Sacrament of the Altar to beg light from Heaven how she might serve her Spouse upon Earth on a suddain she saw a Stream of fresh Glaring light come from the Blessed Sacrament towards her from which she felt such an Interior joy in her Soul that the Mistress of the Novices then kneeling by perceiv'd a change in her countenance and asked what might be the cause of so sensible an alteration as she perceiv'd in her She would gladly have conceal'd this if Obedience would have suffer'd her but that prevailing she told the reason of it Whether this favor was to confirm her in the Mystery of the Real Presence the doubt of which gave the first occasion of her Conversion or to strengthen her in the desire of solitude and suffering none but God who bestow'd it knows but after this she still persisted with more earnestness than before to gain her Ghostly Father's consent for her removal to a stricter Order where she might be unknown She was more and more perswaded that her design was no illusion seeing she found that the manner of her Conversion and her resolution of embracing a Religious State having taking Air abroad both Religious as well as Seculars shew'd upon that account a great esteem and admiration of her Which she thought no small hinderance to her Perfection And having heard that the Carthusianesses besides the constant rigour they live in are never permitted after their entrance either to receive a Visit or Letter from any friend she earnestly beg'd of her Confessarius to use his endeavours for her Admission amongst them without discovering her Quality or Condition that then she might enjoy that happiness which she only desir'd in this World Viz. A constant Communication with God without the interruption or conversation of friends This retreat was still the joyful Object of her Mind where absconding she might attend to the exercises of an Interior Life and Evangelical Perfection And understanding that those that were not Virgins could not enjoy amongst them the Priviledge of being Superior or of bearing any other Office she hop't by becoming a Member of such a Community to see her self the least and last of a Religious House In expectation of which happiness she extreamly comforted her self These kind of thoughts had so possessed her Soul that she could never enjoy her self whilst she stay'd at Liege and hence it was that the respect and civility shewed her by the Religious was so great a Mortification to her Her Ghostly Father Communicating her desires to the Prior of the Carthusians at Liege then going to a General Chapter of the Order had gain'd a promise of his best assistance for the obtaining her wishes and in the mean time she Wrote to Brother Clare to desire him to give her leave to enter amongst the Carthusianesses And that she might not put any obstacle to his designs nor hinder his proceeding in them she inclos'd this following Act of Renunciation which she thought would have been sufficient to Legalize his Profession without her making of hers The General of the Socity of Iesus at the request of his Superiors unknown to him having dispens'd with the Second Year of his Noviship that her Year of Probation being ended she might make her Profession and he at the same time might be able also to make his I Do here in the Sacred Presence of Almighty God offering my self intirely to him Renounce all Right whatever I have to you and do here Solemnly Vow perpetual Chastity to him And do promise you before God and his Angels that with the assistance of his Holy Grace I will Live and Die in Religion and will immediatly when I go from hence put my self under the Obedience of another Monastry of Inclosure This I again confirm beging of his Divine Majesty to accept of me and in Sign that I will never Revoke it I subscribe my Name TREVOR WARNER In Religion TERESA CLARE Brother Clare having receiv'd the Letter with the Contents before mention'd and also with the foresaid Renunciation with consent of his Superiors resolv'd to go to Liege Finding it impossible to give her that satisfaction by Letters which he hop'd his presence might do He arriv'd the 4th of Iune at Tongers four Leagues distant from that City where there being a Monastry of the same Order as well as a House of the Society he thought they might meet with less noise than they could do at Liege But she instead of coming thither sent her Confessarius to excuse her not coming and to perswade him to return to VVatten Telling him That his coming to Liege would perswade all People that it was to invite her back to the VVorld especially when shortly after they saw that she left the Monastry which she defign'd to do as soon as she had obtain'd her admittance among the Carthusianesses and beg'd of him not to hinder this her design Yet he notwithstanding by the Advice of the Superior of Tongers resolv'd to go to Liege the Rector of that place having before invited him where also he might have his Advice about what future Measures he had best to take The Rector Counsel'd him to Visit her in the Monastry whether he went but she would not be seen nor speak with him even at the Grate without a Companion with her Alleadging that this precaution was to prevent such Discourses as she had before intimated would otherwise be rais'd upon their meeting Brother Iohn Clare was very well satisfied herewith but at length told her He could never give her his consent to go to the place she had pitch'd upon because he could never be assur'd whether she was content or satisfied in it and without that assurance he could neither make his Profession nor permit her to make hers because she could neither speak with any one nor send to nor receive from any one a Letter nor transmit her Mind to him if any dissatisfaction should happen to her Thô this reason did not fully satisfie her yet the absolute refusal which she receiv'd from the General Chapter which declar'd that none but Virgins could be receiv'd into that Order and that she was mis-inform'd if she heard that any other might be so upon any account whatever caus'd her to lay aside all thoughts at least of entring among the Carthusianesses but took not away her Resolution of going to a stricter Order And thô she could not resolve whether to go yet she had absolutly fixt her resolution of leaving the Monastry where she was to give more scope to Mortification to which she found her self very effcaciously mov'd CHAP. III. How she resolves to enter amongst the Poor Clares Her departure and journy from Liege and her arrival at Graveling BRother Clare finding her fixt upon a removal and having acquaintance at the Poor Clares at Graveling which was the first Order that she had seen in these Countries and then seem'd to like it very much hop't the proposal of her going thither
