all thinges fot love of the Author of all things THE EIGHT CHAPTER Os his affection of Piety and how creatures devoied of reason seemed to be affected towards him VNFAINED pietie which according vnto the Apostles saieng is Profitable to all things had so far forth penetrated and replenished the harte of S. Francis that the man of God seemed wholy to be subiected therevnto Tim. 4.8 This is that vertue which did by force of deuotiō eleuate him aloft vp vnto God which did by cōpassion transforme him into Christ which by way of condiscending declined him to his neighbour which by an vniuersal reconcilement and accord of all thinges did refigurate and againe restore him vnto the state of innocency And allbeit that our of this pietie he were devoutly affected vnto all thinges yet at such time especially as he perceaued that the soules which were redemed with the precious bloud of Christe Iesus were defiled with any filth of sinne he then bewailed them with such a tendernesse of commiseration that as a mother in Christe he dailie laboured to bring them forth againe And this was the special cause that moved him so much to reuerence the ministers of the word of God for that they doe both raise vpp seede to theire brother deceased namely vnto Christ who vouchsafed to be crucified for sinners by working the conversion of them and being converted doe also governe them with an industriouse careful pietie This excellent office of commiseration he affirmed to be vnto the Father of mercie more acceptable than any sacrifice especially when it proceedeth from the industrie of perfect charitie whereby more diligent labour is emploied therein by force of example than by course of words by mourneful praiers rather than by babling discourses Wherevpon he would say that that Preacher was much to be lamented as a man wholy destitute of true and perfect pietie who either in preaching seeketh not the health of soules but his owne priuate praise and glory or who by the naughtinesse of his life destroieth what euer he buildeth vp by the truth of doctrine Before such an one therefore he saied that a simple and ignorant brother was far away to be preferred who by his owne good example 1. Reg. 2 5. prouoketh others also vnto the like And to his effect he expounded that place of holy scripture Vntil the barren haue brought forth many children For the barren saied he is vnderstand to be that poore brother whose proper office is not to ingender children in the holy Church But he neverthelesse shal yet in the iudgment bring forth many children because that such as by his private praiers he doth convert vnto Christe shal then be by the Iudge vnto his glory ascribed And She that hath many children shal be enfeebled because the vaine and talking preacher who now glorieth of many children as by meane of his owne labour and industrie begotten shal the plainely knowe and discerne himselfe not to haue any right or interest in them at all He therefore with all the hartie affection and desires of pietie and with a burning and zealous emulation of minde thirsting after the salvation and good of soules was euer more accustomed to say that he was as it were replenished with sweete odours and was in a maner annointed with a most preciouse and delightfull ointmente so often as he hearde that many weare induced vnto the way of truth by the sweete smelling fame of his holy bretheren dispersed through sundrie partes of the world Vpon the hearing of these reports his spirit not a litle reioyced heaping most acceptable and aboundant blessings vp on all those bretheren who either by worde or deede did induce sinners vnto the lout of Christ But he contrariwise whosoever did by theire euel demeanoure violate the holy stare of Religion did thereby incurre the most greivouse sentence of his malediction Of thee O my most holy Lord said he and of all thy blessed courte of heauen and of me thy poore and humble servant be the al aceursed who by theire euill example doe confoundeand destroy that which by the holy bretheren of this order thou hast already builded and doest not cease yet to build And oftentimes he conceived so exceeding great sorrowe and greife vpon occasion of the scandall of weakelings that he thought himself to haue beene almost dead therewithall had he not beene vpholden by the consolation of Gods divine clemencie But onetime especially being marveilouse much distressed with the evill examples which he sawe to begiven and praing with a perplexed spirite vnto the father of mercie for his children this maner of answeare from our Lord he therevnto received Why arte thou thus thou poore and sillie man afflicted haue I in such maner of wise ordained thee to be Pastor over this my religious order that thou doest not knowe me to be the principall patrone and director thereof For this cause haue I thervnto designed thee being but a simple man that what thinges I shall worke in thee be to no humane industerie but vnto the mightie power of God ascribed It is I who haue called them I also will keepe them and feede them and if some of them doe at any time falle