he got new strength to goe on in his way He liued in great pouerty as is said yet he neuer as ked almes neither in this time nor euer after in his life but trusting wholly to the diuine Prouidence he did eate that which Men gaue him of their owne accord without asking and when that failed he did earne it with his labour He passed many daies only with Indian wheate tosted and some lents only with purslane whereby he came to haue a great weaknes in his stomack which gaue him occasion to merit all his life time Somtimes he vsed to exercise his body in his little garden and he did seldome or neuer eate of the hearbes which he planted and cultiuated but very charitably gaue them to those that passed that way He did spend euery day some time in the holy Scripture and some times his lecture was in the Epistles of S. Paul in Spanish before they were forbidden of which we shall speake more at large in another place THE VII CHAPTER He returnes to Mexico and hauing bin at the conuent of S. Dominick he goeth to Guasteca to continue his solitary life AS soone as he came to Mexico he went straight to the conuent of the Dominicans to meet with Father Dominick Salazar who was to procure him a Cell in that place according to his promise but vnderstanding that he was not in the city at that present he declared his busines to some graue and learned Fathers of that order who answered him that they could not possibily giue him a cell vnlesse he did take the habit which they offered him very willingly but he haueing staid there some daies expecting his patron in whose word and fauour he put much confidence at length they assuring him that he would not returne very soone and that when he was come he could not obtaine his desire and withall perswading himself with this that his vocation was not to liue in community but solitary he tooke his leaue of that holy conuent with much griefe both to the Fathers and also to himself being to leaue such holy company but he esteemed it his more assured course to continue in his first vocation and way which our Lord had shewed him and wherin he had profited so much allready and for that purpose he determined to goe to Guasteca because he was told that it was a wast and vnpeopled Country but very fertill of wild fruites on which he might liue Gregory made choice of this seate to liue solitary in and though he might haue had cause to feare his infirmiries and weaknes of body yet he was more afraid of being troublesome to those that gaue him entertainment a thing wherin he was alwaies very wary and discreet Therefore relying wholy vpon the diuine Prouidence he setled himself in that place vntill God did ordaine otherwise the fruites hearbs and rootes of the field were his food he fought valiantly the battels of our Lord continuing the exercise of the loue of Godād his neighbour wherein as is said before the diuine goodnes had grounded him and giuen him increase THE VIII CHAPTER Of a grieuous sicknes which he had and of an ill opinion which some had conceiued of him about that time GRegory Lopes would haue spent the rest of his life in that wildernes of Guasteca if he had perceiued that it was the will of God who shewed that it was otherwise by meanes of a vehement fit of the bloudy flix which he sent him in which he continued many daies all alone with the discommodities that may be imagined in great want of all things necessary for his cure and euen for his ordinary sustenance till it pleased God that a priest of a very exemplar life by name I hon de Mesa who instructed those people wihout any stipend spending his meanes freely among the poore and needy sending presently for the sick man cherished him in his owne house with all diligence and attendance He was brought very low with this sicknes vntill that being very much weakned by reason that he had not eaten anything in many daies before he fell a sleep but wakned againe vntimely with a little strength and stomack to his meate and in a short time he perfectly recouered Neuertheles his good host would not suffer him to returne to the wildernes againe but keept him in his house almost foure yeares with great edification both to himself and his neighbours round about who moued with the report of his good carriage came to see him although he neuer reuealed to any what he was what his vocation nor the mentall exercises which he vsed only his outward behauiour was that which made many both admire and loue him yet there wanted not some that did behold him with a quite different eie and so framed different conceits of his manner of life for hauing no office nor exercise as they thought to employ himself in they deemed him to be an idle fellow and one of no worth yea their suspicion passed farther for some thought him an heretick although they saw him come to heare Masse and comply with the other outward obligations of a Christian as well as the rest And because vpon this occasion I got the first knowledge of his manner of life I will here set downe the relation which they gaue me of him About that time there came a priest from those parts to the city of Mexico and amongst other businesses which he came to treate of one was that their liued in that place a man who he feared very much was a Lutherane heretick because he did not cary any beades about him nor shewed any other such signes with which good Christias shewed their deuotion and vprightnes of heart I asked him whether he spoke well in things touching our faith he answered that he seemed to be well grounded in the Catholick doctrine that he knew all the bible by heart that in his behauiour he was blameles and that he was allmost allwaies alone as if he had great businesses though he did not impart them to any He staies à great while in the Church and we cannot not get out of him of what country he is who were his parents or kinsfolke and liueing in the world he doth not meddle with any thing of this world as if he did not liue in it I replyed familiarly that I would not haue that priest be like vnto Hely who thought that the changes which Anna made in her countenance at such time as she praied earnestly in the presencee of God were caused by drunkennes if you should see a theefe without his beades you would not therefore account him an heretick how much lesse a man of so good a life so conuersant in the holy Scripture and whose eonuersation seemeth only ton be with God The priest conuiced with this reason answered that he liked well of that which I told him and that it was likely that he was à very good man and said moreouer I
