A short worke but which it shewes the lucidnesse of that minde and his felicity in explicating the most arduous things At the end of the said six yeares or not long after there were two occasions out of which it was believed there sprung another disturbance because upon the death of the Generall which was master Gabriel who was created 1603 being fifteene yeares later then the foundation of the designe of that creation was at first laid there was supplyed to that government a nephew of his by the name of Maestro Santo with onely the bare title of Definitor who having his uncles hopes though not his power and especially failing in that aptitude of his to serve the Court at all assaies which the General was allwaies wont to do to whom after his death therewere letters found that Cardinall Aldobrandino had writ with his owne hand and Borghese both nephewes to Popes wherein it was seene that at Venice he had beene a servant to the Court in things that might either have cost him his life or else advanc't him to a greater Prelacy Maestro Santo imitated his uncle in this opinion that if he would domineere over the province it was necessary to remove that mote out of his eye which was the veneration and honor wherewith the father was followed And to this purpose he attempted many exorbitant things among which there was one that was most ridiculous It is a custome when Chapters are called togegether that those that have votes make a scrutiny among themselves to legitimate their Capitular actions And that it might be without exception every one reserves himselfe a fredome to question or oppose whom or whatsoever he thinke good So Maestro Santo and Maestro Arcangelo stood up and to doe nothing with much diligence and with power to make a conspicuous buffonery they oppos'd three heads of exception or reproach against father Paul with the indignation and derision of all the Chapter and they were these That he wore a hat upon his head contrarie to a forme that had beene lately published under Gregory the fourteenth That he wore pantables that were hollowed in the soles of the French fashion alledging falsly that it had beene decreed otherwise upon paine of deprivation of their votes That at the end of Masse he did not use to repeate the Salve Regina Things that were no sooner heard then resolved by the Vicar generall the President and the Provinciall into nothing and exploded by all the assembly being rejected and kickt out And because his pantobles were taken off by order from the Judge and caried to the Tribunall it became a proverbe which is yet in use Esser il Padre Paolo cosi incolpabile integro ebe sivio le sue pianisse erano state canonizate The father Paul is so blameles and pure that his very pantobler were canoniz'd That his not reciting the Salve Regina arose not out of any indevotion It would be too long to deliver the ground or reason inducing him not to doe it True it is that he had reasons so well grounded that it was more lawfully omitted by him at that time then it was added by others against the rights of the masse and derogating by a particular decree of about 30 Friers from the universall order of the Church It was observed that in all that action of proposing examining and exploding those exceptions he never spake word nor shew'd the least signe of being affected with it but went on upon occasion of discourse and as he had used to doe with those his accusers and in specie with Maestro Santo who had forgotten his uncles documents which at his death he left with him viz. That he should never attempt any great thing in the province without the opinion of father Paul So not taking counsell where he should have done and being too confident of his uncles merits with the Court and lastly puft up with vaine hopes from a certaine Abbot who was an impostor and is yet living who sold him those hopes at the price of a good silver goblet He trust up his baggage and carried with him to Rome whatsoever he could get being about five hundred duckats which belong'd to the Monastery which he there spent in foure monthes And whereas he went thither full of great hopes he returned againe ful of maltalent and desperation which sent him into Candy to raise a fortune in merchandise where not long after he left his life having first lost and spent what he had By this time wee may say that the fathers quiet studies and his private life were come to their period and that from hence till the end of his life he entred upon another world or rather came into the world wherein it pleased God to call him into employments which he had never thought he should have applied himselfe to But man is not borne alone for himselfe but principally for his Countrey and for a common good That probleme whether a wise man ought to apply himselfe to government let others dispute This father of ours shall give us an example to refuse no paines nor peril for the service of God and of his Countrey And that an honest and wise man is far from that erroneous doctrine invented by a company of seditious coseners who never speake of secular policy but with disparagement although it were instituted of God and in which an honest man may serve his divine majestie with a vocation as pious as excellent and that no other employment can either exceede it or match it as well for the common good as in obedience to that supreme piety which may be exercised in