HE was an elected vessell , beautified with all the iewell of vertues , and as his minde was replenished with supernaturall gifts , so his bodie wanted not its naturall grace● . He was of a spare bodie , but comely , he had a graue and modest looke , his eies were sparklinge , tokens of the fire of diuine loue , which was in his soule inuisible to the eie . There was not ore member in that man , which was not subordinate to the rule of reason . His speech was meeke and humble , his coruersation Angelicall . He had an excelent naturall witt , ioyned with a happe memorie : he had likwise a singular good iudgement ( as appeared in his gouernment : ) he was couragious in goinge through with busines which did tendito God Almighties honour and the good of religion : he was gratefull to all , giuinge to euerie one their due respect : he was dexterous in his actions , modest in correctinge : and a peace maker , reconcilinge those who vpon any occasion , had bene at iarrs . In his sermons he was hott but mouinge : in hearinge of confessions he was a helper , a counsailer , and a comforter : in his ordinary speech he was not fawninge , nor bitinge , and his conuersation without any pertinacie : and to conclude all in a fewe wordes : he was a man of an other world , of whome we may iustly say as (a) (a) Antou●●e Posseuinus in sa●ro apparatu de scriptoribus Eccles. tom. 1. de D. Bonaneus . A LEXANDER HALENSIS said of S. BONAVENTVRE . That he was a man , in whome Adam seemed not to haue sinned . He was a reformer , Prelate , Master , and patterne of perfection , of the Seraphicall Order of our holy Father S. FRANCIS , who through so many Prouinces , and remote Kingedomes , illustrated this sacred institution ; as an other Apostle preordained by God Almightie for this happie end .

BVT to descend to particulars , wherin his religious simplicitie was manifested . He was so absorped in God almightie , that he minded nothinge of exteriour thinges . When he was a younge brother keepinge the keyes of the pauntrie , for the space of six months , there was in the pauntrie grapes and pomgranades , which lay so palpably , that none could choose but see them , but he for that space neither sawe , nor smelt , much lesse touched them : beinge asked why he did not giue them vnto the brothers , he humbly answered , that he knewe of none that were there . An other time , liuinge fower yeares in an other cloister , he neuer tooke notice of a great tree which stood in the middest of the court , which was obuious to euery ones eie . Being a yeare in an other place , and asked what his cell was made of , he answered , he knew not whether it was of stone , or brick , or wood . And a chappell which he frequented aboue others , yet he knewe neither situation , forme , or any ornament which did belonge thervnto . He was wont to say to blessed THERESIA his ghostly child , that he knewe neuer a brother in his monasterie , but only by his speech . Moreouer he was so mortified in his eies , that where soeuer he was , he knewe no difference in places , no distance of cells , and finally he was a dead man to all exteriour thinges . Neither was this mortification any stupiditie of nature , or want of senses , but his continuall busyinge his thoughts vpon God almighty , a more noble , and higher obiect . Who could but thinke this chast child of S. FRANCIS to haue made a couenant with his eies , not to behold a virgine ? and well he might be stiled that sonne of a doue , whose eies were washed with the milke of innocency . He kept such a continuall guard ouer his eies , that he neuer knewe any woman by her face . There was a certaine noble matron famous for her vertue , who was wont at PLACENTIA , some times to visite the holy Father , for his spirituall counsell she meetinge him at ABVLA , saluted him , and expressed to him the difficulties of her state , he modestly denied , that he euer sawe the woman . If euer he opened his eies , it was in the quire , though he had so good a memory , that he knewe most part of the office without booke . Beinge Superiour he did particularly correct this imperfection with seueritie . Knowinge , nothinge to be more preiudiciall to the soule , then to set open those windowes , at which , doth enter the greater part of sinne , that doth defile the heart of man .

BECAVSE for the most part this holy Father liued in solitarie conuentes , most remote from worldly tumoults , or rather heremitages , all his rigourous penance , could not be taken notice of by any . Neuertheless we will sett downe some , which he could not hide from those , with whome he conuersed .

He did ware for seauen yeares together a haire shirt full of hard knotts , S. THERESIA affirmeth that he wore it twentie yeares .

