great a maiesty as he meditateth vpon The bell to prayer being rung with as great reuerence as he possibly could he fell vpon his knees in his poore oratory with so great industry of mind least he should be distracted with any other care did he watch ouer himselfe that for this respect he would not so much as giue way to the necessity of spitting He gaue himselfe wholy to the cogitation of those things that he had proposed to meditate and his vitall spirits togeather with his bloud resorting vpward towards his higher parts through the intensiue working of his mind so great a debility cold surprised his neather limbs that his prayer being ended he was not able to stand vpon his feet Often likewise it happened that after he arose from the same his mind being for sometime alienated from his senses he did not so much as know the place that he stood in Which then chiefly came to passe when he considered in his mind those attributes of God as his goodnesse prouidence loue towards men principally the infinitenesse of all these for then was he furthest abstracted from his senses In his prayer he had so great a guift of teares and powred them out so largely that it was necessary his Superiours should take some course to moderate them for feare least by their abundance his head and eyes might receaue some detriment But by no remedy could they euer preuaile But that which is most admirable of which both others who tooke his Confessions also Cardinall Bellarmine is witnesse that his mynd was neuer wont to be any whit distracted froÌ„ his determinate prayer which how great a guift of God it is euery one may easily coniecture by that which he himselfe experienceth in his owne prayers This so certaine power of bending his mind vpon holy matters he did not only obtaine by Gods fauour but by this likewise that by long meditation and vse he had made the force of his mind euen so prone obedient vnto him wherby he comprehended and painted liuely in his cogitation euen those thinges that were a far of as that there was nothing but what was accommodated to his purpose that euer came into his mind And vpon that cogitation which he had vndertaken so earnestly in the time of his recreation did he fixe his mind that he neuer reflected vpon that which others either did or sayd and therupon he neuer incurred any danger of diuerting his mind by any thing whatsoeuer And although in the house of the Nouices and in a manner according to that example in the Colledges all the lodgings are perused wherby it may be discouered whether all according to their appointed houres be at their prayers or no notwithstanding so long as he liued in Religion he neuer perceaued any one that came in this manner to behould him Which is a notable signe truly how far at that time he was remote from all sense and how attentiue to his meditation It is decreed by a rule that euery one of the Society both at the time of his first entrance as a Nouice and all his life-time after euery sixt moneth to disclose to his superiour not only his sinnes but also the giftes graces vertues which he hath receaued froÌ„ Almighty God to conclude all the secrets of his conscience which is to the intent that he whose part it is to gouerne others with his Counsell hauing by this meanes an vnderstanding of all may in a Fatherly maÌ„ner restraine those that â—alle the bouÌ„des of moderation may reseew vnwary persons from deceipts which in a stricter course of life do often fall out finally that he may prepare a way to go forward in a perfect course of life to all that are committed to his charge And this was that wherby many of B. Aloysius his vertues were laid open For out of a desire to obey this rule to direct himselfe according to that prescript of his superiours he did with great candour sincerity detect vnto them and those his Fathers of a better life how God behaued himselfe in his hart That must be very diligently obserued least it may seeme strange vnto any one that he declared very many of his vertues For his desire of obeying his superiours and this rule brought him vnto this being accustomed otherwise to speake very sparingly of himselfe WheÌ„ as therfore once he gaue account to the Rectour of the inward state of his mind who asked him whether in prayer he were not sometimes distracted in his cogitation to other matters he answered ingenuously that if all his extrauagant cogitations which within the space of those sixe moneths had hindered his mind either in prayer meditation or examining his conscience were put togeather that all those impediments would not amount to the time that one might recite one Aue Maria in In his vocall prayers that depended vpon his pronunciation he found greater difficulty not truly for that in those his mind wandered vpon any other matter but because he could not so readily fitly apprehend the meaning of the Psalmes or other things which he recited Therfore he said that then the case stood so with him as it doth with a man that standeth before doores that are shut against him who neither could enter in nor would goe any whither else But that otherwise in this kind of prayer also he abounded with exceeding great sense and pleasure of celestiall things especially in reading the Psalmes by which he put on certaine pious affections of mind wherwith they are plentifully stored Which truly sometimes were so earnest that scarcely not without some violence he vttered his words Therfore when according to his pioty he had a custome to recite the Canonicall prayers in the time of his Nouiship according to the manner of the Priests he bestowed in his Mattines at the least a whole houre As for that which belongeth to the matter of meditation he did very much insist vpon the consideration of the torments and bitter passion of Christ our Lord. and reaped therby diuine consolations The memory therof he daily renewed by pronouncing at noone a certaine briefe Ant-hymne by thinking vpon Christ crucified Which he performed with so cleare sense of piety and attention of mind that he said he daily had before his eyes manifesily the sanctity of that time which vpon good Friday in holy-weeke is solemnized How much spirit and celestiall solace he reaped by meditating on the sacred Eucharist hath bene spoken of heretofore He worshipped with a certaine singular obseruance and gladly meditated vpon the holy Angels and especially his Angell-guardian At which time how notable sentences Almighty God suggested to his mind of those incorporeall spirits witnesseth that his no lesse long then elegant meditation of the Angells which F. Vincentius Bruno hath reduced into the second part of his meditations and Doctour Andreas Victorellus hath very commendably cited in his learned booke Of the Custody
his Dialogues recount Equitius that holy Abbot to be who when in his youth he perceaued such kind of fires to be enkindled in him did not cease to petition Almighty God with long and frequent prayers till he sending an Angell deliuered him from all such kind of allurements and inflāmations as if he had bene but a new-borne infant In like manner Cassianus relateth that the Abbot Serenus when by frequent fastes prayers and teares he had obtayned of God cleannesse of mind did vndergo another as great a busines that he might also procure cleānes of body and that it was at last effected by the ministery of an Angell so that after that tyme neyther sleeping nor waking he was stirred with any the least motion To conclude S. Thomas a man neerer to our memory who obtayned the name of Angelicall Doctour when he had with a burning fire-brād driuen from him a certain lasciuious womā that an Angell afterward had girded him with a certayne girdle was himselfe also made partaker of this truly Angelicall benefit Neyther was it out of any naturall frigidity or stupidnesse of senses that B. Aloysius had all his members so peaceable and obedient and the secret cogitations of his hart so pure whome they who were familiarly acquainted with him do all ioyntly affirme to haue bene of a sanguine complexion full of spirit sharpe and industrious in the mānaging of his affayres Let vs therfore confesse it to haue bene a diuine and vnusuall guift proceeding from the singular fauour of the Virgin mother of God towards him whom from that tyme forward in the whole course of his life he entertayned for his mother with a certaine tender kind of loue and piety and reposed in her a great hope in the prosecution of all his affaires Notwithstanding the singular vigilancy which himselfe vsed in the seuere moderation of his senses was of no small moment for the maintaining of this so excellent a benefit For although nothing of this kind did very much trouble him notwithstanding out of his loue of virginall and holy chastity he began euen frō that day to stand vpon his guard euer more and to suruey obserue all his senses with a certayne exquisite care And especially to restraine his eyes alwayes from all vicious allurements and chiefly for that cause to go in publike with them continually fixed vpon the groūd but he did so much throughout the whole course of his life auoyd the familiarity and company of women wheresoeuer he conuersed that you would thinke he had with them a kind of naturall antipathy In so much as that he could not suffer himselfe to behould them At Castilion he receaued his mothers commaunds and returned an answere in very few wordes to those Noble women which sometimes she sent from her company to his chamber to deliuer some message vnto him and he would talke with them no otherwise then through the doore halfe shut with his eyes cast vpon the groūd least he should behould them But that is not a thing much to be marueyled at For he would not so much as indure to speake to his mother her selfe without witnesses Therfore if at any tyme whilst he was conuersant with her in the Chamber or in the Parlour others in the meane while should chaunce to with-draw theselues he would likewise presently take some occasion to depart and if he found none he would blush with a modest kind of bashfullnesse So singular was his solicitude and carefulnesse He being asked vpon a certayne tyme by a certaine learned man who obserued it why he had this auersion from behoulding any woman and euen his mother herselfe least he should make knowne his vertue he rather ascribed it to his naturall bashfulnesse Besides other things which were agreed on betweene him his father this was one that he should commaund him in all things but only in the visits of women That in other things he would be as is duty was at his disposing Therefore the Marques after that he perceaued him so constant in this purpose not to trouble him he was allwais obseruing to his will heerin He himselfe in like manner would affirme that he had neuer beheld certayne noble women who were very neere of kin vnto him And this his custome was so well knowne that in iest he was oftentymes by his familiar friends called the Women-hater CHAP. VII At Florence he maketh great progresse in a more holy course of life MOREOVER when he was at Florence he began more often to purge his cōscience by cofession then he had as yet done at Castilion with a certaine priest of the Society of IESVS designed vnto him by his Gouernor who at that time gouerned the college in that Citty When he came first vnto him to confession hauing much and long before both meditated and prepared himselfe at home he conceaued in the presence of him so much reuerence bashfulnesse and submission of himselfe as if he had exceeded all mortall men in the multitude of his sinnes He is scarcely kneeled at his feet but he falls into a sound and of necessity being taken vp by his gouernor is carried home Afterward returning thither he discouered all the sinnes of his life past of which thing we haue often heard him recount after he was ioyned to the Company of religious men that he rested satisfied in that confession which he made at Florence of his whole life For so much as this was the beginning of knowing himselfe and vndertaking the course of a more strict kind of life For then he began carefully to discusse euery one of his actions if he found any imperfection therin he would wholy imploy himselfe in searching out pulling vp the very rootes therof First of al therfore he obserued himselfe to be somewhat of a cholerick nature to be sometimes easily transported with a certaine kind of stomake which though it did not breake forth notwithstanding it vexed his mind with some griefe and indisposition He gaue himselfe therfore to consider of the foule deformity of anger which he said did manifestly appeare and discouer it selfe when the mind being recalled to his former tranquility he might perceaue that a man whilst he was possessed with anger was in some sort besides his senses When he had discouered that he determined in time to come to bend himselfe to the repressing supplanting of that corrupt disposition of his mind At the last by the assistāce of God and his owne great industry he did so absolutely ouercome it that he seemed afterward to be voyd of all motion of anger Furthermore he perceaued that oftentimes in company some one word or other fell from him that might tend to the defaming of others And allthough as he himselfe afterward confessed of what quality soeuer that sinne was it was scarcely at any time so great that it might be numbred amongst those which for their slendernesse are accounted veniall notwithstanding for this cause he was
preserued from falling into some grieuous disease or from staruing or perishing with the violence of the cold Verily he himselfe when he was now consecrated to religion did confesse to certaine of his familiar friendes vnto whome he did cōfidently relate these vnaduised for so he called them ouer-feruorous deeds of his that whilst he lay so prone vpon the ground he was sometimes so vtterly destitute of strength that being not able to spit from him with his mouth he was compelled to swallow it CHAP. XV. By Gods assistance he escapeth burning His confidence in God and contempt of the world BY this endeauour of B. Aloysius to haue all the partes of his mind recollected in his praier came that paine of his head which did vehemētly vexe him all his life after But he out of a desire to suffer annoyances and especially such a like paine as Christ suffered by his crowne of thornes was so far frō seeking any remedy for the allaying of it that he rather tooke diuers courses to nourish increase it supposing it to be holsome to him seing that it did in a manner nothing hinder him from the mannaging of his affaires it brought into his memory the torments of Christ gaue him occasion of meriting some reward in Heauen On a time it happened that being more sharply handled with that torment then ordinary he went sooner to his bed then he was wont But afterward as soone as it came into his mind that he had not as yet that day according to his custome recited the seauen penitentiall Psalmes he forthwith determined neuer to close his eyes to sleepe til he had performed that taske Therefore he commaunded the boy that wayted on him in his chamber to leaue the candle by his bed side and so to go away Hauing ended those seauen Psalmes being oppressed both with sleepe and the head-ach he forgot to put out the candle The which being wholy cōsumed the fire when it had taken one side of the bed without any flame crept spred it selfe so far til it had set on fire all the bed-clothes which couered the bed one mattresse stuffed with straw three with wool Whilst the fire had much wasted these thinges Aloysius being awaked so soone as he felt so great a heat and moreouer was very much afflicted with the paine of his head did at the first suppose that he had bene sick of a feuer but when he found that all thinges else were no lesse hoate to his touch he could not imagine from whence the violence of that vnusuall heat should proceed yet neuerthelesse he assaies againe to sleepe but all in vaine Wherfore when he was almost suffocated with the increasing of the heat smoke he leaps out of his bed and opening the doore calleth vpon the boy He had scarcely set his foot in the entry when the flame breaking forth consumed the other part of the bed Which least the whole house should take fire frō the same the souldiers who watched in garrison about the Castle being raised did cast downe out of the window into the ditches which were vnderneth Neither is it to be doubted but that if he had neuer so litle deferred the going out of his bed being especially in a litle chamber as I my selfe saw afterward that shut he might either haue bene consumed by the fire or else haue perished by being choked with the smoke But questionlesse God by an especiall prouidence of his did deliuer from all hurt him whome he had now designed for Religion being not ignorant for whose sake he was in this danger Therfore all with one vniforme consent ascribed his preseruation to God and report also was brought to the Dukes themselues at Mantua that there had happened a certaine miraculous thing to the elder sonne of the Marques and I know not how long after Leonora of Austria herselfe did in her presence desire to be informed of the whole matter by himselfe He so soone as he knew the matter to be diuulged perhaps euen least it should be know ne that his candle should be suffered to burne so neere him would very much be abashed at that question Aloysius was wōt afterward as one that had now well experienced in diuers chaunces the watch and care which the eternall Prouidence had ouer his life to préfer his prayers before all other counsels to commit himselfe to the powerfull disposall of Almighty God in all Fortunes and in all both his owne and his Fathers affaires hūbly beseeching that he would only fauour for in a māner in those very wordes was he wont to cōmend his businesse to God that which was best to be put in execution Neither did this hope confidence of the loue of God towards him euer deceaue him For he himselfe did once not feare to professe which surely seemeth very strange that he neuer petitioned God at any time in vaine were his petition great or small neither that he euer committed to his Prouidence any businesse how intricate soeuer it were and desperately lost in other mens opinions which did not succeed according to his own harts desire So open was alwayes the Diuine bounty to his prayers Out of this same daily conuersation with God seemeth that his excellency and greatnesse of mind proceeded despising esteeming as nothing whatsoeuer the world possessed then which endowment he said none was of more valew Therfore in the pallaces of Princes whilst he beheld gould siluer plate apparrell furniture the obsequiousenesse of seruants and other thinges of the like kind for so much as he had a vild conceipt of all these thinges as vnworthy to be estimated so much in the iudgment of men he could scarcely in the meane while forbeare laughing Wherfore he did often in the discours which he had with his mother most confidently affirme that be could not sufficiently wonder nor coniecture what cause mortall men could alledg that they should not all become Religious For it is more cleare then the sunne at noone-tide said he that the cōmodities are more exquisite which Religion bringeth not only to that future but euen to this mortall life seing that the fiuitiō of those which are esteemed principall in this life is but short the thirsters after them are punished with euills both liuing and dying His mother when she heard him discours in this manner although she easily perceaued what intentions he had in his mind yet for some respect she did not at that time so much as reply one word vnto him And although truly he did in a manner abstaine from the society of all men yet when he gaue himselfe therunto he did for the most part accōpany himselfe familiarly with Ecclesiasticall and Religious men who liued at Castil on but for so much as very many honest men hauing beene borne in that towne were conuersant in diuers holy Families dispersed through other Countries and which did sometimes returne to visit their owne
