see him But growing worse and worse and having newly received the H. Vnctions the pious Father moved with compassion comes to him not forsaking his Penitent in apparent danger of death Prosper as soon as he saw him he so wished for cries out Ah Father why come you so late He replies Though I be late yet have I omitted nothing which had I been present I could have done for you but because it was noised about the City that you had made me your heir in your Will I forbore comming to your house thus long The truth is I will none of your Estate and that you may be sure I speak from my heart I am now going to S. Peters in the Vatican to pray for your recovery which if God deny to grant I shall most earnestly request him to lay this very disease on me so laying his hands on the sick mans he went away weeping and when Prosper had slumbred awhile awaking he found himself perfectly well From this his Contempt of wealth proceeded that most vehement desire of Poverty wherewith he burned continually for though he could not exercise the Vertue of Poverty in that state of life wherein he then was yet was he so enflamed with the love thereof inwardly that these expressions oft fell from him Would God I were forced for to beg my bread from door to door Would God I had never a penny nor none to give me O how great a favour should I count it to end my dayes in an Hospitall and many the like speeches did this passionate Lover of Poverty often utter Yea and that small pittance of meat as hath been said already which he did eat he begged sometimes of one sometimes of another of his Sons in the name of Christ Yet we affirm not that Philip at no time kept any thing for himself that being both contrary to the condition of Secular Priests and the Institution of the Congregation only the Reader may see by what hath been spoken that he was far from the love of wealth and likewise most ambitious of this Vertue And as he himself thus despised riches so did he desire that his should scorn and contemn them too Therefore understanding that one of his had horded up a certain Stock by himself a little too greedily Son said he to him before you gave your mind to this same money you had a face like an Angels and I was taken with your looks but now your visage is quite altered and all that beauty of your countenance withered and sadness sits upon your brow See I beseech you what you do and beware Whereupon he blushed and changing his mind employed all his pains and industry in purchasing heavenly treasures to himself Once He asked a Scholar of his whether he loved money who answered No he abhor'd it Be it so be it so replyed Philip we shall go into the house of the Lord for look how much love is bestowed on the creature so much is withdrawn from the Creator A certain young man out of an aim to be rich and get a reputation in the City applied himself to the study of the Civil Law him the H. man began to accost and extoll saying O happy you you study hard now and within a while will proceed Doctor after which by your Law practise will gain a Mass of Money encreasing both the wealth and honour of your House and who is there but expects you to mount to the Highest and most eminent dignities O what a happy man are you and then being made a great man you will scorn to look upon me a mean shrub The young man thought all this had been spoken by him in good earnest when Philip embracing him whispers in his ear But what after all this That word sunk so deep into his mind that going home he did nothing but repeat to himself but what after all this which weighing seriously in his thoughts he resolves thence forward to labour only in search of celestiall Riches and Honour So putting himself under Philips institutions attending his pleasure in every thing he enters himself as a Servant into his family and at last Philip being dead was admitted into the Congregation of the Oratory This was Franc. Zazzaro a Priest one of singular Vertue and exceedingly beloved both of pious and honourable Persons who deserved well of the Congregation and being intrusted with the managing the Canonization of the B. Father pursued it with such rigour and paines that at last he brought it to the wished-for period when having obtained of the H. Congregation of Rites that the office for him being approved should be recited at pleasure and performed the obsequies for the most R. Father in the year one thousand six hundred twenty six on the twenty sixt of Aprill being fifty years old he dyed in peace The like befell a certain Merchant who bragging what huge store of money he had got together and much more he would gain upon Philips only whispering in his ear But what after all this laid aside his employments and entring into H. Orders betook himself wholly to the service of God But though the B. man desired to have all his free and unspotted from the love of Silver and Gold yet did he mainly wish those of the Congregation to outvy others herein Therefore as soon as they were allowed to hear Confessions he warned them especially to receive no money from such as came to them oft using to say If ye aim at the good of Souls never seek the gold in their purse and frequently repeating that of the Apostles Non vestra sed vos Not yours but you Nor did he only thus advice and counsell Confessors but all of the Congregation and that they should by no means have to do in making Wils as understanding how easily some jealousy or displeasure might hence arise He hated avarice as one would the plague calling it an incurable vice therefore he affirmed That incontinent persons were sooner brought home to Christ than covetous for which reason he enjoyned his Penitents whom he perceived most addicted to money not Fasting but Alms as a proper and befiting Penance saying Let the young man keep himself from the mire of uncleaness and the old from the filth of covetuousness and we shall be all holy And again Pick me out but ten men free from all love of worldly things and I will undertake to convert the whole world To them of the Congregation he would say God will hereafter enrich you with temporall goods but take heed lest while ye encrease your fortunes ye lose the Spirit CHAP. XVI His declination of Honours and Dignities NOr was the B. Father lesse averse to Honours and Preferments then he was to Riches For having lived in the City sixty years and gained an opinion of rare sanctity not only with the Plebeians and private Citizens but among the Nobles and with the Popes themselves yet did he continually retain very low and mean
and maners he purposed to make him his heir but that God who had destined him to nobler ends defeated the contrivances of his Vncle and Philip within a while perceiving himself called forth to a far better course of life began to consult of altering his condition to the perfecting which project of his that which now comes to be related did conduce At the Port of Caieta not far off S. Germans there riseth a Mountaiâ— fam'd by report for one of those that renâ— asunder at the Passion of our Saviour This mountain parts it self into three huge clefes from top to bottom of which the midlemost is much the widest where on a high and stately Rock stands a Chappel remarked for an ancient Crucifix in it whâ—ch as they passe by the Seamen are wont to salute with volleys of Shot Hither ofttimes Philip retires the better to contemplate on the mysteries of the Passion where loathing daily more and more the varnished follies and gilded roctenness of this world he resolved quitting his Merchants affairs to make choice of a life wherein he might freely serve God with a minde disinteressed from worldly cares His Vncle soon discovers his drift and labours might and main to alter his Resolutions First promiseth to leave him sole Heir to his whole estate then mindes him of the Nerian Family like to fail utterly in him which he should do well to think of and neither hastily nor unadvisedly determin a matter of that consequence Lastly tells him he had not deserved so ill at his hands as not to obtain one favour from him in lieu of so many bestowed Philip as was fit modestly replyed He should never be unmindful of his favours indeed but as to the rest he rather commended his affection then approved his counsel Chap. 3. His going to Rome and first Fervors in Spirit WHen he had been at S. Germans two years moved by impulse of the H. Spirit he comes to Rome not so much as acquainting his Father therewith lest he might divert him from his intentions At his entrance into the City he met with an opportunity to his own wish of devoting himself to Christ for going to one Galeottus Caccius a Gentleman of Florence whom possibly he formerly knew he seeing the modesty of the youth took him into his house and pittying his necessity allotted him a little chamber allowing him yearly a quantity of Corn which Philip gave to a Baker to whom he repaired daily for a loaf to sustain life with This his kindness the pious young man was not wanting to requite even with a greater taking upon him the instruction of Galeottus's two Sons both in Learning and Manners whom in a short time he brought to