countenance said these wordes will declare my self vnto you my Lord Archbshop sendeth me to haue knowledge of his sheep therefore answer me clearely and plainly to this Gregory made answer it is uery â—itting that I should obey my Father and Prelate and you in his name this being premised Father Alonso Sanches began a fresh to sift him ouer and ouer asking him many very subtile questions in matter of faith and ChristiaÌ„ doctrine to all which he answered clearely and distincly grounding his answers vpon the holy Scripture and relating the heresies which had bin raised against the Catholicke verity meÌ„tioning the times and the chiefest of the Archheretickes together with the holy writers and Doctours who did impugne and write against them this he did with such waighty sentences and graue wordes that the father remained astonied but much much more he wondred at the good satisfaction which he gaue to all the doubts and obiections he put vnto him touching his spirit and manner of life and found that he was endued with much prudence both diuine and humane Hence it came to passe that the said father remained not only well satisfied touching the spirit of Gregory but also his great friend and deuote He gaue an account of all this to the Archbishop who was exceeding glad that a Man of such vertue had ioyned himself to his flock and from that time forward gaue command that he should be cherished and often visited I being alwaies the messenger The first time that I spoke with the Archbishop after that Father Alonso Sanches had giuen accouÌ„t of his commission he told me that among other things which the Father had told him in praise and fauour of Gregory he said these wordes Truely my Lord in comparison of this man I haue not yet begun my spirituall A. B. C. THE X. CHAPTER Of his going to the Hospitall of Guasteca and the exteriour and interiour exercises wherin he emploied himself in that place GRegory Lopes had liued two yeares in the house of our Lady of Remedies when he found himself very weake and tormented with a paine in the stomach and the collick and by reason of these indispositions those cold aÌ„d blustering winds which doe ordinarily blow in those high Countries were very hurtfull to him and therefore it was necessary in regard of his health to goe to the Hospitall of Guasteca which is seated in the Marquesate of Valle 36. miles of Mexico As soone as the Archbishop vnderstood his resolution he sent him an horse of his owne stable and some dainties by a seruant who was to accompany him aÌ„d serue him in his iourney Gregory Lopes the Archbishops seruant and I departed from our Lady of Remedies in the yeare 1580. towards Guasteca and so great was the esteeme of those who had conuersed with him in that place that at his departure all made meanes to get some part of his poore houshold-stuffe which was at that time two or three sheepskins which serued insteed of a bed and a little pitcher to keep water in And allthough I endeauoured allso to get one of those sheepskins I could neuer obtaine it though I was Curate of the Cathedrall and so well knowne by all such was the affection and deuotion with which the good people did aske them I left Gregory in his way to Guasteca least I should be wanting to my office in Mexico Gregory therefore in the company of the Archbishops seruant arriued at Guasteca where he was receaued by brother Stephen de Herrera allthough the commodity was but small by reason of the great pouerty which the hospitall did suffer in its beginning He lodged him in his owne chamber hauing order to giue him that which was necessary for his sustenance and not to employ him in any thing The brother vsed him with all loue and kindnes as he did vse to doe all that repaired thither who though they were many in number by reason of the pleasant temperature and wholsomenes of that aire and the Hospitall poore at that time hauing neither rents to maintenance the poore nor houseroome to lodge them nor any thing wherewith to build yet it neuer was wanting to their cure and reliefe a thing truly which if we did consider it only humanly would seeme impossible and far from the truth but such was the courage of Bernardin Aluares the founder not only of that Hospitall but allso of that of the Conualescents in Mexico and of many others which are spread ouer all new Spaine that he deserued his most prosperours successes for the reliefe and help of many I remember that when I asked of this great seruant of God his good will that Gregory Lopes might be receiued in that Hospitall he answered me would to God Father Losa that I could bring all the poore Men in the world to my hospitall I trust in Iesus Christ that he would maintaine them all be it with all my hart as you desire and well may it bee seene that this hospitall was gouerned by Gods prouidence for within two yeares after it was founded there was in that house of Guasteca allowance for 72. persons and from that time forward it hath increased so much that now God hath prouided a table in that