Rome the Marques thought that he were best to soiorne in the house of Vincentius Gonzaga the Cardinall and he had already intreated the Duke of Mantua that he would please by his letters to commend this matter to the Cardinall and he in respect of his singular loue towards Aloysius had easily promised to do this office when I know not what coÌ„trouersy arising betweene the Duke and the Marques who should haue the priority in writing neither of them yielding to the other for certaine causes the matter stood stil at the same stay neyther was there any thing else done in it but that this was the speciall prouidence of Almighty God was both manifest in it selfe as also in the free acknowledgment of Aloysius For if the Duke to pleasure the Marques had sent his letters to the Cardinall he himselfe confessed that for the very receipt of this benefit he should so much haue engaged himselfe vnto him and should by that meanes haue fallen into such a kind of seruitude that for many yeares after he should hardly haue disengaged himselfe from the same This determination being dissolued it came into the Marques his mind to place him in the Roman Seminary so that in some part therof designed for him and some seruants as the dignity of his person required being separated from the commerce of the rest he might according to the discipline of the Society be instructed in good artes til the prefixed day But for so much at that was opposite to the custome of that place from which euen to that very day no maÌ„ was euer exempted sending vnto Rome a certaine man with letters he laboured with Scipio Gonzaga a most Illustrious man that he would be pleased to negotiate this matter with F. Generall and intreat that they might do this by his permission He performed very diligently whatsoeuer was in his power But hauing allegations made vnto him why this might not conueniently be granted contrary to his opinion he certified the Marques by letters how the matter succeeded He being not as yet out of hope to obtayne this suite had a determination to exhort Aloysius that he would intreat Leonora of Austria the Duches of Mantua a womaÌ„ well deseruing of the Society to request this fauour to be done her by Fa. Generall Aloysius answered wisely that this charge wold better befit any other then him For so much as that request was contrary to the resolutions of his mind and to his reputation as being in possibility to moue suspition either that his mind was altered or his zeale remitted especially seing that not loÌ„g since in obtaining leaue of the Emperour to renounce his inheritance he had made vse of that great womans mediatioÌ„ Therfore this proiect went not forward CHAP. XXX He mitigateth and ouercometh the mind of his Father with a vehement protestation VVHILST they deliberate of some other course Aloysius when he had confirmed himself renewing his ardour betakes him againe to those holy afflictions of his body his fastes and his prayers neyther is he euer made partaker of the sacred Eucharist but he humbly beseecheth Almighty God that he would now at last vouchsafe to take away those obstacles that cast such delayes vpon his desires And especially when vpon a certaine time for this intent he had bestowed foure or fiue houres in continuall prayer he found his mind to be carried and incited with a certaine instinct that he shold go vnto the Marques lying grieuously sicke of the goute and renewing his suite of being dismissed should endeauour all that he could to persuade with him He supposing that this motion was sent vnto him by some peculiar instinct of the Holy Ghost goes from his prayers straight to the Marques his chamber and sets vpon him very seriously with these very wordes being indeed very vehement ones Equidem Domine pater in tua me potestate fore profiteor De me statue vt lubet verumtamen tibi denuncio me a Deo ad Societatem IESV vocatum esse Itaque dum hac in re mihi obsistis Dei voluntati obsistis Verily my Lord Father I do freely professe that I will alwayes rest at your disposing neuerthelesse this do I denounce vnto you that I am by God called to the Society of IESVS Therfore so long as in this thing you resist me you resist the will of God And hauing said this staying not so much as one minute of time for any answere he suddainly steps out of the chaÌ„ber leauing his Father grieuously wounded with vnexpected griefe Then entring into consideration with himselfe and acknowledging with how great vehemency he had hitherto resisted his sonne setting on one side ReligioÌ„ feare least he might draw vpon him the wrath of God on the other reuoluing in his mind that he should be forsaken by such a child so bitter griefe inuaded him that turning his face to the wall he powred out a great aboundance of teares by continuall lamentations sobs and deplorements became euen noted of his whole retinue meruaiâ—ing what new thing had befallen him A little while after sending for Aloysius into his chamber he speaketh to him in this manner Vulnus fili mi cordi meo inflixisti qui te amo semperque amaui merito tuo atque in te spes omnes meas familiaeque nostre defixeram I am vero quoniam alâ—â— te vt ais Deus vocat non equidem vltra te morabor Vade fili mi quo tibi collibitum est Id vt bene feliciter â—ueniat precor O my deare sonne thou hast inflicted a wound vpon my hart who doe and alwayes haue loued thee according to thy desert and vpon thee built all both my owne and our families hopes But now for so much as thou saist that God calleth thee to another course truly I will no more be thy hinderance Goe my sonne whither thou wilt I beseech God it may fall out vnto thee well and happily Which wordes he vttered with so great sense and remonstrance of loue and griefe that againe he burst forth into great plenty of teares neither could any one mitigate them with consolation Aloysius in briefe giuing thankes least he should increase his griefe betooke himselfe from thence into his lodging There in priuate prostrate vpon the ground with armes stretched abroad eyes lift vp towards heauen he rendreth vnto God most humble thankes for putting him into this mind and for seconding the same with this good successe and with so cheerfull a mind doth he offer himselfe vnto God as an holocaust that it seemd a thing impossible that in praysing of God he shold euer be satiated CHAP. XXXI The griefe which they of Castilion conceaued for the departure of Aloysius SCARCELY had Aloysius after so many intreaties obtained this dismission from his Father but the fame therof extended it selfe to Castilion causing so great griefe to all that belonged vnto him that many with their aboundant teares witnessed the same For
his actions he declared piety charity and prudence I neuer obserueâ— in him any leuity all the time that I was acquainted with him no not so much as the very first motion of any perturbation Nothing in his manners that might be subiect to censure I neuer saw him wittingly slip so much as in the least matter neuer to neglect any law of Religion Surely he was in euery kind of vertue singular but in that especially that in so great accomplishment of vertue he seemed to be singular in nothing which vertue truly I iudge to be of all the most eminent And these thinges came to my mind of him at this time At the same time there was a speach bruted through the Colledge that Aloysius excelled in an admirable ability of prayer and that whilst he prayed he was neuer distracted from God Therfore Achilles Galiardus a man of singular learning and authority often entring into discourse with him of celestiall matters at last also he fell vpon that course of ioyning the mind vnto God with perfect charity which commonly they call viam vnitiuam the vnitiue way and the Diuines Theologicam mysticam mysticall Theology There he did clearly vnderstand that beside other guiftes which were very singular with which his mind was stoared from Almighty God he was also after a certaine incredible maÌ„ner close ioyned to God that he did daily reape the fruite of Mysticall Theology that he was conuersant about those Diuinae Tenebrae of which the Great Dionysius Areopagita speaketh that he imbraced it inioyed it and proceeded very far in the same Therfore finding that so great vertues and those of so high a pitch that scarcely mortall condition is capable of had taken so deepe rootes in a young maÌ„s mind who had hardly passed foure yeares in Religion and that he did euen now truly possesse that degree which very rare men and those of perfect and mature religion were wont to attaine to no otherwise then by a certaine vnusuall assistance of God he tooke therin both infinite admiration and ioy And for so much as they that are so great proficients in this course of ioyning themselues to God do not without offering of some violence vnto themselues descend to the procuring of other mens saluation for the most parte are conuersant with God deepe fixed vpon the contemplation of him and estranged from the noyse of men he to the intent that he might make some triall of him said that he did somewhat merueile that this his habit of mind was not somewhat suspected of him as disagreeing with the institute of the Society For so much as the vocation therof is by promiscuous dealing and conuersation with all sorts of men to endeauour the saluatioÌ„ of soules But this mysticall familiarity with God by no pretext of good to others can be brought to take charge of soules but leauing the care of action vnto other men chooseth to it selfe the better part which resteth in contemplation To this Aloysius answered that he truly if he perceaued such thinges to be effected in his mind which he spake of he would eschew the following of them as differing from his vocation Which answere did euen much more astonish him For he vnderstood that through an admirable benefit of God he had ioyned both courses the one with the other so that neither that which consisteth in the enioying of God did hinder the desire of action nor this restraine the other of contemplation and that consequently he was placed in the highest state of conuersation with God which is performed by loue and the perpetuall conformation of our mind to his will To wit the mind by force of loue being lifted vp vnto God knowing with what zeale God burneth for the saluation of soules being brought downe from that height in which through blessed retirement it feedes vpon the cogitation of God is vrged forward with the spurâ— of affection to vndertake the businesse and care of helping mens soules Therfore from that very time Achilles neuer ceased to publish this so notable a guift bestowed by God vpon Aloysius and that he confirmed thrice by writing and by oath CHAP. XXVII Aloysius is foretould of his death by God He is recaâ—ed by Fa. Generall from Millan to Rome In his iourney at Siena he maketh a sermon to them of the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin THIS Blessed young man was now already in respect of his so many vertues ripe for eternall glory for so much as that Angelicall life which he had alwayes lead vpon earth amongst mortall men made him worthy of that heauenly mansion and the society of Angels Wherfore Almighty God declared that it was his pleasure to send for him to enioy the rewards which in so short a space as that which he liued he had with so much study and labour deserued For when as he liued yet at Millan a litle aboue a yeare before he departed out of this life in the time of his morning prayer when he bent the whole force of his mind vpon God he inwardly infused into him a certaine light by vertue of which he manifestly vnderstood that there remained but few dayes more for him to liue and moreouer he receaued a commaund that this present yeare he should endeauour to liue as perfectly as he could abstracting his mind from the loue of all mortall things that he should serue God and with greater care then euer heretofore adorne himselfe both with inward and outward vertues His mind being illustrated after this manner he found in himselfe a merueylous change that his affection was much further then at any time before withdrawne from these transitory thinges This reuelation from God he concealed from all except Fa. Vincentius Bruno a few others to whome he made it known at his retourne to Rome In the meane time euen as he was wont to doe he imployed himselfe in the studies of Diuinity Although in respect that he perceaued certaine inward incitements to be put into him that moued him to set his whole hart vpon God he was lesse able now to apply his mind to take delight in those things There ceased vpon him a desire to returne to Rome where he had tasted the first fruites of a Religious spirit that he might againe visit so many of his acquaintance associate in celestiall matters But for so much as he determined to beware least he shold with his mind incline any more to one part then another desired that the whole matter might be referred to the will of his Superiours he also kept secret this his desire Notwithstanding it was the pleasure of God that for the comfort of so many youÌ„g men with whome in the Roman Colledge he had knit a sacred league of friendship he should goe thither Therfore Father Generall so soone as he perceaued that all those businesses for the dispatch of which he was sent into Lumbardy were effected that winter being ouerpassed there was
displeased with himselfe to the intent that he might not any more be compelled to accuse himselfe of any such like fault to the Priest he did eschew the company and discourse not only of other friends but euen of those which were most familiar vnto him and began very much to addict himselfe to retirement and solitude where he might neither speake nor heare any thing that might cast vpon his conscience any the least spot Some did ascribe that to-too much scrupulosity and seuerity But he doubtlesse made but small account of what others thought And from that time all the course of his life after he did perpetually abstaine from all kind of sport Furthermore he was so much affected to the obedience of his superiours that his Gouernor denied that euer he omitted any commaund of his how little soeuer it was And which is more if at any time he saw his yonger brother Rodulph take in ill part the reprehensions of his maister either of manners or learning he would with a check exhort him to submit himselfe to gouernement He had such respect ouer his seruants in such sort commaunded them that he made them ashamed not to obey him For so much as they deny that euer he commaunded them imperiously but euen in these formes of speach Nisi tibi molestum est licet hoc facias si tibi commodum est hoc abs te velim Amabo te hoc mihi effectum da. That is to say If it be not troblesome vnto you you may do this if cōmodiously you may this would I haue you doe I pray thee dispatch this for me Which when he said there euer appeared so much sweetnesse in him that he shewed himselfe much to be moued with commiseration ouer his seruants By this behauiour he did much oblige the mindes of them vnto him He was of so singular modesty that he blushed in euen behoulding his chāberlaine whē he apparelled him in the morning and in putting on his breeches he would scarcely thrust his toes out of the bed-cloathes so fearful he was to discouer any naked part He was present euery day at Masse and vpon festiuall dayes at Euensong All that time he had knowne nothing as yet of the contēplation and meditation of celestiall thinges applying himselfe only to the reciting of his vocall prayers Therfore euery morning by breake of day he recited those which are contained in the daily Exercise the other which I spake of before humbly and attentiuely Notwithstanding allthough in very deed he had not as then determined in his mind to abandone all the goods of Fortune neuerthelesse he was fully resolued that if he did retaine thē he would be take himselfe to a most innocent and exact course of life And with this grauity of manners was B. Aloysius endowed being but of that age had attained to those degrees of diuine Philosophy which those often times are far short of who haue spent many yeares in the discipline of a more seuere life CHAP. VIII Being recalled backe to Mantua he determineth to renounce the Marquesate and to lead an Ecclesiasticall life BLESSED Aloysius had now liued at Florence for two yeares when by his father vnto whome VVilliam the Duke of Mantua had then giuen the gouernment of Monte-Ferrato he was commanded togeather with Rodulph his yonger brother to liue at Mātua Thither therfore by the great Dukes good leaue he betooke himselfe in the moneth of Nouember the yeare 1579. when he was 11. years of age and 8. moneths There whilst he prosecuteth his custome which he began at Florence of exercising a pious life with no lesse graue aduise then he had before begun it he determineth to renounce the title and commodities of the Marques of Castilion with the which he was now by the Imperiall authority adorned and to resigne thē ouer to Rodulphus his yonger brother And although he did now of late certainely resolute to abstaine from mariage notwithstāding at that time his indisposition of health by reason of the straightnesse of his water gaue no small confirmation to this his new resolution For when he feared least that malady should increase it seemed good vnto him by the aduise of the Phisitians to indeauour to consume those bad humours by abstinēce which were the matter of his disease vnto which abstinence he gaue himself with so much rigour that it is strange how he could escape death For if sometimes at supper he did eate but one whole egge which seldome tymes he did then he seemed to himselfe to haue feasted very royally This seuere abstinence he obserued both all that winter which he remained at Mantua and all the sumer following at Castilion though dissuaded now by the Phisitians all others not so much for his health as it was generally thought but as he after he was adioyned to the religious Society confessed to Hierome Platus for deuotion sake For although the loue of his health did at the first driue him to that so rigid a course of dyet by degrees notwithstanding he turned it into a custome and out of that loue which he bare to Almighty God it began to be a pleasure to him But as it preuayled in driuing away that disease which was growing vpō him as one who al his life after was free from it so did it very much impayre the whole state of his health otherwise for with that slendernesse of dyet he did so far forth weaken his stomacke that afterward when he most would he could not take meate if agaynst his appetite he tooke it could he by any meanes retaine it Therfore wheras hertofore he had beene somwhat corpulent he was always afterward of a leane habit of body moreouer his former strength being decayed in place of that naturall vigour there succeeded a very great weakenesse that vtterly corrupted the whole state of his body which notwithstanding brought this fruite to his mind that for this respect he was destitute of many sportes which if he had bene of entire health he could not haue auoyded Therfore he did seldome go forth in publike vnlesse he went to some Church or religious house where he did oftē discourse of celestiall things It fell out also once whē he went to see Prosperus Gonzaga his Cosen and a prime man that in the entrance of his house going into a priuate Chappell he applied himselfe for a certaine time to his deuotions but afterward he so discoursed with him and with the rest of his familiar friendes with so much feruour and subtility of diuine thinges that euen then all of them esteemed him to be a holy man The rest of his time for the most part he spent alone and at home sequestred from the company of men sometimes reading those histories of Saints which Surius collected with which he was very much delighted sometimes reciting his set-prayers in frequenting other actes of piety The which actes he did so daily increase that wheras out
