A TRVE RELATION OF THE LAST SICKNES AND DEATH OF CARDINALL BELLARMINE Who dyed in Rome the seauenteenth day of SepteÌ„ber 1621. And of such things as haue happened in or since his Buriall By C. E. of the Society of Iesus Dilectus Deo hominibus Moyses Bellarminus cuius memoria in benedictione est similem illum fecit in gloria Sanctorum Ecclesiast 45. Moyses Bellarmine was beloued of God and men whose remembrance is blessed God made him in glory like vnto the Saintes Permissu Superiorum M. DC XXII TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE L. M. M. RIGHT HONOVRABLE To dye is the course of Nature to dye well of Christian Art that is common to men with beasts this proper vnto Gods seruants alone Omnes 2. Reg. 14. morimur said the woman of Thecua vnto Dauid quasi aqua in terram dilabimur we all do dye and like water fall vpon the earth few dye well and therefore make a further fall The Philosopher will haue Science to stand in speculation Art in worke the one in knowledge the other in practice and the more exquisite the Art is and hath the more noble obiect by so much the greater labour and industry is required the Art we speake of hath a most eminent end and of such difficulty as it requireth for labour our vttermost endeauour for tyme our whole life Art eyther Arist â— Physi tex 79. perfits nature or doth imitate it This for imitation hath nothing because death is nothing but the corruption of Nature the defect and priuation of life the diuorce and dissolution of our essentiall parts and the death of the wicked is tearmed by S. Bern. serm 26. in Cantica Bernard the mother of sorrow the enemy of glory the gate of hell the entrance to perdition none will imitate which most abhor Art therfore must perfit this deformity more truly in the maske wherewith it comes couered theÌ„ in the thing it selfe which is without horrour vnles it be of such as our selues cast vpon it This art of perfiting nature all should learne but most neglect many precepts are deliuered but all included in one to wit a constant good life which makes this rough passadge plaine this dissolution easy this deformity amiable this diuorce most delightfull non habemus saith Saint Ambrose quod in Ambros de bono mortis cap. 8. morte metuamus si nihil quod timendum â—it vita commisit there is nothing that we need feare in death if our life haue committed nothing that is to be feared Of this argument all spituall books doe treat and in particuler that vvhich purposely was written of this art by Cardinall Bellarmyne vvas the last that euer he vvrote but for that wordes where workes are wanting do blush as Tertullian sayth and Tertul. lib. de Patient Leo serm 1. de San. Laurent Saint Leo validiora sunt exempla quaà m verba plenius est opere docere quà m voce Examples are of more force to moue then wordes and more effectuall it is to teach with reall actions then verball discourse therefore vnto the doctrine of the Cardinall in this behalfe I will adioine his Example that the one may confirme the other And although omitting his life which others are now in hand to write I relate only his last sicknes and death yet from the one we may conclude of the other because as S. Ambrose testifyeth Mors Ambros ibidem vitae est testimonium death is the testimony of our life and selcome we see a saintlike death to follow after a synfull life the priuiledge is rare the examples few the common stile as Saint Augustine noteth is otherwise to wit that Mors Aug. de Ciuit. Dei lib. 13. cap 2. in fine bonis bona malis mala a good death befalls to the good an ill to the wicked wherfore the death of this Cardinall being so notable as it was wil not only confirme what he vvrote in his booke of this art but also testify for his former life and shew that what he there sayd came not so much out of his great learning and reading wherein he was singular as it did ex abundantia Matth. 12. Luc. 6. cordis out of the inward habituall vertue wherwith he was endewed And for that his doctrine and example do shew confirme one and the selfe same thinge I meane the great sanctity of the man they shal not be separated in the dedication that in the argument doe agree Wheras therfore his Doctrine in our tongue came forth in your Name his ExaÌ„ple may not passe in any other in which alone you may as in a glasse behold how liuely the Child represents the Father the worke the workeman so far truly as the Art he wrote may seeme to haue beene nothing else but an artificiall description of his owne death that was to ensue Some will take vpon them to teach others to dye vvho vvhen they come to it themselues are to seeke a maister and such a one may truly say that which Saint Gregory Greg. in Pastor ca. vltimo out of meere humility sayd of himselfe when he had in his booke called Pastorale described an excelleÌ„t Pastor Pulchrum depinxi Pastorem Pictor foedus I haue painted a fayre Pastour being my selfe a foule Painter I haue taken vpon me to teach that which I neuer learned to doe and therefore all his teaching as Saint Chrysostome well noteth Chrysost hom 16. in Matth. serueth to no other end then to condemne the teacher but contrariwise vnto the renowned Cardinall we may very fitly apply the wordes of our Matth. 5. Sauiour Qui fecerit docuerit hic magnus vocabitur in Regno caelorum He that shall doe teach shall be called great in the KingdoÌ„ of heauen his doctrine you haue already seene in his book the ensuing narratioÌ„ which I now present you will particulerly declare how in his last sicknes death he did correspond threunto to which further I add his funeralls buriall and some other remarkeable euents few in number out of many but so warraÌ„ted for truth as greater in thinges of this nature cannot be required And heere I doe sincerely affirme that in this Relation I follow no vncertaine rumours no doubtfull assertions no flying reportes without ground or subsistence of truth much lesse am I moued by any partiall affection to exaggerate or extenuate any thing but faythfully put downe what I saw my selfe or vvhat other eye-vvittnesses haue seene what vpon their owne knowledge and conscience they haue affirmed many yea most things I haue taken from an Italian letter of this subiect written by Father Iames Minutoli a graue learned vertuous man to Cardinall Farnesius and I vse the more willingly his testimony both for that I know his integrity and for that by the appointment of the Generall he continually remayned with Bellarmyne froÌ„ the beginning of his sicknes till the last gasp and
other as we see to haue hapned in this Cardinall whose vertues were conspicuous in the eyes and iudgement of all as not only the good did deerely prize them and him for them but also the bad did reuerence and honour them in so much as hitherto I haue not heard of one in Rome that did not and doth not honour him yea the wicked Iewes enemyes Euen the Iewes did honour Bellarmines vertues of all goodnes haue confessed theÌ„ and were their wordes of any weight haue spoken of him in most honourable manner in so much as a Prelate of great name sayd that Bellarmyne had ouercome all enuy and wonne the harts of all And for that the Iewes since his death haue so much extolled his vertues I thinke it not amisse to let the Reader vnderstand what is now very opportunely come to my hands touching this point out of Polonia in a little booke written by a learned man of the Society of Iesus vnder this title Vindiciae doctrinae Societatis Iesu à calumnijs Patroni Turonensium Anonymi Auctore Georgio Tiszkiewic who relateth a notable accident to this purpose which fell out vpon this occasion There was set forth in print in the yeare 1614. a most infamous Libell coÌ„posed as is thought by some Sacramentary Heretike in Dutch of the the death A notable testimony giuen of Bellarmin by a Iew in Poloâ—ia of Cardinall Bellarmyne which related most strange prodigious thinges of his life death for Africk is not more full of monsters theÌ„ these men are of most moÌ„strous inuentions amongst other things it was reported that he dyed in the yeare 1613. when he was then aliue wrote after that tyme all his spirituall bookes now in print Besids this the whole Libell was so