will cary him a hat for he weareth none perhapes because he hath none and I will not informe the Inquisition of him as I thought to haue done This passed betwixt the priest and me concerning Gregory Lopes whom I knew not of till then neither did I then know his name allthough by the said relation I conceiued a good opinion of his manner of life God beginning then though I knew nothing to shew his great fauours and mercies which he was to doe me by meanes of this his seruant as shall be said hereafter THE IX CHAPTER His aboade in Atrisco his returne to Mexico and the examination which the Metrapolitane made of his spirit and manner of life THe desire which Gregory Lopes had to liue vnknowne and the great care which he vsed to conceale his spirit and heroick vertues made him often change his dwelling imitating herein the ancient hermits who fearing least they should be knowne and honoured by Men did trauell continually from one place to another so he hauing bin about foure yeares in Guasteca seing himself knowne and much esteemed both by Spaniards and Indians by the instinct of the holy Ghost for it is to be thought that he neuer chaged his habitation without it he departed towards Atrisco and being within a league of the towne God brought him vnto a man of good esteeme by name Ihon Perez Romero who gaue him lodging and all things necessary for his maintenauce in his mannour Gregory was there well treated because his hosts were good Christians and benefited themselues with the good counfailes and examples which he gaue them for that was the gratifying and recompence which Gregory left to them that entertained him and wheresoeuer he came the temper of the country was very agreable vnto him and the riuers brookes and pleasantnes of the fieldes did further him much in his deuotion and recollection But it was not the will of God that he should stay in that place aboue two yeares because the sower of coccle the enemy of our good is wont to hide the vertue and darken the light which shineth and enlightneth that others might not profit themselues nor goe forward in the seruice of God as did those hosts of Gregory and many of their neighbours round about Therefore the coÌ„mon enemy vsed for his instruments certain religious men that liued in that place none of the learnedst but it is likely their intention and zeale was good though not secundum scientiam who seing such great mortification and so composed a behauiour in such a young MaÌ„ such an admirable wisedome vertue and spirite in one that had neither studied nor euer wore any religious habit wherein he might haue got such good parts they were much scandalised and did feare where there was nothing to be feared and sorgetting that saving that the hood maketh not the Monke and that which the Prophet saith Happy is he O Lord whom thou instructeth and teachest thy holy law They did so much aggrauate the matter before him that was then Archbishop of Mexico that he thought it necessary to make very exact inquiries to learne the truth which being performed according â—o the order of law he declare â—…y decree and publick sentence the great vertue and innocence of Gregory who hauing got by this a greater name and opinion of fanctitie amongst all men tooke his leaue of Iohn Perez Romero and leaning him and all his family sad for the losse of such holy company by which they were so much edified he tooke his iourney towards Mexico and from a place neere Tescuro lifting vp his eies he espied the house and sanctuary of our Lady of Remedies on the other side of the city and thinking that there might be there some habitation wherein he might continue his solitary life he trauailed straight towards that place without entring into Mexico and seeing that it was a place dedicated to the Mother of God he reioyced exceedingly and purposed to remaine in that place in seruice of the Queene of heauen God disposed all this for the good of many soules in that place who profited much in vertue by the conuersation and company of Gregory At his first comeing and for some months after none knew what he was and there were scarce any that made any esteeme of him because he was very wary in makeing any outward shew of the fauours which God did vnto him but seemed outwardly a simple Man of few wordes and of a shallow vnderstanding none did resort vnto him none did light vpon that treasure which God had in secret in that wildernes By reason of this he was in great necessity aÌ„d want of sustenance in so much that I haue knowne him passe many daies only with wild quinces but time running on men began to take more notice of him some deuout persons who did there keepe their nouendialls inuiting him now and then to dinner and they did behold with care and attention their guests new attire and manner of life some were edified by his conuersation others did beware of him holding it a suspicious matter to stray from the common course others lesse aduised iudged him to be a Man of ill life and a dissembling heretick and therefore did abhorre and fly his company and he in that kind suffered much with woÌ„derfull patience allthough I could not hitherto learne any notable thing that hapned vnto him in that place This came to the eares of the Archbishop Don Pedro Moya de contreras of good memory who like a vigilant and carefull Prelate thought good to informe himself of the life and behauiour of Gregory Lopes and the spirit by which he was directed I went about that time to our Lady of Remedies to see him and by the conferences which I had with him I remained well satisfied touching his spirit and iudged him to be a man of solid and well grounded vertue I gaue this relation to the said Archbishop and told him that was my opinion he for his more satisfaction and better performance of his office would haue this busines examined more exactly and gaue in charge to Father Alonso Sanches of the society of Iesus a man of great zeale and learning aÌ„d much addicted to spirituall life and well experienced in it to examine Gregory Lopes with all care and diligence making as they vse to say an anatomy of him and to acquaint himself with his emploiments exercises and manner of proceeding The said Father went with this commission to our Ladies of Remedies where he spent much time with Gregory propouÌ„ding vnto him very precise questions concerning the Catholicke faith his customes and spirit to all which he answered with such breuity and humility that he left him alwaies more in doubt so as his desire of getting out the plaine truth clearely was increased in him Therefore thinking that to vse any other meanes was but to goe about the bush he determined to speake to him plainly and so with a graue and seure
agreeable to the great vigilance and perseuerance that God had giuen him in whatsoeuer he imagined to be the will of God or profitable for his soule At three yeares end where in he had practised himself in meditating vpon those wordes and profited much by them resigning himself wholy to the will of God in whatsoeuer he would dispose of him it pleased God to put him in another exercises not so much of wordes as of deedes that was an ardent loue of God and his neighbour in the which that religious soule setled her self as in the most heroicall vertue and most pleasing vnto God Thus with so firme and sure à foundation he went alwaies increasing and ascending from one vertue to another neuer slakting that amarous effect of Charity in which the diuine goodnes had grounded him as shall be said hereafter THE VI. CHAPTER Gregory Lopes goeth to the plantation of Alonso de Aualos and determineth to returne to Mexico by the persuasion of Father Dominick de Salazar GRegory liked well of his haâ—itation in the towne of Amyac because he did there enioy freely his solitarines and had occasion enough to exercise his pouerty and patience in wanting commodities for his life and conuenient sustenance and therfore he would not haue changed his habitation but that the loue of his neighbour whom he desired to loue as himself did seeme vnto him to require it because his maÌ„ner of liueing in the desert being so new ad vnusuall in those partes some rude and ignorant people did meruaile that he did not heare Masse vpon Sundayes and holydayes especially haueing no occasions nor labours in the country to excuse him from the precept of the Church it seeming vnto them that only temporall necessity was sufficient to dispense with him and not the particular calling of God and instinct of the holy Ghost who did bring vnto the deserts of Nitria in Aegypt and to many other parts great numbers of Men who did leade a Monasticall or Heremiticall life not haueing opportunitie in one yeare no nor in many to fullfill that precept or others such like from the which in the iudgement of all learned and vertuous men they were lawfully excused and Gregory himself knew that very well yet neuertheles he yeelded to the frailty and ignorance of those people and to auoyd all scandall he went to Alonso de Aualos his plantation where he had commodity of hearing Masse Alonso de Aualos receaued him with much loue and courtesy and offerred him a house and garden of a very good aire and vnderstanding that he did not eate flesh commanded his steward to employ an Indian to catch fish for him Gregory accepted of the garden but would not consent by any meanes that any Man should be set on worke for him and so for the space of two yeares which he spent in that place he liued onely vpon milke and curdes this time expired vnderstanding that it was the will of God he determined to returne to Zacatecas and the night before his departure as he was expecting day light to take his iourney the terrible earthquake began which was in that Country in the yeare 1576. and as Gregory was going to open his window the beames of his chamber fell without doing him any harme In this iourney he came to a mannour of Sebastian Mexia who gaue him good entertainment which he required with his vertuous example and good aduise the which made such impressioÌ„ in his host that presently laying aside his rich apparell he cloathed himself in sack cloth like Gregory Lopes to whom he bore such an affectioÌ„ and respect that he determined to put both soule and goods in his hand to manage and dispose of them according to the great prudence which he vnderstood that God bestowed vpon him But he suspecting it and knowing that Sebastian Mexia was shortly to dy thought it was not for his purpose to take vpon him the charge of other mens goods who to serue god more freely had discharged himself of his owne and to the great griefe of theÌ„ all he coÌ„tinued his iourney At that time Father Dominick de Salazar an eminent Man of the order order of the Dominicans weÌ„t about preaching amoÌ„gst the mines and villages adioyning vpon Zacatecas This man through the great familìarily he had with Gregory was so taken with his good spirit and manner of life as that he did earnestly intreat him to goe to the conuent of S. Dominick in Mexico promising to procure him both lodging and diet where he might liue more quietly and securely exercising apart his prayer and other exercises of his calling and yet not want the coÌ„modities and profit which a life in community especially of relgious Men bringeth with it Gregory beleeuing that this course would be no hindrance to those exercises of prayer and contemplation which God had put him into determined to follow the counsaile of so learned a Man and so great a seruant of God as was Father Dominick and accepting of the