore at that time he fitly light vpon a certayne little Booke of Peter Canisius a Deuine of the Society of IESVS in which certaine heads of meditation were after a certaine methodicall manner set downe Therby he was not only more vehemently enkindled towards the loue of Diuine conuersation but also vnderstood what course he should insist vpon in meditation what times he should obserue Although then truly he confined his meditations within no certaine limits of time but according to the copiousnesse of the subiect according as his mind was put on forward with diuine impulsions he eyther made them longer or shorter but in such sort as that he neuer departed from them but eyther with his mind illuminated with new lightes from heauen or with his will inflamed with new ardour or with his whole hart steeped in new sweetnesse CHAP. X. The beginning of his loue
towards the Society of IESVS and of his zeale of soules HE was wont afterward to recount that this selfe-same litle Booke of which I made mention togeather with the Indian Epistles did very much win his mind to the Society of IESVS The Booke truly for that he sayd he did very much approue and relish the order of things therin much more the spirit by the impulsion whereof it was written And the Epistles for that by them he vnderstood how much God cooperated with the fathers of the Society of IESVS in reducing nations to Christ in those climats Therfore he stirred vp his mind to the imitating of these excellent enterprises for the sauing of soules which cost God so deare though it should be with the expense of his owne life Neither did he cease euen in that his so tender age to indeauour to helpe thē according to his power For that cause also he went euery festiuall day to the schooles of Christian Doctrine and laboured with infinite feruour himself also to instruct children in the rudiments of our Religion and to giue them precepts of fayth and innocent manners The which he did with so singular modesty and loue of humility that he auoided not the familiarity of any boy though he were vnder his owne charge and least of all those that were poore and did most earnestly excite the mindes of all the behoulders to the loue and worship of God Furthermore if he vnderstood of any discord amongst the seruants of the Court he endeauoured to make them friends In like manner if he heard any eyther cursing or speaking against God or his Saints he reprehended the. Those which he knew in the towne to be of depraued manners he did with great clemency exhort seriously solicit that they would correct and reforme themselues He could in no sort endure that Almighty God should be offended He obserued it as a solemne custome that he would intertaine no other discourse but of diuine matters that with so great grauity of wordes and sentences that when about that tyme he went with his mother to Dertona to salute the Duches of Loraine a very noble Lady who togeather with her daughter the Duches of Brunswike tooke her iourney thither he did with speaking astonish all that Princes pages Therefore they iointly affirmed that whosoeuer had heard his voyce discoursing so excellently and so wisely of God and had not also scene his face that he would haue seemed vnto him a man ripe in age and wisedome not a child CHAP. XI By the exhortation of Cardinall Borromeus he beginneth to frequent the sacred mysteries THESE things were done in the yeare of our Saluation 1580. wherin Charles Borromeus Cardinall and Archbishop of Milane a man of excellent Sanctity was by Pope Gregory the thirteenth created Apostolicke Visitour ouer all those Dioceses which were in his prouince and came to Castilion whilst he visited the Dominiō of Brescia with only seauen men which he had chosen out of all his retinue least he might become troublesome to the Ecclesiasticall men which he came to visit Then wheras he performed many other thinges excellently and altogether with an Apostolike spirit he in like manner in the yeare aforesaid the 11. of the Calends of August which is S. Mary Magdaleus day being vested in his Pontificall robes in the Church of the Saints Nazarius Celsus which is the chiefe of that towne made a very fruitfull sermon to the people and although the Princes sending diuers messengers vnto him did very much importune him that he would be pleased to take his intertainement with them in the castle notwithstanding he could neuer be persuaded to rest in any place otherwise then with the Archpriest whose house was neare adioining to that holy Church When B. Aloysius being now but of the age of 12. yeares and foure moneths resorted thither vnto him for the tendering of his duty it is incredible how much ioy he conceaued by the only behoulding of this child being euen like one of the Blessed celestiall Angells gratious in the sight of God he spent so much time with him in long discourses of Diuine matters priuately in his closet that it moued great admiration to all them that waited before the doores Questionlesse it was an infinite contentment to this good Cardinall to behould this tender plant in the middest of the thornes of diuers secular Courts without the industry of any mortall husbandman by the only inspiration of heauenly breath flourishing with so comely vigour and brought vp to such an height of Christian vertue The holy child in like māner very much reioyced that he had gotten a mā vnto whome he might confidently declare himselfe and of whome he might request an explication of those thinges which seemed obscure in the pursuite of true vertue For wheras he had heard much of the sanctity of this Cardinall which was very much spoken of he did earnestly ingrosse as it were deliuered by the oracle of God all his words and precepts which he deliuered of the keeping and following of a setled forme of huing B. Charles asked of him whether he had euer receaued the blessed Eucharist or no which whe hedenied the Cardinall who had now perceaued the integrity of his mind his maturity of wisedome together with his vnderstanding of heauenly matters drawne from God did very seriously exhort him not only to receaue it but also to frequēt it Furthermore in a short discours he set down vnto him an easy forme both rightly to prepare himselfe and piously to receaue this fountaine of all diuine bounty Besides this he did seriously exhort him that he should often and diligently peruse the Roman Catechisme set forth by decree of the Tridentine Councell at the commaund of Pius V. the Pope which booke in respect of the elegancy of the Latin tongue this Cardinall did so much esteeme of that reiecting Cicero other profane Latin authors he thought it only fit to be explicated to youths in the Schooles to the intent that therby they might both reape piety and a copious Latin tongue Neither did he doubt to put this in practise in the Seminary at Millane But when by vse it selfe he found that it fell not out according to his desire he did by commaūd as it were reuiue the old authours againe To conclude when he had giuen his benediction to Aloysius and had shewed other testimonies of his great good will towards him he gaue him leaue to depart This Blessed child omitted not to commit to memory the admonitions of so holy a Cardinall Therfore he began afterward with great contentment to peruse that Catechisme both for that it was replenished with excellent learning for all māner of sanctity and Christian instructions also because he was inuited to the reading therof by the counsell of so excellēt a man whome according as he well deserued he did with all dutifull respect honour And likewise he was very importunate by
