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 fa. Archangel was adorned with the gift of the holy Ghost, and of other vertues. THE XXVII. CHAP.

WHosoeuer shall diligently consider with him selfe, shall finde that he was enriched with the seauenfold operation of the holie Ghost, or with the gifts thereof, by ascending all the de∣grees, and likewise with the eight beatitudes ac∣cording to St. Augustine, and to haue attained other vertues in no small measure. And to begin with the gift of the feare of God (which is the be∣ginning of wisedome) how poore became he in spirit when he despised earthly things, and tram∣pled vpon the pompe and glorie of the world? Yet this did not occasion anie swelling of pride, for he thought most b••sely of himselfe, and did cast himselfe downe profoundly in consideration of himselfe, which he esteemed as nothing. He did obey all for God, submitt himselfe to others, and continue in true humilitie, & childlike feare.

For the gift of pietie, it is vaine now to repeate here how milde and meeke he was. For the gift of science his often trickling teares, his deepe of∣ten sights and groanes for the time lost, and the neglect of the most soueraigne good, may suffi∣ciently demostrate it to vs. For the gift of forti∣tude, what force and violence did he not vse to∣wards himselfe, that he might withdrawe him∣selfe

from those things, with which he was en∣tangled by the pestilent sweetnesse of them; and likewise might resist couragiously all euill mo∣tions and suggestions? To performe this the bet∣ter, he had the gift of counsell infused in him, from aboue, that he might helpe anie weaker then himselfe wherein he could if he would re∣quire helpe in distresse of one stronger then him∣selfe. So that he extending the bowells of mercie to euerie one, found mercie himselfe. And he ob∣tained cleannesse of heart by his continuall good employments for himselfe and others (for idle men are for the most part vncleane) so that he was fitt to contemplate that soueraigne good, which can onlie be discerned by a pure and cleare vn∣derstanding. And certainly there could not but the last gift of wisedome be infused of the holy Ghost into so pure an vnderstanding, to pacifie and moderate the whole man, and to make him the sonne of God, I meane in likenesse. And who durst speake this, vnlesse the naturall sonne of God had giuen this honour to the sonnes of men by his merits?

Archangel confirmed in this peace and tran∣quillitie of minde, was able to sustaine all aduer∣sities and persecutions for Christs sake and for iu∣stice. O sauoury and sweete wisedome, how fewe know thee, how happie are they that tast it, and drinke out of it a sober drunkennesse! How vn∣knowne are such men to the world, whose sim∣ple and true Christian conuersation no man easily

marketh? Hauing receiued this gift, he was sweete and gratious to all in his conuersation, readie to make himselfe common to all, not verie seuere but gentle, and ful of compassion towards al, per∣forming all thinges, not in distraction of anxie∣tie, but in the solid and true vnitie of charitie.

Christ loued this faithfull soldiour, being en∣dued with vertue from aboue, as he was loued in this world of his Father, and so consequently sent him not to temporall ioyes, but to great combates, not to honours but to disgraces and contempts, not to rest but to labours, not to re∣pose but to bring forth much fruict in patience. So hauing disposed in his hart his scale of ascen∣sions, he went from vertue to vertue, and sawe the God of Gods in Sion, in the most secrete re∣traict of his minde, in the bottome of his soule, after a manner not knowne to all. Rise here and be enlightned o Hierusalem, I say o deuout sou∣le, because the glorie of our Lord is risen vpon thee, and thou art brought euen to behold his Highnesse, stearing thee with the light, thou art rapt into the louely and infinite abisse of his diui∣nitie, and brought into a most cleare knowledge of thy owne nothing. True peace and true ioye, are ministred vnto thee, and the fire of feruent prayer inflaming the temple of thy soule, draw∣ing all thy forces and faculties to it, that thou maiest there adore God in spirit and truth. Let the mist of earthly considerations be farre hence, and the smoke of worldlie wisedome. Therefore

praise and glorie be to thee (o wisedome of the father) because thou hast multiplied these thy gifts in this religious brother, for all things are gouerned by thy wisedome.

