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.

F. Archangels countrie, and his mothers kindred. THE I. CHAPTER.

THe kingdome of Scotland, ancient and well knowne, hath brought forth some notable persons both men and women for pietie and ho∣linesse of life, descended of blood royall, who in diuers ages haue come thence by Gods proui∣dence into the prouinces of Belgium, and as is euident by true stories, by voluntarie pilgrimage haue entred into those parts, that they might im∣bue the people with good manners and holesome instructions, and bring them to the light of faith from the darkenesse of infidelitie, or might re∣duce them declining by litle and litle from the light, hauing once shined vpon them, to behold the amiable beames thereof againe, and confirme them in the happie enioying of this benefit. And albeit this light seeme to be withdrawen from the kingdome of Scotland, being infected with diuers heresies by the seueritie of Gods iustice, yet is it not soe wholy taken from them, but that it often breaketh out through the thicke clouds of errours, and sendeth forth beames which cause a spirituall fruictfulnesse; so that here and there manie good graines of wheate growe vp among much cockle, and make a litle haruest not to be neglected. For as much, as it is lesse in quantitie, it is more preciou•• in vertue and qua∣litie.

But if the rest of the graine by reason of the thicke growth of tares, seemeth to be somwhat, or for the most part choaked as that it cannot growe vpp, we knowe that our most gracious God liueth, able to raise of stones children of Abraham, who will cause at a fitt season, the seed of faith which seemeth there to be as it were dead, to sprout sorth and to be plentifully mul∣tiplied.

Herein I will not heape vp manie examples, I will only recite one or two fitting this purpose. How choice and good a graine was the most vertuous queene Marie of Scotland, mother of Iames the sixt, the most potent king of greate Britannie; How fruictfull a graine was she euen to death, by whose example manie being prouo∣ked, and among others some most noble persons neare vnto her in the same royall stemme, I meane the two brethrem named Gordons, who at seue∣rall times yeelded vp their liues to death for the glorie of God. And that noble personnage and verie reuerend Father, Iames Gordon Huntley vnkle of F. Archangel, a true and elect Priest of God, verie lately deceased after much miserie which he endured in Scotland for the consola∣tion of the faithfull, refufed peremptorilye the Marquiship, descending to him by the death of his elder brethren, though offered to him by the politique state-smen, choosing rather to be an ab∣iect in the house of God, and in the most holie Societie of Iesus in which he liued and died, and

vnder the yoake of obedience to passe a long and voluntarie martyrdome in banishment, then to haue that contentment and estate of temporall greatenesse and felicitie.

O happie stocke, out of which so manie no∣ble branches of sanctitie haue sprung! among which this F. Archangel & his mother, the sister of so noble brethren, are not in the last ranke. For why should the sister not be partaker of the holy lott fallen to her brethren? Was not that diuine fauour also done to her, that she might suffer also somewhat for Christ, to the open viewe of the world? In the continuation of this discourse you shall see, a vertue and power of God eminently shewing it selfe in this fraile and weake sexe, af∣ter you haue beheld the birth and stock of her sonne, Iohn Forbese, predestinated from eterni∣tie to be the seruant of God, whose storie we nowe treate of, and whose life we doe begin by Gods assistance to make knowne; By occasion whereof, we shall see manie casualties of the sonne and mother, and what she suffered with her sonne, and he with his mother.