did so meanwhile Philip in few words yet such as had their weight from heaven perswaded this errant to the acknowledging of the truth willing him to get upon a form and there publikely disclaim his heresy who heartily did abjure and detest his impious opinions in the view of all the people At last Philip prevailed so far that he was brought back to prison where to mollify the minde of this penitent he procured him of Gregory the thirteenth a very liberall gratuity besides what the Masters of the Inquisition allowed him for diet and that he might not relapse from his good resolutions visited him every day treating with him only about matters of religion And for the subduing and curbing in him the spirit of arrogance and pride wherewith hereticall minds use to be possessed he gave him the lives of S. John Columbinus and Jacoponius to read saying that this sort of men are easilier won by the example of holy men and their innocent behaviour than subtilties or disputes so that Palaeologus was sorry he had not light on Philip before and bin acquainted with him Yet he lasted not long in this good minde which Philip foretold in these words This mans conversion doth not altogether like me yet by his prayers and tears he obtained of God his returne and repentance but at length relapsing again he was put to death not without signes of hearty contrition Caesar Baronius and John Francis Bordinus at the instance of Philip affording their assistance for setling his minde in the faith being then at the brink of death CHAP. XIII He puts Baronius upon writing his Annals THis so vehement zeal of propagating the faith would not be confined to the limits of Rome but diffused it self far and wide unto the most distant quarters of the Christian world For perceiving that in some Northerne countries the enemies of the Catholique faith daily broached new and infectious doctrines he on the contrary pitying the great ruine of Souls resolved to oppose himself Thereupon by speciall directions of the spirit of God he enjoyned that in the Oratory of which anon one of his Scholars as oft as he preached should bring down the Ecclesiasticall story in order from the Incarnation of Christ that so the beginning truth and progress of the universall Church exposed to open view and the craft and cheats of hereticks discovered neither the Ignorant might be led into error nor the Learned pretend any excuse For this task he made choice of Caesar Baronius of Sora Doctor in either Law a man renowned for sacred story and noted for good life who being but a private person was so liberall a benefactor to the poor that he bestowed all his houshould-stuff to a silver cabinet of a good value and of much esteem with him yea his very apparell toward their maintenance and so great a despiser of honours that he tore his priviledge of Doctor meerly in contempt of himself Him therefore the H. Father designed for publishing the History of the Church so oft recited in the Oratory having well digested it into Method a labour which being begun out of obedience and after vast pains and continuall watchings perfected came happily forth Which so noble and admirable work is to be ascribed rather to Philip than Baronius as in his preface on the eighth Tome he hath left upon record for the clearing of which his own words are set down at the end of this treatise Adde hereunto that Philip himself a little before he died calling Baronius to him said Think but meanly of thy self Caesar for these works are not the issue of thy pains and studie but a gift of the Divine Bounty rather when repeating the same again and again True Father replied Baronius for whatever is in them is all next God owing to your prayers The same is confirmed by a vision from heaven which appeared to him not long before he set about the compiling his Ecclesiastical History For when first he began to preach in the Oratory he used to thunder out the terrors of de ath and hell which after he had a while practised Philip by direction of the H. Ghost foreseeing that if he changed the subject of his discourse it would prove more beneficiall both to himself and others advised him to apply himself to the composing his Ecclesiastique story and leave preaching death and hell at that time Baronius did not oppose but his genius carrying him the other way afterward neglected his admonition so that Philip by vertue of his authority commanded him speedily to go about the task he had set him Which his injunctions Baronius thought hard and urged thereto one while by the vertue of obedience another while discouraged by the reluctancy of his nature he was extreamly troubled but the Good Lord to allay these tempests in him thus made known his minde to him As he was asleep one night he thought he was discoursing with Onuphrius Panuinus who also applied himself to Ecclesiasticall history when being very pensive and intimating what Philip had imposed upon him he desires him not to refuse