raise the dead drewe all the neighbourhoode vnto lamentation with her But a certaine brother of the order of the minorites called Raho by name comming that way to preache drewe night vnto the childe and being full of faith spake thus vnto the Father doe you beleiue that the holy man of God Saint Francis is able to raise your sonne from death for the loue which he did alwaies beare towardes Christ that was crucified for the restoring of life to mankinde againe Who answearing that he did both firmely beleiue it and did also faithfully confesse it and moreover that himselfe would for euer be a devoted servaunte of that Sainte if by his merrittes he might deserue to receaue so great a benefitte at the hands of God that brother together with an other brother that was in his cōpany did prostrate himselfe in praier exhorting the rest that were present to doe the like Which when they had donne the childe beganne to gape a litle and opening his eies and lifting vp also his armes he raised vp himselfe and presently walked before them all in perfect strength being by the marveilouse power of the Sainte at one time both vnto life and healthe restored In the Citty of Capua it chaunced that a certaine boy as he was playing with other of his companions vpon the bancke of the River Vulturnus did fall vnawares into the bottome and being by the swiftenes of the streame ouerwhelmed was covered vnder the gravel thereof But at the outcrie of the rest of the children who had binne playing with him about the Riuer a great multitude of people came to the place And as all they did both humbly and devoutely invocate the merrittes of Saint Francis that beholding the faith of the parents who were vnto him much devoted he would vouchsafe to deliuer the childe from the perrill and danger of death a cunning and expert swimmer standing a good way of hearing their clamors did come vnto them who after long searche having at the lengthe called vpon Saint Francis for his helpe found a plade wherein the dead carkase of the boy was in manner of a graue overcovered with the sandie gravel which when he had digged vp and removed away he did with griefe beholde the dead body But the people that stood by albeit that they sawe the youthe to be perfectly voied of life yet neverthelesse At the invocation of Saint Frācis a boy which was dead is restored to life weeping and lamenting did crie out and saie O Saint Francis restore the childe vnto his Father Yea and the very Iewes that were present being moved with a naturall compassion did also say O Saint Francis restore the childe vnto his Father And sodeinely the boy rising vp in perfect healthe to the ioy and wonder of them all humbly desired to be ledde vnto the Church of Saint Francis that he might devoutely render thankes vnto him by whose vertue and power he knewe himselfe to haue binne marveilously reviued In the Cittie of Suessa in the streete which is called Ad Columnas a certaine house falling sodeinly downe to the grounde a yong man was therein overtaken and imediatly slaine But the rest of the men and women that were within being stirred vp at the sounde of the fall running about some one way and some another did lifte and remoue the wood and stones on euerie side and brought vnto the miserable mother her dead sonne But shee fetching store of most bitter sighes did in such manner as shee could Heere at the vowe which a woman made in honour of S. Francis if he would raise her sonne which was slaine by the ruine of an house her sonne according to her desire is raised againe to life with wofull voice crie out vnto Saint Francis saying O Saint Francis Saint Francis restore vnto me my sonne againe And not only shee but all the rest that were present did instantly crave the helpe of the blessed Father But the dead carckase having in it neither voice nor sence they put it in a bed expecting but the next day for the buriall thereof But the mother having full hope and confidence in our Lord by the merittes of his holy Sainte did make abvow that shee would cover the Aulter of blessed Saint Francis with new linnen if he would recall her sonne to life againe And beholde ancute midnighte the youthe beganne to gape and yawne and his members resuming a natural heate he rose vp a liue and wel in health bursting forth into words of praise And furthermore he incited those of the Clergie and all the people that were come to that place with gladsomnesse ioy of minde to render due praises and thankes vnto God and blessed Saint Francis In like manner one Gerlandinus by name a yong man that was borne at Regusa goeing forth to the vineyarde aboute the time of gathering grapes and standing vnder the wine presse in the vessale that receaued the wine to fil the bottles sodeinely a sorte of exceeding great stones being driven vpō on him by the fal of certaine wood piles thereaboutes did buise batter his head to presēt death whervpon his father did presently make hast vnto him dispairing of his sonne as being vtterly overthrowen lost did not goe about to help him but vnder the burden as he fel soe vnder the same he left him The labourers also of the vineyarde came running speedily vnto the place hearing a mournefull voice of a great clamour and ioyning in greate sorrowe with the Father for the youthe did drawe him out being now perfectly dead with the fall But his Father casting himselfe at the feete of Iesus did make his humble praiers vnto him that through the merittes of Saint Francis whose solemne feast was euen then at hand he would vouchsafe to restore vnto him his some againe The sonne is raised frō death to life while the Father doth vowe to visit the body of B. Saint Francis These his praiers he redoubled and vowed offices of pietie promising himselfe with his sonne if he might be raised vp from death to visite the bodie of the holy man Now see the marveilouse effect By by the youthe who had binne miserably bruised al his body over being restored to life and perfect strength did ioyfully rise vp before them all blaming them that lamented for him and therewithall avowing himselfe to haue reobtained his life by the suffrages of Saint Francis Another dead man also he raised in Almany whereof our Lord the Pope Pope Gregory did at the time of the translation of the blessed Sainte to the great ioy of all the brethren that were assembled to the translation and generall Chapter by his letters Apostolique giue certaine knowledge vnto them The course of this miracle because I doe not knowe I haue not committed to writing beleiving the Papall testimony to be better than any other instrument of asseveration whatsoeuer THE THIRD DIVISION Of such as he deliuered
he soe amazed that he could not finde the way to depar te but making a noyse at the gate terrified all his keepers Who making reporte vnto the Bishoppe of his deliverie from imprisonement the Bishoppe himselfe after vnderstanding had of the order and course of the matter came with devotion vnto the prison and manifestly knowing the power of God adored our Lord in that place The bondes also and fetters were brought before our Lord the Pope and the Cardinalls all that were present who seing what had binne donne and admiring the same exceedingly gaue honour and praise vnto God One Guidolotus of Saint Geminianus being falsely accused of killing a certaine man with poyson and that by the same manner of death he would also haue destroied his sonne all his familie was therefore apprehended by the Governour of the lande by whose commaundement he was loaden with irons and straightly imprisoned in a certaine Tower But he having hope in our Lord by reason of his innocencie which he knewe in his owne harte cōmended his cause to the defence of Saint Francis his patronadge But while the Governoure was thinking with himselfe by what manner of torment he might make him confesse the obiected crime further with what paines he might after such confession finally put him to death the poore man being the nexte morning to be brought to his torments was visited that very night with the presence of Saint Francis and being vntil the morning incōpassed with a great brightnesse of lighte being also filled with ioy much confidence also of minde he receaved security of his escape But in the morning the tormētours came about him they ledde him out of the prison they hung him vpon the torture and increased vpon him many and sundrie waights of iron He was oftentimes lette