with great deuotion and fruite of spirituall profit This was the first beginning and foundation of the Congregation of the Oratory which was erected in S. Hieromes Church in Rome surnamed de Charitate And after a few yeares the same was brought into vse in the Church of S. Iohn Baptist also in Rome belonging to the Florētines at the request and intercession of the Cittizens of Florence and there remayned vntill S. Philip founded a new Church and house of his owne at our Blessed Ladies in Vallicella commonly called the Chiesa nuoua where himselfe liued vntill his dying day And now is greatly in creased spread ouer all Italy France Spayne Germany other Prouinces to the great aduancement of Piety Deuotion in the faithfull His predictions prophesies and foreknowledge of secret thinges being far absent are wonderfull in him both aliue and dead and to set downe an example or two in this place it will not be amisse It happened vpon a time that Cardinall Baronius being then a Disciple of the Blessed Father and a layman came vnto him one euening to Confessiō The Father as soone as he saw him said Goe Caesar goe presently to the Hospitall of S. Spiritus and helpe the sicke I will heare thy Confession afterward Baronius was at this somewhat troubled being now prepared for his Confession and replied that the time of seruing the sicke was now past and that he should loose his labour in going thither as comming at an vnseasonable houre when there was nothing to doe Doe as I bid thee said the holy Father without more adoe Baronius being ready to obay went presently to the Hospitall and when he came to the entrance of the roome where the sicke lay he began to reason with himselfe saying Sure there is some mistery in this matter that our Father commaunds me to come hither at this vnseasonable houre for it was now euen night time of rest and whiles he was thus reasoning with himselfe he espied a sick man with a candle standing lighted at his head ready to giue vp the Ghost to whom he presently went and began to comfort with words of consolation demaunding whether he had confessed his sinnes and receaued the Sacraments of the holy Church who being hardly able to draw his breath answeree noe Then Baronius presently ran to the Chaplaine of the Hospitall and willed him to come quickly heare his Confession The Chaplaine somewhat ashamed of his owne negligence began to excuse it and came with him instantly to the sicke man who made his Confession and presently receaued the holy Sacrament of the Altar and Extreme Vnction and so straight after departed happily this life Baronius returned home came vnto the Father and related the whole story Why so quoth the holy Father hence forward learne to obey more readily and doe what thou art commaunded After that Baronius was made Priest and had a long time preached vnto the people at S. Iohn Florentines Church aforesaid who was also superiour of the Congregation of that house he was exempted from his Office and commanded by the holy Father to write the Ecclesiasticall History of the Church which after many difficulties proposed to the said Father he obeyed his voyce and began the same and afterward very happily deduced it to the 13. hūdred yeare after Christ as may be seene by his twelue Tomes extant euery where Another time it happened that the Parents of a yong Gentleman desirous to promote their sone caused him to be made Priest at the age of 17. yeares by reason that there was a great inheritance fallen vnto the second Heyre of that family which yet could not be possessed by him vnlesse he were a Priest So his Parents concealing his age both from the Bishop and the young man himselfe and all others he was made Priest tooke possession of the Inheritance Presently after it chanced that Thomas so he was called came to Rome and hearing of the great fame of S. Philip Nerius he was brought vnto him to salute him So soone as the holy man saw him he said You are a Priest Syr is it not so Yea quoth the other I am without doubt by the grace of God You say true said Saint Philip and then he could him his age truly and how all had happened by his friends meanes and for what cause neuer seeing knowing or hearing of the man before that houre Afterward S. Philip was demaunded of those that stood by heard these thinges how he knew that the was a Priest He said that he did see the face of the yonge man to shine in the same manner that all others who be signed with the Character of true Priesthood do vse to doe It happened also that a noble Roman yong youth who was giuen greatly to the pleasures of the world was by another like youth and friend of his who was very deuout brought vnto S. Philip vnder colour to see and salute him When he came his friend could the holy Father that he had brought vnto him a Penitent The Noble yonge man began to be angry thinking that the other had mocked him for that he had noe cogitation of Confession Yet in presence of S. Philip for feare and reuerence of his person hee asswaged his choler And presently kneeled downe vnto him saying that he would confesse and so began but with intention to deceaue the Father by not confessing his sinnes truly as he should The Father by diuine reuelation knew his intention and so let him make an end When he seemed to haue done the Father exhorted him that if he had committed any