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
full of holes and corruption The chiefe brother seing him so incurable aÌ„d that besides these and other sores and paines there was gowne in his forehead a swelling as bigge as an egge and another not much lesse in his anckle both very painefull he remoued him to the hospitall in the Ilande of S. Iohn de Vlua thinking that he would recouer in that place because it was of a hotter temper But it fell out quite contrary for he grew much worse by reason of the moistnes of the sea aÌ„d the cold north windes This brother being one day sad and troubled in mind recommended himself to God and all the saints and earnestly besought Gregory Lopes to obtaine him his health and remembring himself of some reliques of his which were giuen him at Guasteca he applied them to his head with a night cap and to his leg with bandes throwing the emplasters and patches which he wore into the sea and in three or foure daies after he had applied the said reliques he found himself perfectly cured of all his diseases swellings and sores without any other medicine and he was neuer troubled with theÌ„ afterwards wherby he plainly perceiued the force and efficacy of Gregory his intercession THE THIRD CHAPTER Of the knowledge in the holy Scripture which God infused into Gregory Lopes ALlthough Gregory Lopes neuer studied any kind of learning not so much as Grammer or euen Latine yet he vnderstood the holy Sctipture and turned it into spanish in the opinion of some learned men with such propriety and iudgement as if he had spent all his life in the study of the Latine tongue and Diuinity so as many that saw him turne ouer the bible and read it with such strange readines in diuers occasions that were offered hâ—m would haue rather thought he had red thinges writen in his owne Mothers tongue then translated them out of another He had by heart all the historicall part of the Scripture of the Ghospell of S. Matthew and S. Iohn word by word and those things which were said by the other two Euangelists more then was by these the Epistles allso of S. Paul and the Apocalips To conclude he had such a perfect knowledge of all the holy Scripture that being asked of any place or sentence whatsoeuer he answered with incredible readines and certainty Father Peter de Prauia being Vicar Generall of this Archbisoprick came to visit Gregory whilest he was in my house at Mexico recouering his health and he chaÌ„ced to aske him about a place in the Scripture which after long studying he could not find either in the Bible or the Concordances Gregory hearing it said this place is not in all the Bible but there is another like it and it is this opening the Bible he presently shewed it to the Vicar Generall and it was the same that he sought for Three Doctours of Diuinity of the vniuersity of Mexico conferring with Gregory in this village of Santafe about some hard place of the Scripture intreated him withall to tell them if there was any place in Scripture that treated of a certaine matter which they mentioned vnto him To the â—eard places he answered very â—learely and gaue them one very â—roper for their purpose which â—hey had not found though they â—ad studied that matter very diligently wherat being much astonied they said in my presence here is a learned man indeed what is our knowledge in respect of his Beatus homo quem tu erudieris Domine Psal 39. Certaine religious Men very learned being in Santafe spoke a sentence as out of Scripture in his presence and he said that is not Scripture they much wondering hereat looked into the bible and found that he had said true It was a thing worth admiration how certainly he knew in how many places of the holy Scripture this thing or that thing was said or whether it was in it or no to this purpose a religious man a publick reader of the Scripture and one that had conuersed with him said vnto me as one that knew him these wordes I doe not talke with any man about the holy Scripture with such warines as I doe with Gregory Lopes Certaine prebends being in coÌ„pany with him told of another that was present how that he knew all the Psalter by heart he answered that which is to be esteemed is if he can make vse of it when it is requisite for in this he was singular that he could call to mind both the thinges which he knew and their places when it was needfull Ther were some Preachers who haueing occasion to retire themselues to Santafe when they were to make a sermon were vsed to say that they needed not their Concordances where Gregory was Don Pedro Moya de Contreras visiting his Archbishoprick came to Guasteca where Gregory did liue at that time and sent vnto him by me to aske a doubt wherunto he answered so profundly as that I did not dare to bring him the answer but reâ—…ning with the message I said vnto him I had rather that you would heare Gregory his reasons from his owne mouth then from mine and so he will answer you when you goe to see him