consent of their Parents not to permit it without advertising me first of it And as I assure my self you will not fail to do what I desire as long as you shall be in that charge so I make the same request to those that shall succeed you Wherefore I beseech God to take you into his Holy Protection HENRIETTA MARIA 'T is suppos'd the News of this Letter cross'd and dassh'd the design of the Person before mention'd for soon after she rerurn'd into England but would never own who she was nor upon what account she came more then is before Related Thô during her stay at Liege she made several Visits to my Lady Having upon this occasion depriv'd her self of that Natural satisfaction the sight of her Children must necessarily give her and at the same time freed her self from that care and trouble that accompany'd their presence she resolv'd seriously to apply her self to Virtue and to a Practice of the foundation of all Vertues Humility Wherefore having a low Idea of her self and to stifle all Motions of Pride and Self-love she desir'd to be equal or even inferior to the Lay-Sisters Once openly declaring her Motive saying It was too great an Honor for her to be a Servant to the Spouses if Christ It was usual for her to be lost in time of Recreation and the surest place to find her in was in the Scullery or in some such like humble and abject Office Thus she forgot her Quality submitting her self to the lowest Employments taking more delight to be an abject in the House of God than others can do in all sorts of Worldly Honors and Satisfactions Nor was she only desirous by these Exterior Actions to Cloath her self with this Virtue of Humility but endeavour'd to imprint the same Interiorly in her Mind For thô she was of a peircing Wit and ripe Judgment yet she would desire the Lay-Sisters to Instruct her whilst the Fathers themselves who had dealt with her own'd that they found her to be far above any of her Sex that they had ever treated with All these Actions were accompany'd with such a serenity of Mind so sweet an affability and with such Conformity to the Will of God together with such a Love for that Virtue he practic'd who bid us learn of him to be Meek and Humble that she seem'd to be without the least constraint in the performance of even the Humblest Offices doing them as if they had been natural to her and as if she had all her Life time been brought up in them CHAP. II. How she came to be call'd to a more Rigorous State of Life or to a stricter Order IT happen'd upon occasions that she was now and then call'd to the Grate many finding especially a Canon of St. Lambert great advantages by the Visits they made her which were always spent in Pious Discourses That which others would have look't upon as no great hindrance to Recollection she took so much to heart that she was resolv'd to break of all Commerce with Creatures that her Conversation might wholy be with her Creator and thô she obey'd chearfully the Reverend Mother in going to the Grate yet she fail'd not to complain to her Ghostly Father that she found by experience that all Conversation which was not with God left behind it a certain bitterness and heaviness of heart That she thought she was call'd to a more strict retreat and concealment where nothing might draw upon her the praises or admiration of others in which solitude she did not Question but to find a greater liberty to give scope to her fervor and thereby to tast more liberally the sweetness of Divine Union and to exercise with more freedom the Mortifications of an Austere Life which her present State did neither require or even permit She was so Enamour'd with these sentiments of Austerity and Solitude and so great was her fervor that prostrating her self upon her Knees she beg'd of him in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament that he would give her leave at least to make a Vow never more to go to the Grate whilst she stay'd there and in the mean time earnestly Pray'd him to offer up some Devotions to Almighty God for her to know what was his Divine Will concerning her removal She desiring nothing but what she thought was most pleasing to him He told her the inconveniencies that would follow such a Vow and promis'd her that he would particularly beg of Almighty God to give him light how to direct her he bid her to have a great confidence in God and rest assur'd that he would assist her to compass what he inspir'd her to do if it were his Will that she should remove or if it were not would give her comfort and satisfaction in the place and Practice of the Rule where she was at present Some there were who judging her Confessarious might too far comply with her inclination to Solitude and Mortification and thereby also second her intention of a change did forbid him any more to Visit her hoping if it were so that his absence might moderate these desires which probably he by too great a condescention might have augmented But she extreamly resented his absence and the more because she found he was blam'd for Counselling her to do what he had dissuaded her from and therefore suffer'd in the Opinions of others upon her account This went nearer to her than what she suffer'd her self and to take away this misunderstanding she importun'd the Reverend Mother that the Father might once more come to her whose Counsel was wholy necessary before she could make a final determination what to do In the mean time in the middle of these continual conflicts and agitations of Mind she suffer'd a kind of Martyrdom At his return he so efficaciously answer'd all her Objections for her removal and so clearly convinc'd her that it was Gods Will she should stay and settle there that she began to think of continuing and making her Vows but withal told him that the chief Motive that made her fix upon this Resolution was that she might be no hindrance to Sir Iohn now Brother Clare to make his imagining that if the same desires of removal remain'd after her Profession the Church would give her liberty of entring a stricter Order which she could as well do two or three Years after as then Whereupon he reply'd that thô the Church could indeed give such a permission yet it would never grant it upon account of several great and general inconveniencies that would accompany such a removal which the good of a particular person thô very great could never recompence Wherefore if she ever resolv'd to quit the Order she was in she must do it before she made her Vows or not at all And therefore desir'd her seriously to recommend the matter to God in her Prayers as he would also do in his Whilst she was thus making her fervent Petitions before the Holy