desert for all sorts of poore and needy people both men and weomen spaniardes and Indians that come to the hospitall to be healed not only out of new Spaine but allso from Guatimala and Peru for the good entertainment which they find there and abundance of all things necessary for their health and reliefe and the great care and charity with which they are looked vnto so as allmost all that goe thither with allmost incurable diseases in a little time recouer their perfect health and thus much in briefe of this famous hospitall because I thimke that Gregory Lopes his being there at the beginning of it was no smale cause of of its increase In this place therefore Gregory had his maintenance sure vnder the title of voluntary pouerty and laying aside care of all things allthough the care of temporall things did neuer molest him he gaue himself wholly to contemplation and mentall exercises practising himself in the loue of God and his Neighbour in which he had laboured many yeares But all though the exercise was allwaies the same yet the increases euery day were new he was all the day retired in a chamber by himself he went out onely to heare Masse vpon Sundaies and holidaies and some of the weeke daies and then also only to the hospitall chappell and if at any time he failed there he went to the Monastery of S. Dominick to heare it there and though that place was very pleasant by reason of the many good springs fields and groues of trees and prospects yet he seldome or neuer went out to see them for being of a weake and tender constitution the ill smell of the contagious diseases which are there cured did much annoy him for this cause some of
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
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
they went away not only illuminated but allso with their hearts inflamed aÌ„d stirred vp to embrace whatsoeuer was good There came vnto Gregory one exceedingly troubled in mind and told him all his troubles he answered him only these wordes this is a purgatory wherin God detaineth you and these were of force to coÌ„fort him and giue him great quietnes of mind He comforted another Priest much afflicted only by saying vnto him that of the Apocalips I counsaile thee to buy of me tried and burning gold wherwith thou maist be rich Another found comfort amongst his tribulations and temptations by hearing him say the kingdome of heauen suffereth violence and the valiant doe win it To knights and great persons that desiring to liue well in their state did aske him what they should doe he said That which you doe for the loue of Gâ—d and that is enough To lawyers indges and men of emploiment he was vsed to say change your intention and you will doe much With these kinds of speeches he did awake some that were a sleep who by hearing him came to the selues and profited very much of this efficacy and good effects of his wordes which I did allwaies attribute to his prayers we shall speake some thing in the 19. and 20. Chapters besides that which is spoke of in diuerse places of this booke and might be spoken of more at large Haueing by long obseruation perceiued that Gregory did vnderstand spiritually whatsoeuer he spoke or heard I once said vnto him whatsoeuer you speake or heare you vnderstand it spiritually and he answered me that it was true wherby spirituall men may see the perseuerance and constancy of his spirit and those that are not will perceiue it by these examples following If any Man did say that the bread of Santafe was good he answered yes meaning the blessed Sacrament which is true bread of our holy faith When they did coÌ„mend the beauty good smell and excellence of the flowers of Santafe he applied it to the saints whose sanctity had its beginning from faith because without it it is impossâ—ble to please God if any one beholding the springs and streames of waters which run from hence to Mexico did say the water of Santafe is better in its spring then at Mexico Gregory yielded it was meaning by the spring of Santafe God in whom the waters of true wisdome are best and he that receiueth theÌ„ immediatly ftoÌ„ him hath them more pure and wholsome then he that receiueth them after they haue passed through human vnderstandings when he heard men say such an one is of a noble house he presently considered that true nobility was to be a son of God in spirit if any one said that such a Lord or such a Lord was grandy of Spaine he presently considered that the chiefe greatnes was to be a freind of God a heater of his diuine wordes and to performe heroicall deedes in his seruice Perceiuing this his wonderfull quicknes aÌ„d readines in drawing of things to a spirituall aÌ„d profitable sense I was woÌ„t sometimes when there was occasion of talking of any thing which was hard to be vnderstood spiritually to aske him the spirituall sense as once a little dust arising in SaÌ„tafe which hapneth but seldome those that were present said there is dust allso in Santafe I asked him how can it be said that there is dust in Santafe he said because there are saints that liue in Santafe who are not come to foure and twentie degrees of perfection and therfore haue some dust of the earth sticking vpon them for a man perfectly spirituall is all spirit THE V. CHAPTER Of his great knowledge in Ecclesiasticall and secular histories MAny would haue contented and esteemed theÌ„selues happy if they could haue attained to that knowledge which is alreadie said that Gregory came vnto but as God is the giuer and Man a subiect soe capable it pleaseth God to set before our eies for examples some men to whom he hath giuen much by their industry to confound and coÌ„demne the carlesnes of those that doe not prepare themselues This holy Man disposed himself so well as that he is one of those who