full of villany as that many more moderate and modest Protestants disclaymed in print from it and none more vehemently then he who was reported to haue beene the printer Lewis Coing dwelling in Basil a Citty of the Switzers who wrote a sharpe letter against the writer thereof denying that euer he printed any booke kept any presse or had any thing to doe in setting forth of that Pamphlet neuertheles the Caluinists in Dantz a towne in Germany reprinted the same againe and vrged it as a great argument for the truth of their Ghospell seeing that God had punished the chiefe defendoâ—r of the Catholike Faith of our Age with such a disastrous and dreadfull death and had he indeed beene dead the lye though neuer so lowd had found credit amongst the Brethren but his life for so many yeares after quailed this fable though yet some Merchants of more fayth then wit for besides their iustifying Fayth they haue also an Historicall did constantly affirme and belieue it to be true wherupon that fell out which the Authour aboue named doth report in these wordes Oliuae nonnulli Gedanensium Senatorum inter alia quae ante annum vnum miscebant cum admodum Reuerendo Patre Philippo Adlero dignissimo Oliuensis Monasterij Ordinis Sancti Bernardi Priore colloquia c. At Oliue amongst other Conferences had between the chiefe Cittizens of Dantz with the Reuerend Fa. Philip Adler Prior of the order of S. Bernard they of Dantz related in one of them all those thinges which the nameles Authour of the foresayd Libell doth impudently report or rather with which he doth most falsely calumniate the Cardinall The Priour denyed all affirming that they were impossible out of the great good will and affection he beares thereunto did much commend the Society of Iesus on the other side they accused all and aboue all Bellarmyne Whiles they were in this debate a Iew newly come out of Italy arryued thither of which when the Prior was aduertised he called for him to come before them and being come the Prior spake to him in this manner hast thou any newes from Rome to tell vs what is become of Cardinall Bellarmyne Is he aliue or dead how and in what manner doth he liue Heere our Dantz Senatours stand attent expect very greedily the answere which they thought would second their lewd reports but contrarywise the Iew affirmed that Bellarmyne was aliue that he was in health that his life for all vertue grauity and other deportment was most exemplar that finally if the Iewes could see al Catholikes or the greater part to liue as Bellarmyne doth they would all of them presently become Christians With this narration and their owne shame the men of Dantz were not a little confounded And this haue I heard from a most Religious and sincere man a Prior also of the same Order called Andrew Clewsky who was both an eare and eye witnes of this matter Hitherto that Authour So as now of Bellarmines sanctity etiam inimici nostri sint Iudices the Iewes themselues may be Iudges who in this shevv themselues to haue much more conscience then the forenamed Heretikes The deuotion of others vnto the Cardinall hath made me make the longer digression from his owne person but now leauing them a little to whom eftsoones I shall returne againe let vs a while contemplate and cast our eyes backe on the sicke man who perceauing in himselfe so great decay of strength and his vitall spirits to be so much exhaust prayed more instantly to be deliuered from this body of corruption His great desire to be with God sayd Filthy flesh only fit for wormes to feed on why doest thou keep me from God and taking the flesh of one of his armes in his hand he sayd in Italian Carnaccia traditora perche non si stacchi sarria pur tempo che indugi che stai à fare Treacherous base flesh why doest thou not dissolue and seuer thy selfe from the soule it is high tyme why doest thou delay why doest thou not dispatch and make an end And then turning himselfe vnto God and wholy relying on his mercifull disposition he sayd non mea voluntas sed tua fiat not my will but thyne be done And now drawing on apace to the last period of his life he found more and more difficulty to take any meat or keep what he had taken and he had not only a great repugnance and auersion from eating but a great loathing and horrour to see any thing brought him Heere what should his attendants doe to force him seemed to violent for one so weake so meeke and of that ranke and dignity to persuade him was but lost labour for such difficultyes are hardly ouercome by persuasion nothing remayned but to vrge him the Phisitians commaund and that he vvas bound vnder Obedience to His exact obedience in thinges most repugnant to his nature eate Hereat presently he would rise take and eate whatsoeuer they brought him and that very readily though it were neuer so much agaynst his stomacke though he did preseÌ„tly cast it vp againe neuer looking or respecting what was giuen him and which is more strange euen
whiles his body for a day and night lay in a lower chamber at the Casa Prosessa his clothes and caps being eyther all taken or giuen away before And not in Rome only but from other His Reliqueâ— much desired by many places abroad many letters haue beene sent and meanes vsed to get something that had beene his which I let passe setting downe only the clause of one letter written by a very worshipfull Gentleman of our owne Nation residing in Naples which came to my hands as I was writing this Relation The party wrote it in Italian that the Generall to whome he is well knowne might see it in this manner Son stato agrauato questo con grandissima instanza della Sig â— Duchessa di Santo Elia molto mia Signora Patrona di sarli hauere qualche cosa che sosse della felice memoria dell Illustrissimo Sig â— Cardinale Bellarmino come a dire qualche berettino di tela che ildetto hauesâ—e portato o qualche parte di vua sua camisia e questo per la gran diuotione che la detta Signora porta al morto essendo bisogno pregarà N. N. in nome mio di cooperare quanto sia possibile di trouar qualche cosa per consolare la diuotione di questa Signora That is I haue beene vrged that with exceeding importunity by the Dutches of S. Elias my very good Lady and Patronesse to procure hersom what of Cardinall Bellarmyne of happy memory that is to say some linnen night-cap which he hath worne or some piece of his shirt and this for the great deuotion the sayd Lady beares towardes the dead Cardinall And if need be you may intreate N. N. in my name to help as much as is possible to find out something to comfort the deuotion of this Lady So he And although that this letter came soone after his death yet were all these things eyther giuen or taken or stolne away ere it came her request satisfyed another way Bellarmines behauiour and carriage In fine no man in Rome of his ranke in the memory of any man liuing hath dyed with so generall good opinion of all no funeralls haue beene celebrated with so great concourse and honour no sepulcher so much frequented Two and twenty yeares he liued Cardinall fourty a Religious man he began betyme to beare the yoke of Christ was neuer wearyed neuer sainted till the end A man of such lenity and meeknes as he would offend none of such candour and sincerity as he could not dissemble with any of such kindnes courtesy as he was beneuolous vnto all Of temporall emoluments he was neuer moued with losse or delighted with increase his wealth was the poore mans gaine not his owne profit his losse their hinderance not his hurt to men of our Iland as wel English and Scottish he alwaies shewed himselfe a worthy friend and speciall benefactour neuer denying them any thing that conueniently he could graunt neuer sparing his labour his pen or purse to pleasure them as far foorth as he was able of which I could alleadge very many examples were not that field to large and this no place to recount them Of all which and whatsoeuer else he did we may now say Laudant Prou. 31. â—um in portis opera eius his workes praise him in the gates that is at the tribunall and Iudgement seat of God where their worth is valued and their valour rewarded and he in his euerlasting revvardes glorious for all eternity Heere if