spēd time with this simple and inconsiderat multitude of people considering the litle hope we haue being so few to suppresse their obstinacie lett vs rather repaire to their king endeauouring first to conquer the head so with more ease facility to gett victory of the mēbers afterward Lett vs giue him the on sett couragiously and ioyfully lett vs goe then lett vs goe preach and tell him the verity of the faith of IESVS CHRIST of Baptisme of penance in remission of sinnes Lett vs boldly confesse before him that IESVS CHRIST the sonne of God is true God and man who would be borne dye for sinners with his owne bloud redeeming vs from eternal death rising againe after his death ascended vnto heauen and sitteth att the right hand of his Father Iudge of the liuing dead where he expecteth vs to croune vs with his holy martyrs for euer How these fiue Religious preached before the king of the Mores the faith of Iesus Christ our Sauiour and what sueceeded therof THE VI. CHAPTER THese Religious being thus mutuallie animated went directlie to the Pallace of the king att the entrie wherof being intercepted by the guard their Captaine who was a gentleman of note demaunded of them what they were They answeared that they were Italiens and desired to speake with his maiestie of matters of great importance as well touching his owne particuler as his whole kingdome Whervpon the Captaine demaunded if they had no letters or other token of commendations to deliuer him They replyed that their embassage was to be deliuered by mouth and could not be writtē but in hartes by tongues The Captaine willed thē securely to commend the affaire vnto him promising to deliuer it faithfully vnto the king they prayed him againe for conclusion to conduct them only to the presence of the king where he might also vnderstand what they had to say The Captaine related the whole vnto the king who commanded them to be brought before him where being present he demaunded them what they were whence they came who sent thē vnto him wherfore they were come Wherto they answeared that they were Christiās that they came frō Rome sent frō the king of kinges and Redeemer of the world IESVS CHRIST to preach vnto him his holy faith so that their bussines tēded only to the saluatiō of his soule which should be effected if he would no lōger beleeue the doctrine of Mahomet but in IESVS C. the true God receauing baptisme in the name of the most sacred Trinity that he could not be saued by any other meane The Mory king that expected no such greeting became despightfully furiours for he esteemed the seruantes of God to haue giuen him an extreme affrōt to whome he said O ye poore braineles men sottish and miserable as ye are how can ye possibly presume to vtter this speech in my presence without more respect vnto my crowne or feare of the losse of your liues already infallibly incurred by the great blasphemie committed against my most holy Prophet But tell me are yee come hither expresly and in my only particuler respect or to preach also vnto my people and to delude them dissuading them frō mine obedience and their alleagiance Hereto the good Religious with a bold and smiling countenāce answeared O king know that we are come to thee as to the chiefe of all this sect of Mahomet filled with diabolicall spiritt and to him that in the bottome of hell shall be more rigorously tormented then thy subiectes that shall persist in obstinacie to the end that thou being reduced into the way of truth saluation thou mayest be a meane of their conuersion as thou art now the cause of their damnatiō for auoyding wherof thou must beleeue in IESVS CHRIST our Redeemer who sendeth vs vnto thee saying in the Gospell Goe and teach ye all nations baptising them in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost adding afterward for thē that would not yeld thervnto he that will not belieue shal be damned eternally This king stopping his eares began to rage and crye out O cursed wretches your former lewd behauiour no doubt hath brought you hither where it shal be rewarded instantly neither is there any other meane to deliuer free your selues but that you vnsay whatsoeuer you haue now foolishly and rashlie vttered and to receaue and espouse the Religion of our great Prophett for so doeing I will not only pardō you but will also make you great and rich in my kingdome that it may publikelie appeare how much we prise and esteeme the greatnes of our Prophett and how much we honour respect and enrich those that preferre our Religion before their owne but otherwise you shall for your sollie dye with infinite torments or I will enforce you to beleeue me The Religious replyed if your law were not full of lies false impious as it is but iust and conformable vnto truth we would receaue it but because it doth eternallie damne the followers therof we respect not all treasure nor feare tormentes for false honours are the baites and delusions of you Mores who truely miserable doe end together with them because they haue no longer continuance and you are eternallie damned the meerlie contrarie happening to vs considering that by the pouertie and contempt of our dayes of this life we pourchace eternall treasures and honours in heauen as our Lord teacheth vs when he said Heap not vp your treasure in earth where nothing is secure but in heauen where you may for euer enioy the benefitt therof And therfore O king be thou conuerted to receaue this true and holie law in regard of this recompence And if thou so much esteeme a kingdome of this world how much more oughtest thou to esteeme this eternall kingdome of heauē tourne thy hart to the soueraigne and true God who hath thus long expected thy penannce and now sendeth vs vnto thee as his messengers to deliuer thee from the eternall tormentes of hell which are prepared for thee and all them that follow the absolutely accursed Mahomett Take heed how thou misprise the grace which God by meanes of vs doth offer vnto thee How the fiue Martyrs were adiudged to death by the Morian king who att the instance of the prince his sonne reuoked his sentence THE VII CHAPTER THe Morian king could no longer endure nor heare the preaching and remonstrance of the Religious against his sect but being exceedingly afflicted and enraged commanded them to be expelled his presence and condemned them to be cruelly whipt and then to haue their heades cutt off The Martyrs then hastened to death with a courage and countenance very ioyfull and contented as they that knew themselues neere to the accomplishment of what they so much desired and to encourage each other they mutually said Behold brethren behold how God doth benignely offer vnto vs that which we haue so long desired
knowne and experienced by the world and reuealed by IESVS CHRIST himselfe wherfore the S. merited to be crowned hauing bin so valiant in the fierce assaultes of so many ennemies and att length vanquished so tedious a combatt as he had from the beginning of his conuersion First by his very parentes and afterward by infinite other meanes that neuer permitted him in repose But how much more the deuill gaue him occasion to sinne so much more did he endeauour to meritt and became pure as gold in the fire Wherfore he often said If my Religious knew what warre mine ennemies raise against me they would perhappes haue compassion of me and hold me excused if I cannot be sometimes with them as I would desire One time when God permitted him for his greater good to be tempted the deuill drawe him into so deepe a melancholy of spiritt that exteriourly there appeared many signes therof he being no longer able to conceale nor moderate the same in such sort as he seemed to be vtterlie abandoned of God If he would conuerse with his Religious he could not if he would be sequestred from them it was worse abstinence and mortification of the flesh annoyed him haircloth and prayer auayled not He continued in this sort more then two yeares though one would not haue imagined it had bin of an houres continuance till att length God determining to haue compassion of him as he prayed with effusion of teares he heard the voice of God that said If thou hast so much faith as a mustard seed and sayest to this mountaine remoue from hence thither it shal be done S. Francis then answeared which is this mountaine my God and the voice replyed The temptation then S. Francis My God lett thy word then be accomplished And from thence he was freed and gaue infinite thanckes to God for the same Of many other temptations with S. Francis had THE LXXIII CHAPTER SAint Francis being in continuall prayer in the hermitage of Grecio a gentleman one night sending him a pillow to vse in regard of the infirmity of his eyes he could neuer repose nor pray for he had such a trembling in his head that all his body was distempered therwith Now hauing a long time discoursed with himselfe whence this distemperature should proceed he att length resolued and concluded that it could not be occasioned but by the pillow wherinto the deuill was entred wherfore he caused it to be carryed out of his cell by his companion who hauing to that purpose layed it on his shoulders and carryed it out incontinentlie lost his speech and which was yet worse stood immoueable with the said pillow He continued in this affliction which how it tormented him may of each one be imagined till sainct Francis admiring his long tariance called him att which voice the Religious retourned to himselfe cast the pillow instantlie to the ground and ran to the S. to whome he recounted all whervpon he answeared him My Brother last night whiles I was att compline I vnderstood that this deuill came hither and know that finding no other place he entred into the soft pillow learne therfore now how subtill and malicious he is that hauing no power to endommage the soule because it is protected by diuine grace he seeketh to hinder the repose of the body that it may not pray and performe other exercises in time conuenient or to make it diseased to procure it to murmure and therby to fall into sinne Being an other time afflicted with the said infirmitie of his eyes in such sort as for the space of fifty dayes together he could see no light he was placed in a very darck cell made of rushes mattes and earth there did he endure such excessiue greife as he could not haue one hower of repose The deuill to augment his affliction sent him into his celle a very great quantity of huge mice that they might prouoke him to impatience wherfore the S. being entierly resigned into the handes of God feeling a vehement anguish in his hart vttered these wordeâ— Help me my God in such a multitude of infirmities diseases and afflictions that I may patiently endure them Whereto a voice answeared Tell me S. Francis if for thyne infirmities and afflictions one should promise thee such a treasure and of so great valew as if all the earth were gold and all the stones diamondes or other precious stones and all the waters baulme wouldest thou not esteeme all thy miseries filthy dirt in comparison of the said treasure and wouldest thou not be content more then voluntarily to supporte the same herevnto the S. answeared yea I should be very glad therof Well reioyce thee then replyed the voice that thou mayest liue content and secure as if thou wert in my kingdome Hauing concluded his prayer with exceeding ioy of this vision deliuerance diuine promise he incontinently said to his companions If a king had giuen a kingdome to a seruaunt should not he haue cause to be alwayes ioyfull And they answeared yes And if added he he gaue him all the Empires of the world should he not haue yet greater cause of ioy they likewise answeared yes I ought then said he infinitely to reioyce in mine infirmities and greifes and for them to giue thanckes vnto the Father of mercie vnto my Redeemer IESVS CHRIST to the holy Ghost the true comforter sith he hath shewed such mercie to me his vnworthy seruant as to vouchsafe att this present to assure me of his kingdome In respect wherof I will compose himnes to singhenceforward and to yeld him infinite thankes for the same Of many other temptations and subtilties wherby the dâ—uiâ—â— tormented him THE LXXIV CHAPTER THe deuils not content to disturbe him with infinite temptations did also assault him by occasion of sinne as by the ensuyng accident shall appeare Preaching one day in Apulia in a church very neere vnto the Pallace of the Emperour Frederick being as yet vnknowne many Courtiers were there present who perceauing him so freelie to reprehend vices affirming that whosoeuer would follow and satisfie his sensuall appetites could neuer haue part in heauen they retourning did scoffingly relate the whole vnto the Emperour who answeared them These Preachers in deed do say much but they performe litle Wherfore I would willingly know if this maÌ„ be such a one lett some one amongest you vndertake to inuite him to supper lodge with him and hauing giuen him good entertainement let him dexterously conuey into his chamber a faire courtisane to try if he can vse that vertue of continence which he so forcibly preacheth vnto vs. A gentleman did presentlie offer to putt this proiect in practise for in princes Courtes there want not men that seeke rather to please their master in these friuolous and sottish toyes then in matters that concerne the honnour and saffety of the soule This Courtier then when he had found a time conuenient to the purpose
her beloued IESVS CHRIST the Religious was perfectly cured An other seruāt of God borne att Perusia had for two yeares so lost her voice that one could scarcely heare her speake but hauing vnderstood by a visiō which she had the night of the Assuption of our Lady that sainte Clare should cure her the poore afflicted creature hauing very impatiently expected the breake of day repayred with a strōg confidēce vnto that holy virgin and by signes craued her benedictiō which fauour hauing obtayned her voice which so lōg time she had wāted became as cleare and shrillas euer it had bin An other Religious called Christina that had bin lōg time deafe in one of her eares had in vaine tried many remedies S. Clare hauing made the signe of the crosse on her head with her hād touched her eare she recouered her hearing as perfectly and clearly as before An other Religious called Andrea had a disease in her throat the griefe wherof procured her much impatiēce it was admirable that among so many prayers enflamed with diuine loue there should be a soule so cold among such prudent virgins one so indiscreet vncōsiderate This Religious feeling her selfe one night more tormēted with her infirmity then ordinarily afflicted impatiēt that her paine did rather encrease thē diminish she so crushed pressed her throat that she made appeare her intentiō to choake her selfe thincking by violēce to expell that swelling so to auoyd longer torment by ignorāce attempting to doe more then was the will of God But whiles that poore Religious busied her selfe in this folly saincte Clare by diuine inspiration had knoledge therof wherfore calling one of her Religious she willed her to hasten downe and boyle an egge in the shell and cause sister Andrea to swallow it which done to bring her to her presence The Religious instātly dressed the egge and forthwith brought it to the sicke party whome she found litle better then dead hauing so crushed her throat that her speech was vtterly gone yet she made her swallow the egge as wel as she could then raising her frō her strawbed shewith much labour led her to S. Clare who thus spake vnto her Wretched sister confesse thee to God and haue contrition for what thou intendedst to doe and acknoledge that IESVS CHRIST will giue thee health far better then thou with thy owne handes haddest purposed to doe change thy euill life into a better for thou shalt neuer recouer an other sicknesse that shall succed this but shalt dye therof These wordes procured in this Religious a spiritt of compunction and contrition so that she being entierly cured of this grieuous infirmity amended her life and a litle after she fell into an other sicknes which saincte Clare had foretold wherof she ended her life piously It doth manifestly appeare by these examples and by many other merueillous thinges which this holy virgin wrought by this healthfull signe that the tree of the crosse of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST was deeply planted in her hart and that in a merueillous manner the fruites did interiourly recreat her soule sith the leaues therof did exteriourly worck such remedies by the handes and merittes of this glorious sainct How saincte Clare blessed bread wheron the signe of the crosse miraculously remayned THE XXII CHAPTER S. Clare was a disciple of the crosse of such notable fame and sanctity that not only great prelats and Cardinals much desired to see her to heare and discourse with her for which cause they often visited her but the Pope himselfe boare her also this affection in so much that Pope Innocēt the fourth repayred to her Monastery to heare of her as a secretary of the holy Ghost celestiall and diuine discourses And hauing a long time conferred with her of matters of saluatiō of the prayses of God whiles they entertayned thēselues in so pious a discourse S. Clare caused the dinner to be prepared the tables for the Religious to be couered causing bread to be brought thither with intentiō to procure the Vicar of IESVS CHRIST to blesse it to be afterwardes kept of deuotion Their discourse thē being ended sainte Clare fell on her knees before the Pope and besought him to blesse the bread wherto his holinesse answeared daughter Clare I will that you blesse it your selfe making theron the signe of the crosse The sainct therto answeared most holy Father pardon me if you please for if I should doe it I should deserue sharpe reprehensiō in presuming to giue my benedictiō in presence of your holinesse The Pope againe replyed well that no presumption be imputed vnto you and that you meritt therby I command you by holy obedience to blesse these loaues making on them the signe of the crosse This daughter of obedience presently lifted vp her hand and made the signe of the crosse on the bread whence ensued an admirable accident for the crosse remayned on the bread wherof part was eaten of deuotion and the rest reserued as a holy relique which euent filled the Pope with admiration for which he gaue thanckes to God then gaue his benediction to sainte Clare who receaued it with great humility and was much comforted withall Of many infirmities of the glorious Virgin S. Clare of her weaknesse and how she was visited by the Protectour THE XXIII CHAPTER THe Virgin sainte Clare had now forty yeares run the race of the most eminent vertue and practise of pouerty and broken the alleblaster of her body in the most strict prison by fasting and rigours of disciplines and by this meane filled the house of the holy Church with the most precious oyntment of her vertues wherwith she drew after her an infinite number of soules to the seruice of IESVS CHRIST and as she already approached to the recompence of eternall glory hauing supported diuers infirmities and consumed the forces of her body in her first yeares by the rigour of penance she was also in her latter dayes oppressed and afflicted with diuers grieuous sicknesses But because in the time of her health she was in such sort enriched with the meritt of good worckes that being sicke she gained the true richesse of the merittes of patience she yet enioyed the fruites of her vertues that were ripened in afflictions and molestations occasioned by diuersity of diseases But the vertue of her patiēce doth euidently appeare in that hauing bin twenty eight yeares together afflicted with diuers diseases she was neuer heard to vtter the least murmure or complaint but continually were heard to proceed out of her mouth pious wordes and thanckesgiuing to almighty God Now being exceedingly weakened with infirmity and euery moment seeming to her the drawing on of the end of her life it pleased our Lord IESVS CHRIST to prolong it till she might be visited by the eminent Officers of the Romane Church wherof she was a seruant and special child For the Pope being yett att Lions this S. beginning