that pass that in innocence and purity they seemed Angels rather than men Here for divers years did Philip lead a most austere life shunning all Company and commerce so that there be who affirm him to have lived an Anchorets life even in the heart of the City His diet was so spare you would have said Hunger could not pinch nor Thirst parch him for when the Servants used at first to save him a share at meals yet would he go down into the yard to the well and dine or sup with bread and water adding sometimes a few olives or herbs yea oftimes fasting three dayes together His chamber was slightly furnished for except a little Bed and a few Books you should scarce finde any thing there His necessaries both of linnen and woollen hung on a line tyed cross the room He was much in Prayer wherewith he was so delighted that he needed no external inducement his own inclinations did so hurry him thereto spending sometimes whole nights and dayes therein This his emment course of life became so notorious that not Florence alone but most of the Cities of Italy heard the fame thereof Chap. 4. His Study of Philosophy and Theologie ANd the better to attain the perfection of divine knowledge and contemplate on heavenly things he annexeth to the exercises of Piety the studies of Philosophy and Divinity And applying himself first to Philosophy he therein so acquitted him that not without cause he was ranked amongst the learned'st Scholars eminent in those dayes in the Colledge at Rome His Praeceptors were the chief in all the City Alphonso Ferrio and Caesar Jacobellius afterwards Bishop He studied Divinity among the Augustine Friers wherein he made such a progress that he gained enough to serve him for his whole life insomuch that when he was old he would answer the deepest questions in Theologie as readily as if he had come from his studies but the other day sometimes discussing such points with his Sons who were vers'd in them both to endear them the more to him and by these allectives further and promote them in Christian Devotion At other times but that seldom he would discourse thereof with the most judicious Divines of that Age of whom were Ambrosius de Balneolo afterward made Bishop of Nardo by Pius the V. and Paulus Bernardinus of Luca of the Order of S. Dominic famous for Wisdom and Learning with whom he was very intimate To others he carried himself with such Modesty as though he had scarce been in the Confines of Learning Whereupon a wise Prelate visiting him and conferring at large with him said at his parting I took this for an ignorant and unletter'd man but in truth I finde him excellently qualified for vertue and profound knowledge the like befell Alexander Saulius Bishop first of Aleria then of Pavie famous for holiness and learning who propounding some Theological questions to him wondred at his sharp understanding and gave him the like testimony Hence it was his custome that if any of His had in his hearing delivered any thing either unwarily or obscurely in their ordinary Sermons of which course more hereafter he would presently up into the Pulpit and explain it with such weight of reasons and significancy of terms you would have said his Doctrine was rather inspired by God then acquired from Art In Theologie he mostwhat inclined to the judgement of S. Thomas whose Summ he had still by him nor was he less a proficient in the H. Scriptures by continual reading whereof and daily meditation he was able to interweave the sacred Oracles with his discourse to the great advantage of his hearers Nor in his younger time did he neglect Poetry as well Latine as Italian in which he grew so dextrous that on a sudden he would compose excellent verses at pleasure Yet while he thus intended his studies he did not for this omit the exercises of Religion and Charity but resorted to the Infirmaries of the City carefully tended the sick taught in the Cathedrals the principles of Faith and the like in brief refused nothing that any way conduced to the good of Souls Yea for the time he studied Divinity whensoever he fixed his eyes on the Crucifix which hung up in the Schools he was not
able to forbear sighs and tears So that as at Florence he was sirnamed Pippus bonus so at Rome he gained the title of Philippus bonus Philip the vertuous Chap. 5. Quitting his Studies he devotes himself wholly to Christ AS soon as he had gathered from Sciences and reading Holy Books what he thought might suffice to the promoting his own and others Salvation taking S. Pauls advice Non plus Sapere quam oportet sapere That none presume to understand above what is meet to understand all business set aside he determined to know nothing but Christ and him Crucified Hereupon he sold all the Books he had and bestowed the Money on the Poor which act of Charity performed he betook him to his Prayers with more fervent devotion even to the spending dayes and nights therein and continuing sometimes in it full forty houres And for his better progress he began more severely to afflict his body sleeping on the ground anights beating himself every day with small Iron Chaines declining the Company of men daily frequenting the seven Churches of the Citty especially the Caemitery of Callistus where carrying with him only one loaf for his provision he would many times pass whole nights in supplications which strange course of life he led for ten years together Which Francis Cardonius a Dominican who then in Rome had charge of the Novices in the Monastery of S. Maria supra Minervam observing to encourage others to the practises of stricter holiness would frequently tell them Philâ—p Neri indeed was a right holy person who besides many wonderfull things done by him lived ten whole years in S. Sebastians Grots If he chanced at any time to finde the Church-doors shut when he repaired to those holy places he was wonâ— to stand in the Porch and there imploy himself in meditation on heavenly things oftimes in reading some pious book by Moon-light Here was he enriched with such celestial treasures here was he so ravished with delights that when he could no longer sustain those overcomming pleasures he would cry out It is enough good God it is enough withhold I entreat thee withhold the excesses of thy Grace for I cannot â—ear them and falling flat upon the earth he was faâ—n to roll himself too and fro No wonder therefore if being big with him who fills heaven and earth he did divers times affirme that nothing was more irksome more a burden to him that truely loved God than life oft using that memorable and common saying That Holy Men endured life desired death Yet God not only thus feasted his Champion with Spirituall Dainties but on the other side exercised him with the encounters of divels that assaulted him He went once to the Lateran Church and passing the Amphitheater of Vespasian an evill spirit in the likeness of a naked person comes out and meets him suggesting filthy and impure thoughts to him but the chast youth knowing the wily artifices of that old Serpent betakes him to his wonted artillery of Prayer with which he shamefully worsted the fiend One night also not far from S. Sebastians Church on a suddain three devills with ugly and grim visages the more to fright him met him praying and meditating as he walked but he as one disdaining them discovering no sign of fear went on undauntedly continuing in prayer with great tranquility at which they fled frustrate of their expectations And with many other combats in this kinde did those wicked spirits assail him over whom notwithstanding this valliant Souldier of Christ victoriously triumphed Of which in their proper places Chap. 6. The miraculous Palpitation of his Heart HAving lived thus a long time and now 29 years of age among other priviledges wherewith God honoured him the miraculous beating of his heart the fracture of two of his ribs so that they stuck out were not the meanest which befell him after this manner A little before Witsuntide a festivity dedicated to the Holy Ghost to whom Philip having long since piously surrendred up himself now more intensely pray'd Lo on an instant he perceived himself seized with such a passionate fervour of Divine Love that flinging himself on the earth like one in a swoon gasping for air he was forced immediately to bare his brest when the extream heat somewhat allayed he rose and transported with extraordinary joy putting his right hand to his left side found a kind of rising where the heart is seated swollen to the bigness of ones fist What the cause of this tumor was plainly appeared when he was dead in the view of divers for as the Surgeon opened his Corpse before skilful Anatomists that were by they found two of the five lesser which they call the short ribs broken clean asunder and sticking forth like a bow which for fifty years afterward that he lived at no time ever closed again and yet which seems incredible he never found from it either then or afterward the least pain or trouble At the same time though he were in very good temper of body and perfectly free from any grief or passion yet was he suddenly taken with a palpitation of the