thinges necessary so long as he should haue in the world to giue them O inestimable price of poverty by the admirable force whereof even Barbarours cruelty was chaunged into so great a sweetnes of mercy Wherefore it is a thing most horrible and a wickednes vnexcusable for a Christian man to tread vppon so pretious a pearle which an infidell Saracin held in so great a reverence About this time Moricus a Religious man of the Order called Cruciferi being miserably afflicted in an Hospital neare to Assisium with a long and greivouse disease through the violent force whereof the Phisitions were in vtter despaire of his recoverie made humble request to the man of God by a messenger sent for purpose with instant desire that he would vouchsafe to pray for him Whervnto the blessed Father with a willing minde assenting after praier devoutly made taking cartaine crummes of bread into his hand and mingling the same with oyle taken from out of the Lamp which burned before the Altar of the Blessed virgin brought it at lenght as it were to a certaine kinde of electuary which he sent vnto the sicke man by the handes of his brethren saying Beere ye this medicine vnto our brother MORICVS where by the power of Christ will not only restore him vnto perfect health againe but will make of him a strong and hardy warriour and shall further adioyne him perpetually vnto our troupe and company No sooner had this sicke man tasted of that exquisit medecine made confected by the Holy Ghost his invention but rising vp forth with now perfectly whole and well he obtained of God so much strength both of body minde that within a litle while after entring into the Religion of the holy man he was contended with one only slender coate Behold the wonderfull abstinence of the holy man who for a long space tasted neither bread nor wine and wasfed only with rawe meats vnder which also he ware for long time together a coate of maile next to his skinne vsed no other diet than raw meates as hearbes fruits and such like other things as he gathered vpon the earth not tasting for many and soundrie years either of bread or wine All which notwithstanding he still continewed in good health and strenght of body And as the merrits of the vertue of these litle ones of Christ did daily more and more increase so the sweet smell of their good opinion spreading it self ronde about drew many out of divers parts of the world to come in person to see the holy Father Among whom there was a curious inventor of secular songes who having binne for that cause crowned by the Emperour and called the king of verses determined to go see this man of God the contemner of wordly things And finding him preaching in a certaine Monastery at the Castle of Saint SEVERINVS the hand of our Lord comming then vpon him be beheld Saint FRANCIS the preacher of the Crosse of Christ ensigned with two swordes one overthwarr the other in the forme of a Crosse the one of them stretched along from his head to his feete and the other Crosse-wise along his breast from on hand to the other Wherby although he knew not the contenance of the servāt of Christ yet was he fully secured that this very man was he by the admirable apparence of so great a miracle At the sodain aspect whereof being much amased he beganne to propose vnto himselfe better things in his minde and being at the lenght compunct by the force of his words no lesse than if he had bin stricken through with the sword of the spirit issueyng out of his mouth vtterly contemning all secular pompes he conioyned himselfe in profession with the blessed Father Wherevpon the holy man seeing him to be perfectly converted frō the trouble of the world to the peace of Christ called him by the name of Frater Pacificus He afterward increasing in al holinesse before such time as he was made provinciall Minister in France for he was the first that bare that office there merrited once and againe to see the greeke letter T. in the forehaid of holy S. Francis the same being distinguished with such seemely variety of colours as did wonderfully adorne his face and countenance This signe the holy man did reverence with great affection this signe he did commend with frequent speeches and in his letters which he vsually dispatched he evermore with his owne hand subscribed the same Ezech. 9.4 as if all his study were to make the signe T according to the saieing of the Prophet vpon the foreheades of them that sighed and mourned and were vnfainedly converted to Christ Now when the number of brethren was in processe of time increased the carefull Pastor beganne to call them together vnto a general Chapter then to beholden in the place of our Lady of Portiuncula that in the measure of divine distribution he might giue vnto every one his portiō of obedience in the land of their poverty Where although there were great penurie and the brethren sometimes came together aboue fiue thowsand in number yet by the help of Gods mercie they had sufficient foode together with health of body and aboundance of spirituall ioy But for so much as he could not be in body present at the provinciall Chapiters he was therefore in spirit by the diligent care of his governement by the instancy of prayer and by the efficacy of benediction evermore present at them notwithstanding that sometimes by the marvailous power and worke of God he did visibly appeare For as Saint Anthony that worthy preacher who is now a notable Confessour of Christ was preaching in the Chapter at Arles of the title of the Crosse Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iewes a certaine brother of approued vertue called Monaldus looking as the will of God was towardes the Chapter house doore sawe with is corporall eies the blessed Father Saint FRANCIS lifted vp alofte in the aire ad blessing his brethren with his handes stretched out as it were in the forme of a Crosse At which very time all the brethren did feele thēselues to be replenished with so great vnvsual-a consolation of spirit that the inward testimony which they felt in their hartes did sufficiently secure them of the vndoubted presence of the holy Father though afterwardes it was not only by evident signes but also by the said holy Fathers owne wordes externally confirmed And well it may be believed that the same power of Almighty God which granted the devout and holy Bishop Saint Ambrose to be present at the in tombing of the glorious Bishop Saint Martin to the end that he might with devout reverence honor the devout Bishop deceased did also by an especiall favour present his servant Saint Francis at the sermon of his true preacher Saint Anthony that he might approue the words of truth those especially of the Crosse of Christ whereof himselfe was a continuall
then instructed them with holy speeches that passing through the desert of this world they should like forraniers and strangers as true Hebrewes in povertie of spirit continually celebrate the Passeover of our Lorde vnderstanding therby his passage out of this world vnto his Father And for because in the asking of Almes he was not ledde with desire of gaine but with the liberty and freedome of spirit God therefore the Father of the poore see med ouer him to beare a speciall care and protection For it happened that the servant of God being surprised with sicknesse in a certaine place called Noceria he was from thence convaied towards Assisium by certaine solemne Messengers which the people of that Citty had out of their great devotion sent for that purpose vnto him Who bringing with them the servant of Christ came to a certaine poore village called Sarthianum where as well the time of the day as hungar also requiring meate they went out to provide but finding no meate to be bought for money they returned emptie to the place againe To whom the holy man said for this cause ye haue founde nothing because you trust more in your Flies than you doe in our Lord. For he called their pieces of mony by the name of Flies But returne said he to the houses wherby you passed before and humbly desire the Almes of the inhabitants offering the loue of God for a reward vnto them Neither do ye out of a false estimation hereof conceiue as of a thing either of bashfullnesse or basenes for you to vndertake considering that the great Almes giver hath now after sinne by his aboundant goodnesse graunted disposed of all thinges in Almes both to the wotthy vnworthy Wherevpon his