of this his desire he alleadged to be for that novv he had prepared himselâ—e and knew not for the tyme to come what in the rest of his life if it were prolonged might befall him for sayd he I haue knowne diuers who if at some tyme when they were wel disposed had departed this life had beene in very happy state who recouering their health fell after very far from that feruour and dyed so desperatly as in humane iudgement they may be rather thought the children of perdition then life Now therfore quoth he seeing I am ready why should I liue longer and expose my selfe to such an hazard Now nothing troubles my conscience for God his goodnesse be still thanked therfore hath so preserued me hitherto as that I doe not remember in the whole course of my liue euer to haue committed any scaÌ„dalous action which perhaps if I should life longer may befall me for weakenes of body drawes oftentymes with it weakenes of mind by which good men haue beene seene to haue relented from their former vigour and vertue This with more to this effect did he speake to expresse the cause why he desired the dissolution of his earthly tabernacle which was no other but that least through the frailty of body mind he should â—eerafter offend God whome hitherto in sanctitate iustitia omnibus diebus Luc. 1. vitae suae in holines and vertue all the dayes of his lire he had so carefully so continually serued and whome now he had rather dye then displease This his feruent desire grounded on the foresaid motiue was so imprinted in his hart and fixed therein so deeply as His disease is found to be mortall euen then when his violent ague bereaued him of his senses he was often heard to say Signore vorrei andare a casa mia quando sarà quel giorno che io venga al vostrâ— Regno c. O Lord I would gladly go to my howse when will that day be when I may come to thy Kingdome And the eleauenth day after his sicknes he sayd vnto all his Phisitians When shal I heare from you that happy newes that I must depart to another life when shall I be deliuered from this body of death They answered as before not so long as they could keep him aliue Well quoth he God sees my desire and how willing I am to come vnto him And indeed non est fraudatus desiderio suo God heard his prayer and that very night he was seene to yex or sob in such manner as a learned Phisitian watching with him held it for mortall and forthwith aduertised the Generall for so had the Cardinall before willed them when they shold perceaue him in euident danger who came early the next morning and seeing how matters went thought it best plainly to acquaint him with the truth and sayd vnto him My Lord I thinke that the end of this sicknes will be the end your life and by all likelyhoode you cannot escape long for the Phisitians now giue a very ill censure of your disease vpon some signes they haue seene and more and more discerne in you so as it seemes Almighty God will call you vnto him and you shall do well to make your selfe ready and dispose of what you haue the time is short and delayes are dangerous At this vnexpected but much desired message the good Cardinall replenished His great ioy at the newes of his death with inward ioy presently with cheerfull countenance and vndaunted courage brake forth into these wordes Buona nuoua buona nuoua ô che buona nuoua è questa that is good news good news oâ— what good newes are these Lo the security of an innocent mynde of a sincere seruant and Apostolicall man who ioyed in death wherat others doe tremble and made that his gaine which worldly meÌ„ esteeme their greatest losse but these graces are not bestowed but vpon such only as haue wholy bestowed themselues vpon God for such alone as S. Gregory saith conteÌ„platione quadam retributionis Gregor 24. in Iob. cap. 7. prope finem interâ—ae etiam priusquaÌ„ carne expoliantur hilarescunt dum vetustatis debitum soluunt noui iam muneris laetitia perfruuntur by the coÌ„templation of that which their soule receaues within doe before they leaue their bodyes become cheerfull eueÌ„ then whiles they are yielding to the dissolution of their old nature doe enioy the comfort of their new reward So he of the vertuous in generall which in this worthy man we see so particularly accomplished who still prayed with the Apostle and sayd Cupio dissolui esse cum Philip. 5. Christo I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ After this ioyfull exclamation turrning his speach vnto F. Generall as answering vnto that which he had suggested he sayd For disposing of my thinges I haue nothing left to dispose it grieueth me that I haue nothing to bestow vpon the Society for I feare much that in making you mine heyres as if I The pouerty of the Cardinall had something to leaue you I shall but charge you with new debts which for my sake you will be forced to discharge The Generall replyed that therein he should not trouble himselfe he had left the Society so much and so much honoured it with his name and immortall labours as it esteemed that treasure more then all the riches of the world Well theÌ„ said the Cardinall I came hither to bestow one whole yeare in preparing my selfe to dye but if it please not God that I bestow any more time heerin neyther truly shal it please me and therfore your message of death is most gratefull c. After this he caused one to reade vnto him the death of S. Charles Borromaeus as S. Charles Borromaeus desirous in his owne to imitate it which being ended he desired to receaue the SacrameÌ„ts of holy Church that as soone as might be least after he should be lesse able for indisposition both of body and minde to receaue them and to preuent also any suddayne accident that might in this weaknes take him away ere he had armed himselfe with this so necessary and soueraigne defence He receaueth the â— Sacrament with great denotion Forth with all thinges were made ready for receauing of the B. Sacrament of the Altar for his Viaticum which was ministred vnto him by the handes of the Generall and receaued with exceeding deuotion of the Cardinall for notwithstanding his extreme weaknes of body he would needs agayne as he had done before rise out of his bed and kneele on the ground to receaue it and so earnest he was to receaue it in this reuerent maÌ„ner as it was not possible without his great griefe and distast to hinder him The Generall perceauing his will so feruently bent on that deuotion wold not withstand him therein least the inward griefe might more afflict his mind then that
A TRVE RELATION OF THE LAST SICKNES AND DEATH OF CARDINALL BELLARMINE Who dyed in Rome the seauenteenth day of SepteÌ„ber 1621. And of such things as haue happened in or since his Buriall By C. E. of the Society of Iesus Dilectus Deo hominibus Moyses Bellarminus cuius memoria in benedictione est similem illum fecit in gloria Sanctorum Ecclesiast 45. Moyses Bellarmine was beloued of God and men whose remembrance is blessed God made him in glory like vnto the Saintes Permissu Superiorum M. DC XXII TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE L. M. M. RIGHT HONOVRABLE To dye is the course of Nature to dye well of Christian Art that is common to men with beasts this proper vnto Gods seruants alone Omnes 2. Reg. 14. morimur said the woman of Thecua vnto Dauid quasi aqua in terram dilabimur we all do dye and like water fall vpon the earth few dye well and therefore make a further fall The Philosopher will haue Science to stand in speculation Art in worke the one in knowledge the other in practice and the more exquisite the Art is and hath the more noble obiect by so much the greater labour and industry is required the Art we speake of hath a most eminent end and of such difficulty as it requireth for labour our vttermost endeauour for tyme our whole life Art eyther Arist â— Physi tex 79. perfits nature or doth imitate it This for imitation hath nothing because death is nothing but the corruption of Nature the defect and priuation of life the diuorce and dissolution of our essentiall parts and the death of the wicked is tearmed by S. Bern. serm 26. in Cantica Bernard the mother of sorrow the enemy of glory the gate of hell