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
away for whilest she was here she was euery day both morning and euening with the sickman a great while beseeching him vpon her knees and with teares in her eies that he would pray for her and take her soule into his charge Heerwith she began to feele a great alteration in her mind for now she did take content in treating of heauenly matters and of amēding her life and there in my presence she did burne a paire of cardes which she had brought with her in her sleeue to passe the time withall ād came to me to confession and after that time I perceiued a change in her soule In fine some few daies before she was to returne to Mexico hauing bin one morning as she was wont to doe intreating the sick man to assist her with his prayers to our Lord she turned to me very ioyfull and said Father Losa beare me witnes that Father Gregory Lopes hath promised me that when I dye he will come for my soule to cary it to heauen because I doe not knowe the way And to Gregory Lopes she asked him doe you make me this promise to which he answered yes I promisse you After this discourse ensued two things very remarkable one was that the paines and torments of Gregory did increase very much the other was that this Lady fell into the same disease whereof Gregory died yet notwithstanding she staied two daies in this village serueing him as much as her sicknes would giue her leaue and powring out being vpon her knees before him abundant teares of repentance With this assurance she returned to Mexico because her sicknes increased and at her taking leaue Gregory said vnto her fare well for we shall not see one another againe by reason of our weaknes of body As soone as she came to her house she did write vnto me some good sayings wherby she did shew that her soule was toucht by the powerfull hand of God and among other things she said vnto me that the Physitians of her body did apply to her disease many good medicines but that she did most desire that the Physitians of her soule would remember her often in their prayers to God Her infirmity waxed greater together with confusion and sorrow for her sinnes and signes of true repentance At the same time I did also perceiue that Gregory his paines were increased for that Lady being allmost at the point of death there came hither Martin Lopes de Guana a publik Notary to visit our sick man as he did vse to doe at other times with a message from the said Lady who desired him to be mindfull of her and he requested the same in the name of all his house and his owne whereunto Gregory replied as one that had a great weight vpon him so I doe I feele her ly very heauy vpon me This seemed strange vnto me for I neuer perceiued any thing in him that did molest him or that he complained of but only in this occasion To conclude the Lady died leauing behind her great tokens of her saluation and shewing at the hower of her death such signes of true repentance and sorrow for the ill example wherwith she had withdrawne other persons after her as that this sodaine alteration was of no lesse edification then the disorders and loosenes of her life past had bin of scandall and within few howers the newes of her death coming to vs I told it vnto Gregoty and he with a joyfull countenance said only these wordes God is powerfull I asked of a brother of the Conualescents who neuer went out of Gregory his sight whether at that time and hower when the Lady died as they told vs he had perceiued any vnusuall thing and he told me yes for he saw him besides himself and as it were in an extasie at the same time wherby I did gather that it had pleased God to accomplish Gregory his promisse and that he had bin present in spirit at the death of his deuote and carried her to Purgatory that afterwarde he might cary her with him to heauen when he departed out of this life Of this I haue no certainty but it may be piously beleeued according to that which is here related I haue here told this history to declare somwhat of the zeale which Gregory had of the saluation of soules and to shew that the loue of God ād his neighbour which he did continually exercise was not a meere speculation and built only in the aire but that the losse of soules spiritually went euen to his heart and that with all his strength he did seeke their recouery though at his owne cost and by enduring the punishements due to another sins as it seemes in this occasion he suffered those which the other should haue done for besides the grieuous paines of his body which he did suffer from his head to his feet his inward torment was very vehement which he did vndergoe from the time that he tooke that soule into his charge in so much as that he did wonder at himself and he that neuer complained of any thing in this time did say with great feeling Iesus God help me what a Purgatory is this and once as I was about to leaue him vpon some busines he stayed me saying keep me company Truly the saying of Iesus Christ to his Apostles keep me company had in it a great mistery shewing by this that he found himself in his soule destitute of that ioy wherwith our Lord was vsed to comfort him in such occasions at other times but the strength with which he did suffer this the integrity of his faith and the confidence which he did put in God was that which I did most admire at in him and because his ordinary exercise after he went out to liue solitary was to reuiue that faith and make a more straight vnion of his soule with God therfore his heroicall vertue in this kind appeared clearly when occasion was I was wont to aske him in this his last sicknes how he went on in the exercise of his continuall act of the loue of God and he allwaies euen till his death answered that very well and to make this more euident I will here put downe in particular some questiōs which I asked him when I saw him most troubled ād the answers which he gaue me I once asked him whether so great paines did not separate him some what from God he answered not a iot another time seeing him much afflicted I said vnto him now is your mind vpon God he said and where should it be else his death being neerer whilest he was in his agony I asked him now are you well fixed vpon God he said I am not ill vpon an other occasion haueing bin much recollected he turned vnto me and said Perseuerāce with peace auaileth much and as I cōforted him saying that our Lord did lead him through crosses as his beloued sō I am glad said he I am glad that his