by their owne deedes giue a sufficient and ampble testimony of this verity whilest he was in Guasteca there came to visit him Father Iohn de los Cobos a Dominican an excelleÌ„t Diuine who had bin a reader in spaine before he came into these parts and haueing conferred with him for a good while very seriously he afterwardes said that the fame of his wisdome was great but the truth far greater Haueing heard from him very rare things out of the Apocalips he desired him to make a comment vpon it which he did in eight daies and sent it vnto him to Mexico without either writing it ouer twice or so much as blotting out a word He receiuing it admired very much both at the speed as allso the wit learning and spirit which he shewed There went allso to Guasteca to talke with him Father Michael Talauera Prouinciall of the discalced Franciscans whose humility wisdome and sanctity were most renowned in this kingdome He conuersed with him very familiarly and afterwardes ceased not to admire at his great light aÌ„d wisdome praising and thankeing God for it in so much as that at his returne from thence to Zacatecas where Gregory had liued solitary he did very much extoll his knowledge and sanctity in a learned sermon which he made there and among other things he said this in this field here hath bin bred such a young man as that I had rather be he then a king Emperour or Pope and he added in departing from him I felt my soule possessed with the grace which I had found in him Father Manuell de Reinoso a holy man and very great Preacher of the order of S. Francis admiring at the vnderstanding and knowledge of Gregory held it to be supernaturall for I said he haue asked him of diuerse places in the Scripture and there was none to which he gaue not a very good answer once I asked him nine of the hardest places which I haue seene in all the bible and he expounded them to me in a few wordes and with such propriety as that he seemed a S. Hierome Another religious maÌ„ hearing him say so went vnto Gregory with other places of great difficulty and found by experience that what had bin said of him was true He knew with as much euidence as can be gathered out of the holy Scripture aÌ„d other histories whatsoeuer past since the creation of the world to Noe telling the generations of the sons of God and of our first fathers so distinctly as that without looking in the booke he would rehearse all those linages their degrees and affinities and the differences of the times and ages allthough it be a thing so obscure euen to the most learned neither was he ignorant of things that past the sons of men at that time whose
asked of him and with the same mildnes let it passe or answered it according as he thought conuenient or necessary There came to this village to visit Gregory a religious man Doctour off Diuinitie and intreated me to get him to speake some thing of God I did so and the Doctour to giue him play began to treate of that matter with a great number of reasons and wordes and the holy man being a great while silent I intreated him by signes to talke some thing of God wherunto he answered softly so as the Doctour did not heare because he was somewhat deafe silence edifieth him more then speaking and allthourgh he staied there two daies and one night yet Gregory did not speake vnto him one word of God As the Doctour was going away I asked him what he thought of Gregory he said his silence pleaseth me very much and Gregory himself said vnto me afterwardes Father Losa I see that many can speake well lett vs doe well If any one by way of disputation or to try him did aske him something which he had premeditated and studied before hand putting vnto him his doubt in Latine he would say I praytell it me in Spanish that being done the holy man answered this is that which you say giueing him to vnderstand that ther was no need of an answer He was also wont to aske of learned men the signification of the holy scripture in Spanish onely to humble himself vnto them To those that asked him counsaile about going to spaine marrying or such like thinges he gaue no answer for the time present but said that he would recommend it vnto God wherin he shewed great wisdome for he knew that in such businesses it was conuenient that God should dispose the meanes and moue the willes to that which was for his greater glory and the good of men and this was the reason why he would not answer without first treating with God of those thinges besides he thought it not à matter of any great importance whether men did mary or goe for spaine but he kept vnto himself out of his humility and mortification these and other good reasons that moued him to giue no answer But when any asked him whether they should be priests or enter into religion if he did find they had parts requisite for such â—n estate he did further them in their resolution of embracing that principall good but when he perceiued that they wanted those parts he answered as is said I will recommend it vnto God He would speake very much in behalf of the religious orders and of the Prelates and Superiours of them in presence of their inferiours and those of their charge and house declaring vnto them how great a good it was to obey and obserue their rules and Constitutions Vnto lay-men when occasion was offered he gaue to vnderstaÌ„d the eminence of a religious mans estate aboue theirs and the great spirit wherwith the religious orders were founded he said that Gods best souldiours were in them and to this purpose he was wont to say that a tree in a plaine field needeth take good roote but that it is more safe from the violence of the winds in a woody mountaine He did all waies defend Princes Gouernours Iudges as well Ecclesiasticall as Secular with great courage and humility withall in