the entrance to perdition none will imitate which most abhor Art therfore must perfit this deformity more truly in the maske wherewith it comes couered theÌ„ in the thing it selfe which is without horrour vnles it be of such as our selues cast vpon it This art of perfiting nature all should learne but most neglect many precepts are deliuered but all included in one to wit a constant good life which makes this rough passadge plaine this dissolution easy this deformity amiable this diuorce most delightfull non habemus saith Saint Ambrose quod in Ambros de bono mortis cap. 8. morte metuamus si nihil quod timendum â—it vita commisit there is nothing that we need feare in death if our life haue committed nothing that is to be feared Of this argument all spituall books doe treat and in particuler that vvhich purposely was written of this art by Cardinall Bellarmyne vvas the last that euer he vvrote but for that wordes where workes are wanting do blush as Tertullian sayth and Tertul. lib. de Patient Leo serm 1. de San. Laurent Saint Leo validiora sunt exempla quaà m verba plenius est opere docere quà m voce Examples are of more force to moue then wordes and more effectuall it is to teach with reall actions then verball discourse therefore vnto the doctrine of the Cardinall in this behalfe I will adioine his Example that the one may confirme the other And although omitting his life which others are now in hand to write I relate only his last sicknes and death yet from the one we may conclude of the other because as S. Ambrose testifyeth Mors Ambros ibidem vitae est testimonium death is the testimony of our life and selcome we see a saintlike death to follow after a synfull life the priuiledge is rare the examples few the common stile as Saint Augustine noteth is otherwise to wit that Mors Aug. de Ciuit. Dei lib. 13. cap 2. in fine bonis bona malis mala a good death befalls to the good an ill to the wicked wherfore the death of this Cardinall being so notable as it was wil not only confirme what he vvrote in his booke of this art but also testify for his former life and shew that what he there sayd came not so much out of his great learning and reading wherein he was singular as it did ex abundantia Matth. 12. Luc. 6. cordis out of the inward habituall vertue wherwith he was endewed And for that his doctrine and example do shew confirme one and the selfe same thinge I meane the great sanctity of the man they shal not be separated in the dedication that in the argument doe agree Wheras therfore his Doctrine in our tongue came forth in your Name his ExaÌ„ple may not passe in any other in which alone you may as in a glasse behold how liuely the Child represents the Father the worke the workeman so far truly as the Art he wrote may seeme to haue beene nothing else but an artificiall description of his owne death that was to ensue Some will take vpon them to teach others to dye vvho vvhen they come to it themselues are to seeke a maister and such a one may truly say that which Saint Gregory Greg. in Pastor ca. vltimo out of meere humility sayd of himselfe when he had in his booke called Pastorale described an excelleÌ„t Pastor Pulchrum depinxi Pastorem Pictor foedus I haue painted a fayre Pastour being my selfe a foule Painter I haue taken vpon me to teach that which I neuer learned to doe and therefore all his teaching as Saint Chrysostome well noteth Chrysost hom 16. in Matth. serueth to no other end then to condemne the teacher but contrariwise vnto the renowned Cardinall we may very fitly apply the wordes of our Matth. 5. Sauiour Qui fecerit docuerit hic magnus vocabitur in Regno caelorum He that shall doe teach shall be called great in the KingdoÌ„ of heauen his doctrine you haue already seene in his book the ensuing narratioÌ„ which I now present you will particulerly declare how in his last sicknes death he did correspond threunto to which further I add his funeralls buriall and some other remarkeable euents few in number out of many but so warraÌ„ted for truth as greater in thinges of this nature cannot be required And heere I doe sincerely affirme that in this Relation I follow no vncertaine rumours no doubtfull assertions no flying reportes without ground or subsistence of truth much lesse am I moued by any partiall affection to exaggerate or extenuate any thing but faythfully put downe what I saw my selfe or vvhat other eye-vvittnesses haue seene what vpon their owne knowledge and conscience they haue affirmed many yea most things I haue taken from an Italian letter of this subiect written by Father Iames Minutoli a graue learned vertuous man to Cardinall Farnesius and I vse the more willingly his testimony both for that I know his integrity and for that by the appointment of the Generall he continually remayned with Bellarmyne froÌ„ the beginning of his sicknes till the last gasp and
had for that he was so neere his home or as he did alwayes in this sicknes call it a Heauen Bellarmines howse Casa mia to my howse and worthily did he call it his howse for as S. Augustine sayth of the militant Church on earth non magis est domus tua quà m domus vhi habes Aug. tract 10. in Ioannem salutem aeternam There is no howse more thine then that howse where thou hast euerlasting saluation so might he no lesse fittly say of the triumphant howse Kingdome and inheritance of all Gods seruants on earrh which he with so long and infatigable labour had purchased that it was his house for there had he fixt his hopes there had he heaped vp al his wealth there was his hart his treasure all his desired good to this world he was not so much a stranger as an enemy And although that euen here Honour did follow his noble labours as the shadow the body yet did none more fly from it none more contemne and condemne it then he The Cardinall proceeding in his discourse sayd and often repeated these wordes satis di◠vixi I haue liued long inough it is tyme to depart hence and rest with God in euerlasting peace What I haue to do more in this vvorld I am now feeble and fit for nothing I am only a meere burden trouble to my selfe others And then further declared hovv he did loath and abhorre and had still loathed abhorred the course of this vvorld that men vvere so deeply plunged in the desire of temporall and transitory things grieuing at their preposterous proceedings that their endeauours vvere not directed to their right end and that God was not sought for knovvne nor glorified as he ought to be and this point piercing indeed his hart he concluded vvith saying that God had shewed him now a spirituall sauour to call him avvay because it vvas bitter and distastfull vnto him to stay any longer heere c. Thus vvith more to this effect did he then speake and of these things only vvas his continuall speach The Phisitians expecting the issue of the disease and nature thereof found it to be a continuall feuer per subintrantiam with proportion of a double Tertian the one more excessiue then the other the former bereaued him of his senses the other vvas much more moderate And truly it seemes this bereauement to haue been sent him for the greater manifestation of his vertue for therein he no lesse edifyed others that savv His extremity of sicknes singular patience him then he did in the other but rather much more for according to the rule of the Philosopher In repentinis cognoscitur habitus our disposition is best knovvne by suddaine euents so the violent and suddaine pulls did shevv the habits of his Saint-like mynde hauing no other effect therein then to make him recurre to his prayers which he did as soon as they began and say them as farre as he vvas able When this vehemency vvas a little relented he would make the signe of the Crosse and begin another prayer neuer so much as once in all these extreme fits speaking any idle word or shewing the least signe of any impatience In so much as my selfe in company of others often visiting him and that at such tymes as he was in this feuer I doe sincerely protest that I neuer saw man in his best health repose more quietly or make lesse shew of feeling the force of any disease then alwayes I saw him in