hardly can I speake and this because I am corporally separated from you and my holy sisters with whome I hoped to haue happely liued and dyed in this world So farre is this my griefe from slacking that it continually encreaseth which as it had a beginning so doe I beleeue it will finde no end in this world For it is so continuall and familier vnto me that it will neuer forsake me I was persuaded that life and death should be a like without power of any separation on earth amongest them who haue one same conuersation and life in heauen and must haue one same sepulture them I say who one same and equall naturall profession and one same loue hath made sisters But as far as I can see being abandoned and afflicted on eache side I am much mistaken O my holy sisters I beseech you to be reciprocally grieued with me and lett vs weepe together I being assured that you shall neuer experience any doulour comparable to that which I now feele in being separated from them with whome IESVS CHRIST had conioyned me This griefe tormenteth me incessantly this fire burneth my hart continually so that being on each side afflicted I know what to thincke neither doth any hope remayne but to be assisted by your prayers that Almighty God easing this affliction may make it tollerable vnto me O my most gracious mother what shall I doe and what shall I say sith I know not that euer I shall see you more or likewise my sisters O that it were lawfull for me to vtter vnto you the conceiptes of my soule as I would desire or that I could open my hart vnto you on this paper then should you see the liuely and continuall dolour that tormenteth me My soule bâ—rneth interâ—ourly being afflicted with an incessant fire of loue and my hart groneth sigheth and lamenteth with desire of your presence Myne eyes cannot haue their fill of weeping and albeit I seeke some consolation against this bitternes yet can I find none but euery thing turneth into griefe and much more when I coÌ„sider the meanes to see you I am entierly steeped in these anguishes hauing none that can comfort me in this life but that I receaue a litle consolation from the liberal hand of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST Which causeth me to beseech you all to giue thanckes vnto his diuine maiesty for this fauour and mercy extended towardes me and for that through his grace I finde in this Couent such concord peace and charity as by wordes cannot be expressed these sisters hauing receaued me with exceeding loue deuotion yelding me obedience with extraordinary promptitude and reuerence They all with one accord recommend themselues to our Lord IESVS CHRIST to you my sister and to all the sisters of the monastery and I recommend both my selfe and them to your prayers beseeching you as our Mother to be mindfull of them and of me as of your daughters and know you that they and I will all the dayes of our life obserue and keep your holy preceptes and aduertisementes Besides I desire you should know that the Pope hath accorded to whatsoeuer I demaunded him conformably to your intention and mine and particulerly in the matter you know viz. that we may not possesse any thing proper I beseech you my most deere Mother to procure of the R. Father Generall that he often visitt vs to comfort vs in God whose grace be with your spiritt Amen Of an extasie of S. Agnes and how S. Clare saw her thrice crowned by an Angell THE XXXVI CHAPTER SAinte Clare in her last sicknes obtained that her sister S. Agnes might come to see her in the monastery of S. Damian to keep her company during the few dayes she had to liue And so S. Agnes hauing left her Couent well grounded in Religion and sanctity she came to Assisium where sainte Clare being one night in prayer a part from her sister she neuertheles saw her being also in prayer lifted from the earth and an Angell to crowne her head three seuerall times with so many crownes The day following she demanded of her sister what player or contemplation she had made the night past But she of humility vnwilling to manifest her prayer being att length enforced by obedience made her this relation I considered the great goodnes and patience of almighty God wherby he supporteth such enormous offences of sinners which I considered with a deep sorrow and compassion Then I thought and yet doe thinck on the loue which almighty God beareth to sinners and how he endured death to saue them Thirdly I considered and doe consider and am with coÌ„passion exceedingly afflicted for the soules in purgatory and their great tormentes and because they cannot helpe them selues I asked mercy for them of the most sacred woundes of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST How S. Agnes sent S. Clares vaile to the monasterie of Florence and of her death and translation to S. George of Assisium with all her Religious into a new Couent THE XXXVII CHAPTER AFter the death of sainte Clare sainte Agnes sent her black vaile which she did ordinairily weare to the poore Religious of MouÌ„t Celi which she had founded att Florence which she did in regard of her great amity towardes them that they might inherite some reliques of sainte Clare for their comfort and deuotion That vaile is yet in the sayd monastery where it is so carefully preserued that in substance and colour it seemeth still new There is likewise to be seene in the same monastery a cloake of sainct Francis by which reliques our lord worcketh many miracles A litle after the death of sainte Clare sainte Agnes also desired to be present att the mariage of the lambe whither she was inuited but she first receaued the consolatioÌ„ which sainte Clare had promised her that before she departed out of this life she should see her Spouse IESVS CHRIST as a tast of the eternall felicities wherto she was to be eleuated and conducted by her sweet Spouse CHRIST IESVS She dyed the 56. yeare of her age replenished with perfect sanctity and being deliuered out of this prison she went to possesse the kingdome with Angels and the holy virgins that had bin consecrated to IESVS CHRIST in which glory these two sisters and daughters of Sion companions in heauen by nature and grace doe prayse God without end There assembled a great multitude of people vpon the death of sainte Agnes and they with great deuotion ascended the ladder of the monastery of sainct Damian hoping there to receaue some spirituall consolation of sanctity but it happened that the chaine which held the ladder did slip so that al those that were on it fell downe one vpon an other which made a great bruit and clamour by those that were hurt who hauing with a strong faith inuocated S. Agnes were all cured The sayd holy virgin was enterred att S. Damian but afterward was transported into the Church of