conductours being warfairing men setting shame a side and craving Almes with a willing minde made better market for the loue of God than for their mony For by the divine in stinct of God the poore inhabitants were so compunct in heart that they freely offered not only their goodes but themselues also therewithall And so it came to passe that the same degree of wāt which mony could not relieue euen that did the riche poverty of Sainct FRANCIS aboundantly supply At such time as the holy man lay sick in an Ermitage nigh to Reate a certaine Phisitian reforted oftentimes with timely endeavour ynto him But the servant of Christ not being able to giue a reward vnto him answereable to his paines and labours the most liberall God who would not dismisse him without a present requitall recompensed his godly industrie in his poore servants behalfe with this newe and vnvsuall benefite For this Phifition having about that very time newly built him a house wherevpon he had bestowed the whole summe of all his former gaines and labours the same by meane of a wide rifte in the wall reaching from the toppe to the bottome of the foundation was ready to fall to the grounde in so much as it seemed impossible by any art or numane industrie to be prevented But he having great confidence in the meritts of the holy man did with great zeale of faith request the brethren that some thing might be given vnto him which the man of God had toucht with his handes Having therefore at length with great instancy of intreatie obtained some litle parcell of his haire he put the same over night within the rift of the wall which he rising betimes in the morning founde to be shut and conioined againe with so strong firme a solidity that neither could he pul out the Reliques which he had inclosed therein nor yet could he finde any marke of the former division Whereby it was through the goodnesse of God provided that he who diligently ministred vnto the decaied body of the holy servant of God did prevent the danger of his own dwelling house which was ready to fall to the ground Another time also the man of God desiring to go vnto a certaine desert where he might more freely attend vnto contemplation for so much as he was weake and feeble he was carried vppon a certaine poore mans Asse And when as the same poore man by reason of following the servant of Christ and passing with him over the mountanouse places in the extreamest heats of the yeare was then so wearried with the painfullnes and length of his iourney that he seemed to fainte through the excesliue heat of his thirst he instantly beganne to crie after the holy man Beholde I die for thirst vnlesse I may be presently refreshed by the benefit of some draught of drinke Wherevppon the man of God incontinently alighting downe from the Asse fixed his knees vppon the grounde Praying vpon his knees and lifting his handes tovvardes heauen he obtained his petition and streetching forth his armes to heaven ceased not to pray vntill he perceived himself to be heard But his praier being ended at lēgth make haste saith he vnto the man and goe to yonder rocke for there thou shalt finde a spring of liuely water which Christ hath mercifully provided out of the stone for thee to drinke Woonderfull without doubt is the favourable goodnes of Almighty God which doeth so easely incline it selfe vnto his servants desires The Thirstie man drank from out of the rock of that comfortable and refreshing water which was by the efficacie of praier produced and filled his cuppe out of the most hard and flintie stone In this place never had there binne water seene before neyther could there any since be founde as hath well appeared by diligent enquirie and experience But in what wonderfull manner Christ did by the merites of his poore servant multiplie the meate in the Sea considering that we are hereafter to set it downe in place conveniēt thus much only it shall be sufficient in this place to haue rehearsed Exod. 17.6.4 Reg. 4.43 that out of a small proportion of Almes bestowed vpon him he delivered the Marriners for many daies togeather from the perill of famine of death that thereby it may be well observed that the servant of Almighty God even as he was like vnto Moyses in bringing water out of the Rock so was he also like vnto Elizeus in the multiplication of victualls Good cause therfore it is that all diffidence should farre away departe from the servants and followers of Christ For if the poverty of Saint Francis were of so plentifull sufficiency that by a wonderfull vertue it did so farre forth supply the wants of them by whome he was holpen in his neede that they wanted neither meate drink nor house when mony arte and nature did faile them much more shall it deserue to obtaine those thinges which are by the accustomed order of Gods divine prouidence cōmonly vouchsafed and granted vnto all men If I say the drienesse of the rocke haue at the voice of a poore man yeelded drinke aboundantly to the thirstie then shall nothing in the world denye service vnto them who haue forsaken
a poore man that asked him almes for the loue of God he presently remembring himselfe and entring into iudgement with his owne heart did speedily runne after him bestowing his almes with much affection vpon him making furthermore euen then a promise vnto Almighty God that from thence forward so long as he should haue any thing in the worlde to giue hee would never denie to giue something to such as should begge of him for our Lords sake which he observing continually with an vnwearied zeale of devotion vnto his death was thereby made woorthie to obtaine an aboundant encrease of the favour and grace of Almighty God For he was woont to say after that he had perfectly put on Christ that even whilest he was in secular habite he felt a great motion in his heart whensoever he heard any worde expressing the loue of God Furthermore the mildnesse of his conversation together with the sweetnesse of his manners his patience and tractable behaviour more theÌ„ is ordinary in meÌ„ his liberality beyond the measure of his ability which appeared in him in his youth were tokens that God had a greater aboundance of blessing to powre vpon him It fortuned once that a very simple man of Assisium by the instruction of God as we haue good cause to thinke meeting vpon a time with Saint FRANCIS as he passed along the Citty cast off his cloake and spread the same vnder his feete affirming that he should be worthie of all manner of reverence the time beeing nowe not long vnto wherin he should performe great matters and should be of the whole worlde for that cause marveilously honored But yet altogether ignorant was S. FRANCIS at this time of Gods determination concerning him aswell beeing by the commaundement of his father distracted in externall affaires as also by naturall corruption carried away with terrestriall â—â—â—â—ters wherby he had not as yet learned to conteplate vpo the matters of Heauen nor had accustomed himselfe to taste of the sweetnesse of God And because the scourge of affliction doth oftentimes giue light to the spirituall vnderstanding the mighty hande of our Lord did come vpon him the right hand of the highest wrought a perfect change within him afflicting his body with lingring infirmities whereby the better to prepare his soule to receiue the precious inspirations and motions of the Holy Ghost But having recovered his strength and being provided of decent apparell according to his vsuall manner he chanced to meete a certaine souldiar who was in yery deede a gentleman by birth but poore and meanely apparelled whose poverty he commiserating with a syncete affection dispoiled himselfe of his own apparell and furnished the poore souldiar therewithall that so in one worke he might performe a double office of piety both in covering the shame of a gentleman souldiar in releiueing the misery of a poore distressed man In the night following when he had betaken himselfe to his naturall rest it pleased the goodnesse of God to shew vnto him a great and beautifull pallace adotned with Military weapons insigned with the Crosse of CHRIST then foreshewing vnto him that the mercy which he had extended towards the poore souldiar for the loue of the heavenly King should be recompenced with an incomparable reward Wherevpon demaunding vnto whom all those goodly things did appertaine it was aunswered to him from aboue that they should