this For the most part his armes were decently layed a Crosse on his brest he neuer mouing vnles he were willed any part of his body neuer sighing neuer complayning no though his tongue were scorched with the raging heat of the ague did he euer so much as call for drinke or once offered to refresh his mouth so as the beholders could make no other iudgement of him but that which the disciples made of Lazarus si dormit saluus erit if he sleep he will recouer Ioan. 11. for his magnanimity was such he rather seemed to sleep then to be sicke and thereby gaue greater signes of life then death But notwithstanding this his great courage patience the disease still increased and the increase caused the Phisitiās according to their wont to warne His wil testamēt him to make his last will testament to the end he might be the more free in thinking on the life to come towardes which he did now draw on apace To this suggestion he made no other answere but that all was dispatched his testament was made his goods disposed euery thing determined many yeares ago adding withall that he had giuen to euery one of his seruāts somwhat according to their degree and place which they had in his seruice and according to that small ability he had to gratify them withall For other things although he once intended to make no wil as mindfull of that pouerty which he had vowed in Religion yet afterward least such small things as he left should come vnto other handes then of poore men he made a short Will agreable to his little wealth which I shal after set down leauing his Order the Society of Iesus I meane heyre not to his wealth which was none at al but as he said vnto thē in his sicknes propensae voluntatis ac paupertatis meae of my affection and pouerty he might well say of his pouerty for besides that which he had left for his owne diet which was alwayes very meane and the wages of his seruants he had already bestowed the rest on the poore in so much as he had not inough left him for his buriall and exequies in case the Pope had not fauoured him as after shal be shewed and the Will it selfe vvas such as might beseeme Bellarmine but to others will seeme perhaps as strange as any that hath beene made for many yeares by a Cardinall Now though this mention of making his last Will gaue him to vnderstand the danger of his disease yet he much desired to be more particulerly enformed thereof and to that end requested all the Phisitians to tell him plainly in what state he was assuring them all that he feared not death but desired it and so far quoth he I am from all feare as that I fynd a speciall comfort to thinke theron yea life it selfe would be more grieuous vnto me then death Wherfore I pray you aduertise me betymes that I may receaue the holy Sacraments ere I depart Vpon these words the fourth day of his sicknes it was consulted amongst the Doctours whether it were not expedient that he should receaue the B. Sacrament of the Altar per modum viatici and they iudged it not expedient to giue it him in that manner but only by way of ordinary communicating and their reason was because he might yet continue for many dayes and in case some sodden accident should befall him
this receauing might suffice for the other Vpon this warning giuen he prepared himselfe to Confession in such He deuoutly receaueth the B. Sacrament manner as if that Confession vvere to be the last that euer he should make in this life and such was the innocency of the man that albeit he were in his perfect sense yet could he hardly find what to confesse in so much as his Ghostly Father was in some perplexity as wanting matter of Absolution till by recourse to his life past he found some smal defects of which he absolued him and when the B. Sacrament was brought he would needs rise to receaue it as he did and prostrated himselfe on the ground with singular deuotion and humility to the great edification and amazement of all the beholders And this his piety vpon euery occasion did manifest it selfe in all his sicknes in so much as he desired the Phisitians leaue to say the Office of his Breuiary and that so earnestly as the Doctours though they denied that as a worke to great for his weakenes yet to satisfy his importunity they graunted that in lieu therof he might say his Beades but with some pawse betweene euery decade least his too serious application might hurt his head And seeing that no more would be graunted him he sayd to those about him Me thinkes I am become a meere Secular man and am no more Religious for I neyther say Office nor Masse I make no prayers I doe no good at all and this seemed to afflict him more then his sicknes which yet was most violent and mortall After meate all his recreation was to heare the liues of Saintes read vnto He causeth the liues of Saints to be read vnto him him especially of Bishops and aboue all of S. Francis and in the hearing their rare and eminent vertues he would alwayes weep and sigh after that perfection of life to which they had so happily arriued and from which such vvas his humility he thought himselfe to be much further of theÌ„ he was for he could not but be neere them whom for so many yeares he had most diligently follovved Besides this griefe conceaued for himselfe his own vnworthines another thing also seemed to afflict him to wit the continuall watch in the night with him for he would ordinarily demaund of such as he saw about him in the mourning vvhether they had watched vvith him all that night if they sayd yea then would he reply so much trouble and of so many for my sake For me I say that am but a vvorme a poore wretch and fit for nothing and if he savv more togeather with him he would say one is sufficient to watch let the rest sleepe and let another watch whiles he doth sleepe the trouble of so many is a trouble vnto me vvho deserue not so much attendance Likevvise wheÌ„ His charity continuall remeÌ„brance of the poore he saw any extraordinary thing brought him to eate as chickens or the like he would say that such expense was ill bestowed vpon him and would be better on the poore whome he so loued and was so bountifull vnto them as he left himselfe so little as could hardly mainteyne him and satisfy his family for that on his death-bed he was so carefull of them it will not be amisse to put downe some example of his life in this kind it shal be the first he did after his promotion by which some coniecture may be made of the rest which I leaue in silence Pope Clement the 8. soone after he had giuen him his Cardinals Hat made him also Archbishop of Capua forthwith he left Rome and like a true Pastor repayred to his flocke there to reside discharge all the dutyes of his function And first of all finding the reuenews of A liberall allowaÌ„ce that Church to amount to three thousand pounds sterling he presently gaue vnto the poore two thousand maynteyning himselfe and his family with the rest which for one of that ranke was very little but he would no more and when after the death of the said Clement with other Cardinals he was to repayre to Rome for the election of the new Pope the poore came flocking about him crying and saying that his departute would be their vndoing Not so quoth the Cardinall for my going to Rome will not I hope take away my rents and if they remayne to me they shal rest where they are with you They all replied with teares that they thought he should returne no more as indeed he did not and then that the rents should be neyther his nor theirs And my selfe haue seene often in Rome when the Cardinal went abroad at his returne all the lower entry of his house full of poore people on whome he bestowed his ordinary almes And in particular which I may not omit one shrouetyde an English man halfe distracted of his He giues halfe of his dinner vnto a poore Englishman senses came boldly to the Cardinall for neyther his dores eares or purse were shut from the poore and demaunded some reliefe hauing as he sayd nothing to eate the good Cardinall without any further deliberation caused his owne dinner to be deuided in two gaue the one halfe thereof vnto the sayd Englishman and dined himselfe on the other