design'd to give them as next to nothing because they were Abby Lands which never thrive with the owners but like a Moth by little and little insensiblely eat up the rest of their Estates Sir Thomas told him moreover that he easily perceiv'd what his design was in giving these Lands to his Daughters Viz. That out of a Scruple of Possessing them they should be in a manner forc't to make themselves Nuns that thereby they might restore them to the Roman Catholic Church to which they formerly belong'd Sir Iohn wonder'd that a Protestant as Sir Thomas was should Scruple at the Possessing of such Lands or have a doubt of the just Title of their owners which that he might free him from Sir Iohn gave him the same Answer he had receiv'd from his Master of Novices in the like doubt Viz. That these Lands came not to his Ancestors by gift but by Purchase and that the Pope had given Cardinal Pool his Legat in the Reign of Queen Mary Permission to dispence even with Catholics to enjoy Abby-Lands But these Reasons not satisfying Sir Thomas as they had himself Sir Iohn promis'd him to engage other Lands for the Payment of his Daughters Portions in ready Mony and gave order to his Lawyer to make the settlement accordingly Whilst he was thus busied in getting the Writings ingrost the Enemy still to retard the execution of his design to which the settelment was a necessary means rais'd another Storm far different from the former and far more surprizing and afflicting by reason he made use of his Lady to do it and mov'd her also by such pretences as were so much the more dangerous by how much they carried an appearance of Piety along with them And consequently were the more apt to deceive her who sought no less Gods greater Glory than her own greater contempt in all things Of all which Father Martin Green then Rector of VVatten inform'd Sir Iohn by a Letter in which he also desir'd him to desist from making any further settlement till he had heard again from him because the Enemy being not a little busie in disquieting Sister Clare he knew not whether his Malice might not end in perswading her to return again to the World having by crafty pretences dissatisfied her with the place where she was In the mean time Father Thomas VVorsley went to Graveling who had been for some time her Director to try if he could dissipate such difficulties as the Enemy had rais'd and endeavour'd to foment not much unlike those he had suggested at Liege Viz. That God call'd her still to a stricter Order than this was that here she found too much esteem and respect and therefore it would be more grateful to God to go amongst Strangers where she might be freed from the too great civility and kindness she experienc'd amongst the English That there were Orders still stricter than this where she could find no impediment of entering as she did among the Carthusianesses Hereupon she Mortified her self above what the Rule allowed thinking a Liberty in that kind lawful and upon this gave what scope she was able to those Austerities to which this Rigorous but false Spirit drew her upon pretence to gain light from Heaven All which without doubt could not be from God since the Austerity of this Rule was as great as her strength of Body was able to bear And that you may the better judge of this I will give you here a short account of their strict and severe manner of living The Convent is Commodiously and Neatly Built but a true Emblem of Poverty Their Cells are not long enough for one of an ordinary Stature to lye at full length and therefore when they sleep they almost sit upright in their Beds which are not two foot and a half broad and the Cell is no broader besides what the Bed takes up than to give room enough for a single person to go in and out All their furniture is a little low Stool to sit upon and a Straw-bed and Bolster or if Sick a Pillow of Chaff upon which they lye in their Habits having a Blanket to cover them They wear no Linnen go bare-foot having only Sandals rise at Midnight abstain all their life time from Flesh and keep such a Fast all the Year except Sundays as we do in Lent Their Cells were then only separated with Bricks without any Plaistring upon them but the present Bishop of St Omers in his last Visit gave order to have them Plaister'd Their Tables in the Refectory are never cover'd and they Eat only in Earthen Dishes Notwithstanding this extream Poverty the Neatness that is observ'd in their Dormitory Quire Refectory and Cell is such as Charms the Eyes of all that by the Bishops leave are permitted to enter And the chearfulness of these Mortified Souls their fresh colour the healthful and youthful looks even of Ancient Persons are such as strike admiration into those that behold and converse with them One would have imagin'd that Sister Clare needed not to have thought of any other Rigorous Life than what she found here and that she could not think of greater Austerity than was here practis'd However at length Father VVorsley convinced her that this seeming Call to greater Mortification was only a deceit of the Enemy to hinder her from the happiness of a Religious State she so much desir'd to embrace Which he endeavour'd first to make her defer that he might have the more time to exercise his Malicious design upon her of making her quite lay aside what she had so Piously undertaken These Reasons so successfully mov'd her that howsoever cunningly the Train was laid by the Enemy it took no effect for she following the advice of her Confessour resolv'd for the future to regard such thoughts as Temptations and that nothing hereafter should ever hinder her from a speedy execution of what she had before so earnestly desir'd Viz. The making of her Profession in this place Whereupon finding again that Peace of Mind return she had lost ever since she had given way to these Temptations she was mov'd to express her submission to the Will of God declar'd to her by her Confessour in this following humble and submissive Act which finding in her own hand amongst her Papers I thought it would not be ungrateful to the Reader to set it down at large having a Scruple to shorten what I found so solid and moving Her Act of Submission O most merciful Lord God the Refuge of all distressed Souls when I consider that Immense Ocean of your Prerogatives and Divine Perfections in Relation to my own nothing and demerits I am wholy confounded and utterly asham'd to appear before your dreadful Majesty or to lift up mine Eyes towards Heaven But your infinite Goodness and Mercy gives me confidence to acknowledge my Imperfections for when my stubborn and disobedient Will was in the full Career of my misted Life your powerful hand was
