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.

His exclamation vpon the state of this present life. THE SECONDE CHAPTER.

ALthough the disorder of my life past, cō∣pared with the strict life of ancient Chri∣stians, or examined by the iudgment of those of our tyme, may seeme euill, wicked and monstrous, yet was it soe shadowed and coue∣red

with the iniquitye of the tyme, abounding with vitious and lewed libertins, that it could hardly bee discerned and condemned for such; For euen as black beeing neere to white, doth more playnly appeare, soe when it is mixed and confounded with black, it can hardly bee distinguished: The same may I say truely of my lyfe, the darkenes whereof compared with the candor of the life of old Christians, or the puritie of those that are good in this age, would presently bee diseouered: yett hauing ledd my life in the black darkenes of this pre∣sent age, it seemed not soe fowle as indeede it is: For since the lamentable change of he Catholique fayth into heresye, since the ouer∣throw and contempt of the vniuersall Aposto∣lique Roman fayth in our Realme, the con∣sciences of men haue beene soe stretched and enlarged, the reyne of concupiscence hath beene soe slackned, that all honestie, vertue, and good life, hath beene forsaken and aban∣doned, and on the contrary side, vice and ini∣quitye hath wholie swayed and ouerruled the same. I would to God my words were not true, but experience doth manifestly shewe, what I say to bee but truth:

For first of all, how are mens consciences stretched in traffiquing one with an other? How litle, or noe fidelity, is there now in mu∣tuall promises? what cunning dealing and co∣senage, is there practised euere where? what

small hold is there of mens words and creditt? Neede wee not now more bonds and wri∣tings, to borow but twentye angells, then was needfull in tyme paste to buy soe much land for euer? Noe man trusteth his neighbour, neyther would I counsell him to truste him: As for sacred oathes, which ought to bee inuio∣lable, alas men make marchandize of them, and sell them for monye: And for concupis∣cence, whoe seeth not that it is withheld by noe bridle, men following theyr liberty and pleasures, like brute beastes? But for this I had rather passe it ouer slghtly, then to prooue it by many particular examples: And why should it bee bridled or kept in, if (without giuing any consent vnto it) it be iudged a mortall sinne, as master Charke and other ministers his companions doe teach? and that all wee doe, are mortall Sinnes, as Protestants hold?

Moreouer, if any man giue almes, or doe performe any other good worke, hee shall not bee reputed a freind of protestants, but be est∣eemed; (as they ordinarilie terme it) a merit-monger: and one that seeketh to saue himselfe by his merits: As for Hospitalitye and releife of the poore, it is almost quite neglected, es∣pecially among theyre church men, who ey∣ther mayntayne theyre wiues or concubines, vpon the goods of the churche. And as for fa∣sting and Prayer, which our Sauiour hath soe often recommended to vs by words and wor∣kes

they are soe litle esteemed that hee which fasteth vpon the eue commanded by the holy Church, is called a Papist, and long prayer is stiled a Monkish act. And finally to vse the hel∣pe of the Sacraments against sinne, is reputed enmitye against the state: but to confesse, to reconcile others, or to bee reconciled, yea but to carry about him holy things, as Agnus Dei, Medalls, a Crucifix or graines that are blessed, or but to bee in companye with a priest, this is noe lesse then a crime of trea••on to his Prince, and country: But hee that will take a more cleare view how vice, and iniquitye are ex∣alted, lett him but obserue how sinne now raigneth in all states and sortes of life, and hee shall finde that all manner of greuous sinnes are committed, as freely and loosely, as if they were not such: Soe doe they (confirming the woords of holy scripture) drinke Sinne as water, which is one of the great sinnes of the worlde: and of the six things hated of God, the one is, to haue our feete light and swifte to run∣ne to euill.

And to examine further some other points, what litle honour is there geuen to Gods maiestye, whose name is soe blasphemed in swearing and forswearing in all discourses, that hee is scarce esteemed a gentleman or a man of courage, which hath not learned to en∣terlace his words with many oathes and blas∣phemies: Theyre Sundayes and feastes, how

are they neglected when on these dayes, there are more idle persons walking vp and downe the street••s, and in Saints Pauls churche (which is made a walking and talking place) then there is on others: nay euen Sunday is a day de∣signed for bearebay••ing, and euen the howre of theyre seruice is allotted to it, and indeede the tyme is as well spent at the one, as at the other: I neede not speake of profanation of feastes, which the Puritans will not approue at all. For rancour and mallice, doe they not raigne vniuersally through the wholle Real∣me? As for defamation, detraction and rash iudgments, men make noe account or recko∣ning of them; what diuisions and debates are there in euery parish? And for the moste parte the minister is a principall man in mayntay∣ning them: If wee speake of couetousnes; is not hee to bee iudged a theefe, which desireth the goods, lands and possessions of his Neigh∣bour, I meane in the presence of God? and who bee there among them, whoe lye not still in ambush, and secretly suborne spies, to informe them, how they may take any lest aduantage, how to seaze vpon other mens goods?

I will omitte to speake of Iustice, which is corrupted among the principall Iustices, and it is not long since they accused one an other in theyr highest court of Iustice: This is but too euident, when wee see dayly soe many

iust persons. Preists and other Catholiques vn∣iustlie imprisoned, theyr goods spoiled, and in the end themselues cruelly putt to death and all vnder the cloake of iustice.

I will not discouer more detestable sinnes in the greatest persons, who will not abide that they bee touched: But all the other for∣mer sinnes, and many other, are soe common in all sortes, as if they thought there were noe God at all, or if there bee, they seeme to be of those of whome the Prophet speaketh. Our lord will not see it, neyther will the God of Iacob be∣hould it: Neyther is it to bee wondered, that they keepe Gods commandements noe better, sithence they are not incited and moued by theyre ministers to keepe them, but they bold∣ly preach, and teach by theyre liues, and by thire doctrine, that they can not bee kept: our sauiour sayth; My commandements are not heauye, and they say they are most heauie, yea impossi∣ble: our sauiour sayth. My yoke is sweete, and my burden light, and they teach that it is sharpe, yea vnsupportable; our sauiour sayth. If thou wilt enter into eternall life, keepe the commandements: and they teach that wee muste enter into it by only faith; is it not likely that such a life proceedeth from such doctrine? For what wonder is it, if such fruite gowe from such seede? Heresie and Schisme, bring forth noe better Heresy and bad life, doe goe together; Therefore Saint Ignatius sayth; Flye the breath of iniquitie, flye

the diuelish doctrine of Heretiques, out of whose mouth proceedeth an infection, which poisoneth the wholle worlde: Heresy (sayth this holy Martyr) is without God. Heresy is an inuention of the deuill. What faithfull En∣glish harte is there, which doth not weigh the complaint of Saint Basil in his tyme, saying. Good doctrine is subuerted, those who ought to feede the flock of Christ with the tru••h, are forced to bee silent, the mou••hes of good tea∣chers are closed vp, and blaspheming tongues doe ryott, holy places are prophaned, the bet∣ter and wiser sorte of people come not to the churches, where doctrine acceptable to God and good men is taught, but they are forced to liue in desarts, lifting vp theyre handes to God with sighes and groanes, and many salt teares: This is the state of our poore country, since Catholique Religion hath beene ouerthrowē; There hath beene as it were the generall delu∣ge of vice and iniquitye, and the very outward face of all vertue and honestye, hath beene thus diffigured: Wherevpon it came to passe, that my enormous manner of life, appared not soe foule in this miserable country, as when it was in an other Aegipt, the darkenes wherof wree so grosse and so palpable, that they might in a maner bee cutt with a knife.