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PHilip Nerius was born at Florence in the Year of our Lord 1515. On the Vigill of the B. Mary Magdalen after midnight, Leo the Xth. then Pope: and at his Bap∣tism in the Church of S. John Baptist, was after the name of his Grandfather called Philip. His Father Francis Nerius was a man of good repute with all, and of great integrity in his plead∣ings in the Law. His mother Lucretia Soldia a No∣ble
and Religious Matron, whose Ancestors had for∣merly managed the prime offices in that Common∣wealth.
Francis had by Lucretia four Children; two Daughters Katharine and Elisabeth, and two Sons, Anthony, that dyed an infant, and Philip; who was of a pregnant wit, an affable disposition, handsome features of body and and a strange sweetness of be∣haviour; furnished with all the excellencies where∣with those, who from Heaven are designed unto the good of Souls, are usually beautified.
His vertuous Parents vertuously educated him whilst yet a child: first entring him time∣ly * 1.1 into Grammar, wherein he not only outwent, but be∣came also admired by his School-fellows. He studied Rethorick too under an able Master, through whose discipline he proved a good proficient.
Among other essays of his after-piety, which at times from his very infancy he discovered to the world, a marvellous inclination to things divine, a rare modesty, and very great reverence to his Supe∣riours were remarkable in him. He was so dutifull to his Father, that, but once in all his life, was he known to move him (in the least) to anger; viz. when he very lightly strook his Sister Katharine, as shee disturbed him at his prayers: which fault (if at those years it may be termed a fault) being reprov∣ed for by him, he a long while after bewailed.
His Mothers commands he was so carefull of, that being at any time bid to stay any where, he would not stir from the place without her leave. She dying,
and his Father marrying anew, his Step-Mother, out of a reverence to his Sanctity, loved him entirely, as her own; and when he afterward left Florence, wept sore to part with him. Yea in her last most desperate Sickness, being at the point of Death, she oft redoubled his name, ever and anon calling him thereby, as if the very mentioning of it were a kinde of ease to her.
Nor only was he thus respective to his Parents and betters; even his equals and inferiours found him so pleasant, as if he had no mixture of Choller in him at all: so that for his excellent temper, and inno∣cent carriage he was (by contraction of his name) styled Pippus bon••s, Pippus the Good.
By which amiableness both of Nature, and man∣ners, he not only deserved the love of men, but was protected by God, even to a miracle: For being some eight or nine years old, and (as boys are) ea∣ger of riding, he got up on an asse that was in an outer court; and on a sudden together with the asse fell down a pair of stairs into a cellar, where a wo∣man presently running took him up sound▪ and well, whom she supposed to have been bruised to pieces.
These rare accomplishments of the minde were at∣tended with a speciall care of religion, and the ser∣vice of God: and his devotions argued in him a strange maturity, and carried with them much of authority. For they consisted not in erecting li••tle Al∣tars, as is usuall for children at that age; but in sending up prayers, reciting Psalms, and devout at∣tention to the word of God: concealing still in his talk his intention to become a Priest, or betake himself to a Cloyster; and even in his childhood growing re∣served in his designes; as perfectly detesting all man∣ner of ostentation.
Such a forwardness in vertue, and so childlike in∣nocency
procured him already that favour with God that whatever he requested of our Lord, he instant∣ly obtained: So that it oft hapned, when he had lost any thing upon recourse to his prayers he presently found it.
He drew his first breathings of the Spirit from the Fryers predicant, whose Church dedicated to S. Mark, he much frequented, insomuch as living afterward in Rome, when any of the Fathers of that Order visit∣ed him, he would usually say; Whatever good I have by Gods blessing received from my Infancy: I owe it all to the Fathers of your Society; principally to Zenobius de Medices, and Servantius Minius: of whom he was wont to relate this passage.
These two had agreed together, every night, be∣fore they went to Mattens, to confesse their sins to one another, but the enemy of mankind envying them so great a good, knocks at Zenobius's chamber one night, two hours before ordinary, and cries, O ho, rise, 'tis high time: whereat he awaks, and leaping out of bed hies him to Church, where he finds the counterfeit Servantius walking hard by the seat of Confession. Zenobius taking him for Servantius indeed devoutly kneels to make his confession, the devill sits by, takes it, and at any fault the Penitent confest, an∣swered, Pish, this is nothing, no fault, this: then dis∣covering some worse offence, still he replyed, These are but trifles. Zenobius hearing that, mistrusting the devils wiles, crossing himself thus bespake the Father of lies; Art not thou that fiend infernall? at which he vanisht away, both disappointed of his hope, and confounded with shame.
Besides these he resorted to an eminent Preacher of the Order of the Humiliati, called Baldoline, whom he greatly delighted to hear; of whose Sanct••ty, he gave a very fair Character, affirming that Florence
was saved by this mans prayers; in the Year 1527. What time the Duke of Bourbon passing with his army through Italy, assaulted Rome.
The Holy Youth thus taken up with Spirituall im∣ployments, this divine priviledge was granted him, that burning with the love of all vertues he even flamed with a Zeal of suffering for Christ. He was then about fifteen years of age, when he fell into a burning fever, which he endured with that patience and resolution, that though his body lay under the strokes of the disease, his Spirit seemed in a sort a∣bove it: therefore secretly hiding the matter, his chief care was to conceal from the family his being Sick.
No less bravery of minde did he express, when his Fathers house being on fire, he bare with such moderation the loss of no small quantity of goods; that he thereby raised in all a very great opinion of his future piety.
What is Writ concerning his Childhood is from the rela∣tion of his Sister, of his own mouth, of Ludovico Parigi his most ancient and familiar freind.