which it seemeth impossible to liue of so little meate Moreouer it was euer his custome to cast his eye vpon that which he thought to be the worst dish on the Table and tasting a litle therof to leaue the rest vntouched But in the later ending of his time in a secular life vpon those dayes that he did not fast he would take no meat but by waight saying that that was inough to maintaine life and that the ouerplus was to be refused as superfluous And these thinges that haue bene related of the course of his diet both others and also he that was his cup-bearer and taster and other of his Table-wayters deliuered vpon their oathes He adioyned in like manner to this seuere abstinence other austere punishments which he inflicted vpon his body Therfore euery weeke he disciplined himselfe three times at at least but in those last yeares that he conuersed in the world he vsed it euery day at last three tymes within the space of the night and the day till he imbrued himselfe in his owne bloud But for so much as at the first he wanted a whippe made for this vse he scourged himselfe with such kind of thōgues as they are wont to tye dogs in which by chaunce he found about the house or with the endes of ropes or as some say with an iron chayne They who for obseruancesake wayted before his doores do witnesse that they haue oftenseene him kneeling vpon his knees and scourging himself In like manner when they made his bed they foūd hidden vnder his bolster certaine scourges made of whip-cordes with which he vsed to discipline himselfe Moreouer his shirtes were often shewed to his mother all besmeared with bloud which followed the stripes of the lashes The Marques being certified of these thinges did both at other times often inueigh vehemently against him and also once turning himself to his wife vttered this out of much bitternesse of griefe This child seemeth to haue a desire to make away himselfe And oftentimes he couered with the sheetes of his bed some end of a board or other peece of wood to the intent that he might giue some disturbance to himselfe in his sleepe But least his body shold be free from perpetuall punishmēt insteed of a haire cloth which he wanted he wore a thing strange vnheard of next to his naked body certaine spurs prepared to spur the sides of horses which did so fasten in his soft flesh their iron towels that they vexed him with a cruell torment By which thing it sufficiently appeareth how wholy he resigned himselfe ouer to a more holy course of life who being but of the age of thirteene yeares and a halfe borne in the middest of so delicate and flourishing a fortune by the instruction of no maister handled his body with so great austerity This holy child accōpanied these forsaid fasts and other incommodities with which he of his owne accord afflicted his body with the exercise of his mind and especially with so great a custome of prayer that certaine Officers of his Court being at these publike acts solemnly sworne denied that they euer came into his closet but they found him busy at prayer and oftentymes before he would make an end thereof they were forced to attend long before the doores In the morning after he was risen out of his bed he spent a whole houre in the meditation of heauenly things which he did not measure by the running of an houreglasle but by the impulsion of his charity towards God the sense of celestiall swetnesse Moreouer he was dayly present at Masse and oftentymes assisted the Priest with which office he was wonderfully delighted Furthermore he sorted himselfe with the Religious men of the towne as a singular example of edification vnto them at such time as they offered vp their publike prayers and prayses vnto God the rest of the day he retyred himselfe to the reading of holy bookes or to the consideration deepe discussion of the hidden mysteries of holy Scripture In the euening before he tooke himselfe to rest he bestowed two houres in prayer with so much sense of deuotion that you would thinke it impossible for him to obserue any meane therein His chamberlaines who waited at the doores that they might do him seruice at his going to bed were so farre from being wearied with this stay that they profited much by his example in the way of vertue Therfore sometimes they beheld through the chinkes of the doore how he be haued himselfe in prayer other somtimes in imitation of their maister they thēselues became likewise humble suppliants to Almighty God What should I adde any more He was so frequent in his retirement and cogitation of holy things that it could not be imputed to vauity if a man should constantly affirme that he had his mynd cōtinually fixed vpon God Therefore often did the Marques complayne that he could very hardly draw him out of his chamber he did recount to Fa. Prosperus Malauolta that he had often seene the place wherein he set himselfe to prayer moistned with his teares Neither truly did he when the care of any businesse called him out of this priuacy suffer his mind therfore to wāder from that which he had meditated vpon For whether he had in the morning meditated of Christs passion or of any other subiect he did so deeply imprint it in his mind that no imployment in the day was able to blot it out of his memory What shall I say for that he did not thinke it inough to apply himselfe to prayer in the day and late in the euening but for that intent euen in the night vnknowne to all his seruants his stepped out of his bed and whilst they were a sleep in nothing else but his shirt in the darke and silent night in the middest of the chamber allwaies far from any resting place he kneeled vpon the bare ground in the debatement of celestiall matters spent the better part of the night Neither did he vse this only in the Summer but also in the Winter season which time of the yeare in Lombardy is very sharp with cold with which he did so tremble all his hody ouer that he was somewhat diuerted from his prefixed meditatiōs Which he imputing vnto himselfe as a fault did so lōg exact of himselfe with great violence to become attentiue in his mind towards God til at last being as it were abstracted from his senses he was neuer more vexed with the torment of any cold But neuerthelesse his body in the meane while its vitall heat hauing forsaken all the members would grow so stiffe and starke that being no more able to kneele vpon his knees and hauing an auersion both from sitting lying he would euen sinke groueling vpon the bare and cold ground and lying in that manner he prosecuted the meditation which he had begun Wherfore it seemed vnto me a strange thing how he was