and my selfe coming that very day to the Cardinall was aduertised thereof But examples heereof are so many as would make a volume and I meane not to disgresse any further from his death Many other vertues were noted in him at this tyme and so many as that this sicknesse may seeme to haue beene the abridgement of all which he had exercised in his life before For besides the aboue meÌ„tioned courtesy in this extremity His great courtesy respect vnto all to all that did visit him his resignation of mynd was admirable And for the first he neuer respected his owne inconuenience payne or trouble in so much as not only to Cardinals and Prelates but to any other that came to see him and there came many he would take off his night-cap lift himselfe vp in his bed speake vnto euery one more or lesse as the quality of the person or matter that he spake of did require wold neuer endure that any should stand bare headed in his presence and this euen vntill the two last dayes of his life when nature being far spent the feuer with the decay of his strength stil encreasing he eyther attended not to such as came but vnto his prayers or else his eyes and eares fayling he neyther saw nor heard them vnles they spake somwhat lowd and euen to his owne seruants he bare that respect as he would endure much rather then put them to any trouble And when F. Minutoli once told him â—hat no man held it for a trouble to serue him and such as there attended were his owne seruants he answered only to these last words said
they are not my seruants but my brethren brethren they are and for such I esteeme them And that indeed he esteemed them more like his brethren then seruants many wayes appeared especially if any of his house fell sicke as there did two immediatly before he â—ell sicke himselfe â—or then his custome waâ— to go to their chaÌ„bers to sit and talke with them to comfort them euery way to assist help them And touching these two the last of which Matthaeus Tortus was one the other an attendant of his chamber this memorable thing is recorded that wheras Tortus was exceeding sicke and held to be in great danger of death and the other but in the entrance of his disease which he seemed not much to regard yet the Cardinall hauing seene theÌ„ both sayd that Tortus should recouer and the other dye which as it seemed strange to all that heard it who saw great signes of death in the one scarce the appearaÌ„ce of any sicknes in the other so the euent proued to be true for the later within few dayes departted this life and Tortus is yet liuing and in perfect health His resignation and indifferency of His resignation indifferency of mind was very exact without all contradiction or reply whatsoeuer hapned whatsoeuer was determined nothing troubled his mind no exception was made one thing only excepted if yet that thing be subiect to exception for thus it hapned He hauing from the beginning of his sicknes prepared himself to dye it fel out that the seauenth day held by the Phisitians for Critical he begaÌ„ to be somwhat better much ioy was coÌ„ceaued therat the same signified vnto the Cardinal who weighing the matter in another ballaÌ„ce was somwhat troubled with this soden resolution and said myldly vnto the Doctors I had thought at this tyme to haue gone to my house and home and now I see that you will hinder me I pray you let me goe Their answere was that it belonged vnto their office to preserue his life as long as they could and was pleasing vnto God and he also was bound therein to concurre with them to doe as they should ordayne and be contented to stay in this world vntill that God should otherwise dispose Well then quoth the Cardinal his will be done but if the choice were in my handes I should rather dye then liue wherfore doe as you will I shall follow your direction And when the Phisitians were gone he seemed so much to be discomforted that his Attendants vvere all mooued to comfort him and that no lesse then ordinarily men vse to comfort others that are to dye would longer liue Agayne at another tyme vvhen three of his foure Phisitians had consulted and determined to make tryall of a nevv remedy he sayd vnto them Will you not yet let me goe Ah let me alone novv it is high time Fa. Minutoli ansvvered and sayd the Rule of our Society doth bynde vs in sicknes to obey the Phisitians he had no sooner named the Rule but the other recalling his former wordes sayd you say well there is a Rule let them appoint what they wil I wil do whatsoeuer they wil haue me so punctual he was in obseruing the Rules of the Society in all thinges eyther for life or death with or against his owne inclination Some neere perhaps vvill say that notvvithstanding he loathed this life thirsted after heauen and vvould gladly be vvith God yet he was not to wish for his ovvne death To vvhich idle fancy I ansvvere vvith S. Augustine Aug. lib. 2. in Gaudient cap. â—â— in fine Non est iniustum homimi iusto optare mortem quando amarissima est viâ—a sed si Deus optatam non dederit non erit iustum nisi tolerare eam amarissiman vitam it is lawfull for a good man to vvish for death vvhen as life it selfe is very bitter vnto him but if God yield not vnto his desire he caÌ„not lavvfully refuse to endure his bitter life So he And so the Cardinall although he vvished for death vvas yet resigned vnto Almighty God to vndergo the longer endurance of a bitter life But leauing his vertues for a vvhile vvhich euery vvhere occurre to be recounted let vs a little behold vvhat other things hapned in the vvhole course and successe of his sicknes in the beginning vvherof it vvas thought good for auoiding of recourse to speak little therof to extenuate the same as not mortall but rather some casuall indisposition and this persuasion continued for three or foure dayes till the Pope truly Pope Gregory visiteth him on his deathbed enformed by his owne Phisitian who repayred dayly vnto the Cardinall by the Generall of the Society in what state he was came in person to visit him the fifth day of his disease for then all apprehended the matter as it was made no other accouÌ„t but to loose him WheÌ„ the Cardinal saw his Holines enter into his chamber he sayd with the good Centurion Non sum dignus vt intres sub tectum Luc. 7. meum I am not worthy that you should enter vnder my roofe with other wordes of great dutifulnes and humility when the Pope shewed the griefe of mynd he conceaued for his sicknes and how much he esteemed his losse the other answered as he had alwayes done that he had liued long inough and therfore desired no longer respit on earth I will pray God quoth he to graunt The humility of Pope Gregory your Holines as long life for he is ten yeares younger then Bellarmyne was as he hath vnto me The Pope replied but not in so lowd a voyce as the Cardinall could heare him I haue more need of Bellarmines meritts then of his yeares Many wordes past betweene them of great affection in the one and submissiue humility in the other The Pope after that he had twice most louingly imbraced him being to depart sayd that he would pray to God that he might recouer not quoth the Cardinall that I may recouer being now fit for nothing but that Gods will and pleasure may be done eyther for life or death After that the Pope was gone he seemed to be much more cheerful then he was before the cause whereof he disclosed vnto F. Minutoli saying Now truly doe I well hope that I shall dye for the Popes are neuer known to haue visited Cardinalls but when they were in danger of death or rather past all hope of life to which effect he alleadged diuers examples Remayning therfore in this ioyfull hope when diuers of the Society came to him and offered to say masse and pray for him he would very louingly thank them all but still accepted their curtesy with this Caueat that they should not pray for his longer life but contrariwise His desire to leaue the world that he might soone make an exchange therof for a better that his passage might be safe and soone The cause