hearts to Visit her Corps return with joy it giving not a delight only to the exterior Senses but also an interior comfort to the heart which extraordinary effect could be Communicated only by God himself and that it might appear so he gave such a very particular evidence as follows Her Children heard not of her Death till the Morning after she dyed but they no sooner had notice of this sad news but they broak forth into such a passion of crying as there was no pacifying them by all the Caresses and kindness they could shew to them wherefore Reverend Mother Abbess experiencing in her self what comfort she found when she came to Sister Clares Body thô before much afflicted and finding several of the Religious to express that they had experienc't the like sent for the Children into the Quire where her Body lay expos'd hoping they might find the same and by this means become pacified which all other endeavours could not effect Nor was she deceiv'd for behold what an extraordinary effect of Gods Power appear'd in this moving circumstance the Children coming into the Quire in a vehement passion of crying as soon as they beheld the Object of their grief their dear and Dead Mother this sight which ordinarily increaseth passion so moderated theirs that they were immediately pacified and the sweetness that still remain'd in her Countenance mov'd them to run to her Body and express the same Caresses by embracing and kissing her as if she had been living nor were they surpriz'd to see no return since she in that respect had used them to it in her Life time as has been said After this they kneel'd by the Body praying for half an hour without so much as sheding a Tear and return'd as pacified as if nothing had happen'd not only to the astonishment of the Religious but even of themselves too as Young as they were Wherefore they asked their Maid the reason why before they went in to see their Mother they could not forbear crying and that now they could not cry for their Lives Reverend Mother Abbess finding this Angelical Air and sweetness continue in Sister Clare of Iesus's Countenance resolv'd to repair the loss that her Humility had brought upon the Community by burning her Picture Wherefore she sends to Dunkirk for a Famous Painter that then liv'd there who looking upon her wonder'd to see no decay in her Features but only that they were without motion and breath He said that he had been call'd to draw several Ladies after their Death but that he never met with the like Yet as great an Artist as he was his piece as the Religious testifie came far short of the Original and only gave cause of a continual resentment for the loss of that which Cooper had so admirably drawn to the Life And that this Painter might not pretend want of time for doing it the Body lay expos'd three days in the Quire Which in stead of sending forth any less pleasing smell fill'd the Quire and Church also with such a perfume as all wonder'd at But 't was not strange that her Vertuous Actions which she endeavour'd to conceal in her Life as much as she was able should now begin to blossom and send forth their Odours after her Death CHAP. II. The Points of her Funeral Sermon in short together with her Burial and Epitaph THE Fourth Day after her Death Reverend Father Seraphim a French Capuchin and Excellent Preacher as well as experienced Director of Souls Who had been earnestly desir'd and had kindly undertaken to make her Funeral Sermon came to perform his promise and to testifie to others what in several occasions in which he had treated with her he had been Witness of himself especially at that time when she had particularly desir'd to advise with some experienced person that was not of her own Nation about her removal from Graveling fearing the English she had consulted might be too much byast with a National affection and upon that account might disswade her from going amongst Strangers but he prov'd to be of the same sentiment with Reverend Father VVorsley and other English she had advis'd with in this point and assur'd her that it was a pure Temptation thô the Enemy had cunningly Cloak't and cover'd it with the specious pretence that she should find more Mortification and less esteem among Strangers than she receiv'd kind Father so good a Husband as she her self us'd to say she could not have wish't a better such fine and sweet Children so plentiful a Fortune and consequently all Earthly blessings this World was capable of bestowing upon her doing this also in the Flower of her Age in the hight of her prosperity Wherefore says he if the VVise Man Ecclesiasticus Chap. 31. Vers 9. declares that he who sought not after nor hop't in Riches had done wonders I may say her Courage was wonderful since she not only not sought but forsook and quitted not only Riches but Father Husband Children and all other happinesses this VVorld could afford to follow more exactly the Counsels of our Savior thereby to be the better able to take up and embrace his Cross and follow him Which brings me to the third mark of her Courage I promis'd to explicate in my third Point In the Third Point he prov'd how she exprest her Courage by the choice of so rigorous an Order discribing the Austerities of it which she was not content with but animated with the lik Zeal Sc. Francis Xavarius was when he cry'd out Lord let me still suffer more he declar'd how earnestly she had exprest to him her desire to go to a more rigorous Order amongst Strangers where she might suffer more and be known or regarded less all which he exprest after so pathetical a manner as amongst his numerous Auditory there was scarse a dry Eye to be found who by this his Discourse were convinc't that thô they came with a great Idea of her Sanctity yet it was far short of what they found she was endow'd withal At the end of the Fathers Sermon she was carried from the Quire where she lay expos'd in her Habit down to the Cloyster to be Buried next to Mother Taylor her first Abbess and great friend as has been before said It happen'd in the diging of her Grave that they broke into Mother Taylors out of which there came a scent no less fragrant than that which the Body of Sister Clare sent forth Their sweet Odors being thus united after Death as their Affections had been whilst they liv'd Reverend Mother Abbess desirous that the memory of her example should continue as long as the Monastry lasted caused a great Marble Grave-stone to be lay'd over her Body which Reverend Father Francis VVilliams then Rector of the Noviship of the Society of Iesus of the English Province at VVatten adorn'd with this ensuing Epitaph which I put in the Language in which 't is Writ upon the Grave-stone Viz. in Latin