any out of a curious mynd should expect to heare somwhat spoken of some miraculous euent which hath WheÌ„ the sanctity is singular there needeth no miracles to coÌ„firme it hapned in or since his death for further confirmation of his sincerity I answere hereunto that as the sanctity of S. Iohn Baptist did sufficiently warrant it selfe without any miracle at all besides his miraculous vertues so the happy life and death of this Cardinal being such as they were need no other miracles then theÌ„selues for their proofe And to speake oÌ„ly of his death what was his inuincible patience without the least signe of sorrow or sillable of complaint what his security of mynd ouerbearing all tentations what his purity of conscience vvithout all mortall remorse vvhat his exact Obedience without reply vvhat his reuerent receauing of the Blessed Sacrament his constancy in faith his deuout death but a miracle or rather many miracles in one Who can esteeme othervvise of his courage agaynst death novv looking him in the face when he desired it to draw neerer to take him away then that it was miraculous Vnles he will contradict the iudgement of S. Bernard who writing of his brother G 〈…〉 ds Bernard 〈◊〉 â—6 in Cant. death hath these wordes Acciâ—â—s sum ad id miraculi videre exult antâ—mâ—n morâ—e 〈…〉 nem insultantem morti I was called to that miracle to see a man reioying in death triumphing ouer death Truly this holy Cardinall as you haue heard so much reioyced in death as he had no other sorrow in his sicknes then to thinke that it was further from him then indeed it was or greater ioy then when he was to shake handes with it the true effect of a well prepared mynd for as Seneca sayth mortem venientem nemo hilarius Epist 30. excipit nisi qui se ad illam diu composâ—erâ—t no man cheerfully imbraceth death but he that hath long before prepared himselfe for it These things I say need no other miracle then themselues to confirme them For at S. Aug. saith of such a one as wold foure hundred years after Christ see some Aug. l. 22. de Ciuiâ—t Dei cap. 8. initio miracle that he might belieue Magnum ipse prodigiâ—m est qui mundo credeme prodigia adhuc inquiriâ— vt credat he is himselfe prodigious who seeing the world to belieue in Christ doth yet seeke for some miraculous wonder to belieue So in The sanctity of Bellarmin very eminent and acknowledged by all that knewe him this case seeing the former miracles seeing the common opinion that all haue of his Holines seing all that euer knew him to haue canonized him with deuotion to his body or constant report of his integrity seeing all his writinges to haue beene to confound heresy to erect the banner of truth to comfort the faithfull to teach the ignorant to aduance vertue seeing all his actions to haue beene signed with innocency to haue proceeded from charity and by pure intention to haue beene directed to Gods glory or good of his neighbour without touch spot or reprehension in the vvhole course of his life he may indeed be thought prodigious that would further seeke any other confirmation any other miracle or miraculous proofe which I doe not say to condemne or any way extenuate the force of other miracles God forbid for somtymes they are necessary heere they are not wanting
set down no more then what he saw in any particuler others somtymes I alleadge but of such singular credit as they are beyond exception or else I would not haue so much relyed on their vvordes Who they are for the most part I name when I set downe any thing of moment vpon their attestation But least this Epistle seeme to long for so short a Relation I will heere conclude it with my prayer that the death of this famous man may serue to put you in mind with the beginning of the new yeare not to forget the end of your owne life This last of December 1621. Your dutifull poore seruant C. E. A TRVE RELATION OF THE DEATH OF Cardinall Bellarmine of the Society of IESVS ALTHOVGH this renowned Cardinall neyther vvhiles he liued in Capua of which he was Archbishop nor yet in the Court of Rome to which he was after called euer pretermitted his ordinary deuotion euery day making an houre of meditation saying his Masse the offices of the Breuiary and our B. Lady the Letanyes to his family other prayers yet had he obteyned of the late Pope Paulus V. some years before his death to retyre himselfe for a whole moneth togeather euery yeare in the Nouitiate of the Society of Iesus in Rom. And this he did always in Septēber in which month only the high Priest of the old law did enter into Sancta Sanctorum His preparation for death long before it hapned and this high Priest prepared his entrance into that Holy of Holies wherof the other was a figure not prepared himselfe only but entred also in this moneth as we may well thinke into the same In this tyme secluding all other affayres he made the spirituall Exercises bestowing foure houres dayly in meditation and in the tyme betweene of which his Masse mattins beades and other prayers did take vp no small part he wrote the golden books that after he set forth of spirituall matters printing euery yeare one of all which the last as if he had presaged what was next to follow was the Art of dying well whereof in his best health he was neuer vnmindfull And this last yeare of 1621. as if he had receaued responsum mortis a moneth sooner then ordinary to wit in the beginning of August he began to thinke not of a retiremēt only for one moneth but of a perpetuall sequestration from al ordinary imployments to attend to that one thing which the Psalmist no lesse thirsted after thē the Hart the water saying Psalm 26. Vnampetij à Domino hanc requiram vt inhabitem in domo Domini omnibus diebus vitae meae One thing haue I desired of our Lord that will I seeke for that I may dwell in the howse of our Lord all the dayes of my life And to compasse the better this his desire he made great sute vnto this present Pope Gregory the fifteenth to be deliuered from the Court from al Consistoryes He retyreth from the Court. and Congregations and what other Office soeuer that he might bestow the small residue of his life on God alone alleadging many reasons for this his resolution to wit his great Age and that which followes therof his weakenes of body decay of sight hearing memory his auersion from these toyles to heauy for so weak shoulders and finally his feruent desire of returning againe to the quiet hauen of Religion out of which he was taken and aduanced to be Cardinal and in which before his aduancement as the mirrour splēdour of that Order he had liued 38. years togeather in the continuall practice of Religious discipline and all Christian perfection Wherfore hauing beene more tossed in the waues of worldly affayres by reason of his dignity then he would he now desired to strike saile and in that place to yield his owne spirit to God where first God had so bountifully imparted his holy spirit vnto him there he began his religious life there he would end it Pope Gregory albeit he were loath to loose the comfort and counsaile of so worthy a mā whom the better to enioy he had before called to dwell with him in his pallace yet seeing him so earnest in his demaund the demaund in it selfe so reasonable at length yielded therunto and forthwith the Cardinall left the Court returned to the Nouitiate of the Society dismissed the greatest part of his family but yet so as they might remayne still in the pallace and in the same state they were before vnder him and at his charge vntill they could place themselues in some other seruice Which tydings although it grieued them all both for that they saw the losse they were like to find in the exchange and for the great loue and most deere respect which they bare vnto his person from whome nothing but his commaund or their own death could haue drawn thē yet seeing the constant resolute mind of their Lord euery one bare the Crosse as he could more applauding his vertue then their owne fortune in this diuorce which the more grieued them in that they iudged him to haue lesse need of any other preparation to dye well who euen from his infancy had still exercised himselfe in that Art which by practice he had