heart that held him from that moment to his last breath Yet it used to seize on him only when he was conversant in matters of Religion as when he said Mass gave Absolution ministred the Body of Christ prayed or performed the like offices at which his heart would so leap within him as though it would have broke its prison and have forced its way through him Then should you have seen the stools bed and the chamber it self shaken and tossed as with an earth-quake so once at the Cathedral of S. Peter when kneeling down upon a great and heavy board his whole body did so quake and tremble that the board he rested on moved up and down like a thing of no weight at all From that time was Philip so devoted unto the Holy Ghost that after he was Priest he would every day except the rites of the Church were against it use that prayer in the Sacrifice of the Mass Deus cui omne cor patet Hence it was likewise that if any Penitent coming to Confession chanced to lean against his breast he should even to admiration feel that throbbing of his heart and if his head touched him sometimes perceive it recoil as if struck with a hammer and he in the mean while freed of all Temptations So that Tiberius Ricciardellus Canon of the forenamed Church of S. Peter who voluntarily served the H. Man four years together left this upon record What time I served the B. man saith he I was surprized with a lewd and foul imagination which so soon as I had disclosed unto him he bade me come neerer and joyn my breast to his I approached did so and was instantly rid of it never after being molested with like impurities Thus Tiberius The same do Marcellus Vitellescus Canon of S. Maria Major one very gracious with Philip and sundry
him upon the uttering which words he was presently cured He was so desirous of the salvation of others that after 3 years tears shed for a certain Jew he at length procured his conversion of God Taurusius found him once weeping fore and demanding the reason of it I could almost drown my selfe in tears saith he when I think of the words of our Saviour Cum haec omnia feceritis dicite c. When we have done all these things say we are unprofitable servents for if the Apostles suffering so much for Christ must call themselves unprofitable what shall I poor wretch say that remember no good ever done by me The same Taurusius found him another time very intent in prayer going backwards still as though some huge mountain had bin coming upon him and asking why he did so I was saith he meditating on Gods immensity and greatness which appearing still greater and greater to me caused me even with my body to retreat likewise Another of Philips disciples was Thomas a Sicilian who through his managery attained to such a pitch of humility that he took it for a high honour to have but the office of sweeping So Peters Church in the Vatican which when he obtained he discharged with all diligence and care In the day time he never went out of the Church In the night he would fetch a light nap on the steps of some Altar having lived in this office divers years the devil enduring his unshaken constancy put him into a fright that by being terrified he might desert his emploiment So as he rested securely one night the evil spirit on the sudden made a great noise in the Church that he verily thought all the seats had bin taken up and presently dashed against the ground herewith awakned he rose and taking a wax-light looked round the Church but found nothing misplaced at all and prying narowly into the private corners and holes lest some thief might lye â—id there he spied a devil skulking hehinde a pillar in the likeness of an ugly More Thomas boldly ran to him lifting up his hand to strike him a box on the ear but the Father of pride ashamed vanished so he unappalled returned to his place and slept on quietly Among other of Philips Scholers was Frier Lewis of Spoleto so called not for that he entred into any Religious Order but for that in honour of S. Francis he alwaies wore hair cloth He sustained great temporal poverty but was requited by a spiritual opulency and the most pretious vertues especially purity For which reason Philip allotted him the care of the Virgins of S. Katherinede Rosa of which when for certain causes he desired to be discharged he could never get the B. mans consent as having sufficient experience of his chastity Of the number of his disciples must Peter firnamed Molinarius be also reckoned one who lost his sight with excessive weeping which he is reported to have recovered afterward by miracle from Almighty God Sundry other children in Christ had Philip which died in high reputation for Sanctity of whom some are for brevities sake omitted here some as occasion offers shall be inserted in due place CHAP. XII His Zeal for propagating the Christian Faith NOw while the children of this B. Father were conferring of divine things daily in his chamber where were sometimes read letters that used to be sent yearly from the Indies to the Fathers of the Society of Jesus Philip casting with himself how plentiful a harvest and how few labourers there were in those parts resolves so he were ascertained it would be acceptable to God to go into the Indies there to his utmost to propagate the Christian faith and if need were shed his blood for the truth of Christ His intents he declares to some his chief familiars in number about twenty of whom was Taurusius of these some he wishes to become Priests only that thereby having procured the Apostolical Benediction they might take a voyage to the Indies But because he would not enterprize nor determine any thing of moment but by advice prayer and the advantage of time using longer Prayers then formerly he went to a Monk of the Order of S. Benet that dwelt in S. Pauls Monastery without the City and advised with him as being in repute for his life and learning he remitted him to another Monk of the Order of Cistercians called Augustin Ghettine Govenourr of the Monastery of the H. Martyrs Vincentius and Anastasius at Aquae Salviae This man was in esteem for knowledg and sanctity by his parents dedicated to God and Religion ere he was born into the world For his devout Parents having duely confessed and received the B. Sacrament were wont to consecrate to God their issue as oft as it befel them yet unborn He was famous likewise for the Spirit of Prophecy and exceedingly devoted to S. John the Evangelist by whose means he said he had received very many favours insomuch that being neer his end he cryed out My dear S. John so he called him hath assured me I shall die on his Festival And indeed as he said Mass on Christmas day the Evangelist forewarned him that next day after he should die so Mass being done he hastned to bed and arming him with the Sacrament of extream Vnction the day following died To this Reverend person Philip relates what he had designed and requests his advice aceording as the matter imported he deferred in it and bids him come again that so he might give him a more punctuall answer At the day appointed when Philip came he returned him this answer S. John the Evangelist had appeared to him and told him plainly that his Indies should be at Rome and that God would use his service there for the good of many telling him further that the Three Fountains seemed to him of bloody tincture which as S. John expounded it presaged a great calamity on the City Upon this Philip gave over determining to settle at Rome and addict himself altogether to the furthering and promoting the salvation of others as long as he lived Yet did not this ardent Zeal of propagating the Faith chill in him at any time for what he could not do among the Indians he to his uttermost endeavoured in the City When a Jew Heretique or any other Infidell met him he could not refrain weeping at the first sight he was so earnestly desirous of his conversion and therefore neglected nothing that might further it One time he travelled with Prosper Cribellius one of his Sons whom he loved well to S. John Laterans into whose companie a Jew chanced to light as they went into the Church reverently kneeling before the Altar where was the H. Sacrament the Hebrew stood with his hat on turning his back upon the Altar to whom Philip Friend let me intreat you to pray with me a little in these words O Christ if thou be the true God grant that I embrace the Christian faith Far