other sinnes he should confesse thē The other replied and said that he had confessed all Thē S. Philip stood vp and imbraching him said You say not true my Sōne for you haue made but a faigned Confession of your sinnes Now therfore I aduise you in the name of God that you confesse them wholy that you may be made worthy of pardon and forgiuenes Which words so pierced the hart of the noble yong man that repeating againe his Confession he made it wholy and perfect of all his sinnes euen from his childhood and moreouer cōmitted himselfe to be wholy gouerned and directed for the rest of his life to the holy Father Who profited so well in spirit vnder so great a Maister that within a while after he became a Religious man and entred into the order of Saint Francis wherin he happily continued and made a holy end His name was Raphael Lupus The miracles which it pleased God to worke of his seruant both aliue dead are almost innumerable In the yeare of Christ 1552. one Mauritius Anerius a Roman fell dangerously sick who being forsaken of the Phisitiās as desperate prepared himselfe to die and had now receaued the holy Sacraments of the Altar and Extreme Vnction expecting a happy houre Saint Philip hearing thereof went in the euening to visit him who found his wife and
AN APPENDIX OF THE SAINTS lately Canonized and Beatifyed by PAVLE the fift AND GREGORIE the Fifteenth DOWAY By HENRIE TAYLOR 1624. To the Catholike Readers in England DEare Countrimen If my abilitie in Health Wealth or Vnderstanding were answereable to my desire of your good you should heare from mee oftner But these gifts are at the disposure of a higher power And therefore at the abounding in any one or all of these ought to tend vnto his glorie so their want shall not inforce mee to derogate either from that or hinder mee from laboring to the vtmost of my power to bring you such merchandize as may refresh your soules with spirituall delight and comfort Wherefore I haue reprinted the Appendix of such Saints liues as were lately Canonized and beatified by Paule the fift and Gregorie the fifteenth translated into English by M. Ed. Kinsman The motiues vrging mee hereunto next after your good was the generall approbation and likeing of the booke amongst all which had it the raritie of it amongst many which desirde it it being annexed to the Saints liues of the wholl yeare and therfore cannot bee had without the byeing of the wholl volume which many will not for that they haue those liues all ready and others cannot the volume being of so great a price exceeding their poore ability These are the reasons mouing mee to this I haue heere done wherfore I hope you will take it in as good part at I meane it therest of my indeauours to you which is sincerely wishing they may proue happie Mediums to bring you safe to the peaceable harbour of Eternall blisse still resting Yours in what he is Henry Taylor AN APPENDIX OF the Saints lately Canonized and Beatifyed by Paule the Fift and Gregorie the Fifteene And First The Miraculous life and Vertues of Saint Isidore Husbandman and Patrone of Madrid in Spaine lately canonized by Pope Gregory the XV. Abridged and translated out of Spanish SAINT Isidore was borne in the ancient Kingdome of Castile in the famous Cittie of Madrid in Spaine where the Kinges Court is ordinarily kept about the yeere of our Lord 1130. of very Catholike and deuout Parents though of meane condition whom they piouslie brought vp and instructed in all kinde of vertue according to their poore abilitie especially in Prayer saying of his Beades hearing Masse frequenting of Sermons Exhortations and the like and for corporal exercises he was brought vp and taught to Till and manure the ground in maner of a Laborer or Husbandman After that he was growen to mans estate and his Parents both dead he married a wife of an honest though poore family like vnto himselfe and beginneth to dispose and set in order that little meanes which he had still following his manuall art of Husbandrie labouring for day-wages and hire for other Husbandmen of the Countrey that were rich and had landes of their owne to manure But yet with all he had got a pious custome and vse which grew vp with him euen from his Childhood to heare Masse dailie before hee began to labour Which he neuer omitted though there were neuer so great hast of worke to be done And for this cause certaine of his neighbours through the instigation of the diuell who now began to make hoate war vpon S. Isidore for his sanctitie and holynesse of life which they could not endure stirred vp against him his maister of whom he had taken a peece of ground to plow and was to labour by the day complaining grieuously of him that he came euery day very late to worke and that besides he omitted the same oftentimes in the day and went to his praiers His maister the Farmer was much incensed against him by hearing this their accusation and one day falling into a fit of choller at their reportes presently went vnto him in the field to see if it were true or no which they had told him by way of complaint And comming in all hast vnto the field where S. Isidore was to be at his work he saw three plowes going two whereof were drawne gouerned by Angels in the likenes of young men cloathed in most pure and white garments At the first sight whereof standing amazed he