neuertheles I hope in God that the inuisible ennemies the deuils that are his executioners to chastice the disobedientes in this world and in the other will also chastice the transgressours of the vow of their profession therby to their shame and forciblie to make them retourne to their first vocation to this effect I will not omitt to assist them whiles I liue att least by prayers and example sith otherwise I cannot and to instruct them the secure way which I haue learned of my God as I haue formerly done that they may haue no excuse before his diuine maiesty No further doe I hold my selfe obliged Such was his answeare which satisfying the Religious procured an inestimable greife to all the hearers wherby it also manifestlie appeared what reason the S. had to leaue them and what occasion they had to know themselues and by a pious acknowledgement of their fault and true repentance to haue recourse vnto him The end of the first booke of the Chronicles of the Friere Minors THE SECONDE BOOKE OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE FRIER MINORS WHERIN IS PROSECVTED THE discourses of the life death and miracles of the Seraphical Father S. Francis translated out of french into English Of the plenary indulgence graunted by Iesus Christ to the Church of our Lady of Angels of Portiuncula THE FIRST CHAPTER THE more the glorious Father S. Francis profited in perfection and endeauoured to vnite himselfe with God the more did he poure out teares and felt intollerable greife att the losse of soules redeemed by the price of the precious bloud of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST Wherfore not ceassing to desire mercie of God for sinners as he thirsted to haue all saued the yeare of grace 1223. being to that effect in prayer an Angell appeared vnto him and bid him incontinentlie to repaire vnto the church because our Lord IESVS CHRIST with his glorious Mother and a great number of Angels there expected him Hauing receaued this gracious embassadge he hastened thither and there found our Sauiour sitting in a Royall throne on the high altare and the Virgin Mary att his right hand enuironned with an innumerable multitude of blessed spirittes The holy Father incontinentlie falling prostrate on the earth heard the diuine voice of IESVS saying Francis Know that I haue heard thy feruent prayers and because I know with what solicitude thou and thy Religious procure the saluation of soules aske me what grace thou wilt for their soules benefitt and I will graunt it thee The S. being by such an answeare emboldened most humbly answeared My Lord IESVS CHRIST I miserable and vnworthy sinner with the greatest reuerence I can require of thy diuine maiesty that it will please thee so much to fauour all Christian people as to graunt them a generall pardon and plenary indulgence of all their sinnes I meane to all them that shall enter into this church confessed and contrite I also beseech thee O glorious holy Virgin mother and our Aduocatrix that it would please thee to make intercession to thy most gracious sonne for me and for all Christian sinners Our Lady was instantlie moued with these wordes and began in this sort to pray our Redeemer in his behalfe O my most high Lord and sonne of my bowels I beseech thee graunt vnto this thy faithfull seruaunt this grace which he hath demaunded with so great a zeale of the saluation of soules which thy selfe aboue all other thinges disirest My God graunt him this grace in this place to thine honour and the edification of thy holy church Our Lord sodenlie answeared Francis that which thou demaundest is great but this thy desire conformable to mine deserueth much more and therfore I graunt thy request But goe to my Vicar to whome I haue giuen al power of vnbinding and binding here on earth and in my name demaund it of him which said he disappeared The Religious that had their celles neere therevnto saw the splendour and heard some speach but durst not approach for reuerence and great feare that possessed them The holy Father S. F. hauing thācked God presētly called Bro. Macie in whose cōpany he wēt to Perusia where thē was Pope Honorius with his court befor whose holines he thus spake Holy F. I haue reestablished a church that was very ruinous desert called S. Mary of portiūcula very neere vnto the citty of Assise wherin are residēt your Religious the Frere Min. I beseech your holines by our Redeemer I. C. his most glorious mother to voutsafe for the benefitt of the soules of all faithful Christiās to graūt a plenary indulgēce and remission of all their sinnes to all them that shall visitt this church in good estate without giuing any almose in the same The Pope answeared him that the Apostolike sea did not accustome to graunt indulgēs without giuing of almose because it will that they be gayned by thē He thē asked him for how many yeares he desired the indulgēce S. Francis answeared Holy Father I desire not yeares but soules How soules said the Pope S. Frācis replyed I require that euery Christian confessed and contrite that shall come to visitt the said Church receaue plenarie absolution in earth and in heauen and that of whatsoeuer sinnes he shall haue committed from his Baptisme to that very houre I require not this in myne owne name but in our Lord IESVS CHRIST who hath sent me to your Holines Which the Pope hearing inspired of the holy Ghost he thus spake thrice with a loud voice I am content to graunt it as thou hast demaunded it But the Cardinals present aduised the Pope to consider well what he graunted because by that act he would destroy the indulgences of the holy land and of Sainct Peter and S. Paul att Rome which would no longer be regarded The Pope answeared that he would not reuoke what he had att that present graunted They replyed that att least it were requisit he should limitt the said indulgence to a certaine time and moderate it to a certaine prefixed day of the yeare The Pope then said We graunt to all faithfull Christians that being truely confessed and contrite shall enter into the Church of our Lady of Angels plenary indulgence and absolution both of paine and fault and we will that the same be of force for euer for one entier day that is from the first euensong till the sunne sitting of the day following Which the holy Father Sainct Francis hauing obtayned he kissed his feet then demaunded his benediction which receaued he arose to depart But the Pope recalling him said Whither goest thou simple man what specialtie hast thou of the indulgence obtayned The holy Father answeared that his word should suffice and besides that this worck was of God and therfore it should be published and supported by his diuine Maiesty and withall that he would haue no other Bull but the Virgin Mary IESVS CHRIST for Notary and the Angels for witnesses Which
said he departed and by the way stayed at the hospitall of leapers where making his accustomed prayer it was reuealed vnto him by our Lord IESVS CHRIST that the indulgence which he had procured was confirmed in heauen wherof hauing aduertised his companion they both retourned to giue thanckes to his diuine maiesty How the day of the said indulgence was miraculously assigned from heauen THE II. CHAPTER THe day wherein the said indulgence was to be gained was not yet prefixed S. Francis being come to the Couent of our Lady of Angels and being about midnight in prayer in his celle the deuill appeared vnto him in forme of an Angell saying O poore Francis why seekest thou to dye before the time why doest thou consume chy complexion by so long watchinges knowest thou not that the night is made to sleepe and that sleepe is the principall nourishment of the body thou art not yet old why then wilt thou thus kill thy selfe Were it not better for thee to conserue thy life therein to serue thy God longer and to profitt the holy church and thine Order Beleeue me therfore and spend not thy life in such superfluous prayers and watchinge only mediocrity pleaseth God Which the holie Father hauing heard and knowing it to be a delusion of the deuill that tempted him exteriourlie by his voice and interiourlie by his suggestion arising from his prayer he stripped himselfe naked then cast himselfe into a bush full of very sharpe pricking thornes wherin he tourned and wallowed till the bloud euery where trickled downe and doeing the same he thus discoursed vnto his body Ah my body it had bin better for thee to contemplat the passion of IESVS CHRIST then to endure this for hauing in vayne repined and searched the delightes of the world Thus discoursing a great light appeared vnto him in the middes of the ice that was there it was in Ianuary and in the bush of thornes he saw very beautifull roses white and vermillion and a venerable troupe of Angels that filled all the way euen to his church and one of them called him saying Come Francis for our Lord expectethe thee and in an instant he miraculously found himselfe cloathed So knowing him that called him he gathered twelue white roses and twelue vermillion then went through the way all tapestred with Angelicall spirittes towardes his sweet Lord before whose feet he fell in great reuerence and then presented these twelue roses vnto his diuine Maiestie that appeared sitting on the said high altare as the other time accompanied with his glorious mother and assisted with an innumerable multitude of Angels to whome he said Most gracious lord gouernour of heauen earth sith it hath pleased thee to graunt me the plenary indulgence for this church I most huÌ„bly beseech thee to voutsafe also assigne the day wherein it shal be gayned I herein coniure thee by the merittes of thy most glorious mother our aduocatrice that it please thee to appoint the same by thy diuine mouth Our Lord answeared him I am content to satisfie thy desire and therfore I assigne thee the first day of August from the euensong of that feast wherin is made memory how I deliuered myne Apostle S. Peter from the chaines of Herod vntill the sunne sittiug of the day following But tell me if thou please my Lord said the holy Father after he had giuen him thanckes how shall the world know it and knowing it how shall it beleeue it Our Sauiour replyed I will consider therof in time conuenient but in meane while retourne to my vicare and carry with thee some Religious that haue seene this apparition and giue him some of these Roses and he shall incontinently confirme thee the day and cause the indulgence to be published The holy Father vpon obedience tooke three white and three vermillon roses and whiles our lord disappeared the Angels sung Te Deum laudamus and S. Francis gaue him thanckes who presently went to his holynes with Brother Bernard Quintaualle Brother Angelus of Rieta and Brother Ruffinus who had seene this great vision Being before the dore of the church he found the Pope retourned from Rome to whome he yelded account of what our lord had told him calling his companions for witnesses and presenting him the said Roses The Pope hauing attentiuely heard him and being vnable to satisfie himselfe with beholding the said Roses so fresh and sweet and therwithall so rauished as he could no longer containe himselfe he sayed Ah good God such roses in Ianuary to make me beleue what they haue sayd these alone are sufficient therfore he said to S. Francis I will consult with my Cardinals how thy request may be accomplished then will giue answeare and with those wordes dismissed him The next day he repaired againe vnto his holines in the Consistory where by the Popes coÌ„mandement he once more recounted all the successe and the day which God had prefixed vnto him The Pope theÌ„ said sith we arecertaine of the will of our lord IESVS CHRIST the true and soueraine Bishop whose place though vnworthy we hold on earth we also in his behalfe doe graunt the plenary indulgence for perpetuity to the foresaid church on the day before mentioned How the said indulgence was published in the church of S. Mary of Angels THE III. CHAPTER BVt that so great an indulgeÌ„ce might be published by Apostolical authority the Pope wrote to diuers Bishoppes of the valley of SpoletuÌ„ and particulerly to the Bishop of Assiâ—e within whose diocese the said church was and to the Bishoppes of FolliniuÌ„ of Agubio and of Nocera that they should be all present att S. Mary of Angels the first day of August to consecrate and publish the said indulgeÌ„ce that there had bin graunted by diuine reuelatioÌ„ and Apostolicall permission att the request of the holy Father S. Francis who taking the said letters and thancking the Pope he departed with his companios with great reuerence and humility to deliuer theÌ„ to the said Bishoppes praying them in the name of God and his holines that they would not faile on the said day to be preseÌ„t in his Church there to performe what was enioyned theÌ„ After that he retourned to AssisiuÌ„ where he caused to be prepared a great scaffold for that effect that the sayd Bishoppes might the more commodiously and better be vnderstood of the people The day determined being come the Bishoppes entred into the said Church where being asceÌ„ded on the scaffold they said to S. Fran. that though they were come thither to publish the indulgence as they were ready to doe yet they thought it more requisite that himselfe should first declare vnto the people wheÌ„ and in what sort it had bin grauÌ„ted him by God and the Pope which done they would confirme it The holy Father answeared theÌ„ though I be not worthy to speake in your preseÌ„ce yet as most obedient seruaÌ„t I will performe your coÌ„mand AsceÌ„ding therfore
in the pulpitt he made a sermō to the people that thither by Goddes prouidence were abondātly flocked from all the neighbour places with an extreme feruour explicating vnto thē this so great treasure which he performed with such deep doctrine that it seemed rather the discourse of an Angell thē of a mā vnlearned as he was Att the end of this sermō he denoūced vnto the people in the name of God his most sacred mother the indulgēce in these words Whosoeuer being truely cōtrite cōfessed shall visitt this church the first day of August from the euensong therof and the night and daie of the feast it selfe to the sunne setting he shall gaine a plenary indulgence which is graunted him first by God secōdarily by his Vicare Pope Honorius and the same to cōtinue for euer on that day The bishopps there presēt to cōfirme the speech S. Frācis would not accord to that for euer The bishop of Assisiū therfore cōfirming the indulgēce to the people purposing to limitt it to ten yeares could neuer vtter it but was cōstrayned to say for euer the like happened vnto the other bishoppes This miracle being very euidētly knowne vnto the people it encreased their faith preuēted the doubt which some might haue had that God himselfe had not graūted this indulgēce Therefore the publicatiō being ended the bishoppes being exceedingly amazed att the miracle did with great solēnity consecrate the said church which continued for euer endued with this great treasure to the glory of our lord his holy mother the virgin Mary and his seruant S. Francis and to the soules health of all Christians Of certaine miracles wrought by Godin confirmatiō of the said indulgence THE IV. CHAPTER IT pleased God besides the fore mentioned to cause this so great indulgence to be beleeued and reuerenced in due mannner for the publike good by such miracles and reuelations as we shall now relate The yeare following a great number of people being come to gaine the said indulgence whiles they watched by night in prayer vnto God in the said church there arose in a moment such a rumour among the people there assembled that the Religious who were att rest were awakened therwith Comming therfore into the church they saw a Doue whiter then snow that flew fiue times about the Church One of them stepping forward the better to see came neere the high altare where he found Brother Corrado of Offeida a right holy Religious of an exceeding exemplare life and famous for miracles whome he prayed to lett him better vnderstand the occasion of the great murmure that was among the people who verie pitifull cryed out This venerable Father answeared that he was content to tell him conditionally that he would promise not to reueale it to any person during his life Which being condicioned he said I saw the Queene of heauen to discend cloathed with an ineffable splendour as holding her Sonne in her armes and to giue her holy benediction vnto all present then this Doue which was with her on the altare began to fly to signifie the visitation of God it hath here flowne round about the church Which the people seeing though they knew not all began thus to crye out towardes heauen The same day the mother of our lord was seene to enter into the Church with the Religious and to accompanie the ordinarie procession with a great troupe of Angels that sung prayses vnto God This was seene by Religious of pious life and also by certaine pilgrimes As in the Marquisat of Ancona one coniured the deuill that vehementlie afflicted a poore possessed woman to enforce him to tell what course was to be vsed to expell him he answeared att lenght that he tormented not the woman for any sinne of hers but onlie to the end God might be praysed by her and that therefore there was no other remedie to deliuer her but to procure her to gaine the indulgence of our ladie of Angels and that he spake thus much as forciblie cōstrayned to speake against him selfe as he likewise confessed that by the same indulgence he lost a great multitud of soules which he already held as his owne by reason of the enormous sinnes they had committed The woman was therfore with great affliction and greife brought to our ladie of Angels the verie day of the indulgence and as soone as she was entred the effect succeeded for the deuill lifting her into the aire departed and the poore woman fell as dead to the ground But by the merittes of the glorious Virgin she incontinentlie arose verie sound of bodie and soule hauing bin confessed to gaine the indulgence There are besides manie true testimonyes to whome haue appeared the spirittes of diuers deceassed reuealing vnto them that hauing certaine dayes before their death gayned the said indulgence they were sodenlie by the glorious Virgin Mother conducted into Paradice without feeling any paine of purgatorie others also gayning this indulgence that was applyed vnto them by forme of suffrage after their death by meane of some liuing freindes were deliuered of the paines of Purgatorie as by this ensuying discourse shall appeare A Venetian Gentleman that was a verie spirituall Preist desiring to gaine this indulgence as he prepared himselfe to goe thither he fell sicke and of the same sicknes dyed but before his death he said to a very freind of his My good freinde I desire you to beleeue that there is no man in the world of my kinred or whosoeuer other in whome I haue more confidence then in your selfe nor of whome I hope to obtaine what I desire for the saluation of my soule I therfore pray you that if it please God to call me vnto him you will vndertake so much labour as to goe to our ladie of Angels to gaine the plenaire indulgence for the benefitt of my soule and to defray your chardges in the iorney demaund what you will and I will giue it you that the indulgence being mine you receaue no detriment therby This freind took what was requisit for his expences and promised to goe Now this Preist being dead and the time of Pilgrimage being come his deere freind though he saw manie that prepared them selues to the iorney he as if he had made no promise deferred his iorney purposing with himselfe to goe the yeare following which is a thing but too ordinarie to ingratefull persons kinred and freindes neglecting and forgetting the poore decassed the Preist appeared to this vnworthy freind in his sleep the same night that he had made the foresaid purpose and with an angry countenance reprehending him he said Goe on thy iorney now with such as prepare themselues therto He awaking determined to doe that for feare which he had neglected to doe for respect of amitye Hauing effected the promise the same day that he entred into the church and gayned the indulgence for the deceased the Preist in the night ensuying appeared vnto
him not as before in choller but bright and resplendent as the sunnet and thancked him and reuealed vnto him that then when he entred into the church he entred into Paradice Of other miracles of the same indulgence THE V. CHAPTER THis famous indulgence being diuulged ouer almost al Christendom there departed from Sclauonia about twenty pilgrimes to gaine this Iubileye but landing att Ancona and there hauing visited the principall churches they repayred to a monasterie where were shewed them many precious reliques The Sacristine that shewed theÌ„ asked theÌ„ whither they went in Pilgrimage they answeared to our Ladie of Angels to gaine the indulgence wherof the day approached The Religious then said O simple people to endure heat incommodities and trauailes without anie benefitt for there is no such indulgence as is spoaken of or att least there is no authenticall bulle of the Pope extant therof I blame you not to goe of deuotion to that church of our lady but for the indulgence I tell you your iorney is in vaine And if you beleeue me you shall saue much of the way for there are here in this church far more indulgences then in that whither you goe which if you be well aduised you may gaine and so retourne againe In confirmation of his speech he shewed them many priuiledges and bulles of Popes of lardge indulgences graunted to that church The Pilgrimes vpon these considerations beleeuing the Sacristine and repenting the wearisome trauaile they had vndertaken to come so farre followed his counsaile and hauing offered their deuotions in that place and gayned the indulgences there to be had determined to retourne Amongst them was a verie deuout woman that said vnto them I meruayle my freindes you are not ashamed vpon the opinion and discourse of one only man to loose the meritt of your pilgrimage Retourne you in Goddes name if you thincke good for my part I am determined to goe alone to visitt our lady of Angels though there were no indulgence in that church and so to accomplish my iorney so much aduanced so went she alone towardes Assisium But by the will of God that she might not trauaile alone she erred from the direct way being therefor much troubled and sollicitous how to finde the ordinary way there appeared vnto her a right venerable old man all gray cloathed in a long habitt Religious-like who said vnto her Feare not my daughter for I assure thee thou art in a secure way for thy soule and know that thy companions shall instantlie ioyne vnto thee She looking behinde her saw them all wherat she was exceeding ioyfull being then together this venerable old man told them that they had done well to prosecute their attempted iorney because the said indulgence was true and that himselfe was present when the Pope Honorious confirmed it and that he knew it also to be confirmed of God though there were many that knew not all that and that denyed it and therfore bid them goe on confidentlie And after he had made them a worthie exhortation to persuade them to offend God so much no more he vanished in their presence leauing them exceedinglie comforted and thanckfull vnto God Coming to Assisium they manifested this accident and hauing gayned the indulgence they ioyfullie tooke their iorney of retourne The aforesaid woman by reason of a sicknes that happened her vnto remayned alone behinde but dying afterward she ouertooke them in spiritt and appeared vnto them on the sea and said vnto them Feare yee not for I am such a one your companion that am dead att Assisium The Virgin Marie hath sent me to assure you of the vertue of the plenary indulgence wherebie I passed incontinentlie to heauen without enduring the least punishment which said she disappeared Wherfore many of those Pilgrimes that saw this woman on the sea retourned often times with greater faith to gaine the indulgence and recounted the apparitions so that though no bulles were seene Sainct Francis not respecting them many of diuers nations repayred thither when neither warre nor plague did hinder them for God who graunted it and promised to fauour it also with his grace besides the reuelation therof vnto many did also inspire soules to seeke the pourchace of their saluation in that holie church An old man comming to gaine this indulgence recounted what he had heard spoaken by a Pilgrime that first doubted therof to witt that being in a solitarie place where he recommended himselfe to God he seemed miraculouslie to see the Pope the Cardinals and S. Francis conferring together and that according to the gestures and motions they vsed it seemed that the Pope would giue the bulle of this indulgence to S. Francis who refused it and one of the Cardinals standing vp tooke a booke in his hand wherin he read these wordes A plenarie indulgence of all sinnes att S. Marie of Angels graunted in earth and confirmed in heauen and tourning leafe by leafe he still read the same thing and hauing tourned it all ouer and so read the said booke the vision disappeared and the pilgrime to his great contentment rested fullie satisfied of the meritt and vertue of the said indulgence The Bishop of Assisium named Illuminato diuers times made relatioÌ„ of a gentleman a very deuout pilgrime to whoÌ„ being by some dissuaded from goeing to gaine the said indulgence there appeared as he was in prayer a Religious man in habitt of a Deacon cloathed in white and exceedinglie glittering who thrice said vnto him The indulgence is true come secâ—rely Being so assured by the true Deacon of IESVS CHRISTS Francis with great confidence repayred thither in all his iorney diuulging this indulgence wherof he so much doubted before being related by other he recounted this his vision to the said Bishop of Assisium Certaine Pilgrimes comming from the marquisate of Ancona to gaine the said indulgence they mett some yong men who vnderstanding by them whither they went one of them deridingly said that indulgence whither you goe is as true as that I hold in my hand that swallow that flyeth in the aire which hauing said he instantlie saw the swallow in his hand att which miracle both the pilgrimes and those present were all amazed the said yong man acknowledged hisfault and accused himselfe the Pilgrimes confirmed in faith proceeded on their iorney euery where recounting what had befallen them to the praise of God so highly zealous of the saluation of miserable soules Gerard de Fighnio being very passionately amourous of an honest woman to whom he could in no sort gett to speake by reason that she was almost alwayes retired in her house and accompanyed when she went abroad he attended an occasion the deuill hauing alreadie led him into error when according to her custome she should of deuotion goe to our Lady of Angels hoping either in the way or in the church some opportunity would be offered of speaking vnto her the time being come he ioyned himselfe in company with many
S. George wher she still remayneth together with her sister in Assisium by the which Church the Cittizens haue builded a faire monastery entituled S. Clare whither were afterward remoued the Religious sisters of S. Damian which was don to preuent many inconueniences that might arriue vnto them being without the Citty The said Religious brought from S. Damian many Reliques and particulerly the Crucifix which spake to S. Francis att the beginning of his conueâ—sion which is extant in the sayd monastery of S. Clare and the Fâ—ere Minors are att S. Damian Of many miracles that almighty God wrought by the merittes of S. Agnes THE XXXVIII CHAPTER AGirle of Perusia had a cancred fistula in her throat who hauing deuotion to S. Agnes visited her sepulcher The Religious there hauing vnbound her soare att the entry of the Couent and then hauing with a strong faith offered her prayers she arose sound and retourned to her house exceedingly comforted yelding thanckes to God and to his seruant There was a Religious sister att our Lady of Angels of Perusia who had a moâ—tall soare in her brest which the Phisitions had iudged to be incurable in it there were three holes so that the Religious women exhorted her to beare this affliction with patience as proceeding from the hand of God and to conforme her selfe to his will This diseased sister being alwayes of minde to recommend her selfe to S. Agnes kneeling one day before the Altare she with much deuotion commended her to the holy seruant of God demanding of her redresse of her infirmity Wher withall falling into a gentle and sweet slumber S. Agnes appeared vnto her and with her hand touched her mortall wound with which visitatioÌ„ she was sweetly comforted and cured at her awaking finding her selfe sound she gaue infinite thankes to God and to her aduocate S. Agnes An other Religious womaÌ„ of the monastery of Venise had an impostume in her breast which was opened by the Phisitions found so dangerous that they allotted her a very litle time to liue This poore wretch therfore in this distresse recoÌ„mended her selfe to the two sisters S. Clare and S. Agnes and about mindnight these to SS as most skilfull Phisitions brought boxes of most precious oyntmentes and accompayned with many virgins entred into the infirmary where this sick sister was which was seene by many Religious and drawing neere to her bed S. Clare sayd vnto her Sister I am assured that you shal be cured by the power and goodnes of God and by the merittes of S. Agnes The sick Religious not knowing who spake vnto her douhted of this reuelatioÌ„ and the sainctes replyed that they were Pâ—isitions of Assisium Then S. Agnes annoynted the soare with the oyntment she had brought and so the vision disappeared and the diseased sister was in such sort cured of her mortall wound that no apparence remayned therof An other Religious of the monastery of S. Clare in Assisium had bin for sixteene yeares afflicted with such an infirmity that the other Religious alwayes held her for a leapre this diseased creature besought S. Agnes to pray to the virgin of heauen for her recouery And this prayer being performed with a vow the Religious was incontinently cured and freed from all remainder of her infirmity A Burgesse of Assisium had bin long time lame by a blow of a stone receaued on his foot and being hopelesse of humane remedy on the feast day of S. Agnes he weÌ„t as wel as he could to her Church and with a strong faith and deuotion fell on his knees before her Altare His prayer being ended he arose sound and Iusty which he recounted to many and thancked almighty God for it A Painter called Palmere being in a dangerous sicknesse by the PhisitioÌ„s giuen ouer as dead one night after his speech was lost his brother expecting in his opinion his last breathing was exceedingly disquieted and comming to his bed side and lamenting him as already dead he fell on his knees addressed his prayers to sainte Agnes and with abondance of teares and great confidence made a vow that if his brother by her merittes and intercession might be cured as often as he painted her image he would sett a crowne of gold on her head This prayer vow being ended the sick party incontinently began to speake as if he had awakened out of a profound sleep and called for meat and did hungerly eat then arose from his bead saying that two Religious women came to visit him being in his agony and reputed for dead and that the same visitation had such force as it left him perfectly cured as he appeared A woman of Assisium had a sonne of 12. yeares age that had an impostume in his breast where the cancre was so encreased that it had made it in such sort venimous as it exceeded the Phisitions skill to cure it This woman hauing vnderstood that by the merits of sainte Agnes almighty God had cured such diseases she commanded her sonne often to visit her sepulchre and deuoutly to recommend himselfe vnto her which he did in such sort that approching one euening so neere her sepulcher that his mortall soare touched the same and there falling a sleepe he so remayned till the next morning when awaking he found himselfe entierly cured for which hauing thancked God and his Sainct he retourned to aduertise his mother affirming that sainte Clare and sainte Agnes appeared vnto him in the night and that sainte Clare brought an oyntment wherwith sainte Agnes hauing annoynted him he was presently cured Of possessed personnes deliuered by the merittes of saincte Agnes and of certaine other miracles THE XXXIX CHAPTER THere was in Assisium a child of 12. yeares age who being amoÌ„g other children an vnknowne maÌ„ gaue him a greene beane-cod which the boy opening three of the beanes fell to the ground and the fourth only he did eat yet as soone as he came home he vomited extremely then began to tumble and furiously to behaue himselfe tourning and rolling his eyes in his head in such sort as it well appeared that he endured extreme torment and his gesture so terrifyed them that beheld him that they iudged him possessed and therfore his Father many other his kinred brought him the next morning to the Church of sainte Clare where hauing offered their prayers for him and inuocated the intercession of sainte Agnes the child a litle after begaÌ„ to crye and barck as a dogge then cryed out take heed there are two deulls already gone out Say an Aue Maria the third wil be gone Which being presently done the deuill withall left the child A woman of Tullinium being tormented with many wicked spirits her Father and grand mother vowed to goe with her to Assisium to visit the sepulcher of S. Agnes with faith and hope that by her merittes she should be deliuered and so this possessed woman remayning before the sepulchre of the S. from the ninth houre
Elzearius pag. 724 Gyles The life of Br. Gyles p. 563 His visitation by Saint Lewis king of France p. 585 Of diuers strang speeches and admirable answeres of his pag. 581. 586. 589. c. Diuers discourses of his as of faith of charitie of humilitie and others p. 595. 596. c. Humilitie Of the great humilitie of S. Francis p. 138. 139. Of his exercises of humilitie pag. 144 How he exercised his nouices in the same p. 145. A Bishop forced by Saint Francis humilitie to lett him preache p. 149. Three theeues conuerted by his humilitie p. 151 His humilitie to a Bishop that called him idiot p. 157 Remarkable humilitie and satisfaction in a Frere Minor p. 266 Of patience and humilitie p. 308 The humilitie of Brother Macie p. 521 Of Br. Angelus p. 532 Of Br. Ambrose p. 534 Of Br. Iuniperus p. 536 Of Br. Gyles p. 568. Of S. Clare p. 632 Of S. Elizabeth p. 713 Of an English Frere Minor p. 735. 736 Of Br. Iames p. 738 Indulgence Of the plenarie Indulgence granted by Iesus Christ to the church of our Ladie of Angells pag. 212 The day therof miraculously assigned from heauen p. 214 The publication therof p. 216 The same day a Doue was seene to flye in the Church and our Ladie appeared in the same pag. 218. Of miracles wrought in confirmation of the said Indulgence p. 217 Testimonies of persons deceased touching this Indulgence p. 218. 219. Diuers miracles of the same Indulgence p. 220. 221. 222 Iniuries S. Francis taken prisoner by theeues p. 4 S. Francis beaten and imprisoned by his father p. 19. Beaten of theeues and throwen into a ditch of snow p. 13 Iniuries offered to those who were first sent by S. Fran. to preach to the world p. 25 Iuniperus The life of Bro. Iuniperus p. 56 c. Lent Of the Lent S. Fran. Kept at the lake of perusia P. 318 Item of S. Michael p. 319. Leo. The life of Br. Leo see p. 516. c. Leapre S. Fra. kisseth a Leaper p. 7 He serueth Leapers his care of Leapers p. 40. By his humilitie he cuâ—â—th a Leaper inwardlie and out wardlie p. 150 Luxurie Luxuries See Temptations Martyrdome How S. Francis went to Siria to seek martyrdome p. 103 Also to Moroccho p. 105 Fiue frere minors Martyred by kinge Miramolin p. 418 Seauen other frere minors martired p. 451 Two other martyred at Valencia p. 452 Fiue other martyred at Moroccho with many christians also p. 455 The martyrdome of Brother Electus and his companion p. ibid. The desire S. Antonie of Padua had of Martyrdome and his departure for Moroccho for this purpose p. 457 c. Macie The life of Br. Macie see p. 520 Miracles S. Francis cureth one of an vlcer in kissing it p. 14 He obtaineth by prayer to see his religious that were dispersed far a sunder p. 26 S. Francis and his disciples afflicted with hungar a man appeareth vnto them loaden with bread p. 48 How God sustained some frere minors miraculouslie p. 120 Of one of their benefactors whose mony encreased miraculously p. 121 A capons leg conuerted into a fish p. 160 S. Francis gathered white and red roses in Ianuarie p. 215 Diuers miracles concerning the Indulgence giuen from heauen to the church of our Ladie p. 218. 219. 220. S. Francis multiplied bread by the signe of the crosse p. 252 Dinner miraculouslie prepared whilst the cooke was at the Church ibid. Diuers miracles wrought by S. Francis p. 285 He was receaued of a hard rock as of soft wax p. 289 How many vnreasonable creatures miraculouslie obeyed him p. 290. 291. 292. 293 Fire lost his force in making a cauter in the bodie of S. Fran. p. 294 Of a miracle of Aples p. 298 A womaÌ„ carried away by the deuill for troubling S. Fran. sermon p. 300 A l ght enlightneth him in a darck night p. 301 Many miracles confirming the life and doctrin of S Francis p. 316. 317 Many miracles of him after his death p. 353. 356. 357. 358. 359 Of the miracle of the Stâ—gmates p. 370. 371. 372. 373 374 A woman dead raâ—sed by the merits of S. Francis p. 375 Other dead raised by the merits of S. Francis p. 377 Others deliuered from the danger of death by his merits p. 378. 379. 380. 381 c. How he deliuered many pilgrimes from the tempestes of the sea p. 384. 385. 386 Diuers also out of prison 386. 387. c. Diuers women with child p. 390. c. Diuers blind receiued sight p. 393. 394 Miracles of diuers sorts wrought by S. Francis p. 401. 402. c. Miracles wrought by S. Francis by the signe of the Crosse p. 404 Of many miracles wrought by the fiue martyrs put to death by the hand of kinge Miramolm p. 435. c. Of many miracles of S. Anthonie of Padua 463. 464. c. Of a foote a man had cutt off p. 472 Of the fishes of the sea who giue care to his sermon p. 476 A miracle of the B. Sacrament p. 478 Of his eating of poyson p. 479 Of his miraculous preaching p. 480 See more p. 481. c. The miracles of Br. Quintauall p 507 c. Of Brother Ruffinus p 514 c. Of Brother Leo p. 518 Of Brother Zacharie p. 526 c. Of Brother Walter p. 528 c. Of Brother Ambroise p. 535 c. Of Brother Christopher p. 553 c. Of Brother Gyles p. 567 619 Of S. Clare p. 635. c. 663 678 Of S. Agnes p. 688 Of saincte Elizabeth of Hongarie p. 719. 722 Mission Sainct Francis sendeth his religious â—uer the world p. 24 Item p. 110. 119 He sendeth his religious to preach to the Moores in Spaine p. 421 Their shipping at Alenquer p. 425 Their arriuing at Siuill p. 426 Their preaching before the kinge of the Moores and their iudgement to dye p. 418. 419 And of diuers other thinges vnto pag. 442 Of seauen other frere Minors sent to preach the faith to the Infidells p. 448 Mortification Rigorous chasticements for inconsiderat wordes p. 39 Of the austeritie of the life of S. Fran. pag. 64. 65 How he cast him into a pit of snow p. 67 A parable he vsed touching the mortification of the eies p. 69 Of the great austerities of the first Frere Minors p. 118 He made one of his Bre. set his foote vpon his throat p. 161 He wallowed himselfe naked on a bush of thornes p. 215 Wherin the true ioy of a Frere Minor consisteth p. 308. 309 The mortification of Br. Iuniperus p. 537 Of Br. Christopher p. 551 Of Br. Gyles p. 565 Of S. Clare p. 636 Of S. Yues p. 727. c. Obedience Comparison of a dead bodie to one trulie obedient p. 78 The rigorous chasticement of one disobedient p. 80 Of Obedience p. 307 S. Francis commandeth a Sainct deceased to worck no more miracles and he obeieth p. 207 The obedience of Brother Quintauall p. 514 Of Br. Macie p. 520