was he by a speciall grace of God alwayes preserued from vices and sinnes but being by his eternall maiesty induced to shunne the snares of the deuill hauing for the loue of IESVS CHRIST giuen all he had to the poore he in the time of Sainct Francis became a Frere Minor and hauing obtayned of God the grace of contemplation and Euangelicall perfection he withall his iudustry laboured that the same might not proue vaine and fruitlesse in him He therfore much exercised himselfe in the vertue of holy obedience which is more pleasing to God then sacrifices In the most violent and extremest cold being almost naked he trauelled for the necessities of the Religious he continuallie employed himselfe in prayer dailie examining his conscience for the most part his reliefe was only bread and water with abondance of teares and by such like abstinence he mortified the concupiscences of his flesh to be able with more puritie to offer vp his soule in sacrifice vnto God He was exceeding compassionate vnto afflicted personnes and with alacrity serued the sicke not only Religious but the seculer also If there wanted phisike he demaunded it for the loue of God as also all other thinges necessarie he was very humble and therfore desirously laboured in the kitchen washed the dishes swept the house and very willingly busied himselfe in all other offices of humility If by any word or act he had giuen occasion of troubles to any one he would presently put a cord about his owne neck and so goe aske him pardon though he endured iniuryes done to himselfe as patiently as if no such thinge had bin he liued fifteene yeares in such and the like exercises of vertue and afterwardes in his death and since God hath discouered how gratefull the life of this his seruant was vnto him before his last sicknes he reuealed the day of his death and the place which he declared to one of his companions He trauelled to Ciuitadochia where being arriued he fell sick and few dayes after the terme of his life being exspired one night att mattins he shewed such an extraordinary ioyfull face as if he had some vision that made him euen exteriourly to reioyce Wherfore the Religious that attended him demaunded if he had seene any Angell of heauen or the holy Father Sainct Francis he answeared that he had not seene the holy Father S. Francis but of the Angel he sayd nothing Being in those ioyes he aduertised his companions of the death of one deuoted vnto him which was reuealed vnto him saying that William was already departed out of this world vnto almighty God and that himselfe should follow him the same day betweene none and euensonge which came to passe for att the time foretold this holy Religious Ambrose yelded his soule into the handes of his Creatour Of many muracles wrought by this glorious S. Ambrose THE XXXV CHAPTER THe nomber of miracles by which our Lord would approue the life and sanctity of his seruant Brother Ambrose was such that Pope Gregory the ninth by an Apostolicall breuie commanded the Bishop of Ciuitadochia and the Priour of S. Iohn of the Order of S. Augustin to meet and to examine the life and miracles of the S. and hauing perused them to approue them for autenticall This Briefe was giuen att the Palace of Lateran the 13. yeare of his Popedome by vertue wherof the said Prelates hauing made a most dilligent search they found that fourteene lame persons had by the merittes of this seruant of God bin cured as also foure deliuered of the falling sicknesse one dispossessed in his life time and two after his death six cured of mortall impostumes and one of a fistula He restored hearing to one that was deafe four men were cured of seuerall diseases a woman of the bloudie flux and an other whose child had bin foure monethes dead in her wombe he restored sight to foure that were blind and finally raysed many from death The said Prelates tooke notice of these and many other miracles but the death of the Pope peruerted his inscription in the catalogue of the SS in the Church militant though he were recorded in heauen where he raigneth with IESVS CHRIST in his Church triumphant making supplication to his diuine maiesty for those that in their necessities haue recourse vnto him Of the life of Br. Iuniperus disciple of S. Francis Of the exemplare humilitie and singuler patience of Brother Iuniperus THE XXXVI CHAPTER BRother Iuniperus was one of the first and most perfect disciples of S. Francis for he was so grounded in the firme and assured foundations of humility patience contempt of the world and of himselfe that no tormenting temptations of the deuill nor persecution of the world could in any sort remoue or desioyne him from his estate of perfection There was neuer any that saw him troubled or disquieted so couragiously did he support all iniuryes of wordes or actions Which brought him to such misprise of himselfe that many seeing him in such poore apparance and so ill treated not knowing his perfection esteemed him for a foole and sencelesse But S. Francis that knew him right well reputing him in the nomber of the