be vpon him and his souldiars freely bestowed A waking therefore in the morning and having his minde not as yet exercised in the searching of Divine mysteries neither yet knowing how by the formes of visible thinges to consider the trueth of things invisible he perswaded himselfe that this vnaccustomed vision was a fore token of some great prosperity to happen vnto him So being as yet ignorant of Gods Divine ordinance towardes him he purposed to goe into Apulia vnto a certaine Earle of great liberality hoping by service vnder him in the wars to purchase a name of honour according as the mentioned vision vnto him seemed to foretell And being shortly after entred into his iourney as he came to the next City he heard in the night time our Lord in familiar manner thus speaking vnto him FRANCIS who is able to doe better for thee the master or the servant the rich man or the poore To whom Saint FRANCIS making aunswere that the master and the rich man were better able Our Lord presently replied why therefore doest thou leaue the master for the servant and the rich God for a poore man Then Saint FRANCIS asked what wilt thou haue me O Lord to doe And our Lord said vnto him returne into thine owne country for the vision which thon hast seene doth prefigurate a spiritual effect which is to be by the disposition of God not of man accomplished in thee In the morning therefore he speedily returned backe to Assisium resting nowe full of security and ioy making himselfe a patterne of obedience did readily expect the pleasure of our Lord. From that time foreward hee with-drewe himselfe from the practise of his common trafique and devoutly besought Almighty God of his mercy that hee would voutsafe to shew vnto him what he ought to doe And when by much vse of praier the flame of Heavenly desire began aboundantly to encrease in him so that nowe for the loue of the Heavenly country hee contemned all earthely things as very nothing then did he well perceiue himselfe to haue found the hidden treasure like a well advised marchant purposed with the sale of all his marchandise to purchase this rare and pretious pearle But as yet he was ignorant how to proceed therein saving that it was to his spirit sugested that the entring into spirituall affaires is the contempt of the world and that the warfare of Christ is not otherwise to be by any man begun than by obtaining first the conquest of himselfe Riding therefore one day vpon the plaine Beholde howe his adorning the Altarâ— did please god otherwise the holy man woulde not haue done them adioyning nigh to Assisium there came in his way a certaine Leaper vpon whose sodaine aspect he coÌ„ceived in mind an especiall horror and loathing But returning to his already resolued purpose of perfection and considering that he ought of necessity first to overcome himselfe if he would become the souldiar of Christ he presently alighted downe from his horse and went to kisse him At what time the Leaper reaching fotth his hand as hoping to receiue something from him did indeed teceiue money of him and a kisse also therewithall But he being presently gotten vp vpon his horse againe and looking round about in the open field could not espie the Leaper there Being therefore replenished with admiration and ioy he began devoutly to sing praises vnto God purposing from this beginning evermore to aspire vnto greater perfections From thenceforth he began to affect solitary places Behold his pilgrimage to holy places as best fitting vnto
bearing liuely resemblance of the KING his Father and in that respect very worthy to be nourished at the KINGES owne table this also by way of interpretation hee therevnto adioyned Wee haue no cause to feare that the Sonnes and heires of the Eternall KING shall perishe and die for hunger who beeing borne of a poore Mother by the power of the HOLIE GHOST to the image of CHRIST their KING are also to bee gotten vnto him in a poore religion by the spirite of povertie For if the KING of HEAVEN doe promise an eternall Kingdome to them that followe him howe much more will hee provide them of things of necessity which he giveth indifferently not only to the good but also to the wicked This parable and the meaning thereof when the Vicar of Christ had diligeÌ„tly heard observed he mary vailed greatly thereat knew for certain that it was vndoubtedly Christ himselfe who covertly spake in the man And moreover also he avowed by the instinct of Gods heavenly spirit that a certaine vision also which he had about this time receyued from heaven should be in this man accoÌ„plished For he had seene in his sleepe as himselfe reported the Church of Laterane to be in present danger now forthwith to fall to the grounde the which a certain poore maÌ„ of mean stature conteÌ„ptible to behold putting his own back vnder it did so preserue froÌ„ falling Whervpon he thus pronovnced verely this is he who by his worke doctrine shall vphold the Church of Christ Then this prudeÌ„t Pastor being wholy fraught with devotion inclined himself in every degree to the desires of the servant of Christ bare evermore vnto him a speciall loue affection Wherfore he graunted his request promised to graunt yet more vnto him he approued his Rule he gaue him in Charge to vndertake the preaching of pennance for all the lay brethreÌ„ to that were associate the servaÌ„t of Christ he caused them to haue litle crownes made that they might freely preach the word of God THE FOVRTH CHAPTER Of the increase of the Order vnder his hand and of the coÌ„firmation of the Rule formerly approued THE holy man Saint Francis now thus supported with Gods grace and Papall authority did with much confidence of minde take his way to the vale of Spoletum that he might as well by deed as by worde denounce the Gospel of Christ But as he debated wâ—ih his companions in the way by what meanes they might in all sincerity obserue the Rule by them newly vndertaken and how they might in all manner of holinesse and iustice walke before the face of God and further yet how they might not only arise to greater profit in themselues but might also be an example and guide vnto others by long protracting this manner of conference the time sodeinely ouerpassed vnawares And they being now much wearied with the long continewance of their travel and hungry also therwithall were inforced to stay in a certaine solitary place of the desert At which very time and place they haivng no kind of meanes to provide theÌ„selues of necessary food then did the providence of God manifest it self in their behalf For sodeinely a man appeared vnto them bringing bread in his hand which he gaue vnto the poore ones of Christ and forth disappeared being altogether vnknowene from whence he came or whether he went Here by the poore brethren perceyving that in the company of the man of God they where assisted with the help of Gods heavenly protection were better refreshed by the gift of this divine liberality then by the refection of their emptie bodies And morover they were so singularly replenished with the coÌ„solation of God that they firmely purposed and irrevocably decreed neuer for any violence either of hunger or tribulation to faile from the promise of holie pouertie After this returning with this holie purpose into the vale of Spoletum they beganne to dispute among themselues whether it were more expedient for theÌ„ to converse among men or to betake theÌ„selues vnto solitarie places But the seruant of Christ S. Francis not presuming vpon the industrie either of himselfe or of his bretheren determined by instancy of praier to seeke the good will and pleasure of God in this behalfe Being therefore inlightened by the oracle of divine revelation it was given him to vnderstand that he was for this very purpose sent of God that he might gaine such soules vnto Christ as the Divell endeavoured to leade astray For which cause he rather chose to liue for the generall good of all than for the private benefitte of himselfe alone being therevnto provoked by his example who being but one vousafed to die for all The man of God therefore together withall the rest of his companions betooke himself to a certaine forlorne Cottage nigh to Assisium Wherin they liued in much labour and needines according to the rule of holy poverty desiring rather to be sustayned with the foode of teares than with the nice of curiosities of delicate fare For there they were incessantly