a difficult and dangerous enterprise we are therein much more induced by example then by any persuasions of whom soeuer though we acknowledg them to be certainlie true None could be found that would resolue ioyfully to embrace the vertue of pouerty humility chastity fasting and other peniteÌ„tiall labours if he knew not that others not only with wordes exteriourly but really with worckes haue embraced the same Neither was it for any other cause that our Lord IESVS Christ would personnaly come into this world but by example to shew vs the way of our saluation and his holy wil because the examples aduertissementes of his faithfull seruantes would not suffice to retire vs from our euill conuersation and way and to setle vs in his no not the preceptes which he had giuen in the first written law But when he began to walke this way how many were there that would accompagny him very seriously seruing him euen till their death and this only for his loue The Church therfore knowing right well the glory that redoundeth to almightie God and the fruit which men gather by the memory of the life of our lord IESVS Christ and of his sainctes doth euery day propose and sett them before our eyes in the diuine office in the sacrifices and solemnities that it should not be tedious vnto vs to follow and imitate them whome we prayse and whose memory we honour and that likewise we should not esteeme it labourious to walke that way which alone conducteth vs to eternall life Hereof mayest thou consider deuout Reader what vse almightie God maketh of his elect in fauour of vs because we are saith S. Iohn coadiutors to the saluation of soules we may hence also conceiue how greatlie we are obliged to the trueseruantes of God who haue so put themselues to paines in the exercise of vertues that they haue left the way open that such as seeke it may finde it and by their examples haue taught vs which it is and with whath force and industry we may attaine vnto true glory Those of former ages guided only by naturall light did vse exceeding diligence to induce and animate themselues by the examples of their famous predecessours vsing them as so many spurres vnto vertrue to the end they might in no time be defectiue in the obligation they had both to their natiue country and to their owne honour and indeed the milke wher with they nourced their childreÌ„ in their publique schooles was the generous actes of their ancestours which were red vnto them in poemes and orations that by meanes of those examples the children might be affected to vertue and enflamed with desire of glory although it was more vaine then vertuous This is of such force that euen at this present many of our Christians following the same practise cause their children to spend the most entiere parte of their age in committing to memory the heroyicall actes of the ancient Grecians and Latines But would to God that too many did not employ and wast all their life in this study and that many others were not more affected to Homer Cicero and Virgil then to IESVS Christ O extreme indignity of Christians deseruing sharp reprehension and eternall punishment in regard that they glory to be imitatours of the superstitious Gentils who as they wanted faith and the true light illuminating the hart of Christians so was not their vertue true and solid but exteriour and vaine And although that in that time of obscure darcknes they gaue to men some sparckle of light some litle knowledg of vertue more with wordes then with effect these Pagans neuertheles persiste in obscurity euen in the cleare day of the true light of our lord IESVS Christ the soueraigne truth and perfection and are vnworthy to be honoured in comparison of true Christians who being illuminated with the light of faith can easily discerne iudge and condemne the world with his vnwise adherentes because as the Apostle S. Paul Saith the spirituall man knoweth and iudgeth al thinges Pagans on the contrary glorying and esteemning themselues wise with their eloquence become sottish and ignorant as hauing attributed and giuen vnto creatures that which appertayned only to the Creatour but they whose cogitation and confidence is more setled and grounded on the diuine will and doctrine then humane and do follow celestiall not earthly Philosophy such I say shal only arriue to heauen whence first discended their knowledge they cannot erre being taught by the eternall wisdome neither shall they euer want glory euen amoÌ„g mortall people though they haue with all possibility shunned the same but shal be illustrious to all the world For though antiquity haue exceedingly honoured great ambitious personnes that desired to leaue some memory and renowne of themselues in this world after their death yet our holy mother the Church doth farre more exalt and make more glorious our Sainctes continually in the predications feastes and solemnities which for them and in their honour are celebrated besides that we beleeue that they liue and gloriously raigne in heauen in the contemplation of their Lord. So that the true seruantes of God are blessed among Angels and honoured among men as eminent sainctes as great they are and worthy of all reuerence Altars are euery where consecrated and churches bult in their names their images are honoured their wordes and workes are highly commended and preached their reliques are reuerenced and worshipped on earth their soules glorified in heauen and the miracles and excellent workes both ancient and moderne which our lord in them and by them hath wrought are with exceeding great glory admired Our Lord euen in this world recompenceth his elect who not in appareâ—e but in effect are vertuous and holy and incorruptedlie conserue their faith to their Creatour When was there euer found in any time among the ancient naturalistes such constancie such faith temperance magnanimity sweetnes mercy iustice fortitude and loyaulty as hath bin found in our Christians who by no kinde of threates or faire speeches of Tyrantes could be induced to leaue their obedience vnto God could neuer be corrupted by any promise or recompence nor haue bin inclined by any kinde of flatteries or fauours but persisting firme constant in the truth haue nothing esteemed nor feared the terrible and horrible tormentes were they neuer so barbarous nor in the extremity of them or death it selfe but haue alwayes remayned immoueable and inuincible in true vertu piety not desiring reuenge or detriment to the persecutours or executioners but pardon and saluation praying vnto God for them And all this not att their death only but euen in their life For there is no kinde of vertue wherin the sainctes haue not excelled some in purity of virginity others in continencie with great labour subiecting the flesh to the spirit that euen on earth leading a life more angelical then humane they might purchase eternall glory in heauen others renouncing kingdomes estates and dignities
S. would not restore it nor could they euer recouer it by other meanes but by praying one to redeeme it Retourning from Sienna he found a poore man by the way and tourning to his companion he said it is necessary that I giue my cloake to this poore man because it is his for it is lent me of God with chardge to restore it to the first that I mett poorer then my selfe and this man is much poorer wherfore if I doe otherwise I shal be a theefe and therwith he gaue it vnto him not withstanding the considerations that his companion alleadged wherby he endeauoured to persuade him that he was bound to satisfie his owne necessities before an others Comming neere to Perusia he mett a poore man whome he had formerlie knowne in the world whome hauing saluted and asked how he fared the poore man with greife answeared ill then began to curse his master that withheld his hire affirming it to be the cause of his dispaire The saint exhorting him to pardon it least he should with all loose his soule he replyed that whiles his dew was retayned he could not pardon him The holie Father then putt of his cloake and gaue it him saying Hold brotther and freind I giue thee my cloake for the hire which they master oweth thee and I require onlie of thee that thou pardon him for the loue of God and by this worthy act he so mollified the hardnes of this seruants hart that he pardoned his master The Phisitian of Rieta that medecined his eyes one day as he was dressing him recounted vnto him that he in like sort dressed and medecined a poore woman of the same disease to whome besides the seruice he did vnto her he was constrained out of compassion he conceaued of her miserie to giue her releife Which the S. vnderstanding and moued with pitty towardes this woman not so much for her disease as for her pouerty he instantlie called the Guardian to whome he sayd Brother we must restore that which we haue appertayning to an other The Guardian admiring answeared Father what haue we belonging to others S. Francis replied this cloake whome we hold as borrowed of a poore woman to whome it is now requisite to restore the same Wherto the Guardian answeared Doe as you please The S. then called a very Religious seculer man and said Take this cloake and twelue loaues that shal be giuen thee and goe to such a poore sick woman and tell her that the poore man to whome she Lent the same sendeth it againe vnto her with thanckes and leaue it all with her and then retourne This good man did as the holy Father had enioyned him but the poore woman thincking that he had iested with her answeared him Freind I lent not this cloake to any man so that I vnderstand not what you meane but the man left the cloake and the bread without other replie then it is yours make vse therof which the poore woman with thanckes to God accepted Of other like charities performed by the Saint for the loue of God THE XLVIII CHAPTER GOeing one day to preach he mett two of his Religious that were French with whome he a while discoursed These Fathers being exceedinglie conforted both by his life and conference according to what they had heard of him did out of deuotion demaunde his owne habitt which he did weare and that for the loue of God whose name he hearing did instantlie discloath himselfe and gaue it vnto them putting on an other which one of them did att that present putt off which he performed in obseruance of his vow which was incontinentlie to giue what soeuer should be demaunded him for the loue of God for reuerence to this Lord whose will was to be termed Loue and therfore he was much offended and sharply reprehended the Religious when vpon any light occasion and without edification of their neighbour they named the loue of God which should not be named but to some good purpose and that with great reuerence The S. seldome or neuer weare a new habitt for when he had such one made he would incontinently chaunge it with some other Religious for a torne one and sometimes he would take a litle part of some ragged and worne habitt and as much of an other and so patching it together you may imagine what manner of habitt it could be But he no farther regarded then to couer his stomack that was infirme There came a poore man one day where he was that asked a peece of cloath of a Religious for the loue of God to patch his garment Which the S. vnderstanding he caused euery corner of the house to be searched and being answeared that none could be found he retired into a corner not to be seene and ripped of that which couered his stomack and gaue it the poore man But not doeing it so dexterously but that he was perceaued by the Religious they caused him to restore it But the holy Father would neither take it not permitt the poore man to depart till there was an other peece of cloath giuen him Being in the Couent of our lady of Angels a poore woman that had two children in his Order came to demaund an almose and he called Brother Catanius to whome he said haue we nothing to giue to this our poore mother whereto the said brother Peter answeared That there was nothing fitt for her if not a new testament wherin they read the lessons att matines which might be giuen her if he thought good considering that she asked almose and was in extreme necessity The holy Father pawsed not long theron but sodenly said I pray you giue it her for she may sell it and reliue her selfe in this her misery and I verily beleeue that this charity wil be more pleasing to God then our lessons and so it was deliuered her Few bookes were then printed in respect wherof they were deere I haue alleadged this example to shew that this holy Father spared nothing from the poore that asked it for the loue of God Yea to performe this office of piety if he chaunced to meet any poore people loaden on the way he would disburden them and for a while carry their burden that in the meane time they might take breath He would haue all his Religious to honour the poore as much as him selfe as representing the person of our Lord IESVS CHRIST How much the said S. would haue the poore to be honoured THE XLIX CHAPTER GOeing to preach thorough Italy he mett on the way a poore sick creature afflicted with many infirmities of whome he cōceaued a strong compassion Then spake of him to his companion who answeared that it was very true that he seemed poore exteriourly but perhappes was interiourly more puffed vp with desires then any of that country The holy Father very bitterly reprehended him for this rash iudgement and then sayd If my company be gratefull vnto thee thou
the Potter to frame one pott for honour and an other for dishonour one for vse of meat and an other to serue for the chamber Neuertheles it would be ridiculous for the vessell to complaine and say why is this honour giuen to him rather then to me for thus it hath pleased him because he is the master But he might farther and with much more reason alleadge the saying of the Espouse Consider me not nor doe not admire that I am black because the sunne hath taken away my collour which hath no other signification but that one should not beleeue that this great deformity which the humble presupposeth in himselfe doth proceed of what soeuer cause indifferently but that the sunne of iustice the liuing God maketh it appeare so foule vnto his eyes and not the light of the Moone which is worldly wisdome And this I say proueth not that he maketh the faire foule in essence but in apparence only by comparaison made of a thing imperfectly faire with an other beautifull in the highest degree It being supposed then that I haue yet in me some good as it may be neuertheles when I fix mine eyes on that diuine sunne of iustice I am enforced and constrained to behold the great multitude of sunne motes of mine imperfections in his cleare beames wheron reflecting as one ought I know my basenes and mine imperfection to be infinite and to become as a nothing in this mine accident all beauty But because that which is true cannot be otherwise I retourne and reenter into my selfe where considering the greatnes of my naturall basenes I acknowledge nothing in my selfe but the grace of God that doeth any thing because as man there is no sinne but I might haue cōmitted In which respect I ought to humble my selfe and beleeue that touching this point there is no man in the world any way inferiour vnto me This equality layd the force of humility doth after enter into his meritt wheras among men we are all naturally equall in imperfections therfore the truly humble doth honour and repute all other as greater then himselfe and that is the black colour which the Sunne of his grace doth by his goodnes giue him with which humilitie God himselfe made man being cloathed said I am not a man but a worme the contempt of men and out-cast of the people And if IESVS CHRIST spake this of himselfe who is the mouth of trueth who can euer contemne a man and say that he doth falsely esteeme himselfe lesse then other men And therfore God doth farther say learne of me because I am meek and humble of hart learne of me saith he because he knew that proud humane ignorance could not conceaue I will not say teach this doctrine more then humane by its apparent and sophisticall reasōs But learne of me to wit what God is and what is mā for I being the one and the other together none can better know thē my selfe what difference there is betweene thes two Now of this consideratiō proceedeth true and perfect humility and therfore it is greater in the blessed that clearly see the Sunne of iustice in his splendours then in themselues walking in the pilgrimage of this world wherin by faith and imperfect charity they receaue the diuine beames only by reuerberation and reflection in the cloud of their imperfection and therfore the nerer the true seruant approacheth vnto him with the vnderstanding the more humble he is So as the glorious virgin Mary was the most humble of all creatures on earth euen so is she most humble of all in heauen though she be att the right hand of her Sonne because the more she doth participate of that diuine and infinite light and doth more clearly and with greater glory contemplate that so great depth of the infinite and high diuine bounty so much better doth she see the goulfe of her litlenes which in the end is to be a creature which is nothing in comparison of her Creatour before whome she bendeth her knees with farre more reuerence then euer did the foure and twenty ancientes whome S. Iohn saw prostrate before the throne of the liuing God because she hath a deeper knowledge of him then they Therfore lett all humane reason be silent mute and giue place in the certaine contemplation of true diuine humilitie sith it cannot penetrat the deep secrettes of God by meane wherof with a most miraculous operation it then raiseth a soule more high when it most debaseth her to the profundity of her consideration and then it procureth her a crowne in heauen and maketh her true Queene in that eternall kingdome when it causeth her to be inferiour slaue and subiect to all creatures for the only loue of God which being her foundation it is not to be admired if her building arise to such an hight For humilitie is no other thing then a profound and continual humiliatiō of the soule vnto his diuine Maistie caused by his diuine liberality And therfore she ought duely to consider with what benignity his maiesty vnited himselfe vnto vs receauing into him our so base and abiect nature wherof he would make vse to raise and relieue our so extreme pouertie of this knowledge will grow and encrease in the soule the true loue and approbation of the obligation we haue vnto God It cannot be expressed how insatiable a thing it is to desire alwayes to correspond vnto IESVS CHRIST in worckes misprising ones selfe for his loue and euer desirously giuing eare vnto the foresaid voice Learne of me by the true doctrine whereof there arriueth vnto the soule by such a humility subiection not only vnto God and his commandementes but euen for his loue vnto all creatures and she reputeth them her betters and superiours though they be sinners hauing her eye only one her basenes or lownes which is such as cannot be greater So misprising her selfe to the vtmost she saith with her Lord IESVS CHRIST I am a worme and not a man the contempt of men and the out cast of the people By which wordes the question is cleared and resolued Of the discourses and exercises of the humility of S. Francis THE LXXXII CHAPTER THe said holy Father would not haue any thing in his Religion were it neuer so excellent but it should in its kinde euen exteriourlie preach Lowlinesse and Humilitie Wherfore he reiected the title of preacher of Pennance which Pope Innocent the third had graunted to him and his and would that his Religion should be called Minors and that they should conserue them selues liuing like Minors as true children of the Apostolicall rule And for the same cause he would not that the superiours should be called Priors but Ministers and seruantes A name imposed by IESVS CHRIST in the gospell when he said that he was come to serue to the end that by such a surname they might be alwayes mindfull both of their office and of their author
doubt but God was very ready to pardon them whensoeuer they should be resolued to leaue their sinnes and that they should rest assured therof otherwise they should committ a greater sinne then any other that they had formerly comitted and therfore he promised and assured them God would pardon them all These three theues therfore being conuerted did not only abandon their lewd life but did perfectly renounce the world and became Religious of his Order where liuing piously two of thē a litle after passed from this life to a better But the third liued many yeares after wherin often considering the enormity of his sinnes past he was so penitent for them that for fifteene yeares together he fasted three dayes euery weeke with only bread and water besides the lent and ordinary abstinences of the Order and was neuer cloathed but with an old habitt without tunicle he disciplined himselfe euery day and after mattins slept no more but continued still in prayer In this time S. Francis departed to the glory which God had prepared him and he suruiuing perseuering and continuyng in the asperity of life which he had begun and in continuall and feruent prayers had a reuelation from God of the paines of hell and of the glory of Paradice such as followeth A reuelation of the paines of hell and of the glory of Paradise presented after the death of S. Francis to one of the aforesaid theeues whome hauing no more cause to mention and they being conuerted by the holy Father S. Francis it seemeth not improper to put in the place of their conuersion and to take it out of the ninth chapter of the tenth booke disorderly there inserted THE LXXXVII CHAPTER THis theefe conuerted by S. Francis being according to his custome one night after matines in prayer he found himselfe so oppressed with sleepe that he could not ouercome it howsoeuer he strayned himselfe against it so that he was enforced to fall into a deep sleepe and was incontinentlie eleuated in spiritt by the Angel of God that carryed him ouer an high mountaine all enuironned with grosse cutting stones vpon which the Angell that carryed him lett him fall from the toppe of the mountaine euen to the bottome of the vally where being vtterlie crushed as he seemed and rather dead then aliue the Angell called him and bid him arise because he had yet a long iorney to make The Religious answeared him how is it possible you should be so cruell as that seeing in what plight I am you would I should trauaile The Angel then touching him cured all his greifes then goeing before him shewed him a field full of sharpe stones thornes wild thissels which he commāded him to passe through bare foot as he was The Religious knowing no excuse passed through it with such paine as may be imagined After that he forced him to ēter into a burning furnace which was at the end of the said feild for hauing refused to enter in he caused him to be throwne in with a forcke by the deuils there present Hauing remayned some time in that eternall fire there enduring that which he alone that hath proued it can expresse the Angel drue him out and bid him prepare himselfe to passe further wherevpon he lamenting that without any pitty he would force him further so burned and halfe dead as he was the Angel touched him and cured his burning Then he brought him vpon a bridge that was in such sort made as he could not passe it without falling for it was narrow and round so that the feet could take no hold theron Vnder it there ran a very swifte flud full of fearefull and terrible dragons and serpentes the Religious therefore excused himselfe affirming that he could not passe it without falling the Angell bid him follow him and not to feare but in his goeing to sett his feet where he should see him stepp before So was he enforced to follow him euen to the middes of the bridge with a feare that freezed his brest but the worst was that being there the Angel disappearing left him and ascended a mountaine whereon was a very beautifull citty leauing the poore Religious in such feare as each one may imagine who beheld vnder the bridge those horrible dragons that with open mouth attended his fall only to deuoure him instantly He being in such extremity not knowing what else to doe very fixedly embraced the bridge and began to lament and inuocate the name of IESVS whome he besought to haue pitty on him in that extreme necessity and to deliuer him of that imminent perill God hauing heard him he seemed by litle and litle to haue winges grow out on his backe wherevpon he began to hope that his winges growing great he should fly vnto his guide Now wanting patience to expect the full growth of his winges such being his desire to be thence he endeauoured to fly but he fell againe on the bridge and his winges also were loosed from his backe Wherefore embracing the bridge againe he began to lament and with the Prophet to say Who shall giue me winges of a doue that flying from so perillous and mortall estate I may attaine a secure repose Onely thou my lord IESVS CHRIST my sole hope and true redresse He had scarcely ended these wordes but his winges did grow againe but he had no more power then before to expect the sufficient growth of his winges by reason of his extreme feare so that he fell and lost them againe Then he prayed and resolued to expect till his winges were fitt to carry him though euery hower seemed to him a thousand yeares So hauing attended till he knew them to be of sufficient strēght and force he mounted into the aire and flew vp to the high mountaine where his guide was where they both together went towardes the gate of that supreme citty wherinto the Porter admitting the Angell made him stay without asking him who he was and who emboldened him to come there He answeared that he was a Frere Minor and that his cōming so farre was not of presumption or of his owne motion but was conducted thither The Porter replyed Attend till I call S. Francis to see if he know thee In the meane while the Religious vewed the walles and structure of that admirable citty that were so lustrious and resplendent and with all transparent to behold all the iubilyes and exultations made by the Angels and blessed within which to his exceeding contentement beholding he saw the holy Father S. Francis comming and with him brother Bernard Quintaualle his first disciple and other Religious his companions trayned with an infinite number of the blessed who seeing him commanded the Porter to admitt him in which he did and he was very amourously receaued by the holy Father who shewed him all the meruailes wherof neither the eye nor eare nor vnderstanding of any mortall man is capable The Religious was so satisfied and content with this vew and