downe and lifted vp againe that by the succeding of one paine after another he might be the sooner inforced to confesse the crime but by the spiritte of his innocencie he retained a chearefullnesse in his countenance making no shewe of sadnesse in all those paines Yet after this a great fier was made beneathe him but not soe much as one of his heares was thereby perished though he hung with his head to the grounde And last of all being scalded all over his bodie with boiling oyle by vertue of his patrone to whose defence he had commended himselfe overcomming all these things he went away safe and free from harme THE SIXTE DIVISION Of Women deliuered from daunger in Childebirthe A certaine Countesse in Sclauonia no lesse vertuous in conversation than highe in honorable degree condition did beare towards Saint Francis an exceeding great devotion and towards the brethren an industriouse affectionof pietie But she suffering one time in her travel of childe exceeding sharpe and dolorouse paines was brought vnto that extremitie of distresse that the future birthe of the childe seemed likely in all expectation to be the present death of the Mother For it seemed impossible that the childe should be borne with life vnlesse that shee thereby should ende her life and should by such a deliverie nor bring forth but perrish But then shee bethought her selfe of Saint Francis his fame of his vertue and glory her faith was stirred vp her devotion was inflamed Shee turned her selfe vnto his efficacious helpe vnto him as vnto a true frind as vnto a solace of the devoute as vnto a refuge of the afflicted O Saint Francis quoth shee vnto thy pietie al the bones of my body make humble supplication and I vow in minde what I cannot expresse in wordes And marveilouse was the speede of his pietie A certaine woman being helped by S. Francis in the danger of child-birth doth afterwards performe her vowe and build a Church in his honor The ende of her speaking was the ende of her lamenting the bounde of her travell the beginning of her childe bearing For presently her labours being all at an end shee did with safetie bring forthe her childe And afterwardes shee was not vnmindefull of her vow nor yet refractorie from her wel intended purpose For shee caused a goodly Church to be builte and the same being builte and finished shee assigned vnto the brethren in honour of the holy Sainte In the parts aboute Rome there was a certaine woman named Beatrice who looked now shortely to be brought a bed of a childe but having borne it deade by mischaunce for fower daies space in her wombe shee miserablie sustained many and sundrie torments and was distressed with dolorouse paines even to the pointe of deathe For the dead issue constrained the mother to deathe and the abortiue being not yet brought to lighte inforced the apparant perrill and danger of the Mother Shee tried the helpe of the Phisitians Gen. 3.16 But by whatsoever humane helpe shee laboured it prooved all in vaine And soe of the first maledictions some parte did plentifully befall vpon this miserable woman that being made the graue and Sepulcher of her owne conception she was for certaine to expect a graue for her selfe immediately But shee at the length withall her devotion committing her selfe by message vnto the Friers Minors did with great faith humbly craue to haue somewhat of the Reliques of Saint Francis And it happened by Gods providence that there was founde a certaine peice of a corde See heere howe parte of the girdle of S. Francis being applyed to a Woman doth deliuer her frō danger of death wherewith the holy man had binne sometime girded The which so soone as it was put vpon the mournefull woman most easely forthwith removed all paine and dolour quite away the dead childe which was the cause of her danger being now brought forth shee wes perfectly restored vnto her former health A certaine noble manswife of Narnium named Iuliana passed her yeares in sorrow and heavinesse for the death of her sundrie sonnes and did continually bewaile her vnhappy misfortune concerning them in regard that all that euer she had with greate paine and labour brought into the world she did in shorte space with farre greater sorrowe commit to buriall But bearing one time in her wombe a childe of fower monethes conception and being by reason of the former events more afflicted in minde concerning the deathe than concerning the birth of the childe she faithfully praied vnto the blessed Father Saint Francis for the life of the childe that was yet vnborne And beholde one nighte as shee lay at rest a certaine woman appeared in sleepe vnto her holding a goodly boy in her handes and offering him in most chearefull manner vnto her But whereas shee refused to receaue him whom shee feared foorth with to loose againe the woman yet further in this māner of wise replied saying receaue him securely for he whom Saint Francis bearing compassion with thee in thy griefe doth send vnto thee shall be sure to liue and shal continewe in perfect healthe And presently the woman
a poore man that asked him almes for the loue of God he presently remembring himselfe and entring into iudgement with his owne heart did speedily runne after him bestowing his almes with much affection vpon him making furthermore euen then a promise vnto Almighty God that from thence forward so long as he should haue any thing in the worlde to giue hee would never denie to giue something to such as should begge of him for our Lords sake which he observing continually with an vnwearied zeale of devotion vnto his death was thereby made woorthie to obtaine an aboundant encrease of the favour and grace of Almighty God For he was woont to say after that he had perfectly put on Christ that even whilest he was in secular habite he felt a great motion in his heart whensoever he heard any worde expressing the loue of God Furthermore the mildnesse of his conversation together with the sweetnesse of his manners his patience and tractable behaviour more theÌ„ is ordinary in meÌ„ his liberality beyond the measure of his ability which appeared in him in his youth were tokens that God had a greater aboundance of blessing to powre vpon him It fortuned once that a very simple man of Assisium by the instruction of God as we haue good cause to thinke meeting vpon a time with Saint FRANCIS as he passed along the Citty cast off his cloake and spread the same vnder his feete affirming that he should be worthie of all manner of reverence the time beeing nowe not long vnto wherin he should performe great matters and should be of the whole worlde for that cause marveilously honored But yet altogether ignorant was S. FRANCIS at this time of Gods determination concerning him aswell beeing by the commaundement of his father distracted in externall affaires as also by naturall corruption carried away with terrestriall â—â—â—â—ters wherby he had not as yet learned to conteplate vpo the matters of Heauen nor had accustomed himselfe to taste of the sweetnesse of God And because the scourge of affliction doth oftentimes giue light to the spirituall vnderstanding the mighty hande of our Lord did come vpon him the right hand of the highest wrought a perfect change within him afflicting his body with lingring infirmities whereby the better to prepare his soule to receiue the precious inspirations and motions of the Holy Ghost But having recovered his strength and being provided of decent apparell according to his vsuall manner he chanced to meete a certaine souldiar who was in yery deede a gentleman by birth but poore and meanely apparelled whose poverty he commiserating with a syncete affection dispoiled himselfe of his own apparell and furnished the poore souldiar therewithall that so in one worke he might performe a double office of piety both in covering the shame of a gentleman souldiar in releiueing the misery of a poore distressed man In the night following when he had betaken himselfe to his naturall rest it pleased the goodnesse of God to shew vnto him a great and beautifull pallace adotned with Military weapons insigned with the Crosse of CHRIST then foreshewing vnto him that the mercy which he had extended towards the poore souldiar for the loue of the heavenly King should be recompenced with an incomparable reward Wherevpon demaunding vnto whom all those goodly things did appertaine it was aunswered to him from aboue that they should be vpon