will is fulfilled in me Lastly when I thought it was time to giue him the holy candle I saide these wordes vnto him now it is time to goe and see the secret will you haue the candle alluding to the history which he did know of king Alonso the wise who being in the like passage said giue me that candle let vs goe see that secret wherunto Gregory made answer with a wonderfull confidence there is no secret all is cleare it is noone day with me This is not to be vnderstood so as that Gregory should say that at that instant he did see God cleerely for that kind of cleare vision hath seldome hapned in this life the clearnes which here he did speake of is that of contemplation which holy men doe call a cleare knowledge because this light of contemplation ioyned with the generall light of faith causeth such a security and a speciall kind of certainty of the diuine Misteries as that in comparison of the orainary knowledge of the faithfull it is called a cleare knowledge though in respect of the cleare sight of God it be but obscure Gregory spoke of this clearnes wheÌ„ hâ— said all is cleare and to say that it was noone day with him was no great exaggeration because the light of contemplation goeth far beyond the light of noone day With this inuâ—ncible courage and valour full of faith hope and charâ—ty takâ—ng a little while after the candle in his hand he yeelded vp his soule to his Creatour to continue for all eternity being swallowed vp and ouerwhelmed in that infinite seâ— of the loue of God that excellent act of loue wherin as much as in possible for human frailty in this place of exile he had allwaies endeauoured to exercise himself and excell He died on saturday at noone on the 20. of Iuly of the yeare 1596. vpon which day the Order of the Carmelites doth solemnise the feast of Elias the first Father and Founder of the solitary life which Gregory Lopes had so perfectly obserued He liued 54. yeares and 33. of them in solitude His body remained as if he had bin aliue and as we that were present did conceit with a certaine brightnes At the same time wee felt a very pleasing smell which came from his body and remained in the chamber wherin he died and which is more to be admired his winding sheet kept the same smell and his cloaths doe retaine it till this day It is allso worthy of noting that there being present at his death the Canon Nicolas Martinez Rectour of this place and my self who had bin 20. yeares a Curate and three other deuout lay men none of vs did thinke of saying for him a Responsory of the dead such was the ioy that we did feele by seeing him and was caused by his happy passage His body was laied in the Church of this village by order of the Doctour Iohn de CeruaÌ„tes Vicar Generall of the Archbisoprick and now Bishop of Guaxica who vnderstanding of Gregory his sicknes whose sanctity was well knowne vnto him came to visit him some daies before his death and to desire him that he would cause himself to be buried where it should please the Archbishop of Mexico or his Vicar Generall He spoke first with me about this matter before he talked with him and I answered him that at that time Gregory did not take any care for his buriall that all was at my disposing desiring indeed that his body should remaine in the Church of Santafe but I would not determine vntill I had spoke with him and telling Gregory what the Vicar Generall did require he said these wordes let the Vicar Generall his will be done for that is the will of God and so this being takeÌ„ vnder witnes before a Notary the Vicar Generall commanded that it should be buried in this Church yet so as that it should be lawfull to translate it to the Cathedrall of Mexico when it pleased the Archbishop prouiding hereby with much prudence and mature iudgement that if in processe of time it should please God to declare by miracles how much he hath bin pleased by this his seruant the city of Mexico might be honoured with the treasure of his holy body There were present at his funeralles many deuout persons and of good account who had flocked thither from Mexico and other parts only for that purpose and brought with them torches and whatsoeuer else was necessary for the better soleÌ„nising of the office which was performed by Don Alonso de Motay Escouar Deane of the Church of Mexico who was then Bishop elect of Guadalaiara and now is of Tlaxcalla His body was enterred neare the high aultar on the ghospell side and many persons that touched him 24. howers after his death found his limmes so flexible as if he had bin aliue though commonly dead bodies as soone as they become cold vse to grow stiffe so as their ioyntes cannot be bended Some say that God is wont to bestow this gift and particular priuiledge vpon virgins bodies as it is likely that he was At his buriall allso the foresaid smell was felt wherwith the peoples deuotion was so increased that they cutt off pieces of his garment very greedily thinking theÌ„selues happy if they could but get any thing that was his They solemnised his funeralls vpoÌ„ S. Annes day and Doctour Hernando Ortis de Hinoiofa Canon of Mexico who died being chosen Bishop of Gautimala made a sermon at them This was the maruailous end of this seruant of God whose memory deserueth to be kept and reuerenced by all not only the citisens of Mexico but also of Madrid his country for besides the obligation which all the faithfull haue to worship aÌ„d honour the reliques and memories of saints these haue a particular the Prouince of Mexico by enioying these pretious reliques and the most famous towne of Madrid the court of the Catholick king because it is now euident that he was borne there and Christned in the Parishe of S. Giles which is that we spoke of before and is the Church of the Franciscans discalceate and the Parish is at this day incorporated with S. Iohns The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE OF MANY OTHER maruailous workes of the life and death of the seruant of God Gregory Lopes THE FIRST CHAPTER Wherin are treated many notable things by which it hath pleased God to manifest the sanctity of Gregory Lopes GOd is a faithfull freind of his seruants as saith the Spouse in the Canticles and it is seene by this that one of the properties of true freinds is to procure by all meanes possible when it is necessary or conuenient to make knowne and lay open those good partes which ly hidden and concealed in those whom they desire to honour and reward And this is the Title which Nabuchodonosor gaue vnto the God of Israell after that Daniell had interpreted his dreames vnto him saying Truely your God is God of
sack cloth and went 24. mile farther into the Country to the Valley of Amvac amongst the Chichimecos whose crueltic was in those time much feared by the Spaniards because they did eate Mans fleshe and committed many other cruelties but he hauing God in his heart feared no man and so it came to passe that these Men or beasts for soe they shewed themselues to others were so courteous to him as that they helped him to make è little cottage after the manner of an Hermitage which we may well say was the first that euer was in new Spaine with that name THE THIRD CHAPTER Of the solitary life which he began to lead in the Valley of Amayac amongst the Chichimecos GRegory Lopes began his solitary life as he was entring into the one and twentieth yeare of his age which is a matter of great importance to wit to begin euen from ones youth those exercises which are to continue all ones life and S. Ambrose said that this was the honour of young Men to learne the feare of God from their tender years Therfore the first thing that Gregory did for the better performance of this his solitary life was to make the two first steps the one with the feare the other with the loue of God offering himself vp ito his hands and putting himself vnder the shadow of his most assured protection with these wordes Lord here I goe forth onely to serue thee and not for any interest of mine owne if I doe perisheth on thy account be it By Gods fault no Man perisheth because he giueth euery one that which is sufficient if he will make his benefit of it for his saluation And our ruine allwaies proceedeth and is caused by ourselues as all the holy Fathers doe vnderstand and as may be gathered by many places of the holy Scripture especially by the wordes of the Prophet Isaie in the 13. Chapter Thy perdition O Israell is thy owne worke from me only thou hadst help that thou mightst not haue bin destroied if thou wouldst haue helped thy self with it So Gregory by those wordes did not meane that his soule might be lost for want of Gods assistāce he himself doing what lay in him because that cannot be imagined of a Man endued naturally with such an vnderstanding and supernaturally with so much light but by this manner of speech he intended to declare his affection and truely wordes comming from hearts enkindled with loue are alwaies to be piously interpreted conformably to the affection which doth then rule in them Here by we might gather the nature of this act of Gregory which proceeded from two apprehensions which he might haue had of God at that time The first was of a holy feare of the combates which offer themselues in the desert the which proceeded out of a perfect knowledge which God had giuen him of his owne weaknes The second of a great confidence which he put with all in the goodnes and metcy of God for the iust man by trusting in God looseth not his feare and by the feare of himself casteth not away his confidence in God Then if we refer it to the affection of confidence his act is to be declared thus Lord here I goe forth only to serue thee and not for any interest of mine if I perish vpon thy account be it as if he should say I am sure that by thy fault I shall not perish but I am rather of opinion that this proceeded from a holy feare and that which he could haue said was Lord here I goe forth not for my owne interest but only to serue thee if I doe ruine my self it will not be by obeying thee in this vocation which thou giuest me but because thou hast determined for mine owne vnworthines to suffer me to perish in that estate thou hast put me in as Saul did loose himself in that course wherein thou didst put him not by thy fault but his owne From the very instant that Gregory Lopes made this act he found the fauour of God in himself very efficacious and began with great courage to walke in the narrow path of perfection in the which he neuer retired back one foote or staid nor euer lost sight of that light with which God did direct him in this way He armed himself with continuall abstinences He vsed himself to eate but once à day allthough his meate was but short and of little nourishement for the most part of his time it was only Maiz or Indian wheate tosted which the Indians call Cacalote and he obserued this custome so strictly euen till his death that vpon no occasion yea though he were grieuously sick he would euer breake it He did neuer eate flesh yet if any sent him some slices of beefe in almes he receiued them thākefully concealing his abstinence but he did neuer eate them Rolles of Indian wheate were his ordinary bread and those but sparingly and lesse then sufficient sustinance to liue vpon if God had not sent him such fauour as might well seeme his in so much that his māner of life ād nourishemēt seemed rather miraculous then naturall THE IIII. CHAPTER How the retyring of Gregory seemed to some excessiue and his manner of life suspicious and the reproches which he thervpon endured and of a notable miracle which our Lord wrought by him ALthough the life of Gregory in the wildernes was so extraordinary and so retired from the conuersation of Men yet there were some that did carp at that estranging of himself especially because they did not throughly penetrate that inward practise of his soule and the exteriour which they saw was different from that which is commonly seene in such like Men that are giuen to spirituall exercises because they saw that vpon many holydaies he did not goe to Masse and that he had no spirituall bookes those slāderers of his blamelesse life not considering that the way which Gregory tooke and wherin God had enlienghted him was so inward so secret and so solitary that euen his soule it self as he often said did stand in feare and suspected her owne body And thus much touching the slāder for not vsesing bookes of deuotion and vocall prayer as for his hearing of Masse vpon daies of obligation this might excuse him that the neerest place to his Cottage or habitation was 24. or 30. mile off yet vpon great daies he alwaies went to heare it and afterwardes returned back to his widernes But it is no new thing that the iust and freinds of God suffer such like persecutions for as S. Austin saith very well persecution is that which disposeth the seruant of God for the glorious crowne which is ready for him in heauen and Lactantius saith that an Emperour or Prince could not know the valour of his Nobility if he had not enemies for their exercices and triall Besides this some imputed it to great folly in Gregory Lopes seeing him choose that wildernes before any other for his