perfect sayd that he should be a good and true Frere Minor that attayned the misprise of the world and of himselfe so far foorth as had done Brother Iuniperus and oftentimes considering his simplicities the contempt of himselfe and patience in reprehensions giuen him he would say to the Religious present My Brethren I desire and would to God I had a great forrest full of such Iunipers This worthy seruant of IESVS CHRIST oftentimes found new occasions for exercise of his patience to be misprised and reproached yet without offending God neuer shunning to be reputed a foole as when he one time entred into the citty of Viterbium hauing made a fardell of his habitt bound vp with his cord which he carryed on his shoulders and so went into the marckett place where the children seeing him almost naked vsed him as a foole reuiled him with wordes cast stones att him and berayed him with filth After he had left these that thus tormented him he went to the Couent where the Religious seeing him in such pittifull estate and vnderstanding by him wherefore he had bin so handled they were much scandalized att what he had don and tooke it in very ill part bitterly reprehending him for it some told him he deserued to be cudgelled others to be imprisonned others to be hanged for the great scandall he had giuen to the people but he accepted all these indignities with a very contented and ioyfull countenance as matter much desired of him and in signification of the interiour contentment he conceaued he tooke the fore part of his habitt and beholding those Religious that were most offended with his fact and rebuked him for it sayd vnto thē My freindes fill this I pray you with these iewels doe so feare not for I receaue them
nor sowe I admonish you all my Sisters who are shall be that you labour to follow the way of simplicity humility pouerty and also the modesty of holy conuersation as we in the beginning of our conuersion haue bin taught of Christ and of our holy Father saint Francis through which not through our meritt but through the mercy of the liberall giuer the Father of mercies hath spread abroad the sauour of our good name as well vnto those who are far off as to such as are neere And for the charity of our Lord IESVS lett thē keepe the vniō of loue The charity which you haue interiourly shew it exteriourly by worckes to the end that through your exāple the sisters who are called vnto your profession may encrease in the loue of God mutuall charity Also I pray all those who shal be chosen in the offices of the sisters that they study to excell the others rather in vertue and modest conuersation then in their office to the end that by their example the Sisters that were called vnto the religion before them be moued to obey them not only in respect of their office but for loue The Abbesse must be carefull discreet towardes her Sisters as a good mother towardes her children She must also haue a prouident care of euery one according to their necessity of the almose which it shall please God to send her She must withall be so sweet and indifferent vnto all that the sisters may with out feare or doubt declare vnto her their necessity and that they confidently haue recourse vnto her when the Abbesse and the Sisters shall thincke it to be necessary The Sisters that are subiect lett them remember that for the loue of God they haue renounced their owne willes wherfore I will that they obey their mother as they of their one accord promised vnto God to doe to the end that their mother seeing the humility charity vnion which they haue vnto each other may easily beare the chardge with the office shesustaineth and because it is heauy bitter they must through their holy conuersatiō turne it into sweetnes And because the way is narrow the gate streight which leadeth vnto life few there are that walke in it and few that perseuer therin blessed are they that haue receiued the grace to walke in it and to perseuer vnto the end lett vs therfore be carefull if we be entred in the way of our lord that by out fault and negligence we doe not fall from the same to the end that we committ not that iniury vnto our lord to this blessed mother the glorious Virgin Mary to our holy Father sainct Francis and to the triumphant and militant church for it is written accursed are they who decline from your commandement For to obtaine this grace I bend my knee vnto the heauenly Father through the merittes of lord IESVS and of his blessed mother of our holy Father saint Francis and of all the Sainctes that it well please him of his diuine Maiestie who hath giuen a good beginning to graunt grace also that it may augment and perseuer euen vntill death Deerly beloued Sisters present and to come to the end that you may the better perseuer in your vocation I leaue vnto you this writing and in token of our Lordes benediction and of the benedictiction of our holy Father saint Francis and of me your mother and seruant The end of the testament of the glorious Virgin saincte Clare Here ensueth S. Clares Benediction vnto her Sisters present and to come IN the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen My deerly beloued Sisters our lord giue you his holy benedictiō and behold you with his holy eye of mercy giuing you his peace as also to all those that shall enter and perseuer in this our Colledge and monastery and vnto all other of the Order who shall perseuer vnto the end in this holy pouerty I Clare seruant of IESVS CHRIST and litle plante of our holy Father S. Francis your mother Sister though vnworthy doe beseech our lord IESVS CHRIST that by the intercession of his most holy mother of the holy Archangell S. Michaell and of all the holy Angels of our holy Father S. Francis and of al the holy Saintes that it wil please him to giue and confirme vnto you this benediction in heauen and in earth by multiplying in you his holy grace and in heauen by eleuating you