drew neeres vnto them when vpon the sudaine they vanished away Heere vpon he came to S. Isidore whom hee found at the other plow seeing so much worke done beyond his expectation he fel downe at his seruants feete and cryed him pardon for so easily beleuing the false reportes his neighbours had made of him assuring himselfe of the trueth of the wordes which Saint Isidore had often told him to wit that how much time soeuer he spent in prayer the same was recompensed larglie in his worke by the handes of his sweete Sauiour and rather to the profite then any way to the lest hinderance or losse of his Maister And so he departed with confusion in himselfe and full of loue and reuerence towards his seruant As soone as his said maister was departed the Angels returned againe vnto the plowes and as they laboured they taught S. Isidore and instructed him in many mysteries of his faith accompanying him all that day vntill night going home with him also euen to his house whither when hee came he found a poore Pilgrime at his doore asking an almes of meate for the refreshing of his body who calling his wife and bidding her giue the Pilgrime some what to eate shee replyed sadly and said there was nothing in the house Hee bid her looke into the Potte for some Pottage and Flesh but she knowing that al was spent said there was assuredly none left and withall she tooke vp the Pot into her hands to shew that it was empty But behold a wonder for she felt the Pot heauy and lookeing thereinto found it full of very excellent Pottage Flesh where with she fed the Pilgrime liberally and with admiration acknowledge the miracle her husband in the meane time with drawing himselfe into an inner roome and falling to his praiers as his custome was The same night he being a sleepe the said Pilgrime appeared vnto him againe in the same habit that he had done before in the Euening and seemed to awake him and put vpon him a Pilgrims weede and sayling ouer the seas conducted him to the holy land whether when he was come he shewed him all the places of chiefe note where our Sauiour had taught preached was taken examined whipped condemned and lastlie suffered death for our sakes Which places S. Isidore semed to reuerence and greatly to adore with gust and affection of hart and afterward was presently conueyed backe to his own house where the Pilgrime tooke his leaue and departed Vpon a time in a great Frost and Snow one Iohn de Vargas a Farmer sent Saint Isidore to the Mill with a sacke of wheate to haue it ground to make bread for his family Saint Isidore tooke the sacke of corne early in the morning and
Father drew out a knife from the scabbard of his Fathers sword and putting the point thereof to the reynes of his said Fathers back told him that in that very place he should shortly after receaue a dāgerous woūd as it happened vnto him in the yeare 1406. in a sedition betweene the Romans and the people of Ladislaus King of Naples This Child likewise seeing another time a Frier passing along the way told him that ere long he should change that habit for a more honorable which prooued true for the Frier was shortly after created Bishop The Citty of Rome being visited with the plague this little Saint feeling himselfe stroken with the contagion and knowing that he should shortly die made great instance for Confession after which he told his mother that S. Antony and S. Onuphrius to whome he was particularly deuoted were come with a glorious company of Angells to conduct him to heauen and so this blessed child being only 9. yeares old with an inexpressible ioy passed from this fading life vnto the ioyes of an euerlasting blisse At the instant of his departure a little girle them lying sick of the plaguein another house hauing for a long time before bene speachles sodainly cryed out that she saw Euangelist de Pontiano with great glory borne vp by Angells into heauen S. Francisca his Mother praying in her oratory about a yeare after Euangelist appeared vnto her of the same stature and forme only that he was aboue all expression more faire and glorious as he was when he died hauing another Child with him of the same age and no lesse glorious who declared vnto his mother that he was placed in heauen among the second quire of Angells and that the principall cause of his coming was to lead along with him to heauen his sister Agnes she being only 5. yeares old whose place was prepared in heauen equall to his Agnes therfore shortly after falling sick her mother saw a faire white doue flying vp downe ouer her bed not departing till this child had rendred her innocent soule into the hands of Angells God had giuen to S. Francisca an Angell not only to defend and guard her from euill spirits but also to rule and direct her in all her actions he neuer left her one moment and by especiall priuildge she inioyed the sight of him continually He was of an incredible beauty a countenance wondrous gratious more white then snow more ruddy then the rose his eyes euer looking vp towards heauē his armes crossed on his breast his haire long and curled more cleere shining then the polisht gold his robe extended long vnto the ground and was for the most part of a pure white colour other times skyblew sometimes also red Frō his face proceeded so great a light brightnes that it often dazeled her eyes to behold it