thing proper neither house nor place nor what soeuer other thinge but lett them liue in this world as pilgrimes and strangers and lett them serue God who hath redeemed vs in pouerty and humility and seeke almose with out shame or dishonour considering that our lord Iesus-Christ would be poore for vs. Now by the liuely example of this Order and by the so great austerities and strict obseruations our lord reprehendeth the frensie and folly of the Christians who forgetfull of the pouerty of our Redeemer Iesus-Christ and of his seruantes doe ruine themselues by auarice by delicacies and dissolutions We hope that God will neuer permitt vs to want perfect Religious of this Order that shall admonish vs of our duety by their example before the eyes of his diuine Maiestie But S. Iohn the Euangelist and Prophett in his reuelations doth more particulerly demonstrate the time and estate of the glorious Fa. S. Francis and his holy disciples saying And I saw when the Angel had opened the sixt seale there was made a great earthquake and the sunne became black as it were sackcloth of haire which is a garment made of the haire of a horse and of very grosse woll and the whole moone became as bloud and the starres frō heauen fell vpon the earth After these thinges I saw foure Angels standing vpon the four corners of the earth holding the four windes of the earth that they should not blow vpon the land nor vpon the sea nor on any tree And I saw an other Angell ascending from the rising of the sunne hauing the signe of the liuing God and he cryed with a loud voice to the foure Angels to whome it was giuen to hurt the earth and the sea saying hurt not the earth and the sea nor the trees till we signe the seruantes of our lord in their foreheades This Prophesie occording to the testimony of Vbertinus was preached by S. Bonauenture att Paris in a Prouinciall chapter as already verified in the Person of the holy Father S. Francis adding that he was by diuine reuelation assured that S. Iohn the Euangelist in this passadge had his eye on S Francis and on his sacred Religion The same is affirmed by Brother Iohn of Parma who was a right holy and Religious man and famous by many miracles that God wrought by him But for the more easie intelligence hereof it must be vnderstood that by the seauen visions of S. Iohn in his Apocalipse are signified the seauen ages or estates of the Church The first age was of the foundation therof made by our Lord IESVS Christ and his Apostles in Iurie which began at his preaching and continued till the Martyrdome of the Apostles This was figured by the first vision of the seauen Churches in the first and second chapter The second age was of the confirmation of the faith with the bloud of the martyrs shed thorough all the world by Pagans and Idolators which began att the persecution of Nero figured by the second vision of seauē seales in the 5. chapter The third age was doctrine in the same being declared the mysteries of our faith and all heresies clearlie refuted It began in the time of the Emperour Constantin who assembled the Councell of Nice against the heresie of Arius figured by the third vision of the seauen trompettes in the seauenth chapter The fourth age was solitary and Eremeticall life performed with long and great austeritie of life and contemplation of spiritt till the time of S. Antony figured in the fourth vision of the woman clothed with the sunne in the twelueth chapter The fift age was when the holy Church began to abound in temporall riches as well Religious as Clearkes it began in the time of Charles the great figured by the fist vision of the seauen golden vessels in the fifteenth chapter The sixt age of the renouation of Euangelicall life is of the warre against the sectes of Antechrist performed by the voluntary poore who possesse not any thing in this life it began in the Seraphicall Father S Francis author and institutor of the Frier Minors figured by the sixt vision of the abhominable and puissante woman of Babilon in the seauenteenth chapter The seauenth age shal be hereafter both in a merueillous repose and participation of warre which is to come in earth and shall shortly come in perfection in the generall resurrection of all the sainctes of God it shall haue his begymning in death before the comming of our Redeemer IESVS Christ to iudge it is figured in the twentith chapter of the Apocalypse when the dragon shall finally be condemned and the elect glorified So that in the first age did florish the perfection of Prelacie and the Pastorall care of the Church those were the holy Apostles In the second florished the estate of Martyrdome by the combatt and triumph of the Champions of IESVS Christ In the third florished the Voice of Preachers and Doctours the trompett of the diuine wisdome In the fourth the sanctity and ornament of contemplatiue life in those that liued and led an Euangelicall and celestiall life on earth In the fift florishhed the zeale of iustice by which one discendeth to a commune and lesse perfect life in the zealous iust institutors of Reguler estates In the sixt florished the estate of the imitation of IESVS Christ reformed by the Church in the true imitators of Euangelicall life In the seauenth afterward shall florish the tast and swetnes of the glory which God shall communicate vnto his elect for the wearysome labours which one shall haue voluntarily and affectionatly suffered here on earth as farre foorth as humane infirmity shall haue ability to support and God shal be pleased to inspire into vs. And our Lord hath ordayned these estates and these ages according to the necessities of the holy Church against his ennemies the diuels and against wicked men their followers who together maintaine ancient warre against his Church though tolerated by God for the greater glory of the elect for none shal be crowned but he that couragiously combatteth So was the first estate against the carnall and grosse intelligences ceremonies of the Iewes The second against the idolatry of the Pagans The third against the Arrians and other heretikes The fourth against the carnall and detestable sect of Mahomet The fift against the life of loose Christians dishonoring thēselues The sixt against the pestiferous poyson of Antechrist The seauenth against the army of deuils and their sectatours who in these latter dayes shall trouble the Church more then euer We ought neuertheles to conceiue that though the said estates be thus separated and each one haue his particuler property yet the one participating of the quality and property of the other they come in a certaine manner to entermingle together by reason that there euer haue bin and shal be in the Church of God Prelates Martyrs Confessors all affectionate and perfect imitatours of IESVS Christ It is a
of two perfect rules in the Church of IESVS CHRIST were to witt S. Dominick as a cleare Cherubim that with the resplendent light of wisdome and predications spred the winges of his doctrine ouer cloudy obscurities of the world which by this his so great splendour did giue light and discouer the errours of heretikes and conducted the hartes of the faithfull in the secure way of true peace And the blessed S. Francis as an other Seraphim ascending out of the east purged with that kindled fiery coale IESVS-CHRIST crucified and entierly enflamed with the feruour of heauenly loue he scattered this diuine fire ouer the world both the one and the other leauing to their beloued disciples the said Properties though in each of them and in certaine of their perfect and legitimate issue the splendour of science and the feruour of charity were merueilous well connexed together But by reason that all the euils of that time proceeded of the vnbridled greedines abondance of temporall substance and with all that men did employ and glutt themselues in vanities and in loathsome sensualities the holy Father S. Francis touched with the holy Ghost would cutt off euen by the very roote and farr remoue from himselfe and his Order all temporall richesse as a reformer of this fift age and as one whom the holy Ghost had deputed to beginne the sixt age and the sixt estate of the Church proposing to the eyes of all Christians the life of IESVS CHRIST crucified not written or read in paper but engrauen by the industriouâ— labour of these perfect imitatours as far foorth as humane infirmity could imitate the same It may in verity be affirmed that S. Francis was formed of God as the first man who after the first fiue dayes of his workes was with a mature counsaile made the sixt after his image and similitude so likewise IESVS-CHRIST in the sixt age of his Church formed S. Francis according to his image and in similitude of his life and crosse in as much as humaine fragility did permitt And this was done for a new augmentation of his elect He was likewise figured by the Angell of whome we haue formerly spoaken that he cryed with a loud voice vnto the foure Angels to whome was commanded to hurt the land and the sea in these wordes Doe not any hurt till we haue signed the seruantes of God in the forehead that is till we haue raced out the accursed signes and characters of the beast which are the vices and sinnes of men and haue imprinted not only in their hartes by penance but euen in their liues the signes of our Lord IESVS CHRIST which is the holy Crosse the true signe of the elect which office is conueniently applied vnto S Francis as to him that carryed the title seale and figure of the life and passion of our Lord IESVS-CHRIST as well in following the steppes of his conuersation in the hight of contemplation as in excellent and miraculous workes as also in the singuler priuiledge of the communication of his most sacred stigmates Who can euer explicate or conceiue with what resemblance the holy Ghost in the life of this holy man hath represented vnto the Church the life crosse humility and perfection wherein our Lord IESVS CHRIST ought to be imitated And it was doubtles expedient for the great necessities of the Church When our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST came as S. Augustin saith the world was in extreme necessity it is therfore very reasonable that we yeld him infinite thankes he hauing releiued vs against so many disasters But who is he I pray you that had not bin ruyned and ouer whelmed by the violent torrent of the malice and sinnes of the world if the crosse of our Lord IESVS-CHRIST and his diuine aucthority had not with such burning feruour bin preached in the middes of the world for we now relying there vpon are firme in God and secure against the violence of malice and enormitie The estate of the world was so wretched and miserable that there was need of a diuine redresse by whose aucthority man might be induced to voluntary pouerty to continence charity iustice concord and true piety with all other excellent vertues which are the way to eternall saluation and the end of Christian profession It seemed then that in the fift age the world was retourned in manner to the like necessity as it was in before the comming of IESVS-CHRIST so deeply had it buried in forgetfulnes the good which he had procured it for it did againe wallow in his former ancient iniquities in such sort that the charity of God was as it were constrained to be once againe crucified before the eyes of ingratefull men who seemed to haue forgotten that incomprehensible benefitt not for the Redemption of sinnes for his passion sufficied for infinite worldes but to renew in the memory of men the way to heauen which is no other then the crosse and passion And it not being expedient to reiterate the same because IESVS CHRIST as glorious and immortall is no more capable of death his diuine wisdome found this meane liuely and effectually to represent in his seruant the standard of the crosse his passion and his woundes to renew them in the memory of men that they might follow the perfection of the Euangelicall estate which himselfe by his most holy life had taught vs. This seruant elected for so great a mystery was the glorious Father S. Francis in such necessity deputed to make a spirituall renouation in the world of the life of IESVS-CHRIST represented to the eies of the faithfull in his person and in the perfect Religious of his Order And in regard that the life of IESVS CHRIST and his perfection doth particulerly shine as the ghospell teacheth vs in the passion and the crosse that is in most profound humility in most strict pouerty without any mixture of temporall substance in feruour of charity and compassion of sinners in worckes of our saluation austere and difficult but especially in interiour perfection of charity wherwith our Lord IESVS-CHRIST our head conioyneth and vniteth vs with God and for better perfomance of this vnion he counsaileth vs the renunciation of temporall richesse and the abdication of proper libertie and sensualities The holy Father S. Francis walked this way of the Counsailes of IESVS-CHRIST ill vnderstood of the world and instituted a rule and direct path tending to perfection and to vnion with God wherein walking himselfe and teaching more by effect then by wordes he shewed to the world the true way of penance and saluation According therfore to the opinion of S. Bonauenture may be obserued three merueillous effectes wherfore God sent S. Francis into this world The first was to preach penance as an other forerunner of IESVS-CHRIST in the desert of pouerty because Christians had already forgotten it and therfore he insinuated vnto them the necessity they had therof by reason of the blindnes that their enormous sinnes had
to Assisium purposing by almes to execute and accomplish that which he could not doe with the mony of his fathers merchandise and this his dessigne had good successe For seeking ouer the citty where he was alreadie knowne to be the seruant of God he found mony among his freindes and kinred and matter requisite for the building of the said Church So associating him selfe with the Preist that serued there he began the said reparation wanting nether masters nor worckmen to this effect he neuertheles without intermission employed his owne person therin that his body being already weakened by continuall fastes and ordinary abstinences might be more subiected and chasticed as well by carrying burdensome stones as by the mortification he endured in demaunding of them to whome he had formerly giuen Thus by the grace of God and the deuotion of the faithfull he so well endeauoured that he accomplished the reparation of the said Church in which labour the said Preist perceiuing how painfully he employed himselfe for so holy an enterprise alwayes reserued somethinge to refectionate and releiue him But the humble seruant of God could not long endure that as being desirous to serue and not to be serued of any Wherupon he said once in himselfe Is it conuenient that thou haue alwayes a preist to serue thee Is that the way of pouerty which thou seekest and then he resolued to be no longer serued by preist or other person and when he would eate he tooke a dish and went to the dores with other poore people to demaund almose for the loue of God and with them did there eat what was giuen him And albeit this was att the begining very sharpe and difficult vnto him yet in the progresse it was so pleasing and contentfull that he afterward affirmed to his Religious that he neuer eat with so good an appetite as then Being one day inuited to eat with a Prelate he would eat nothing but what he had brought with him of almose giuen att the dores Saint Francis hauing finished the reparation of the Church of S. Damian went to repaire an other of S. Peter farther off from the citty and by the same meanes that he vsed in the former he in short time accomplished this also After that he went to Porticella very neere to Assisium where was a Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary which was so abandoned that there was no person had câ—ardge therof nor did any seruice therin He for the great deuotion he had to the Queene of heauen remained therin and incontinently began to thinck of repayring it and being there often visited by the Angels conformably to the title of the Church which was S. Mary of Angels he the more willingly stayed there and affected that place aboue all other because therin he began humbly proceeded and fought valiantly and there ended most blessedly There by diuine reuelation did he begin the foundation of the rule and order of the Frier Minors which was not without mysterie but by disposition of the diuine prouidence which gouerned him instructed and directed him in all his dessignes So that this worthey seruant of God repaired three materiall Churches of S. Damian S. Peter and S. Mary of Angels and all this before the institution of his Order and his preaching of the gospell as well that from these sencible thinges he might attaine to intellectuall and from lesser matters by course and ordre to great as also that what he should doe might first be reuealed vnto him by the mystery of sensible thinges to the end it might appeare that as he had reestablished three Churches so also that of IESVS CHRIST should be by him renewed and repayred according to the forme rule and doctrine which he would giue him as we see apparantly to haue succeeded in the three exercises or warfares if you will which are the three Orders which saint Francis institued in the world Of the second vocation to the estate of Euangelicall perfection and how he began his rule THE VII CHAPTER THe worthy of God hauing chosen for his residence the Church of the mother of IESVS CHRIST and therin perseuering in coÌ„tinuall feruent deuotions beseeching her to be his aduocate his prayers were of such efficacie that by the merittes of the glorious virgin he was also found worthy to conceiue and produce the spiritt of verity and of Euangelicall pouerty For as he one day deuoutly heard the masse of the Apostles where the gospell is read wherin our lord IESVS CHRIST prescribeth theÌ„ the forme of the EuaÌ„gelicall life when he sent them to preach ouer the world to this purpose saying Do not possesse gold nor siluer nor purses not a scripp for the way neither two coates neither shooes neither rodde And into what soeuer place you shall enter salute it saying the peace of God be in this house S. Francis hearing this cryed out with more then a naturall voice That is it which I seeke that is it which the interiour of my hart desireth and theÌ„ was he replenished by the holy spiritt of IESVS CHRIST with such a vertue that it did not only traÌ„sforme him into the said for me and rule in coÌ„sent and desire but euen in operations and effectes for immediatly he putt of his shooes he reiected his staffe and wallet He cast away the mony which remayned vnto him of almose and contenting himselfe with one only garment or coate reiected euen the lesser belt wherewith he was girded and vsed a corde being more carefull then to conforme himselfe perfectly to the Apostolicall life Vpon this Euangelicall lesson in this week and on this day which was the yeare of our lord one thousand two hundred and eight in the month of October and feast of S. Luke this blessed S. began the rule of the Frier Minors being then twenty seauen yeares of age two yeares from his coÌ„uersion being expired the twelueth yeare of Pope Innocent the third a worck proceeding verilie from the holy Ghost by the gospell of IESVS CHRIST not from any humane spiritt though God for an instrumeÌ„t would vse his most faithfull seruant as founder of so glorious a fabrick who as a prudent Architect layd the foundation of his Order with violent floudes of teares with most feruent prayers with worckes of mercie of penance and of retirednes and coniunction vnto God neuer wearied nor desisting till the holy Ghost had giueÌ„ him the foundatioÌ„ of the Apostles and Prophets which is that soueraigne stable corner stone IESVS CHRIST on whome the whole edifice being gounded and referred vnto it encreased in this holy temple of God vpon whome the S. did not build his order with the chaffe of vaine titles or of temporall possessions nor with the dirty dregges of worldly and perishable thinges but with purified gold which is the Euangelicall spiritt and with precious stones which are the Apostolical Counsailes by meanes wherof it was then securely guarded against the force
to learne the sence of that which is written in this life for the saluation of our soules and to imprint it with great caution in their vnderstanding and I beseech God Three and One to vouchsafe to impart his benediction to all them that teach and learne and that accord together to accomplish the thinges afore said and as often as they shall read ouer the same for the good of their soule I further beseech all the Brethren kissing their feet to loue them exceedinglie and to obserue them And in the behalfe of God and the Pope I Brother Francis by obedience haue commanded and doe oblige that no man diminish or augment any thing of that which is written in this life and rule and that neither the Brethren haue any other rule The end of the rule of S. Francis Of the miraculous approbation of this first rule THE XXIII CHAPTER THe holy Father S. Francis determined to repaire with his companions and disciples vnto the Pope to demaund confirmation of the aforesaid rule composed and compiled more by the holie Ghost then by himselfe according to the wordes and sence of the holy Gospell And did in deed with them attempt the iorny replenished with exceeding confidence and conducted by God himselfe who seeing their desire vouchsafed to add more courage to that weak harted familie who out of their simplicity feared perhappes they should not be heard And out of his aboundant clemency he permitted his seruant Francis in a dreame to see a tree of merueillous greatenes comming to the foot wherof he was by diuine vertue lifted from the earth and raised euen to the toppe therof which seemed to bend downe his braunches euen to the ground Hauing interpreted this vision to be a manifest presage of the fauour which he should receiue of the Pope entierly filled with a spirituall ioy he recounted it to his companions whome he so comforted that with exceeding speed they arriued att Roome where vnderstanding that Pope Innocent the third was att S. Iohns of Lateran they all repayred thither But they found him so employed in cogitations of trouble some affaires that not hauing opportunity to heare them he dismissed them his presence These poore people then much disquieted retired to the hospitall of S. Antony where they were graciously entertained But the Pope the night following had in a dreame this reuelation He saw betweene his feet to grow a litle palme which by litle and litle so grew that it became a very faire tree His holines musing on this that exceedingly amazed him sought the interpretatiō therof but the holy Ghost in the end illuminated him who gaue him to vnderstand that the palme signified the poore family of Francis to whome he vouchsafed not to giue audience He therfore in the morning caused S. Francis to be sought who was found in the said hospitall whence he was conducted to the Pope att whose feet this blessed Father with all his company fell on his knees and then humbly discouered what he desired of his holines The Pope seeing him and considering him with more attention called to minde what he seemed certaine dayes before to see as he was one night solitarily pensiue and heauy with sleepe by meanes of waighty affaires which then did bussy him which was that the said Church of S. Iohn was ready to fall and that there came afterward a poore man misprised of the world who so sustayned the same that it fell not The Pope then Beholding S. Francis considering the purity and simplicitie of his soule and in what sort he contemned the world how much he affected pouerty the constancy of his firme resolution touching the euangelicall life which he carryed written about him and wherin he promised obedience to the Sea Apostolike the zeale which he perceiued in him towardes the saluatiō of soules the feruour freedome of spiritt for the seruice of IESVS CHRIST he said in himselfe This doubtles is the man whome I saw who with his worckes of example doctrine shall helpe to support and sustaine the Church of God Notwithstāding he differred to graunt his demaūd by reason that it seemed to many Cardinals a matter rare and exceeding humane forces abilities to keep obserue a profession of such rigour and pouerty But whiles they were in the Consistory thus irresolute the Cardinall Paul bishop of Sabee named Iohn a louer of the poore of IESVS CHRIST inspired of God publikely vttered these speeches If we graunt not the demaund presented vnto vs by this great seruant of God as seeming vnto vs a thing strange and ouer difficult though in deed he requireth only the forme and rule of the euangelicall life to be confirmed vnto him we may iustly feare to offend our Lord IESVS CHRIST and the gospell for you know if any one should affirme that some new or rare thing vnreasonable or impossible to be performed were contained in the obseruation of the euangelicall perfection and in the vow therof we should esteeme him a blaspheamour against IESVS CHRIST the author of the gospell The Pope hauing well vnderstood this proposition he tourned to S. Francis and said vnto him My sonne pray vnto God that by thy intercession he discouer vnto vs his holy will which being knowne vnto vs we will freely and without any scruple approue thy demaund S. Francis vpon this commandement departed and with his accustomed feruour fell to his prayers beseeching our Lord that he would be pleased to inspire the Pope to doe what should be most for the glory of his diuine maiestie and to instruct him what speech he should vse to obtaine that which he so piously required In this prayer it was miraculously reuealed vnto him what he should say and was assured that the Pope should condiscendingly heare him Being then ioyfully retourned to the Pope he sayd that God had reuealed vnto him this similitud That a poore woman of right beautifull conntenance and rare conditions dwelling in the woodes chaunced one day to be seene by her kinge who admiring her so singuler beauty resolued to espouse hir with hope to haue by her a faire and comely generation And hauing in that sort accepted her she in short time brought him many children in that desert to whome being well growne the mother said Know my children that the king is your Father goe yee therfore to the Court and feare not to conuerse with the greatest and he will exalt you to a degree answeareable to your discent These children leauing their mother repaired to the Court where being arriued and seene of the king they weere by him with exceeding admiration att their beautie incontinently acknowledged to be his children yet not withstanding he demaunded them whose children they were they answeared their mother was a poore woman that liued in the vnco the desert But the king who knew them before and made them this demaund only to proue the constancie of his children being moued att lenght with
face vpon the earth or if he held his handes ioyned together on high if he sighed if he spett or coughed Brother Iohn would doe the like S. Francis once reprehending him for it he thus answeared I haue promised to God to doe what soeuer I shall see you doe and therfore I must endeauour to conforme me entierly vnto you The holy Father admired and together reioyced to finde him so constant in his simplicity by meane wherof he so much att lenght profited in all other kind of vertues that all the other Brethren held the perfection wherto he arriued in great admiration But by reason that the world was not worthie of so pure a conscience God afterwardes called him to himselfe After his death S. Francis with great ioy recounted vnto his Brethren his holy conuersation and called him not Brother Iohn but S. Iohn It happened about that time that S. Francis preaching in the prouince of Ancona there came one day after sermon a man vnto him that said he would leaue the world and dwell with him to whome S. Francis answeared If thou desire to enter into this order goe first and accoÌ„plish the saying of the gospell Sell what thou hast and giue it to the poore He then incoÌ„tinently went and distributed all his goodes amoÌ„g his kinred being herevnto moued rather by passioÌ„ of the flesh then deuotion of the spiritt and then retourned to S. FraÌ„cis to whome he said Father I haue forsakeÌ„ all that I had The holie Father demaÌ„ded of him in what manner he had disposed therof and he replyed that he had distributed it amoÌ„g his poore and needy kinred S. FraÌ„cis then knowing that this man had not any feruour of spiritt said vnto him Brother Fly sith thou hast giueÌ„ they goodes to they kinred gett thee home and aske no more to liue of almose with my poore BrethreÌ„ So this wretch retourned alone to his kinred as vnworthy to liue with so manie perfect seruaÌ„tes of God Many others inspired by the supreme bouÌ„ty and with an exceeding feruour of spirit daily entred into the Order the renowme wherof was spread ouer all Italy yea through all ChristeÌ„dome By reasoÌ„ that S. Francis sent his Religious into diuers partes of the world who represented the life of IEVS CHRIT by holy pouertie which they carryed in steed of purses by obedience wherin they were most prompt and ready and trauaile wherby they were speedie in their iorneyes and in regard that they had nothing they feared not the losse of any thing Thus liued they euery where without feare and in great tranquility of spiritt without care either by day or night as they had bin instructed by him that is the only true and singuler Master They kept not the remaynes of one dayes meat for the next being of beleefe that to endure want of these temporall and transitory benefittes was their great richesse and aboundance In what exercise and beleefe he fashioned â—â—is Bretheren THE XXX CHAPTER SAint Francis knowing that his religion was instituted of the holy Ghost in the church of God for a mirrour or looking glasse wherin sinners might behold and contemplate their deformitie and how far different and distant they are from the liknes of God he for this respect endeauoured to annoynt his Brethren with the vnction of IESVS CHRIST by whose vertue he begatt them So then being replenished with the holy Ghost his Order did not only encrease in nomber but in vertue also and edification of the faithfull and to the end that besides their deuotion they might also be exercised in charitie and loue of their neighbour sith they were piously to coÌ„uerse in the world he would often louinglie sitt downe with them and in the name of God command now one then an other to make some exhortation of that which the holy Ghost should dictate vnto him and this he practised often And one time of all other they whome he had enioyned to speake did all deliuer such excellent and admirable thinges of the bounty and goodnes of God and of his secrettes and this vnpremeditated only by the vertue of obedience that themselues grew into admiration therof He then by experience knew that which God said to his disciples It is not you that speake before Presidents and Princes but the spiritt of your Father that speaketh in you Now whiles these holy pure and simple vessels did poure out the baulme of diuine grace discoursing of very high matters of God and discouering the deepe misteries of the scripture by vertue of obedience vnto their holy Father our lord IESVS CHRIST appeared vnto them and stood in the middes of them in forme of a most beautifull yong man and gaue them his benediction with such a sweet and immensiue grace that S. Francis and his Brethren were rauished in extasie and fell all in a sound and as dead to the ground Being retourned to themselues S. Francis said My deerly beloued Brethren we are much obliged to be thankfull vnto God for that it hath pleased his diuine Maiesty to manifest his treasure by the mouth of the simple and to appeare vnto vs to lett vs know that he was present and that when it pleaseth him he maketh the mouthes of infantes of the simple and mute to appeare right eloquent These seruantes of God thus replenished with so great a light of diuine grace S. Francis sent them to illuminate the world and att their retourne they all repayred to our ladie of Angels as their true mother and there they enioyed againe each others sight with an extreame contentment which so filled them with a spirituall exultation that they easilie forgott the labours and contradictions which in their trauiles they had endured The other Brethren that stirred not from the Couent though sometimes they were employed in manuall labours about the necessities of their house neuertheles the chiefest part of their exercise was in prayer for they very frequentlie prayed with feruour and teares They arose att midnight watching to pray to God for themselues and for all other sinners They had a very tender and mutuall loue to each other The holy Father serued them as a mother doth her only sonne charitie so burned in them all that it seemed very easy vnto them to spend their life not onlie for the loue of our Lord IESVS CHRIST but euen for the safty of one of their Brethren Two Brothers walking one day through the feildes they mett a foole that cast stones att one of them which the other perceiuing he stept before his companion to receiue the strokes of the stones These good Brethren did such and the like thinges being induced therto out of perfect charity They reuerenced one an other as masters and he that by his office or age was amongest them the principall would appeare the most humble and abiect they exercised themselues in obedience each of them being prepared to performe not only the precept but
virginall purity wherin God did alwayes conserue him in the middes of worldly vanities and that he had such speciall care therof that he deserued to haue the sacred woundes of our Redeemer engrauen on this his pure and virginall flesh Wherof Brother Leo gaue testimony who notwithstanding that he was his Confessour being curious to be confirmed therin did neuertheles in his prayer demaund the same of our lord IESVS CHRIST who by diuine reuelation ascertayned him therof for he shortlie after saw the holie Father in spiritt on a high mountaine in a most beautifull garden among roses and lilies hauing his handes full of them He was hereby aduertised that what he saw on this mountaine was the sainct registred in heauen with the virgines not only of body but euen of spiritt and will How the holy Father taught his Bretbren to shunne idlenes THE XXXV CHAPTER HE a boue all other thinges taught both by doctrine and example that idlenes ought to be shunned as a principall cause of lewd cogitations and corrupter of vertue shewing by example of his life with what diligence one ought to exercise the flesh by fruitfull mortificatiō in regard that it is addicted to sloath and is rebellious And therfore he called the body litle asse as one that ought to be subiected to the ordinary supporting of the burdens of labours not making resistance and that it ought to be chasticed with stripes and nourished with very course and rude meates If by chaunce he saw any loitring and idle person that would eat of an others labour he said that he ought to be called Brother Fly because not doeing any good but distayning and hindering the good worckes of others he ought to be reputed contemptible and abhominable In the beginning of the institution of the order to giue example of exercise vnto his Brethren he trauailed alone to seeke almose wherin he extremelie laboured his body that was already very sickly He spent the night in watchinges and continuall prayers and the day in reading the office in seruing and preaching in the townes and villages or in administring to leapers or decking and triming the churches It succeeded afterward that many Brethren who were not fitt to keep the quire did liue of the labours of others as of Brother Giles Brother Ginipero and some others who were imployed in certaine profitable occupations to shuune the capitall ennemy of the life and soule thence it proceeded that they had sufficient almose for themselues and for others Neither would he permitt his Brethren to giue eare to newes and relation of seculer matters that they came not by omitting the contemplation and tast of celestiall thinges to employ themselues in vaine and worldly thinges which they had already abandoned It was not permitted to any of them to relate what he heard abroad All they that were nere S. Francis were aswell by night as day exercised in diuine prayses wherin they rather seemed Angels thē men In this sort did they maintaine the schoole of the holy Father in labour and exercises of the spiritt Among the said Brethren it was held a great sinne for one to take his recreation and pleasure in any other thing then the consolation of the spiritt The holy Father affirmed that the negligent and sloathfull that applyed not themselues to any exercise should be incōtinently vomited out of the mouth of God And if he mett with any such he would incontinently reprehend him as one that by his example of perfectiō was in continuall exercise to the end that in his schoole none should loose any part of so great a benefitt as is time which is giuen vs by our lord IESVS CHRIST After his refection he accustomed with his Brethren to vse some exercise to auoyd idlenes that when afterwardes they were to pray they might not by meane of their vnfruitfull wordes then vttered loose the gifte and recompence which they had merited att the handes of God So the more to shunne idlenes he gaue this rule that by his commandement all the Brethren that should vtter any idle word conuersing or trauayling together should be obliged to say one Pater and to praise God in the beginning and end to the benefitt of the soule of the culpable cōditionally that he first acknoledged his fault before he were reprehēded by others But if he were first admonished and reprehēded by an other the said Pater noster should be for the soule of the reprehender And if the culpable would not admitt the admonitiō and penāce mayntainning his speech not to be idle the holy Father ordayned that he should be obliged to redouble the said penāce and now to say twice the Pater noster once for the reprehēder and once for him that should iudge his worde to be idle or vnprofitable Now the prayses which he ordayned to be said before and after the Pater noster he would they should be vttered with such and so distinct a voice that it might be vnderstood of all the Brethren there present who should then be silent to heare the prayse of God and if any one then spake he should in like manner be obliged to say Pater noster for him that was to praise He would that all the Brethren entring into any house or other place and casually meeting one an other should prayse God saying God be praysed or some like wordes This Seraphicall Father was accustomed to giue these honoures to God with a most zealous feruour and desired that all his Brethren should be carefull and religious in doeing the like How he was ennemye to murmuringe and how he reprehended it THE XXXVI CHAPTER THe holy Father extremely abhorred murmurers the venimous fruit of murmures growing of the pestiferous tree of idlenes yea he shunned them aboue all other kind of vicious personnes affirming them to haue a most mortall venime in the topp of their tongue wherewith they empoyson men both present and absent Wherefore hauing one day heard a Brother offending the reputation of an other he tourned to Brother Peter Catanio and crying with a loud voice he vttered these wordes Discorde beginneth to enter into religion if detractours be not chasticed with discipline and if these loathsome mouthes be not stopt the sweet odour of the good will incontinently be infected Arise arise speedily and dilligently examine the matter and if thou finde the offended Brother innocent chastice the murmurer sharpely that he serue for an example to all others And so I will that all Gardiens and Ministers be verie vigillant that this pestiferous infirmitie take not root in religion To this purpose he often said that whosoeuer did frustrate his Brother of his glory and fame merited to be depriued of the habitt of the order and of all power euer to lift vp his eyes to God till he had to his power restored the honour taken from his Brother He further affirmed that the crueltie of detractors exceeded that of murderers in regard of the law of IESVS