did so meanwhile Philip in few words yet such as had their weight from heaven perswaded this errant to the acknowledging of the truth willing him to get upon a form and there publikely disclaim his heresy who heartily did abjure and detest his impious opinions in the view of all the people At last Philip prevailed so far that he was brought back to prison where to mollify the minde of this penitent he procured him of Gregory the thirteenth a very liberall gratuity besides what the Masters of the Inquisition allowed him for diet and that he might not relapse from his good resolutions visited him every day treating with him only about matters of religion And for the subduing and curbing in him the spirit of arrogance and pride wherewith hereticall minds use to be possessed he gave him the lives of S. John Columbinus and Jacoponius to read saying that this sort of men are easilier won by the example of holy men and their innocent behaviour than subtilties or disputes so that Palaeologus was sorry he had not light on Philip before and bin acquainted with him Yet he lasted not long in this good minde which Philip foretold in these words This mans conversion doth not altogether like me yet by his prayers and tears he obtained of God his returne and repentance but at length relapsing again he was put to death not without signes of hearty contrition Caesar Baronius and John Francis Bordinus at the instance of Philip affording their assistance for setling his minde in the faith being then at the brink of death CHAP. XIII He puts Baronius upon writing his Annals THis so vehement zeal of propagating the faith would not be confined to the limits of Rome but diffused it self far and wide unto the most distant quarters of the Christian world For perceiving that in some Northerne countries the enemies of the Catholique faith daily broached new and infectious doctrines he on the contrary pitying the great ruine of Souls resolved to oppose himself Thereupon by speciall directions of the spirit of God he enjoyned that in the Oratory of which anon one of his Scholars as oft as he preached should bring down the Ecclesiasticall story in order from the Incarnation of Christ that so the beginning truth and progress of the universall Church exposed to open view and the craft and cheats of hereticks discovered neither the Ignorant might be led into error nor the Learned pretend any excuse For this task he made choice of Caesar Baronius of Sora Doctor in either Law a man renowned for sacred story and noted for good life who being but a private person was so liberall a benefactor to the poor that he bestowed all his houshould-stuff to a silver cabinet of a good value and of much esteem with him yea his very apparell toward their maintenance and so great a despiser of honours that he tore his priviledge of Doctor meerly in contempt of himself Him therefore the H. Father designed for publishing the History of the Church so oft recited in the Oratory having well digested it into Method a labour which being begun out of obedience and after vast pains and continuall watchings perfected came happily forth Which so noble and admirable work is to be ascribed rather to Philip than Baronius as in his preface on the eighth Tome he hath left upon record for the clearing of which his own words are set down at the end of this treatise Adde hereunto that Philip himself a little before he died calling Baronius to him said Think but meanly of thy self Caesar for these works are not the issue of thy pains and studie but a gift of the Divine Bounty rather when repeating the same again and again True Father replied Baronius for whatever is in them is all next God owing to your prayers The same is confirmed by a vision from heaven which appeared to him not long before he set about the compiling his Ecclesiastical History For when first he began to preach in the Oratory he used to thunder out the terrors of de ath and hell which after he had a while practised Philip by direction of the H. Ghost foreseeing that if he changed the subject of his discourse it would prove more beneficiall both to himself and others advised him to apply himself to the composing his Ecclesiastique story and leave preaching death and hell at that time Baronius did not oppose but his genius carrying him the other way afterward neglected his admonition so that Philip by vertue of his authority commanded him speedily to go about the task he had set him Which his injunctions Baronius thought hard and urged thereto one while by the vertue of obedience another while discouraged by the reluctancy of his nature he was extreamly troubled but the Good Lord to allay these tempests in him thus made known his minde to him As he was asleep one night he thought he was discoursing with Onuphrius Panuinus who also applied himself to Ecclesiasticall history when being very pensive and intimating what Philip had imposed upon him he desires him not to refuse the finishing such a work and as he heaped up arguments to perswade his friend on the sudden he hears Philips voice saying yield Caesar now yield and stand out no longer for that the Ecclesiasticall history must be written by you not by Panuinus At which Baronius awaked and perceiving it to be the Divine will immediatly resolves to run through the Church Annals in the Oratory which when he had brought along from Christs we near to his own times Philip enjoyned him to rehearse them once or twice from the beginning to the end so that in the space of thirty years as in the preface mentioned he affirms he went over in publique the whole story from the beginning seven times ere he printed the first Tome and at last put forth the whole work divided into twelve Tomes For this his great service to the Church he was by Pope Clement the eightth advanced to the dignity of a Cardinal which eminency with what unwillingness and regret he received is there recorded by him besides his refusing before that three wealthy Bishopricks So worn away with continuall study and long weakness living in hiâ— Tusculan retirement when he found his end approaching Let us go to Rome saith he for it beseems not a Cardinall to dye in the Country Being brought therefore to the City in a Litter his sickness increasing he died the last of June 1608. In the 69th year of his age which number he had with his pen marked in many pages of his books as being prescribed for the term of his life in a house neer the Oratory not far from S. Philips Chappel the Fathers of the Congregation being present and was buried with great concourse of people For the same cause to wit the refuting obstinate hereticks fondly rejecting the worshipping of saints Philip enjoyned him to annex some Annotations to the Roman Martyrology And for this reason
receive the Sacrament by appointment of their Confessor he advised all Confessors to take Confessions publickly in the Church every Holy day Wednesday and Friday on other dayes he would still have one of them there for that purpose For matters of the house he desired his should chuse a mean doing nothing that was singular At times of refection besides the usual reading which lasted somewhat above half the meal the rest of the spare time was spent in propounding a couple of Questions by turns morning and evening either pertaining to Morality or taken out of Sacred Writ or the heads of Positive Divinity which were modestly and briefly answered to by them at table according to every ones sense These are the main of those Orders Philip made in the Congregation an Institution since planted in many Cities of Italy and other Provinces The H. man was absolutely of opinion that each House that was erected should resembling his give Laws to it self and be obedient to the Ordinaries of the place independent on the Roman Congregation Of which two Bulls are extant of Paul V. and Gregory XV. Yet ambitious he never was of augmenting his number For when the finest wits and hopefullest youths daily flocked to him he would perswade them either to go into some of the Regular Societies or live as they were thereafter as he thought best for them but never would he entice any to his own Order either by intreaties or commendations of it Yea if all should have forsaken the Congregation it had not a whit discouraged him who used to say God hath no need of men for of stones he raiseth up Children unto Abraham If any attempted the like to his designe of the Oratory it troubled not him when one told him how some Regulars had taken up the custome in their Churches to make familiar discourses and that they were to be opposed he wisely answered And whose gift is it that any prophecy In other things he governed his Body with much prudence and caution and so demeaned himself that he cemented his own fast together in indissoluble bands of love and concord affirming it was harder then men imagined to preserve long unity among such as were otherwise at liberty and out of subjection which nothing doth more facilitate or sweeten than gentle conduct and moderate commands Yet did he never when there was need of it slacken or remit the reins of government having some of his so at command that with a look or beck he could rule them as he pleased and it was usual with him whensoever he would reprove any of them but to look sternly and 't was enough The detestable vice of disobedience he so perfectly hated ever that if any of his were found guilty therein they were straight discarded the House To which purpose he left in writing these words under his own hand If any think he cannot hold out by reason of the meanness of dyet the services to be performed at Church or the like but will disturb his fellows let him freely and speedily quit the place if not after a first or second offence let him be expelled for I am resolved ô ye Fathers they shall not continue amongst us who refuse to observe these so few Orders