will is fulfilled in me Lastly when I thought it was time to giue him the holy candle I saide these wordes vnto him now it is time to goe and see the secret will you haue the candle alluding to the history which he did know of king Alonso the wise who being in the like passage said giue me that candle let vs goe see that secret wherunto Gregory made answer with a wonderfull confidence there is no secret all is cleare it is noone day with me This is not to be vnderstood so as that Gregory should say that at that instant he did see God cleerely for that kind of cleare vision hath seldome hapned in this life the clearnes which here he did speake of is that of contemplation which holy men doe call a cleare knowledge because this light of contemplation ioyned with the generall light of faith causeth such a security and a speciall kind of certainty of the diuine Misteries as that in comparison of the orainary knowledge of the faithfull it is called a cleare knowledge though in respect of the cleare sight of God it be but obscure Gregory spoke of this clearnes wheÌ„ hâ— said all is cleare and to say that it was noone day with him was no great exaggeration because the light of contemplation goeth far beyond the light of noone day With this inuâ—ncible courage and valour full of faith hope and charâ—ty takâ—ng a little while after the candle in his hand he yeelded vp his soule to his Creatour to continue for all eternity being swallowed vp and ouerwhelmed in that infinite seâ— of the loue of God that excellent act of loue wherin as much as in possible for human frailty in this place of exile he had allwaies endeauoured to exercise himself and excell He died on saturday at noone on the 20. of Iuly of the yeare 1596. vpon which day the Order of the Carmelites doth solemnise the feast of Elias the first Father and Founder of the solitary life which Gregory Lopes had so perfectly obserued He liued 54. yeares and 33. of them in solitude His body remained as if he had bin aliue and as we that were present did conceit with a certaine brightnes At the same time wee felt a very pleasing smell which came from his body and remained in the chamber wherin he died and which is more to be admired his winding sheet kept the same smell and his cloaths doe retaine it till this day It is allso worthy of noting that there being present at his death the Canon Nicolas Martinez Rectour of this place and my self who had bin 20. yeares a Curate and three other deuout lay men none of vs did thinke of saying for him a Responsory of the dead such was the ioy that we did feele by seeing him and was caused by his happy passage His body was laied in the Church of this village by order of the Doctour Iohn de CeruaÌ„tes Vicar Generall of the Archbisoprick and now Bishop of Guaxica who vnderstanding of Gregory his sicknes whose sanctity was well knowne vnto him came to visit him some daies before his death and to desire him that he would cause himself to be buried where it should please the Archbishop of Mexico or his Vicar Generall He spoke first with me about this matter before he talked with him and I answered him that at that time Gregory did not take any care for his buriall that all was at my disposing desiring indeed that his body should remaine in the Church of Santafe but I would not determine vntill I had spoke with him and telling Gregory what the Vicar Generall did require he said these wordes let the Vicar Generall his will be done for that is the will of God and so this being takeÌ„ vnder witnes before a Notary the Vicar Generall commanded that it should be buried in this Church yet so as that it should be lawfull to translate it to the Cathedrall of Mexico when it pleased the Archbishop prouiding hereby with much prudence and mature iudgement that if in processe of time it should please God to declare by miracles how much he hath bin pleased by this his seruant the city of Mexico might be honoured with the treasure of his holy body There were present at his funeralles many deuout persons and of good account who had flocked thither from Mexico and other parts only for that purpose and brought with them torches and whatsoeuer else was necessary for the better soleÌ„nising of the office which was performed by Don Alonso de Motay Escouar Deane of the Church of Mexico who was then Bishop elect of Guadalaiara and now is of Tlaxcalla His body was enterred neare the high aultar on the ghospell side and many persons that touched him 24. howers after his death found his limmes so flexible as if he had bin aliue though commonly dead bodies as soone as they become cold vse to grow stiffe so as their ioyntes cannot be bended Some say that God is wont to bestow this gift and particular priuiledge vpon virgins bodies as it is likely that he was At his buriall allso the foresaid smell was felt wherwith the peoples deuotion was so increased that they cutt off pieces of his garment very