Spiritum meum hee added Vitam honorem meum The Masse being ended where he Rcceiued hee heard other foure with such tranquilitie and deuotion that he neuer sighed nor lamented being thereat out of modestie ashamed lest his deuotion should bee therefore accounted rather vaine-glorious then vertuous in this hee excelled as his priuate Almes giuen in the time of his better fortune beare witnesse and the Religious by whose hands they passed can affirme The Chappell in which lyeth the body of the holy Mother Teresa of IESVS in the Church of the Discalced Carmelites at Madrid was part of his Almes which hee desired to make more sumptuous if his Order had permitted Hee also built the Heremitage in the Desert de Batuccas and caused two Masses to bee daily said in that which is neare to Pestrana Hee said the Office of our Lady and for the Soules departed hauing continued it many yeeres He was Confessed and receiued in the Pascall Feasts our Ladies and the Apostles and examined daily his conscience which he vsed for these foure or fiue yeeres last past to doe twice a day Hee had thrice made his generall Confession before this last which he ended on Saint Matthewes Eue and Receiued the next day In the prison he was confessed twice or thrice a weeke after he might with leaue doe it Hee passed the euening with his Confessor and with Friar Gregorie de Pedrosa in spirituall questions so high that it appeared God was his Tutor and the Schoole the Prison as he said In his Spirituall conference these words escaped him I wish I could giue a thousand liues for mine Enemies His Confessor checked him for calling them Enemies whereat recalling himselfe hee humbly demanded how hee should name them His Confessor told him hee should make that Recognition for those which sought to hurt him if any such were He much esteemed this aduise and fulfilled it This night Father Iohn de la Madre de Dios companion to his Confessor brought him a Memoriall of Bequests from the Religious of his Order which were Prayers and Fastings Hee was greatly comforted therewith and humbly answered that he hoped to see himselfe with God and to beseech his diuine Maiestie to reward their great charitie Giuing discreet satisfaction vnto all and not leauing any thing by his neare approach to death vnperformed that belonged to curtesie and vrbanitie or vertuous policy So that when some came to demand of him debts no iust cause moouing them he answered If his estate were in himselfe hee could dispose thereof as hee liked but being now in his Maiestie he stood obliged to defend it and make no declaration in preiudice of the true Owner for those that vniustly sought to haue it Talking with Father Iohn de la Madre de Dios he said My Father Wife Children Estate and Honour is taken from me as to morrow shall bee my Life but that which onely grieueth mee is that I haue no more to lose for Gods sake the memory of the losse of these things did not trouble him but the desire that his death might giue example to others so to liue as to saue their Soules O generous condition of a zealous Soule All loue seemed too little compared with the greatnesse of the Obiect and light encreasing according to loue discerned more clearely the vnlimited distance betweene humane power and diuine Omnipotency Being late in the night hee was importuned by the Religious there present to lye downe on his Pallet which he did holding a Crucifixe and by him the Picture of the holy Mother Teresa of IESVS there he reposed a while ouercome rather with contemplation then sleepe Hee demanded of Friar Pedro de la Concepcion if hee should receiue Extreame Vnction who answered That the Church vsed not to giue it to those that dyed so Them said he since I cannot receiue this Sacrament doe me the curtesie to teach mee the Ceremonies thereof to know them before I dye The Friar tooke a Manual and said the Prayers Letanies and Ceremonies omitting the substance of the Sacrament He gaue eare to all with humble attention and deuotion not shunning but seeking earnestly to prepare himselfe to dye in the well performing whereof he placed his greatest happinesse Then hee continued in mentall Prayer from fiue a clocke vntill sixe in the morning with admirable recollection for the which afterward hee infinitely thanked God Here let Contemplatiues practized in prayer consider the diuine Fauours shewed by this Repose to a man that had the sword laid to his throat whose threed of Life was euen spunne the representation of Death securing the attention of his Spirit who being vnloaded from the weight of this mortality was vnited to its euerlasting Beginning a thing so desired by those that treate with God and onely effected by Death and wished of him as the meane to obtayne so glorious an End That morning hee put off his haire shirt before his Confessor modestly preuenting the publique inconuenience which might ensue by what hee desired to haue secret Then kneeling downe before diuers graue Religious persons he read a protestation of Faith which himselfe had made In it was contayned a quintessence of inward zeale vttered in wordes so feeling and significant that it caused both admiration and confusion Don Pedro Fernandez de Mansilla an Alcayde of the Court came to take his leaue of him whom he met halfe way with