the finishing such a work and as he heaped up arguments to perswade his friend on the sudden he hears Philips voice saying yield Caesar now yield and stand out no longer for that the Ecclesiasticall history must be written by you not by Panuinus At which Baronius awaked and perceiving it to be the Divine will immediatly resolves to run through the Church Annals in the Oratory which when he had brought along from Christs we near to his own times Philip enjoyned him to rehearse them once or twice from the beginning to the end so that in the space of thirty years as in the preface mentioned he affirms he went over in publique the whole story from the beginning seven times ere he printed the first Tome and at last put forth the whole work divided into twelve Tomes For this his great service to the Church he was by Pope Clement the eightth advanced to the dignity of a Cardinal which eminency with what unwillingness and regret he received is there recorded by him besides his refusing before that three wealthy Bishopricks So worn away with continuall study and long weakness living in hiâ— Tusculan retirement when he found his end approaching Let us go to Rome saith he for it beseems not a Cardinall to dye in the Country Being brought therefore to the City in a Litter his sickness increasing he died the last of June 1608. In the 69th year of his age which number he had with his pen marked in many pages of his books as being prescribed for the term of his life in a house neer the Oratory not far from S. Philips Chappel the Fathers of the Congregation being present and was buried with great concourse of people For the same cause to wit the refuting obstinate hereticks fondly rejecting the worshipping of saints Philip enjoyned him to annex some Annotations to the Roman Martyrology And for this reason
Cusanus He averred that he was miraculously present as he lay a dying saying Though when Cordelius died I staid in my Chamber yet was I by him at the instant of his departure Orinthia the Wife of Pompeius Columna one eminent for her Noble Extract but much more for the accomplishments of vertue visiting frequently the sick women in Hospitalls especially the Incurable and doing them all charitable offices fell dangerously ill Her chief Doctors told her it was but a slight malady but she sends for Philip as relying more upon him He after a long discourse about divine matters as he was about to go away dipt his finger in a little Holy water and crossed her as she lay recommending to her Meditation the Passion of our Lord. Going from the Palace the Physicians met him He tels them Orinthia is very ill They laughed Do you make a jest of it saith Philip take it from me she will dy such a day At that they burst into a louder laughing But the day Philip had named Orinthia died Helena Ciba and her Husband Dominicus Mazzeus fell both sick When Tamiria Cevola Helen's Mother going Of this Tamiria is a sworn witness to the H. man about them told him I fear Father I shall lose both my Daughter and son in Law He answered One is enough and said no more The event made good his words for Dominicus died and Helena recovering forsook the World and betook her to a Monastery Her Sister Victoria came once to Philip to Confession and being asked how long it was since she saw her Sister This Tamira publickly affirmed in Turris Speculorum she answered Not a great while See quoth he you visit her ofter for she will dy ere it be long And within few dayes after she that was so healthy and strong took her Bed and in Eighteen days space died Marcellus Ferrius had appointed to accompany the Cardinall of Gambara that was to go from the City on an Embassy Philip bad him Do it not for your Father will shortly dy Marcellus took his counsell and some twenty days after hâ—s Father who was then very well deâ—ased The like befell Alexander Crescentius and Joh. Franc. Bucchius to the former he said Fit your self for you will Of this are two sworn witneses suddenly dy to the other Your brother shall not out live this sickness And so it was for the first died soon after and the others brother never recovered Virgill Crescentius fell sick and though at first his disease was made light of yet the H. man coming to see him said to his Wife Constantia you must rest contented with the will of God She being a discreet woman apprehended what his speech did portend and taking him aside kneeling and weeping together she begged of him that he would be pleased to pray for her husbands health Then the Children coming all This three sworn witnesses attested about him together with their Mother requested the same of him He plainly tels them It is best for Virgil to dy now and therfore you must be satisfied A few days after he died Philip afterward affirmed that as oft as he went to pray for his recovery he found no access but it was answered him from within that he must needs dy for his Soul 's good The like hapned to Patricius de Patriciis who