of the puritie of his conscience feared nothing and was euer vnited with God He also ioyfully receaued whatsoeuer came from his holy hand But in regard that one could not arriue to this perfection without hauing precedentlie washed his soule from the spottes of sinnes and imperfections he ordinarily persuaded his Religious to endeauour to purge themselues with teares poured out for the passion of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST How the hole Father S. Francis seeing any creature afflicted could not forbeare to weepe considering therin his God in his dolourous passion THE CVI. CHAPTER BY this charity of compassion which he perfectly carryed to IESVS CHRIST his soule remayned so affected to suffer all aduersities with his neighbour as a member of IESVS CHRIST that he was as much greiued as if himselfe had endured and this purity so augmented that he could not endure any creature to be afflicted though they were vnreasonable and among them those particulerly to whome the holy scripture compareth our Lord IESVS CHRIST and therefore he loued litle Lambes in whome is figured the patience meeknes of our God Comming from Ancona to Osimo with brother Paul whome he had made Prouinciall of the Marches he mett vpon the way a sheepheard that among many goates and kiddes had one only sheepe which beholding he felt his heart through pearced with greife to see the said sheepe alone among so many goates and kiddes reprobate creatures he therfore said to his companion Behold brother how meeke that sheep is among those goates our Lord walked so humble and meeke among the Scribes and Parisees in memory whereof I pray you lett vs endeauour to redeeme it out of this sheepheards handes But his companion not knowing what remedy to apply in regard they had no mony he began with the holy Father to bewayle his greife they both thus weeping by chaunce there arriued a merchaunt who hauing demaunded thē the cause of their weeping and vnderstanding the same payed the sheepeard for the said sheep and gaue it to the holy Father who full of comfort conducted it to Osimo euen to the presence of the Bishop who admiring therat and demaunding the cause after he vnderstood it was much amazed att the great goodnes and admirable simplicity of the holy Father began also to weep Now the day following that the sheep might not be worse entreated he left it with the Religious women of Seuerina which was much to their contentment for the deuotion which they boare to the S. And therefore keeping it as a peculier relique in short time it yelded so so much wool as they made therof an habit which was sent him in their name to the chapter following which he receaued with such affection as cannot be expressed for embracing it very louingly he called all them that were there to reioyce with him att the profitt he had made of that sheep On an other time he mett in the same Prouince of Marches a contry man that carryed on his shoulders two lambes to sell att the Marckett comming neere the holy Father he laid downe his Lambes a litle to repose himselfe the two lambes then that were bound together began to bleat the poore holy Father to cōpassionate them wherfore tourning to the cōtry fellow he asked him why he held them bound in such extreme affliction and torment and he answeared because they should not escape he being to carry them to the markett where necessity enforced him to sell them and that he could doe no lesse the S. replyed and what wil they who buy them doe with them the fellow answeared O simple man they will kill them then cause them to be baked boiled or rosted according to their appetite and so eat them S. Francis exceedingly afflicted said to himselfe it shall not be so for I will haue them my selfe and withall went to the fellow and said come hither wilt thou giue me thy lambes for this my cloake wherwith he was very well content So hauing made exchaunge the holy Father bethought himselfe how he might doe to saue them wherof hauing cōsulted with his companion they found it most expedient to render them to the cōtry fellow which they did vpon his promise that he should neither sell nor kill them Being in the monastery of Verecondo neere Agubio a poore sheep brought foorth her yong one nere vnto a sow which did eat the tender lambe which S. Francis did bitterly lament with these wordes Ah litle lambe how wel doest thou represent the innocent death of my Sauiour IESVS CHRIST then as zealous of the honour of almighty God he laid his malediction on the said sow which att the very instant did admirably fall diseased and within three dayes died and by force of this maledictiō became of so loathsome sauour that she was cast into a ditch where neither dogge nor foule nor other beast would eat her but she dryed vp and so remayned for memory long time after This example should teach vs by the temporall punishment of this beast that whosoeuer vseth crueltie towardes his neighbour cannot auoyd the eternall iudgement of God as also how iust the compassion of this S. was fith it merited to be heard of God who being by his Prophett Dauid called worme and not a man the holy Father tooke vp the very wormes he found on the wayes that passengers might not tread on thē with their feet In the winter he gaue either wine or hunny to the flyes to preserue their liues and so by meane of all creatures he eleuated his hart to God the Creatour in whome he liued with full consolation An exposition of the glorious Father S. Francis made on the Pater noster THE CVII CHAPTER THe Pater noster was the principall of all the prayers which the holy Father most contentedlie vsed wherin he coceaued a meruaylous tast eleuating his hart vnto God And therefore he taught his Religious for edification of their neighbour to say it in this manner Our Father most blessed and most holie our Creatour and Consolatour which art in heauen amongest the Angels and SS whome with they presence thou doest illuminate thy selfe being the light thou doest enflame them with loue thou being loue it selfe raysing them to thy glorie thou dwellest in them because thou art the soueraigne eternall good whence all good is deriued and without which nothing is good in it selfe Hallowed he thy name and lett thy knoweldge be manifested vnto vs that we may the better knowe the greatnes of thy benefittes and the accomplishmenr of thy promises the eminency of thy Marestie and the depth of thy iudgementes Thy kingdome come to the end thou now raigne in vs by grace and that hereafter we attaine the other of glorie where is eternallie thy glorious presence with perfect loue glorious companie and ioy and alacritie without end Thy will be done in earth as is it in heauen that we may loue thee with an infinite loue and may
ennemyes and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you Blessed are they that suffer persecution for iustice for theirs is the kingdome of heauen and he that perseuereth vnto the end shall be saued That the Brethren shall not enter into Monastories of Religious women THE XI CHAPTER I Ōrdaine and command all my Brethren that they haue no suspected familiarities with women and that they enter not into the Couentes of Religious women those excepted who to that effect shall haue speciall licence from the Apostolicall sea Likewise I will not that my Religious be God fathers either of men or women that by such meanes there happen not any scandall among the Brethren or by their occasion Of such as shall goe among the Sarrazins and other infidels THE XII CHAPTER EVery Brother whosoeuer that by diuine inspiration desireth to goe among the Sarrazins and other Infidels lett him demaund leaue of his Prouinciall Minister who shal be very respectiue not to giue licence but to such as to him shall seeme fitt to doe good among such people And for all these causes I commaund the Ministers vpon obedience to procure of his Holines to haue a Cardinall for Gouernour Protectour and Correctour of this Confraternity that they may be alwayes subiect to the feet of the holy Romane Church stable and firme in the Catholike faith Lett pouerty humility and the holy gospell of our Lord IESVS CHRIST be entierlie obserued of vs as we haue faithfully promised The end of the rule of the Frere Minors The rest of the bulle touching the confirmation of the said Rule omitted in the beginning thereof LEtt it not therefore be permissible for any man to infringe this ordonnance of our confirmation or rashly to contradict the same And if anie presume so to doe know that he shall incurre the indignation of Almighy God and of S. Peter and S. Paul his Apostles Giuen att S. Iohn Lateran the 29. of Nouember the eight yeare of our Papacie The end of the confirmation of the rule of the Frere Minors Of the perfection of this rule and the abridgement therof THE IX CHAPTER AS the three yong men according to Daniel were ioyfull in the flaming fire of the burning fournace where Nabuchodonosor had caused them to be throwne as faithfull seruantes of God because they would not giue to his monstruous statua the honour dew to God alone and as they sung prayses to the Almightie together with a fourth like vnto the sonne of God so there were three Orders and holy Rules founded by three holy personnages S. Basill S. Augustin and S. Benedict in the burning fournace of temptations and worldly afflictions wherwith the prince of the world combatteth against the seruantes of God and often times surmounteth them which holy personnes as men freed from the fire and from feare haue with alacritie praysed God in the middes of it Afterward there was seene the fourth like vnto the sonne of God to witt The Seraphicall and crucified seruant of IESVS CHRISTS Francis that gaue a fourth estate vnto the church wherin men being deliuered from the prison of the world and taking more content in the honours and graces of God might more freelie serue IESVS CHRIST And such was his intention in all the wordes of his Euangelicall rule to witt that they who had made profession to imitate IESVS CHRIST should endeauour to become the most like vnto him in laboures of their life and exercises of spiritt that possibly could be procured He with the help of the holy Ghost founded on that onlie and firme foundation of IESVS CHRIST the edifice of the rule in meruaylous hight and perfection Therefore in the first chapter he saith The life and rule of the Frere Minors is such to keep and obserue the holie gospell liuing vnder holie obedience without possessing any thing in proprietie and in pure chastitie The life spiritt and wordes of the said holy Father considered his intention was that the Frere Minors should obserue not onlie the preceptes of the gospell but the counsailes also Neuertheles knowing and considering humane infirmitie he would not oblige them to all In the second chapter he teacheth to forsake and contemne the world with whatsoeuer is in it giuing them meanes to make such renunciation as the gospell teacheth which is to sell what they haue and to giue it to the poore that being deliuered of so great an impediment they might freelie serue IESVS CHRIST and with him say The Prince of this world is come in me he hath found nothing In the third he teacheth exercises to prayse God by the diuine offices and by fastinges and seuere abstinences mortifications of the flesh good examples and edification of our neighbour and particulerlie of seculer personnes He also teacheth them the vertue of penance humilitie and charity whereby they may with edification conuerse with all people In the fourth he expresly declareth that he will not his brethren shall haue mony vnder any pretence whatsoeuer but that the Prouincialls shall supplie their necessities knowing that auarice is daungerous to soules and principallie to Religious and how true is the sentence of IESVS CHRIST where he saith that no man can serue God and Mammon The holy Father therfore would that richesse should not onlie be remote but entierlie and absolutelie separated from the Order In the fift he bannisheth from his societie idlenes as contrarie to the true seruantes of God and capitall ennemy of mennes saluation In the sixt he rayseth the soule frō cogitations of the world and in as much as may be hoped or expected of him leauing neither place nor affection proper in thē wherby they might adhere to any cogitation of terrestriall loue to the end that they might ioyfullie say Our conuersation is in heauen as possessing nothing on earth In the seauenth he comforteth sinners and such as are sick teaching thē the conditions of their Phisicion that can and will cure them who is our lord IESVS CHRIST who will mercy and not sacrifice and who came not to call the iust but sinners that they might be conuerted and liue In the eighty chapter he teacheth the Superiours and all his Order in what manner they ought to gouerne the Religious and insinuateth that they should procure to haue alwayes a Generall sufficient and worthy of such a chardge In the ninth he teacheth his preachers to fly pride and arrogance in their life and doctrine and to be humble and zealous of the saluation of soules feeding them alwayes with holie and profitable doctrine without which they can neuer produce fruit redounding to the benefitt of the said soules In the tenth he admonisheth superiours and subiectes to be verie carefull in the diligent accomplishment of their obedience and the obligation which is reciprocallie betwen them but particulerlie that which they owe and is due to God by reason of their profession In the eleuenth chapter he demonstrateth vnto his Religious how
He alreadie foresaw that knowledge puffed vp with vanitie in future time would giue a great fall to the Order because curiositie of the said knowledge would induce manie to great arrogance which would destroy obedience humilitie pouertie with all true Religion bringing in libertie and priuiledges The said holie Father said there shall be so manie that will labour to gett knowledge that he shal be happie who for the loue IESVS CHRIST shall shunne the same He appeared after his death to one of his companions who was exceedinglie busied in the studie of preaching and reprehended him sharpelie forbidding him that ouer great anxietie of spirirt which he had towardes study and commaunded him to study to walke the path of holie humilitie and pouerty How he discouered and preuented the deceipt of the learned and curious of his Order THE XXIV CHAPTER IT will succed said S. Francis to these curious of knowledge and learning that esteeming to be more edified and enflamed in deuotion towardes God by knowledge of him if they vse it not with great humility they by the same science and by the great study therin employed will remayne void of all goodnes cold in charity and puffed with vaine glory reioycing in their vanity and obstinate in opinion wherfore the holy Ghost being vnable to dwell in bodyes subiect to sinne he wil be constrayned vtterly to forsake them Certaine Religious therfore one day relating vnto him that a great diuine was entred into their Religion att Paris and that by his doctrine he much edified the people and cleargie and was a great honour to the Order S. Francis sighingly answeared them I much feare that his like will one day destroy whatsoeuer God by me his vnworthy seruant hath planted in this vineyared I would haue no greater Doctours in diuinity then they who teach their neighbour by worckes meekenes pouerty and humility because the goodnes of a Religious is according to his obedience to the rule and his doeing what he knoweth Those preachers that trust only in their doctrine when thy see concourse of people and that they are desirously heard and some by their preaching are conuerted to penance thy are puffed with vaine glory for the worckes of an other as if they were their owne and so preach saluation to others but damnation to themselues therfore they glory of that wherof they haue no more cause then a trumpett which soundeth by the mouth of an other man that windeth it for what are they but trumpettes wherby God sendeth his sound be they good or euill so that the cause of the conuersion of the hearers ought not to be attributed to them but to the very force of holy doctrine and to the teares of the simple though the same be not by them vnderstood these simple ones are my knightes of the round table who hide them selues in desertes and sequestred places the more commodiously to apply them to prayer and meditation lamenting theirs and others sinnes therfore God alone knoweth the fruit they produce and how many soules by their merittes are saued wherfore they shall heare this his voice Come thou faithfull and prudent seruant because thou hast bin faithfull vnto me in few thinges I will place there ouer many enter into the kingdome of eternall life but they who haue had no other cogitation but to learne knowledge and to demonstrate their doctrine vnto others preaching without edifying by good worckes shal be poore empty of all good before the throne of the terrible iudge they shall haue their vessels full of shame and confusion and they shall also heare God say vnto them you haue preached only by the wordes of your purchaced science but I haue saued soules by vertue of the merittes of my simple ones you therfore shall remaine with the winde of pride which you haue sought and these shall receaue the recompence of the labour of their humility and prayer which is ourvocation wherto these puffed ones shall haue bin contrary with the winde of their knowledge persuading many to relinquish this truth yea persecuting as blinded and frantike such as walke by this truth but the errour and false opinion wherin in they haue liued which they haue preached and wherby they haue conducted many with thē in the profound goulfe of ignorāce and spirituall blindnes shall tourne to their greife and confusion and they shal be buryed in darcknes for it is written I will destroy the wisedome of the wise of this world and the prudence of the prudent I will reiect So the holy Father as far foorth as his power extended for his office in this world permitted not any of his Religious to be called Master though formerlie in the world he had bin such alleadgeing vnto them the wordes of our lord IESEVS CHRIST One is your Masterin heauen and therfore lett none be called master on earth He affirmed of himselfe that though he had bin very learned he would neuer haue endured to be called Doctour or master because it was to doe against IESVS CHRIST so that he concluded that it was much more profitable to a man to knowlitle and be humble then to performe great matters with much knowledge and presumption of himselfe How much S. Francis reioyced att the good example which his order gaue to the church and how much displeased when his Religious procured or caused any scandall THE XXV CHAPTER THis glorious Father said that the Frere Minors were sent of God in this latrer age to be an example of light to them that were entangled in the obscurities of sinne Therfore if he heard relation of any example of edification that the Religious gaue to the holy Church he with great feruour would say The house of God shal be filled with good sweet sauours which shal be produced by the precious oyntmēt of vertues He exceedingly reioyced att the good reputation of his deere childrē at the exāple of piety which they gaue because by meane therof they cōuerted sinners to the loue seruice of IESVS CHRIST a thing especially desired of him and to such he gaue his holy benediction And consequently because his Religious knew that their holy Father would haue them exercised in this vertue and zeale of the saluation of soules they so much the more endeauoured to giue him satisfactiō therin And if it happened that any one procured the least trouble to his neighbour he presently asked him pardon with great humility and offered to doe pennance for the same It chaunced one time that an ancient Religious of the Order in presence of a gentleman vttered some wordes in choler to one of his Brethren but perceauing that he had troubled his Brother and disedified the other acknowledgeing his fault and impatient against himselfe he incontinently tooke the dong of an asse and putt it into his mouth and forced himselfe to chew it saying tongue eat this dong sith thou hast presumed to arise against they neighbour