him and his souldiars freely bestowed A waking therefore in the morning and having his minde not as yet exercised in the searching of Divine mysteries neither yet knowing how by the formes of visible thinges to consider the trueth of things invisible he perswaded himselfe that this vnaccustomed vision was a fore token of some great prosperity to happen vnto him So being as yet ignorant of Gods Divine ordinance towardes him he purposed to goe into Apulia vnto a certaine Earle of great liberality hoping by service vnder him in the wars to purchase a name of honour according as the mentioned vision vnto him seemed to foretell And being shortly after entred into his iourney as he came to the next City he heard in the night time our Lord in familiar manner thus speaking vnto him FRANCIS who is able to doe better for thee the master or the servant the rich man or the poore To whom Saint FRANCIS making aunswere that the master and the rich man were better able Our Lord presently replied why therefore doest thou leaue the master for the servant and the rich God for a poore man Then Saint FRANCIS asked what wilt thou haue me O Lord to doe And our Lord said vnto him returne into thine owne country for the vision which thon hast seene doth prefigurate a spiritual effect which is to be by the disposition of God not of man accomplished in thee In the morning therefore he speedily returned backe to Assisium resting nowe full of security and ioy making himselfe a patterne of obedience did readily expect the pleasure of our Lord. From that time foreward hee with-drewe himselfe from the practise of his common trafique and devoutly besought Almighty God of his mercy that hee would voutsafe to shew vnto him what he ought to doe And when by much vse of praier the flame of Heavenly desire began aboundantly to encrease in him so that nowe for the loue of the Heavenly country hee contemned all earthely things as very nothing then did he well perceiue himselfe to haue found the hidden treasure like a well advised marchant purposed with the sale of all his marchandise to purchase this rare and pretious pearle But as yet he was ignorant how to proceed therein saving that it was to his spirit sugested that the entring into spirituall affaires is the contempt of the world and that the warfare of Christ is not otherwise to be by any man begun than by obtaining first the conquest of himselfe Riding therefore one day vpon the plaine Beholde howe his adorning the Altarâ— did please god otherwise the holy man woulde not haue done them adioyning nigh to Assisium there came in his way a certaine Leaper vpon whose sodaine aspect he coÌ„ceived in mind an especiall horror and loathing But returning to his already resolued purpose of perfection and considering that he ought of necessity first to overcome himselfe if he would become the souldiar of Christ he presently alighted downe from his horse and went to kisse him At what time the Leaper reaching fotth his hand as hoping to receiue something from him did indeed teceiue money of him and a kisse also therewithall But he being presently gotten vp vpon his horse againe and looking round about in the open field could not espie the Leaper there Being therefore replenished with admiration and ioy he began devoutly to sing praises vnto God purposing from this beginning evermore to aspire vnto greater perfections From thenceforth he began to affect solitary places Behold his pilgrimage to holy places as best fitting vnto
Cottages of the poore but in princes pallaces For he had learned by certaine experiece that the divels are terrefied by asperitie but by delicious nicenesse more forciblely animated to rentation Whervpon having on night contrary to his vsual custome a pilow of feathers at his head in regard of a special infirmity which he susteined generally in that parte and particulerly in his eies the divell entring thereinto did till the howre of Martins wonderfully molest and trouble him from the study of holy praier vntill that at length calling one of his bretheren vnto him he caused the same pillow together with the diuel in it to be carried quite a way out of his Cell But the brother going out of the Cell therewithall lost the strength and vse of al his members vntill by the voise of the holie father to whom it was reveiled in spirit his former strength both of harte and body was fully restored vnto him againe He observed great rigour and discipline and stode with great heedfullnes vpon his owne defence having an especiall care for preservation of the puritie of euerie man Wherefore at the beginning of his conversion he vsed oftentimes even in the winter season to cast himselfe into a watrie pitte frosen ouer with ice that so he might both perfectlie overcome his domesticall enemie and might also preserue the white garment of chastitie from the raging fire of voluptuouse pleasure For he thought it more tolâ—erable by much and without al comparison for a spirituall man to sustaine great colde in his body then to feele neuer so smale a kindling of carnall pleasure within his minde But it hapned vpon a certaine night that as he was praing within his Cell in the deserte of Sarthianum the ancient enemie did call him three severall times by his name saying Francis Francis Francis who demanding of him what he would haue he craftelie replied in these wordes There is no sinner in the worlde whom God will not pardon vpon his conuersion vnto him but he that shal kill him selfe with harde penance shall neuer finde mercie at his hands The servant of God hearing this had presentlie by revelation discovered vnto him the whole drifte and devise of the wicked enemie by what kinde of deceipte he went about to drawe him into a slacknes in devotion as the event following did evidently declare For immediately after this Iob. 41.12 by the blaste of his mouth Whose breath making burning coales to flame he was assailed with a great and greivous tentetion of the fleshe comming then vpon him Which so soone as this lover of chastitie did we forsee putting of his coate he beganne very feircly to beate him selfe with a corde saying goe to brother Asse thus doth it beseme thee to continue thus oughtest thou to indure the scourge Thy coate serveth for Religion it beareth the badge of holinesse for it is lawfull for anie one that is delighted in vnlawful lust to intrude vpon it if any whither thou wouldest goe then goe thy waies Moreouer also being animated with a most wonderfull feruour of spirite The whole purpos of this holy man was to purg his mind of all vices opening the doore of his Cell he went his way forth into the garden and there casting downe his poore naked bodie into the deepe snowe he caught the same in his handes and made thereof seaven heapes which being orderly placed before him thus did he then speake to his outwarde man loe here saith he the bigger of these is thy wise these other foure are thy two sonns and thy two daughters and these two that remaine are thy servantes thy man and thy maied which thou oughtest to haue to waite vpon thee Haste thee now therefore and see thou forslow not to cloth them al for they are in present danger to die for colde But if the manifolde care of these seaven be over molestful vnto thee then serue thine one and onely Lord alone with heedfull diligence The tempter forthwith perceiving himselfe by this meanes to be subdued departed straight away with shame enough and the holie man returned with victorie into his Cell againe for while he exteriourly afflicted his bodie with the extremitie of the paineful colde which he indured he did so perfectlie extinguishe the heate of his inwarde lust that never had he after that time any feeling or touch thereof againe But it chanced that a brother among them attending this meane while vnto praier did by the light of the Moone which then shined very bright moste plainely see and discerne the whole course of all that had ben done Which the man of God perceiving and knowang that he had seene what had bene done in the night related vnto him also the manner of the tentation and straightly charged him there with all that so long as him selfe lived he shoulde not disclose what he had seene vnto any man in the worlde He did moreover teach The vices of the flesh ar to be mortified and the. In tysments ther vnto ought to be bridled and the external sences with great diligence to be kepte that in no wise it was