presence of their subiects and when they did murmure at the gouernment he said if you were in the place it may be you would not doe so well as he that is in gouernment and if they stood in it saying that that which the Princes did diserued to be amended he replied you should tell them so for what good doth it here to some that esteemed themselues spirituall men and yet did murmure he said I doe not account him spirituall no nor vertuous that iudgeth and murmureth at his neiggbour Most commonly he was vsed to say in such occasions this thing cannot be remedied here let vs not talke of it and with his grauity he gaue such life and authority to his wordes as that a man of great account who talked of the kings gouermeÌ„t was put much out of countenaÌ„ce only by hearing Gregory say vnto him the king hath as sharp an vnderstanding as any man in spaine and will you reprehend him and the same man doth yet admire at the great change which those wordes caused in him He made another allso who spoke ill of the gouernment of a Lord change his opinion only by saying vnto him you dare not say so in his presence He was very considerate and aduised in speaking to euery one in his proper kind to the husband man souldier gentelman and the rest without taking any man out of his profession and to this purpose he commended very much S. Iohn Baptists wisdome in the couÌ„saile that he gaue to the souldier to be content with his pay and doe no man any wrong Treating with spirituall men least they should iudge those that lead a manner of life different froÌ„ theirs as sometimes it vseth to fall out he was wont to say that he was much delighted with the variety of mens spirits because that with them God did beautify his heauenly Hierusalem that in the spirituall course God was the Master and therfore no man ought to make himself a Master to another iudging him and desiring to leade him the same way as he himself is led by God because that way also is good wherin God directeth others To those that asked him counsaile what they should doe he answered they should loue God and their neighbours because that was the high way for all froÌ„ the least to the greatest and that herein one could not doe amisse because it is our law wherin consisteth all perfection He was allso wont to say that to be allwaies talking of spirit was milke and the temptation of beginners and that allthough one had an vnderstanding like a Seraphim yet he ought nor desire to make it knowne without necessity He esteemed it better to recommend his neighbour vnto God then to speake of God vnles there were some speciall need To those that had allready prosited in spirituall life he said it is better to speake with God then of God To one that esteemed himself a spirituall man he said it would be a great shame vnto you if it were knowne that you desired to liue in this world and for this purpose he alledged S. Paul who said we haue nor here any permanent city but we seeke after that wherin we are to continue and he perswaded himself that he that liued after this manner might be numbred amongst the spirituall men When he heard some great and miraculous thinges reported he was vsed to say I had rather haue one degree of the pure loue of God then all this noise He was once asked whether those that were perfect had any recreations he answered yes because when one goeth a iourney he loues to see his horse eate for so he
sack cloth and went 24. mile farther into the Country to the Valley of Amvac amongst the Chichimecos whose crueltic was in those time much feared by the Spaniards because they did eate Mans fleshe and committed many other cruelties but he hauing God in his heart feared no man and so it came to passe that these Men or beasts for soe they shewed themselues to others were so courteous to him as that they helped him to make è little cottage after the manner of an Hermitage which we may well say was the first that euer was in new Spaine with that name THE THIRD CHAPTER Of the solitary life which he began to lead in the Valley of Amayac amongst the Chichimecos GRegory Lopes began his solitary life as he was entring into the one and twentieth yeare of his age which is a matter of great importance to wit to begin euen from ones youth those exercises which are to continue all ones life and S. Ambrose said that this was the honour of young Men to learne the feare of God from their tender years Therfore the first thing that Gregory did for the better performance of this his solitary life was to make the two first steps the one with the feare the other with the loue of God offering himself vp ito his hands and putting himself vnder the shadow of his most assured protection with these wordes Lord here I goe forth onely to serue thee and not for any interest of mine owne if I doe perisheth on thy account be it By Gods fault no Man perisheth because he giueth euery one that which is sufficient if he will make his benefit of it for his saluation And our ruine allwaies proceedeth and is caused by ourselues as all the holy Fathers doe vnderstand and as may be gathered by many places of the holy Scripture especially by the wordes of the Prophet Isaie in the 13. Chapter Thy perdition O Israell is thy owne worke from me only thou hadst help that thou mightst not haue bin destroied if thou wouldst haue helped thy self with it So Gregory by those wordes did not meane that his soule might be lost for want of Gods assistāce he himself doing what lay in him because that cannot be imagined of a Man endued naturally with such an vnderstanding and supernaturally with so much light but by this manner of speech he intended to declare his affection and truely wordes comming from hearts enkindled with loue are alwaies to be piously interpreted conformably to the affection which