to him out of spaine said vnto me now I would visite the Lady Marquesse if she would send for me and the Marquis were at that time in Tescuco and Gregory in Santafe where by may be seene how far he was out of the ordinary straine of human courtesy since that in time of prosperity he denied the visit which he could easily haue made and in time of aduersity he offerred himself to doe it being then aboue 4. miles going and comming He was not as yet perfectly recouered in Mexico and his lingering ague did not forfake him he was very weake and had but little stomack to his meate on the other side he longed for his desired solitarines and allthough he had strictly obserued it within my house at Mexico yet he made more account of the commodiousnes of the CouÌ„try and therefore I went about carefully to seeke out some seate neere the City where he might enioy his solitarines and I might often see him and in some manner relieue his sicknes and pouerty Whilest we were in these thoughts it fell out one day God so disposing that we went out both together to see a little village called SaÌ„tafe six mile of from Mexico the administration whereof belongeth to the Deane and Chapter of the Church of Mechoachan it seemed vnto vs very fit for our purpose by reason of its good â—emper and wholesomenes of the aire and the pleasantnes of the trees and springs which are wont to make a solitary life more pleasing allthough Gregory did not much regard those recreations all his conuersation being interiour as shall be said in another place I dealt with Doctour Hernando ortis de Inoâ—osa first reader of diuinity and Canon of the Cathedrall of Mexico and at that time gouernour of Santafe who like a vertuous Man and willing to further all that was good very freely gaue Gregory leaue to dwell in a house somewhat distant froÌ„ the viliage which stood neere the water that runs to Mexico He gaue order allso that the Indians should bring him all things that were necessary for his sustenance at the cost of the hospitall which is founded there and belongeth allso to the Church of Mechoacan Gregory Lopes haueing obtained this licence of Doctour Ortis went to that solitary dwelling the 22. of May 1589. being whit-munday where he coÌ„tinued his exercises of prayer and contemplation vntill his death as shall be said by and by THE XII CHAPTER Of the life which Gregory Lopes did lead in Santafe and of his daily exercises THis aboade was new vnto Gregory yet very fit for his spirituall exercises the which were not new vnto him but alwaies the same that God had taught him from the beginning though allwaies with greater progresse He was in that little house all alone allmost seauen months without conuersing with any man I visited him as often as I could and sometimes as I thinke some other deuout persons that liued ther abouts who by seeing him at the Parish Church vpon holidaies at Masse were much edified and by this occasion came to visit him By these my often visits I discouered euery day more and more of his great riches in veâ—… and spirit wherby I be came very desirous to liue in his company I desired of God both by meanes of other deuout persons prayers and allso my owne that he would let me vnderstand his holy will because in some mens opinion the emploiment which I had in Mexico was much to Gods seruice for I had bin aboue twenty yeares Curate of the great Church and had the charge of such poore people as were ashamed to beg whom I did prouide of such things as were necessary with the almes which I did continually aske for that purpose for ten yeares and more for which reason my Superiours doubted very much whether it was conuenient to giue me leaue or no to retire my self to a solitary life At length it pleased God so to dispose this matter as that I resolued that this course was couenient and my superiours condescended vnto it and gaue me licence which till then was denied me so I came to dwell in Santafe about Christmasse of the same yeare 1489. where I attended vpon Gregory vntill his death obseruing diligeÌ„tly all his wordes and deeds both day and night to see if by familiarity and common conuersation I could discouer any thing that was contrary to the good esteeme which I had of his extraordinary vertue but it was so much increased in me that euery day his spirit seemed more admirable his vertues more heroicall and his conuersation more celestiall In this time I heard from his owne mouth most of that which is here related though he did neuer speake purposely of those thinges that had hapned vnto him but only vpon diuers occasions when it seemed necessary for my profit or the good of other denout persons and all this hapening so seldome and so vnawares that I did not take sufficieÌ„t notice of it to cary it away neither did I thinke I should out-liue him so much as to be able to write of him and this which is writen of him is very little in respect of that which is wanting Those admirable thinges which I marked in him would be very hard to be related historically only I will note that his life was vniforme so as that which he did one day he did another and with this rule he passed months and yeares Therefore I will briefly set downe how he spent the day and night that hereby we may gather some little part of the great vertue which was in him At breake of day he did open his chamber window that he might begin to dispose and order his daies worke and washing his face and hands as soone as it was day light he read in the bible à little more then a quarter of an hower and then shut his booke againe His end in reading that booke was only because it was the holy Scripture and because God had giuen it him to reade and allso that if he did not vnderstand some thing the first time he might vnderstand it the second especially because he did beare such a respect and reuerence to the holy writ that vpon the reading of it he grounded that which he had to doe in the day time and that so constantly and duely as that some few daies before his death he said I haue not read in the bible these ten daies I doe nor remember that I haue omitted it so long a time before since I began to liue solitary After he had read the Scripture he betooke himself to his other exercise which was so inward and secret as that by no outward signes it could be perceiued of what kind it was whether prayer meditation or contemplation if it was of sad thinges or ioyfull whether he was in action or passion whether he spoke with God or God with him only it might be gathered by his great modesty and grauity of
coutenance that he was continually in the presence of God neuer loosing sight of him allthough he neuer imparted these thinges to others yet he told me those thinges which I haue writ of him and shall write hereafter He did allso vpon an occasion which I will here relate declare some thing to Don Fray Domingo de Salazar then Bishop of the Philippines who returning from thence to Mexico to goe to Spaine passed by Santafe on purpose to visit Gregory Lopes with whom he had had great familiarity as is said before in the fourth Chapter This prelate among other thinges desired him to tell him what exercise he vsed and wherin God had employed him to which he answered plainly that his exercise was to loue God and his neighbour The Bishop replied you told me these same words in Amayca fiue and twenty yeares a goe how is this haue you bin allwaies doing the same Gregory answered I haue allwaies done this though there be difference betwixt that times worke and this Wherby it is euident that the presence of God which Gregory practised was not meerely that only but was accompanied with à feruent loue of God and his neighbour which is the end of all the diuine precepts aÌ„d the highest degree of perfection that can be attained in this life This he gaue himself to both morning and eueÌ„ing and the most part of the night These were his prayers these his meditations this was the daily bread wheron that religious soule did feed And though he gaue himself to this all the day yet I did marke that in the morning chiefly he was with this exercise as it were transported He had no certaine place nor posture of body which he did ordinarily vse in it most commonly he did stand or sitt or walke in his Chamber sometimes he went out into a gallery which was neare his chamber to enioy the sun a while In his latter yeares he could not kneele by reason of his weaknes of body At eleauen we did dine both together with another guest if there were any for Gregory did not estrange himself from any especially not from deuout or religious persons In dinner time our discourse was of God or of some naturall thinges out of which he did draw some Spirituall consideration grounding very profund doctrine vpon them After dinner he spent sometime in these kinds of discourses When there was any religious person present that made vp the third he did harken very attentiuely vnto him but would neuer begin any discourse himself vnlesse he were asked or the present occasion did so require At other times I did reade vnto him some saincts liues out of Villegas his Flos Sanctorum S. Francis his Chronicles the booke called the spirituall meadow and other such bookes and this exercise lasted two yeares and more His time of recreation being ended he retired vnto his chamber still continuing in his vnion with God which he did neuer interrupt neither with eating or talking or any other outward occupation he did neuer sleep in the day time so that he had the more time to conuerse with God If towardes euening for it seldome hapned in the mornings there came to visit him any body that desired to talke with him in priuate about busines he denied entrance to none he gaue counsaile and comfort to all and offered to all his assistance in his prayers vnto God without exception of persons or times so that in these last yeares he was much visited not only by the common sort but much more by religious Men and Cleargy men