first came to Rome with Faber and Laynez For going one day with them to see the Marquess d' Aquilar then Embassador of Charles the Fifth with Paul the Third and their Discourse falling upon the reports which were then spread against the new Society the Marquess told him that he was suspected to cover a great Ambition under an exterior Humility and that it was publickly said a Cap or a Miter was the motive of his Journey The Father was so surpriz'd at this Discourse that at first he only answer'd it by making the sign of the Cross Afterwards as if he had been inspir'd on the sudden by God he made a Vow before the Marquess never to accept any Ecclesiastical Dignity unless he were oblig'd to it under pain of Sin by the Vicar of Christ and some time after he renew'd this Vow in the presence of a Cardinal The affairs of the Society were in this Posture when Father Ignatius thought it seasonable that it should be imploy'd in the instruction of Youth The Zeal of Francis de Borgia Duke of Gandia to whom the sight of the dead Body of the Empress had given a disgust of the things of this World and who after the death of his Dutchess gave himself wholly to God was the first rise and occasion of beginning so profitable a work There being within his Lordships a great number of Baptized Moors of which the greatest part had renounced Mahometanism only in appearance he judged that to secure the Souls of the younger Brood and wholly to extirpate that pernicious Sect he ought to provide for the Education of their youth and in order thereunto to Found a Colledge of the Society in his Town of Gandia where the Children of all his Vassals should be Educated in Vertue and Learning This design he communicated to Father Ignatius and asked his advice and assistance for the Execution of it Who immediately gave order to Father Faber then at Valladolid to wait upon the Duke and to serve him in the Establishment of this Colledge before he came to Trent whither Paul the Third had call'd him to be joyn'd with Salmeron and Laynez As soon as the Duke and Father Faber had regulated matters according to the Instructions of the General there were presently sent thither Professors out of five or six different Nations all able Men and chosen by Father Ignatius himself and each of them open'd his School with a Latin Harangue before the Duke and all his Court. It was therefore in the year 1546 and six years after the Confirmation of the Institute that the Jesuits first open'd their Schools in Europe I say in Europe because in the year preceding those of the Society whom Father Ignatius had sent out of Italy and out of Portugal to Father Xaverius having been put into possession of the Seminary of Goa Founded some few years before by King John the Third for Educating the Indian youth Nicholas Lancillotti an Italian had begun to teach the Children the Principles of the Latin Tongue But at Gandia they did not only teach these first Elements of Sciences for besides Grammar there were Schools of Poetry Rhetorick Philosophy and Divinity and to give the greater Credit to the Colledge the Duke obtain'd from the Pope and from the Emperor to have it Erected into an University and that the Scholars who there took Degrees should have all the Priviledges which are injoy'd by the Graduats of Alcala and of Salamanca Father Ignatius Ordain'd for the good order of the Colledge that the Professors should be very careful in their Method of teaching that in each faculty they should follow the most received Authors as in Philosophy Aristotle and in Divinity St. Thomas He recommended that they should often exercise the memories of those young Scholars who were not yet come to ripeness of judgment and that in making them recite what they had got without book they should accustom them betimes to pronounce well That they should stir up young Wits by frequent Disputations quickening them with emulation and sometimes setting the more forward and capable against those who were behind them that so both one and the other might either be animated with Glory or excited by Shame that the Slothful and the Libertines should be punish'd but that the Masters themselves should not Chastize their Scholars This last Order he made both to observe the Decency of a Religious state and to prevent all passion in Corrections Besides this insomuch as it was his principal Design to form the Manners of Youth he expresly forbad the reading any Author either Latin or Greek that might corrupt their Innocence unless such Authors be first purg'd of all that is obscene He order'd that the Scholars should every Day hear Mass That every Month they should go to Confession That when they begin School they should all together say some short Prayer to ask God's assistance in their Studies And that once a Week by Catechisms and Exhortations they should be Instructed in the Verities of Faith and in the Rules of good Life He also prescrib'd to the Masters that upon every fit occasion both in School and out of School in their familiar