of his affection to that quiet kind of life he grew by little and little weary of all humane conuersation he at last determined that yielding vp the honors and riches of Marques to his brother Rodulph he would deuote himselfe to the Church not out of any hope to obtaine Honours therein which being by many often offered him he had alwais most constantly refused but for that he might in that kind of life bestow himselfe wholy more frely quietly in the seruice of God Whē he had determined this in his mind he began earnestly to importune the Marques that he wold giue him leaue being discharged of Court imployments to apply himselfe vnto the study of learning Notwithstanding he concealed frō him in the meane while his determination of following an Ecclesiasticall course of life CHAP. IX Returning to Castilion he obtaynes from God an excellent hability in mentall prayer THAT which for the most part the Princes Gōzaga's do euery yeare to wit the winter being ended they retire themselues from Mantua into diuers places till the sūmer-heates be past the same doth the Marques commaund Aloysius by letters that he should with his younger brother returne to Castilion as thinking indeed that his naturall climate would be more holsome to him then that of Mantua Neyther did his hope deceaue him for he was much amended with the pleasantnesse of that place situated vpon a faire hill most pleasant to behould and I do not doubt but especially by that cure which his mother would haue applied to him he might haue bene wholy recouered if he could haue perswaded himselfe to haue remitted any thing of that rigor of life vnto which he begā to giue himselfe at Mantua But he doubtlesse being more solicitous of the health of his mind then of his body was so far from any relaxatiō of those endeauours of piety vnto which he had accustomed himselfe as that he did rather straighten them For he added vnto that strictnesse of diet which he had imposed vpon himselfe with great rigour continuall solitarines in which he shrowded himselfe for the loue of diuine thinges auoiding all humane society Wheras therfore he daily separated and estranged himself from the common sort of men who are only drawne with these mortall respectes God according to his singular goodnesse in rewarding those who faythfully serue him did vouchsafe to declare how gratefully he accepted this mynd so pious and so desirous of his honour with which a youth but of twelue yeares of age did with so much innocency of manners cosecrate himselfe vnto him Therfore for so much as to that very day he was instructed by no man of the manner of meditating vpon celestiall matters nor had any vse therof it was the pleasure of God that without humane help he would himselfe instructe him with his owne inspiration For hauing once most fitly prepared his mind in respect of the excellent purity therof for the receauing of heauenly riches he brought him to the most hidden treasures of his guiftes and powred vpon him with a full hand as they say his endowments For when as he had enlightned his mind with a certaine celestiall light which exceeded in clearnesse all human capacity he taught him a way of meditating pondering vpon the Almighty power and greatnesse of God far more curious and high then it could haue bene done by the precepts of any mortall man Whē he perceaued that this so easy an entrance as it were to the plentifull pasture and cheerfull food of his soule was so boūtifully laid opē vnto him by way of seruiceable gratitude for this his loue shewed towards him he remained whole dayes trasported in thinking sometimes of those admirable things which fell out in the working of our saluation other sometimes in meditating vpon the titles and attributes of Almighty God when in the meane while he was surprised with so great ioy that he could by no meanes moderate his teares So as with them he often moistned not only the garments which he wore but euen the floor of his chamber Therfore for the most part all the day he was close shut vp least if he shold haue gone forth any whither he might ether haue lost that sense of piety or being found by any one to haue wept might haue bene hindred from prosecuting the same This when his seruants obserued they would often throgh the chinkes of the doore descry what he was doing For oftentimes they saw him kneeling before a crucifix for diuers houres together with his eyes fixed vpon it with his armes sometimes stretched out sometimes placed before his brest in the forme of a crosse when he shed so many tears that the very sobs grones might be heard throgh the doores And sometimes they perceaued him to remaine vnmooued with his mind abstracted from his senses euen like a statue with his eyes not so much as once cast down At which time his Gouernour others that were of his chamber do affirme that he was therin so alienated from all sense that neither with passing through his chamber nor with making any other noise they could diuert his mind When the fame of these thinges had spred it selfe abroad not now his familiar acquaintance only but they also who were none of the Court being admitted to the same chinkes and made eye-witnesses of the same thinges could neuer sufficiently admire them Oftentimes also did the domesticall seruitours heare him in going vp the staires say vpon euery staire an Ane Maria But now both at home and abroad whether he was carried in coach or went on foot he neuer cast off his mind from the meditation of heauenly mysteries In which exercise of piety as I said before he made vse of no Maister but the holy Ghost who endued his mind with this diuine guifte as it were with a pretious ointmēt And although he now obserued a certaine manner of meditating notwithstanding he had not as yet learned to performe it in methode order neither did he sufficiently vnderstand what places he should especially choose for it Therfore at that time he fitly light vpon a certayne little Booke of Peter Canisius a Deuine of the Society of IESVS in which certaine heads of meditation were after a certaine methodicall manner set downe Therby he was not only more vehemently enkindled towards the loue of Diuine conuersation but also vnderstood what course he should insist vpon in meditation what times he should obserue Although then truly he confined his meditations within no certaine limits of time but according to the copiousnesse of the subiect according as his mind was put on forward with diuine impulsions he eyther made them longer or shorter but in such sort as that he neuer departed from them but eyther with his mind illuminated with new lightes from heauen or with his will inflamed with new ardour or with his whole hart steeped in new sweetnesse CHAP. X. The beginning of his loue
these so so one as Aloysius had notice of their arriuall he went vnto them to talke of diuine matters accepting also at their hands with a great desire and sense of piety meddalls of Indulgences Agnus-Dei and other such like things belonging to piety But he conceaued the most pleasure by the comming of certaine reuerend Monkes of Cassino of the Order of S. Benedict who whē his life was called in question at Modena yielded vnto him an excellēt testimony of pious sanctity Neither was he lesse inclined towards certaine Reuerend Fathers of the Order of S. Dominicke who in the Sommer time for their recreation came to Castilion with whome in like manner he conferred familiarly of matters touching his soules health Amongst these was the R. Fa. Fr. Claudius Finus of Modena Doctour and reader of Diuinity and a preacher of great fame in Lombardy He both at other times and also a little before his death before the Tribunall of the Bishop of Modena being questioned concerning that matter answered vpon oath in these wordes which in respect of the authority of that man I thought good here to relate CHAP. XVI The testimony of the R. Fa. Claudius Finus Doctour of Diuinity of the Order of S. Dominicke of the sanctity of Aloysius I VVAS well acquainted with the most illustrious Lord Aloysius Gonzaga to whome belonged the inheritance of the title fortunes of the Marques of Castilion not only by sight but also by frequent discourse with him when togeather with my fellowes I retired to Castilion and to other places seated in the dominion of his family For very willingly his mother endeauoured that he should both confer with others and especially with me Verily I departed from him astonished and not without a certaine pleasant gust of mind more inflamed in the loue of vertue in respect of the singular example of sanctity which shined in his manners sententions speach gesture All his familiar speach in a manner tended to a certaine exquisite desire of humble deportmen of himselfe and to the prayse of those who separate themselues from those thinges which to blind mortall men seeme so goodly magnificent Once also he said vnto me There is no cause why we should insolently boast of our ancestours seing that there is no other difference betweene the ashes of Princes and beggars but that those of Princes stincke more grieuously In his tender age he made no shew of childishnes being of notable modesty often with drawing himselfe from company and in the meane while remaining silent musing graue and pious Often he had in his mouth these speaches O how willingly would I burne with as much loue of God as might be worthy of so great a maiesty my very hart melts with griefe when I see christians so vngratefull towards him A token likewise of his modesty and loue of honesty was that his bashfulnesse so full of candour and sincerity that if any one euen in iest and merriment had but vttered any one word differing neuer so little from modesty he would with a decent blushing and with a very modest signe of griefe shew a kind of commiseration of his errour In the meane while whilst he heard any one talking of the preceptes of a more perfect life or relating of any who entred into any Religious Order he seemed to compose his face to greater serenity and to put on another aspect Sometime also he cried out with a sigh Good God how much pleasure is there in those solid ioyes of Heauen seing that we are so much delighted with the speach of them heere vpon earth Sometimes I went with him into the Church There he showing the signes of a mind most humbly and submissely worshipping God did far surpasse being but a child the examples of men of riper yeares and of long experience in the profession of Religion Sometimes being as it were in lamentation other sometimes his eyes being fixed vpon some one of the Saintes pictures he neither gaue eare to those that called him nor spake to them neither would he without interposing some delay yield thē any answere whereby it manifestly appeared his mind was alienated from his senses He did often affirme vnto me that he bare a singular deuotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary that with the only hearing of her name his hart abounded with incredible ioy Truly I knew him not after he had entred into a stricter course of religion notwithstanding I haue heard from diuers very graue men at Milane Brescia Cremona Ferrara Genoa Mantua and else where that he being ioyned to the Society of Iesus liued therin with great opinion of sanctity in the iudgmēt of all men many religious men of great authority do testify that he in like manner dyed in the same sanctity and some were of opinion that it was more safe to commend our selues to his blessed soule then his soule to God Furthermore the same of the miracles prodigies and other benefits which Almighty God worketh for his sake and of the celestiall honour which is had of his Reliques is diuulged far and neere These are the words of that Reuerend Dominican Father CHAP. XVII He goeth with the Marques into Spayne and is made Page of Honour to Iames the Prince And of the life which he lead in the Court. IT was the yeare of Christ 1581. in the Autumne whereof Mary of Austria daughter to the Emperour Charles the V. daughter-in-law to Ferdinand the first wife to Maximiltan the second mother to Rodulph the second who raigneth at this day and sister to Philip the second the Catholike King tooke her iourny out of Bohemia into Spayne To do her honour some Italian Princes that were obliged to that Kingdome amongst these the Marques Ferdinand Father of B. Aloyseus were by that King commaunded to atted her in passage out of Italy into Spayne And whereas his wife Martha at the request of the Empresse accompanied him they tooke likewise as companiōs in their iourny their three children one daughter whose name was Isabell who remaining afterward in Spayne ended her life amongst the principall maids of Honour to Isabella Clara Engema the Infanta of Spayne Aloysius his eldest sonne being now of the age of thirteene yeares and a halfe and Rodulph being somewhat younger then he In this iourny which Aloysius made out of Italy into Spayne he neuer omitted his vsuall custome of daily meditating vpon diuine matters nor to make vse of that ardour of piety Therfore he had alwaies his mind busied in such likes cares It was bruited in the Galley which they went in that they were in some danger of falling into the handes of the Turkes heere he inflamed with a suddaine desire said Vtinam ita casus ferret vt Martyres fieremus I would to God it would so come to passe that we might be made Martyrs Moreouer his mother recounted vnto me that he found amongst those rockes of the Sea a little stone distinguished with certaine markes
so ill a Christian that he wold conceaue offence against God or gainesay his will but if he did but euen obserue the course of reason that he seemed vnto him not so much carried with the instinct of God as with some proper humour of his owne for so much as his very obedience towards his Father contained vnder one of Gods commaundments and other reasons appertaining to the honor of God did persuade the contrary to that which he had designed in his mind To conclude with what argumēts he could which either his loue or griefe did suggest vnto him he attēpted to proue that if he bound himselfe in Religion he would become the blotter-out of his house for so much as he being taken away is was of necessity to be ruinated More ouer he set before his eyes how well he was himselfe accommodated by nature and nothing flexible to be draw at from the course of an honest life That there was therfore no cause why he shold doubt to retaine the commodities of Fortune seeing that in the middest of them it was possible for him to obserue the course of Religious men and moreouer to moue by his exāple the people which God had committed to his dominion to obey the commandements of God and imbrace Christian piety That this questiōlesse might open also a way for him to Heauen That he should call to mind how much he was honoured esteemed and beloued of all the men belonging to his dominion how earnestly they expected him and euen as humble suppliants lifting vp their hands to Almighty God did beseech him that they might forthwith be committed vnto him to be ruled and gouerned He reduced likewise into his memory how great fauour he had allready gotten of the Princes with whome he had both acquaintance and correspondēce and who were singularly well conceited of him And now he obiected vnto him the feruorous disposition of his brother vnto whome if he entred into religion he was to resigne being in respect of his vnripe yeares of no experience nor as yet fit for gouernment and if he should get the bridle in his teeth in that headstrong spurt of his youth that he would become a prey to shame and disgrace In conclusion he sayd Haue commiseration vpon me poore distressed man afflicted with continuall torments of the goute so weakened that I can now scarcely wield my selfe who now at last haue great need and truly euen now by thee might be holpen in managing the troublesome affaires of the Common wealth But if for saking me you shall goe into Religion I shall be enutroned with businesses with which being vnable to deale I shall be oppressed with the miseries both of cares and sicknesse and you will thus become accessory to my death And hauing said this his teares gushed forth in great abundance interming led with words full of griefe and affection Aloysius who with patience had giuen attention to his speaches after that he had hūbly rendred thankes for the loue Fatherly care which he had shewed towards him answered that he truly had reuolued all these things in his mind or at least the greater part of them that he was not ignorant what belonged to himselfe And that if he were otherwise called then by God to this course of life that thē truly he should not do well in vndertaking these thinges which he had rehearsed moreouer he should chiefly be necessitated to obey serue his Father vnto whome next after God he was most indebted That now seing that he was not incited to the courses and institutes of Religious men by any particular rashnesse of his owne mind but by the inspiration of Almighty God vnto whose calling it be hooued him to giue eare that he hoped the same God whose Prouidence extendeth ouer all would prouide that all thinges should not only sort themselues according to the pleasure of his diuine Maiesty but euē both for the dignity and profit of his family and dominion and that they could promise themselues no lesse from his infinite goodnesse The Marques knowing well that it was a thinge manifest vnto his sonne that this intention was giuen vnto him by God that was the only cause of his so firme resolution perceaued that vnles his mind were depriued of this persuasion he could neuer be drawne off from his purpose Therfore he made it his greatest busines that diuers men both Religious and Secular should sound true his mind and the instinct wherwith he was moued and that they should draw the young man into the opinion that he might thinke it agreable to the honour of God if he should spend his life in the gouernement of his dominion All these when to please the Marques they had day after day euery one seuerally commended this course of life with as much art of s◠each as possibly they could laying open the trobles of a Religious life endeauoured to cast before him terrours and by other meanes had made triall of his constancy in fine confessing themselues to be cleared of all doubt and standing in admiration at the firme resolution of the young man they manifested vnto the Marques that this instinct seemed to be from God not without enlarging themselues much in his commendations When these thinges were recounted to the Marques that there was so great agreement in all their opinions to the intēt that at the last he might somewhat moderate his desire of searching whether this was the will of God or no wheras the Gout suffered not him otherwise either to goe or ride he commaunded them to carry him in his chaire to the Church of S. Fidelis which belongeth to the Society of IESVS and there retiring to a certaine priuate closet sending for a Father of great Name in that citty said vnto him that in so waighty a cause in which was treated the losse of his eldest sonne and that of a sonne of so great worth he was certainely resolued to stand to his iudgment and to rest aduised by his opinion But that he did first desire that he would question with the young man himselfe diligently in their presence concerning that which he had purposed in his mind and that he would take it into mature consideration Moreouer that he besought him according to the excellency of his wit learning that he would vrge all effectuall reasons that might be to dissuade him To conclude that he promised as far forth as he was able to get the conquest ouer himselfe wold rest satisfied with that order which he should set downe herein This Father to the intent that he might conforme himselfe to the Prince in this his request tooke the matter vpon him sending for Aloysius in the presence of them both began very seriously to sound him spent a whole houre partly in questioning him partly in expoūding whatsoeuer things may be found out either by wit or subtility for the triall and cleare discouery of