the spirit of a man and of the Diuine motions and incitements of his mind And for so much as he had made choyse of the Institute of the Society he set before him all those difficulties into which it was possible for any one to fall who placed his affectiō vpon this kind of life And he accōplished all this labour of inquisition which he had taken vpon him so to the life that he seemed to speake from his very hart Aloysius himselfe grew suspitious as after he scould me when he was in Religion that the Father seemed not any thing to dissemble the matter Therfore for so much as he did cōfide in him and attribute much to his authority neyther had there hitherto bene any one who as if he had felt his pulse before hand did discours thereupon so sitly to moue his mind and as he said so properly he stood for a space with his mind suspended Notwithstanding in the meane time he answered with notable confidēce to all that was asked him and so clearly dissolued all difficulties which occurred not only with reasons but also with authorities of holy Scripture and learned men in so much as the Father did not only reioyce to see him so constant in his resolution but also admired to see him so excellētly wel read in the bookes of God and Godly men After this seing that all his answeres were so accomplished as it were deriued out of the very bowels of the cause it selfe he began to suspect that he had read those thinges that are disputed by S. Thomas in his summe of Theology concerning religious Orders Therefore in conclusion he brake forth into these wordes Aequum postulas Domine Aloysi neque dubium esse potest quin sit vt dicis Mihi quidem stimulos admouisti neque vllum preterea quaerendi locum reliquisti My Lord Aloysius it is no otherwise then right that you require neither is there any doubt but that it is as you say Truly you haue moued me very much neyther haue you left me any scope further to cōplaine These words questionles did very much recreate the younge man and did sufficiently declare that he was of another opinion then he seemed to be when he for a little while tooke vpon him the person of a triallmaker Afterward Aloysius being departed the Marques freely cōfessed that he was now persuaded that it was Gods pleasure it shold be so and beginning to rehearse the whole course of his life so piously lead from his very cradle in conclusion promiseth that he will giue him leaue to betake himself to Religion A few dayes after this he goth backe to Castiliō giuing order that Aloysius hauing solicited but one cause more of his which yet depended in suite shold follow him thither to renounce his principality But Aloysius thinking euery houre which he spent out of Religion to be a thousand years vrged expedition CHAP. XXVII Blessed Aloysius going first to Mantua retireth himselfe to the spirituall Exercises THE time drawing neere that Aloysius was to returne to Castilion whē by that which had happenned at Millan he coniectured that some new storme hunge ouer his head before he departed from Millan he sent very ardent letters to the Generall of the Society of Iesvs wherin recounting the dangers which he had gone through he asked counsell what he thoght was best for him to do if the Marques should goe about againe to stop or at least to deferre his entrance into Religion whether it might be lawfull for him by his good leaue neuer expecting his Fathers commaund to flye into some house of the Society For now it was euident to euery one that he followed the instinct of God herin The generall althogh he tooke cōmiseration vpō the young man was much vrged with this difficulty notwithstanding he iudged that he should in no wise attempt this without his Fathers consent that he should therfore do his vtmost endeauour to do it by his permission That that would altogether be most for the honour of God most conducible to him the whole Society It seemed good vnto Aloysius to follow this Counsell Hereupon going from Millan before he came to Castilion he went to Mantua there partly for the refreshing of his mind partly for the confirming of his purpose corroborating his mind against that impetuous storme which as he feared might come vpon him he became desirous to retire himselfe to the sacred Exercises of B. F. Ignatius in some Colledge of the Society It was then the moneth of Iuly the yeare 1585. at which time the Iaponian Embassadours were daily expected at Mantua for they comming to Rome out of those foraine coasts that they might professe the Sacred Supremacy to reside in S. Peters Sea and that they might in the behalfe of their King and all his subiects in those countries conuerted vnto Christ submit themselues to the Popes Holinesse as Christs Vicar vpon earth and might faythfully promise to be vnder his authority and their whole Embassy being now performed first with Gregory the 13. in whose raigne they came and afterward with Sixtus V. the successour of Gregory who whilst they remayned at Rome was made Pope they went back-againe to their Country so as making their iourny by the holy house of Loreto surueying a good part of Lombardy in the moneth of Iuly they came to Mantua where by VVilliam the Duke the Prince Vincentius with magnificent preparation great honours they were entertained in very Royall manner When therfore there was a great concourse of people frō all the bordering Coūtries to be hould these pompes and shewes and chiefely to see the Embassadours themselues with whose only aspect men being somewhat transfixed with astonishment wayted vpon them with a thousand happy welcomes in the meane while Aloysius preferring his retirement solitude before all other sports and spectacles went into the Colledge in the extreme heate of Sommer and hiding himselfe two or three weekes within the walls of a very strait chamber did with so seruent zeale spend all his time in holy meditation that he did not so much as suffer the least part thereof to ouerslip him but that either he said his vocall prayers or meditated in silence or perused some booke of piety At that same time he was of so sparing a diet that he could hardly be perceaued to eate any thing Wherfore they that brought him his dinner into the chamber could neuer sufficiently admire that it was possible for a man to liue with so little meate there vndertooke to instruct him in the Exercises a certaine Father who for that he had for the space of fiue and twenty yeares gouerned and taught nouices of the Society in the Prouince of Venice was very prudent and of singular experience in those matters and of the whole course of contemplation With him doth he purge by confession all the spots of his forpassed life with a certaine particular sense