greedily thinking theÌ„selues happy if they could but get any thing that was his They solemnised his funeralls vpoÌ„ S. Annes day and Doctour Hernando Ortis de Hinoiofa Canon of Mexico who died being chosen Bishop of Gautimala made a sermon at them This was the maruailous end of this seruant of God whose memory deserueth to be kept and reuerenced by all not only the citisens of Mexico but also of Madrid his country for besides the obligation which all the faithfull haue to worship aÌ„d honour the reliques and memories of saints these haue a particular the Prouince of Mexico by enioying these pretious reliques and the most famous towne of Madrid the court of the Catholick king because it is now euident that he was borne there and Christned in the Parishe of S. Giles which is that we spoke of before and is the Church of the Franciscans discalceate and the Parish is at this day incorporated with S. Iohns The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE OF MANY OTHER maruailous workes of the life and death of the seruant of God Gregory Lopes THE FIRST CHAPTER Wherin are treated many notable things by which it hath pleased God to manifest the sanctity of Gregory Lopes GOd is a faithfull freind of his seruants as saith the Spouse in the Canticles and it is seene by this that one of the properties of true freinds is to procure by all meanes possible when it is necessary or conuenient to make knowne and lay open those good partes which ly hidden and concealed in those whom they desire to honour and reward And this is the Title which Nabuchodonosor gaue vnto the God of Israell after that Daniell had interpreted his dreames vnto him saying Truely your God is God of
to him out of spaine said vnto me now I would visite the Lady Marquesse if she would send for me and the Marquis were at that time in Tescuco and Gregory in Santafe where by may be seene how far he was out of the ordinary straine of human courtesy since that in time of prosperity he denied the visit which he could easily haue made and in time of aduersity he offerred himself to doe it being then aboue 4. miles going and comming He was not as yet perfectly recouered in Mexico and his lingering ague did not forfake him he was very weake and had but little stomack to his meate on the other side he longed for his desired solitarines and allthough he had strictly obserued it within my house at Mexico yet he made more account of the commodiousnes of the CouÌ„try and therefore I went about carefully to seeke out some seate neere the City where he might enioy his solitarines and I might often see him and in some manner relieue his sicknes and pouerty Whilest we were in these thoughts it fell out one day God so disposing that we went out both together to see a little village called SaÌ„tafe six mile of from Mexico the administration whereof belongeth to the Deane and Chapter of the Church of Mechoachan it seemed vnto vs very fit for our purpose by reason of its good â—emper and wholesomenes of the aire and the pleasantnes of the trees and springs which are wont to make a solitary life more pleasing allthough Gregory did not much regard those recreations all his conuersation being interiour as shall be said in another place I dealt with Doctour Hernando ortis de Inoâ—osa first reader of diuinity and Canon of the Cathedrall of Mexico and at that time gouernour of Santafe who like a vertuous Man and willing to further all that was good very freely gaue Gregory leaue to dwell in a house somewhat distant froÌ„ the viliage which stood neere the water that runs to Mexico He gaue order allso that the Indians should bring him all things that were necessary for his sustenance at the cost of the hospitall which is founded there and belongeth allso to the Church of Mechoacan Gregory Lopes haueing obtained this licence of Doctour Ortis went to that solitary dwelling the 22. of May 1589. being whit-munday where he coÌ„tinued his exercises of prayer and contemplation vntill his death as shall be said by and by THE XII CHAPTER Of the life which Gregory Lopes did lead in Santafe and of his daily exercises THis aboade was new vnto Gregory yet very fit for his spirituall exercises the which were not new vnto him but alwaies the same that God had taught him from the beginning though allwaies with greater progresse He was in that little house all alone allmost seauen months without conuersing with any man I visited him as often as I could and sometimes as I thinke some other deuout persons that liued ther abouts who by seeing him at the Parish Church vpon holidaies at Masse were much edified and by this occasion came to visit him By these my often visits I discouered euery day more and more of his great riches in veâ—… and spirit wherby I be came very desirous to liue in his company I desired of God both by meanes of other deuout persons prayers and allso my owne that he would let me vnderstand his holy will because in some mens opinion the emploiment which I had in Mexico was much to Gods seruice for I had bin aboue twenty yeares Curate of the great Church and had the charge of such poore people as were ashamed to beg whom I did prouide of such things as were necessary with the almes which I did continually aske for that purpose for ten yeares and more for which reason my Superiours doubted very much whether it was conuenient to giue me leaue or no to retire my self to a solitary life At length it pleased God so to dispose this matter as that I resolued that this course was couenient and my superiours condescended vnto it and gaue me licence which till then was denied me so I came to dwell in Santafe about Christmasse of the same yeare 1489. where I attended vpon Gregory vntill his death