seech thee, pull me not from hence, whither thy omnipotent hand hath brought me. Here I am safe, here I am rich; because I enjoy thee, who alone can satiate my soul. Alas! without thee what is the whole empire? and with thee, this poor cell is a kingdom of content. Here let me live: Here let me die. Lord, let it please thee what I wish for, because all is thine whatsoever I desire. If thou grantest me thy petition, let this be a sign unto me, that Caesar molesteth me no more." So rising, as being heard, did appear no more before him. Neither did the Emperor ever solicit him after.
The same request did the illustrious Princess Joanna, sister to Philip the Second, Catholic King of Spain, make unto this holy Father, whom he likewise denied after the same manner. Thus, whilst he fled honors, he was most honored of all, and reverenced of every one.
And what candid sincerity he used in contemning proffered honors, men of no small quality observed, that those who honored him, he would no more regard their speech than a simple idiot, and would labor to divert them from that to some other discourse. He had rather be called a sinner than a holy man, and he himself would (without scandal) lay open to the world his imperfections, under which, his virtues and graces were cloaked. But God, the searcher of secrets, by how much he did strive to hide them; the more he made his