precepts of piety his Brothers being euen then of tender yeares and to teach thē the manner of praying which that they might do the more willingly he rewarded them after their prayers with sugar-junkets cherished them with other blandishmēts But of all his brothers Francis seemed alwais to be most dearey vnto him who at this day is the Marques of Castilion in which principality he succeeded his brother Rodulfus the third day of Ianuary in the yeare of Christ 1593. towards whom that loue of Aloysius was caused eyther for that he being now of an age capable of discipline shewed forth signes of a certaine quiet setled iudgment or for that he presaged in his mynd as some suppose how great a safeguard and ornament he should become to his whole family dominion For his mother was wont to recoūt that she on a time heared Francis being a very little boy pratling and festing with her foot boyes and that 〈◊〉 and being stroken with feare she looked out of the doore and with all sayd vnto Aloysius that she did much feare he all they should hurt that child that then Aloysius did answere Ne dubita Domina matter quin Francisco ad so tuendum satis sit futurum animi quanimo demitte in animum quod aico Francisous demum erit qui Familiam nostram suslentabit Doubt not Lady-Mother but that Francis will haue courage inough to defend himselfe yea which is more remember well that which I say Francis at last shall be he who shall sustaine our Family The Marques his wife laid vp these words in her mind vnto which how punctually the euent was answerable no man can be ignorant who hath but heard by relation how prudently he behaued himselfe in those former tragedies with which his family was perplexed behouldeth the now flourishing estate into which by him it is restored Furthermore for the predictions of things to come Franciscus Turcius his Tutour is a sufficient witnes that Aloysius whilst he yet continued in the world did vnto diuers of his followers prophesy many things which fell out altogether as he said CHAP. XXIX Another hinderance and delay of the Marques NOw some dayes had passed during which time the Marques made no metion of Aloysius his cause so as he being very desirous to dispatch the busines determineth to grow very earnest Therfore taking a conuenient time with befitting words he aduertiseth the Marques that it was now high time to put in execution that which he had designed in his mind Here the Marques perceiuing a necessity to be imposed vpon him either of granting or denying what he requested deeply smothering his inward griefe denieth that euer he gaue this leaue and moreouer that he would not giue it til his iudgment had arriued to more maturity and that himselfe for performance therof was of a more confirmed age such as is wont to be about the age of fiue twenty yeares Aloysius being astonished at so vnlooked-for an answere beginneth with praiers and lamentation to beseech the Marques by that loue which he oweth to God to suffer himselfe to be preuailed with all in that which was both equity iustice But when as he being stil more obstinate precisely denyeth to giue way to his intreatyes and in these difficult affaires taketh time to consult full of griefe he betaketh himself to his chamber to weep He then tooke this time to commend the matter to God to aske Counsell thereof by his letters of Fa. Generall but the Marques maketh such hast to vexe and oppresse him that wheras he was not able to stay for the Generals opinion he chose that which seemed to be lesser of two euils The summe of his answere was this That although nothing in this life could fall out vnto him more bitter nothing more opposite to the quiet of his mind then this delay and hindrance of that seruice which he desired to exhibite to God in Religion notwithstanding to the intent that he might be obedient to his Father vnto whome he was of his owne disposition very desirous to be conformable in whatsoeuer thinges he lawfully might and in this very cause according to the commaund of Fa. Generall he ought to be as far forth as might stand with his filiall duty without offence to God that vpon two conditions he would suffer himselfe to be delayed from his purpose two or three yeares And that if one of these two might not be admitted that he would neuer be persuaded for the obtaining of his Fathers fauour to incurre the displeasure of God and that if he should be reiected by the Fathers of the Society he had rather against his Fathers will to wander as a banished man all the world ouer then to depart in the least degree from the square of a good conscience The conditions were these The one was that all that time wherin his entrance into Religion should be deferred he might reside at Rome where he might both more commodiously haue recourse to Fa. Generall and apply his study in learning The other was that the Marques would now send letters to Fa. Generall by which he wold giue leaue that his sonne that time being past might be admitted into the Society to wit that after this there might remaine no difficulty These conditions being heard which the Marques perceaued to be aduerse to his driftes becomming more angry when for two whole dayes he had obstinately refused to promise the sending him vpon any certaine time or to do any thing else at last being ouercome with Aloysius his constancy whose demaund he saw to be no other then iust and vnlesse he should vndergoe some other course more opposite to his liking he feared to exasperate him too much suffering himselfe to be persuaded he vndertooke to performe all his requests Aloysius immediately certifieth Father Generall of the whole businesse relating the conditions which in that couenant with his Father he had obserued and with those very wordes he concludes his epistle which might serue for an argument how much griefe he conceaued for the deserring of this so wished-for a matter During that time this holy young man euen grew-old with griefe and with many teares deplored this as he called it his sinister fortune that he was borne in so Illustrious a degree that truly the principall amongst his other brothers And contrariwise he had a holy Enuy against those who being extracted from more obscure parentage were freed from these impediments which against their wils would driue them from the entrance into Religion But verily that good God who is wont to be a comfort to them that mourne to looke with pitty vpon them that inuocate him out of their calamity cutting-off at one blow beyond the expectatiō of all men whatsoeuer impediments stood betweene Aloysius and the enioying of his desires in an instant wiped away all griefe from his afflicted mind For after they began to treat of his manner of liuing at
of sadnesse being driuen away God who to the intent that he might trye him and inflame him with a greater desire of him had for a litle while hidden himselfe shone forth againe vpon his mind and restored vnto him his accustomed peace and tranquility At another time the Diuell that he might discourage his mind and deiect him suggested this cogitation And what I pray you will the Society do with you He straightway perceauing that he was solicited by the Diuell made head against him and within the space of halfe an houre obtained the victory He affirmed afterward that in all the time of his Nouiship he was only tempted these two times Therfor after this his mind was alwayes peaceable quiet What wonder soaring aloft aboue all human chauÌ„ces he assigned all to the Diuine prouidence by which he seemed to aspire to that place where he is now not to be shaken with any perturbation CHAP. III. His constancy of mind in the death of his Father the Marques THIS did he sufficiently discouer to the messenger that brought him newes of his Fathers death the Marques Ferdinand who dyed six weekes after his entrance into the Society At the hearing wherof he was no more moued then if it had nothing at all coÌ„cerned him Therfore the self-same day at the persuasion of others being willed to coÌ„fort his mother by letters in such sort he began them that he gaue thaÌ„kes to God for that herafter there was no other cause but that he might say Pater noster qui es in celis Our Father which art in Heauen This seemed very strang vnto all and especially vnto them who knew very well the entire loue affection obseruance which Aloysius bare towards his Father which was so great that abstracting from God and celestiall thinges he denied any thing vpon earth to be more deere vnto him Verily he himselfe confessed that his Fathers death considered of it selfe could not but be a great griefe vnto him but so soone as he remeÌ„bred that it fell out according to the will of God it was impossible that that should seeme troublesome to him which was his pleasure And this is which before I said that he was higher then all Fortune for so much as he wholy depended vpon the will of God This same so suddaine end of his Father gaue Aloysius cause to take notice of that extraordinary loue singular care that Almighty God had of him For if the Marques had died two or three moneths sooner then that time of his abdicating his riches or that his entrance into Religion had bene deferred but for three moneths it might well haue bene feared that either F. Generall supposing that that family ought not to be depriued of so commodious a head for the gouerning of its affaires would haue deserred the acceptance of him or that they of that Prouince according to their inflamed loue towards him would haue attempted the with-houlding him by force or at least that he himselfe fearing to commit this dominion to his yonger brother being but euen theÌ„a very child would haue thought it better rather for some litle time to apply himselfe to the administration therof But what euent that matter would haue had that doubtlesse is best knowne to God Now it was his pleasure who had made choice of him after that being deliuered out of the shackles of fortune he had placed him in Religion then at last to call vnto him the Marques his Father Neither did the same prouidence of God shew it selfe lesse obscure towards the Marques himselfe For wheras he in his youth was much renowned in the war for his seruice vpon horse backe and had spent all his time in purchasing to him and his the honours pomps of this world so soone as Aloysius had now betaken himselfe to Religion he made such a vertuous alteratioÌ„ in his manners and with so feruent zeale applied himselfe to matter of piety that he became euen a miracle to all his acquaintance He vtterly abandoned his gaming to which heeretofore he was too much giuen And euery day at euening when he had commaunded to be brought vnto his bed-side wherin he say sicke of the goute that picture of Christ crucified which Aloysius had left behind him before the same togeather with Ghisonius whome hauing bene of late Aloysius his ChaÌ„berlaine he kept with him he recited the seauen penitentiall Psalmes the Litanies Vnto which he sent for his wife children and commaunded to answere In his prayer so extreeemely did he weepe with such deepe sobs and groanes that it was an abundant testimony of that penitentiall ardour with which his mind was inflamed At last imbracing the crucifix and often knocking his brest with teares he prayed in this manner Miserere Domine Domine peccaui miserere mei Mercy O Lord O Lord I haue offended haue mercy vpon me And being astonished at this his vnusuall promptnesse of weeping at last he said Non ignoro vnde hae lachrymae fluant sunt hi Aloysii fructus Aloysius à Deo Opt. Maximo vt hoc salutari dolore cor mihi suffigeret impetrauit I am not ignorant from whence these teares flow they are my Aloysius his fruites Aloysius hath obtained of my good and mighty God to transfixe my hart with this holsome griefe After this he carefully and contritely after the manner of a good Christian confessed all the sinnes of his former life to Ludouicus Cataneus the Priest lately returned from Rome whither he had accompanied Aloysius being carried to the Church of the Virgin-mother at Mantua as the selfe-same Ludonicus the priest recouÌ„ted vnto me Neither did this feruent mind of his euer after decline But so soone as he perceaued his disease dayly to increase he commaunded himselfe to be carried to Millan to trie there whether any remedy could be giuen by the Phisitians to his malady Neuerthelesse within a few dayes he drew neere his last end Therfore wheras F. Francis Gonzaga being euen them Generall of his order by chaunce liued at Miâ—lan came vpon a certaine day when he was in great danger to visit him giue him warning of his death which now neere approached he himselfe easily suspecting what he would haue him to do at that time of his owne accord requested that he would send vnto him some one of his order whome he thought most fitte to heare his confession He sent one he was coÌ„fessed The day following the Generall returning exhorts him to make his will he made it and setting all thinges in order which were needfull he coÌ„forted herin his lamenting friends for that he said there was more cause to reioyce that it pleased God then to coÌ„maund him out of this life when he was so wel minded He departed this mortall life on the Ides of February the yeare 1586. His body as he had commaunded being brought to Mantua was buried there in S. Francis Church Aloysius being by the Generall Gonzaga of whome
this good young man was in hope shortly to land at his wished hauen his Father was his only obstacle who either out of his vehement loue toward him or out of the hope which he reposed in him or as he now writeth to F. Generall for that he thought his age as yet vnripe for the vndertaking of so great a matter suffered not himselfe to be persuaded to giue consent for his going and purposed to haue delayed him some yeares more But here the singular constancy and feruorous mind of this young man discouered themselues For although he honoured his Father with inexplicable obedience not withstanding he sought infinite wayes to solicite him and incline his mind and when he could not obtaine at his hands this his good and iust suite verily he sent vnto F. Generall his most ardent letters wherby he besought his fauour that he might come vnto him without euer taking leaue of his Father VVhen the Generall denied this the matter was deserred euen til this time But now by what art I know not truly hauing doubtlesse at last obtained leaue in Ecclesiasticad habit accompanied with about some ten horse-men he came to Rome His arriuall was so published whersoeuer he made his iournies and euen at Rome those few dayes that he remained in the house of Scipio Gonzaga it was already bruted abrode that he came to enter into Society that when about the same time he went to the Popes Holinesse that by his benediction he might be fortified for the prosecution of his intended enterprise his intention being noised throughout the Court he was enuironed with a ring of such kind of persons who for so much as their chiefest cares and ambitions infinitely differed from his came to gaze vpon him like some monster To conclude the next day after being munday which as I said was dedicated to S. Catherine he betooke him to S. Andrewes the same Patriarch accompanying him who remained there that he might diue with Fa. Generall But now belieue me of such quality are his endowments that noblenesse of birth which of late you vnderstood how illustrious it was is but the meanest of all his graces He is of so excellent a wit that although he hath not as yet attained the eighteenth yeare of his age and hath bene so long conuersant in Princes Courts notwithstanding he is rarely-well read hoth in Logick and Naturall Philosophy But so prudent and considerate is he in all his speaches that I speake seriously he maketh vs ad adonished Therof let this one thing seru you for aâ— argumâ—nt that the Marques his Father had now already made vse of him in the businesse belonging to his family and in his epistle wherby he recommendeth him to Fa. Generall he affirmâ—th that he bestoweth vpon him that then which he neuer had any thing dearer or of more hope at any time But in good-sadnesse all these are nothing in respect of his vertue and sanctity For verily he confesseth that eueÌ„ from about the eight yeare of his age he began to feare God sufficient proofes therof are the vâ—hement motions of piety wherwith he is agitated For in time of prayer he aboundeth with continuall teares and almost alwayes he hath his mind recollected and attentiue which is both apparent by his countenance also by his behauiour Those that are of the same house with him declare that he applieth himselfe to meditation foure or fiue times in the day and that he doth as often in the night but they haue no certainty what partitioÌ„ he maketh of his time for that now a good while since he would suffer no one to help him to bed but being shut vp in his chamber according to the proportion of his ardour and piety he gaue himselfe ouer to the offices of a deuout mind towards God But least you should thinke me too apt to amplify these matters concerning him let this which I shall tell you serue for all which is that with once only meeting with him he did so much oblige vnto him Fa. Andreas Spinola and woon him into so great an admiration of his towardlinesse vertue that he discoursing with me afterward of him thought me whome you see what esteeme I make of him to haue bene somewhat too coole in his commeÌ„dation Notwithstanding one and the selfe-sanie is the opinion which F. Generall and we all who are heere at Rome Millan or Mantua where he liued for a certaine time do hould of him Surely I am doubtfull whether I should say that which remaineth to be said least as it doth mine so it may diminish your comfort Notwithstanding to the intent that I may excite you to pray for him I will not conceale it Know therfore that he neither wanteth naturall nor celestiall gifts his health only excepted which is so weake that euen his very aspect striketh feare into vs. Moreouer one or two dayes before he entred into the Society he began to haue some infirmity in his brest He alledgeth this to haue bene the cause therof wherby you may take knowledge of his loue to piety He sayth that he had entertained this custome that euery Friday he would liue with bread and water only that wheras he had obserued the same euen the next friday before and after that the day following going to the Pallace to the intent that he might haue accesse to the Popes Holinesse whose secte according to custome he came to kisse hauing continued the within three houres of night fasting was exceedingly weakened How soeuer the matter goeth if he 〈◊〉 of any cure by commauna from Fa. Generall whatsoeuer alligent and careful prouidence may effect shall be applyed And already they haue set in hand with it And perhaps perhaps said Iâ—â— nay verily without all doubt he shall recouer better being teÌ„pered by the carefull moderation of the Society then if he should be exhausted by that vnbridesed and headlong kind of seruour Therfore pray vnto God for him and make no question but if he spare him 〈◊〉 you shall see him in time to come flourish with humarable exploytes both for the glory of God and renowne of the Society All the se things although many I haue omitted that might haue bene holsome for example in such sort haue I related to many that I might communicate likewise to you this comfort which for the time hath bene truly so great vnto vs all that there is in a manner no talke of any thing else Neuerthelesse vpon this condition that you requite this ioy which I haue brought vnto you with your prayers to God that he make me worthy of the sacred friendship and imitation of so many excellent men as he vouchsafeth daily to call to this holy Society that he may as it were with so many iewels garnish the same God blesse you From Rome the third of the Kalends of Nouember 1585. Your brother in Christ and your seruant Hieronymus Platus When this Father wrote these letters he was not
be accounted is euen thereby manifest for that allthough the Superiours did with all vigilant care cherish him yet notwithstanding very many things some did obserue not without admiration which truly were not vsuall but might worthily be attributed to the diuine prouidence suggesting matter to his desire of obedienee the augmenting of his merit and the purchasing for him a more glorious crowne As when once he went out of doors with his gowne extraordinary short and not only bare and torne but also so old that it had all changed colour almost such a one as the Superiours themselues would haue commaunded any one else to haue left of for decency sake yet in him they seemed neuer so much as to take notice of the same Morouer it often fell out that same winter that he went togeather with his other fellowes to to the house of the professed Fathers to sing Euensōg whē it was raine stormy wether once when the Minister of the colledge obseruing euery one in the porch commaunding others to their chābers would not suffer them to stirre one foot out of doores who were not so infirme in their health as he was of him as it seemed he neuer reflected which if he had done without all question he would haue layd vpon him the same commandment Moreouer although in the Colledge of Naples there is vsed so much care and charity towards the sicke as in no house of the Society more notwithstanding there was a time when Aloysius being at once sick both of an inflammation and a feuer with which he was troubled a whole moneth though he had very diligent seruitours yet he wāted all one night the sheetes to his bed which I verily thinke neuer happened at any tyme to any one of the Society that hath beene sicke in the Colledge But in this man God suffered it to the intent that he might doe a thing acceptable to him It is very strange how patiently and with how much serenity of countenance he alwayes sustained that disease althogh it was accompanied with most grieuous torments those continuall carrying himselfe in his communications with those that came to visit him with great facility and submissnesse So soone as he recouered out of that finding that that climate did not stand well with his health and that furthermore the paines of his head did daily increase by the will of Fa. Generall when he had conuersed at Naples by the space of halfe a yeare he tooke his iourny towards Rome the seauenth of May the yeare 1587. CHAP. XIV Of his course of life when he applied himselfe to the study of learning in the Roman Colledge He publikely defendeth certaine positions in the whole course of Philosophy He applieth himselfe to the study of Diuinity THE returne of B. Aloysius to Rome brought exceeding much ioy both to all the young men of the Roman Colledge and especially vnto those who wheras they had knowne him in the house of the Nouices at S. Anarews did hope that they might reape no small fruite by the excellent examples of his vertues and religious manners neither was it lesse comfort vnto him that he might further continue the course of his studies where the chiefe gouernement of the Society resided where was the chiefe Colledge and Schoole of all good arts Those things which hereafter I shall explane euen to the blessed end of his life I professe my selfe to haue bene a spectatour for the most part of them