As a student of law at Pavia and Bologna he led a dissipated life; he then entered the Order of Friars Minor at Florence, 15 March 1567.

Pope Pius V had him sent to Paris where for two years he studied the Church Fathers and the Councils, Greek and Hebrew.

He converted many Calvinists in France and Savoy; at Naples there was collected, through one of his sermons, enough money to build a hospital for incurables.

He also assisted in the construction of the Italian church of Antwerp, and of the Franciscan buildings at Genoa, Venice, Milan, and Turin.

Finally in 1586 Pope Sixtus V appointed him titular Bishop and Coadjutor of Ferrara, whence in 1587 he was transferred to the See of Asti.