opportunity and almes he returned to Mexico haâ—ing bin in the said Villages of Amayac Aualos and Mexias manâ—our allmost seauen yeares and â—wo Months wherein he serued a certaine maÌ„ vpoÌ„ an occasioÌ„ which I will relate He cloathed himself as is said before with a course sack cloath and hauing with time worne out his cloathes he thought good to earne wherewith to couer his nakednes seeking in that place a seruice He came to a rich farmer who receiued him willingly and gaue him in charge to looke to his housâ— hold and see them do that which belonged to their office Gregory did that with such care on the one side and on the other with such loue and humility as that he filled all with the admiration of his vertue loue of his good carriage and desire of his coÌ„pany but he haueing got enough in two months space to put himself in cloaths tooke his leaue of them leauing them sory for his departure which they could not remedy neither with intreaties nor teares nor mony which they offerred him Whilst Gregory Lopes walked in the wildernes great were the terrours with which the deuill endeauoured to affright him make him turne backe and leaue off his holy purpose sometimes with the roarings and the howlings of the wild beasts other times with the cruell deaths that the Indian Chichimecos put the Spaniards vnto euery day in that place othertimes he assailed him with diuerse in ward temptations and therfore the more crafty and deeeitfull but he had presently recourse to his prayres and such weapons as God had giuen him for his defence which was a totall resignation wherwith he put himself and his affaires in the hands of God He did repeato those wordes wherin he had fouÌ„d such light and erudition fiat voluntastua c. and prestrate on the ground in the sight of God he said oh Lord thou art a Father and all things are done in thy presence and with thy will With this
to him out of spaine said vnto me now I would visite the Lady Marquesse if she would send for me and the Marquis were at that time in Tescuco and Gregory in Santafe where by may be seene how far he was out of the ordinary straine of human courtesy since that in time of prosperity he denied the visit which he could easily haue made and in time of aduersity he offerred himself to doe it being then aboue 4. miles going and comming He was not as yet perfectly recouered in Mexico and his lingering ague did not forfake him he was very weake and had but little stomack to his meate on the other side he longed for his desired solitarines and allthough he had strictly obserued it within my house at Mexico yet he made more account of the commodiousnes of the CouÌ„try and therefore I went about carefully to seeke out some seate neere the City where he might enioy his solitarines and I might often see him and in some manner relieue his sicknes and pouerty Whilest we were in these thoughts it fell out one day God so disposing that we went out both together to see a little village called SaÌ„tafe six mile of from Mexico the administration whereof belongeth to the Deane and Chapter of the Church of Mechoachan it seemed vnto vs very fit for our purpose by reason of its good â—emper and wholesomenes of the aire and the pleasantnes of the trees and springs which are wont to make a solitary life more pleasing allthough Gregory did not much regard those recreations all his conuersation being interiour as shall be said in another place I dealt with Doctour Hernando ortis de Inoâ—osa first reader of diuinity and Canon of the Cathedrall of Mexico and at that time gouernour of Santafe who like a vertuous Man and willing to further all that was good very freely gaue Gregory leaue to dwell in a house somewhat distant froÌ„ the viliage which stood neere the water that runs to Mexico He gaue order allso that the Indians should bring him all things that were necessary for his sustenance at the cost of the hospitall which is founded there and belongeth allso to the Church of Mechoacan Gregory Lopes haueing obtained this licence of Doctour Ortis went to that solitary dwelling the 22. of May 1589. being whit-munday where he coÌ„tinued his exercises of prayer and contemplation vntill his death as shall be said by and by THE XII CHAPTER Of the life which Gregory Lopes did lead in Santafe and of his daily exercises THis aboade was new vnto Gregory yet very fit for his spirituall exercises the which were not new vnto him but alwaies the same that God had taught him from the beginning though allwaies with greater progresse He was in that little house all alone allmost seauen months without conuersing with any man I visited him as often as I could and sometimes as I thinke some other deuout persons that liued ther abouts who by seeing him at the Parish Church vpon holidaies at Masse were much edified and by this occasion came to visit him By these my often visits I discouered euery day more and more of his great riches in veâ—… and spirit wherby I be came very desirous to liue in his company I desired of God both by meanes of other deuout persons prayers and allso my owne that he would let me vnderstand his holy will because in some mens opinion the emploiment which I had in Mexico was much to Gods seruice for I had bin aboue twenty yeares Curate of the great Church and had the charge of such poore people as were ashamed to beg whom I did prouide of such things as were necessary with the almes which I did continually aske for that purpose for ten yeares and more for which reason my Superiours doubted very much whether it was conuenient to giue me leaue or no to retire my self to a solitary life At length it pleased God so to dispose this matter as that I resolued that this course was couenient and my superiours condescended vnto it and gaue me licence which till then was denied me so I came to dwell in Santafe about Christmasse of the same yeare 1489. where I attended vpon Gregory vntill his death obseruing diligeÌ„tly all his wordes and deeds both day and night to see if by familiarity and common conuersation I could discouer any thing that was contrary to the good esteeme which I had of his extraordinary vertue but it was so much increased in me that euery day his spirit seemed more admirable his vertues more heroicall and his conuersation more celestiall In this time I heard from his owne mouth most of that which is here related though he did neuer speake purposely of those thinges that had hapned vnto him but only vpon diuers occasions when it seemed necessary for my profit or the good of other denout persons and all this hapening so seldome and so vnawares that I did not take sufficieÌ„t notice of it to cary it away neither did I thinke I should out-liue him so much as to be able to write of him and this which is writen of him is very little in respect of that which is wanting Those admirable thinges which I marked in him would be very hard to be related historically only I will note that his life was vniforme so as that which he did one day he did another and with this rule he passed months and yeares Therefore I will briefly set downe how he spent the day and night that hereby we may gather some little part of the great vertue which was in him At breake of day he did open his chamber window that he might begin to dispose and order his daies worke and washing his face and hands as soone as it was day light he read in the bible à little more then a quarter of an hower and then shut his booke againe His end in reading that booke was only because it was the holy Scripture and because God had giuen it him to reade and allso that if he did not vnderstand some thing the first time he might vnderstand it the second especially because he did beare such a respect and reuerence to the holy writ that vpon the reading of it he grounded that which he had to doe in the day time and that so constantly and duely as that some few daies before his death he said I haue not read in the bible these ten daies I doe nor remember that I haue omitted it so long a time before since I began to liue solitary After he had read the Scripture he betooke himself to his other exercise which was so inward and secret as that by no outward signes it could be perceiued of what kind it was whether prayer meditation or contemplation if it was of sad thinges or ioyfull whether he was in action or passion whether he spoke with God or God with him only it might be gathered by his great modesty and grauity of
Gods Lord of Kings reuealer of secrets and interpreter of great and hidden misteries Gregory died to the eies of the world I meane of Men addicted to the word and forgetfull of their saluation but he liued in the memory of the faithfull and of the true Christians to whom God began to reueale in the death of his seruant how acceptable his life had bin vnto him of this we haue infinite testimonies and be this the first At the same hower that Gregory died a certain religious woman much exercised in vertue and interiour conuersation with whom this holy Man was vsed to haue communication in the vnion of spirituall life being at her prayers rapt in spirit she saw him come towardes her saying these wordes sister I am going to heauen you are not to goe so soone because your presence is necessary for the seruice of God and the comfort of this monastery this said he presently vanished away leauing her soule much edified aÌ„d resigned to the will of God though her desire was to be freed from that mortall body and be with Christ And before the newes of Gregory his death came to Mexico she told this reuelation to her ghostly father who being certified of the truth aduised her not to diuulge that which had bin reuealed vnto her vntill it pleased God to declare what was to be done he did allso counsaile her to pray more earnestly vnto God to assure her whether this was a visioÌ„ from him or illusion of the diuell and twelue daies after she told her ghostly father that it was the will of God that this should be reuealed vnto me because I had inquired of what had past and moreouer that these wordes were spokeÌ„ vnto her by the mouth of her heauenly spouse Iesus Christ Wherefore thinkest thou Gregory is placed neare me because he left all temporall things for my sake and liued with inward recollection and silence I haue bin told of a religious woman whose vertue and spirit is well knowne vnto me how that fiue yeares before Gregory his death laying herself downe vpon her bed after Prime because at that time she was sick God shewed her in her sleep the heauens open and all the religious Orders and Martirs going out in procession and more ouer our Lady with many of the weomen saints and our Sauiour Iesus Christ with Apostles and she being amaysed at this vision it was told her that they went to visit holy Gregory who was sick Afterwardes she vnderstood that he was like to dy and that he had not earen any thing in fiue daies A certaine person whose wisdome vertue and humility is well knowne to all moued with an affectioÌ„ of deuotioÌ„ and loue which he did beare towardes this holy man did desire him some daies before his death to remember him and he promised him to doe so and the first saturday night after Gregory his death this man saw in his sleep a vision wherwith he waked and that which he saw was the likenes of holy Gregory whose blessed soule did as it were vnite it self vnto the others body and made him praise God in his â—aints especially in the holy conâ—esiour Gregory with great Iubily and this past for a while and he remaining very ioyfull and much comforted he