obserued more then threescore yeares before euer he left any thing written of that subiect in his printed booke Being now arryued at the harbour of his so long and much desired repose on the 25. of August last when the feast of S. Bartholomew is kept in Rome one He falleth sicke busines of moment yet remayned in the Congregation of the Indice which much required his prefence for dispatch and the Cardinals being now assembled on the 28. day thither also he repayred and after that it was ended he took his leaue and farefull of them all All seemed to be sory therat some would haue persuaded him to continue but as the Euangelist sayth of our Sauiour Ipse faciem suam firmauit vt iret in Hierusalem he stedfastly Luc. 9. bent his face to goe to Hierusalem his mind was on heauen he would not looke backe or be withdrawne from his iourney which indeed was shorter then any one or perhaps himselfe did imagine for that very night being the feast of S. Augustine to which holy Doctour he was very specially deuoted as all his workes doe testify he fell sicke and was taken with a very sharp and violent feuer that bereaued him of his senses for the tyme. Which rough entrance of the disease in one of his yeares made all afraid and most of all his Phisitians for there came foure euery day vnto him who apprehended euident danger and much grieued at this mischāce but their griefe was not greater then his ioy who desired nothing more then to leaue the world as presently after appeared For when this fit was past with great alacrity of mynd he began to discourse of the great gladnes and comfort he
they are not my seruants but my brethren brethren they are and for such I esteeme them And that indeed he esteemed them more like his brethren then seruants many wayes appeared especially if any of his house fell sicke as there did two immediatly before he â—ell sicke himselfe â—or then his custome waâ— to go to their chaÌ„bers to sit and talke with them to comfort them euery way to assist help them And touching these two the last of which Matthaeus Tortus was one the other an attendant of his chamber this memorable thing is recorded that wheras Tortus was exceeding sicke and held to be in great danger of death and the other but in the entrance of his disease which he seemed not much to regard yet the Cardinall hauing seene theÌ„ both sayd that Tortus should recouer and the other dye which as it seemed strange to all that heard it who saw great signes of death in the one scarce the appearaÌ„ce of any sicknes in the other so the euent proued to be true for the later within few dayes departted this life and Tortus is yet liuing and in perfect health His resignation and indifferency of His resignation indifferency of mind was very exact without all contradiction or reply whatsoeuer hapned whatsoeuer was determined nothing troubled his mind no exception was made one thing only excepted if yet that thing be subiect to exception for thus it hapned He hauing from the beginning of his sicknes prepared himself to dye it fel out that the seauenth day held by the Phisitians for Critical he begaÌ„ to be somwhat better much ioy was coÌ„ceaued therat the same signified vnto the Cardinal who weighing the matter in another ballaÌ„ce was somwhat troubled with this soden resolution and said myldly vnto the Doctors I had thought at this tyme to haue gone to my house and home and now I see that you will hinder me I pray you let me goe Their answere was that it belonged vnto their office to preserue his life as long as they could and was pleasing vnto God and he also was bound therein to concurre with them to doe as they should ordayne and be contented to stay in this world vntill that God should otherwise dispose Well then quoth the Cardinal his will be done but if the choice were in my handes I should rather dye then liue wherfore doe as you will I shall follow your direction And when the Phisitians were gone he seemed so much to be discomforted that his Attendants vvere all mooued to comfort him and that no lesse then ordinarily men vse to comfort others that are to dye would longer liue Agayne at another tyme vvhen three of his foure Phisitians had consulted and determined to make tryall of a nevv remedy he sayd vnto them Will you not yet let me goe Ah let me alone novv it is high time Fa. Minutoli ansvvered and sayd the Rule of our Society doth bynde vs in sicknes to obey the Phisitians he had no sooner named the Rule but the other recalling his former wordes sayd you say well there is a Rule let them appoint what they wil I wil do whatsoeuer they wil haue me so punctual he was in obseruing the Rules of the Society in all thinges eyther for life or death with or against his owne inclination Some neere perhaps vvill say that notvvithstanding he loathed this life thirsted after heauen and vvould gladly be vvith God yet he was not to wish for his ovvne death To vvhich idle fancy I ansvvere vvith S. Augustine Aug. lib. 2. in Gaudient cap. â—â— in fine Non est iniustum homimi iusto optare mortem quando amarissima est viâ—a sed si Deus optatam non dederit non erit iustum nisi tolerare eam amarissiman vitam it is lawfull for a good man to vvish for death vvhen as life it selfe is very bitter vnto him but if God yield not vnto his desire he caÌ„not lavvfully refuse to endure his bitter life So he And so the Cardinall although he vvished for death vvas yet resigned vnto Almighty God to vndergo the longer endurance of a bitter life But leauing his vertues for a vvhile vvhich euery vvhere occurre to be recounted let vs a little behold vvhat other things hapned in the vvhole course and successe of his sicknes in the beginning vvherof it vvas thought good for auoiding of recourse to speak little therof to extenuate the same as not mortall but rather some casuall indisposition and this persuasion continued for three or foure dayes till the Pope truly Pope Gregory visiteth him on his deathbed enformed by his owne Phisitian who repayred dayly vnto the Cardinall by the Generall of the Society in what state he was came in person to visit him the fifth day of his disease for then all apprehended the matter as it was made no other accouÌ„t but to loose him WheÌ„ the Cardinal saw his Holines enter into his chamber he sayd with the good Centurion Non sum dignus vt intres sub tectum Luc. 7. meum I am not worthy that you should enter vnder my roofe with other wordes of great dutifulnes and humility when the Pope shewed the griefe of mynd he conceaued for his sicknes and how much he esteemed his losse the other answered as he had alwayes done that he had liued long inough and therfore desired no longer respit on earth I will pray God quoth he to graunt The humility of Pope Gregory your Holines as long life for he is ten yeares younger then Bellarmyne was as he hath vnto me The Pope replied but not in so lowd a voyce as the Cardinall could heare him I haue more need of Bellarmines meritts then of his yeares Many wordes past betweene them of great affection in the one and submissiue humility in the other The Pope after that he had twice most louingly imbraced him being to depart sayd that he would pray to God that he might recouer not quoth the Cardinall that I may recouer being now fit for nothing but that Gods will and pleasure may be done eyther for life or death After that the Pope was gone he seemed to be much more cheerful then he was before the cause whereof he disclosed vnto F. Minutoli saying Now truly doe I well hope that I shall dye for the Popes are neuer known to haue visited Cardinalls but when they were in danger of death or rather past all hope of life to which effect he alleadged diuers examples Remayning therfore in this ioyfull hope when diuers of the Society came to him and offered to say masse and pray for him he would very louingly thank them all but still accepted their curtesy with this Caueat that they should not pray for his longer life but contrariwise His desire to leaue the world that he might soone make an exchange therof for a better that his passage might be safe and soone The cause