doth then rule in them Here by we might gather the nature of this act of Gregory which proceeded from two apprehensions which he might haue had of God at that time The first was of a holy feare of the combates which offer themselues in the desert the which proceeded out of a perfect knowledge which God had giuen him of his owne weaknes The second of a great confidence which he put with all in the goodnes and metcy of God for the iust man by trusting in God looseth not his feare and by the feare of himself casteth not away his confidence in God Then if we refer it to the affection of confidence his act is to be declared thus Lord here I goe forth only to serue thee and not for any interest of mine if I perish vpon thy account be it as if he should say I am sure that by thy fault I shall not perish but I am rather of opinion that this proceeded from a holy feare and that which he could haue said was Lord here I goe forth not for my owne interest but only to serue thee if I doe ruine my self it will not be by obeying thee in this vocation which thou giuest me but because thou hast determined for mine owne vnworthines to suffer me to perish in that estate thou hast put me in as Saul did loose himself in that course wherein thou didst put him not by thy fault but his owne From the very instant that Gregory Lopes made this act he found the fauour of God in himself very efficacious and began with great courage to walke in the narrow path of perfection in the which he neuer retired back one foote or staid nor euer lost sight of that light with which God did direct him in this way He armed himself with continuall abstinences He vsed himself to eate but once à day allthough his meate was but short and of little nourishement for the most part of his time it was only Maiz or Indian wheate tosted which the Indians call Cacalote and he obserued this custome so strictly euen till his death that vpon no occasion yea though he were grieuously sick he would euer breake it He did neuer eate flesh yet if any sent him some slices of beefe in almes he receiued them thākefully concealing his abstinence but he did neuer eate them Rolles of Indian wheate were his ordinary bread and those but sparingly and lesse then sufficient sustinance to liue vpon if God had not sent him such fauour as might well seeme his in so much that his māner of life ād nourishemēt seemed rather miraculous then naturall THE IIII. CHAPTER How the retyring of Gregory seemed to some excessiue and his manner of life suspicious and the reproches which he thervpon endured and of a notable miracle which our Lord wrought by him ALthough the life of Gregory in the wildernes was so extraordinary and so retired from the conuersation of Men yet there were some that did carp at that estranging of himself especially because they did not throughly penetrate that inward practise of his soule and the exteriour which they saw was different from that which is commonly seene in such like Men that are giuen to spirituall exercises because they saw that vpon many holydaies he did not goe to Masse and that he had no spirituall bookes those slāderers of his blamelesse life not considering that the way which Gregory tooke and wherin God had enlienghted him was so inward so secret and so solitary that euen his soule it self as he often said did stand in feare and suspected her owne body And thus much touching the slāder for not vsesing bookes of deuotion and vocall prayer as for his hearing of Masse vpon daies of obligation this might excuse him that the neerest place to his Cottage or habitation was 24. or 30. mile off yet vpon great daies he alwaies went to heare it and afterwardes returned back to his widernes But it is no new thing that the iust and freinds of God suffer such like persecutions for as S. Austin saith very well persecution is that which disposeth the seruant of God for the glorious crowne which is ready for him in heauen and Lactantius saith that an Emperour or Prince could not know the valour of his Nobility if he had not enemies for their exercices and triall Besides this some imputed it to great folly in Gregory Lopes seeing him choose that wildernes before any other for his
customes and inuentions he did relate very particularly The like he knew from Noe till the comeing of Christ and he spoke of those times and persons as if he had liued in them Hauing spoke of this family of God he discoursed of the bordering nations putting all into one history and accommodating these histories to the times and successes of the said family and he did not only know the warres and other thinges that hapned in the family of God but allso those of the Gentills vntill the comeing of our Redeemer and in my opinion he knew all this as exactly as any other man of his time He had by heart the Prophecies of all the Sybilles he would tell many particulars of the birth infancy child hood youth of our sauiour Christ and allso of his preaching death and the other mysteries and how much the law of grace excelleth the law of nature and the law written He had in a manner before his eies the life and preaching of the holy Apostles and their Disciples He related in particular the liues and Martyrdomes of the Popes and other famous martyrs from S. Peeter to S. Syluester and the most remarkable liues and deeds of the Confessours of most note from S. Syluester to Clement the eighth in whose time he died He told the names time and conuersation of the founders of religious orders and of solitary life and of the Archereticks condemning their errours and alledging the Councells wherin they were condemued setting downe allso the time wherin such and such heresies began and ended He discoursed very particularly of the history of that beast which S. Iohn speakeh of in the Apocalips