began againe to feele himself touched ouer all the body and awaking therwith now the secoÌ„d time that shape of Gregory did enter into him moouing him after an extraordinary manner and making him praise God in such sort as it was not in his power to cease one instant and withall made him vnderstand and acknowledge how vnworthy he was of that fauour and how much he was obliged to serue God and be gratefull for that visite of his faithfull freind A seruant of God of approued vertue whom our Lord teacheth and incourageth by many extasies and rapts being one day ten yeares before Gregory his death sore afflicted and full of paine he began to consider with himself the excellence of Gregory his spirit and being in this consideration rapt in spirit there was set before the eies of his vnderstanding an image so cleare and transparant as that he could see through it and it was told him such is the soule of Gregory Lopes where at he did both wonder and reioyee very much and told it vnto Gregory who answered not a word A religious Man that led a spirituall life much addicted to prayer whilest he was praying in the quire had such a cleare knowledge of his being nothing giuen him by God at the intercession of Gregory as that it much edifieth all that treate with him and withall such a great loue of God and vnioÌ„ with his diuine maiesty that two months being past since he receiued that fauour he hath neuer discontinued that vnion but allwaies perseuered in one continuall act There was a certaine Priest that was much affected to the vertue and spirit of Gregory and had great hope to find fauour in the â—ight of God by meanes of his â—rayers he considering sometimes with himself a little while after Gregory his death how happy he was and gracious in the sight of God once in his sleep he seemed to heare a voice which said Aske and in confirmation of this word he asked some thing of God which till that time he could neuer obtaine and it was granted him presently the same day and by the same meanes he obtained other things not only for himself but allso for others To another deuout man that came to aske counsaile of Gregory being now dead as he was vsed to doe whilest he liued it was said iudge not thy neighbours and be more temperate wherwith he told me that he had reaped much profit in his soule Many other things like vnto these haue bin wrought by our Lord whereby appeares the great glory wherwith the diuine goodnes hath honoured Gregory aftâ—r his happy passage and made knowne his great sanctity by a number of miracles THE SECOND CHAPTER Of some Miracles which God hath wrought by the reliques of Gregory Lopes GOd is woÌ„t to exalt his freinds not only in their heauenly country where they liue for euer but allso in this place of exile where they dy and to honour those at their death who honoured him in their life working miracles by the iust man to the end that his good workes may be knowne the power of God honouring him with miracles who had serued and honoured God with his vertues And because the sanctitie and vertue of Gregory haue bin so excellent therfore the diuine goodnes hath done and doth still euery day so many miracles by this his seruant as that if any curiosity and diligence had bin vsed in gathering them together and approuing them by this time we night haue made a good large relation of them and I hope in God that he will yet worke more for his greater glory the honour of this holy man and our profit and edification I will here only
his vnderstanding as he did his body with those of his body and he did clearely discerne those two springs of his body and his soule which rise vp so mingled the one with the other restrayning the current of the body and enlarging that of the spirit which is very rare for it is a very hard thing and such as few attaine vnto to distinguish in ones self the workes that proceed from grace from those that proceed from nature because oftentimes the one are masked with the liknes of the others Gregory discerned these very well both in himself and others that asked him counsaile in the like doubts It once so fell out with me that haueing bin for some months space only exercised in mentall prayer wherin I found great difficulty and trouble I had afterwardes occasion to goe about a certaine worke of charity and by the way I felt such an inward ioy and tranquillity of mind that in those daies me thought I was in heauen Afterwardes returning to Santafe and giueing him account of what had past I told him that my spirit had dilated it self very much he answered me Father Losa it was your nature that dilated it self I did beleeue him though at that time I did not vnderstand it but assisted through the mercy of God by his prayers soone after I attained to this verity for I was wont to doe outward workes of charity which though in themselues they be vertuous and meritorious yet haue this property that they recreate and dilate nature and sometimes self loue creeps in but in that recollection I did only vse mentall prayer during the which nature was as it were in a continuall torment and rack because she was withheld from those exercises wherin she was vsed to find content and delight though holy and good of which kind are these to relieue the necessities and seeke the good of ones neighbour to heare and speake of heauenly things for these haue bin my employments by the grace of God for some yeares but when I left of this recollection to doe that worke of charity which I spoke of and recreated my self with the sight of the fieldes and hills nature did returne to her former case and quietnes so as she made no war against the spirit wherwith I rereceiued much content thinking that now I was at peace with my self but afterwardes when I desired to returne to my sole mentall exercises I found that nature had got more strength then euer to war against the spirit and perceiuing by this manifestly that this my peace was not so much of the spirit as of nature I came to see by euident consequence that Gregory knew my spirit better then I my self did Certaine religious men talking in his presence of things which did help ones spirit and deuotion one of them said that musick did much auaile for he by heareing once euēsong in the great Church at Mexico found his spirit so reuiued as that he had neuer said his prayers before with such peace and quietnes Another said that it auailed much to pray in company with others because the difficulty which he found in praying in his Cell was diminished and taken away by the presēce and example of those that did pray with him Gregory let thē goe away without speaking a word vnto them about that matter I did perceiue that he could easily haue freed them from their errour and shewed them that it is nature that is helpt and recreated by those meanes and not the spirit as might be seene by the successe which I had and because the reason why some in prayer doe help themselues with the company of others is because our nature is quickned and taketh delight that her good workes are seen as may be seen in those who take a discipline and giue almes in publick therfore such as those following the content of nature pray better in company then alone I asked him what was the reason that he did not aduise and instruct those religious men in this he answered me because that were to hinder their iourney for with that staffe they goe on a little and without it they would sit downe Our Lord had giuen him a great quicknes of iudgment in distinguishing thōghts or words which was idle and which not and in speaking of God he could very well discerne when it proceeded from nature and when from God to this purpose he was vsed to say many mē doe speake of God more through loue of themselues then of God sometimes allso he said the loue of God is all in workes it hath but few wordes and oftentimes it is dumbe From this knowledge proceeded that rare moderation of his tongue as shall be said in its proper place From hence allso it came to passe that he neuer had any scruples but an admirable quietnes of mind ād no lesse certainty in matters of faith wherin he neuer had any doubts notwithstanding his great temptations and this is that which he meant at the hower of his death when being asked whether he would haue the holy candle to goe and see the secret he answered with great courage as is said before all is cleare there is nothing secret it is noone day with me wherin his meaning was not that his faith had no obscurity in it but that he had no doubt in matetrs belonging vnto it for our faith is obscure yet so as it is allso most certaine and the certainty of it taketh not away its obscurity wherin our Lord will haue vs walke in this life captiuating our vnderstanding in his seruice as saith the Apostle I haue thought conuenient to put downe some examples wherby the greatnes of the light which Gregory had might be gathered since that with it he knew not only himself and his owne spirit but allso other mens I had great signes and coniectures by those things which had hapned vnto me to perswad my self that he did see other mens soules being of this opinion I asked him one day about fiue yeares or more before his death if it were true that he did see them he answered no with this so plain an answer I beleeued him and rested satisfied but I obserued that frō that day forwardes he grew euery day more wary therfore I spoke no more vnto him of that matter but since I haue had and now haue so many witnesses so worthy of credit and such as none can except against that I thinke I should doe ill in not affirming it for certaine and if he said that he did not see them that is to be attributed to his great humility and wisedome which made him seeke to conceale that gift of God as he did many others neither is it to be thought that a mā so true and perfect did tell a ly for his denying of it in this case might be saued from a ly by many waies First it might be that at that time God had not as yet done him that fauour but that