shalt performe the pennaunce that I shall now enioyne thee The Religious acknowledging his fault and submitting himselfe to doe his penaunce S. Francis said vnto him Strip thy selfe naked and aske him pardon and beseech him to pray to God for thee which was done He caused an other Religious to doe the like for hauing only giuen a rigorous answeare to a poore man that asked an almose He manifested to his Brethren how they ought to behaue themselues towardes the poore in these termes When you shall see a poore creature consider that it is a mirour which our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST proposeth vnto you of his pouerty and of his blessed virgin mother and that he presenteth it to your sight When you shall see a sick person know that it is a paterne of the infirmity which he tooke on him for our sakes if the pride and irreuerence of the riche displease God how much more will displease him the rigorous wordes of Freer Minors to such as make professiō of pouerty If in this our profession God permitt that we be honoured of great personnes how intollerable will our pride appeare if proudly puffed vp we contemne such as are as poore as our selues Lett vs therfore beware that by iust permission of God it happen not to our confusion that the rich make lesse esteeme of vs yea that they suffer vs to die for want of releife Of the spiritt of feruour of S. Francis in his preachinges THE L. CHAPTER BEcause the Apostle saith that piety is profitable and behoufull in euery thing this vertue was so vnited to the hart of the holy Father and so engrauen in his bowels that it seemed to subiect him to all creatures but especially to the soules redeemed by the precious bloud of our Lord IESVS CHRIST for if the saw them sicke or dead in sinne he had such a tender feeling of hart and affection with them as if he had naturally begotten them And in that respect he excceedingly honoured Preachers because they alwayes raysed some dead Brother vnto our Redeemer and with a pious care endeauoured to reuoke the erring and to confirme the imperfect in God S. Francis then preached being vested with this zeale and charity towardes his neighbour not with selected wordes or by humane art but by the vertue and doctrine of the holy Ghost did manifest vnto them the kingdome of God his preaching was vehement as a burning fire that peneteated the center of the hart and putt soules into a continuall admiration and as it were beside themselues Prayer alone was all his bookes distrusting all his knowledged and industrie and entierly relying on the diuine vertue He obtained of God this his holy grace which he so instantly required for assistance of his neighbour in such sort that his wordes did penetrate not only the eares but euen the hartes of sinners It only once happened that he studyed his sermon and the reason was because he was to preach before the Pope and many Cardinals by commandement of the Cardinall of Hostia Protectour of his Order The time being come to ascend the pulpitt and being therin he could by no meanes beginne his sermon though he exceedingly laboured to doe it which infinitely troubled him and much amazed the assistantes wherfore he publickely acnowledged that he had seriously studied that sermon but hauing incontinently recourse to prayer in few wordes recommending himselfe with all his hart vnto God vtterly reiecting his former conceipt and entierly referring himselfe to his diuine maiestie he began to preach with such feruour that hauing in an instant sett att liberty his holy tongue he deliuered matter so learned sublime and so necessary that he moued all the hartes of his audience to compassion and then it appeared to each one that the wordes of God were vndoubtedlie true where he saith It is not you that speake but the spiritt of God that speaketh in you This holy Father thus obtayning the reuelatious of the diuine mysteries by meane of prayer and correcting first whatsoeuer vices he found in himselfe it is not to be admired that he moued the most obdurat hartes vnto pennance reprehending vices with such vehemence He preached with like feruour his constancie being incredible both to great and meaner people riche and poore many and few and alwayes with exceeding profitt What conditions S. Francis required in Preachers THE LI. CHAPTER BEing according to the example of IESVS CHRIST a true Euangelicall Preacher and teaching rather by workes then wordes he would in like sort that his disciples rather wanted learning then goodnes because sayd he the function and grace of preaching is farre more gratefull to God then any other humane office if it be especiallie practised with a care of perfect charitie adding with all that the poore and wretched preacher that despoiling himselfe of pietie sought not the benefitt of soules in his preachinges but only to please men for his particuler interest deserued to be lamented so miserable was his state and condition But more greiuous was his case that by his lewd life he scandalized and ruyned more soules then he gained by his doctrine Herevpon he inferred that before such Preachers was to be preferred a simple Religious man who by his pious example and imitable life induceth each one to vertue Which is insinuated by the wordes of S. Anne Donec sterilis peperit Till the barren bring foorth many children and she that had many become infirme vnderstanding the barren to be the simple Religious whose function is not to preach and by his doctrine to bring foorth any child vnto God but att the day of the vniuersall iudgement it will appeare that by his life his example his prayers and his teares which he hath presented vnto his diuine maiestie imploring him for the conuersion of sinners he shall haue engendred many more in the Church of God then diuers that preach because the iust iudge shall attribute them all vnto him for his merittes and shall recompense him accordinglie And the mother that is the Preacher that in exteriour apparence seemed to haue many children shall appeare infirme because he shall proue to haue no part in that wherein he gloryed as proceeding from himselfe and notfrom God In respect wherof he would not that the Preachers should be distracted and transported by cares and asfaires of the world but should remayne retired and attentiue to prayer as being elected by his diuine Maiesty for publishing his holy word vnto sinners Therfore said he the first thing that a Preacher ought to doe is in priuate prayer to feed himselfe with the spiritt of God then being himselfe enflamed within to communicate and impart vnto them therby to enflame them without The Function of preaching was by him reputed reuerend so consequentlie the Ministers therof Preachers said he are the life of the body of the holy church they are the champions and bucklers of soules against the deuill they are the
recouer them and know the place of their residence but they could neuer see nor heare of them It was then iudged that this was the recompence of the curtesy which the deceased had done to S. Francis and his companions when he entertained them att Orgogno and thence forward those people were euer exceeding deuot vnto the Freer Minors In the same iorney betweene Barcelone and Ghirone neere vnto S. Celony one of the companions of S. Francis being very hungry entred into a vineyard which he happelie found there and did eat of the grapes The keeper of the vines hauing perceaued it tooke from him his cloake which he very patientlie permitted him to take and would not restore it whatsoeuer instance S. Francis vsed but carryed it to his master of whome the said S. so graciously demaunded it that he did not only restore it but withall inuited him to eat with him where he in such sort comported himselfe that this good man entierlie edified by the wordes of the S. and by his doctrine offered himselfe to be a perpetuall host vnto all the Freer Minors that thenceforward should passe that way To whome the S. reciprocally replyed I accept thee for a Freer of our Order and so proceeding in continuall performance of that charity when they passed that way he died many yeares after and as his kinred procured his obsequies to be performed where were present many Preistes some did deridingly beginne to murmure saying that the Freer Minors did not appeare att the death of one of their so affectionate Brethren of who they had receaued so many curtesies and vpon the deliuerie of these wordes there came two and twentie Religious singing the Psalmes of Dauid with an exceeding melodious harmony who hauing finished the office in the Church did all disappeare The kinred of the deceassed prepared for them to eat but they rested content with only giuing thanckes to God with the rest of the people for the recompence he affordeth those that entertayne his seruantes euen after their death It was then ordayned in that citty that the Freer Minors should thenceforward there be lodged and entertayned with all thinges necessary att the chardge of the common purse S. Francis passing afterward through the kingdome of France preaching in a hospitall att Montpelier he prophetically foretold that in that citty should shortlie after be erected a monastery of Freer Minors which was accordingly verified soone after in that a Couent was there built which was very worthely mayntayned till the fury of the Caluinian heresie did vtterly ruinate the same Of the first meeting of S. Francis and S. Dominick THE LVII CHAPTER THe yeare of grace 1215. when the first generall Councell was held att Lateran during the raigne of Pope Innocentius the third the holy Father S. Dominick was att Rome with the Bishop of Tolous called Falcon to procure the Popes confirmatioÌ„ of the Order of Preachers which he then intended to institute and estabish wherof the Pope being by diuine reuelation aduertised and enformed of the great fruit that this Order should produce vniuersally to the holy Church att his first vew of S. Dominick without farther notice of him incontinently commanded him to retourne vnto Tolouse and to conferre with his Religious touching the penning of a rule that might be approued by the Church vnder which his Religion might be confirmed S. Dominick then retourning to Tolouse and hauing with his Religious implored the diuine assistance they made election of the rule of S. Augustine with the name and title of Preachers The yeare following being 1216. Honorius the third succeeding Pope Innocent the third retourning to Rome he demaunded of the Pope that then succeeded the said confirmation with the Bull and apostolicall authority in vertue wherof to make profession and with all to adde other constitutions that seemed necessary All which hauing obtayned the night ensuying he saw in prayer our Lord IESVS CHRIST att the right hand of God against sinners in an hideous and terrible manner brandishing three launces in the aire against the world the first to suppresse the hautines of the proud the second to disgorge the ouer-stuffed entrailes of the auaricious and the third to massacre the carnall There was none that could resist this wrath but the virgin Mary his most sacred mother whome he saw most affectionately to embrace the feet of her sonne beseeching him to pardon those whome he had redeemed with his precious bloud and with the mixture of his infinite mercy to delay that his rigorous iustice Then he heard our Lord thus answeare her See you not mother how manie iniuryes they doe me how is it possible that my holy iustice permitt so many enormityes to be vnpunished His most gracious mother thus replyed Thou knowest my deere Sonne what is the way to conuert sinners vnto thee but behold here a faithfull seruant of thine whome thou mayst presently send into the world to preach thy word to men that being conuâ—rted vnto thee their Sauiour they perish not and behold there also an other of thy seruantes ready to assist him Presenting vnto him S. Dominick and S. Francis with whome he saw God to be satisfied Now S. Dominick awaking very well retayned the markes wherby he might know this his companion whome he neuer knew before But the day following by diuine prouidence he mett S. Francis who was then in the Church of saint Peter att Rome whome he incontinently knew by the markes which he had obserued in the said vision Then he ran and verie affectionatelie embraced him and said we shal be companions and shall labour together in our holie purpose and neither any man nor wicked spiritt shall haue power to preuaile against vs. At length he recounted vnro him the said vision And after long discourse together they remayned vnited in God with one hart will and spiritt They commanded the like vnto their brethren This vision was imparted vnto the Religious of saint Dominick by saint Francis his meanes to whome onlie the said saint had recounted the same How these two SS had sight of each other an other time att Rome and how they reiected the benefices that were presented to them and to their Religious THE XLVIII CHAPTER THese two eminent lightes sent of God to illuminate the world did an other time meet together att Rome in Cardinall Hosties house who for the great zeale he carryed to the Church of God and for the deuotion wherwith he respected them both said vnto them In the primitiue Church the Prelates were poore and liued without any vanity gouerning the flock of Christ with loue and humility not by desire of terrestriall and temporall thinges therfore in myne opinion the holie church would retourne to her primitiue estate if of your Religious we should make Bishops and Prelates because by their doctrine good example of life and by contempt of the world they would represent to the whole world the Prelates of the primitiue
Father S. Francis hauing bin enformed that in this chapter were many Religious who to mortifie their flesh besides their other abstinences fastes and disciplines did weare insteed of haire a shirt of maille and certaine grosse hoopes of iron about theire loynes which procured them diuers sicknesses and euen that some died therewith the pitifull Father commanded by vertue of obedience that there should be brought him all the said mailles and hoopes and in an instant were brought him fiue hundred of the one the other sort wherfore he presently there vpon made a cōstitution that none should presume thenceforward to weare any sort of iron on their flesh There were in this Chapter certaine learned superiours who practised with their Protectour some meane to temperate the rigour of that their so extreme pouerty and liuing and to moderate it according to some other ancient rule that shunning extremities they might choose one more supportable Which being by the said Cardinall who also would haue him condiscend thervnto related vnto the holy Father S. Francis he tooke him by the hand and led him to the chapter where those said superiours were yet assēbled to whom addressing his speech he said My beloued Brethren our most mercifull Lord God hath called me vnto him by this way of simplicity pouerty humility and of this great asperity of life and not only my selfe but all those that will follow me therfore lett none of you thincke euer to make me espouse an other rule be it of S. Augustin S. Bernard or any other for my God hath shewed me this hath called vs vnto it and will that we be reputed insensible in this world because he will guide vs to heauen by an other path then this of the humane reasons of your sottish prudence and ignorance wherewith you are confounded yea I am so much assured from his diuine maiesty that he will chastice you by his executioners the deuils and then will remitt you into your former estate whence you are now fallen though it beagainst your will if first you doe it not of your selues This said he left them with this worthy conclusion The Cardinall hauing heard so resolute and terrible an answeare vtterly amazed att the great zeale of God which he demōstrated durst not reply so much as one word and the said superiors with such an exceeding terrour and feare of worse successe remayned mute A litle after the said chapter it was reuealed vnto the S. that whiles it was held many thousandes of deuils being assembled att the hospitall betweene our Lady of Angels and Assisium held an other where were present eighteen thousand conferring of some meanes wherby to hinder the holy progresse of the said Order of the Freer Minors where after many of the deuils had deliuered their opinion herein att length one more subtill then the rest thus proposed This Francis and his Religious shunne the world doe sequester themselues with so much feruour and for the present loue God with such force employing themselues in continuall prayer maceration of their flesh that whatsoeuer we shall now endeauour against them will litle or nothing preuaile therfore mine opinion is that we thincke not as yet of it but expect the death of the said Francis the head of this Order and the multiplication of the Religious for then we will procure into it yong men without zeale of Religion and saluation venerable old men and delicate gentilmen learned arrogants and men of feeble complexion such as shal be receaued to support the honour of the Order and to augment their number and then by their meanes we will draw them all to the loue of the world and of themselues to a great desire of knowledge and to blind ambition of honour and we will so allure them to our fantasie as we may dispose of them att our pleasure The other deuils approuing this opinion departed full of hope of a future reuenge which would to God had not in part so arriued How the Freer Minors were sent with authenticall letters into diuers Christian and Pagan Prouinces and how God miraculously releiued them THE LXVI CHAPTER IN the expeditiō of the foresaid great generall Chapter all the Christian and Pagan Prouinces were deputed to certaine Fathers who were sent thither with their companiōs carrying the letters patētes of the Pope in fauour wherof they were very ioyfully receaued and curteously entertayned of the Prelates and people among others six were sent vnto the citty of Morocco among the Mores of whome one remayned sick in Spaine and the other fiue that went thither were gloriously martyred as in the fourth booke shal be declared Many also were sent vnto Tunes there to preach against the false sect of Mahomet with Brother Giles the third disciple of S. Francis who being there arriued were by the merchantes with whome they came putt againe into the shippes against their willes for feare they might incurre some dommage by their occasion and so were sent againe into Italy there were also sent into diuers other places for many religiou◠entreated it of the S. for the desire they had of Martyrdome wherfore to giue them confort he permitted them to goe they did much fructifie in diuers places as in their liues shall appeare because hauing reposed all their confidence in God he wrought many miracles by them and miraculously releiued them in their necessities as in the accidentes following here placed for example doth appeare Many of the said Religious being in very vast mountaines were exceedingly afflicted with thirst by reason of the extreme heat that then was so that it could not be more violent when they came to any fountaine where hauing had the benediction of their superiour they drāck their fill of that water which they well knew to be more diuine then terrestriall considering that they found themselues therby so corroborated and reuiued that in vertue therof they coutagiously performed the rest of their iorney they yelded thanckes to God for the same Two others trauailling according to the Apostolicall manner without wallet and hauing spent almost a whole day in trauaile without getting any bread were so enffeebled with hungar that their extremety seemed att the full yet did it proue more when comming into a Church and demaunding a litle bread for the loue of God of the preist therof the honest man answeared that he had it not wherfore the poore Religious passing on in a kind of despaire mett on the way a yong man who hauing saluted them began to question with them in this manner whither goe you so sorrowfull and heauy that you appeare to be ouerchardged therewith they answeared that finding none that would giue them bread they walked whither their hungar did lead thē wherof they feared to die this yong man presently replyed goe to sitt downe and eat here are two loaues Whiles they were eating he began to discouer who he was saying vnto them O men of
knowne and experienced by the world and reuealed by IESVS CHRIST himselfe wherfore the S. merited to be crowned hauing bin so valiant in the fierce assaultes of so many ennemies and att length vanquished so tedious a combatt as he had from the beginning of his conuersion First by his very parentes and afterward by infinite other meanes that neuer permitted him in repose But how much more the deuill gaue him occasion to sinne so much more did he endeauour to meritt and became pure as gold in the fire Wherfore he often said If my Religious knew what warre mine ennemies raise against me they would perhappes haue compassion of me and hold me excused if I cannot be sometimes with them as I would desire One time when God permitted him for his greater good to be tempted the deuill drawe him into so deepe a melancholy of spiritt that exteriourly there appeared many signes therof he being no longer able to conceale nor moderate the same in such sort as he seemed to be vtterlie abandoned of God If he would conuerse with his Religious he could not if he would be sequestred from them it was worse abstinence and mortification of the flesh annoyed him haircloth and prayer auayled not He continued in this sort more then two yeares though one would not haue imagined it had bin of an houres continuance till att length God determining to haue compassion of him as he prayed with effusion of teares he heard the voice of God that said If thou hast so much faith as a mustard seed and sayest to this mountaine remoue from hence thither it shal be done S. Francis then answeared which is this mountaine my God and the voice replyed The temptation then S. Francis My God lett thy word then be accomplished And from thence he was freed and gaue infinite thanckes to God for the same Of many other temptations with S. Francis had THE LXXIII CHAPTER SAint Francis being in continuall prayer in the hermitage of Grecio a gentleman one night sending him a pillow to vse in regard of the infirmity of his eyes he could neuer repose nor pray for he had such a trembling in his head that all his body was distempered therwith Now hauing a long time discoursed with himselfe whence this distemperature should proceed he att length resolued and concluded that it could not be occasioned but by the pillow wherinto the deuill was entred wherfore he caused it to be carryed out of his cell by his companion who hauing to that purpose layed it on his shoulders and carryed it out incontinentlie lost his speech and which was yet worse stood immoueable with the said pillow He continued in this affliction which how it tormented him may of each one be imagined till sainct Francis admiring his long tariance called him att which voice the Religious retourned to himselfe cast the pillow instantlie to the ground and ran to the S. to whome he recounted all whervpon he answeared him My Brother last night whiles I was att compline I vnderstood that this deuill came hither and know that finding no other place he entred into the soft pillow learne therfore now how subtill and malicious he is that hauing no power to endommage the soule because it is protected by diuine grace he seeketh to hinder the repose of the body that it may not pray and performe other exercises in time conuenient or to make it diseased to procure it to murmure and therby to fall into sinne Being an other time afflicted with the said infirmitie of his eyes in such sort as for the space of fifty dayes together he could see no light he was placed in a very darck cell made of rushes mattes and earth there did he endure such excessiue greife as he could not haue one hower of repose The deuill to augment his affliction sent him into his celle a very great quantity of huge mice that they might prouoke him to impatience wherfore the S. being entierly resigned into the handes of God feeling a vehement anguish in his hart vttered these wordeâ— Help me my God in such a multitude of infirmities diseases and afflictions that I may patiently endure them Whereto a voice answeared Tell me S. Francis if for thyne infirmities and afflictions one should promise thee such a treasure and of so great valew as if all the earth were gold and all the stones diamondes or other precious stones and all the waters baulme wouldest thou not esteeme all thy miseries filthy dirt in comparison of the said treasure and wouldest thou not be content more then voluntarily to supporte the same herevnto the S. answeared yea I should be very glad therof Well reioyce thee then replyed the voice that thou mayest liue content and secure as if thou wert in my kingdome Hauing concluded his prayer with exceeding ioy of this vision deliuerance diuine promise he incontinently said to his companions If a king had giuen a kingdome to a seruaunt should not he haue cause to be alwayes ioyfull And they answeared yes And if added he he gaue him all the Empires of the world should he not haue yet greater cause of ioy they likewise answeared yes I ought then said he infinitely to reioyce in mine infirmities and greifes and for them to giue thanckes vnto the Father of mercie vnto my Redeemer IESVS CHRIST to the holy Ghost the true comforter sith he hath shewed such mercie to me his vnworthy seruant as to vouchsafe att this present to assure me of his kingdome In respect wherof I will compose himnes to singhenceforward and to yeld him infinite thankes for the same Of many other temptations and subtilties wherby the dâ—uiâ—â— tormented him THE LXXIV CHAPTER THe deuils not content to disturbe him with infinite temptations did also assault him by occasion of sinne as by the ensuyng accident shall appeare Preaching one day in Apulia in a church very neere vnto the Pallace of the Emperour Frederick being as yet vnknowne many Courtiers were there present who perceauing him so freelie to reprehend vices affirming that whosoeuer would follow and satisfie his sensuall appetites could neuer haue part in heauen they retourning did scoffingly relate the whole vnto the Emperour who answeared them These Preachers in deed do say much but they performe litle Wherfore I would willingly know if this maÌ„ be such a one lett some one amongest you vndertake to inuite him to supper lodge with him and hauing giuen him good entertainement let him dexterously conuey into his chamber a faire courtisane to try if he can vse that vertue of continence which he so forcibly preacheth vnto vs. A gentleman did presentlie offer to putt this proiect in practise for in princes Courtes there want not men that seeke rather to please their master in these friuolous and sottish toyes then in matters that concerne the honnour and saffety of the soule This Courtier then when he had found a time conuenient to the purpose
inuited the holy Father who simply promised him his custome being ordinarily to satisfie honest and lawfull requestes He then went with the said gentleman vnto his house which he found sumptuously adorned and being sett at table did according to his custome eat very litle after that att conuenient houre he was brought to a chamber all tapistred where was a right gorgious bed and a great fire conformable to the coldnes of the season the gentleman bidding him good night wished him to sleepe att his ease but the holy Father answeared him that this chamber and bed were not proper for a poore begger as himselfe was for whome the bare ground or a litle chaffe would suffice but the gentleman departed without giuing any reply and subtilly left the chamber dore open wherby he brought in a verie beautifull damosell yong and wittie and a corrupted Courtesane to whome he promised great matters if she could induce this Religious to sinne with her She then permitting him to end his prayers and to couer himselfe att his commoditie the time seeming to her purpose went to his bed side the S. seeing her on the sodaine asked her to what end she came thither wherto she answeared that she came priuarely to lye with him and that she would neuer leaue him till he consented to her desire S. Francis herevpon raysing himselfe said sith thou art therto resolued be it but stay a litle I will prepate our lodging And hauing with a couragious hart made a short prayer vnto God he with the irons that he found one the harth spread and scattered the most burning coales that were in the fire and laid himselfe theron without receauing any detriment then inuited the Courtisane as he had done the More in Egipt Which the woman seeing though she were sinfull began to cry out that she had greiuously offended God and his seruaunt and falling one her knees demaunded pardon of him Wherfore they that attended on the stears without the dore to see the successe of their lewd designe confounded and filled with feare and terrour repenting their peruerse Counsaile did also aske pardon and relating all to the Emperour himselfe sending for the S. did likewise craue his pardon and requested him to be mindfull of him and his in his deuotions thus in one instant he subdued the pleasure of the flesh that was lewdly offered him by the woman and the deuill that had plotted the same remained conquered and the Emperour and his Courtiers clearly assured that the S. his life was conformable to his wordes and finally God was praysed Of the great assaults that the deuils gaue S. Francis in solitary places THE LXXV CHAPTER THese afflictions which the holy Father endured were doubtles very violent but those which the deuils laid on him in solitarie places where he prayed were without comparison much greater for they gaue him a meruailous warre often appearing vnto him in hideous and loathsome shapes yea so horrible that no humane creature had bin able to endure them if God had not giuen him force and assistance and these monsters did sometimes appeare vnto him with such importunity that they seemed to intend a combattt with him Brother Giles that was also exceedingly molested by the deuils did one day demaund of S. Francis if he had seene in the world that which could not be beheld by any whosoeuer the space of a Pater noster who answeared that the deuill was so loathsome and horrible that no man without the help of God could behold him the space only of halfe a Pater noster Notwith standing armed with celestial armure the more they assaulted him the more courage and vallour did he gett saying I will defend me My God from the fury of these wicked spirittes vnder the shadow of thy winges and of thy graces Sometimes euen being in the desert he vrged them by these wordes Ye false and wicked spirittes make boldly what anatomie of me you will for sure I am you shall doe no more then my God will permitt you whose creature I am and for whome I am ready to endure as much tribulation as he will giue me by your meane The deuils no longer able to endure this notable constancie departed vtterly confounded S. Francis remayning one day in a Churche of S. Peter neere to Bolonia desired to repose awhile to make his prayer afterward He had scarcely enclined his head but he began to feele his ennemies wherfore making the signe of the crosse he went out of the Church and said vnto them yee deuils I coniure you in the name of God the Father almighty that to this my body you doe what soeuer my God hath permitted you for I am prepared to endure althinges for his loue and because I haue no greater ennemie then my body reuenge me one it which hauing said they fled vtterlie confounded The rest of this chapter to obserue the Order of the history is put in the end of the thirty seauenth chapter of the second booke How S. Francis deliuered his Brethren from temptations THE LXXVI CHAPTER THus did S. Francis by the helpe of God obtaine so many victories ouer his ennemies whereby he had already so terrified them that he expelled them only by vertue of his name when he knew it to be to the honour of God Besides this auctority which God had giuen him he had also such experience by reason of the continuall combattes which he had with them that he knew how to counsaile comfort and applie remedies to his Religious when they suffered affliction in that kinde as the sequel of this discourse will giue vs to vnderstand A very spirituall Religious and one of the most auncient of the Order very familiar with S. Francis being afflicted with carnall temptations by extrauagant imaginations in such sort as he was almost reduced to a desperate point of power to resist them any longer and one the other side he was exceedingly perplexed to cōfesse himselfe therof so much was shame to expresse such foule and filthy cogitations now encreased in him fastinges abstinences and prayers or other spirituall worckes did profitt him nothing Neuertheles resisting alwayes to his vttmost God sent vnto him his seruant S. Francis who comming to the monasterie where this poore Religious was he priuately called him and said Beloued brother I will not that henceforward you confesse such and such fantasies wherwith the deuill to this day could neuer preuaile against you and therefore hereafter feare not but as often as he shall tempt you say only thrice the Pater noster and by the mercie of God you shal be deliuered The Religious exceedingly amazed att the vertue of S. Francis that knew his very cogitations was very contētedly satisfied with so sweet and gentle a medicine wherof making vse he freed himselfe of the temptations Brother Roger de la Marque a Religious of pious conuersation was by diuine permissiō so tempted of the deuils that he esteemed himselfe forsaken of
which done he retourned and said vnto him Goe to my good freind sith these Religious doe not serue you well I will serue you my selfe The Leaper answeared Tell me I pray what will you doe more then they the S. replyed I will doe whatsoeuer you shall cammand me begin from this instant to tell me what you please to haue and I promise to doe it I will said the leaper that you wash all my body for I cannot endure the filthy sauour therof I will most willingly doe it answeared the S. and sodenly caused to be prepared a bath of veri◠pleasing hearbes then discloathed him to his skinne and washed him one of the Religious powring water on his body But there hapened a notable miracle whiles the holy Father with his pitifull handes washed him all the scurfes of his leapry one after an other fell off so that the flesh remayned cleane and neat as of a litle child in fine he was entierly cleansed and cured within and without The diseased person therfore knowing this great miracle began very bitterly to lament saying I am worthy not of one but of a thousand helles as well for hauing blasphemed against God as for the contempts iniuries and buffettes wherby I haue offended your poore Religious that so louingly haue ministred vnto me And after his cure he remayned fifteene dayes in this lamentation then he made a generall confession imploring the ayd of our Lord IESVS CHRIST S. Francis left him not till fearing himselfe for the great concourse of people that repayred to this miracle he was constrayned to depart so leauing the man in the grace of God who shortly after passed from this world into an other And incontinentlie the holie Father being in prayer he appeared vnto him in heauen more bright then the sunne and said Father know you me The S. asked him who are you And he answeared I am the soule of that leaper whome liuing in the world God cured by your prayers and humility I now enter into the kingdome of glory for which I giue thanckes to God and you blessed be your wordes and your actions also whereby many soules in the world are saued Know that there passeth no day but the Angels and SS in heauen giue glorie and prayse to God for the innumerable fruites which by your meane and your Order are procured in the Church and therefore perseuer to the time predestinated to your great crowne hauing said thus much he disappeared leauing the S. exceedingly comforted who gaue thanckes to God for all and particulerly for the sauing of that soule who was in such imminent perill of damnation Of three famous theeues conuerted by the humility and charity of S. Francis the eight chapter of the tenth booke transferred to this place as most proper vnto it THE LXXXVI CHAPTER BRother Angelus being Gardian att Mount Casal three famous theeues haunted that place doeing cruell murders thereabout who being one day oppressed with hungar came to him demaunding somewhat to eat The good Guardian knowing them not only refused to giue them almose but began to check and reprehend them alleadging that they feared not God nor men whome they so miserablie slew liuing by the labours of others and leading a life more diabolicall then humane robbing dishonouring tormenting and cutting the throates of their neighbour as they did and that he admired how the earth did sustaine them that it did not swallow them quick as they were and so bad them hast away and withall rudely shutt the dore against them wherevpon they in extreme choller departed S. Francis a litle after came with one of his companions vnto that place to whome the Guardian recounted the precedent whereto the holy Father answeared that he had done very ill because such sinners retourne to God and are conuerted rather by sweet and pittifull wordes then by such reprehensions which did rather harden them and that therfore God said They that are in health need not a Phisition but they that are ill att ease that he came not to call the iust but sinners to repentance And therefore added he because you haue done against charity the commandemēt of the gospell the example of IESVS CHRIST I command you in vertue of obedience for pennance to cary them to the mountaine where they are this loafe of bread this flagon of wine which was giuen vs by the way when you come in their presence fall one your knees at their feet and aske thē pardō for the wordes you haue spoken when they haue taken the bread entreat them in my behalfe to Ieaue that miserable kinde of life and I will prouide for all their necessities and vse all the art you can deuise to induce them hither The most obedient Guardian presentlie went on and the holy father in the meane while went to the Church to pray for them whence he departed not till God had heard him Brother Angelus comming to the theeues and hauing performed the commandement of S. Francis whiles they did eat the bread one of them said to the others Alas what shall become of vs sottish wretches what must be our lott what horrible torments are prepared for vs in hell for so many theftes and murders as we daylie perpetrat neither yet haue we any scruple much lesse feare of God or repentance for so many enormous sinnes And this Religious who hath brought vs to eat is come thus farre with so great humility to aske vs pardon for one only word iustlie vttered vnto vs admonishing vs according to our desert in the meane while we wretched theeues and detestable robbers neuer demaund pardon of God Besides this he hath sheuen vs charity praying vs to repaire to that holy Father who hath sent vs releefe who for the zeale he hath of our soules doth so freelie offer vs alwayes to prouide vs all our necessities They are true servantes of God who haue already gayned heauen but what shall we doe who being children of the deuill euery day heape sinnes vpon sinnes considering withall that our sinnes are so enormous as deserue of God rather punishment then pardon Myne opinion therfore is that it were very conuenient sith God doth seeme to call vs by this Religious that we make no longer delay nor abuse the patience of his diuine maiesty but that we repaire vnto him and he will instruct vs in the direct way how to free our selues att length from hell and euen to meritt mercy The other two theeues being of the same opinion they went together with the Guardiā to the holy Father in whose presence being com they kneeled att his feete saying Father we haue litle hope by reason of the enormity of our sinnes that God will vse mercie vnto vs but if you assure vs that we may yet finde grace behold vs here ready to doe whatsoeuer you shall command vs. The holy Father receaued them verie amiably cherished and encouraged them affirming withall that they should not