bare to the holy Father S. Francis Of an other child which God raysed by the merittes of the holy Father S. Francis and of diuers other miracles wrought THE XLIII CHAPTER BEing att an other time lodged with a knight as they discoursed of spirituall matters there came a seruant all chafed and full of teares telling this geÌ„tleman his master that his sonne was att that very houre drowned in a chanell wheratt the Father and mother pittifully lamented S. Francis was moued to coÌ„passion and after that he had comforted theÌ„ willing theÌ„ to haue hope in God he fell to prayer beseeching his diuine Maiesty to reueale vnto him the place where he might finde the child Now God hauing reuealed it vnto him he bad the gentleman to send vnto such a place where he should finde his child which being brought vtterly suffocated and drowned he raysed him an restored him to his Father in the name of God with an infinite ioy to all the assistantes who reÌ„dred thaÌ„ckes incessaÌ„tly vnto his diuine Maiesty The holy Father S. FraÌ„cis minding to preach in a certaine place within the diocesse of Cisterno where a great noÌ„ber of people were asseÌ„bled to heare him waÌ„ting coÌ„uenieÌ„t place to preach vnto theÌ„ coÌ„modiously by reasoÌ„ that it was a plaine he approached to an oake which was froÌ„ the bottome to the toppe all couered with antes which the holy Father hauing seene hecoÌ„manded theÌ„ to goe froÌ„ that tree and tourning to the people he willed theÌ„ to giue way to the said antes And theÌ„ which was admirable they in noÌ„ber almost incredible went that way which S. Francis had caused the people to make for them so that they neuer retourned more and this was cause of vnspeakeable fruit The holy Father S. FraÌ„cis of all other beastes had least affectioÌ„ to those antes because they employed ouer much dilligeÌ„ce in hoarding their prouisioÌ„ for the time to come And withall he affirmed that they deserued not to be nombred with the birdes of whome God said Behold the foules of the aire that they sow not neither reape nor gather into barnes and your heauenly Father feedeth them S. Francis would that all his Religious should haue the same faith and resignation of all their cogitations in his diuine prouidence that God would should be in his disciples In the same place and time that the S. preached there happened a fearfull miracle for there came a woman with a cow-bell to disturbe the company wherwith she made such a ringing sound that one could not heare what he said S. Francis reprehending her she encreased it such possession had the deuill of her Vpon this occasion the holy Father inspired of God and moued with zeale of his holy word and of the conuersion of soules vttered these wordes Carry her away Satan carry her away for she is one of they members and is thine O horrible and fearfull accident these wordes being ended the woman was incontinently carryed vp into the aire both body and soule in vew of all the world for which cause euery one was stricken in extreme terrour and feare of the diuine maiesty and thenceforward gaue eare to his holy worde in very great reuerence S. Francis walking with his companion on the banckes of the riuer Po and being ouertaken by the night he was exceedingly perplexed to get lodgeing by reason that the way was extreme foule and durty the aire very darck and the place not free froÌ„ theeues for though they had nothing to loose yet should they haue bin afflicted by them wherefore his coÌ„panion said vnto him Father pray vnto God if you please that he may voutsafe to be our guide and to deliuer vs froÌ„ this affliction The S. no otherwise answeared but God is able if he please and that it be for our good to deliuer vs and remouing this darcknes to giue vs his light Att this instant as he lifted vp his handes to heauen a cleare light appeared and so resplendant that being in all other places a very darck night they saw very clearly and perfectly nor only how to goe in their way but euery where about theÌ„ So by this light guided and comforted both spiritually and corporally they made such speed as they arriued att their place of retire singing prayses and himnes vnto God of whome S. Francis was assisted in his necessity He accustomed when he came to any place to preach therby the more coÌ„modiously to assemble the people to sound a cornet which to that purpose he carryed with him with two stickes of a paulme long which are to this day conserued in his church of Assisium in the sacristye hauing the endes garnished with siluer they are shewed with other reliques att all times when they are desired to be seene Certaine doctrines and discourse of the glorious Father S. Francis which haue bin found recorded Of the faith and reuerence due to the holy sacrament THE XLIV CHAPTER THe holie Father sainct Francis did not onlie seeke to edifie his neighbour in corporall presence and by example and preaching but also such as he could not assist by those meanes being remote from them he assisted by letters and aduertissementes which he caused his Religious to write wherof I thought it requisit to select the choice and principall to insert in this place specified according to the contentes A letter of the holy Father sainct Francis to all the Religious of the generall chapter IN the name of God of the most sacred Trinitie and soueraigne vnitie the Father Sonne and holie Ghost Amen To my beloued Brother the Minister Generall of the Order of Frere Minors and to all other Ministers that shall succeed him to all Prouincials Guardians and Preistes of our coÌ„frarernitie vnited in IESVS CHRIST and to all the humble simple and obedient first and last Brother Francis a man of nothing fraile and infirme your least seruant saluteth you in the name of him that hath redeemed you and hath washed vs with his owne bloud whose name we ought to adore prostrate on the earth with great feare and reuerence Most high lord IESVS CHRST Sonne of God is his name who is blessed for euer and euer Amen Harcken yee children of God and my deere Brethren imprint my wordes in your mindes incline the eares of your harte and obey the voice of the Sonne of God keepe with all your hart and obserue his sweet preceptes and embrace his counsailes with your entier will praise him for he is good and know that the eternall Father sendeth you into the world by your worckes and wordes to testifie his worckes and wordes And therefore striue to make it knowne to all people that he alone is almighty in all thinges perseuer in his discipline and obseruance and maytaine that which you haue promised him with a firme resolution siâ—h he as Father to his children giueth vs the true preseruing nourishment of spirituall and corporall essence and presenteth vs to his
came to visitt her and hauing saluted her began to comfort her and to persuade her to be confessed but they litle auayled for she alleaged that her sinnes were such so haynous as could not be pardoned And therfore the elder of the two SS told her that if she would confesse haue contrition of her sinnes he would be contēted to take her sinnes on himselfe and to satisfie God for her yea and would make her participant of all the good deedes he had done during his life and finally would in the name and part of God promise her eternall life These wordes put her in good hope whervpon of a wolfe she became a meeke lambe with exceeding contrition doeing pennance for all her sinnes hauing made a generall confession to one of the two And hauing receaued the holy Sacramentes by their Minister she by their owne handes was vested in the habitt of the Frere Minors which done they disappeared they who saw them esteemed them by their comportment and gestures to be S. Francis and S. Antony A few dayes after their departure this woman dyed very piously and commaunded her body to be buryed in the Church of the Freere Minors some league distant from the said citty of Liuarez That very night a foot man of hers retourning from abroad as the day began to breake there appeared a shaddow before him and he coniuring it in the name of the liuing God it answeared that he was the deuill that for fourteene yeares had serued the lady Lopez in shape of a woman and that by right he had gotten and pourchached her but that att the end of her life there presented themselues vnto her two Religious wearing the Capuce whome she much affected who so preuailed that they conuerted her to pennance for her sinnes and against all right wrested her soule out of his power and carried it with them vnto glory But that thou mayest know this to be true said the deuill when thou shalt come to Liuarez where she is dead thou shalt finde a rumour among the people by reason of a locke-smith that had killed his wife who being taken vpon the fact shal be hanged and I that haue bin cause therof shall gaine their soules and carrie them with me into hell So that for one soule which I haue lost I shall gaine twoo The footman endinge his iorney found what the deuill had told him to be true and therfore to all personnes recounted this discourse How the mentionned Saintes hindered a woman from hanging her selfe Taken out of the 23. chapter of the tenth booke AN other woman of Portugall named Sara being verie deuout to the said Saintes was cruellie tormented by her husband for besides his queanes which he entertayned in his house the bread and wine which he gaue her were iniuries and bastonadoes Now being herevpon one day run into extreme despaire she fastened a corde about the beame of her chamber and hauing made a bowe to put about her necke and to hang her selfe she heard some rudelie knocke att the dore and calling to haue it hastely opened wherfore hiding here corde she found that they were two Religious who prayed her to giue them entertaynement for that night in her house She demaunded who they were and how they were called they answeared that they were two-frere Minors of a farre country the one called Francis and the other Antony she presently replyed that she would willingly entertaine them for the deuotion she had to S. Francis himselfe and to S. Antony and so hauing admitted them she did accommodate them a chamber wherin to sleep resoluing for that night to deferre to hange her selfe for reuerence vnto those seruantes of God But the SS about midnight appeared to her husband and said God hath sent vs in his behalfe to aduertise thee that if thou doe not conuert thee from thy sinnes shake off thy lewd retinue and liue in peace with thy wife who is very deuout vnto vs thou shalt die within three dayes and be buried in hell sith thou art cause that this euening she would haue hanged her selfe if we had not come to preuent her arise therfore instantlie and in token that this is true goe speedilie to thy house and aske thy wife for the corde wherwith she would strangle her selfe This miserable husband being by these wordes full of contrition went to find his wife in his house who att her rising missing the Religious was in exceeding admiration how they should goe foorth shee keeping the key of the dore which she opened to her husband that then knocked who humbly demaunding the corde wherwith she would haue hanged her selfe that night she knew not what to answeare her husband recounted her all how she had bin preseuered by S. Francis and S. Antony thenceforward she liued with him in peace and piously to the great contentment of the poore woman who was very thanckfull to the Sainctes How the glorious Father S. Francis held a chapter with his Religious in vision Taken out of the 18. chapter of the tenth booke THere was a Frere Minor in Thoschane for his owne perticuler of very austere life who being raysed to gouernement perceauing many yong gentlemen daily to enter into Religion and many other other desirous to enter if there were place commodious to entertaine them determined to erect a great and sumptuous Monasterie Which hauing done he left the litle house wherin he formerly resided Now the glorious Father sainct Francis appeared to him one night in vision and said Come with me he answeared whither and he replyed to our Monastery goeing towardes the first he answeared that it was ruined The S. then said come only with me I know well whither I am to goe and so following him he came to a Chapter where it seemed to him that the S. called all the Religious by one and one and that according to their manner they confessed their faultes vnto him yea and that he heard some to accuse themselues of carnall sinnes others of disobedience others to haue infringed their first vowe of pouerty of whome the first and second it seemed that the S. with compassion pardoned only admonishing them to be wary thēceforward not to fall into the like but did cruelly chastice those that had transgressed the vow of pouerty which this Religious much admiring most humbly prayed the S. to tell him the cause The S. answeared him that the rule gaue a sufficient punishment to the lasciuious and such as disobey their Superiours who will enforce them to obedience therfore it only needeth to admonish them in good sort But said he the precious stone of my holy pouerty is now of each one trodden vnder foot as well the great as litle esteeme it contemptible and misprise it wherfore I must my selfe redresse it then addressing himselfe to this Religious and thou said he that hast so rashlie presumed to build asumptuous Monasterie and to destroie mine owne so precious and poore shalt not
escape the wrath of God But the Guardian in his owne excuse alleadged that he did it not of himselfe and that by the grace of God he affected not those worldlie honours but had onlie consented therto for the commodity of other Religious Therfore said he doest thou meritt a double punishment considering that being austere in thine owne behalfe and accommodating they selfe vnto others thou doest not care to damne thine owne soule which said he vanished And what after became of the said Guardian is not knowne How S. Francis appeared in vision deciding who were his Religious and who not in the presence of our Lord Iesus Christ sitting as Iudge Taken out of the seauententh chapter of the tenth booke IN the primitiue time of the Order there happened a very horrible accident on this subiect in England which was thus there being a Religious of sainct Francis very contemplatiue who for the merittes of his deuotions was often rapt into extasie his Guardian seeing him so to remayne a whole day and weeping said vnto him I command you brother vpon holy obedience to retourne to your selfe from the extasie you are in Hauing heard the word of obedience he incontinently came to himselfe and tooke refection according to his necessity hauing resumed his spirittes the Superiour commanded him againe vpon obedience to tell him what he had seene that caused him so bitterly to weepe which seemed vnto him meerly extraordinary for the property of mentall extasie is to cause ioy and not sorrow and lamentation The Religious thus constrayned began to recount vnto him saying O Father I saw our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST sitting on a very high throne with an incredible Maiesty attended with all his celestiall guard to execute his iudgement Then in an instant I saw to appeare all degrees of men and women and saw which I would neuer haue beleeued many Religious and many Preistes also condemned as worldlinges among whome I saw a Religious of our Order that had a delicate and sensuall habitt who being demaunded of what Religion he was he answeared that he was a Religious of the Order of sainct Francis Wherfore the mighty Iudge tourning to S. Francis asked him if it were true that this Religious were one of his He answeared that he was none of his Religious because his woare no habittes so fine and sensuall but poore and patched and so the wretch was sodenly throwne into hell after him came an other accompayned with many seculer Gentlemen the S. denyed him also to be any of his affirming that his Religious applyed themselues to prayer and other spirituall excises and not to vaine seculer conuersations and so he was condēned as the other as also the third because he came with a great quantity of curious bookes after these there came one very expert in contriuing lofty and sumptuous buildinges who was sent for an architect into hell Finallie there came one miserably cloathed and ragged who fell on his knees affirming himselfe to be a wretched sinner vnworthy of life but demaunded mercie of God S. Francis ioyfullie receaued him into his armes and conducted him with him into Paradise saying to our Lord this is one of my Frere Minors and then the vision disappeared now this is the cause of mine extraordinary teares Here ensueth an order of the nine principall vertues of this glorious S. wherby he merited to obtaine such worthy graces of God Taken out of the second chapter of the third booke AFter the miracles and apparitions which the holy Father S. Francis made to those that were deuout vnto him it shall not be amisse to recount also the vertues wherby he merited to obtayne of God such graces and so notable giftes which also he daily obtayneth according to what the blessed Brother Iuniperus his disciple writeth therof The first vertue then was his great contrition confession and satisfaction for his sinnes and his care to auoyd them afterward The second was the admirable affection he had towardes his neighbour and the compassion he had of him in effect and in word and especially in his interiour in that he esteemed euery one farre aboue himselfe taking for his ground this argument that hauing offended the soueraigne Creatour who so much loued vs as that for our loue alone he would take on him humane flesh he therfore participated himselfe with euery creature and so did voluntarily obey all not only his Superiours equals and inferiours but as faire foorth as was lawful and possible all creatures The third was a separation of heart from all terrestriall and transitory thinges for he was vnited to IESVS CHRIST alone who had created him and whome alone he desired Wherfore he in such sort exercised himselfe herein that it was so easy for him to sequester himselfe from terrestriall thinges and to haue his spiritt alwayes addressed vnto God that it seemed his flesh had the same will with his spiritt The fourth was the incredible pacience wherwith he endured all his afflictions and al the iniuryes that were laid vpō him endeauouring to loue them that iniuryed him mortifying his proper sences and receauing all as from the hand of God for as he beleeued that all good proceeded from the diuine liberality so did he beleeue that the affliction which he endured was for his sinnes and that God meant to chastice him in this lif not in the other The fift was his loue vnto the good and the great compassion he had of the wicked reputing himselfe much lesse then they for he would say that the end was not yet seene when the good might become wicked the wicked good When he heard any one detracted either he would excuse him or would shew that he disliked it so that he would putt the detractour to silence or chaunge the discourse The sixt was that he loued to be reprehended for which he was verie thanckfull Neuertheles he was verie vnwilling to reprehend though he were verie zealous of the honour of God of the good of his neighbour and of the obseruance of the rule yet to auoide obligation to reprehend he renounced the office of Generall The seauenth was that he serued each one with a pure will and very great affection though he would neuer permitt himselfe to be serued but in extreme necessity reputing himselfe vnworthy to be serued alleadging that IESVS CHRIST said that he came not to be serued but to serue And if any one in any necessity serued him he would in his heart giue thanckes to God for giuing will and power to that Religious to serue him The eight was that he endeauoured to conserue in his memorie the graces which he had receaued of his diuine maiestie as also the vniuersall benefitts exhibited to al other creatures for which he was alwayes thanckfull for himselfe and all others Att the end of this thanckesgiuing he ordinarily accused himselfe discending to the knowledge of himselfe and ascending to that of God reputing himselfe vnworthy to giue him