busied in fervent praiers proceeding rather from mentall affection thaÌ„ outwardly disclosed by vocall wordes intending wholy to the studie of devotion because they had not as yet any Ecclesiasticall bookes where in they might sing there Canonical howers but insteede of them they behelde continuallie the booke of the Crosse of Christ and turned it over day and night thereto instructed by the example and speach of the holie father who daily preached of Christ his Crosse vnto them But being requested of his brethren to teach them how to pray he said when you doe pray you shal say the Pater noster and this also we adore thee the O Christ at al thy Churches which are in the whole worlde and we blesse thee because by thy holie Crosse thou hast redeemed the worlde Moreover he taught them to praise our Lord in al thinges and out of al his creatures Heere thou maist see that faithâ— to be held and confessed whsch the holy Romane Church doth hold and teach They fell downe prostrate praying at all Churches Crosses to vse especial reverence also towardes Priests and principally this firmelie to beleue and simply to confesse the puritie of faith according vnto such manner forme as the holie Romane Church doth hold and teach All which precepts of the holy Father they on their parts in every point inviolably observed and at all Churches and before all Crosses which they could see a farr of they did humbly prostrate themselues according to the forme prescribed vnto them But it so fell out that the brethren long time abiding in the foresaid place the holy man went forth vpon a Saterday into the Citty of Assisium with purpose vpon a Sunday morning early to preach as his costome was in the Cathedrall Church And as the devout man of God had with drawen himselfe into a certaine shroud that stoode within the Channons garden there
overpassing the night according to his vsuall manner in the praier of God albeit that he were then in bodie absent from his children Behold yet even aboute the verie pointe of midnight some of the bretheren being bent to sleepe and some other of them continuing in praier a fierie chariote of marveilous splendoure entring in at the dore of the house whirled vp and downe the place one while one way and one while another vntill it had at length gone three severall times rounde about the roome vpon the toppe whereof might be seene to rest a globe of shining beames as bright as the sunne which caused the darke some night for the time to seeme as cleere as the day Heere with all the watchfull were amased and the sleepy both waked and astonished every of them finding no lesse clearenes in their harts than outwardly vpon their bodies it being effected by the power of this marvailous light that the naked consciences of them all were discovered one to another For they did all of them agreably vnderstand every of them seing into each others harte that the holy Father being absent in body but present in spirit and in such apparence transfigured was with the beames of brightnes from aboue inlightened and inflamed and out of supernaturall power in a shining and fiery Chariot by God represented vnto them that as true Israelites they might follow after him who as an other Elias was by God ordained to be the Chariot 4 Reg. 2.11 and Chariot Driver of spirituall men And verily good cause we haue to belieue that he who opened in former time the eies of a Boie 4. Reg. 6.7 wherby to see the mountaine filled all with horses and fiery Chariots in compasse of Aeliseus did now also at the praiers of his holy Servant Saint FRANCIS in like manner open the eies of this simple company that they might see and behold the woonderfull workes of God But the holy man after this returning vnto his brethren beganne to sift the secrets of their consciences to refresh their spirits vpon occasion of this marveilous vision and to foretell many things concerning the increase of the Order At what time disclosing vnto them many and sundry points which far surpassed all humane vnderstanding the brethren well perceyued that the spirit of our Lord had in so great aboundance setled it selfe vppon this his servant Saint FRANCIS that it should be their safest and most certaine course to imitate his life and doctrine After this S. FRANCIS the Pastor of that litle flock being guided and directed by the grace of God conducted this poore number of twelue brethren to the Church of Saint Mary of Portiūcula to the end that where the order of the Friers Minors had by the merits of the Mother of God taken his beginning there also by her helpe it might take increase And in this place also being made a preacher of the Gospell he went about preaching through the Citties and townes Not in the learned words of humane wisedom but in the power of the spirit denowcing the Kingdome of God He seemed vnto all that sawe him to be a man of another world for as he was allawayes intentiue to heaven both in minde and countenance so did he seeke with his whole endevour to draw all men thither with him And even now about this time Of virgins were converted by him to imbrace perpetuall chastity false it is that it is mipossible to keeps Virgiuity beganne the vineyard of Christ to bud forth the buds of the sweete smels of our Lord and having brought forth the flowers of sweetnes Honor and Honestie did yeild a plentifull and fruitfull harvest For many both men and women inflamed with the zeale of his preaching serving our Lord in the Chastitie of wedlock according to the forme receaved of the servant of God did binde themselves vnto new lawes of Pennance whose manner of living the said servant of Christ decreed to be named The Order of the brethren of Pennance For as the way of pennance is one and the very same vnto all such as desire to come vnto heaven so likewyse this order S. Clare now glorified in heauen is worthily worshiped in earth of the Church admitting both the Clergie and the lay pepple Virgins and Married folkes of both sexes of how great merit it is in the sight of God it is manifest by many miracles which some of them haue wrought as may be knowen to the world Even now also divers Virgins were by him converted vnto perpetuall chastity among which Saint Clare that notable Virgin and most deare to God was the first plant and most beautifull blossome of all the rest who as as pure springing flower gaue a sweet savour of holynesse and glimmered forth her beames as a bright shining star she being now glorified with God in heaven is worthely honored of the Church in earth who being the daughter in Christ of the holy poore Father Saint FRANCIS did also become the Mother of the poore And many not only moved with devotion but inflamed with desire of Christian perfection contemning the vanity of wordly things did follow the steeps of Holy S. Francis Who increasing daily more more were quickly spreede forth to the end of the world For that same holy poverty which was the only thing they desired to carrie with them for the defray of their charges made them evermore ready vnto all obedience strong in sustaining of labours and nimble in prosecuting their iourneis And for so much as they possessed no earthly thing nothing did they loue nothing did they feare to loose but were in every place secure never assailed with feare never distracted with care wherby living as men in every point free from all manner of trouble of minde they had patience in expectance of their morning and nightly sustenance Many and sundry reproaches they sustained in diuerse parts of the world as men contēptible and vnknowen but the loue of the Gospell of Christ had endewed them with so perfect patience that they sought in those places rather to be were they might suffer persecution in body than where vpon observation of their vnfained holinesse they might haue occasion to glory in the favour of the world And even that very penury of all things which they continually sustayned seemed vnto them a superaboūdant plenty meane while that according to the wisemans Councell In steed of a great thing the least did contente them For some of the brethren comming into the infidells countries it happened that a certaine Saracin moved with pittie offered them mony for their necessary foode which he perceiving them to refuse wondered not a litle thereat seeing them notwithstauding to be both poore and needy But at the lenght perceiuing that having voluntarily made themselues poore for the loue of God they would possesse no mony he was thereby conioyned vnto them in so great loue and affection that he offered to Minister vnto them all