the Church and whereunto God from time to time and since the very birth of the Church hath called even the greatest Heroes of all the ecclesiasticall order At this time was assum'd to the Pontificate the Cardinall Camillo Borghese of Sienna Paul the fifth about the end of the yeare 1605. either because he had beene Auditor della Camera and had taken a great habite of thundering out censures or perhaps being not well affected to the most severe Republique of Venice or else instigated by some religious men as I have it more certaine and by cleerer arguments who like vipers teare in pieces and poyson that brest of state that gave them breeding and nourishment the pretence of the difference being grounded upon some lawes of that common-wealth which were said to be against church priviledges So that things fell into a manifest dissention among them the Pope pretending that those lawes were not onely unjust but cancelled and abolish't on the contrary side the Repub lique maintained that they were just and good lawes and in no interpretation contrary to the lawfull liberties of the Church This businesse boyling betwixt those two great princes some of the primary Senators who had formerly beene the fathers familiars began to confer strictly with him about this controversie for it could not be concealed not onely in
singularities of his later times when was he a servant to the state of Venice but these and others have beene in him from his youth in such a perfection that he never had any publique correction as was usuall with others of religious orders He was never reprehended for speaking an undecent word nor doing an unbeseeming act It was a marvellous thing how in so young a man that had not exceeded the age of twenty two so many sciences in so high a degree should be united besides those that are ordinary in them that live in Cloisters are after literature of humanitie the logique Philosophy and Theologie But to those he had also joyned the knowledge of the lawes perfectly of the common law and more then meanely of the civill all the Mathematiques and medicine the knowledge of simples of Hearbes of or Plants of Mineralls with their transmutations a sufficient understanding of divers tongues beside the latine the Greek the Hebrew and the Caldean All which learning together would have had something of monstrous in it though it had been found in a maturer age but from the holinesse of his conversation he received such a splendour that even in that Spring of his yeares he did prognosticate what store and perfection of fruite might be expected from him if it should please God to reserve him for further times Although it be as true that the knowledge alone of all that which humane understanding can raise it selfe to makes not a man perfect though it may render him admired Nay the devills themselves are knowne for their great wisedome and have a name of mighty knowledge But goodnesse is that which gives the forme piety religion and the vertues of the minde are the soule of this body And the accumulation of sciences and probity made this religious young man so venerable and I may say so majesticall that as it is a custome in Venice among the noble and ingenuous youth that if any of them be not so decent in their habite or that they be of a lesse modesty in discourse or cariage then they ought to be yet when they appeare before the first Senator they are carefull to put themselves into their best habite and posture so in this order of the religion of Servi for even among the religious especially those of the younger sort are not alwaies under rule nor as wee say with their bowes bended yet at the appearance of Fra. Paolo they were all composed reducing themselvs to a more seriousnes of behaviour setting aside both sport and Joviality as if his onely presence had been the black rod whereupon it became a proverbe among them whensoever he was present or appeared Eâ—qua sposa la mutiamo proposito let us change our discourse here comes the bride Such power hath the presence of a man of knowne probity innocency even over the behaviour of others yet neverthelesse he was so pleasing so humble with all men that hitherto I have not knowne that man that could say except when he was in the publique imployment that he had received a sharpe word or seene a gesture from him expressing rigor to others although with himselfe he were most severe Being consecrated Priest at the age of 22. he seemed to encrease the strictnesse of his retirednesse and to be more intense upon the actions of piety and meditation During which age and a good while after he had never tasted wine except it were at the Celebration His foode was so sparing that for the most part he fed but upon bread fruite of flesh he had very little use till he was past 55. saying that he abstayned or tasted very little because his complexion would not beare it but make him sick and because it bred him much headach He went at that age to Millan and it happened in a time when Cardinall Borromeo at this day Saint Carlo was in the fervour of the reformation of that Church and in perticular reduced the confessours by a rigorous zeale to so smal a number which either was because he found them very ignorant or understood of great abuses committed in the administrations of penitence whereof he cleerly purged their Churches This great pastor had found the meanes to know the