mention'd doubts And ought to clear the Jesuits of that unjust Censure they ly under of Covetuousness when they refus'd such an offer as was here made them Sir Iohn finding his Unckle still busie in an earnest pursuit after his Estate thô he was assur'd by his Counsel that the settlement he had made could not be Annul'd by any thing less than an Act of Parliament yet thought it better by appearing to put a stop to his Unckles endeavours than permit him and his Brother to engage in a Law Sute and thereby spend what he pretended to conserve which would be prejudical to both But Sir Thomas Hanner being then in Town he resolv'd first to go to him and beforehand sent him a Note to know whether a Visit would not be ungratful Sir Thomas who believ'd him beyond-sea seem'd overjoy'd at the sight of his Letter that brought him the good news of his being still in England and answer'd him that he was ready to receive him with open Arms and to Embrace him with the same tenderness as ever as indeed he did His Tears at their Meeting testifying how great and Paternal an Affection he still had for him Sir Thomas after a hearty expression of the continuance of his kindness propos'd to him all the Arguments he could to perswade him to lay aside his design of parting with his Daughter and betaking himself to a Religious State of Life But perceiving Sir Iohn so fix'd in his Resolutions as that he found no hopes of perswading him to change them he told him He would soon have greater cause than himself to repent such an enterprize and when 't would be too late find the Inconveniences unto which he expos'd both himself and his VVife However he would give him no cause to suspect he wanted that kindness for him he had ever profess'd and therefore thô he could easily have crost his design he would not do it but when the Chancellor offer'd him a Decree to take Possession of the Estate so long as he and his VVife should continue beyond-sea he absolutly refus'd it rather than he would by accepting it given him any cause of disquiet or unkind thoughts of him Sir Thomas also seeming much concern'd for having taken such measures as forc'd him out of Town the next Morning told him That he would not have left it so soon had he known of his being in it Sir Iohn beg'd leave to accompany him the first Days Journy it being probably the last time he should have the opportunity of enjoying his Company which was granted with a great deal of satisfaction on both sides The next Day Sir Thomas was very pressing to have Sir Iohn go with him home and to stay so long there as he design'd to remain in England But he very gratfully refus'd the invitation resolving to follow his Lady as soon as he had put a stop to his Unckles pretensions which requir'd his Presence at London The same Night he return'd from accompanying Sir Thomas he went to the nearest Tavern to his Unckles House in Covent-Garden and sent a Messenger to let Dr. VVarner know that a friend of his desir'd to speak with him there When his Unckle came he was so overjoy'd at the unexpected sight of Sir Iohn or so confounded at what he had done as he was not able to speak So that Sir Iohn out of compassion was forc'd to make that Apology for him which he ought to have made himself thanking him for the pains and trouble he had taken for the security of the Estate as he thought thô there was no need of it because he had settl'd it as firmly as was possible by Law upon his Brother who if he had consulted him would have shown him the Deeds wherefore now he was assur'd of this from his own Mouth he hop't that he would desist from giving himself or his Brother any farther trouble in this affair He promis'd he would and was as good as his word using no other endeavours afterwards for getting the Estate into his Hands which he saw was already in the Possession of Mr. Francis VVarner his Nephew the next Heir to it But to return to my Lady from whom I have made this necessary digression to satisfie the Reader why Sir Iohn did not accompany her she took Shiping the 29th of October and landed at Dunkirck the 30th where she no sooner arriv'd but she went immediatly to the English Poor Clares and was extreamly pleas'd with their Poor and Rigorous manner of living She took the first opportunity of passing from thence by Water to Bruges where she went to the English Monastry of the Order of St. Austin and there met with one whom God Almighty had not long before inspir'd with an extraordinary Call to the Catholic Faith as well as to a Religious course of Life and who had given a very great example of courage and zeal in embracing both This person was Mrs. Catherine Holland Daughter to Sir Iohn Holland and Suffolk who by her own Reading and her Mothers Pious example who was a Catholic Almighty God's Grace also concurring was so mov'd to embrace the Catholic Religion and a Religious State as that without her Fathers knowledge she went to Flanders there to Consecrate her self wholy to Gods service even before she was a Catholic or admitted into the Roman Catholic Church But as soon as she came to Bruges she Reconcil'd her self and took the Habit amongst the English Religious of the Order of St. Austin in that Town Providence so ordering it that the Duke of Norfolk should be there at the same time who undertook if her Father did not give her the ordinary Portion requir'd by the Community at her Profession that he would pay it But her Father thinking this might reflect upon him gave the Portion himself and freely discharg'd the Dukes engagement After Mutual Congratulations with each other not only for being Members of the True Church of Christ but also for being call'd to the highest State of Perfection in it the embracing his Counsels which Mark of Sanctity seem'd wanting in the Protestant Church they had quitted my Lady took leave to pursue her Journy towards Liege and went the same Day to Gaunt where she was very kindly receiv'd by the English Benedictine Dames And there as well as at other Monastrys she pass'd was much Edified at their chearful Conversation and Religious Modesty the very Air of their Countenances evidencing that Interior Peace and comfort which the World is not able to give their Edifying Discourses also rekindled afresh her desiers of a Religious State so that she hasten'd what she could to Liege being in pain till she arriv'd at her Center where she hop't to meet those healing Joys which the distracted and thoughtful cares of a Secular Life could not afford Thither she came on the 6th of September promising her self that happiness she had so long in vain sought after The End of the First Book THE LIFE OF THE