obseruing diligeÌ„tly all his wordes and deeds both day and night to see if by familiarity and common conuersation I could discouer any thing that was contrary to the good esteeme which I had of his extraordinary vertue but it was so much increased in me that euery day his spirit seemed more admirable his vertues more heroicall and his conuersation more celestiall In this time I heard from his owne mouth most of that which is here related though he did neuer speake purposely of those thinges that had hapned vnto him but only vpon diuers occasions when it seemed necessary for my profit or the good of other denout persons and all this hapening so seldome and so vnawares that I did not take sufficieÌ„t notice of it to cary it away neither did I thinke I should out-liue him so much as to be able to write of him and this which is writen of him is very little in respect of that which is wanting Those admirable thinges which I marked in him would be very hard to be related historically only I will note that his life was vniforme so as that which he did one day he did another and with this rule he passed months and yeares Therefore I will briefly set downe how he spent the day and night that hereby we may gather some little part of the great vertue which was in him At breake of day he did open his chamber window that he might begin to dispose and order his daies worke and washing his face and hands as soone as it was day light he read in the bible à little more then a quarter of an hower and then shut his booke againe His end in reading that booke was only because it was the holy Scripture and because God had giuen it him to reade and allso that if he did not vnderstand some thing the first time he might vnderstand it the second especially because he did beare such a respect and reuerence to the holy writ that vpon the reading of it he grounded that which he had to doe in the day time and that so constantly and duely as that some few daies before his death he said I haue not read in the bible these ten daies I doe nor remember that I haue omitted it so long a time before since I began to liue solitary After he had read the Scripture he betooke himself to his other exercise which was so inward and secret as that by no outward signes it could be perceiued of what kind it was whether prayer meditation or contemplation if it was of sad thinges or ioyfull whether he was in action or passion whether he spoke with God or God with him only it might be gathered by his great modesty and grauity of
relate some of the most certaine and approued The same day that he was buried and Indian woman of good account wife to the gouernour of this towne being lame of one arme and in great paine at the same instant as she tooke Gregory his hand in hers to kisse it she found herself perfectly sound and free from all paine giueing God thankes for the mercy he had shewed her by this his seruants meanes A little girle of fiue or six yeares of age was sore tormented with a disease which she fell into by eating of earth very dangerous by reason of great obstructions and swelling in her belly together with a vehement ague and beatings in her head and heart and foure daies after Gregory his death being much afflicted she said vnto her Mistresse who was a Lady noble by bloud but more for her Christian like behauiour and recollection which she made choice of and obserueth in the Monastery of the Conception at Mexico Mother least that God should take me away apply vnto me that little welt of Gregory Lopes which was giuen you for he will cure me she did so leauing the child at night with a great feauer and when she rise to Mattins as she was wont to doe in passing by she went in to see how the child did whom she found a sleep and rid of her ague and awaking her asked her how she did she answered well for the saint hath taken away my paine The said lady rendred many thankes to God for this so great a miracle Another great woman in Mexico was tormented with a headache in such manner as that she was like to loose her senses and finding no help in any remedies whatsoeuer she laid vpon her head a slâ—eue of Gregory his doublet which to her great happines was kept there in great deuotion and reuerence and she did presently take her rest free from all paine A child of three months old the first and only son of his pareÌ„ts who were of the best ranke of Mexico was sick of a feauer not being able either to sucke or sleep whilest all those of the house and of the kindred allso were troubled hereat one of the maides reâ—embred herself of a certaine relique of Gregory which was in the house which being laid vpon the childs head he presently fell asleep some howers after awaked tooke the teate and was well his parentes and those that were present gaue many thankes vnto God and his saint for this miracle In the same city there was a Priest who was so troubled with the toothache as that for three daies and three nights he could not haue one instant of rest and by reason of its vehemence his face was much swelled his mother gaue him a piece of Gregory his garment and he with faith and deuotion applying it to his cheeke presently fell a sleep and slept from nine of the clock at night vntill the next morning and then awaking he found the swelling of of his face asswaged and himself without any paine attributing this sodaine recouery to the intercession of this saint and giueing God thankes for it In the house of a Gentleman of Mexico a man well knowne in this kingdome there befell vnto a slaue of his such a sodaine accident and great misfortune as that all held him for dead of a vehement fit which he had a gentle woman that was present calling to mind that she had in her