Iohn hauing a bead of the B. Ioane of the Crosse put it vpon the head of one of those which was possessed without telling her whose it was but forthwith she beganne to manifest it crying with aloude voice making moste fearefull aâ—d terrible faces and much hurting her owne selfe saide take it away take it away the Father wold not do it but asked her what shee felt with that bead which so pained her To which she answered in french that they should take away the bead for although they â—â—ld teare her to pieces she wold not tell seing this he commanded her in virtue of the holy Ghost and the priestly dignitie which he had that he should tell him what she felt with that beade and whose it was The possessed partie stood a good while without answering any thing vntill forcing her by exorcisme she said that that beade was of Ioane the Spaniard and that with it she felt so much fire after they had put it vpon her head as if they had put her into a burning ouen He also asked her what virtue that bead had and although at the beginning she refâ—sed yet still constraining her she said it had many virtues and commanding her in virtue of thâ— holy Ghost â—hat for the glory of God and of his seruant the B. Ioane of the Crosse she should tell which was the greatest it had she saide It hath virtue against vs. And asking her from whence the beade had that virtue she answered that from the benediction of God aboue And that an Angell had carried it vp pointing towards heauen to the end it shold be blessed of God 17. Whilest this passed thus with this religious possessed many of the others fled away but bringing them to the presence of all and putting vpon them the beades the same succeded with them which had succeeded with the other euery one seuerally coÌ„fessing that the bead was of Ioane and that the Angell carrying it vp God had blest it from whence it had the virtue which it had And because at the beginning the Fathers did not well vnderstand some wordeâ— which the possessed parties spake for that it was in French they were explicated vnto them by the two religious men who had them in charge and by a Doctor of Physicke which had them in cure It was also seene that touching their Rosaries at the saide bead the diuell did the same confessing that they had the same virtue and putting in the mouth of one of theÌ„ a Rosarie touched at the said bead she made strange faces and cryed out saying that if they tooke it not from her she would teare them in pieces and the said Father made her answeare that she could not do it for that the beades of that Rosarie had virtue from God and she answeared it is true I cannot and so she did them no maner of dammage 18. It was also seene that with another of the said beades which Father Cauanillas one of the forenamed carried the same succeeded and that Father Peter Iouer carried with him two beades which had bene giuen him in Castile although of the one hee were doubtfull if it were a right one yea or no because the person which had giuen him them told him that for the one it was most certaine but for the other he held it not for so certaine And the saide Father asking of one of the possessed that for the honour and glory of God and of his Saint she would tell him if those beades were of Saint Ioane she answered that the one was most certaine pointing to that which for such had beene giuen him and that the other was not of the true beades It was also seene how in presence of those which were there as to all it appeared the diuell went out of the bodies of the religious which were possessed in putting on theÌ„ the aforesaid bead for the same instant that the diuell left them they remained wearie and sweating exceedingly they made the signe of the Crosse and blessed themselues and those which before fled from the bead kiâ—â—ed it making shewe of denotion and that they were free from the diuell and she which was first free of him holpe the others that they might put vpon them the bead Wherat at all the aboue saide were found prelent the saide Fathers who gaue testimonie of it and sware it to be true in verbo sacerdotis in the word of a Priest 19. Likewise there are witnesses yet liuing and aboue all exception who haue read a letter newly written of the most excellent Lord Cardinall Dietrichastain Archbishop of Nichilspurgâ— in Almania to the Lady Marquesse of Mondeiar his Sister wherin is a clause of the tenor following Your excellencie shall do me a singular fauour in sending me the other bead of saint Ioane of the Crosse for certainly I haue taken infinit deuotion to them seing the great miracles of that which I haue heere for by the meanes therof the wife of the Lord of Mechaw great chamberlin of the King of Hungarie holding as at the last gaspe the holy Candle in her hand and he shutting her eyes thinking she had giuen vp the ghost for that she had brought forth a dead sonne hauing fortie times a day a paine of the hart accompained with soundinges I sent it thither and it being applied to her necke she presently reposed and at this day is perfectly well besides other particular benefits which I haue experienced 20. The Lady Marquesse aforsaid hauing read this clause of the letter to the nunnes of the mother of God of the conuent called Constantinople in Madrid where shee is lodged she sent it to the Lord Bishopp of Canaria the Lord freer Francis of Sosa who read it copied it out and gaue his testimonie signed with his name and sealed with his seale and approued of Iohn Alonso de Medina his Secretarie which is to be found in the archiue of the monasterie of the Crosse were he testifieth he knoweth the letter the hand the seale of the said Lord Cardinall and that the letter is all of his owne haÌ„d besides it being so euident none durst write to the Lady Marquessa a faulse letter whence the truthe therof remaineth much authorised 21. Many other miracles persons worthie of credit doe relate which I silence for that I finde not iuridicall informations concerning theÌ„ and because these related are sufficient for our purpose which is to proue that great are the merits of the B. Sister Ioane of the Crosse and the virtues of her beades most certaine seeing they are then most manifested and in places remote at such time when most contradiction is made against them which is the ordinarie meane our Lord is wont to defend his cause withal THE XIV CHAPTER Of certaine reuelations and things very profitable which our Lord communicated to his seruant and how deuoute shee was to the virgin our B. Lady 1 SO much shineth the sweetnes greatnes