all For so much as at the very same time I togeather with others who liued in the same Colledge was familiarly acquainted with him and euen from that time as I related in my Proeme of this history I began seriously to obserue him to the intent that I might commit the selfe-same things to writing Therfore proceeding at Rome in his former studies of Philosophy he discouered in a short time how excellently well learned he was both in Logicke naturall Philosophy so great a proficient was he in that knowledge of humane wisedome that by the mutuall cōsent of his Moderatours he was iudged most fit to dispute publikely according to the custome vpon his propounded Conclusions Therfore after he had set downe in print his opinion concerning all those pointes in Philosophy which are wont to be deliuered in schooles by the Maisters about the sixt moneth after his entrance into the Romane Colledge he defended the same publikely against the arguments of all that withstood him But for so much as it pleased the most illustrious Gardinalls Roboreo of Monte-regale and Gonzaga to be present and heare him dispute it was performed in the greatest schoole and not in that of the Diuines as for the most part it was wont to be by other men of the Society Applause was giuen him by all that were present but chiefly it gaue great contentment to the Cardinalls who did very much admire that in so short a time being so infirme of health he had profited so much in knowledge Now for so much as we haue made mention of this disputation we may adioyne therunto two things The one that before he entred into it he for some space debating with himselfe whether to the intēt he might depresse himselfe he should vpon set-purpose answere vnskilfully when out of his owne opinion he durst not determine vpon either part he asked counsell of F. Mutius de Angelis who at that time professed Philosophy in that Colledge a man excellent not only in learning but also in vertue and the vse of celestiall matters with whome he was wont to haue frequent discourse of Diuine things And wheras be truly prudently dissuaded him frō this thing alleaging reasons therfore notwithstanding in the middest of his disputation Aloysius was assaulted with that desire of despising himselfe He paused a litle being doubtfull in mind til the reasons of the Father tooke place with him and laying downe that cogitation he determined as learnedly as he could to solue the arguments of those that opposed neither did he performe otherwise then he determined The other was that when as in regard of his loue to Humility he could not endure to heare his owne prayses notwithstanding there was truly a Doctour of great note who being about to oppose his conclusions made I know not what Preamble of his prayses the kindred progeny that he was descended from He was so much abashed at this prayse that as many as were present being not ignorant how much he abhorred from it tooke commiseration vpon him before others the Cardinall of Monte-regale seemed much to be taken therwith when he obserued his ingenuous bashfulnesse and modest shamefastnesse But he did alwayes after so meet with those things that this Doctour disputed of that he seemed to be somewhat angry in mind Hauing finished his studies of Philosophy he was next brought to Diuinity in which he had many Maisters both Italians and Spaniards men famous both for learning and wisedome who had many
yeares discharged that office These did he exceedingly reuerence and honour of them he neuer spake otherwise then with great respect He neuer dissented from them in opinion or iudgment He neuer taxed them for their method of teaching or dictating neuer for their short or long discourse of questions or any other thing of that kind he neuer shewed any forward inclination towards new or vnusuall opinions He built only vpon the writings of S. Thomas of Aquine whos◠sanctity of life he did not only with singular piety imitate but also loued deerely his order of teaching and perspicuity and his doctrine exempted from all danger of errour Aloysius was of an excellent and penetrating wit ioyned with a singular grauity of iudgment the which both we perceaued his Maisters themselues cōmended of which one of them doubted not to affirme that he neuer was carefull to premeditate what he should answere to them that asked or disputed against him when there occurred any intricate question but only to Aloysius Gonzaga He accompanied this wit of his with industrious study as much as might be permitted him either in respect of his health the weakenesse of his forces or the will of his Superiours He neuer set to his study before vpon his knees he had made some adoration of Almighty God He bestowed not his study in turning ouer and considering the bookes of diuers authours nor in any one Commentary else but those only that were his Maisters If there came into his mind any reason contrary to that which was taught him which of himselfe he was not able to refute hauing noted the same he did afterward at the breaking-vp of the schooles when all others had propounded their questions aske his Maisters opinion concerning his difficulties But sometimes when he had gathered many thinges which seemed to haue some doubt in them he tooke some time which he hoped might be least troublesome to his Maisters and went to their studies to require their answers Whilst he asked their Counsell he vsed no other language but Latin neither would he stand otherwise then with his hat in his hand till by commaund they made him put it on So soone as his Maister had souled his doubts straight-way he betooke him to his study in his chamber He neuer medled with any booke but by the permission and persuasion of his Maisters In which thing how much he stood vpon their word you may euen perceaue by this that followeth F. Augustine Iustinian his Maister when he had explicated vnto him in his study a certaine difficulty about predestination which he asked him hauing explaned vnto him the seauenth Tome of S. Augustine and pointing-out with his finger euen almost to the end of his booke De bono persenerantiae he commaunded him to reade what that holy man had written there of the same argument He read-through all that page which was pointed out vnto him neither would he so much as turne-ouer the leafe to read those ten other lines which vpon the other side ended the booke questionlesse for so much as he was not cōmaunded to go any further And yet those lines which were on the other side Iustinianus himselfe had not obserued Both at home and in the schoole as often as by the Bedell he was warned to those kind of exercises he either argued against or answered others and for the same if any of the rest should be lesse accommodated he professed that to supply their place he wold be at his disposall He disputed sharpely but modestly he would neuer in his speach exasperate any one no◠stomake them nor raise any clamour nor interrupt him that answered but giue him space to declare what his mind opinion was The doubt obscurity of the questio being take away he did ingenuously assent and make an end of the controuersy Before the bell did ring to Schooles in like manner before he returned home againe both before and after noone he daily frequented the sacred Church to adore the most holy Eucharist In his going and returning from the schooles he was of so modest and composed a behauiour that he inflamed with the loue of piety euen strangers who being studious of learning stood to behould him in the Court next to the schooles And especially a certaine Abbot that was a stranger hauing in that Academy performed his course of Diuinity being allured with the loue of his Modesty frequented the schoole for no other cause then to behould him neyther did he euer in the Schooles take his eyes of him And this ought not much to be admired at for the Prouinciall of the Society which is amongst the Venetians did affirme there before the Tribunall of the Patriarch that that saying seemed fitly to agree to B Aloysius which S. Ambrose wrot vpon that place of the Psalme Qui timent te videbunt me laetabuntur pretiosum est inquit videre virum iustum plerisque enim iusti aspectus admonitio correctionis est perfectioribus verò letitia They that feare thee shall see me and be comforted It is a pretious thing sayth he to see a iust man for vnto most men the beholding of a iust man is an admonitiō of correction and to the more perfect it is a ioy Doubtlesse such like effects as these did the aspect of this happy yoūg mā produce in the minds of his behoulders Therfore to him also sorted those words that follow Iusti sanat aspectus ipsi oculorum radij virtutem quandam videntur infundere ijs The aspect of a iust mā healeth and the very beames of his eyes do seeme to infuse a certayne vertue into them who faythfully desire to behould him All which this our Aloysius made good in his very coūtenance most decēt habit of body being very apt to moue the minds of mē with a sense of piety holsome griefe Add herunto that the only behoulding of him did not only admonish strangers and Religious young men his companions but euen most graue priests of their duty Therfore in his presence they seemed to take vnto them a certayne grauity Neyther would they in his cōpany rashly vtter any licencious word or do any action tending to leuity Whilst he went to the schoole or from thence went home whilst he remained there or was present at disputations he was neuer discouered to vtter so much as one word to any one were he domesticall or stranger So obseruant was he of the rule of silence When his Superiours saw him vexed with perpetuall sicknesse and weakenesse of body they forbad him to write his dictates in the schoole but to that end to make vse of a Scribe Neither truly could he who as yet had attained no dexterity therin keepe touch with the swiftnesse of his wrighting to the voyce of the Maisters that dictated He truly obayed but supposing that it wold be an vnseemely thing that mony should be in the hands of them that for infirmity sake should imploy
excell that he preserued the same safe and sound in the middest of so great abundance of celestiall graces and endowments neither was he euer in respect of them puffed vp with pride Nor truly to any other vertue more affected then that we found after his happy death some of his manu-scriptes concerning matters appertaining vnto piety amongst which one was which he proposed vnto himselfe as a certaine rule of all his actions in the end wherof he setteth downe certaine meanes how to obtaine Humility That writing for so much as it is but short and cannot be otherwise then profitable vnto all I will set it downe verbatim as it was written by him Thus it was Certaine meanes how to obtaine Humility 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it for a principall ground that it is thy duty whome God hath created for himselfe alone to bestow thy selfe freely vpon that Good God for so much as he hath deserued no lesse at thy handes for hauing created thee redeemed thee made thee a member of a Holy samily Out of which thou must conclude that thou oughtest not only to abstain from euery hainons sinne but euen from in afferent and vnprofitable things Yea and more to the intent that thou mayest come the nea 〈…〉 always vnto God thou must with all industry 〈…〉 our that no sact or designe of thine may take its origen otherwise then from vertue Furthermore to the intent that then maiest trace aright way vnto God make good obseruation of these three other principles Of 〈…〉 this be the first that both all other of the Society of IFSVS and thou as much as any must of necessity follow the ensigne of Christ himselfe and of all other Saints who by his calling haue in times past serued vnder him Wherfore thou shalt so resolue with thy selfe that looke how much euery function office or businesse of thine may correspond vnto the example of Christ and his Saints so much the more it should be accommodated to thy courses and either imbraced or eschewed For this respect truly thou shalt at thy best leasure often reuolue in thy mind diligently the life and excellent actions of Christ and with an attentiue mind read ouer and often apply to thy information those of the BB. Saints So shalt thou become plentifully stored with examples of good life Let the second wherwith thou maiest direct thy affections be this That thou shalt become so much the more Religious and pious by how much the more diligently thou shalt gouerne thy life according to eternall considerations and by how much the lesse according vnto temporall so that thou maiest loue nothing desire nothing take comfort in nothing tast or distast nothing but for piety sake and that thou persuade thy selfe that this is the last end of a Religious and pious profession Let thy third principle be that when the Diuell often setteth vpon thee with the suggestions of desiring vaine glory and a magnificent opinion of thy selfe for so much as this part of thy mind remaineth vnsortified thou shalt therfore bestow more or rather continuall industry therupon that with the armes of Humility and despising of thy selfe thou maiest combate there with all not for fashion-sake only but euen with intrinsecall vigour of mind Therfore prescribe vnto thy selfe certaine lawes as it were priuately accommodateu to thy vocation deliuered and confirmed by the practice of Christ our Lord by the obseruation wherof thou maist labour in the carefull prosecution of this vertue Certaine profitable meanes for the obtaining of Humility Let this he the first aduise that we esteeme truly this to be the must coÌ„gruous vertue vnto men in respect of their basenesse and vitenesse And for so much as non oritur in terra nostia Iob. 28. it is no hearbe growing in our garden that it ought necessarily to be begged of him a quo est omne datum optimum omne donum perfectum Iac. 1. from whome is euery good gift and euery perfect endowment Wherfore albeit that thou art proud yet labour notwithstanding with as much submission as thou maist to implore that good and great God through that infinite humility of Iesus Christ who when he was in the forme of God exinanited himselfe taking vpon him the forme of a seruant to the intent that he would not haue thee altogether destitute of that vertue The other aduise is that thou fly for refuge to those Saints of the ourt of Heauen who haue bene at any tyme remarkable for this vertue For first of all thinke thuâ— with thy selfe If when they were coÌ„uersant here vpon earth they were so much fauoured of God that they attained to so high a degree in this vertue now that they are much more gratious with him in heauen that their prayers also shall be of more moment and dignity for so much as they themselues after they haue arriued to the highest pitch of felicity haue no want truly of this vertue of submission beseech them that they would obtaine for thee that benefit Furthermore consider this with thy selfe Euen as vpon earth all are naturally so disposed that they most of all desire their preferment who labour in the same art and vocation of life that they do as for example sake If whatsoeuer braue Leader in the warres be highty in fauour with any Prince he principally endeauoureth to interest in his fauour and adorne with military dignity those who haue giuen themselues to warfare A man famous in titles of learning those who haue applied their mind to learning An Architect or Mathematician those who desire to excell others in Architecture or the science of Mathematicall discipline In such sort do the Cittizens of heauen they who chiefly excelled in the glory of any particular vertue desire earnestly to giue their helping hand for the obtaining of that vertue to those that pretend most to the loue therof and to assist them with their commendations Be not slacke therfore with great feruour to recommend thy selfe to the mediation of the most Blessed Virgin-Mother of God who was so much endowed with this vertue as neuer any soule created except the diuine soule of our Sauiour was more Next vnto her amongst the Apostles thou shalt chuse vnto thy selfe S. Peter who said of himselfe Exi à me Domine quia homo peccator sum Luc. 6. goe out from me O Lord for that I am a sinfull man Next S. Paul who after that he had bene by God rapt into the third heauen thought notwithstanding so meâ—â—â—ly of himselfe that â—e said Venit IESVS salâ—os facere pâ—â—catores quorum ego primus sum 1. Tim. 1. IESVS came â—o sâ—uâ— sinners of which I am the gr 〈…〉 Of thâ—sâ— considerations one of them will giue thâ—â— to vnderstand of how great cons◠〈◊〉 their commâ—nâ—â—tionâ— are with God for the obtaining of this vertue the other how prompt â—ikewise and râ—aâ—â—y thâ—y are to the performance therof These are Aloysius his words in that writing by which it
from the rest he goeth to the Rectour and persuadeth him that it would be an example of better edification to others if he might vse his chamber in common with some chamber-fellowes And for so much as he reputed it a kind of magnificence to associate any one that was a student in Diuinity insteed of them he suffered some man of a more inferiour ranke to be ranged with him He had requested that there should be committed vnto him the Prefectship ouer some company in the SemiÌ„nary for so much as besides the abiection which they willingly suffer for Gods loue the Prefects are afflicted therin with great incommodities subiect themselues to a grieuous and in a manner a continuall seruitude But for so much as his Superiours mistrusted that his health would not be able to sustaine so great a burtheÌ„ they durst not then giue way to it He desired moreouer that hauing ended his study of Diuinity he might haue leaue to instruct the GraÌ„mer-boyes of the lowest sorme both for that he desired to open a way for himselfe to informe that their tender age with the preceps of vertue and Christian piety of which office of the Grammer-Maisters he had a holy emulation and speaking familiarly vnto them he was wont to call them Blessed and also for that he had great delight to descend to those thinges wherby he might abase himselfe haue no prerogatiue before others He often tooke vpon him this taske and that he might dissemble his requesting therof for the loue of vertue and humility he bore Father Rectour in hand that he was ignorant in gramer and not sufficiently polished in the Latin tongue That he was altogether vnable vnlesse he learned these things to be serviceable to the designes of the Society With the same art he set vpon the Prefect of the inferiour schooles to whome now then he broght certaine litle exercises composed by him in Latin according vnto the capacity of that claâ—â—e Questionlesse to the intent that he hauing a taste of his study proficiency might lend him his helping had to that wherunto his mind was bent Fa. Rectour to the intent that he might do a thing gratefull vnto him and might withall make triall whether he was as he said ignorant of the Latin tongue ioyned vnto him a chamberfellow with whome he might conferre concerning the Latin and it was discouered that he had no small insight in the same Notwithstanding he returned againe vnto the Rectour assured him that he had only gotten it by vse that by this way truly in which he had hitherto insisted he should neuer come to be exactly skilfull in the Latin tongue and in Grammer that it now remained expedient for him to learne it by teaching others Many times in some old cloake carying a basket or a wallet he would with great contentment beg for almes through the Citty and at home there was no office so vile and abiect which he was not more feruently in loue withall then ambitious men are with honours or dignities Euery munday and twesday it was his custome euery weeke to serue in the Kitchin And he made it his chiefest worke to wipe the dishes when they were brought from the table and to gather the scraps of meat to relieue the necessity of the poore And when he might haue leaue which he often had by importuning his Superiours to that end he carried in a basket that selfe-same reliefe out of pious charity appointed for the poore to them wayting at the Colledge gate Verily he would euery day in like manner when he came from the schooles do some other contemptible worke as to sweepe his chamber or other places that were appointed for him to take away spiders-webs with a reed or some longpole in the Halles or commoÌ„ parlors Moreouer for many yeares it was his worke to cleanse the lamps in the galleries and publike schools of the Colledge and to repaire them by powring in oyle and putting-in wickes when need required which seruices did so much delight him that when he openly discouered the ioy which he was not able to conceale in his mind they that saw him replenished there withall congratulated this his triumphant soule-rauishing contentment which ioy he did now professe to haue become as it were naturall vnto him that of it owne accord it did insinuate it selfe into him constrayned by no industry or premeditation Which thinges truly althogh they nothing moue the mindes of those men that are of the Society who both themselues make frequeÌ„t vse of them and see them dayly frequented by their companions Yet it is manifest that both of themselues and in respect of the dignity of those men that imploy themselues in them they are of great force to inflame the minds of men To conclude this prayse may truly be giuen vnto him that he was a serious contemner of himselfe that he omitted no occasion wherby he might depresse himselfe CHAP. XVII Of his Obedience and obseruance of the Rules THERE was added to this his so great loue of submisse Humility that likeâ—ewise of perfect Obedience of which that may be a sufficient testimony that it was a thing manifest to Aloysius that he was not only free from dissenting at any time from his Superious will or from the least infringing of their gouernement but that he did not so much as leane therunto in the least desire or inclination no not in that which passeth in the very first motioÌ„s of the mind vnlesse perchance when by their coÌ„maunds he was withdrawne from his offices of piety Although truly not so much as then for the most part was he moued vnlesse it was very seldome that motion that was he did with incredible diligence and celerity compose So it came to passe that not only his will but his mind also and his iudgment agreed with that of his Superiours Neither did he euer aske why this or that was appointed but knowing only that it so pleased his Superiours he inquired of no other cause to approue of the same This perfection of Obedience sprung froÌ„ that that he certainely persuaded himselfe that euery Superiour was no lesse then the vice-gerent of God For said he for so much as we must yield our obedience to God whome we see not and that we cannot in his presence imediately receaue his coÌ„maunds or aske his CouÌ„sell he giueth vs Superiours as substitutes in this his office and interpreters of his will by meanes of whome he certifieth vs of all things that he would haue vs do for to these messengers of his will he commaundeth vs to be obedient Bl. S. Paul was of this opinion when he wrote to the Ephesians in this manner Ephes 6. Obedite Dominis carnalibus sicut Christo vt serâ—i Christi fâ—â—ientâ—â— volâ—ntâ—t 〈…〉 Dei ex animo Obey your Lords made of flesh and bloud as you would do Christ and as the seruants of Christ doing the 〈◊〉 of