he did it him afterwardes towardes the end of his life It might be allso that at that instant wheÌ„ I askt him that question he did not see the soules but that God gaue him light to see them at other times when it was necessary for the light of contemplation of spirituall things is not habituall and permanent but only actuall such as is that of prophecy which God giueth and taketh away as he pleaseth And so at that time when Gregory said that he did not see them though he did see them in other occasioÌ„s it is to be vnderstood that he did not see them because God had taken away that light from him at that present A certaine person of quality told Gregory that he had had great temptations but he hoped in God he had not committed any sinne in them and therfore that he had not reuealed them in confession Gregory replied not so stoutly for truely you haue bin but a weake souldiour then the other said then doe you thinke it good I should confesse them Gregory answered he did not thinke that he had coÌ„mitted any great fault in doing as he did but to haue made an entire resistance he should haue done such and such things hereby the other not only gathered that he had seen his spirit but allso learnt the maÌ„ner of resisting better afterwardes A godly Priest came froÌ„ a place far distant vnto Gregory to be resolued of some doubts concerning his soule and he answered him so to his purpose as the Priest said you haue told me that which I thought to haue askt you and which I had great need to be told of Gregory replied God seing your necessity moued my tongue to speake that which you heard There came to visit Gregory a lawyer who then was maried and now is a religious man but was allwaies a vertuous man and by the way he talked with his companion about certaine thinges touching his soule which neither Gregory nor any other man did know or could know by any naturall meanes and as soone as they came vnto him before they asked him of any of those things of which they intended to talk with him he answered them so directly to all thinges as that they remained satisfied and amaysed aÌ„d looking one vpon the other rendred thankes vnto God seing him answer them so directly as if he had bin asked whervpon the lawyer tooke occasion to examine his coÌ„science as often as he went to visit Gregory thinking that he saw the most secret thoughts of his heart and after the same manner going at other times to aske his counsaile he answered him so directly before he spoke euer a word as that he was confirmed in the opinion which he had of him A religious man of a very spirituall life and very familiar with Gregory went one euening to aske him some doubts about his spirit and because it was allmost night and he had not the time which he desired to treate of that busines he bid him goe take his rest and that the next morning they would talke of it The religious man being that night in his chamber which was vnder the holy man his lodging receiued inwardly an answer from God of that which he intended to aske and a check for comming to aske counsaile of a creature when he might haue it from the Creatour for that he that had giuen Gregory such store would allso giue vnto him if he would dispose himself for it and put his confidence in God as soone as it was morning he went vnto Gregory his chamber who smiled as soone as he saw him and the religious man began to tell him how that God that night had answered his doubts Gregory helpt him out to tell it aÌ„d preuenting him for as yet he had not told of the reprehension he said these wordes vnto him and had you not a good reprehension for seeking counsaile of a creature he answered yes father I had a reprehension allso At all this he maruailed very much and assured himself that the holy man had seen in God all that had past with him Another Priest very carefull in things concerning his spirit came to see Gregory Lopes and obseruing him diligently perceiued that this seruant of God spoke to him of all that was in his heart which though Gregory himself did neueâ— insinuat yet the priest assured himself that it was so for that his soule somewhat inordinately affecting the great fauours which he had receiued and which he did hope to receiue from the hand of God Gregory among other things said vnto him wee looke for great matters but truly either here or there we must pay for our small humility A cortaine person deuout vnto our Lady was vsed to say his beades and by that meanes so efficacious for all good and happie progresse had receiued such fauours from God as that for some yeares space he was allmost in coÌ„tinuall prayer Therfore seing himself so well profited in mentall prayer he asked Gregory whether it were not best to leaue off the rosary that he might giue himself the more to the other he answered no knowing that the worshipping of our Lady to whom he was very deuout doth not only help beginners but is allso cause of a happy progresse in the spirituall life â—ueÌ„ to those that haue attained to perfectioÌ„ and a meane to perseuer in it wherfore he perseuered a yeare in that deuotion of the rosary aÌ„d perceiuing that those heaueÌ„ly fauours still continued in his soule as one now alltogether spirituall he determined to leaue of the rosary without acquainting Gregory with it but within few daies after he left it off he began to feele many troubles and drouths and almost no prayer for to these daÌ„gers he exposeth himself who thinketh to make a prosperous nauigatioÌ„ in the spirituall life without Mary the starre of the sea he told this vnto the holy man without telling him the reason which was his leauing off of the rosary wherat Gregory smiling said vnto him fall to your beades againe he did so and it succeeded so well with him as that in a short time he came to haue the same spirit and deuotioÌ„ as he was wont to haue whervpon he was euer after very deuout vnto our Lady aÌ„d woÌ„dered much that Gregory did knowe the cause of his drouth though he had concealed it It once hapned that there met at Santafe six spirituall men or more at the same time who came from diuers parts to confer with Gregory of matters concerning their soule and sometimes he answered theÌ„ all in publick and that so substantially as that they were satisfied in their doubts and instructed in what they were ignorant of but that which I most admired at was to see in how few wordes he answered for he did resolue great difficulties in two or three wordes and me thought those wordes were as lawes in the mindes of the heares and sparcles deriued froÌ„ a burning charity so as
asked of him and with the same mildnes let it passe or answered it according as he thought conuenient or necessary There came to this village to visit Gregory a religious man Doctour off Diuinitie and intreated me to get him to speake some thing of God I did so and the Doctour to giue him play began to treate of that matter with a great number of reasons and wordes and the holy man being a great while silent I intreated him by signes to talke some thing of God wherunto he answered softly so as the Doctour did not heare because he was somewhat deafe silence edifieth him more then speaking and allthourgh he staied there two daies and one night yet Gregory did not speake vnto him one word of God As the Doctour was going away I asked him what he thought of Gregory he said his silence pleaseth me very much and Gregory himself said vnto me afterwardes Father Losa I see that many can speake well lett vs doe well If any one by way of disputation or to try him did aske him something which he had premeditated and studied before hand putting vnto him his doubt in Latine he would say I praytell it me in Spanish that being done the holy man answered this is that which you say giueing him to vnderstand that ther was no need of an answer He was also wont to aske of learned men the signification of the holy scripture in Spanish onely to humble himself vnto them To those that asked him counsaile about going to spaine marrying or such like thinges he gaue no answer for the time present but said that he would recommend it vnto God wherin he shewed great wisdome for he knew that in such businesses it was conuenient that God should dispose the meanes and moue the willes to that which was for his greater glory and the good of men and this was the reason why he would not answer without first treating with God of those thinges besides he thought it not à matter of any great importance whether men did mary or goe for spaine but he kept vnto himself out of his humility and mortification these and other good reasons that moued him to giue no answer But when any asked him whether they should be priests or enter into religion if he did find they had parts requisite for such â—n estate he did further them in their resolution of embracing that principall good but when he perceiued that they wanted those parts he answered as is said I will recommend it vnto God He would speake very much in behalf of the religious orders and of the Prelates and Superiours of them in presence of their inferiours and those of their charge and house declaring vnto them how great a good it was to obey and obserue their rules and Constitutions Vnto lay-men when occasion was offered he gaue to vnderstaÌ„d the eminence of a religious mans estate aboue theirs and the great spirit wherwith the religious orders were founded he said that Gods best souldiours were in them and to this purpose he was wont to say that a tree in a plaine field needeth take good roote but that it is more safe from the violence of the winds in a woody mountaine He did all waies defend Princes Gouernours Iudges as well Ecclesiasticall as Secular with great courage and humility withall in presence of their subiects and when they did murmure at the gouernment he said if you were in the place it may be you would not doe so well as he that is in gouernment and if they stood in it saying that that which the Princes did diserued to be amended he replied you should tell them so for what good doth it here to some that esteemed themselues spirituall men and yet did murmure he said I doe not account him spirituall no nor vertuous that iudgeth and murmureth at his neiggbour Most commonly he was vsed to say in such occasions this thing cannot be remedied here let vs not talke of it and with his grauity he gaue such life and authority to his wordes as that a man of great account who talked of the kings gouermeÌ„t was put much out of countenaÌ„ce only by hearing Gregory say vnto him the king hath as sharp an vnderstanding as any man in spaine and will you reprehend him and the same man doth yet admire at the great change which those wordes caused in him He made another allso who spoke ill of the gouernment of a Lord change his opinion only by saying vnto him you dare not say so in his presence He was very considerate and aduised in speaking to euery one in his proper kind to the husband man souldier gentelman and the rest without taking any man out of his profession and to this purpose he commended very much S. Iohn Baptists wisdome in the couÌ„saile that he gaue to the souldier to be content with his pay and doe no man any wrong Treating with spirituall men least they should iudge those that lead a manner of life different froÌ„ theirs as sometimes it vseth to fall out he was wont to say that he was much delighted with the variety of mens spirits because that with them God did beautify his heauenly Hierusalem that in the spirituall course God was the Master and therfore no man ought to make himself a Master to another iudging him and desiring to leade him the same way as he himself is led by God because that way also is good wherin God directeth others To those that asked him counsaile what they should doe he answered they should loue God and their neighbours because that was the high way for all froÌ„ the least to the greatest and that herein one could not doe amisse because it is our law wherin consisteth all perfection He was allso wont to say that to be allwaies talking of spirit was milke and the temptation of beginners and that allthough one had an vnderstanding like a Seraphim yet he ought nor desire to make it knowne without necessity He esteemed it better to recommend his neighbour vnto God then to speake of God vnles there were some speciall need To those that had allready prosited in spirituall life he said it is better to speake with God then of God To one that esteemed himself a spirituall man he said it would be a great shame vnto you if it were knowne that you desired to liue in this world and for this purpose he alledged S. Paul who said we haue nor here any permanent city but we seeke after that wherin we are to continue and he perswaded himself that he that liued after this manner might be numbred amongst the spirituall men When he heard some great and miraculous thinges reported he was vsed to say I had rather haue one degree of the pure loue of God then all this noise He was once asked whether those that were perfect had any recreations he answered yes because when one goeth a iourney he loues to see his horse eate for so he