so as al this matter passed with singular commendations of heroicall magnanimity on his behalfe and in most honorable manner But for that he had learned of his deare Maister B. Fa. Ignatius not only to seek the glory of God but maiorem Dei gloriam the greater glory of God in all thinges because he thought that he might haue done more good in Capua then in Rome therfore did he sorrow had this remorse O noble Bishop O zealous mynd O rare example worthy of the name renowne and eminent vertue of Bellarmyne How holy was his life not stayned with mortall sinne How secure a conscience that had at his death no scruple but for the exchange of one good worke for another and that imposed vpon him by an ineuitable commaund What shall I heere say but that fecit mirabilia in vita sua he hath euen Eccles 31. in this mortall life done vvonderfull things This scruple being remoued and Scipio Card. Cobellutiuâ— his mynd quieted there remayned one difficulty touching his temporall estate to wit for repayment of his Cardinalls Ring for effecting of which he vsed the help of the Cardinall of S. Susanna to his Holines alleadging this reason that non erat soluendo for he had not wher withall to bury him much lesse to pay that debt adding further that the same grace had beene before graunted vnto Cardinall Baronius and another Cardinall Vnto vvhich request the Pope most willingly yielded and further at the request of the Generall for the Cardinall sought it not the Pope also condescended to giue a pension of three hundred crownes betweene his two nephews had doubtles graunted more if more had beene demaunded but the Cardinall little mynded his nephews or earthly preferments hauing his thoughts on heauen which he alvvayes called his Home there was his reward layed vp Et merces eius magna nimis When it vvas knovvne in the Citty that the Pope had beene with the Cardinal that he had taken his Viaticum that he vvas anneyled and that there meanes to see the â—â—eke Cardinall was no hope left of longer life wonderfull it vvas not to only heare the honorable reports which all made of him but to see the meanes and inuentions vsed that by men of Quality to come vnto him Some sued vnto the Cardinalls and great Personages some intreated the Fathers some vsed the help of his seruants and others made other deuises and this not only to see him but to kisse his handes his head or some other thing about him when therin they had satisfied their deuotion they vvould touch his body with their bookes their beads handkerchieffs Crosses Medalles and other the like thinges and that very reuerently on their knees and in this kynde none were more forward then the Cardinalls themselues who by reason of their more frequent conuersation did best know him and some of them mentioned his Canonization when once they knew of his sicknes they came very often vnto him and ten of them somtymes in one day who all desired his blessing but he constantly refused to giue it and one of them taking him by the hand kissed the same theÌ„ touched his eyes and head therwith at which Bellarmine meruayling when the other was gone asked those about him vvhat kind of curtesy this was and how long it had beene in vse amongst the Cardinalls Another tyme the Cardinalls that came would needs before they departed kisse his hands at which he was much Great reuerence done him by Cardinalls and Prelates grieued and would haue withdrawne them backe but was not able to resist their importunity and therefore only sayd non sum dignus I am not worthy of this honor especially froÌ„ you my Lords he offered to haue kissed theirs againe one by one but they would not yield he was to weake to force theÌ„ some Cardinalls agayne togeather with other Prelats would needs haue his benediction which he vtterly refused to giue they continuing to aske it he craued theirs so as the contention grew who shold blesse ech other which a Cardinal perceauing decided the matter by taking Bellarmynes right hand and blessing himselfe there with perforce at which sight the others not vvilling to vse that violence desired agayne so earnestly his blessing on their knees as he to auoyde so importunate molestation giue it but sayd withall after he had giuen it what will the blessing of a poore miserable wretch as I am aualye you why doe you trouble me so much for it And so in his death life the honours which with their sweet stings do deadly wound others he alwaies turned to his greater humiliation Two Cardinalls aboue the rest seemed Cardinall Hippolitus AldobraÌ„dinus to be more sollicitous of him Aldobrandino Farnesius the first was then in Rome the other absent the first came very ofteÌ„ to the Nouitiate to enquire how he did out of courtesy forbare to visit him as not willing to trouble him with his presence yet at length he resolued to see him although his sight cost him teares when he saw him past all hope of recouery and measuring Bellarmyne by other men he demaunded of F. Minutoli vvhether the present apprehension of death did not affright him Nothing lesse quoth the Father of which your Honour shall now see the experience and then asked the sicke Cardinall whether he would not gladly depart to another life I would to God said Bellarmyne that I might and that very soone I wish that I vvere already gone for vvhat should I stay any longer in this world with other lik words which shewed not a desire oÌ„ly but a delight also that he had to thinke on death in so much as vvhen any would comfort him in his sicknes they would mention the same as a discourse most pleasing vnto him Diuers wayes did this forsayd the Cardinall manifest his affection vnto Bellarmyne which I heere forbeare and when he vvith others requested that when he came to heauen he would remember Bellarmine notwithstanding his singular confideÌ„ce in God had great distrust of himselfe them and pray for them although the vertuous Cardinall alwayes shewed a great hope and confidence in Gods mercy yet vvas this conioyned with no lesse distrust of himselfe for he wold earnestly craue euery maÌ„s prayers and to this petition of the Cardinalls he answered more theÌ„ once saying To go to heauen so soone is a great mater to great for me men vse not to come thither in such hast and for my selfe I shall thinke it no small fauour to be sure of Purgatory and there to remayne a good while in those flames that must purge and cleanse the spotts of my offences satisfy the iust wrath iustice of almighty God But when I am come Home quoth he I will not faile to pray for you all and this he promised to doe not only for these Cardinalls but for all his
benefactours seruants vnto whom to all those in the Nouitiate he gaue being thereunto much vrged very often his blessing Cardinall Farnesius was at this tyme Cardinall Farnesius his â—udgement and esteeme of Bellarmyne at his house of Caprarola thirty miles froÌ„ Rome who hearing of the sicknes of Bellarmine wrote many letters to Father Minutoli desiring to be informed from time to tyme of the progresse of his sicknes and when it should happen to haue the whole narration of his sicknes and death togeather moreouer that Bellarmine by him might be aduertised of the singular affection which he bare him or as it pleased him to tearme it dutifull respect 6. SepteÌ„b adding withall Mà quando piacesse à Dio di voler questo Signore per â—l Ciâ—lo c. but in case it should please God to call this Cardinall to heauen I desire your Fatherhood to procure me of F. Generall some payre of beades of the Cardinalls or else his Breuiary and I will make that account of it as the great opinion I haue of his singular sanctity doth require that I should The same agayne he solicited in another letter written foure dayes after at the end of which he added with his owne hand these wordes Viuo con pena di questa immineÌ„te perdita mà insieme 10. Sept. godo dell'opinione che gia si comiâ—cia scoprire della santità di questo Signore That is I liue in paine of this losse so neere at haÌ„d but withal I am glad for the opinion which already begins to manifest it selfe of the Sanctity of this honourable person And in another which was written after his death he sayth that he will put â—9 Sept. Bellarmine before his eyes come vn essemplare degnissimo d'imitatione c. as an example most worthy of