excitements wee must rouse our sluggishnesse renew our purpose of repentance and seruing of God rightly and immoueably True Pennance is conceaued with infinite griefe for the contempt ignominy which I haue shewed toward God who hath so much loued me The same so much vrgeth vs to bewaile grieuous sinnes that euen for all our veniall sinnes it exciteth great compunction It arriueth so far that not only it acknowledgeth the mercy of God remitting mans offences and worshippeth him but for the honour of the Diuine iustice vehemently desireth to vndergoe iust punishmentes for all his sinnes Heere God finding men well disposed infuseth the hatred of themselues by which a purpose is stirred vp and confirmed sharply to take reuenge of themselues euen by externall actes of pennance Laus Deo CHAP. XXI His loue towards God his zeale towards his neighbour his desire of spiritall discourses HE burned with so great a loue of God that all times and in all places so often as mention was made of him he was so inflamed that there appeared certaine signes therof in his very countenance He excelled in singular charity towards others his neighbours Moued therewithall he often craued leaue to goe to the Hospitalls to serue the sicke persons And when he came thither he would make the fick-mens beds help them with their meate wash their feet sweepe their floores exhort ech of thē to patience and sacred confession of their sinnes And at home in the Colledge he daily obtained leaue to goe visit the sicke in the Infirmary Therfore in this office with his daily diligence he exceeded all without any partiality he wēt to all to cōfort thē if at any time in regard of the paines of hit head by his Superiours commaund he abstained from his study he would busy himselfe in the Infirmary he would clease their kniues and spoones couer their tables to conclude performe all other due seruices either to the sicke or to those who were recouering out of their sicknesse Neither truly according to that zeale wherwith he was vehemently inflamed for all mens saluation did he lesse readily vndertake the care of their body then of their soules Therfore if licence might haue bene giuen him from his Superiour conformable to that which both in his freer course in the world and also in Religion he had alwayes desired he would haue sayled into the vtmost coasts of India to gaine Ethnicks vnto Christ Moreouer he could not as yet truly be imployed to labour for the saluation of forraine men For so much as that is peculiar vnto them who hauing ended the course of their studies being ordayned Priests ordinarily are designed to the hearing of Cōfessions to the making of Sermons and Exhortations and other such like offices In the meane while he with great diligēce and various art out of that admirable prudence wherwith he was endowed from Almighty God helped forward their progresse in the study of a more holy life who were cōioyned with him in the course society of a Religious life For wheras in his life which was irreprehensible there was set before them a most beautifull example he moreouer asked the Rectour whether he would be pleased to giue order that at noone and night those houres which are allowed for their recreation they might no more intertaine talke amongst their companions of learning and other indifferent matters for of vayne and vnprofitable it is neuer lawfull for thē but of these only which were conducible to piety There was perfect at that time ouer matters of Piety in the Colledge F. Hyeronimus Ubaldinus who after he had forsaken a certaine Ecclesiasticall office which he had discharged in the Citty deuoted himselfe to the Society of IESVS spent therin all the rest of his life in notable sanctity Vnto this mā also did Aloysius make knowne his desire after it was already approued by the Rector intreateth him that he would likewise add his labour to the perfecting of this that was begun withall he offereth vp many prayers vnto Almighty God that he would vouchsafe to blesse it with good successe After this hauing chosen out of all the Colledge some certaine young men all singularly well addicted to celestiall matters whome he thought to be the fittest to make of his Counsell he calleth them togeather and tould them that he did very much desire to the intent that he might profit his owne mind at such time as he had leaue to diuert his mind somewhat from more graue imploymentes and to apply himselfe to cōpany that he might sometimes haue conference with them of Diuine matters Moreouer he daily least that he might sometimes want fit matter for discourse wold for the space of halfe an houre read some little booke of the Precepts of piety or some Saints Life To conclude togeather with these fellows he giueth a beginning to this matter Therfore if he came into the company of those that were inferiour to himselfe he gaue the first onset to this holsome discourse which the rest meruailously stirred vp with his speaches did with great ioy second Vnto the priestes and those that were Superiors vnto him he propounded some question and with a desire better to informe himselfe he asked their opinion So did he begin these discourses of Diuine matters Although truly that was not needfull for so much as they when they saw him comming vnto thē assuring themselues that he was delighted with no other talke all of them euen the Superiours themselues that they might comply with him breaking of all other discourse if they had begunne it turned to sacred matters When he cōuersed amongst his equals if truly they were of them with whome he had of late set downe this manner of society it was no trouble to discourse of holy matters but if they were others he doubted not of his owne accord to begin to treat of some point of piety in which they for so much as they were Religious men seing that they desired to profit in that course did willingly suffer themselues to be brought into the same When any one came new from the Nouiship or from any place else to follow his studies he either set vpon him himselfe or sent vnto him some one with whome he had passed his Nouiship or was neere allied to in familiarity and as far forth as he might he endeauoured to helpe him to conserue that ardour of Religion which he had conceaued in his Nouiship Therfore he had no sooner set foot in the Colledge but of his owne accord he would insinuate himselfe into his company and denounce vnto him that truly if he purposed to remaine constant proceed forward in the pursuite of piety that there should not be wanting vnto him good store of fellowes who would assist him in this behalfe in the meane while wheras he was familiarly acquainted with them all he named vnto him fiue or sixe of their names who went beyond the rest in the
neuer so much as tooke it into his consideration but by the admonishment of his coÌ„panion He was very much delighted with solitude But he had least auersion from the company of his mother who both was a louer of piety and stood in some need of comfort In the morning after that he was risen out of his bed he spent one whole houre in prayer he was present at Masse the greater Canonicall prayers he recited euery day his beades likewise and these sometimes with his companion in such sort as that they answered one another after the manner as they vse to sing If in the day time he could get any spare leasure he would say to his fellow Fratereamus paulisper precatum Brother let vs goe a little to prayer Before he gaue himselfe to rest he said the Litanies and examined his conscience He confessed his sinnes to the Archpriest and euery Festiuall day he went into the chiefe Church which is that of the Saints Nazarius and Celsus to heare Masle and receaue the most holy Eucharist At which time an infinite number of people resorted to behould him not without signes of loue towards him griefe for the losse of so good a prince That day which he first came thither the Church was filled with so great a multitude of men that came to see him that he was minded to haue vsed some speach to them and to exhort them all to feare God all the dayes of their life and frequent the holy Sacraments Notwithstanding he abstained for so much as he thought to beginne first from giuing examples of vertue from the house he sprung off composing first his brothers businesse He neuer gaue any the least sharpe word to his companion he neuer shewd himselfe offended with any thing that he did but he would rather giue place to his opinion and with great mildnesse so order his mind that it might agree alwayes with his iudgmeÌ„t he would giue eare vnto him in all things that belonged to his health and his companion admired his sanctity and was very much taken with his candour and sincerity which he discouered in all his actions in like manner with that his excellency of mind wherby he made no account of mortall affaires and humane considerations In that time they had made many iournies togeather as to Brescia Mantua and other places whither the dispatch of their businesse called them There sometimes vpon the way Aloysius transferred his mind from those thinges which he saw with his eyes vnto God and entred into good long speaches of Diuine matters of which euen when his fellow seemed to be wearied or to cast in some by-speaches he would make no end This appeared once when he was to goe to Castle-Godfrey to deale with his vncle Alphonsus Lord of that place whose inheritance he had succeded in if he had not made choyce of Religion At his departure the Marquesse commaunded certaine seruants to attend him whome not presuming in his presence to refuse so soone as he was gone out of Castilion he sent them all from him afterward it came to passe through fault of the Coach-man who had lost his way that they came to Castle-Godfrey two houres after sun-set the gates being now shut And for so much as it is a towne very well fortified to which no entrance at that time of night was woÌ„t to be allowed the watchmen were particularly to be informed who they were and from whence they came and they must stay so long til the Prince himselfe was certified of all A long time after behold the gates are set open the bridge let-downe there issueth forth a great number of Gentlemen pages to the Prince carrying torches In the very entrance of the towne a great company of armed men standing vpon both sides of the streetes guard him passing in the middest of them from the gate to the Princes pallace The Prince himselfe going to meet him receaued him with great ioy and honour And accoÌ„panying him to his chamber which was all decked-vp in Royall manner and furnished with magnificent beds he gaue place to him for a time to refresh himselfe There Aloysius as being much estranged from these things so soone as he saw himselfe ouerloaden with so many honours and brought into that lodging so richly furnished turning to his fellow he said Deus nobis hoc vâ—spere sit propitâ—â—s quo tandem ob peccata nostra sumus delapsi vi 〈…〉 n hac conâ—lauia hos lâ—ctâ—s 〈◊〉 tandem nobis melius essâ—t procul ab his obseaâ—â—â—s oportunitatibus in cubiculis illis nostris â—â—â—is vilibusque lâ—ctis â—acerâ— God be mercifull vnto vs this night and whither at last are we fallen sor our sinnes do you see these chambers these beds how much better I pray you were it for vs to lodge far-off from these obseruances and dangerous occasions in those naked chambers and poore beds of ours Therfore to one impatient of so many honours all things seemed tedious til hauing dispatched his businesse he might depart Therfore the day after he returned to Castilion from whence hauing receaued sufficient instructions of all things to the end that he might dispatch with the Duke he passeth to Mantua There for certaine weekes comming and going he made his abode in the Colledge of the Society yielding vnto all so notable an instruction of sanctity that the Fathers that then liued there to this very day do declare certaine admirable things of his modesty humility contempt of himselfe obseruance and reuerence towards others his incredible grauity of manners which was ioyned with singular sincerity and candour of mind in his conuersation He had his mind alwayes alienated from these mortall things and placed vpon God as one straytly ioyned vnto him in so much as he neither did nor said any thing but he seemed to haue regard to him as a witnesse and spectatour Therfore the Fathers beheld him as an excellent maister-peece of all vertue and hauing beheld him were more and more inflamed with piety For from his very countenance there shone so great a splendour of sanctity that they affirmed they beheld therin the expresse image of B. Charles Borromaeus the Cardinall There gouerned at that time the Colledge at Mantua F. Prosper Malauolta in times past placed there by B. F. Ignatius the first founder and parent of our Society He hauing made good triall of this young mans sanctimony and grauity thought it not amisse for him to make a sermon to this Colledge of Fathers vpon a certaine friday which office the custome is to impose only vpon Priestes and those well stept into yeares and authority but neuer to those that are voyd of priesthood He being somewhat bashfull at first notwithstanding obeyed him and vpon those words of Christ our Lord Hâ—â—c est praeceptum mâ—um vt diligatis inuâ—m s 〈…〉 vos This is my commauÌ„d that you loue another as I haue loued you with so great feruour of a Diuine
of men as resorted to see him all things should be gathered I will place here those thinges which I could come to the vnderstanding of When he first fell into his sicknesse he was palced in a bed the couerlet wherof was somewhat thicke togeather with a mat vnder him which had bene ordayned for a certaine old man Aloysius requested of his Superiour that taking away this couerlet he might lye after the manner of others But when answere was made him that it was not placed there for any respect to him that it was rude and fit for a poore man wherby there was no danger that he should infriâ—ge his Religious pouerty he was presently well satisfied In the beginning of his sicknesse the Phisitian had commaunded that he and likewise another who was sicke of the like disease should drinke a very bitter potion the other did his endeauour to the intent that he might auoyd the noy somenesse of his potion to sup it off suddainly vsing also other accustomed helpes but Aloysius to the intent that he might make vnto himselfe a holsome trouble dranke it vp all by degrees as if it had bene some very sweet liquour and gaue no signe of euer perceauing any bitternesse The Infirmarian in his chamber vpon the table had placed a little Sugar-candy and iuyce of liquorish to helpe him sometimes against the distillation of his rheume Requesting a little of that iuyce of liquorish his fellow asked him why he did not rather desire some of the Sugar-candy he answered Quia alterum pauperem magis decet Because the other is fitter for a poore man When it was giuen him to vnderstaÌ„d that there was great danger of a plague to ensue that yeare he did not only manifest to his Superiour that if he recouered his health he would be willing to serue them that were infected with the same but also requested leaue of Fa. Generall who came to visit him that he might make a vow to God to performe the same Which hauing obtained with great contentment of mind and with great edification to them that were priuy to that matter and witnesses of that singular charity he shewed by that fact he made the said vow Roboreus and Gonzaga Cardinals did often visit him whilst he was sicke whome he intertained with fruitfull speaches of the doctrine of piety and of a happy life F. Rectour signifiing vnto them that there was no reason that they should come so often so incommodiously to themselues that he would vndertake to certify them how the state stood with Aloysius they said that they could not be satisfied vnlesse they came themselues for so much as they reaped therby very plentifull fruite to their owne soules Cardinall Gonzaga being sick of the gout commaunded himselfe to be carried vnto him and seemed not willing to be separated from his bed Aloysius once entred into discourse with him cocerning the approaching of his death and of the benefit of Almighty God towards him who tooke him to himselfe in that flowre of his age Moreouer he affirmed to the same Cardinall who according to his great loue towards him was attent with great sense of affection that he thought it was part of his duty to hold him as his Father seeing he aboue all that liued vpon the earth had deserued the best of him in regard that by his meanes it was effected that after so many conflictes and impediments he came at last to Religion By those words the good Cardinal being moued to teares answered that truly rather himselfe ought notwithstanding the difference of their ages acknowledge him the parent and maister of his piety After this he declared vnto him how great profit clestiall comfort his words and examples had alwayes giuen to his mind At his departure professing to his followers that the losse of that young man would be an infinite griefe vnto him he said that he neuer departed from discoursing with him but with his mind disposed to an vnusuall kind of tranquillity and that he did verily thinke that there was neuer any of his family of the Gonzaga's that had bene more fortunate At the same time there lay sicke F. Ludouicus Corbinellus a Florentine a man of great descent betweene whome and Blessed Aloysius there had bene mutuall loue and in their sicknesse they often sent salutations one to the other That Father his sicknesse being now increased vpon him some eight dayes before his death besought the Infirmarian that he would bring to him into his chamber Aloysius who now through want of strength was not able to stand vpon his legges And this he did for that he now held Aloysius for a Saint The infirmarian seing this thing so acceptable to the maÌ„ he put on Aloysius his cloathes and carried him into the Fathers chamber It is incredible how much this his comming to visit him did recreat the good old man and what sincere contentment and motions of piety he conceaued by behoulding him After they had talked togeather they exhorted each other to beare patiently this their aduersity and to obey the will of God The old man said farewell my deere brother Aloysius it is now but a short ty me that I haue to liue neyther shall we see one another agayne There is one suite that I haue to you I pray you deny me not Part not from hence I beseech you before you haue giuen me your benediction Aloysius being partly astonished and partly abashed at this his petition sayd that that was not fit for him to doe for to blesse was the office of a Superiour and that he was aged himselfe young he a Priest himselfe not so But this old man such was his pious affection towards this holy young man persisted agayne to vrgâ— him by intreaty and to beseech him that being now at the last cast of his life he would not deny him this comfort He likewise intreated the Infirmarian that he would not take him away before he had condescended to his request Notwithstanding this discreet young man withstood it and would not be persuaded till he was compelled by the Infirmarian And then he found a way by which he might both mitigate the griefe of the ould man and preserue his owne humility For taking vp his hand and signing himselfe in forme of a crosse he sayd Deus D. N. nobis ambobus benedicat our Lord God blesse vs both Afterward he sprinkled him with holy water in the meane while saying Deus D. N. te mi ReuereÌ„de Pater sua saÌ„ct a gratia accumulet votaque omnia tua ad sui nominis gloriaâ— fortunet Eum tu vicissim pro me precare My Reuerend Fa. Our Lord replenish you with his grace prosper to the glory of his name all your desires Pray likewise I beseech you for me the same prayer So he wisheth himselfe to be brought to his owne bed leauing him merueilously cheerfull well satisfyed 〈◊〉 was also a great token of that same Fathe