into the eternall glory with his saintes And I giue you my benediction in my life and after my death in all that I am able and more then I am able Withall the blessinges wherwith the Father of mercies hath or shall blesse his spirituall children both in heauē and earth or that the spirituall mother doth or shal be able to blesse her spirituall chirldren Amen Be alwayes louers of God of your soule and of your Sisters and be alwayes carefull to keepe that which you haue vowed to God Our lord be alwayes with you and you with him Amē Of the death of the blessed Virgin S. Clare and of a vision which one of her Religious saw THE XXVI CHAPTER THe holy virgin and seruant of IES CH. was many dayes towardes the end of her life afflicted with diuers diseases The faith deuotiō which att that time each one boare her exceedingly encreased yea so far foorth as she was honoured as a S. being ordinarily visited by Cardinals Bishoppes and other Prelates But which is more admirable to heare hauing bin seauenteen dayes without force to receaue any sustenāce that was presented vnto her she was neuertheles so fortified of God and encouraged of his diuine Maiesty that she exhorted all those that would comfort her to be prompt in the seruice of God A Religious mā intending to comfort her and to persuade her to haue patience in so grieuous a sicknesse that procured her so much torment she with a smiling countenance cleare voyce answeared him Brother since the time that I knew the grace of my God by meanes of his seruant saint Francis no paine hath bin troublesome vnto me no penance hath seemed difficult nor no sicknesse ircksome And as almighty God approached neere vnto her her soule being as it were att the dore to goe forth the blessed virgin would haue the most pious and spirituall Frere Minors to be present to discourse vnto her of the passiō of our Lord IESVS CHRIST and by their pious wordes to enflame her more in the loue of God Wherfore some of them who were vnto her true Brethren in our Redeemer CHRIST IESVS were present and amōg others Br. Iuniperus the familier of our Lord IESVS CHRIST who often vttered vnto her such fiery and enflamed wordes of the omnipotēt God that she by his presēce being filled with an extreme ioy one day demaunded of him if he then knew nothing new of almighty God whervpon Br. Iuniperus opening his
they ought to shunne occasions of sinne and scandales especially women In the twelueth and last he teacheth them how they should expose their life for the loue of IESVS CHRIST and for his law among Infidelles Then he concludeth according to the beginning shewing that all consisteth in the faith and obedience of the Romane church and in the obseruance of the holie gospell of our lord IESVS CHRIST who is our Alpha Omega that is our beginning and our end The holie Father S. Francis founded his life and rule on these twelue Apostolicall chapters as on twelue stones taken out of the depth of Iourdain that is out of the hight of Euangelicall perfection This rule shall continue and be of force for euer as a testimonie vnto the professours thereof that God hath alreadie cōducted them out of the desert of this world to the land of promise Therefore of them may besaid as of other perfect Blessed are the poore in spiritt for theirs is the kingdome of heauen sith that for it they haue forsaken the kingdome of the earth Of th zeeale which the holy Father S. Francis had vnto Religion and to the obseruance of the gospell THE X. CHAPTER THe perfect imitatour of IESVS CHRIST did so affect the obseruance of the holy gospell was so exceeding zealous of the rule that with a singuler benediction he enriched those that were singulerlie zealous in the obseruation therof Whervpon he said to his Brethren our rule is a book of life to them that follow it a hope of saluation an earnest of glorie the iuyce of the gospell an assured way of the crosse an estate of perfection a key of Paradice and an accord of eternall beatitude He would that all his Brethren should haue it with them and often times read it and in their spiritual conferences and conuersations should for edification ordinarilie discourse therof that often conferring therof together they might neuer forgett this diuine pact and spirituall vow and that they might so possesse it in their handes their bosome and before their eyes that death assaulting them they might dye with it in their armes A Religious dying among the Mores as he desired made his benefitt of this holy doctrine of his holy Father for being taken by the Mores preaching the faith and hauing endured many tormentes and they intending to cutt of his head he tooke his rule into his handes and falling on his knees with great feruour and humility he said to his companion my beloued Brother I confesse me before God and you of what soeuer I haue committed against this rule and acknowledge my fault therin and doe beseech you to pray for me and I doe and will pray for you The wordes vttered his head was cutt off on earth to be afterward crowned in heauen But to the end that no impediment should hinder the obseruance of this rule the holy Father S. Francis hath putt into it this clause that when they suppose they cannot obserue it in some certaine place they shall haue recourse to the Ministers meaning that where the Religious know that the by reason of disturbers corrupted condicions of the places or oblgations exposed against the rule it cannot be obserued according to the true not cloaked or erroniously interpreted intelligence therof they may in such case and ought to haue recourse to the Ministers who are obliged to putt them in such place as they may without any impediment and contradiction obserue it Brother Leo and Brother Bonizzo that were present with S. Francis when the Pope confirmed the rule affirmed that when his holines very attentiuely read this clause as also he did all the rest therin manifesting