sufficient onely to mortefie the vices of the flesh by subduing the euil motions thereof but that also the outward sences by the which death entreth into the soule were to be keept with great care and vigilancie in so much that the familiaritie the conference and sight of women which vnto manie are oftentimes occasion of ruine he commanded carefully to be avoided affirming that by such occasions as well the weake spirit is broken as the strong also most coÌ„monly not a litle weakened And as harde would he say it was for him that conversed among them vnlesse he were a man of most singuler and and approved honesty to avoide the coÌ„tagion of them as it is according to the wordes of the Scripture to walke in the fire and not to burne his feete For he himselfe had continually so averted his eies from beholding of such maner of vanity that as he said sometime to one of his companions there was hardlie that woman in the world whom he did knowe by the face For he did not thinke it safe vvhat wil our heretickes hers say which neuer depart from the company of womeÌ„ none of the holy fathers euer behaued them selues in such sort This maketh against our new EuaÌ„gelists who will suffer no tribulations or labours to obtain the Kingdome of heauen but only presuming of their vain faitl led their life in pleasure and idlenesse to drawe inwardlie the images of those formes into his minde which might either reviue the sparkles of the subdued flesh or might els defile the vnspotted clearenes of chast and honest mindes Wherevpon he also affirmed that al maner of speach with a woman was vtterlie vaine and frivolouse except only in confession or els for cause of instruction yet euen in these occasions the same to be done withal brevitie such as shoulde be most expedient
with any corporall grief or molestation if he saw any penurie or defect in any man he did with a notable sweetnesse of a most zealous affection induce him to relie vpon Christe He had out of doubt an ingrafted clemencie within him which neverthelesse the superinfused pietie of Christ doubled yet more and more vppon him His minde therefore was even melted towardes the poore and feeble and vnto them whome he could not helpe with his hand he reached fotth his most harty affection It happened once that a certaine poore man asking Almes with some importunity at the handes of one of the brethren the same brother returned an ouer hard and vngentle answeare vnto him Which being heard by this devout lover of the poore he forth with commaunded the brother to cast himself downe naked before the poore beggars feete in such wise acknowledging himself to be faulty craving also the help of his praier pardon for hisoffece Vpon the humble performance whereof the loving father sweetely spake thus vnto him When thou seest any poore creature Omy brother thou hast a liuely resemblance presented vnto thee of our Lord and of his poore Mother And like wise in the weake and feeble thou hast to consider the infirmities which he vouchsafed to take vpō him And when as in all poore people himselfe also the most Christian poore man did hehold the image figure of Christe vnto such of that sorte as he chanced to meete he did not only with free liberality imparte of the necessary sustenances of life which had binne given vnto himselfe but as though they were properly theire very owne did adiudg that they ought of dutie to be rendred vnto them Whervppon it fell out that he returning once from Sienna did meete a poore man in the way at what time himselfe vpon occasion of spetiall infirmitie had a certaine kind of short cloake which he did weare aboue his habite But beholding with a tender eye the misery of that poore man he spake vnto his companion saieng we ought verily brother to restore this cloake vnto this poore man it being of right his owne for we tooke the same but as lent vnto vt vntill we might chance to finde another in greater neede thereof than our selues But the brother considering the necessity of the good father did very seriously and stiffly therein withst and him in noe wise assenting that meanewhile he provided for others himselfe should remaine disappointed Where vnto he thus replied I hold it said he for a matter of theft to be by the great Almes giver imputed vnto me if this cloake which I beare about me I shall not giue vnto a more needy persone And therefore whensoever any thing was given him to releiue the necessity of his body he vsed to aske leaue of the giuers that he might lawfully bestowe the same vpon some poorer body than himselfe as he might happe to meete He spared no manner of thing neither cloakes nor habbitts nor bookes nor ornaments also of the Aultar but gaus them all to the poore as occasion required to performe the office of pietie And oftentimes when as he mette with poore men laden vpon the way he vndertooke theire burdens vpon his owne weake and feeble shoulders And considering with aboundanr piety the beginnings of all things created he called even the least creatures by the name of Brother and Sister because he knewe them to haue one and the same beginning with himselfe But yet vnto those creatures aboue all others he did beare a most sweete and entire affection which the Scriptures do testefie by a naturall likenesse to represent the meekenes of Christ He oftentimes redeemed lambes which were ledde to be killed resting mindefull of that mosl milde Lambe who would be ledde to the slaughter for redemption of sinners It chaunced one time that the servant of God being lodged in the Monastery of Saint Verecundus Isa 53.7 within the Bishopricke of Eugubium a certaine Ewe brought forth a yong lambe that very night But a feirce and ravening Sowe that came by not sparing the life of the poore innocent Lamb did bite it to death with her cruell tuskes Vpon the hearing whereof the good father being moved with a marveillous compassion and remembring therewithall the vnspotted Lambe lamented before thē all for the death of the Lambe saieing O woe is me my brother Lambe innocent creature representing Christ to the mindes of men cursed be that wicked Sowe which hath killed thee and let her not be meare for any either man or beast A marveilouse thing it is to tell Forthwith that brutefull Sowe beganne to be sicke and being punnished with three daies continuall paine in her body sustained at length the vengeance of death But being afterwardes throwen into the vale of the monasterie and lieng there long time together she grewe so hard and drie as a board that she was no meate for any hungar starven creature Let the impiety of man therefore well weigh and consider with how great punnishment it is finally to be rewarded if the crueltie of a beast doe appeare to haue binne smeeten with so terrible a kinde of death And let the devout and faith full man not lesse ponder and weigh with himselfe of what wonderfull vertue and sweetnesse was the piety of the sevant of God considering that the nature of brute beasts did in their kinde applaude cōforme themselves vnto him For making his iorney once neare to the Cittie of Sienna he founde in the pastures a great heard of sheepe Which when he had curteously saluted according to his wonted manner the sheepe leaving their pasture ranne all vnto him and lifting vp their heads did fixe their eies directly vpon him So great an applause they verely made vnto him that both the sheppheards the brethren marveiled not a litle therat beholding not only the lambes of the sheep but also the Rammes themselues leaping and reioycing in such marveilous manner about him Another time also at our Ladies of Portiuncula a certaine sheepe was presented vnto the man of God who gratefully received the same for loue of that innocencie and simplicitie which the nature thereof pretendeth This shepe the devoute man admonished both to be attentiue vnto the praises of God and also to be warie from all maner of offence to the bretheren Wherevpon the sheepe marking as it were and observing the pietie of the servant of God did very carefully obserue his rule and instruction For hearing the bretheren to sing in the Quire shee also entred into the Church without any direction bowing her knees and bleating before the Altar of the Virgin mother of the most vnsported and innocente lambe and that in such maner of wise as if she did delight and reioyce to salute her And yet moreover when the most sacred body of Christ VVhen the most sacred body of Christ vvas eliuated in time of Masse a sheepe did bowe her knees thereat See how brut beasts do