When the Archbishop had bin with him and heard him he remained well satisfied and much amased and said vnto me I neuer thought that he knew so much Father Dominick de Salazar who died being first Archbishop of the Philippines spoke in this manner of Gregory twenty yeares before his death in the presence of three graue and learned religious men of the order of S. Dominick how is this Fathers that we with all that we haue got by studying in all our life know not half so much as this young man doth Many learned persons that came to aske him doubts out of the holy Scripture returned well satisfied and amased at the great knowledge which it had peased God to bestow vpon this his seruaÌ„tâ— amongst others came a Doctour of Diuinity who some daies before had bin present at some conclusioÌ„s out of the holy Scipture which had bin defended in the schooles of the society of Iesus at Mexico vpon that place Malach. 3. Ecce ego mittam Angelum meum c. and asking Gregory what was the meaning of that place he brought so many exquisite things vpon it that he Doctour affirmed that there was no more nor euen so much said in all the Conclusions THE IIII. CHAPTER How Gregory Lopes was directed by the holy Ghost in the spirituall manner of life GOd did not onely teach this his beloued scholler the holy Scripture as is said but also and in a more excellent degree he instructed him in a spirituall course which he was to follow in a most eminent manner and was allso to be a guide and Master to others For this holy man by the light of his vnderstanding knew his owne person and as far as I could vnderstand he did see as distinctly his owne spirit with the eies of
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
THE LIFE OF GREGORIE LOPES THAT GREAT SERVANT of God natiue of Madrid WRITTEN IN SPANISH BY Father Losa Curate of the Cathedrall of Mexico AND SET OVT BY FATHER Alonso Remon of the Order of our Lady de la Merced with some additions of his owne IHS PRINTED AT PARIS M.DC.XXXVIII TO HIS HONORABLE AND NOBLE FRIEND S. KENELME DIGBIE LEARNINGS BEST ADVANCER THE opinion which vpon diuers occasions you haue expressed you had of the excellencie of this smale worke and the great esteeme wherin you kept it alwayes by you in spanish enboldned my vnskilfulnes to bestowe vpon it an English beeing such assurance are you able to giue of the worth of whatsoeuer you vndertake to prise or prayse Now if as your word went before the presse so it may please you to permitt your noble name to appeare in the Frontispice and to take it into such a degree of fauour as to stand betwixt the Saint and Censure I dare promis he will be looked on and liked by the most yea euen by the best vnderstandings be iudged to speake excellent truthes with profitt and admiration and herin you shall still adde to the high rate the world putts vpon the riches of your mind which makes you your countries admiration and pride and the enuie of other nations who would iudge it no crime to mistake you for one of theirs did you not by the frequent and feruent testimonies of your incomparable zeale loue and affection to serue our best King and Countrie put them out of that dreame But what doe I doe I dare not giue sayle into the Ocean of your vast soule which is capable of all things from the highest to the lowest in perfection Not that I dread censure of flatterie where euery one is readie to subscribe if I could find any end or to write themselues of they could find any beginning of your prayses plentie making vs all poore in this too plentifull a subiect But that your obligations haue made me too much your seruant to be willing to obscure what I am not able to illustrate I will onely therfor giue my long imprisoned thoughts leaue to appeare in words confessing with all sinceritie and truth that for my part I neuer mett with Magnanimitie matched with such mildnes such admirable knowledg accompayned with such humilitie so great abilitie attended with such affabilitie nor so perfect courtshipe in coniunction with so great pietie In a word the Court meets with nothing more polished more obliging more endearing The Armie with nothing more generous resolute and vndaunted The schoole with nothing that ether makes more deepe and strong cōceptions or more happie and gracefull productions And yet that which is iustly most admired and beloued in you is that that Pietie which you teach the world to practise teacheth you to make frequent and faire retreates from thence to a Religious Cell or solitude which seemes indeed to be the Center where your soule reposeth and where being remoued out of the noyse of the world you better discerne what God speakes to your hart Please Noble Sr. to admit this trifle as a signe of gratitude till tyme present something whose bulke may be better able to beare your prayses ād permitt that I in the interim may honor myself with the title of Your most humble and deuoted seruant N. N. THE LIFE OF GREGORIE LOPES THAT GREAT SERVANT of God