and men of great learning and authority There were many gentlemen and great Ladies that had recourse vnto him sometimes in person othertimes by letters making him acquainted with affaires and desiring his counsaile and prayers also for their good successe But amongst others Don Luys de Velasco Marquis of Salinas who was President of the Councell and had bin twice Viceroy of new Spaine and once of Peru came some times to visit Gregory Lopes for the great affection and respect which he did beare vnto him and staied with him sometimes two or three howres together and he found in him sufficient vnderstanding to treate not only of his priuate affaires belonging to his soule but allso of the publick belonging to the gouernement of the kingdome In this manner Gregory spent the euenings before sunset he retired himself to his chamber and did not come fourth againe till the morning He neuer vsed cadle light from the time that he went into the wildernes which made some aske me out of curiosity what he did all the night in the darke not considering that his exercise being interiour did not depend of this materiall light but of the spirituall which neither day nor night was waÌ„ting He did neuer eate supper as is said and so was all alone in the darke vntill mine and a halfe or ten and then he laied himself downe vpon his little couch couered only with a meane couerlet and this was the softest bed that euer he had for at first the bare grouÌ„d was his bed afterwardes some sheepskins and some few yeares before his death he accepted at my earnest in treaty a little thin mattresse and the couerlet I spoke of In this manner he did sleep to my thinking not aboue two or three howers in all the night for he did spend the rest awake in contemplation till day light when as is said he opened his window He vsed all the daies of his life the self same exercises as is said and in this manner he passed ouer the time that he liued in Santafe vntil it pleased God to take him away to enioy euerlasting rest THE XIII CHAPTER Of the death of Gregory and of the most remarkable and admirable thinges which then happened ANd now it seemed the time approched wherein Gregory was to passe from this momentary life to an euerlasting there â—o receiue the rewarde which God hath prepared for his faithfull seruaÌ„ts for in the MoÌ„th of May 1596. he was stricken with an aire which did so distemper him as that he neuer found himself so weake and ill disposed and presently he lost his stomack alltogether in so much as that he could not swallow downe any thing but liquid thinges and them allso with much difficulty Few daies after he fell into the flux a disease troublesome nnd dangerous in such a weake body yet he would not suffer that a Physitian should be sent for partly because of the experience which he had in the cure of that disease and partly because he knew that the strong medicines which the Physitians vse to apply would in lesse time wast the little strength which he found in himself and seeing me solicitous by reason of his disease and that I desired much that some remedies should be applied he said vnto me now Father Losa let vs walke Gods pace as if he should say that conformity and resignation of mind was for those times and not
to be talked of when there is nothing that troubleth vs but all goeth well with vs so he was vsed to say commonly that resignation is alltogether deedes and hath no wordes He speÌ„t some daies after this manner with that patience and courage as he was vsed to suffer his other sicknesses vntill vpon the day of S. Iohn Baptist the 24. of Iune I thought it fitting to giue him the blessed Sacrament and askeing him whether he thought it good to receiue it then he answered yes and that he reioyced much that it was vpon the day of S. Iohn Baptist his especiall patron I gaue him the blessed Sacrament and fearing that his death did draw neere I had some holy oile in readines against it was needfull for besides his great weaknes and illstomach he had got a hicket that was very painefull vnto him and his pulse did beate with intermissions notwithstanding all this such was his courage that the very same day that he receiued his Viaticum and all the daies following he rise out of his bed and made it himself he made himself readie and allwaies euen to his death he did rise to the stoole and though commodity was offered him yet he would mortify himself in not vsing it He grew weaker euery day not being able to eate any thing at all he only sustained himself with strong waters which were sent him in great quantity from Mexico by persons of quality which when he receiued admiring at the prouidence of God he said with great feeling â—hou art wonderfull o Lord for that a Man who in all the world doth not possesse a pin of his owne should haue need to liue vpon waters of kings and princes and should find those that would giue him them without seeking for Now the day of the glorious Apostles S. Peeter and Paul was come and I doubting that my sick man would not out-liue that day thought it most secure to giue him Extreme Vnction He was very glad that this Sacrament was to be administred vnto him vpon that day of the Princes of the Church to whom he was much deuored and had allwaies a desire to serue The time being come wherin I was to giue him absolution in vertue of his Bulla Cruzada I bad him call to mind some sin though of the yeares past that I might absolue him and apply vnto him the Indulgences of the See Apostolick whereunto he answered that by the mercy of God he did not feele any thing trouble his conscience the which was to be vnderstood of morâ—all sins whence may be gathered that hâ— neuer committed any in his life because he was not ignorant that none euer liued without veniall sin â—xcâ—pting our Lady though it might be allso he said that he did not remember any veniall sin not because he had neuer committed any but because he had not committed them wittingly and being asked sodainly it might very well be that he remembred none With that I gaue him the Sacrament of Extreme Vnction afterwardes importuning him that he would suffer sheetes to be brought him to ease him somewhat of his paines he answered now that I am anoiled I may receiue them and thinking that his death drew neare I said vnto him will you dy now then speaking to himself he said now nature wilt thou dy shewing by this the pity and compassion which the spirit had of the body or the higher part of his soule of the lower ond sensitiue for Gregory vnderstood very well this diuision and anatomy of the inward Man and the outward and the parts of both and he was vsed to discourse very elegantly of it So vehement were the paines which he endured in his body as that I once asking him how he did and where was his paine he said that from the sole of his feet to the crowne of his head there was no part free from paine ad besides this our Lord on the other side did afflict him in the most interiour and sensible part of his soule so that both inwardly and outwardly he might haue abundant occasion of merit In this kind I will tell one thing that was generally knowne in Mexico though perhaps all doe not relate it so precisely as it hapned and therefore it is not amisse to set downe the truth I will conceale the persons names because those that knowe them will easily guesse the right and those that doe not knowe them there is no reason why they should Amongst those persons of quality that came from Mexico to visit Gregory in this his last sicknes there was a great Lady who was wife to a noble man that serued the king in an honourable office She did not giue such Good exaÌ„ple in the city as she might haue done both in matter of brauery and excessiue expences as also in playing at crades wherin she lost much time and mony allso drawing after her some other noble weomen who vnder her wing did dare to giue scope to that vice their husband 's not being able to hinder them This Lady came to Santafe the third of Iuly seauenteen daies before Gregoryes death to visit him and cherish him for allthough in the thinges aforesaid she was somewhat faulty yet for workes of merey and compassion towardes the poore and afflicted she was much to be commended As soone as I vnderstood of her comming I sent word vnto her that she should not come into the house hauing made such little vse of his prayers and labours for that hauing bin here before she had not left off playing art cardes and taken away the scandall which she did giue therby being a purgatory to so noble a gentleman as her husband was therefore she might returne to Mexico for there was no meanes to see the sick man neither would her almes be wellcome vnto him She made diuerse replies and in messages backwardes and forwardes were speÌ„t three or foure howers I still denying her leaue to come and visit him Whilest therfore this Lady expected the last resolution and answer that deuote of ours whom I spoke of and others allso certified me that she came with a great desire to amend and leaue of her idle life and gaming and that therfore it would much auaile for her entire amendment to comfort her and yeeld to that which she did so much desire wherwith I was satisfied and of opinion that she should see him As she came in at the doore a far of he said vnto her Father Losa had promised that you should not come in at this doore to which she answered he hath reason but I will amend As soone as she saw Gregory she tooke much compassion of his infirmity and began presently to serue him with her owne handes sitting on her knees at his bedd side aÌ„d to dresse his meate for in that she had a speciall faculty though she had a greater in commending herself earnestly to his prayers and making vse of that good occasion in time before it slipt
THE LIFE OF GREGORIE LOPES THAT GREAT SERVANT of God natiue of Madrid WRITTEN IN SPANISH BY Father Losa Curate of the Cathedrall of Mexico AND SET OVT BY FATHER Alonso Remon of the Order of our Lady de la Merced with some additions of his owne IHS PRINTED AT PARIS M.DC.XXXVIII TO HIS HONORABLE AND NOBLE FRIEND S. KENELME DIGBIE LEARNINGS BEST ADVANCER THE opinion which vpon diuers occasions you haue expressed you had of the excellencie of this smale worke and the great esteeme wherin you kept it alwayes by you in spanish enboldned my vnskilfulnes to bestowe vpon it an English beeing such assurance are you able to giue of the worth of whatsoeuer you vndertake to prise or prayse Now if as your word went before the presse so it may please you to permitt your noble name to appeare in the Frontispice and to take it into such a degree of fauour as to stand betwixt the Saint and Censure I dare promis he will be looked on and liked by the most yea euen by the best vnderstandings be iudged to speake excellent truthes with profitt and admiration and herin you shall still adde to the high rate the world putts vpon the riches of your mind which makes you your countries admiration and pride and the enuie of other nations who would iudge it no crime to mistake you for one of theirs did you not by the frequent and feruent testimonies of your incomparable zeale loue and affection to serue our best King and Countrie put them out of that dreame But what doe I doe I dare not giue sayle into the Ocean of your vast soule which is capable of all things from the highest to the lowest in perfection Not that I dread censure of flatterie where euery one is readie to subscribe if I could find any end or to write themselues of they could find any beginning of your prayses plentie making vs all poore in this