Besides plates of Iron , and other things wherwith he tyranized euer his tender flesh . His disciplines were so frequent and bloodie , that he seemed rather the trunke of a tree then a humaine bodie . He would neuer couer his head although it rayned neuer so fast , or the sun shined neuer so hott . His diet was so slender , and meane , that in his youth , and old age he did eate nothinge but browne bread , and the most mustie crusts that he could finde . If sometimes he recreated himselfe with a fewe boyled hearbes , he would not be so delicious as to eate them with oyle . Beinge superiour he caused as many beanes and pease to be boyled at once , as should serue the conuent for seauen dayes together , which austeritie his subiects most willingly embraced , beinge glad in some measure to immitate their cheife . But he seasoned his owne portion with ashes , or some vngratefull liquour , least his pallate should take pleasure in his meate .

Mother THERESIA hath heard his companions say , that some times he liued eight dayes together without any meate or drinke , especially when with more violence , he addicted himselfe to deuotion . For he suffered in his prayers frequent raptes and extasies , of which ( saith she ) I am wittnesse . He neuer dranke wine but water , though for the infirmitie of his stomach it was prescribed to him by the Phisitian : but he constantly refused it sayinge that nothinge was so repugnant to holy pouertie , and abstinence , as flesh and wine , the one beinge an enemy to chastitie , the other to contemplation , both which , as longe as he liued , by Gods grace he would enioy . I will sett downe for the satisfaction of the deuout reader the wordes of euer blessed THERESIA , the glorie and foundresse of the discalsed Carmelites , to whome he was some times ghostly Father , of whome she confesseth to haue receiued much spirituall comfort ; whose authoritie , by reason of her renouned sanctitie , and liuinge at the same time with him , is without controull . Her wordes be these . (a) (a) Ex vita B. Theresia cap. 27. God almightie bereaued vs of a man of admirable example , when he tooke out of this life , Father PETER OF ALCANTARA , the world it seemeth could endure no longer so great perfection , they say that our health is not so good , that nowe those times be past , this holy man was of this time , he was fatt in spirit , as those of other ages , he had also the world vnder his feete , for though we doe not goe barefoote , nor doe such austere penance as he did , there are many thinges ( as I haue saied else were ) to treade downe the world with all . And our Lord teacheth them , when he seeth such a minde , as he gaue in great measure to this holy man , which I speake of , to continue 47. yeares together in such austere penance , as all knowe . I will declare some part of it , for I knowe that it is all true . He told it to me and to an other , from whome he concealed little , and the cause why he told it me , was the great loue which he bare me , and which our Lord gaue him to defende me , and encourage me , in the time of so great necessitie , as that was , which I haue spoken of , and will declare further ; it seemeth to me , that he told me , that he had slept no more but an hower and halfe betwixt day and night for the space of 40. yeares , and that this was the greatest difficultie he fownd in his penance at the beginninge , to ouercome his sleepe , and for this cause he did alwayes . Either kneele or stand , and when he slept it was sitttinge leaninge his head against a little peece of wood , which he had driuen into the wall , he could not lye downe though he would , for his cell as is knowne , was no longer then fower foot and an halfe , in all these yeares he neuer did put on his capuce , how great sun-shine or raine soeuer it was , neither had he any thinge on his feet , nor other garment , but his habit of course cloth , without any other thinge next his skin , and this as streight as could be endured , and a short cloke of the same vpon it , he told me that when it was very cold he did putt it of , and opened the dore and little windowe of his cell , that afterward when he did putt his cloke on againe , and shutt his dore , he might giue some contentment and recreat his bodie , which before was frozen with cold : He did very ordinarily eate but once in three dayes ; and he asked me at what I maruailed , for it was verie possible , for one that accustomed himselfe to it . His pouerty was extreame , and likewise his mortification in his youth , &c. With all his sanctitie he was verie affable , though he vsed not many wordes , if he were not spoken too , for then he was verie pleasinge , hauinge a good vnderstandinge . And a little after . His end was like his life preachinge and admonishinge his Fryars . When he sawe death drawe nighe , he said the Psalme : Laetatus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi ; and kneelinge downe departed . Since our Lord hath let me enioy him more then in his life , giuinge me aduise and counsell in many thinges I haue seene him many times in exceedinge great glorie ; the first time he appeared vnto me , he saied : O happie penance which did merit such a reward ! and many other thinges . A yeare before he died , he appeared to me beinge absent , and I knewe that he should dye , and I sent him word beinge some leagues from hence . When he gaue vp the ghost , he appeared to me and sayed , that he went to rest , I beleeued it not , I told some of it , and eight dayes after the newes came that he was dead , or rather began to liue for euer . Behold here his austeritie endeth with so great glorie , he seemed to comfort me more nowe , then when he was in this world . Our Lord told me once , that nothinge should be asked in his name , which he would not heare . I haue seene many thinges fulfilled which I haue desired him to aske of our Lord ; he be blessed for euer . Amen . And in the 30. Chapter of her life she sayeth as flolloweth : Our Lord vouchsafed to remedy a great part of my trouble , and for that time the wholl , by bringinge to this place the blessed Father PETER OF ALCANTARA , of whome I haue alreadie made mention , and spoken somethinge of his penance , for amongst other thinges , I was certified , that for 20. yeares he had worne a cilice of plate continually . He is the authour of certaine little bookes of prayer , which are now much vsed in the spanish tongue , for as one , that hath exercised it well he wrote very profitably , giuinge most excellent rules to those , who addict themselues to prayer . He obserued the first rule of S. FRANCIS with all rigour , and other thinges which I haue related before . Thus she . And so much shall suffice to speake of , but part of his rigourous penance , it was his feruent zeale , and loue of God , not strength of bodie , which made this crabbed way of penance easy to his heroick spirit : whose example may ( though not in so great a measure as he did ) iustly moue vs , to shake of that old and selfe-loue excuse of ours , in sayinge , our bodies are weake , when alas ! our willes are frozen , and so nice , that we are afraied to expose our carcasse but to a poore triall , the heathen SENECA will check our indeuotion , who sayeth : (b) (b) Non quia difficilia quaedam sunt , ideo non audemus , sed quia non audemus , ideo difficilia . Not because certaine thinges are hard , therfore we dare not doe them , but because we dare not doe them , therfore they are hard .