whose sacrifice it hath impeached He vsed to recite his psalmes with soe great attention of minde and spiritte as if he had God ever present before him and when he chanced in them to finde the name of our Lord he seemed euen to licke his lipps for the very aboūdant delight of the sweetnesse he tasted therein And being also desirous with a most especiall reverence to honour the very name of our Lorde and that not only thought but also named and written he did sometimes perswade his brethren togather vp al the litle scrapps of paper that might any where be founde containing the same them to put in some cleane and decent place least it might haply chance that the sacred name written therein should be trodden vnder foote But the name of Iesus when he did either speake it or heare it did inwardly so fill him with such a singuler kinde of exvltation that he thereby seemed to be altogether chaunged euen exteriourly as if some mellifluous swetenes had altered his tast or some harmoniacall sounde his hearing But in the third yeare before his death it came to passe that for the stirring vp of greater devotion he purposed to celebrate the festivall memorie of the birth of the childe Iesus at the village of Graecium withal the greatest solemnity that possibly he could And to the end the same might not be imputed to levitie he craved licence of the Pope and having obtained the same he caused a manger to be prepared as also hay to be gotten and an oxe and an Asse to be brought to the place The brethren were called togither the people assembled themselues the woode adioyning was ful of voyces and that venerable night was by meane of many cleare shining lights of lowde soundinge and harmoniacall praises made to be both very light some and full of solemnity There stood the man of God before the manger full of devotion besprinkled with teares and overcome with ioy The holy sacrifice of the Masse was solemnely celebrated vpon the manger the Leuite of Christe S. FRANCIS did sing the Ghospell And afterwardes vnto the people that stood about him he preached of the nativity of the poore King and ever as he named him he did for the very tendernesse of loue call him the child of Bethlem But in this meane while a certaine souldier of great vertue and creditte called Maister Iohn of Graecium who hauing for the loue of Christe forsaken the secular warfare was now in great familiarity conioined vnto this seruant of God did testifie himselfe to haue seene a litle child of great comlinesse lieing a sleepe in that manger whom the Blessed Father S. Francis embracing in both his armes did seem to wake out of his sleepe And this vision of the devout souldier not only the holinesse of him that beheld the same did make to be credible but the very evident truth thereof did vndoubtedly approue it and the miracles succeding did also confirme it For the example of holy S. Francis being considered of the world is of great force to stirre vp the harts of such as are heauie and dull in the faith of Christe and the hay of that manger being by the people reserued was in marveilouse manner effectuall for the recouerie of sicke Cattell and a singuler preservatiue against divers other pestilences God Almighty in all things glorifieing his servaunt demonstrating the efficacy of holy prayer by manifest wonders and miracles THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER Of his vnderstanding the scriptures and of his spiritte of prophecy BVT vnto so great a perspicacity of minde had the vnwearied custome of prayer together with the continuall exercise of vertues brought this holy man of God that albeit he had no skill in the holy sacred scriptures by the ordinarie course of learning yet neverthelesse being enlightened with the beames of eternall light he did searche the depth of them with a wonderfull sharpenesse of vnderslanding For his conceite being pure from all manner of blemish did penetrate into the most hidden misteries and where the science of the Doctour did stand without doores even there was the affection of the lover admitted to enter in Sometimes he did reade in the holy bookes and what soeuer he did once take in his minde he did most firmely imprint in his memory not hearing any thing in vaine with the bare present attention of his minde but ruminating therevppon with an affection of continuall devotion And being once demanded by his brethren if he did like that the men of learning who were alreadie admitted vnto the order should still attend vnto the study of the holy scriptures he answeared It liketh me truly very well but yet soe that following the example of Christe of whom we may obserue that he did more frequently pray than reade they do in no waies omit the exercise of prayer nor yet doe so giue themselues to study as only to knowe howe they ought to speake but to practise the things they haue learnd when they haue donne those things themselves then afterwardes to propose them vnto others to doe the like For I would said he that my brethren should be disciples of the Gospell that soe they should profitte in the knowledge of the truth as that therewith all they doe also increase in the purenesse of simplicity whereby they doe not separate from the prudence of the serpent the simplicity of the done which our chiefe maister hath with his owne blessed mouth conioyned therevnto Being demaunded at Sienna by a certaine religiouse man whoe was Doctor of divinity concerning certaine questions which were very difficult hard to be vnderstood he did with such a clearnesse of doctrine discouer the secretts of Gods divine wisedome that the same learned man was thereat greatly amazed and with much admiration thereof did say Vndoubtedly the divinity of this holy Father is like as it were an Eagle borne vp a lofte with the wings of purity and contemplation but our knowledg creepeth belowe vpon the ground For though he were but euen vnskilfull in the manner of speaking yet was he so full of heauenly knowledg that he explicated most doubtfull questions and produced to light many hidden and secret things Neither is it to be held for strange that the holy man had from Almighty God receaued the vnderstanding of the scriptures seeing that by the perfect imitation of Christe he did beare the truth of them liuely expressed in his workes and that by the plentifull vnction of the Holy Ghoste he had the teacher of them abiding with him in his harte And so singulerly also did the spirite of prophecy appeare in him that he did not only foresee future things but did also see into the hidden secrets of mens harts did moreouer behold the things that were absent as though they were present in marveilouse manner exhibiting himself present vnto those that were absent For at that time whē that the army of the Christians did beseige the
of God liue chaste yâ— we find many Saints to haue liued in this sorre And this moreover he adioyned you shall say vnto him on the part of God and me that now is the time of Clemency and afterwards of equity The woman having receaved his blessing forthwith returned and finding her husband denounced those words vnto him And loe the holy Ghost immediately did fall vpon him who making him of the olde man to become a new did also worke in him with mildenesse of hart in this manner of wise to make answere vnto her Lady let vs attend to the service of our Lord and let vs indevour our selues to saue our foules So that at the perswasion of his holy wife they both living togeather for many yeares a fingle life did also both of them vpon one same day happily departe vnto our Lord. And wounderfull doubtlesse was the efficacy of Propheticall spiritte which did abounde in this holy man or God wherby he restored strength vnto withered members and imprinted piety in stony harrs albeit that no lesse wounderfull was the cleare perspicacity of the same spiritte whereby he did in such wise foreknowe the finall event of things to come that he did searche even into the secrett thoughts of mens hartes as another Elizeus having obtained the double spiritte of Elias For having foretolde vnto one of his familiar friends at Sienna some certaine things which were finally to be fall vnto him and being also in way of doubt demaunded by that learned man whom I haue already mentioned to haue had sometime conference with him concerning the