which was the city of Rome and of the ten hornes which were the ten Emperours who did most of all persecute the Church and he did bring downe this history of the Emperours to Phillip the second in whose time he died He did speake very distinctly of the beginnings and increases of the sect of the false Prophet Mahomet of the many countries which were ouerrun by the Mahometans Turks Ottomans by nation Scythians and off spring of Magog and the Slaughters which they haue made of Christians I haue heard him say that this peruerse sect did possesse allmost three thousand leagues of land reaching from Europe to China He was allso very conuersant in the histories of the heathens both anchient and moderne and had knowledge of those famous men whom the geÌ„tills esteemed Gods as Ianus Hercules and the rest He related the conuersions of all nations and countries to our holy faith and those that preached the ghospell vnto them and allso the memorable thinges that hapned and that with such certainty as if he had seen them or read them Of all this he hath made à Chronology or successioÌ„ of times from the creation of the world to Clement the eighth very short yet exact setting downe the mosâ— memorable both in the Ecclesiasticall and secular affaires so as many learned men doe earnestly intreat me to lend theÌ„ that booke to copy out He had gathered allso out of the said histories the choicest and best thinges that concerned our faith law and customes and had reduced them to a kalendar of the daies which he did sometime tell me by way of recreation to my great content and admiration THE VI. CHAPTER Of the knowledge in other sciences which God gaue vnto this his scholler GRegory did not only know both the holy scripture and morall and spirituall things as we haue said but he was allso an Astronomer Cosmographer and Geographer He had a globe and a map made with his owne handes very truly and exactly for I haue heard skillfull men that haue seen it praise it as such but that which I most wondred at is that ostentimes when there was occasion I askeing him about diuers parts of the earth euen of the Antipodes he answered me presently without studying or thinkeing upon it He did vnderstand well the Anaâ—omy of mans body and sometiâ—es he told very curious thinges of it declaring how admirable the diuine wisdome shewed it felf in man He was allso very skillfull in Physick of which he writ a very elegant booke wherin were many experiences which were easy to be made by poore men and labourers and sundry properties of sâ—mples and compounds The greatest delight which he tooke in this art was to make receits which he gaue to the poore and needy written in his owne hand with the best remedies which the desire that he had of his neighbours health did make him inuent and compose for he was very compassionate and thefore God gaue vnto him wonderfull successe He was likewisse very skillfull in husbandry and was allso an herbalist for he did not only know the properties and vertue of hearbs but allso how to make them better with sundry liquors which he made and gaue to the heâ—bes as it were to drinke I haue seen and earten of them so changed by his hand as that they seemed of another kind and he told me that if he did know of any man that were curious and a good Christian least that if he wanted the feare of God he should make them worse and poison them by this art he would teath him this art for the profit of his neightbours He was a very good penman and did write many kindes off hands singular well at this day there are some things in this kind of his making very admitable especially the map we spoke of before the which being of late much augmented excelleth all that haue come out in print and is so curiously made as that it seeâ—eth printed and therfore a graue â—octour to whose lot it fell esteeâ—eeth it very much He had skill euen in the tailours â—ade and could make his owne cloaths which though but meane yet to be accommodated to his weakenes and sicknes did requite a particular fashion and making and so he was wont to say that none hit so right in the making of them as himselfe He did not make himself shooes but he mended them so well that they serued him three yeares aÌ„d more neither did he make himself a hat for hâ— neuer wore any since he went out into the wildernes and it is noâ— knowne that he euer had more thâ— one and that remayned as good as new This multiplicity of thinges in 〈◊〉 contemplatiue maÌ„ will not seemâ— excessiâ—…e though oÌ„ly one be necesary and many doe rather hinder then otherwise if we consider the sublimity of his spirit to which the great number was no hindrance from the following of that which was the principall and necessary and I to be resolued of that doubâ—… did once aske him if any of those little things did wholy possesse him and he answered me I find God as much in the least of these things as in the greatest and the reason of this seemes to be because his chiefâ—st end and scope was his creatour so as hauing his eies allwaies fixed vpon