Thus Philip. And that all his might learn to deny their own understanding he sent them forth on business at such unseasonable times and hours as seemed against all reason and if they demurred never so little he redoubled his commands that so taming and mastering their own wills they might the sooner arrive at the height of true humility But what progress in piety he expected from his and what an enemy he was to the refractory and perverse the Letter which Cardinal Baronius sent from Ferrara while he tarried there with Clement VIII to Consolinus then Master of the Novices at Rome sufficiently testifies where he writes I must accuse my self indeed for writing nothing to you all this while were it but to thank you for your prayers to God for me I now defray that debt and as effectually as I can both thank and entteat you together with your Scholars my dearest dear Children to whom I dayly wish greater increase in vertue hereafter to do the same still Cherish Good Father cherish those young and tender plants dressing them to the likeness of their fair Precedent the Tree of which they are Branches the same way and course You steer conduct them and be assured Our B. Parent still lives sees and orders his holding a scourge in his hand to chastise the unruly For my self I beg of you R. Father to rank me among your Novices punishing my faults without favour or delay I would to God I could thus grow young again verifying that of the Prophet in me Renovabitur ut aquilae juventus tua Thy youth shall be renewed like the Eagles For this I take it is the meaning of Abishags cherishing David spent with travail namely when the heat of the spirit meets with old age Certainly Abishag as you well know lay with our H. Father who in his very last years felt such heats as he thought himsef in a manner burnt up therewith Not furrs nor purple can warm the aged but Abishag alone O let me obtain this favour of God let me procure this by prayer to enjoy her embraces in this last cold season of my life since this alone hath induced me to write So God bless and sanctifie you Ferrara August 14. 1598. Caesar Baronius Cardinal Lastly as to domestique affaires He was very cautious not to wast the goods of the Congregation being the Patrimony of Christ and stock of the Poor wherein he was so carefull that he would let nothing be disbursed more than needs must alledging that which Cassian writes of a Cook whom the Fathers sharply reproved for but wasting three grains of Lentils and that of S. Antonine Archbishop of Florence who went into the Church a nights and studied by the light of the Lamp lest as he said he should impair the Poors maintenance And if any judged it too great rigor he replyed Away with that nicety so the goods belong not to the Church do what you will with them CHAP. XX. The Obedience and Reverence given him by his Sons THe Congregation being reduced into this modell the Religious Father in the first place recommended obedience to his a duty which not only those of his House but even strangers most readily payed him nothing being so hard or irksome which upon his commands they would not attempt For this reason Cardinall Taurusius avouched some of them little short of the Egyptian Monks in point of obedience though neither by vow nor oath thereto obliged and that none of the Founders of other Orders that he knew of were more punctuall observed and obeyed than Philip by his Nor was it spoken upon slight grounds for some did so revere him that had he bid them throw themselves down head-long or into
II. His devotion to the B. Virgin and the Saints BUt the signall reverence and ardent devotion with which he honoured the B. Mother of God no language is sufficient to express styling her suas delicias Amoresque suos his Darling and his Love oft uttering with his tongue the Name of Mary which he ever carryed in his heart nay so tenderly did he affect her that many times as children use he would lispingly call her Manima He spent whole nights in prayer to her At S. Hieroms he fell so desperately ill that his Doctor appointed one to watch with him who one night heard the H. man supposing none nere him in most friendly and familiar expressions talking with the Virgin of Virgins that the whole night seemed to him gone like a minute and when in the morning it rung to the Angels salutation he mistook it for the evening Two short Prayers among other called Ejaculatory he commonly used in honour of the blessed Virgin the first O Virgin Mary Mother of God pray to Jesus for me the second Virgin and Mother With which forms of Prayer repeated threescore times together he counselled his to no small advantage of their Souls to present the Virgin as a sacred Chaplet And the Divine Goodness strangely approved this way of praying for one of the Congregation being tempted though unwillingly about the unstained purity of the H. Virgin and intimateing so much to Philip he prescribed him the forementioned form wherewith to salute the Mother of God who assaying it was soon freed of the trouble of the temptation He professed many favours done him by the Virgin one was that whensoever he was disquieted with evil spirits or frighted with ugly sights presently repairing but to her image his fear left him immediately When the Fathers were busy in pulling down the old Church he that overlooked the work bid the Masons by no means deface that part of the building where was kept a very ancient Pourtraicture of the B. Virgin but Philip one day betimes in the morning commands them without delay to take down that Roof for he had seen our B. Lady that night holding it up with her hand they did so and viewing the place they espy a beam hanging in the air loose from the wall and amazed at the miracle they shouted and applying their engines took down the roof This is that Image of our Lady which at this day is seen on the great Altar He was likewise favoured with divers Visions and apparitions of her let one serve for all that famous one a little before his end of which in its place As concerning the other Saints he alwayes gave them singular veneration and would have their Lives read daily to him for some houres together He chose for his Patrons Mary Magdalen on whose Vigil he was born and the H. Apostles Philip and James the one for that he bore his Name the other for that his Solemnity was kept upon the same day On the greater Festivals he likewise received greater celestial favours and would say It was a bad sign not to relish spiritual things more than ordinarily on the extraordinary Solemnities of the Church He had a high esteem of the Saints Reliques yet would very hardly suffer any of his Disciples to reserve them in their private custody both because â—o in tract of time they finde less respect and for that they are often lost by unskilful heirs that know not their worth For saith he Churches and places consecrate are most proper for them Yet was he not absolutely against it for one to keep them decently and devoutly by him nay himself had in his chamber a box full of Sacred Reliques And here must not be forgot what hapned after his decease while the box was in Baronius's keeping Antony Francus a Regular Clerk fell ill at Rome and the Physicians giving him over he received the celestial Viaticum when Baronius coming to see him brought those Reliques mentioned puting them unto his brest and for his ease and satisfaction left them with him That night being in a dangerous fit taking the Box he prayed to God that of his goodness and for the merits of the B. Philip he would help him in the midst of which thoughts he fals asleep and in the morning when he wakn'd found his disease gone and in short time perfectly recovered Lastly his devotion toward H. Reliques was eminently seen what time the Bodies of the holy Martyrs Papias and Maurus were conveyed from the Deaconry of S. Adrian to the Congregation and honourably interred under the great Altar For going in solemn Procession as soon as the Good man beheld the Bier draw neer to the Church-doors he began for gladness to skip with his feet to clap his hands to lift up his eys and to shake all over melting inwardly and languishing away for joy When the Translation was finished he enjoyned Gallonius to compile the History of their Acts carefully and exactly which he did at large CHAP. III. He conveys Holiness and Devotion unto others STrange it was that not only himself flamed with Love to the Divine Majesty but through the special gift of the H. Ghost wonderously enflamed those he conversed with as on the contrary those that left his acquaintance by little and little lost all relish of spiritual matters Lavinia de Rusticis Wife to Fabricius de Maximis had somewhat a mean opinion of Philip before she chose him for her Confessor but when she heard him discourse of heavenly things with such zeal and ardent affection she fell in love with Christ presently and put her self under the tuition of the Servant of God yea she who but now intended matters the world having once tasted of the Spirit confessed her sins thrice a week and as oft received the H. Sacrament And having learnt of Philip to despise the world and afflict her self she gave her minde so much to prayer that she had many times Raptures and when she died Philip affirmed that she enjoyed the Glory of the Blessed in heaven Constantia Draco Crescentia and her Maid stood by him once as he said Mass and on the sudden they both found themselves glow with such spiritual ardors and even dissolved into tears that the Mistris turning to her Maid said Do you perceive what this is Yes replyed she for observing more narrowly they imputed it solely to the merits of Philip. Nerus de Nigris the first time he heard Philip say Mass being formerly wont to be much desquieted in his minde averred that he felt himself so wel disposed unto heavenly meditations that he wondred at himself which thing he afterward oftimes experienced They that prayed with him were so enamoured on religious duties that continuing in prayer for many hours together they thought the time nothing One of them having spent an hour in prayer deemed it but as a minute saying O that I were alwayes thus piously affected how gladly would I pray with Philip continually
