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.

Archangel is sent to Dixmunde, there he con∣uerteth more then three hundred Scotish∣men from heresie to the Catholique faith. He composeth a sedition risen betweene the Spaniards and the Scotishmen. He falleth sicke of his last disease. THE XXVIII. CHAPTER.

IN the meane while, the Reuerend Prouin∣ciall of the Cappucins, exhorted him in this manner saying. Goe Fa. Archangel whether thy speedie obedience doth inuite thee, that now thy end approaching (if we beleiue the words of thy mother) thou maiest like a torch almost spent, send forth more cleare light, both by thy ardour in preaching the word of God, and in attractiue example of life. The companies and bands of sol∣diours of thy nation, who are in darkenesse and languish with hunger of the foode of the heauen∣lie word, doe want the foode and reliefe of thy doctrine, yea and they haue the same common tongue, they will not refuse thee being well knowne. Thou art expected and inuited to Dix∣mund, in the West part of Flanders, thou shalt be welcome to the burgesses, and to thy countri∣men there. A haruest of soules waiteth for thee,

a great matter of ioye to the angelical quires, when sinners are conuerted is to be effected by thee. Hasten thy pace, whette thy tongue, take courage against all difficulties whatsoeuer shall rise, God will prosper thy labours in the begin∣ning and end; what fruict and good successe fol∣lowed we suppose it is not vnknowne.

For where as in the yeare 1606. a certaine num∣ber of Scotish men came into Flaunders to serue the Princes of the Loue-countries, and were sent as it were into garrison to Dixmund, with about a thousand Spanish soldiours, and most part of these Scotish men brought vp in heresie, were shrewdly corrupted with it, it was a matter wor∣thie the labour, and a verie necessarie employ∣ment (when as God hath giuen euerie one char∣ge of his neighbour) to reduce and bring home these poore sheepe, scattered and strayed from the flocke. And who was fitter to vndertake this charge, then Archangel, who was sufficiently prepared for it by the gift of science, and burned with singular charitie to doe so holie a worke? He was therfore sent to preach to these soldiours, armed with the merit of obedience, and the loue of the common good, and in a short time by the sweete word of God, by his holesome doctrine, and especially by his singular example of life, and mature and discreet cariage, he wonne a whole band of more then three hundred, and brought them to the Catholique faith, not all at once, but by litle and litle, in perswading nowe one, now

an other: besides about eighteene of his countri∣men which he gained at Mennen in the same iourney. When he had wonne them to be Catho∣liques, he kept them in that discipline at Dix∣mund by the authoritie of his nobilitie, and sharpe reprehension of the offendours, that all the citizens and neighbours of that place, did much wonder at them, and were exceeding loath to be depriued of so well ordered and well beha∣ued soldiours. So he restored lost sight to the blind, wandering from the way of truth, or if they neuer had sight, he prepared and quickned their sights to them wherewith Christ is seene.

He appeased a sedition which rose among the Spanish and Scotish soldiours, which were in gar∣rison. For whiles he attended in the beginning to the gaining of the soules of his countriemen, he heard a soldiour crie, and a great alarum: and hastning to see what it should be, he found both sides readie to enter combate one with an other. There was nothing wanting but the signe which was to be giuen by the Captaines on both sides, which when he sawe, he cast himselfe into the midst on his knees, his armes stretched in the manner of a Crosse, and together with his com∣panion praying and exhorting them to peace, speaking sometimes sweetly to them, someti∣mes terrifying them, one while in his mother tongue, an other while in the french tongue. At last he preuailed so much with them, that they forbore this bloudie combate, which they were

euen entring into, and became quiet. The citizens besought to stay the Cappucins, that they should not put themselues into so manifest daunger, but the loue of God and our neighbour is held by no hands. For this act of exceeding charitie, the Prince, and also the Gouernour of the Westerne part of Flaunders, who was called Count Frede∣ric van den Berg, gaue great thankes to fa. Ar∣changel and to God, for the benefit obtained by him. Whereupon Archangel obtained that grace of the Prince, that he pardoned at his earnest in∣stance, the chiefe authours of this commotion, who were to haue beene punished with death for so great an offence. Brother Adam of Lisle, who was still in companie of fa. Archangel in this iour∣ney, auowed in the presence of his Superiour, all this to haue beene done by Archangel. He testi∣fied also, that the Minorits, who were at Dix∣mund at that time, who entertained fa. Archan∣gel in their Conuent, did so respect and reue∣rence him, that they were wholy guided and go∣uerned by him, perceiuing (as they related them∣selues) that the presence of the holie ghost did di∣rect him, and most euidently manifest it selfe in all his actions.

No citizen or soldiour at Dixmund, could euer obtaine so much of him, as to come to their ta∣ble, though they were neuer so importune, nor the Gouernour himselfe. But he was euer con∣tented with one meale a day, and that a small one, seeking quiet retraict, and studying for the

recouerie of poore misbelieuing soules: And his strict fasting, did afford him time to pray & studie.

