CHAP. XVI The Persecutions and affronts he suffered.
YEt, to take our rise a little higher, these reli∣gious usages, which should rather have gain∣ed him respect and love with all, did to some for∣lorn miscreants administer matter of spite and ca∣lumny. For, when at first he held discourses of Spirituall things in his chamber, every day after dinner; and applyed himself to hear Confessions, many that maligned him began privately to whisper and in time openly decry him, prating what came next. The Ringleader of them was Vincentius Tec∣cosius of Fabrianum, a Physitian, one of the four De∣puty-Governours of the place, to whom gathered two Apostates, that lived there disguised under a reli∣gious habit; these at Teccosius's instigation used all means to drive Philip thence. For being Sacrists by place, as soon as they saw him coming to the Vestry, they would shut the door against him, deny him the Vestments, or bring him such as were torn, sometimes take the Chalice or Missall out of his Page 55 hands, or hide them; otherwhiles make him pull off the H. garments being vested, and go from one Altar to another to and fro; as soon as ever he was gone forth of the Vestry to say Mass, call him back again; by these injuries and provocations to make him leave S. Hieroms.
All these disgraces the servant of Christ took no notice of, but carrying himself courteously to them both in word and deed prayed to God for them every day: and being desired by some of his own to remove somewhither else: Not so, replyed he, I will not seem to shun the cross God hath allotted me here. And still the milder he, the more insolent they; though he strove, as for his life to soften their perversness. Till, seeing he availed nothing he flies to him that helps his servants destitute of all humane assistances; and as he was saying Mass one time, looking on the Crucifix, he thus bespake his saviour: Why not, O good Jesu, why dost thou not hear me? so long, yea so ardently have I impor∣tuned thee for the vertue of patience: why, I beseech thee, dost not thou favour my petition? Immediatly he hears a voice saying within him: Didst thou not beg the grace of patience; know, thou shalt obtain it, but through injuries and affronts. Animated there∣fore with this reply, he ever after more patiently and contentedly endured reproaches: so that, they who offered wrongs were sooner wearied, then he that suffered them. And thenceforward, when at any time he was reviled, he would either contemn the offence, or excuse the offender.
Some two years after, one of these Apostates set upon Philip one day, railing and inveighing a∣gainst him with such inveterate malice and rancour, that the other who was by, pittying the good man Page 56 flew with so great violence upon his fellow, catch∣ing him by the throat, that, but for Philip he had throtled him. Whereupon considering how villa∣nously he himself also had dealt by him, and re∣membring his former Religious vows made, he dis∣closes the whole business in order to the H. man; and by his directions betook him to a Regular life again, always after crying up the Sanctity of Philip.
Nay Vincentius Teccosius himself was overcome and vanquished by the patience of Philip, craving his pardon before divers, and surrending him∣self up to the servant of God; whom chusing for his Confessor, he so dearly affected, that there passed not a day, wherein he came not in courte∣sy to see him.
Yet was not all malice against him thus extin∣guished, all calumnies laid asleep; nay he was af∣terward worse abused by other profane persons. For they objected, that it was out of pride, that he went to the 7 Churches, with such sholes of peo∣ple; that it suted not with one, who despised the vanity of the world, by gathering multitudes to turne the eyes of the whole City on himself. O∣thers looking onely on the summs of mony spent then in victualls, not regarding the number of per∣sons, ascribed all to revellings and gluttony. The Politici•ns blamed him with pretensions of care unto publike peace; for that so great a confluence would occasion uproars and tumults. All which was told Philip again, who took it patiently with∣out any disturbance.
The bruit hereof increased daily, till it came at last to the Prelate that was Deputy of the City, who, moved by the reports of them that bore a spleen to Philip, sent for him, and reprehends him sharp∣ly: Page 57 Is it not a shame, saith he, that you who profess a contempt of the world, should hunt for popular ap∣plause, and walk thorow the City guarded with troops, with such nets as these fishing for Church preferments? When having shrewdly taunted him with such like expressions, he prohibits him the hearing Confessions for fifteen dayes; and to use the customes of the Ora∣tory, but by leave first obtained; or to lead about with him any companies of men; threatning impri∣sonment upon his disobedience. Neither would he let him depart, till he had put in security for his ap∣pearance. Philip with a pleasing and •omposed coun∣tenance answered; That as he had begun all things, which he had instituted, with the glory of God, so like∣wise was he ready to desist from all, for the same glory of God, that he ever should prefer his Superiors directions before his own desires: that he had taken up that usage of visiting the Churches, out of no other end, but to divert his from those dangers of sinning, which at such times as Shrovetide, use to be most rife. The Deputie replyed, Come you do all this, not for the glory of God, but to make a party for your self. At which, Philip wistly eying the Crucifix that stood there, said, Lord thou knowest whether I do it to make me a party; and so went his way. But be∣cause he highly prized the vertue of obedience, es∣pecially to his Superiors, he presently forbade his sons to come to him at all.