keeping a piece of the shirt in which Gregory dyed which I had giuen her she caused a little cofer to be brought her and taking out the said relique she laid it vpoÌ„ the sick mans forehead and presently he came to himself againe whole and sound though with much a doe and being asked what he had felt he answered nothing All that saw this accident with its circumstances could not but attribute this cure to a miracle which our Lord wrought by his seruant Gregory Lopes In the city de los Angelos an honourable Lady was brought to the poinct of death by a violent feauer which she fell into being great with child and neare her time but the infant dead in her wombe her husband seing her in this danger intreated a brother of the Conualescents by name Iohn Valleio to visit her he went and carried with him a little piece of Gregory his garment and applying it to the sick womans neck said vnto her put your hope in God and reuerence this relique of Gregory Lopes for by his intercession you shall be restored to your health it seemes she did so for being deliuered of that creature she remained sound The said brother applied the same Relique to a sick woman in the same towne who had such a grieuous headache as that for a long time she cried out continually both day and night he wished her to put all her confidence in God and firmely to beleeue that he would giue her her health by the merits of Gregory Lopes She presently recouered rendring many thankes vnto God and remaining deuout vnto him who by his intercession had freed her from so great paine In the city of Taxca a young man was infected with a pittifull leprosi and after he had tried many medicines and spent much in the curing of it and all in vaine a brother of the ConualenceÌ„ts gaue him a little piece of Gregory his garment bidding him apply it to his neck and take this seruant of God for his Patron with an assured hope to be healed and it came to passo that within eight daies he found himself cleare of the leprosy and diuulged this miracle publishing euery wherewith much gratitude the wonderfull workes of God and the praises of Gregory In a village of this kingdome called Higualapa a gentleman had bin for the space of 16. months troubled with a grieuous paine of the collik not haucing in all that time scarce a day nor hower free especially the last twenty daies in which his paine did not diminish a whit nor giue him one minute of rest As it hapned there was present a gentlewoman wife to the chiefe Iustice of that prouince who told him that many miracles had bin wrought through the deuotion which those of her house did beare vnto Gregory Lopes and that if he with the like faith would make him his mediatour to the diuine goodnes he might assure himself of his health The sick man hearing this tooke a piece of Gregory his shirt and applied it to the place where he felt his greatest paine and holding it there a little while he presently voided a stone of the bignes of a pine kernell Herwith he recouered and neuer after felt that paine and held it for certaine that this happines and safety did befall him by the merits and intercession of Gregory Lopes to whom he was euer after very deuout A brother of the Conualescents named Alonso de la Fuente was six yeares in the hospitall of Guasteca allmost allwaies siek full of emplasters and both legs
his vnderstanding as he did his body with those of his body and he did clearely discerne those two springs of his body and his soule which rise vp so mingled the one with the other restrayning the current of the body and enlarging that of the spirit which is very rare for it is a very hard thing and such as few attaine vnto to distinguish in ones self the workes that proceed from grace from those that proceed from nature because oftentimes the one are masked with the liknes of the others Gregory discerned these very well both in himself and others that asked him counsaile in the like doubts It once so fell out with me that haueing bin for some months space only exercised in mentall prayer wherin I found great difficulty and trouble I had afterwardes occasion to goe about a certaine worke of charity and by the way I felt such an inward ioy and tranquillity of mind that in those daies me thought I was in heauen Afterwardes returning to Santafe and giueing him account of what had past I told him that my spirit had dilated it self very much he answered me Father Losa it was your nature that dilated it self I did beleeue him though at that time I did not vnderstand it but assisted through the mercy of God by his prayers soone after I attained to this verity for I was wont to doe outward workes of charity which though in themselues they be vertuous and meritorious yet haue this property that they recreate and dilate nature and sometimes self loue creeps in but in that recollection I did only vse mentall prayer during the which nature was as it were in a continuall torment and rack because she was withheld from those exercises wherin she was vsed to find content and delight though holy and good of which kind are these to relieue the necessities and seeke the good of ones neighbour to heare and speake of heauenly things for these haue bin my employments by the grace of God for some yeares but when I left of this recollection to doe that worke of charity which I spoke of and recreated my self with the sight of the fieldes and hills nature did returne to her former case and quietnes so as she made no war against the spirit wherwith I rereceiued much content thinking that now I was at peace with my self but afterwardes when I desired to returne to my sole mentall exercises I found that nature had got more strength then euer to war against the spirit