Discourses they should speak to them of Heavenly things These Rules observ'd made Doctrine and Piety flourish at Gandia under the Conduct of Father Andrew Oviedo Rector of the Colledge About this time it was that Isabella Rosella coming to Rome to see Father Ignatius took a Resolution of leaving the World and of living according to the Evangelical Counsels under the Obedience of the Society Two Roman Ladies of great Vertue joyn'd with her in this Design and they obtain'd leave of the Pope to embrace this kind of Life Tho' F. Ignatius well saw that this sort of Directions was not very agreeable to his Institute yet his Gratitude towards his Benefactrix and the small number of these new Religious prevail'd with him to take upon him the care of them But he soon repented of it and was heard to say That the Government of three Devotes was more troublesom then that of the whole Society For in fine there was no end with them at all hours their Doubts must be resolv'd their Scruples must be cur'd their Grievances must be heard and even their Quarrels must be reconcil'd This oblig'd him to represent to the Pope how incongruous such an Employment would be to the Society and how necessary it was that his Holiness should deliver them from it For he judg'd that this small Community of Jesuitesses which yet consisted but of three Persons would in time become numerous and multiply in other Towns but the Consideration which he had of the Catalonian Lady from whom he had receiv'd so many good Offices and who so earnestly requested him not to abandon her made him manage the Matter with all possible fairness and condescendency Here is the Copy of a Letter which he writ to her upon this Subject Right Venerable
the Pope to bestow upon him a Cardinal's Cap for which his Holiness needed no great Solicitation for he had seen Father Francis the Year before and was so edified with his Vertue that even then he had it in his thoughts to make him a Cardinal So that now he resolv'd to comply with the Emperor and the Matter was resolv'd with the general Approbation of the sacred Colledge Father Ignatius being inform'd of the Pope's Resolution thought himself oblig'd to oppose it for the Interest of the Society and for the Honor of Father Francis whom the World would not fail to reproach with having resign'd his Dukedom of Gandia to his Son in prospect of a Cardinal's Cap. But the better to find out the Will of Heaven in a Matter so nice and so important he shut himself up three days together and communicated only with God in Prayer The first day he found himself altogether indifferent without inclining more on one side then on the other The second day he felt a propension in himself rather to break the Design then to let it go on But the third day he was so convinc'd that it was not the Will of God to have Father Francis made a Cardinal that he said to an intimate Friend If all the World should throw themselves at my Feet to beg of me not to oppose the Promotion of Father Francis I would not desist In effect notwithstanding all the Intreaties of the Emperor's Ministers and of those who pretended Zeal for the Honor of the House of Borgia he would not relent He began his Solicitation by interessing those Cardinals in the Matter who were best instructed in the Nature of his Institute but finding that they more consider'd the Honor of the Sacred Colledge then the Advantage of the Society and the Reputation of Father Francis he apply'd himself immediately to the Pope and ply'd him with so many strong Arguments that his Holiness was forc'd to yield The truth is that he found an Expedient to content the Court of Rome and the Court of Spain and also to do Honor to Father Francis without doing wrong to the Society which was That the Pope should offer him the Cap but that if the Father did refuse it his Holiness should not compel him to take it The thing was Executed as Ignatius had laid it And the Cap of which the Offer was sent to Father Francis in his Solitude at Ogniate no otherwise pleas'd him then in giving him an occasion of Sacrificing to God the Dignities of the Church after his having made a Sacrifice to him of the Grandeurs of the World The Conduct of Father Ignatius and the Example of Father Francis caus'd a Resolution in Don Antonio de Cordoua to enter into the Society He was the Son of Laurence Suarez de Figueroa Conde de Feria and of Catherine Fernandez de Cordoua Being young and very well accomplish'd he made himself a Churchman only upon the Motives of Piety Philip Prince of Spain who particularly lov'd him desir'd the Emperor to procure for him a Cardinal's Cap. Charles the Fifth did what the Prince desir'd but Don Antonio resolving wholly to leave the World by the Example of his Cousin Borgia thought the surest way to avoid the Honor which was prepar'd for him would be to shelter himself in the Society of Jesus as in a Sanctuary He writ a long Letter to Father Ignatius upon this Subject in which after having laid open the Motives of his Vocation Father he said to