reading at noone he mediated of the gall which was giue Christ to drinke at euening of that most sacred supper and full of mysteries wherwith last of all Christ intertained his disciples He was so watchfull in the custody of his tongue that they who considered not how hurtefull and slippery an instrument it often is would iudge him to be but too extreme anxious superstitious Amongst his prayers which he vsed as iaculatory in the middest of his other imployments euen this Verse out of the Psalme was very frequent in his mouth Pone Domine custodiam ori meo ostium circumstantiae labijs meis Puto Lord a watch ouer my mouth and a strong encompassing doore before my lippes Also he often vsed this saying in the company of men Qui non offendit in verbo hic perfectus est vir se quis putat se Religiosum esse non refraenans linguam suam huius vana est Religio That is to say who doth not offend in word he is a perfect man and if any one thinke himselfe to be Religious not refraining his tongue vaine is this mans Religion And far more contentment was it to him to hold his peace then to speake Therfore it is incredible how obseruant he was of that law which inioyneth silence to Religious men for certaine times Being sometimes sent with some priest to walke abroad for so much as he had heard that not alwayes leaue was giuen to talke with those that they went out with he determined to read a booke of piety vpon the way which for this purpose he had carried with him and he so passed the same partely with reading partely with meditating that he gaue no one word to his companion who being delighted with this example did himselfe likewise letting him alone fall to meditatioÌ„ But he loued silence so much eyther for that he feared to offend God or for so much as those celestial delights of his mind which he daily enioyed vtterly extinguished all desire of coÌ„fort which may be reaped by mutuall discourses Those men that are of the Society are wont befor they goe out of the house to acquaint the porter whither they goe wheras therfore the Nouices at Rome are wont often to be sent to the House of the Professed Fathers eyther to serue at Masse or to heare Sermons or holy Lectours vpon festiuall dayes Aloysius asked of his Maister whether he had spoken this word in vaine if when to be vnderstood it was sufficient to say he went to the House he should adioyne also that he went to the house of the Professed That houre which next after dinner and supper was allowed for the relaxation of their mindes and which is called the houre of recreation for so much as that time it is lawfull for them to recreate themselues moderately with some discourse he would neuer talke otherwise then of God and very often would he breake of his intended discourse so soone as any thing came into his mind for which he thoght good to conceale that which he had begun to vtter hauing paused a while in sileÌ„ce he would neuer suffer himselfe to be persuaded to disclose it Also as concerning his apparrell he requested that he might haue those that were the most worne old in the house When as therfore by the commaundment of the Rectour a new garment was put vpon him he conceaued so much griefe in his mind that it could not but appeare both to the tailour and others that were present Afterward expressing this his griefe it was answered him that that might euen proceed from certaine self soue a desire to maintaine his reputation and the opinion that others had of him Oâ—t of which wordes he tooke an occasion for certaine dayes to sift into all his cogitations and as far forth as he might to found the head and originall of that troble which he was sensible of in the putting-on of his apparrell When he had most carefully examined himselfe he could neuer discouer that he had admitted any such kind of fault Nay rather although he found when he first entred into the Nouiship that he had certaine cogitations suggested that might seeme to haue relation to draw him somewhat too much to loue himselfe notwithstanding of such vigilancy was he by the assistance of Almighty God that he did not so much as once remember that euer he gaue consent vnto them But to the intent that he might be the more safe against this plague in all points whatsoeuer which for certaine moneâ—hs he meditated of Christs passion he did most apply himselfe to that care and cogitation that weeding vp by the very rootes that preposterous loue of himselfe he might plant in his mind a holsome hatred and despising of himselfe CHAP. V. He refraineth from the desire of honour he explicateth holsome preceptes to the poore he earnestly desireth to be reprehended publikely NOw he applied himselfe so much the more diligeÌ„tly to those thinges which are wont to be vsed for the repressing of the desire of honour by how much to men of sound iudgment he perceaued that those thinges seemed more profitable and more necessary then the vexation of the body Therfore in the vse and practise of making himselfe openly abiect and exposed as a laughing-stocke to men he proceeded so far that he made nothing curious of doing it either at home or abroad Oftentimes he desired leaue to be giuen him to beg almes through the citty in an old cloke with his shoulder loaded with a wallet Being asked whether this were any shame or troble to him he answered no. For setting before his eyes the example of Christ and his fauour the eternall reward which he shold deserue that they were sufficient motiues to vndergoe all these things with a mind both willing and ioyfull And truly if he should euen waigh the matter according to the common iudgment of men that he could no way vnderstand how it might seeme grieuous vnto him For said he Either I am knowne or not knowne of them that see me if they know me not I haue no reason to passe for their iudgment for amongst those that are ignorant of my condition there is no losse of estimation to be bewailed But if they know me beside this holsome example of mine that they make their profit of they do not only not diminish their opinion of me but euen so far forth increase it that the greater danger is that my mind should rather thinke it insolently to be gloried in then grieued at For whosoeuer borne to a great fortune shall for the loue of Christ cast himselfe downe to pouerty shall euen be honoured of them who themselues thinke those thinges not to be contemned After the same manner when vpon festiuall dayes in the streetes of the citty high-wayes by mission from his Superiours he deliuered the groundes of Christian doctrine to beggars and rusticks such was his cheerfulnesse in performing this