of this his desire he alleadged to be for that novv he had prepared himselâ—e and knew not for the tyme to come what in the rest of his life if it were prolonged might befall him for sayd he I haue knowne diuers who if at some tyme when they were wel disposed had departed this life had beene in very happy state who recouering their health fell after very far from that feruour and dyed so desperatly as in humane iudgement they may be rather thought the children of perdition then life Now therfore quoth he seeing I am ready why should I liue longer and expose my selfe to such an hazard Now nothing troubles my conscience for God his goodnesse be still thanked therfore hath so preserued me hitherto as that I doe not remember in the whole course of my liue euer to haue committed any scaÌ„dalous action which perhaps if I should life longer may befall me for weakenes of body drawes oftentymes with it weakenes of mind by which good men haue beene seene to haue relented from their former vigour and vertue This with more to this effect did he speake to expresse the cause why he desired the dissolution of his earthly tabernacle which was no other but that least through the frailty of body mind he should â—eerafter offend God whome hitherto in sanctitate iustitia omnibus diebus Luc. 1. vitae suae in holines and vertue all the dayes of his lire he had so carefully so continually serued and whome now he had rather dye then displease This his feruent desire grounded on the foresaid motiue was so imprinted in his hart and fixed therein so deeply as His disease is found to be mortall euen then when his violent ague bereaued him of his senses he was often heard to say Signore vorrei andare a casa mia quando sarà quel giorno che io venga al vostrâ— Regno c. O Lord I would gladly go to my howse when will that day be when I may come to thy Kingdome And the eleauenth day after his sicknes he sayd vnto all his Phisitians When shal I heare from you that happy newes that I must depart to another life when shall I be deliuered from this body of death They answered as before not so long as they could keep him aliue Well quoth he God sees my desire and how willing I am to come vnto him And indeed non est fraudatus desiderio suo God heard his prayer and that very night he was seene to yex or sob in such manner as a learned Phisitian watching with him held it for mortall and forthwith aduertised the Generall for so had the Cardinall before willed them when they shold perceaue him in euident danger who came early the next morning and seeing how matters went thought it best plainly to acquaint him with the truth and sayd vnto him My Lord I thinke that the end of this sicknes will be the end your life and by all likelyhoode you cannot escape long for the Phisitians now giue a very ill censure of your disease vpon some signes they haue seene and more and more discerne in you so as it seemes Almighty God will call you vnto him and you shall do well to make your selfe ready and dispose of what you haue the time is short and delayes are dangerous At this vnexpected but much desired message the good Cardinall replenished His great ioy at the newes of his death with inward ioy presently with cheerfull countenance and vndaunted courage brake forth into these wordes Buona nuoua buona nuoua ô che buona nuoua è questa that is good news good news oâ— what good newes are these Lo the security of an innocent mynde of a sincere seruant and Apostolicall man who ioyed in death wherat others doe tremble and made that his gaine which worldly meÌ„ esteeme their greatest losse but these graces are not bestowed but vpon such only as haue wholy bestowed themselues vpon God for such alone as S. Gregory saith conteÌ„platione quadam retributionis Gregor 24. in Iob. cap. 7. prope finem interâ—ae etiam priusquaÌ„ carne expoliantur hilarescunt dum vetustatis debitum soluunt noui iam muneris laetitia perfruuntur by the coÌ„templation of that which their soule receaues within doe before they leaue their bodyes become cheerfull eueÌ„ then whiles they are yielding to the dissolution of their old nature doe enioy the comfort of their new reward So he of the vertuous in generall which in this worthy man we see so particularly accomplished who still prayed with the Apostle and sayd Cupio dissolui esse cum Philip. 5. Christo I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ After this ioyfull exclamation turrning his speach vnto F. Generall as answering vnto that which he had suggested he sayd For disposing of my thinges I haue nothing left to dispose it grieueth me that I haue nothing to bestow vpon the Society for I feare much that in making you mine heyres as if I The pouerty of the Cardinall had something to leaue you I shall but charge you with new debts which for my sake you will be forced to discharge The Generall replyed that therein he should not trouble himselfe he had left the Society so much and so much honoured it with his name and immortall labours as it esteemed that treasure more then all the riches of the world Well theÌ„ said the Cardinall I came hither to bestow one whole yeare in preparing my selfe to dye but if it please not God that I bestow any more time heerin neyther truly shal it please me and therfore your message of death is most gratefull c. After this he caused one to reade vnto him the death of S. Charles Borromaeus as S. Charles Borromaeus desirous in his owne to imitate it which being ended he desired to receaue the SacrameÌ„ts of holy Church that as soone as might be least after he should be lesse able for indisposition both of body and minde to receaue them and to preuent also any suddayne accident that might in this weaknes take him away ere he had armed himselfe with this so necessary and soueraigne defence He receaueth the â— Sacrament with great denotion Forth with all thinges were made ready for receauing of the B. Sacrament of the Altar for his Viaticum which was ministred vnto him by the handes of the Generall and receaued with exceeding deuotion of the Cardinall for notwithstanding his extreme weaknes of body he would needs agayne as he had done before rise out of his bed and kneele on the ground to receaue it and so earnest he was to receaue it in this reuerent maÌ„ner as it was not possible without his great griefe and distast to hinder him The Generall perceauing his will so feruently bent on that deuotion wold not withstand him therein least the inward griefe might more afflict his mind then that
so as al this matter passed with singular commendations of heroicall magnanimity on his behalfe and in most honorable manner But for that he had learned of his deare Maister B. Fa. Ignatius not only to seek the glory of God but maiorem Dei gloriam the greater glory of God in all thinges because he thought that he might haue done more good in Capua then in Rome therfore did he sorrow had this remorse O noble Bishop O zealous mynd O rare example worthy of the name renowne and eminent vertue of Bellarmyne How holy was his life not stayned with mortall sinne How secure a conscience that had at his death no scruple but for the exchange of one good worke for another and that imposed vpon him by an ineuitable commaund What shall I heere say but that fecit mirabilia in vita sua he hath euen Eccles 31. in this mortall life done vvonderfull things This scruple being remoued and Scipio Card. Cobellutiuâ— his mynd quieted there remayned one difficulty touching his temporall estate to wit for repayment of his Cardinalls Ring for effecting of which he vsed the help of the Cardinall of S. Susanna to his Holines alleadging this reason that non erat soluendo for he had not wher withall to bury him much lesse to pay that debt adding further that the same grace had beene before graunted vnto Cardinall Baronius and another Cardinall Vnto vvhich request the Pope most willingly yielded and further at the request of the Generall for the Cardinall sought it not the Pope also condescended to giue a pension of three hundred crownes betweene his two nephews had doubtles graunted more if more had beene demaunded but the Cardinall little mynded his nephews or earthly preferments hauing his thoughts on heauen which he alvvayes called his Home there was his reward layed vp Et merces eius magna