himselfe to be exceedinglie well pleased therewith he very particulerie reioyced theratt which S. Francis perceauing he said that he would verie willinglie haue added in that place that if the Ministers would not prouide for the said Religious they might obserue the rule in what place it should please them but his holines answeared that he had discreetly done in not inserting those wordes because such licence might easilie cause the diuision of the Order and litle respect vnto the superiours by manie who vnder coulour of such pretence would auoyde discipline S. Francis replyed I would haue added it because I know there wil be Superiours in the Religion that will persecute such as would faithfully obserue the said rule and if such licence were admitted the poore Religious would auoyd persecution but the Pope would in no sort giue consent alleadging that it sufficed that by this rule the Religious Ministers knew their duetie and his intention without making more apparant specification which would take away both obedience and respect vnto the Superiours and in steed of causing the obseruance of the rule would entierlie ruine it Now that such was the intentiō of the S. appeareth by the example following A Religious Almaine who was a great diuine came to visitt ou◠holy Father att our lady of Angels where discoursing together of certaine pointes of the rule the diuine said vnto him Father I vehemently desire to obserue the holy gospell and our rule simply euen till death as I haue already promised vnto God according to his intention and yours and I hope his diuine Maiesty well giue me force and vertue to performe it Therefore I require this fauour of you Father that if during my life the Religious shall erre from the pure obseruance of the rule as it hath bin reuealed vnto you and as you haue affirmed that they shall waxe cold within short time I may by your authority either alone or with such as will follow me in the way of Euangelicall perfectiō separate my selfe from those that will not obserue it Which demaund being well vnderstood of the S. with exceeding ioy he blessed him saying know my Brother that what thou requirest is both by me and by IESVS CHRIST graunted thee and laying his hand on his head said Thou art a true Preist according to the order of Melchisedech Of a vision that Brother Leo had and the expositoin made therof by S. Francis and of a benediction which S. Francis left to his true children THE XI CHAPTER BRother Leo accompanying S. Francis that was very sick had a merueillous vision which is very conuenient for this place for such as are zealous of the Order add no lesse for such as dispēnse with themselues in the profession and obligation which they owe to his diuine maiesty Being then in prayer neere vnto the S. he was rauished in spiritt and was conducted to the border or side of a violent and impetuous floud and deuising how he might passe it he saw certaine Religious that entred into it but by the force of the water were presently swallowed to the bottome without any more sight of them and others that waded to the middest and almost ouer it but by reason of diuers weightie thinges which they carryed on their shoulders being
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
expect if thou wilt be conuerted vnto him and happy art thou if thou canst acknowledge it The king already experiencing the force of the holy Ghost that spake in his seruauntes remayned vtterly perplexed Neuertheles retourning them to prison he commaunded that they should be loaden with irons and that bread should be giuen them by the ounce and water by measure They remayned certaine dayes in this pittifull estate in meane while neuertheles he aduised with his Galociers and Counsailers of estate what was conuenient to be done with them Some of them gaue their opinion that it was not expedient to doe them any hurt because said they they are franctike and senceles as may be iudged by their foolish and sottish discourses so rashly and indiscreetly vttered Others answeared the king that it was not fitt for him to embrue his handes in such base bloud but better that he retourned them from whēce they came to which purpose there was fit commodity of a shippe prepared for Marroccho where there were many Christians The king admitted this Counsaile and sent them away in the said shipping How the Martyrs arriued att Marroccho where they preached and being thence expulsed they retourned againe THE IX CHAPTER THe Religious being arriued att Marroccho in company of a Spanish knight called Peter Ferdinando of Castro Castillan who was then retired and dwelt in Africa in the Court of Miramolin king of Maroccho by reason of some disagreement which he had in Castile this man conducted them to the Pallace of the Prince of Portugall Dom Pedro brother to king Alphonsus that then reigned who vpon certaine wronges and iniuryes receaued of the said king his brother was likewise retired vnto the said king Miramolin he entertained them with much contentment fournishing them with all necessaries being much amazed to see them in a habitt so course scantie and short their face so wanne and their other partes so thinne that their skinne seemed to be sowed to their bones their eyes hollowed and their shoulders croked and bended by the wearisomnes of their painefull life and mortification of their flesh and notwithstauding there appeared in their countenance so gracious a vertue and such a feruour and ioy of spiritt that they seemed in deed Angels of Paradice exteriourly dead but liuing and burning in such sort interiourly with the loue of God that they esteemed death but as a play and sought it as a pretious and wishfull thing burning with charity towardes their neighbour and most zealous of their saluation Which the said Prince hauing well cōsidered as also the affliction which he vnderstood they had endured att Seuill to pourchace the crowne of martyrdome