and graunt him some time for the loue of S. Francis but this proud and merciles man contemning the cryes of this poore man together with the loue of S. Francis as if the loue of the sainctes were a friuolous matter and of small consequence answeared him arrogantlie that he would putt him in such a place as neither S. Francis nor any other should deliuer him till he had dischardged his debt and so caused him to be shutt vp in an obscure prison with fetters and manacles thereby supposing conformably to his peruerse will and not vnto reason to torment him the more but a litle after that he had practised this impietie the glorious sainct Francis went to the prison brake the dores lockes and iron chaines manacles and fetters and so freed the poore fellow and sent him directly to his house hauing by this admirable miracle trodden vnder foote the pride of the world The cruelty of this knight was thenceforward chaunged into great mildnes Albertus of Aresso being also detained in prison but iniustly because the debtes pretended against him was not due he recommended his innocencie to the holie Father S. Francis to whome as also to his Religious he was exceedingly deuoted which he who had caused him to be imprisoned vnderstanding with a loud voice blasphemously answeared neither S. Francis nor God himselfe shall deliuer thee out of my hādes till I be satisfied On S. Francis eue the prisoner hauing not yet eaten because for reuerence vnto him he had giuen his meat to a poore creature the said S. appeared vnto him in the night and as he entred into the prison all the dores did open and att the same instant the fetters and manacles fell from the handes and feet of the prisoner who went foorth and with great astonishment hastened vnto his house from thenceforward with greater deuotion he fasted the eue of the feast of his deliuerer and wheras he accustomed yearly to presente a wax light vnto his church he thenceforward in memory of this benifitt augmēted the quantity therof Of other miracles like vnto the forsaid THE X. CHAPTER IN the time of Pope Gregory the ninth there was a Cittizen of Alisia called Peter who being accused of heresie was apprehended att Rome and by order from the Pope committed to the custody of the Bishop of Tiuoly assuring him that if he permitted him to escape he should be depriued of his bishopprick He then hauing receaued chardge of him had him no sooner in protection but he chained him with fetters and manacles and cast him into a strong and strict prison and gaue him bread by waight and water by measure The miserable wretch therfore finding himselfe reduced to that ruefull and pittifull estate hartelie recommended himfelfe vnto God and continually powred out teares he implored the assistance of S. Francis praying him to haue compassion on him calling withall to memorie that his feast approached and because the light of faith had expelled all peruersity and errour of heresie affectionatlie recommending himselfe to the faithfull seruant of IESVS CHRIST he merited to be heard of his diuine maiestie For in the verie night of the holy Intercessours feast about the beake of day the mercifull Father discended in to the prison and called him by his name willing him incontinentlie to arise He not hauing heard the dores of the prison to open nor any other noise and hearing himselfe called full of trembling demaunded who called him Hauing vnderstood that it was S. Francis and perceauing his manacles and fetters to be fallen of from his handes and feet and seeing the dores of themselues to open he was stricken into such an amazement that albeit he found his person freely att liberty and had commodity to goe forth yet had he not power to stirre from his place Being in this perplexity he called out and the keepers came running who seeing the man thus vnchained knowing well in what manner he was fettered perceauing also the dores of themselues to be opened that were so surely fastened and the lockes with other iron implementes lying on the ground they aduertised the bishop therof who goeing incontinentlie to the prison and hāuing seene and considered all circumstances knew manifestly that it was a worck of God Wherat falling on hIs knees he adored God and causing the chaines manacles and other irons as lockes barres and nailes that were miraculouslie loosed to be gathered together he sent all to the Pope and Cardinals to whome he related the miraculous historie not without admiration to his Holines who was willing to giue absolute freedome to this wretch for his Intercessotrs sake A gentleman called Guidolot of S. Giminian was falsely accused to haue poisoned a knight and to haue resolued also to poison his sonne withall his family in which respect he was by the gouernour of the place committed prisoner to a very strong tour where his handes and feet were loaden with irons but knowing his owne innocencie he put his hope in God recommended his cause to the holy Father S. Francis and inuocated him to be his Aduocat and Protectour But the gouernour considering the enormity of the fact wherof he was accused deuised by what tortures he could to wrest out the truth of this accusation by what tormēt to putt him to death when he should haue acknowledged the crime and hauing determined to begin the next morning by torture to examine him the gentleman the same night was visited by Sainct Francis who was enuironed with a resplendant light which still continued till the break of day and this diuine light being gone the prisoner was exceeding ioyfull with hope shortly to be deliuered without any detriment Now soone after the Sergeants came to conduct him to the place of examination where without other proceeding he was fastened to the torturing cord then being lifted vp very high the Iudge examined him vpon the crime but hauing confessed nothing the Iudge appointed a great weight of iron to be fastened vnto him wherwith he was often times hoissed aloft and violentlie lett downe againe to make him confesse But he as innocent and interiourlie comforted by the diuine maiestie in fauour of his innocencie appeared before the face of the iudge full of ioy as one that felt not any paine by the tormentes The Iudge perceauing that he contemned his tortures became furious and commanded a great fire to be kindled vnder him that by the extremitie of the hote fire he might be constrayned to confesse the fact which proued vaine for neither the fire nor smoake did in any sort offend him The iudge therfore for his last crueltie caused a vessell full of boiling oyle to be cast in his face which by the vertue and meritof his Aduocat to whome he had recommended his cause procured him no more offence then had done the former extremities Att length the Iudge and executioners wearied with tormenting this gentleman he was by sentence declared innocent and
prepared for thē that loue him perfectly And as the cōtēplatiue S. Bernard saith it is not permitted to all or in one same place and degree to enioy the secrett and glorious presence of God but according as the celestiall Father determineth to each one because we haue not elected God but he vs who hath giuen place proper to each one of his SS each one is where he hath bin placed S. Mary Magdalē found place to her was graunted the feet of our Lord I. C. S. Thomas the Apostle was admitted to his side S. Peter to the bosome of the Father S. Iohn to the breast of I. C. S. Paul was eleuated to the third heauē the sacred woūdes of our Lord I. C. were cōmunicated vnto S. Francis Who thē shall presume to haue a desire to know the perfectiō merittes of such a greatnes as S. Mary Magdalē reposed on the bed of true penance S. Thomas in the light of truth S. Peter in the chaire of faith S. Iohn in the fournace of charity S. Paul in the throne of wisdome and S. Francis in the loue trāsformation of I. C. we cānot for it is not permitted vs but only to follow imitate the SS in the worckes perfections which are mercifully reuealed by our Lord I. C. therfore to giue in finite thanckes to the author of all goodnes that by the merittes of his sainctes by their intercession and his diuine grace he conduct vs to that perfection in this life and that in the other we may enioy the eternall glorie Amen The end of the third booke and first volume of Chronicles of the Frere Minors wherin is conteined the life death and miracles of the Seraphicall Father S. Francis THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE FRIER MINORS CONTEINING THE MARTYRDOME of diuers Religious of the Order of the Seraphicall Father S. Francis Translated by the partie aforesaid THE SECOND VOLVME How S. Francis sent certaine Religious to preach the faith of Iesus Christ vnto the Mores in Spaine THE FIRST CHAPTER IN the yeare of grace 1219. the glorious Father S. Francis kept the great generall chapter att Pentecost wherat all the Religious of his Order assembled as it hath bin amplie declared in the first booke of the first volume of these present Chronicles This Chapter was held eleuen years after that Pope Innocent the third had with his owne mouth confirmed the Order of the Frere Minors the fourth yeare of the Popedome of Pope Honorious the third of blessed memory who then piously gouerned the Church In this Chapter it was reuealed vnto S. Francis that he should againe send his Religious ouer the world to preach the faith of IESVS CHRIST as well amongest Christians as Pagans After this the most capable Religious of the Order were chosen for Prouincials S. Francis applyed himselfe to obey the holy will of God And because the rage of the Mores was spred ouer three partes of the world Asia Africa and Europe he resolued to send his Religious into those partes to preach the truth of the faith of IESVS CHRIST to reduce the Pagans from their damnable errours And to make a beginning he chose Asia for himselfe whither he went with eleuen of his Brethren and preached to the Soldan and the Mores of his kingdome He sent Brother Giles into Africa with Religious of like feruour and deuotion who thincking to preach to the Mores were apprehended by Christians and very vnwillingly brought back into Italy He sent six Italian Religious of very perfect life into Spaine where the Emperour Miramolin of Marocco persecuted the Christians The said Religious were Brother Vital Brother Berard Brother Peter Brother Adiutus Brother Accursus and Brother Otto of whome the first Brother Vital was by the holy Father constituted their superiour Brother Berard was an excellent preacher in the Arabian tongue Brother Otto was a Preist Brother Adiutus and Brother Accursus were lay Brethren the rule so tearming the Religious that keep not the quiet Now sainct Francis hauing called them said My children God hath commanded me to send you to preach the holy faith vnto the Mores and to impugne the sect of Mahomet and therfore my freindes hold your selues ready to execute his holy will in such sort as you shall see cause Goe yee I say my beloued ioyfully preparing your soules to the crowne which it shall please his diuine Maiesty to bestow vpon you performing his holy will according as you shall feele your selues inspired They as obedient children only bended their heades and crossed their armes expecting his holy benediction but the holy Father first made them this exhortation My deere children I haue certaine wordes to deliuer you that you may the better effect this commandement of God to his glorie and the saluation of your soules Be yee carefull to keepe peace among your selues and be not Brothers so much in habitt and profession as in spiritt and will Next haue speciall care to fly enuie which was the first cause of our damnation support with patience and be ioyfull in persecutions and humble before God and men and by this meane you shall obtaine victorie against your ennemis visible and inuisible Be yee mindefull to imitate with all your power our Lord IESVS CHRIST and to follow him in the strictest manner you can in all the three vowes in obedience obeying your superiour as he one earth obeyed his parentes in pouerty liuing therin as he did for he would be borne liue and dye poore and did alwayes preach pouerty to teach vs the same and in chastity liuing and persisting chast not only in bodie but euen in spirit sith our Lord so muchloued this vertue that he would be borne of a virgin and presently after his Natiuity would haue for his first fruites the holie Virgin Innocentes and being on the Crosse he would dye betwene two virgins his Blessed Mother and S. Iohn the Euangelist Cast all your cogitations and hopes in God and he will assist and conduct you Carry with you the rule and the Breuiary and say the diuine office the most deuoutly you can Lett Brother Vital be your superiour and therfore obey him entierly but aboue all be mindefull to meditate cōtinually on the passion of our lord IESVS CHRIST for that is it which shall make all incommodities sweet vnto you and all trauell pleasing in this long iorney into Spaine which you are to attempt and in the conuersation and commerce which yee are to haue with the Mores the ennemies of their Creatour Beleeue I pray you that there is nothing doth separate you from me but the glorie of God and the saluation of soules for but for that I would neuer disioyne you from me And God knoweth the greife and affliction which my hart feeleth for your departure though in deed your prompt obedience doth much comfort me but it is necessarie that we preferre the will of our lord before our owne These good
fortified vs against that pusillanimity when he willed vs not to feare those that haue power only to torment this wretched vile and fraile body but him that can torment both our body and soule eternally in hell Therfore for as much also as we know that he only shal be crowned who shall constantly perseuer to the end doe what you will for we hope in the diuine Maiesty that your executioners shal be rather be weary of tormenting vs then we of ioyfully enduring for the loue of God considering withall that we repute this death receaued for IESVS CHRIST as the gate of life wherby we are to enter This iudge seeing their constancy coÌ„manded them to be separated and committed to seuerall places and cruelly whipt and that after the executioners were wearied there should salt be put and vinegar powred in to their woundes and lastly shutt vp in prison all which was done and the next morning he caused the same to be iterated and then he sent theÌ„ to a publicke place vnto the people that they might be reueÌ„ged on them for the iniuryes committed against Mahomett They were brought thither naked their handes bound behinde their backes and cordes about their neckes there were their woundes renewed and their passed afflictions redoubled for besides that they were cruelly beaten scourged they cast them vpon broaken glasse and sharp pointed flintes wheron they roled and tumbled theÌ„ afterward they cast boylling oyle on their bodyes omitting nothing that might exulcerate their woundes each of them esteeming it a great sacrifice vnto Mahomett to exercise most barbarous and beastly kindes of tortures or to inuent them for dischardge of their fury against the holy Martyrs who notwithstanding in the middest of the said afflictions did with a loud voice praise and cofesse our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST demonstrating that they respected not the tormeÌ„tes which they endured nor the iniuryes disgorged against theÌ„ for one caÌ„not imagine that beastly dishonest and infamous wordes which were not then vttered vnto them but the most insupportable vnto them were the blasphemies which they vsed against God The whole day and part of the night was spent in this pittifull spectacle theÌ„ were they retourned to prisoÌ„ wher with all their hartes they gaue thaÌ„ckes vnto God and encouraged each other Now the immensiue and infinite bounty beholding from heauen his holy seruantes voutsafed to giue them a farther consolation with his visible presence appearing vnto them in a most resplendent light wherin they found an inestimable sweetnes and such as they vtterly forgott whatsoeuer they had suffered and endured This light so spred it selfe that it was also seene of the keepers who therin seeing many shadoes of personnes were fearfull suspected the prisoners were escaped therwith And therfore they hastened to a prisoner that was a good Christian called Peter Hermand to whome they related that they had seene the holy Martyrs escape and ascend vnto heauen in a bright and cleare light He coniecturing that this might be some notable vision seene by them did comfort them bid them not to feare affirming that he had heard them all the night to sing praise God which they being desirours to proue as seeming probable they went and found them all in prayer very ioyfull and content in their prison as if they had not endured any affliction How they were presented before the king Miramolin whome they putt to silence and confounded THE XIV CHAPTER THe next morning the king retourning from the fieldes and vnderstanding what had passed touching the Religious heresolued to see the end of their proceeding and either to conuert them to the law of Mahomett or els to haue a most cruell reuenge vpon them Which the foresaid Prince of Portugall Dom Pedro perceauing repayred to the said President and prayed him that after the said Religious should be dead their bodyes might not be committed to the disposition of the Mores but of the Christians which he obtayned The said Martyrs were then brought before the king their handes manicled behinde their backes their face swollen blew buffeted rent and all bloudy as was all the rest of their body with the blowes of the day precedent seeming rather dead then liuing creatures the king then beholding them with fauourable eye said Well you now being in my presence whither do you rather desirer to be mine enemies and rebelles and as such cruelly to dye or my freindes and as such aduanced to the principall degrees of my kingdome The holy Martyrs answeared that he might well hold them for his good freindes sith they were come from so farre a contry only for his cause and for the loue of him and of his kingdome to saue them from perishing and goeing to hell eternally damned putting their liues in hazard for the saluation of their soules and bodies The king vpon these wordes considering the resolution and inuincible fortitude of the holy Martyrs was vtterly confounded in himselfe wherfore as extremely enraged he retired into his closetâ— to consult what to doe with them sith he could draw them to nothing either by sweetnes or extremity the holy Martyrs on the contrary praising God for that he had giuen them grace euer till then to preach his holy faith notwithstanding the buffets they â—ad receaued to putt them to silence Of a conference betweene the said Religious and a noble man of the Mores THE XV. CHAPTER THere was a warlike noble More desirous to attempt if he could by faire meanes and speeches gaine them but he no more preuailed then the others for he endeauoured by sweet wordes to persuade them to obey the kinge who was more carefull of their good then them selues considering that being in his power to torment them and prolong their tortutures in deferring their death he neuertheles endeauoured to make them see their errours notwithstanding the iniuryes he had receaued of them and their great blasphemies vttered against his great prophett Mahomett who all men know how gratefull he is to God sith with his owne mouth he hath dictated vnto him his holy law wherin if they would liue he would in behalfe of the king promise them they should be most aduanced in his kingdome and should euer rule and gouerne in this world expecting by the intercession of their great Prophett Mahomett a double croune of God after their death Whereto Brother Otho with a zealous feruour answeared Vade retro Sathana auant from my presence thou hideous and infernall deuill for we with a firme and liuely faith adore and plainly confesse the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost God in Trinity and vnity but thou miserable wretch that art already condemned to the eternall fire where he is whome thou adorest hauing compassion of thy selfe and performing thy duety oughtest to be conuerted it were more necessary for thee to shew they selfe more respectiue of thy owne saluation then of ours we hauing made choice of this assured way the more readily to