him since God has placed you in his Church to be the Refuge of those who are out of their way I desire you to receive me into the number of your Children The young Lord was receiv'd and in time became one of the greatest Men of the Society THE LIFE OF St. IGNATIVS The Fifth BOOK WHereas Father Ignatius secluded his Order from Ecclesiastical Dignities upon the only Motive of better Serving the Church accordingly his thoughts were always watchful to observe and relieve the Necessities of Christianity and his Care extended it self even to the remotest Parts of the World But his principal Consideration was of the Northern Countries desolated by Heresie The greatest part of Germany had in a manner quite lost their ancient Piety the Books of Hereticks were every where scatter'd and every where read with Impunity And the younger sort out of those poyson'd Fountains drew their first Principles of Religion The greatest part of the Catholicks could not endure the Name of Papist given them by the Protestants and grew almost asham'd of their Profession The Priests and the Religious were in great disorder and notwithstanding the Zeal of many Bishops for the Reformation of their Diocesses they could hardly find sufficient Curates to whom they might confide the Care and Government of Souls Father Ignatius Discoursing one day upon this Subject with Cardinal Moron they were both of Opinion that the only way to remedy so many Evils was to place in all Churches Pastors found in their Doctrine and unstain'd in their Life which should be of the German Nation but that it was necessary in the first place to have them well Form'd and Train'd which could not be done without Founding a Colledge where the young Men of the Country might be Educated in Learning and Piety That Germany being generally perverted there could be no Security there for the Establishing such a Colledge and that a properer Place could not be chosen then Rome where not to speak of the holiness of the Place which would inspire Catholick Sentiments the Presence and the Liberality of Popes would much conduce to the rise and support of so good a Work The Pope to whom Cardinal Moron and Cardinal Santa Croce first open'd this Matter very much approv'd this Design which he himself had formerly conceiv'd in his thoughts and gave a beginning to it by assigning a Fund for the Maintenance of the Colledge After which he order'd Father Ignatius not only to seek out and chuse young Students out of Germany but also to Govern and to Instruct them The Father immediately gather'd together Four and twenty out of several Provinces of Germany all of good Capacity and Education He afterwards by the Pope's Order drew up Rules and Statutes for their Government He appointed Fathers out of the Casa Professa and the Roman Colledge to be their Directors and Masters but with the management of their Revenue he would have nothing to do He said that such Administrations besides the fatigue and trouble of them often give occasion of suspicions and murmurings The principal Revenue of the German Colledge failing upon the death of Julius the Third Father Ignatius was in some apprehension lest the Colledge should break by reason of the Dearth then at Rome and of the Disturbances in Italy under the Pontificate of Paul the Fourth He therefore distributed a part of these young Strangers into several Colledges of the Society abroad and the rest he
Example by his Liberalities and by his Caresses corrupted almost all the young Men in the University of Alcala After having begg'd of God the Light and Forces which he should have need of in so hard an Enterprize he go's to the Lodging of the Prelate and to obtain Audience he sends up word that an unknown Person had things of great importance to tell him When he was brought up to him he said It is the greatest Concern you have in the World which obliges me to wait upon you for it is the Concern of your eternal Salvation And what he added in a Tone of Assurance and yet of Respect d'ye think that God has plac'd you in this World to live as if there were neither Heaven nor Hell Is a happy Eternity of so little value that it doth not deserve your care If at this moment that I speak to you Death should surprize you where would you be What Account could you give I do not say of so much Riches so sinfully employ'd but of so many Souls which you have destroy'd and do every day destroy Ignatius would have still continu'd in the same Tone but the Prelate took him short call'd him an insolent Fool and a Mad-man and in a great rage threatned to have him thrown out of the Window if he did not presently depart and in order thereunto call'd up his Servants For all this Ignatius did not cease to follow on his Point with the same liberty as before and God gave such a Blessing upon his Words that the incensed Prelate grew suddenly calm and so much an alter'd Man that with great Civility he invited Ignatius to Sup with him Ignatius would not balk so fair an occasion of going on with his Work but made such