seemed to be but slightly ill and said he would rise next day whom Philip commanded to be forthwith prepared with the Sacraments which having received he died his Will scarce finished The B. Father so highly esteemed of this man that after his death He recommended himself to his intercession Desiderius Consalvius of the Order of Predicants was sick of a violent Fever which drave him into a Frenzy and he This Desiderius and J. Comparottus with two ey-witnesses more publikely attested now lay a dying At the same time Franc. Bencinius fell ill in the same Monastery but in less perill Philip visits them both presaging death to Bencinius to Consalvius life and so it hapned for this recovered the other died Last of all He foretold the Cardinall S. Carlo Borromeo's death long before it came Ceccolinus Margaraccius of S. Severines the Pope's Protonotary whom the R. Father preferred to the family of S. Carlo writ to Philip to procure him leave of the Cardinall to go into his Country for four moneths He writ him word again thus It shall not need to move the Cardinall herein for there will an accident happen which shall forbid your return to that family Margaruccius knew not then what Philip meant but the death of S. Carlo following soon after he fully understood the purport of his Letter The H. man wrote his Letter a full moneth before the B. Cardinall died when as yet there was not the least suspicion of any disease CHAP. IV. He foretelleth the recovery of divers ANd lest any should think Him a bringer of ill news only and a Messenger of death 't will be worth the while in a few instances to observe how he oftimes proved to many the welcome Harbinger of life and health A high Fever with a Flux of bloud had seized on Cardinall Franc. Sforza then retired unto his Country-house which in two and twenty days so increased that he could take no sustenance but discovered very desperate Symptoms of approaching death for which he was prepared by the Sacramentall Refection His Mother Katharine dispatches straight a sure messenger to Philip. to desire him to remember her sick Son in his Prayers to God He sends word again the Cardinall should not dy of that sickness upon which answer he began to mend and in short time was restored to perfect health Pet. Mercator Miniatensis the Physician judged that his Son Michael was in great danger of death who was also well skilled in Physick Philip affirmed the contrary The next day Peter pronounced his Son could not escape but Philip cried Believe thou of little faith for God hath reserved him to a longer time In short Michael not only regained his former health but was many years after Physician to Clement the VIII and chosen into the number of Prelates Whose recovery now and afterward his end was foretold him by the H. man Joh. Baptista Altovitus lay sick whom the Doctors affirmed to be past cure But Philip after he had prayed for him This Cardinall Taurusius publickly attested calls Franc. Maria Taurusius bidding him Go tell Altovitus from me you shall not dy of this sickness but to morrow you shall mend and in a short time be well again He went and did so and he recovered Bartholom Dottius of Modena was ill of a Fever once and having an office at Court being one of the Guard his Nephew desires Philip to pray for his Vncle chiefly upon this intention that so he might confer his office on him The H. man told him Your Vncle shall not dy now but upon his next sickness shall and yet not leave
into the Room to desire those that were present to joyn with him in Prayer a while And if they were dangerously ill he never left them till either they died or mended Sebastian a Musitian of the Castle of S. Angelos one of Philips Sons and a very devout religious man was sick of a disease that killed him as he lay drawing on the Devill appeared to him in an ugly and terrible shape which apparition so affrighted him that he in a despair of mercy cried out O miserable wretch that I am O wo is me now hath God Of this are four Witnesses upon Oath who were present two of them Priests forsaken me now am I consigned to Hels eternal flames wo unto me forlorn creature wo unto me When he had lamented thus sadly some two hours and found comfort from none they called for the Curate of the Parish whom the sick party would by no means see or hear but saying he was undone protested he gave no credit at all to the Priest Those of the house dismayed hereat sent for Philip who hying thither as soon as ever he set his foot within the Chamber asked What 's the matter what 's the matter Fear nothing He presently being put in hopes at that cries aloud Father Philip chaseth the Devils they fly and Philip drives them before him O miraculous power of Philip Live Christ for ever Live Philip by whom I am recovered from the Pit of Hell let the Oratory flourish And then filled with consolation he sang some of the H. Lauds at last stretching forth his hands he broke out into these words Behold