in his soule conceaued such consolation therof that he no more remēbred all his trauailes past then if he had neuer endured them S. Francis then said vnto him My sonne admire no more for it is necessary that thou retourne into the world but greiue not for God hath appointed thee a very short time of seauen dayes only that in the meane time thou mayest prepare the better which ended I my selfe will come to thee and will conduct the thither to enioy with me this immortall glorie The blessed Father S. Francis with a very rich mantell and his holy stigmates glittered as shinning starres with such a splendour that he seemed with his beames to illuminate the greatest part of that great citty The Religious did there know many SS of S. Francis his company whome he had seene in the world all whome he nomminated att his retourne Att length hauing receaued the benediction of S. Francis he awakened out of his sleepe and heard the bell ringing to the Prime for it was yet early morning and he seemed to haue spent many yeares in his iorney he thē recounted the vision to his Guardian and the Religious for the cōsolation of all such as liue in labours and afflictions and to demonstrate that whatsoeuer sinners they be God doth neuer abandon any one but doth euer assist and preserue them in all their tribulations till he bring them to his kingdome Now for confirmation of all the precedent the Religious fell incontinently sick and with an admirable feruour of spiritt prepared himselfe for his last houre The seauen dayes expired the glorious Father S. Francis came as he had promised and carryed the soule of this theefe into Paradice This holy Father then by this humility in this sort gayned soules vnto God as by the ensuyng example shall more appeare How S. Francis conuerted certaine other theeues this was the 27. chapter of the 10. book transferred hither as a place more proper vnto it THE LXXXVIII CHAPTER THere were certaine theeues that had their residence on an high mountaine whence they discended to robbe the passengers they found on the wayes and some time very hungar constrayned them to aske bread for the loue of God att the Couent of the Freer Minors neere the borough of S. Sepulcre some of the Religious affirmed that it was not well done to giue them almose being theeues and murderers such as ought not to be releiued to the detriment of the cōmon weale Others neuertheles of compassion gaue them almose still admonishing them to leaue that lewd and detestable life and to doe pennance for it But S. Francis one day accidentallie comming to that Couent the Religious proposed this doubt vnto him to whome he answeared If you follow mine aduice I hope by the grace of God you shall gaine him those soules which is that you take bread and wine of each of the best you haue and carry it them to the mountaine whither they are retired and that calling them you very louingly vse this speeche vnto them Brethren feare not for we are Religious that bring you to eat then presentlie spread your cloakes on the ground and sett them your bread vpon it and with a ioyfull humility minister vnto them till they haue done eating After that in fauour of that charity on your part exhibited and of what you may thenceforward doe them pray and coniure them not to hurt kill or offend any man personnally and for that first time require no other thing of them An other day according to the good answeare they shall giue you you shall carry them other bread wine egges and cheese which you shall present vnto them with the greatest humility and kindenes that you can then you shall say vnto them Brethren we know wel what moueth you to liue in these mountaines with so many inconueniēces feares and perils both of body and soule which you will vndoubtedly bring to ruine if you perseuer in this course Therfore we counsaile you for the best to giue ouer this life to putt your confidence in God and he wil neuer abandon you in your temporall necessities On our part we will not faile for his loue and yours to releiue you att least to saue your soules and I hope in our Lord said the holy Father by this your charity and humility you shall conuert them which proued true For these Religious following that counsaile the vertue of the holy Ghost in a moment descended on the theeues in such sort that moued by the demonstrations of those good Religious they beleeued them so that by litle and litle the greater part of them entred into the Order and there liued piously and the rest hauing sworne vnto the Religious that they would amend themselues spent their time in very great repose and ended their liues as good Christians to the exceeding contentment and edification of all the country who for the same gaue thanckes to God and to those good Religious How much S. Francis shunned and abhorred honours for the loue of humility THE LXXXIX CHAPTER THough by the precedent it may be sufficiently vnderstood how much S. Francis shunned worldly glory and on the cōtrary how he reioyced when God was praysed by his worckes yet it will more manifestly appeare by this which we are to speake of him on this occasion Hauing one day ended his sermon in the citty of Iterrena the bishop arose and after he had made a short exhortation to his people in the end he said That frō the time that God had planted the Church he neuer abandoned it but did alwayes illuminate and assist it by meane of some perfect men that continually supported the same but now he did illustrate and maintayne it more then euer in this poore bare-foot and idiott vtterlie misprised for his loue wherevpon he concluded that they were much obliged to giue thanckes vnto his diuine maiesty for that his singuler benefitt As soone as the bishop had ended S. Francis doeing him reuerence very ioyfull replyed doubtles My Lord neuer man in the world hath to this day so much honoured me as your selfe for some say of me this man is holy and when God worcketh any thing by me many reflecting on me only giue not to God the glory due to his diuine maiesty but you as wise and prudent haue separated the vile from the precious wherefore falling on his knees before him he kissed his handes and departed leauing the bishop exceedingly edified If any one called him S. he would incōtinētlie answeare If God should take frō me the treasure of his grace which he hath giuen me in custodie there would remaine to me only my body and soule both burdened with sinnes and extreme blindnes as are the damned and infidels but as the picture and sculpture where the images of God and of the glorious virgin are engrauen and peinted in wood or stone are reuerenced and honoured as figures of the true image and as they are stone
deuout personnes that went with the said woman to gaine the indulgence but the men being a litle separated from the women his first hope was vaine and his second more for it miraculously happened that he could neuer see her in the church though he well saw all her company Wherfore acknowledging his fault and repenting it he confessed himselfe gayned the indulgence chaunged his life and behauiour yea so far foorth that he shortly after became Religious where he liued and dyed vertuously What sanctity Sainct Francis would haue obserued in that church THE VI. CHAPTER AS well in respecte of the accidentes afore recited as diuers other which God wrought in this holie church the holy Father Sainct Francis avouched as being reuealed vnto him that it was loued of the Virgin Mary with a particuler deuotion aboue all other churches of the world Therin were also graunted verie great graces to the said holy Father and prerogatiues generallie and particulerlie for himselfe and for others and therfore that the Religious might neuer forgett with what deuotion and reuerence they ought to respect that church and that particuler memory might be had therof aboue all the memorable thinges of the Order being one day sicke in presence of his Vicar Generall and many other Religious in manner of a testament he left these wordes I will that this house and church of our Lady of Angels of Portiuncula be duely reuerenced and honoured of my Religious and that therein be the residence of the Generall of the Order that he may prouide vnto this house a pious family with greater deuotion and dilligence to the end it may serue for example and mirour in piety and good conuersation and especially that there be chosen very spirituall Preistes and Clarckes to minister with deuotion that the Religious and seculers comming hither to gaine this holy indulgence be well edified therby and likewise I will that the lay Brethten be chosen humble and of vertuous life and that they serue the Preistes with much respect and reuerence I will besides that in this place be obserued a perpetuall silence and that if there be necessity of speaking they speake only with their superiours and among them be very wary not to recount worldlie matters or other idle wordes yea that themselues giue no eare in such thinges to seculer personnes to the end that no worldly matter enter into this holie house and that the Religious may the better conserue their holy pouertie therin And with all that this habitation be not prophaned by earthly discourses but that therein the time be alwayes employed in himnes prayers and psalmes the most secure armour for guard of the hart And if any religious herein already placed become and libertine a obserue not this Order and course of life I will that the Guardian expell him and put an other such as he shall thinck sitt in his place To the end that if other Religious and monasteries established wheresoeuer els where doe erre from the puritie due to their estate and to their vocation and vow made to God this holy place att least blessed by our Lord may remaine and perseuer as a mirour and example of true Religion and euangelicall perfection and may be a candlelesticke before the throne of God and the glorious Virgin Mary euer burning and giuing light for whose sake God may pardon the faultes and offences of all the Brethren of the Order and that this plante of our Religion may be for euer conserued producing fruites worthy of merittes and so obtayning the most holie grace of God Such was the Order of the glorious Father S. Francis which was seriously obserued of his first Religious nourished and educated with the purest milke of sanctitie who knowing how much this place was loued of IESVS CHRIST and his sacred mother liued alwayes in this house in highest purity in perpetuall silence and in extreme pouerty When they chaunced to speake some litle out of the time of silence their discourses were of spirituall thinges of benefittes receaued of God of our ingratitude of his mercie and all with exceeding great humility and deuotion And if by misgard it happened which it very seldome or neuer did that some one of them began to speake some thing that was not of God or more necessary he was incontinently reprehend by the others and did penance for it att the same instant In this place they mortified their flesh not only by watching and fastinges but also by disciplines nakednes and the rigour and austerity of their habitt supporting the one in sommer and the other in winter and the lay Brethren by labouring in the feeld to gaine bread and to maintaine themselues and the other Religious by such and other vertuous exercises sanctifying themselues and the place where they dwell A very deuout Religious being yet in the world saw once in vision a great nomber of people kneeling before this churche with ioyned handes and eyes eleuated towardes heauen all blinde who with loud voice required mercy of God powring out abondance of teares and beseeching the diuine Maiestie to voutsafe to restore their sight which prayer ended he saw desceÌ„d from heauen an exceeding great light that illuminating all the place restored sight to the blind vpon which vision he afterward became Religious How sainct Francis instituted the second rule and of the Apostolicall Bulle of pope Honorius against the professed that leaue the Order THE VII CHAPTER THe Religion of the Frere Minors daily augmenting and manie entring therinto without well measuring their forces before by their weaknes of spiritt their first feruours incontinently decayed wherfore being vnable to continue firme vnder the hammer of Euangelicall life leauing the habitt they went out of the Order worse by reason of their apostasie committed then they entred in Others without leauing the habitt went wandring ouer the world others the rigour being not then so seuere liued att libetty affirming that they were not bound to obserue a rule that was not confirmed nor approued by the holy Apostostolike sea but only viua vocis â—raculâ— by the mouth and voice of Pope Innocent the third and approned but not priuiledged by Pope Honorious his successour The yeare of grace 1221. which was the fist of his Papacie his holines for the reasons aforesaid made his breuet following two yeares before the second rule was confirmed This following it the said Breuet extracted out of the 32. chapter of the tenth booke and transferred hither as its proper place HOnorious bishop and seruant of the seruantes of God to our beloued sonne Brother Francis and to other Superiours of the Frere Minours health and Apostolicall benediction Because according to the opinion of the wise one ought to doe nothing without counsaile that being done no repentance ensue It is therefore necessary to him that will orderly and duely dispose a spirituall life and one more excellent then ordinary that he sett his eyes before his feet that is
against chastity and the admission of yong men withour spiritt against pouerty magnificent and sumptuous buildinges proud Prelates that shall haue no power to cōtaine thēselues within the bōdes of humility against obediēce diuersity of opiniōs and other thinges which now I wil not discouer lett it suffice thee that we will labour so much as to get the vpper hād this Order which thou seest so eminent shall come to such ruine and be so contemptible to men as is admirable Albeit in that time there shall arise an other Religious of the same Order of no lesse vertue then this Frācis He shall attaine to that sanctity that the third part of men shal be by his example and predication conuerted to pennance we haue now resolued with all our possibility to oppugne and assault this order and to that end there are lately sent eight thousand of my companions to a Monastery where there are but seauen Brethren to tempt them This was two yeares before S. Francis receaued the stigmates And though it be not receaued for a truth because it was spoaken by a deuill neuertheles that which is since arriued causeth a beleife that God forced him to vtter it this not being the first time that God hath manifested his secrettes vnto the world by the mouth of deuils as in the time of our lord IESVS CHRIST when he constrayned them to confesse that he was his true Sonne How S. Francis departing from Carnerio preached to diuers birds THE XXXIV CHAPTER SAinct Bonauenture and S. Antony doe recount that S. Francis being departed out of the said Carnerio before he came to Benammo he saw on a tree a great nomber of birdes of diuers kindes and hard by them an other squadron a matter indeed deseruing consideration in regard that it seemed to signifie I know not what extraordinary thing as it happened For the S. inspired of God causing his companions to stay behinde went to preach to the said birdes and comming neere to the tree saluted them in these wordes The peace of God be with you and they shewing signes of ioy approached all to this predication those that were on the tree descended to the ground and rancked themselues with the other and keeping a quiet silence they seemed to expect when the holie Father would begin Wherfore he thus discoursed vnto them My Brother Birdes ye are exceedinglie obliged alwayes to prayse God your Creatour for he hath giuen you winges wherwith you lightlie fly in the aire and whither you will a fauour that he hath not giuen to so manie other Creatures He hath also adorned and cloathed you with fethers and they of diuers delectable and beautifull coulers he hath created your bodyes light and supporteth you without any paine of yours permitting you to enioie the labours of men He hath also giuen you a qualitie of singing verie delightfull then he conserueth and hath conserued you from the beginning of the world he miraculouslie cōserued you from the deluge sending couples of euerie kinde into the arck of Noe there to be preserued he hath giuen you for habitation one of the foure elementes therefore doth holie scripture ordinarilie call you the birdes of heauen besides that you possesse the mountaines and hilles the vallyes and plaines att your pleasure the fountaines riuers trees and houses for nestes it hath pleased God himselfe by his sacred mouth to testifie vnto the world that you neither spinning nor in any sort labouring he hath care to cloath you both sommer and winter and to giue you althinges necessary to your conseruation All which benefittes are pregnant signes of the loue which God beareth you as his creatures And therfore my Brothers and sisters blessed of God beware that you be not ingratefull vnto his diuine Maiesty but prayse him alwayes deuoutlie with your sweet accentes sith he hath giuen wherwithall The Sainct hauing ended his sermon all these birdes which is admirable began to open their billes and beate their winges as if they would haue said we thanke you but being vnable verballie bowing their heades they manifested vnto him their due reuerence and that they expected his benediction to prayse God and so to depart The holie Father was much comforted in beholding those gestures perceauing these creatures to be so obedient vnto their Creator and therefore for their farwell he gaue them his benediction which hauing receaued they with one accord mounted into the aire filling it with most pleasing accentes then did they diuide and separate themselues in the aire into foure bandes conformable to the benediction which the holie Father had giuen them in forme of a crosse S. Francis retourned to his companions who were as beside themselues seeing such straunge meruailes in vnreasonable creatures he asking them pardon in great humilitie for hauing made them attend whiles he preached to those birdes whome he found so prepared to heare the worde of God He thenceforward preached to all creatures exhorting them to prayse their Creatour that all the world might yeld honour glorie and prayse to God A short aduertisement for the better vnderstanding of this miracle and some other the like contayned in this Cronicle of S. Francis added for the better vnderstanding of the simple The glorious Father S. Francis was not ignorant that dumbe creatures were not capable of his sermon and therfore preached not vnto them to instruct them but to stir vp him selfe the more to admire the goodnes of God And God no dout to comfort his deuout sernant made the very vnreasonable creatures by a secret instinct to reuerence the Sainct whilst he preached vnto them or rather whilst he preached to him selfe in them and by them the holie Scripture being full of such sermons and namelie the four last psalmes of the prophet Dauid and the Canticle of the three children in the furnace of Babilon which what else are they but such sermons as Sainct Fr. made vnto these creatures to adore their Creator Of the vertue and efficacie of the holy Father S. Francis his preaching and of certaine miracles wrought therby THE XXXV CHAPTER THrough whatsoeuer townes and villages he trauailed he preached with such feruour and spiritt and with such efficacie that there was no hart so obdurate but was moued to pennance Besides that which is spoaken of the towne of Carnerio it many times arriued that there followed him more then thirty or fiue and thirty men conuerted to pennance by his discourses who did not only abandon vanities as the custome is for ten or twelue dayes but did vtterly and entierly forsake the world following God in his Euangelicall pouerty He admirablie confounded the blindenes of heretikes and exalted the faith of the Romane Church which he performed by the meane of the science which the holy Ghost had infused into him and of the merueillous miracles which God wrought by him who was also present fauorable vnto him in all his actions He expelled diuels out of the humane bodyes
bare to the holy Father S. Francis Of an other child which God raysed by the merittes of the holy Father S. Francis and of diuers other miracles wrought THE XLIII CHAPTER BEing att an other time lodged with a knight as they discoursed of spirituall matters there came a seruant all chafed and full of teares telling this geÌ„tleman his master that his sonne was att that very houre drowned in a chanell wheratt the Father and mother pittifully lamented S. Francis was moued to coÌ„passion and after that he had comforted theÌ„ willing theÌ„ to haue hope in God he fell to prayer beseeching his diuine Maiesty to reueale vnto him the place where he might finde the child Now God hauing reuealed it vnto him he bad the gentleman to send vnto such a place where he should finde his child which being brought vtterly suffocated and drowned he raysed him an restored him to his Father in the name of God with an infinite ioy to all the assistantes who reÌ„dred thaÌ„ckes incessaÌ„tly vnto his diuine Maiesty The holy Father S. FraÌ„cis minding to preach in a certaine place within the diocesse of Cisterno where a great noÌ„ber of people were asseÌ„bled to heare him waÌ„ting coÌ„uenieÌ„t place to preach vnto theÌ„ coÌ„modiously by reasoÌ„ that it was a plaine he approached to an oake which was froÌ„ the bottome to the toppe all couered with antes which the holy Father hauing seene hecoÌ„manded theÌ„ to goe froÌ„ that tree and tourning to the people he willed theÌ„ to giue way to the said antes And theÌ„ which was admirable they in noÌ„ber almost incredible went that way which S. Francis had caused the people to make for them so that they neuer retourned more and this was cause of vnspeakeable fruit The holy Father S. FraÌ„cis of all other beastes had least affectioÌ„ to those antes because they employed ouer much dilligeÌ„ce in hoarding their prouisioÌ„ for the time to come And withall he affirmed that they deserued not to be nombred with the birdes of whome God said Behold the foules of the aire that they sow not neither reape nor gather into barnes and your heauenly Father feedeth them S. Francis would that all his Religious should haue the same faith and resignation of all their cogitations in his diuine prouidence that God would should be in his disciples In the same place and time that the S. preached there happened a fearfull miracle for there came a woman with a cow-bell to disturbe the company wherwith she made such a ringing sound that one could not heare what he said S. Francis reprehending her she encreased it such possession had the deuill of her Vpon this occasion the holy Father inspired of God and moued with zeale of his holy word and of the conuersion of soules vttered these wordes Carry her away Satan carry her away for she is one of they members and is thine O horrible and fearfull accident these wordes being ended the woman was incontinently carryed vp into the aire both body and soule in vew of all the world for which cause euery one was stricken in extreme terrour and feare of the diuine maiesty and thenceforward gaue eare to his holy worde in very great reuerence S. Francis walking with his companion on the banckes of the riuer Po and being ouertaken by the night he was exceedingly perplexed to get lodgeing by reason that the way was extreme foule and durty the aire very darck and the place not free froÌ„ theeues for though they had nothing to loose yet should they haue bin afflicted by them wherefore his coÌ„panion said vnto him Father pray vnto God if you please that he may voutsafe to be our guide and to deliuer vs froÌ„ this affliction The S. no otherwise answeared but God is able if he please and that it be for our good to deliuer vs and remouing this darcknes to giue vs his light Att this instant as he lifted vp his handes to heauen a cleare light appeared and so resplendant that being in all other places a very darck night they saw very clearly and perfectly nor only how to goe in their way but euery where about theÌ„ So by this light guided and comforted both spiritually and corporally they made such speed as they arriued att their place of retire singing prayses and himnes vnto God of whome S. Francis was assisted in his necessity He accustomed when he came to any place to preach therby the more coÌ„modiously to assemble the people to sound a cornet which to that purpose he carryed with him with two stickes of a paulme long which are to this day conserued in his church of Assisium in the sacristye hauing the endes garnished with siluer they are shewed with other reliques att all times when they are desired to be seene Certaine doctrines and discourse of the glorious Father S. Francis which haue bin found recorded Of the faith and reuerence due to the holy sacrament THE XLIV CHAPTER THe holie Father sainct Francis did not onlie seeke to edifie his neighbour in corporall presence and by example and preaching but also such as he could not assist by those meanes being remote from them he assisted by letters and aduertissementes which he caused his Religious to write wherof I thought it requisit to select the choice and principall to insert in this place specified according to the contentes A letter of the holy Father sainct Francis to all the Religious of the generall chapter IN the name of God of the most sacred Trinitie and soueraigne vnitie the Father Sonne and holie Ghost Amen To my beloued Brother the Minister Generall of the Order of Frere Minors and to all other Ministers that shall succeed him to all Prouincials Guardians and Preistes of our coÌ„frarernitie vnited in IESVS CHRIST and to all the humble simple and obedient first and last Brother Francis a man of nothing fraile and infirme your least seruant saluteth you in the name of him that hath redeemed you and hath washed vs with his owne bloud whose name we ought to adore prostrate on the earth with great feare and reuerence Most high lord IESVS CHRST Sonne of God is his name who is blessed for euer and euer Amen Harcken yee children of God and my deere Brethren imprint my wordes in your mindes incline the eares of your harte and obey the voice of the Sonne of God keepe with all your hart and obserue his sweet preceptes and embrace his counsailes with your entier will praise him for he is good and know that the eternall Father sendeth you into the world by your worckes and wordes to testifie his worckes and wordes And therefore striue to make it knowne to all people that he alone is almighty in all thinges perseuer in his discipline and obseruance and maytaine that which you haue promised him with a firme resolution siâ—h he as Father to his children giueth vs the true preseruing nourishment of spirituall and corporall essence and presenteth vs to his
conscience which knowing it selfe pure before God could feare nothing Not withstanding it was not conuenient in presence of so many seculers who all knew him to be nerre death to shew no signe of repentance of his offences past no remorse of his sinnes committed against God attleast in this terrible passadge of death S. Francis with great feruour answeared him Brother giue me leaue giue me leaue I pray thee to reioyce in God and in his prayses during this sicknes because by the grace of the holy Ghost my spiritt is in such sort vnited vnto his diuine Maiestie and so secure that it may reioyce Remember now that there are two yeares past since you deliuered me from him an aduertisment of this my passadge since which time I haue alwayes endeauoured to prepare my selfe lamenting my sinnes and satisfying God for them But sithence that by his immensiue grace he hath made me worthy of his glory as he hath reuealed vnto me I haue euer since endeauoured to reioyce and now so much more in that the time approacheth wherin my soule shall for euer be loosed from the waight of this body and shall goe towardes him who hath created it and in that he will not omitt in me to edifie this people How the S. made himselfe be carryed to our Lady of Angels finding his death to approach THE LXVI CHAPTER THe glorious Father therfore perceauing that the day of his death approached prayed all the gentlemen and his freindes there present to cause him to be carryed to his church of our Lady of Angels that he might render vnto God the spiritt of life where he had receaued of him the spiritt of grace So hauing obtayned permission of the bishop and Gouernour of the citty they went accoÌ„panyed with the greatest part of the said citty and comming to the hospitall which is in the great street betweene the citty and our Lady of Angels causing himselfe with his bed to be sett on the ground and tourning towardes the citty he gaue it his benediction saying Citty blessed mayest thou be of the soueraigne God because by thee many soules shal be saued and in thee many worthy seruantes of God of both sex shall make their residence and by thy meane many shall attaine the kingdome of glorie So hauing blessed the citty and proceeding his way towardes our Lady of Angels S. Clare his deere and true disciple imitatrice and daughter in IESVS CHRIST fearing she should not see him before his death sent to aduertise him that herselfe was also in such estate as she should not liue long after yea that she thought to goe first and that therfore she felt an extreme greife to dye without his holy benediction without seeing him who was her master and beloued Father in CHRIST IESVS and for that occasion she prayed him for the passion of our Lord I. C. with her knees on the ground not to permitt her to dye so discontent but sith he was in his iorney to doe her that last and singuler fauour as to visitt her before he went to our Lady of Angels The holie Father S. Francis felt the bowels of Fatherly coÌ„passion to moue in him in that he could not content her by reason of the immineÌ„t perill wherin he was and that the Phisicions nobles and gentlemen there present would not to permitt him yet procuring wherwith all to write he sent her by a Religious his benediction in writing then lifting his eyes to heauen he said vnto him Goe and comfort my beloued sister telling her this good newes that she shall see me before she dye which shal be shortly as shall all her Sisters to their exceeding consolation This prophesie fayled not in the effect for the holie Father being dead when the Cittizens carryed him to bury att Assisium they passed through the monastery of S. Damian as hereafter shall appeare and seeing the body of the Sainct with in their Couent they were all exceedinglie comforted therwith How a Romane Lady very deuout and affected to S. Francis called Lady Iaqueline of the seauen Sunnes came by diuine reuelation from Rome to the death of S. Francis THE LXVII CHAPTER THe holy Father approching neere vnto his death called a Religious whome he willed to finde out a messenger to goe with al diligence to Rome expresly to aduertise the Lady of the Seauen Sunnes that she should incontinentlie come to visitt him if she desired to see him liuing knowing in what affliction she would haue suruiued if she had not seene him before his death as he had promised her when he tooke leaue of her att his departure out of Rome and in meane while procuring wherwith to write he dictated this letter ensuying To the Lady of the Seauen-Sunnes poore Brother Francis desireth health in our Lord IESVS CHRIST Know my beloued Sister in IESVS CHRIST that God by his grace hath reuealed vnto me the last day of my life Wherfore if you desire to see me liuing hasten so much as sometime on saterday you may be att our Ladie of Angels and bring with you a morcell of gray cloth wherwith to coueâ— me and wax for my seruice Att the end of this letter it was reuealed vnto the S. that she would come wherfore he said to the writer Rent this letter for there is no need therof He had scarce ended those wordes but a messenger came from the said lady that told him she was att the gate of the Monastery with two of her children senaâ—ours of Rome and a noble and honourable company to visitt him A while after the said lady came who entring his chamber fell incontinently on the ground humbling her countenance as an other Magdalen towardes his feet bathing them with bittet teares and â—mprinting her lippes in his sacred stigmates with such ioy and consolation of spiritt as nothing could be more she could not be satisfied with kissing them embracing and clipping them with all reuerence in regard of their vertue representing vnto her those of our Lord IESVS CHRIST she could not depart from him no more could the Religious for she was entierlie rauished in this so singular sweetnes of spiritt without any speech att all till S. Francis called her att whose voice awakening she answeared the S. who asked her how it happened that she came so readily that being one night in prayer she heard the voice of God that said If thou wilt find Brother Francis aliue goe incontinentlie to our lady of Angels and carry with thee what thow knowest necessarie to his sepulture and such meat as thou gauest him att his being in Rome to comfort him in his sicknes Which hauing heard I prepared my selfe verie instantlie and thus am come S. Francis gaue thanckes to God and demaunding the said meates he refected his body with very great consolation Now this lady supposing that S. Francis would lye long time sick determined to send back her children to Rome and many personnes of note that