and feeble flesh so invincible a power of the spirit admired with himselfe thereat and extolled this divine miracle faying I tell you plainly brethren I haue seene wonderfull things to day For the holy man was now come vnto that excellent degre of purity that by a wonderfull sweet consent harmonie his flesh did agree with his spirit his spirit did wholy conforme it self vnto God it was by a divine ordinaÌ„ce brought to passe that the creature obeying the Creator was miraculously subiect to his will coÌ„mandement As may also be seene by this other exaÌ„mple of the same holy servant of God who being sicke one time of a most dangerouse disease in the Desert of S. VRBANE feeling then directly in himselfe the defect of nature demaunded a cup of wine to be brought vnto him S. Francis making the â—igne of the Croste turned puer Water into most excilent wene whervpon answere being made that there was no wine there to be had he required them to bring him water which being donne he blessed the same with the signe of the Crosse Immediarly therevpon that which was before very naturall watter was now turned intoâ—â—ost excellent wine and that which the poverty of the place could not afforde the same did the purity of the holâ— men deserue to obtaine By the taste also whereof he so spcedily recovered himselfe againe that both the newnesse of the rast the present reuewing of his imapired health alter ring supernaturally both the thing tasted him that was the taster therof did by a double testimony confirme the absolute dispoiling of the olde man and the perfect putting one of the newe And not only was this manner of obedience by the creatutes of God to his holy servant exhibited but the providence also of the Creator did every where condiscend to satisfie his wil and desire For his body being vpon a time ouer-dulled with the concurrence of many diseases together he founde in himselfe a desire to heare some harmonicall kinde of sounde that thereby he might be reviued and receiue more comforte of spirite but it not beseming his life and profession to procure it by the ministerie of man behold the service of Angels was ready to accomplish the Holy mans desire For as he was waking one night meditating vpon God so dainly there sounded a Harpe of most wonderfull harmony and of most sweet and pleasant melodie At what time he saw not any man but might well perceive the passage and returne of the Harper by the alteration of the sounde of the musicke as it was sometime nigher and sometime further from him Wherefore directing his spirit vp to God he was so singularly delighted in that most sweet souÌ„ding musicke that he did almost thinke himselfe to haue bin in another world This also could not be hidden from his brethren who did oftentims by certaine and vnfallible tokens perceiue that he was visited by Almightie God with so excessiue frequent consolations that it was not possible for him in any sorte to conceale them An other time also as the man of God went to preaeh betweene Lombardie and the Marquisate of Tervisium being then accompained with one of his brethren travailing along by the Riuer Poe the darkenesse of the night sodainly came vpon them By meane whereof the way being subiect vnto many and sundry perilouse daungers as wel in regarde of the Fenns thereabouts as also of the River it selfe the brother associate spake vnto the holy man saying make thy praiers good Father vnto God that we may be delivered out of these imminent daungers To whom the man of God answeared with much hope an confidence in this wise God is able no doubt my brotherr if it stand with the good pleasure of his sweet disposition to dispearse the deepe darkenesse of this obscure night and to vouchsafe vnto vs the benefit of light Which wordes he had no sooner vtteted but by the power of God such an aboundant light beganne to shine about them that the night being darke to others they neverthelesse did see in cleare and perfect light not only the way but very many things on every side aboute them being by the conduct thereof both corporally directed spiritually comforted whereby they came safe the last to the place of their lodging by the passage of no small space of grounde which they ioyfully overpassed with singing Himnes and praises in honor of Almightie God See now consider vnto how great vertue and wounderful purity this holy man had attained at whose beck the fire did temper his heat the water did change her tast the melodie of Angels did recreate his spirits whome the light of heaven did guide conduct in his way that so it may fully appeare that vnto the sanctified sences of Gods holy servant the whole frame of the world did readilie yeild an obsequious kinde of obeisance THE SIXTH CHAPTER Of his humility and obedience and of Gods fauourable condiscending vnto all his desires THE guardian and ornament of all vertues humility had in so aboundant manner replenished this holy servant or God that in his own reputation he was nothing els but a wretched sinner whereas in very deed he was a perfect mirrour and amost gloriouse ressemblance of all maÌ„ner of holynesse Vpon this grounde worke he determined to build vp himselfe having as a wise Architecke laid that very same foundation which he had learnd of our Sauiour Christ For this cause he saied that the sonne of God did come downe from the highnes of his Fathers Bosome to these our contemptible things that being our Lord Maister he might aswell by his owne example as by his worde teach this excellent vertue of humility vnto vs. And therefore as the true disciple of Christe his praier was to seeme vile and base both in his owne and other mens eies remeÌ„bring the same which is said by the most superexcellent Maister That which is high amonge men is abhomination with God Thervnto also adding this saying of his owne that Looke how much a man is the sight of God so much he is and no more And therefore he held it for a very vaine and foolish thing to be extolled with the favours of the world reioycing much to be reproached and sorrowing no lesse to be commended For he had farre rather heare himselfe reuiled and reproched than praised or commended knowing that the one might provoke him to amende and the other might giue occasion to fall And for that cause oftentimes when the people extolled in him the meritt of holinesse he commanded one of his brethren to vtter some words of debasement and reviling against him in his owne hearing Which when the brother did although much against his will calling him a rusticall and rude body an vnskilfull and vnprofitable hireling he was marveilously exhilerated therat aswell in minde as in countinance whereby he answered Our Lord blesse thee my most dere sonne for thou
speakest the very truth and such wordes as it best beseemeth Peter Bernardus sonne to heare But to the end he might make himselfe abiect and contemptible vnto others he spared not his owne disgrace but in his publique praaching before all the people he would open and manifest his owne defects As having once vpon occasion of a right grievouse sicknesse remitted in some forte the rigour of his vsuall abstinence for the better recoverie of his health againe after such time as he had somewhat better resumed his strength vnto him the true dispiser of himselfe animating himselfe to the reproache of his owne flesh It is not meete said hee that I shoulde be held for a man of abstinence meane while that I secretly giue me selfe to the pampering of my flesh Wherefore he raised vp himselfe as being wholy inflamed with the spirit of holy humility assembling the people together in a streete of the City of Assisium himselfe with many of his brethren which he had brought with him entred solemnely into the greater Church where having a roape fastened about his neck he caused himself to be drawen all naked saving only of his breeches in the open sight and veiwe of them all even to that very stone whervpon malefactors at the time of their punnishment were wonte to be placed Vpon the which he then getting vp as he coulde albeit that he were both weake and affected with a quartane Ague yet in such extreame cold as the time did then affoarde did preach with great efficacie and force of minde At which time he affirmed in the hearing of them all