his cloathing was very miserable and poore he went vpon his handâ— and feet like a beast being he could not make his complaint he roared like a Bull and he carried about him all the sinnes which he had committed against God and some soules which by his euill example had beene condemned were put to paines vpon his backe he carried also vpoÌ„ him a great troupe of diuells on horsbacke which cast in his teeth his sinnes and gaue him many blowes and buffets and taking the gagge out of his mouth they put in it a hallow truÌ„ck by the which issued a voice so terrible that at the only hearing of it the B. Ioane was exceeding sorowfull although much more for that she knewe not if his paines were of Purgatorie or of hell which desirous to knowe she asked it of her Angell keeper who answeared her God in time will reueale it to thee And so perseuering in her prayer she praied our Lord he would take pitty of the paines of that soule and remember some good worckes which it had done in this life But not knowing any other which in particular she might alleadge in his fauour she saide Lord I knowe that this man was so deuout to a Saint that being in this life he caused his image to bee painted and had much deuotion to it for the which I beseech thy maiestie that taking pitty vpon his soule thou wilt deliuer it from the paines which it suffereth 12. So long she perseuered in praier to God for this soule that some daies being passed ouer she sawe enter in at the doore of her cell a most fierce bull which bare betweene his hornes the image of the Saint which that man had caused to be painted and he came along by it as it were helping him selfe by the image looking toward the seruant of our Lord said I am such an one for whom thou so much hast praied for thy merites God hath done me great mercy and gaue me this image for my comforte and defense which is the same that I caused to be painted of the Saint to which I was deuout the which doth much help me in this labour our Lord lighten thy paines christian soule said the seruant of God for thou hast coÌ„forted me sufficiently by reason I desired so much to know if thou wert in the way of saluation for the other time when I sawe thee thou camest in such tormeâ—â—s as I could not discerne it Be not amazed answeared the soule for my paines haue beene very great and if I had none other but those of this oxe on which I goe they were most grieuous for on him I haue the paine of thirst hunger fire and cold And this saide he asked her pardon of many aggreuances which in this life he had done her and saide that the deuotion which some time he had had to her holpe him much and with this he vanished Whom she neuer left to pray to God for visiting him and comforting him in purgatorie vntill our Lord by her prayers tooke him from those paines 13. The paines of purgatorie are such as they surpasse exceed all the tormeÌ„ts which can be suffered in this life S. Tho. 3. p. q. 46. a. 6. lib. 3. sent d. 15. q. 1. a. 3. our Lord reuealeth it to his seruants that they may know thâ— great rigour of his iustice when one idle word and whatsoeuer negligence in his seruice how little soeuer he chastiseth so rigorously And that people may learne to walke with a thousand eyes in the seruice of God not so much to fly these paines as to see how much his maiestie is offended with the faultes which so rigorously he chastiseth For according to S. Vincent Ferrer a soule was a whole yeare in purgatorie suffering these most rigorous paines for one only veniall sinne In sermone de aqua benedicta littera G. and certainly this example alone might suffice with people that euerie one procure to conforme his life as he may liue with the faith which he professeth The B. Ioane returned one time froÌ„ a rapte very sadd and shedding so many teares that the nonnes taking compassioÌ„ of her praied her she would tell them the cause of her sadnesse The holy virgin to the end they might commend to God that soule giuing a pitifull scrich saide Alas if people knewe what the soules suffer in the other life they would not offeÌ„d God nor would they commit so many sinnes as they doe for those paines are fare greater then all that in this world can be suffered and then she recounted what she had seene neuer forsooke that soule nor ceassed to pray to God for it vntill he tooke it out of the paines of Purgatorie 14. One day in Lent this seruant of our Lord feeling great griefes and infirmities other of the sicke religious women went to comfort themselues with her such I meane as were a recouering and speaking with them she was rapte and returned from this rapte so merry that the nonnes which sawe her asked her the cause of her extraordinarie mirth and she to pleasure the sicke saide I sawe the Queene of heauen who with much glorie and maiestie accompanied with many Angells and with the glorious Saint Iohn Euangelist and Lazarus his holy Sisters Martha and Marie came downe to Purgatorie and passing by the place where I stood the most Clement Lady looking vpon me saide sweet hart come thou with vs and it