nimis When it vvas knovvne in the Citty that the Pope had beene with the Cardinal that he had taken his Viaticum that he vvas anneyled and that there meanes to see the â—â—eke Cardinall was no hope left of longer life wonderfull it vvas not to only heare the honorable reports which all made of him but to see the meanes and inuentions vsed that by men of Quality to come vnto him Some sued vnto the Cardinalls and great Personages some intreated the Fathers some vsed the help of his seruants and others made other deuises and this not only to see him but to kisse his handes his head or some other thing about him when therin they had satisfied their deuotion they vvould touch his body with their bookes their beads handkerchieffs Crosses Medalles and other the like thinges and that very reuerently on their knees and in this kynde none were more forward then the Cardinalls themselues who by reason of their more frequent conuersation did best know him and some of them mentioned his Canonization when once they knew of his sicknes they came very often vnto him and ten of them somtymes in one day who all desired his blessing but he constantly refused to giue it and one of them taking him by the hand kissed the same theÌ„ touched his eyes and head therwith at which Bellarmine meruayling when the other was gone asked those about him vvhat kind of curtesy this was and how long it had beene in vse amongst the Cardinalls Another tyme the Cardinalls that came would needs before they departed kisse his hands at which he was much Great reuerence done him by Cardinalls and Prelates grieued and would haue withdrawne them backe but was not able to resist their importunity and therefore only sayd non sum dignus I am not worthy of this honor especially froÌ„ you my Lords he offered to haue kissed theirs againe one by one but they would not yield he was to weake to force theÌ„ some Cardinalls agayne togeather with other Prelats would needs haue his benediction which he vtterly refused to giue they continuing to aske it he craued theirs so as the contention grew who shold blesse ech other which a Cardinal perceauing decided the matter by taking Bellarmynes right hand and blessing himselfe there with perforce at which sight the others not vvilling to vse that violence desired agayne so earnestly his blessing on their knees as he to auoyde so importunate molestation giue it but sayd withall after he had giuen it what will the blessing of a poore miserable wretch as I am aualye you why doe you trouble me so much for it And so in his death life the honours which with their sweet stings do deadly wound others he alwaies turned to his greater humiliation Two Cardinalls aboue the rest seemed Cardinall Hippolitus AldobraÌ„dinus to be more sollicitous of him Aldobrandino Farnesius the first was then in Rome the other absent the first came very ofteÌ„ to the Nouitiate to enquire how he did out of courtesy forbare to visit him as not willing to trouble him with his presence yet at length he resolued to see him although his sight cost him teares when he saw him past all hope of recouery and measuring Bellarmyne by other men he demaunded of F. Minutoli vvhether the present apprehension of death did not affright him Nothing lesse quoth the Father of which your Honour shall now see the experience and then asked the sicke Cardinall whether he would not gladly depart to another life I would to God said Bellarmyne that I might and that very soone I wish that I vvere already gone for vvhat should I stay any longer in this world with other lik words which shewed not a desire oÌ„ly but a delight also that he had to thinke on death in so much as vvhen any would comfort him in his sicknes they would mention the same as a discourse most pleasing vnto him Diuers wayes did this forsayd the Cardinall manifest his affection vnto Bellarmyne which I heere forbeare and when he vvith others requested that when he came to heauen he would remember Bellarmine notwithstanding his singular confideÌ„ce in God had great distrust of himselfe them and pray for them although the vertuous Cardinall alwayes shewed a great hope and confidence in Gods mercy yet vvas this conioyned with no lesse distrust of himselfe for he wold earnestly craue euery maÌ„s prayers and to this petition of the Cardinalls he answered more theÌ„ once saying To go to heauen so soone is a great mater to great for me men vse not to come thither in such hast and for my selfe I shall thinke it no small fauour to be sure of Purgatory and there to remayne a good while in those flames that must purge and cleanse the spotts of my offences satisfy the iust wrath iustice of almighty God But when I am come Home quoth he I will not faile to pray for you all and this he promised to doe not only for these Cardinalls but for all his
when he was besides himselfe in the extremity of his bad fit the very name of Obedience would haue made him taken whatsoeuer they had brought him so accustomed and affectioned he was to that Vertue as nothing seemed hard vnto him that came vnder that tytle imitating therein his deere maister our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who as S. Bernard witnesseth Ne perderet obedientiam perdidit vitam lost his life that he might not loose his obedience conforme to that of the Apostle S. Paul factus Philip. 3. obediens vsque ad mortem he was obedient euen vntill death So Christ so his disciple I doubt not but that those who shall write his life if more then one vndertake it will fynd many notable examples of this vertue in the course therof This here I wil auerre vpon certaine knowledge that after his promotion he put himselfe vnder the Obedience of the Generall of his Order and bound himselfe to obey him no lesse then before in all thinges of any moment And because the Rules of the Society doe byâ—d all in the tyme of their sicknes not When he was Cardinall he was obedient to the Generall of the Society yea euen to his owne seruants only to obey the Phisitians but al such as haue any care of them the Cardinall hauing one of his chamber a most diligent and faythfull seruant to attend him in this sicknes him he also obeyed in whatsoeuer he bid him doe and he knowing well his Lords pleasure when any thing was to be done would not say as other seruants vse to do If it please your Honour to do this or take that and the like but in resolute tearmes My Lord lift vp your selfe Take this Doe that c. and presently without any reply he would doe it neuer saying more but As you will As it pleaseth you Neither did this custome begin betweene them on his death-bed but had still beene in vse and practice before and that with all humility and alacrity for he regarded not whome he did obey but for whose sake he did it and that made him euen in his seruants person to reuerence our Sauiour And so much for his Obedience The nynteenth day of his sicknes being the beginning of the new moone his pulse which hitherto had been stroÌ„g began much to fayle and many other ill signes appeared which did euideÌ„tly prognosticate his departure to be very neere at hand The Cardinal still coÌ„tinuing as he could in his accustomed deuotions in making deuout Colloquies and iaculatory prayers vnto God when any thing was suggested vnto him fit for that tyme and present occasion he would thanke the suggestours and giue them to knew Pope Gregory graunted him a pardon that he tooke great coÌ„fort therof which was in manner redoubled when he vnderstood that the Pope had sent him a Plenary Indulgence for the better gayning of which spiritual grace he sayd his Confiteor with his diuers other prayers the last night of his life which was the 23. of his sicknes the former signes still continuing and increasing brought him into a certaine dulnes or insensibility especially some fiue or six houres before his death which made all who were about him to thinke that now euery houre might be his last yet euen in this state he made them all see that he was present to himselfe knew his own danger vnderstood what was sayd vnto him and answered directly to whatsoeuer was proposed in so much as Father Minutoli speaking vnto him of the confidence he was now to haue in