came to visitt her and hauing saluted her began to comfort her and to persuade her to be confessed but they litle auayled for she alleaged that her sinnes were such so haynous as could not be pardoned And therfore the elder of the two SS told her that if she would confesse haue contrition of her sinnes he would be contēted to take her sinnes on himselfe and to satisfie God for her yea and would make her participant of all the good deedes he had done during his life and finally would in the name and part of God promise her eternall life These wordes put her in good hope whervpon of a wolfe she became a meeke lambe with exceeding contrition doeing pennance for all her sinnes hauing made a generall confession to one of the two And hauing receaued the holy Sacramentes by their Minister she by their owne handes was vested in the habitt of the Frere Minors which done they disappeared they who saw them esteemed them by their comportment and gestures to be S. Francis and S. Antony A few dayes after their departure this woman dyed very piously and commaunded her body to be buryed in the Church of the Freere Minors some league distant from the said citty of Liuarez That very night a foot man of hers retourning from abroad as the day began to breake there appeared a shaddow before him and he coniuring it in the name of the liuing God it answeared that he was the deuill that for fourteene yeares had serued the lady Lopez in shape of a woman and that by right he had gotten and pourchached her but that att the end of her life there presented themselues vnto her two Religious wearing the Capuce whome she much affected who so preuailed that they conuerted her to pennance for her sinnes and against all right wrested her soule out of his power and carried it with them vnto glory But that thou mayest know this to be true said the deuill when thou shalt come to Liuarez where she is dead thou shalt finde a rumour among the people by reason of a locke-smith that had killed his wife who being taken vpon the fact shal be hanged and I that haue bin cause therof shall gaine their soules and carrie them with me into hell So that for one soule which I haue lost I shall gaine twoo The footman endinge his iorney found what the deuill had told him to be true and therfore to all personnes recounted this discourse How the mentionned Saintes hindered a woman from hanging her selfe Taken out of the 23. chapter of the tenth booke AN other woman of Portugall named Sara being verie deuout to the said Saintes was cruellie tormented by her husband for besides his queanes which he entertayned in his house the bread and wine which he gaue her were iniuries and bastonadoes Now being herevpon one day run into extreme despaire she fastened a corde about the beame of her chamber and hauing made a bowe to put about her necke and to hang her selfe she heard some rudelie knocke att the dore and calling to haue it hastely opened wherfore hiding here corde she found that they were two Religious who prayed her to giue them entertaynement for that night in her house She demaunded who they were and how they were called they answeared that they were two-frere Minors of a farre country the one called Francis and the other Antony she presently replyed that she would willingly entertaine them for the deuotion she had to S. Francis himselfe and to S. Antony and so hauing admitted them she did accommodate them a chamber wherin to sleep resoluing for that night to deferre to hange her selfe for reuerence vnto those seruantes of God But the SS about midnight appeared to her husband and said God hath sent vs in his behalfe to aduertise thee that if thou doe not conuert thee from thy sinnes shake off thy lewd retinue and liue in peace with thy wife who is very deuout vnto vs thou shalt die within three dayes and be buried in hell sith thou art cause that this euening she would haue hanged her selfe if we had not come to preuent her arise therfore instantlie and in token that this is true goe speedilie to thy house and aske thy wife for the corde wherwith she would strangle her selfe This miserable husband being by these wordes full of contrition went to find his wife in his house who att her rising missing the Religious was in exceeding admiration how they should goe foorth shee keeping the key of the dore which she opened to her husband that then knocked who humbly demaunding the corde wherwith she would haue hanged her selfe that night she knew not what to answeare her husband recounted her all how she had bin preseuered by S. Francis and S. Antony thenceforward she liued with him in peace and piously to the great contentment of the poore woman who was very thanckfull to the Sainctes How the glorious Father S. Francis held a chapter with his Religious in vision Taken out of the 18. chapter of the tenth booke THere was a Frere Minor in Thoschane for his owne perticuler of very austere life who being raysed to gouernement perceauing many yong gentlemen daily to enter into Religion and many other other desirous to enter if there were place commodious to entertaine them determined to erect a great and sumptuous Monasterie Which hauing done he left the litle house wherin he formerly resided Now the glorious Father sainct Francis appeared to him one night in vision and said Come with me he answeared whither and he replyed to our Monastery goeing towardes the first he answeared that it was ruined The S. then said come only with me I know well whither I am to goe and so following him he came to a Chapter where it seemed to him that the S. called all the Religious by one and one and that according to their manner they confessed their faultes vnto him yea and that he heard some to accuse themselues of carnall sinnes others of disobedience others to haue infringed their first vowe of pouerty of whome the first and second it seemed that the S. with compassion pardoned only admonishing them to be wary thēceforward not to fall into the like but did cruelly chastice those that had transgressed the vow of pouerty which this Religious much admiring most humbly prayed the S. to tell him the cause The S. answeared him that the rule gaue a sufficient punishment to the lasciuious and such as disobey their Superiours who will enforce them to obedience therfore it only needeth to admonish them in good sort But said he the precious stone of my holy pouerty is now of each one trodden vnder foot as well the great as litle esteeme it contemptible and misprise it wherfore I must my selfe redresse it then addressing himselfe to this Religious and thou said he that hast so rashlie presumed to build asumptuous Monasterie and to destroie mine owne so precious and poore shalt not
III. CHAPTER IN the citty of Potencia in Apulia there was a Preist called Roger a very venerable man and Canon of the great church who being by meanes of an infirmity become very feeble entred one day into a church to pray wherein was painted the image of S. Francis with the stigmates which beholding he began to conceaue a doubt in himselfe of the sublimity of the miracle as of an inaccustomed thinge and vtterly impossible his hart being thus wounded with incredulity he felt att the verie instant such a greiuous pearcing of his left hand within his gloue that an arrow flyeth not out of a bowe with more force and violence wherupon being exceedingly amazed with the wound together with the stroake and yet more with the secrett manner therof he pulled of his gloue to see with his eyes the effect of that which he had heard and felt and hauing neuer before had any wound in his hand with admiration he beheld this new wound whence began to proceed such an extreme paine as he thought therof to dye it was merueilous to consider for in the gloue appeared no signe att all but only in the hand that the wound made secretly in the hand might be correspondent to that which was secrett in the hart So for the space of two dayes making publicke relation of the occasion and the secrett of his incredulity he confessed and with oath affirmed that he beleeued the sacred stigmates to be imprinted in S. Francis he humbly recommended himselfe vnto him beseeching him by the vertu of his sacred stigmates and by the efficacie of his intercession to procure the cessation of his paine Att the end of two dayes his incredulity hauing bin sufficiently punished God by the merittes of the S. gaue him ease for the greife entierly ceassed the heat of the hurt was qualified and no signe of the wound remayned so that secrett infirmity of the soule was cured by the manifest launce of the flesh and by diuine prouidence the body was cured together with the soule the man remayning humble towardes God deuout to his seruant S. Francis and affectionate to the Religious of his Order This so solemne miracle was assured by autenticall letters from the Bishop of the said citty sealed with the ordinary seale that thenceforward none might admitt any doubt of the sacred woundes of the Sonne of God diuinely imprinted in his seruant Francis and that no mannes eye should be euill to see that God is good as if the liberality and gift of this grace did not corresponde vnto the eternall bounty Of the dead raised by the merittes of S. Francis THE IV. CHAPTER IN the citty of Mont-Maron neere to Beneuentum there dyed a woman of singuler deuotion vnto the glorious Father S. Francis where the Clergie being assembled the same euenning to sing hir vigiles the woman arose before them all called one of the Preistes there present saying vnto him Father I desire to be confessed of one sinne Know that after my death I should haue bin coÌ„demned to the deuil in an obscure horrible prison because I neuer confessed a sinne which I now desire to confesse but the holy Father S. Fr. hauing prayed for me because I haue euer deuoutly serued him it is permitted me to retourne to life that being confessed of this sinne I may afterward obtaine eternall life with him And for assurance hereof as soone as I shal be confessed and haue absolution I shall goe to the glory promised So hauing with exceeding great contrition confessed her sinne and performed the peÌ„nance enioyned by her Confessour all trembling accommodating her selfe sweetly into her bed she slept in our Lord. In the mountaines of Apulia in the towne of Parmace there was a maried man that had one only daughter young and exceedingly beloued of himselfe and her mother who being seased with an inexpected and greiuous sicknes sodenlie dyed wheratt the Father and mother being out of hope euer to haue other children were so afflicted that they were ready to dye with her Theire kinred and freindes being come to bury and bewayle her the mother was so sorrowfull and oppressed with greife that she consumed into teares yea so gaue way to sorrow and so employed her selfe in this affliction that she neither saw nor vnderstood any thing that was done in her house but as euerie one was thus disquieted yea voide of hope the holie Father S. Francis with one Religious only appeared to the mother that was deuout vnto him and in compassionate manner said Woman ceasse to lament for the light of thy candell whome thou bewaylest as dead shal by mine intercession be incontinentlie reuiued Which said he disappeared and the woman presentlie related what had bin said vnto her by the S. vnto those present and would not permitt the body of her dead daughter to be carryed to buriall but comming neere her and inuocating the name of S. Francis she lifted her vp aliue and in health in the presence of her kinred and freindes who gaue thanckes to God and to his blessed seruant The Frere Minors of Nocere staÌ„ding in need of a chariott demaunded one of a man named Peter who in steed of lending them his chariott and affording them the almose which they demaunded for the honour of God and S. Francis he sotishly answeared them and with iniurious wordes cursed the name of the S. but he soone repented his folly in regard of what incontinently befell him which wrought in him a great feare of the wrath of God for he lost his eldest sonne who being euen then stricken with a disease sodenly dyed wherfore in an extreme passion that assailed his hart casting himselfe on thâ— ground and there wallowing he inuocated the S. with the same mouth that had so indiscreetly blasphemed him and bitterly weeping said Father I am he that haue offended I am he that haue impiously spoaken thou doest iustlie chasticie me ô S. of God! restore the innocent child to him that repenteth his fault and is ready to doe pennance Punishment is due to him that hath lewdly blasphemed wherfore I freely giue my selfe to thee I offer me to serue thee for euer and to offer vnto God sacrifice of praise to the honour glory of thy holy name It was admirable that att these wordes his sonne arose one his feet and procuring end to their lamentation that mourned for him he confidently affirmed that wheÌ„ he dyed he saw the holy Father S. Francis who had conducted his â—oule from the separation of the body and by their prayers had restored it againe The sonne of a Notary att Rome about the age of seauen yeares desiâ—ing according to the custome to goe with his mother to masse she vnwilling to permitt him did shutt him into the house The child seeing he could not gett out att the dore lept out att the window and fel dead against the ground The mother that was not gone farre hearing the fall
called Marck for the loue of God entertayned this poore boy of whome he conceaued a great compassion in regard that he found him to be of a good disposition He often said vnto his wife that if the holy Father S. Francis would vouchsafe by his intercession to cure him he would promise for the loue of God to entertayne him all the time of his life The glorious S. lente not a dease eare to this pious intention for the oblation being made the boy began sodenlie to haue his tongue att libertie and to speake saying glory be vnto God and to the glorious Father S. Francis who hath now giuen me my speech and hearing for which the gentleman and his wife no lesse amazed then ioyfull gaue infinite thanckes to God performed the said promise and liued very spiritually being alwayes mindfull of this miracle and had a speciall care of the said child for the loue of God and of his faithfull seruant S. Francis Brother Iames of Iseo in his infancie and whiles he was vnder his fathers protection had a cruell wound in his stomake but being inspired of God with a very feruent deuotion he entred into the Order of this Sainct notwithstanding his tender yeares and the said infirmitie which he neuer discouered till being present art the translation of the glorious Sainct and approaching neere the sepulchre wherein his holie reliques were to be placed he with a feruent deuotion embraced the sepulchre whence that pretious treasure was taken and was instantlie cured of his wound which otherwise was incurable euerie thing disposing it selfe conueniently the very band falling of wherwith it was bound and in that â—ort were manie persons cured of the like infirmities by the merittes of this glorious Sainct as Brother Bartholomew of Agubio Brother Angelus of Todi Syr Nicolas of Stichiam Iohn de la Foye a Pisan gentleman one of the cittie of Ciperne Peter Sicilian a man of Spelle nere vnto Assisium and many others cured of like diseases as also especially Brother Angelus of Tudette and a Preist of Sucane called Sir Nicolas and an other also called Iohn de Fore and a man of the citty of Pise an other of the citty of Cisterne and one of Fspelle one called Peter of Sicily and infinite others that were by the mercie of God and the merittes of blessed S. Francis miraculously deliuered A woman of Maremme had bin about fiue yeares troubled in her spiritt depriued of her sight and hearing yea was come to that point that she rent her garmentes with her teeth and as enraged feared neither fire nor water nor other danger and as besides fallen into that horrible disease of the falling sicknes This miserable wretch it pleased the diuine Maiesty to fauour and first to illuminate her interiourlie for Sainct Francis one night appeared vnto her sitting verie eminentlie eleuated in a Royall seate before whome falling one her knees she humbly prayed him to cure her But the Sainct deferring to graunt her request she redoubled her petition therevnto adding a vow and promised him that in the honour of God and him she would neuer whiles she liued deny an almose to any poore person that should demaund it of her sofar foorth as her ability would stretch which Sainct Francis accepting he made on her the signe of the crosse and she was cured both of body and soule Many others oppressed with like infirmities haue bin cured by this compassionate Sainct and particulerly a yong mayden of Norcia and the sonne of a gentleman of the said citty who were deliuered by almighty God through the merittes and intercession of this his humble seruant Of other like miracles THE XVI CHAPTER PEter of Fullignium goeing as a Pilgrim but with litle deuotion to visitt the church of S. Michael the Archangell and drincking water att a fountaine the diuell entred into his bodie and so tormented him that he was as it were vtterlie grinded broaken crushed and all black he alwayes vttered abhominable matters and vsed certaine gestures that were dreadfull and fearfull to all the beholdeis And being on day lesse tormented then of ordinarie he remembred to haue heard the meruailous worckes of sainct Francis to be exceedinglie recommended and particulerly that he deliuered such as were possessed He went vnto his Church where with a profounde humilitie and deuotion he approached vnto his holie sepulchre which hauing touched he was miraculouslie deliuered of this oppression for which he shewed himselfe thanckfull vnto God and S. Francis A gentlewoman of the citty of Narnie afflicted by the deuill was by the compassion of the sainct deliuered together with diuers others that were tormented by the deuill which would be to long to committ to history A gentleman of Fano called Bon being afflicted with the palsey and leprosie caused himselfe to be conducted to the Church of Sainct Francis where he prayed him for his health with such instancie and faith that by the merittes of the sainct he was heard of almightie God A yong man called Accio of Saint Seuerin being a leaper made a vow to the S. caused himselfe to be carryed vnto his shrine and was incontinentlie by his merittes deliuered This glorious sainct had many excellent vertues touching the dressing and curing of this disease for he had deputed himselfe vnto their seruice for the loue he had to piety and Christian humility A gentlewoman of the citty of Sora called Rogata for foure and twentie yeares endured with extreme affliction the bloudy flux and this infirmitie was occasion of other diseases besides she hauing bin long time tormented by the Phisitians and finding no ease but a continuation of her greife and diuersitie of cruell diseases it reduced her euen to death for when her flux was stayed her her legges and all her body did sweell and whiles her flux continued it did so afflict her that she could not stand on her feet so that this poore woman knew not what to doe other then to expect in short time the end of her life being in this perplexity she one day heard a yong man recouÌ„t the merueilles so admirable which God had wrought and did worck by the merittes of the glorious Eather sainct Francis which so moued her that with abondant effusion of teares replenished with faith and hope she began to say to her selfe O glorious Sainct that art famous by so many miracles if it would please thee to haue compassion of me and to free me of mine insupportable miseryes thou knowest how much the great glory of thy clemencie would therby be augmented for it seemeth thou neuer diddest worck so great a miracle which hauing vttered she had an instant feeling of the diuine operation in her for by the merittes of the Sainct she was cured And together with her a child of hers called Marck maymed in one arme who hauing vowed to the Sainct was presently cured A Sicilian woman hauing bin afflicted with the
bloudy flux was by the merittes of this stander-bearer of IESVS cured therof Praxede a Roman gentlewoman famous for her sanctity in regard that she had liued exemplary from her tender age att which time for the loue of her Spouse IESVS CHRIST she shutt her selfe for 40. yeares into a litle chamber she I say was fauoured of sainct Francis for goeing one day vpon occasion to the topp of her house being surprised with an amazement of her head she fell downe and brake her foot and legge and disioynted hir shoulder but the holy Father sainct Francis incontinently appeared vnto her enuironned with splendour and glory and said Arise my daughter and feare not then taking her by the hand he lifted her vpright on her feet and presently the vision disappeared This gentlewoman thus amazed went about the house considering with her selfe whither she were cured or that she dreamed and the greatnes of this miracle was such that albeit she felt the truth therof she neuertheles called for a light wherby she assured her selfe that the diuine vertue by meane of sainct Francis had wrought this miracle in her which she related to her lay sister and afterwardes to diuers that did visitt her Of the merueillous chasticementes which God hath layd on those that haue not kept and honoured the feast of this glorious S. THE XVII CHAPTER IN Poictou in a village called Sime there was a Preist named Sir Renald very deuout vnto S. Francis and therfore aduertised his Parishioners of his feast exhorting them to keep the same as of precept but one of them hauing litle respect therof went that day to cutt wood and as he prepared himselfe thervnto he heard a voice that spake vnto him three seuerall times Doe not worcke for it is a festiuall day but the indeuout fellow would no more obey the voice of God then he had done the aduertissement of his Curat and therfore the diuine power for the glorie of the Sainct proceeded with correction for this man lifting vp one hande to cutt a forck of wood which he held with the other his left hand remayned fastened to the wood and the other to the iron without power to moue his fingars wherwith the wretch was so confounded that not knowing what to doe he resolued to goe in that manner to the Church where the people were yet assembled who beholding him in that estate were extremely amazed att so strange and vnwonted a punishment But the miserable fellow repenting his fault and being admonished by the Preist he humbly fell on his knees before the aultar and hartely recoÌ„mended himselfe to the S. and according as he had bin thrice admonished by the diuine voice he made three vowes the first was thenceforward to keep the feast the second that during all his life he would be euer present on that day in the same church to prayse and honour God and S. Francis the third that he would goe personally to visitte his holy body att Assisium It was doubtlesse a matter worthy and admirable for all the people assembled in that Church to behold that hauing made the said first vow one of his fingars was loosed from the iron instrument wherto his band was ioyned hauing made the second vow an other fingar was loosed and after the third not only the third fingar but both his handes formerly fastened were absolutely set att liberty The people hauing seene the greatnes of this miracle deuoutly gaue thanckes vnto God together with the man deliuered admiring the notable and singuler vertue of the S. that could so miraculously strike and cure in one moment The iron and wood wherto his handes were fastened doe to this present hang att an altare in the said church which was erected in honour of S. Francis and in memory of this miracle many other miracles wrought in the said place and that circuit demonstrate how great the vertue and power of this glorious sainct is in heauen and how much he is to be honoured and reuerenced on earth In the citty of Mans a woman refusing to keep the feast of S. Francis tooke her distaffe and spindle to spin but endeauouâ—ing to begin her â—â—ngars became so stiffe and procured her such torment that made her in manner furious but acknowledgeing her fault and the vertue and merittes of the Sainct she hastened instantly to the church wherere she played the Religious to recommend her to God and the Sainct So the deuout Religious offering their deuotions for this woman were heard for she was att the very instant cured of that extreme and insupportable torment There remayned only a signe as it were of a burning in memorie of this miracle Manie other like accidentes haue occured as in the plaines of Rome an other woman for refusing to keep the feast of the Sainct And in Spaine a man of Valladolid together with an other woman in the cittie of Pilles in which places the woman making no esteeme of the feast of the Sainct were rigouâ—ouslie punished but hauing acknowledged their faultes and done penance for them they were with more admiration deliuered A knight of Borgo in the contry of Massa without feare or respect contemned the wonderfull miracles of S. Francis offering many abuses to the pilgrimes that went to visitt the Church where his body reposed he euen impudently rayled against the Religious It happened one day that blaspheming the glorie of this holie Father he said if it be true that Brother Francis be a Sainct he will that my sword be my death and if he be not so I shall remaine without danger O admirable effect of the iust iâ—dgement of God some few dayes after this wâ—etch hauing certaine speeches with a nephew of his owne they grew from wordes to blowes and the Nephew wresting his sword out of his handes thrust him through the body with which thrust he instantly dyed God permitting his punishment to be conformable to his horrible blasphemie for an example to the temerarious that with ouer presumptuous wordes blaspheme the admirable worckes of SS who meritte to be honoured and reuerenced A Iudge called Alexander did not only condemne sainct Francis and his singuler vertues but did euen with all possibility endeauour to withdraw his holy reputation from the opinion of men in respect wherof by diuine permission he instantly became mute and so remayned for six yeares att the end wherof acknowledging that he had bin punished in that member wherby he had offended he was so penitent for his crime that he appeased the indignation of God and of the mercifull Sainct in such sort that his speech retourned for which he was thanckfull to God and to the Sainct his intercessour he failed not thenceforward to consecrate that tongue of his which he had abused in blasphemy to the praise and benediction of God and the glorious Father S. Francis to whome the said punishment had made him exceeding deuout Of some other miracles wrought by
lept sound out of his bed with a loud and cleare voice praysing God The Prince being by affaires hindred from present goeing to Conimbria he sent thither the said reliques conducted by a gentleman of note called Asphonsus Perez of Aragon who attended them accompanyed by many knightes and gentlemen The king Alphonsus and the queene Vraca his wife being therof aduertised sent vnto them with Order to haue the said reliques stayed in a place neere the citty that they might present themselues before them together with the Clergie to giue them such entertainement as they worthely deserued How the holy reliques were carryed to the citty of Conimbria in generall procession where the king was present and how they miraculously chose the place where they would rest and how they transported themselues to diuers places and of the conuersion of S. Antony of Padua which by example hereof came to passe THE XXII CHAPTER ALl thinges being fitly disposed and accommodated the king queene attended with all the nobility the Clergie and people went a foote in procession with great deuotion vnto the said reliques with many crosses and banners in token of the triumphant victory of the holy martyrs Comming to the place where the reliques were hauing deuoutly saluted them they caused the mule that carryed them to goe before that she her selfe might choose her way as she had alwayes done before So without the conduct of any personne she went directly to Conimbria where she entred into Sampsons street att this day called the street of the old figtree and then to the monastery of sainct Crosse att which gate she stayed till it was opened though the intention of the king were to place the said reliques in the great church The gate of the said monastery being opened the mule of her selfe entred into the Church and went directly before the high altare where she kneeled downe and so remayned till she was disburthened of the said reliques each one admiring the miracle wherby the holy martyrs did choose and make knowne where they would haue their reliques to repose for which they were all thanckfull vnto God and there ended the Procession The king erected a sumptuous chappell att the place where the mule kneeled downe and a rich shrine wherin were putt the greatest part of the said reliques others in an other shrine in the cloister of the said monastery the litle that remayned was sent part to the Church of the holy Ghost of Goueau where there was a Couent of Religious of sainct Francis Order and an entiere body to the monastery of sainct Bernard of Loruant three leagues from Conimbria becausse the Abbesse of that monasterie was sister to the king Now the very day that the reliques were brought into the monastery of S. Crosse they began there to shine by miracles for they cured a great multitude of diseased persons there present and from that time the miracles haue so continued euen to this day that they deliuered from perill all such as recommended themselues vnto them vpon which occasion it is that so many strange pilgrimes doe frequent that place The greatest gaine of that day wheron the reliques were receaued was of S. Antony of Lisbone called of Padua who was then a Canon Reguler of S. Crosse and as such in the said procession gaue praise to God among the rest and solemnised the arriuall of the holy reliques for he merited to be inspired of the holy Ghost who anymated him with a great zeale vnto his honour in such sort as he resolued to offer his life for the confession of the holy faith by the example of the said martyrs whome desiring entierly to imitate he would begin by the habitt and rule of sainct Francis whose true disciples these martyrs had bin Of the death of the queene Vraca prophesied by the holy martyrs as before in the third chapter hath bin recorded and of a vision which her confessor had therevpon THE XXIII CHAPTER THe Queene Vrraca had great care of her death because the holy Martyrs had prophesied vnto her therof yea she was in extreme affliction considering that their death and the translation of their bodyes was effected as they had foretold but the issue of what she doubted did succeed for as soone as she came to the holy reliques she began to feele her selfe ill so that she could not accompany them but was constrained to goe to her bedde and the night following she dyed That very night Peter Nuguez Canon reguler of the monastery of sainct Crosse a man of exceeding piety and Confessor to the said queene Vrraca had this vision He saw a great multitude of Frere Minors wherof fiue went before but they were conducted by a Religious Father of their Order that gaue a very great splendour and they entred in to the quier of the said Church of S. Crosse in procession where they very melodiously sung matines he extremely amazed att what he saw began to discourse with himselfe how so many Religious could enter the dores being shutt as they were and why they sung matines without any precedent ringing Being in this vehement admiration he questioned with one of the Religious asking him who they were how and where they entred into the monastery att such an hower The Religious answeared him We are Frere Minors and because thou wert Confessour to the Queene and fearest God it hath pleased his diuine goodnes to reueale vnto thee this vision He whome thou seest to precede the rest with such glory is our holy Father S. Francis whome thou hast so much desired to see in this life and the fiue which thou seest to follow him are the fiue Martyrs of Marroccho which are here shrined Know besides that the Queene Vrraca is this night departed and because she exceedingly affected our Order our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST hath sent vs all hither solemnely here for the benefitt of her soule and for her obsequies to sing these Matines doubt not of her death for as soone as we are departed hence one shall come to aduertise thee therof And the Matines and prayses of God being ended this glorious procession disappeared and therwith one knocked att his dore to aduertise him of the death of the queene How our Lord chasticed the citty and king of Marroccho for the cruell death of his holy Martyrs THE XXIIII CHAPTER THe king of Marroccho remayned not vnpunished no more did his contry for the very same yeare did his arme and right hand which he had so wicke dly stretched out against the holy Martyrs wither as also did all the right side of his body from the head to the feet The people were punished in an other manner for in three yeares after this Martyrdome neither in the said citty nor in a great circuit therabout did there fall one drop of raine which caused an extreme dearth and mortality of catell then correspondently to the nomber of the Martyrs the plague continued for fiue yeares after wherof dyed the
not only to haue formerly studied the said hierarchie but euen to haue seene and frequented the same Wherevpon the afore said Abbot in the third chapter of his said commentary oftentimes reiterateth these wordes Loue penetrateth farther then exteriour science can doe as is read to haue appeared in many Bishoppes who not being learned yet very subtilly penetrated to the deepest secrettes of the most sacred Trinity as my selfe haue experienced in the holy Religious Br. Antony of the Order of Frere Minors by the familier conuersation which I haue had with himt for albeit he was litle conuersant in worldly sciences when he learned Mysticall diuinity he so penetratiuely vnderstood the same that I may truely say of him that which IESVS CHRIST affirmed of S. Iohn Baptist that he was a burning candell that illuminated the world in regard that he lightened the people exteriourly by diuine knowledge wherwith he burned interiourly by a celestiall loue Touching the lecture which he read the licence which S. Francis sent him was thus Br. Francis to his most deare Brother Antony health I am content that you read Diuinity to the Brethren prouided that it be in such sort as that the spiritt of holy prayer be not weakened neither in you nor them according to the rule He so reuerenced sainct Francis whome he called Bishop that he would neuer read Diuinity though he were by the Religious exceedingly importuned therevnto till he had receaued the said licence of him by vertue wherof he first read att Montpellier in Languedoc then att Bollonia and att Padua the greatest part of his learning he had obtained of God alwayes eleuating his spiritt in him as once it happened vnto him intending to preach before an Abbot of sainct Benets Order vpon the wordes of S. Paul written to sainct Denis for att that time he continued a long space rauished in extasie How he preached in France and of the miracles he wrought there THE VI. CHAPTER SAinct Antony was sent into France to be Guardian in the Couent of Limoges in Aquitaine by his workes and predications to conuert many heretiques that then were there and to confirme the Catholiques which he so happely performed that the memory therof remayneth euen to our dayes besides many miracles which God there wrought by him wherof we will recount some few As he preached the Passion on Maundy thursday night or good friday morning in the Church of S. Peter of Quadruuio in Lymoges at the same time that the Religious did solemnely sing Matines in the Couēt when they came to the lesson that was to be read he instantly appeared and read it all yet without leauing the pulpit where he preached void of his presence It may be thought that God interposed the ministery of some Angell that entertayned the people whiles he sung the lesson in the Qiuer Almost the like accident arriued att Mōtpellier where he was Lector for preaching one day to the people he remembred that he had not appointed any one to sing an Alleluia in his place it being his office to sing it whiles he was preaching he stouped in the pulpit as to repose himselfe and was att the same instant seene to sing the Alleluia in his Couent yet departed not from the great church where then he preached This diuine vertue in S. Antony is not to be so much admired as if the like had neuer bin for the same arriued to S. Francis when he was seene in a siery chariott and when he appeared in forme of a crosse att the Chapter of Arles as in his life we haue related And to S. Ambrose when in a moment he was present att the obsequies of S. Martin att Tours though he was seene att Milan the very same time How he deliuered a Religious and a Nouice from great temptations THE VII CHAPTER THere was in the said Monastery of Limoges a Nouice called Brother Peter who was exceedingly tempted to leaue his habitt S. Antony as a right vigilant Pastour ouer the flock of God knew this temptation in spiritt and therfore called and drew him a part then causing him to open his mouth he blew and breathed therin saying My sonne receaue the holy Ghost O admirable accident This Nouice fell instantly to the ground as dead The other Religious hastening to rayse him S. Antony took him by the hand and lifted him vp The Nouice then affirmed that he had bin in heauen and proceeding to recount what he had seene the S. bid him to keep it secrett which he did and was neuer after tempted to leaue his habitt but was an example of piety to all his Brethren About the same time S. Antony being gone to the Abby of Semoniaco depending on the bishopprick of Limoges a Religious of the said Abby was exceedinglie tempted with the flesh wherof finding no remedy by prayers watchinges or whatsoeuer other mortifications he resolued to haue recourse vnto S. Antony to whome in confession he discouered the secrett of his hart affectionatly beseeching him for the loue of God to assist him S. Antony hauing heard his confession putt off his owne coat and gaue it to the Religious to putt on which hauing done he so as if the very vertue which was in the S. had bin in his coat communicated vnto him his chastity that the temptation for euer ceassed as the Religious did diuers times afterward acknowledge and confesse Of the miracles which he wrought in France vpon two that were very deuout vnto him THE VIII CHAPTER IN the same citty of Limoges an honest woman deuoted vnto him and to his Order had a very peruerse husband iealous and without the feare of God who did often beat and torment her because she did too readily addict her selfe to the seruice of S. Antony and of his Couent as well in bestowing almose on them as in procuring it of others according to their necessity It happened one day that vpon some affaires of the Couent she priuately retired her selfe somewhat late wherwith her husband was so vexed that he cruelly beat and abused her for he tooke her by the haire and pulled it almost all off but this vertuous woman carefully gathered it together and layd it neatly on her pillow as if she meant to make them grow againe then simplie layd her selfe to rest and the next morning early she sent for S. Antony who came to her supposing she would be confessed But she related vnto him what she had endured for his seruice shewing him her haire and adding with all that she beleeued if he pleased to pray to God for her which she besought him to doe her haire would take roote againe the S. admiring hereatt retourned to the monastery where hauing assembled all the Religious he recounted vnto them the affliction of this woman and her request and therfore inuited them to pray together for her which they did and att the very instant the haires torne from this womans head were fast rooted as before