THE man of God increasinge in his rigorous penance , did not only mortifie in part , but wholly subdued his passions , and made his senses subordinate to the rule of reason , he suffered nothinge to enter into his soule , which might separate , or in the least kinde withdrawe his affection from his beloued spouse , for ( as much as was possible for pilgrime man ) he enioyed the spirit of God ; golden peace and diuine consolation satt vpon his winges of contemplation , and where others make their bodies masters , he made his a slaue vnto his spirit . Hence it came to pass , that many of both sexe , drawne with the fragrant odour of his vertues , flocked to him , as to an other Apostle , to whose counsells and admonitions they obeyed , as to a diuine oracle .

Vpon a time the count ORAPSANE a deuout nobleman , came to visit him . And fallinge into discourse , how much God almightie was moued with the sins of the world , out of his zeale breaketh into these speeches . O Father ! what doe you thinke ? what will be come of this wicked world ? doe you thinke the diuine iustice , can conteine it selfe any longer from reuenge ? behold howe vertue is oppressed , and sin triumpheth ? how wilfully doe we hoarde vp anger against the day of anger ? to which the man of God modestly answered and sayed , noble Sir . doe not afflict your selfe , a remedy will easily be found to cure this disease , the point of the difficultie consisteth only in you and me , for the generall perdition of mankinde , floweth from this fountaine , that all and euery one dissemblinge or cloakinge their owne sins , accuse the wholl , when the wholl can not be said to sin at all , but particular persons in the wholl . Wherfore men crye out against the wickednesse of the word , that all are naught , and none that doe good , when if they would but looke into their owne particular , they should finde matter enough of sorrowe , and to moue them selues to doe penance for their owne faults : but nowe because they blame the wholl , they neglect their owne particulares , and iustifie themselues with a sottish presumption . Therfore , noble Sir , let your Lordship , and I mend one a peece , and then a great part of the world wil be amended , we shall appease the angery iudge , and repaire a great part of the ruine of mankinde by our good example .