pleased our Lord through his great mercie that at the same time our blessed Lady tooke a great number of soules out of Purgatorie with the which she returned to heauen and I remained so comforted heerwith that all my doloures are turned into particular ioy and rest when I see any soule goe out of Purgatorie and for this my ioy is so great as neither doe I know howe to speake it nor is it in my power to dissemble it THE XVIII CHAPTER Of the laboures and infirmities with which God proued his seruant with all and of her great patience 1 BY a reuelation made to this seruaÌ„t of our Lord it was knowen that God had chosen her to make her very like to his only begotten Sonne in laboures persecutions and disgraces And she desiring to haue in her soule all such Iewells which so much please God asked of his maiestie in all her praiers with much humilitie teares that he would giue her paines laboures wearinesse and doloures to suffer for his loue Our Lorde heard her praier and gaue her them in so great plentie as she could desire which manifested well the powerfull hand of him who gaue them by the multitude which came vpon her being tormented with very excessiue doloures which she had in her head so great as there was no physitiaÌ„ found that could vnderstand what they were and those daies that she had them it was with such rigor that she could nether eate nor sleepe nor get downe a draft
the graces from heauen which the Angell was to bring them when the seruant of God shold returne from that rapte From which when she returned there was felte ouer all the conuent so great fragrancie and sweetnes of sauour that drawen therby they came to aske the seruant of God the cause of such noueltie Presently said shee sisters you shall knowe it and the fauour which God hath done vs. Come to me all of you and especiallie shee that hath the key of the little coffre 6. It was a maruailous thing to see it being but a little while since they had opened it and seene it emptie opening it now againe they found it with the same Rosaries and Beades which they had put into it without wanting any one because the Angell which had carried them to heauen had now brought them back againe blessed and put them in the same chest and when the nonne opened it who had the key the smell which issued theÌ„ce encreased so much as the nonnes admired But the B. Ioane told them that that sweetnes and good sauour came from their Rosaries the which had cleaued to them as hauing beene in the most sacred hands of our Lord Iesus Christ who not only had giueÌ„ them his benediction but granted them many graces and virtues which she related to them with all giuing to euery religioâ—s her beades of these some the called Agnus Deies because our Lord had granted them the graces which the Popes do grant to the Agnus Deies Others against deuilles for the virtue which they had to cast them out of the bodies of the possessed Others against temptations and infirmities and others against other perills according to the virtues which God had giuen them And this great maruaill happened in the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred twentie three 7. With â—his treasure of heauen which our Lord Iesus Christ granted to his seruant the religious remained mâ—ch comforted and much obliged to their blessed mother for the mercy which by her intercessâ—oÌ„ they had receiued And with much deuotion they beganne to enâ—oye the graces of those holy beades and Rosaries yet euery one desiring to enioye more copiously of that good and to participate of the virtues which the others had by theire beades they besought the blessed Abbesse she would obtaine of our Lord that the graces and virtues which his diuine maiestie had diuided amoÌ„g all â—he Rosaries he would generally grant them all to euery one of their beades that they might better participate of his mercies The seruant of our Lord did ask it of him and his diuine maiestie accorded it with coÌ„dition that for the graces of those beads they should not despise those which the Popes should grant vpon the earth 8. This is the historie of these misteriouâ— beades of which the like so rarely hath beene seene And it is much to be noted that our Lord did this most notable fauour to his Church in a time when it was very necessarie for it was at the same time when Luther impudently and sacrilegiously opened his excommunicated mouth against the indulgences and Reades of pardon which the Popes did grant and against Agnus Deies and all kind of holy thinges The virtues of these beades are many and by experience it is knowne that they haue virtue against the diuels for they driue them out of humane bodies confessing that they goe out of them through the virtue of these beades and fly from those that carrie them about them They haue virtue also against fire against thunder lightening tempestes and troubles of the raging seaes and against many infirmities both of body and soule They heale agues the pestilence and other infirmities They are also of force against scruples temptations and frightes of the diuells These and other virtues our Sauiour granted them as is gathered by the miracles which are approued for of those which are not approued which are many I do not speake because all that I shall speake in this historie I pretend to the honour and glory of God that it be so authenticke and certaine as with reason none may doubt therof 9. That which hath beene hitherto saide hath beene gathered from the informations aforementioned and especiallie of that which vnder oath certaine of the ancient religious did affirme who knewe and treated with the companions of the same seruant of God and being deposed do sweare that they haue heard it told many tâ—mes and it is a publicke tradition froÌ„ those times vnto these that these beades were in heauen