peculiarly of the Foundation of the Oratory being much displeased when any adventured but to step into the Courts of Princes except only in cases of necessity so that he oftimes severely reprehended Germanicus Fidelius for frequenting so much company of Courtiers saying to him Vnless you quit the Court you will be made a Courtier and yet shall you never attain unto the dignity of a Prelate and he spake true For Clement VIII committed his Nephew Silvester Aldobrandinus for his instruction in manners to Germanicus and confered on him a Canons place in the Vatican which he at last resigning died as Philip had told him without any degree of eminency Besides the Servant of Christ would not willingly suffer any of his to hold above one Ecclesiasticall Benefice and on no terms would take the Confessions of such Prelates as contemning the Refidence due unto their Sees without colour of Canonicall excuse lived in the City a thing wherein he would not dispence with Cardinalls themselves In his discourse he would so sharply reprove the counterfeit Pageantry of the world that he was often repeating such sayings as these Vanitas Vanitatum omnia vanitas Vanity of vanities all is vanity There is nothing at all in this world good The contempt of Riches and honours is in all places necessary but at Rome most of all I find nothing in this world that pleaseth me but this pleaseth me most that nothing pleaseth me and the like At which divers being awakened and rowsed made after heaven with all their might CHAP. XVII His Humility THis so matchless Contempt of wealth and honours had its rise from his profound Humility which being deeply rooted in his Soul made him with S. Francis heartily and without hypocrisy profess himself the greatest of sinners which he spake with such powerfulnes of expression as witnessed that he really meant what he said Therefore if he had heard of any horrid crime done he used to say Pray God I have not committed worse And for this cause he read the Life of S. Mary the Egyptian much whose austerities he practised with great rigour though not guilty of heinous offences He every day complained in this manner to God Lord do thou beware of me for except thou assist me with thy help I shall this very day undoubtedly betray thee Somtimes he would say The wound of Christs side is wide enough already but unles God prevent me I shall make it wider When he received the Body of Christ in the Eucharist he said I confess Lord I confess I am inclined to nothing but evill he prepared himself in this wise to say Mass I offer up my self to thee O Lord of my self prone to all manner of evill When he was a young man if at any time he were sick he used to say Lord if I recover I will lead a better life but bethinking himself better in his latter time he used this saying If I should chance to grow well I shall as far as in me lies be but the worse for I have so often failed in performing what I have purposed that I dare not trust my self hereafter any more He had so firmly imprinted it on his Spirit that he had never done any good that when he saw young men thinking on the time they had for their progresse and advance in Gods way he would say O Blessed ô happy you who have time before you for the doing good in somtimes he brake out into this speech I despair so that meeting once two Dominicans and making his way on purpose betweene them he said Sirs let a despairing man pass quietly by you they supposing him to be indeed hopeless concerning salvation laboured to repair his confidence but he smiling told them I despaire of my self but I trust in the Lord and so went on his journey Yea he had so fixed his mind on the sense of his own baseness and unworthyness that on a time a woman requesting of him a piece of his garment as reverencing him for a Saint he in great wrath bid her Away I am no Saint but indeed a Devill Another time being asked by the Embassadress for Spain How many years since he had renounced the world his answer was Truely I know not that ever I renounced it Being once sick and desired by some holy persons to repeat those words of S. Martin Lord if I may be usefull to thy people I refuse not the Labour he made this â—t art reply Alas I am no Saint Martin nor ever thought my self such a one and should I esteem my self usefull I should account that I were undone Another time being sick and requested by a Noble man to pray for the continuance of his life that he might not leave his so soon without providing for them he angrily replyed He never judged himself worthy to provide for any A Person of quality seriously reflecting on the daily wonders done by him said Father Saints do very strange things speak not so replied he but say rather with the Prophet Mirabilis Deus in Sanctis suis God is wonderfull in his Saints Another telling him I am tempted to be beleive you are not the man the world takes you for saith he Know that is no temptation but a truth for I am nothing more than other men In this Humility of Spirit he used to commend himself to the Prayers of all and was wont to send to divers Houses of the Regulars to desire the Religious the Novices especially to remember him in their Prayers to God he likewise requested such as were Priests to afford him a share in their Suffrages when they said Mass in their Churches and chiefly on their prime Festivalls In like manner he intreated that he might beare a part of the Penances injoyned Penitâ—nts in Confession the Humble man hoping by this means through the prayers of others to obtain what he least expected from his own He also took it ill that any accounted him a vertuous or holy man and if he heard himself called Saint he would say wretched I how many rude Clowns how many silly wenches shall go to heaven before me One of his telling how he was held a Saint by all he cried out Alas Alas He was alwayes averse to estimation among men for when being young the Armes of his Ancestors were brought him as a memoriall of his family he presently tore them A little before he died he caused all his papers to be burnt He would suffer none were they of never so mean quality to stand bare to him Nor would he ordinarily let any kiss his hands although he permitted some that they might not go away sad He never used to discourse with Spirituall men about Spirituall matters He could not endure that any of the Congregation should call him Superiour or Regent but took much delight in the title of Father that name importing rather Affection than Authority Hereupon being afterwards Superiour of the Congregation he was by his still
Spirit of Mortification And Philip afterward told Cusanus that he was no contemptible Person For his Scholars instruction and information he was wont to give them many Precepts and Advices Firâ—t he counselled such as were Confessors not by violence to guide their Penitents the same course which themselves had taken since some Holy exercises are beneficiall for one which to another become pernicious for said he they must not be suffered to try at pleasure what ever comes into their heads it being sometimes most advantageous to interdict them the practises of Devotion both for relaxing the mind and to enure them by the exercise of Mortification to master their own desires by little and little if they affected any thing overmuch He would not have Penitents for every cause change their Confessors as on the otherside he was offended that Confessors admitted other Penitents besides their own For he would not entertain Nerus de Nigris one whom he loved exceedingly for his Penitent but alwayes remitted him to his own Confessor while he was at Rome He also made Peregrine Altobell return to his former Confessor again in whose absence he for a year together had taken his Confession And for preserving peace and union between Man and Wife and the better governing of Families he greatly commended the having but one and the same Confessor so that it were done voluntarily not out of any motives from fear or aw as knowing full well how free the use of Sacramentall