attaine the eternall kingdome And hauing spoken this touched with a iust and zealous disdaine spett twice vpon the ground in token that he abhorred the Mores proposition which the More tooke so offenciuely that in extreme fury he would willingly haue drawen his sword to haue slaine him but that it was death to draw a weapon in the kinges house and therfore he only gaue him a sound buffett saying goe sir master and learne to gouerne your tongue an other time This good Religious then as a true disciple of IESVS CHRIST incontinently answeared Brother God pardon you for you know not what you doe then tuurning his face he offered him the other cheeke bidding him strike as rudely as he would being as ready to eudure both that and more for the faith of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST The More not well hearing this reply was exceedingly amazed when he was aduertised therof and tourning towardes his owne people he said These lewd Christians shall not escape the iustice of our king which this day shall sharply be inflicted on them But these miserable wretches vnderstood not that kinde of reuenge knowne only to a few of the true seruantes of God How the king attempted againe to stagger and corrupt the holy Martyrs by promises THE XVI CHAPTER THe king in the meane time resolued to assault them with a new temptation wherby presuming to preuaile he reasoned with them in this manner you would repute your selues truely and really happy if you knew the grace which God and our great prophett offereth you in that they so pacifie my courage as I cannot reuenge me on you in such sort as your offences and demerites require but on the contrary in steed of punishing you I seeke by all meanes to gratifie you Herevpon the king freed his chamber of all the company but some few fauourites and caused to enter fiue faire and yong gentlewomen richely attired then said to the fiue Martyrs Note well what is in my clemencie I know well that your extreme pouerty and misery such as your habittes doe demonstrate hath troubled your braine but I hope by curtesie and my meree liberality to cure you for I will espouse you to these gentlewomen with whome I will giue a rich dowrye besides the portion of their parentes who are the greatest Peeres of my kingdome and whose substance you shall enherit vpon this only condition that you accept of our Religion which so many kingdomes and great personnages doe embrace The holy Martyrs stopped their eares against these deluding promises made by this subtill and creafty tyran whome they freely answeared O accursed of God assure thy selfe these thy delightes will shortly conduct thee to the goulfe of hell in the bottome wherof thy false messenger of God Mahomet attendeth thee to the end that as thou obeyest him in his law thou eternallie accompany him in tormentes And because thou art great in this world thou shalt also be greatly tormented and so much aboue others as thou hast more pleasure then they in this miserable life Ah wretched and miserable acknowledge the errour which thou so obstinatlie maintaynest As for vs by the grace of God we know well how to fly these false and transitorie pleasures hereafter to enioy those that are reall and eternall in the glorie of God which also we offer vnto thee in his behalfe with remission of all thy sinnes for our mercifull Lord IESVS CHRIST dyed as much for thee on the tree of the crosse as for vs. And if thou wilt not be ingratefull towardes his diuine maiestie acknowledge his graces and repent thee of this filthy life thou leadest which hath bin taught by thy false Prophett to thee and thine whome he leadeth as beastes by the nose of the sences after these carnall pleasures insteed and recompense wherof thou shalt eternallie burne in hell The king by this answeare perceaued well that his fauourable wordes avayled no more then his promises Wherfore as halfe enraged with fury for the iniuryes vttered against his Prophett and himselfe sith said he you will not conceaue your owne good I will make you proue what it is to offend the deity of our great Prophett and the maiesty of a croune for my selfe will reuenge the same with my owne handes for him and me which said he prepared himselfe to play the executioner How the holy Martyrs were beheaded by the very hand of the king Miramolm and how they appeared to the Infanta Madam Sanctia THE XVII CHAPTER BVt the beloued sainctes of our Lord neuer in all their life heard more welcome newes And therfore exceedingly ioyfull and content and replenished with an admirable consolation as knowing themselues to be neere their so desired recompence they with a great vehemence and feruour answeared in this sort O king our bodies only are in thy power and therin consisteth the greatest hurt thou canst doe vs which also redoundeth to our exceeding good with God therefore dispose of them att thy pleasure for our glory shal be so much greater in heauen where his diuine maiesty prepareth vs his crowne in regard that we dye for his holy faith in zeale wherof we againe admonish thee and in as much as the saluation of thy soule is precious vnto thee doe pray thee to leaue thy errours wherin the diuell hath drowned thee and to embrace the faith of the liuing God and of his only sonne IESVS CHRIST who seeketh to saue thee because this flesh which thou so much tenderest shall shortly be food for wormes and thy miserable soule shall feele the cruell and eternall paines which the damned endure in hell The king heard not the end of this discourse but commanded them to be conducted to a place before his palace that there he might execute them himselfe and that thereby the zeale he had to the law of Mahomett might publikely appeare after that he walked thither with his people where taking his great hanger he separated them then cryed out I am now to reuenge the cause of our holy Prophett and the derisions of our law with myne owne handes which said full of diabolicall fury he gaue to each of the Martyrs a blow on the middest of the head which cleaued it euen almost to the chinne then he pleased himselfe in cutting their throtes glutting his fury by the sight of their bloud So being deuoutlie on their knees praying God to pardon their persecutors they by the handes of this great executioner yelded their soules vnto God the yeare of grace 1220. and the fourth yeare of the Papacie of Pope Honorius the third the sixt of Ianuary somewhat lesse then seauen yeares before the death of the glorious Father S. Francis These were the first of his Order which he sent vnto heauen Att the same time the fiue Martyrs appeared to the foresaid Infanta in the citty of Alenquer about eleuen of the clock in the forenoone she being very deuoutlie praying in her chamber They had in their handes each
whome very attentiuely beholding and demaunding of Br. Roger whome he saw I see answeared he my Lord IESVS CHRIST Wherto he added fower other wordes for the comfort and edification of his Religious after that he reposed and was halfe an hower in contemplation and then yelded his soule to God He seemed to sleep and presently his flesh that before was vnpleasing to behold as well in regard of his abstinence as his discipline which had made it withered and wan became so white cleare and bright that it seemed rather his glorious then mortall body He died the yeare 1231. the 13. day of Iune being friday the 36. yeare of his age wherof he had spent fifteene in his Fathers house two in the monasterie of S. Vincent att Lisbone nine att S. Crosse of Conimbria and about ten in the Order of S. Francis where he liued very famous in his life doctrine and miracles How he appeared to the Abbot of Vercelles THE XXVIII CHAPTER WIthin the very houre of his departure he sodenly appeared in the chamber of the Abbot of Vercelles sometime his master and Gouernour as if he had priuately entred told him that he had left his residence and was retiring into his contry which said he stroake him with his hand vnder the chinne as if he would dandle him and so cured him of a disease which he had there then vanished as if he had gone out att the chamber dore but the Abbot following him could not finde him and enquiring of his familie if they had seene him they answeared no. Att length sending to his Couent and missing him there he began to vnderstand that his contry whither he was goeing was not Portugall but Paradis and that he dyed att the same instant Of a great mirache wherby the death of sainct Antony was discouered and of the dissension that arose about his sepulture THE XXIX CHAPTER AFter the decease of S. Antony the Religious resolued to conceale it till they had determined how to dispose of his bodie so to auoyd the tumult of the people But God did manifest it by the voices of children that went by troupes crying throughe the Cittie Our Father Sainct Antonie is dead which induced manie Burgesses to goe to the monasterie of Arcele where they vnderstood the truth and hauing found him dead they presently placed many armed men to guard the body and to hinder the transporting therof Then the Frere Minors of the monasterie of Padua also hastened incontinentlie thither accompanyed with manie honorable personnes of the Cittie and required the body as appertayning vnto them considering that the sainct in his life time had declared his intention which was to be interred in their Couent which they made apparant There were also other Competitors which were they that dwelt on the other side of the bridge who perceauing that the Oratorie of Arcele was not secure and that there might be disorder endeuoured by force to take away the holy body to carry it to a monasterie of Religious women neere therevnto and the controuersie grew to such a head that they were readie to fight when as a third party and such as were newters there present laboured to accord them with condition to expect the comming of the minister Prouinciall who should determine the cause Notwithstanding the impatient people could not expect but would haue the holie bodie carryed into the Cittie and to that effect thrice assaulted the Monasterie to haue the gates opened for transporting therof but att each time they remayned att the gate as blinded and halfe benummed without any power or abilitie For which cause as also in regard that it was feared the bodie might begin to sauour by reason of the great heate that then was he was taken from off his discouered coffin and putt in a square chest vnder ground which did so mutine the people who supposed he had bin vtterlie taken from that place that they ran with their swordes in their handes euen to the celles of the Religious whence they would not depart till the holie bodye was shewen them which appeased them Four dayes after his death the Prouinciall arriued who was of opinion with whome ioyned the bishopp that he should be interred in the said Couent in the Cittie according to his owne ordonance in his life time To this effect the Bishop caused a very solemne procession to be made and the Gouernour of the Cittie sent a company of foot men to guard a new bridge which he had caused expreslie to be made of boates but vnderstanding that the inhabitātes of the otherside the bridge were resolued by force of armes to surprise the holie body which by right they could not challenge and that they had alreadie broaken the bridge of boates he proclaimed by sound of trompett that no man nor woman vpon paine of death should stirre out of their lodgeing and banished from that contrie and territory the principall heades of this conspiracie and by this meane freed all the Religious of both sex in Padua from feare for they were extremelie afflicted and accused themselues imputing the same to arriue for their offences wherfore they besought our Lord IESVS CHRIST to deliuer them from this affliction which also had put the whole citty into a great tumult So the glorious body of S. Antony was transported to the said Couent of Padua where it was interred in a sepulcher newly and miraculously discouered the fift day after his death Of the resolution of his canonization and of certaine miracles there wrought THE XXX CHAPTER TO speake the truth the dissention aforesaid was not without cause considering that they contested about so precious a treasure it is also to be considered how iustly the Paduans possessed this holy body sith they hazarded their life for it before it wrought any miracles as if each of them had bin assured of the great number of miracles which God would worck by it as he began that verie day making this pacification to appeare so much more pleasing and this treasure more deere and gratefull as the contention had bin greiuous by meanes of the recouerie of all the diseased that onlie touched his sepulcher yea of those that vnable to come to his sepulcher or into the Church inuocated his holy name without This so notable and inexpected successe spreading incontinentlie ouer all the neighbour places the Bishop of Padua vnable to retaine thedeuotiō of the people that publikely honoured him according to his merittes he sent embassadours to Rome in his name and the Paduans to beseech the Pope to canonise this S. which God had bestowed on them They being graciously entertayned and heard together with the examen made by order of the said Bishop and an other by the deputies of his holinesse who were an Abbot of S. Benedict and a Dominican Prior vpon the life conuersations and miracles of the S. and finding more then sufficient proofe he proposed to the Consistory his canonization att Spoletum it
the people as if it had bin good friday as hath bin more amply discoursed in the 30. chapter of the first booke and first volume of this first part the great obedience of Br. Ruffinus requiring so admirable an effect to the spirituall profitt of the people How the deuils feared and shunned Br. Ruffinus THE XII CHAPTER THis Religious S. was for his great humility and purity so feared of the deuils that they could not endure his presence as in diuers accidents hath bin experienced and one time particulerlie when he went a begging in the Cittie of Assisium meeting many men that led one possessed very strongly bound and tyed towardes S. Francis to be dispossessed he seeing Br. Ruffinus cryed out very loud and gaue such a straine that breaking the cordes wherwith he was bound he escaped and ran from the men that held him who getting hold of him againe and much admiring such an vnwounted act asked him the cause therof he answeared I did it because that same Br. Ruffinus which asked almose hath by his vertues and prayers so burned me that I cannot remaine in this body which spoken he presently fled and left the poore man deliuered The holy Father S. Francis being one time in prayer on the mount Aluerne in a sequestred cell the deuilles laboured to disquiett him casting stones very furiously and making such a noyse that the mountaine seemed ready to be ouerthrowne it chaunced that in the meane time Br. Ruffin passed that way who cōming to aske S. F. his benediction called to him a farre saying God be praysed and incontinētly the deuils making an extreme noyse fled away S. Francis that had heard the voice of Br. Ruffinus had also heard the flight of the deuils sodenly goeing out of his cell cryed vnto thē Yee Proud creatures stay the cōming of B. Ruffinus that he may chastice you for he knoweth you very well It happened an other time that ten possessed personnes which were abroad in the fieldes mett there Br. Ruffinus whome hauing scene they presently fled and being demaunded of some that passed by why they hastened away they answeared by reason of that Br. Ruffinus by whome weare pressed as grapes in the wine presse The thirtenth chapter which should follow here is inserted before to better purpose touching a greatt temptation of Br. Ruffin and how he surmounted the deuils by vertue of the prayer of S. Francis THE XIII CHAPTER THis chapter is not conuenient to be placed here as well because the subiect therof happened to him before he attayned to such perfection and therfore this can be no proper place for it as also because it is amply discoursed in the 45. chapter of the first booke and first volume of this first part Of the death of the glorious Br. Ruffinus and of the apparition he had a litle before his death THE XIV CHAPTER BRother Ruffinus and Br. Leo were both sick att one same time as we haue formerly said in the last chapter of the life of Br. Bernard Now as vpon this admirable vision they discoursed with themselues of the soule of the said Brother Bernard and that they came for an other soule Brother Leo thincking it to be himselfe that should dye because he felt himselfe very sicke he arose out of his bedde as well as he could and went very ioyfully to the bed of Brother Ruffinus to whome he said Brother rest in peace for it is the will of God that I now dye to goe to his glory Brother Ruffinus answeared him Brother you are deceaued for the vision which you haue had and the wordes which haue bin spoaken to you are to be vnderstood of me not of you for our holy Father S. Francis glorious as he is came lately thither accompanyed with a great nomber of Religious who told me I was to passe from this miserable life to the most blessed in very short time for earnest pledge wherof he gaue me a sweet and gracious kisse through which my mouth and lippes continue full of miraculous sweetnes And that you may belieue me come neere you shall know it Brother Leo comming neere vnto him felt such a sweetnesse of that precious odour that he was fully assured of what Brother Ruffinus had sayd so the time of his departure drawing on he called all the Religious of the Couent before him whome he animated to the obseruance of their profession and to fraternall charity by most pious and excellent discourses in the middest of which his soule departed to eternall peace with that glorious company which expected him in heauen and his body was buryed in the Couent of sainct Francis where were already enterred some other of his disciples and deere companions The life of brother Leo. How Brother Leo was familier companion Confessour and Secretary to sainct Francis THE XV. CHAPTER BRother Leo was Confessour and Secretary to sainct Francis in which function after he had much profited in the actiue life by all kinde of vertues and perfections he was by the diuine grace brought to the delicious garden of the contemplation and holy conuersation of sainct Francis and in regard that he was singulerly adorned and endued with the vertue of simplicity the Sainct particulerly affected him and reioyced much in his familiarity Sometimes he would call him Brother beast and simple sheep of God and intending to decipher a true Frere Minor he would say that the Religious who had the simplicity and purity of Brother Leo was really a Frere Minor Now as he was almost alwayes companion to sainct Francis so had he the fauour to see him many times in extasie his body lifted vp in the ayre aboue the trees and then himselfe would fall on the ground in the very place whence the Sainct was eleuated into the aire and demaund of God mercy in fauour of his Sainct It was he alone that merited to be companion of the Sainct that Lent which he kept of sainct Michael Th'archangell when he receaued the sacred stigmates on the Mount Aluerne where he was participant of all the merueilous apparitions reuelations that did precede the seraphichal apparition of IESVS CHRIST And he was the first to whome the holy Father shewed his sacred stigmates as to his most deere and cordiall freind and to the Father of his soule that did daily dresse them as in many places of his life hath bin very amply discoursed Part of the 16. chapter which followeth in the Spanish text is placed in the middest of the 11. chapter of the second booke and first volume of this part because thy are certaine reuelations of sainct Francis which sainct Leo had the rest is that which followeth How it was reuealed to brother Leo that vnlesse we be assisted of God we can doe nothing of our selues BRother Leo one time in prayer had a cogitation of presumption trusting on himselfe and his vertues And being in this cogitation there appeared vnto him
they should apply themselues to preaching And also when S. Francis commanded him to chase the deuils out of the citty of Arezzo which is amply discoursed in the fift and sixt chapters of the first booke of this first part Now this holy seruant of God after he had perfectly serued his maiesty many yeares reposed in peace and was buryed att Assisium in the Church of S. Francis with his other companions The life of Brother Macie Of the holy conuersation and obedience of Br. Macie THE XXI CHAPTER BRother Macie of Marignan was very prudent and well borne God gaue him the talent of commendable speech especially wheÌ„ he discoursed of spirituall thinges and therfore S. Francis often had him in company that they who came to see and visitt him might be so well entertayned by the delightfulnesse of his discourse that they should not trouble him in his prayer Now the holy Father S. Francis as a discreet pastour that continually watcheth ouer his flock considering that Br. Macie dayly encreased in vertue to the end that no vanity should cause him to fall from the hight of his prudence he sought to ground him well on the firme and secure foundation of humilitie wherefore he one day in presence of the other Religious said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Brother these your companions here haue obtayned of God the grace of prayer and contemplation and you haue receaued the grace of discourse and therfore you are most fitt to entertaine those without the gate that come to visitt vs. Therfore I am resolued that your Brethren here shall all apply themselues to contemplation and that you shall haue care of the gate of the kitchen and of begging so that no other Religious shal be troubled with any temporall care When the Brethren shall eat in the refectory you shal be without the doâ—e that strangers may be entertained by your good speeches before they ring so that it may be no trouble to them to expect all this shall you performe by the merittes of holy obedience Br. Macie very ioyfully accepted all and for a time exercised it till the other Religious hauing knowne the vertue he had in prayer and the other partes of his perfection they obtayned of S. Francis who also knewe him â—ight well that all the offices which he had might be equally diuided among them The 22. chapter is placed after the 100. of the first booke of this present part because it is a matter particulerlie appertayning to Sainct Francis it is an exercise of mortification performed by Brother Macie How Br. Macie obtained of God the vertue of humilitie THE XXIII CHAPTER BRother Leo entring one day into spirituall discourses with Br. Macie and some other Religious among other thinges he said I know a worthy seruant of God meaning S. Francis that hath obtayned many graces of his diuine maiesty as well in the actiue as contemplatiue life and with his graces he hath so profound a humility that he thincketh there is not in the world so great a sinner as himselfe This humility maketh him merueilously to encrease in sanctity and so confirmeth him in the grace of God that whiles he shall haue the same for his roote which he hath already engrafted in God it is impossible for him to fall As Brother Leo thus discoursed of humilitie Brother Macie that gaue attentiue eare vnto him became so affected to this vertue so gratefull to God that he went to his prayer and hauing