as yet inwardly acquainted with him yet euery one vnderstandeth with how magnificent praises he extolleth him But so soone as he began to take his confessions to haue speach with him of Diuine matters of the inward inclinatiōs of his mind he demaunded of him an account of them all seuerally which he committed to writing as is set downe in the beginning of this booke And so much innocency so much light in the knowledge of Diuine thinges so much height of accōplished sanctity did he find in this young man that he reuerenced him like one ranked in the number of the happy Saints and so often as he maketh mention of him he doth always adorne him with the same prayses But then especially when discoursing with a certaine Father of celestiall beatitude he affirmed that the inhabitantes of Heauen who are possest therof do so farforth accommodate themselues to the will of God whome they know and behould that they do after a certaine manner passe into him in such sort as that they neyther loue nor will any thing but that which God loueth and willeth he added that it seemed vnto him that there appeared an example herof in our Aloysius in whose mind said he when those heauēly Cittizens see God most pleasingly to rest they likewise obey this his diuine will and imploy themselues so wholy in adorning him with immortall endowments and guiftes in storing him with merits and in patronizing him with their commendations that when I behould him so gracious with God and his Saints and replenished with all vertue and splendour aboue the compasse of nature they seeme vnto me eue by strife to ouercome him with the passing greatnesse of their benefits The same Fa. Platus when vpon a certaine time he iournyed from Siena and commended the most excellent vertues of this young man he affirmed to a certaine Father that it seemed strange vnto him that according to that rare sanctity which he saw shine in him he did not worke many apparent miracles I remēber that I haue heard Cardinall Bellarmine declare that it caused admiration in him that so vnusuall integrity of life should as yet as far forth as was knowne want diuine miracles CHAP. IX Therest of his actes in the house of the professed Fathers the custody of his eyes of his obediēce A LOYSIVS stayed longer in that house then other Nouices are wont to do Euery morning by breake of day hauing performed one houre in pious meditation he betooke him to the sacred Vestry neyther would he from thence stir one foote homeward before he had with very prompt deuotion and celestiall ioy serued fiue or sixe masses So much commiseration did he take of his fellowes and chiefly of two that seemed to be somewhat infirme of health that he admonished their Superiours that they were but too neglectiue of their health and that they serued too many Masses The time which was betweene masse and masse he spent silently speaking not so much as one word to any one in some corner sometimes closely meditating or offering vp his prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary and other sometimes in reading sacred bookes He went vnto the Sacristane if he were to be admonished or aduised about any thing with his head bare with his hāds ioyned before his brest standing in his presence he spake vnto him with such reuerence submission that he made him often somewhat euen out of countenance He accepted his and his fellowes commaundes no lesse prōptly and carefully then if they had bene giuen from Christ our Lord. Vpon Thursday in holy-weeke the Sacristane gaue order vnto him to take charge of the tapers that were burning at the Sepulcher of Christ When he had long continued there notwithstanding he neuer so much as once lifted vp his eyes to behould the ornaments and furniture of that place which with the comelinesse therof had drawne so great a concourse of people to view the same Therfore his companion asking him afterward how he liked the Sepulcher he denied that euer he saw it For it seemed to him a thing not lawfull to doe for so much as the Sacristane had laid another commaund vpon him Moreouer he exhibited so much reuerēce and obseruance towards a certaine Nouice who had some small iurisdiction giuen him ouer the rest that he could not euen honour Fa. Generall any more For he arose to him when he passed by him he put-of his hat he gaue him all kind of honour vntill he who for very shame could not tollerate so much subiection towards him complained to the Superiors who commaunded Aloysius to moderate his officiousenesse which he likewise did Neither is it any maruell that he so much honoured them and was so obseruant of their commaund for so much as he did not so much respect him that he obeyed as him whose vice-gerent he was tooke the voyce of him that commaunded for the voyce of God not of Man Which he said that he did not only for this respect that he might merit more grace at Gods hand but that it was euen as sweet as hony to him to thinke that Christ spake vnto him and gaue him some occasion to do him seruice He added that he was better pleased to obey them who had a power inferiour and subordinate to their superiours then those whose power was supreme and independent of any other and this as he said not so much for the loue of humility as out of a certaine kind of glory For if the matter be cōsidered according vnto humane iudgment surely a man would hardly be brought willingly to submit himselfe to the power of a man especially if he had neither parity in birth nor in the guiftes either of nature or fortune but that it is a thing the most glorious of all other to subiect a mans selfe to God or which is all one to him that representeth God And that this doth more euidētly appeare by how much the lesse part humane sense hath in it and by how much he that gouerneth hath fewer ornamēts which may conuert and intice mens mindes vnto them The fore-noone houres being spent the Nouices that liue in that house betake thēselues by turnes some to read one at the first another at the second table othersome to vndergoe the offices of the kitchin Whē it fell to Aloysius his lot that he also should apply himselfe to these seruices he behaued himselfe with like contentment in those though base ones as if he had bene bred vp in that place or of such a condition as if the loue of those imployments had bene by a certaine naturall instinct plausible vnto him When he performed the part of Reader he was considerate in reading and nothing hasty But once it happenned that there was made I know not what noyse in the Refectory whilst he read so that he was not heard by others That Nouice who was substituted ouer the rest hauing gotten this occasion made vse of it to