conditions the life and quality of the Cloisters as it appeared by so many that tooke their heeles tarried not for his judgment It may be well imagined what intelligence he held with Padre Paolo whom he sent for and against his inclination made him heare confessions making use of him not onely in the Church of his owne order but in others as it was needfull and tooke great affection in him being much pleased with his company He would alwaies be present at the most difficult discussions of cases of conscience other consultations upon divers accidents where the opinion of the most learned divines were had and would often make him stay to dine with him in his refectory because that Cardinall in imitation of those ancient holy pastors Ambrose and others did frequently make a common life and table with those of his clergie At that time and before his departure from the province of Mantua by that of Venice as it is an ordinary thing that how vertuous and innocent soever a man be he cannot be without trouble and emulation being complayned of to the holy office of inquisition by one Maestro Claudio Piacentino his contemporary but one that was unable to raise himselfe by his study and vertue to that credit which Padre Paolo had and therefore thought to equalize him by pulling him downe But it proved much to his owne disadvantage because howbeit the inquisitor received the accusation and formed the processe yet in fine the father would not answer but appealed to Rome about the formation of the processe whither the cause being called after many writings and receipts It was concluded that the Inquisitor should have a heavy reprehension with a taxation of ignorance And indeed it could not well be otherwise The accusation being that the father who well understood the Hebrew tongue had maintained that from the first chapter of Genesis the article of the most holy Trinity could not be deduced whereupon he opposed the Judge not onely because he agreed with his accuser but because he was not able to judge the cause as having no knowledge of the Hebrew Tongue And as soon as the cause was seen at Rome it was thrown out of the Court without so much as calling the Father to be examined but onely by giving a checque to the Inquisitor In this very time there was added to his naturall weaknesse two other infirmities which he hath endured for many years because living as wee have said with an extream slendernesse of diet and drinking nothing but water and many daies not at all and when thirst invited him hee went to the pit and drank onely once and thereupon fell into such a costivenesse that although it may seeme strange yet it
he said he had done the Church very great service As for Poma as he was apprehended by a provost marshall he was shot above the him or so wounded that he died of it His sonne that was with him and he were sent to Civita Vecchia where he died in prison very miserably There was also seene some yeares after another sonne of Pomiani in Venice a young man of great stature and beautiful aspect but out of his wits and followed in the streete by a company of boyes ragged in clothes and begging his bread He was borne for an example of Gods punnishment which passeth from fathers to their children by a terrible visitation Of the other three I cannot tell the particular successes nor which of them was beheaded at the Castle of Perugia But true it is they came all to ill ends And because in Rome after they were secur'd and stipended for a time it came after to a resolution of casting them into prison or banishing them as effect made it appeare so the cause is in concealement as it ordinarily comes to passe in the resolution of great Princes It was imputed to their impatience because the promises were not performed it being reported that Poma was to receive 10000 crownes and the others very great summes which was the cause why they began to speake in derogation of the Cardinall Borghese and of the Pope himselfe in extravagant language discovering too cleerly that which was unperfectly executed could have no absolute praise nor due reward no not from those that could have given lustre to a thing that was done and had therefore beene better wrapt up in silence Then it was said or charged upon them that they held a conspiracy to kill both Borghese and the Pope Such is the faecunditie of finding out causes in Courts and especially in Italy That which I conceive more probable is that was told me by a Prelate now living that about the same time Ridolfo the Emperor being dead and his brother Matthias to succeede him the Pope sent the Cardinall Mellini as his legate into Germany to intervene in that action upon those ordinary pretensions which the Popes have had alawies in the creation of Emperors At his return to Rome he told them that the Catholiques of Germany tooke very great scandall that persons which were guilty of such accursed crimes should finde entertainement at Rome and that thereupon the Heretikes tooke occasion to publish odious writings against the person of the Pope and to the reproach of all the order of Cardinalls This discourse came to the Popes eares or was else fomented by the bold words which were spoken concerning the non-payment of the 10000 crownes which had beene promised and thereupon a just provocation given True it is that he gave order they should be put away from Rome although not without