lifted his eyes towardes heauen he vowed to almighty God that he would neuer take ioy of this world till he knew and felt in his soule that God had giuen him this vertue of humility and so by sighes and teares he afflicted himselfe before almightie God and seeming to himselfe that he iustly deserued hell if he did not obtaine this grace and vertue wherby that worthy freind of God which was full of all perfection reputed himselfe inferiour to all creatures and persisting continually in this griefe obseruing the vow which he had made and perseuering in his petition vnto God sacrificing himselfe by abstinences disciplines and teares he deserued att lenghâ— as he went one day alone to pray on the mountaine to heare a voice from heauen that twice called him by his name Wherefore he knowing the voice of God presently answeared Lord here I am and then God said vnto him What wilt thou giue me if I giue thee the vertue of humility which with so great instance thou hast demaunded of me Br. Macie then answeared My God I will giue thee all that I haue to my very eyes But God answeared keep thy eyes I will giue three gratis a gift of what thou hast demaunded And from that hower Br. Macie had entier possession of the humility which he had so much desired together with such a diuine light that he liued almost alwayes in a continuall spirituall ioy as if himselfe had no longer liued but IESVS CHRIST only in him How Br. Macie desired to obtaine of God to loue his ennemies as his deerest friendes THE XXIV CHAPTER BVt this ioy continued not long as it happeneth of the waters of God the thirst wherof augmenth the more by drincking therof for after he had receaued this grace he became more sorrowfull then before by reason of the vehement desire he had to obtayne a greater which the other Religious perceauing they one day called him and sayed Tell vs Br. Macie are we cause of thy sorrow or what straunge thing is happened we were wont to see thee exceeding ioyfull and with a gracious and smiling contenance but now we see thee very melancholy and much troubled Br. Macie answeared them My deere brethren you doe not cause or procure me any heauinesse but I will tell you whence it proceedeth You must know that some dayes past I haue laboured to obtaine of almighty God the precious vertue of holy humility by meane wherof I thinck to acknowledge my selfe the most vile and greatest sinner in the world as in deed I am And because my humane reason in respect of its pride could not conceaue that the man which is day and night exercised in wachinges abstineÌ„ces prayers and other practises of vertue doth not esteeme himselfe much better then him who is daily employed in speaking ill or liuing idly or brutishly without obseruing his promised vowes att length God of his mercy hath graunted me this humility which by any spirituall exercise by prayer or whatsoeuer other meritt can neuer be obtayned Know yee then that the cause of my sorrow is that I cannot arriue to this degree if any one should cutt off my handes and feet and crush out my eyes though I should pardon him and doe him all the seruices I could deuise I should not yet with so good a will loue him as before This is that which I demaund of my God for the hight and perfection of the grace which he hath graunted me and then shall my soule be entierly ioyfull and content as
giue you repulse In this manner doe I euer preserue my forteresse from being surprised by such base companions who by their entry would vtterly ruinate me or att least it would be very difficult for me to expell them for att the instant that I perceaue them ready to assault me without permitting them to lay their siege I enforce them to retire with shame enough Which Brother Giles vnderstanding he tourned to his companions and sayd Brethren I am of Brother Iuniperus opinion resolue heÌ„ceforward to make vse of his stratageme of warre for it is most certaine considering that in this sinne the securest fight is to fly by reason that the traiterous appetite which is within the flesh findeth such a stroÌ„ge concurrence of assistaÌ„ce in the exteriour sences by an army raysed by the deuill and opposed against the soule that the perill is extreme and the victory vncertaine so that the securest is not to permitt this traiterous domesticall sinne to enter into our hart Iuniperus being one time reprehended for hauing spoaken too lightly the mouth being the dore wherat the spiritt of deuotion and prayer goeth out he continued six entiere monthes in perpetuall silence the first day his purpose not to speake was in honour of God the Father the second for reuerence of the Sonne the third for loue of the holy Ghost the fourth for the Queene of heauen and so each day proposing some saincte he strictly obserued his silence all that time with new feruour and deuotioÌ„ though naturally he spake very litle which also was of spirituall thinges for as he could not endure to be flattered so neither could he flatter and so had no other discourse but of God and as a Religious perfect in humility he would rather learne and heare then with wordes and exteriour signes of sanctity teach others Of the great charity which Br. Iuniperus exercised towards the sick THE XXXIX CHAPTER THis glorious S. had a great affection to the sick and with an extreme charity did desirously serue them by meanes wherof happened a strange accident att our Lady of Angels touching a sicke person of whome by order of S. Francis who then was there he had the chardge This poore sick man was by the continuance of his infirmity become so feeble that he had not so much strength as to eat which would infallibly hasten his death Br. Iuniperus hauing great coÌ„passioÌ„ of him prayed him with tearfull eyes to tell him wherof he could willinglie ear and he would procure it for him The sick party answeared that he thought he could well eat of a hogs foote in Vinegar if he could gett it Br. Iuniperus replyed be of good Courage Brother I will presently bring you one dressed as you desire and taking a great knife out of the kitchen he went out of the house and seeing many hogges feeding in a field neere by he ran so faâ—t after them that he gott one and cutt off his foot and therwith retourned to the Couent where he presently dressed it with vinegar then carrying it to the sick he did eat therof with such appetite and courage that recouering his tast and appetite he began to amend and by this meane escaped for that time the danger of death In the meane time the master of the hogges being by his swineheard aduertised that a Frere Minor had cutt off the foot of one of his hogges he puffed vp with choller went hastely to the Couent where exclaming as a maded man he vttered many iniurious speeches to the Religious and so farre was he transported with fury that he disgordged against them a thousand vilanies Which the holy Father S. Francis vnderstanding he went to him and sought to appease him praying him for the loue of God to haue patience and offred to repaire whatsoeuer dommage he had receaued But the man more possessed with despight then with the losse would heare no proposition but weÌ„t away exceedingly scandalized att the Religious of whome he bruted many lyes through the streetes and very seriously and vehemently threatned them These good Religious were in meane while exceedingly greiued att this accident and knew not the cause therof wherfore hauing long time discoursed vpon it among themselues they att length addressed themselues to Br. Iuniperus suspecting that his simplicity and some indiscreet zeale had moued him to this fact But he respecting only God contemned all those toyes and respectes of the world The holy Father S. Francis called him before him to vnderstand the matter and circumstances and he very ioyfully recounted vnto him that God had directed and sent vnto him that hogge for the cure of the poore sicke Brother Sainct Francis exceedingly admiring sayd vnto him Ah Brother Iuniperus you haue this day caused a great scandall for the master of the hogge hath bin here and in all fury hath giuen vs infinite reproaches but I acknowledge that he hath reason and doe feare he will defame vs ouer all the citty Wherfore I command you vpon obedience to run after him to aske him pardon and to assure him that he shal be satisfied for his losse and especially so to deale with him as he be not scandalized att vs. Brother Iuniperus much admiring that any one should be moued to choller vpon so charitable a worck considering it to be apparant that temporall goodes are giue of God but for vse of charity he answeared Doubt not Father but I will presentlie appease him in such sort as he shalle haue no cause to complaine of such a charity done as more concerneth God then himselfe Which sayd he went in great hast to seeke out the master of the hogge whome hauing found full of choller he related vnto him how and for what cause he had cutt off his hogges foot then added that he ought to thanck him because thereby he had giuen him occasion of meritt in an act so pleasing vnto God as by his meane was accomplished In meane while the man abused him and grew into such fury as he was euen ready to strike him but the good Religious fell at his feet embraced him and besought him for the loue of God to pardon him which manner of proceeding so mollified his hart that hauing apparantlie seene and perceaued his simplicity and that what he had done proceeded merely of charitie and not of malice or to doe him a mischiefe as the deuill had put in his head he entred into himselfe and repented that euer he had iniuryed the Religious and asked them pardon acknowledging himselfe auaricious and ingratefull for the benefittes he had receiued of God in satisfaction wherof he presentlie killed the hogge and causing him to be conueniently dressed he sent him to the Religious that for the verie loue of God they might eat him in satisfaction of the iniuries vttered against them and thenceforward was very deuout and liberall to the poore of IESVS CHRIST How Brother Iuniperus gaue all he had and could haue for the loue of God
their necessities and doe good to all churches and hospitalles and this being done each one should esteeme him a lewd man and he knowing so much should not att all respect it nor forbeare but rather continue his pious worckes yea should the more voluntarily and with greater feruour exercise them as one that desireth not any recompence in this life considering that Martha careful to serue our Lord IESVS CHRIST demaunded assistance therin of her Sister Mary Magdalen and was reprehended of our lord because she would distract her sister from contemplation who yet gaue not ouer her good worcke so he that is truely actiue should not omitt good worckes for whatsoeuer reprehension may be giuen him sith he hopeth for no recompence but in heauen A Religious came coÌ„plaining to Br. Giles that his brethren made him to labour so much that he had hardly time enough to pray and that for that cause he was determined to procure licence to remoue vnto an other Couent where he might with more repose serue God in prayer Wherto the holy Father thus answeared if you were in the Court of the king of FraÌ„ce should demand of him a thousand marck in siluer he might answeare what hast thou don for me that may moue thee to demaund such a recompence but if you had formerly done him some notable seruice you might with faâ—re more assurance make such demaund Therfore if you will serue God you must first labour in obedience sith it is a greater vertue to doe one thing att the will of an other then to doe two att ones owne pleasure Then he added No maÌ„ can obtaine to conteÌ„plation of the glory of his diuine Maiesty but by feruour of spiritt ferueÌ„t prayer and then is a man enflamed with the feruour of the holy Ghost soareth vp to diuine conteÌ„plation when the hart is so disposed with the mâ—bers that neither can nor will thinck of other thing then that w ich it possesseth and feeleth He shal be a perfect contemplatour who hauing all his meÌ„bres cutt off yea and his tongue would neither thinck procure nor desire to haue any other member nor whatsoeuer other thing he can imagine vnder heauen and this by reason of the excellencie of the most delicious and ineffable odour and sweetnes of contemplation In that respect S. Marie MagdaleÌ„ being prostrate att the feet of our lord IES CHR. receaued and felt such a sweetnesse of his wordes that she had no member in her that could or would doe other thing then what she then did Which she sufficiently testified when her sister complayning att the waÌ„t of her helpe she answeared nothing either by wordes or figues But our Redeemer as her Aduocate and Procuratour answeared for her withall she was imployed in his seruice more excellently then Martha was Now to contemplate is to sequestred from men and to remayne vnited alone with IESVS CHRIST Br. Giles made this demannd to a Religious of his Couent Brother what say the Doctours of conteÌ„plation the Religious answeared they speake diuersely Will you replyed the holy Father that I speake mine opinion therof the degrees of conteÌ„plation are fire vnction extasie tast repose and glory then he added a more expresse contemplation of God with the soule cannot be giuen then that of the Espouse with his Espouse for the Spouse before he receaueth his Espouse sendeth her precious stones iewels and other ornamentes of price to adorne her but wheÌ„ they are together the Espouse leaueth all those thinges to approch vnto her Spouse so doe good worckes and vertues adorne the soule as precious stones and sumptuous attire and prayer vniteth it vnto God An ancient Religious demaunded of Br. Giles if the soule by extasie and contemplation did sometime euen in this life goe out of the body and he answeared that it did yea he assured him that he knew a man yet liuing whose soule being lifred vp in extasie went out of the body and forsooke it yea already vtterly forgetting the same I beleeue said the Religious that such soule was exceedingly grieued to retourne into her body Br. Giles then smilingly replyed Brother that which you say is true yea most true This holy Father would often in prayer and att other times with exceeding feruour say What art thou my God of whome I demaund this and what am I that aske it I am a sack filled with dung with loathsomnes and with wormes and thou art lord of heauen and earth And thus beginning his prayer he would be incontinently eleuated and rapt into almighty God Of profitable science and vnfruitfull of preaching and the interpretation of those wordes of the scripture Ego rogaui pro te Petre. THE XXXVI CHAPTER THe Venerable Br. Giles would sometimes say lett him who desireth to be learned humble well his head lett him be exercised in good worckes and lett him rent his body on the earth God will giue him knowledge It is a soueraine wisdome to doe good worckes carefully to obserue the coÌ„mandementes and to consider the iudgements of God He once sayd to a Religious that would goe to a lecture att a Colledge Tell me wherfore would you goe to the lecture Know that the most worthy science is to feare and loue God these two vertues will suffice you a man hath knowledge according to his good worckes and no more Be not only carefull to profitt others thou being obliged to be more carefull to benefitt thy selfe We would often times know many thinges for others and few for our selues The word of God is not of him that heareth it nor of him that vttereth it but of him that putteth it in effect Many not knowing how to swimne throw themselues into the water to helpe an other that they see in danger of drowning but hauing aduentured too farre they are drowned together so that wheras there was but one in perill two are lost by presumption In purchasing aboue all thinges the saluation of thy owne soule as thou art obliged thou shalt not omitt to assist others but rather in doeing good worckes for thy selfe thou shalt also profitt them that wish thee well The Preacher of the word of God is a messager of his maiesty to the end he be to the people a flaming light a glittering glasse a standerd-bearer of his warryers Happy is he that conducteth others by the assured way that faileth not to walke the same way and that inducing others to runne standeth not still himselfe and so if he helpe to enrich others he remayneth not poore I suppose a good Preacher preacheth more for himselfe then for others and it seemeth that he who endeauoureth to draw soules out of an euill course to setle them in a good ought to feare that himselfe be not seduced from the same good way and led to the way of the deuill A Religious demaunded of this holy Father whither were better to preach well or to doe well he answeared tell me who
solemnized ouer al the Catholike Church This blessed S. departed this life the yeare of grace 1231. the 19. day of NoueÌ„ber Certaine yeares after her reliques being traÌ„slated her body was found in the cosin of lead where it was first layd in sepulture her flesh being melted into oyle and most precious liquor that yelded a most delicious and pleasing â—auour this oyle restored health to infinite sick people and a very long time distilled from her sacred bones The life of the B. Elzearius of the third order of sainct Francis and S. Delphine his wife Of the sanctity mortification abstinence and virginity of S. Elzearius THE XVIII CHAPTER ELzearius was Earle of Arian in Prouince no lesse generous and noble in vertues and sanctity then eminent famous in race generation for the Eaâ—les of Arian his predecestors were of the most illustrious of Prouence This nobleman from thirteen yeares of age accustomed to fast often and woare a cord girded on his flesh knotted with fiue knottes which he vsed as a restraint and bridle to carnall sensuality and as a secrett memory of the fiue woundes of our lord IESVS CHRIST When he was ouer-wearyed with watching and was ouercome with necessity of sleep he neuer putt of his cloathes to take his rest and by day woare an hair-cloth therby to feele some affliction in his body both by day and night considering that without afflictions the fruites of spirituall desires cannot be obtayned His rigours also serued him to represse the coÌ„cupiscences stinges of the flesh and to obtayne the fruites of true wisdome His age encreasing he addicted himselfe to a stricter rule of abstinence chasticing his body by fastes to subiect it vnto the spiritt He gaue vertuous and pious instructions to his family that they might liue in the feare of God and not iniury their neighbour but might edifie him and that God might by them be serued and honoured This sainct after his youth though he had bin delicately nourrished was a great friend vnto chastity and so continued euen to his death preseruing in his soule and body the inestimable treasure of virginity How sainct Elzearius was maryed and accorded with his wife to conserue their virginity THE XIX CHAPTER S. Elzearius was maryed in his youth vnto a gentlewoman of noble familie called Delphine who had a like intention with her husband to preserue her virginity She being past twelue yeares of age and knowing she should shortly be deliuered and committed to Elzearious her Spouse began exceedingly to feaâ—e that notwithstanding the sanctity she knew to be in him as not sufficiently fiâ—me and resolute in this grace he would ouerthrow the holy resolutioÌ„ she had to coÌ„serue her integrity And consulting therof with a Frere Minor that was her ghostly Father called Frere Philip Denguerre a man of notable piety he gaue her full asseurance and satisfaction with a prophetical spiritt telling her that she should not only entierly obserue her vow but that her husbaÌ„d and she should liue together chastly and so perseuer to the end And so the nuptiall solemnities being ended they liued together twenty seauen yeares religiously and piously vnder the shadow of the name of mariadge very well vnited in spiritt but remote from the vnion of the flesh preseruing in this vessell of earth the inestimable treasure of most precious chastity a vertue not so much recommendable as rare and so much more worthy to be imitated att least in part as the contrary vice is damnable and ruinous Of the worthy and singuler vertues of S. Elzearius THE XX. CHAPTER THis holy man duely considering that the principall vertue which the seruant of God can haue is the misprise of himselfe and consequently humility and not worldly nobility his spiritt could neuer be raysed to vaine glory by the great substance honours and puissance which the eminency of his house did yeld him His wordes were gracious and pleasing conformable to the spiritt that deliuered them and the better to attaine to the perfect contempt of himselfe he would often for the loue of IESVS CHRIST wash the soares and vlceres of leapers with his one handes and serue them with gteat feruour of deuotion and with such charity as if with his owne eyes he had seene and serued IESVS CHRIST himselfe He behaued himselfe towardes his subiectes and vassals ouer whome he had entier iurisdiction as a iust lord iudgeing their causes with a seuere clemencie as one that could not be drawne from the right course of iustice by feare hatred fauour or corruption This holy man proceeded in all actions by the vertue of discretion wherwith he so teÌ„pered his worckes of mercy that therin he with exceeding humility auoyded worldly glory and fauour and as a valiant and perfect warryer he neuer desisted from his first inteÌ„tion and as iust he withall his industry shunned the occasions of offending God This seruant was so charitable and liberall to the poore that neuer any demaunded of him an almose for the loue of God but he gaue him a reward together with good wordes All his care was to feed the hungry to lodge pilgrimes and haue care of poore sick and forlorne creatures as one that acknowledged the poore CHR. IES in his poore creatures in sicknesses the painfull afflictions wâ—ich he endured for vs miserable sinners And as he was replenished with the loue of his neighbours no lesse was he but much more replenished with the loue of IESVS CHRIST And knowing that the edifice of vertues hath its end in the perfection of holy prayer in regard that it is a conuersation and familiarity with God he applyed himselfe with all his endeauour to prayer and contemplation he also sayd the canonicall houres with such deuotion and attention as if he had bin in the visible presence of IESVS CHRIST How S. Elzearius had the true vertue of patience of his death and canonization and the death of his wife THE XXI CHAPTER THis inuincible Champion was so armed with the precious armours of patience by the exercise of vertue that albeit he supported many thinges very difficult to endure yet none could euer disquiett him so that he was neuer perceaued to be in choler nor the least iott remote from his ordinary mildnes For he very patiently and humblie supported and endured the iniuâ—yes and affiontes directly or indirectly offered vnto him and was neuer heard to proceed out of his mouth any word but of praise and thanckesgiuing vnto God he with such sweetnes and clemencie pardonned his ennemies whatsoeuer offence they commited against him that he did not only make appeare that he was satissied and appeased but proceeded in their behalfe as if there had neuer bin cause of discontentment Being att Paris and hauing fore-knowledge of the houre of his death he with great abondance of teares and exceeding deuotion made his coÌ„fession then with much reuerence and in very exemplar manner receaued the sacramentes of the church And