and our Lord Iesus Christ blessed them granting them many virtues and graces without any person of accoumpt hauing spoken against them but rather many Lordes of this kingdome and great prelates therof haue procured of them much esteemed them King Philip the second of glorious memorie had one of theÌ„ our Catholick King Philipp the third and Margarite haue two of them which they hould in very great estimatioÌ„ And Pope Clement the eight of glorious memorie who before he was Pope came to Spaine with a brother of his Auditor of the Rota about the businesses of the earldome of Punnonrostro went from Torreion of Velasco to the coÌ„uent of the Crosse where the body of B. Ioane is in companie of Don Iohn Arrias Portocarrero and the Lady Ioane of Castro his wife and being informed of the life miracles of this virgin of the truth of these beades after he had saide masse in the Chappell where her body lieth demanded of sister Ioane Euangelist then Abbesse some of the beades and with much deuotion carried with him that which they gaue him And the blessed freers freer Francis of Torres and freer Iulian of Saint Augustine men of singular virtue and sanctitie by whom in their life after their death God did many miracles do affirme that these beades had bene carried vp to heauen and that Christ our redeemer had blessed them and granted them many virtues and pardons 10. And to the end that the faithfull might enioye them they perswaded the people that they shold touch their Rosaries and Beades at those which they brought with them And if there were no other testimonie of the truth of these beades but only the sanctitie of this seruant of God and that only she had affirmed it it were most sufficient to perswade vs that shee would not deceiue the Church publishing false virtues and graces And lesse can it be thought that she was deluded by the diuell who was so much enlightened of God and of her Angell keeper But that which fully proueth and confirmeth the virtu truth of these beades are the many miracles which God hath wrought of his goodnes and in confirmation of them and of those that haue touched them which haue the same virtue as shall be seene in the ensuing chapters THE XI CHAPTER Of the many miracles where with our Lord hath confirmed the virtue of the Beades aforsaid and of those also that
as soone as she sawe him she stretched out her armes for to embrace him but at the same instant appeared his most holy mother taking him in her armes lifted her self vpon highe with him accompanied with infinite Angells who with most sweet harmonie made him musick But as soone as blessed Ioane sawe that the mother the Sonne departed and left her so alone iudgeing her selfe vnworthie of so soueraigne companie she remained very sadd and without comfort but she that is mother of comfort comforting her sayde Do not afflict thy selfe daughter but come toward the figtrees in the garden for there thou shalt find vs. 6. Most contented with this fauour accomplishing her office of obedience shee went to the garden looking on euery side to see that which her soule desired and approaching to the bake-howse neer vnto the figtrees she sawe our Lord Iesus Christ and his blessed mother and many Angells which awayted her And falling prostrate vpon the earth shee adored God and the B. virgin and stood long time enioying of that soueraigne vision so absorpt as although they called her with a bell she heard not vntill the mother of God said to her Goe daughter performe thy obedience for they haue called thee three seuerall times and thou hast neuer heard them Then leauing God and his mother for obedience sake shee went to see who it was that sought her and hauing done the businesse she returned by by to the bake-howse aforesaid where she had left her hart and her rest But some of the nonnes meeting her noted much the speed and hast with which she went that her face was very bright and that a sweet sauour proceeded from it for the which some of them followed her desirous to know what the matter was suspecting some great thing And seeing her enter into the bake howse they heard her say O soueraigne mother of God great is thy mercy towards me vnworthie sinner that I hauing gone and left thee and my most sweet espouse in this humble and poore place I find that you ar stil here attending for me The nonnes also heard the B. virgin answeare saying My daughter thou hast therfore found me because for obedience sake thou hast left me which much pleaseth my Sonne and me 7. The blessed Ioane was so fauoured of our B. Ladie the virgin as the fauours and comforts which she receiued from her powerfull hand cannot as they worthilie deserue be esteemed For not only being a child but when she was of greater age and in all times she had great reuelations and visites of our Lord and of his most holy mother both in râ—ptes and out of them which dured her more or lesse time as pleased God At the beginning three or foure howres after they were greater for they came to fourteen and to twenty and forty houres euery one sometimes she was eleuated three dayes without returning to herself Once it happened her to returne from a very great rapt and scarcely to haue come to her selfe when only hearing named the most sweete name of Iesus or of seing some image of his most sacred passion shee was againe eleuated as before without any manner of sense or feeling She was most beautifull and shining in these rapts and when she returned from them the nonnes besought her that shee would tell where shee was and what shee had seen in those raptâ—s and reuelations which although she refused to doe excusing her selfe for humilitie sake yet when it was the will of God that shee shold manifest it shee sayde that her good Angell carried her in spirite and set her in a throne very bright and glorious