called his body but he said the perfect maÌ„ euen in his recreation carieth a hand ouer his body quite contrary to the vnperfect who doe not vse this mediocrity for they suffer their mind sometime to be ouer much vexed and troubled at other times to be led with the delight of their nature ALlthovgh in conuersation it be an vsuall thing for men to laughe at the carelesnes ouersights or rash words of another or when one is vexed or his foot slippeth or he getteth a fall or cometh in with some notable blemish or mischance yet he was neuer seen to laugh in such occasions but rather seemed to pitty them a new When any afflicted person came vnto him he shewed great feeling of his griefe accommodated himself to him and dismissed him exceedingly comforted There came vnto this village a noble and vertuous Lady much afflicted I weÌ„t to visit her aÌ„d though I staied a great while with her to comfort her yet I could not preuaile at all Afterwardes she herself spoke with Gregory who had so great prudence or rather heauenly spirit in comforting her as that she went our saying I goe away satisfied When his aduise was asked in things that were doubtfull and hart to be resolued he answered to morrow will come and we shall be wiser giueing to vnderstand that a doubtfull thing was not to be resolned without treating first with God of it not that he was oâ—be vnderstood soe that by meanes of his prayer he should presently know and resolue it for that cannot be imagined of such an humble man By this saying allso to morrow will come and we shall be wiser he did meane the hower of our death for then the morning will come for â—he knowing of doubts The heauenly wisedome which he did shew in his deedes was admirable he did heare Masse with such silence attention and respect and receiued the blessed Sacrament with such profound reuerence as that he stirred vp all men to deuotion He would neuer speake to any body in the Church but if he had vrgent busines with any one he went out and speedily dispatched it THE IX CHAPTER Of the fortitude and valour of Gregory Lopes IN the iudgement of the world it would seeme impertinent to commend such a solitary recollected silent poore and humble man for couragious and valiantâ— but if we consider it with the eies of our vnderstanding and reason each of those things aboue mentioned doth not only shew great valour and courage but allso very plainly discouereth the mighty hand of God Who would not esteeme it valour that a young man of ninteen yeares of age endued with such parts and natural gifts as we haue seen should forsake parents kindred house country and the kings court which he had begun to follow and with it such great hopes of preferment and goe two thousand leagues and more into exile to liue in a desert so full of perills amongst the most sauage and barbarous men of new spaine It seemes very euident that this strength was giuen him by God for in my opinion it is exceeding great courage in such a young man to recollect himself and in such manner to conforme himself to the will of God as neuer to goe or say any thing that might be displeasing vnto him and to endeauour with all his strength to blott out all things out of his mind so as neither to desire nor remember any thing besides God or that which was manifestly his pleasure and glory Who could giue such vertue besides that most mighty hand since that this is a thing of such difficulty as that to recollect ones self inwardly for a little while eueÌ„ to a vertuous man it seemeth as if he were to goe vp a steep hill or scale an impregnable wall And it were so indeed if Gregory had not vndertaken this enterprise with great courage and coÌ„fidence in God saying with Dauid in my God I will passe ouer the wall what strength was requisit for so many yeares recollection with such strickt silence discommodity and pouerty Walking so long a time in the narrow path of vertue and neuer knowne to goe back one step but this strength will be better knowne by him that shall weigh well and consider the difficulties of this iourney the enemies that are in it the combates that offer themselues and the field wherin they are to be fought The enemies are the diuells so much stronger then we by nature as the naturall power of an Angell exceedeth that of men aâ—… therfore our nature as inferiouâ— doth tremble in the presence oâ— any of those spirits Moreouer he that walketh in the way of vertue hath for enemies and aduersaries sinfull men because he is contrary to them â—n his workes and oftentimes God sufferreth the iust to be persecuted by the iust and holy men opposed by holy men and this is a grieuous persecution but the most grieuous and tedious is that which a vertuous man causeth to himself when by light froÌ„ aboue he knoweth that all this cometh vnto him from the hand of God who plainely sheweth him that all those enimies and aduersaries are as it were officers of the diuine iustice who come vnto him with the power which God giueth them the heauens become vnto him as hard as brasse his soule he findeth in an abysse of tribulation and as it were quite abandoned of great valour and courage The combates are as great as is the number aÌ„d subtilty of the enimies for they are neuer wont to make truce nor be weary of fighting and out vices neuer cease to persecute vs. Neither is the field wherin these combates are sought a â—…sse â—…gne of valour for it is our inward part wherin the spirit fighteth with â—he flesh and the flesh with the â—pirit and this is a very painefull warre because he that giueth the wounds feeleth them as much as â—e that receiueth them and the resistance of the flesh cannot be brought vnder without great labour of the spirit because the subtilties and stratagemes of the inuisible enemies doe there enter in so come the blowes and woundes Whosoeuer should know the labours that Gregory did herin vndergoe and the great progesses that he made in such occasions as may be seen throughout this history he would easily see how valiant and couragious he was especially two things considered The first is that since that heliued so inflamed with charity to wardes his neighbours he was partaker of all their afflictions and griefes and made them partakers of his paines in praying for them He was tempted with all of them because he had as much feeling â—f their temptations as if they had bin his owne The second is that Gregory did eate this bread of sorrow very dry for though the diuine goodnes be wont to giue spirituall delights to those that walke in the spirituall way for the easing of their troubles yet this valiant souldier would neuer receaue theÌ„ beseeching God to take theÌ„ away
from him because he would serue his king for his Maiesties owne sake and not vpon hope of receiâ—ing those spirituall coÌ„tentments in part of paiment of his good will and loue for at the begining God had bestowed on him the gift of teares but he besought him to take it away for the said reason He had allso a most ardent desire to see the Humanity of our Sauiour Christ in this life but perceiuing that this desire did keep him back aÌ„d in a manner diminish his resignation he did presently endeauour to mitigate it contenting himself with this that God â—ould shew it him when it was â—is holy will Gregory put away â—rom himself all those comforts â—ecause he desired to serue God â—ithout pay or any charges borne in this life and therfore he died so well content that God led him by the way of the Crosse For all the many murmurings which he heard against himself some iudging him an heretick others a foole others a vagabound he neuer excused nor answered for himself but defended and excused those that spoke ill of him Some of his freinds vpon a certain occasion told him of a great stirre that was raised against him he answered them God forbid that I should trouble and distract my mind with thinking on it and therwith continued still as quiet as he was before they told him of it A certaine man of great account desired me to informe him of the estate of the Hospitall of Guasteca and after I had giuen him account of all things I told him that there was a man there called Gregory Lopes of such and such vertues spirit and prayer and what doth this man said he in the Hospitall I answered that he was there allwaies in a chamber at his prayers and neuer went forth then he said to this man could I willingly giue two hundred stripes and when we told this story afterwardes to Gregory he smiling excused him saying he saith well for an idle fellow doth well deserue two hundred stripes and gentlemen that are full of busines cannot easily vnderstand what inward exercises are It was neuer perceiued that he had any desire to be esteemed or knowne and he hath often reprehended me for praysing him he neuer cared for the visits of the Viceroies Prelates and nobility but rather shewed when occasion was withall modesty and good respect that he did not take any content in those visites when they did not concerne the glory of God or his neighbour his good and though the holy man did much esteeme the great piety and wisedome of Don Luys de Velasâ—o the Viceroy yet he intreated him to excuse his visits alleadging good reasons for his request In those visites that great persons made vnto him he did allwaies shew an humble grauity and assured token of his great mind The Inquisitours gaue order that his booke which he made vpon the Apocalips should be seen and perused by Don Fray Pedro de Augusto Bishop of Cibu who gaue in approbation that he had neuer seen a better exposition of those diuine reuelations that he admired how he could say so much with such certainty and shortnes that he did beleeue he had supernaturall light giuen him for the writing of that booke and wheÌ„ the Inquisition medled with that busines Gregory did not shew nor doe we think he had any trouble of mind nether would he keepe a copy of it nor speake a word of it euen as if it had bin none of his worke Such was his greatnes of mind as that he neuer acquainted any man with his griefes and afflictions nor sought comfort from any creature yet he was wont to tell for the good of his neighbour things that had hapned vnto him in times past Many times in they eare he did endure great paines of the stomack and of the collick yet he neuer complayned nor changed countenance nor the good posture that he was vsed to keep when he was in best health so as I did not know his infirmities but only by his great weaknes aÌ„d extraordinary ill stomack One time seing him much falne away I asked him what aile you that you are so weake He replyed 15. daies together I haue bin troubled with à fit of the collick and by these meanes I came to know his diseases which were so great as that they made me pitty him and wonder how he could exercise such constancy and austerity of life with them He was ordinarily sick of a feauer which he cured by diet enduring hanger if need were for three or foure or fiue naturall daies he neuer vsed bed euen in his great sicknesses whilst he was in Santafe he had the toothache for a yeare together and I had neuer knowne it but that he went twice into the field for hearbes that he knew were good to cure him and sometimes he could not eate for paine Hauing once hurt one of his great teeth he would not let me send for a barber to pull it out but pulled it out himself by a very painefull meanes such was the desire that he allwaies had of finding some occasion to suffer for men that are vnited to God vse to find as much content in suffering as others find commonly in their ioy and ease This valiant man told me that the diuell did once assaile him in a visible shape and I askeing him how he did defend himself he answered me in these wordes I thought that I could not doe a better thing then that which I did so I continued it with all my strength and he vanished away and neuer tempted me visiblily againe We neuer heard him speake any good sentence which he did not put in practice when need was and he was wont to say to this purpose misery it self is not to be desired but a will to endure it with moderatioÌ„ of mind and so he endured all these that hapened vnto him with such an inuincible and constant mind as that he did not seeme subiect to change therfore from the first day that I saw him which is 18. yeares agoe I presently perceiued in him a certaine excellence which I had not seene in any other man This opinion increased in me euen till his death and allso since his death it increaseth with the wonders which God doth daiely worke by him But to returne to the intent of this Chapter what courage and valour might a souldier haue who from a poore country fellow should come by feates of armes to be a Grandy of the king his court but how much greater valour is necessary for a spirituall souldier of himself poore and abiect a son of Adam to become great in the court of God and since that Gregory is come to that height of honour as to be great in the court of heauen it is fitting that his valour and courage should be knowne that so we may glorify God in this Sainte gathering by that little which is written here the great aboundance that God hath bestowed