Scriptures whether he had foretold those thinges which he had heard by the relation of the man to whom he fortold them he not only affirmed himself to haue reported those words inded but did also prophetically forwarne him of his owne end that had curiously enquired of another mans And to the end he might the more certainely imprinte the same in his minde he did by no lesse wonderfull revelation vnfolde than by most wholsome Concell resolue a certaine secrette scruple of his conscience which he the foresaid learned man had never discovered to any man aliue For confirmation of all which things it came to passe that the same religiouse man did so finally make his ende even as the servant of Christ had foretolde him At such time also as he once returned from beyond the Seas having then in company with him brother Leonard of Assisium it chaunced that he being much wearied and overlaboured did for some â—iâ—le while ride vpon an Asse But the brother following meane while a foote and beinge himselfe also not a litle wearie beganne out of some kinde of humane passion to say thus within himselfe His parents and minde plaied not at like game But see he rideth and I a footeman leade his Asse And euen as he was then thinking the foresaid words the holy man forthwith alighted from the Asse and said vnto him It is not meete brother that I should ride and you goe a foote because you haue binne more noble and of greater power in the world than I Hearevpon the brother being forthwith amazed and blushing therat for shame and also acknowledging himselfe to be taken in a fault did fal downe at the fecte of the holy man and with abondance of â—â—ares manifested the naked truthe of his thought humbly craved pardon for the same A cortaine brother very devout vnto God and to his blessed servant of Christe did frequentely revolue this thought in his minde that he should be worthy of Gods good favour whom this holy â—an did embrace with a familiar and in ward affection and that he whom he reputed as a straunges vnto him should be by God reputed out of â—â—â—â—umber of his elect And being therefore ofâ—â—â—â—mes troubled with the violence of this cogiâ—ation he did very vehemently desire the familiarity of the man of God but yet not having revealed vnto any man the secret of his heart the loving good Father called him did sweetly speake in this manner vnto him My sonne let no cogitation trouble you for accompting you as most deare among my beloved I do willingly bestowe vpon you the gifte of my loue and familiaritie The brother marveiling herevpon and of one already very devout yet new becomming muche more devoute did not only encrease in loue towards the holy man but being endewed with the grace of the holy-Ghost was plentifully enriched with farre greater gifts But During the time that he once remained solitarie in his Cell vpon the mounte of Alverna one of his companions did exceedingly desire to haue some parcell of our Lord his words briefly written with his hand For he made accounte thereby to escape or at least wise more casely to beare a very grievous tentation not of the flesh but of the spiritte wherwith he was sorely troubled And languishing with this desire he was not a litle molested in minde for that be durst not through shamefastenesâ—e to open the matter vnto the reverent father But to whome no man did declare it the spiritte of God did vouchsafe to reveale it For he willed the foresaid brother to bring him inck and paper and according vnto his desire he wrote therein with his owne hand the praises of our Lord and last of all concluded the same with his benediction saicing vnto him Take vnto you this litle piece of paper and keep the same diligently to the very day of your death The brother gladly receved this much desired gift and all the former tentation forthwith departed The writing also was carrefully reserved And whereas afterwardes marveilouse effects by it were wrought it was a testimony of the vertues of holy Saint Francis There was a brother who outwardly seemed to be of great holinesse and of very excellent coÌ„versation but was yet indeede very singuler For attending evermore vnto praier he did so exactly observe continuall silence that he was accustomed to make his confession not by wordes but by signes But it fortuned one time that the holy Father came vnto the place to see this brother to conferre with the rest of the brethren about him At what time they all commending him magnifieng him very much The man of God replied vpon them Beware my brethren doe not extoll vnto me in him the Divels counterfeiting For know in very truth that it is a diuelish tentation and a fraudulent decoite The brethren did but hardly accepâ— of this iudgement as holding it impossible that the false flourishes of fraude and deceâ—t should colour themselues with such notable signes of good perfection But it was not many daies after that he went out of religion whereby it evidently appeared with what an excellent clearnesse of internall sight the man of God had beholden the secreas of his harte And in like manner with infallible truth foretelling the cuine and fall of many that seemed to stand as also the conversion of many to Christ that were
burning heate was cooled and of the blow it selfe no marke or signe remained And soe it came to passe that by an euident burning of the flesh the secrette infirmitie of the minde should be out of the provision of Gods divine clemencie cured and that by recovery of the minde perfect cure also and recovery of the very flesh should be to gether therewithall obtained The man became afterwards humble vnto God devour subiect to the order of the brethren in perpetuall familiarity And the formal course and proceeding of this miracle being testified by the oathes of men and autentically confirmed by letters signed with the Bishoppes seale did come vnto our vnderstanding by relation from him vppon certaine knowledge Let therefore no place of doubt remaine Mat. 20.15 concerning these holy Stigmattes nor yet let any mans eye be nought in this point because God is good as thoughe that the vouchsafing of such a manner of gifte were not agreeable to Gods everlasting and endlesse goodnesse For if by meane of that Seraphicall loue many members should be soe conioyned vnto Christe theire heade that both in this warfare they should be founde worthy of the like armour and should also in the kingdome be founde worthy to be aduanced vnto the like glory no man of right iudgment and vnderstanding can say but that this doth verily appertaine vnto the glory of Christe himselfe THE SECOND DIVISION Of dead persons raised to life againe IN the Castle of the Mountaine Maranus nigh vnto Beneventum it chanced that a certaine woman that bare vnto Saint Francis Lo heere the exequies and funeralls of the dead celebrated with Priests and singing of Psalmes Behold the Sacrament of Confesssion made to a Priest according to the institution of the Catholique Church proued by a great miracle an especial great devotion departed this present life But in the night time when the Priests of the Churche were assembled togeather to celebrate the exequies and vigils of the dead with singing of the Psalmes shee sodeinly in the sight of them al raised vp here selfe vpon her bed and calling vnto her a Priest of the company one namely who had binne her God-Father did say vnto him Oh Father I desire to make my confession For I being dead should haue bin committed to a straight and hard prison for that I had not in my life time confessed one sinne the which I will now discover vnto you But at the intercession for me made by Saint Francis whom during my life I served with devoure affection it is now granted vnto me to rerurne vnto my body that having discovered that sinne I may meritte and obtaine everlasting life And beholde in the fighte of you all so soone as I shall haue vttered the same I shall make hast vnto the rest which is promised vnto me Being therefore with feare confessed vnto the Priest who was himselfe also striken with feare and amazement after absolution redeaved shee quietly setled her selfe in her bed and happily departed this life in our Lord. In the Castle of Pamarcum which is scituated vpon the mountaines of Apulia there was a certaine yonge mateden the only daughter of her Father and Mother who being but of tender years and of them most tenderly beloved was by meane of a violeÌ„t greivouse infirmitie