away I will subrogate other into theire roomes againe so farre forth that if they be not yet borne I wil make them to be borne vpon purpose And with how many assaultes soever this my poore religion shal be distressed yet shal it ever abide in saftie by mine especiall giftand protection The vice of detraction also he abhorred as the professed enemie to the pure fountaine of grace and pietie as the venemovse sting of a ferpent and as a most desperate and deadly poyson avowing the same to be most abhominable in the sight of Gods most mercifull and sweete dispotion considering that the man of detraction is fed with the bloud of soules which he doth murder with the fowrde of his tongue And hearing once one of the bretheren to disgrace the good name and fame of another he turned therewithall vnto his Vicar saying arise arise discusse the matter diligently and if you shal finde the brother accused to be innocent faile not with sharpe correction to chastice the accuser wherby to make him an example in that behalfe vnto others And sundrie times also he would aiudge that brother who had dispoiled another of his good name and fame to be himselfe deprived of his habite and that he might not presume to lifte vp his cies vnto our Lord before he had done his best indevour to restore that which he had vncharitably taken away For so much greater said he is the impiety of detractors than of open theiues and robbers as the law of Christ which is fulfilled in the observanc of piety doth more precisely oblige vs to desire the well fare of our neighbours soules than of their bodies And with a wonderfull tendernesse of compassion commiserating the cause of all that were afflicted
weake of bodie yet was he nothing terrified therewithall but was more forcibly animated to the sustaining of martirdome For the insuperable burning loue of good Iesus had encreased within him to lampes of fire and flames soe that many waters were notable to quenche his soe prevalent Charitie Being therefore with the Seraphicall fervour of desires borne vp alofte into God and by the sweetnesse of compassion transformed into him who of his surpassing charitie would vouch safe to be crucified one morning about the Feast of the Exaltation of the holy Crosse while he did pray vpon the side of the hill he sawe a Seraphin with six wings all fierie and full of gloriouse light descending downe from the toppe of the heauens And as he came with a swifte flighte to that place of the aire which was neare to the man of God there appeared betweene his wings the forme of a man crucified hauing his handes and feete stretcht out in manner of a Crosse and fastened also vnto a Crosse Two of his wings were lifted vp aboue his heade two were streeched forth to flie and two did couer his whole body At the beholding wherof he was exceedingly amazed and there entred his hatte a loy mingled with sorrowe For he reioyced in that gracious aspect whereby he perceaued himselfe to be beholden of Christ vnder the forme of a Seraphim but the fastening to the Crosse did peirce through his soule with a sworde of compassionate greife He marveilously wondred in the aspect of soe strange rare a vision knowing well that the infirmitie of Passion could by no meanes agree with the immortalitie of a Seraphicall spiritte But in the end he herehence perceaued our Lord reuealing the same vnto him that therefore this manner of vision was by the providence of God in suche manner of wise presented vnto his veiwe that he the friend of Christ might thereby forknow that he was wholy to be transformed into the likenesse of Christ crucified not by the martir dome of his flesh but by the burning inflammation of his minde The vision therefore disappearing did leaue behinde a wounderfull heate in his harte and a no lesse wonderfull impression of signes in his flesh For presently there beganne to appeare in his hāds and feete the signes of nailes euen in such manner as a litle before he had seene them in the likenesse of the crucified man For his hands and feete seemed to be in the very middest peirced with nailes the heades of them nailes appearing in the inner parte of his handes and the outer parte of his feete but the pointes of them on the contrary sides And the heades of the nailes in his hands feete were rounde and blacke but the pointes were somewhat long and wreathed and as it were clinched which rising vppe out of the very flesh did sticke out higher than the rest of the flesh His righte side also as being pearced through with a speare was couered ouer with a redde skarre which oftentimes casting out holy bloud did besprincle his coate and breeches therewithall But the servante of Christ perceauing that those markes so plainely imprinted in his flesh could not to be hidden from his familiar companions and fearing neverthelesse to publishe the secrette of our Lord was in a greate agony and doubt of minde whether he should vtter or conceale the vision which had binne shewed vnto him Wherfore he called together some of the brethren speaking vnto them in generall tearmes he proposed his doubt before them