great a maiesty as he meditateth vpon The bell to prayer being rung with as great reuerence as he possibly could he fell vpon his knees in his poore oratory with so great industry of mind least he should be distracted with any other care did he watch ouer himselfe that for this respect he would not so much as giue way to the necessity of spitting He gaue himselfe wholy to the cogitation of those things that he had proposed to meditate and his vitall spirits togeather with his bloud resorting vpward towards his higher parts through the intensiue working of his mind so great a debility cold surprised his neather limbs that his prayer being ended he was not able to stand vpon his feet Often likewise it happened that after he arose from the same his mind being for sometime alienated from his senses he did not so much as know the place that he stood in Which then chiefly came to passe when he considered in his mind those attributes of God as his goodnesse prouidence loue towards men principally the infinitenesse of all these for then was he furthest abstracted from his senses In his prayer he had so great a guift of teares and powred them out so largely that it was necessary his Superiours should take some course to moderate them for feare least by their abundance his head and eyes might receaue some detriment But by no remedy could they euer preuaile But that which is most admirable of which both others who tooke his Confessions also Cardinall Bellarmine is witnesse that his mynd was neuer wont to be any whit distracted froÌ„ his determinate prayer which how great a guift of God it is euery one may easily coniecture by that which he himselfe experienceth in his owne prayers This so certaine power of bending his mind vpon holy matters he did not only obtaine by Gods fauour but by this likewise that by long meditation and vse he had made the force of his mind euen so prone obedient vnto him wherby he comprehended and painted liuely in his cogitation euen those thinges that were a far of as that there was nothing but what was accommodated to his purpose that euer came into his mind And vpon that cogitation which he had vndertaken so earnestly in the time of his recreation did he fixe his mind that he neuer reflected vpon that which others either did or sayd and therupon he neuer incurred any danger of diuerting his mind by any thing whatsoeuer And although in the house of the Nouices and in a manner according to that example in the Colledges all the lodgings are perused wherby it may be discouered whether all according to their appointed houres be at their prayers or no notwithstanding so long as he liued in Religion he neuer perceaued any one that came in this manner to behould him Which is a notable signe truly how far at that time he was remote from all sense and how attentiue to his meditation It is decreed by a rule that euery one of the Society both at the time of his first entrance as a Nouice and all his life-time after euery sixt moneth to disclose to his superiour not only his sinnes but also the giftes graces vertues which he hath receaued froÌ„ Almighty God to conclude all the secrets of his conscience which is to the intent that he whose part it is to gouerne others with his Counsell hauing by this meanes an vnderstanding of all may in a Fatherly maÌ„ner restraine those that â—alle the bouÌ„des of moderation may reseew vnwary persons from deceipts which in a stricter course of life do often fall out finally that he may prepare a way to go forward in a perfect course of life to all that are committed to his charge And this was that wherby many of B. Aloysius his vertues were laid open For out of a desire to obey this rule to direct himselfe according to that prescript of his superiours he did with great candour sincerity detect vnto them and those his Fathers of a better life how God behaued himselfe in his hart That must be very diligently obserued least it may seeme strange vnto any one that he declared very many of his vertues For his desire of obeying his superiours and this rule brought him vnto this being accustomed otherwise to speake very sparingly of himselfe WheÌ„ as therfore once he gaue account to the Rectour of the inward state of his mind who asked him whether in prayer he were not sometimes distracted in his cogitation to other matters he answered ingenuously that if all his extrauagant cogitations which within the space of those sixe moneths had hindered his mind either in prayer meditation or examining his conscience were put togeather that all those impediments would not amount to the time that one might recite one Aue Maria in In his vocall prayers that depended vpon his pronunciation he found greater difficulty not truly for that in those his mind wandered vpon any other matter but because he could not so readily fitly apprehend the meaning of the Psalmes or other things which he recited Therfore he said that then the case stood so with him as it doth with a man that standeth before doores that are shut against him who neither could enter in nor would goe any whither else But that otherwise in this kind of prayer also he abounded with exceeding great sense and pleasure of celestiall things especially in reading the Psalmes by which he put on certaine pious affections of mind wherwith they are plentifully stored Which truly sometimes were so earnest that scarcely not without some violence he vttered his words Therfore when according to his pioty he had a custome to recite the Canonicall prayers in the time of his Nouiship according to the manner of the Priests he bestowed in his Mattines at the least a whole houre As for that which belongeth to the matter of meditation he did very much insist vpon the consideration of the torments and bitter passion of Christ our Lord. and reaped therby diuine consolations The memory therof he daily renewed by pronouncing at noone a certaine briefe Ant-hymne by thinking vpon Christ crucified Which he performed with so cleare sense of piety and attention of mind that he said he daily had before his eyes manifesily the sanctity of that time which vpon good Friday in holy-weeke is solemnized How much spirit and celestiall solace he reaped by meditating on the sacred Eucharist hath bene spoken of heretofore He worshipped with a certaine singular obseruance and gladly meditated vpon the holy Angels and especially his Angell-guardian At which time how notable sentences Almighty God suggested to his mind of those incorporeall spirits witnesseth that his no lesse long then elegant meditation of the Angells which F. Vincentius Bruno hath reduced into the second part of his meditations and Doctour Andreas Victorellus hath very commendably cited in his learned booke Of the Custody