where she â—awe our Lord and his most holy mother and the Angells the Apostles and Euangelistes the Patriarches and Prophets our holy Father saint Francis and infinite other saints men and women of the newe and old testament giuing such euident signes of them as if she had beene borne and brought vp with them She said that they went adorned with their particular insignes The saints of the old testament with the figures therof which they represented conforme to their prophecies Abraham with the sacrifice of the lamb Moyses with his serpent and the bush Aaron with his rodd others with the Arck of the testament And that the saints of the newe testament carried also their ensignes The Apostles and Martyrs those of their martyrdome our holy Father S. Francis the fiue wounds more bright then starres others carried the chalice with the most holy Sacrament others the font of baptisme and others the keyes of the Church Euery one of them more faire and bright and more shining then the sunne in so much that it is a meruellous thinge and very pleasing to see and contemplate these things full of so much beautie and comlinesse as no tongue is able to explicate the same answerable to that which our Lord of his mercy doth shew them vnto me said the Saint and will that I see them from that holy place where as it seemeth to me I stand tyed with a certaine beame of that place which denoteth that my soule is not yet wholly vntied and free from the prison of this body 8. The blessed Ioane was foure and twentie yeares ould at which age the noÌ„nes saw her fall into a rapt such as neither before nor after she neuer was seene to haue the like For other times when shee was rapt she remained with much beautie and lustre of her face but this time it was not so for all that wanted in her and she remained as one dead her eyes broken sunck her lippes blue her teeth gnashing her nose drawen vp and all the members of her body disioynted and stiffe and her face so pale and wanne as if she were altogether dead The nonnes admired at the noueltie of the chance and desiring to know the cause therof prayed the holy virgin that shee wold reueale the same vnto them But shee as one prudent and silent wold neuer tell it vntill some dayes being passed her good Angell commanded her to tell it and then shee sayde the cause mothers that you sawe in me such noueltie in that rapt was for that being in it I sawe my good Angell with sad countenance And I asking him the cause he sayde that our Lord had shewed him the great persecutious wearinesses and infirmities which were to come vpon me and that he hauing prayed for me The Angells to shew sad countenance and to weep is a speach which the holy scripture vseth as in the 33. chapter of Isaias more by similitude then by proprietâ—e for an Angell although he appeare in corporall forme and visible to men doth neither weep nor eat nor speake nor exercise any vitall operation according to S. Thom. 1. p. q. 51. a. 3. for to Worck properly these things which are vitall actions he should be the soule of the same body in which he appeareth and as the forme therof animate it
cānot put away the griefe it causeth me to think if therfore I shall be abhorred of the venerable prelates of the order of our Father S. Francis if this shal be cause that I may lose the masses and suffrages which after my death I did hope for of them And whē I thinck vpon my sinnes chiefly after they haue iudged me to be euill I do so beyond reason afflict my selfe as I knowe not how to expresse it And saying this she shed many teares for the which her Angell desiring to cōfort her said 9. Be quiet blessed soule let not the memorie of thy sinnes so much torment thee nor let thy tribulations wearie thee when for them thou shalt bee blessed and they purifie thee as the fornace doth the gold Neither do thou thinck that because thou art reprehēded by thy prelates that they do abhorre thee but that by this way thy crowne shall be made and thy soule shall be purified for as the holy scripture saith thou hast it alwayes in the palme of thy hands I wold not sir that my soule should be in such wicked hands as mine are replyed shee but only in the handes of God for so I shold haue it most secure for I being so euill a sinner do feare much to lose it sir it seemeth to me that according to the great mercies which God vseth towards such a sinner our Lord would be pleased with me if I did not so much feele how greatly they doe afflict persecute me and wher I should perswade my selfe that with great reason they doe it yet I cannot at all times for the little virtue which I haue I wold rather not to haue bene borne thē to haue offended my God so many times Ah holy Angell how great are my sinnes What shall be come of me if God according to his mercy do not deale with me like himself demand it thou of him my holy keeper let not this soule bee lost which is cōmitted to thy charge giue good accoumpt of this thy little sheepe suffer not the wolfe holy S. Laruell to cary her away Blessed comforter of soules comfort mine for I am altogether without comfort and persecuted although the greatest of my persecutions is to thincke that God permitteth them because I am so great a sinner and for this cause it is that the diuell doth so much torment me 10. Be not vngratefull to our Lord saide the Angell for the persecutiōs which ar inflicted on thee are so many fauours which God doth giue thee and thou knowest well that it is long time since I told thee that satan had asked licence to persecute thee and to tempt thee as hee did holy Iob. But trust in Iesus Christ our redeemer and in the virtue of his Crosse for although the body suffer yet the soule shall be saued Cast therfore away this feare and vexation and consider that if thy persecutions be great so also are the helpes