that he was in no wise to be honored as a spirituall man but rather to be contemned of all men as a fleshly and gluttenouse personne Wherevpon the people there assembled wondring at so strainge a spectacle and being also compūcted with devotion because they well knew the strictnesse of his austerity did openly protest that such manner of humility was rather to be admired than in any sorte to be imitared And though this action might rather seeme to be a wonder in nature according to the saying of the Prophet then otherwise a matter of example yet was it vndoubtedly a true patterne of perfect humility whereby the scholler of Christ is instructed to contemne the glory of transitorie praise to represse the swelling pride of arrogancie and to reproue the falshood of craftie dissimulation Oftentimes he did many things after this manner that externally he might appeare as a lost vessel and internally might possesse the spiritt of sanctification He studdied also to hide the guifte of his Lord and Creatour in the secret inclosure of his bress thinking it not convenient to lay open to vaine glory that which might be vnto himselfe an occasion of ruine For oftentimes being commended of the multitudes for a blessed and holy man he vsed to applie this manner of speache vnto thē softe I may yet haue both sonnes and daughters doe not therefore praise such an one as is not already secure No man is to be praised whose ende is vncertaine Eccl. 11.13 And these were his wordes to them that peaised him But to himselfe he spake in this sorte Oh FRANCIS if God Almighty had bestowed so greate benefits euen vpon a Thiefe as he hath vouchsafed vnto thee he would be no doubt more thankefull than thy selfe vnto him To his brethren also he saied oftentimes thad no man ought with an vndue applause to flatter himselfe vppon occasion of any kinde of thinghe which is in à sinners power to doe For saith he a sinner may fast a sinner may pray a sinner may mourne and lament a sinner may also macerate his owne flesh but this only a sinner cannot do namely to be faithfull to his Lord and Maister In this therfore we may haue iust cause to glory if to our Lord we render the glory which is of righte his owne if serving him faithfully whatsoever it is that he do giue vnto vs the same do we faithfully resctibe vnto him againe But this Evāgelicall Marchāt to the end he might by more occasiōs in crease his gaine might turn all the present time to his furthermerit tooke not much delight to hold the place of a Governour as of a subiect neither yet desired so much to command as to obay Behold the great obedience and humility in the holy Father And therfore resigning his office of General he desired a gardiā to whose wil cōmandement he mighte in all manner of pointes accomodate himselfe For he affirmed that the fruite of holy obedience was of so great plenty and aboundance that vnto them who submitted their neckes to her yoke no time overpassed with out some gainefull commoditie Wherefore his custome was vnto such brothers as he vsually went with all evermore to promise obedience and faithfully to obserue the same And thervpon ths he spake sommetime of himselfe vnto his companions Among other things which the goodnesse of God hath of his greate bountie vouchsafed to graunte vnto me this grace he hath freely bestowed vpon me that I could as diligently yeld mine obedience vnto a Novice of one howres standing if he were appointed to be my Guardian as to one of the most auncient and discreetest brerhren For the subiect saieth he must not consider his Superiour as a man but as him for whose lone he is become subiect vnto him And by how much the more contemptible he is that doth commaund by so much the more acceptable is the humilitie of him that doth exercise obedience He being one tīe demāded who was to be iudged truly obedient proposed the similitude of a deade body for an example Take me vp saith he a dead body put it where you please you shal neither see it striue when it is moued nor murmure when it is placed nor yet repine when it is displaced But if you set it in a chaire it looketh not vp alofte but downe righte to the grounde if you apparel it in purple roabes it discovereth the palenesse of his countenance two for one morethan it did before Euen very this saieth he is a true patterne of obedience who doth not discern why hee is mooued who careth not where he is placed who desireth not to be changed who being aduanced to office retaineth his former humilitie and who the more he is honored doth so much the more repute himselfe vnworthy And for mine owne parte quoth he one time vnto his companions I cannot thinke my selfe worthy the name of a Friar Minor vnlesse that I be in this very state which I shal now describe vnto you See now I goe as Prelate and Cheife of my brethren conducting them all vnto the Chapter there I preache among them there I vse mine admonitions vnto them and in fine it is spoken with disgrace vnto me Thou euil be fittest to rule among vs for that thou art a man vnlearned harshe in thy speaking an Idiote and a simple
harmony and other tokens of mirth seeme to in vite and allure the devoute father to stay and abide with theÌ„ Which when he well perceaued he said to his companion I see plainely brother it is the verie will of God that we should now stay heere for a while because our Sisters the birdes doe seeme to be so much comforted at our presence And whiles he thereforefore remained in that place a faulcon there building her nest was ioined vnto him in a singular manner of frendshippe For with her singing and noise she did continually in the night time prevent the hower whereat the holy man was accustomed to rise to his divine service which was a thing most acceptable vnto the servant of God for that the so great watchfullnesse of this faulcon ouer him did cause him to shake of all sloth and slugishenes But when the servant of Christ was more than vsually afflicted with any kind of infirmitie then did the faulcon in some sorte abstaine neither did shee at those times awake him so earely but as it were instructed thervnto of God about the breake of day she gaue a gentle knocke with the bell of her voice surely it seemeth that this reioicing of birdes of many kindes and that the singing also of the faulcoÌ„ should be a divine foresignification that this notable praiser and most excelleÌ„t worshipper of God being carried aloft by the wings of contemplation should then be there exalted by a Seraphicall apparition During the time he once aboad in the Ermitage of Grecium the inhabitans in that place were grievously afflicted with many and sundry evills For not only a multitude of ravening wolues did thereaboutes consume both men and beasts but a yearely and violent Tempest also of haile did continually destroy the corne and vineyardes At what time therefore as this denouncer of Gods holy Gospell preached vnto them in the middest of this their distresse and affliction he saied vnto them to the honor and praise of Almighty God I require you to be of good hope that all this pestilence shall soone forsake you and that our Lord with his mercifull eies regarding you will multiplie you in temporall goodes if crediting my wordes you will nowe first of all beginne to take compassion vppon your selues whereby making a true confession of your sinnes you may bring forth the workes worthy of pennance But this againe I denounce vnto you that if as vngreatefull men for such benefits you shall returne to your vomite againe then shall your plague be renewed your punnishment shal be redoubled and a greater indignation shall iustly fall vpon you From that very hower the people doeing pennaÌ„ce according as he exhorted them their miseries ceased their daungers were all at an end neither the wolues nor the haile did any more mischief among them Nay which is more to be admired if the neighbours fieldes were at any tyme endaungered with haile so soone as it approached vnto theire confines either there it rested or els diverted to some other parte Thus not only the haile did cease but the wolues also kept the convenante of the servant of God neither did they offer any more contrary to the law of piety to inrage against men converted vnto God so longe as they according to their promise did not wickedly transgresse against the lawes of God Wherfore we haue good cause devoutly to thinke of the piety of this blessed man which