God and recourse vnto his diuine mercy by imploring his help in this passage for pardon of his sinns defence against all assaults of the enemy now most vigilant he answered very deuoutly directly vnto him in a low voice that so he did and that in the best manner he could to manifest the same vnto them to the end they might both see that he vnderstood their wordes and his owne case he shewed this exteriour act of Christian piety Hauing a little Crosse of siluer in his hand he kissed it very often and His great deuotion to the Crosse blessed himselfe diuers times wherwith saying some prayers by himselfe some togeather with them that were with him and kneeled at his bed side afterwardes taking into his hand a greater Crosse that stood by which had the picture of our Sauiors body fixed theron he did oftentimes very deuoutly kisse the the same a little after he layed it on his eyes and taking it from thence he layed it on his left shoulder imbracing it very hard between both his armes being put a crosse one ouer the other and so continued a good while till remouing it a little towards his brest he lifted his hand vp to his head to take off his night-cap but could not doe it and such as kneeled by him knew not what he meant til at last by coniecture Father Minutoli gathered that he meant to doe some act of deuotion and therfore tooke off his cap for him then the Cardinall tooke the Crosse with both his hands so much forced himselfe as he placed it on his bare head and all this he did for the loue he bare to the death and passion of our Sauiour whereof this Crosse is a liuely representation Moreouer to shew the Holy Images reuerence he bare vnto holy Images for which point of Christian beliefe more martirs haue lost their liues by the hands of the bloudy barbarous Iconoclasts then perhaps they haue done for any other article whatsoeuer Lastly I doubt not but that he shewed this zeale to the holy Crucifix to shew his zeale against the Heretikes of these tymes the true children of these parents and liuely brood of these Progenitours that the world might see how exact he was in adhering vnto that Faith in all and euery branch and member which in his workes he had lo learnedly defended and procured in this his last sicknes as before I said to haue left registred in print after his departure These reasons I say made him so often so earnestly to exercise these acts of VeneratioÌ„ to the holy Crosse which finally he layed on his brest vnder the couerlet where it remayned till he was dead so as he seemed vnwilling to see thinke or desire any thing but Christ and him crucifyed and to testify to the world the interiour loue he bare in his hart to Christ by the exteriour reuerence which he did shew to his picture the true character of a Catholike Christian man Now was he come to the last houre of his life and though his paines were The manner of his death greater yet his courage his patience his quiet peaceable repose the same The holy man began his prayers sayd the Pater noster and Aue Maria began againe the Pater noster which being ended he sayd distinctly the Psalme Miserere to the end and being vvarned to say also
myter Great industry vsed to get reliques of the Cardinall that he wore others the tassells and knots of his Cardinalls hat others the skirts of his vestements others other things what ech could get with great deuotion he kissed the same lapping it vp in cleane linnen silke c. and two Prelates brought ech a short staff vnder his garment and when they came ouer against one the other at the lower end of the hearse where the hat lay at the Cardinalls feet they cast it off from theÌ„ce very dexterously with their staues into the bosome of one of their seruaunts ready at hand to receaue it who had conueyed it cleane away had not one of the Fathers by chance espyed him who by help of the Pops Guard recouered it out of his hands and carryed it into the Vestry In fine had not his body beene well guarded I thinke that neyther hat or myter or vestement or any thing else had beene left and perhaps the very body it selfe had been taken away deuiuided for pious spoile And although his body were thus exposed in more plaine and positiue manner with lesse splendour and maiesty then is accustomed for Cardinalls Great coÌ„course of Cardinals to his buriall yet were his Exequies in other respectes very honourable For contrary to that which both in his wil he had designed desired of the Generall on his death-bed to haue no Cardinals present ther at there came so many as more haue not beene seene at any buriall for excepting two or three for exceeding gâ—eat age sicknes or some other busines absent all the rest were there and stayed vntill the very end of the office which was performed by the General in his Cope and the Fathers of the Society and further there was such resort as none liuing euer saw more or perhaps so many at once in that Church When the Office was done to satisfy the importunate request of so many as desired it the body was taken downe layed on a Beare couered with blacke veluet and caryed to the Chappell of our Blessed Lady in the same Church not without a strong Guard where such as entred at one dore passing out at an other gaue way for more to satisfy their desires but it was not possible to satisfy all for though it remayned there vntill after three houres in the night as I sayd yet were the Fathers forced to send away many that were stil flocking thither much agaynst their wil and not without mayne force of the Guard and others that commaunded compelled them out of the Church and shut the dores to their no small regreet The multitude being excluded the body was put into a plaine coffin of wood and layed in the ordinary vault He is buryed in a common vault where others of the Society are wont to be buryed therein condescending to the Cardinalls desire who would needes lye with them in graue with whome he had liued whome he had loued and to whome for many years before his death he would haue returned and ledd agayne a Religious life vnder the common Rule vvith the resignation of his Cardinalls Hat and dignity if it might haue been permitted him as I haue been informed by one to whome he imparted his mynd and would haue vsed in the same and my selfe haue heard him very hartily to wish it But howsoeuer for some small tyme for long as I heare it shall not remayne in that place his body rest in a poore vault yet his soule yet vvere his other noble vertues so shrowded vnder the mantle of Humility as they could not be seene in their perfect nature and such as best knevv them had least list to speake them lest them vvordes might disclose vvhat the Cardinall vvould haue to be secret but novv hath that Glory ouertaken him vvhich he did still eschew beat backe vvith contempt of himselfe novv he vvho seemed amongst the Cardinalls to be inferiour to all is more honoured then any novv that the earthen pot of his mortall body is broken the shyning lamp of his vertues accompanyed vvith the trump and triumph of fame yield their light to the vvorld consound all malitious inuentions of the Madâ—anites Novv is the candle no more layed Iud. 7. vnder a bushell but set on a Candlesticke for all to behold novv is the mouth of detractors stopped that would vvith their lyes haue blemished his life and disgraced his death many yeares ere it hapned novv vvill they nill they truth shall trample falshood vnderfoot and the cleere beames of Bellarmynes vertue ouerbeare all slaunderous reports of malignant Sacramentaryes Let them forge infamous fictions let them print as they haue done most exorbitantlyes let malice maâ—cht with learning arme their pennes to write reproach yet shall all their force and fury fal to the ground his name be renowned for euer The warraÌ„t is sure that is signed with his promise who sayd by the Psalmist In memoria â—terâ—a erit iustus ab auditionemalâ— non Psal 111. timebit the memory of the iust shall remayne for euer he shall not feare any ill report and not only his life and death but as the Prophet foretold of Christ Erit sepulerum eius gloriosum euen his sepulcher shall be glorious for thither now Isa 11. come many to pray thereon dayly they cast