too plentifull a subiect But that your obligations haue made me too much your seruant to be willing to obscure what I am not able to illustrate I will onely therfor giue my long imprisoned thoughts leaue to appeare in words confessing with all sinceritie and truth that for my part I neuer mett with Magnanimitie matched with such mildnes such admirable knowledg accompayned with such humilitie so great abilitie attended with such affabilitie nor so perfect courtshipe in coniunction with so great pietie In a word the Court meets with nothing more polished more obliging more endearing The Armie with nothing more generous resolute and vndaunted The schoole with nothing that ether makes more deepe and strong cōceptions or more happie and gracefull productions And yet that which is iustly most admired and beloued in you is that that Pietie which you teach the world to practise teacheth you to make frequent and faire retreates from thence to a Religious Cell or solitude which seemes indeed to be the Center where your soule reposeth and where being remoued out of the noyse of the world you better discerne what God speakes to your hart Please Noble Sr. to admit this trifle as a signe of gratitude till tyme present something whose bulke may be better able to beare your prayses ād permitt that I in the interim may honor myself with the title of Your most humble and deuoted seruant N. N. THE LIFE OF GREGORIE LOPES THAT GREAT SERVANT of God natiue of Madrid WRITEN IN SPANISH BY Father Losa Curate of the Cathedrall of Mexico AND SET OVT BY FATHER Alonso Remon of the Order of our Lady de la Merced with some additions of his owne PRINTED AT PARIS 1638. OF THE BIRTH PArents and country of Gregory Lopes and of the beginning of his Vocation THE FIRST CHAPTER GREGORY Lopes was borne at Madrid in the yeare of our Lord 1542. on the fourth of Iulie vpon which day was celebrated at that time the feast of S. Gregory Thaumaturgus Bishop of Neocaesarea in Pontus but since is transferred to the 17. of Nouember He was baptized in the Parish of S. Giles and was named Gregory by his Parents because he was borne vpon that day This is all that is knowne and cā be auerred of his linage house and name for those that were most inward with him were of opinion that Lopes was not his owne but rather that the holy man had assumed it the better to conceale his noble family For there appeared in his behauiour a certaine generosity vnder that humble grauity and that freedome of spirite and resolurion in what busines soeuer a respect and courtesy so accōmodated to euery ones quality as all were persuaded that he was descended of a noble house None could euer heare from his owne mouth what he was for being asked by some graue personages and such as were most familiar with him who he was and of what country he answered what auaileth that Father Francis Losa a great seruant of God who had bin Curate of the Cathedrall of Mexico and left all to accompany and conuerse with holy Gregory and to cherish and tende him as he did vntill his death treating of the same thing in the booke which he did write of his life and how he had earnestly intreated him some few daies before his death that he would tell him who were his Parents he affirmeth that he made answer only in these wordes since I came into the field to lead a solitary life I haue held only God for my Father my brethren by this time are dead of whom I was they oūgest Such was his silēce in this though remarkeable in all things It is probable that he had his calling euen from his childhood because Father Losa askeing him vpon an occasion if God began to dispose him for his seruice as soone as he had the vse of reason he said he knew not certainely whether it was then or a little after but that he was certaine that our Lord had called him very soone and that he neuer was a chid in his manners and so he was wont to say as one that had found it by experience in himself that which the holy Ghost said by Hieremy that the man was happy that caried the yoake of our Lord from his youth In his childhood he did learne to reade and write wherein he became so excellent as that some things which he hath left writen with his owne hands seeme to be printed he did neuer study Latine nor any science so that whosoeuer did heare him treate of many verities both naturall and diuine so clearely and distinctly as he did might easily gather that without doubt he had no other Master but God He had a desire euen almost from his infanty to liue à solitary life far from his parents and therfore being very young he went to Burgos and from thence to Nauarre and liued six yeares vpon a mountaine in the company of an hermire in great pouerty obedience and humility till at lenth God so permitting his Father
Gods Lord of Kings reuealer of secrets and interpreter of great and hidden misteries Gregory died to the eies of the world I meane of Men addicted to the word and forgetfull of their saluation but he liued in the memory of the faithfull and of the true Christians to whom God began to reueale in the death of his seruant how acceptable his life had bin vnto him of this we haue infinite testimonies and be this the first At the same hower that Gregory died a certain religious woman much exercised in vertue and interiour conuersation with whom this holy Man was vsed to haue communication in the vnion of spirituall life being at her prayers rapt in spirit she saw him come towardes her saying these wordes sister I am going to heauen you are not to goe so soone because your presence is necessary for the seruice of God and the comfort of this monastery this said he presently vanished away leauing her soule much edified aÌ„d resigned to the will of God though her desire was to be freed from that mortall body and be with Christ And before the newes of Gregory his death came to Mexico she told this reuelation to her ghostly father who being certified of the truth aduised her not to diuulge that which had bin reuealed vnto her vntill it pleased God to declare what was to be done he did allso counsaile her to pray more earnestly vnto God to assure her whether this was a visioÌ„ from him or illusion of the diuell and twelue daies after she told her ghostly father that it was the will of God that this should be reuealed vnto me because I had inquired of what had past and moreouer that these wordes were spokeÌ„ vnto her by the mouth of her heauenly spouse Iesus Christ Wherefore thinkest thou Gregory is placed neare me because he left all temporall things for my sake and liued with inward recollection and silence I haue bin told of a religious woman whose vertue and spirit is well knowne vnto me how that fiue yeares before Gregory his death laying herself downe vpon her bed after Prime because at that time she was sick God shewed her in her sleep the heauens open and all the religious Orders and Martirs going out in procession and more ouer our Lady with many of the weomen saints and our Sauiour Iesus Christ with Apostles and she being amaysed at this vision it was told her that they went to visit holy Gregory who was sick Afterwardes she vnderstood that he was like to dy and that he had not earen any thing in fiue daies A certaine person whose wisdome vertue and humility is well knowne to all moued with an affectioÌ„ of deuotioÌ„ and loue which he did beare towardes this holy man did desire him some daies before his death to remember him and he promised him to doe so and the first saturday night after Gregory his death this man saw in his sleep a vision wherwith he waked and that which he saw was the likenes of holy Gregory whose blessed soule did as it were vnite it self vnto the others body and made him praise God in his â—aints especially in the holy conâ—esiour Gregory with great Iubily and this past for a while and he remaining very ioyfull and much comforted he began againe to feele himself touched ouer all the body and awaking therwith now the secoÌ„d time that shape of Gregory did enter into him moouing him after an extraordinary manner and making him praise God in such sort as it was not in his power to cease one instant and withall made him vnderstand and acknowledge how vnworthy he was of that fauour and how much he was obliged to serue God and be gratefull for that visite of his faithfull freind A seruant of God of approued vertue whom our Lord teacheth and incourageth by many extasies and rapts being one day ten yeares before Gregory his death sore afflicted and full of paine he began to consider with himself the excellence of Gregory his spirit and being in this consideration rapt in spirit there was set before the eies of his vnderstanding an image so cleare and transparant as that he could see through it and it was told him such is the soule of Gregory Lopes where at he did both wonder and reioyee very much and told it vnto Gregory who answered not a word A religious Man that led a spirituall life much addicted to prayer whilest he was praying in the quire had such a cleare knowledge of his being nothing giuen him by God at the intercession of Gregory as that it much edifieth all that treate with him and withall such a great loue of God and vnioÌ„ with his diuine maiesty that two months being past since he receiued that fauour he hath neuer discontinued that vnion but allwaies perseuered in one continuall act There was a certaine Priest that was much affected to the vertue and spirit of Gregory and had great hope to find fauour in the â—ight of God by meanes of his â—rayers he considering sometimes with himself a little while after Gregory his death how happy he was and gracious in the sight of God once in his sleep he seemed to heare a voice which said Aske and in confirmation of this word he asked some thing of God which till that time he could neuer obtaine and it was granted him presently the same day and by the same meanes he obtained other things not only for himself but allso for others To another deuout man that came to aske counsaile of Gregory being now dead as he was vsed to doe whilest he liued it was said iudge not thy neighbours and be more temperate wherwith he told me that he had reaped much profit in his soule Many other things like vnto these haue bin wrought by our Lord whereby appeares the great glory wherwith the diuine goodnes hath honoured Gregory aftâ—r his happy passage and made knowne his great sanctity by a number of miracles THE SECOND CHAPTER Of some Miracles which God hath wrought by the reliques of Gregory Lopes GOd is woÌ„t to exalt his freinds not only in their heauenly country where they liue for euer but allso in this place of exile where they dy and to honour those at their death who honoured him in their life working miracles by the iust man to the end that his good workes may be knowne the power of God honouring him with miracles who had serued and honoured God with his vertues And because the sanctitie and vertue of Gregory haue bin so excellent therfore the diuine goodnes hath done and doth still euery day so many miracles by this his seruant as that if any curiosity and diligence had bin vsed in gathering them together and approuing them by this time we night haue made a good large relation of them and I hope in God that he will yet worke more for his greater glory the honour of this holy man and our profit and edification I will here only