the Angells behold the Archangels reckoning up the severall Quires and in September on the Vigil of the Archangel S. Michael he breathed out his Soul in the arms of the H. Father Persianus Rosa Philips Confessor being likewise very sick was grievously assaulted by the Devil and in the midst of his conflicts and temptations would This was attested by an eye-witness say Tu judica me Deus tu discerne causam meam Judge me ô God and plead my cause Lying on his bed for fear tumbling to and fro Meanwhile in comes Philip whom Persian looking on said Holy Philip pray for me adding O thou Servant of God drive away I beseech thee that foul look'd dog that leaps upon me lest I be torn in pieces he forthwith kneeling down desires those that were by to pray with him Scarce had he bowed the knee but Persian cryed out God be thanked the dog is gone the dog is fled see he stands at the door So rising from Prayer he sprinkled both the sick man and his chamber with H. water and the devils being expelled the next day he quietly and joyfully died Gabriel Tana of Modena one of Cardinal Politians Gentlemen and of Philips first Scholars who confessed his sins twice a week and received the Sacrament fell mortally sick when he was 18 years old and having bin ill about Of this Jacobus Marmita writ a relation who was present as were likewise divers of Philips Sons 20 dayes and now about to dye the devil instigating him thereto he began most vehemently to wish he might recover his health Philip coming every day to see him asks him how he did Very well said he for I hope I shall out grow this disease He foreseeing his death said to him My son give me your Will and your Nill that when the Tempter comes you may answer my Consent or Dissent is no more in my hands but Christs Gabriel assented and Philip departed When Mass was done he returns to the sick person and finds his mind changed insomuch as he that a little while since was too desirous to live now said with the Apostle Cupio dissolvi c. I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ and putting the Crucifix to his brest and kissing it he exhorted them that stood by to contemn the gaudy vanities of the world Believe me said he I disdain life I desire heaven Pray therefore Father that God would satisfie my longings and before the fifth hour of the night I may fly hence unto my Saviour You shall replied the Father obtain your requests yet let me advertise you of this that the Devil will use many stratagems to undo you telling them all to him and when he had done went his way that he might give himself to Prayer An hour after Philip was gone comes the Enemy and tempts the Young man to presumption on his own worth of which this was a mark The Letanies for the dying as the custome is were rehearsing and when they came to those words A mala morte libera eum Domine Free him from an ill death ô Lord Gabriel smiled and shaking his head said O he cannot dye amiss who carries Christ in his heart when presently perceiving the wiles of the subtile Fiend I beseech you saith he pray to Christ for me for what I spake just now was by suggestion of the devil No sooner was he rid of that temptation but the adversary redoubling his blows labours with all his might to keep him from uttering the H. name of Jesus thereupon he cries out Alas Brethren I cannot possible express that which I most desire What is that said they doth the Devil hinder you from mentioning the name of Jesus At which he nodded as being so then they replyed Keep Jesus in your mind and that is enough In the encounter he was fain to summon up all his powers so that what with perplexity of minde and motion of his body he was all in a sweat Then was Philip fetch'd who shewing the B. Crucifix whispers softly in his ear the most delicious and sacred Name of Jesus which he oft repeated freely and readily at his pleasure yet did not the wicked spirit depart for not long after he sought to seduce him from the Catholique Faith perswading him that he should escape this sickness all which he related to Philip who bids him Slight my Son slight those Satanical cheats and say the Creed with me He pronounced the words often over but seemed to himself not to pronounce them which Philip perceiving bids those that were present rehearse the Symbol of the Apostles which done straight the temptation ceased The sick person the while recollecting himself and resuming courage defies his enemy in these expressions whether thou wilt or no O thou damned apostate I do believe At last the wily Tempter storms him afresh and more fiercely employing his utmost to engulf him in a Hell of desperation So assuming a deformed shape he appears with a dreadfull aspect to the sick man who appalled at the spectacle trembled every joint of him changing his colour rolling his eyes and unable to maintain his standing roars out in bitterness of Soul O caytive that I am ah what a number of horrid crimes have I committed Beat away Father beat away those ugly Curres Whereupon Philip laying his hand on the Patients