natiue of Madrid WRITEN IN SPANISH BY Father Losa Curate of the Cathedrall of Mexico AND SET OVT BY FATHER Alonso Remon of the Order of our Lady de la Merced with some additions of his owne PRINTED AT PARIS 1638. OF THE BIRTH PArents and country of Gregory Lopes and of the beginning of his Vocation THE FIRST CHAPTER GREGORY Lopes was borne at Madrid in the yeare of our Lord 1542. on the fourth of Iulie vpon which day was celebrated at that time the feast of S. Gregory Thaumaturgus Bishop of Neocaesarea in Pontus but since is transferred to the 17. of Nouember He was baptized in the Parish of S. Giles and was named Gregory by his Parents because he was borne vpon that day This is all that is knowne and cā be auerred of his linage house and name for those that were most inward with him were of opinion that Lopes was not his owne but rather that the holy man had assumed it the better to conceale his noble family For there appeared in his behauiour a certaine generosity vnder that humble grauity and that freedome of spirite and resolurion in what busines soeuer a respect and courtesy so accōmodated to euery ones quality as all were persuaded that he was descended of a noble house None could euer heare from his owne mouth what he was for being asked by some graue personages and such as were most familiar with him who he was and of what country he answered what auaileth that Father Francis Losa a great seruant of God who had bin Curate of the Cathedrall of Mexico and left all to accompany and conuerse with holy Gregory and to cherish and tende him as he did vntill his death treating of the same thing in the booke which he did write of his life and how he had earnestly intreated him some few daies before his death that he would tell him who were his Parents he affirmeth that he made answer only in these wordes since I came into the field to lead a solitary life I haue held only God for my Father my brethren by this time are dead of whom I was they oūgest Such was his silēce in this though remarkeable in all things It is probable that he had his calling euen from his childhood because Father Losa askeing him vpon an occasion if God began to dispose him for his seruice as soone as he had the vse of reason he said he knew not certainely whether it was then or a little after but that he was certaine that our Lord had called him very soone and that he neuer was a chid in his manners and so he was wont to say as one that had found it by experience in himself that which the holy Ghost said by Hieremy that the man was happy that caried the yoake of our Lord from his youth In his childhood he did learne to reade and write wherein he became so excellent as that some things which he hath left writen with his owne hands seeme to be printed he did neuer study Latine nor any science so that whosoeuer did heare him treate of many verities both naturall and diuine so clearely and distinctly as he did might easily gather that without doubt he had no other Master but God He had a desire euen almost from his infanty to liue à solitary life far from his parents and therfore being very young he went to Burgos and from thence to Nauarre and liued six yeares vpon a mountaine in the company of an hermire in great pouerty obedience and humility till at lenth God so permitting his Father
countenance said these wordes will declare my self vnto you my Lord Archbshop sendeth me to haue knowledge of his sheep therefore answer me clearely and plainly to this Gregory made answer it is uery â—itting that I should obey my Father and Prelate and you in his name this being premised Father Alonso Sanches began a fresh to sift him ouer and ouer asking him many very subtile questions in matter of faith and ChristiaÌ„ doctrine to all which he answered clearely and distincly grounding his answers vpon the holy Scripture and relating the heresies which had bin raised against the Catholicke verity meÌ„tioning the times and the chiefest of the Archheretickes together with the holy writers and Doctours who did impugne and write against them this he did with such waighty sentences and graue wordes that the father remained astonied but much much more he wondred at the good satisfaction which he gaue to all the doubts and obiections he put vnto him touching his spirit and manner of life and found that he was endued with much prudence both diuine and humane Hence it came to passe that the said father remained not only well satisfied touching the spirit of Gregory but also his great friend and deuote He gaue an account of all this to the Archbishop who was exceeding glad that a Man of such vertue had ioyned himself to his flock and from that time forward gaue command that he should be cherished and often visited I being alwaies the messenger The first time that I spoke with the Archbishop after that Father Alonso Sanches had giuen accouÌ„t of his commission he told me that among other things which the Father had told him in praise and fauour of