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
away for whilest she was here she was euery day both morning and euening with the sickman a great while beseeching him vpon her knees and with teares in her eies that he would pray for her and take her soule into his charge Heerwith she began to feele a great alteration in her mind for now she did take content in treating of heauenly matters and of amēding her life and there in my presence she did burne a paire of cardes which she had brought with her in her sleeue to passe the time withall ād came to me to confession and after that time I perceiued a change in her soule In fine some few daies before she was to returne to Mexico hauing bin one morning as she was wont to doe intreating the sick man to assist her with his prayers to our Lord she turned to me very ioyfull and said Father Losa beare me witnes that Father Gregory Lopes hath promised me that when I dye he will come for my soule to cary it to heauen because I doe not knowe the way And to Gregory Lopes she asked him doe you make me this promise to which he answered yes I promisse you After this discourse ensued two things very remarkable one was that the paines and torments of Gregory did increase very much the other was that this Lady fell into the same disease whereof Gregory died yet notwithstanding she staied two daies in this village serueing him as much as her sicknes would giue her leaue and powring out being vpon her knees before him abundant teares of repentance With this assurance she returned to Mexico because her sicknes increased and at her taking leaue Gregory said vnto her fare well for we shall not see one another againe by reason of our weaknes of body As soone as she came to her house she did write vnto me some good sayings wherby she did shew that her soule was toucht by the powerfull hand of God and among other things she said vnto me that the Physitians of her body did apply to her disease many good medicines but that she did most desire that the Physitians of her soule would remember her often in their prayers to God Her infirmity waxed greater together with confusion and sorrow for her sinnes and signes of true repentance At the same time I did also perceiue that Gregory his paines were increased for that Lady being allmost at the point of death there came hither Martin Lopes de Guana a publik Notary to visit our sick man as he did vse to doe at other times with a message from the said Lady who desired him to be mindfull of her and he requested the same in the name of all his house and his owne whereunto Gregory replied as one that had a great weight vpon him so I doe I feele her ly very heauy vpon me This seemed strange vnto me for I neuer perceiued any thing in him that did molest him or that he complained of but only in this occasion To conclude the Lady died leauing behind her great tokens of her saluation and shewing at the hower of her death such signes of true repentance and sorrow for the ill example wherwith she had withdrawne other persons after her as that this sodaine alteration was of no lesse edification then the disorders and loosenes of her life past had bin of scandall and within few howers the newes of her death coming to vs I told it vnto Gregoty and he with a joyfull countenance said only these wordes God is powerfull I asked of a brother of the Conualescents who neuer went out of Gregory his sight whether at that time and hower when the Lady died as they told vs he had perceiued any vnusuall thing and he told me yes for he saw him besides himself and as it were in an extasie at the same time wherby I did gather that it had pleased God to accomplish Gregory his promisse and that he had bin present in spirit at the death of his deuote and carried her to Purgatory that afterwarde he might cary her with him to heauen when he departed out of this life Of this I haue no certainty but it may be piously beleeued according to that which is here related I haue here told this history to declare somwhat of the zeale which Gregory had of the saluation of soules and to shew that the loue of God ād his neighbour which he did continually exercise was not a meere speculation and built only in the aire but that the losse of soules spiritually went euen to his heart and that with all his strength he did seeke their recouery though at his owne cost and by enduring the punishements due to another sins as it seemes in this occasion he suffered those which the other should haue done for besides the grieuous paines of his body which he did suffer from his head to his feet his inward torment was very vehement which he did vndergoe from the time that he tooke that soule into his charge in so much as that he did wonder at himself and he that neuer complained of any thing in this time did say with great feeling Iesus God help me what a Purgatory is this and once as I was about to leaue him vpon some busines he stayed me saying keep me company Truly the saying of Iesus Christ to his Apostles keep me company had in it a great mistery shewing by this that he found himself in his soule destitute of that ioy wherwith our Lord was vsed to comfort him in such occasions at other times but the strength with which he did suffer this the integrity of his faith and the confidence which he did put in