man a most exceeding mortification for he did endure this purgatory of loue with such silence as if he had suffered a spirituall wearines The second Pargatory is desire here with the soule is tormented when she seeth that she cannot in this life attaine to her chiefest good wherof she hath knowledge this brought vnto Gregory much griefe and trouble for as he with his quick vnderstanding liuely faith and purity of spirit meditated and contemplated the greatnes of God he became endued with so great and amarous a knowledge of that same greatnes that he had a most ardent desire to goe and possesse it and as he did perceiue that in this life in running after the odour of those diuine ointments he could neuer obtaine the good he so much desired he rested wounded and grieued like the Hart that thirsteth for the springs of ruÌ„ning water to quench his thirst and cannot come to them but of this because it belongeth to few we haue said enough But that wherin Gregory mortified himself all the time of his life and wherin he suffered most was as he told me in following allwaies as he did the grace of God for it is certaine that one cannot follow grace vnlesse he fly from nature what paine then and mortification would it be to a seruant of God to goe on allwaies flying from and denying himself for many times grace requireth of vs that which is contrary to natures desire and therfore it is necessary that one dye that the other may liue Therfore that grace might liue Gregory endeauoured to be dead to all creatures because it is the property of nature to liue to them and because she desireth esteeme and honour for her good workes and not to be despised of any therfore he sought to hide his good deedes and vertues and to be despised by the world as our Sauour was and following grace studied how to lay aside all care of temporall affaires and bent himself only to seeke out and serue God since nature inclineth to the contrary and because she is puffed vp with prosperity and deiected with aduersity Gregory by grace was disposed to receiue with moderation of mind and constancy what successes soeuer without seekeing the interiour content of those or other vertues for himself but only reioycing for the glory that therby redoundeth vnto God Nature as it were forgetting this doth in all thinges seeke her owne conteÌ„t and desireth all the good for herself all her language is I and for me she hateth her euemy reioyceth at another mans harme and repineth at his good Whosoeuer shall haue read this booke or couuersed with this Saint will easily know what vse he made of grace in wishing well to those who either through malice or ignorance were his aduersaries grieuing at their misfortunes and desiring all good to them for God his sake so as ouercoming himself more and more euery day and growing in petfection he did so hunger and thirst after God as that nothing could satisfie hiâ— He did allwaies endeauour to 〈◊〉 for the obtaining of that chiefâ— good rowing with all his streÌ„gâ—… against the streame of naturallâ—… light and swinning allwaies abâ—… water he endeauoured to docâ—… pleasure and will of God Suchâ— this is the true spirit of morâ— cation the which he exercisedâ— a most eminent height of perfâ—…tion at Santafe as is euident to 〈◊〉 by many tokens Hauing for many daies spaâ—perceiued that Gregory grew veâ— sick in this village because I saâ— him very weake apud pale 〈◊〉 thought good to visit him ofâ—… and to be longer at times in hiâ— company to see if I could giue him any comfort I did aske him what paines he felt and he would not tell me then at length after many daies he told me the great paines that he endured in his teeth and grinders and other diseases which he had but I rested not satisfied here with bâ—…ng perswaded thad the holy â—…n suffered other paines greater â—…n these therfor I importuned him very much to tell me them afterwardes he did that which he is not knowne euer to haue done before or since which was to â—…er some what of that which did inwardly passe betwixt God and him saying these very wordes Thou knowest well o Lord that I haue no creature within my soule nor suffer any to be there for thy sake alone and why dost thou after this manner hide thy self froÌ„ me how canst thou endure to see me with so many infirmities and being able to heale me dost not but willest haue me seeke the hearbes that the beasts feed vpon and being able to heale me with a 〈◊〉 yet wilt not and though I am â—…e he said not these wordes so â—…ch for his owne comfort as for 〈◊〉 instruction and profitt yet I reâ—…ined so amaysed to heare him vtter some thing that passed inwardly betwixt God and him aâ— that presently I writ downe these wordes which he had said being the 23. of March in the yeare 159â— THE XIII CHAPTER Of his mortifying of his senses IT is no meruaile if he that vsâ— such care and exquisite meane to mortify his interiour was allâ— emineÌ„t in the mortification of hâ— senses It is certaniely thoughâ— that he neuer went one step 〈◊〉 feed his eies with the sight of any of those thinges that vse to 〈◊〉 pleasing to that sense and so what he weÌ„t once being at Guasteca 〈◊〉 see the fountaines he told me 〈◊〉 did it only at my request and 〈◊〉 giue me content Being some months in Mexico he neuer went out of doore but only straight to the next Church neither could he be perswaded to goe to any moâ—…stâ—ry of Nunnes allthough by some he was earnestly intreated When he came to Santafe he weÌ„t out of Mexico before day without euer looking vpon the streets or buildings Whilest he was in this village he was importuned to goe downe and see a garden belonging to the same house that he dwelt in where was good store of water green grasse and flowers yet he neuer did in six yeares time onely one yeare he went downe for a little water to drinke He did looke vpon mens bodies with an honest freedome aÌ„d free honesty as if they had bin soules without bodies or bodies without life and soule Though it be a thing so naturall especially to men of a good vnderstanding to be delighted with musick yet in all the time that I knew him I neuer saw him goe to heare any though sometimes it hapned to be neare the place where he â—…s and oftentimes he told me that if the musick of the great Church of Toledo or all that is in the world were but one pace off of him he would not goe to heare it but if perchance he were present where it was he did heare it quietly and got spirit out of it All ill smells were very offensiue vnto him yet he would neuer vse any sweet smells many nosegaies were offered him but he for the most part
refused them some he did take least by doing otherwise he should discontent him that brought them Sometimes though but seldome he would take a white lilly or red rose because as he said the smell of those flowers is very chast As soone as he went into the desert he made a purpose neuer to eate with intent to please his palate but only to sustaine his life the which he obserued all his life in so much as that when I perswaded him to tast of a Melon grapes or figgs for those fruits are here in great request and esteeme he would only smell to the Melon saying it is enough this yeare to haue smelt this MeloÌ„ of the grapes he only tooke one saying presently it is enough for this yeare of figgs he only tooke half an one and said the same Allthough he loued fruit very well and desired to liue vpon it because as he said it was the proper food of man for in Paradise man should only haue liued vpon it God had created so many sorts of it only for maÌ„â— vse yet as we haue allready said he told me that fruit neuer did him harme and I wondring therat he gaue the reason for said he I did allwaies eate of it moderately That which he did eate of with a good appetite was bread the sustenance of the poore but it seemeth he obtained of God to find euen in that such mortification and difficulty as that some yeares before his death he could not eate one â—orcell of bread vnles it were first steeped in broth without salt fat or spices in it and that was his diet at this time making way for the bread with some light meate Sometimes he chanced to keep his bread in his mouth a good while and I bidding him remember to swallow it he said I cannot and that one of the painfullest thinges to him was to eate neuertheles he made much account of his sâ—nses knowing of what profit they are to a spitituall man if he keep them well mortified After a burning feauer which he had there remained a lingering ague which held him allmost a yeare and in this necessity I often importuned him to vse some sheetes but I could neuer perswade him to it I neither can nor ought to passe ouer in silence a very subtile mortificatioÌ„ which I perceiued in Gregory for the vnderstanding wherof it is to be noted that one of the thinges wherwith nature is most mortified is that the spirit doth not cherish her nor giue her any part of that which passeth in its self debarring her of the part she was to haue in the spirituall worke This premised I haue obserued for many yeares which we haue speÌ„t both together liuing in the same house eating at the same table and sleeping in the same chamber that he did neuer weep nor sigh nor lifted vp his handes nor shrunke vp his soulders nor spoke any word aloud with God nor to himself by which one might come to know his inward affections a thing which in a man of so great affection and spirit would amayse any one that knew what belonged to prayer and contemplation I admiring much here at said one day vnto him you being thus allwaies vnited vnto God and in the presence of such a Lord doe neither sigh nor speake but are alltogether rapt in extasy with the diuine goodnes wherunto he answered That is not the reason Father Losa for truly I doe sigh and grone allmost a thousaÌ„d times in the day and am allmost allwaies talking with God though only mentally