Gregory he said these wordes Truely my Lord in comparison of this man I haue not yet begun my spirituall A. B. C. THE X. CHAPTER Of his going to the Hospitall of Guasteca and the exteriour and interiour exercises wherin he emploied himself in that place GRegory Lopes had liued two yeares in the house of our Lady of Remedies when he found himself very weake and tormented with a paine in the stomach and the collick and by reason of these indispositions those cold aÌ„d blustering winds which doe ordinarily blow in those high Countries were very hurtfull to him and therefore it was necessary in regard of his health to goe to the Hospitall of Guasteca which is seated in the Marquesate of Valle 36. miles of Mexico As soone as the Archbishop vnderstood his resolution he sent him an horse of his owne stable and some dainties by a seruant who was to accompany him aÌ„d serue him in his iourney Gregory Lopes the Archbishops seruant and I departed from our Lady of Remedies in the yeare 1580. towards Guasteca and so great was the esteeme of those who had conuersed with him in that place that at his departure all made meanes to get some part of his poore houshold-stuffe which was at that time two or three sheepskins which serued insteed of a bed and a little pitcher to keep water in And allthough I endeauoured allso to get one of those sheepskins I could neuer obtaine it though I was Curate of the Cathedrall and so well knowne by all such was the affection and deuotion with which the good people did aske them I left Gregory in his way to Guasteca least I should be wanting to my office in Mexico Gregory therefore in the company of the Archbishops seruant arriued at Guasteca where he was receaued by brother Stephen de Herrera allthough the commodity was but small by reason of the great pouerty which the hospitall did suffer in its beginning He lodged him in his owne chamber hauing order to giue him that which was necessary for his sustenance and not to employ him in any thing The brother vsed him with all loue and kindnes as he did vse to doe all that repaired thither who though they were many in number by reason of the pleasant temperature and wholsomenes of that aire and the Hospitall poore at that time hauing neither rents to maintenance the poore nor houseroome to lodge them nor any thing wherewith to build yet it neuer was wanting to their cure and reliefe a thing truly which if we did consider it only humanly would seeme impossible and far from the truth but such was the courage of Bernardin Aluares the founder not only of that Hospitall but allso of that of the Conualescents in Mexico and of many others which are spread ouer all new Spaine that he deserued his most prosperours successes for the reliefe and help of many I remember that when I asked of this great seruant of God his good will that Gregory Lopes might be receiued in that Hospitall he answered me would to God Father Losa that I could bring all the poore Men in the world to my hospitall I trust in Iesus Christ that he would maintaine them all be it with all my hart as you desire and well may it bee seene that this hospitall was gouerned by Gods prouidence for within two yeares after it was founded there was in that house of Guasteca allowance for 72. persons and from that time forward it hath increased so much that now God hath prouided a table in that desert for all sorts of poore and needy people both men and weomen spaniardes and Indians that come to the hospitall to be healed not only out of new Spaine but allso from Guatimala and Peru for the good entertainment which they find there and abundance of all things necessary for their health and reliefe and the great care and charity with which they are looked vnto so as allmost all that goe thither with allmost incurable diseases in a little time recouer their perfect health and thus much in briefe of this famous hospitall because I thimke that Gregory Lopes his being there at the beginning of it was no smale cause of of its increase In this place therefore Gregory had his maintenance sure vnder the title of voluntary pouerty and laying aside care of all things allthough the care of temporall things did neuer molest him he gaue himself wholly to contemplation and mentall exercises practising himself in the loue of God and his Neighbour in which he had laboured many yeares But all though the exercise was allwaies the same yet the increases euery day were new he was all the day retired in a chamber by himself he went out onely to heare Masse vpon Sundaies and holidaies and some of the weeke daies and then also only to the hospitall chappell and if at any time he failed there he went to the Monastery of S. Dominick to heare it there and though that place was very pleasant by reason of the many good springs fields and groues of trees and prospects yet he seldome or neuer went out to see them for being of a weake and tender constitution the ill smell of the contagious diseases which are there cured did much annoy him for this cause some of