a behauiour and countenance of such serenitie that it paralleld not with his present estate Don Pedro desired him to commaund him some seruice to which hee answered That since hee gaue him leaue so to doe hee besought him for a quick dispatch in his Wife and Childrens businesse which was a sâ—…te for Land with his Maiestie that depended before Don Pedro de Mansilla to this hee gaue him a courteous answere Those that then were present began to shead teares and sigh seeing a courage so vndaunted and a presence so venerable Hee seeing himselfe to bee the Cause of their woe comforted them saying Sirs it is no time to lament but to reioyce since I am going to doe the Will of God These wordes gaue cause of comfort to pious minds by discouering the good estate of his Soule and great Christianitie Then he went into the Chappell in a Cloke and vpon it the habite of Saint Iames where he heard many Masses He intreated the Carmelite that said it to put his Soule together with the Host into the Challice This was to follow the example of the holy Mother Teresa of IESVS who on a Palme Sunday said the like This wrought so good effect that hee was comforted both in Soule and Body and incouraged to suffer He gaue his Rosarie to a religious man of the Order of Saint Hierome for accounting himselfe as dead he prepared for his owne Dirge Thus hee continued performing many acts of Contrition in feruent prayer vntill the time of execution At eleuen Friar Gregorie de Pedrosa came vnto
Calderon late Marques of seuen Churches Earle of Oliua Captayne of the German Guard a Knight of the Order of Saint Iames and Comendador of Ocana being imprisoned in his owne house with a strong Guard hauing but the vse of one onely Chamber with little light after his Cause had beene in discussing two yeeres and a halfe had sentence of death giuen against him by the Lords of the Assembly Don Francisco de Contreras now most worthy President of Castile Luis de Salzedo and Don Diego del Corral He had notice thereof by Lazaro de los Rios a Register of the Processe the fourteenth of Iuly 1621. To which he made answer that he heard it Then turning to a Crucifixe he said God be blessed whose will be in me fulfilled which was like some other of his actions both before and after which to be short I let passe in silence grounded on a vertuous Spirit wholly exercised in spirituall books of deuotion and full of Religion and Christian courage From that time vntill his death which was three moneths after hee neuer was vnclothed nor came in bed There was a Pallet by his bed side with a leather couerlet on which in the night hee rested a little spending the most part of it in mentall Prayer wherein he much profited by reading a Booke of the holy Mother Teresa of IESVS to which hee was much affected so that hee could repeate by memorie whole Pages thereof as also out of a Booke of Prayers composed by Father Molina and in spirituall Conferences had with the Religious he cited to them these Books or others such like Hee daily read the liues of Saints in Flos Sanctorum perswaded therevnto by Mother Teresa and Father Molina of whom as he said he learned it He made a generall Confession with Humilitie and Contrition accompanied with many teares of tendernesse witnessing the good preparation of his mind for what was to come but to declare particulars would make rather a Booke then a briefe Relation And I heard Friar Gabriel his Confessor say who is Procurator Generall of the discalced Carmelites a religious person of venerable fame that during thirtie yeeres space wherein he had beene a Physician for Soules hee neuer experienced the like for neither when the sentence of death was notified vnto him or vpon any discomfort did he change countenance or shed teare but when he remembred his sinnes they fell like showres O force of diuine loue which doth soften hearts not shaken with aduersitie from whence proceedeth their Fortitude and Humilitie Hee had conference with diuers Religious and particularly with Friar Gregorie de Pedros a Preacher to his Maiestie whose great parts of learning and eloquence are alreadie blazond by fame and need no report of mine To him and his Confessor hee vnfolded his Conscience with Securitie and Satisfaction not regarding Honour or any other pretext hauing so resigned vp his will to God and his obedience to his Confessor That humane feares wrought litle in him without resoluing speedily what difficulties they proposed How excellent hee was in this his death will beare witnesse He petitioned an appeale from his Iudgement according as his Counsell aduised him but his diligence in procuring his defence neuer diuerted his minde from the consideration of his death nor made him omit the exercises of a vertuous life The Iudges did not admit his Appeale but insisted on the execution of the sentence whereof he hauing notice the first of October answered I heare it and turning to a Crucifixe said God be blessed whose will be in me fulfilled No impatient word was euer heard fall from him for as his Soule grew daily nearer Heauen so shewed hee most courage in most discomfort not being sensible of earthly losses but falling out of loue with them the ioy of his Spirit flew a higher pitch then the discontents of this World did reach vnto so that