head thus bespake the Devil And O thou Monster darest thou still oppose I command thee hence immediately for these very hands have this morning handled the H. Body of Christ and turning to the sick party Take courage my Son said he and say with me Discedite a me c. Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity which being done twice or thrice Gabriel for joy cried out The Dogs run away at Philips bidding and pointing to them with his finger do ye not see saith he with what speed they fly we have overcome O good God we have overcome Then turning his eyes to the Crucifix he began to pray to our Saviour with such devotion that all the standers by fell a weeping and taking it in his hand lifting up his head he uttered many pious speeches at length triumphing over the Devil he upbraids his cowardise but Philip fearing lest by these intensions of his mind his end possibly might be hastned bad him Peace now peace and be quiet let us leave the divel He was silent instantly and the by-standers hearing him speak so heartily conceived he would live to the next day but Philip told them No he will not for as soon as ever he stirs but out of his place he will depart straight Scarce half an hour after he turned him on his right side and naming the B. Name of Jesus dyed James Marmita one of the forenamed Cardinalls Secretaries a man eminent for prudence learning piety and of Philips familiar acquaintance being now in the last stage of his life and through the infirmity of frail flesh fearing to dye greatly complained of the violence of his disease Philip who was by bid him Be of good cheer and imploring the Divine aid say Deus noster refugium c. God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble he did adding these words following Quae invenerunt nos nimis which as soon as he heard he went to prayer and continued there not long before Marmita bâ—ing marvelously cheared peaceaby departed Nicolas Lilius Priest of the Congregation almost at last gasp encountring with the devil thus obtained victory over This is commonly known his adversary Philip was saying Mass it seems in the little room above mentioned and praing more fervently than usually on the sudden great noises were heard over the Dining-room as if huge stones had bin hurled too and fro Philip then alone in the Chappell calls Petrus Consolinus and bids him Go and bring him word how Nicolas doth away goes he and finds him sick with his hands clasped and lift up to heaven reiterating these words Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro accessit recessit victus est Let us give thanks to our Lord God he came he is gone he is overcome Consolinus informs Philip of all who as his fashion was said 'T is enough and hyes him straight to Nicolas who looking on him wistly asked him passionatly Ah Father why was not I acquainted with you before Why Father thus late intimating hereby that he had learnt sufficiently in that combat what prevalency and favour Philip had with God Lilius was a Frenchman by birth one to be admired for his strange contempt of himself far from the love of terrene things from doting on his friends or kinred insomuch as when their letters were brought him he would throw them unread into the fire He was of a wonderfull patience in hearing Confessions and foretelling the day of his own death after he had lived 20 Years in the Congregation deceased whom Philip so exceedingly valued that he kept his goods instead of Reliques as an argument of his incomparable Vertue Carolus Mazzaeus likewise one of Philips Sons being at the point of death sustained shrew'd conflicts by the temptations of the Devill for an evil angell presented himself to him in his sickness and that he might sink him in the Gulf of despair laid open before him all his wickedness committed whom the sick party answered twice together only thus I appeal to Philip and straight the Devil vanished and Charles soon after very quietly departed Philip averred his Soul went to heaven affirming that if a sick person disputed with the devil any while he was sure to be surprized by his sleights By this time it was sufficiently known that as soon as the B. man set but his foot within the chamber of the sick and asked Who is here the devils immediatly fled away so that divers when they lay a dying sent for Him And not only to his friends and acquaintance but even to his very enemies did this Good Old man discharge these offices of Charity Among others he had one inveterate adversary whom he was not suffered to visit so one day after Mass retiring into the Vestry he said I felt my self much constrained at Mass to pray for N. And it was found that the same hour Philip said Mass the man fell sick of a disease whereof he died Him the H. man loved so well that if any chanced to speak of him he would weep out of his tender compassion To this purpose he in the last