and required their councel and advise therein At what time one of the brethren Illuminatus by name a man also singularly illuminated by grace from heauen perceiuing that he had seene some wonderfull things by reason that he seemed to be very greately astonished did speake in this wise vnto the holy man Brother knowe it for certaine that it is not only for your selfe but also for others that the divine mysteries of God are sometime shewen vnto you Wherefore you haue iust cause to feare least if you shall conceale the thing which you haue receaved for the profitte and behoofe of many you be therevpon adiudged reprehensible for the hidden Tallent Mat. 25.26 Esay 24.16 At whose wordes the holy man being greatly moved albeit that at other times he was wont to say My secrette vnto my selfe did yet nowe at this time with much feare relate the historie of the foresaied vision adding also therevnto that he who had appeared vnto him had told him some things which he would neuer open vnto any man so long as he should liue And we may very wel beleiue that the wordes of that holy Seraphin soe admirably appearing in the Crosse were soe misticall and secrette that haply it was not lawfull to vtter them vnto men And nowe after that the true loue of Christ had transformed this his lover into the same Image with himself having accomplished his forty daies fast in the desert according to his determination and the solemne feast of S. Michael the Archangell being no we approached the Angelical man S. Francis came downe from the mountaine bearing with him the forme of the crucified howebeit not figured in tables either of wood or stone by the hand of the Craftesman but expressed in his fleshly members by the finger of the living God And because It is good to hide the secrette of the Kinge Tob. 12.7 this holy man therefore being privie of the Kings secrette Councell did apply all his best endeauour to hide those sacred marks But because it is the worke of God for his owne glories sake to manifest the things which he doth our Lord therefore himself who had secrettely imprinted the marks did openly shewe certaine miracles by meane of them that the hidden and marveilouse force of those stigmats might manifestly appeare by the evident testimony of signes and wonders For in the Prouince of Reate there raigned a very greivous plague which did soe cruelly consume all the sheepe and Oxen that no manner of remedie could be applied vnto them But behold a certaine devout man that feared God was by vision in the night time admonished hastily to goe vnto the Ermitage of the brethren and that taking the water wherein the servaunte of God Saint Francis who then remained in that place had washed his hands and feete he should sprinckle the same vpon al the beasts Rising therefore earely in the morning he came to the place having prively obtained this water by meane of the companions of the holy man he sprincled the sicke sheepe and Oxen therwithall Nowe see the wonder As soone as the sprinckling had in any small quantitie once touched the beasts that lay before languishing vpon the ground they presently rose vp as hauing nowe perfectly recouered their wonted strength and hastily went vnto their feede and pasture as thought they had felt no harme at all Whereby it came to passe that by the admirable vertue of that water which had but touched
he soe amazed that he could not finde the way to depar te but making a noyse at the gate terrified all his keepers Who making reporte vnto the Bishoppe of his deliverie from imprisonement the Bishoppe himselfe after vnderstanding had of the order and course of the matter came with devotion vnto the prison and manifestly knowing the power of God adored our Lord in that place The bondes also and fetters were brought before our Lord the Pope and the Cardinalls all that were present who seing what had binne donne and admiring the same exceedingly gaue honour and praise vnto God One Guidolotus of Saint Geminianus being falsely accused of killing a certaine man with poyson and that by the same manner of death he would also haue destroied his sonne all his familie was therefore apprehended by the Governour of the lande by whose commaundement he was loaden with irons and straightly imprisoned in a certaine Tower But he having hope in our Lord by reason of his innocencie which he knewe in his owne harte cōmended his cause to the defence of Saint Francis his patronadge But while the Governoure was thinking with himselfe by what manner of torment he might make him confesse the obiected crime further with what paines he might after such confession finally put him to death the poore man being the nexte morning to be brought to his torments was visited that very night with the presence of Saint Francis and being vntil the morning incōpassed with a great brightnesse of lighte being also filled with ioy much confidence also of minde he receaved security of his escape But in the morning the tormētours came about him they ledde him out of the prison they hung him vpon the torture and increased vpon him many and sundrie waights