on the day of his death had not his Confessor hindred it hee would haue proclaymed his sinnes in the street as hee oft sought to doe in prison if he had beene permitted His Appeale being not admitted and the Iudgement confirmed on Tuesday at midnight Friar Pedro de la Concepcion went to him with this newes in place of his Confessor who then was not well who told him hee was to receiue his Viaticum on Wednesday Hee found him quiet at his prayers which hee vsed much and receiued in them particular fauours from God He demanded of him wherefore he came hee answered to spend the night with you Falling to discourse of the miseries of this life and of the happinesse of the other that is without end hauing fit time hee said to him Who would not with a good will exchange a life temporall for an eternall To which he answered Alas Father would I had not this one but a thousand liues to lose for Gods sake then replied the Friar hee will come to you to morrow and giue you the Pledge of his Grace to receiue hereafter the Crowne of his Glorie He then presently conceiuing wherefore he said so kneeled downe before a Crucifixe and with great zeale of deuotion said thrice Thy will be done O Lord vsing this resignation of mind in all his tribulations Then rising vp hee said I haue something to doe and going behind the bed he put on a shirt of haire and a crosse with sharpe pricks of steele which he ware about his necke hauing for obedience to his Confessor put them off the day before to mitigate his continuall penance making his vertues more secure by the secrecie wherewith hee practized them This hee did on dayes of fasting which was weekly Wednesday Friday and Saterday and in those of abstinence not tasting any thing that might please him yet so warily that those which attended him obserued it not The rest of the night he spent in spirituall Exercises And when the Friar propounded to him how God rewarded those that take benefit by afflictions offering them in imitation of his most painefull Passion hee answered I pray God Father my sinnes cause mee not to lose so great Happinesse although I assure you I feele such comfort now that if it would not seeme lightnesse in mee I could laugh Neither was his feare vnlike his hope affections which tyed him alike to God humilitie and acknowledgement of his owne miserie accompanied the one and trust in Gods Mercy and Power the other On Wednesday morning he disposed the affaires of his Soule by direction of his Confessor and of Friar Gregorie de Pedrosa whose assistance was of great comfort and profit to him Then he went into the Chappell wearing the white mantle of his Order where his Confessor said Masse and he Receiued with great Faith and Loue of God at which time with a Spirit full of zeale he said O Lord since thou commest to me to day let me come to thee to morrow and comming to those wordes of consolation In manus tuas Domine commendo
him and said Sir now let vs goe for God calleth vs. He presently answered Let vs goe When they put off the Cloke of his Order there came one and put a Hood ouer his short Coate from which and from his doublet he had the night before cut the necke and the strings from his band in place whereof he had put a button to come more ready to his last End knowing hee was made a sacrifice to God who disposed the meanes to make his death more easie which hee receiued rather with Loue then Feare When hee went out of the Chappell he told his Confessor he felt himselfe very weake both in Soule and Body who answered him Trust in God and pray to him for strength and hee will not deny it you at this time Comming to the stayres God gaue him courage that it now seemed not difficult to him to go in the streets as it was wont so other things which in his imagination appeared vnpossible comming to act them by Gods assistance were become very fezible Comming downe the stayres and seeing a Mule ready for him hee said What a Mule Nay I ought rather to be dragged in a basket practizing still more pure Acts of Humilitie and contempt of the World and desiring the most disgracefull death He rode on the Mule without feare squaring all his actions to the rules of Modesty and necessity without ostentation Then he toeke a Crucifixe which he imbraced so affectuously that it made great impression in the beholders Going on the people cryed God pardon and giue you strength to whom he answered Amen God reward you Comming to the Market place of Saint Dominick and hearing the Prayers and Cryes of the people he lifted vp his eyes and said Lord since they all aske my Pardon Pardon me I beseech thee When he came to the Smiths little street he said to his Confessor Father this is rather a triumph then a carrying the Crosse of Christ who was blasphemed and I am prayed for Pray Father that the ioy I now feele bee not a reward for that little I haue suffered for his sake I dare not weigh these wordes in the ballance of my Reason Let vs leaue something in silence since his valour and sincerity will sooner be searched into by a zealous affection then vttered by an eloquent tongue He fixed his eyes with a graue aspect vpon a Crucifixe there present testifying therby the recollection of his thoughts In his contemplation he remembered the spirituall incouragement giuen him by the