relate some of the most certaine and approued The same day that he was buried and Indian woman of good account wife to the gouernour of this towne being lame of one arme and in great paine at the same instant as she tooke Gregory his hand in hers to kisse it she found herself perfectly sound and free from all paine giueing God thankes for the mercy he had shewed her by this his seruants meanes A little girle of fiue or six yeares of age was sore tormented with a disease which she fell into by eating of earth very dangerous by reason of great obstructions and swelling in her belly together with a vehement ague and beatings in her head and heart and foure daies after Gregory his death being much afflicted she said vnto her Mistresse who was a Lady noble by bloud but more for her Christian like behauiour and recollection which she made choice of and obserueth in the Monastery of the Conception at Mexico Mother least that God should take me away apply vnto me that little welt of Gregory Lopes which was giuen you for he will cure me she did so leauing the child at night with a great feauer and when she rise to Mattins as she was wont to doe in passing by she went in to see how the child did whom she found a sleep and rid of her ague and awaking her asked her how she did she answered well for the saint hath taken away my paine The said lady rendred many thankes to God for this so great a miracle Another great woman in Mexico was tormented with a headache in such manner as that she was like to loose her senses and finding no help in any remedies whatsoeuer she laid vpon her head a slâ—eue of Gregory his doublet which to her great happines was kept there in great deuotion and reuerence and she did presently take her rest free from all paine A child of three months old the first and only son of his pareÌ„ts who were of the best ranke of Mexico was sick of a feauer not being able either to sucke or sleep whilest all those of the house and of the kindred allso were troubled hereat one of the maides reâ—embred herself of a certaine relique of Gregory which was in the house which being laid vpon the childs head he presently fell asleep some howers after awaked tooke the teate and was well his parentes and those that were present gaue many thankes vnto God and his saint for this miracle In the same city there was a Priest who was so troubled with the toothache as that for three daies and three nights he could not haue one instant of rest and by reason of its vehemence his face was much swelled his mother gaue him a piece of Gregory his garment and he with faith and deuotion applying it to his cheeke presently fell a sleep and slept from nine of the clock at night vntill the next morning and then awaking he found the swelling of of his face asswaged and himself without any paine attributing this sodaine recouery to the intercession of this saint and giueing God thankes for it In the house of a Gentleman of Mexico a man well knowne in this kingdome there befell vnto a slaue of his such a sodaine accident and great misfortune as that all held him for dead of a vehement fit which he had a gentle woman that was present calling to mind that she had in her keeping a piece of the shirt in which Gregory dyed which I had giuen her she caused a little cofer to be brought her and taking out the said relique she laid it vpoÌ„ the sick mans forehead and presently he came to himself againe whole and sound though with much a doe and being asked what he had felt he answered nothing All that saw this accident with its circumstances could not but attribute this cure to a miracle which our Lord wrought by his seruant Gregory Lopes In the city de los Angelos an honourable Lady was brought to the poinct of death by a violent feauer which she fell into being great with child and neare her time but the infant dead in her wombe her husband seing her in this danger intreated a brother of the Conualescents by name Iohn Valleio to visit her he went and carried with him a little piece of Gregory his garment and applying it to the sick womans neck said vnto her put your hope in God and reuerence this relique of Gregory Lopes for by his intercession you shall be restored to your health it seemes she did so for being deliuered of that creature she remained sound The said brother applied the same Relique to a sick woman in the same towne who had such a grieuous headache as that for a long time she cried out continually both day and night he wished her to put all her confidence in God and firmely to beleeue that he would giue her her health by the merits of Gregory Lopes She presently recouered rendring many thankes vnto God and remaining deuout vnto him who by his intercession had freed her from so great paine In the city of Taxca a young man was infected with a pittifull leprosi and after he had tried many medicines and spent much in the curing of it and all in vaine a brother of the ConualenceÌ„ts gaue him a little piece of Gregory his garment bidding him apply it to his neck and take this seruant of God for his Patron with an assured hope to be healed and it came to passo that within eight daies he found himself cleare of the leprosy and diuulged this miracle publishing euery wherewith much gratitude the wonderfull workes of God and the praises of Gregory In a village of this kingdome called Higualapa a gentleman had bin for the space of 16. months troubled with a grieuous paine of the collik not haucing in all that time scarce a day nor hower free especially the last twenty daies in which his paine did not diminish a whit nor giue him one minute of rest As it hapned there was present a gentlewoman wife to the chiefe Iustice of that prouince who told him that many miracles had bin wrought through the deuotion which those of her house did beare vnto Gregory Lopes and that if he with the like faith would make him his mediatour to the diuine goodnes he might assure himself of his health The sick man hearing this tooke a piece of Gregory his shirt and applied it to the place where he felt his greatest paine and holding it there a little while he presently voided a stone of the bignes of a pine kernell Herwith he recouered and neuer after felt that paine and held it for certaine that this happines and safety did befall him by the merits and intercession of Gregory Lopes to whom he was euer after very deuout A brother of the Conualescents named Alonso de la Fuente was six yeares in the hospitall of Guasteca allmost allwaies siek full of emplasters and both legs
his vnderstanding as he did his body with those of his body and he did clearely discerne those two springs of his body and his soule which rise vp so mingled the one with the other restrayning the current of the body and enlarging that of the spirit which is very rare for it is a very hard thing and such as few attaine vnto to distinguish in ones self the workes that proceed from grace from those that proceed from nature because oftentimes the one are masked with the liknes of the others Gregory discerned these very well both in himself and others that asked him counsaile in the like doubts It once so fell out with me that haueing bin for some months space only exercised in mentall prayer wherin I found great difficulty and trouble I had afterwardes occasion to goe about a certaine worke of charity and by the way I felt such an inward ioy and tranquillity of mind that in those daies me thought I was in heauen Afterwardes returning to Santafe and giueing him account of what had past I told him that my spirit had dilated it self very much he answered me Father Losa it was your nature that dilated it self I did beleeue him though at that time I did not vnderstand it but assisted through the mercy of God by his prayers soone after I attained to this verity for I was wont to doe outward workes of charity which though in themselues they be vertuous and meritorious yet haue this property that they recreate and dilate nature and sometimes self loue creeps in but in that recollection I did only vse mentall prayer during the which nature was as it were in a continuall torment and rack because she was withheld from those exercises wherin she was vsed to find content and delight though holy and good of which kind are these to relieue the necessities and seeke the good of ones neighbour to heare and speake of heauenly things for these haue bin my employments by the grace of God for some yeares but when I left of this recollection to doe that worke of charity which I spoke of and recreated my self with the sight of the fieldes and hills nature did returne to her former case and quietnes so as she made no war against the spirit wherwith I rereceiued much content thinking that now I was at peace with my self but afterwardes when I desired to returne to my sole mentall exercises I found that nature had got more strength then euer to war against the spirit and perceiuing by this manifestly that this my peace was not so much of the spirit as of nature I came to see by euident consequence that Gregory knew my spirit better then I my self did Certaine religious men talking in his presence of things which did help ones spirit and deuotion one of them said that musick did much auaile for he by heareing once euēsong in the great Church at Mexico found his spirit so reuiued as that he had neuer said his prayers before with such peace and quietnes Another said that it auailed much to pray in company with others because the difficulty which he found in praying in his Cell was diminished and taken away by the presēce and example of those that did pray with him Gregory let thē goe away without speaking a word vnto them about that matter I did perceiue that he could easily haue freed them from their errour and shewed them that it is nature that is helpt and recreated by those meanes and not the spirit as might be seene by the successe which I had and because the reason why some in prayer doe help themselues with the company of others is because our nature is quickned and taketh delight that her good workes are seen as may be seen in those who take a discipline and giue almes in publick therfore such as those following the content of nature pray better in company then alone I asked him what was the reason that he did not aduise and instruct those religious men in this he answered me because that were to hinder their iourney for with that staffe they goe on a little and without it they would sit downe Our Lord had giuen him a great quicknes of iudgment in distinguishing thōghts or words which was idle and which not and in speaking of God he could very well discerne when it proceeded from nature and when from God to this purpose he was vsed to say many mē doe speake of God more through loue of themselues then of God sometimes allso he said the loue of God is all in workes it hath but few wordes and oftentimes it is dumbe From this knowledge proceeded that rare moderation of his tongue as shall be said in its proper place From hence allso it came to passe that he neuer had any scruples but an admirable quietnes of mind ād no lesse certainty in matters of faith wherin he neuer had any doubts notwithstanding his great temptations and this is that which he meant at the hower of his death when being asked whether he would haue the holy candle to goe and see the secret he answered with great courage as is said before all is cleare there is nothing secret it is noone day with me wherin his meaning was not that his faith had no obscurity in it but that he had no doubt in matetrs belonging vnto it for our faith is obscure yet so as it is allso most certaine and the certainty of it taketh not away its obscurity wherin our Lord will haue vs walke in this life captiuating our vnderstanding in his seruice as saith the Apostle I haue thought conuenient to put downe some examples wherby the greatnes of the light which Gregory had might be gathered since that with it he knew not only himself and his owne spirit but allso other mens I had great signes and coniectures by those things which had hapned vnto me to perswad my self that he did see other mens soules being of this opinion I asked him one day about fiue yeares or more before his death if it were true that he did see them he answered no with this so plain an answer I beleeued him and rested satisfied but I obserued that frō that day forwardes he grew euery day more wary therfore I spoke no more vnto him of that matter but since I haue had and now haue so many witnesses so worthy of credit and such as none can except against that I thinke I should doe ill in not affirming it for certaine and if he said that he did not see them that is to be attributed to his great humility and wisedome which made him seeke to conceale that gift of God as he did many others neither is it to be thought that a mā so true and perfect did tell a ly for his denying of it in this case might be saued from a ly by many waies First it might be that at that time God had not as yet done him that fauour but that