whatsoeuer nor at the table or afterwardes and I doe not call an idle worde that which the common sort meaneth that is something vnseemly or tending to scurrillity for such as these were not to be spoke nor thought off in such a life as Gregory did leade here I call an idle word as diuines and spirituall men meane a needlesse one and such an one was neuer heard from his mouth for he did so square and measure his discourses as that words neither wanted nor were superfluous I will note here an other thing for the learned it hapned sometimes that there were in his company some learned men talking of sciences wherin he was most eminent yet he held his peace as if he had bin a clowne and ignorant vnlesse he were asked or in other respects which I will speak off by and by This was generally knowne and Dom Fray Pedro de Agurto Bishop of Cibu in the Philippines a man knowne in this kingdome not only for his dignity but allso for his great wisedome religion and sanctity affirmed it in a letter of his in these wordes I loued very much my good and holy Gregory and if I left of conuersing with him the reason was because he not being vsed to speake vnlesse he were aske and I haueing the title of a Master though standing in need of that which I might learne from so good and so well practised a soule it might be that my questions and conuersation might be thought impertinent though it could not be imagined by such an one as he That which I did most admire at in Gregory is that all though it be so commendable a thing to speake of God and that many discreet and vertuous persous came from countries far distant to conâ—erre with him yet he neuer talked to them of God nor of spirit or morality vnlesse he were asked and when he did answer though his answers were profund and admirable yet he spoke without any exaggeration in a very plaine stile and cut off his discourse as soone as he had satisfied the questions and necessitie of his neighbour and as it happened often that to the question which he did answer there did belong foure or fiue more which the standers by would aske of him he answered euery one so prosoÌ„udly and withall so briefely as that he went not an inch farther then he thought was necessary It is a thing truly worthy of much consideration that he being so eminent in the knowledgâ— of the holy scripture so we grounded in morall and spirituall doctrine so conuersant iâ— histories hauing such knowledgâ— of saints liues of the rites and customes of forraine nations and of other thinges which we spoke oâ— before and on the other sid haueing such an excellent memory a to call to mind what thing an whensoeuer he would yet wash sparing of his talke as that he neuer spoke vnles he were asked 〈◊〉 without manifest necessity Methinkes if Eliphas that harsh fried of Iob had conuersed with Gregory as much as I did he would not haue said Conceptum sermâ—nem quis retinere poterit who can keep in a speech once conceiued but to make this his warines more plainly appeare I will here relate a reprehension that once he gaue me A little after that I came to liue at Santase with Gregory he told me vpon an occasion that there was an Emperour who being in the midle of the sea would be serâ—…ed with fresh meate and in the â—idle of the land would haue fish brought aliue vnto him whervnto I said that was Heliogabalus the holy man answered since we haue condemned the fact it had bin sitting to haue concealed the person Another time standing at the window and seing it raine apace I said it raines apace and at the same instant a flash of lightning sell vpon my hand as I held it out of the window I told it vnto Gregory and of the paine that I felt he answered you are well serued since that you speake wordes that are not necessary for I see that it raines apace Haueing one day told me a thing wherwith I was very much edified I asked him why he did not tell it me before if he knew it he answered I doe not tell that which I know but that which is necessary and vpon another occasion he said for two yeares space I shut my lips without speaking more thÌ„e to salute my host whom I saw onely once in foure and twenty howers He did not only keep silence in speaking but also in writing for he neuer writ of any busines himself neither did he returne an answer vnles charity or necessity did require it and then he did only vse those wordes which were necessary for the busines I haue many of his letters in my hands of fiue or six lines and some shorter as that which is in the I. chapter of this booke He wrote some to Don Luys de Velasco the Viceroy in answer of others and he did no more but answer at the end of the Viceroies letter I will doe that which in this you command me which was for the most part to recommend some businesses to God And though worldly men account this manner of answering especially to princes rude and vnmannerly yet in one that was so far from compliments and so wary in his speech as Gregory was it was great prudence and heauenly wisdome He did only speake without being asked when he vndertooke the defence of the honour of God or of his neighbour or of the truth of the holy scripture and our holy Catholick faith and this too when no body else present vndertooke the busines For example if any one was afflicted with temptations or sicknes by reason of which he did seeme in some sort to murmure at God one would not thinke with what pious and graue speeches he would indeauour to bring him into knowledge of his owne errour ignorance and of the bottomles Ocean of the diuine wisdome and mercy which was hidde vnder those tribulations and how much he was bound vnto God and to put himself in his more then fatherly hands He did allso defend his neighbour with very prudent reasons as shall be seen in the next Chapter That wherin he shewed most spirit and vigour was in expounding some places of the holy Scriptures vpon which misunderstood the heretickes had grounded their errours and in such occasions he did not coÌ„tent himself with bringing some few authorities and reasons but he dilated himself as much as he could and alleaged the best senses that he could of the holy scripture and in those places which the heretickes said contradicted one another Gregory vsed the same vigour and Christian liberty yet withall modesty sor he did esteeme it as his owne Mother hauing bin brought vp so many yeares att her breasts THE VIII CHAPTER Of the wisedome which he shewed in his answers sayings and deeds HE did heare very peaceably and midly and with great attention whatsoeuer was