they went away not only illuminated but allso with their hearts inflamed aÌ„d stirred vp to embrace whatsoeuer was good There came vnto Gregory one exceedingly troubled in mind and told him all his troubles he answered him only these wordes this is a purgatory wherin God detaineth you and these were of force to coÌ„fort him and giue him great quietnes of mind He comforted another Priest much afflicted only by saying vnto him that of the Apocalips I counsaile thee to buy of me tried and burning gold wherwith thou maist be rich Another found comfort amongst his tribulations and temptations by hearing him say the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence and the valiant doe win it To knights and great persons that desiring to liue well in their state did aske him what they should doe he said That which you doe for the loue of Gâ—d and that is enough To lawyers indges and men of emploiment he was vsed to say change your intention and you will doe much With these kinds of speeches he did awake some that were a sleep who by hearing him came to the selues and profited very much of this efficacy and good effects of his wordes which I did allwaies attribute to his prayers we shall speake some thing in the 19. and 20. Chapters besides that which is spoke of in diuerse places of this booke and might be spoken of more at large Haueing by long obseruation perceiued that Gregory did vnderstand spiritually whatsoeuer he spoke or heard I once said vnto him whatsoeuer you speake or heare you vnderstand it spiritually and he answered me that it was true wherby spirituall men may see the perseuerance and constancy of his spirit and those that are not will perceiue it by these examples following If any Man did say that the bread of Santafe was good he answered yes meaning the blessed Sacrament which is true bread of our holy faith When they did coÌ„mend the beauty good smell and excellence of the flowers of Santafe he applied it to the saints whose sanctity had its beginning from faith because without it it is impossâ—ble to please God if any one beholding the springs and streames of waters which run from hence to Mexico did say the water of Santafe is better in its spring then at Mexico Gregory yielded it was meaning by the spring of Santafe God in whom the waters of true wisdome are best and he that receiueth theÌ„ immediatly ftoÌ„ him hath them more pure and wholsome then he that receiueth them after they haue passed through human vnderstandings when he heard men say such an one is of a noble house he presently considered that true nobility was to be a son of God in spirit if any one said that such a Lord or such a Lord was grandy of Spaine he presently considered that the chiefe greatnes was to be a freind of God a heater of his diuine wordes and to performe heroicall deedes in his seruice Perceiuing this his wonderfull quicknes aÌ„d readines in drawing of things to a spirituall aÌ„d profitable sense I was woÌ„t sometimes when there was occasion of talking of any thing which was hard to be vnderstood spiritually to aske him the spirituall sense as once a little dust arising in SaÌ„tafe which hapneth but seldome those that were present said there is dust allso in Santafe I asked him how can it be said that there is dust in Santafe he said because there are saints that liue in Santafe who are not come to foure and twentie degrees of perfection and therfore haue some dust of the earth sticking vpon them for a man perfectly spirituall is all spirit THE V. CHAPTER Of his great knowledge in Ecclesiasticall and secular histories MAny would haue contented and esteemed theÌ„selues happy if they could haue attained to that knowledge which is alreadie said that Gregory came vnto but as God is the giuer and Man a subiect soe capable it pleaseth God to set before our eies for examples some men to whom he hath giuen much by their industry to confound and coÌ„demne the carlesnes of those that doe not prepare themselues This holy Man disposed himself so well as that he is one of those who by their owne deedes giue a sufficient and ampble testimony of this verity whilest he was in Guasteca there came to visit him Father Iohn de los Cobos a Dominican an excelleÌ„t Diuine who had bin a reader in spaine before he came into these parts and haueing conferred with him for a good while very seriously he afterwardes said that the fame of his wisdome was great but the truth far greater Haueing heard from him very rare things out of the Apocalips he desired him to make a comment vpon it which he did in eight daies and sent it vnto him to Mexico without either writing it ouer twice or so much as blotting out a word He receiuing it admired very much both at the speed as allso the wit learning and spirit which he shewed There went allso to Guasteca to talke with him Father Michael Talauera Prouinciall of the discalced Franciscans whose humility wisdome and sanctity