of iron He was oftentimes lette downe and lifted vp againe that by the succeding of one paine after another he might be the sooner inforced to confesse the crime but by the spiritte of his innocencie he retained a chearefullnesse in his countenance making no shewe of sadnesse in all those paines Yet after this a great fier was made beneathe him but not soe much as one of his heares was thereby perished though he hung with his head to the grounde And last of all being scalded all over his bodie with boiling oyle by vertue of his patrone to whose defence he had commended himselfe overcomming all these things he went away safe and free from harme THE SIXTE DIVISION Of Women deliuered from daunger in Childebirthe A certaine Countesse in Sclauonia no lesse vertuous in conversation than highe in honorable degree condition did beare towards Saint Francis an exceeding great devotion and towards the brethren an industriouse affectionof pietie But she suffering one time in her travel of childe exceeding sharpe and dolorouse paines was brought vnto that extremitie of distresse that the future birthe of the childe seemed likely in all expectation to be the present death of the Mother For it seemed impossible that the childe should be borne with life vnlesse that shee thereby should ende her life and should by such a deliverie nor bring forth but perrish But then shee bethought her selfe of Saint Francis his fame of his vertue and glory her faith was stirred vp her devotion was inflamed Shee turned her selfe vnto his efficacious helpe vnto him as vnto a true frind as vnto a solace of the devoute as vnto a refuge of the afflicted O Saint Francis quoth shee vnto thy pietie al the bones of my body make humble supplication and I vow in minde what I cannot expresse in wordes And marveilouse was the speede of his pietie A certaine woman being helped by S. Francis in the danger of child-birth doth afterwards performe her vowe and build a Church in his honor The ende of her speaking was the ende of her lamenting the bounde of her travell the beginning of her childe bearing For presently her labours being all at an end shee did with safetie bring forthe her childe And afterwardes shee was not vnmindefull of her vow nor yet refractorie from her wel intended purpose For shee caused a goodly Church to be builte and the same being builte and finished shee assigned vnto the brethren in honour of the holy Sainte In the parts aboute Rome there was a certaine woman named Beatrice who looked now shortely to be brought a bed of a childe but having borne it deade by mischaunce for fower daies space in her wombe shee miserablie sustained many and sundrie torments and was distressed with dolorouse paines even to the pointe of deathe For the dead issue constrained the mother to deathe and the abortiue being not yet brought to lighte inforced the apparant perrill and danger of the Mother Shee tried the helpe of the Phisitians Gen. 3.16 But by whatsoever humane helpe shee laboured it prooved all in vaine And soe of the first maledictions some parte did plentifully befall vpon this miserable woman that being made the graue and Sepulcher of her owne conception she was for certaine to expect a graue for her selfe immediately But shee at the length withall her devotion committing her selfe by message vnto the Friers Minors did with great faith humbly craue to haue somewhat of the Reliques of Saint Francis And it happened by Gods providence that there was founde a certaine peice of a corde See heere howe parte of the girdle of S. Francis being applyed to a Woman doth deliuer her frō danger of death wherewith the holy man had binne sometime girded The which so soone as it was put vpon the mournefull woman most easely forthwith removed all paine and dolour quite away the dead childe which was the cause of her danger being now brought forth shee wes perfectly restored vnto her former health A certaine noble manswife of Narnium named Iuliana passed her yeares in sorrow and heavinesse for the death of her sundrie sonnes and did continually bewaile her vnhappy misfortune concerning them in regard that all that euer she had with greate paine and labour brought into the world she did in shorte space with farre greater sorrowe commit to buriall But bearing one time in her wombe a childe of fower monethes conception and being by reason of the former events more afflicted in minde concerning the deathe than concerning the birth of the childe she faithfully praied vnto the blessed Father Saint Francis for the life of the childe that was yet vnborne And beholde one nighte as shee lay at rest a certaine woman appeared in sleepe vnto her holding a goodly boy in her handes and offering him in most chearefull manner vnto her But whereas shee refused to receaue him whom shee feared foorth with to loose againe the woman yet further in this māner of wise replied saying receaue him securely for he whom Saint Francis bearing compassion with thee in thy griefe doth send vnto thee shall be sure to liue and shal continewe in perfect healthe And presently the woman