fearing that by attempting the like there they might trouble the whole Realme he laboured by many pregnant and probable reasons to dissuade diuert them frō their pious intention but these glorious Religious already martyres in will perceauing the intention of the Prince very early the next morning without saying any thing vnto him went out and setled themselues where they saw most Sarrazins to preach boldly vnto them the faith of IESVS CHRIST and being afterward informed that their king was gone to visitt the sepulchres of the kinges neere the citty and was incontinētly to retourne and vnderstanding which way he was to passe they wēt out of the citty to meet him where they made choise of a place somewhat high whither they ascended to be better heard Brother Berard who had better knowledge of the Arabian tongue then the rest when he saw the king to approach began with a loud voice to preach vnto him the Catholique faith and what one must belieue to be saued telling him that it was necessarie for him to abandon and adiure the sect of Mahomett The king exceedinglie admired to perceaue the confidence wherwith so poore a man did speake and with other of his followers endeauoured to putt him to silence but failing therin and therfore reputing them for fooles he commaunded them to be retyred to the land of the Christians The said Prince of Castile himselfe sent two of his people after them to accompany them euen to Cepte and there to further their embarcking for Portugall to preuent that they should not be abused but they conninglie escaped those Conductors and retourned to Maroccho where they preached in a publike place inducing the people to renounce the law of Mahomett Which the king vnderstanding he caused them to be cast into a deepe dungeon and forbad to be giuen them either meat or drinck in this manner did they continue twentie dayes in which time they were releiued onlie with diuine grace in the meane time there befell such an intemperate heat of the sunne beating vpon Maroccho that it brought the people euen neere to death the Mores therefore fearing that it was a diuine vengeance made meanes to the king by a man of worth that loued the Christians and was in fauour with his maiesty to release out of prison those poore bare-foote Creatures and to committ them to the Christians who should haue chardge to banish them out of his kingdome The king called the Religious before him but he was exceedinglie amazed to see them after a supernaturall and monstrous fast so faire so gracious so fresh and well disposed as they were and therfore he demaunded of Brother Berard who had giuen them to eat Wherto he bouldly answeared that if he would become Christian he should know the omnipotent power of God and how he relieueth and nourisheth his seruants in this life whome he conserueth alwayes to recompence them eternallie in hauē The king made no replie but onlie caused them to be deliuered to the Christians for the end aforesaid who shutt them into a house and afterward sent them in secure guard and companie as they thought to haue them embarqued at Cepte vpon the first occasion of shipping for Spaine But they gaue the slippe to their keepers and retourned to Maroccho as before which the aforesaid Prince hauing vnderstood he caused them to be apprehended shutt vp and strongly guarded in his owne pallace for feare that by their meanes the Christians of Maroccho and himselfe also might receaue some trouble and disaster Of a notable miracle wrought by the fiue Martyrs in the army of the kinge THE X. CHAPTER THe king Miramolin att that time was aduertised that the Arabians were entred into his kingdome where they made hauock and destroyed the whole country Vpon which occasion he gathered his forces to encounter them and by the helpe of the said Prince and of manie gallant Portugall gentlemen which he had with him he defeited the Arabians whom he chaced far away and so poursuing them they came into a valley where they could finde no water either for themselues or their horses so that for three dayes they knew not what to doe being neere death with thirst And because the earth seemed to be somewhat moist they licked it with their tongues comming to the hight
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
giue you repulse In this manner doe I euer preserue my forteresse from being surprised by such base companions who by their entry would vtterly ruinate me or att least it would be very difficult for me to expell them for att the instant that I perceaue them ready to assault me without permitting them to lay their siege I enforce them to retire with shame enough Which Brother Giles vnderstanding he tourned to his companions and sayd Brethren I am of Brother Iuniperus opinion resolue heÌ„ceforward to make vse of his stratageme of warre for it is most certaine considering that in this sinne the securest fight is to fly by reason that the traiterous appetite which is within the flesh findeth such a stroÌ„ge concurrence of assistaÌ„ce in the exteriour sences by an army raysed by the deuill and opposed against the soule that the perill is extreme and the victory vncertaine so that the securest is not to permitt this traiterous domesticall sinne to enter into our hart Iuniperus being one time reprehended for hauing spoaken too lightly the mouth being the dore wherat the spiritt of deuotion and prayer goeth out he continued six entiere monthes in perpetuall silence the first day his purpose not to speake was in honour of God the Father the second for reuerence of the Sonne the third for loue of the holy Ghost the fourth for the Queene of heauen and so each day proposing some saincte he strictly obserued his silence all that time with new feruour and deuotioÌ„ though naturally he spake very litle which also was of spirituall thinges for as he could not endure to be flattered so neither could he flatter and so had no other