were most renowned in this kingdome He conuersed with him very familiarly and afterwardes ceased not to admire at his great light aÌ„d wisdome praising and thankeing God for it in so much as that at his returne from thence to Zacatecas where Gregory had liued solitary he did very much extoll his knowledge and sanctity in a learned sermon which he made there and among other things he said this in this field here hath bin bred such a young man as that I had rather be he then a king Emperour or Pope and he added in departing from him I felt my soule possessed with the grace which I had found in him Father Manuell de Reinoso a holy man and very great Preacher of the order of S. Francis admiring at the vnderstanding and knowledge of Gregory held it to be supernaturall for I said he haue asked him of diuerse places in the Scripture and there was none to which he gaue not a very good answer once I asked him nine of the hardest places which I haue seene in all the bible and he expounded them to me in a few wordes and with such propriety as that he seemed a S. Hierome Another religious maÌ„ hearing him say so went vnto Gregory with other places of great difficulty and found by experience that what had bin said of him was true He knew with as much euidence as can be gathered out of the holy Scripture aÌ„d other histories whatsoeuer past since the creation of the world to Noe telling the generations of the sons of God and of our first fathers so distinctly as that without looking in the booke he would rehearse all those linages their degrees and affinities and the differences of the times and ages allthough it be a thing so obscure euen to the most learned neither was he ignorant of things that past the sons of men at that time whose
out of his swadling clouts THE XIV CHAPTER Of Gregory his prayer when it began and with what exercises I haue many reasons to thinke that he began to vse prayer as soone as he had the vse of reason this I could gather by some discourses that passed betwixt vs touching this matter and by other coniectures which seeme almost certaine as was his custome of saying vnto me that God had called him very soone that he had neuer bin a child that he had neuer retired back one step wherby because of his moderation in speaking of himselfe and his nicenes in letting others know his good deedes it may easily be vnderstood as a thing out of doubt that he allwaies vsed prayer He told me that when he was a little page in the court he vsed mentall prayer and went vpon errands with as much quietnes of mind as he had six yeares before his death and that he did not loose this quietnes though there passed by Dukes and Earles and other thinges hapned that vse to be in the court and that he perseuered in his prayer amongst those noises as well as if he had bin alone in a mountaine though afterwardes he went on allwaies by exercise perfecting both his prayer and quietnes If therfore at twelue yeares of age he had attained to such peace and quietnes in prayer it is to be thought that he began to pray some yeares before he came to this degree and perfection and if thes yeares from the time that he had the vse of reason vntill he went into the wildernes were but few we may well thinke that he spent them in the exercise of prayer especially of it be true as we vnderstand it is that before he came to the court to be a page he was in Nauarre six yeares with an hermit as is said in the beginning of this booke The same might be gathered by the courage which God gaue him whilest he was in the court for allthough he was two or three yeares in that place in which are so many hindrances for those that walke in the paths of God he had strength enough to passe through them all without altering his good purpose but such valour and courage is seldome got without long exercise in conuersation with God Besides he was but twenty yeares old when he came to new spaine and yet he came so well profited in mentall prayer that he not only endeauoured to vse it much at a time but did allwaies continue in it whether he were trauailing writing or talking and he told me that for his better attaining vnto it as soone as he came to Mexico he fasted a whole lent with bread and water in the house of Luys Zapata with intention to beg of God his fauour and assistance and to employ him in some place where he might best serue him and giue himself vp wholly to his diuine Maiesty It is cleare that such progresse in vertue is not ordinarily got so sodainly but with long practise of prayer More ouer Gregory was not stirred vp to such workes by remorse of conscience or feare of hell for God allwaies guided him by way of loue and what greater signe can there be of his long and setled vertue and firme loue then to come to the Indies and goe through the places of greatest riches which were Mexico and Zacatecas the country being in the greatest prosperity for riches and â—onour that euer it was and he â—auing in him such parts as is said