LADY WARNER In RELIGION Sister CLARE of IESVS THE SECOND BOOK CHAP. I. She takes the Habit at Liege amongst the English Nun's call'd Sepulchrines of the Order of St. Austin THE Religious she design'd to go to were of the Order of St. Austin commonly call'd Sepulchrins who Honor St. Iames the Apostle as their Founder and by their Regularity and Exact observance had justly gain'd themselves so great a Reputation both at home and abroad as hereby they had obtain'd a very ample Foundation from the Prince of Liege and so considerable assistance of others as to Build themselves a very fair and convenient Monastry But that which would have charm'd others even at her first coming and enterance into the Monastry gave little satisfaction to her insomuch that the same Night she arriv'd in return to all those Cordial expressions of kindness the Reverend Mother and Religious shew'd her and her Children she declar'd that she thought that was not the place Almighty God had call'd her out of the World to live in So displeasing was it to her to receive any Worldly satisfaction after she had made a Sacrifice of all those Earthly Comforts which God Almighty had before bestow'd upon her However out of submission to her Ghostly Father she took the Schollars Habit on the 20th of September the Feast of Our Lady's Presentation And so great was her deference before she receiv'd it to the Religious that where ever she met any of them she us'd to prostrate her self as a Mark of her profound respect towards them The time of her Schollarship was partly taken up with the sollicitude and care she had for Sir Iohn who was still in England partly with Pious thoughts how to set out and Adorn the Church Upon which account she sent to Sir Iohn for some Pictures Hangings and other Rich Ornaments she had left behind her in England which she thought necessary for the beautifying the Church and Altar Upon the 10th of March Sir Iohn left London and took with him all those things she Writ for excepting the Pictures she desir'd of St. Iohn Baptist St. Austin St. Mary Magdalen and St. Teresa Saints to whom she was particularly Devoted from the time of her Conversion for which Reason I Name them He not being able to get them made time enough in England for his departure but procur'd them for her from Antwerp After a Prosperous Journy he arriv'd at VVatten in Flanders the 20th of March 1665. where he took the Novices Habit of the Society of Iesus and the Name of Brother Iohn Clare which as soon as he had acquainted her with she resolv'd also to follow her Ghostly Fathers Advice in taking the Habit of her Order upon St. Catherin's Day the 30th of April following together with Sir Iohn's Sister Mrs. Elizabeth VVarner and his Kinswoman Mrs. Frances Skelton who accompany'd her from England My Lady took at her Cloathing the Name of Sister Teresa Clare she having had even whilst a Protestant a very particular esteem of St. Teresa upon the Reading her Life which accidently fell into her hands Father Martha a Famous Preacher in the VValoon Province of the Society of Iesus made her Cloathing Sermon And did it after such a manner as prov'd one of the greatest Mortifications she had met with since her leaving England It happen'd not long before that a Carmelite-Fryer having quited his Habit and Religion also to avoid just Punishment had taken Refuge in Holland whereby he had given a great occasion of scandal at Liege The Father to retrive that Honor which he thought Religion might have lost by so foul an Action as this was extol'd that which she had done of quitting Heresie and the World with such an Heroical Resolution to such a hight as gave her so great a confusion that she was scarce able to continue in the Church And most perceiv'd the Mortification she suffer'd by the extraordinary Colour which his Encomiums and frequent Interrogation whether what he said was true brought into her Face But the happiness she felt at her Cloathing and the hopes she fed her self with of enjoying afterwards a secure and perfect repose in the State of Life she had embrac'd out-ballanc'd this present Mortification and was too great to continue long without some interruption One would have thought at this distance from England in a Catholic Country that there had been no fear of Persecution Yet the Enemy found an opportunity of giving her an Alarum and cause of great disturbance even in this place of Repose which happen'd as follows There came a Person of Quality to Town extreamly well attended the first Visit she made thô she profest her self a Protestant was to the Monastry where she desir'd to speak with my Lady VVarner pretending a Message to her from Sir Thomas Hanmer her Father My Lady came to her her self but finding she brought no Letters from Sir Thomas and that she refus'd to make any other declaration of her self or Quality than that having told him of her coming over and that probably she should pass by Liege he had desir'd her in his Name to give a Visit to his Daughter and Grand-children whom she would find in an English Monastry in that Town excus'd her Childrens coming to her thô she earnestly prest to see them Fearing there might be a greater design in this Visit than only kindness as the Lady pretended Which that she might the more easily prevent and at the same time avoid the disturbance also she found in her Soul by the distraction she receiv'd from her Childrens presence she resolv'd privatly to remove them to the Vrsulin's And the Queen Mother of England having upon her Mothers account who as before related had been Maid of Honor to Her Majesty express'd a kindness to my Lady on all occasions she took the liberty of beseeching Her Majesty that she would vouchsafe to take her Children under her Royal Protection who where otherwise in great danger either by suttlety or force to be taken from her and carried into England And at the same time she humbly Petition'd Her Majesty to signifie to the Superiour of the Vrsulin's at Liege where she had privatly plac'd her Children her Gracious concern for them Whereupon the Queen Wrote this following Letter Translated out of the Original in French Dated from Colombe Iuly the 17th 1666. MOTHER I Have heard with a great deal of satisfaction that the two Children of Sir John Warner are at present at the Ursulin's under your Tuition Thô I do not doubt but you have all immaginable care of them yet I cease not to recommend them to you and desire you not to permit that they be taken from your House without Orders from their Father or Mother who put them into your Hands or from those whom they shall order to have care of them in their absence and if it should happen that any other by any means should endeavour to take them away from you without