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
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
bearer and a most faithfull servant But the Order being now great amplified augmented he did greatly desire that the forme and rule therof by Pope Innocenciâ—s already approved might be Honorius his successor for ever be ratified and confirmed and even then he was by Almighty God admonished with this manner of revelation It seemed vnto him that he was gathering vp from the earth certaine most exceeding small and slender crummes of bread by him to be distributed among a great many hungry brethren of his that stoode in expectance rownde aboute him And fearing to distribute so smalle crummes least perhaps they should fall out of his handes he heard a voice from aboue saing vnto him Francis make one hast of all the crummes and giue vnto them that will eate Vnto which voice he shewing himselfe obedient whosoever did not receiue the distribution devoutly or did make light of the guift already receaved were presently marked with a leaprous infection All which the holy man did the next morning after relate vnto his brethren sorrowing much that he could not vnderstand the mistery of the vision But the next day following as he persisted watchfull in praier he heard a voice from heaven speke vnto him Francis the crummes which thou sawest in the night past are the wordes of the Gospell the host is the Rule and the leaprousie iniquity Being therefore desirous before he sought the confirmation of his Rule to reduce the same as being hitherto more largely compiled out of sundry parts of the Ghospell vnto a more compendious forme and methode according as the vision did purporte vnto him he went vpp with two of his companions into a certaine hill wherevnto he was by the Holy Ghost conducted He fasted with bread water and there contenting himselfe with bread water during the time of his fast he caused the same to be written according to that which the spirit of God suggested vnto him as he was yet persevering in fervent prayer Which being there by him in this manner finished and himsefe now comming downe from the montaine he gaue the same to his Vicar to keepe who within few daies confessing himselfe to haue lost it by fault of negligence the holy man went againe the second time into the solitary place of the desert presently renewed the same againe as if he had taken the wordes from out of the mouth of God And shortly after obtained according to his owne desire to haue the same confirmed by the foresaid Pope HONORIVS in the eight yeare of his Popedome Wherevpon taking occasion with great fervency to perswade his brethren a new to the observance of the rule he avowed vnto them that he had not thereinto inserted any thing out of his owne industrie but had simply and plainly written downe all every point eueÌ„ in such sorte as had binne from God revealed vnto him S Francis caused his rule to be written as he had receiued by diuine renelation Which that it might the more manifestly appeare as being confirmed and approved by the testimony of God himself within few daies after the signes Marks of our Lord Iesus were imprinted vpon him by the finger of the living God as it were the Bull of the chiefe and most supreame Bishop Christ himselfe aswell to the absolute confirmatioÌ„ of the Rule as also to the commendation of the Author thereof as shall be hereafter set downe in convenient place after we shall hane declared his excellent vertues THE FIFTH CHAPTER Of the austerity of his life and how the Creatures of God gaue sollace vnto him NOvv when the holy servant of God Saint Francis did perceive that many were by his exaÌ„ple incouraged with fervencie of spirit to carry the Crosse of Christ himselfe also like a good leader of the army of Christ was therby animated daily more and more to attaine vnto the crowne of victory by the exquisite perfection of most invincible vertue For coÌ„sidering the sayng of the Apostle that Se with what seuerity of disciplines the holy Father did mortifi the concupiscence of his flesh Se also his wonderful abstinenâ— They who are of Christ haue crucified their flesh together with their vices and concupiscenses he to the ende he might in his owne body beare the armour of the Crosse did with so great severitie of discipline restraine his sensuall appetites that scantly he allowed vnto himselfe the very things that were necessary for the sustentation of nature Vsing evermore this maÌ„ner of saying that It could not be but marueilous hard to fatisfie the necessities of the body yet not to condiscen vnto the euill inclination of sensuall desirs for which cause in time of health he would hardly be induced to eat of boiled meats or at least wise very seldome if he did at any time he vsed either to put ashes amonghst it or els by mingling of water with the saÌ„e to make the meat vnsavoury What shall I speake of his moderate drinking when as he would scarrely drink of cold water sufficient to alay the violence of his thrist He ever invented new waies of more perfect abstinence and by exercise did daily more more