albeit his life and the Countesse his wiues were stored withall kind of vertues yet in his last dayes speaking of her being vrged by the holy Ghost he vttered to those present these wordes The infidell man is sanctified by the faithfull woman whome I leaue a virgin in this mortall life as I receaued her a virgin and vnspotted This holy Confessour of IESVS CHRIST changed this life for a better the yeare of grace 1327. Father Francis of Maronis a famous preacher and Doctour was present att his death The very daye of his departure he appeared in all glory vnto his wife who was them in her Countie in Prouence to whome he vttered these wordes of the Psalmist The snare is broaken and we are deliuered and so without any other word he vanished The Contesse the same day recounted to all her company the death of her husband it being the 27. day of September He was buryed in the church of the Cordeliers att Paris clothed in the habitt of the third Order and the same yeare his body was translated into Prouence to the Couent of Apte in which his sanctity was by many miracles diuulged for which he was by the Apostolike sea canonized His feast is celebrated the 27. of September The Countesse Delphine his wife liued many yeares after him perseuering in piety being dead she was buryed by her husband hauing the the habitt of the Frere Minors as a disciple of the holy Father S. Francis and of the third Order Att the death of this Countesse and till her body was enterred a most sweet harmony was heard in the aire as they haue testified and assured who were neere her body It is piously beleeued that they were Angels singing as true friendes of virginall purity Our Lord wrought many miracles as well in the life time as att the death of this holy woman and in such quantity as there is no doubt but that our lord had canonized her in heauen The life of the blessed Yues of the 3. Order S. Francis Of the holy exercises and mortification of the flesh of S. Yues THE XXII CHAPTER YVes florished in that time in the Duchy of Bretanie within the diocese of Tâ—iguier He was a man of eminent sanctity and led a merueillous austere life for which cause almighiy God made him famous by many miracles This holy man was the sonne of a very rich vertuous man by whose good example he was from his tender infancie a patterne of commendable conuersation His Father sent him to study humanity att Paris thence to Orleans to study the Canon and Ciuill law but much more did he profitt in diuine wisdome for there manifesting his doctrine he layd open to many the true knowledge and assured way of iustice And being to retourne to his Father the Bishop of Triquet hauing heard the fame of his excellent vertues and sanctity made him his Officiall or commissary with very ample aucthority And albeit the holy man withall his power withstood the acceptance of this cha dge yet was he att lenght constrained therevnto He with such prudence and without acception of persons administred iustice that the ballance was alwayes equall which he performed with such sincerity that he would neuer receaue any â—ecompence for it in this life A litle after by diuine prouidence he became Priest in which ministery he offered his body a liuely sacrifice vnto almighty God His habit was then according to his quality common decent and modest But vnder he woare a very sharp hayr-cloth Wheâ—with he afflicted his body did weaken it by frequeÌ„t and austere fastes by coÌ„tinual watchinges When he was admitted into the confraternity of the Penitents of the third Oâ—der of S. Francis he reiected all his fine apparell though most modest and plaine which he ware according to his quality cloathing himselfe with very grosse and course gray cloth and wearing rude and homely shooes as poore Religious ordinarily vse He wâ—are vpon his hair-cloth that it might not be seene a shirt made of towe raw or vndressed He slept very litle and then only when nature was wearyed with prayer study or spirituall exercise or burdened with naturall necessity of sleep his repose was short and he alwayes tooke it cloathed His bed was the bare ground a hurdle or some gâ—osse stickes wreathed together his pillow the bible an instrument of litle sleepe and of much dilligence he being mindfull and taking comfort of these wordes of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST They that are clothed in soft garments are in kings houses Of the abstinence charity prayer and the manner of saying the diuine office of S. Yues THE XXIII CHAPTER THis holy man did neuer feed on delicate meates but such as were very grosse which he did to reserue of his reuenue wherwith to reliue many poore people On fasting dayes commanded by the Church he vsed only bread and water ordinarily did with great abstinence fast the wednesday and saterday He had customarily strangers and pilgrimes in his house he was very dilligent in the practise of the worckes of mercy he entertayned poore people and particulerly the sick and lame with exceeding pitty and compassion and conuersed with them so mildly and familiarly as if they had bin his brethren he serued them and made their beddes washed their feet and did them all other seruices that they could need Being no lesse carefull to administer vnto them the spirituall food of the word of God then the corporall he made them notable exhortations wherin he multiplyed the talent of the Euangelicall doctrine to those that were vnder his chardge He was very prompt in according dissentions and procuring of peace with all persons He had the grace to conuert sinners to pennance He was so addicted to prayer and contemplation that he would sometimes neglect to take his ordinary repast and dyett And one time he continued fiue whole dayes in prayer in his chamber without asking or being offered him any thing to eat And yet when he came forth his countenaÌ„ce was so pleasing ioyful and vermillioÌ„ as if he had bin pampered with most exquisite meates As he celebrated masse with great feruour so did he therin receaue of God notable feelinges and graces as one day did appeare for as he eleuated the most sacred sacrament there discended from heauen an admirable splendour and brightnes which enuironned the sacred host together with the chalice He red the canonicall houres with admirable attention deuotion and did alwayes rise att midnight to say his Matins He diuided the office into all the houres of the dayes in imitation of the Prophett Dauid who praysed God seauen times in the day Of the blessed death of S. Yues THE XXIV CHAPTER THis holy Religious being complete in the perfectioÌ„ of all vertues exceeding deuout vnto IESVS CHRIST very austere towardes himselfe extreme curteous and charitable towards others as he was by diuine grace of a singuler life and admirable in
in their afflictions and appeare to all the Brethren a modell and patterne in the obseruation of the holie gospell and our rule fuch ought to be my sonne the Generall of the Frere Minors I would also that such a Prelate should be feared loued and honoured of all and that all his necessities be prouided for with a singuler loue as true Father and most louing Pastour Of a letter which the holy Father S. Francis wrote to Brother Helyas his Vicar Generall THE XIV CHAPTER THe holie Father S. Francis being sick wrote this letter following to Brother Helias his Vicar Generall that gouerned and visited the Order Brother God giue you his holy benediction I admonish you to be alwayes patient in what soeuer you shall take in hand and well disposed to support whatsoeuer accidēt may giue you discontēt And if you should be iniuriously offended by any of the Religious or other receaue all as proceeding from the hand of God manifesting to the world that you seeke no other thing but to loue them and to procure them to be the true seruantes of IESVS CHRIST And therfore exact no more of them then that which God shall giue you and herein I will know if you loue God my selfe his seruant and your selfe to witt if whensoeuer any Frere Minor in the world hauing committed neuer so enormous offence commeth before you he depart not without mercy and though you afterward vnderstand that he sinned a thousand times if yet you loue him more then you would my selfe and though by reason of feare or reuerence he should not require pardon you encouraging him shall demaund if he desire it to the end that acknowledgeing his offence he doe penance for it and thus much to be practised especiallie towardes the infirme You shall not faile to admonish the Guardians to doe the like and that they resolue euer to doe it And therfore when it shal be knowne that one of the Brethren hath offended and forgotten himselfe lett not the other Brethren dishonour him nor murmure at him but lett them haue compassion of his fragility remembring that the sicke and not the healthie doe need the Phisition If any Religious induced by the deuill doe fall into any mortall sinne I will that he be obliged vpon obedience to haue present recourse vnto his Guardian who shall send him to the Prouinciall and he receauing him compassionatly shall haue care of him and comfort him as himselfe in such case would be conforted and he shall haue no authority to giue other penance to the contrite but to say only vnto him depart in peace and sinne no more Of the Prouinciall Ministers THE XV. CHAPTER THe holy Father S. Francis would that the Prouinciall Ministers should be equall with the other Religious and that for their goodnes and vertue they should be loued of all in such sort that the simple conceaue no feare nor apprehension to be vnder their gouernement and discipline He would also that they should be very discreet in their commandementes and compassionate in offences more ready to receaue iniuries and to pardon then to reuenge and capitall ennemies to vices but dilligent Curers of the vicious He would not haue them commaund the Religious in vertue of obedience in a matter of light consequence for that were to lay hand presentlie on the sword or to shew authority to commaund or to discouer the commaunder to be temerarious He desired they should be much respected but withall that their life should be such as might shine before all the Brethren as a mirour of vertue and Religion The cause why he would they should be loued and honoured was by reason that they carryed the burden and carre of all the rest and did meritte great recompence att Goddes hand and great prayse and honour with men when they charitablie preserved and gouerned in the foresaid manner the soules committed vnto their chardge How the holy Father S. Francis obtayned of God the gift of pouerty for hinselfe and his Order THE XVI CHAPTER THe holy Father S. Francis as he trauayled came one night to a towne very weary and his companion also who was Brother Macie though as Religious liuing in manner of the Apostles they had nothing with them to eat and therfore they begged it for the loue of God and gott bread to releiue them comming afterward to a fountaine that was nor far from the towne they there found a very faire stone as a table there expresly placed to eat vpon wheron the holy Father hauing layd the litle bread they had exceedinglie contented in himselfe sayd O Brother Macie wee are not worthy of so great a treasure and still raysing his voice he often iterated the same wordes Wherefore Brother Macie reasoned with him in these wordes Tell me Father if you please how call you this extreme pouerty treasure where there is only bread and water without napkin to eat vpon The holy Father answeared yea I call this a very great treasure where there is not any thinge procured by humane industrie but all administred by the diuine prouidence The bread hath bin giuen vs for the loue of God the fountaine and stone were created of God for vs therfore will I beseech him to giue vs grace to loue the treasure of pouertie with all our hart wherof he is the only administrator and distributer They also receaued a refection more spirituall then corporall and gaue thanckes to God for it The next morning proceeding on their iorney S. Francis on the way discoursed verie profondlie of pouertie thus saying to his companion Brother If we well knew the worth of holy pouertie we should finde it to be so diuine a treasure and of such excellencie that we are not worthie to possesse it in such base and vnworthie vessels For this is the vertue wherbie these terrestriall and transitory thinges are misprised and trodden vnderfoot that they may serue vs and not we them This is it that remoueth the impedimentes betweene God and vs that our soule may vnite it selfe to her Creatour for it giueth her winges by which though she liue on earth she conuerseth with the Angels in heauen This is the vertue that accompanied our Lord IESVS CHRIST from his holy conception euen to the crosse that arose againe with him and in fine ascended with him to heauen On it especially God founded his holy church not only in the Apostolike estate but euen in all Christians who then renounced and sold all they possessed and brought the price to the feet of the Apostles There on also may beloued Brother hath he founded our Religion Which lett vs therefore pray him to support on that Euangelicall foundation and to cause to encrease in an infinite number of vertues in imitation of his beloued Sonne our Lord and master and that we may with more ease obtaine the same lett vs procure to be our intercessors the glorious Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul the louers and preachers
of holy pouerty that in our behalfe they make intercessiō to God to graunt vs to be truely poore and his right humble disciples and graunt this priuiledge to our Order that there be alwayes therin such as are truely poore that honour and loue holy pouerty S. Francis with this feruour went to Rome in pilgrimage to visitt the holy Apostles beginning already to foresee the great persecutions which many of his Order would lay on pouertie after his death and that few would aduenture to passe with all Being then come to Rome he entred into the Church of S. Peter and being retired into a chappell with violent effusion of teares he demaunded of God that he would please to confirme vnto him the grace and priuiledge of most holy Euangelicall pouertie for himselfe and his Order inuocating for intercessors the glorious Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul who in most glittering splendour appearing vnto him did embrace and salute him then said Brother Francis because with such deuotion thou demaundest that which God will and we obserue and counsaile to be obserued he hath sent vs vnto thee to aduertise thee in his behalfe that thou art heard in heauen and that he hath graunted the treasure of Euangelicall pouertie to thee and to all them that shall follow thee and that they shal be of the nomber of the blessed who shall embrace the same Which sayd they disappeared leauing the holy Father S. Francis exceedinglie comforted and recounting the whole to Brother Macie they according to their duety together yelded thanckes to God Of the pouerty which the holy Father S. Francis obserued and would should be obserued att table and how the Religious were often miraculously prouided for in their necessitis THE XVII CHAPTER SAinct Francis being in the Oratory of Rieta a Prouinciall repayred vnto him to celebrate with him the Natiuity of our lord Wherfore the Religious entending to honour the feast and the Prouinciall prepared the table with a cloth and white napkins fournishing it with neat vessel and meat a litle better then ordinary But the S. cōming that morning to eat with them in the refectory and seeing that preparation and that the table was raysed from the ground where it accustomed to be he secretly went foorth and finding a begger att the gate he borrowed his hatt and cloake then taking a companion with him they went out of the house and in the meane time the Religious sate downe att table for he had ordayned that when soeuer he was not found in the Couent att the houre of refection they should not attend him About the middes of their meale the holy Father retourned disguised as aforesaid and went directly to the refectory att the dore wherof he demaunded an almose for the loue of God The Prouinciall answēared him Brother we are poore as you are and therefore haue need of these almose but for the loue of God which thou hast named enter and we will giue thee part of the almose which IESVS CHRIST hath sent vs S. Francis entred and stood expecting to haue somewhat giuen him The Prouinciall gaue him his owne dish with the bread that was in it The S. receauing it discouered himselfe and sate downe on the ground before the Religious but being approached to the fire he sighing said My beloued Brethren this table so decently prepared is not fitt for poore Religious that ought euerie day to goe aske almes from dore to dore for the loue of God it would better beseeme you to follow the example of humilitie of our lord then of any other for to that end are we called considering also that we haue promised to obserue it now doe I esteeme me a Frere Minor beholding my selfe sitting on the ground The feastes of God and his sainctes ought to be honoured with that holy pouerty wherby they haue pourchased heauē and not with these superfluityes which they did vtterlie abhorre as thinges that did separate them from the loue of God It cannot be expressed how much the poore Religious were amazed hauing heard and seene this act for many did weep seeing their Father sitting on the ground with that habitt with so great humility correcting the fault which they had committed wherof accusing them selues they acknowledged their fault to the S. who blessing them bad them with all euer to keep their table so poore and hūble that the seculers seeing it might not be scandalized and that if any begger came he might be inuited to eat with them Besides he would that the bread which they begged should be so limited that there should remaine none superfluous in the house but what should only suffice the Religious assuring them that if they wanted God would prouide for them as by the ensuing miracle doth appeare The generall chapter being on time ended and the Ministers dimissed each one to his Prouince there remayned with S. Francis 31. Religious amōg whome was that Brother Monaldo that merited to see the S. as crucified att Arles as we haue formerly alleadged they being vpon departure and the S. desiringe charitably to eat with thē there was found only three litle loanes in the house which S. Francis caused to be brought made on thē the signe of the crosse thē diuided it amongest thē And God did so multiply it that it sufficed thē all with the fragmēts was filled a great baskett by meane of which miracle the Religious retourned exceedingly encouraged in the seruice of God and the loue of pouerty finding by experience that God was their procuratour On an other time S. Francis comming by night to the Oratory of Sō nino in Lombardy with many Religious exceedingly oppressed with hunger they found not in the house one only morcell of bread for their custome was to demaūd no more of almose then would suffice them for one day and if any remayned they presently distributed it to the poore The holy Father S. Francis vnderstanding thus much said to the keeper of the prouision goe to such a place and you shall finde a baskett full bring it vnto me He goeing thither brought thence a baskett full of bread which had bin miraculously conueyed thither to releiue the seruantes of God They all did eat with very great appetite finding it extraordinarily pleasing which did not passe without giuing thanckes to the diuine Maiesty for the almes which so liberall a hand bestowed on them Many other such miracles happened vnto these poore of God as this that ensueth How whiles the Cooke was att his prayers in the Church the refection was miraculously prepared The 33. chapter of the tenth booke transferred to this proper place SAinct Francis admitted to Religion a knight called Bennenuto who of his great humility made choice to liue alwayes in the kitchen It happened on a time that a Burgesse had a will to refect the Religious one morning and to that end sent them betimes what he thought conuenient therto that they might