and sometimes there proceeded such beames that only by their brightnes she saw to read her Mattins at midnight Her Ghostly Father cōmaunded her once to disclose vnto him the forme and shape of her good Angell which she did holding her Angell by the little hād the whilst looking friendly vpon him so properly and so particularly that therby her Confessor easily perceaued his proportion not to exceed a child of 5. or 6. yeares old If at any time the diuell molested her either with horrible apparitions to afright her or by transforming himselfe into some holy shape to delude her her faithfull Guardiā Angell at the same instāt by the shaking and mouing of his golden locks would cast forth such comfortable beames as would make her soule at once both feareles and secure On the contrary if in company of her parents or friends there escaped from her either any inconsiderate thought word or deed or if she were to sollicitous of her domesticall affaires presently she might behould this blessed spirit turne away his eyes frō her wherby she became to reflect on herselfe and carefull to examine her cōsciēce so by knowledge of those small faults that had caused his auersion by this meanes she became daily more wary and vigilant ouer herselfe euer renewing her purposes to amēd wherby she recouered the sweet regard of her Angell If any one in the company of this Saint forgot them selues in doing any thing that was vndecent she presently perceaued her Angell as it were in horrour of their sinnes and imperfections to close his eyes with his hands A Gentlewoman a deere friend and kinswoman of hers called Vannosia being in a desperate sicknesse had a great desire to eate of a Crab fish after which Francis carefully seeking and finding that in that season of the yeare they were impossible to be had she put herselfe in prayer desiring one from God when behold in the sight of all the houshould there fell one from the seeling of the Chāber fresh and aliue as if newly taken our of the sea which she presently prepared for Vannosia who eating thereof was not only satisfied of her desire but also perfectly recouered of her sicknes She neuer dismissed any poore frō her gate without almes and once in a great famine at Rome Andreas her Father-in-law hauing made his prouision of an excellent tunne of wine she being importuned by the poore not hauing wherwithall to satisfy them gaue to all that came of the said wine as long as it lasted Which when her Father-in-law vnderstood he was much offended with her therefore of which she hūbly excused herselfe assuring him that his wine was not spent but euen as he left it which to cōfirme she wēt with him downe into the Cellar where drawing of the same tunne they found it full of most excellent wine Whervpon Andreas being not ignorant of her bestowing it was confirmed of the miracle and she acknowledginge Gods bounty remayned therafter more animated to doe the workes of charity Another time hauing giuen to the poore a little quātity of corne which she had swept from the beames and rafters of her husbands granary by chance returning thither not long after she found there fourty measures of fine wheat neither she nor any other knowing how it came thither She vsed to reserue for herselfe those hard and mouldy crusts chippings of bread which were appointed for the poore and in the place therof would secretly giue vnto them the best and purest bread that was in the house Although all the actions of this Saints life were full of rare examples of Humility notwithstanding it appeared in nothing more then in her art and holy subtility to conceale the frequent miracles that she wrought for wheras she healed all sorts of diseases by her only touch yet she would withall apply a certaine ointment to the diseased which she had made of Mariolane or Rew therby to cōceale the miracle although this ointment for some diseases was altogether vnprofitable and for many absolutely hurtefull She neuer went vested but in course cloth although her condition was no
of Iesus Which thing his Ghostly Father vnderstanding approued his good intention so that it might be put in execution with the Marques his Fathers leaue Wherevpon Lewis hauing first told his Mother who with a ioyfull hart soone offered vp her Samuel to gods holy seruice without delay went vnto his Father and with all humility and reuerence declared his mind vnto him At which the Marques was so enraged that he bad him either get him gone and talke no more to him of any such matter or he would cause him to be whipt presently To whome Lewis very modestly answered Would to God I might receaue such a benefit as to suffer that for his sake and so departed from him And after a long triall by which he was vndoubtedly confirmed it was from God and seeing his Father still remayned inexorable he going one day to the Colledge of the Society as at other times he was wont to doe to visit the Fathers he desired his younger brother and the rest of his acquaintance that were with him to goe their wayes home and leaue him for that he did not meane to stir one foot out of that place Now the Marques his Father seeing the firme resolution of his Sonne with much a doe persuaded him not to enter into Religion in Spaine but to stay till they returned home into Italy and that there he should haue his owne will accomplished