was of so marveilouse sweetenesse and efficacy that it tamed wilde creatures in so much that those of the woodes it made liue in howses made double thrice those which were of more gentle nature it did incline the nature of brute beastes which hath binne fince the fall of man rebellious against him to become now obedient vnto him This verely is that vertue which confederating all creatures with it selfe Is profitable to all thinges having promise of the life that now is and of that to come THE NINTH CHAPTER Of the fervour of his Charity and of his desire of Martirdome BVT that fervent Charitie Wherewith this frend of the spouse Saint Francis was altogether inflamed what man may be able sufficieÌ„tly to expresse For as a certaine fierie coale he seemed to be wholy absorbted in the flame of Gods loue For soddainely vpon the very hearing of the loue God he was forthwith stirred vp he was in marveilouse manner affected and wholy set on fire as though with the outward stroake of the voice the inwarde string of the harte were touched And therefore to offer such manner of tributs insteede of Allmes he saied it was a noble kinde of prodigality and those that esteemed thereof lesse than of mony he held to be most foolishe confidering that the vnprisable valewe of the only loue of God is aboundantly sufficient to gaine the Kingdome of heaven and that the loue of him who loued vs much is much to be loued and esteemed But to the end he might be out of all things provoked vnto the loue of God he marveilously reioiced in all the workes of our Lord his handes and by the mirrours of delightsomnesse he raised vp himself into the liuely orriginall and cause of them For he did beholde in the things that were beautifull him that was most beautifull of all and by the perfections imprinted in all things the euery where prosecuted the thing beloued making as it were vnto himselfe a ladder of all things whereby he might ascend and take hold of him who is altogeather wholy to be desired For with an affection of devotion more than had binne heard of he tasted in every of the creatures as it were in litle Rivers that excellent goodnesse of the fountaine it self and as if he had conceaved a heauenly harmony in the consonantes of the vertues and actions giuen by God vnto them he sweetely exhorted them according to the manner of the prophet DAVID vnto the honour and praise of Almighty God Christ Iesus crucified evermore remained as a handefull of Mirrhe within the bosome of his minde into whome he desired to be through the fervour of most excessiue loue in euery parte transformed And for a prerogariue of a peculier devotion vnto him from the feaste of the Holie Epiphanie during the space of full forty daies together that is to say during all that time whearin Christe remained solitary in the desert he also be taking himselfe to solitary places and being in his Cell retired did with wonderfull strictnesse aswell of meate as of drinck in fastings and praiers continually attend to the praises of God So feruent was that affection wherewith he was carried vnto Christ But Christ his well beloved did requite him againe with so familiar a kinde of loue that it seemed vnto him the servant of God as if he had the continuall presence of his Saviour before his eies Let the heretickes heâ—re consider the deuotion of this Saint to our B. Lady the Mother of God in her especially
in at the brest somewhat vnder the nipple he made such an open gap rifture into the bodie that the winde comming out frō thēce wouldat one time putout some sixe light Candells being ioyned alltogether Finding therefore by the iudgement of the Phisitions that his cure was impossible in regard of the putrifaction of his woundes which yelded forth such an intollerable stēche that even his owne wife did exceedingly loth it perceaving also that he could not haue help by any humane remedies he wholely turned himselfe with all his best devotion to crave the patronadge of the blessed Father Saint Francis whom with the blessed Virgin he had most faithfully invocated in the very middest of his stroakes And behold as he lay miserably waking in his bed Loe where Saints are inuocated and being innocated doe helpe those which pray vnto thē all solitarie and full of distresse and did with mourneful lamentation oftentimes reiterate the name of Francis there stoode one by him in the habite of affriar Minor having entred as to him it seemed in at the windowe whoe calling him by his name did say vnto him Because that in me thou hast had hope confidence be holde our Lord will deliuer thee And being by the distressed creature demaunded who he was he made answeare that he was Francis Wherevpon drawing nighe forthwith vnto him he presently vnloosed the clothes that bounde vp his woundes and did as he conceaved annoynt all those woundes with a certaine kinde of oyntement But so soone as ever he felt the sweete touche of those sacred handes which by the force and vertue of the Stigmattes of our Saviour were able to giue helpe and remedie the corruption being driven quite away the flesh fully repaired and the woundes throughly healed he was perfectly restored vnto his former healthe and strength Which being donne the blessed Father departed And he finding himself to be healed and bursting forth into a gladsome voice of the praise of God and of blessed Saint Francis did presently call his wife vnto him Who running speedily and beholding him now to stand vpon his feete whom shee made accounte shee should haue buried in the day following being striken with a great terrour and amazement thereat did sill with her clamor and outcrie al the nighbourhood ther about But his neighbours and frinds comming in straite waies vpon him and goeing aboute to haue him backe againe to his bed as one that were frantique and out of his wittes he vtterly refused soe to doe shewing himselfe to be now healed throughly recovered Wherevpon they were all soe exceedingly astonished that being as it were without their since or vnderstanding they held it to be a fantasticall thing which they did behold considering that whom they had but a litle before seene to be with most cruell woundes butchered and worne quite away him did they now obserue to be ful of ioy vpon the perfect recoverie of his former strength And therefore the saied vnto them doe ye in no wise feare neither yet doe ye thinke it to be a vaine thing which you see because Saint Francis is but lately departed from the place who hath by the touche of those his holy handes perfectly cured me of all my woundes Now as the fame of this miracle was at lētgh generally spread abroade all the people repaired with speede vnto him and beholding in soe manifest a wonder the force of the Stigmattes of blessed Saint Francis they were filled therevpon both with admiration and ioy and did also extoll the standard-bearer of Christ with many great and excellent praises And with good cause doubtlesse it was that the blessed Father If the Saints being now dead in flesh doe liue in soule with Christ and in the future iudgment are to rise againe with him howe commeth it to passe that the ignorant of our dayes doe rather with heretickes call thē dead Luc. 10.30 Then sleeping with S. Paul being now dead according to the flesh but yet living with Christ in heaven did both by the marveilouse apparition of his presence and by the sweete touche also of his holy handes giue present healthe and recoverie to this poore man thus pittifully and deadly wounded considering that he himselfe also had taken vpon him the very Stigmattes and markes of him whoe mercifully dying and marveilously againe a rising hath by the vertue of his owne woundes healed all mankinde which had bin sorely wounded and left for almost dead At Potentia a Cittie in Apulia there was a certaine man named Roger a man of honorabse place and a Cannon of the great Church Whoe being one time not well at ease and comming even then into the Church to pray where the picture of blessed Saint Frantis was sette out with his gloriouse Stigmattes did beginne to doubt of the high degree and nature of that miracle as of a thing altogether vnusuall and impossible And sodeinely therefore while being inwardly wounded in his minde he thought with himselfe such vaine and frivolouse things behold in the palme of his left hand vnder his gloue he felt himselfe to be grievously wonded hearing the sounde of a stroake as if