from him because he would serue his king for his Maiesties owne sake and not vpon hope of receiâ—ing those spirituall coÌ„tentments in part of paiment of his good will and loue for at the begining God had bestowed on him the gift of teares but he besought him to take it away for the said reason He had allso a most ardent desire to see the Humanity of our Sauiour Christ in this life but perceiuing that this desire did keep him back aÌ„d in a manner diminish his resignation he did presently endeauour to mitigate it contenting himself with this that God â—ould shew it him when it was â—is holy will Gregory put away â—rom himself all those comforts â—ecause he desired to serue God â—ithout pay or any charges borne in this life and therfore he died so well content that God led him by the way of the Crosse For all the many murmurings which he heard against himself some iudging him an heretick others a foole others a vagabound he neuer excused nor answered for himself but defended and excused those that spoke ill of him Some of his freinds vpon a certain occasion told him of a great stirre that was raised against him he answered them God forbid that I should trouble and distract my mind with thinking on it and therwith continued still as quiet as he was before they told him of it A certaine man of great account desired me to informe him of the estate of the Hospitall of Guasteca and after I had giuen him account of all things I told him that there was a man there called Gregory Lopes of such and such vertues spirit and prayer and what doth this man said he in the Hospitall I answered that he was there allwaies in a chamber at his prayers and neuer went forth then he said to this man could I willingly giue two hundred stripes and when we told this story afterwardes to Gregory he smiling excused him saying he saith well for an idle fellow doth well deserue two hundred stripes and gentlemen that are full of busines cannot easily vnderstand what inward exercises are It was neuer perceiued that he had any desire to be esteemed or knowne and he hath often reprehended me for praysing him he neuer cared for the visits of the Viceroies Prelates and nobility but rather shewed when occasion was withall modesty and good respect that he did not take any content in those visites when they did not concerne the glory of God or his neighbour his good and though the holy man did much esteeme the great piety and wisedome of Don Luys de Velasâ—o the Viceroy yet he intreated him to excuse his visits alleadging good reasons for his request In those visites that great persons made vnto him he did allwaies shew an humble grauity and assured token of his great mind The Inquisitours gaue order that his booke which he made vpon the Apocalips should be seen and perused by Don Fray Pedro de Augusto Bishop of Cibu who gaue in approbation that he had neuer seen a better exposition of those diuine reuelations that he admired how he could say so much with such certainty and shortnes that he did beleeue he had supernaturall light giuen him for the writing of that booke and wheÌ„ the Inquisition medled with that busines Gregory did not shew nor doe we think he had any trouble of mind nether would he keepe a copy of it nor speake a word of it euen as if it had bin none of his worke Such was his greatnes of mind as that he neuer acquainted any man with his griefes and afflictions nor sought comfort from any creature yet he was wont to tell for the good of his neighbour things that had hapned vnto him in times past Many times in they eare he did endure great paines of the stomack and of the collick yet he neuer complayned nor changed countenance nor the good posture that he was vsed to keep when he was in best health so as I did not know his infirmities but only by his great weaknes aÌ„d extraordinary ill stomack One time seing him much falne away I asked him what aile you that you are so weake He replyed 15. daies together I haue bin troubled with à fit of the collick and by these meanes I came to know his diseases which were so great as that they made me pitty him and wonder how he could exercise such constancy and austerity of life with them He was ordinarily sick of a feauer which he cured by diet enduring hanger if need were for three or foure or fiue naturall daies he neuer vsed bed euen in his great sicknesses whilst he was in Santafe he had the toothache for a yeare together and I had neuer knowne it but that he went twice into the field for hearbes that he knew were good to cure him and sometimes he could not eate for paine Hauing once hurt one of his great teeth he would not let me send for a barber to pull it out but pulled it out himself by a very painefull meanes such was the desire that he allwaies had of finding some occasion to suffer for men that are vnited to God vse to find as much content in suffering as others find commonly in their ioy and ease This valiant man told me that the diuell did once assaile him in a visible shape and I askeing him how he did defend himself he answered me in these wordes I thought that I could not doe a better thing then that which I did so I continued it with all my strength and he vanished away and neuer tempted me visiblily againe We neuer heard him speake any good sentence which he did not put in practice when need was and he was wont to say to this purpose misery it self is not to be desired but a will to endure it with moderatioÌ„ of mind and so he endured all these that hapened vnto him with such an inuincible and constant mind as that he did not seeme subiect to change therfore from the first day that I saw him which is 18. yeares agoe I presently perceiued in him a certaine excellence which I had not seene in any other man This opinion increased in me euen till his death and allso since his death it increaseth with the wonders which God doth daiely worke by him But to returne to the intent of this Chapter what courage and valour might a souldier haue who from a poore country fellow should come by feates of armes to be a Grandy of the king his court but how much greater valour is necessary for a spirituall souldier of himself poore and abiect a son of Adam to become great in the court of God and since that Gregory is come to that height of honour as to be great in the court of heauen it is fitting that his valour and courage should be knowne that so we may glorify God in this Sainte gathering by that little which is written here the great aboundance that God hath bestowed
on him in comparison of which this that is written is nothing partly by reason of the care which he vsed in concealing his vertues partly for feare least I should exceed the breuity which I had intended in this relation telling only those that were so open to the view as that they could not but be seene I asked him one day how he could so much conceale his vertues it seeming vnto me an heroicall and hard thing to doe he answered me that sentence worthy of eternall memory To conceale ones vertues is not a thing hard vnto him that hath a liuely faith for if a man doe certainly beleeue that all his vertues shall be seen in the court of heauen what will he care whether they be knowne or no in the village of this world THE X. CHAPTER Of the humility and inward pouerty of Gregory Lopes I should haue bene very happy if God had giuen me any part of the great inward pouerty which he bestowed on this seruant the which consisteth in hauing the heart free from all loue of creatures and giuing himself wholy to the loue of his Creatour for it may be sayd of this holy vertue peculiarly that those that practise it can speake better of it then those that study it and cōsequently I should better declare Gregory his vertues if I had some of it What an excellent patterne of it this Sainct hath bin may partly be vnderstood by that which I saw with my owne eies and by what I gathered by the auswers he gaue to many men in diuerse occasions The sons of Adam haue for the most part ingrafted in them a desire to be esteemed more excellent thētheir neighbours Gregory was so free from this that he allwaies preferred others before himself and to that purpose I haue often heard him say since I begun to liue solitary I neuer iudged any body I esteemed all men better and wiser then myself and therfore vnlesse I were asked I neuer gaue counsaile to any man nor made myself a teather of others Of this all that cōuersed with him are witnesses and we haue seene by experience that because he would not make himself a Master to any God hath ordained that he should be vnto many From hence proceeded the great care that he allwaies had to excuse those that did iudge him and as I told him one day that there were many that slaundered him he answered I haue allwaies excused them not only in wordes but allso with all my heart in deedes From hence allso it came to passe that he did not desire his speeches should be valued and therfore he neuer went about to premeditate and compose the wordes that he was to speake before hand and he told me to this purpose that once it was before he began his solitary life he spent some time before hand in thinking of the discourse that he was to make and that afterwardes he had no occasion to speake it wherby he was aduertised not to loose time in composeing his wordes trusting in God that he would giue him those that were conuenient when need was and for this cause God gaue him the grace neuer to commit any errour in his speech for all the wordes that he spoke seemed full of diuine wisedome the Lord of heauen and earth reuealing vnto this humble seruāt those thinges which he hath hidden from the prudent and wise of the world Eight daies before his death there came to visite him a religious man very wise and vertuous and his great freind and among other thinges that he talked of seing his life in danger he asked him very familiarly must we goe now to enioy God thinking that he would tell him of the hower of his death but this humble seruant of God answered him with great admiration Doth your reuerence aske me this it shall be as pleaseth God as if he should say you that are wise doe you thinke that I know the hower of my death I doe not deserue so much wherwith the religious man was much edified Three or foure daies before his death there came in to see him an Indian woman of this village and as