whereatt her husband was so amazed and withall so satisfied that he resolued thenceforward to be as gracious vnto his wife as formerly he had bin curst and cruell beleeuing her to be an honest and chaste woman and from that time he shewed as much or more affection to the Frere Minors then his wife S. Antony had caused a Couent to be built att Berne a place depending on the said bishopprick of Limoges vpon the declining of a mountaine whither he very artificially drew a conduict of water for descending from the same mountaine it issued out faire and cleare as out of a fountaine sufficient for the vse of the said Couent which neuer failed them the S. often repaired thither to liue there more austerely and with better conueniencie to apply himselfe to contemplation The cooke one day telling him that there was nothinge to giue the Religious their dinner he sent him to a lady exceedingly affectionate vnto him to demaund of her some Colewortes for the dinner of the Religious aduertising her that they also had nothinge to eat This lady commanded her chamber maid to gather some but att the instant there fell such a streame of raine that the mayd refused to goe which her mistris perceauing she prepared notwithstanding the raine to goe gather them her selfe which her seruant seeing she preuented her mistresse and speedily ran into the garden to gather the Colewortes But it was admirable to see that this mayd went and retourned without one droppe of raine falling vpon her He knew the illusions of the deuill by diuine inspiration THE IX CHAPTER SAinct Antony being one day to preach in the said bishopprick of Limoges in a Church of S. Iulian there assembled such a concourse of people that the Church being vnable to containe them the S. was enforced to ascend into a chaire seated on a scaffold erected in a spacious place to that effect and before he began to preach he aduertised the people that they should not trouble themselues with any thinge that might happen during his sermon because he knew well that the deuill with all his power would endeauour to disquiett thē but the end should be his cōfusion So a litle after that he had begū the supporters of the scaffold brake with a great feare and crye of all the audience yet none receaued hurt therby but being instantly reaccommodated the sermon was finished and heard with great deuotion especially in regard of the person that preached The S. preaching an other holy day there came a Post into the Church that brought and presented a letter to a gentlewoman wherby she was aduertised that her sonne hauing some discordious quarrels was slaine by his ennemies and the manner how But the S. cryed out from the pulpitt where he preached saying disquiett not your selfe gentlewomā nor you people be not troubled for this trayterous Post is a deuill that which is written in the letter is false you shall incontinently see her sonne the deuill hath played this pranck to disturbe you Herevpon the deuill vanishing his fraud was discouered to be vaine wherof the gentlewoman praysed and thancked God The S. being att prayer one night after Compline according to his custome it being in the monastery of Limoges whence some of the Reliligious being gone foorth they saw a great field appertayning to one of their freindes and benefactours full of men that spoyled it tearing of the eares of the wheat already ripe they pitying the losse of their affected friend ran to the S. and very passionately recounted vnto him what they had seene Wherto he answeared Trouble not your selues Brethren with a matter of nothing but retourne to prayer for they whome you haue seene robbing our friend are diuels that seeke to trouble vs to diuert vs from prayer know ye that our benefactour shall now receaue no detriment The Religious obeyed their Superiour expecting the issue hereof till the morning when they saw the field as free from dommage as before wherby they knew it to be an illusion of the deuill hauing therfore discouered his deceipt they thenceforward had a more reuerence to the deuotion of the sainct Of miracles wrought by the S. in his preachings THE X. CHAPTER AS Saint Antony was one day to preach at Limoges there was such a conconrse of people assembled that no Church in the citty could containe them so that he was enforced to preach in the open aire In the middest of his sermon the sky began to be troubled and the weather chaunged for it began furiously to lighten and thunder then did the aire thicken with grosse and very black cloudes so that there was appearence of an extreame impetuous and instant raine which caused the audience to resolue of retiring themselues S. Antony prayed them not to stirre assuring them that no inconueniencie would befall thē prouided that they put their confidence in him who neuer frustrated the hopes reposed on him On these wordes the people relyed heard out the rest of the sermō which ended each one goeing out of that spacious place where in former times had bin a very ancient Pallace called by the Gentiles the camp of Arcas to retire to their home it was admirable to see that euery where round about the streetes were all drowned and ouerflowne with the abondant streame of the raine fallen from the skye without so much as one droppe fallē in the said field which was absolutely miraculous As he preached on a time there was a foole that troubled all the audience S. Antony admonished him and prayed him curteously to be quiett But he answeared the S. that he would not desist vnlesse he would giue him the corde wherwith he was girded which S. Antony putting of deliuered vnto him The foole hauing it did presently kisse it and withall his foolishnes left him and the vse of reason retourned and so he fell at the feet of the S. and demaunded him pardon to the exceeding edification of the people S. Antony preaching in a towne a woman hauing taken a cawdron of boylling water from the fire to hasten to heare him the deuill being vexed therwith depriued her of her iudgement which God permitted for his greater glory so that in steed of putting her litle child into the cradle she putt him in that fiery hote cawdron and so ran to the sermon which ended her friendes as the manner is demanded of her how her child did the poore woman presently comming to her selfe remembred that thincking to lay her child in the cradle she had put him into the said cawdrō for which being vtterly ouercome melting into teares she rā with her other neighbours to her house where she foud her child playing in the said cawdrō as if he had bin in a bath which caused the Mother her company to praise and thanck God his holy seruant Almost the like accident happened to a woman in regard of her desire to goe to
Sainct had vttered And therfore astonyed att so great a miracle and repenting that he had hindred his wife from being present therat neuer after withdrew her from her deuotions Of certeine miracles which he wrought vpon some that were deuout vnto him THE XXII CHAPTER SAinct Antony incessantlie labouring to gaine soules vnto God in the cities of Italy by his preaching retourning one day from that exercise and retiring into his Couent he tooke a secrett and vnknowne way to auoyd the honours ordinarilie giuen vnto him where he mett a poore woman carrying her sonne that was vtterly crypled and voyd of the vse of his limmes who hauing a farre off perceaued him came and fell at his feet humbly praying him to haue compassion of her and to voutsafe to make only the signe of the crosse vpon her sonne wherby she had great confidence in God that he would recouer the vse of his limmes and the more the Sainct excused himselfe the more she redoubled her petitions and cryes saying as the Chananâ—an did to IESVS CHRIST haue mercy on me whervpon together with the request of his Companion who was a very deuout Religious he made the signe of the crosse vpon the child and foorthwith he was cured retourning on foot to his pittifull mothers house whence she had brought him to the S. who prayed her to conceale this miracle att least during his life affirming that it was her faith and not his merittes that had obtained this grace and fauour A girle of Padua was in such sort cripled that she could not goe but on her handes and besides was often tormented with the falling sicknes which caused her to foame and vse strange gestures through the extremity of her cruell affliction her father hauing presented her to the S. and requested him as the aforesaid mother had done he cured her by the signe of the crosse also wherin is to be obserued that in such occurences the faith of those that present and request ioyned with the merittes of the Sainctes auayleth much to obtaine grace and fauour of God The holy Father goeing one holy day to preach in a spacious place there being no Church great enough to containe the people that sought to heare him a woman that followed the presse of the people was att lenght so thrust that she could not auoyd to be ouerthrowne into a ditch full of filth wherwith the woman being much greiued not so much for the apprehension of the hurt she might receaue in her body as for feare to foule her rich apparell wherof that was the first time of wearing and that her husband who was peruerse vnto her would be offended with her had recourse vnto God by the merittes of the S. that she went to heare whome she deuoutly inuocated and herewith she was seene to arise out of the dirt wherin she had bin plunged without any appearance of ordure on her apparell to the exceeding amazement of all the beholders Hauing written a letter to his prouinciall an Angel carryed it and brought answeare therof THE XXIII CHAPTER THe Sainct hauing spent long time in preaching hearing Confessions giuing counsaile and reading att Padua he much desired to retire himselfe into some solitarie place where he might more commodiouslie applie himselfe to contemplation and to that end he wrote to his Prouinciall the which he accorded him and hauing left this letter vpon a table in his Cell he went to pray his Guardian to procure him some messenger to carry the said letter faithfully to the Prouinciall which the Guardian hauing done he retourned to his cell but found not the letter which made him suppose that God had miraculouslie taken it away to the end he should not remoue thence wherfore retourning to his Guardian he told him he was otherwise determined But certaine dayes after in such a time as a messenger might carry the letter and bring answeare therof he found on his table the answeare which his Prouinciall had made therevnto permitting him to retire and doubtles there is great appearance that this letter was carryed and the answeare brought by an Angell God therby giuing vs to vnderstand how pleasing and gratefull the demandes of his faithfull seruantes are vnto him How he was twice in spirit at Lysbone in Portugall to assist his father THE XXIV CHAPTER THe Father of the Sainct was a gentleman of Portugall residing att Lisbone who hauing managed a good part of the reuenue of the king his soueraine had also giuen a iust account therof vnto his officers and withall deliuered them in the mony without demaunding acquittance or any dischardge relying on them as his freindes attleast supposing them to be such but certaine monthes after these gentle companions as worldly people demanded againe the mony they had receaued of him and summoned him to yeld a new account vnto them of the administration of the mony he had in his chardge This good gentleman was exceedinglie amazed not knowing what to doe considering he had no specialty to help himselfe against them in that which they required wherfore knowing the danger of his owne case he went to them to endeauour to put them in minde of the finishing and deliuery of his accountes thincking therby to bring them in the end to acknowledge and confesse the truth And being before them that sate and held the place of iustice they most audaciously and impudently denyed that he had so much as presented his accountes much lesse had he finished them and deliuered them any mony But att the instant S. Antony appeared and was present there who grauely sayd vnto them Giue an quittance to this good man of the mony he deliuered you proceeding of his chardge and of the receipt of the kinges mony on such a day in such a place att such an houre in such and such sortes of coyne which if you refuse to doe God will punish you for it Which they hauing heard exceedingly terrified they gaue a sufficient dischardge to the Father of the S. who very ioyfully retourned home giuing thanckes to God for that he had bestowed on him such a sonne who vanished as soone as he had vttered those wordes Some time after there was a yong man slaine before the house of the Sainctes Father for whome his ennemies had laid waite in the night as he was to retourne from the great church which is neere to the said house into the garden wherof the dead body was cast ouer the walles where the next morning he was found of the officers by the trace of bloud freshly appearing in the street whervpon the Father of sainct Antony with all his family were imprisonned and foorth with condemned to death and as he was conducted to execution the S. being preachinge att Padua it was reuealed vnto him who then resting on the pulpitt wherin he preached he went to relieue his Father and att the very instant of his comming to Lisbone he raysed the murdered party and made
whome very attentiuely beholding and demaunding of Br. Roger whome he saw I see answeared he my Lord IESVS CHRIST Wherto he added fower other wordes for the comfort and edification of his Religious after that he reposed and was halfe an hower in contemplation and then yelded his soule to God He seemed to sleep and presently his flesh that before was vnpleasing to behold as well in regard of his abstinence as his discipline which had made it withered and wan became so white cleare and bright that it seemed rather his glorious then mortall body He died the yeare 1231. the 13. day of Iune being friday the 36. yeare of his age wherof he had spent fifteene in his Fathers house two in the monasterie of S. Vincent att Lisbone nine att S. Crosse of Conimbria and about ten in the Order of S. Francis where he liued very famous in his life doctrine and miracles How he appeared to the Abbot of Vercelles THE XXVIII CHAPTER WIthin the very houre of his departure he sodenly appeared in the chamber of the Abbot of Vercelles sometime his master and Gouernour as if he had priuately entred told him that he had left his residence and was retiring into his contry which said he stroake him with his hand vnder the chinne as if he would dandle him and so cured him of a disease which he had there then vanished as if he had gone out att the chamber dore but the Abbot following him could not finde him and enquiring of his familie if they had seene him they answeared no. Att length sending to his Couent and missing him there he began to vnderstand that his contry whither he was goeing was not Portugall but Paradis and that he dyed att the same instant Of a great mirache wherby the death of sainct Antony was discouered and of the dissension that arose about his sepulture THE XXIX CHAPTER AFter the decease of S. Antony the Religious resolued to conceale it till they had determined how to dispose of his bodie so to auoyd the tumult of the people But God did manifest it by the voices of children that went by troupes crying throughe the Cittie Our Father Sainct Antonie is dead which induced manie Burgesses to goe to the monasterie of Arcele where they vnderstood the truth and hauing found him dead they presently placed many armed men to guard the body and to hinder the transporting therof Then the Frere Minors of the monasterie of Padua also hastened incontinentlie thither accompanyed with manie honorable personnes of the Cittie and required the body as appertayning vnto them considering that the sainct in his life time had declared his intention which was to be interred in their Couent which they made apparant There were also other Competitors which were they that dwelt on the other side of the bridge who perceauing that the Oratorie of Arcele was not secure and that there might be disorder endeuoured by force to take away the holy body to carry it to a monasterie of Religious women neere therevnto and the controuersie grew to such a head that they were readie to fight when as a third party and such as were newters there present laboured to accord them with condition to expect the comming of the minister Prouinciall who should determine the cause Notwithstanding the impatient people could not expect but would haue the holie bodie carryed into the Cittie and to that effect thrice assaulted the Monasterie to haue the gates opened for transporting therof but att each time they remayned att the gate as blinded and halfe benummed without any power or abilitie For which cause as also in regard that it was feared the bodie might begin to sauour by reason of the great heate that then was he was taken from off his discouered coffin and putt in a square chest vnder ground which did so mutine the people who supposed he had bin vtterlie taken from that place that they ran with their swordes in their handes euen to the celles of the Religious whence they would not depart till the holie bodye was shewen them which appeased them Four dayes after his death the Prouinciall arriued who was of opinion with whome ioyned the bishopp that he should be interred in the said Couent in the Cittie according to his owne ordonance in his life time To this effect the Bishop caused a very solemne procession to be made and the Gouernour of the Cittie sent a company of foot men to guard a new bridge which he had caused expreslie to be made of boates but vnderstanding that the inhabitātes of the otherside the bridge were resolued by force of armes to surprise the holie body which by right they could not challenge and that they had alreadie broaken the bridge of boates he proclaimed by sound of trompett that no man nor woman vpon paine of death should stirre out of their lodgeing and banished from that contrie and territory the principall heades of this conspiracie and by this meane freed all the Religious of both sex in Padua from feare for they were extremelie afflicted and accused themselues imputing the same to arriue for their offences wherfore they besought our Lord IESVS CHRIST to deliuer them from this affliction which also had put the whole citty into a great tumult So the glorious body of S. Antony was transported to the said Couent of Padua where it was interred in a sepulcher newly and miraculously discouered the fift day after his death Of the resolution of his canonization and of certaine miracles there wrought THE XXX CHAPTER TO speake the truth the dissention aforesaid was not without cause considering that they contested about so precious a treasure it is also to be considered how iustly the Paduans possessed this holy body sith they hazarded their life for it before it wrought any miracles as if each of them had bin assured of the great number of miracles which God would worck by it as he began that verie day making this pacification to appeare so much more pleasing and this treasure more deere and gratefull as the contention had bin greiuous by meanes of the recouerie of all the diseased that onlie touched his sepulcher yea of those that vnable to come to his sepulcher or into the Church inuocated his holy name without This so notable and inexpected successe spreading incontinentlie ouer all the neighbour places the Bishop of Padua vnable to retaine thedeuotiō of the people that publikely honoured him according to his merittes he sent embassadours to Rome in his name and the Paduans to beseech the Pope to canonise this S. which God had bestowed on them They being graciously entertayned and heard together with the examen made by order of the said Bishop and an other by the deputies of his holinesse who were an Abbot of S. Benedict and a Dominican Prior vpon the life conuersations and miracles of the S. and finding more then sufficient proofe he proposed to the Consistory his canonization att Spoletum it
being not full but neere a yeare after his death Wherto there directly opposed himselfe a Cardinall which caused further proceeding to be deferred till the day following but the first night after the Cardinall had this dreame It seemed vnto him that his holinesse would consecrate an Altare and to that end demaunded holy reliques of him But he not knowing what to giue him heard a voice that said Giue him of the new reliques of S. Antony Wherevpon this Cardinall awakinge sollicited the Pope more then any other to hasten the canonization of the S. as hauing bin by this diuine voice fully assured of his great merittes Besides the approbation of the vnder written miracles wrought after his death nor including those wrought in his life time he cured nineteene that were lame fiue of the palsie fiue that were crooked six blinde three deafe three mute two of the gout he raised two to life and cured diuers others of sundry diseases For which cause the yeare 1232. on the day of Penticost he was enrolled by the Pope in the Catalogue of Sainctes with great solemnitie The said Pope composed and sung that worthy antheme O Doctor optime and ordayned it to be sung in all churches the day of his feast which was constitued to be yearly the thirteenth of Iune One the day of his canonization all the belles of his cittie of Lisbone did ring of themselues to the exceeding contentment of all personnes wherof they knew no cause but that they felt an inestimable ioy in their hartes but they vnderstood afterward that their contryman and fellow-cittizen S. Antony had bin that day canonized The bulle of the aforesaid canonization taken out of the tenth chapter of the sixt booke and heere more properly placed GRegory bishop seruant of the seruantes of God to our venerable Brethren Archbishops Bishoppes health and Apostolicall benediction As God saith by the Prophett I will make you honoured and praysed of all people and by the sage he promiseth that the iust shall shine in the presence of God as the sunne so it seemeth vnto vs expedient that we also here on earth below doe prayse the sainctes which his diuine Maiestie hath crouned in heauen and considering withall that God is knowne and adored principally in them who is praiseworthy and glorious in his Sainctes and that miraculously to manifest his omnipotencie and his mercy towardes our saluation he euen ennobleth here below by miracles his faithfull seruantes with whome he hath concurred to the meritt of eternall glory and this to confound the obstinacie of many heretikes and to confirme his church in his holy Catholique Apostolike and Romane faith and to expell out of lukewarme hartes all sloath and negligence awakening them to good worckes by these holy examples and that the hartes of heretikes might be made plyable to belieue by effect what they seeme not to vnderstand by the holy scriptures and finally that all Iewes and Pagans the vaile of blindnes being taken from before their eyes may see this transparent light of the omnipotencie of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST and that they may not alleadge for excuse that they had no occasion deseruing their conuersion vnto him and their acknowledgement of him for true God and true man Wherfore my beloued we yeld thanckes to this bountifull giuer of all goodnes if not as we ought at least as we may for that it hath pleased him for confirmation of our holy faith and the confusion of heretikes to bestow on vs holy and famous men in these dayes who by signes and manifest miracles haue declared how true inestimable and indubitable is the faith of the holy Romane Church sith they who dye therein so dye in the grace of God that they glitter twinckle and shine in the world as Sunnes in the firmament Therfore being therein but one faith and the same by this diuine and manifest approbation appearing most true the falshood of all others must be very euident Of the nomber of those that haue meritted to worck miracles before and after their death is the blessed Father S. Antony of the Order of the Frere Minors who liuing in this world was very famous for his great merittes and liuing now in heauen he shineth by many miracles which are ordinarily wrought att his sepulcher wherof we are assured as well by very authenticall worthy actes as by reuelation of personnes worthy of creditt These two thinges merittes and miracles suffice to giue testimony among men of the sanctity of a man yea they suffice to make vs yeld to honour and inuocate them as our intercessors vnto God which two thinges are taken out of this text of the Gospell They goeing forth preached euery where our lord worcking withall and confirming the word with signes that followed For this cause we haue giuen order to the abouesaid Bishop to Br. Giles Iourdain Priour of the Order of S. Benett and to Br. Iohn Priour of S Augustins in the monastery of the Iacobins of Padua that they should make an exact examen and approued catalogue of the miracles of the said Sainct which we hauing seene to be conformable to that which by our owne experience we know to be very true touching his life and holy conuersatiō that it may not seeme we would hinder or depriue him of his praise being therevnto vrged by the said Bishop of Padua and the reuerence of the seruantes of God which so notoriously deserue the same and by the aduise of our venerable Brethren the Cardinalls of the holy Roman Church and of all the Prelates att this present neere vnto vs we haue enrolled him in the Catalogue of the SS Wherfore the candell not being sett on the candlesticke but to giue light we pray and commaund all those to whome the knowledge of these presents shall come that in vertue of this Apostolicall Breuie they induce their subiectes and procure them solemnly and reuerentlie to keepe and honour his feast which is the thirteenth of Iune to the end that God being moued and appeased by his holie prayers doe giue vs his holie grace in this life and his glorie in the other Besides that the sepulcher of this worthie Confessour who by the splendour of his miracles beautifieth our holie Church be with the honour due vnto it visited and frequented we trusting in the diuine grace and in the aucthoritie of the glorious Apostles sainct Peter and sainct Paul we mercifullie remitte and release a yeares penance enioyned them to all those that truelie confessed and penitent doe on the day of his feast and all the octaue of euerie yeare visitt the same Giuen att Spoletum the twelfeth of Iulie in the sixt yeare of our Popedome How his body was transported into the said church of Padua then into that where it now is and wherefore THE XXXI CHAPTER POpe Alexander the fourth desiring to deliuer manie Citties of Lombardie from the cruelty of the Tyran Ezelin that had vsurped almost all the
Venetian territorie he sent to Venise as his Legat Philip de Fontaine Bishop of Rauenna that hauing ouerthrowne a mightie and potent armie he might assige Padua where the Tyran had placed a nephew of his as lieutenant to guard that place faithfullie for him God determining to end and cease the tyrannie of this cruell Prince and to deliuer that Cittie by the merittes of sainct Antony the night of his feast The cittie being in this trouble the Guardian of the Couent of the Frere Minors called Brother Bartholomew Corradin watching att the sepulcher of the Sainct in feruent prayers and teares praying for the deliuery of that cittie he heard a cleare voice that seemed to proceed out of the said sepulcher which said vnto him Brother Bartholomew feare no more but be comforted and giue thanckes to God for I promise and assure thee that on my octaue day this citty shal be restored to her former liberty which came to passe for Anselmus the Gouernour therof being terrified by the hand of God went out and fled with all his people in such sort that the said Apostolicall Legat entred in and restored all thinges to their former splendour liberty and freedome The said voice was not onlie heard by the said Guardian but also by many Religious of the Couent that watched in the said Church who gaue testimony therof afterward Wherfore the Paduans ordayned that thenceforward the said octaue day should be solemnised as the day it selfe of the feast of sainct Antony in acknowledgement of that singuler benefitt Afterward they tooke him for a singuler aduocate of their cittie consecrating vnto him the altare of their great church wherein they placed his reliques and there they celebrated his feast on which day manie worthy miracles were wrought Padua being thus deliuered the yeare 1259. the Paduans began to build a great and sumptuous Church wherinto were transported his holie reliques the yeare 1273. the eue of Quasi modo the Cardinall of Bolonia named Guy Charles Bishop of Portuensis legat of his holinesse with many ceremonies solemnised the said translation This Cardinall hauing bin deliuered from death by sainct Antony was exceeding deuout vnto him and therfore offered vnto him a faire and rich shrine or reliquarie of siluer wherin he putt his holie head Sainct Bonauenture Generall of the Order was present att his translation and opened the shrine wherin the glorious bodie of the Sainct had bin thirtie yeares which he found all tourned to ashes sauing the tongue which was verie fresh and vermillion as when it had life which taking in his handes in presence of all the companie with aboundance of teares he vttered these wordes O blessed tongue which hast alwayes praysed they God and hast laboured others to doe the like it verie euidentlie appeareth that thou hast highlie merited before God! then kissing it verie tenderlie he put it againe verie reuerentlie into the said reliquarie On a certaine time after a Generall desired to transport this holie tongue from that place but hauing taken it vp and thincking to carry it away he could neuer finde the dore where to goe forth nor had he power to carrie it back whence he had taken it wherfore he secretlie hid it in an altare none perceauing the same where it remayned manie yeares after till it pleased the Sainct to discouer it so that taking it thence it was put in a veâ—ie faire and rich reliquary of crystall where it is euen to this day shewen pure and entier to all deuout Pilgrimes How he raised his Nephew that died att Lisbone THE XXXII CHAPTER ANephew of the sainctes the soÌ„ne of his sister called Paris played one day att Lisbone on the sea shoare with many children his companions all which entred into a shallop which for their recreation they lanched into the sea but there sodeÌ„ly arose a storme which raysing the sea waues presently ouer-whelmed the shalop all that were therin saued themselues by swiming except Paris who being the yongest could not swimme but was drowned which his Father vnderstanding he prayed the Fishers to search for recouery of his body to giue it Christian buryall They more to satisfie him then in hope to finde him sought him sometime and att length God permitted them to finde him and deliuering him to his Father the kinred were of opinion to haue him buryed but his pittyfull mother the sister of S. Antony hauing good hope of the life of her sonne by the merittes of her brother would not permitt him to be buryed and therfore would be continually neere him all the day following and the night after but the next morning the kinred purposing not to permitt the body any longer vnburyed because it already exceedingly sauoured the mother resolutely said and auowed that if they would bury her child they should bury her aliue together with it Then she made this prayer to S. Antony O my glorious Brother if charity moue thee as I belieue it doeth and if thou be so carefull and ready to gratifie them that inuocate thee yea such as are strangers I beseech thee to haue compassion of thy sister and of thy Nephew who if thou please to restore him life shall serue God in thy Order wheÌ„ he shall attaine to age conuenient competent to that end if so it please the diuine Maiestie The successe was admirable for as soone as she had ended her vow the child that had bin three dayes dead arose before all the company and hauing attained age sufficient he accomplished the said vow taking the habit of the Order of his vncle wherein he piously perseuered Of two other raised from death by Sainct Antonie and of some others THE XXXII CHAPTER A Queene of Leon in Spaine borne in Portugall hauing by accident of sicknes lost her daughter of eleuen yeares of age and hauing heard this foresaid miracle recounted would not haue her daughter buryed but kept her three dayes without buryall during which time she deuoutly inuocated the helpeof S. Antony with a feruent faith for which she deserued att length to be heard but the child her daughter being raysed sayd vnto her deere Mother I beseech God to pardon you for hauing troubled me in the celestiall glory where I was amongest the virgins though it be not for long time for I am restored to life att the instance of S. Antony but for fifteene dayes which so succeeded for fifteene dayes after she dyed againe A gentleman that could haue no children vowed to the S. that if he would obtaine him one he would euery yeare visitt his sepulcher and he was heard but goeing one day to accomplish his vow he left his sonne of seauen yeares old sick in his house who by litle and litle so recouered health that he went to play with his companions in a chanell where then there was no water it being bended an other way to water a certaine plaine but the banke or bay being not strong enough gaue such way to
for he hath thy leproise as he said and bid him vse them So being awaked and finding himselfe perfectly cured he caried his clapper by commandement of the S. to the soldier whome he found full of leprosie from the head to the foot for which he very hitterly lamented and repēting what he had done vowing and recommending himselfe to the S. he deserued to be heard hauing learned by experience how great is the vertue of the Sainctes of God Of many other miracles and of the Breefe of S. Antony against the Deuils which remained in the handes of the king of Portugall THE XXXV CHAPTER IN a combatt that happened betweene two soldiers one of them was so strangely hurt in one arme that speaking humanely it was incurable att least sauing his life he could not auoyd a perpetuall mayne Now recommending himselfe to S. Antony he was presently cured the wound being so closed it as if he had neuer bin hurt But as is said of the wicked hauing past and escaped the danger they scoffe att the S. so the soldier began to consider by what meanes he might be reuenged and diuers times discoursing therof with himselfe the night before this lewd designe the said wound came into his arme as before the S. teaching him and all others that the graces and fauours of God are not to be abused against his seruice that is employed in any thing which he forbiddeth and is not pleasing vnto him as to the detriment of ones neighbour A child of Padua called Henry hauing a swelling in his neck vowed to the S. and was immediatly cured but his mother that caused him to vow not regarding to fulfill it the infirmity retourned yet repenting and accomplishing the vow her sonne was cured againe An Abbot hauing great compassion of his seruant that was deafe dumme vowed in his behalfe to S. Antony that if he would please to cure him he would employ him all his life in the seruice of his Church he was instantly cured for which he was not vngratefull for he employed him in his church all the dayes of his life in the Citty of Sautaren in the kingdome of Portugall in the raigne of Don Donis There was a poore woman who though she were very deuout to S. Antony yet being sinfull the deuill sometimes posessed her and tempted her to destroy her selfe persuading her that she could neuer satisfie God for the many sinnes she had cōmitted but by voluntary killing her selfe to this false imagination he added a false vision for the deuill appeared vnto her in forme of a crucifix telling her that for the loue she boare him he would saue her but she could hardly satisfie for her sinnes vnlesse she would voluntary murder her selfe to which purpose he coūsailed her to goe that very houre to the riuer Tage and there to drowne her selfe and promised her to receaue her att the instant into his glory This woman hauing had this vision concealed it sometime in her hart now it happened that when her husband excedingly checked and rebuked her amōg other iniuries calling her possessed with a deuill she partly in fury and dispaire procured her by her husband and partly vrged by the deuill by remembrance of the said vision resolued to drowne her selfe and with that intention departed from her house but S. Antony would not permitt such an act so vnworthy of a Christian to be perpetrated especially on such a day it being on the celebration of his feast for this miserable woman passing before his Church was inspired to enter into it which she did and thē very deuoutly prayed the S. that he would voutsafe to reueale vnto her if it were possible whither it were the will of God she should drowne her selfe or not hauing ended her prayer she slept a sweet sleep and so light that she heard the voice of the Sainct which in her dreame said vnto her looke vpon thy bosome and when thou hast read the writing thou findest there thou shalt be cured The woman presently awaking found on her bosome a bitt of parchment wherin was written in letters of Gold Ecce crucem Domini fugite partes diuersae vicit leo de tribu Iuda Alleluia Alleluia As soone as she had read the same she was entierlie freed of her temptation The king of Portugall Don Donis hauing bin aduertised of this great miracle by the husband of the woman demaunded the said Breefe or writing which was giuen him but it was strange this woman not hauing her writing the deuill began presently to vex her but hauing no meanes to demaund it againe of the king who had put it amongst his reliques hauing wrought many miracles by this breefe the husband was aduised to request a copy therof which by meane of some Religious he obtained which hauing deliuered to his wife she was all the rest of her dayes freed from the said temptation liuing securely the space of twenty yeares How he deliuered from death the Princesse of Portugall Taken out of the sixteenth chapter of the tenth booke to be more properly put in this place THe princesse Lady Aldoucia daughter of the king of Portugall and of queene Teresa by a very extreme and dangerous infirmity that tormented her approaching to her death her mother had recourse vnto sainct Antony to whome she was much deuoted most affectionately recommending her daughter vnto him and praying him to remember that he was borne in that kingdome and that as he had cured saued and raysed so many in Italy he would please also to deliuer her daughter from that danger of death Att that very instant so strong and violent a fitt of the feauer did assault the sick Princesse that euery one esteemed it her last agony But then did the Sainct appeare vnto her and said daughter God hath sent me to thee for satisfaction of the frequent prayers of thy mother to putt it to the election of thy will either to goe now with me to Paradise or for consolation of thy mother to continue longer in the world The Princesse hauing choasen the second sainct Antony deliuered her his girdle saying Well kisse this Cord which she taking in her handes and as she thought holding it fast she cryed to her mother Madame Madame come see the glorious sainct Antony whome I hold by his girdle which he hath deliuered me to kisse therby to be cured she comming and not seeing the Sainct att all found her daughter perfectly well wherfore she diuulged this miracle in the Citty of Allenquor where this happened in the Church of the Frere Minors whither she with all her Court repayred to giue thanckes to God and to his holy seruant Of certaine other miracles of sainct Antony THE XXXVI CHAPTER A Poore man being seduced by an Inchaunter that promised to procure him an instinct to know what soeuer he desired entred with him into a circle where in an instāt he saw appeare a great number of deuils who perceauing him to be