and succours which our Lord sendeth thee to support them as are the many visitations which his diuine maiestie and his holy mother do so often afforde thee the spirituall goods which thou doest enioy in this life when being on earth thou participatest so oftentimes of the delightes of that celestiall Hierusalem the great familiaritie wherwith thou conuersest with me and the particular care wherwith I defend and keep thee I giue infinite thancks to my God sayde shee and to thee my good Angell who so hast comforted me with thy holy discourses yet I desire that thou tell me how I being so great a sinner We read of some saintes who had much familiaritie with their Angell keeper of S. Lyd win a virgin Surias tom 7. April 14. of S. Francisca Romana Iulius Vrsinus in her life lib. 1. cap. 1◠and saint Elizabeth sister of King Eckerbert Abbasse of the monasterie of Esconaagia Marcus Marulus lib. 2. cap. 4. thou art seene of me so oftentimes I enioy so oft the most sweet presence of my redeemer Iesus Christ and of his most holy mother It is his grace answered the Angell and hee cōmunicateth it to whom hee will whereof thou art to render him a strict accoūpt His diuine maiestie knoweth well answered she that I neuer demanded of him neither visions not apparitions for being so miserable and a sinner I do not deserue it and so I knowe that only because he is who he is hee doth me these fauours Giue him many thancks for them said the Angell and confesse that other persons without enioying of these fauours ar better then thou And this hold alwayes in thy memorie that for thy greater good and to keepe thee from vaine glory God hath permitted thee to be persecuted and troaden vnder foot of euery one and by the tongues of many to be detracted and torne in peeces 11. At the fame of these things and many others which befell her with her Angell there repaired vnto her so many people that stood in neede of cōsolation that many times there were seene all at once at the doore of the conuent a hundred persons al which she receiued heard spake vnto most curreously without being euer tired or distastfull to any of them Wherin she had in truth the condition of her good Angell to whom after their departures shee represēted the necessities of them all requesting him to comfort them and so well she retained the answear of her Angell as although they were of things very differēt yet she forgot none To a certain spirituall person who prayed her to know of her Angell what he shold do to please our Lord she answered Peace prayer and silence are three things which much please God And to another who desired to knowe the same she saide Weepe with those that weep reioyce with those that reioyce and hold thy peace with those that speake Another person in necessitie of health and comfort knowing that eache one found it by her meanes sent to pray her that she wold obtaine of her Angell some holesom councell to beare with patience the dolours of her infirmitie which were great And the holy Virgin hauing cōsulted with him about it the Angell gaue her this answear Tell this afflicted persō that she put for the tester of her bed Christ crucified for corteines the ensigne of his passion so offer to God all his dolours Many were the answeres which the Angell gaue to the seruant of God in diuers busines which euery moment she consulted with him all full of misteries like celestiall oracles most important for the health of the soule of which I leaue some not to make this volume to large and because they are like to these allready related 12. This seruant of our Lord did not only treat with her good Angell and with other Angells with the familiaritie which we haue seene but shee had the same in very great degree with many saintes in especiall with the most glorious S. Annie of Padua
be qualified with the will of him that offereth it and because that how much lesse it is which goeth to the market of the world it hath so much more neede of valorous protection I was bold to dedicate to your Maiestie this book little in as much as it is a worke of my handes but great in the subiect thereof It is the life of the blessed Virgin sister Ioane of the Crosse by whome our Lord hath wrought and worketh daily so manie maruailes amongest the which one hath beene and not the least to haue excited the most pious minde of your Maiestie to command that this booke reuewed by persons of all sufficiencie come to light againe wherwith it commeth out much honoured and secure from all emulation Our Lord keepe your Maiestie for the helpe and protection of his church as this vnworthly chaplaine of your Maiestie desireth Fr. Antonie Daça Reasons of the truth and authoritie of this historie Truth is the soule of a historie and the historie that wanteth it is as a bodie without a soule for it deserueth not the name of a historie chiefly if it be of Saintes where to lie is sacriledge being they are not honoured but with sinceritie truth The truth which hath beene kept in writing the life of this holy Virgin is the greatest which in the law of historie can be found collected out of these papers following First of all what concerneth the apparitions and miracles of our B. Ladie which are written in the first Chapter of this booke hath beene gathered of three authenticall informatioÌ„s made with ninety and three witnesses before Râ—y Dias of Madrid scriuener de Camâ—ra and publicke notarie and before Peter Sanches and Iohn Gonsales publicke notaries and the Kings scriueners of the towne of Cubas They are authorised and bound together as a booke in the archiue of the Conuent of the Crosse Likewise the life and miracles of the glorious Ioane hath beene gathered out of a booke verie ancient in written hand of a hundred sixtie and foure leaues in quarto with twentie eight chapters bound in