study and vse of celestiall things Moreouer those hâ— admonished that they shold associate themselues with him and it succeeded according to his desire Furthermore if he vnderstood that any one of the Colledge was somewhat defectiue in discharging his duty according to the dignity of Religion he endeauoured by all the meanes he could to win vnto himselfe his affection and knowing then very well truly what occasion of speach that would giue vnto others he daily not only for many dayes but euen for many weekes togeather conuersed with him at the noone and night meetings So soone as he had now profited so much in the study of perfect sanctity as he required that he might not repeÌ„t himselfe of his payne's taken then truly by little and little he dismissed that familiarity for so much as he said that he should be a more vpright example to all if he conuersed promiscuously with all afterward he exhorted him that he should sort himselfe with those that were the best he rehearsed some of that quality vnto him and also gaue order vnto them that they should keep company with him that he well assured himselfe that he was desirous to parti 〈…〉 te of â—ood matters to conclude after that he had done with one he betooke himselfe to another By these so excellent endeauours and paines taken in a few weekes he was a help to many and he inflamed the mindes of those to the loue of God who seemed to haue waxed the most cold Therfore you might haue seene the whole Roman Colledge so much enkindled with the burning zeale of a Diuine spirit and piety that there was not any one but he would acknowledge a certaine singular will of God therin I do well remember that I haue ofteÌ„ seene with these eyes of mine when there were in that Colledge aboue 200. men in the heat of the SoÌ„mer dayes at such time as they had â—eaue to recreate their minds after their laborious studies in the garden and walkes some by couples and some by three foure in a company walking togeather and for so much as I knew the mynds of them all it is a thing that I am well assured of that there was none of all those coÌ„panies but they r coÌ„ference was of God You would say that they assembled not to recreate their mindes but seriously to talke of diuine matters wherby many confessed that they reaped no lesse some euen more fruite then they did by their prayer it selfe The which did chiefly fall out in that for so much as euery one with incredible candour discouered those heauenly comforts which they had recaued in prayer as if one from an others light had lighted his candle And all these things were done with so willing and cheerfull minds of all sides that there was no one of them but he would haue beene sad and contristated in returning to his studies if at any time by thaunce it had fallen out that in recreation time he had done nothing which might haue bene auaileable to piety These were the conferences of those that went abroad to walke for their recreatioÌ„ these were their playes and pastimes in the vineyard such dayes as intermission was from the schooles vnto which whilst they went diuersely dispersed by two three and foure in a company talking of holsome diuine matters it seemed that nothing could yield them more contentment But now in the dayes of the longer vacations which is September and October the young men which in the Roman Colledge apply themselues to learning are woÌ„t withdrawing themselues from the schooles to be sent to Frescati to the intent that there resting sometime from their serious studies they might confirme their decayed forces Hither therfore by the Superiours good leaue at that time did they bring some that little booke of the imitation of Christ some the life of S. Francis some of S. Catherine of Siena some that of the life of our B. Fa. Ignatius some one would take with him those Annales of the Family of S. Dominicke some other those of S. Francis There were some that tooke delight in the Confessions and Soliloquies of S. Augustine and others in the Sermons of S. Bernard vpon the Canticles There were some certaine men as hauing made further progresse in the knowledge of Diuine things who with no small delight read ouer the acts of S. Catherine of Genua there were some others whose mindes more inclined to the despising of themselues were much conuersant in reading the famous actes of those Blessed men Iacobone Iohn Columbine Hauing read these bookes euery morning and euening by two or three in a company they went forth to the neighbowring hils to exercise their bodies and in the meane while they declared amongst theÌ„selues those thinges which they had read Sometimes truly some ten or a dozen of them ioyning togeather sate them downe in the woods and meaddows to discourse piously that so cheerfully so feruerously with such sense of piety as they seemed eueÌ„ to resemble the Celestiall Angels Therfore this extraordinary retirement was no â—elfe holsome to their mindes then their bodies euery one was ech others mirrour to behold himselfe in a spur to excite him to the pursuite of Diuine matters Witnesses of these thinges were so many their associates who for so much as they were both spectatours and sharers in them they also tooke comfort in the fruite therof and now some in one Countrey some in another labour in the tilling of our Lords vineyard Who wheras they attributed the beginning of them to Aloysius as their principall authour vpoÌ„ him they cast their eyes him they highly extolled him they piously imbraced to him did they apply themselues vpon his directions did they daily depend Which if they might not do they mourned euen as much as if their passage had bene intercepted from hauing recourse to some holy thing and which was singular auaileable to their saluation and perfection of vertue It helped forward very much to their generall loue towards him that he was not alwayes so sharpe-set vpon rigorous courses but as time place and persons required he did with admirable suauity prudently and considerately accommodate himselfe Therfore though in action he was intensely serious notwithstanding in common society there appeared nothing harsh or troble some in him but meruelous courtesy cheerfulnesse affability towards all Sometimes he would cast forth some sharpe and witty flash some other times he wold relate some pleasaÌ„t fable or prety story for mirth-sake but neuer would he depart from that modesty which becometh a Religious man And this was the course and fruite of B. Aloysius his life these two first yeares which he liued in the Roman Colledge CHAP. XXII He is sent into his Countrey for the appeasing of certaine grieuous discords which were betweene the Duke of Mantua and the Marques his brother How he behaued himselfe in this his iourney HORATIVS Gonzaga Lord of Sulphurino