entertainments in other places This seemed to them a thing of so much sharpnesse that they began to lament that they were betraied and that those were not the promises which had beene made them and for which they had put themselves upon such evident dangers of dying upon gibbets and now to faile with them in matter of faith and in such manner as had beene infamous among the very Turkes but the provoking so much the mindes of those great men that are impatient of the least in jurie was the cause that the foresaid ill fortune fell so heavy upon them approving that old saying That no kinde of Traytors are pleasing to Princes and that divine justice though with a lame foote failes not to overtake the swiftest forerunners Now returning to our wounded father the first thing after his wounds were bound up and he tumbled upon his bed was to prepare himselfe in his soule to God to receive as he did the next morning the most holie communion in the greatest humility entreating all the other fathers that were present with many teares in their eyes to excuse him if by the impediment of his wounds he were not able to speake much as he desired to have done that he might by greater demonstrations of the sorrow for his sins have begged a pardon of God And as it is the order of that Government the Avogador being come to take his examen who was then Signor Girolamo Trivisano and at this time Generall in Candia the father told him that he had no enemy that he knew of nor had he knowne any Onely he praied the high Councell often that as he with all his heart did pardon him that offended him so they would make no other demonstration of it but what might serve to defend him better if God should be pleased to prolong his life any further expressing in his actions as a christian and sonne of the heavenly father his due obedience to the Gospell and as a Philosopher that he had eradicated out of his soule all spirit of revenge which is a kinde of savage Justice but deeply inserted into humane nature It was not a singular action of his upon this offence alone but observed by him formerly and after in the whole course of his life never to procure a revenge although the injurie were never so great and the most that was ever heard come forth of that blessed mouth of his case of his wrongs though most unsufferable in words or writings or actions was to say sometimes with a serene face Videat Dominus requirat The next morning the Generall Filippo Alessandrino hearing of the businesse came in all hast to visite him having beene intimate friends together and when he had heard how the businesse had been acted He fell into such an amazement that having communicated his commissions to Fra. Fulgentio he remained for a while speechlesse But observing his owne order in avoiding ostentation or unnecessary shewes of weaknesse it fell into consideration whether he should use the help of more then one for his infirmitie and so he was willing that Signor Alvise Ragâ—ra a young man but very discreete and in Chirurgerie of a light hand and no hard binding should giue attendance upon him But the condition of his person and the publique respects constrained him to give way that almost all the famous Physicians and Chirurgions in Venice should have a hand in his cure beside such as by publique order came thither from Padua among whom was Girolamo Fabritio Aquapendente anold friend an admirer of the fathers vertues And he was commanded not to stirre from the Convent being assisted by Adriano Spigelio who suceeded in the Anatomy Lecture at Padua untill it might be discerned whether the maladie would determine to life or death it being very long in doubt of judgment whether the one or the other Because beside that the wounds themselves were very grievous and much more by the complexion of that was wounded being so extenuated in nature that when at the best he seemed but a Skeleton so distinctly might his bones be numbered as also by so great a Iosse
understanding is unsatiable such was the life of this father singularly composed of active and contemplative alwaies yielding to God what he could to his Prince what he ought and of that which belonged to his owne dominion more then he ought by any law but that of charity But yet neverthelesse this is so pious so holy an institute and order of his was not able to please the implacable as it happens with engines of many pieces and instruments that though the motion tooke beginning from some principall wheele neverthelesse that impression which it makes upon others doth not cease though the principall move no more nay rather that impression which is made upon the lesser Pieces drawes after it with violence that piece which gave motion from the beginning So in some governments the motion that tooke beginning from the Prince and was derived and after divided among many ministers followes and continues a motion in them although the Prince have abandonde it in like manner it happens concerning hatred and malevolence That the interest of Court advancements take deepe roote with many that perswade themselves they shall doe the Pope a verie great service and ti 's growne almost naturall for men to shew that they having an affection to that which at first they tooke from others being none of their owne but fained that they may arrive at some end of their owne and so in progresse of time forgetting themselves become really