a hand and he heard a voice from aboue that said vnto him Brother Leo know that without this hand thou canst performe no good thinge Which Brother Leo hauing heard entierly enflamed in diuine loue he arose on his feet and beholding heauen he diuers times thus spake with a loud voice It is true my God that if thy puissant hand doe not helpe and assist our infirmity we can doe nothing of ourselues much lesse shall we resist our ennemies and obtaine the meritt of perseuerance in thy loue and seruice The 17. chapter is put after the last of the second booke and first volume of this first part where is related a vision which Brother Leo had of the vniuersall Iudgement as being a matter appertaining to the holy Father sainct Francis How Brother Leo burned the box which Brother Helias Generall of the Order had sett at the Church dore to gather almose for the fabrique against the purity of the rule THE XVIII CHAPTER BRother Helias who after the death of sainct Francis for many yeares gouerned the Religion as General was he that very sumptuously builded the Couent of S. Francis att Assisium where Pope Gregory the ninth layd the first stone the almose of the people of Assisium not sufficing for so great an edifice Brother Helias seeking all meanes possible to find mony for the worck sett a box att the Church dore with this inscription The almose for the sabriqâ—e which many good Religious hauing seene and especially Brother Leo in regard that it was a thing directly against the obseruance of the purity of their rule being zealous of the Euangelicall Pouertie they repaired to the venerable Brother Giles to consult with him and to aduise together by what meanes they might preuent this inconuenience who answeared that he dwelt att our Lady of Angels and therfore though one built a Couent as great as the Citty of Assisium he would notwithstanding be content to remaine wher he was and that was all his care But Brother Leo not satisfied with this answeare they added we haue a purpose to burne that box what think you of it Brother Giles then with teares of his eyes replyed If Brother Helias be dead you may doe so but if he liue lett him proceed for you will hardly endure his persec ution But Brother Leo and his companions leauing Brother Giles tooke the box and burned it which Brother Helias vnderstanding and being extremely vexed therwith he very cruelly disciplined them all and hauing detayned theÌ„ some time in prison he banished them from Assisium for which and other like matters the Pope put Brother Helias from his Prelature as we haue formerly related in the life of S. Antony of Padua Of certaine miracles and of the death of the glorious Brother Leo THE XIX CHAPTER WHiles Brother Leo resided att our Lady of Angels it happened that a poore woman of Assisium dyed in trauaile of child whose mother was also a very poore old widdoe who being much afflicted att the death of her daughter and not knowing how to bring vp the litle infant that was left vnto her she went to brother Leo for his counsaile to whome with teares discouering her greife she moued him to haue compassion of her misery so that he went and with feruour offred his prayers demaunding of God assistance for that so desolate poore old womaÌ„ His prayer ended he sayd vnto her Goe good woman and putt the child to thy breast and hope that almighty God will giue thee the milke that he would haue giuen the mother of the child Though this old woman was much amazed att this speech yet the infant being present she obeyed for she offered her breastes vnto it which were found very full of milke to relieue the child And the same continued as long as there was vse for it and the child attayning to competentage beame a man of the church He often recounted that he had bin miraculously nursed by the merittes of Brother Leo. This seruant of God meeting a yong man in the way and beholding his countenance sayd vnto him thou shalt be one of our Religious which wordes had such efficacie in his hart that he could neuer apply himselfe to any thing till he became a Frere Minor A woman of Codale in the vally of Spoletum hauing an apostume in her brest which ordinarily yelded forth corruption and being void of all helpe that might any way releiue her she repaired to Brother Leo with great deuotion praying him to make the signe of the crosse one the place greiued which being done the apostume vanished so that no apparance remayned therof A yong man being exceedingly afflicted with the falling sicknes and a continuall feauer did secretly cutt of a peece of the habitt of Brother Leo out of the great deuotion he carryed towardes him which hauing layd on his neck he was presently cured but hauing lost it the said infirmity retourned yet hauing gotten an other peece he was perfectly cured againe A man of Treuy being by commandement of the gouernour of Spoletum imprisoned and enchained he recommended himselfe to the prayers of Brother Leo who was att our Lady of Angels who appeared vnto him about the time of noone and in presence of all that were there vnchayned him then drew him out of prison and commanded him to goe as a Pilgrime to our Lady of Angels which hauing performed he there found Brother Leo att whose feet prostrating himselfe he thancked him for the great singuler fauour receaued of him But he answeared him that he should only thancke the Virgin Mary whose feast of her holy purification was celebrated that day Our lord wrought many other miracles by the merittes of his seruant Brother Leo to manifest his sanctity to the world which would be too tedious to be inserted That holy Father Brother Ruffinus and Brother Angel us by commandement of their generall composed the legend of sainct Francis which was afterward called the legend of three companions wherof the most worthy and remarckable hauing bin extracted and put in other histories of sainct Francis the same was afterwardy lost Brother Leo att length hauing in vertue and sanctity accomplished his dayes he left the desert of the world and retired to his celestiall contry He was enterred att Assisium in the Church of S. Francis The life of Brother Siluester Of the conuersation merittes and death of Br. Syluester THE XX. CHAPTER THe good Father Br. Siluester was the first preist that entred into the Religion of S. Francis In the first booke and first volume of this first part we haue sett downe his conuersion and how he became a Frere Minor This was his eleuenth disciple who so encreased and profited in the vertue of sanctity that he discoursed and conuersed with God as ordinarily one freind doth with an other which S. Francis often experienced and diuers times gaue testimony therof as when he reuealed vnto him that the will of God was
seemed to sleep He dyed in the citty of Cahors the yeare of grace 1272. hauing spent fifteen yeares in the Order of the Frere Minors att six of the clock att night the Eue of Alsaintes to reigne eternally with them Att the very houre of his death two Religious women ancient both in Relligion and vertues did testifie to haue heard Angelicall musike exceedingly mellodious accompanying the soule of this worthy seruant of God vnto heauen A man of the third Order of that citty in a vision saw the soule of this glorious Father att the hower of his departure carryed by Angels with great ioy into Paradise The same night a Burgesse of Cahors called Peter saw in vision the soule of this holy Father sitting on a very resplendant couch that did spread and sparckle glittering beames as the sunne of whome demaunding who he was I am said he the soule of Br. Christopher that haue left my body on earth and am goeing to heauen This man sodenly awaked and arising likewise awakened all his familie to whome he recounted his vision then went to the monastery where he found the body of the holy Father alredy according to the custome carryed into the Church thence to be enterred else where The day following the death of this holy Father being diuulged there repayred such a coÌ„course of people to see this blessed body that he could not be taken out of the handes of those that desired to touch him to kisse teare off part of his habitt to keepe for reliques and to demaund some grace of God by the merittes of him that had worne it This body being with much a doe att length takeÌ„ out of the Church embalmed with precious liquours and aromaticall oyntments it was on the third day putt in a coffin of wood and enterred in the Church of the Frere Minors with great solemnity and reuerence Of the dead raysed by the inuocation of this sainct THE LIII CHAPTER ALmighty God voutsafed also to demoÌ„strate the exceeding great miracles which by the merittes of this his gratefull seruant he wrought in the bishopprick of Cahors for a mother hauing casually left her child vpon a bridge he fell into the water and was drowned The mother seeing her child dead filled all the village with compassion of the sorrow and griefe which by her extreme lamentation she did discouer Att length she had recourse to S. Christopher to whome she vowed to visitt his sepulcher and to present vnto it an image of waxe if he would raise her sonne The vow being made the child began to moue his lippes then to open his eyes and by the merittes of such an intercessour in presence of many people he retourned to life and â—afety A creature being wrested dead out of the mothers wombe was restored to life by the prayers and intercessions of this sainct who was exceedingly importuned and induced thervnto by those that were present In the same citty a mother had layd her child of two yeares old in bed betweene her husband and her selfe but awaking she found the child smothered and dead after many regreets she made vow to S. Christopher that if by his intercession the child might reuiue she would carrie it to his sepulcher and there would present a light and image of waxe Which vow being made the child began to gape then to moue the armes and att length opening his eyes it retourned to life In the same citty and after the same manner the S. being inuocated for a dead child by the father who was deuout vnto him in these tearmes O saint of God rayse my daughter and I promise thee to carry her to thy sepulcher where I will offer there an altare cloth and an image of waxe she vpon this vow retourned to life and the Father and others present gaue thanckes to almighty God and to the S. In a towne called Concet neere to the said citty there was a youg man so weakened with a continuall feauer that he was generally esteemed for dead no motion could be perceaued in him not so much as of his pulse wherfore his mother in extreme affliction perceauing all humane helpe to faile had recourse to almighty God whome she inuocated by the merittes of S. Christopher of whome she had heard many miracles recounted to restore her sonnes health vowing to carry him to his sepulcher there to present an altare cloth and an image of wax The effect was admirable for the presenting of her vow being finished he began to amend and in short time was entierly cured to the great astonishment and content of all his friendes and kinred who fayled not to giue thanckes to God and to accomplish their vow Health was also restored to an other yong man called Iohn desperatly sick att Cahors in the manner aforesayd A Relligious of the Order of S. Clare called Sister Mary being so extremely weakened with sicknes that she could not remoue her selfe in her bed nor much lesse take her rest therin she expected only death but hauing heard it reported that the holy Father Christopher was deceassed and that he wrought infinite miracles she bitterly lamenting presented vnto him this request O holy Father that hast often heard my confession pray vnto almighty God if thou please that I may recouer my health to serue him Which spoaken she fell into a sweet sleep from whence the next morning she awakened full of comfort and consolation and went to the quier to communicate with her other sisters who theratt were much amazed and afterwardes they all together gaue thanckes to the omnipotent bounty of God and to his holy intercessour by whose merittes he so compassionatly assisteth those that addresse their petitions vnto him Of other miracles wrought in the cure of many dangerous and incurable diseases THE LIV. CHAPTER VPon the Mount Abban in the bishopprick of Cahors a child reduced neere vnto death and his mother extremely afflicted by dispaire of her sonnes recouery which hauing exceedingly weakened her by the great wearines of labour that this sicknesse causer her she fell into a litle sleep wherin she heard a voice that sayd vnto her Woman feare no more but make a vow for thy sonne to S. Christopher and God by his merittes will cure him This woman awaking and hauing made her vow her sonne was cured and the mother carryed him to the sepulcher of the sainct wher she thancked God and her Intercessour for it A woman of the said citty of Cahors called Valeria was so sick that the Phisitians iudged her as dead and withall had alredy lost her speech and the motion of all her members and was as black as pitch a priest also comming to heare her confession was constrayned to retourne without vsing his function for she could neither speake heare nor make any signes But her kinred and freindes that were present greiued att the losse of a woman whome they cordially loued fell deuoutly on their knees lifted vp their ioyned
a mountaine where he found a litle chappell hauing bin an hermitage called S. Laurence farre distant from habitation and consequently very solitary there he resolued to spend his lent but three dayes after he was there arriued it did so snow and freeze that they could not possibly goe abroad The holy Religious seeing there was no meane to goe foorth to seeke bread sayd to his companion Brother lett vs make petition to almighty God that he will please in our necessity to send vs bread sith there is none but he that can heare and releiue vs. Then he recounted an history of certaine Religious who wanting bread in the like necessity had recourse to him and were heard Being moued by such an example they began on the euenning to pray with loud voice vnto almighty God so perseuered till the breake of the day following when as God inspired a good man of a neighbouring place who seeing the snow so extreme called to minde that he had seene att other times Hermites att S. Laurence thought with himselfe that if then there were any there they could not come foorth to seeke food which mouing him to compassion he went out of his house with bread and wine which he gaue to the Religious and being retourned to his house he aduertised his neighbours and friendes of the necessity of the said seruantes of God and so procured that they wanted not wherwith to liue the rest of the lent which happened to good purpose for them in regard of their extreme necessity Br. Giles desirous to acknowledge the great charity vsed vnto him by those people he said to his companion hitherto we haue prayed to God for our selues to be relieued in our necessity heceforward we ought to pray vnto him for our benefactors so that persisting night and day in these petitions our Lord bestowed such graces and fauours on the inhabitantes of that place that neuer Frere Minor hauing bin formely seene there many among them neuertheles being moued by the example and pious exhortations of the sayd Religious forlooke the vanity of this world and became Frere Minors and such as could not serued God by prayers and did penance in their owne houses and by this meane for corporall benefittes they gaue in exchaunge spirituall in double mesure Of the humilitie and obedience of Br. Giles THE V. CHAPTER THe holy Father S. Francis cordially loued Br. Giles for his great perfection in all vertues and his promptitude in doeing well and therfore did often obserue him and would say to his other Religious that he was one of his knightes of the round table so did he call the humble and deuout Religious Now Br. Giles one day demaunded obedience of S. Francis to goe where he pleased or to remayne where he was the holy Father answeared him your residence is prouided goe where you will whervpon hauing demaunded and receiued his benediction he went and walked in this freedome fower whole dayes but finding his spiritt much disquieted he retourned to S. Francis Father sayd he I beseech you designe me a certaine place whither to goe because goeing according to my owne liberty I cannot haue my conscience free the S. sent him to the Couent of Fabrian whither he went barefoote with a very ragged habitt though the season were extreme cold On the way he mett a passenger that sayd vnto him I would not goe so poorly cloathed in so cold a season were I therby to pourchace paradice by which wordes the deuill so augmented the cold that he expected death therby but he incontineÌ„tlie called to minde that our lord IESVS CHRIST went barefoote and poorely cloathed through the world and endured far more cold and other labours for our sakes these pious cogitations did in this sort warme first his hart and then all his body with a diuine heat wherfore he began to praise God his sweet lord who had thus warmed him not with materiall fier but by the only burning heatof his diuine loue So Br. Giles remayned many yeares in the sayd place where one day weighing his sinnes he ascended on a mountaine neere by whither he carryed a yoÌ„g Religious whome he commanded with a cord about his necke to lead him naked to the place where the other Religious were and entring in this sort before them he began with teares to cry Haue compassion and pitty of me miserable and detestable sinner The Religious beholding him in such a gastly plight began all to weep and prayed him to putt on his habitt but he answeared with bitter teares and extreme sighes that he was vnworthy to be a Frere Minor Yet if you will that I take the habitt againe said he I will as an almose receaued of you though I doe not deserue it and so he cloathed himselfe and there remayned labouring with his handes in making caskettes of straw to couer or keep glasses and litle baskettes which he and his companion carryed to the neighbour towne and villages and in exchauâ—ge receaued what they needed either of food or cloathing and with the rest he cloathed other Religious saying that such almose done to any Religious prayed for him when he slept and could not then pray himselfe This good Religious retourning one day from the fieldes hauing in his handes a reed and a hatchett he past before a church the Chappelaine wherof seeing him called him hippocrite which did so grieue and afflict Br. Giles that he wept bitterly A Religious finding him thus lamenting demandindg the occasion of his teares he answeared him because I am an hippocrite as a Preist did now instantly assure me The Religious replied poore man doest thou then belieue it to be true Br. Giles answeared that he belieued it because he was a Priest that auouched the same and he could not conceaue that a Priest would lie The Religious replyed Brother be no longer disquieted for it may be thou art no hippocrite because the opinion of men is most often farre from the iudgement of God Br. Giles with this reasonnable answeare was somewhat satisfied and comforted saying that if he were not such it was by the pure grace of God Hearing one day relation of the fall of Br. Helie that had bin Generall of the Order whence he was an Apostata then liuing excommunicated thence in the traine and seruice of the Emperour Frederic the second then a rebell vnto the Church he with extreme griefe fell flatt vpon the ground and there contemptibly tourned and tumbled himselfe affirming that he would discend as low as he could because the other had wrought his owne distruction by clymeing so high This great seruant of God being one day out of the Couent he receaued a letter and therby commaundement from his Generall to meet him att Assisium whither he instantly tooke his iorney his companion putting into his minde that it were good to retourne first to the Couent to aduertise the Religious therof he answeared Brother I am commanded to goe
art she that teachest vs the way of our saluation and directest vs in the right and secure path wherin â—e that walketh cannot stray but he that seeketh and followeth another shall only find therin an eternall damnation He was present att masse with exceeding feruour All sondayes and solemne feastes he receaued his Creatour and employed those dayes entierly in contemplation of the grace receaued for goeing very early into the church he would there remayne all the day in the company rather of Angels and Saincts theÌ„ of men Celebrating the feast of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST and many other times in the feruour of his prayer he hath bin seene rapt in extasie and eleuated aboue the ground the hight of three handfuls or a foot and a halfe Of other such extasies of spiritt recorded of the glorious Sainct FIue Prouincials did at one time with great deuotion and reuerence visitt this blessed Father with Br. Gratian his companion who aduertised him of their arriuall vpon knoledge wherof he preseÌ„tly mett them and hauing graciously entertayned them he with great feruour of spiritt began to speake vnto them and beholding the heauen with his armes opened as to play on a viole he sung in this manner O Br. make a castell hauing in it neither stone nor iron O my Br. build me a citty without lime or stone and thus singing he was rapt in extasie The said Prouincials knew not the signification of the wordes But Br. Gratian told them that by the castels and citties he meant the holy Apostles and martyrs of the Primitiue church who without the armour of iron and without the helpe of any temporall matter generously builded the house of God in soules which zeale and intention had Br. Giles renouncing temporalities to become a castell of the liuing God and a glorious citty not of temporall building or substance but spirituall of pouerty and diuine loue And because they as Prouincials of the Religion were captaines and furtherers of this worck he by this song gaue them a notable document of their duety in their vocation and office This holy Father being in the monastery of Agele by Perusia he after supper made an exhortation to the Religious in the refectory with his ordinary feruour and with such sweetnes that he enflamed the hartes of all his audience in diuine loue yea his owne also in such sort that he was rauished and out of himselfe in the middest of his BrethreÌ„ where he so continued till the cock-crowing and in the meane time he shined with such a spleÌ„dour which enuironed him that the brightnes of the moone which then was in full was so obscured that the shining therof being darckned by this new light she appeared not in that place which put the Religious in admiration who gaue thanckes to our lord for the admirable worckes demonstrated in his seruant Brother Giles one day thus reasoned with S. Bonauenture who was Generall of the Order Father God hath bestowed many fauours on you that are learned for you haue knoledge of many matters by which you prayse him But what shall we doe to saue our selues we I say that ar ignorant and idiots S. Bonauenture answeared if God had giuen no other grace to men but only ability to loue him it would suffice because loue is more gratefull to God then any other thing that can be offered vnto him Brother Giles herevpon replyed Tell me Father if you please can an ignorant person loue God as much as one learned he can said S. Bonauenture yea I say more a simple and poore old fellow may loue our lord as much as a Doctour in diuinity Vpon these wordes Br. Giles went with great feruour into the garden and tourning towardes the towne he cryed out Poore and caitiue old wretch ignorant idiot and simple loue thy Redeemer IESVS CHRIST and thou mayest be greater then Br. Bonauenture Which sayd he remayned three houresrapt in extasie Of an admirable dispute held by Br. Giles touching free will against Br. Gerardin in the presence of many Religious THE XV. CHAPTER THe venerable Br. Giles being in the Couent of Perusia a Romane gentlewomaÌ„ called SeaueÌ„-Sunnes that was very deuout to S. Francis both in his life time and after his death for she made her residence att Assisium to beneere vnto his sepulcher came to visitt him to receaue some consolation of his energicall doctrine there did she find Brother Gerardin a Religious of exemplar life and very learned together with some other very spirituall Religious who also came to visitt Brother Giles to heare of him some spirituall exhortation Thus discoursing together they fell into dispute vpon a certaine passadge of holy scripture And among many other sentences alleadged by Br. Giles for proofe of what he maintained this was one He that doeth not what he can often endureth that which he would not Br. Gerardin desirous to entertaine Br. Giles in discourse to gratifie the coÌ„pany and for his particuler coÌ„tentment thus begaÌ„ scolastically to argumeÌ„t against him Br. I much admire that you affirme that a man endureth what he would not if he doe not what he can considering that a man can doe nothing of himselfe which is proued by many reasons wherefore I say that the power presupposeth the being so that the action of the thing be according to its being And so much doe the wordes of the Apostle signifie where he sayth If any man esteeme himself to be something wher as he is nothing he seduceth himselfe whence ensueth that a man cannot doe any thing sith he is nothing which I will proue vnto you also by an other reason If a man of himselfe doe any thing it is either by his soule or by his body or by both together Now I will proue that he can doe nothing by meane of any of theÌ„ First he can doe nothing by meane of the soule alone for it is most cleare that the soule separated from the body can neither meritt nor demeritt neither can he doe more by meane of the body only because the body receaueth all his operation of his forme and without the soule it hath no humane being so that much lesse can it worcke which is a thinge proper to the forme and finally yet lesse can he doe by meane of the composition that is of the body and soule vnited together and if he could doe any thing it should be by meane of the soule But I haue proued that the soule being separated from the body can doe nothing and now I affirme that it can much lesse vnited with her body because the body being corruptible chardgeth and burdeneth it as for example if a beast cannot goe vnloaden much lesse can it vnder a burthen Thus Br. Gerardin made his argument appeare very probable which procured to the audience an amazement and confusion But Br. Giles very prudently answeared My good Br. and friend beleeue I pray you that you haue spoaken amisse wherfore acknowledge therin
a new man his seruant S. Francis by him to reforme his faithfull in this sixt age would also that a valerous woman should by his worck appeare in the world to accompany that his great seruant to the end that of those two should be new borne a perfect regeneration of the children of God And as the first naturall generation came of man and woman as of an vnited beginning so this spirituall generatiō of the imitators of the life and counsailes of IESVS CHRIST proceeded in all the Church and in all the estates and qualities of personnes of one same spiritt of zeale of perfection of humility and of powerty from one man and one woman And to the end it might not be vnlike the creation almighty God hauing first perfected his seruant S. Francis would frame of the ribbe or side of his life doctrine and sanctity the glorious Virgin S. Clare his true and litigimate daughter in IESVS CHRIST for his companion as zealous also of perfection and Angelicall reformation With great reason therfore hath she her place in the Chronicles of the Frere Minors For she being a ribbe and partye of the same Order it is very requisite a special mention should be made of her sanctity of life as we shall here performe And if it be not according to her meritt shall att least be done with the least defect we can possible being resolued to employ therin that litle force of spiritt which God hath giuen vs and this to the honour of his diuine maiesty of his holy seruant and to the edification of soules The glorious saincte Clare was borne in the citty of Assisium scituat in the prouince of the Vally of Spoletum which is a territory appertayning to the Romane Church Her Father and Mother were noble of a famous and very weathy famility her mother was called Hortolana which in our tongue may be termed Gardener and not without mystery considering she was to produce so noble and vertuous a plant in the garden of the holy Church This woman was exceeding deuout and compleate in the fruites of good worckes and albeit she were maryed and consequently obliged to the care and gouernment of her house and family yet did she not omitt with all her power to be exercised in the seruice of God and employed in worckes of mercy She was so feruent in the loue of IESVS CHRIST that with great deuotion she passed the sea with many other Pilgrimes and visited those holy places which our Redemer IESVS CHRIST God and man had cōsecrated with his holy presence and retourned exceedingly cōforted and enriched with many merittes She also visited the Church of Th'archangell S. Michael on the mount Gargan and with a pious and feruent desire visited the Apostles S. Peter S. Paule in Rome in such sort did that vertue and feruour in those dayes shine in many holy personnes but now so weakened is the feruour of Christians touching visiting holy places and the reliques of our Lord and his SS that it is almost lost by the continuall warres of heretikes and of our sinnes Now our lord began to poore out the abondance of his celestiall giftes on the root that afterwardes the sproutes of greater sanctity might follow and dispearse into bowes Neither would he that this deuout woman Hortolana should be depriued of the consolations and knowledge of this grace for being neere her childbirth she one day with great feruour prayed in a Church and before a Crucifix where she besought almighty God to deliuer her from the danger of death in her childbirth which she much apprehended and she heard a voice that sayd Woman feare not For thou shalt safely and without danger bring forth a light that shall illuminate and lighten all the world Being thus comforted and admonished by this diuine answeare so soone as she was deliuered of a daughter she caused her to be called in Baptisme Clare firmly beleeuing that in her should be accomplished the splendour of the light promised according to the prouidence and ordonnance of the diuine bounty Of the education charity prayer mortification and virginity of saincte Clare THE II. CHAPTER SAinte Clare being borne into the world she began incontinently to appeare and to shine as a morning starre in the obscure night of the world for in the most tender yeares of her first infancie she alredy discouered euident signes of notable and pious worckes wherin she made appeare her naturall worth and the graces which God had communicated vnto her for being naturally of a very delicate constitution he receaued of her mother the first foundations of faith afterwardes being inspired of God to apply her selfe to vertuous and pious worckes she shewed her selfe to be a vessell aptly prepared for diuine grace and as she abounded in interiour piety as wel by nature as by grace towardes poore beggers so according to the small meanes which thē she had she supplyed their necessityes And to the end her sacrifice might be more gratefull vnto God the most delicate meates that were giuen her for the nourishment of her litle body she hid and gaue it secretly to the poore Thus did piety augment and encrease in her and nourished charity in her soule preparing her to receaue the grace and mercy of almighty God Her greatest contentment was in prayer wherby she was often sustayned made ioyfull and comforted as by an Angelicall milke and in a most delicious manner eleuated to the diuine pleasures of the conuersation of our lord IESVS CHRIST In these beginninges hauing no beades she vsed in steed therof certaine litle stones some to serue for the Pater noster and others for the Aues and so she offred her prayers to God Whervpon beginning to feele the first feruours of diuine loue she iudged that she must contemne all transitory apparence and painted flowers of this world and being by prayer well enstructed of the holy Ghost she resolued as a wise spirituall merchand to haue no more regard of terrestriall affaires acknowledging them vnworthy to be esteemed and with this Spiritt she did weare as an other saincte Cecilie vnder her gay apparell a hair-cloth so exteriourly satisfying the world and interiourly her Lord IESVS CHRIST But hauing attayned the age of mariage she was importuned by her Father and other kinred to choose a husband Wherto she would neuer consent but vsed lingringes and delayes putting off and differring what she could all humane mariage and euer recommended to our Lord IESVS CHRIST her virginity with the other vertues whe◠with she was endued by such exercises endeauouring to please almighty God that he might bestow on her his only Sonne for her Spouse Such were the first fruites of her spiritt and such the exercises of her piety so that being anoynted with such a sweet and spirituall oyntment she yelded a most pleasing sauour as shoppe replenished with most delightfull liquors whose sauours though they be shutt vp discouer and manifest themselues In
of grace 1253. the twelfth of August forty yeares after her perfect vocation to God and the 60. yeare of her age She was enterred the 12. of August on which day her feast is solemnised att Assisium and ouer all the holy Romane Church Of the miracles wrought by the merittes of S. Clare and first of possessed personnes that haue bin deliuered THE XXVIII CHAPTER THe cheefest marckes that sainctes can haue and the worthiest testimonies of faith and reuerence are sanctity of life and the perfection of good worckes for sainct Iohn Baptist wrought no miracles during his life and yet they that haue wrought many shall not be esteemed more holy then he And therfore the notable renowne of the religious life of saincte Clare might suffice to make her appeare such as she is if the tepedity coldnes and remissnesse of the world and partly also deuotion did not otherwise require But sith this holy virgin was not only in her life time by her merittes swallowed vp in the depth of diuine illumination but was also after her death of merueilous splendour ouer all the world by the light of her miracles and as the most pure verity hath caused the recording of many of her miracles that they remayne as testimony memory and denunciation of her sanctity therfore also the multitude of them enforce the rehearsall of some that they may be generally diuulged and knowne A child called Iames seeming not so sick as possessed in regard that sometimes he cast himselfe into the fire or into the riuer fell rudely on the ground and with such fury did bite the stones that he brake his teeth withall forced bloud out of his head and wrested his mouth most strangely yea sometimes would seeme a mōstrer so dubling and folding his members as his feet would be on his necke He was ordinarily twice in the day afflicted with the like tormentes in such sort that two personnes sufficed not to restraine him from tearing of his cloathes yea there was great difficulty to keep him from murdering himselfe Many Phisitians hauing in vaine laboured to cure him att length his Father named Guidalot had recourse to the merittes of S. Clare affectionatly saying O holy virgin honoured of the world to thee I adresse my self to beseech thee to obtaine of God my sōnes health Then ful of cōfidence he conducted him to the sepulchre of this sainct and layd him therevpon and he presently miraculously obtayned the fauour he desired his sonne being perfectly cured of all his infirmities and was neuer troubled after Alexandrina of the towne of Frata neere to Perusia was possessed tormented with an abhominable deuill to whose power she was so left that he made her fly as a byrd to the topp of a rock neere to the riuer of Tiber then made her descend to a branch of a tree that did hang over the sayd riuer then to hang on that branch there playing her idle pranckes This woman had halfe her body vtterly benummed for which the Phisitians could find no remedy Att lenght she came with great deuotion to the shrine of saincte Clare and inuocating her merittes she was cured of all her afflictions for she had also the gout in her left hand and her body halfe paraliticall was cured and withall she was entierly freed of the oppression and seruitude of the deuill An other woman of the same place was cured before the sayd sepulcher who was in like sort possessed with the deuill and had withall many other diseases Of many that were miraculously cured of diuers diseases THE XXIX CHAPTER A French youth goeing to Rome in company of others his country men fell sick and lay by the way and by the force of his infirmity lost his sence and speech and his body became deformed as it were a monster then became he so furious that he could not be held so that he seemed ready to dye which spectacle did not only moue his companions to compassion but did also exceedingly terrifie them and therfore they bound him to a biere and carryed him to the Church of saincte Clare where hauing placed him before her sepulcher they applyed them all to prayers inuocating the helpe of God and of the S. who made such intercession for the yong man that he was in an instant entierly cured A man of the citty of Spoletum called Valentin was exceedingly afflicted with the falling sicknesse in which he fell six times a day in whatsoeuer place he was and besides he had one foot so wrested awry that he was vtterly lamed he was brought on an asse to the sepulcher of S. Clare where hauing remayned two dayes and three nightes the third day attempting to moue his lame foot and none being neere him he made such a noyse that being heard by some a farre off they seemed to heare the kreaking of a peice of dry wood and the man was instantly cured of both the one and the other his sayd diseases The sonne of a woman of Spoletum called Iames of twelue yeares old beingblind could not goe without a guid being once forsaken by him that conducted him he fell into a pitt brake one of his armes and hurt his head The night following sleeping by the bridge of Varue a woman appeared vnto him and sayd Iames if thou come to me to Assisium I will cure thee Arising early in the morning he much admired att the vision which he recounted vnto two other blind men who answeared him Brother we haue lately heard of a Lady that is dead in the citty of Assisium att whose sepulcher God worcketh by her merittes great miracles which the blinde youth hauing heard he left the two other blind men and wiht a strong confidence hastened to Assisium in the way he lodged att Spoletum where in the night he had the same vision which encreased his hope of recouering his sight and made him hasten in time to arriue to the church of saincte Clare But he found it so filled with worldly people that he could not enter which exceedingly troubled him But seeing no remedy he rested att the dore and there remayned till the euening where this poore blind youth being weary by his iorney and afflicted for that he could not enter into the church setled himsesfe the best he could to rest vpon the ground leaning his head against a great stone and so slept and presently the third time heard the sayd voice speaking Iames God will doe thee good if thou canst enter and incontinently awaking out of that sleep he began to cry and begge of the people with abondance of teares to permitt him to enter which hauing a long time continued they gaue him place and hauing discloathed himselfe putting his girdle about his neck he went to the sepulcher of the sainct before which with great reuerence and humility he fell on his ' knees and hauing persisted sometime in prayer beseeching saincte Clare to intercede for him he fell into a gentle slumber wherin