to come we may be so enriched with merits that in respect of them we may be worthy of those wards proposed by Gods sonne after he had taken vpon him humane nature vnto whom togeather with the Father and the Holy Ghost be giuen all honour and glory world without end Amen THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE LIFE OF B. ALOYSIUS Gonzaga CHAP. I. Of the Letters written by diuers after his death AFTER B. Aloysius had passed to a better life many Letters were sent to his mother that most Honourable Lady which declared how great an opinion of Sanctity he left in the minds of men after his death Before others Fa. Claudius Aquauina the Generall did assure her that from hence-forward she might haue recourse to him as to a deere faythfull patron in heauen for so much as it was confidently thought that that happy diuinely fortunate soule did euen then enioy eternall felicity neither would he euer cease to help and comfort him togeather with the rest of his companions in Religion Father Rectour of the Roman Colledge certified her that Aloysius was passed to a more blessed life not only in his soule but euen in his countenance and whole body so quiet and composed that he had excited a desire in all to imitate his death which was correspondent to his life most holily lead and endowed with all kind of vertues And that therfore she and the rest of the same family shold not so much grieue for his losse as reioyce that one of their kindred was transferred to the number of the Saints The selfe same testimony haue many most Illustrious men giuen by their letters And especially Hieronymus Roboreus that most Illustrious Cardinall wrote to the same Noble Lady in this manner The last thursday in the night was our good Father Aloysius transported to a more happy life and such a harty affection of him and opinion of his egregious sanctimony hath he left vnto others that those Fathers his companions being confident that he shineth gloriously in heauen haue attended his death with no lesse admiration then teares This verily ought to be a great comfort vnto you and hope that he will negotiate with Almighty God for the concord and wellfare of his brothers and the prosperoâ—s fortune of all those of his family Againe I beseech you leaue off to grieue for so much as your sonne resideth now in the Court of Heauen who as I hope will assist vs with his recommendation To the same effect were the letters of Cardinall Scipio Gonzaga which he sent to the Bishop of Mantua his brother and to Aloysius his mother In these he declareth that Aloysius had now entred into a more blessed life and that his end was of so holsome example that he is rather to be honoured with ioyes then bewailed with teares Moreouer how great the opinion of this same Cardinall was of the sanctity of Aloysius Pope Clement the 8. gaue a most remarkable testimony For he vpon the 5. of August the yeare 1604. of his owne accord entring into discourse with the Marques of Castition the Emperours Embassadour of his prayses testified that Scipio Gonzaga had often had speach with him of the singular sanctity of this young man and that withall he had confessed that with euen looking vpon him only his mind had bene transfixed with a holsome griefe and that in respect of a certaine celestiall innocency that he beheld in him he was so much stirred vp vnto piety that he was not able to with-hould himselfe from teares Furthermore his Holinesse wheÌ„ he recounted these things and heard other likewise of his sanctity of life and miracles euen as it were weeping spake with a sensible vehemency these words Blessed is he whom I now verily belieue to enioy immortall glory with God Often haue I wondred when it came into my mind how possibly you could escape so great dangers as you haue done but surely this is he that hath preserued you and brought peace to his family You haue a friend in HeaueÌ„ in whose faythfull tuition you may confide and who will defend you from all harme And conformable to this likewise was the iudgment of that most renowned and most holy Lady Elâ—onora Arch-duchesse of Austria and Duchesse of Mantua as it appeareth by her letter which at that time she sent to Aloysius his mother which after this manner we read in the printed book of her life WheÌ„ I coÌ„sider with my selfe most Illustrious Lady how bitter griefe you must of necessity conceaue for the lâ—ssâ— of your sonne and when I measure it by my owne who although I was not his mother neuerthelesse loued him alwayes with a motherly affection I cannot but take compassion of you And verity not of you only but in like manner of our whole family the groanes of which speaking morally by any force of ours without diuine helpe we cannot appease But if with more sound iudgment wee consider that this most happy soule hauing rent her way through the blind veyle of her body is soared vp to eternall splendour to that fuiâ— period of glory vnto which whilst she liued in this wretched vale of miseries she did with so full course hasten where being more neerly accommodated she may with easier accesse recommend our prayers to our benigne Lord verily let vs render prayses and thanks vnto our good God that hauing deliuered him out of this rerrestriall mâ—d he hath bestowed him in that his glorious Citty of Hierusalem and reflecting vpon our owne commodity let vs mitigate our griefe for so much as of a mortall we see him become a heauenly man c. To this her letter the Author of her life adeth these words which follow The aboue named Aloysius Gonzaga was the eldest sonne of Ferdinand Marques of Castilion who from his very cradle liued an Angelicall life heer on earth Rendring vp his title and dominion of Marques to his younger brother and betaking himselfe to the Society of IESVS ended his life about the 24. yeare of his age Well may that be verified in him which the wise man wrote Consummatus in breui explenit tempora multa placita enim erat Deo anima illius propter hoc proper aâ—it illum educere de medio iniquitatum Sap. 4. Being soone ripe he was equiualent to those that are affoarded a loÌ„ger time for his soule was acceptable vnto God For this respect did he hasten to deliuer him from the middest of iniquity Eleonor a hauing had notice giuen her of this young mans death both spake many things tending to his prayse and often had this speach in her mouth A Saint-like young man he liued and like a Saint he dyed There are also those that recount that she moreouer added this that this man should be the first who of the family of the Gonzaga's should be canonized for a Saint Let vs end this chapter with the letters of Thomas Mancinus a Noble gentleman who for so much as he