frater Viaticum and those which follow they all burst forth into abundant teares Hauing receaued his Viaticum the Blessed young man was pleased according to the custome of the Society when they take their iournies into far countries to embrace all that were present with singular loue alacrity There when euery one tooke of him their last far-well there were none of them that could refraine from teares none that could be withdrawne from his embracements all enamoured of him often cast their eyes vpon him with vnspeakable loue and griefe and make suite for his prayers Amongst these there was one who with mutuall offices of loue charity had plighted a greate league of friendship alwayes with Aloysius He comming priuately vnto him said that he did confidently belieue that he should shortly enioy his coÌ„pany in the blessed presece of God Moreouer that he did beseech him that wheras he had well experienced that he had alwayes in his life time bene carefull of his saluation so that he would not in heauen be vnmindfull of him In like manner that he wold forgiue him if at any time he had bene negligent of his due respect towards him Aloysius truly made answere vnto him with a feruent affection that he confiding in the infinite bounty and clemency of God in the most pretious blood of Iesus-Christ and the recommendation of his Blessed Virgin Mother did verily hope that it would shortly so come to passe That he did faythfully promise and wish't him to make no question but that his firme purpose was to negotiate for him For if vpon earth he did loue him he would loue him euen much more vehemently in heauen where charity is at her full And all these thinges did he say with his senses so entire with his speach so direct and sutable to the matter that no man could imagine that he should so shortly passe out of this life At that same time Fa. Prouinciall entring his chamber spake vnto him vnto whom he answered Father we are now going And whither sayth the Father To Heauen answereth he then the Fa. replied what euen so to Heauen Yea verily vnlesse my sinnes hinder me said Aloysius the bounty of God putteth me in hope to arriue there Fa. Prouinciall turning to some that stood by said with a low voyce Heare I beseech you he speaketh of his going to Heauen but we haue designed him for Fresâ—ati Afterward he asking whether they thought good to dispose of his body to the ordinary place of buriall answere was made him that his sanctity seemed to require that some particular honour should be done him therin About some houre before sun-set I was attending vpon him and putting my hand vnder his head lifted it vp whilst he seriously fastned his eyes vpon a little Crucifix wherto a plenary Indulgence was graunted to any that should pray before the same at the point of death when he lifting vp his hand tooke of his linnen night-cap I supposing that to be but some action of a dying man said nothing but put it on againe when a litle after he had pulled it off and I seeking to helpe him on with it againe said be contented brother Aloysius least this euening ayre hurt your head Then he by a certaine cast of his eye giuing me notice of the presence of Christ crucified said Christâ—s moriens capite operto non fuit Christ dying had not his head couered With which wordes he transfixed my hart with a pious and holsome griefe In the euening at that time which the Aâ—e Mary-bell is rung when in his presence speach was had who should watch with him that night although he had his mind busied in contemplation he did notwithstanding intreat a certaine Father who was neare vnto him that he would once againe affoard him his company In like manner to another vnto whome desiring to see his last passage he had promised to giue warning in due time as it were by way of keeping his promise he said see you stay The first houre of the night his chamber being full of company the Rectour seing him nothing at all to faulter in his speach although he himselfe had foretould that he shold dye that night gaue no credit therunto but supposing as it is wont to happen to those that are sicke of a feuer that he would continue some few dayes gaue order that after he was gone all should depart and betake themfelues to rest neither would he suffer himselfe to be persuaded by any one to giue them leaue to stay there for so much as he was of an opinion that he would not dye otherwise that he himselfe would not goe from him Therfore charge only was giuen to Father Minister togeather with another companion in like manner a Priest to be carefully assisting about him There is no man but may well imagine with what sense of loue and griefe we were separated from a coÌ„panion so deere vnto vs all whome we were certainely assured we should neuer more see liuing But he who was nothing ignorant of our griefe to the intent that he might comfort vs promised that he would be mindfull of vs in Heauen intreated that in this his last coÌ„flict we would assist him with our prayers and inioyned diuers of them that which he would haue them do for him after his death So commaunded by the authority of F. Rectour we all one after another departed from him weeping After he was left alone with those two Fathers with his mind alwayes raised towards God he did sometimes cast forth certaine sentences of holy Scripture as that In manus tuas Domine commenao spiritum meum Psal 30. Into thy handes o Lord I commend my spirit and such like There continued for some space the same colour in his cheekes at which time they who were present sometimes offered vp their prayers for his recouery sometimes sprinkeled him with holy water sometimes gaue vnto him the Crucifix to kisse not without some befitting admonitions to piety When he came to his last coÌ„flict of death they discouered by the pale wannesse of his face and by his sweat breaking out drop by drop that he was in a great agony But he with halfe dead speaches intreated them that they would place him otherwise in his bed for he had now 3. whole dayes layne in the same posture with his body But they fearing least they might hasten his death and with all supposing that this request of his might rather come from some naturall motion then aduisedly from himselfe for so much as they resolued not to meddle with him they exhorted him to call to mind that hard and narrow bed vpon which in the middest of so many anguishes and torments Christ our Lord offered vp his life With which aduertisement being admonished casting his eyes vpon the Crucifix when with words he could not with gesture signified that he was euen ready to suffer more for the loue of God seemed to ouerule himselfe
others according to the saying of the wise man Quanto maior es humilia te in omnibus coram Deo inuenies gratiam Eccl. 3. The greater thou art humble thy selfe in all thinges and thou shalt find grace before God 3. How much the lesse a man shall make himselfe then others so much the greater shall he be made because how much the humbler euery one is so much the liker and more allied he is vnto Christ who is superiour vnto all Which if it be so Christians and spirituall men should not contend for any precedence or prerogatiue of honour but rather for the last place for he that armeth at the first place vpon earth shall find himselfe disgraced in heauen Let vs not therfore endeauour to seeme greater then others but rather let vs make our selues inferiour to all for he is neuer awhit the iuster or the better who is more honourable but rather how much the more iust a man is so much the more honour is he worthy of 4. If so much reuerence be to be exhibited to the Angell-keepers that as our Lord recommendeth it vnto vs for their respect we ought not to contemne one of these little ones And in like manner the Apostle counselled women that they should couer their heads least perhaps they might with their vanity or indecency offend those Angels that were desirous of the helping forward of humane saluation how much more ought we to be wary least by iniury or some other more grieuous hurt we offend our neighbours for by offeding them we offend their Angels who as the friendes and inward domesticalls of God will require reuenge against vs and without all doubt obtaine it 5. And if the Angels imploy so great care and industry in the custody of men and yet notwithstanding cease not from beholding the face of their heauenly Father â—or are estranged from Diuine loue for the care and solicitude with which they are moued in our behalfe is subordinate to that loue and vndertaken by them for the loue of God so pious spirituall men whilst they are interessed in externall cares and occupations ought to procure that they may not only be any impediment to their internall exercises but euen help them forward to spirituall fruite and the contemplation of Diuine matters Which shall come to passe when according to the example of the holy Angels they shall effect that the externall actions may proceed and take their efficacy from the internal that is to say that they may be vndertaken for no other end then for the pure loue of God 6. They who take the care to bring men to Pennance ought neuer to desist from their enterprise out of tediousnesse of labour or for that they feare this labour shall not haue that wished successe in them whom they are willing to yield this spirituall help vnto as the Angel-keepers haue taught vs by this example who neuer forsake the care or custody of sinners yea they do not forsake them although from God they haue it reuealed vnto them that they ouer whome they haue that charge shall neuer be conuerted Wherfore they do not cease as long as they are in this life in state that they may returne to God by Pennance to excite theÌ„ to amedment Seneca a Pagan Philosopher writing to a certaine friend of his admonisheth him that if in his actions speaches he wold not depart from a right decorum that he shold alwayes imagine there was present with him Cato as his seuere censurer Of which document much more wee Christians ought to make vse and to imagine that in all our actions our good Angel-keepers are alwayes present as our seuere censurers to the end that this cogitatioÌ„ may make vs mindfull of our selues and that we may carefully waigh whatsoeuer we wold say or do for if we shall doe otherwise we may iustly feare least they that are now our aduocates with God may afterward at the day of iudgment become our accusers FINIS A TABLE Of the Chapters THE FIRST BOOKE CHap. I. Of his Linage pag. 1. Chap. II. Of his Natiuity pag. 5. Chap III. Of his Education till the seauenth yearâ— of his Age. pag. 10. Chap. IV. How he behaued himselfe from the sâ—aâ—enâ—h till the eight yeare of his age pa. 16. Chap. V. He is brought by his Father to Florence to apply his studies pag. 21. Chap. VI. He voweth to God his virginity in his childhood and flyeth the company of women pag. 25. Chap. VII At Florence he maketh great progresse in a more holy course of life pag. 31. Chap. VIII Being recalled backe to Mantua he determineth to renounce the Marquesate and to lead an Ecclesiastic all life pag. 35. Chap. IX Returning to Castilion he obtaynes from God an excellent hability in mentall prayer pag. 38. Chap. X. The beginning of his loue 〈◊〉 the Society of IESVS and of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 soules pag. 〈◊〉 Chap. XI By the exhortation of Cardiâ—all Borromeus he beginneth to frequent the sacred mysteries pag. 45. Chap. XII Going to Monte-Ferrato he vndergoeth a great hazard of his life there he conuorseth with Religious men pag. 50. Chap. XIII He giueth his mind to Religion pag. 54. Chap. XIV Being returned to Castilion with his Father he leadeth his life in great austerity being very much addicted to Prayer pa. 61. Chap. XV. By Gods assistance he escapeâ—â— burning His confidence in God conteâ—â—t of the world pag. 6â— Chap. XVI The testimony of the R. Fa. Claudius Finus Doctour of Diuinity of the Orâ—â—â— of S. Dominicke of the sanctity of Aloysius pag. 7â— Chap. XVII He goeth with the Marques into Spayne and is made Page of Honour 〈◊〉 Iames the Prince And of the life which hâ— lead in that Court pag. 76. Chap. XVIII He determineth to enter into the Society of IESVS pag. 85. Chap. XIX For foure causes he made choâ—â—â— of the Society of IESVS pag. 90. Chap. XX. He discloseth his vocation vnto his Confessarius and after to his Mother and his Father pag. 93. Chap. XXI He returneth into Italy â—eeteth by way of Complement with all tâ—â—â—riâ—ces therof pag. 102. Chap. XXII His purpose is oppugned by diuers 〈◊〉 pag. 108. Chap. XXIII The Marques strongly opposeth the vocation of his sonne at last he yieldeth pag. 113. Chap. XXIV Aloysius â—rgeth the renuntiation of the Marquesate pag. 118. Chap. XXV He is sent to Millane for thâ— dispatch of certaine businesse and what th 〈…〉 ges were done there pag. 120. Chap. XXVI The Marques oppugueth hiâ— with new practises pag. 126. Chap. XXVII Blessed Aloysius going first to Mantua retireth himselfe to the spirituaâ—â— Exercises pag. 134. Chap. XXVIII Aloysius being returned to Castilion maketh earnest suite to haue leaue to enter into Religion His course of life there pag. 139. Chap. XXIX Another hinderance and delay of the Marques pag. 143. Chap. XXX He mitigateth and â—â—ercâ—â—eâ—â— the mind of his Father with a vehement protestation pag. 146. Chap. XXXI
the spirit of a man and of the Diuine motions and incitements of his mind And for so much as he had made choyse of the Institute of the Society he set before him all those difficulties into which it was possible for any one to fall who placed his affectiō vpon this kind of life And he accōplished all this labour of inquisition which he had taken vpon him so to the life that he seemed to speake from his very hart Aloysius himselfe grew suspitious as after he scould me when he was in Religion that the Father seemed not any thing to dissemble the matter Therfore for so much as he did cōfide in him and attribute much to his authority neyther had there hitherto bene any one who as if he had felt his pulse before hand did discours thereupon so sitly to moue his mind and as he said so properly he stood for a space with his mind suspended Notwithstanding in the meane time he answered with notable confidēce to all that was asked him and so clearly dissolued all difficulties which occurred not only with reasons but also with authorities of holy Scripture and learned men in so much as the Father did not only reioyce to see him so constant in his resolution but also admired to see him so excellētly wel read in the bookes of God and Godly men After this seing that all his answeres were so accomplished as it were deriued out of the very bowels of the cause it selfe he began to suspect that he had read those thinges that are disputed by S. Thomas in his summe of Theology concerning religious Orders Therefore in conclusion he brake forth into these wordes Aequum postulas Domine Aloysi neque dubium esse potest quin sit vt dicis Mihi quidem stimulos admouisti neque vllum preterea quaerendi locum reliquisti My Lord Aloysius it is no otherwise then right that you require neither is there any doubt but that it is as you say Truly you haue moued me very much neyther haue you left me any scope further to cōplaine These words questionles did very much recreate the younge man and did sufficiently declare that he was of another opinion then he seemed to be when he for a little while tooke vpon him the person of a triallmaker Afterward Aloysius being departed the Marques freely cōfessed that he was now persuaded that it was Gods pleasure it shold be so and beginning to rehearse the whole course of his life so piously lead from his very cradle in conclusion promiseth that he will giue him leaue to betake himself to Religion A few dayes after this he goth backe to Castiliō giuing order that Aloysius hauing solicited but one cause more of his which yet depended in suite shold follow him thither to renounce his principality But Aloysius thinking euery houre which he spent out of Religion to be a thousand years vrged expedition CHAP. XXVII Blessed Aloysius going first to Mantua retireth himselfe to the spirituall Exercises THE time drawing neere that Aloysius was to returne to Castilion whē by that which had happenned at Millan he coniectured that some new storme hunge ouer his head before he departed from Millan he sent very ardent letters to the Generall of the Society of Iesvs wherin recounting the dangers which he had gone through he asked counsell what he thoght was best for him to do if the Marques should goe about againe to stop or at least to deferre his entrance into Religion whether it might be lawfull for him by his good leaue neuer expecting his Fathers commaund to flye into some house of the Society For now it was euident to euery one that he followed the instinct of God herin The generall althogh he tooke cōmiseration vpō the young man was much vrged with this difficulty notwithstanding he iudged that he should in no wise attempt this without his Fathers consent that he should therfore do his vtmost endeauour to do it by his permission That that would altogether be most for the honour of God most conducible to him the whole Society It seemed good vnto Aloysius to follow this Counsell Hereupon going from Millan before he came to Castilion he went to Mantua there partly for the refreshing of his mind partly for the confirming of his purpose corroborating his mind against that impetuous storme which as he feared might come vpon him he became desirous to retire himselfe to the sacred Exercises of B. F. Ignatius in some Colledge of the Society It was then the moneth of Iuly the yeare 1585. at which time the Iaponian Embassadours were daily expected at Mantua for they comming to Rome out of those foraine coasts that they might professe the Sacred Supremacy to reside in S. Peters Sea and that they might in the behalfe of their King and all his subiects in those countries conuerted vnto Christ submit themselues to the Popes Holinesse as Christs Vicar vpon earth and might faythfully promise to be vnder his authority and their whole Embassy being now performed first with Gregory the 13. in whose raigne they came and afterward with Sixtus V. the successour of Gregory who whilst they remayned at Rome was made Pope they went back-againe to their Country so as making their iourny by the holy house of Loreto surueying a good part of Lombardy in the moneth of Iuly they came to Mantua where by VVilliam the Duke the Prince Vincentius with magnificent preparation great honours they were entertained in very Royall manner When therfore there was a great concourse of people frō all the bordering Coūtries to be hould these pompes and shewes and chiefely to see the Embassadours themselues with whose only aspect men being somewhat transfixed with astonishment wayted vpon them with a thousand happy welcomes in the meane while Aloysius preferring his retirement solitude before all other sports and spectacles went into the Colledge in the extreme heate of Sommer and hiding himselfe two or three weekes within the walls of a very strait chamber did with so seruent zeale spend all his time in holy meditation that he did not so much as suffer the least part thereof to ouerslip him but that either he said his vocall prayers or meditated in silence or perused some booke of piety At that same time he was of so sparing a diet that he could hardly be perceaued to eate any thing Wherfore they that brought him his dinner into the chamber could neuer sufficiently admire that it was possible for a man to liue with so little meate there vndertooke to instruct him in the Exercises a certaine Father who for that he had for the space of fiue and twenty yeares gouerned and taught nouices of the Society in the Prouince of Venice was very prudent and of singular experience in those matters and of the whole course of contemplation With him doth he purge by confession all the spots of his forpassed life with a certaine particular sense