circumspect graceful and enfie to be esteem'd and respected and to be lov'd and reverenc'd by those who were most familiar with her Nor can I rest satisfied with this general Character I have given of her Humor but must descend to those particulars which the Religious have given me Who took notice that whatever difficulty or indisposition she suffer'd she ingeniously dissembl'd them in time of Recreation Being always resolv'd to uphold and maintain the hour alotted to this innocent Pastime by a provision which she had made of such pleasant Spiritual Stories as serv'd not only to divert the hearers but excite them to the Love of God Yet was never known to express even the least sign of impatience whilst others related theirs having no inclination to ingross the Discourse to her self in which she carefully wav'd whatever in the least related to her self or Family Her punctual observance of the Constitutions in speaking spiritually was the more wonder'd eat by the Community because she having been a Person in the World whose Quality and Education must necessarily have furnisht her with many extraordinary passages the Relation of which would have been very diverting yet nothing was ever heard from her Mouth which tended not either to the Praise of Virtue or to the Love of God Neither did the energy with which she spoke of Heavenly things give any trouble or Mortification at all to those that heard her no more than their Discourses did ever give her which appear'd by that constant and extraordinary serenity of countenance she particularly seem'd to put on in time of Recreation Which was hereby no less promoted and animated by her whilst others spoke than when she spoke her self But whilst with a constant and un-interrupted Progress she thus chearfully advanc'd in the pl asant path of Perfection behold God who knew her fidelity permitted a great and unexpected Storm to be rais'd against her so much the more sensible because it depriv'd her not only of a near Relation but by his Death occasion'd a delay of that happiness self so much thirsted after and thought her self even ready to possess Viz. that of her Profession or Espousals with Christ CHAP. VI. The happy tho' untimely Death of Mr. Francis Warner and how this and several other cross and unexpected accidents which happen'd to Sir John retarded her Profession To which the Enemy endeavour'd to make even her self instrumental and how she discover'd and generously overcame his crafty Temptations THat I may the better perform my promise made in the Contents of this Chapter of giving the Reader an account of the happy thô untimely Death of Mr. Francis VVarner I hope 't will not appear too great a digression from what I have undertaken to Write if I relate a little at large such Circumstances as may conduce to a perfect knowledge of his Death Especially since 't was an un-expected hindrance of her happy Profession she so earnestly desir'd to make In the Month of Ianuary 1667. Mr. Francis VVarner came over to give his Brother a Visit thereby to express his Gratitude no less for the Estate he had given him than for having been under God the chief occasion of his Conversion as also to be convinc'd as well from his Mouth as he had been from his Pen of the great satisfaction he experienc'd in the Religious State he had undertaken In his way to Liege as he passed through the Low-Countries he Visited several Religious Houses and amongst others the English Carthusians at Newport Where the admirable order and chearfulness he beheld amongst them amidst so great Solitude and Austerity had already by the influence of Gods Grace so toucht his Heart that he resolv'd to follow his Brothers example in quitting the World as soon as he could compass it by a settlement of his Affairs in England But said nothing of this his design till one Night at Liege he and his Brother being alone together he ask'd to borrow his square Cap which pulling of his Periwig he put on asking his Brother If it became him Who Answer'd That it became him very well and that he did not doubt but if God gave him inclinations to a Religious State that he would find the same happiness and satisfaction in it as he himself had done Mr. Francis VVarner hereupon reply'd with Tears That he was sorry he had not profited by his Education at School as he wisht he had done since by reason of this neglect he could not now be so happy as to be his Brother also in Religion But added That he had made a Resolution of becoming a Carthusian in which Order Literature was not so absolutely necessary as in the Society VVhere they tended not only to their own Perfection but also to the Perfection of their Neighbor And that he doubted not but that he should meet with the same content amongst the Carthusians which he exprest to have already experienc'd in the Society VVherefore he resolv'd to hasten back to England there to settle his Estate and to take Graveling and Watten in his way thither and that at the last place he design'd to make the Spiritual Exercise to see whether this Vocation to be a Carthusian were from God or no and if he found it were that he might thereby be strengthen'd to overcome all obstacles that should oppose or retard the execution of what God had inspir'd him to undertake You may well imagine how overjoy'd Brother Clare was at this welcome thô un-exspected News and with what seasonable Counsels he seconded his Brothers Pious intentions Who resolving forthwith to leave Liege Brother Clare desir'd him to take his two Daughters who were still with the Vrsulins along with him to conduct them to the English Monastry of Benedictine Dames at Gant Whether he carry'd them very safe Hence he continu'd his Journy towards Graveling both to Visit his Sisters there and to give them an account of the welfare of his Neeces and of their removal from Liege to Gant You may imagine how overjoy'd they were to see him but the joy his presence gave them was nothing in comparison of that which the welcome news of his design of leaving the World occasion'd From thence he went to VVatten where he made Eight Days Exercise In which retirement by the light and unction of the Holy Ghost he was thorowly convinc'd that his Vocation unto the Holy Order of Carthusians was an Inspiration from Heaven Wherefore having ended his retreat he hasten'd to Newport as well once more to take a a view of that place in which he resolv'd to end his Life as to Embark from thence for England He stay'd here longer than he intended in expectation of fair weather but it continu'd Stormy so very long that his impatience of compassing the happy State he aim'd at caus'd him to urge the Master of the Packet-boat to venter out to Sea in that Stormy weather The Master overcome by his earnest intreaties and large promises hoisted Sail