Meantime, while the good man was commending himself to God, having intreated divers Religi∣ous persons to be instant in prayer about this busi∣ness: one day on the sudden appeared a Priest in a rough garment tied about with a rope, neither known by face, or seen ever before or after that day, who said, I am sent to bid you expose the H. Page 58 body of our Lord, for the people to adore, with the solemn supplication of the forty hours, by the Sove∣raigne patronage whereof all persecutions shall be cha∣sed away, for so it was revealed from heaven to cer∣tain servants of God. Then coming to Francis Ma∣ria Taurusius he whispers in his ear these words; This trouble shall be quickly over, and the work that is begun be more strongly confirmed; they who resist now, shall assist hereafter; and if any one shall dare to oppose it any longer, God shall speedily avenge it on him: the Prelate that is your chiefest adversary shall certainly dye within fifteen days: this said, he va∣nished out of sight. And it fell out precisely as was foretold: for the Prelate (the Popes Deputie) rela∣ing the proceedings to his Holiness somwhat parti∣ally dyed suddenly; which coming to Philips knowledge, he pittying his sad end would never let any of his utter so much as a word to his dis∣paragement.
For it became the servant of Christ to arme him∣self with no other weapons, against what he stood charged with before his Superiours, save the shield of his own innocency. Giving himself therefore more to prayer, he oft told his Sons, This storm a∣rose for my sake; not yours, that by this means I might be taught the vertues of humility and obedience; and when I have received the good which God intends me by them, these slanders questionless will have an end.
But when Pope Paul the fourth heard the whole cause, and evidently discovered Philips integrity, he sent him, as a token of his good affection, two wax tapers, of those that use to be light up in the Popes Chappel on Candlemas day: letting him know that he not only granted him free leave to visit the seven Churches, but to exercise all the duties Page 59 belonging to his institution: and that it was his unhappiness, that he could not be present at those religious performances. At which his sons were o∣verjoy'd, and a while after went with the B. Fa∣ther (as they were wont) to the 7 Churches, to render thanks to the Divine goodness, that the tempest now blown over, they might freely observe the Orders of the Oratory.
No sooner was this blaze of persecution out, but a much fiercer was kindled against the Order; for, under pretext of piety and Religion, some possessed Pius Quintus of B. Memory, that the preachers of S. Hieroms many times delivered things ridiculous or unsound; which argued either high indiscretion or Ignorance, and must needs endanger their hearers.
Hereupon Pius like a faithfull and Vigilant Pa∣stor culls out two Dominicans, and severally enjoyns either of them to go to S. Hieroms, and mark exact∣ly what was said or done, and to bring him word, if there were any thing repugnant to faith or good manners.
While these religious persons were busy about the Popes commands, the Pope himself tels Alexan∣der Medices, Ambassadour for the great Duke of Tuscany, that he had heard, how the Fathers, Prea∣chers at S. Hieroms had unwisely or unwarily let some things slip them; particularly, out of the A•ts of S. Apollonia, that she voluntarily flung her self into the fire, without adding, that shee had done it, by speciall impulse of the H. Ghost. Alexander dismissed by the Pope goes to S. Mary's su∣pra Minervam to hear a sermon, where Germanicus Fidelius meets him, and intreats him from Philip he would vouchsase to visit him as soon as might be, Page 60 for he would fain speak with him; praying his ex∣cuse, being so lame on one of his feet that he could not stir out of bed. After dinner he goes to Philip, but first to sermon; where came up Francis Maria Taurusius, who so handsomely interpreted that action of Appollonia, with its due caution and such facility, that he untied the knots of all those dif∣ficulties which the Pope had communicated to Alex∣ander. Sermon ended, the Ambassadour went to Philip, who immediatly questioned him, what passed betwixt the Pope and him, that morning, about the affairs of the Oratory. He astonished which way he came to know any thing of it ingenu∣ously confessed all to him.
But those Religious men, the Pope sent to the Oratory, after a strict view of all that was done there, acquainted his Holiness, they heard no∣thing but what consisted well with piety and Learn∣ing; He rejoycing exceedingly, that there were even in his days men at Rome, that so profitably dispensed the word of God dayly to the people; and thence forward both Philip and his Sons were in such favour with him, that he joyned Taurusius in commission with his Nephew the Cardinall of A∣lexandria, going Embassadour to the King of Spain, France, and Portugall, giving him instructions at large of all that was to be treated of.
Moreover those Dominican Fathers so esteemed of the Order after that, as for divers years they came almost every day to the sermons, and oftimes preached there themselves: as also the most emi∣nent preachers of other Orders ever and anon used to do.
