An abridgement of the life of S. Francis Xaverius of the Society of Iesus, new apostle of India and Japony together with some few of the innumerable authentical miracles wrought by him of late years / by W.B.

A sudden cure of a Rupture of nine years, wrought vpon an old man of threescore and fifteen years of age, vpon a vow made by another person to S. Francis Xauerius: approued for a Miracle by my Lord the most Illus∣trious and most Reuerend Arch∣bishop of Mechlin.

ANDREW by the grace of God and of the Sea Apostolick Archbishop of Mechlin, to all those who shall see these presents, health in our Lord.

As amongst diuers places which giue singu∣lar marks of their zeal towards the miracu∣lous Relicks of S. Francis Xauerius, the City of Mechlin Metropolis of our Diocess in the low-countreys, does signally continue her De∣uotion with an extraordinary feruor, where that sacred Depositum was first of all exposed with our approbation to the veneration of the people in the Church of the Society of JE∣SƲS, so also the Diuine hand there opens it self largely, daily to distribute more considera∣ble fauors by the miraculous and benefical arm of his faithful seruant. For besides the fauors and miracles which we haue leasurly examined and duely approued hitherto, as also other Prelates of the Church haue don, we vnderstand that this great Apostle of the In∣dies, has lately made again appear the indeed prodigious power of his arm. To confirm this verity, we do declare by these presents, that

we haue commanded with all possible exactnes to search out the truth of a sudden cure of a rupture of nine years, which a certain inha∣bitant of Mechlin has obtained by the inter∣cession of this glorious Saint, and which to this day he still perfectly enjoyes, as will ap∣pear by this authentical narration, which was sent to vs.

William Plougart being threescore and fif∣teen years old, was grieuously tormented with the extreme pains of a Rupture, the swelling whereof fell down sometimes in such sort, as it was as bigg as the head of a child. Margaret de Hoogh his wife was eye∣witnes of it, and also Lewis van Dael felt it with his hand a few daies before he was cu∣red, when he found him lying vpon the ram∣pairs without force and strength, not being able to moue himself for the vehemency of his pains, which he has often confirmed by oath, and auouched that diuers times, for these fiue last years that he wrought with him, he obserued he was so weak and fee∣ble, that he was forced to leaue off his dayly labor. The violence of this infirmity had from the beginning so oppressed the poor old man, that his sufferings growing euery day to be more violent then other, they made him wholly vnfit for labor. The fal∣ling of his malady did so torment him in the night-time vpon the eleuenth of Decem∣ber 1662. that he verily perswaded himself he should dy of it, protesting amidst the violence of his pains, that he should esteem

himself extremely happy, might he but dy, and that by a death neuer so violent. A∣mongst others of his neighbors who were awaked by the doleful noyse of his sad gro∣ans, a certain yong woman moued with compassion towards him, at one a clock in the night, made a vow in his behalf to S. Francis Xauerius, and promised to perform it at his miraculous Relicks at Mechlin: no sooner had she made her vow, but the com∣plaints and sighes of the infirm person cea∣sed. Early in the morning she went to see him, and demanding how he did, his daugh∣ter Magdalen made her answer, that he had slept queitly euer since one a clock in the night. Ʋertly, then replied the good maid, I made a vow at the same time to the great A∣postle of the Indies, S. Francis Xauerius, for the case of your father, and I will forthwith accom∣plish it, with as much fidelity as speed. Vpon the making & performance of this promise, the said William was perfectly Cured, and has not suffered any inconuenience from his infirmity, for the space of two years now past. He has walked vp and down, trauel∣led, and don his ordinary labor, with as great case and alacrity, as if he had neuer known what meant the torments of a trou∣blesom rupture; and which is more to be wondred at in an old man of his age, six months after his cure, vpon the first day of May, he went from Mechlin to Anwerp, a and returned again the same day on foot, &

this loaded with a heauy pack. A while after in the most vehement heats of the summer, he went from Mechlin to Bruxels, b & came back again the same day strong and lusty. Moreouer he protests that since his recouery of his health, for these two years, he has performed without any pain his accusto∣med functions, although hard & laborious, [for that he is a gardener by occupation] that he has digged, sowed, and oftentimes in the cold and most dangerous moist sea∣sons, bowed ••o the ground, plucked vp herbs by the roots in his garden; and in fine, that he has don other labors, which experience testifies to be wholly contrary & pernicious to ruptures; that he has planted and trans∣planted trees; and that in the summer last past, being vpon a tree of a moderate height he fell down off it to the ground, without any hurt, or resentment of his malady, al∣though that heretofore, during the nine years he was tormented with it, it fretted and swelled with cutting pains, according as the air grew cold or moist, or if that in laboring he vsed any violence.

The News of this cure hauing been brought vs by many persons of credit, The Reuerend Iohn Baptista Bernaerts curate and canon of our Metropolitan Church, and Antony Vermeulen Licentiat in Diuinity, authorized to this pur∣pose, took by our command the informati∣ons with theyr vsual forms, which the said William, his wife, his daugher, and Lewis van

Dael subscribed with oath, as also the worship∣ful commissaries, who sent them vs signed with their own seal. In confirmation whereof, many other testimonies were added of the most fa∣mous Physitians of Mechlin. Anwerp, and Bru∣xels, and of the two prime professors and Doc∣tors of Physick in the famous vniuersity of Louain, who vnanimously assure vs, that so sudden and perfect a cure of a rupture of nine years, wrought vpon a man of threescore and fifteen years old, was aboue the power of na∣ture, which we hauing vnderst••••d, and conside∣red in the presence of God, as also hauing required the judgements herein of diuers Di∣uines, and other personages of great ability and Integrity, according to the Decree made by the Council of Trent concerning the ap∣probation of New miracles, conforming our selues to the faithful report of the Reuerend Commissaries, who haue most diligently and maturely examined, and considered the matter, we judged it fitting, as we do also by these presents judge it fitting, that this cure of Wil∣liam Plougart, both may and ought to be held and published for supernatural and miraculous, wrought and obtained of the Diuine goodnes, by the intercession of S. Francis Xauerius, and for such we publish and decree it. In credit whereof we haue commanded our Secretary to dispatch these presents, signed with our hand and sealed with our seal, humbly beseeching the good God, who glorifies those which glo∣rify him, and is honored in the honors of his Saints [as we acknowledge, from our own

experience and with all kind of submission the glorious merits and signal fauors of the blessed S. Francis Xauerius] that we may here∣after more frequently experiment the effects of his fauorable protection.

Giuen at Bruxels the 28. of Nouember 1664.

It was signed ANDREW Archbishop of Mechlin.

And a litle lower By order of my Lord the most Illustrious and most Reuerend Archbishop.

F. Despaute Secretary.

The place of the Seal ✚

Notes

• An. Dom. 1662.
• a

  Tvvelue miles.
• b

  Tvvelue miles.