and perceiuing by this manifestly that this my peace was not so much of the spirit as of nature I came to see by euident consequence that Gregory knew my spirit better then I my self did Certaine religious men talking in his presence of things which did help ones spirit and deuotion one of them said that musick did much auaile for he by heareing once euēsong in the great Church at Mexico found his spirit so reuiued as that he had neuer said his prayers before with such peace and quietnes Another said that it auailed much to pray in company with others because the difficulty which he found in praying in his Cell was diminished and taken away by the presēce and example of those that did pray with him Gregory let thē goe away without speaking a word vnto them about that matter I did perceiue that he could easily haue freed them from their errour and shewed them that it is nature that is helpt and recreated by those meanes and not the spirit as might be seene by the successe which I had and because the reason why some in prayer doe help themselues with the company of others is because our nature is quickned and taketh delight that her good workes are seen as may be seen in those who take a discipline and giue almes in publick therfore such as those following the content of nature pray better in company then alone I asked him what was the reason that he did not aduise and instruct those religious men in this he answered me because that were to hinder their iourney for with that staffe they goe on a little and without it they would sit downe Our Lord had giuen him a great quicknes of iudgment in distinguishing thōghts or words which was idle and which not and in speaking of God he could very well discerne when it proceeded from nature and when from God to this purpose he was vsed to say many mē doe speake of God more through loue of themselues then of God sometimes allso he said the loue of God is all in workes it hath but few wordes and oftentimes it is dumbe From this knowledge proceeded that rare moderation of his tongue as shall be said in its proper place From hence allso it came to passe that he neuer had any scruples but an admirable quietnes of mind ād no lesse certainty in matters of faith wherin he neuer had any doubts notwithstanding his great temptations and this is that which he meant at the hower of his death when being asked whether he would haue the holy candle to goe and see the secret he answered with great courage as is said before all is cleare there is nothing secret it is noone day with me wherin his meaning was not that his faith had no obscurity in it but that he had no doubt in matetrs belonging vnto it for our faith is obscure yet so as it is allso most certaine and the certainty of it taketh not away its obscurity wherin our Lord will haue vs walke in this life captiuating our vnderstanding in his seruice as saith the Apostle I haue thought conuenient to put downe some examples wherby the greatnes of the light which Gregory had might be gathered since that with it he knew not only himself and his owne spirit but allso other mens I had great signes and coniectures by those things which had hapned vnto me to perswad my self that he did see other mens soules being of this opinion I asked him one day about fiue yeares or more before his death if it were true that he did see them he answered no with this so plain an answer I beleeued him and rested satisfied but I obserued that frō that day forwardes he grew euery day more wary therfore I spoke no more vnto him of that matter but since I haue had and now haue so many witnesses so worthy of credit and such as none can except against that I thinke I should doe ill in not affirming it for certaine and if he said that he did not see them that is to be attributed to his great humility and wisedome which made him seeke to conceale that gift of God as he did many others neither is it to be thought that a mā so true and perfect did tell a ly for his denying of it in this case might be saued from a ly by many waies First it might be that at that time God had not as yet done him that fauour but that
on him in comparison of which this that is written is nothing partly by reason of the care which he vsed in concealing his vertues partly for feare least I should exceed the breuity which I had intended in this relation telling only those that were so open to the view as that they could not but be seene I asked him one day how he could so much conceale his vertues it seeming vnto me an heroicall and hard thing to doe he answered me that sentence worthy of eternall memory To conceale ones vertues is not a thing hard vnto him that hath a liuely faith for if a man doe certainly beleeue that all his vertues shall be seen in the court of heauen what will he care whether they be knowne or no in the village of this world THE X. CHAPTER Of the humility and inward pouerty of Gregory Lopes I should haue bene very happy if God had giuen me any part of the great inward pouerty which he bestowed on this seruant the which consisteth in hauing the heart free from all loue of creatures and giuing himself wholy to the loue of his Creatour for it may be sayd of this holy vertue peculiarly that those that practise it can speake better of it then those that study it and cōsequently I should better declare Gregory his vertues if I had some of it What an excellent patterne of it this Sainct hath bin may partly be vnderstood by that which I saw with my owne eies and by what I gathered by the auswers he gaue to many men in diuerse occasions The sons of Adam haue for the most part ingrafted in them a desire to be esteemed more excellent thētheir neighbours Gregory was so free from this