Penance ought to be For the reclaiming any one fallen to his former state of piety he affirmed no better remedy could be found than to discover his offence to some one of approved sanctity that was his confident it being not impossible by this one act of Humility to repossess himself of his formerly lost Vertue He likewise advised Confessors not to permit such of their Penitents as were Novices to practise all kind of Penance they perhaps requested that so they might proceed with more alacrity in the Service of God neither overburdened with multiplicity of Penances to weary them or make them grow desperate and careless and so withdraw their hand from the Plow He wished Penitents not too violently to urge their Confessor to yield to them wherein he was unwilling and said it was very expedient when they had not the benefit of a Confessor to imagine him directing them and to square their actions as they conceived he would enjoyn them He disliked that any should whip themselves with Scourges or small Chains or do any such thing without acquainting their Confessor that who so did otherwise would either suffer in their health or likely were seduced with a spirit of Pride He would not have Vows made without the advice of Persons discreet for fear lest what is lightly promised God be as lightly recalled He could not give way that any of his should leave any Vertuous course of life they had once chosen desiring much that every one should abide in his own calling adding that even Secular men might attain the state of Perfection for that Trades and Arts did not hinder the acquisition of Vertue Whereupon though he sent innumerable companies welnigh to severall Orders of the Religious and especially to S. Dominic's insomuch as the Fathers thereof stiled him a Second Dominic yet was he most pleased to see people Religious in their own houses And for this reason he would hardly consent that such as lived in the Courts of Nobles with good example unto others should depart thence saying that a man to alter from evil to good needed no directions but he that intended to ascend from good to better had need of Time and Counsell and Prayer For the conservation of quiet and concord betwixt Neighbours and Friends he advised never to speak of mens naturall defects as also in admonishing Princes or Great Personages not to proceed directly but in the third person still so tempering the reprehension as Nathan to David He likewise counselled that if any had received discourtesies or affronts by Persons of Quality they should not bewray any signes of displeasure but look affably as though there had passed nothing of discontent between them that by this means all jealousies and surmisings of malice and revenge might be removed He wished women to tarry at home not to goe much abroad nor gadde to other folks houses but upon necessity and urgent occasions So that one time as he was highly extolling Martha Spoletana a woman of that Age remarked for her holy conversation some of his asked him Why he so much commended that Woman Because said he manum suam misitad fortia digiti ejus apprehenderunt fusum She layeth her hauds to the Spindle and her fingers take hold of the Distaff This woman was a great honourer of Philip kneeling and prostrating her self at his feet as often as she came to Rome and resorted to him having that Priviledg granted her by God to discern the Beauty of the Soul and seeing the brightness of this B. mans Soul she was ravished therewith into an Extaticall joy and delight Much more to this effect was He wont to alleage which to avoid prolixity is here omitted CHAP. X. He freeth Persons Possest by the Devill THough Philip were not very forward to make use of Exorcisms yet he obtained of Our Lord that singular Favour as by his Prayers and commands devils were cast out a Testified upon oath by Car. Tarugi and divers others A Maid named Katherine was brought from Campania to Rome that by His means she might be released from the Devill For she spake both Greek and Latin as though she had been brought up in an Academy whereas she was ignorant and illiterate without the least smattering of learning besides she had such an incredible strength that many stout men at once were scarce able to master her By help also of the Devil she many times foresaw at what hour Philip would send to adjure her saying That Priest hath now sent one to bring me by force to him and presently ran away and hid her self in the secretest by-places of the honse Her did Philip free of those unclean Spirits by only Praying to God for her at S. Johns Church of the Florentines and returned her safe again to her Parents Lucretia Cotta a Roman being bewitched was so tormented by the Devill for eight years that the Balls of her eyes were drawn down to her Nose and she almost wholly deprived of her sight besides that she had such a pain at her heart that the Curate of the place finding her sometimes half-dead meant to anoint her with the Holy Oyle otherwhiles she felt her Bowels so torne and wrung attended with such a trembling that many women lying upon her brest could not stop the motion thereof In these tortures of body and mind she could neither eat nor sleep nor stand nor walk at all but as she was held up betwixt two At last brought to this extremity
hearing that they sent for the Physicians cryes out What for help must be fetched from heaven and not from men and this I assure you of if ye pluck away the Child by force it must necessarily be torn in pieces and then the Woman is irrecoverably lost Above two days was Delia tortured with these pangs at last her Husband sends for Philip who as soon as he came into the Chamber put his Cap on her then kneeling down and looking up to heaven wept and said Ho you there repeat the Lords Prayers and Angelicall Salutation five times Afterward rising he put his mouth to her ears and cries out Delia she asks Father what is your will with me That all study Holiness quoth he God grant it replied she but Father I am very ill Doubt not you will do well again saâ—th Philip and signing her with the signe of the Cross went his way He was not quite at the bottom of the stairs but he bid her Husband that followed him Go back for your Wife is recovered He returnes finds her in health and that Night she went about her business in the House as if she had never bin ill at all left her bed The same Delia when she was sick of a Pleurisy at another time was by the H. man restored to health Faustina Capozucchia the Wife of Domitius Cecchinus having been with Child now seven Moneths fell into such a violent sickness that after twenty two days she seemed past all hope of cure The Servant of God coming to her lifts up his Eyes to heaven and lays his right hand on her forehead saying Lord I will have the Soul of this Child I will not be denied it Lord and so went away By and by he returnes and saying the same words again departs Mean-time Faustina was brought abed of a Daughter which being Regenerate by Baptisme both It and the Mother after died Olympia Trojana lay for dead in the throws of a hard travell her Servants all bewailing her and there remaining no expectancy of aid from men she made Philip be sent for whom she reverenced for his Holiness having heard of the many Miracles done by him The H. man pitying her and especially that the Infant might not dy unbaptized mâ—de hast to her and being come into the Room having prayed he only laid his hand on her and went away Being gone the woman had a very quick delivery and was well the Child also beâ—ng Christened was added to the Number of the Heavenly Quire Ersilia formerly spoken of was strongly conceited she should dy of the Child she then went with wherein she was so peremptory that none could perswade her out of her opinion Being much perplexed about it as she was going out of the Church one day she light upon Philip who said softly to her See what a silly Woman fancieth to her self and laying his hand on her bade her hope well and immediately she became chearfull left grieving and in a few days after had a very easy Labour Besides divers others by the Prayers of Philip became joyfull Mothers of Children which are here omitted Yet may it not be passed over that though Philip used to crave Temporall Blessings of â—od under a Condition he would say absolutely in the case of Women in Childbirth Lord I will have this granted me namely that these Infants which are to be born be likewise Born anew by H. Baptisme He was wont also that the Miraculous effects done daily by him at the Labour of Women through the Blessing of God might not be ascribed to his Merits to carry about with him a certain Pouch very helpfull to Women in Travell saying that there were Reliques in it and that he never applied it to any in Childbirth but it availed much either to the Mother or the Child Cleria Bonarda the Wife of Claudius Neri had always very difficult Labours and being near her time she was exceeding fearfull Her Labour coming on her Philip sent her that Bag which she devoutly applying had so easy a Delivery that she scarce knew she was brought abed The like is reported of