The life of the Reuerend Fa. Angel of Ioyeuse Capucin preacher Sometimes duke, peere, and marshall of France, and gouernour for the Kinge in Languedoc. Together with the liues of the Reuerend Fathers, Father Bennet Englishman, and Father Archangell Scotchman, of the same ordere. Written first in the Frenche tongue, and now translated into English by R.R. Catholique priest.

How hee studied controuersies, and hauing as∣signed a greate parte of his meanes to his kinsmen, hee past beyond the sea and of the motiues which induced him to enter into Religion. THE TENTH CHAPTER.

WHen in this manner thy mercy, O lord, had deliuered mee from heresie, and schisme, reuoked mee from my life paste, and established mee in thy holy Church, and when I sawe that I could not for all this auoide the dangerous and poisonous speeches of here∣tiques, I began in good earnest to giue my selfe to the reading of the holy Scriptures, that by this meanes I might confute their fonde obie∣ctions; wherein hauing spent some time, I founde manifestly how weake their arguments were, soe that I did not wonder; if according to the sayinge of Saint Paul, An Heretique is con∣demned by his own proper iudgemēt, in oppugning wilfully the trueth; But because I feared least conuersing

with them I might haue that verefied in mee, with the wicked thou wilt become wicked, I did desire nothing more in my soule, then to finde some other of better life, to the end, by the as∣sistance also of thy grace, that might bee said of mee, with the elect thou shalt bee elect: wherefore after I had consulted a while, I determined speedily, that abandoning honors, kindred, friends, goods, and countrye, yea hazarding. my life, I would goe into some other Countrie where Gods seruants do honour him pub∣liquely.

After I had wayted for meanes to accom∣plish my desire, a commoditie was offered mee, not thinking of it, of which I was excee∣ding glad, and soe assigning aboute the halfe parte of my meanes for the comforte of poore Catholicques, and disposing of my affaires I tooke leaue of my friends who permitted mee to goe though it was not without much sorow and mourning after mee, and not only my friends, but one which had beene as an enemie to mee a Counsaylor at lawe, who vnderstan∣ding my drift, and that I had forsaken my friends, my meanes, and my countrye for Gods sake, tooke my departure noe lesse hea∣uily then my best friends, and said that hee was very sory that hee had conceaued any such opinion of suspition formerly of mee, and de∣clared my innocencie with a protestation, that hee had rather haue lost his aduancement

which hee did hope for by his practise in the lawe, then my companye.

Then I embarqued my selfe to goe into France, but by reason of contrary windes wee rowed too and fro vppon the sea a long time, & were often in very greate danger of beeing caste awaye; But O lord thou which art the de∣fence of thē which truste in thee, didest deliuer and bring vs to the desired porte, in a Catho∣licque country where I first sawe that which I had neuer seene, to wit, the maiestie, beau∣tie, and magnificence of thy Church, and with greate contentment, I did first consider the comely order which is in this militant Church and heauenlie Hierarchy, from the highest degree of the chiefe Pastour, euen to those which are but newlie entred into orders, hauing as yet but simple tonsure and euen to the secular persons, whence euery inferiour degree is subordinat to minister to that which is aboue it, in imitation of the heauenly Hie∣rarchie, though not like in all things; for euen as the heauenly Hierarchy is diuided into three Hierarchies, and euery one of them into ••hree orders: soe is the earthly. As the first con •…•…eth of Seraphins, Cherubins, & Thrones which doe illuminate the second Hierarchie, euery one c∣cording to his order & degree, so the first earthly hath three orders to wit the Supreme Bishops, the Archbishops, and Bishops, whose office it is to illuminate and Authorise others which are

vnder them. The second heauenly Hierarchie cōsisteth in three orders: Dominations, Powers and Principalities, and these are illuminated not immediatly from god, but from the Superiour Angells, & they illuminate those that ar vnder them. The second Hierarchie of the militant Church is also of three degrees, of Abbots, Priors & Curats, which receaue theire authori∣tie, direction, & light from those of the first, as from their superiors, & doe gouerne, teache, & illuminate those which are subiect to them. The third heauenly Hierarchie consisteth of Vertues Archangells & Angells which are only illuminated and doe not illuminate others, so hath the third earthly, three orders of virgins cōtinent persons, & married, whoe doe receaue the worde of God the Sacraments and light without administring them to others. These things I did not altogether so exactly consider then, but according to the litle light I had.

Secondly when I sawe the goodly and mag∣nificent buildings of thy Temples, the beauti∣full monasteries, the exquisite painted and grauen images, which adorned and enriched the Churches both within & without, I could not but behould the glory and grauitie of thy holy Church. And althoughe thou doest not dwell in Temples made with hands, as within a place which dothe containe thee, yet O lord I say with the holy Psalmist, I haue loued the beauti•• of thy house, and that it is pleasing to thee, and

that thou doest dwell there with thy sonne in∣carnat IESVS CHRIST and the Holy Ghost: and therefore wee may sing with the Prophet, Holynes becommeth thy howse for euer: that is to the end of the worlde, and by these greate and glorious structures of monasteries richly ren∣ted and endewed; I could not but behould the greate piety and deuotion which the Catholi∣que Church shewed, as by the ruines of them in our Countrie I sawe and bewailed the vn∣happy calamitye of heresie.