God was that which I did most admire at in him and because his ordinary exercise after he went out to liue solitary was to reuiue that faith and make a more straight vnion of his soule with God therfore his heroicall vertue in this kind appeared clearly when occasion was I was wont to aske him in this his last sicknes how he went on in the exercise of his continuall act of the loue of God and he allwaies euen till his death answered that very well and to make this more euident I will here put downe in particular some questiōs which I asked him when I saw him most troubled ād the answers which he gaue me I once asked him whether so great paines did not separate him some what from God he answered not a iot another time seeing him much afflicted I said vnto him now is your mind vpon God he said and where should it be else his death being neerer whilest he was in his agony I asked him now are you well fixed vpon God he said I am not ill vpon an other occasion haueing bin much recollected he turned vnto me and said Perseuerāce with peace auaileth much and as I cōforted him saying that our Lord did lead him through crosses as his beloued sō I am glad said he I am glad that his
full of holes and corruption The chiefe brother seing him so incurable aÌ„d that besides these and other sores and paines there was gowne in his forehead a swelling as bigge as an egge and another not much lesse in his anckle both very painefull he remoued him to the hospitall in the Ilande of S. Iohn de Vlua thinking that he would recouer in that place because it was of a hotter temper But it fell out quite contrary for he grew much worse by reason of the moistnes of the sea aÌ„d the cold north windes This brother being one day sad and troubled in mind recommended himself to God and all the saints and earnestly besought Gregory Lopes to obtaine him his health and remembring himself of some reliques of his which were giuen him at Guasteca he applied them to his head with a night cap and to his leg with bandes throwing the emplasters and patches which he wore into the sea and in three or foure daies after he had applied the said reliques he found himself perfectly cured of all his diseases swellings and sores without any other medicine and he was neuer troubled with theÌ„ afterwards wherby he plainly perceiued the force and efficacy of Gregory his intercession THE THIRD CHAPTER Of the knowledge in the holy Scripture which God infused into Gregory Lopes ALlthough Gregory Lopes neuer studied any kind of learning not so much as Grammer or euen Latine yet he vnderstood the holy Sctipture and turned it into spanish in the opinion of some learned men with such propriety and iudgement as if he had spent all his life in the study of the Latine tongue and Diuinity so as many that saw him turne ouer the bible and read it with such strange readines in diuers occasions that were offered hâ—m would haue rather thought he had red thinges writen in his owne Mothers tongue then translated them out of another He had by heart all the historicall part of the Scripture of the Ghospell of S. Matthew and S. Iohn word by word and those things which were said by the other two Euangelists more then was by these the Epistles allso of S. Paul and the Apocalips To conclude he had such a perfect knowledge of all the holy Scripture that being asked of any place or sentence whatsoeuer he answered with incredible readines and certainty Father Peter de Prauia being Vicar Generall of this Archbisoprick came to visit Gregory whilest he was in my house at Mexico recouering his health and he chaÌ„ced to aske him about a place in the Scripture which after long studying he could not find either in the Bible or the Concordances Gregory hearing it said this place is not in all the Bible but there is another like it and it is this opening the Bible he presently shewed it to the Vicar Generall and it was the same that he sought for Three Doctours of Diuinity of the vniuersity of Mexico conferring with Gregory in this village of Santafe about some hard place of the Scripture intreated him withall to tell them if there was any place in Scripture that treated of a certaine matter which they mentioned vnto him To the â—eard places he answered very â—learely and gaue them one very â—roper for their purpose which â—hey had not found though they â—ad studied that matter very diligently wherat being much astonied they said in my presence here is a learned man indeed what is our knowledge in respect of his Beatus homo quem tu erudieris Domine Psal 39. Certaine religious Men very learned being in Santafe spoke a sentence as out of Scripture in his presence and he said that is not Scripture they much wondering hereat looked into the bible and found that he had said true It was a thing worth admiration how certainly he knew in how many places of the holy Scripture this thing or that thing was said or whether it was in it or no to this purpose a religious man a publick reader of the Scripture and one that had conuersed with him said vnto me as one that knew him these wordes I doe not talke with any man about the holy Scripture with such warines as I doe with Gregory Lopes Certaine prebends being in coÌ„pany with him told of another that was present how that he knew all the Psalter by heart he answered that