wherby he might haue come to â—nioy the glory of this world notwithstanding all this in the flower of his youth renouncing all these vanities to cloath himself in sackcloath and retire into a wildernes that God might there giue spirituall increases in his soule as he had done till that time as he told me the which there is no doubt but they were very great especially in prayer and since that the diuine Maiesty the very first day that he led him into the desert laid vpon his shoulders one of the heauiest burthens and hardest exercises that are in the spirituall life as shall be said in the Chapter following the weight of this witnesseth this young mans vertue since that God laieth on burthens proportionable to ones strength the which being ordinarily wont to be gotten by successe of time and holy exercises we may easily vnderstand that he had speÌ„t those twelue yeares wherin he had enioyed the vse of reason in obtaining vertue by meanes of prayer and conuersation with God that afterwardes all might succeed well with him according to that blessing of the holy Ghost which was ofte in his mouth It will goe well with that man that shall cary the yoake of God from his youth He did not tell me in particular the exercises of prayer which he vsed in his first yeares for as we said he neuer told thinges concerning himself vnles there were probable occasion of profiting his neighbour but as for my self I haue allwaies beleeued that the ground and beginning of this his course was our Sauiour Christ for he outght to be the entrance of those that begin well and we haue heard from him such good meditations vpon our holy faith and vpon the life and death of our Redeemer especially of his infancy and childhood with such deuotion and spirit as shewed plainly his long vse and practise in that kind of meditation in his first yeare at Guasteca he shewed me admirable ones of the same matter and especially of the sacred Virgin Mary and he counsailed those that desired to profit in the spirituall way to say their beades ouer with deuotion to her honour as being the refuge and safegard of sinners and to perseuer in that holy exercise and esteeme it as their honour to be denout Disciples to that great Mistresse of sanctity THE XV. CHAPTER What were the prayers and exercises which God in spired him to vse and the profit which he reaped therby GRegory went out into the field as he was vsed to call it of the wildernes being one or two months vnder one and twenty yeares of age as far as I could gather As concerning his manner of praying I can tell some thing certainely for he could not conceale all from me for the space of eighteen yeares which I I spent in his company The first prayer which he vsed there were those famous wordes O Lord be hold I goe forth only to serue thee not for any interest of mine in the manner as is aboue said and declared for he would not spend wordes but offered himself wholly to the Eternall Father in those few makeing himself his slaue so as that all his labours and gaines should be for his Lord and this he meant by not for any interest of mine for he desired in all his workes to seeke only the glory of God The Allmighty accepted his offering made with such a willing mind and the diuine wisedome vndertooke the charge to be Gregory his Master teaching him
that which was conuenient Fiat voluntas tua sicut in caelo in terra Amen Iesus teaching him the same prayer that he had taught his Apostles and in this prayer he gaue him for his exercise one of the most excellent workes and hardest to be done because it coÌ„prehendeth all the doctrine of the conformity of our will with that of God which spirituall men call resignation and that not in any degree whatsoeuer but in the perfection which those wordes require namely that there be such conformity vpon earth with the will of God as is talked of and practised in heauen It is much to be noted that the diuine goodnes would haue Gregory practise himself so long in this exercise as our Sauiour Christ was in preaching his ghospell to giue vs therby to vnderstand that all the perfection of his holy doctrine consisteth in the perfect execution of those wordes The carefull and studious scholler embraced this diuine prayer and lesson with such good will and resolution as that for 3. yeares together a wonderfull thing without ceasing or euer omitting he said it mentally as often as he did draw breath when he was awake and considering the little time that he slept and the great vigilance which he allwaies vsed it is allmost impossible to tell how often he said those wordes Fiat voluntas tuasicut in caelo in terra Amen Iesus and he told me that after a yeares space he did no more trouble himself to call them to mind thereby to make his acts more intense amorous and feruent I heard him allso tell once vpon a certaine occasion of spirituall discourse that if he did not make those acts with great dâ—uâ—tion allthough at other times he did the diuell at the very