Since now we haue seene thee (o Archangel) so richly furnished with the gifts of the holie Ghost, we will nowe see how well that precious golden chaine of vertues which St. Peter made, doth become thee, that of these radiant and shi∣ning rings set together, thou maiest be adorned as it were with a regall present. For who can de∣nie it to be due to thee, when thou hast valiant∣lie ringed and hemmed in them all the powers of thy soule, and hast laboured to subdue inordi∣nate passions in thy neighbours, & in thy charge committed to thee, not only administred words, as ministers of words were wont to doe, neither hast shewed a faith destitute of workes and other vertues, but as a Christian Catholique in name and deed, hast ministred in faith vertue, in ver∣tue knowledge, in knowledge abstinence, in ab∣stinence patience, in patience pietie, in pietie loue of brotherly fellowship, in loue of brotherly fel∣lowship charitie, with all which vertues being at∣tended, thou canst not be called blind nor feeling with the hand (thy way) but that thou being girt with vertue, treading the right path, thou hast ar∣riued at the place of heauenly rest.

And thou (o S. Peter) hauing beene bound with those dreadfull chaines in Iudea, wherein thou wast kept till death, hast well deserued to

make this glorious chaine for the benefit of po∣steritie. Obtaine o Bl. Apostle by thy prayers hel∣pe from aboue, that we may be girt and adorned with it. This thy doctrine hath a sweete sound, but it is sharpe to the Lukewarme, who forgett their old offences, the weight whereof, as it were chaining cordes, doth pull them downe into the pitt of hell. But our most wise and iust Archan∣gel, hauing folowed thy wholsome doctrine, when he shall behold thee a neare assessour of the great iudge, and weare this inestimable chaine, he certainely shall haue thy hand to helpe him, and to drawe him to the glorie of heauen, where he shall securely triumph.

This chaine (o my brother) worne about thy necke, made of such radiant precious stones of vertues, doth now send forth a great lustre into the eyes of the beholders, which we doe deuout∣lie reuerence, when as thou doest offer it to vs to be imbraced with a holy imitation. Therefore thou art blessed and shalt be foreuer, who hast re∣ceiued more of God, then thou couldst aske or hope for; Honour and glorie be to him, of whom being most mightie and strong, thou hast beene so sweetly fostered in great preuenting grace, as also subsequent, that thou grewest to that strength that thou didst not seeme to trangresse one title or yot of the rule of St. Francis, obseruinge it wholy both in formall precepts & equipollents, in all the holesome admonitions and sweete ex∣hortations of it: yea he obserued the Constitu∣tions

of the order, and diuers ordinances of Su∣periours, made according as occasion of time re∣quired, as exactly as human frailtie can doe, with most rigorous endeauours, and euer respected them with all filiall reuerence.

No man can hardly performe these things, vn∣lesse he be able to sing with the spouse in the Can∣ticles to the eares of her beloued. His left hand is vnder my head, and his right hand shall embrace me. His left hand is vnder the head of the spouse, least the feruour of faith growe lukewarme in her. Farre be it, that she hurt it, but as a subtill and warie serpent, keepe the head of his faith safe and sound. But his right hand embraceth his spouse, that she doth not only keepe the commaunde∣ments and lawes of God, but also endeauoureth to execute the Counsels of supererogatiōs accor∣ding to her vowe, not without much inward reioycing and exultation of spirit, and so reioy∣ceth to offer her selfe, a liuing and pleasing sacri∣fice to God, in all reasonable seruices. The left hand is vnder the head of the spouse in time of tribulation, and the right hand cherishing her in time of consolation. By enterchange of both Fa. Archangel knewe what is the holie pleasing and perfect will of God, by which experience he be∣came in some manner perfect, and not a litle practised in spirituall life, and conuersant in the mysticall practise of it. Praise and thankes be gi∣uen to the infinite power of God, who chose this his seruant, and made him conformable to

himselfe, hauing made him to be willing and to be able and potent in Christ Iesus our Lord.