discourse but of God and as a Religious perfect in humility he would rather learne and heare then with wordes and exteriour signes of sanctity teach others Of the great charity which Br. Iuniperus exercised towards the sick THE XXXIX CHAPTER THis glorious S. had a great affection to the sick and with an extreme charity did desirously serue them by meanes wherof happened a strange accident att our Lady of Angels touching a sicke person of whome by order of S. Francis who then was there he had the chardge This poore sick man was by the continuance of his infirmity become so feeble that he had not so much strength as to eat which would infallibly hasten his death Br. Iuniperus hauing great coÌ„passioÌ„ of him prayed him with tearfull eyes to tell him wherof he could willinglie ear and he would procure it for him The sick party answeared that he thought he could well eat of a hogs foote in Vinegar if he could gett it Br. Iuniperus replyed be of good Courage Brother I will presently bring you one dressed as you desire and taking a great knife out of the kitchen he went out of the house and seeing many hogges feeding in a field neere by he ran so faâ—t after them that he gott one and cutt off his foot and therwith retourned to the Couent where he presently dressed it with vinegar then carrying it to the sick he did eat therof with such appetite and courage that recouering his tast and appetite he began to amend and by this meane escaped for that time the danger of death In the meane time the master of the hogges being by his swineheard aduertised that a Frere Minor had cutt off the foot of one of his hogges he puffed vp with choller went hastely to the Couent where exclaming as a maded man he vttered many iniurious speeches to the Religious and so farre was he transported with fury that he disgordged against them a thousand vilanies Which the holy Father S. Francis vnderstanding he went to him and sought to appease him praying him for the loue of God to haue patience and offred to repaire whatsoeuer dommage he had receaued But the man more possessed with despight then with the losse would heare no proposition but weÌ„t away exceedingly scandalized att the Religious of whome he bruted many lyes through the streetes and very seriously and vehemently threatned them These good Religious were in meane while exceedingly greiued att this accident and knew not the cause therof wherfore hauing long time discoursed vpon it among themselues they att length addressed themselues to Br. Iuniperus suspecting that his simplicity and some indiscreet zeale had moued him to this fact But he respecting only God contemned all those toyes and respectes of the world The holy Father S. Francis called him before him to vnderstand the matter and circumstances and he very ioyfully recounted vnto him that God had directed and sent vnto him that hogge for the cure of the poore sicke Brother Sainct Francis exceedingly admiring sayd vnto him Ah Brother Iuniperus you haue this day caused a great scandall for the master of the hogge hath bin here and in all fury hath giuen vs infinite reproaches but I acknowledge that he hath reason and doe feare he will defame vs ouer all the citty Wherfore I command you vpon obedience to run after him to aske him pardon and to assure him that he shal be satisfied for his losse and especially so to deale with him as he be not scandalized att vs. Brother Iuniperus much admiring that any one should be moued to choller vpon so charitable a worck considering it to be apparant that temporall goodes are giue of God but for vse of charity he answeared Doubt not Father but I will presentlie appease him in such sort as he shalle haue no cause to complaine of such a charity done as more concerneth God then himselfe Which sayd he went in great hast to seeke out the master of the hogge whome hauing found full of choller he related vnto him how and for what cause he had cutt off his hogges foot then added that he ought to thanck him because thereby he had giuen him occasion of meritt in an act so pleasing vnto God as by his meane was accomplished In meane while the man abused him and grew into such fury as he was euen ready to strike him but the good Religious fell at his feet embraced him and besought him for the loue of God to pardon him which manner of proceeding so mollified his hart that hauing apparantlie seene and perceaued his simplicity and that what he had done proceeded merely of charitie and not of malice or to doe him a mischiefe as the deuill had put in his head he entred into himselfe and repented that euer he had iniuryed the Religious and asked them pardon acknowledging himselfe auaricious and ingratefull for the benefittes he had receiued of God in satisfaction wherof he presentlie killed the hogge and causing him to be conueniently dressed he sent him to the Religious that for the verie loue of God they might eat him in satisfaction of the iniuries vttered against them and thenceforward was very deuout and liberall to the poore of IESVS CHRIST How Brother Iuniperus gaue all he had and could haue for the loue of God
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