which is to be esteemed is if he can make vse of it when it is requisite for in this he was singular that he could call to mind both the thinges which he knew and their places when it was needfull Ther were some Preachers who haueing occasion to retire themselues to Santafe when they were to make a sermon were vsed to say that they needed not their Concordances where Gregory was Don Pedro Moya de Contreras visiting his Archbishoprick came to Guasteca where Gregory did liue at that time and sent vnto him by me to aske a doubt wherunto he answered so profundly as that I did not dare to bring him the answer but reâ—…ning with the message I said vnto him I had rather that you would heare Gregory his reasons from his owne mouth then from mine and so he will answer you when you goe to see him When the Archbishop had bin with him and heard him he remained well satisfied and much amased and said vnto me I neuer thought that he knew so much Father Dominick de Salazar who died being first Archbishop of the Philippines spoke in this manner of Gregory twenty yeares before his death in the presence of three graue and learned religious men of the order of S. Dominick how is this Fathers that we with all that we haue got by studying in all our life know not half so much as this young man doth Many learned persons that came to aske him doubts out of the holy Scripture returned well satisfied and amased at the great knowledge which it had peased God to bestow vpon this his seruaÌ„tâ— amongst others came a Doctour of Diuinity who some daies before had bin present at some conclusioÌ„s out of the holy Scipture which had bin defended in the schooles of the society of Iesus at Mexico vpon that place Malach. 3. Ecce ego mittam Angelum meum c. and asking Gregory what was the meaning of that place he brought so many exquisite things vpon it that he Doctour affirmed that there was no more nor euen so much said in all the Conclusions THE IIII. CHAPTER How Gregory Lopes was directed by the holy Ghost in the spirituall manner of life GOd did not onely teach this his beloued scholler the holy Scripture as is said but also and in a more excellent degree he instructed him in a spirituall course which he was to follow in a most eminent manner and was allso to be a guide and Master to others For this holy man by the light of his vnderstanding knew his owne person and as far as I could vnderstand he did see as distinctly his owne spirit with the eies of
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
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
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
customes and inuentions he did relate very particularly The like he knew from Noe till the comeing of Christ and he spoke of those times and persons as if he had liued in them Hauing spoke of this family of God he discoursed of the bordering nations putting all into one history and accommodating these histories to the times and successes of the said family and he did not only know the warres and other thinges that hapned in the family of God but allso those of the Gentills vntill the comeing of our Redeemer and in my opinion he knew all this as exactly as any other man of his time He had by heart the Prophecies of all the Sybilles he would tell many particulars of the birth infancy child hood youth of our sauiour Christ and allso of his preaching death and the other mysteries and how much the law of grace excelleth the law of nature and the law written He had in a manner before his eies the life and preaching of the holy Apostles and their Disciples He related in particular the liues and Martyrdomes of the Popes and other famous martyrs from S. Peeter to S. Syluester and the most remarkable liues and deeds of the Confessours of most note from S. Syluester to Clement the eighth in whose time he died He told the names time and conuersation of the founders of religious orders and of solitary life and of the Archereticks condemning their errours and alledging the Councells wherin they were condemued setting downe allso the time wherin such and such heresies began and ended He discoursed very particularly of the history of that beast which S. Iohn speakeh of in the Apocalips which was the city of Rome and of the ten hornes which were the ten Emperours who did most of all persecute the Church and he did bring downe this history of the Emperours to Phillip the second in whose time he died He did speake very distinctly of the beginnings and increases of the sect of the false Prophet Mahomet of the many countries which were ouerrun by the Mahometans Turks Ottomans by nation Scythians and off spring of Magog and the Slaughters which they haue made of Christians I haue heard him say that this peruerse sect did possesse allmost three thousand leagues of land reaching from Europe to China He was allso very conuersant in the histories of the heathens both anchient and moderne and had knowledge of those famous men whom the geÌ„tills esteemed Gods as Ianus Hercules and the rest He related the conuersions of all nations and countries to our holy faith and those that preached the ghospell vnto them and allso the memorable thinges that hapned and that with such certainty as if he had seen them or read them Of all this he hath made à Chronology or successioÌ„ of times from the creation of the world to Clement the eighth very short yet exact setting downe the mosâ— memorable both in the Ecclesiasticall and secular affaires so as many learned men doe earnestly intreat me to lend theÌ„ that booke to copy out He had gathered allso out of the said histories the choicest and best thinges that concerned our faith law and customes and had reduced them to a kalendar of the daies which he did sometime tell me by way of recreation to my great content and admiration THE VI. CHAPTER Of the knowledge in other sciences which God gaue vnto this his scholler GRegory did not only know both the holy scripture and morall and spirituall things as we haue said but he was allso an Astronomer Cosmographer and Geographer He had a globe and a map made with his owne handes very truly and exactly for I haue heard skillfull men that haue seen it praise it as such but that which I most wondred at is that ostentimes when there was occasion I askeing him about diuers parts of the earth euen of the Antipodes he answered me presently without studying or thinkeing upon it He did vnderstand well the Anaâ—omy of mans body and sometiâ—es he told very curious thinges of it declaring how admirable the diuine wisdome shewed it felf in man He was allso very skillfull in Physick of which he writ a very elegant booke wherin were many experiences which were easy to be made by poore men and labourers and sundry properties of sâ—mples and compounds The greatest delight which he tooke in this art was to make receits which he gaue to the poore and needy written in his owne hand with the best remedies which the desire that he had of his neighbours health did make him inuent and compose for he was very compassionate and thefore God gaue vnto him wonderfull successe He was likewisse very skillfull in husbandry and was allso an herbalist for he did not only know the properties and vertue of hearbs but allso how to make them better with sundry liquors which he made and gaue to the heâ—bes as it were to drinke I haue seen and earten of them so changed by his hand as that they seemed of another kind and he told me that if he did know of any man that were curious and a good Christian least that if he wanted the feare of God he should make them worse and poison them by this art he would teath him this art for the profit of his neightbours He was a very good penman and did write many kindes off hands singular well at this day there are some things in this kind of his making very admitable especially the map we spoke of before the which being of late much augmented excelleth all that haue come out in print and is so curiously made as that it seeâ—eth printed and therfore a graue â—octour to whose lot it fell esteeâ—eeth it very much He had skill euen in the tailours â—ade and could make his owne cloaths which though but meane yet to be accommodated to his weakenes and sicknes did requite a particular fashion and making and so he was wont to say that none hit so right in the making of them as himselfe He did not make himself shooes but he mended them so well that they serued him three yeares aÌ„d more neither did he make himself a hat for hâ— neuer wore any since he went out into the wildernes and it is noâ— knowne that he euer had more thâ— one and that remayned as good as new This multiplicity of thinges in 〈◊〉 contemplatiue maÌ„ will not seemâ— excessiâ—…e though oÌ„ly one be necesary and many doe rather hinder then otherwise if we consider the sublimity of his spirit to which the great number was no hindrance from the following of that which was the principall and necessary and I to be resolued of that doubâ—… did once aske him if any of those little things did wholy possesse him and he answered me I find God as much in the least of these things as in the greatest and the reason of this seemes to be because his chiefâ—st end and scope was his creatour so as hauing his eies allwaies fixed vpon
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
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
holy Apostles and whosoeuer shall haue read with attention that which is aboue written will allso come to see that this exercise of greatest charity which maketh one suffer and dy for his beloued was the whole life of this holy man for it was a thing well knowne to vs all that did conuerse with him that this so vehement an exercise of louing God with all his strength was the cause of all his weaknesses paines and sicknesses and he perceiuing this went on pining away ioyfully for his beloued Vpon this oceasion relating sometimes vnto me the great paines which he had endured he said vnto me the materiall martirdome of whipps hookes of iron fire and sword be it neuer so great dureth but for a short time but besides these God hath in heauen spirituall martirs in a very high degree He did tell the liues of many saints worthy of great honour that confirme this verity amongst others he told of Paphâ—utius the hermit that as he was led in chaines for being a Christian and those that led him threatned him with great tormeÌ„ts vnles he would forsake the faith oâ— Christ he laughing at his tormeÌ„tours said vnto them we hermits vse to endure these torments in the desert But because it is a thing most certain both to me and to others that knew