Religious which accompanied him diuinely discoursing on the Happinesse to come Being come to the place of Execution with a constant Countenance hee alighted from his Mule and without any helpe went vp the Scaffold He beheld without feare the Sword and Blocke Set his Hood right and said to the Religious Let me rest here awhile His Confessor and Friar Gregorie de Pedrosa sate downe about him with the rest of the Religious in number twelue no person but what was needfull being suffered to enter They kneeled downe to pray for his Soule He read diuers Iaculatory prayers with such resignation and attention that his Instructors stood astonished After a good while he rose and told his Confessor he felt himselfe comforted to see that God wrought in him his will saying it was fit to thanke him therefore and bee confessed before death and absolued by the Bull of Faith in Baptisme with a protestation thereof Hee did the like at the time of his confession Hee was confessed and receiuing absolution he fell on the ground and kissed the feete of his Confessor Being commanded to rise hee went to his Chaire not to dye but to triumph with such courage humilitie and magnanimitie that all were filled with pietie and admiration A part of his Hood he cast behind the chaire and prayed whilst the Executioner made all things readie Then he calld him imbraced him and spake to him most louingly Hee proceeded so farre in acts of pure Loue and Ioy that when Friar Gregorie de Pedrosa said Now is the time to shew courage hee answered I neuer felt such content When his feet were tyed hee said What doe you The Religious told him it was the Order Then tye mee said hee Comming to tye his armes hee put them out saying Hold tye them Then he called the Minister of death let decency excuse me for vsing this terme and said Come hither Brother let me embrace thee once more and bowing toward him with his body his armes being tyed gaue him the humble kisse of Peace This Act of heroick humilitie done with desire of greater demonstration drew downe many teares either of ioy or sorrow in the Spectators When they tyed him in the Chaire his Confessor told him That Christ was also tyed at which time hee remembred the Passion with affections burned in the fire of diuine Loue. His eyes were couered with a blacke taffata which himselfe had brought for that purpose He lifted vp his head ready with ioy to performe what before hee had so often thought of in prison and said Take it O Lord Take it O Lord. When the Executioner held the taffata with his left hand to giue the stroke with his right hand he forbid him saying I will sit still with a voyce and heart so strong that were it lawfull I would say Naturre had priuiledged him from feare Then receiued hee the stroke and repeating the sweet Name of IESVS gaue vp his Soule The Lookers on though bathed in teares beheld a spectacle not horrible but pleasing caused by a happy death A death that hath eclipsed the greatest examples and limited the highest prayses whose duration will out-last the World For were he not in Nobilitie so ancient hee might hereby lay a foundation for a glorious Family since Nobilitie is but a vertue of the mind practized either in vndergoing dangers in Warre or in giuing good examples in peace both which were seene in him and if according to the end the vertue of the mind is to bee measured here onely was the loue of God where no respect was had to the World or to Fame which in the end will become dumbe This example of his death hath wrought much being in Madrid the Court of Don Philip the Fourth King of Spaine where is a generall concourse of Strangers magnifying with respect the Spanish name beside the deserued credit of their ancient valour seeing a man paralleld with any whom the Roman cloquence did extoll for although Sceuola Regulus Horatius and many others suffered much honour yet here morally speaking it was without it And if any were present at this death either without Religion or of a contrarie which God forbid what inward remorse vnquietnesse of mind and accusation of conscience must they needs haue seeing such strange acts of Faith and Loue to God wrought with such fortitude that it onely may teach vs the force of Truth and Light of Catholique Religion In this Glasse they may see their errours Thus farre my loue hath carryed mee although my Relation bee but as a shaddow of this wonder which such as saw not may not hope to know as it was because those which were present want capacitie to declare it As to the substance I had particular information from those which conuersed with him in prison and abroad all Persons of Vertue and Religion and although I heard of much more yet would I not insert here but what was certayne for a matter of it selfe so admirable needeth not borrow ornament or addition elsewhere His Body lyeth buried in our Ladies Church of the Discalced Carmelites in Madrid in the Deane and Chapters Chappell These Religious out of loue to him buried him there in a Tombe couered with a blacke cloth and on it the Insigne of his Order Requiescant in pace This Epitaph is written vpon his Sepulchre He who within this Tombe doth lye Began to liue when he did dye Soli Deo honor gloria Imprinted at Madrid with licence by the Widdow of Fernando Correa de Montenegro