imitation and I hope sayth he not a little to be holpen by the intercession of that holy soule that I may a far of follow his stepps who hath so much honoured the whole Church sacred Colledge of Cardinals that no lesse with his vertue then learning So Farnesius with more to the same effect This Cardinall in respect of the great obligation the whole Society hath euer had to that name which his owne Bellarmin did greatly esteeme Fâ—rnesius merits haue much more encreased and for the particular affection he bare vnto Bellarmine was of him also had in speciall regard as often as Farnesius his letters still full of loue were read vnto him he would in very effectuall wordes make remonstrance how far he was indeared vnto him how little able to discharge that duty which he did owe him of which in his health he was neuer vnmyndfull and had determined to dedicate a great worke vnto him which he had began vpon S. Pauls Epistles conteyning a literall morall and dogmaticall explication of all the Apostles wordes a worke worthy of Bellarmyne necessary for these tymes much vrged and desired by many but hauing finished some Chapters of the Epistle to the Romans considering with himselfe the length and difficulty of the thing his small helpes with other great imployments his weake body the short and vncertayne tyme of his life he left off that enterprize wrote his other little bookes as he insinuateth in an epistle to the Cardinal himself prefixed before his booke of The eternall felicity of Saints Longitudo Operis saith he breue spatium quod mihi superest vitae quotidianae occupationes quae parùm omnino ad scribendum mihi otij relinqunt effecerunt vt de Opere illo perficiendo planè desperarem the length of the worke the short space that remaynes of my life and my daily busines which leaues me very little leasure to write made me despayre of euer finishing that worke So he and for that it pleased Cardinall Bellarmine to shew such singular gratitude to this his friend on his death-bed on the other side for that Farnesiuâ— is further resolued to erect some honourable monument of him in the place where he is buried I could not let him passe vnnamed in this narration And for the other Cardinalls they Bellarmin much honoured loued of all the cardinals did also so tenderly affect him as few or none of all those which came to visit him could forbeare weeping and one of them a very graue man sayd vnto F. Minutolâ— that he did greatly glory to hane been made Cardinall by that Pope which had made Bellarmyne Cardinall and that in toto genere I vse his owne wordes the world hath not had any of so singular learning accompanyed with so great humility and Religious maturity as he for many ages perhaps may expect long ere it haue another And he did well to specify his humility for though he were equall to any yet he so stil demeaned himselfe as though he had beene seruant to all and this euen vntill death for to all that came vnto him in his sicknes although he did speake with all respect and duty vnto them yet at their departure he would craue pardon of them and say My Lords I pray pardon me if I doe not as I would or as I am bound for I am not myne own man I vvant strength of body I can do no more and indeed he did more then was conuenient for one in his case to do though much lesse then he desired to haue done to them whom so hartily he did honour In fine vvhen the danger of his disease vvas once diuulged ouer all the Citty not only Cardinalls but many Bishops Prelates and other of speciall Note the common opinion that all had of his sanctity note repayred vnto him especially the three last dayes before his death when being sometymes sleepy sometymes with his eyes closed in prayer and meditation he neyther marked vvho they were that came nor heeded much what they did in which tyme the foresayd Cardinalls Bishops Prelates and others sent many little cappes of silke such as they vse to were vnder their square capps and others sent vvhite night-caps which they desired might be put on his head as they were and vvith them they sent also little Crosses of gold and siluer Reliquiaries prayer-bookes and other thinges to touch him and that in such multitudes as there vvere more theÌ„ a hundred and fifty red vvhite and other capps put on and taken from his head during this tyme and since his death that number hath beene much increased many thinges vvere taken avvay by such as came to visit him and those also by great personages many more vvere begged and sought for from many places as after in part I shall shew or rather touch only for the particulars of this alone would much exceed the length of this Relation Honourable is vertue and the root of all true honour in regard vvherof the auncient Romans built the Temples of Vertue and Honour togeather because the one must necessarily depend of the
when he was besides himselfe in the extremity of his bad fit the very name of Obedience would haue made him taken whatsoeuer they had brought him so accustomed and affectioned he was to that Vertue as nothing seemed hard vnto him that came vnder that tytle imitating therein his deere maister our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who as S. Bernard witnesseth Ne perderet obedientiam perdidit vitam lost his life that he might not loose his obedience conforme to that of the Apostle S. Paul factus Philip. 3. obediens vsque ad mortem he was obedient euen vntill death So Christ so his disciple I doubt not but that those who shall write his life if more then one vndertake it will fynd many notable examples of this vertue in the course therof This here I wil auerre vpon certaine knowledge that after his promotion he put himselfe vnder the Obedience of the Generall of his Order and bound himselfe to obey him no lesse then before in all thinges of any moment And because the Rules of the Society doe byâ—d all in the tyme of their sicknes not When he was Cardinall he was obedient to the Generall of the Society yea euen to his owne seruants only to obey the Phisitians but al such as haue any care of them the Cardinall hauing one of his chamber a most diligent and faythfull seruant to attend him in this sicknes him he also obeyed in whatsoeuer he bid him doe and he knowing well his Lords pleasure when any thing was to be done would not say as other seruants vse to do If it please your Honour to do this or take that and the like but in resolute tearmes My Lord lift vp your selfe Take this Doe that c. and presently without any reply he would doe it neuer saying more but As you will As it pleaseth you Neither did this custome begin betweene them on his death-bed but had still beene in vse and practice before and that with all humility and alacrity for he regarded not whome he did obey but for whose sake he did it and that made him euen in his seruants person to reuerence our Sauiour And so much for his Obedience The nynteenth day of his sicknes being the beginning of the new moone his pulse which hitherto had been stroÌ„g began much to fayle and many other ill signes appeared which did euideÌ„tly prognosticate his departure to be very neere at hand The Cardinal still coÌ„tinuing as he could in his accustomed deuotions in making deuout Colloquies and iaculatory prayers vnto God when any thing was suggested vnto him fit for that tyme and present occasion he would thanke the suggestours and giue them to knew Pope Gregory graunted him a pardon that he tooke great coÌ„fort therof which was in manner redoubled when he vnderstood that the Pope had sent him a Plenary Indulgence for the better gayning of which spiritual grace he sayd his Confiteor with his diuers other prayers the last night of his life which was the 23. of his sicknes the former signes still continuing and increasing brought him into a certaine dulnes or insensibility especially some fiue or six houres before his death which made all who were about him to thinke that now euery houre might be his last yet euen in this state he made them all see that he was present to himselfe knew his own danger vnderstood what was sayd vnto him and answered directly to whatsoeuer was proposed in so much as Father