that he allwaies preferred others before himself and to that purpose I haue often heard him say since I begun to liue solitary I neuer iudged any body I esteemed all men better and wiser then myself and therfore vnlesse I were asked I neuer gaue counsaile to any man nor made myself a teather of others Of this all that cōuersed with him are witnesses and we haue seene by experience that because he would not make himself a Master to any God hath ordained that he should be vnto many From hence proceeded the great care that he allwaies had to excuse those that did iudge him and as I told him one day that there were many that slaundered him he answered I haue allwaies excused them not only in wordes but allso with all my heart in deedes From hence allso it came to passe that he did not desire his speeches should be valued and therfore he neuer went about to premeditate and compose the wordes that he was to speake before hand and he told me to this purpose that once it was before he began his solitary life he spent some time before hand in thinking of the discourse that he was to make and that afterwardes he had no occasion to speake it wherby he was aduertised not to loose time in composeing his wordes trusting in God that he would giue him those that were conuenient when need was and for this cause God gaue him the grace neuer to commit any errour in his speech for all the wordes that he spoke seemed full of diuine wisedome the Lord of heauen and earth reuealing vnto this humble seruāt those thinges which he hath hidden from the prudent and wise of the world Eight daies before his death there came to visite him a religious man very wise and vertuous and his great freind and among other thinges that he talked of seing his life in danger he asked him very familiarly must we goe now to enioy God thinking that he would tell him of the hower of his death but this humble seruant of God answered him with great admiration Doth your reuerence aske me this it shall be as pleaseth God as if he should say you that are wise doe you thinke that I know the hower of my death I doe not deserue so much wherwith the religious man was much edified Three or foure daies before his death there came in to see him an Indian woman of this village and as I was speaking to her in her owne tongue because he did not vnderstand it he said vnto me note well what she saith peraduenture she will giue me some good aduice wherin I noted his great humility since that he thought himself of lesse worth then an Indian woman and that she could tell him what was conuenient for him now in the end of his life More ouer men are wont to haue another affection that is to thinke of what is to befall them from which Gregory was very free for he that desireth purely to serue God esteemeth all such cares as lets and hindrances and therfore he neuer thought of courses of changing his life what should become of him whether he should dy of hunger or cold or should be bedrid whether he should liuelōg or a little while whether he should doe such or such thinges for the seruice of God or his neigbours good because he knew there was wont to be in thes and the like thoughts if one were caried away with them some secret temptation of the enemie or at the least losse of time and for this reason like a wary and humble man vpon occasion of such thoughts he allwaies said I am nothing I am good for nothing contenting himself with doing that which God in his holy law commandeth him and not iudging himself worthy of other thinges in times to come though he was alwaies prepared in mind to doe whatsoeuer the diuine Maiestie did ordaine One time as some were talking in his presence of the sumptuous tombes that some men build and of their competences about places and chappells he said when I dy let them bury my body where they will so it be in holy ground but if they doe not it will so annoy them as that it will make them quickly enterre it He was so far from taking care and prouiding for himself for the time to come as that he would not suffer that any body else should take care for him for when I went about to looke for another place to liue in because the aire of this village of Santafe was not very commodious for his weaknes and sicknes he allwaies said vnto me let no man be solicitous for me for God will haue a care to prouide as shall please him He had his heart allso free from all curious affection both temporall and spirituall into which some contemplatiues vse to fall so he told me sometimes that since his choice of solitary life he had neuer desired to see any thing of the world euen not his parents country or friends c. Neither did he desire to see the Angells nor haue extasies nor reuelations for he said that he only desired to see God yet allwaies with this resignation that it should be when and how it pleased God and that the rapts and extasies