transported in their affection the like being also observable in the corporall affections of nature as in infirmities and diseases of fancy So there were many that from the beginning knowing neither why or wherfore but onely shewing a hatred to the innocent father and believing that in so doing they strucke into the humor of the Court and were thereby like to preferre themselves as many have done that have founded their fortunes upon that only foundation and since have really entred into affections of hatred and malevolence fomenting them by faining a false fame that the father was opposit to other priests that in consultations he went alwaies against Ecclesiastical jurisdiction and this is at this day the very center where all their lines doe collineate A meer falshood and well knowne to them that governe which they being able to carry no further must now testifie to the glory of God whether he served for a bridle or for a spurre according to the urgency of occasions the good offices which he continued to doe in favour of the Clergie and whether he were not a perpetuall advocate for the Jurisdiction and libertie of the Church I meane the true Canonicall and legitimate Church but not that which is now usurpt and employed to the subsersion of publique governments and of religion it selfe Because the father alwaies offirmed with a most intense zeale that nothing gave so great an impediment to the progresse of the Catholique religion as when they extended their libertie into license and that this alone had caused and maintained so deplorable a division in religion and some have been very injurious to calumniate him that either in consultation or in his writings he went about to beare downe the jurisdiction of the Church and to exalt more then was necessary the power of secular Princes It is true that with a frequent zeale of the conservation of holie Church and religion he was moved to blame Princes as guilty of a great sinne for not caring to preserve that jurisdiction and power that God had granted them upon which subject he hath written much and grounded it upon piety and irrefragable truth Because authoritie is given by God to Princes not for themselves but for the benefit of the people the Prince being but the depositary the Custos and executor not the Patrone of that authoritie to change or lessen it at his pleasure Wherefore t is a grosse ignorance and a most wretched sinne not to keepe up that which God hath confer'd upon them And Princes are not peradventure guilty of a great sin offence before God then out of an ignorant zeale to have suffered so great a part of their power to be usurped and that they are no longer able to rule the people committed to their charge without continuing a change of government The negligences of Princes in this particular hath beene pernitious to the Church of God and to all Ecclesiastique order And whosoever shall without passion consider how far the father was any way a breeder of controversies that have beene in the Church shall finde how he hath deplored them to be the true originall of all those mischiefes which have now brought into the Church the most politike mundane government that ever was and busied the Ecclesiastiques in things not onely different but also contrary to the instituted ministery of Christ keeping Christendome in perpetuall discord And the divisions at this day that are among Christians so irrevocable by any other meanes then the omnipotent and miraculous hand of God He held it for certaine that they were bred not so much by obstinacie in diversitie of opinions and contrariety of doctrine as from the strife about jurisdiction which after by degeneration and growing into factions hath taken up the maske of religion And as one well verst in histories hath observed that good Princes from time to time have beene they that have kept their jurisdiction most entire But effeminate ignorant vitious Princes are they that have lost a great part or by their insufficiency suffered others to usurpe it with such a deformation in the Church and for a proose of this it is not necessary to runne backe to the examples of the Constantines the Thesdosio's the Justinians whose Lawes Codexes whosoever will reade shall finde this to be verified but to those that are nearer our owne age and to those whom the Roman Church this day acknowledgeth to be even the basis of their temporall greatnesse Charles the fifth Philip the second and other catholique kings But this malevolence hath not beene unfruitfull to all sorts of men for as it hath beene helpfull to some so it hath beene hurtfull to others because in the fathers life and which is more to be wondered at after his death it hath befriended many religious men not onely of the order of the Servi but others to the obtaining of degrees and good offices alwaies giving the foile to their concurrents by saying no more but that they were affectionate or that they had but treated with the father and by this meanes they have supplanted those persons that never spoke with nor ever saw the father even so farr as to be laught at by those that have knowne the truth of particulars especially after his death as of Alberto Testoni whom wee named before who to obtaine a prelacy from Pope Vrbane by way of briefe which was against the law used this as a meanes That it having beene formerly collated at a Chapter it had belonged to a