The Gardian of that place, a wise and learned man, did say (as it were diuining) that Archangel would not liue long, but that God would spee∣dily render him the reward of his labours and trauailes. At midnight while he was at his accu∣stomed prayers and deuotions, he seemeth to heare with the eare of his soule, that he was thus admonished by holie instinct. O fa. Guardian Ar∣ch••ngel returne now, hauing fulfilled thy obe∣dience, re••urne to Teneramund to thy sonnes, that thou mayest comfort them a while. For the time of thy departure is at hand, and thy mother expecteth thee with incessant prayers powred forth to God. Thy elder brother with his Sera∣phicall companions, hauing S. Francis for their head, prepare for thy meeting, to the end that they may ioyfully receiue an exiled of Christ, & bring a souldiour of Christ, to the throne of his happie countrie and eternall seate.

Hauing therefore atchieued this noble worke, and hauing gotten the victorie against the enemie of mankind, he returned from Dixmund (reioy∣cing much in spirit) to his owne Conuent, being most welcome to them and expected. But by the diuine prouidence so disposing it, he went a litle after to Waestmunter, scarce two leagues from Teneramund, to doe some seruice to the inhabi∣tants of that place, according to their request. Where whē as the infectious sicknesse did raigne,

which disease our countrimen cal the gift of God (because it is sent by the singular prouidence of God) and God would not that this his seruant should be without this gift, that the wicked may see when the scourge approacheth to the taberna∣cles of the iust, how iustly they are to feare pu∣nishment, and to returne by doing penance, be∣cause as the Prophete Hieremy saith. Behold they whose iudgment was not to drinke the cup, drinking shall drinke, and shalt thou be left innocent? Thou shalt not be innocent, but drinking shalt drinke. And is there such a scourge in the house of God for the iust? For the Pagans did vpbraid this to Christians, and seemed to insult with peeuish re∣proofes ouer them, when the faithfull Prelates said, that God did scourge and plague their em∣perours for the effusion of Christian bloud, and that they felt banishment inflicted vpon them more cruell then death. Were there anie Chri∣stiās (said they) which were exempted more then Gentils from raging tempests, from plague, fa∣mine, and such calamities?

Pontius Diaconus doth make St. Ciprian ex∣cellently replying to them. Some are troubled that we haue the same mortalitie as others, but what is there in this world, which is not com∣mon to vs with others, as long as wee are cloa∣thed in the same flesh with them, according to the lawe of our first natiuitie? yea if a Christian doe well vnderstand and knowe, vpon what condi∣tion or lawe he is to beleiue, he is to knowe, that

he must endure more in this world then others, whereas he is to haue a greater combate with the tentation of the Deuill. But what disparitie there is, betweene those scourges, which seeme equal∣lie to befal both, in the iudgement of the Genti∣les, he declareth afterward, saying. Manie of ours die in this mortalitie, that is leaue this world, but this mortalitie as it is a plague to the Iewes and Gentiles, so is it a healthfull and happie departure for the seruants of God. Therefore in his Inuec∣tiue against Demetrius the Proconsul, St. Cyprian doth vse manie golden sentences, seruing to this purpose, which I could wish I and others could call to minde in time of affliction. Among other things he saith. They haue noe grief or sorrowe for present miseries, who haue a strong confiden∣ce of hauing future happinesse. Finally, saith he; we are neither disamaied nor discouraged, neither doe we murmure in anie calamitie or afflictions of our bodies, and liuing alwaies rather in spirit then in flesh, we doe ouercome the infirmitie of the bodie, with firmitie and strength of soule. And doe ye thinke that we doe suffer affliction equal∣lie with you, when yee see wee sustaine it farre otherwise? Yee are transported with crying and cōplaining by impatience, and we put on a noble and religious patience, which is quiet and grate∣full in the presence of God. For the rest I referre the Reader to the authour.

This good fa. finding at his returne an vnusuall burning heate of his bodie, began to growe hot

in his soule, longing after his beloued sweete Ie∣sus. Hauing recouered his Conuent he called his sonnes to him, and after a louing exhortation, and a benediction of a farewell bestowed vpon them, in fewe words by reason of death approa∣ching, he tooke the Sacraments with ioye and exultation. Why should he feare to die, who lear∣ned to die so often, when his feete were now standing in the gates of Hierusalem passing wil∣lingly by the gates of death, by which there was a pleasant entrie into the supping place or parlour of Hierusalem? His brethren see him in a hott burning fit of a feuer, and his strength and his speech failed him. The Phisitians vpon good ad∣uice, and likewise at the instance of the sicke per∣son, counsel him to be remoued to a backe house, which was a good distance from the Conuent, to preuent danger of infection. How manie wayes, and in how diuers manners, is a true Christian exercised of God in this life, that being afflicted in fewe things, he may be well disposed in manie things, that God may find him worthie of him∣selfe? But what are the sufferings of this life, in respect of the glorie to come, which our merci∣full God sendeth to his elect, out of his infinite loue, that he doth (that I may so speake) often bethinke himselfe, whether he shall lay this or that crosse, vpon this or that man, and so in a cer∣taine manner feareth, least so precious a present be neglected, or the Crosse which is of such va∣lue, be shaken off from our lasie shoulders Wher∣fore

Archangel hauing a true feeling hereof, was readie euen to the brinke of old decaying age, to suffer humbly and cheerefully with Iesus, which prompt will and affection of his, without doubt shall haue the recompense & reward due vnto it.