Minutoli speaking vnto him of the confidence he was now to haue in God and recourse vnto his diuine mercy by imploring his help in this passage for pardon of his sinns defence against all assaults of the enemy now most vigilant he answered very deuoutly directly vnto him in a low voice that so he did and that in the best manner he could to manifest the same vnto them to the end they might both see that he vnderstood their wordes and his owne case he shewed this exteriour act of Christian piety Hauing a little Crosse of siluer in his hand he kissed it very often and His great deuotion to the Crosse blessed himselfe diuers times wherwith saying some prayers by himselfe some togeather with them that were with him and kneeled at his bed side afterwardes taking into his hand a greater Crosse that stood by which had the picture of our Sauiors body fixed theron he did oftentimes very deuoutly kisse the the same a little after he layed it on his eyes and taking it from thence he layed it on his left shoulder imbracing it very hard between both his armes being put a crosse one ouer the other and so continued a good while till remouing it a little towards his brest he lifted his hand vp to his head to take off his night-cap but could not doe it and such as kneeled by him knew not what he meant til at last by coniecture Father Minutoli gathered that he meant to doe some act of deuotion and therfore tooke off his cap for him then the Cardinall tooke the Crosse with both his hands so much forced himselfe as he placed it on his bare head and all this he did for the loue he bare to the death and passion of our Sauiour whereof this Crosse is a liuely representation Moreouer to shew the Holy Images reuerence he bare vnto holy Images for which point of Christian beliefe more martirs haue lost their liues by the hands of the bloudy barbarous Iconoclasts then perhaps they haue done for any other article whatsoeuer Lastly I doubt not but that he shewed this zeale to the holy Crucifix to shew his zeale against the Heretikes of these tymes the true children of these parents and liuely brood of these Progenitours that the world might see how exact he was in adhering vnto that Faith in all and euery branch and member which in his workes he had lo learnedly defended and procured in this his last sicknes as before I said to haue left registred in print after his departure These reasons I say made him so often so earnestly to exercise these acts of VeneratioÌ„ to the holy Crosse which finally he layed on his brest vnder the couerlet where it remayned till he was dead so as he seemed vnwilling to see thinke or desire any thing but Christ and him crucifyed and to testify to the world the interiour loue he bare in his hart to Christ by the exteriour reuerence which he did shew to his picture the true character of a Catholike Christian man Now was he come to the last houre of his life and though his paines were The manner of his death greater yet his courage his patience his quiet peaceable repose the same The holy man began his prayers sayd the Pater noster and Aue Maria began againe the Pater noster which being ended he sayd distinctly the Psalme Miserere to the end and being vvarned to say also
the Creed in protestation of his beliefe and that he dyed a member of the Catholik Apostolike RomaÌ„ Church presently he began the same and sayd it all through and which was much noted with the end of the Creed he ended his speach these being the last wordes that euer he spake cleerly and distinctly Vitam aeternam Amen in this life Et vitam aeternam Amen life life euerlasting Amen After which his voice so fayled that they could scant with all diligence vsed heare him yet he sayd very softly to himselfe in such manner as he was able Iesus Iesus Iesus and continued still in the same till the last gaspe which of such as beheld him was in a manner insensible without any violent motion of his body or contracting of his countenance any writâ—ing of his mouth any panges or gasps in so still quiet and peaceable fashion as it seemed a sleep rather then death rather a mylde and voluntary passage theÌ„ a matter of horrour or dread rather a Saint-like repose then a finall departure out of this life He left this world the seauenteeth day of September betweene six and seauen of the clocke in the morning wanting not three weeks of threescore and nynteene yeares for he was borne on the fourth of October being S. Francis day and dyed on the feast of the same Saint dedicated to his sacred woundes which miraculously he had receaued the solemnity of which feast the Cardinall much laboured with Paul the fifth to haue grauÌ„ted to the Religious of that Order with a speciall Office for that day His body soone after his departure by a secret way for auoyding the resort of people was conueyed in coach to the Church of the Fathers where he was to The deuotion reuerence shewed to hiâ— body be buried because as yet nothing was prepared for his exposing it was carryed into a priuate chamber of the house with expresse order of debarring as yet all accesse vnto it but there came so many to see and kisse the same and so great personages as the prohibition was soone recalled and leaue graunted vnto most to come All kneeled thereat as to the body of a Saint and with great deuotion kissed the same some commended his learning some his vertue all his mylde louing and most affable behauiour amongst the rest a great Prelate on his knees kissed the thumbe and two forefingers of his right hand which had written so much to the glory of God good of his Church and comfort of many no lesse then fifty tymes and another not inferiour to the former did the same after him which deuotion of people and Prelates continued vntill it was an houre within night and had done much longer but that the Popes Phisitian togeather with his brother a Surgeon came to open and enbalme the body who earnestly requested this office as a fauour at the Fathers hands saying that they should both of them grieue much in case any other should do it As soone as they began the same many were present with to wells handkerchiffs He is embalmed his bloud saued kept for reliques sponges and other linnen to saue the blod preserue it for Reliques and so Religiously industrious and diligent they were as nothing thereof was lost the Phisitian himselfe in lieu of reward cut away a little piece of the hinder part of his which he esteemeth as a peerles Iewell and inestimable treasure the other three Phisitians were already prouided for wheras in the beginning of his sicknes they prescribed that he should be let bloud another time to haue horseleeches applyed to dravv more at both of these tymes they came with cleane handkerchiffs and dipped or rather dyed them in the bloud which by them and others was so greedily taken as that no drop remayned the Phisitians were heerunto the more moued for that besides the common report and opinion of his vertue they saw in this sicknes such liuely proofe therof as none of them had euer seene the like in any before which they neuer cease to admire and commend whensoeuer any mention is made or occasion giuen theÌ„ to speake of his sicknes The next morning the Nobility Gentry of the Congregation of our B. Lady got his body into their Oratory or Chappell where being all assembled they sayd the Office of the dead for him two Gentlemen alwayes standing at his head to keep the multitude from kissing his beare face permitting them only his handes and feet He lay on a fayre hearsâ— vested like an Archbishop with his myter and pall in so gratious manner as I neuer saw a fayrer corse and the same was sayd by very many that saw him The Office being ended the narrownes of this place was not capable of so great concourse to auoid the incoÌ„uenience of such presse of people the more hast was made to carry him into the Church where being layd on a bed The wonderful deuotion of the people to his body when it was exposed in the Church prepared for the same there came to behold it or rather to reuerence and worship it as though not the dead body of Cardinall Bellarmyne newly departed but eyther the body of