increase therein and although he had already attained vnto the highest degree of perfection yet some thing alwaies he did as a new beginner innovate punishing with afflictions his fleshly concupissence Neverthelesse at such times as he weÌ„t abroade to preach the Gospell he did conforme himselfe in the quality of his meate according to the custome of the persons that did entertaine him but at his returning home againe then did he strictly obserue the rigour of most parsimonius abstineÌ„ce And so in all respects vsing austerity towards himself curtesie towards his neighbour obedience to the Gospell of Christ he was an example of edification to others not only by abstaining but even also by eating The bare ground he vsed most commonly as a bed for his weried body He slept often on the bare ground and tooke his sleep oftentimes sitting leaning his head vpon a piece of woode or a stone and resting alwaies contented with one coate he served our Lord in cold and nakednesse Whetevpon it being one time demaunded of him how he could with so thinne a garment defende himselfe from the extreame sharpenesse of the winter cold Behold his great austerity in his apparell he answered with afervour of spirit If we were inwardly toucht by fervent desire with the flame of the heavenly couÌ„try we should easily be able to indure this eternall colde He could not abide softnes of apparell but asperous clothing he much esteemed affirming that S Iohn Baptist was in that respecte commended by the mouth of God himselfe And therefore if at time he found any kinde of easefulnes in such garmens as had bene given vnto him he vsed to weare litle cords into the inner side therof alluding vnto the words of truth that softnes of apparell was not to besought for
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
as with fignes of thine office to be adorned with heavenly weapons with the signe of the Crosse Nowe the vision of the Crucifixe which thou did dest see in the beginning of thy conversion striking thee through the harte with the sworde of compassionate griefe the hearing also of the voice from the Crosse proceeding as it were from the high Throane and secrette Propitiatorie of Christ according as thou hast affirmed by thy sacred speach are vndoubtedly belleued to haue binne most true and certaine Nowe is it verely belieued and avowed that the Crosse which in the progresse of thy conversion brother Siluester did see in marveilouse manner proceeding out of thy mouth that the swordes striking through thy bowells in the forme of a Crosse which holy Pacificus did see and that thy being lifted vp into the aire in the manner also of a Crosse when blessed Anthony did preach of the title of the Crosse according as was shewen to the Angelicall man Monaldus were not things of fantasticall vision but of heavenly revelation And nowe towards the end whereas at once is shewen vnto thee both the highe and loftie similitude of a Seraphin the humble forme of him that was crucified inwardly inflaming thee and outwardly leaving his marcks vpon thee that like as another Angell ascending from the rising of the sunne thou mightst haue in thy selfe the signe of the living God it doth not only giue vnto the former visions firme cause of creditte and beliefe but receaveth also from them vndoubted testimony of the truth Behold nowe in seaven apparitions of the Crosse of Christ in theÌ„e and about thee according to the order and courte of times marveilously exhibited and shewen thou art as it were by sixe degrees nowe happily come vnto this seauenth wherein thou makest thy final rest aboade For the Crosse of Christ being in the very first beginning of thy conversion aswell proposed vnto thee as on thy parte also assumed and being from thence forth in the whole progresse of thy conversation by thee carried throught the course of a most approved life as remaining in thy selfe continually being demonstrated vnto others for matter of example doth by so evident a clearenesse of certaine knowledg discover thee to haue accomplished the very height of Evangelicall persection that this soe ratâ— a demonstration of Christian wisedome figured in the dust of thy fleshe no man that is trnly devour may set at naught no man that is truly faithfull may with stand no man that is truly humble may lightly regard because it is verely truly shewen by God himselfe from heauen and is well worthy of all good acceptation THE FOVRTENTH CHAPTER Of his Patience and Deathe NOvv blessed Saint Francis being together with Christ wholy fastened vnto the Crosse aswell in flesh as in spiritte did not only burne with a Seraphicall loue towardes God but did also with Christ crucified thirst after the salvation of many And because he was not able to goe in regard of the nailes growing and increasing in his feete he therefore caused his overworne and decaied bodie to be carried about through Crtties and Townes that soe he might incourage others to carry the Crosse of Christ And to his brethren he would say Let vs nowe brginne my brethren to serue our Lord God because hitherto we haue donne but litle