it had ben of an arrowe shot out of a crosbowe And being presently thervpon no lesse pained with the wounde thē astonished with the sound he pulled of his gloue frō his hād that by sight of the eye he might fully know what he had already perceaved both by his feeling hearing And whereas in the palme of his hand there had formerly ben no signe of any stroake at al yet now he perceaved therin a wonde newly made as it were with the stroak of an arrowe out of which proceeded so great a violence of burning heate that he seemed ready almost to die for paine thereof It is a marveilouse thing to be spokē There appeared not in the gloue any signe thereof at all that vnto the secrette and hidden wounde of his hart the paine of his bodily wounde secretely receaved might duly be conformed From that time forward therfore for two daies space together he cried and roared pittifully out of the most grievouse violence of his torment and the lurking thought of his incredulous harte he discovered vnto al men He furthermore confessed and did also sweare that he verely and truly believed the holy Stigmattes to haue binne in blessed Saint Francis avow ing and protesting Behold where this holy Saint beinge inuocated doth forthwith heare the prayer of him which doth pray vnto him that all fantasies of doubt were now gone quite away and departed He finally in humble manner besought the Saint of God by those his holy Stigmattes to help him and the manifold praiers of his hart he watered and enriched with a plentifull streame of teares Now see another wonder The incredulity being thus vtterly cast away after the health of the minde health also of the body forthwith ensued For now all paine and griefe was at an ende the
tossed with a perilouse tempest perceaved themselves to be in present daunger of drowing But as they in this desperate case of their liues humbly called vpon Saint Francis See howe great thinges the B. Saint doth effect after his death a great lighte appeared vpon the Sea and together with that lighte a calme was from Heaven vouchsafed as if the blessed man had bin able by a marveilouse power to commaunde the windes and the Sea With how greate and wondrouse Miracles the blessed Father both was and yet is made famous vpon the Sea how often he hath there giuen help vnto such as were voide of hope I thinke it impossible to rehearse particulerly Neither is it to be wondered at if he now raignening in Heaven haue power graunted vnto him over the waters vnto whom conversing in this our mortalitie everie living creature being confirmed vnto the originall of his creation did yealde a marveilouse kinde of service THE FIFTH DIVISION Of persons deliuered out of bonds and imprisonement IT chaunced in Romania that a Graecian being servant vnto a certaine man was vniustly accused of thefte whom for that cause the Lord of the land commanded One Which was captiue being commēded by vowe to S. Francis is foorthWith miraculously deliuered to be kept in a straighte prison and heavily loaden with irons But the lady of the house having compassion vpon her servant whom shee vndoubtedly beleived to be innocent of the crime whereof he was accused made instant request vnto her husbād for his deliverance But whereas he out of the obstinate hardenesse of his hart refused to cōsent vnto her The lady made her humble recourse vnto S. Francis vnto his piety by her petition cōmending the Innocēt Whervpon the helper of the distressed was present forthwith and mercifully visited the poore man that was cast in prison He vnloosed his bandes he broke vp the prison and taking the Innocēt man by the hand he ledde him forth and saied vnto him I am he vnto whom thy Lady hath devoutly commended thee And whereas he was stricken with a great feare in his minde and wandered aboute to finde away of passadge downe from the top of that steepe rocke he sodeinely finding himselfe to be by the power of him that had enlarged him vpon the plaine grounde returned vnto his Lady And relating vnto her in order the truth of the miracle he yet further inflamed the devoute Lady vnto the loue of Christ and to the reverence of his servant Saint Francis In a place called Massa S. Petri there was a poore man that ought a peice of mony vnto a certaine souldier who though he were soe exceding poore that he had not wherwithal to pay him yet being one day sodeinely surprised by his creditor did humbly beseach him to haue compassion vpon him craving a time of respite for the loue of Saint Fancis But the proude warriour despised the petitions that were offered vnto him and as a vaine and idle thing lightely esteemed the loue of the Sainte For making a perverse and preposterouse answeare vnto him I wil saied he shutte thee vp in such a place and I will mure thee vp in such a manner of prison that neither Saint Francis nor any body els shal be able to helpe thee And he put his worde in practise For he founde out an obscure and darke prison whereinto he cast the man with fetters vpon him But a litle after came Saint Francis who breaking vp the prison and riving the fetters a sunder did bring the man harmelesse home to his owne againe And soe the mighty power of Saint Francis having disappointed the proude souldier delivered the Captiue frō harme who had committed himselfe vnto him yea and did by an admirable miracle chaunge the contumacie of that soulder into mildenes and good conformitie In like manner one Albertus Aretium being kept in harde and cruell bandes for certaine debts that were vniustly demaunded of him did humbly commend his innocencie vnto Saint Francis For he did loue the Order of the Friars Minors exceedingly Consider these things thou which saiest that Saints can doe nothinge after their death and did reuerence Saint Francis amōg all the Saintes with an especiall affection But his Creditor saied with a blasphemouse mouth vnto him that neither Saint Francis nor God himselfe could be able to deliver him out of his handes Thus therefore vpon the Vigill of Saint Francis it came to passe that wheras this prisoner had eaten nothing all that day but had given his diette vnto another poore man for the loue of the Sainte in the night following Saint Francis appeared vnto him as he lay awake at whose entraunce in his fetters were loosed from his feete and his chaines fell downe from his handes the doores also were opened of themselves the tables fell downe in the place and the man departing free returned home to his owne And from thenceforthe he fulfilled his vowe observing to fast the vigil of Saint Francis and over adding vnto the taper of waxe which he accustomed yearely to offer an ounce of increase in signe of his increasing devotion When Pope Gregory the ninthe sate in the seate of Saint Peter one Peter also by name an inhabitant of the Cittie called Alisia being accused of heresie was taken at Rome and was by the commaundement of the same supreame Bishoppe committed to the custody of the Bishoppe of Tibur Saint Francis being invocated with prayers teares doth by miracle free one out of prison to be by him kept forthe comming vpon paine of the losse of his Bishoppricke Whom therfore he caused to be put in irons and to shutte vp in a darke prison that he might haue no meane to escape giving vnto him bread by waight and drinke by measure But now did the man beginne with great store both of praiers and teares to call vpon Saint Francis to haue compassion vpon him because he had heard that the vigil of his solemne feaste was presently now at hand And for so much as he had by the puritie of faithe alreadie renounced all error of hereticall impietie and had withall the devotion of his harte adheared vnto the most faithfull servaunte of Christ Saint Francis he obtained by the intercession of his merrittes to be hearde at the handes of our Lord. For the nighte before his festivitie about the twilighte of the evening Saint Francis taking cōpassion came downe into the prison vnto him and calling him by his name did commande him forthwith to rise Who being striken with feare and asking who it was did perceaue that Saint Francis was present And beholding the fetters of his feete to lie broken before him the doores of the prison to be opened by reason that the very nailes flewe out of themselves yea and a plaine way to be prepared for his departure and all this to be donne by force of the presence of the Sainte albeit that he were sette at libertie yet was