boarde with two broken claspes sowed with white threed written by a religious disciple of the B. Ioane called sister Marie Euangelist who neither knew how to read or write vntill miraculously our Lord granted it her to this effect as is proued by an information made for the auouching of this pointe And the booke with the markes aboue saide is originally kept in the Archiue of the crosse Item of an information made with twelue witnesses by commission of the councell of the most excellent Lord Don Bernardo de Roxas Cardinal and Archbishop of Toledo made before Louis de Siles Publicke notarie and the Kings scriuener in the cittie of Toledo The originall is in the office of the secretarie Francis Salgado in Toledo Item of another information made in diuers places with seuenteene witnesses by commission of the councell of the foresaid most excellent Lord of Toledo the authenticall copie whereof is in the Archiue of the Crosse Item of another information with fourteene witnesses made in diuers places by commission of our most reuerend Father Fr. Archangell de Messina the authenticall copie wherof is in the Archiue of the Conuent of the crosse Item of another information with eleuen witnesses made in diuers places by commission of our most reuerend Father Iohn de Gazinman Minister Prouinciall of the holy Prouince of Castile which is originally kept in the Conuent of the Crosse Item of another informatioÌ„ which was made by the commission of the councell of the most excellent Lord Don Bernardo de Roxas Cardinall and Archbishop of Toledo in Villanuena and Gamarra townes of the said archbishopricke made for to qualifie some miracles of the holie Brother Iulian of S. Augustine The originall is in Toledo in the office of the seer Salgado Item of fiue informations made in Valladolid by Doctor Don Fernando de Valdes Prouost generall of the diocese of Valladolid with interuention of the Fiscall before Iohn de Vega notarie in the audience episcopall of Valladolid in whose office the originalls lie and their authenticall copies in the Conuent of the Crosse Item of another information made in Palencia by liceÌ„tiaâ—e Manuell Garcia de Miranda Prouost of the Diocesse of Palencia before Francis Harris de Rueda Apostolicall notarie the originalâ— is in the Conuent of the Crosse Item of two informations made in Valladolid by Doctor Orâ—ega de Salazar Lieftenant of the corrector the one before Peter de Auila publicke scriuener of the number of the said cittie and the other before Iulian Garçia scriuener they are originally in the Conuent of the Crosse Item another made by the iustice of the towne of Cubas before Iohn Fernandez Munnos the Kings scriuener and of the number the originall is in the Conuent of the Crosse Item of a testimonie sealed and signed of seauen of the Kinges scriueners and publicke of the nuÌ„ber of Valladolid the originall is in the Conuent of the Crosse Item of another sealed and signed of seauen scriueners of Madrid and of one Apostolicall notarie the originall is in the Conuent of the Crosse Item of a testimonie of Iohn Fernandez de Plaza the Kings scriuener and notarie of the holie office neighbour of Cubas the originall is in the office of the saide scriuener Item of another testimonie of Isidro Garçia publicke scriuener of the towne of Cubas whose originall is in the Archiue of the Conuent of the Crosse of others which are in the same CoÌ„ueÌ„t Approbation The Bishop Freer Francis de Sosa of the councell of his Maiestie and generall inquisition to the Christian reader For as much as I haue committed the reuiew of this booke of the life and miracles of the blessed siâ—â—er Ioane of the Crosse which hath beene spoken of in so manie manners and for that it is so naturall to enerie one to defend that which once he hath saide it seemeth to me I haue obligation to satisfie all and I speake to all for although in other cases we must follow the opinion of Cassiodorus in Praefat. lib. 11. who saith that the satisfaction of some defectes may be excused because the discreet without giuing it them doe pardon others errors knowing their owne and to the rest no satisfaction is due yet in matter of doctrine the opinion of the Apostle S. Paule is Rom. 1. that we are debters to the wife and to the vnwise following which aduise I will satisfie both the one and the other in as much as my little sufficiency wil attaine to Beinge the life of this seruant of God was written in a vulgar tongue and conteineth thinges so strange although the booke hauing bene printed so ofâ—in so little time and the great profit it hath done doe well proue the pietie of Spaine which hath also beene the cause that some thinges therin hâ—ue beene noted by persons learned and discreet it seeming to them inconâ—enient that they should goe in
a vulgar tongue through the handes of all the censure of such like persons hath beene seene approued and esteemed as reason is But because a speech was made of correcting this booke some scrupulous persons although well intentioned began to censure it â—hough more touched with that bitter zeale wherof S. Iames speaketh Iacob 3. cap. 3. then with true science and with this they noted a great number of errors and their owne consisted in their vnderstandinge for that they hit not vpon the subiect of these errors iudging it to be the booke it was not And because the said satisfaction doth presuppose some thinges which are as certaine and generall principles it seemed to me coÌ„uenient to propose them in the beginning as groundes of my intention which is to satisfie all for more claritie and to auoide often repeating of them The first thing to be considered is that many graue thinges are written in Latin Greek and Hebreue which are not permitted to goe in vulgar tongues not because they conteine euill doctrine but because