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TO the vertue of Humility he added Discipline and Mortification, wherein he so transcended, exercising both himself and his therewith, that justly he was reputed the Great Master of this Ver∣tue. For himself; his whole study and endeavour was to be disesteemed and vilified of all; for which cause he used to do, and many times put others upon the doing of, such things as carried with them a semblance of a fickle or rather frantique mind.
In the first place therefore he was most vigilant in depressing all haughtiness and exaltation of mind, as far as he might and could, both publick∣ly and privately, at home and abroad. To de∣scend methodically to some particulars. He would sometimes dance with much eagerness, and that not in corners, but open Courts, in Porches, High∣wayes, Streets, Market-places, and where the thickest crowds of people were gathered together; in the presence of Princes, Prelats, and Cardinalls. Insomuch that he was seen dancing publikely be∣fore all on the first of August in the street of S. Peter ad Vincula, where the whole City was solemnly convened, and when one of the spectators cried out, away old fool, he rejoyced extreamly, dancing and leaping so much the more for very gladness.
One time going about his occasions he hapned on a man that sold water in the City, whose beast being laden with vessels, as the manner is, he desi∣red him, Prythee friend, let me drink a draught of water out of your Tub. He consented; So Philip setting his mouth to the Barrel drank what he pleas∣ed, all the standers by gazing on him, and won∣dring at him.
Meeting by chance the B. Felix of Cantalicium a Capuchin in the Street called the Bank, then full of people, saluting each other, he asked him, if he were athirst? who answered, Indeed I am. Felix replied, Now will I try whether you have truly learnt the habit of Mortification: and straight reached him the bottle that hung at his back, bidding him, Take it and drink: Philip took it and drank, the multi∣tude looking on, and saying, Look yee one Saint drinks to the other. But now, said Philip, I will see whe∣ther you have this vertue too, or not: when pulling his
Cap off, he put it on his head, and bad him Go. See, I do replied the other, but if any body take away your Cap, look you to that, the loss shall be yours. So Felix go∣ing away with the cap, Philip soon dispatched one after him to fetch it back. Which done, each went his way; the beholders being in suspense whether of them had shewen greater self-denyall.
Cardinall Alphonsus Jesualdus presented him with a coat of Sables conditioning that he should wear it, Philip promised him, and wore it a full moneth within doors and without, stalking with a stately gate as being brave and gallant, on purpose to be derided, looking first on this side then on that, as one proud of his attire, till taken for a frantique he was laughed at by all.
The Cardinall of Alexandria, Nephew to Pius V. of B. Memory, had invited Philip to dinner: who boil∣ing a few Lentills first, put them in a pot, and gave one of his to carry to the Feast with him, for trial of their mortification: as they were all set, he com∣mands the pot to be placed in the midst of all their dainties; himself tasts it first, then invites the rest, and distributes it; that neither the Cardinall nor the Company, knowing the holiness of the man, could refuse his proffer, but all fed very heartily on it.
The day that the Bodies of the H. Martyrs Papias and Maurus were translated to the Church of Valli∣cella, both Streets and Church thronged with the concourse of people, Philip attending the coming of the sacred Reliques nigh the gate, falls to com∣plementing with a Switzer, a Souldier belonging to the Popes Guard, pulling him by his large broad beard, they that saw it partly wondring, partly laughing thereat.
Another time to expose himself the more to scorn, he made half his beard be shaven of, and going immediately into the Sreet began to dance and ca∣per, as his guise was, very pleasantly, that so like another David, becoming more Vile there∣by, he might erect the Trophees of victory gotten over himself. And not unlike to this was it which he did once or twice in a great company of people causing one of his to cut his hair and beard; by this one invention for the subduing of his spirit, both He, and that his Barber learning the contempt of themselves,
The Humble man likewise went often thorow the City with a huge traine of Disciples accompanying him, carrying a large posy of flowers in his hand, and sometimes without his Cloak, by this means attracting the eyes of all unto him, that he might be scorned as an Idiot or Natur••ll: yea oftimes in reading, he for the nonce used barbarisms and incon∣gruities, especially when able or skilful persons were by, that they might take him for one not on∣ly void of judgment, or profound learning, but una∣ble so much as even to read right.
At home he was ever contriving wayes still to make himself contemptible; of which among severall others that occurr, the Reader may take these few examples. In the first place, you should ordinari∣ly have seen him, when he was private in his Chamber, with a Crimson shirt on reaching to his knee, huge big shoes, and those white too, upon his feet, a straight Cap on his head; in which Dress he would entertain Noble Personages, and men of quality, to make himself hereby ridiculous unto them. Yea he would sometimes go to Church in this habit, and that upon Festivall dayes. It once hap∣ned
that he came abroad thus attired, on the An∣niversary of the B. Virgins Nativity (to whose ho∣nour the Church was dedicated) as Vespers were a singing, where were present many Cardinalls, which all rising up at his entrance, in reverence to one of so rare holiness, honourably welcomed the Good old man, intreating him he would be pleased to sit down with them; who smilingly answered, It was enough for him to find room below at their foot-stools, among such as bore up their Trains.
For the same reason he had by him Romances and books fraught with fables, that he might be taxed for his levity and vanity; and when either Noble, Sage, or Learned Persons resorted to him, he would make one of his read them; shewing both by looks and gesture that he was exceedingly pleas∣ed therewith.
Once Clement VIII. sent some of the most emi∣nent of the Kingdome of Poland to him, that they might behold an example of Vertue for their imi∣tation, and by his conversation and conference in things spirituall might also conceive a due estima∣tion of his great sanctity: He having notice of it aforehand, that they were a coming, calls one of his Sons to read him one of those books, and not leave, till he bad him. Anon they came, when without ceremony or respect he tells them; I would have you hearken till this Tale be ended: to which they willingly yielding; Mark ye, saith he, whether I be not choyce to have books of a grave subject read to me; without mentioning one word of spiri∣tuall maters. So having tarried a while, looking one upon another, and wondring at what had pas∣sed, they said nothing but went their wayes; Phi∣lip bidding his Scholar; lay away the book now, for I have done what I would with it.
An honourable Roman going once with the Phy∣sician Angelus Victorius to Philip, observed him somwhat too sportive and light in his behaviour, and wondring one so highly reputed should demean himself so vainly, at his departure told the Physici∣an; Your Old Man (my Angelus) hath, I must con∣fess, not a little offended me. He did it replied he, to dissemble his sanctity. So the next time the Physician went to Philip he desired, if that Noble Person came again, he would carry himself more gravely. What, saith he, would you have me set my self in an artificiall posture and tone? and pour out fine smooth sentences of Rhetorique? that the by-stan∣ders may cry, This is that wise, that holy Father Philip: I tell you, if he come to me again, I shall use him more scurvily, and play the fool worse. After∣wards it chanced the Noble man often visited Phi∣lip, and by daily conversing with him found such vast wisdom in him, lost & shrouded under the dis∣guise of levity, that thence forward he was wholly addicted to him. Not to mention how somtime he challenged his Scholars to run for a wager; some∣time to trye which should run fastest up stairs: some he admitted and talked with in a red cap: and divers like things he continually did, Which de∣signs of his, tending to Christian Mortification even in such petty matters, are therefore offered the Reader, that men, too much addicted to the repu∣tation of humane wisdom, might both by the do∣ctrine and example of Philip learn to suppress these haughty passions of the mind, and bridle their af∣fections.