many more When the B. Father was dead some of his Sons desirous to see what was in that Pouch pulled forth a great many Beads but found nothing at all save a Handkerchief in the middle of which was a little Cross wrought with purple Silk and a small Medall of S. Helen's such as they use to hang about Childrens necks Whereby they perceived that the Holy Man carried it to Travelling Women to the end they might not attribute as is said the Miracles to him but to those Holy and Sacred Reliques FINIS The Testimony of CARDINAL BARONIUS concerning PHILIP NERI Lib. Annal. Tom. 8. after the Dedicatory Epistle to CLEMENT VIII FOr what concerns the first Originall and progress of my writing the Ecclesiasticall Annalls I have as yet scarce had the freedome to glance at some few particulars and those rather hudled up in obscurity than manifestly declared forasmuch as He of whom we were to speak was then alive who not only contemned but professedly opposed whatsoever tended to his own praise He having since exchanged Earth for Heaven our discourse now disengaged of those ties then upon it may freely traverse the spaces of that most copious subject the Munificence and Favours received from Him Indeed we are often admonished in Holy Scripture that in generall whatsoever prosperity or happiness befalls the Children is all of it to be ascribed unto the Parents particularly in that signall Blessing which the Grand Patriarch Jacob bestowed on Joseph among other oracular truths contained therein Sedit in forti arcus ejus c. His Bow abode in strength and the bands Gen. 49. 24. of his arms and of his hands were broke asunder by the hands of the mighty Jacob from thence went forth the Shepheard the Stone of Israell Seeing therefore all Josephs felictiy is attributed to the puissant hand of Jacob who not only was far distant but had already wept for him as one dead and bewailed him as slain what may we say of this Father who being present and assistant unto all first in his Apostolicall spirit travelled oftimes of us again and checking our younger years with the reins of government restrained the precipitancy of that in constant age Gal. 4. 19. which hurries fast to ruine till he made the untamed Ass-colt obedient Matt. 21. 2. to the Laws of God and fit for Christ to back But in regard we are many ways deeply obliged unto him let this publike Thanksgiving remain as a perpetuall and lasting Monument ever living ever speaking for him at leastwise touching whatever appertains to compiling the Annalls which we have now in hand He being the sole Author of all our pains and labour undertaken therein For by the oft-redoubled commands of this our Father did we adventure on so difficult a work and however loth and unwilling as distrusting our own strengths undertook it
name Claudia Beche daughter of Mr. Nicolas Beche in St. Anthonies street and of many others whose names are not remembred who come every day to Port-Royall to render thanks to God for the favours that they have received It is sufficient to say that if God did not cause his assistance thereto be either perceived or hoped for there is no humane consideration that could draw so many persons from the other end of the city to come to honour this holy thorne in the Church of Port-Royall and to make their prayers there every Friday for no man enticeth or inviteth them by any means nor doth any one seek or propose any other end but the glory of God in this affair which is wholly of God And thisiis it which hath moved Monsieur de la Poterie freely to give that which before he had onely deposited so many extraordinary cures making him conceive that God would have him deprive himself of that treasure of Blessings and graces notwithstanding the devotion he had to reverence it in his own Chappell amongst the many other holy Reliques and to give it as he hath done to the Monastery of Port Royall where Jesus Christ by the wonders he daily worketh makes it apparent that there it is that he would have that holy thorne of his Crown to be honoured Ex R. P. Francisci Coventr Paralipom Philosoph cap. 4. p. 68. REferam ad huc unum miraculum in patriâ nostrâ paucis abhinc annis c. I will relate one miracle more done in my own Countrey to the great wonder of the neighbouring inhabitants but a few years ago to wit about the year 1640. The processe of the business was told the King when at Oxford which he commanded to be further examined And it was this A certain Boy of twelve years Old called John Trelille in the County of Cornwall not far from the lands end as they were playing at foot-ball after the manner of that country snatching up the ball ran away with it whereupon a girle in anger strook him with a sticke on the back bone and so bruised or brake it that for 16. years after he was forced to go creeping on the ground In this Condition arrived to the 28th year of his age he dreamt that if he did but wash in S. Maderns well or in the stream running from it he should recover his former strength and perfection This is a place in Cornwall from the remains of antient devotion frequented still by Protestants on the Thursdays in May and especially on the Thursday of Corpus Christi near to which well is a Chappell dedicated to S. Maderne where is yet an Altar and right against it a grassy hillock by the Country people every year made anew which they call S. Maderns bed The Chappell-roof is quite decayed but a kind of thorne of it self shooting forth of the old walls so extends its boughs as that it strangely covers the whole Chappell and supplies as it were a roof to it So one Thursday in May assisted by one Periman his neighbour nourishing great hopes from his dreame thither he crept and lying before the Altar and praying very fervently that as it was related to him in his dream he might regain his health and the strength of his limbs he washed his whole body in the stream that flowed from the Well and ran through the Chappell after which having slept about an hour and an halfe on S. Maderns Bed through the extreamity of pain he felt in his Nerves and arteries he began to cry out and his companion helping and lifting him up he perceived his hamms and his joynts somewhat extended and himself become stronger insomuch as partly with his feet partly with his hands he went much more erected than before And before next Thursday he got two crutches resting on which he could make a shift to walk which before he could not and coming then to the Chappel as formerly after having bathed himself he slept again on the same bed and at last awakened found himself much stronger and more upright and so leaving one crutch in the Chappell he went home with the other The third Thursday he returned to the Chappell and bathed as before slept and when awake rose up quite cured yea grew so strong that he wrought day-labour amongst other hired servants and four years after listed himself a Souldier in the Kings army where he behaved himself with great stoutness both of mind and body At length in 1644. he was slain at the siege of Lime in Dorset-shire What fiction can be here I see not That he should have a dream to such a purpose that the event according to things discovered in his dreame should manifest the truth thereof That on Thursdays especially on Corpus-Christi-Thursday Thursday with Catholicks being memorable for the Holy Eucharist as Friday is for the Passion upon the suppliants prayers his desired health should be conferred That the water sacred to this Saint or more likely blessed by him when yet living should have this healing vertue We read indeed in the Gospell of the water moved by the Angel which upon it cured those that were brought and put therein and from the same speciall blessing of God doubtless at S. Maderns intercession for the singular reverence he had to the mystery of the Body of Christ this holy well received that healing power The whole procedure and order of the matter speaks it a miracle insomuch as that it is acknowledged for such by the Protestant-inhabitants themselves from whom I received this generally famed Relation Out of a Treatise of Bishop Halls of the Invisible World 1. lib. 8. sect concerning the same Miracle THe trade that we have with good Spirits is not now discerned by the eye but is like to themselves spirituall yet not so but that even in bodily occasions we have many times insensible helps from them in such manner as that by the effects we can boldly say here hath been an Angel though we see him not Of this kind was that no less than miraculous cure which at S. Maderns in Cornwall was wrought upon a poor creeple John Trelille whereof besides the attestation of many hundreds of the neighbours I took a strict and personall examination in that last visitation which I either did or ever shall hold This man that for 16. years together was faine to walk upon his hands by reason of the close contraction of the sinews of his legs upon three monitions in his dream to wash in that Well was suddenly so restored to his limbs that I saw him able to walk get his own maintenance I found here was neither art not collusion the thing done the author invisible FINIS