I haue vsed this manner now thirty yeares and I endeauour not to giue nature any of these feelings which is to her no small mortification because I haue found her false and treatcherous I became not so perfect in this lesson but that sometimes going into the garden to prayer and contemplation I should forget my self knocking sometimes my brest or sighing and Gregory hearing me would in a pleasant maÌ„ner say vnto me Father Losa giue Nature now and then a bit least she dy for hunger but he did not giue such counsailes to other men but rather aduised them to help themselues with those outward signes for without them they did not any thing I am verily perswaded that he that shall read with a fauourable eie the pennance and mortifications which are here related will rest fully satisfied that this heroicall man went not into the wildernes to sleep and be idle but to doe and suffer I am allso certaine that if he would haue â—old other greater mortificatioÌ„s which he endured a course of such difficulty and vertue would haue caused in vs great admiratioÌ„ it would haue allso bin much better if those thinges had bin better expounded that they might be better knowne for I confesse that I haue left out many thinges because I could not explicate them and make them vnderstood yet by those that we haue set downe one may perceiue that his life was all mortification penance and crosses Now it remaineth for vs to see the profits that Gregory reaped by this vertue First such streÌ„gth that as he was wont â—o tell me he now ouercame with Gods grace all temptations with a blast Secondly such a dexterity in sighting as that his enimies as puissant as they were could neuer make him giue back one step but that he went allwaies getting ground and putting such a firme confidence in God as that if he had a whole squadron of temptations against him he should ouercome and put them all to flight and so though ueuer so many bid him battell he neuer left of the exercise that God had giuen him but euen in the middest of them walked on in the loue of God and his neighbour Thirdly such a peace and dominion of himself in his manner of combate as that neuer any could perceiue whether he was inwardly in combate or at peace He was allwaies the same without any change and in him was verified that sentence the wise maÌ„ is stable like the sun but the foole hath his changes like the moone and he was vsed sometimes to repeate it Fourthly by this his mortification he obtained of God as one allready well exercised to be made the elder brother being now able to haue a care of his brethren and neighbours to fight for them and that his combates which he fought for his neighbours sake should be accepred of as if they had fought themselues as I perceiued it often hapned as shall be said in the 19. Chapter of the effects of his prayers All this his strength proceeded from the liuely faith which he had in God wherby he vnderstood clearely and distinctly the greatnes of the diuine goodnes and mercy which sufferreth not any to be teÌ„pted aboue his streÌ„gth therfore he fought his combates with delight saying with spirituall contentment that this was neuer wanting vnto him and he was wont to say that whosoeuer had receiued that delight from God was allready as is said
had need of any because there was not any created thing that did hinder him or make him grow remisse that his inward operation was allwaies in the same estate that it was allmost become naturall that he had neuer gone back in the perfection of the vnion which God had giuen him but that he allwaies went forwardes and that by meanes of this vnion he had got whatsoeuer he knew because God had allwaies bin his Master not bookes though it was a great comfort to him to see those thinges writen by Tauler and Rusbroque which God had imparted to him and he neuer ceased to praise and extoll the spirite of the holy Mother Terresa de Iesus At another time being asked by the same religious man sir if you were a Priest what would you doe he made answer as I doe now he replied how would you haue prepared you self to say Masse he said as I prepare myself now he asked him further and how would you haue made your Mementos he answered him after the same maÌ„ner as I doe allwaies and he added moreouer saying if I were certaine to dy within these few howers I should not doe any thing more then I doe for I am now actually giuing vnto God all that I haue and I cannot giue him more vnles he out of his mercy giue it me But because it often falleth out that as the soule is louing God with all her strength in great quietnes our Lord sodainly raiseth her vp for a short time to the height of vnion drawing as it were the curtaine which is betweene God and her God himself dilating her and making her capable of such thinges as she can neither expresse nor conceiue and when she desireth to thinke and stay vpoÌ„ that which God wrought in her she findeth that those fauours are now past the affections of them only remaining behind the said religious man asked him againe whether hauing receiued such fauours he remembred them afterwardes and whether his soule did allwaies remaine in that height to which God is wont to raise others for a little time as is said he answered him that as it is not in mans power to obtaine such singular fauours of God so neither is it in his power to remember or continue them for a long time and that he doubted whether there euer had bin any pure creature except the B. Virgin that did allwaies perseuer in such an excellent vnion which God is wont to giue though in the ordinary kind of vnion such as God had giuen vnto him one might allwaies continue and profit And prosecuting this matter he said further that vnions reuelations extasies and rapts were not the top of perfection nor that it did not consist in them though God is often wont to giue them because he worketh with euery soule according to her capacity necessity aÌ„d dispositioÌ„ they that are perfect and well exercised in the act of loue doe not require that the senses should be suspended from their operation to the end that they may be more vnited vnto God because the senses are no hindrance to them in their enioying God for he had neuer had any extasy reuelation or rapt that deprined him of his senses the which had neuer hindred him At another time the same man talked with him of some soules which attained to great peace and â—hward quietnes together with a â—assiue vnion and as it were enioying loue which God gaue vnto them Gregory answered him that such as those were good soules and were in a good way but that perfection and merit is not so much in those workes of enioying as in that the soule of her part endeauoureth with all her might to loue God with the perfectest manner and act that she can for this is rather to doe then to enioy and the other is rather enioying then working because the soule that loueth God perfectly cannot giue him more then she doth giue him neither doth God require any thing else of her for hereof dependeth all our law and Prophets I was once talking with him how gratious in the sight of God certaine persons were who doe allwaies employ themselues in praying for the whole Church with a great zeale of Gods honour and desire of the saluation of soules he said that this was a great perfection but such as few had attained vnto and that he had vnderstood that Mother Isabell de la Natiuidad a nunne of the Monastery of the Conception in Mexico now deceased had obtained it who as I thinke for certaine knew by reuelation from God that Gregory Lopes allso was wholly giuen to this exercise for in a letter which she writ she said these wordes I am coÌ„tinually in the office which God hath put me in of praying for the whole Church as my brother allso doth she said this by Gregory and she was one free from all falshood and euen from suspicion Thinges haue bin said in this Chapter which in the opinion of those that treat of prayer and spirit are for confirmation and testimony of great sanctity more then miracles because they are more infaillible signes of it then miracles THE XVII CHAPTER Of some other manners of prayer which he vsed NO lesse wonderfull height of perfection and sanctity is proued by other kindes of prayer wherin this admirable man though his continuall emploiment was to exercise that act of lone towardes God and his neighbour and in this worke he vsed all his strength employed himself without diuerting his mind but rather allwaies increasing the vnion we spoke of When any inward combates presented themselues he was very willing to fight them for the loue of God and after he had ouercome he offerred him in sacrifice the victory and all the spoiles of of that war and therfore by reason that he was wont often to ouercome and through the great confidence which he had in God he reioiced when he saw whole troupes of temptatioÌ„s come against him as huntsmen doe when they see their pray that they may see it on their Masters table and he did not only offer vp in sacrifice vnto God the victories and the spoiles of his combates but also the gifts and strength wherwith God did enrich and adorne him making an offering of them vnto his God and giuer with a very humble prayer and acknowledgment wherin he confessed him to be the chiefe good and source of all good and therfore most worthy to whom all thinges which we haue receiued should be offered so that Gregory as soone as he receiued any fauour or gift presently with a more cleare knowledge and feruent charity directed it to his Lord without staying on it himself because he desired all whatsoeuer he receiued should be his Such was his fidelity and loue towardes God and in these times he was vsed to repeate that sentence of the wise man you shall find many mercifull but a faith full man who will find He was allso wont to offer vp vnto the Eternall