place forewarned men of two things one was that those who lay a dying were rather to be assisted by the strength of Prayer than store of words the other that men should not spend their Verdicts lightly either about the Patients recovery or death He said he knew some that were mightily displeased at the amendment of such as they had doom'd for death CHAP. IX He comforts the Afflicted BEsides the special care He took in helping such as were sick in body He likewise miraculously raised up such as were dejected in spirit and oppressed with sundry temptations Marcellus Benejus Politianus was in danger of committing a grievous sin his Confessor wished him to seek help of Philip and as he was opening his case to the H. man he felt himself eased of his trouble by that time he had ended his relation Antonius Fantinius a vertuous good man who lived by Merchandise and for about 30. years or more confessed almost daily to the H. Father having married a yong Wife sharply checked a Noblemans Servant for blemishing his honour and threatned to kill him the Servant not yet forbearing he vowes to embrue his hands in his blood Three dayes after upon the return of some Festival as his manner was he comes to Philip to Confession shews him the indignities he had suffered and his purpose of killing the Servant the Good man laying his hand on him said no more but Go and presently all thoughts of committing the murder forsook him and which was yet more strange that Servant never after durst walk near his house A certain yong man who lately entertained Philip for his Confessor could by no meanes be brought to forgive one that had offended him though the Father used severall arguments to change his obstinate mind but he grew every day more inflexible than other At last Philip taking up a
In like manner Ten days before he deceased he called Joh. Baptista Guerrius one of the Oratory and asked him This Jo. Baptist himself testified upon 〈◊〉 what day of the moneth it was he answered the Fifteenth Ten and fifteen saith Philip make Five and twenty and then we pass hence Nor did he speak amiss He had a little before told Germanicus You have taken a great deal of pains thus long for my sake but hereafter you shall have no more toile and trouble about me Then holding him fast by his right hand as loving him most affectionately asked What O Germanicus what wilt thou see a few dayes hence at which he began to fear some Calamity might befall Christendome but the B. man dying soon after he understood the meaning of those words The same Germanicus being to go to Carbonianum a Town near the City on the ninetenth of May a place where is These things were witnessed upon oath by Germanicus a Manner belonging to the Oratory said to Philip I am unwilling to go Father except you can assure me at my return I shall find you alive How long will you be away saith Philip But till Corpus Christi Eve at furthest replyed he at that the Father paused a while and then bid him Go. So Germanicus departed and the night before that Vigill he dreamt that he came to Rome and sound the B. Father sick a bed and that he said to him Lo I dye When he awaked fearing the H. man was dead indeed he postes to Rome and finds Philip well who told him You did well indeed to return at the time appointed for you had missed if you had tarried longer And the night following he died The same day he sent to Pet. Consolinus Priest of the Congregation and bad him put his hand on his brest and feell his Ribs sticking out with all desiring him to say a Mass for him He told him he had just 〈◊〉 â—aid Mass But said Philip the Mass I desire of you is none of those you mean but one for the Dead That very day a Woman almost fourscore years of age lay a dying the Priest that attended her in her extreamity besought Philip to pray for her He answered This dying woman shall recover but I shall depart out of this life And that instant she began to mend and the night ensuing Philip deceased His place of buriall he thus foretold He had said to Franc. Bozzius that he would take up his Residence with him who answered Father my Chamber is not fit for such a Person as you He replied What needs there any more I am resolved to dwell with you After the H. mans death it hapned that his Body was interred in a place which lay next Francis's Chamber of which hereafter This was the last Priest that died of Philips old acquaintance Joh. Baptista Guerrius forementioned being Overseer for the building came and told Philip that the Burying-place both for Priests and the rest of the Society was finished the Father asked whether he had reserved a place for him or no he answered Yes Saith Philip you will not let me ly there Yes there quoth he Philip rejoyned Indeed you shall lay me there but believe it yo shall soon remove me thence Guerrius said little then but the event shewed whither those words tended for when the B. man died Guerriis interr'd the Corps in the foresaid place of