When CHARLES the fifth recollected himselfe in a certaine monasterie of the HIERONYMITES , vnderstandinge of the sanctitie and integrety of this holy Father , he sent for him , with an intent to make him his ghostly Father . But he humbly refusinge so great an honour , alleaged some reasons , why he thought this employment not to be fittinge for him . At which deniall the Emperour beinge a little moued , with anger , saied , we charge you , Father , that you would take care of our soule . He seeinge this suddaine alteration of CESAR , fell downe at the feete of his maiestie , and earnestly desired him , to differre the busines to what day or houre he would please to appoint , that in the meane time he might commend it to God almighty ; which the Emperour graunted , then he tooke his leaue of the Emperour , and saied , this renouned CESAR , shal be a signe vnto you , that it is not accordinge to God almighties will , which you haue desired , if I doe not retourne at the appointed time . Then passinge to his former solitude , as he went , he complained with many sighes and groanes , to God almightie , fearinge by the diuises of Sattan , to be drawne from the embrasinges of his beloued spouse CHRIST IESVS . He sent vp his feruant prayers to the almightie throne , and saied these like wordes : Lord , I haue not therfore left the world , and betaken my selfe to this holy desert , that now at length my name should be renowned in a Princes court , and liue in honour , that am a poore FRANCISCAN FRYAR . Why should my eares be troubled with the flatteringes of courtiers , who came to speake my fault in religion ? I confess that this office may be exercised without sinne , but whether it be expedient for my soule , sweet IESVS , tell me ? and when he entred into his cell . Lord , I beseech thee pull me not from hence , whether thy omnipotent hand hath brought me . Here I am safe , here I am rich ; because I enioy thee who alone canst satiate my soule . Alas ! without thee what is the wholl empire ? and with thee this poore cell , is a Kingdome of content . Here let me liue : Here let me die . Lord let it please thee what I wish for , because all is thine , what soeuer I desire . If thou grantest me my petition , let this be a signe vnto me , that CESAR molesteth me no more . So risinge , as beinge heard , did appeare no more before him . Neither did the Emperour euer solicite him after .

The same request did the illustrious Princesse IOHANNA , sister to PHILLIP the second , Catholique Kinge of Spaine , make vnto this holy Father , whome he likewise denied after the same manner . Thus whilest he fled honours , he was most honoured of all , and reuerenced of euery one .

And what candide synceritie he vsed , in contemninge proferred honours , men of no small qualitie obserued , that those who honoured him , he would no more regard their speech then a simple ideot , and would labour to diuert them from that , to some other discourse . He had rather be called a sinner then a holy man , and he himselfe would ( but without scandall ) lay open to the world his imperfections , vnder which , his vertues and graces were cloaked . But God the searcher of secrets , by howe much he did striue to hide them , the more he made his fame to shine in the world , to the astonishment of all . For he was a man whome God had chosen accordinge to his owne heart , by whose industrie , and from whose spirituall loines did springe , many great seruantes of IESVS CHRIST , and many renowned martyrs of our holy Order .

GOD almightie was alwayes present with him , and he with God . His soule was like a fyerie fornace , made hott with the fuell of the crosse of CHRIST . It was not in his owne power , to conteine himselfe , but what thinge soeuer he either sawe , or heard , which might delight his beloued IESVS , though it were but a farr of , his heart-stringes would beginne to tremble , and his vitall spirits leaue him , and frequently fall into extasie . He was accoustomed for a wholl houre together , to say his prayers with his armes stretched out in manner of a crosse , sightinge and weepinge , till at last he would be besides himselfe , eleuated from the ground , and vnited only to his God . He was oftentimes in this manner rapt , when he was in the quire at mattins . But his deuotion was much more augmented at the aulter , when he celebrated the dreadfull sacrifice , then would riuers of teares gush in aboundance from his venerable eies , that would moue the most stonie and obdurate heart of any of the standers by , vnto compunction . After masse he would withdrawe himselfe into his cell , where he hath beene often heard to haue had greuious conflicts with deuils : who oftentimes appearinge in a visible shape , would followe him vp and downe with a terrible furie .