saincte Clare appeared vnto him and sayd Arise Iames for thou art already cured and being awaked and raysed on his feet the defect of his sight left him and by the vertues and merittes of this Sainct he clearly saw for which he glorifyed God and gaue him thanckes for so admirable a worcke exhorting all present to doe the like and to prayse our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST in his holy seruant Of the lame and paralitiques cured by saincte Clare THE XXX CHAPTER A Cittisen of Perusia called Iohn Martin de Buony weÌ„t one time with many other Cittisens out of the citty to fight against their ennemies of Tullinium the skirmish being ended Iohn found his hand exceedingly hurt with the blow of a flint stone and the bone being broken he was therby maymed hauing bin att extreme coste for the cure therof yet without any remedy but still enforced to carry his arme in a scarfe he alwayes complayned therof as of a desperat may me and asked counsel about cutting off his hand but hauing one day heard speech of merueillous matters wrought by almighty God att the intercession of sainte Clare he with a strong faith vowed to goe to her sepulcher whither arriuing he very deuoutly and reuerently presented her a hand of wax then fell on his knees and made his feruent prayers to God that it would please his diuine Maiesty by the merittes of that holy virgin to cure him The successe was admirable for before this gentleman arose he felt his hand entierly cured for which he gaue thanckes to God and to the Saint A yong man of Castrouitoly called Petronius was so consumed with a disease which had for three yeares continually afflicted him that he seemed to be already withered and corrupted yea he was therby brought to such weakenesse that in goeing he stooped with his face as it were on the ground and found great difficulty to walke though with a staffe in his hand to support him His Father hauing already bin exceedingly chardged about his cure continued yet in resolution to employ the residue of his substance out of his vehement desire to see his sonne cured But the Phisitions hauing assured him that there was no hope of cure by humane art he had recourse to the new Sainct of whose vertue hauing heard much report he caused his sonne to be carryed where the Reliques of saincte Clare reposed And hauing made his prayers by her sepulcher he recouered his former health and miraculously arose sound and straight as if he had neuer endured infirmity yea he ran leapt and praysed God and saincte Clare inducing all present to haue greater faith and deuotion towardes her In the towne of sainct Quiric within the diocesse of Assisium a child of ten yeares old hauing bin borne lame went so pittifully and painfully that if he chanced to fal to the grouÌ„d he could not rise againe but with extreme difficulty His Mother had many times recommended him to S. Francis yet found he no redresse but vnderstanding afterward that the virgin sainte Clare was very famous for infinite miracles which by her merittes were wrought att her sepulcher she caused her sonne to be carryed thither and incontinently after he had bin there his bones were setled in their places and his members were cured that which sainct Francis entreated by deuout prayers would not graunt he referred to be obtayned and impetrated by the merittes of his disciple saincte Clare A Cittisen of Augubia called Iames le Franch had a sonne of fiue yeares old so lame that he could not goe which he very impatiently supported it seeming to him that the torment of his child was a reproch vnto his honour and family When this child was on the ground he would wallow and creep in the dust in that sort to goe and if he would stay himselfe against any thing to arise he could not for nature had giuen him only a desire but no force and ability thervnto But his Father and mother consulted to make a vow for him and to offer him to the merittes of sainte Clare to whome they promised that being cured he should be called hers The vow being made the espouse of IESVS CHRIST cured this child who began so well to goe that without any helpe he went to the sepulcher of the sayd sainct A woman of Castel Menany called Plenaria had bin long time benummed in such sort as she could not goe without a staffe but causing herselfe to be carryed to the sepulcher of S. Clare and hauing there deuoutly offered her prayers she the day following obtayned what she there with faith demaunded So she retourned home on her owne feet who came thither supported by the feet of others A woman of Perusia had a swelling on her cheeke which tormented her a long time and besides had al ouer her body many ring wormes tettars she had also her neck greater then her head And often thincking of S. Clare she one day went to her church where withgreat deuotion and a true faith she made her prayers and continuing by her sepulcher till euen within night she fell into a great sweat wherby the swelling began to wax dry and to shrinck and so by litle and litle she was so perfectly cured that there remayned no shew of scarre How two children were by saincle Clare rescued and preserued from the rage of wolues THE XXXI CHAPTER THe vally of Spoleâ—uÌ„ was accustomed to be much afflicted with wolues who did ofâ—eÌ„ proy there on humaÌ„ flesh There dwelt a woman called Bonna on the Mount Galien within the diocesse of Assisium who hauing two children had scarce ended her lamentations for the one which the wolues had deuoured but whiles she was busy in her house they carryed away the other The wolfe carryed her child to the top of the mountayne grapled it by the throat when a labourer in the vineyardes hearing the pittifull cry of the child called the mother and admonished her to haue care of her sonne in regard he heard a crying voice like to his The woman not finding her sonne presently beleeued that the wolfe had seased on him and therfore began to rayse her lamentation towardes heauen deuoutly inuocating the helpe of S. Clare in these tearmes O blessed saincte Clare haue compassion on me miserable woman and restore me my child Alas heare if thou please the prayers of an infortunate mother permitt me not to continue in this so rigorous desolation Whiles this poore woman so recommended her distresse to saincte Clare her neighbours fournished with weapons hastened after the rauening wolfe and comming to the top of the sayd mountaine they found that he had left the child wounded in the throat whose woundes a dogge was licking And so the child was safely recouered by the merittes of saincte Clare who was inuocated by his mother to whome he was brought and was incontinently restored to perfect health A litle girle of the towne of Canary being about noone abroad in
ordayned to receaue him shall make an exact enquiery of his estate and condition and propose vnto him the obligation of the company and particulerly restitution of goodes iniustly possessed Which done and he consenting lett him be cloathed according to the Order and lett him endeauour to satisfie his Creditors if he owe any thing either with ready mony or security of pledge and lett him att length find meanes to content and satisfie them in some or other manner and so be reconciled to his neighbour Which being accomplished and the yeare of probation expired if the discreet Brethren be of opinion and hold it requisit to admitt him he shal be receaued on these conditions which are that he promise to keep the diuine preceptes and to satisfie the statutes and constitutions wherto he shal be bound and obliged as also to performe the penance that shal be enioyned him or the punishment ordayned if he proue obstinate and a transgressour and to obey the visitor before whome he shall appeare if he be called and shall submitt himselfe to his iudgement and to all this aforesayd he shall oblige himselfe by subscription before publike Notaries neither shall it be permitted to the prouinciall Minister to receaue any but vpon the sayd conditions except some notable considerations doe otherwise require and that the quality of the perâ—onne presented giue iust occasion of an extraordinary proceeding Besides we ordaine that none may retire from this confraternity being once entred to retourne to the world But we permitt him to enter into an other approued Religion Maryed women also may not be receaued without the consent of their husbands Of the forme of their habitt and how they must be clothed THE III. CHAPTER LEtt the Brethren of this company be cloathed with course cloth and of meane price of a colour neither fully white nor directly black except the visitors find it good to dispense therein with any one for a time and with the Counsaile of the Prouinciall Minister vpon some iust and manifest occasion Their cloakes and other habits shal be as decencie requireth without cuttinges and their sleeues shal be simple close and straight the sisters shall weare a cloake and gowne or coat of course cloth also and vnder their cloke shall weare a white or black habit or a very long coat of linnen cloth or canuas without plaites The sisters may be dispensed withal in the coursnes of the cloth of their habits according to their need the qualitye of the personnes and condition of the places They shall vse neither buttons nor girdles of silke nor besides the said cloth may vse any furres other then lambes skin their purses shal be of leather and their girdles plaine without any ornament of silke neither shall they weare any thing else forsaking according to the behoufull counsaile of saint Peter all other vaine ornamentes of this world That the said Penitentes may not haunt dishonest banquettes nor comedies nor giue any thinge to stage-players and comedians THE IV. CHAPTER IT is forbidden to the sayd Brethren to frequent and be present att baÌ„quettes playes dances and dishonest spectacles to giue mony or any other thing to see such vanityes neither must they permitt any of their seruantes to giue any thing to that purpose Of abstinence and fasting THE V. CHAPTER LEtt all the Brethren abstaine from eating flesh foure dayes in the weeke that is munday wednesday friday and saterday if they be not hindred by necessity of sicknesse or infirmity They that haue bin lett bloud may eat flesh three times that weeke They also that trauell may eat flesh on the dayes permitted by the Church it is also permissable to eat it on principall and solemne feastes The dayes whereon is no obligation of fasting they may eat cheese and egges and when they shall come to conuentuall houses they may care with other Religious what shal be sett before them But they must content themselues with two meales a day except in case of necessity trauell or weakenesse for then this rule doth not oblige Lett the eating and dâ—incking of the healthy be moderate as the Gospell teacheth vs saying Be carefull that your hartes be not ouerchardged with surfeâ—ting and drunckennesse Lett the sayd Brethren neuer sitt downe att table but hauing first sayd the Pater Noster and Aue Maria and after their meale lett them say it with the ordinary graces And if att any time they fo gett the same lett them say three for one They shall fast all the fridayes of the yeare it they be not hindered by sicknesse or some other lawfull excuse If the Natiuity of our Lord fall on a friday they shall not be obliged to fast on that day From the feast of Alsainctes to Easter they shal be bound to fast euery wednesday and friday besides the other ordinary fastes appointed by the Church They shal be also obliged to fast euery day from the leÌ„t of sainct Martin till Christmas and from Quinquagesima sunday till Easter the sundayes excepted Women with child if they will shal be exempted from all corporall austerityes and rigours from their time of being great till after their churching during which time they shal be obliged only to prayer Artificers that labour with the sweat of their bodyes may make three meales from Easter day to S. Francis day if they know it needfull They that are hyred labourers and haue their dyett prouided may eat of what shal be presented them except the friday and other fastes commanded How osten in the yeare they ought to confesse and communicate THE VI. CHAPTER ALl the Brethren and sisters must be carefull to confesse their sinnes three times euery yeare and deuoutly to receaue the Blessed SacrameÌ„t reconciling theÌ„â—elues to their neighbours making restitution of others goods The sayd times shal be Christmas Easter and Whitsunday That they must not weare offenciue weapons THE VII CHAPTER LEtt not the Brethren weare any offensiue weapons but for defence of the Church and faith of IESVS CHRIST or for defence of their contry or with permission of their superiours In what manner the said Bre. Penitents ought to say their Canonicall houres THE VIII CHAPTER THe Brethren shall euery day say the canonicall houres that is Matins with the Laudes Prime and other houres to the Compline The Clarcks to witt they that can read the psalter shall for Prime say Deus in nomine tuo saluum me fac and Beats 〈◊〉 to the psalme Legem pone and att the other howers the psalmes following according to the vse of the Romane Church with the Gloria Patrâ— And when they are in the Church they shall for Matins say the psalmes which the Priestes or Cathedâ—all Church doe say att least they shall say 12. Paters and 12. Anes with Glorâ—a Patrs as they that cannot read and for each of the other houres 7. Gloria Patrs and att Prime and Compline they that can say the Apostles Creed and the psalme
this laughter tourned into weeping then againe openning her eyes she shewed the like signes of ioy as before and shutting them she began againe to weep thus continuyng without speech till Compline And then she began to say O my God if thy holy will be to remaine with me I most humbly beseech thee to beleeue that I affect not nor desire any thing more passionatly then to remayne eternally with thy diuine maiesty Her companioÌ„s hauing prayed her to tell them for the glory of God and the edification of their soules what she had seene she sayd my beloued sisters I haue seene heauen open and my Lord IESVS CHR. benignely bowing vnto me shewing vnto me his holy gracious countenance Whiles I beheld him I was filled with incompreheÌ„sible ioy but not seeing him I was oppressed with inestimable griefe therfore did I so bitterly weepe And therfore God haâ—ing compassion of me he againe coÌ„forted and reioyced me with remonstrance of his glorious face replenished with inessable splendour who asking me if I would remayne with him I answeared as you haue hea d. Her companions further prayed her to impart vnto them the reuelation she had a litle before being before the altare She answeared I may not tell you what I haue seene yet I tell you I saw a merueillous matter of almighty God my hart was filled with his ioyful gracious visitation This S. was so visited of God in diuers manners though she reuealed nothing to her coÌ„panions therof nor what she knew to be the wil of God who soueth the secrecy of his friendes Our Redeemer would manifest the feruent charity of this blessed S. hearing her prayers by diuers effects wherof we will heere record the two examples following It happened one night as she slept that her mother appeared vnto her in vision on her knees in this sort entreating her alas my daughter remember the paines I endured in thy birth and pray for me for thou must know I suffer extreme torment for hauing liued too negligently not done penance for my sinnes The S. with this complaintive voice awaking and touched and moued with compassion towardes her mother she fell on her knees and made her prayer to God demaunding mercy of him for her mother And after a long and seruent prayer she fel a sleep and an other time saw her mother in vision with a ioyfull countenance who sayd My daughter I am by thy prayers deliuered of the paines wherwith I was tormented in purgatory and am now goeing to heauen This saynt seeing a yong man very sensuall and full of vanity had pitty of him and prayed for him whome also she persuaded to pray to God for himselfe wherto he accorded So whiles they both prayed the yong man began to cry out Madame pray no more for me pray no more forbeare if you please Which the S. hearing she redoubled the feruour of her prayers and the yong man began againe to cry lowder Madame pray no more for me I am all burned which exteriourly appeared for all his body did smoake by the extreme sweat wherin he was which made him tremble lift vp his armes and his countenance to faile They that found him there touching his flesh could not endure their handes on it his cloathes were al wet with the excessiue sweat that bathed him and therfore he stil encreased his cryes saying that he burned But the prayer of the sainct being ended this extreme visible heat left the yong man who retourning to the true knowledge of himselfe was then so purged and illuminated with diuine grace that the entred into the Religious Order of Frere Minors where he liued died piously and so God shewed the force and vertue of the prayer of his holy seruant not in these two examples only but also in many others Of the blessed death of S. Elizabeth and of the great miracles she wrought and how Pope Gregory the 9. canonized her THE XVII CHAPTER THe time of peregrinatioÌ„ of this holy widow being expired our lord appeared vnto her in vision and very familierly sayd Mine elect come possesse the celestial habitation In the morning she related this newes to her companions then by order she receaued with an examplar deuotion all the sacraments of the Church after that she prepared what was necessary for her obsequies and the night following tourning towardes a corner of the bed they that were neere her heard a cleare voice most sweetly singing wherupon one of her familier companions asked her who it was that did sing there and she mildely answeared that there was a litle bird which by the pleasing melody of his tune had induced her to sing then she began to cry auoyd auoyd auoyd wicked spiritt So that the deuill being come to see if he could find any thing for him in this sainct vanished att that voice And she hauing her countenance very ioyfull and her spiritt by prayer eleuated vnto God demaunded if it were not yet midnight att which houre our Sauiour voutsafed to be borne in the world and layd in the cribbe then saying that the houre was come when God would inuite her soule to the celestiall mariadge she sodenly mounted vnto heauen Her body hauing remayned foure dayes vnburyed continued so beautifull and yelded so sweet a sauour that it represented rather a glorious then mortall body There appeared at that instant on the roofe of the church a great noÌ„ber of birdes of strange kind which did so sweetly sing that they filled those that saw and heard them with extreme admiratioÌ„ this was to make knowne the feast which was celebrated in heauen att the entertaynment of this blessed soule her funerals were filled with great clamours complaintes and lamentations particulerly of the poore for the death and absence of her that loued attended and dressed them as amiably as if she had bin the carnal mother to them all There repayred thither a great confluence of people that with much deuotion weâ—e present att her obsequies each one entitling her a sainct and blessed He that could gett so nere her body as to haue one of her haires or part of her habitt esteemed it as a notable treasure Then would our Lord make knowne the glory of this his faithfull seruant by many miracles which by her merittes he wrought restoring sight to the blind curing the lame cleansing the leprous dispossessing the possessed giuing also sight to one borne blind and her selfe being layd in her graue deliuered many by her intercession from death Wherof Pope Gregory the ninth being adâ—ertised authentically assured of the miracles Wrought att the sepulchre of this holy womaÌ„ to whome liuing he carryed a perticuler deuotion after due and ordinarie information in such case procured and the examen of her life and miracles effected with the consent of al the Cardinals and Prelates of the Church that could be assembled the sayd Pope enroled her in the Catalogue of SS ordayning her feast to be
albeit his life and the Countesse his wiues were stored withall kind of vertues yet in his last dayes speaking of her being vrged by the holy Ghost he vttered to those present these wordes The infidell man is sanctified by the faithfull woman whome I leaue a virgin in this mortall life as I receaued her a virgin and vnspotted This holy Confessour of IESVS CHRIST changed this life for a better the yeare of grace 1327. Father Francis of Maronis a famous preacher and Doctour was present att his death The very daye of his departure he appeared in all glory vnto his wife who was them in her Countie in Prouence to whome he vttered these wordes of the Psalmist The snare is broaken and we are deliuered and so without any other word he vanished The Contesse the same day recounted to all her company the death of her husband it being the 27. day of September He was buryed in the church of the Cordeliers att Paris clothed in the habitt of the third Order and the same yeare his body was translated into Prouence to the Couent of Apte in which his sanctity was by many miracles diuulged for which he was by the Apostolike sea canonized His feast is celebrated the 27. of September The Countesse Delphine his wife liued many yeares after him perseuering in piety being dead she was buryed by her husband hauing the the habitt of the Frere Minors as a disciple of the holy Father S. Francis and of the third Order Att the death of this Countesse and till her body was enterred a most sweet harmony was heard in the aire as they haue testified and assured who were neere her body It is piously beleeued that they were Angels singing as true friendes of virginall purity Our Lord wrought many miracles as well in the life time as att the death of this holy woman and in such quantity as there is no doubt but that our lord had canonized her in heauen The life of the blessed Yues of the 3. Order S. Francis Of the holy exercises and mortification of the flesh of S. Yues THE XXII CHAPTER YVes florished in that time in the Duchy of Bretanie within the diocese of Tâ—iguier He was a man of eminent sanctity and led a merueillous austere life for which cause almighiy God made him famous by many miracles This holy man was the sonne of a very rich vertuous man by whose good example he was from his tender infancie a patterne of commendable conuersation His Father sent him to study humanity att Paris thence to Orleans to study the Canon and Ciuill law but much more did he profitt in diuine wisdome for there manifesting his doctrine he layd open to many the true knowledge and assured way of iustice And being to retourne to his Father the Bishop of Triquet hauing heard the fame of his excellent vertues and sanctity made him his Officiall or commissary with very ample aucthority And albeit the holy man withall his power withstood the acceptance of this cha dge yet was he att lenght constrained therevnto He with such prudence and without acception of persons administred iustice that the ballance was alwayes equall which he performed with such sincerity that he would neuer receaue any â—ecompence for it in this life A litle after by diuine prouidence he became Priest in which ministery he offered his body a liuely sacrifice vnto almighty God His habit was then according to his quality common decent and modest But vnder he woare a very sharp hayr-cloth Wheâ—with he afflicted his body did weaken it by frequeÌ„t and austere fastes by coÌ„tinual watchinges When he was admitted into the confraternity of the Penitents of the third Oâ—der of S. Francis he reiected all his fine apparell though most modest and plaine which he ware according to his quality cloathing himselfe with very grosse and course gray cloth and wearing rude and homely shooes as poore Religious ordinarily vse He wâ—are vpon his hair-cloth that it might not be seene a shirt made of towe raw or vndressed He slept very litle and then only when nature was wearyed with prayer study or spirituall exercise or burdened with naturall necessity of sleep his repose was short and he alwayes tooke it cloathed His bed was the bare ground a hurdle or some gâ—osse stickes wreathed together his pillow the bible an instrument of litle sleepe and of much dilligence he being mindfull and taking comfort of these wordes of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST They that are clothed in soft garments are in kings houses Of the abstinence charity prayer and the manner of saying the diuine office of S. Yues THE XXIII CHAPTER THis holy man did neuer feed on delicate meates but such as were very grosse which he did to reserue of his reuenue wherwith to reliue many poore people On fasting dayes commanded by the Church he vsed only bread and water ordinarily did with great abstinence fast the wednesday and saterday He had customarily strangers and pilgrimes in his house he was very dilligent in the practise of the worckes of mercy he entertayned poore people and particulerly the sick and lame with exceeding pitty and compassion and conuersed with them so mildly and familiarly as if they had bin his brethren he serued them and made their beddes washed their feet and did them all other seruices that they could need Being no lesse carefull to administer vnto them the spirituall food of the word of God then the corporall he made them notable exhortations wherin he multiplyed the talent of the Euangelicall doctrine to those that were vnder his chardge He was very prompt in according dissentions and procuring of peace with all persons He had the grace to conuert sinners to pennance He was so addicted to prayer and contemplation that he would sometimes neglect to take his ordinary repast and dyett And one time he continued fiue whole dayes in prayer in his chamber without asking or being offered him any thing to eat And yet when he came forth his countenaÌ„ce was so pleasing ioyful and vermillioÌ„ as if he had bin pampered with most exquisite meates As he celebrated masse with great feruour so did he therin receaue of God notable feelinges and graces as one day did appeare for as he eleuated the most sacred sacrament there discended from heauen an admirable splendour and brightnes which enuironned the sacred host together with the chalice He red the canonicall houres with admirable attention deuotion and did alwayes rise att midnight to say his Matins He diuided the office into all the houres of the dayes in imitation of the Prophett Dauid who praysed God seauen times in the day Of the blessed death of S. Yues THE XXIV CHAPTER THis holy Religious being complete in the perfectioÌ„ of all vertues exceeding deuout vnto IESVS CHRIST very austere towardes himselfe extreme curteous and charitable towards others as he was by diuine grace of a singuler life and admirable in
the worckes of charity so was he honoured of God in this life by merueillous actions miracles For he expelled the euill spirittes out of humane bodyes he cured all kind of diseases Wherin was accomplished the prophesie of his mother who confidently affirmed that he being a child it was reuealed vnto her that he should proue a sainct The day of his death was reuealed vnto him three weekes before he dyed And thervpon he sayd to his people that he was shortly by the diuine will to depart out of this life And so the three weekes being expired being fortified with the sacraments of the Church making a end answearable to the worth of his life he yelded his soule vnto God the yeare 1303. the 19. of May 50. of his age His feast is celebrated the same month day and in some places the 27. day of October by reason of his translation Of some other holy persons of the third Order of S. Francis THE XXV CHAPTER THere haue bin many other SS of this coÌ„fraternity of the third Order of Penitents of S. Francis the history particuler life of whome would be too tedious to be inserted And therfore we will rest coÌ„tent with the only rehearsall of the names of such as by many authors are recorded Among the SS of this Order is reckoned S. Lewis king of France and queene Blanch his mother who was daughter to the king of Castille The blessed Luchesius of Poggibongy whose reliques are in Toscane in a monastery of Frere Minors scituat on the mount imperiall where they are exceedingly reuereÌ„ced S. Bonne-femme the wife of the sayd Signiour Luchesius S. Lucius who was the first that sainct Francis receaued into the third Order of Penitents Nicoluccius Sienos and Iames de la Lande Priest by whome our Lord wrought many miracles S. Peter Romanus who was martyred by the Soldan Bonacius de Voltera Peter de Colle Alexander of Perusia Leo Archbishop of Milan Walter Bishop of Tremise and Richard Bishop of Alexandria doctour of diuinity Charles Dendono of Manfeltâ—e Iohn of Rauerie Torcello of Puppio Bartholomew of S. Giminian Peter Petinarius and of the blessed Thomas Vntius of Tullinium who by miracles prophesie was very famous All the aforesayd haue bin famous in sanctity of life and in great reputation of vertues and miracles The names of many holy women of this Order S. Rosa of Viterbium sainte Margarit of Cortone sainte Aemiliana of Florence sainte Clare of Mont-faucon in whose hart after her death was found a crucifix with all the mysteries of the passion and many other Ladyes among whoÌ„ is placed an Empresse which women were very venerable and worthy of perpetuall memory Which if they haue not obtayned heere below among earthly people they enioy it with far greater glory among the Angels SS in the celestiall kingdome by which fruit it appeareth that this holy confraternity of Penitents instituted by the holy Father S. Francis was assisted by the holy Ghost to the end that Christians of free estate maryed persons and widoes that cannot support the burden of Religion may in their houses produce fruites worthy of penance to the saluation of their soules and for the loue of IESVS CHRIST The end of the ninth booke THE TENTH BOOKE OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE FRIER MINORS OF THE SFRAPHICALL FATHER S. FRANCIS WHERIN ARE RECORDED MANY notable thinges happened in the first beginning of the said Order An aduertisment of the first Translatour vnto the Reader DEuout reader you must not meruayle that in this booke we haue not followed the order of the author for we haue thus done for a better disposition of this worck and for your greater satisfaction placing the chapters that concerne the life of the holy Father S. Francis in their place which I suppose the author omitted because wanting knowledge of them att first he would not afterward take the paine to change the methode which he had with so much labour begun though we for the glory of God only and your contentment haue willingly vndertaken the same Know then that The first and second chapter are placed after the last chap. of the second booke The 3. chap. after the 27. of the second booke The 4. chap. after the 30. of the second booke The 5. chap. after the last of the booke And the 6. chap. after the 30. of the first booke Of what arriued to two Religious of S. Francis with a Tyrant whome they conuerted to penâ—tence THE VII CHAPTER WHen first S. Francis with the Benediction of God and his own sent his first disciâ—les to preach penaÌ„ce ouer the world to the end they might communicate vnto men the fruites of their good life and by their example and the edification of their pious worckes renew the church of God being in forraine contryes among barbarous natioÌ„s they that saw theÌ„ with admiration sayd what â—aâ—ity is this we haue neuer seene men thus attyred bare-footed liuing so austerely and so different from all other Religious that they rather seeme wild men then other Neuertheles when they entred into any particuler place or house they would say God giue you peace and would admonish the inhabitants to feare and loue God as the Creatout of heauen and earth and exhort them to labour alwayes in the obseruation of his holy commandements to doe penance and to amend their liues And albeit few were found to whome these exhortations were gratefull yet they mett with curious persons that made so many demandes as they were much troubled to giue them answeare As wheÌ„ce they were whence they came Of what Order they were how and wherof they liued who was their cheefe And in fine by what aucthority they preached Whereto with patience and humility thy answeared that they were Religious of penance of our Ladyes of Angels att Assisium that their pâ—incipall head and directour was Brother Francis and that by ordinance and commandement of the Pope they preached penance Others seeing them so disguised and hearing them speake with such simplicity reputed them fooles cousening or deluding companioÌ„s and would not admitt them into their houses for feare thy would robbe them whence it often arriued that none hauing compassion to harbour them they slept in the church porches or vnder pent-houses so perseuering by their example of pouerty and humility they att length moued the most obdurat harts to compassion and deuotion left many places edified in the feare of God And theâ—fore the reputation of their vertues encreasing they daily produced singuler fruites of good example among which this is one which we now intend to relate It happened one time that two new Religious but true children of the holy Father saint Francis trauelling through a contry which they neither knew nor they knowne to any they came to a castell that was a retuge to certaine theeues of whome was captaine a noble man of great family but of most vicious life whither being come weary feeble
so this Host weÌ„t so dextrously into the chaÌ„ber of the nouice that he found him profoundly sleeping and halfe naked and perceauing the religious croune conformable to what was told him he would expect no farther proofe but esteeming himselfe dishonoured and deceaued drew out his dagger and cutt his throat which done retourning to the place where he left his pretended friend that had thus counsailed him he could not find him in all the house then goeing to seaze on the cloak bagge the armour and apparell of the dead man he could find nothing nor the horse in the stable and therfore presently suspected it to be a diabolicall illusion and with the most secresie he could buryed the body then went and made his consession to S. Antony who then preached in the same towne of Bourges who a litle after publikely diuulged the same to make appeare how dangerous it is to run out of the true way of the feare of God who permitteth them that wil be faithfull to the deuill and perseuer in their sinnes to the end thincking to deceaue his diuine Maiesty to end their dayes most miserably The 16. chap. is after the last of the first booke the 17. and 18. are after last chap. of the second booke Of the humility and deuotion of Brother Iames. THE XIX CHAPTER BRother Iames a gentleman and much honoured in the world becomming a Frere Minor was so deuout and spirituall that in his prayer he was often rapt in extasie wherin he was very frequently visited of God He perceauing what graces our Lord had endued him with all in prayer entreated his Guardian the better to exercise himselfe in this grace that he would please to dispense with him for affaires of the kitchen and other offices wherin being a lay Brother he was in that Couent employed which was graunted him to the end he might with more repose and liberty apply himselfe to contemplation Br. Iames being thus freed from the kitchen and other offices of the house lost all the graces which almighty God had giuen him in prayer Which hauing experienced he with abondance of teares besought his Guardian to retourne him to his former employments wherin our lord againe restored him his grace He thenceforward so profited in prayer ioyned with humility that on Christmas day to communicate timely and to continue all the morning in the Church to heare masse and the diuine seruice he prepared the dinner for the Religious in the night and left it ouer the fire Now the Guardian seeing him continue so long time in prayer seruing att masse went admiring to the kitchen to see if he had made any preparation for dinner But he found the pots ouertourned and broaken and saw that the cattes had eaten the meat then presently goeing to Brother Iames he willed him to hasten into the kitchen Which he did and finding the pots broken the pottage spilt the meat deuoured and euery thing ouerthrowne he was exceedingly grieued Neuertheles falling on both his knees he with abondance of reares besought the omnipotent bounty to assist in this his affliction The sequell was admirable for his prayer being ended the pots were reioyned and filled againe with pottage and meat like vnto that which he had prepared as if it neuer had bin att all touched Wherein almighty God would make appeare to this Religious how much humility and prayer ioyned together are gratefull vnto him The 20. chap. is after the last of the second booke Of a Guardian that had litle charity and how almighty God did chastice him THE XXI CHAPTER THer was a pious lay Religious that endured extreme torments in his feet by meanes of the gout that exceedingly afflicted him but in the winter time more then else and yet did he not omitt to labour in the garden in the coldest season of the yeare Notwithstanding his indiscreet GuardiaÌ„seeing him att night by the fire to annoynt his feet with an oyntment though the rigorous cold was cause sufficient without any other infirmity to warme himselfe he coÌ„manded him from the fire and not to burne so much wood Wherto the poore Religious answeared that he had no other meane to ease the extreme torments he endured procured him by the gout then to warme his feet and to annoynt them with that oyntment which was giuen him for very remedious therunto besought him for the loue of God and S. Francis not to take it ill But the Guardian would not heare him so that the Religious retyred doubly afflicted vnto his cell beseeching God to assist and ayd him with his grace But the omnipotent did not long deferre to doe vengeance For he sent the Guardiam the same torments which the poore Religious endured wherin finding no other remedy then to warme him by a great fire he began to acknowledge his litle charity and confessed his fault saying My God haue pitty on me if thou please and assist me with thy mercy for I acknowledge my desert of this torment sith I haue bin cruell towardes my simple Brother depriuing him of his assured remedy in his necessity And sending for him he sayd Brother warme your selfe both day and night according to the need you haue For I am assured the fire is a great helpe and ease vnto your torments This Guardian hauing done penance was in few dayes after cured by meanes of this charity The 22. and 23. chap. are after the last of the second booke Of the subtâ—l ty which two seuerall times the deuill vsed to reduce the Frere Minors from the strictnes of their pouerty THE XXIV CHAPTER THe Frere Minors of those primitiue dayes liued att Mont Alueâ—ne in the same spirituall tranquillity and pouerty as S. Francis had instituted and instructed them The deuil vnable to support such a vertue of prayer abstinence and austerity of life nor able to disquiett the Religious by desires of substance and temporal affaires inuented a new subtility to induce them to remitt and lessen the austerity and perfection of the spirituall life wherin they perseuered which was thus There was in those partes a very rich gentleman that had no deuotion to the Frere Minors nor euer gaue them any almose The deuil taking on him humane shape became his seruant and so diligently serued him that he shortly committed vnto him the gouernment of his house and the absolute disposition and management of his affaires following his counsaile in all his businesse Now as they one day discoursed together the deuil began to prayse the Frere Minors of Mont Aluerne saying that they were SS and that whosoeuer were charitable in almose towardes them did much merit with almighty God Then did he alleadge vnto him so many pregnant reasons that he wrought the gentleman to be so deuout and affected to those Religious as that he almost euery day sent them for almose bread flesh fish fruit and all this in such aboÌ„dance that the Religious who formerly liued austerely began to liue bountifully