buriall but the next day conveyed it thence by appointment of the Cardinals Alexander Medices and Frederic Borromeo into a Chappell which was nigh Francis Bozzius's lodging CHAP. III. His Death WHen the H. Festivall of Corpus Christi was come which that year fell on the twenty fifth of May. the B. man gave order betimes in the Morning that as many of his Sons as came should have admittance into his Chamber whose Confessions he took as one in perfect health and desired divers of them to repeat the Rosary of the B. Virgin for him after his death Withall he exhorted them to frequent the Sacraments to be present at the Sermons and to read oftner the Lives of Saints then Caressing them more than ever When he had done hearing Confessions he attentively and devoutly rehearsed the Canonicall hours after that he said Mass in the Chappell almost two hours before he used to do it And as he began he fixed his eyes as though he had seen some strange sight on that part of the Janiculum where was a Monastery erected to S. Onuphrio which place is seated directly opposite thereunto and when he came to the Hymn Gloria in excelsis he sang it out with a loud Voice to the end which thing he never had done before As soon as Mass was ended he administred the H. Eucharist to some and having given thanks drank a litle of a Potion which they brought him and said These think me very well but they are much mistaken Then he again applies himself to the hearing Confessions But upon the return of the Cardinals Cusanus and Borromeo from the Pontificiall solemn Procession and supplication of Christs Body he passed the time till Dinner in pious discourses After he had broke his fast he rested a little as he used to do and soon after with a more fervent devotion than ordinary reciting the Vespers and Compline he divided the rest of the Day partly in receiving such as came to visit him partly in hearing the Lives of Saints above the rest he would needs have the Life of S. Bernardin of Siena read to him and made them repeat over and over his Passage hence About two hours before Sun-set came Cusanus Hierom. Pamphilio and some others with whom he said the Mattens ready now to compleat the rest of his Office in Heaven with the Holy Angels Meanwhile comes the Physician who feeling his Pulse said Really Father I have not found you better these ten years So taking Cusanus's Confession at his going away he accompanied him which he never used to do as though he would give him his last Farewell gripeing his right hand at his departure dismissed him The remainder of the time till Supper he employed in hearing Confessions Then as his custom was he Supped alone after Supper again he took the Confessions of those of his own House At the third hour of the Night he gave his Blessing as he was wont to those about him and having concluded his usuall Devotions went to Bed very well without the least sign of distemper repeating still those words I must suddenly dy And knowing the last Act of his life was now at hand he asked What a clock it was they that were by said Three So counting the hours to himself he inferrs Twice three makes six and then we shall go hence Then turning to them that staid about him he bid them Go you to sleep For the B. man was desirous to spend that little of his Life that was behind only with God whom with all his
Soul he longed for Anon at the fifth hour of the Night he rose out of his Bed and walked about his Chamber Gallonius perceiving him to walk straight gets up and finds him laid in his Bed and that some bloud and flegme together had fallen down into his mouth he asks What ailed him I dy saith Philip. At that Gallonius calling in some other of the Fathers to his aid sends straight for the Physicians They thinking it to be his wonted flux of bloud try their ordinary remedies when the course of the bloud stopping for the space of a quarter of an hour he spake freely seemed to returne to his former strength and vivacity But knowing himself now with in the borders of death he desired them to forbear their medicines as it were only staying his departure till they were all come who when every one kneeling downe they had made a circle round about his bed fell a bewailing the loss of their Most Tender Father with sad laments Caesar Baronius Rector of the Congregation solemnly recommended his departing Soul to God who seeing the B. man even ready to expire exalting somewhat his Voice Father saith he do you leave your Sons thus and not spend one word at least in praying in some good thing for them I beseech you bestow your last Benediction on your Sons in Christ Then he lifttng up his hand a little continued with his eyes fixed upward to heaven And when he had remained so awhile letting down his eyes as though he had obtained of God the Blessing that he prayed for without any other sign or gesture he quietly surrendred up his Spirit CHAP IV. He appears to divers after his Death NO sooner had He given