finally brought vnto death Wherevpon her parents having no hope of any other succession reputed themselues to be in her as it were even now already deade Their Kinsfolkes therefore and frinds assembling together vnto the soe lamentable and dolefulle a funerall the vnhappy Mother lay all along filled with aboundance of sorrowes not to be spoken not yet expressed and being even swallowed vp with sorrow vnto death had no manner of observation of what was donne in the house But in the meane while Saint Francis appearing with one only companion vouchsafed to visite the defolate woman See he we great is the power of the Saints after their death As also that they are to be inuocated and that the inuocation of the doth not iniury that inuocation which is due vnto God whom he knew to be devoute vnto him and with coÌ„fortable compassionate wordes he spake vnto her Doe not weepe saied he for the lighte of thy candle which thou dorst bewaile as exringuished is to be by mine intercession restored vnto thee The woman forthwith arose vp from the ground manifesting vnto al the company what the Sainte had saied vnrohert did not suffer the dead bodie to be carried out but invocating the name of Saint Francis with greate faith confidence and taking hold of her dead danghter lifted her vp aliue and well in healthe in the sight of them all and to their exceeding wonder Vpon a time it chaunced that the brethren of Noceria craving of a certaine man named Peter a litle carte for their necessarie vse he foolishly made answeare vnto them returning vpon them reproache in steede of the helpe required and in lie we of the almes which they craved in honor of Saint Francis he thundered out blasphemie against his name But the man presently repented himself of his folly being toucht in his hart with the feare of God least hapely his heavie reveÌ„ge should followe as it failed not forthwith to fall vpon him For his eldest sonne being out of hand taken with sicknesse did with in shorte space make an end of his life The miserable Father therefore tumbling himselfe vpon the grounde and never ceasing to call vpon the holy servante of God S. Francis did with teares cry out aloude and say it is I who haue sinned it is I who haue wickedly spoken thou shouldst haue chasticed me in mine owne person But restore now O Sainte vnto me repenting that which thou hast taken away from me impiously blaspheming Vnto thee I doe yeld my selfe vnto thy services I doe for euer devote mine endevoures yea and for the honour of thy name I will evermore offer vp a devoure sacrifice of praise vnto Christ It is a marveilous thing At these very wordes the youth arose and forbidding any further mourning he avouched that dieing he was separated from his body and was nowe thereto reduced againe by bessed Saint Francis A certaine Romane notaries boy of seaven yeare old desiring in childish manner to followe his mother vnto S. Marke his Church and being by her enforced to stay at home did cast himselfe out of one of the windowes of the house and having receaved thereby a deadly bruise he ended forthwith his life But his mother who was not farre gone from the place hearing the sounde of the fall and suspecting the mishappe of her beloved childe did speedily returne vnto him And finding her selfe sodenly bereued of her sonne by soe miserable a chaunce beganne forthwith in revenge thereof to lay violent hands vpon her selfe and with dolorouse outcries Behold how god dâ—â—â— confirme by miracle even the faith by which it is believed that the Saints cane
it were therevnder that no part of him could outwardly be seene They therefore that were present did al of them runne togeather calling for the mightie help of Saint Francis Behold more miseracles donne by in vocating the holy Father S. Francis And his Father also who for the numnesse of his members by reason of sorrowe was not able to moue himselfe out of the place did yet by inwarde vowes and outewarde voice offer his sonne to Saint Francis Well they at the length remooued that deadely waighte from ouer the boy And behoulde he whom they thought to haue bin deade did as one awaked out of a steepe in cheareful manner appeare before them hauing no manner of shewe of any hurte aboute him He therefore as soone as he was fowerteene yeares olde became a Frier minor growing afterwardes to be a learned man and a famouse preacher in the order The men of Lentinum had hewen an exceeding greate stone out of the mountaine the which was to be put vnder an alter of a Churche of S. Francis that was shortely to be consectated But where as wel nighe forty men indeauoured often times to put it into a carte it fel at the length vpon a certaine man and couered him in manner of a graue Where vppon the men being confused in minde and not knowing what to doe the greater parte of them departed away without hope of helpe But tenne of the men that remained behinde invocating S. Francis with mourneful voice and desiring him not to suffer a man soe horriblie to dye in his seruice taking at length good harte vnto them did with so great a facillitie remoue the stone that no man might doubte but that the power of Saint Francis was present amongst them The man finally rose vp strong and sounde in all his members and more ouer he obtained the cleare and perfect sighte of his eies which had bin before duskish and obcured that so all men might be geuen to vnderstand of howe efficacious preualent power the merittes of S. Francis be even in desperate hopelesse accidēts The very like happened at Saint Severines in the Marquisate of Ancona For as a greate stone being brought from Constantnople vnto a Church of S. Francis was drawen along by the strength of many men it fell most terribly vpon one of them that drewe it And whereas it was generally believed that he was not only dead but was also broken and crushed to pieces by the helpe of Saint Francis who lifted vppe the stone he casting of the waight thereof did leape vppe safe and sounde without any hurte at all One Bartholomewe also a Cittizen of Caieta labouring not a litle in the building of a certaine Church of Saint Francis by meane of a certaine beame that having binne but slightly set did fall and light vppon his neck was therewithal grievously bruised Wherevpon being even now readie to die he as he was a faithfull and Godly person craved of one of the brethren his voyage provision The which for soe much as it was not in the brothers power so sodeinely to bring vnto him he therefore considering that he was thought to be in very present danger of deathe vsed vnto him the worde of Saint Augustine saying belieue and thou hast eaten But in the night following Saint Francis with eleven brothers in his company appeared vnto him and bearing a little Lambe vpon his brest did come vnto his bed side calling him by his name and saying vnto him Bartholomewe doe not feare because the enemy who would haue hindred thee in my service shall not prevaile against thee Loe heere is the Lambe which thou diddest craue to haue ben given vnto thee whom also in regarde of thy good desire thou hast receaved by whose power thou shalt obtaine the perfect welfare both of thy soule and body And so drawing his hād along over the woundes he willed him to returne vnto the worke he had taken in hand Who rising vp therefore very timely in the morning and presenting himselfe sounde and well before them that had left him even at deathes doore did bring vppon them both wonder and amazement And furthermore he stirred vppe their mindes vnto the reverence and loue of the blessed Father as wel by his owne example as by the miracle of the Saint A certaine man also of the towne of Ceperanum named Nicholas did fall one day into the handes of his mercilesse enemies who in the fencenesse of their savadge cruelty heaping wounds after woundes in great store vpon him did in so excessiue a degree exercise their fury vpon the miserable man that they tooke him either to be dead outright Here one whichdoth in vocate the Saint is delivered from danger of death or at the least to be vpō the very point of death But the same Nicholas when he receaved the first blowes did with a loude voice cal vpon Saint Francis sayeng O Saint Francis defend me O S. Francis helpe me And this voice divers heard a great way of although they were not able to relieue him But heing carried home at length al begoared in his owne bloode he cousidentllie avouched