I was speaking to her in her owne tongue because he did not vnderstand it he said vnto me note well what she saith peraduenture she will giue me some good aduice wherin I noted his great humility since that he thought himself of lesse worth then an Indian woman and that she could tell him what was conuenient for him now in the end of his life More ouer men are wont to haue another affection that is to thinke of what is to befall them from which Gregory was very free for he that desireth purely to serue God esteemeth all such cares as lets and hindrances and therfore he neuer thought of courses of changing his life what should become of him whether he should dy of hunger or cold or should be bedrid whether he should liuelōg or a little while whether he should doe such or such thinges for the seruice of God or his neigbours good because he knew there was wont to be in thes and the like thoughts if one were caried away with them some secret temptation of the enemie or at the least losse of time and for this reason like a wary and humble man vpon occasion of such thoughts he allwaies said I am nothing I am good for nothing contenting himself with doing that which God in his holy law commandeth him and not iudging himself worthy of other thinges in times to come though he was alwaies prepared in mind to doe whatsoeuer the diuine Maiestie did ordaine One time as some were talking in his presence of the sumptuous tombes that some men build and of their competences about places and chappells he said when I dy let them bury my body where they will so it be in holy ground but if they doe not it will so annoy them as that it will make them quickly enterre it He was so far from taking care and prouiding for himself for the time to come as that he would not suffer that any body else should take care for him for when I went about to looke for another place to liue in because the aire of this village of Santafe was not very commodious for his weaknes and sicknes he allwaies said vnto me let no man be solicitous for me for God will haue a care to prouide as shall please him He had his heart allso free from all curious affection both temporall and spirituall into which some contemplatiues vse to fall so he told me sometimes that since his choice of solitary life he had neuer desired to see any thing of the world euen not his parents country or friends c. Neither did he desire to see the Angells nor haue extasies nor reuelations for he said that he only desired to see God yet allwaies with this resignation that it should be when and how it pleased God and that the rapts and extasies
out of his swadling clouts THE XIV CHAPTER Of Gregory his prayer when it began and with what exercises I haue many reasons to thinke that he began to vse prayer as soone as he had the vse of reason this I could gather by some discourses that passed betwixt vs touching this matter and by other coniectures which seeme almost certaine as was his custome of saying vnto me that God had called him very soone that he had neuer bin a child that he had neuer retired back one step wherby because of his moderation in speaking of himselfe and his nicenes in letting others know his good deedes it may easily be vnderstood as a thing out of doubt that he allwaies vsed prayer He told me that when he was a little page in the court he vsed mentall prayer and went vpon errands with as much quietnes of mind as he had six yeares before his death and that he did not loose this quietnes though there passed by Dukes and Earles and other thinges hapned that vse to be in the court and that he perseuered in his prayer amongst those noises as well as if he had bin alone in a mountaine though afterwardes he went on allwaies by exercise perfecting both his prayer and quietnes If therfore at twelue yeares of age he had attained to such peace and quietnes in prayer it is to be thought that he began to pray some yeares before he came to this degree and perfection and if thes yeares from the time that he had the vse of reason vntill he went into the wildernes were but few we may well thinke that he spent them in the exercise of prayer especially of it be true as we vnderstand it is that before he came to the court to be a page he was in Nauarre six yeares with an hermit as is said in the beginning of this booke The same might be gathered by the courage which God gaue him whilest he was in the court for allthough he was two or three yeares in that place in which are so many hindrances for those that walke in the paths of God he had strength enough to passe through them all without altering his good purpose but such valour and courage is seldome got without long exercise in conuersation with God Besides he was but twenty yeares old when he came to new spaine and yet he came so well profited in mentall prayer that he not only endeauoured to vse it much at a time but did allwaies continue in it whether he were trauailing writing or talking and he told me that for his better attaining vnto it as soone as he came to Mexico he fasted a whole lent with bread and water in the house of Luys Zapata with intention to beg of God his fauour and assistance and to employ him in some place where he might best serue him and giue himself vp wholly to his diuine Maiesty It is cleare that such progresse in vertue is not ordinarily got so sodainly but with long practise of prayer More ouer Gregory was not stirred vp to such workes by remorse of conscience or feare of hell for God allwaies guided him by way of loue and what greater signe can there be of his long and setled vertue and firme loue then to come to the Indies and goe through the places of greatest riches which were Mexico and Zacatecas the country being in the greatest prosperity for riches and â—onour that euer it was and he â—auing in him such parts as is said wherby he might haue come to â—nioy the glory of this world notwithstanding all this in the flower of his youth renouncing all these vanities to cloath himself in sackcloath and retire into a wildernes that God might there giue spirituall increases in his soule as he had done till that time as he told me the which there is no doubt but they were very great especially in prayer and since that the diuine Maiesty the very first day that he led him into the desert laid vpon his shoulders one of the heauiest burthens and hardest exercises that are in the spirituall life as shall be said in the Chapter following the weight of this witnesseth this young mans vertue since that God laieth on burthens proportionable to ones strength the which being ordinarily wont to be gotten by successe of time and holy exercises we may easily vnderstand that he had speÌ„t those twelue yeares wherin he had enioyed the vse of reason in obtaining vertue by meanes of prayer and conuersation with God that afterwardes all might succeed well with him according to that blessing of the holy Ghost which was ofte in his mouth It will goe well with that man that shall cary the yoake of God from his youth He did not tell me in particular the exercises of prayer which he vsed in his first yeares for as we said he neuer told thinges concerning himself vnles there were probable occasion of profiting his neighbour but as for my self I haue allwaies beleeued that the ground and beginning of this his course was our Sauiour Christ for he outght to be the entrance of those that begin well and we haue heard from him such good meditations vpon our holy faith and vpon the life and death of our Redeemer especially of his infancy and childhood with such deuotion and spirit as shewed plainly his long vse and practise in that kind of meditation in his first yeare at Guasteca he shewed me admirable ones of the same matter and especially of the sacred Virgin Mary and he counsailed those that desired to profit in the spirituall way to say their beades ouer with deuotion to her honour as being the refuge and safegard of sinners and to perseuer in that holy exercise and esteeme it as their honour to be denout Disciples to that great Mistresse of sanctity THE XV. CHAPTER What were the prayers and exercises which God in spired him to vse and the profit which he reaped therby GRegory went out into the field as he was vsed to call it of the wildernes being one or two months vnder one and twenty yeares of age as far as I could gather As concerning his manner of praying I can tell some thing certainely for he could not conceale all from me for the space of eighteen yeares which I I spent in his company The first prayer which he vsed there were those famous wordes O Lord be hold I goe forth only to serue thee not for any interest of mine in the manner as is aboue said and declared for he would not spend wordes but offered himself wholly to the Eternall Father in those few makeing himself his slaue so as that all his labours and gaines should be for his Lord and this he meant by not for any interest of mine for he desired in all his workes to seeke only the glory of God The Allmighty accepted his offering made with such a willing mind and the diuine wisedome vndertooke the charge to be Gregory his Master teaching him
noster because it was taught him by our Sauiour and he reaped much profit by it in most of the PetitioÌ„s he put in those wordes As in heauen so vpon earth as when he said Hallowed be thy name he added as in heauen so on earth for hereby he shewed the desire that he had of Gods glory and all though many seruants of God to induce men to good and draw them to the seruice of God doe write letters and take in hand great iourneyes and doe other thinges yet Gregory insteed of these when he desired to help his neighbours and relieue their necessities had presently recourse vnto God by his prayers knowing that all good was to proceed from him and by this meanes he wrought admirable effects and vpon this occasion he would sometimes tell merit is far better negotiating with God then with Men. But to those that asked him counsaile by word or writing he gaue answer according as he thought was necessary for their good and God his honour to whom he gaue thankes because he had personages in his Church that did allso assist their neighbours by such outward meanes THE XVIII CHAPTER Of his habitation or mansion in God I Haue differred as much as I could possible to write the maÌ„ner how Gregory did liue in God because I was allwaies in hope of a greater light from his diuine spirit that I might be better able to declare a thing of such importaÌ„ce This manner was not by extasies or rapts because his vnion seemed allwaies vnto me immediate since that his will free form all other affections tended very strongly onely vnto God and this manner of vnion might be seen by its great fruits that allwaies remained in him This mansion I thinke cannot be otherwise tearmed better then a traÌ„sformation into God because the soule in this estate is wholly besides herself and wholly in God according to that of the Apostle I liue but now not I because Christ liueth in me And thus the matter is for vnto vs that haue looked into his life and conuersation he allwaies seemed a pour-trait of Christ and therfore we called him a man truely crucified into the world for he onely regarded the spirituall life of which when spirituall persons did talke with him he inuited them to this transformation saying vnto them those wordes of S. Iohn God gaue them power to be made sons of God to those that beleeue in his name who now are not borne of flesh and bloud nor of the will of man but God himself and I am certaine that this transformation of Gregory