Thirdly the beautfull and maiestatiue ser∣uices of thy Church seemed to mee to giue much splendour to it: for when I sawe the so∣lemnitie of the masse celebrated with Preist•…•…, Deacons, Subdeacons and Acolites, euery one in theire ornaments according to their degree, and euery one administring according to his office; when I sawe the Altar richely dressed & adorned, the multitude of lights vppon the Altar, and round aboute the Quire, with what deuotion the Altar was incensed, the solemne procession soe well rancked, and soe many devout people following with torches and lightes, the Quire soe well furnished with Preistes, Clerkes, and Chaunteis, euery one in his place, and clad in white preparing to cele∣brate the diuine office, when I say, I saw all these things, I could not but behould them with greate deuotion, as if I had seene in a liuely glasse the magnificence and maiestie of

thy holy Churche.

Fourthly good Lord, soe greate was my inward melting sweetenes, when I heard the harmonious musick of voices & organs, which with himnes and canticles were offered to thy diuine maiestie, that my harte could not but leape with ioye, & was violently drawen from all worldly thoughtes, & coulde not containe the ioye, but often melted into aboundance of teares, soe that my eyes seemed to bee two channells running from a plentifull fountain, and that I might truly say with thy seruant Saint Augustine: How often haue I wept fee∣ling my selfe liuely touched with those sweete Canticles and Hymnes which are song in thy Church, with soe sweete and well beseeming Harmonie. Thou seest, o God, how my harte trembleth when I call to minde these soe great benefits, pardon therefore my ingratitude.

All these former things seemed to mee, to be full of grauitie, beautie, and magnificence, in thy Churche, and the rather beeing now de∣liured frō those infernall blasphemies, which are belched out of the mouthes of many here∣ticall ministers: & now liuing in a Catholicque Country with greate tranquillitie and repose of spirit, I heard also, o Lord, thy sweete voice which did inuite mee more clearely to the em∣bracing of a religious solitary and priuate life, by quite abandoning all worldly affaires, yet doubting of a matter of so greate importance,

forasmuch as I had heard it said that it was not lawfull to beleeue euery Spirit, I commu∣nicated it to some of my best freinds, asking theyre aduise and iudgment heerein, who bee∣ing many, differed in theyre opinions: some persuaded mee to one thing, and some to an other, and all of them were litle or nothing inclined to this kinde of life which I was de∣sirous to imbrace; for they persuaded mee ra∣ther that I should continue in the worlde where as I was minded to forsake it.

But, o Lord, thou gauest mee soe many con∣siderations and motions to followe thy holy inspiration, that in the end after I had borne much affliction by contrary persuasious, I re∣solued to putt it in execution, my first conside∣ration was founded vppon the wordes of the Ghospell which saith, The way is straight and nar∣row which leadeth to life & there are fewe which walke in it; & I sett before my eies the great debauch∣ments and disorders of most mens liues in this time. I afterward considered the extreame danger that is in the worlde where there are occasions of falling and plunging into sinne, & how for this cause the Christians of the pri∣mitiue Church (which in respect of theise of our times were saincts) how, I say, they seque∣stred themselues from the worlde, and how some striuing to bee more perfitt, fledd into deserts and wildernesses, fearing least among men they might defile theyre soules with some

fowle stayne of sinne; How much more ought I poore and fraile creature retire my selfe to some monasterie, to separate my selfe from christians whoe liue soe licentiously.

Besides I called to minde the greate multi∣tude of soules, which I had left in England, my familiar freinds with whome I had liued, and many millions of others seeing them all to passe this pilgrimage in miserable blindnes, going like straying sheepe thorough the thick darkenes of heresie and schisme, and my selfe worse then others, to bee deliuered from such captiuitie; when I considered this I felt such a fire of charitie kindled within mee, that im∣mediately I was forceably moued to retire my selfe from the worlde. Moreouer although I was called to thy holy seruice yet I was not vnmindfull of those wordes which say. Many are called but fewe are chosen. This serued for a spurre and goade to driue mee to a more assu∣red and perfitt life then that which I did lead; To these considerations I added that it was no small thing to expect cternall glory, to come to which, wee must passe thorough wa∣ter and fire.

And lastly to answere well to my extraordi∣nary calling I thought I must embrace and vn∣dertake more then an ordinary life, and my life past licentiously spent ought to bee recom∣penced proportionably by penance in this life or the next, for this is agreeable to that which

is written in holy scripture; As much as shee hath glorified her selfe and hath beene in delicatie, soe much giue her torment and mourning: and an ancient Do∣ctour saith, that a deepe wounde requireth a deepe tent; These things I say stirred mee vpp to doe penance and to followe the counsell which our sauiour giueth in the Ghospell; If thou wilt bee perfect goe and sell all that thou hast and giue them to the poore and thou shalt haue a treasure in heauen. These and such things, o Lord, came not from mee, but proceeded from thy pure and free liberalitie, to strengthen mee in the course of my begunne life, and to confirme in mee that vowe which thy goodnes had begun in mee: For which all praise, glory and honour bee rendered to thy holy name.