confounded the deuils whensoeuer they assaulted him S. Franc. in spiritt knew the temptations of his Religious S. Franc. assisted a Religious whome the deuil choaked Brother Leo was deliuered from a temptatioÌ„ by a letter from S. Franc. S. Franc. knew in spirit the vices and defects of his Religious S. Franc. deliuered B. Ruffinus of a most greiuous teÌ„ptation discouering vnto him the delusion of the deuill Ezechia 39. Matt. 11. Luc. 16. Spiritual mortifications of S. Fr. Proofe of the humility of S. Fr. â— Cor. 1. Psal 66. Luc. I. A vision of Br. Ruffinus of the future glory of S. Franc. for his humility Obiection of the author and his solution The answere Iohn 3. 1. Cor. 3. Rom. 9. A worthy discourse of humility Cant. 1. Psal 21. Matt. 11. Apoc. 4. What humility is Matt. 20. S. Francis very humbly thancked a country man that admonished him How couragiouslyS Francis resisted the counsailes enterprises that were coÌ„trary to his profession What promptitude and simplicity S. Franc. desired in the obedience of his Religious It is iâ—deceÌ„t for Religious to goe alone Freer Minors Ecclesiasticall assistants The Clergy must be supported How much S. Francis would that his Religious should honour Preistes There were heretofore very few preists in the couents of the Freer Minors why A Bishop refusing to permit S. Franc. to preach in his diocese was att lenght constrayned by his humility to accord vnto him Gen. 32. S. Franc. by admirable humility patience cured a leaper within without Psal 54. S. Franc. very gratiously thancked a bishop for publikely calling him idiot S. Franc. his answere being called S. Why S. Francis once suffered his habit hands feet to be kissed And how att an other time he shunned honour that should haue bin giuen him S. Franc. went naked to the market place of Assise to accuse himselfe of hauing eateÌ„ flesh in his sicknes â—e would not wear a foxe skinne on his stomake without being seene He publikely accused his euill thoughts A legge of a capoÌ„ changed into a fish in the baÌ„ds of a poore man that would scandalize S. Francis What penance S. Franc. did for an ill thought he had of one of his Brethren S. Franc. did eat pottage with a leaper for pennance in that he thought he had scandalized him S. Franc. assured of his saluatioÌ„ The first condition of prayer to knowe ones own misery 3. Reg. 8. Psal 101. Iudith 9. The 2. to keep the soule separated from terrestriall thinges and eleuated vnto God Matt. 6. The 3. coÌ„dition is compassion Isai 21. The 4. condition is to harken vnto God Prou. 28. The 5. is to be separated from worldly conuersation for euer S. Bernard Matt. 26. Iohn 18. The 6. is ardent charity The 7. condition of prayer is perseuerance therein Luc. 18. Feruour of S. Fr. in prayer Luc. 14. The reasoÌ„ which S. Franc. gaue of his atteÌ„tion With what purity S. Francis serued God How he once celebrated the natiuity with what new feruour Matt. 4. S. Franc obtayned of God that a couetous man became liberall A gentleman became Freer Minour by the prayers of S. Francis By the counsaile prayer of S. Fr. a gentleman was coÌ„uerted from the world to God S. Franc. offered to God three medalles signifiing the three vowes S. Franc. soretold the impression of the stigmates he was to haue A Religious doubting of the purity of life of S. Francis was sufficiently assured therof hauing watched him one night Seauen priuiledges which God graunted to the Order of the Freer Minors Matt. 19. The great compassioÌ„ which S. Franc. had of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ Psal 76. Luc. 24. Iohn 17. 12. Rom. 8. Ioan. 15. S. Franc. desired a sheep because it was among goates kiddes had it S. Franc. gaue his cloake to saue the life of two lambes Psal 21. Apoc. 3. S. Franc. deuout to the versicle Gloria Pat. Br. Pacificus a MusiciaÌ„ S. Franc. had a science infused froÌ„ heauen that made him admirable to the most learned diuines Ezec. 33. Prophesies of S. Francis Of the saluation of his freind The apostasie of a Religious Of the losse of a battell Of the sodaine death of his freind S. Franc. knew the thoughts of men Of a Religious that murmured because goeing a foot S. Francis had an asse Of two Religious that came to visit him Of a Religious that by humility would conceale the fault which his companioÌ„ had committed Of a gentleman that feined to desire the habitt of F. Minor One must beware of singularity S. Franc. obtayned of God that a litle vigne boare ten times double of that he vsed and why ReuelatioÌ„s made to S. Fr. PredictioÌ„ of S. Fr. concerning two Religious giuing them the habitt Prophâ—sies of S. Francis To a Preist curing him by the signe of the crosse To a country man To a Religious fallen froÌ„ his order Prophesies of S. Fr. to a yong man that he should be one of his In what words S. Francis gaue his benediction S. Frane purposely inuited to dinner a Phisicion against all apparence S. Franc. procured pardon of God for the Apostasie of one of his Religious How S. Francis made Br. Macie to tourne to know the will of God S. Franc. knew the thoughts of Br. Macie thatmurred with him selfe Of one of his Religious that was troubled to frequent his company S. Franc. did eat with the poore att his freiÌ„ds house S. Franc. liuing being in Italy appeared to a Religious in the prouinciall chapter held att Arles in Prouince Iohn 16. S. Franc. commandeth a S. to worck no more miracles and he obeyeth How much the third generall of the order of Freer Miners forgat himselfe An Angel came to speak with him S. Franc. prayed for him Why S. Francis renounced the office of Generall 1223. Three yeares before his death Confirmation of the said indulgeÌ„ce by the Pope The deuil tempteth S. Francis to make him leaue prayer S. Franc. cast turned and wallowed himselfe all naked in a bush full of thornes S. Franc. gathered vermillioÌ„ white roses in Ianuary A miracle in publication of this indulgence A doue was seen to fly in the aforesaid Church the day of the said indulgence The Virgin Mary was likewise seene there The deuil coÌ„fesseth the vertue of this indulgeÌ„ce The sanctitie of the first Frier Minors of Assise Matt. 19. Luc. 9. Matt. 10. Esa 10. Rom. 9. Matt. 6. 10. â—4 The substance of the rule Iohn 14. Matt. 6. Philip. 3. Matt. 9. Iosue 4. Matt. 5. In the 10. chapter What perfectioÌ„ of sanctity of life and doctrine ought to be in the Frere Minors A Crucifix walketh before S. F. A scrole discendeth froÌ„ heauen on the head of S. Franc. The Testament of S. Fr. He wold not that his habitt should be peeced against his stomack to assuadge the infirmitie therof How much superiours are bouÌ„d to giue good example to their subiects F.