all can not goe without danger into the handes of all and this is with as little disparagement to the authors as is seene euen in the sacred scripture whose author is the holie Ghost and yet is not permitted to goe in the vulgar tongue without a Comment which thing the heretikes doe much condemne Lutherus praefat assertionis articulor à Leone Pontifice damnator Brentius in prolegomenis contra Petruâ—â— Ã Soto saying that we depriue the Mother tongue of great misteries and that superiors will reserue to themselues the diuine misteries granted to all whom they depriue of reading the sacred bookes wherein thinges are learned necessarie to attaine eternall life without fiction of arbitrarie expositions And with these inueÌ„tions they deceiue the ignorant people being disparates altogether without apparence of truth For setting aside the doctrine of the Saints as S. Ambrose Saint Augustine S. Hierome S. Gregorie S. Basile S. Iraeueus S. Chrysostome Origene and many others D. Ambros in epist 24. ad Constantium Aug. lib. de fide operibus cap. 15. 1â— lib. 2. de doctrinae Christiana c. 6. lib. 12. confessionum cap. 14. ep 3. epist. 119. c. 21. Hieronymus in epist. ad Pau. linum Gregor Homil. 6. ia Ezechielem de Basilio Gregorio NaziaÌ„zeno Ruffin 9. lib. 11. historiar cap. 9. Irenaeus lib. 2. cap. 47. Chrysostomus Homil. 40. ad Ioan. Homil. 44 in Math. Origen lib. 7. contra Celsum Homil 12. in Exodum Lucae Actorum 8. 2. Petri. cap. vltimo to whom they giue no credit of the sacred scripture it selfe which they confesse for infallible it is manifest that it is verie difficult to interprete as the Regall Prophet saith in many places and specially In the 118. Psalme and S. Luc and the Apostle S. Peter do affirme that in the epistles of Saint Paule are manie things difficult which the vnlearned and vnstable do falsely interprete And finally of the â—iuers expositions which presumptuous men haue giuen vpon the sacred scripture haue sprong almost all heresies To proue this we neede spend little time for to themselues it is manifest that the sects are innumerable which daily they inuent and their bookes are full of contradictions in this kind as appeareth when Osiander confuteth Philip Melancthon Osiander in confutatione aduersus Philippum who affirmeth that there were propounded by the confessionistes twenty contrarie propositions in the matter only of iustification The same doth Luther Luther contra Zing Oecolam against Zuinglius Oecolampadius and vpon the Psalmes and in the booke of councells he confesseth concerning the obscurity of the sacred scripture that which he denyeth in the saide booke against the articles of Pope Leo. Finally there can be no greater blindnesse then to denie the Pope and Generall Councells that which they themselues grant to an artificer which is the exposition of sacred letters For the which with most holie prudence it is prohibited that the canonicall bookes goe not abroade in vulgar tongues that not absolutely as the heretiques doe feine but when they haue no commentarie for with it there is no prohibition at all Rather if we consider that which goeth written in such a multitude of spirituall bookes with great facility may whosoeuer is wel read in theÌ„ they haue notice not only of that which is in the sacred scripture necessarie to saluation but of the letter itselfe and of manie difficulties and curiosities of the same so that as much as they alledge are false deceiptes for neither is the Mother tongue depriued of great misteries nor those that are learned of holie doctrine but of the danger of erring which the Apostle Saint Peter teacheth this is greater in some matters then in others and in few so great as when matters of reuelations are treated of through the great experience which hath beene had of cases in which Satan transforminge him selfe into an Angell of light hath deceiued not only persons vaine vitious but manie verie spirituall as the glorious Saint Vincent Ferer hath aduertised vs in his commentarie of the spirituall life Cap. 12. 13. and Saint Antonine of Florentia in diuers places in so much as he speaketh these wordes following D. Anton. 3. part sum Theo. tit 8. cap. 2. 3. Non omnia etiam Sanctorum hominum visa aut si maius reuelationes indubitatae fidei veritatis esse quia nonnunquam viri pij hallucinantur And to auoide this danger graue bookes are prohibited and of authors well knowen and esteemed and others haue beene commanded to be corrected as those of fr. Louis of Granada which without aggreuance of as manie as in our times haue written in vulgar tongues haue as great place in pietie and doctrine and proprietie of language as anie whatsoeuer and yet were prohibited which had beene printed vntill the yeare 1561. For that they conteined certaine thinges about the grace of God and the signes thereof being shewen in some persons more sensiblie and being true and taken out of the doctrine of the Saintes and relating sometimes their owne wordes it seemed inconuenient it should go in a vulgar tongue and the author him selfe amended it and his bookes haue gone and go in all languages with much edification and mightie profit of the Christian people Secondly is to be considered that some histories and examples which against this may be alleaged out of bookes in which is much perill and are not prohibited do not proue anie thing against what hath beene saide First because notice can not be had of all and then because the foundation of such prohibitions is only to auoid danger of erring this goeth accordinge to the necessitie of the times after the which prudence teacheth that things may be permitted which in another occasion haue beene prohibited for why the cause ceassing which was the danger the effect also may ceasse Ca. 6. de consecra dist 3. 6. Synod Cleere is the example