fresh flowers thereof they speake that specially they respect it was common before to many but is now made famous by him alone The Habit as the Philosopher sayth is best knowne by his Priuation the darke night makes vs more to esteem and valew the cleere day and liberty is alwayes most gratefull after a long restraint so Bellarmines absence hath made his vertues more prized and the sense feeling which now all find in his want makes them vvith griefe to recall to mynde what a treasure they had whiles they did enioy him aliue The Cardinals haue lost the prime flower brightest starre of their Colledge the Bishops a liuely patterne of a true Pastour the Religious a perfect example of imitation the learned a renowned Doctoâ—r the poore a Father the afflicted a comforter the whole Church an ornament and to renew still his happy memory in their neuer dying affection many Cardinalls Prelates and others of great Nobility haue carefully sought and alwaies do seeke for something of his and so much is already gotten as besides his body little or nothing else is left One Cardinall got his bed another his Missall another his Diurnall Farnesius his Breâ—iary What others got eyther during his sicknes or since his death were to long to write they got his dublet hose stockings caps linnen wollen writings pictures shirts handkerchiffs and what else they could procure leauing him so destitute of all thinges as that the Fathers of the Society were forced after his death to cloath him of their owne and to borrow a square cap of an other Cardinall to put on his head
but only to shew that eminent sanctity may proue it selfe by the cleere beames of her owne beauty without any any borrowed light deriued from supernaturall power as it did in S. Iohn Baptist aboue mentioned and many other Saints YET for further confirmation of this The time of Bellarmines death reuealed foretold to Pope Gregory the xv particular ther are somethings reported not reported oÌ„ly but manifestly proued to be miâ—aculous Or which that first occurreth to be remembred that the Generall after the death and â—uneralls of the Cardinall repayring for audience to this present Pope Gregory the fifteenth was willed by the sayd Pope to read a letter which he tooke from of a little table and gaue him in reading wherof he found these wordes Betweene the sixtenth and seauententh of September Cardinall Bellarmyne shall go to heauen and as his Holines testified the writer of that letter could not then when he wrote it so much as haue heard of the Cardinalls sicknes and indeed about midnight of the sixteenth day he fell into his agony and dyed the next morning Although out of humility the Writer desired to haue his name concealed yet doth the thing it selfe speake both Bellarmines sanctity and thrice happy end and the singular vertue of the said party and great vnion with God for he could not haue knowne this but by reuelation no naturall causes to one so far absent being able to yield so exact punctuall assurance in so vncertayne a casuality as is the life of man which dependeth on so many and those so indeterminate circumstances as are the meanes by which it may be eyther contracted and cut off or else drawne on to a greater length This knowledge alone appertayneth vnto him from whoÌ„ nothing can lye hid in whose hands alone are all our liues all momentes all tymes which by vs can be no more or lesse knowne then it shall please his mercifull Goodnes to open and disclose vnto vs. The same morning that the Cardinall departed this life his voyce was He reuealeth his owne happines heard to speake vnto some in the Citty of the number I am vncertayne and to say vnto them Adio adesso me ne vado in Paradiso farewell for euen now I go to heauen which voyce amongst others was heard of the Dutches of Sforza a very vertuous Lady now liuing in Rome and one of the other who heard the like voice did not at that time know that the Cardinall was in any danger of death at all The Vertue Nobility multitude of these personages togeather with the vniforme report is a sufficient warrant of their words And euen now though somwhat late is come to my handes a briefe RelatioÌ„ of a miraculous cure done by a Relique of his vpon a Religious woman of the order of S. Bennet called Paula Landi in the Monastery of our B. Ladyes in Campo Martio of Rome Thus the thing fell out The said Paula the sixth day of October A strange and miraculous cure done by a Relique oâ— the Cardinall by a fall brake one of her rib-bones in such sort as that one part thereof did stand out and the other was turned inward towards her brest the paine she felt was excessiue and withall her weaknes was such as she could not vest herselfe eate or vse her arme The Surgeon in setting the bone right increased her paine and besides the extremity of her bodily griefe she was in wardly also very much afflicted in mynde with the feare eyther of a continuall lamenes if she did recouer or with the long endâ—rance of that insupportable torment which would haue no other end then the end of her life Whiles she remayned in the perplexity of these afflicting thoughts there was brought to the Monastery a piece of linnen that had touched the Cardinalls body which she desired to haue when she had it did apply the same to the wouÌ„d much swolne with the concourse of humors then betaking herselfe to prayer hartily craued the intercession of the holy Cardinall loe in the space of one houre she was deliuered froÌ„ all paine could vest herselfe walke and doe any thing as before in so much as on the Sonday following for this hapned on fryday she serued the rest at table and at this present is as well able to doe any thing as euer she was before And this the party hath testifyed to my selfe who purposely got leaue to speake with her about this matter and not only the sayd Paula but others of her Order who were present when I speake vnto her did testify thâ— same adding further that all of the sayd Monastery would doe the like Paula herselfe wrote as much as here I report subscribed the same with her own hand and sent it to the Fathers of the Society of the Casa Professa where the Cardirall is buryed Since the former cure there hath hapned another that vpon an Honorable personage to wit the Lord Riuiullo Bishop of Bel-Castro This man being much afflicted with a payne in his sides that wonderfully molested him before he vvould apply any medicine thereunto called for a little red cap of silke which Bellarmyne did vveare vnder his square cap and confiding much in his merits and intercession touched those partes that grieued him therewith and incontinently he was cured and fully deliuered from all payne as the said Honourable Personage hath testifyed and confirmed by his Oath Hand and Seale More in this kind I might write but for that I haue not such meanes to search out their truth as I thinke is requisite ere they be thus diuulged I leaue them to others to relate who doe better know them and in the history of his life which already is thought vpon they will I doubt not be most faithfully recorded to the Glory of God Honour of his Seruant and Comfort of others These thinges thus testifyed I thought good to set downe which haue so soone hapned after his death because in part they confirme vvhat before I wrote of his holy life and saint-like departure God graunt vs his Grace so to imitate his Vertues as we may shut vp this our mortall and fraile life with so happy an end Amen Cardinall Bellarmyne was borne in the yeare 1542. the fourth day of October being the feast of S. Francis He entred into the Society of Iesus at Rome the 20. day of September 1560. He vvas made Cardinall the third day of March 1599. he dyed in the Nouitiate of Rome the 17. of September 1621. being fryday and the festiuall day of the holy vvoundes miraculously imprinted in the haÌ„ds feet and side of Saint Francis 24. dayes after he had left the Court vvanting but sixteene dayes of threescore and nynteene yeares of age He liued in the Society before his promotion 38. yeares fiue moneths and thirteene dayes in his Cardinalate two and twenty yeares six moneths and fourteene dayes Cuius memoria in benedictionibus dulcedinis