holy Apostles and whosoeuer shall haue read with attention that which is aboue written will allso come to see that this exercise of greatest charity which maketh one suffer and dy for his beloued was the whole life of this holy man for it was a thing well knowne to vs all that did conuerse with him that this so vehement an exercise of louing God with all his strength was the cause of all his weaknesses paines and sicknesses and he perceiuing this went on pining away ioyfully for his beloued Vpon this oceasion relating sometimes vnto me the great paines which he had endured he said vnto me the materiall martirdome of whipps hookes of iron fire and sword be it neuer so great dureth but for a short time but besides these God hath in heauen spirituall martirs in a very high degree He did tell the liues of many saints worthy of great honour that confirme this verity amongst others he told of Paphâ—utius the hermit that as he was led in chaines for being a Christian and those that led him threatned him with great tormeÌ„ts vnles he would forsake the faith oâ— Christ he laughing at his tormeÌ„tours said vnto them we hermits vse to endure these torments in the desert But because it is a thing most certain both to me and to others that knew Gregory that he did excell in spirituall martirdome I will not speake more hereof considering the ioy wherwith he receiued his death when without any feare he beheld it neare at hand yea with far more contentment then wordly men feele in the middest of their pleasures honours and pastimes saying with the Apostle to mee Christ is life and death againe Gregory his delight therfore was to suffer for Christ and his coÌ„tent and glory was in the crosse saying with S. Paul Far be it from me to glory in any thing but in the crosse of my Sauiour Iesus Christ and with the Prophet David who seing himself so enriched with the benefits and fauours which God had bestowed vpon him in his last daies he began to consider it and to say what recompence shall I make vnto God for all the fauours that he hath done me and fixing his eies vpon all whatsoeuer he had he found no other recompence but only to say I will take his cup and call vpon his name as if he should say I wil desire inwardly to drinke of the cup of his Passion the which I see and know well by the spirit of Prophesy This therfore was the spirit of Gregory in this way God did guide him this is the doctrine which was taught him by our Sauiour Christ in whose paines and death he found such spirituall delight that he neuer desired any other as is said and he was wont to say that perfect spirituall men are displeased with those delights which beginners doe willingly embrace for a man taketh as a reproach to be offered a bunch of grapes or an apple wherwith the child is much taken he added moreouer that this present life is noâ— for ioy and rest but sorrow and trouble Finally this his refusing euen of spirituall delights proceeded from a perfect pouerty of spirit which was giuen him by God wherunto appertaineth to desire nothing but God for his owne sake wherin consisteth true charity and the top of Christian perfection so as he that loueth God most is most perfect be it with those delights or no for if the cobler mending his shooes should loue God more then a contemplatiue man he would be more perfect in Christian life then he notwithstanding the fruition that he hath attained With this spirit did Gregory chieflly attend to the increase and purity of charity desiring allwaies in his life and labours to imitate our Sauiour Christ whom he allwaies looked vpon as on a good paterne by which he might learne how he ought to labour saying with Dauid my eies are allwaies vpon our lord and to this purpose he was wont wisely to vse that sentence the wise mans eies are in his head meaning that the wise man hath his eies allwaies vpon Christ who is his head for said he the soule touched with the loue of God is like the mariners needle which by reason that it is touched with a loade-stone allwaies inclineth to the north and that spirituall men ought to haue this maruailous property as in what place or busines soeuer they are to be allwaies inclined and desire to haue their eies allwaies fixed on our Sauiour Christ He tooke great contentment to see men doe so for once four men very spirituall and great seruants of God being come to visit him and sitting with him at the table it so fell out that they werâ— all bareheaded he looked ioyfully on them and said God bâ— praised for that all we that sit a this table haue our head bare He spoke spiritually and his meaning was that they were all spiritually looking vpon Christ who is our head and at that time was bare vnto them all and by reason of the tokens that we saw I hold for certaine that he saw the hearts of those that were present for as is said God hath oftentimes done him that fauour and considering the vertue and good spirit of those his guests it may be thought that they were in that disposition as to haue their eies vpon God This holy man as I was allwaies of opinion neuer lost sight of God and therfore God neuer went out of sight from him according to to that of Iob God will neuer haue his eies off of the iust man and by meanes of this sight God allwaies preserued him in such manner from falling into all the nets and snares whatsoeuer the enemy laied for him as that he passed through them freely and safely as is shewed THE XIX CHAPTER Of the effects of his prayer I haue allwaies thought that God hath wrought stranges effects through his prayers and though he out of his humility neuer reuealed any of those great effects for he neuer told me any in that kind though I was so familiary with him yet I am certaine that he knew of wonderfull thinges which God had done by his prayers of the which I will here relate for the greater glory of God some which I came to know by other meanes In the yeare 1579. being at our Ladies of Remedies he was visited by a priest who was much troubled in mind because he did not perseuer in the seruice of God but fell into great in conueniences through such occasions as offered themselues Therfore he instantly besought him to pray for him and to aduise him what he should doe for assuredly he would doe it whatsoeuer it were though it were to goe vnto a montaine and be an hermite since that his saluation was not a busines of small importance Hereunto Gregory answered only these wordes you shall be an hermite in Mexico for this yeare He vnderstanding it as it ought to be vnderstood endeauoured to change his life and