of piety and an inward feeling of ioy leauing in the mind of his Confessarius maruelous great admiration and loue of his rare vertues Which he hath both restified to posterity by setting downe in writing and also by his oath at Nouellara vpon the inquirv made by order of Lepidus Bishop of Rhegio For he being there asked whether he knew B. Aloysius to be a young man of a ceraine perfect course of life adorned with many vertues and spirituall guiftes or no answered in these very words which I will here set downe I truly Syr not only by the relations of our Fathers but much better by a certayne young man of great vertue whome he made vse of for his priuate Chamberlaine for the writing down of his lectures as it were for the companion of his studies from whome I was giuen to vnderstand certaine notable things of the voluntary punishments which he inflicted vpon himself of his frequent retirement of the admirable examples of vertue and sanctity giuen by this yonng man There was likewise another more certaine way of informing my selfe of him offered vnto me about that time vpon occasion of connersing familiarly with him and applying my industry in expounding vnto him the sacred Exercises of the Society in which he as he said vnto me desired to be instructed to the intent that he might more clearly discouer the will of God in the choosing of a Religious life for so much as the Excellēt Prince his Father the Marques desired to be throghly assured therof There it came to passe that in the way of pennance I tooke the confessions of his whole life Vpon which although I did long and much ponder I could not call to mind any of them which in my iudgment could be accounted deadly but that therin appeared certaine arguments of meruelous sanctity and of a life singularly well lead Surely this can I affirme that by his confessions I entred into a certaine great opinion of his sanctity innocency and integrity and for such a one extolled him vnto all This Father departed afterward I do not know vpon what occasion from that Colledge and another succeded him in this office of deliuering the exercises to Aloysius being often vsed in taking his confessions did vpon his oath auerre that his goodnesse purity his desire of worshipping God and despising and bringing vnder himselfe seemed vnto him singular and admirable Moreouer in that same place were shewed vnto him the Rules of the Society of Iesvs which hauing diligently read he said that there was no one of them from which by reason of the difficulty his mind had any auersion Being to depart from thence he desired to be granted vnto him a coppy of those meditations which consist of that history of the passion of Christ to the intent that being gone from thence he might oftē make vse of them CHAP. XXVIII Aloysius being returned to Castilion maketh earnest suite to haue leaue to enter into Religion His course of life there TO conclude he returnes to Castilion whither so soone as he came he desired truly to vrge his cause but least he shold exasperate the mind of the Marques he stood in expectance some few dayes till he of his owne accord might vtter some speach of it In the meane while being admired of all the Garrison-souldiers and people it is very stange to see with what recollection sanctity he perseuered to carry himselfe For as often as he passed out of the Castle he had his eyes alwayes deiected but only when he saluted his retayners towards whome his courtesy was so great that he went as it were continually with his head bare Comming with his brother into the holy Church to Masse their Forme was laid with a cloth of state and cushions of veluet vpon them Rodulphus according to his dignity was wont to leane But Aloysius both in the Church at home despising all cushions and carpets kneeling with both his knees vpon the bare ground with his eyes deiected first attending vnto Masse afterward reciting his canonicall prayers or silently reuoluing holy things in his mind spent many houres But vpon festiuall dayes Sundayes vpō which he receaued the sacred Eucharist he spent so much time in thanks-giuing that Rodulphus for his recreation going forth to exercise his body and returning to accompany him home found him still busied at his prayers At Euensong from which he was neuer absent for bearing to sit and continually kneeling vpon his knees he excited no small motions of piety in the minds of them that beheld him At home he obserued his accustomed māner of abstinence and prayer for the most part being solitary in his chamber he kept so vigilant and exact silence that very often he suffered diuers dayes to pasle without vttering scarcely so much as one word but if iust occasion were offered of speach he gaue way to necessity or piety Truly he was wōt to assure vs that he had spoken more words after his entrance into Religion in one day then before in many moneths and that if at any time he were to returne into his Country that it should be altogether necessary to change his course of life for a time least he should scandalize them who had knowne him before in the world and might thinke that he was made more dissolute by Religious discipline And to vs it was very well knowne that he was most obseruant of silence as who did neuer breake it vnlesse by his Superiours he was commaunded to recreate his mind by discours after his serious contemplations But now he had so much increased his voluntarily corporall afflictions that for very faintnesse he was scarce able to stand vpon his legges In which proceeding it cannot be denied but that he exceeded all discret moderation and with the ardour of piety was transported beyond the bounds of prudēce But questionlesse thinking himselfe able to brooke them he followed the feruour of his mind for his guide seing he was destitute of any other Therfore his mother both for other reasōs chiefly for this was a meanes to the Marques her husband that he would giue him leaue to enter into Religion for that she said if he should any longer be detained at home they should in short time be depriued of him And that it could not possibly be that continuing that course of life he cold long subsist But that if he might be limited by Religious rules that his Superiors would be carefull to moderate this superabundant feruour and that he should become subiect to their power Verily it fell out as she presaged For he himselfe did openly confesse that Religiō proued not only holsome for his mind but euen for his body and that he did acknowledge himselfe behoulding to them for their Charitable helpe who cast the bridle vpon those his immoderate as he called them and headlong endeauours At that same time he more earnestly then euer heretofore endeauoured to informe with
capacity He would not haue his Nouices be ouer solicitous to cast themselues into an affected composition either of countenance or body which shortly after their Nouiship they were to put off againe but he procured that they should put on that kind of modesty which they were willing to maintaine all the course of their life in Religion Likewise that they should lay for their foundation solid vertues and despising of themselues He desired that Nouices should reuerence and thinke as truth required of those that were now their ancients in religion as being wont to say that there was as much difference betweene Nouices those that now in Colledges did apply themselues to good artes as betweene those that learne their first A. B. C. and those that haue arriued to the learning of Philosophy I haue beene very well acquainted with many of my fellowes who passed their Nouiship vnder him whome I found all of them to haue a great opinion of his sanctity and their iudgments full-fraught with praise of his manner of gouernment Verily towards euery one he was very charitable mild facill and which is most to be esteemed of he hadled the matter so impartially with them all that euery one of them thought themselues to be only intirely beloued of him neyther could suspect that any one was either more esteemed or more vehemently affected Wherfore he was exceedingly beloued againe and he was an assured refuge to them all in whatsoeuer their necessity He deliuered the course of a Religious life to his Nouices rather by his example then either by his words or exhortation For nothing did he inioyne others which he did not first fulfill himselfe neither did he euer commit that by any one he might be noted to haue declined from any manner of duty how little soeuer it was Many things somewhat miraculous are both spoken and written of him As namely that with his only aspect he put forth a fire in the quenching wherof many men had lost both much labour and water That he had a Diuine instinct in beholding the factes of his subiects that were absent and penetrating into the secrets of their harts and their inward cogitations Of which matter many exāples that fel out at Rome Naples are by very graue Fathers recounted at this day It hath bene now reported from the yeare 1582. that the house of the Nouices being once very much distressed for want of daily victuals he retired into his chamber besought Almighty God to ease the same and chat there came vnto his doore an Angell in the habit of a young man and when hauing sent for the Father he had deliuered into his hands a certaine summe of money which might relieue their present penury that he suddenly vanished out of their sight For respect of these things he was of all held in great estimation of sanctity Therfore at Naples when being vpon his departure out of this life he had receaued his sacred viaticum he endeauoured to abolish out of the minds of those that were present this opinion who in that his last passage had an attentiue eye vpō all his sayings and doings whome they reputed to be in the number of the Saints But how much the more he endeauoured to cōceale the excellency of his vertue by so much the more did his singular modesty and contempt of glory by the shewing of so remarkable an example in his very last farewell giuen to earth and entrance into Heauen discouer it selfe This Father so deere to God Aloysius with a principall reuerence and loue obserued not only because he was his Superiour for which respect he held him as the Vicar of God but also for so much as he saw him adorned with vertues perfect accomplisht with all the exact rules of religion and looking into his life as into a mirrour he tooke a patterne therby Therfore curiously did he note all his words and deeds and desirous to be corrected and instructed by him he communicated with him all the inward state of his mind And it was very pleasing in like manner to this good Father to conuerse familiarly with Aloysius whose mind he perceaued to be singularly pure most fittly disposed to receaue the discipline of celestiall things and replenished with all vertuous diuine endowments Which vertues truly endowments if he before his death might haue commended to posterity we should not haue bene so ignorant of many other things concerning B. Aloysius CHAP. XIII Aloysius goeth with the same Father to Naples giueth excellent documents of vertue whilst he remaineth there VVHEN as therfore about Autumne in the yeare 1586. this Father being assaulted with a certaine disease did spit bloud and Fa. Generall with hope of recouering his health determined to send him to Naples he asked as it happened Aloysius whether he would go with him to Naples or no vnto whome Aloysius without any further reflecting vpon the matter answered that he would very willingly When afterward the time came that this Father should depart from Rome it was Fa. Generalls pleasure that three Nouices that were the most infirme in their healths he should take a lōg with him to make experience whether by the change of aire they might be bettered in their healths Amongst these was our Aloysius for whose grieuous head-ake a remedy was sought Knowing that he was to go he began to be trobled in mind for that he feared least by simply affirming that he would willingly accompany the Father might imply some certaine determinatiō of the matter for said he Oportebat respondere in Praesidum potestate futurum neque vilum eo inclinantis aut abhorrentis animi signum dare I ought to haue answered that it shold be in the power of my Superiours and not to haue giuen any signe of a mind either inclining or repugnant therunto Although F. Generall was moued not so much with his speach as with respect of his health which he saw so euill disposed Wherfore it seemed good to Aloysius not only for euer after that not to shew any propension to one part or other but also to procure that others should not affirme him to will or not will any thing but with a mind equall to all things to depend vpon his Superiours authority Likewise making knowne to many the scruple which came into his mind he assured them that it was very troblesome vnto him to do any thing according to his owne will But so soone as the iourny was manifestly decreed being questionlesse very ioyfull of such cōpany he said to one of his fellowes Sibi hoc iter gratū futurum quodè P. Piscatoris dictis as factis rationem discere percuperet qua hominibus Societatis iter instituendum esset that this iourny was gratefull vnto him for that he desired very much out of F. Piscators words deeds to learne a course how men of the Society ought to order their iourny They departed from Rome the 26. day of
October of the same yeare After they were come so far as that they were loosing the sight of Rome Aloysius turning towards that Citty with singular loue sense of piety recited that Ant-hymne Petrus Apostolus Paulus Doctor gentiâ— c. the prayer of those two Apostles Deus cuius dextera c. F. Piscator for so much as he vomited bloud was according to the aduise of Phisitians carried in a litter And wheras of those three Nouices one of them was ordained to accompany him the other two to ride togeather Aloysius as far forth as he might contriued that he might be that his companion in the Litter preferring the fruite of continuall and most pleasing conuersation with his Maister of a religious life before the complying with them But the others for that they iudged this recreation to be requisite for him as being somewhat more infirme in health suffered him to enter into the Litter Yet he in that commodity found out a meanes to disaccomodate himselfe For hauing wrapped vp his gowne as round as a ball and sitting vpon it he was carried no lesse vneasily in the litter then if he had bene vpon horse backe He passed all this iourny in reciting togeather with this Father the Canonicall prayers and in long discourses of Diuine matters In which he asked many questions of him and endeauoured to store his mind with very many precepts of pious liuing and excellent sentences which he gathered from him And this good Father not ignorant that he cast his seed into a fertile ground very willingly enlarged himself vnto him and deliuered the mysteries and vse of that celestiall Philosophy which he had attained vnto in so many yeares whilst he instructed Nouices In the Innes it was his whole practise to yield to his fellowes all things that were most commodious with incredible loue and obseruance towards them and to take vnto himselfe the worst of euery thing Hauing finished this iourney he assured his fellowes that by conuersing familiarly and maintayning long discourses with that Father and obseruing all his actions and manners in conuersing with secular men he had profited more in those few daies then by liuing many moneths in the house of the Nouices They arriued at Naples on the Kalends of Nouember At which tyme when by the Maisters of the Colledg there was renouatioÌ„ made of the studyes of learning it seemed good to the Superiours that Aloysius who as we haue said before had learned the one part of his philosophy before he gaue ouer the world should now study the later part therof which remained and he with all his hart betooke himselfe to this that was commauÌ„ded him The Father who at that tyme gouerned the colledge being accustomed to handle himselfe sharpely and austerely so soone as he found that this young maÌ„ stood likewise so affected tooke great contentment truly and began to giue him leaue somewhat more frequently to execute these matters then as yet at Rome he had done he being very much ioyed and denouncing himselfe most fortunate in that respect At Naples there appeared in him singular modesty prudence loue of his owne contempt and obedience of his Superiours and finally of all sanctimony Neyther did any one make any mention of him but with a discouery of the estimation of his vertue Verily his Maister in Philosophy wheÌ„ he had notice of his actes lately performed in the Diocese of Naples gaue his testimony of him in these words Aloysius was a man very well knowne vnto me being one that seemed to contemne thinke very submisly of himselfe To giue place vnto all to omit no occasion were it neuer so little wherby he might tolerate any assront from another man To be incredibly seuere towards himselfe to be very much imployed in offices of piety in his prayers and in familiarity with God Most obseruant of the rules of Religion no man more affected to the purity of conscience There was added to the praise of his pure life a sharpe and generous wit but such as was voyd of all insolent desire of praise Which thinges truly I am so much the more assured of for so much as I did not only know him by the relation of others but was euen my selfe an eye-witnesse of him whilst he was one of my auditours at Naples that he gaue an excellent and perpetuall example of these good partes Therfore in regard of his singular actions both I and others of the Colledge of Naples intertained a very great opinion of his vertue and sanctity But aboue others F. Ioannes Baptista Piscator a man of approued prudence of mynd and innocency of life who after he had dictated to Aloysius the first exercise of his religious course and assisted him in his holy pennance ended his dayes reputeth no lesse of him and in a certaine discourse which he had with me declared that he obserued in him an extraordinary kind of sanctity These are the words of the Mayster Some others who â—t that very tyme liued in the same Colledge do testify by other writings that he at Naples did what he could not to be knowne that he often applyed himselfe to the familiarity of the house-hold seruants and that he did his vtmost endeauour as much as he might to dissemblâ— and hide the splendour of his Descent Therefore when newes was brought that Gouzaga the Patriarch was made Cardinall he seemed no more to be moued then if it had nothing concerned him yet notwithstanding it is sufficiently manifest that aboue all his kindred he was beloued of him for so much as he had put to his helping hand in opening him a way to Religion The superiours placed Aloysius in that part of the house which was designed for the Nouices in a chamber the largest by much of all the rest togeather with man chamber-fellowes to the inteÌ„t that many might reape profit by the excellent example of his vertues but for so much as in the night he was ouerwearyed with watching it was requisite that he shold recompence that which he lost in the night with his morning-sleepe And yet other his companions who were to rise before day were an impediment that he could not so much as then take his rest By which when his Superiours perceaued his health to be impayred they were willing that he shold be placed in a chamber alone by himselfe where they thought he might more commodiosly repose in quiet But that likewise was vnder a great chamber throgh which there was a passage to diuers lodging chambers in so much as this which Aloysius lay in did almost alwayes resound with the noyse one while of one an otherwhile of another that went to and fro and was much lesse fit for that which was desired theÌ„ the other was before Hauing discouered this thing he rendred thankes to God and did in such sort accept this occasion of suffering some aduersity that he accounted it as a benefit And surely that it ought so to