up the Ghost but he visibly appeared to divers of his Sons At Siena in Tuscany Theius Guerrius thought he saw Philip between This he himself publickly attested sleeping and waking with rayes glittering about him saying Peace be to thee Brother for I am now wafting to those spacious and delightfull Mansions of Heaven When he waked he heard the same words again and straight the Vision ceased A few dayes after he understood by Letters from his Friends that about the same time Philip departed In the City at S. Cecilia's a certain Virgin in her sleep saw him clothed in white and sitting in a bright Chair This the Virgin herself witnessed upon oath between two Angels born up to heaven saying I go directly to the joyes of the blessed but that you may come whether I am now hastning see that you keep close to the Injunctions of our Rule and doubt not but I will pray to Our Lord for you much more than heretofore I have done The Nun meanwhile awakes glad and amazed casting in her mind what this vision might betoken at break of day comes a Messenger with news that Philip died that very night Much about the same time onother of the Sisters of the Monastery dedicated to S. Mary Magdalen on Mount â—uirinall saw him likewise in her sleep and being very desirous to have his direction about some things pray'd him to stay who answered Let me go for I have been kept too long already by others and so ascending up on high disappeared In the morning she had word that the B. man was dead In the Monastery of S. Martha in the City too he appeared to an other Nun and said I am come to you to give you my last Farewell You ar hastning to Paradise saith she With that he shews her a field beset with thorns on every side telling her You must pass this way if you intend to come whither I am going She startling out of her sleep cried O my Father my Father whom I shall never see again And so weeping sore recommended her self to his Prayers believing confidently she should hear of his death by the Morrow as it hapned In Morlupo a Town that stands about a days journey from the City a Religious Woman of the Third Rule of S. Dominic receiving the H. Communion before Philips Body was buryed immagined that she saw an Old man in a Surplice sitting among the Saints in a Chair curiously adorned whereon his Vertues were displayed in Golden Characters she saw besides a huge number of Souls and heard a Voice saying to her These are the Souls of them that have attained Salvation by the Merits and means of this Blessed Man And with these words the Sight vanished The Nun relating this to her Confessor he demanded of her What age the Old man seemed to be of or what a Physâ—ognomy he had she delineates him forth exactly Whereupon her Confessor shewing her Philips Picture The Old man I saw said she was just of this favour Soon after came letters purporting that Philip died the very day before And here may not be forgot what a little after the H. mans death was spoken by a Maid hearing her mother commend Philip to this purpose Truely I esteem Philip a very worthy Servant of Gods but if I should see him restore life to the dead sight to the blind limbs to the lame I should then indeed with a loud voice proclame him a Saint for there are many things reported of him which I never beheld with my eyes The night following betwixt sleeping and waking she conceived she saw a high Scaffold in S. Peters Church that reached up to the top of the Roof and Philip sitting upon it and a little higher toward the Roof she observed a most exquisite fine round Table and hears him saying to her Look thou incredulous Woman what I will do now and straight raising himself from the Scaffold upon the Table went out of sight The Maid when she rose told her Mother what passed in her sleep and in humble manner asked God forgiveness The Vision haply imported that the B. man should in time be Registred among the Saints at S. Peters as the sequel manifested CHAP. V. The confluence of People to see his Corps THe Body being according to the custome washed and vested in a Priests habit was at the seventh hour of the night brought to the Church attended by the Priests and the rest of the Congregation In the Morning as soon as the Church-doors were opened and the rumour of his death spread there resorted a vast multitude of People The aspects of the sacred Corps carried with it a great deal of Majesty and devotion drawing the eyes of all to the beholding of it so that the Herse was not stuck with so many flowers as the spectators out of their zeal and affection to him were ambitious to have carried away with them At a convenient hour having duly concluded the Office for the Dead they sang Mass many Prelates and Nobles being by While this was a doing Antonio Carratio coming into the Qâ—ire among the rest in his Surplice having formerly been long troubled with Scruples of Conscience was immediately released of them upon his pious recommending himself to Philip.