S. Augustine or S. Ambrose or S. Athanasius or some auncient Doctour Bishop or Patriarke had beene exposed and layed open to be honoured and I know not what more deuotion the people could haue vsed vnto their sacred reliques then now they did vnto the body of this Cardinall For they came not as ordinarily on such occasions they vse to doe to gaze see the pompe of the funeralls which heere was very litle not to pray for the party deceased not to enquire of his heires his testament his wealth his buriall or the like more curious then necessary matters but to see as they called him the Saint to pray vnto him to reuerence his body and that in such sort as if already he had beene canonized for that it was now placed higher then they were able to reach and compassed by some of the Popes Guard and Mace-bearers of the Cardinals that came to be present at the Dirige they wearyed them all with giuing their beades vnto them which the one on the top of their truncheons the other of their Masses lifted vp to touch his bare face and so many beades being giuen to touch and that so continually without any intermission all looked or rather feared that his face would haue been disfigured therewith for it was touched as most coniecture by more then twenty thousand payre of beades and there had beene no end of touching it had not the Fathers with help of the Popes Guarde after more theÌ„ three houres within night caryed it away perforce as presently shall be said and notwithstanding that the body lay aloft was well guarded with troncheous and halbardes yet were there of these pious theeues so cunning as that some of them cut away pieces of his
whiles his body for a day and night lay in a lower chamber at the Casa Prosessa his clothes and caps being eyther all taken or giuen away before And not in Rome only but from other His Reliqueâ— much desired by many places abroad many letters haue beene sent and meanes vsed to get something that had beene his which I let passe setting downe only the clause of one letter written by a very worshipfull Gentleman of our owne Nation residing in Naples which came to my hands as I was writing this Relation The party wrote it in Italian that the Generall to whome he is well knowne might see it in this manner Son stato agrauato questo con grandissima instanza della Sig â— Duchessa di Santo Elia molto mia Signora Patrona di sarli hauere qualche cosa che sosse della felice memoria dell Illustrissimo Sig â— Cardinale Bellarmino come a dire qualche berettino di tela che ildetto hauesâ—e portato o qualche parte di vua sua camisia e questo per la gran diuotione che la detta Signora porta al morto essendo bisogno pregarà N. N. in nome mio di cooperare quanto sia possibile di trouar qualche cosa per consolare la diuotione di questa Signora That is I haue beene vrged that with exceeding importunity by the Dutches of S. Elias my very good Lady and Patronesse to procure hersom what of Cardinall Bellarmyne of happy memory that is to say some linnen night-cap which he hath worne or some piece of his shirt and this for the great deuotion the sayd Lady beares towardes the dead Cardinall And if need be you may intreate N. N. in my name to help as much as is possible to find out something to comfort the deuotion of this Lady So he And although that this letter came soone after his death yet were all these things eyther giuen or taken or stolne away ere it came her request satisfyed another way Bellarmines behauiour and carriage In fine no man in Rome of his ranke in the memory of any man liuing hath dyed with so generall good opinion of all no funeralls haue beene celebrated with so great concourse and honour no sepulcher so much frequented Two and twenty yeares he liued Cardinall fourty a Religious man he began betyme to beare the yoke of Christ was neuer wearyed neuer sainted till the end A man of such lenity and meeknes as he would offend none of such candour and sincerity as he could not dissemble with any of such kindnes courtesy as he was beneuolous vnto all Of temporall emoluments he was neuer moued with losse or delighted with increase his wealth was the poore mans gaine not his owne profit his losse their hinderance not his hurt to men of our Iland as wel English and Scottish he alwaies shewed himselfe a worthy friend and speciall benefactour neuer denying them any thing that conueniently he could graunt neuer sparing his labour his pen or purse to pleasure them as far foorth as he was able of which I could alleadge very many examples were not that field to large and this no place to recount them Of all which and whatsoeuer else he did we may now say Laudant Prou. 31. â—um in portis opera eius his workes praise him in the gates that is at the tribunall and Iudgement seat of God where their worth is valued and their valour rewarded and he in his euerlasting revvardes glorious for all eternity Heere if any out of a curious mynd should expect to heare somwhat spoken of some miraculous euent which hath WheÌ„ the sanctity is singular there needeth no miracles to coÌ„firme it hapned in or since his death for further confirmation of his sincerity I answere hereunto that as the sanctity of S. Iohn Baptist did sufficiently warrant it selfe without any miracle at all besides his miraculous vertues so the happy life and death of this Cardinal being such as they were need no other miracles then theÌ„selues for their proofe And to speake oÌ„ly of his death what was his inuincible patience without the least signe of sorrow or sillable of complaint what his security of mynd ouerbearing all tentations what his purity of conscience vvithout all mortall remorse vvhat his exact Obedience without reply vvhat his reuerent receauing of the Blessed Sacrament his constancy in faith his deuout death but a miracle or rather many miracles in one Who can esteeme othervvise of his courage agaynst death novv looking him in the face when he desired it to draw neerer to take him away then that it was miraculous Vnles he will contradict the iudgement of S. Bernard who writing of his brother G 〈…〉 ds Bernard 〈◊〉 â—6 in Cant. death hath these wordes Acciâ—â—s sum ad id miraculi videre exult antâ—mâ—n morâ—e 〈…〉 nem insultantem morti I was called to that miracle to see a man reioying in death triumphing ouer death Truly this holy Cardinall as you haue heard so much reioyced in death as he had no other sorrow in his sicknes then to thinke that it was further from him then indeed it was or greater ioy then when he was to shake handes with it the true effect of a well prepared mynd for as Seneca sayth mortem venientem nemo hilarius Epist 30. excipit nisi qui se ad illam diu composâ—erâ—t no man cheerfully imbraceth death but he that hath long before prepared himselfe for it These things I say need no other miracle then themselues to confirme them For at S. Aug. saith of such a one as wold foure hundred years after Christ see some Aug. l. 22. de Ciuiâ—t Dei cap. 8. initio miracle that he might belieue Magnum ipse prodigiâ—m est qui mundo credeme prodigia adhuc inquiriâ— vt credat he is himselfe prodigious who seeing the world to belieue in Christ doth yet seeke for some miraculous wonder to belieue So in The sanctity of Bellarmin very eminent and acknowledged by all that knewe him this case seeing the former miracles seeing the common opinion that all haue of his Holines seing all that euer knew him to haue canonized him with deuotion to his body or constant report of his integrity seeing all his writinges to haue beene to confound heresy to erect the banner of truth to comfort the faithfull to teach the ignorant to aduance vertue seeing all his actions to haue beene signed with innocency to haue proceeded from charity and by pure intention to haue beene directed to Gods glory or good of his neighbour without touch spot or reprehension in the vvhole course of his life he may indeed be thought prodigious that would further seeke any other confirmation any other miracle or miraculous proofe which I doe not say to condemne or any way extenuate the force of other miracles God forbid for somtymes they are necessary heere they are not wanting