noster because it was taught him by our Sauiour and he reaped much profit by it in most of the PetitioÌ„s he put in those wordes As in heauen so vpon earth as when he said Hallowed be thy name he added as in heauen so on earth for hereby he shewed the desire that he had of Gods glory and all though many seruants of God to induce men to good and draw them to the seruice of God doe write letters and take in hand great iourneyes and doe other thinges yet Gregory insteed of these when he desired to help his neighbours and relieue their necessities had presently recourse vnto God by his prayers knowing that all good was to proceed from him and by this meanes he wrought admirable effects and vpon this occasion he would sometimes tell merit is far better negotiating with God then with Men. But to those that asked him counsaile by word or writing he gaue answer according as he thought was necessary for their good and God his honour to whom he gaue thankes because he had personages in his Church that did allso assist their neighbours by such outward meanes THE XVIII CHAPTER Of his habitation or mansion in God I Haue differred as much as I could possible to write the maÌ„ner how Gregory did liue in God because I was allwaies in hope of a greater light from his diuine spirit that I might be better able to declare a thing of such importaÌ„ce This manner was not by extasies or rapts because his vnion seemed allwaies vnto me immediate since that his will free form all other affections tended very strongly onely vnto God and this manner of vnion might be seen by its great fruits that allwaies remained in him This mansion I thinke cannot be otherwise tearmed better then a traÌ„sformation into God because the soule in this estate is wholly besides herself and wholly in God according to that of the Apostle I liue but now not I because Christ liueth in me And thus the matter is for vnto vs that haue looked into his life and conuersation he allwaies seemed a pour-trait of Christ and therfore we called him a man truely crucified into the world for he onely regarded the spirituall life of which when spirituall persons did talke with him he inuited them to this transformation saying vnto them those wordes of S. Iohn God gaue them power to be made sons of God to those that beleeue in his name who now are not borne of flesh and bloud nor of the will of man but God himself and I am certaine that this transformation of Gregory into God was well liked of by all the spirituall men that conuersed with him In this transformation which I call immediate vnion there vseth to be a great spirituall ioy which is called fruition because those that are so transformed for a long time are rather in ioy then paine because they are caried by God without any labour of theirs to that most happy state and this is that which is called the spirituall oile there they are with God as it were onely passiuely aÌ„d I call it so because allthough it be true that the soule in that vnion be allwaies in actioÌ„ yet not so much inseeking after as in possessing for she rather exerciseth the act of possessing and enioying then the act of desiring I doe not know whether Gregory had this as it were passiue vnioÌ„ from the time that he went into the desert for God did in such manner communicate himself vnto him as that he euery day desired more and therfore did not so much entertaine himself in enioying that which was giuen him as with new desires to see himself euery day approch nearer vnto God S. Denys the Areopagite saith that Hierotheus his Master had the state of spirituall rest and fruition which we haue spoken of and he putteth it downe for the highest perfection that is in this life and all the contemplatiues are of the same opinion and this is the only reason why the surname of Diuine was giuen to Hierotheus for this vnion maketh the soule to be the same with God and very like the diuine nature the which doth not exercise its operations with paine and toile but ioy I haue told vpon diuerse occasions this so common opinion vnto Gregory fifteen yeares before his death and though he yeelded allso to it for he knew it very well yet he esteemed it was better for himself to be in action and allwaies louing God and his neighbour labouring therein both day and night And therfore he embraced this estate the more willingly for he said that God had giuen him that exercise as being the best and that he was to endeauour with all his strength not to leaue it off for any ioy or fruition whatsoeuer for he could not conceiue how in this life that should be most perfect which had least meritâ—aÌ„d that enioying is not of so much merit as taking of paines is but I will leaue this doctrine for wise men to determine and will prosecute my intent Gregory his transformation into Christ which I perceiued in him was an ardent loue and desire to â—ollow him in his life and imitate his labours and Crosse for it is manifest that the most holy life of our Sauiour Iesus Christ was a liuely patterne for vs all to imitate in fullfilling the will of his eternall father and so he saith I came not to doe my will but my fathers and in another place it be hooueth me to doe the worke of him that sent me while it is day It is allso well knowne that the life of our Sauiour Christ from his birth till his death was a coÌ„tinuall bearing of the crosse of our sinnes working therby our redemption so as all his life was a suffering of troubles in these therfore Gregory desired and allso did imitate Christ wherfore in his life there was but little fruition and ioy and much care and trouble so as it seemes that this want of sensible ioyes may be esteemed a priuiledge and particular guift of God since that without these fauours his diuine Maiestie bestowed vpon him that which he is wont to giue to others that haue them as may be seen in the knowledge wisedome fortitude perseueance and all the other diuine gifts wher with he was endued Hereby allso it is manifest that God directed him in waies proper to men for his diuine Maiesty doth for the most part giue those ioyes to his friends in the beginning of their conuersion when they begin to dy to the world and liue in God then he bringeth them into his cellar to giue them a tast then he giueth them some light and ioy as a pledge or earnest of that which is in heauen to make them walke on with strength and perseueraÌ„ce but after they haue profited and are growne strong he inuiteth them to the highest degree of charity which is to suffer and dy for their beloued we haue examples of both in the
liued with much profit of his soule This priest therfore walking through he streetes of Mexico for he emploied himself in workes of charity towardes his neighhour had an inward calling without reflecting at that time on that which the holy man had said vnto him yet his calling was conformable thereunto which was that he should obserue inward recollection and at the same instant there was giuen him through the diuine mercy such courage and strength as that he walked through all the streetes and publick places inwardly recollected and praying in such sort as that no busines hinderance or noise was of force to diuert him from that exercise as if he had bin fifty yeares exercised in prayer He became a new Man and so different from what he was as that at that very instant he raised his thoughts from the earth and fixed them on heauen He left off all complements and visits for this it was that did endamage him and all his conuersation and delight was to be recollected in mind and treating with God of his saluation Then he began to walke solitary if charity did not otherwise require the people were no more hindrance to him then if they had bin tres or craggs of a montaine he began to vse fastings disciplines haire-shirts and God exercised him with greater temptations then euer he had in all his life time before some of them were inward others outward and withall he gaue him strength to defend himself as if he had bin an old beaten souldier or ancient hermite He began allso to liue in pouerty and through Gregory his prayers God framed in him the heremiticall life so entirely and perfectly as if he had spent many yeares in the desert and least there should be wanting vnto him any of those thinges that are wont to happen vnto hermites he was allmost all that yeare tempted visibly by the diuells The yeare exprired he went to talke with Gregory who was then in Guasteca he gaue him an account of his life as he had done at other times at our Ladies of Remedies and haueing bin eight daies in his company he sayd vnto him now the yeare is past wherin I was to be an hermite what must I doe from hence forwards he answered only these wordes Loue God and your neighbour and herewith they parted The priest therfore taking his iourney towardes Mexico and being come to an vnhabited place which is in the way began to thinke vpon those wordes and because he had studied the tract of Charity he thought he knew that allready and herewith he went on with little mind to that exercise to which new as counsailed but then remembring himself how much good Gregory his former aduise had done him he hegan to humble himself and imagine that those wordes might haue some deeper misterie then that which he vnderstood he determined to pray for the vnderstanding of them and to beseech God to shew vnto him that which lay hidden vnder those wordes and not to haue regard to his arrogance and pride and presently he heard God speake inwardly vnto him very distinctly saying if thou desirest to loue God thou must strip thy self out of thy self and all whatsoeuer thou hast and be dead to all worldly thinges He offered himself with all his heart herunto that he might receiue that fauour from the Diuine Maiesty presently found in himself that nakednes which God did require and withall was cloathed and bathed in the ointment of the loue of God which was so great that neither his vnderstanding was able to comprehend it nor his heart to receiue it so as he did euen melt away into this great gift Hereby the priest vnderstood the depth and perfection of Gregory his counsaile and the efficacy of his prayer He endeauoured to cleanse his heart that he might receiue that fauour and made firme purposes to follow the hand and will of God which way soeuer he was pleased to lead him This act of loue dured for the space of seauen howers God shewed him the vertues and their beauty and made him haue a triall of them as it were euen touching and possessing them There remained with him after this fauour a great affection which was such as that for six yeares space he continued in this same loue being allmost allwaies in actuall exercise of it and practising those vertues which God had taught him and euen till this day which is now more then thirty yeares it hath bin his prop and staffe in all his tribulations and troubles perseuering couragiously in the way of God And he hath receiued many other fauours which I will not here relate because this alone is sufficient to shew how pleasing this holy man his prayers were in the sight of God euen whilest he liued in this exile A certaine person intreating Gregory very earnestly to vndertake to direct him in the spirituall way he answered him goe brother for Iesus Christ is your Master and he presently found the truth hereof in his soule and perceiued it in his workes for he began to proceed with such difference in his spirit as there is betwixt seing and being blind afterwardes God gaue him the knowledge of his owne being nothing and of Iesus Christ his truth so clearely that he became another man acknowledging that this great good had beâ—alne him through Gregory his prayers Since that time he hath had many extasies and rapts wherby his soule hath got much humility and strength A religious woman of great vertue and spirit receiued an inward warning that a great misfortune would befall her She was much troubled hereat for the space of eight months fearing least that this misfortune were some offence of God and therfore she recommended herself to the prayers of all the seruants of God This religious woman hauing communicated vpon the feast of our Ladies Natiuity had a particular inspiration whilest she was at her prayers to intreat Gregory Lopes who was then in Santafe to pray for her She intreated a gentleman that came to visit her and now is a religious Man to goe and desire him to recommend her vnto God The holy man receiuing the message answered him I will doe so let her trust in God and feare nothing for she shall not offend him Herewith she became as quiet in mind as if she had bin told so by an Angell from heauen and so it fell out as Gregory had said but this gentleman going to Santafe to carry the message by the way went into the Conuent of saint Dominick of Mexico to intreat a certaine religious man of great sanctity to pray for this religious woman his ghostly child The day following the said religious man being at his prayers was rapt in spirit and saw holy Gregory kneeling in the presence of God and praying for her and that his diuine Maiesty accepted his prayers with much content and told him that his seruant Gregory was very mindfull of her in his prayers The religious man told