As soone as they were arriued in Italy Lewis claimeth promise of his Father but he thinking by that and other delayes to make his vocation at length wax cold answered that he could by no meanes condescend vnto his request before that he and his brother had saluted all the Princes of Italy Which Lewis hauing performed returning home found his Father more obstinate against him then euer he was before In so much that after he had indeuoured all he could by meanes of diuers graue Bishops and Prelates to dissuaded him from that course of life finding at last to be true which a certaine Cardinall whom amongst others the Marques had sent vnto him afterwards confessed Diaboli partes apurl hunc Adolescentem agendas mibi imposuerunt Eas quia necesse erat quanto potui studio ingenio sustinui Verum nec hilum profeci stat immotus percelli nequit They made me play the deuills part and tempt this yong man with all the wiles and allurementes which I could possibly invent But I preuayled nothing He stands altogether immoueable and inuincible he cannot be daunied After I say that the Marques saw the matter came to that passe hauing sent for Lewis and examined him by himselfe with an angry countenance sharp words as he lay in bed sicke of the goute he biddeth him get him out of his sight But hearing that his words had made him leaue the house recollect himselfe in a Monastery of Franciscans he sent for him home againe and did so bitterly reprehend him for it that Lewis euery day as one in great anguish and trouble of mind to see his Father so to crosse his holy intentions casting himselfe downe prostrate before a Crucifix with many teares and cruell disciplines began to act such a bloudy Tragedy vpon himselfe as those which beheld him thorough the chinkes of his doore could not endure so pittifull a sight In so much that the Marques himselfe not belieuing others report being brought vnto the doore in his bed and seeing it mith his owne eyes was so amazed and moued to pitty that without any more resistance he wrote vnto Scipio Gonzaga then Patriarch of Hierusalem to offer his Sonne vnto Father Claudius Aquauiua Generall of the Society of Iesus who willingly accepted of him and after admitted him by a letter which was the answere to one that Lewis had familiarly before written vnto him to thanke him for so great a benefit But this was not the end of Lewis his persecution for the Marques not content with employing him for nine monethes after about certaine affaires at Milan which Lewis by reason of his Fathers sicknes and to giue him the greatest satifaction he could with no lesse speed then prudence dispatched not content I say with this when the writings and all were come with letters patents from the Emeperour so that Lewis seemed to haue nothing else to doe but by deliuering the writtings to his brother to desinherit himselfe and so depart in peace he came to Millane and raysed another tempest against him so much the more terrible by how much he himselfe besides many others did sundry tymes more earnestly plead his owne cause before him with such speeches as we may imagine the passionate affection of a Father ouerflowing with tender loue towards such a sonne could affoard But seeing all his labour to be in vaine he caused himselfe to be carried in a chaire into the house of the Society of Iesus and there sending for a graue Father of account in that Citty he declared the matter vnto him concluding that he was determined to stand to his iudgement vpon condition that he would there in his presence examine his sonnes vocation and vrge him with all the reasons he could deuise to auert him from his purpose To be short Lewis was called and the Father in all sincerity and with all seuerity set vpon him and did the best he could But Lewis gaue so good satisfaction to all the doubts and difficulties which were opposed against him that the Father after great admiration burst forth into this verdict Aequum postulas Domine Aloysi aequum postulas néque dubium ess potest quin sit vt dicis Mihi quidem stimulos admouists neque vllum praeterta quaerendi locum reliquisti Which is as much as to say as that there could be no more doubt but Lewis his petition was iust and reasonable The Marques also being for this time fully persuaded to grant the same returned home to Castilion and Lewis presently all thinges being put in good order followed him and after he had with an vndaunted courage passed one brunt more of his Fathers fury at last taking his leaue of Cast lion all the people with many teares lamenting their owne losse and exceeding sory for that they were not whorthy of so good and gracious a Lord he departed with his Father to Mantua where in presence of other Noble men that were to be witnesses of the deede hauing renounced his title of Marques and cast from him all other ornaments and toakens of that dignity he went immediatly and the same day put on the habit of the Society which he had before prepared and brought ready with him And hauing spent a whole day in taking leaue of his father and mother the next morning he tooke his ioyfull iourney towardes Rome He was scarce lighted from his horse in Rome when going immediatly to the house of the professed Fathers he cast himselfe downe prostrate at the Generals feete professing and acknowledging to be his Subiect Then with his