prelate that gave
him the name of John of God, and prescribed him a kind of habit, though
St. John never thought of founding a religious order: for the rules
which bear his name were only drawn up in 1556, six years after his
death; and religious vows were not introduced among his brethren before
the year 1570.

To make trial of the saint's disinterestedness, the marquis of Tarisa
came to him in disguise to beg an alms, on pretence of a necessary
lawsuit, and he received from his hands twenty-five ducats, which was
all he had. The marquis was so much edified by his charity, that,
besides returning the sum, he bestowed on him one hundred and fifty
crowns of gold, and sent to his bospital every day, during his stay at
Granada, one hundred and fifty loaves, four sheep, and six pullets. But
the holy man gave a still more illustrious proof of his charity when the
hospital was on fire; for he carried out most of the sick on his own
back: and though he passed and repassed through the flames, and stayed
in the midst of them a considerable time, he received no hurt. But his
charity was not confined to his own hospital: he looked upon it as his
own misfortune if the necessities of any distressed person in the whole
country had remained unrelieved. He therefore made strict inquiry into
the wants of the poor over the whole province, relieved many in their
own houses, employed in a proper manner those that were able to work,
and with wonderful sagacity laid himself out every way to comfort and
assist all the afflicted members of Christ. He was particularly active
and vigilant in settling and providing for young maidens in distress to
prevent the danger to which they are often exposed, of taking bad
courses. He also reclaimed many who were already engaged in vice: for
which purpose he sought out public sinners, and holding a crucifix in
his hand, with many tears exhorted them to repentance. Though his life
seemed to be taken up in continual action, he accompanied it with
perpetual prayer and incredible corporal austerities. And his tears of
devotion, his frequent raptures, and his eminent spirit of
contemplation, gave a lustre to his other virtues. But his sincere
humility appeared most admirable in all his actions, even amid the
honors which he received at the court of Valladolid, whither business
called him. The king and princes seemed to vie with each other who
should show him the greatest courtesy, or put the largest alms in his