Temporal Blessings Another very remarkable thing of this Gentleman is that the day before his Death Brother Clare going to Montague took his way by Herke to have the satisfaction of giving Mr. Ruisson a Visit who had been so kind as to give him many at Liege upon the account of that Spiritual Friendship which he had contracted with Sister Clare coming thither he found him very sick yet perfectly in his Senses and as chearful as ever he had seen him but was concern'd to see him lay'd after so poor a manner upon the ground and asking the reason of it his Servants signified that it was in Obedience to his own Orders they had made his Bed in that manner and that he would scarse thô in so weak a condition admit of any help from them and had also desir'd his Wife for his as well as for her own greater comfort being he saw she suffer'd very much to see him in that condition that she would not come to him but leave him to make the best use he could of those few moments he had left Brother Clare thô pleas'd to see him as Mr. Ruisson also seem'd to be with his Visit yet was troubl'd to see him so ill accomadated and therefore beg'd of him to accept at least of such helps and conveniences as that dangerous condition he was in requir'd that might conduce both to his ease in his sickness and contribute also to his recovery for the manner he had order'd himself to be treated could not but much augment his distemper which of it self was already too great To all which he reply'd That could he be without those conveniencies he still had he should be very glad and if he did but know what comfort he receiv'd by the want of those he had depriv'd himself of he would rather press him to quit those he had left than desire him to admit of others and then asked Brother Clare VVhether he thought the Inconveniencies he suffer'd were comparable to those which our Saviour had suffer'd for his sake And farther aver'd That the only trouble he now felt was that he could not suffer more at his Death to express his Love to him that dyed with so much pain for him upon the Cross He expressed this with such a chearful and unconcern'd Countenance as made Brother Clare not think him to be in that danger that others thought he was in otherwise he would have given himself the comfort and advantage of being present at his Death Which happen'd the same Night he left him He giving no less evidence of his Vertue at his Death than he had done in his Life not only by a perfect Resignation to Gods Will in suffering it but by earnestly desiring as St. Paul did To be dissolv'd and to be with Christ Perhaps the occasion of this great Friendship he exprest both to Brother and Sister Clare proceeded from those Inclinations he found in himself to do what they had done and in this without doubt Almighty God made him a kind of living Martyr even by the too great Affection of the Person he loved most in the World I mean his Wife who out of the tender Affection she had for him never would give her consent for their retirement into Religion thô he had frequently desir'd it with very great instance And this kind cruelty of hers was doubtless so great a cross as nothing but his Love to Gods Will could sweeten and render supportable The truth of which he one Day confidently discover'd to Brother Clare for discoursing with him about the happiness of a Religious Vocation he told him in Confidence That it was a double favor that God had bestow'd upon him in giving him such a Vocation in the State he was in and at the same time affording him the means of putting it in execution by giving his Lady the same inclination God indeed says he has been so good as to grant me the first by letting me see the happiness of a Religious State and giving me very earnest desires of entering into Religion but as yet he has vouchsafed to give me little hopes of putting these in execution not perceiving he gives the same to my VVife and added that he found it very hard to receive such a Mortification as a refusal was to so advantagious a request from a person he so intirely lov'd and who also refus'd it out of a Motive of love to him wherefore he thought this so great an affliction as 't was impossible for any one to conceive the greatness of it that did not actually feel it CHAP. IX A remarkable passage of her burning her Picture a little before her Death 'T IS a common Axiom in Philosophy that motion for example in a Stone cast down from a high place the nearer it comes to the end or Center to which it tends the more swift it is Sister Clares example seems to prove that the same Axiom holds no less in Moral than in Natural Philosophy for thô from her first Conversion to the Catholic Faith and her entrance into Religion which immediately follow'd the other she never stopt but still made a constant and continual progress in Perfection managing each pretious moment of time to the best advantage to prepare her self for a happy Eternity still advanceing towards her end and Center of her affections God himself Yet there is one instance of her Zeal that happen'd a little before her Death which manifestly proves that the nearer she approacht her end the swifter progress she made and thô perhaps what I am about to relate may at the first fight appear to some less considerable yet whosoever shall rightly weigh it cannot but be of my opinion that it far exceeded the other actions of her Life expressing a strange fund of Humility Contempt of her self and solid Piety which also evidences that the lower she hereby debast her self in her own thoughts the higher she was rais'd in Gods esteem and in a very short time mounted to such a hight of Perfection as deserv'd immediately to be Crown'd Brother Clare long before he or she had any thoughts of Religion had procur'd her Picture to be drawn in Miniature by that famous and renown'd Artist Mr. Cooper which being extreamly well done and very like her he caused to be set in Gold with a Cristal before it This Picture he sent to her with other things to Graveling supposing she would bestow them upon the Children As soon as they came she beg'd leave to dispofe of the Picture Mother Abbess thinking she desir'd this leave that she might give it to one of her Children told her she might dispose of it as she pleas'd she had no sooner obtain'd Mother Abbesses consent but she presently endeavour'd to get the Picture out of the Case and what a Workman could scarce have done with Tools in a Quarter of an hours time Providence helpt her with a Pin only to take out in a moment even to her own