good And nowe he was inflamed with a great desire of minde to returne vnto his first grounde workes of humility as namely to minister vnto the Leapers according as in the beginning he had binne wont to doe and though his feeble bodie were wholy spent and consumed with labour yet neverthelesse to recall it vnto the former servitude For he purposed vnder the Conduct and help of Christ to doe great matters and bearing within his overwearied members a spiritte of great fervour and fortitude he was in hope by a new conflict to tâ—iumphe over his enemy For it is no waise possible that either slouth or feeblenesse should there haue any place where the prick of loue doth vrge and provoke evermore vnto greater things But he had in his fles he â—oe great a concorde vnto his spiritte and so great a pomprnesse also of obedience there vnto that where as be did wholy bend himselfe to aspire vnto all manner of holinesse yet did the fleshe not only make no resistance but did â—nd eavour to out goe the spiritte And that the man of God might gaine a more abundant treasure and heape of merittes al which are verely and truly consummated in the vertue of Patience he beganne to be soe heavily laden with many sortes of infirmities that hardly did there remaine any parte of his bodie that was free from the violence of some disease In so much that through sundrie long and continuall sicknesses he was finally brought to that passe that his flesh being nowe quite consumed he was as it were nothing but skinne and bones And being pressed in body with hard and greiuous afflictions yet would he never reckon of them by the name of paines but would call them by the name of Sisters But being at one time assailed with the extreame sharpnesse of his sundrie infirmities in more extraordinarie manner than he had binne at any time before one of the brethren being but a simple man said thus vnto him Brother make your praier vnto our Lord to deale more mildely with you for he seemeth to hold to heavie a hand vpon you Wherevpon the holy man criyng out with a certaine mourneful kinde of complainte did say vnto him Vnlesse I did knowe thee to be of a very simple puritie I would from henceforth abhorre thy companie seeing that thou hast presumed to reprehend the divine iudgements of God concerning me and although he were wholy worne and wasted with the long continuance of his greivouse sickenesse yet casting himself downe vpon the earth he hurte his feeble bones with a hard fall And kissing the grounde I giue thanks vnto thee saied he O Lord God for all these my gtiefes and I beseeche thee my Lord to encrease them if it soe please thee even a hundred folde for this shall be vnto me most acceptable that thou spare not to afflict me with paines considering that the fullfilling of thy holy will is vnto me a comforte more than most plentiful and abundant Whereby it seemed vnto the brethren that they did behold as it were another Iob whoe as the afflictions of his fleshe did increase did himselfe also so much the more increase in courage strength of minde But he knewe the time of his deathe long before and the day of his departure being euen now at hand he saied vnto his brethren that he was very presently to put of the tabernacle of his body according as had binne by Christ revealed vnto him Having therefore bin for two yeates space from the impression of his sacred Stigmats as namely from the twentith yeare after his conversion by many
this wies to speake vnto her Rise vppe saied he my blessed daughter rise vp and doe not feare And taking her by the hand he lifted her vp and disappeared But shee bestirring her selfe on everie side in her litle Cell imagined that shee had seene a vision vntil such time that at her clamour and noise a lighte was brought whereby she perceaving her selfe to be by the servaunte of Christ Saint Francis perfectly in healthe and strength restored did orderly declare all the matter as it had befallen vnto her THE NINTH DIVISION Of such as obserued not the feaste and of those that honored not the Sainte IN the parts of Pictauia in the village Note a straÌ„ge miracle about keeping holy the feast of S. Francis which is called Simo a certaine Priest named Reginald being devoute vnto Saint Francis did bid his feaste to be solemnely celebrated of all his parishioners But one of the people not knowing the vertue of the blessed Sainte made lighte accounte of his Pastors commaundement And goeing forth into the feilde to out some wood as he was preparing himselfe to worke he heard a voyce speaking there times in this manner vnto him It is affestivall day you may not worke But whereas this his fervile temeritie was neither by the commaundement of the Priest nor yet by the Oracle of the heavenly voice restrained the power of God to the glory of his Sainte vouchesafed forthwith a miracle and a scourge also therewithall For as soone as he nowe alreadie holding in one hand a prong did with his other hand lifte vp an iron instrument to worke either hand was vnto either instrument by devine power soe fastened conioyned that he could not open his