into God was well liked of by all the spirituall men that conuersed with him In this transformation which I call immediate vnion there vseth to be a great spirituall ioy which is called fruition because those that are so transformed for a long time are rather in ioy then paine because they are caried by God without any labour of theirs to that most happy state and this is that which is called the spirituall oile there they are with God as it were onely passiuely aÌ„d I call it so because allthough it be true that the soule in that vnion be allwaies in actioÌ„ yet not so much inseeking after as in possessing for she rather exerciseth the act of possessing and enioying then the act of desiring I doe not know whether Gregory had this as it were passiue vnioÌ„ from the time that he went into the desert for God did in such manner communicate himself vnto him as that he euery day desired more and therfore did not so much entertaine himself in enioying that which was giuen him as with new desires to see himself euery day approch nearer vnto God S. Denys the Areopagite saith that Hierotheus his Master had the state of spirituall rest and fruition which we haue spoken of and he putteth it downe for the highest perfection that is in this life and all the contemplatiues are of the same opinion and this is the only reason why the surname of Diuine was giuen to Hierotheus for this vnion maketh the soule to be the same with God and very like the diuine nature the which doth not exercise its operations with paine and toile but ioy I haue told vpon diuerse occasions this so common opinion vnto Gregory fifteen yeares before his death and though he yeelded allso to it for he knew it very well yet he esteemed it was better for himself to be in action and allwaies louing God and his neighbour labouring therein both day and night And therfore he embraced this estate the more willingly for he said that God had giuen him that exercise as being the best and that he was to endeauour with all his strength not to leaue it off for any ioy or fruition whatsoeuer for he could not conceiue how in this life that should be most perfect which had least meritâ—aÌ„d that enioying is not of so much merit as taking of paines is but I will leaue this doctrine for wise men to determine and will prosecute my intent Gregory his transformation into Christ which I perceiued in him was an ardent loue and desire to â—ollow him in his life and imitate his labours and Crosse for it is manifest that the most holy life of our Sauiour Iesus Christ was a liuely patterne for vs all to imitate in fullfilling the will of his eternall father and so he saith I came not to doe my will but my fathers and in another place it be hooueth me to doe the worke of him that sent me while it is day It is allso well knowne that the life of our Sauiour Christ from his birth till his death was a coÌ„tinuall bearing of the crosse of our sinnes working therby our redemption so as all his life was a suffering of troubles in these therfore Gregory desired and allso did imitate Christ wherfore in his life there was but little fruition and ioy and much care and trouble so as it seemes that this want of sensible ioyes may be esteemed a priuiledge and particular guift of God since that without these fauours his diuine Maiestie bestowed vpon him that which he is wont to giue to others that haue them as may be seen in the knowledge wisedome fortitude perseueance and all the other diuine gifts wher with he was endued Hereby allso it is manifest that God directed him in waies proper to men for his diuine Maiesty doth for the most part giue those ioyes to his friends in the beginning of their conuersion when they begin to dy to the world and liue in God then he bringeth them into his cellar to giue them a tast then he giueth them some light and ioy as a pledge or earnest of that which is in heauen to make them walke on with strength and perseueraÌ„ce but after they haue profited and are growne strong he inuiteth them to the highest degree of charity which is to suffer and dy for their beloued we haue examples of both in the
this with great feeling and many teares and said that in that vision he came to know Gregory for that before he did not know him the religious woman became thenceforward much deuoted to this holy man who at the day of his death rerequited her for she not knowing of it had for the space of foure daies together a very speciall apprehension of God his goodnes and of how much she was bound vnto him and withall a discouery of the worlds deceit and she held as vndoubted that she had receiued that fauour from God by Gregory his meanes for thâ—n he was in heauen enioying the sight of God There was a priest that was much addicted to this holy man and followed alltogether his counsaile and doctrine in his manner of praying He hauing allready receiued some fauours of God tooke such content in them as only to enioye them he did not take any care to walke any farther in the spirituall way Gregory seing his manner of proceeding recited that sentence of Isaias thou hast found life in thy hands therfore thou hast not asked Herewith God did much illuminate him that so he might walke with more pouerty of spirit and cast himself into that infinite depth of God without relying vpon his owne waies nor euen vpon those fauours wherwith at other times God had draweâ— him on for he endeauoured to strip himself wholly that he might be in more readines vpon all occasions to accomplish the will of God and not to make any stop in the spirituall way profiting herewith both himself and others A young man very vertuous and desirous to doe well went about very much disquieted in mind for the space of foure or fiue months and the greatest cause of his anguish was because he did not know what state of life to make choice of for his owne saluation He acquainted herewith certain holy and deuout persons desiring them to pray for him and perceiuing that none of these meanes was sufficient to rid him of that vnquietnes he remembred himself of Gregory Lopes and went to Santafe to visit him and though he was a young man otherwise bold enough yet at the very sight of Gregory his heart was to sealed with feare and reuerence as that allthough Gregory was of an humble demeanour aÌ„d in poore attire he said that he had neuer seen in his life a man that had stroken into him such a reuerence both inwardly and outwardly and that it seemed vnto him that he saw in him the couÌ„tenance of one more then a man He intreated him to beseech his diuine Maiesty to giue him light that he might choose the estate wherin he should doe him most seruice and Gregory only saying vnto him trouble not your self for I will recommend you vnto God his spirit was quieted and the said trouble neuer came to him againe the which he attributed to the holy Man his prayer and chose the estate of Priesthood and died with an esteeme of vertue and sanctity he affirmed with an oath that at other times he acquainted Gregory with sundry temptations that he had and allwaies returned with great satisfaction and comfort Another person very deuout vnto Gregory went vnto the place where he was and the first night sustained many very grieuous teÌ„ptations of which he told him the next morning and he answered I did forget my self last night it shall not be so hereafter and the nights following he found himself more at ease and with more deuotion the which he did hold for certaine befell him through Gregory his prayers THE XX. CHAPTER Of the respect which he stroke into those that did looke vpon him IT is a thing worthy of obseruation that a poore man solitary and vnknowne cloathed only in grey sack cloth allwaies bareheaded and in a manner an out-cast should stricke such a respect and reuerence into those that looked vpon him that allthough they were men vsed to wordly conuersation yet some should not be able to speake a word vnto him truely vertue and sanctity ought to be honoured and reuerenced euen by those that doe not follow it because that which is good doth all waies seeme well and since that through our sinnes it is so rare in the world no maruaile if it cause admiration and feare A certaine Man of good account and very vertuous came with a great desire to see the holy man and to talke with him about a busines of importance which did trouble his mind and made him allwaies Melancholly and as soone as he came into his presence he was so troubled and tongue-tied that he could not speake a word being in this trouble and Gregory allwaies expecting when he would declare his necessity vnto him he stood a long time silent at length the holy man lifted vp his eies and for a while looked vpon him peraduenture he was praying for him and afterwardes he freed him from that trouble answering his doubts and satisfying him in all that he would haue asked if he had not become dumbe wherat he became more confounded and amased perceiuing that he had vnderstood his mind and thoughts by the light of prayer and going forth he told this accident to another vertuous maÌ„ that came with him and being asked what was the cause of that his trouble he answered it was the beholding of such a venerable countenance so great mortification and so holy a recollection of mind and that he departed astonied because he had giuen such a particular answer to all that he had in his mind he not propounding his busines There came to see him a young man that was a studentâ— and before the holy man spoke euer a word vnto him his mind was possessed with such a feare and amasement as that he presently purposed to change his life and was afterwardes a priest of a very retired and exemplar life and came often to confer with Gregory in those fiue yeares that he liued A certaine gentlemans maÌ„ came vnto him with a message from his Master and as soone as he came into his presence he was surprised with such a feare and trouble as that he could not speake and going forth he said It is one thing to speake vnto these men of God and another to speake with men of the world I did not thinke that the sight of any man could haue troubled me Some daies after comming againe with the like message and haueing deliuered it vnto me I asked him if he would goe in and deliuer it himself vnto Gregory he answered me no sir I pray doe you tell him for I dare not Another person came from far to visit him in this village of Santafe and hearing much commendations of his sanctity he was afraid to come in his presence but being come to see him he felt such inward ioy as that not being able to coÌ„ceale it he told the holy man what had hapned vnto him wherunto he answered giue God thankes for it This ioy lasted two daies to the great profit of his soule he said that to him it seemed that he had seen an Apostle and that in that occasion God had giuen him such a feeling as that he could not possibly expresse it and he affirmed that the second time that he saw him he found himself inwardly satisfied of his doubts onely by looking vpon him without asking him any thing for as is said God had bestowed this fauour vpon Gregory What I haue here related is not the most admirable that is knowne of his workes and miraculous life for it Vere to vndertake a thing far aboue the ordinary reach of mans wit to thinke of finding the height of the gifts fauours and riches which God bestowed vpon this his seruant whose life might vnto vs be insteed of a light and paterne to imitate that so if it be the will of God we might at length find out that place of euerlasting peace and quietnes which we seeke after Amen