good use of his time that before he left him what with his modest Comportment and with the force of his Reasons he gain'd him to that degree that he wholly chang'd the loose course of his life This Conversion made a great noise in the Country and had a very good effect upon the young Students of the University in order to the reformation of their Manners The Prelate himself becoming zealous to reclaim those by his good Example whom his bad had corrupted But that which most serv'd to reform the Youth of Alcala was the Assemblies of Devotion which Ignatius held in the Hospital whither great Crowds of Schollars came to him and seldom went away but with a horror and detestation of Vice The common People were struck with these extraordinary Changes and following their natural malignity they entertain'd strange Fancies concerning Ignatius Some said he was a Conjurer and that without Art-Magick he could not do what he had done Others that he was an Heretick and that under pretence of bringing the young Fry to Piety he instill'd false Doctrine into them These Rumors quickly came to the Ears of the Inquisitors at Toledo They had lately condemn'd in Spain certain Visionaries who were call'd the Illuminated or Men of new Lights The Heresie of Luther began to desolate Germany and there was reason to fear that it would spread it self abroad like the Plague which seldom doth rage in a Country without infecting the Neighbouring Parts Wherefore the Inquisitors being very zealous and watchful were induced to believe that possibly the Person so much talk'd of might either be an Illuminato or a Lutheran and to be throughly inform'd of the matter they came themselves to Alcala to take Examinations upon the Place After an exact Enquiry into the Manners and Doctrine of Ignatius not finding any thing that might render him suspected and not judging it expedient to make him appear before them they were contented to refer the Matter to John Roderiques Figueroa Grand Vicar of Alcala and to Delegate to him all their Authority in case any new Matter should happen As soon as the Inquisitors were gone the Grand Vicar call'd Ignatius before him and declar'd to him that the Juridical Information which had been made was much in his favour and that he might continue his Functions for the service of his Neighbour He only admonish'd him that it was not approv'd of that he and his Companions not being Religious should go in Habits alike Ignatius to take away all ground of Complaint Cloth'd himself and Artiaga in Black left his gray Habit to the Frenchman and made Caliste and Cazeres go into a Russet Colour But in regard the Grand Vicar had forbidden him to go bare-foot he put on Shoes and ever after wore them The Testimony of the Inquisition justifi'd Ignatius and gave him a great deal of Credit among the People He was no more now an Illuminato or a Lutheran but a Man fill'd with the Spirit of God and a Successor of the Apostles and Alphonso Sanchez Canon of St. Juste commonly call'd him The holy Man This is the Canon who before he had discover'd the true Piety which was in Ignatius and in his Disciples did one day publickly refuse them the Communion upon supposition that they were Hypocrites if not worse Martin Saez a rich and principal Man of the Town of Aspetia which lies near to the Castle of Loyola being come to Alcala for some Business of Consequence heard them speak much of Ignatius which made him desire his Acquaintance Being shew'd to him one day in the Street he follow'd him to a little House whither he us'd to go every Morning upon a Charitable account Having seen him go in and come out of the House he went in himself and there found a poor sick Woman whom he ask'd who that Person was that last went from her She answer'd that she did not know the Man but that he brought her every day something to live upon and that without his assistance she must have starv'd Tell him says the Man of Aspetia that you know a Person that will furnish him with Money for all the Charities which he will do The sick Woman fail'd not to advertise Ignatius of it and to tell him the Lodging the Name and the Country of this Man according to the Order she had receiv'd from him The very Name of Aspetia did much affright Ignatius who fear'd nothing more then the meeting of any Persons of his own Country On the other side he was mortifi'd to be so discover'd so that without saying any thing farther to the poor Woman he only told her Sister I have succour'd you hitherto according to my ability hereafter Providence will assist you by some other means After which he departed and came no more In this while the Grand Vicar caus'd new Informations to be taken of Ignatius and his Disciples either incited thereunto by ill-minded People or else imagining with himself that Men of small Learning might be apt to teach false Doctrine in their Catechisms and that being young how vertuous now soever they appear'd they might easily fall into the frailties of Youth Upon this fresh Enquiry he still found their