instant did assaile hâ—m with a multitude of temptations so that as he told me in those times by reason of the many temptations that came vpon him he could not possible take any booke in hand and that those only wordes serued him insteed of bookes and study and with them as with armour of proofe he defended himself from all his enemies and ouercame them and because he had found by experience the great force and vertue of those wordes he counfailed many persons to repeate them often with deuotion During those breathings his operations were so vehement as that he was allmost allwaies eleuated and thought of nothing of this world and such was the intensiuenes wherwith he employed his memory vnderstanding and will in this diuine exercise that allthough while he was in it he was assailed with many grieuous temptations yet as soone as they were past he did not remember them From this exercise of resignation as from a solid roote grew out all his wisedome and spirit When he had exercised himself for the space of three yeares in this spirit of resignation it pleased his heauenly Master to aduance him to another degree of perfection instructing him inwardly that the height of perfection in this life was in the practise of these wordes Thou shalt loue God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy mind and with all thy strength and thy neighbour as thy self and that he was allwaies to practise this vsing all his forces in it louing God and his neighbour with one act of loue imitaring herein God himself therfore afterwardes he did not repeate so often as before that act of resignation wherin he said Fiat voluntas tua sicut in coelo in terre Amen Iesus because this often making of acts would rather hinder then further the continuall act of loue wherin his soule now was as he himself said For the same reason he left of other meditations and exercises which he vsed before because they should not diuert him from his coÌ„tinuall act of loue Gregory endeauoured to follow this exercise with the same fortitude as he had practised that of resignation yea and with greater for row his strength was increased So in few yeares he became so expert a louer as that he told me that it seemed vnto him a very hard thing to leaue off that diuine exercise of loue euen for a short time and that therfore without breaking it off he did eate and talke and performe all other operations both of body and mind Together with this heauenly employment he began to reade the bible and most of all at this time for it hapned sometimes that he spent three or foure howers in the day in reading of it and by this great loue towardes God he attained to the vnderstanding of the Scripture Hereby he got that great poise and measure in his wordes the greate prudence and wisedome he shewed in his answers and counsails and the equality in louing his neighbour and himself wherin he did much excell for in all his good workes he esteemed himself as one of the rest of the world and desired as much to obtaine mercy for them as for himself From hence allso proceeded his purity of mind in prayer freedome and Dominion against his enemies and the seuere mortification of his senses Now in praying he did not vse such violence and force as he did before but a more refined and de-delicate act lesse sensible but more prefect In this manner he went on euery day increasing in perfection and that after such a manner as that many spirituall men were deceiued seing him so conuersant in other arts and scieÌ„ces it seeming vnto them that this would diuert him from praying but he was so far from that as that in his last yeares he attained to such high degree that as he hath often told me his interiour man did worke without imparting any thing to the exteriour and that he did not reduce the conference that he had with God into mentall wordes but to another language which should seeme to haue excellent effects To conclude by meanes of this exercise he attained vnto that excelleÌ„t vnion with God which he allwaies endeauoured to practise and his heroicall vertues and to say all in a word together with this there came to him all that is good THE XVI CHAPTER The spirit of Gregory is made more manifest by the answers which he gaue to certaine questions I haue thought conuenient here to set downe some answers which Gregory Lopes gaue vpon certaine occasions to the end that by them his spirit might somewhat more appeare which since that it was so interiour may be the better knowne out of these A certaine religious man both spirituall and learned one whom Gregory well esteemed and conuersed with more then with any other asked him if he had any particular times and howres of the day or night appointed to make his act of loue more inteÌ„se if peraduenture it grew slack or cold whilest he was at table or otherwise emploied in offices of charity towardes his neighbour or for the comfort of those that conferred with him he answered that he had no set times neither that he