that he should not see death by meane of those woundes nor yet that he did even then feele any paine of them for that Saint Francis had succoured him and had obtained of God for him time to doe pennance in Which the evente ensuing confirmed For being washed from the bloud he was forthwith beiond al humane hope clarely delivered Also a certain noble mans sonne in the towne of Saint Geminianus being taken with a grievouse sicknesse and past hope of any better recoverie was finally brought vnto the very exigent and point of deathe For a streame of bloud yssued forth of his eies as it is commōly seene to do out of a vaine in the arme And by other vndoubted tokens also of death approaching as appeared in the other partes of his body he was of al men iudged reputed for a dead mā As also being in regard of the weakenesse of his spirit and strength deprived of the vse of his sence motion he seemed to be already departed His parents therfore and frinds being gathered togeather as the custome is in way of lamentation and thinking of noe other thing but of his buriall his Father yet conceaving hope in our Lord ranne speedily vnto the Church of Saint Francis which was built in the same towne and hanging a girdle about his necke did withall humility prostrate himselfe vpon the earth and soe making his vowes and multiplying his praiers Heere we may see the Saints to assiste as patrons before our Lord Iesus Christ those which are devout vnto them did with sightes and groanes obtaine of Christ to haue Saint Francis to be his Patrone He therefore returning straight waies vnto his sonne and finding him to be restored to health againe chaunged his former Mourning into ioye and exultation The very like also our Lord
tossed with a perilouse tempest perceaved themselves to be in present daunger of drowing But as they in this desperate case of their liues humbly called vpon Saint Francis See howe great thinges the B. Saint doth effect after his death a great lighte appeared vpon the Sea and together with that lighte a calme was from Heaven vouchsafed as if the blessed man had bin able by a marveilouse power to commaunde the windes and the Sea With how greate and wondrouse Miracles the blessed Father both was and yet is made famous vpon the Sea how often he hath there giuen help vnto such as were voide of hope I thinke it impossible to rehearse particulerly Neither is it to be wondered at if he now raignening in Heaven haue power graunted vnto him over the waters vnto whom conversing in this our mortalitie everie living creature being confirmed vnto the originall of his creation did yealde a marveilouse kinde of service THE FIFTH DIVISION Of persons deliuered out of bonds and imprisonement IT chaunced in Romania that a Graecian being servant vnto a certaine man was vniustly accused of thefte whom for that cause the Lord of the land commanded One Which was captiue being commēded by vowe to S. Francis is foorthWith miraculously deliuered to be kept in a straighte prison and heavily loaden with irons But the lady of the house having compassion vpon her servant whom shee vndoubtedly beleived to be innocent of the crime whereof he was accused made instant request vnto her husbād for his deliverance But whereas he out of the obstinate hardenesse of his hart refused to cōsent vnto her The lady made her humble recourse vnto S. Francis vnto his piety by her petition cōmending the Innocēt Whervpon the helper of the distressed was present forthwith and mercifully visited the poore man that was cast in prison He vnloosed his bandes he broke vp the prison and taking the Innocēt man by the hand he ledde him forth and saied vnto him I am he vnto whom thy Lady hath devoutly commended thee And whereas he was stricken with a great feare in his minde and wandered aboute to finde away of passadge downe from the top of that steepe rocke he sodeinely finding himselfe to be by the power of him that had enlarged him vpon the plaine grounde returned vnto his Lady And relating vnto her in order the truth of the miracle he yet further inflamed the devoute Lady vnto the loue of Christ and to the reverence of his servant Saint Francis In a place called Massa S. Petri there was a poore man that ought a peice of mony vnto a certaine souldier who though he were soe exceding poore that he had not wherwithal to pay him yet being one day sodeinely surprised by his creditor did humbly beseach him to haue compassion vpon him craving a time of respite for the loue of Saint Fancis But the proude warriour despised the petitions that were offered vnto him and as a vaine and idle thing lightely esteemed the loue of the Sainte For making a perverse and preposterouse answeare vnto him I wil saied he shutte thee vp in such a place and I will mure thee vp in such a manner of prison that neither Saint Francis nor any body els shal be able to helpe thee And he put his worde in practise For he founde out an obscure and darke prison whereinto he cast the man with fetters vpon him But a litle after came Saint Francis who breaking vp the prison and riving the fetters a sunder did bring the man harmelesse home to his owne againe And soe the mighty power of Saint Francis having disappointed the proude souldier delivered the Captiue frō harme who had committed himselfe vnto him yea and did by an admirable miracle chaunge the contumacie of that soulder into mildenes and good conformitie In like manner one Albertus Aretium being kept in harde and cruell bandes for certaine debts that were vniustly demaunded of him did humbly commend his innocencie vnto Saint Francis For he did loue the Order of the Friars Minors exceedingly Consider these things thou which saiest that Saints can doe nothinge after their death and did reuerence Saint Francis amōg all the Saintes with an especiall affection But his Creditor saied with a blasphemouse mouth vnto him that neither Saint Francis nor God himselfe could be able to deliver him out of his handes Thus therefore vpon the Vigill of Saint Francis it came to passe that wheras this prisoner had eaten nothing all that day but had given his diette vnto another poore man for the loue of the Sainte in the night following Saint Francis appeared vnto him as he lay awake at whose entraunce in his fetters were loosed from his feete and his chaines fell downe from his handes the doores also were opened of themselves the tables fell downe in the place and the man departing free returned home to his owne And from thenceforthe he fulfilled his vowe observing to fast the vigil of Saint Francis and over adding vnto the taper of waxe which he accustomed yearely to offer an ounce of increase in signe of his increasing devotion When Pope Gregory the ninthe sate in the seate of Saint Peter one Peter also by name an inhabitant of the Cittie called Alisia being accused of heresie was taken at Rome and was by the commaundement of the same supreame Bishoppe committed to the custody of the Bishoppe of Tibur Saint Francis being invocated with prayers teares doth by miracle free one out of prison to be by him kept forthe comming vpon paine of the losse of his Bishoppricke Whom therfore he caused to be put in irons and to shutte vp in a darke prison that he might haue no meane to escape giving vnto him bread by waight and drinke by measure But now did the man beginne with great store both of praiers and teares to call vpon Saint Francis to haue compassion vpon him because he had heard that the vigil of his solemne feaste was presently now at hand And for so much as he had by the puritie of faithe alreadie renounced all error of hereticall impietie and had withall the devotion of his harte adheared vnto the most faithfull servaunte of Christ Saint Francis he obtained by the intercession of his merrittes to be hearde at the handes of our Lord. For the nighte before his festivitie about the twilighte of the evening Saint Francis taking cōpassion came downe into the prison vnto him and calling him by his name did commande him forthwith to rise Who being striken with feare and asking who it was did perceaue that Saint Francis was present And beholding the fetters of his feete to lie broken before him the doores of the prison to be opened by reason that the very nailes flewe out of themselves yea and a plaine way to be prepared for his departure and all this to be donne by force of the presence of the Sainte albeit that he were sette at libertie yet was