Gregory that he did excell in spirituall martirdome I will not speake more hereof considering the ioy wherwith he receiued his death when without any feare he beheld it neare at hand yea with far more contentment then wordly men feele in the middest of their pleasures honours and pastimes saying with the Apostle to mee Christ is life and death againe Gregory his delight therfore was to suffer for Christ and his coÌ„tent and glory was in the crosse saying with S. Paul Far be it from me to glory in any thing but in the crosse of my Sauiour Iesus Christ and with the Prophet David who seing himself so enriched with the benefits and fauours which God had bestowed vpon him in his last daies he began to consider it and to say what recompence shall I make vnto God for all the fauours that he hath done me and fixing his eies vpon all whatsoeuer he had he found no other recompence but only to say I will take his cup and call vpon his name as if he should say I wil desire inwardly to drinke of the cup of his Passion the which I see and know well by the spirit of Prophesy This therfore was the spirit of Gregory in this way God did guide him this is the doctrine which was taught him by our Sauiour Christ in whose paines and death he found such spirituall delight that he neuer desired any other as is said and he was wont to say that perfect spirituall men are displeased with those delights which beginners doe willingly embrace for a man taketh as a reproach to be offered a bunch of grapes or an apple wherwith the child is much taken he added moreouer that this present life is noâ— for ioy and rest but sorrow and trouble Finally this his refusing euen of spirituall delights proceeded from a perfect pouerty of spirit which was giuen him by God wherunto appertaineth to desire nothing but God for his owne sake wherin consisteth true charity and the top of Christian perfection so as he that loueth God most is most perfect be it with those delights or no for if the cobler mending his shooes should loue God more then a contemplatiue man he would be more perfect in Christian life then he notwithstanding the fruition that he hath attained With this spirit did Gregory chieflly attend to the increase and purity of charity desiring allwaies in his life and labours to imitate our Sauiour Christ whom he allwaies looked vpon as on a good paterne by which he might learne how he ought to labour saying with Dauid my eies are allwaies vpon our lord and to this purpose he was wont wisely to vse that sentence the wise mans eies are in his head meaning that the wise man hath his eies allwaies vpon Christ who is his head for said he the soule touched with the loue of God is like the mariners needle which by reason that it is touched with a loade-stone allwaies inclineth to the north and that spirituall men ought to haue this maruailous property as in what place or busines soeuer they are to be allwaies inclined and desire to haue their eies allwaies fixed on our Sauiour Christ He tooke great contentment to see men doe so for once four men very spirituall and great seruants of God being come to visit him and sitting with him at the table it so fell out that they werâ— all bareheaded he looked ioyfully on them and said God bâ— praised for that all we that sit a this table haue our head bare He spoke spiritually and his meaning was that they were all spiritually looking vpon Christ who is our head and at that time was bare vnto them all and by reason of the tokens that we saw I hold for certaine that he saw the hearts of those that were present for as is said God hath oftentimes done him that fauour and considering the vertue and good spirit of those his guests it may be thought that they were in that disposition as to haue their eies vpon God This holy man as I was allwaies of opinion neuer lost sight of God and therfore God neuer went out of sight from him according to to that of Iob God will neuer haue his eies off of the iust man and by meanes of this sight God allwaies preserued him in such manner from falling into all the nets and snares whatsoeuer the enemy laied for him as that he passed through them freely and safely as is shewed THE XIX CHAPTER Of the effects of his prayer I haue allwaies thought that God hath wrought stranges effects through his prayers and though he out of his humility neuer reuealed any of those great effects for he neuer told me any in that kind though I was so familiary with him yet I am certaine that he knew of wonderfull thinges which God had done by his prayers of the which I will here relate for the greater glory of God some which I came to know by other meanes In the yeare 1579. being at our Ladies of Remedies he was visited by a priest who was much troubled in mind because he did not perseuer in the seruice of God but fell into great in conueniences through such occasions as offered themselues Therfore he instantly besought him to pray for him and to aduise him what he should doe for assuredly he would doe it whatsoeuer it were though it were to goe vnto a montaine and be an hermite since that his saluation was not a busines of small importance Hereunto Gregory answered only these wordes you shall be an hermite in Mexico for this yeare He vnderstanding it as it ought to be vnderstood endeauoured to change his life and