fingers to let goe any one of them bothe Wherevpon being marveilously astonished and not knowing what to doe he being followed with many people that ranne after him to see the wonder did make hast to goe to the Church Where with compunction of minde he by advise of one of the Priests that assisted for there were many Priestes invited to come to the Feaste did before the Altar humbly devote himselfe to Saint Francis making three vowes according to the voice he had hearde three severall times namely to Celebrate his Feaste to repaire also on that day vnto the Church of that place where in he should then be and personally to vifite the bodie of the Sainte It is a wonderful thing to be reported As soone as he had made his first vowe one of his fingers was loosened at the making of his second vow another of his fingers was enlarged and when he had made his third vow yet another of his singers therewithal his whole hand as also his other hand was in like manner immediately sette at libertie meane while that the people which had now by this time in greate numbers assembled to that place did most devoutely implore the aide and clemencie of the blessed Sainte And soe the man being perfectly restored to his former freedome and libertie did without the help of any other lay a side those instruments whereby all men praised Almightie God and the admirable power of his Sainte who could soe marveilously both strike heale againe But those instruments themselves doe vntill this day in memorie of that fact hang vp before an Altar which is erected to the honour of Saint Francis Many other miracles also donne there and in the places nighe adioyning doe evideÌ„tly shewe and declare both that the Sainte is of excellent degree in heaven and that his feaste ought to be reverently celebrated heere in earthe In the Cittie also of Cenomanum a certaine woman as she did vpon the solemnitie of Saint Franâ—is reacht out her hand to her distaffe Heere we haue a sufficient testimony that the feasts of Saints are not to be coÌ„temned did with her fingers begin to take holde of her spindle her hands presently becomming stiffe and drie shee felt in her fingers exceeding torments of burning heate Being thus therefore taught by the paine to knowe the vertue of the Sainte with compunction of harte shee haftily ranne to the brethren And when the devoute Children had for her health craved the Clemencie of the holy Father shee was presently made well againe neither did any thing of the hurte remaine in her hand saving that for memorie of the fact some only signe of the burning was yet to be seene In like manner also in the greater Campania a certaine woman in the village of Olletum another woman and in the towne of Pylleum a third woman contemning to celebrate the Feaste of the blessed Father were at the first marveilously punished but being afterwardes penitent were by the merittes of Saint Francis more marveilously delivered A certaine souldier of Burgum Heere by examples we are admonished not to detract from the honour of the Saâ—nts within the province of Massa one who had binne sometime appertaining vnto the warres did most impudently detract from the marveilouse workes and prodigiouse miracles of blessed Saint Francis He vsed many reproaches to pilgrimes that came to his memorie and against the brethren he railed with open and vnrestrained madnesse But as he one time endeavoured to deface the glory of Gods Sainte he heaped vpon the rest of his sinnes an horrible blasphemie of all men to be detested If it be true saied he that this same Francis is a Sainte let me this day be slaine with a sworde but if he be no Sainte then let me scape vntoucht And the wrathe of God made now no delay to inflict due punishement vpon him considering that his prayer was now turned into sinne For within a litle while vpon occafion of some eniurie which this blasphemouse personne offered to a nephewe of his he tooke vp a sworde and thrust it into his Vncles bowells And that very day died this wicked bond slaue of Hell and childe of darkenesse That other men might leatne not with blasphemouse wordes to disgrace but with devoute praises to honor the marveilouse workes of S. Francis A certaine Iudge named Alexander with his venimous tongue with drawinge as many as he coulde from the honor of Saint Francis was by Gods devine iudgement deprived of the vse of his tongue that he was not able to speake for the space of six yeares together Who finding himselfe to be punished in the thing wherein he had offended being recalled vnto himselfe did with deepe and vnfained repeÌ„tance sorrow in his harte that he had barked despitefully spoken against the miracles of the Sainte For which cause the indignation of the mercifull Sainte was now of no longer contineuance but he vpon his repentance humble calling vpon him restoring vnto him his speache did vouchsafe to receaue him to favour And from that time he consecrated his blasphemouse tongue to the praises of the Sainte receaving out of that scourge both devotion and good instruction THE TENTH AND LAST DIVISION Of certaine other