God and because no application did auaile him he resolued to vse this last refuge I will said he goe seeke out S. Francis of whome if I be mildly and with a gracious countenance entertayned I shall haue hope of Goddes mercy but if he looke awry vpon me I will take it for a signe that God hath forsaken me Hauing thus determined he tooke his way towardes the holy Father who was att Assisium in the Bishops house who then was sick where he had reuelation of all this wherfore he commanded Brother Leo and Brother Macie to goe meet him and to tell him in his name that he loued him particulerly aboue all other of his Religion which the said Religious vnderstanding full of consolation he fell on his knees with the interiour of his hart giuing thanckes to God for that he neuer abandoneth his seruantes but doth euer giue eare to the prayers of those that hope in him and giueth them the helpe of his grace to perseuer in his seruice Which done he arose and with them went to the holy Father who knowing their comming arose from the bed where he lay and comming to him very tenderly embraced him left him not till he was entierly conforted and then dismissed him fully satisfied and freed of his temptation Brother Angelus was also so greiuously tempted that he durst not be alone in the night for feare of the deuils but S. Francis hauing made the signe of the crosse vpon him enioyned him to goe vp on an high mountaine and with a loud voice to say vnto them O yee proud deuils come ye all and doe that vnto me which God hath permitted which hauing done he neuer after saw any thing that did offend him How S. Francis gaue assistance to certaine of his Brethren that were far from him THE LXXVII CHAPTER SAinct Francis hauing his children alwayes in his hart and in his soule he merited that as he prayed for them God did often reueale vnto him the necessities wherinto they were fallen to the end that by his presence or sending vnto them or prayers he might releiue them His Vicar one a time holding a chapter he saw in spiritt a Religious that would not acknowledge his fault to doe penance for it but did with all possible reasons defend himselfe S. Francis called a Religious and said vnto him Brother behold how the deuill sitteth one the shoulders of that poore Religious and holdeth him by the throte halfe choaked because I haue prayed to God for him and he hath heard me goe and bid him humble himselfe to his Vicar and tell him the deuill henceforward shall haue no power of him Which the Religious hauing done the other full of contrition fell at the feet of the Vicar acknowledged his fault did penance and merited thenceforward to liue very piously Brother Leo being exceedingly oppressed afflicted by diuers temptations of the deuill S. Francis sent him a letter such as the said Brother Leo then desired who att the very instant that he had read it was deliuered the contentes wherof were thus God hold and blesse tourne his face to thee God be mercifull to thee and giue thee his peace Brother Leo God giue thee his benediction So be it The which wordes taken out of the booke of Numbers of the benedictions of God were of such efficacy that they deliuered all those from temptations to whome the S. in writing sent them God permitted S. Francis being one day att our Lady of Angels to see a great multitude of deuils that endeauoured to enter there which they could not doe till a Religious began to conceaue hatred against one of his Brethren which did so breed in his hart that they entred into his body and possessed him which S. Francis perceauing as a pittifull Pastour of his sheep called the Religious and reprehended him for the hatred he boare to his brother wherat he being exceedingly amazed that S. Francis knew it did acknowledge the vertue that God gaue him and put away that hatred and thus was consequentlie freed of his ennemy How he deliuered Brother Ruffinus from a vehement temptation THE LXXVIII CHAPTER BRother Ruffinus the companion of S Francis was one time so extremely and cruelly tempted with a temptation of diffidence of predestination that I doubt whither there could be a greater whence may be collected what slightes the deuill doth vse to seeke the ruine of the most perfect if God did not exceedingly assist them Brother Ruffinus was a Religious of a pious and holy conuersation and of very deepe contemplation wherfore the deuill hauing tēpted him with diffidence of predestination made it seeme vnto him that all the labours troubles and afflictions which he endured were lost with the time which he vnprofitably spent in Religion by reason that he was not predestinate vnto glory which temptation augmenting though he omitted not to conuerse with his Brethren did neuertheles make him exceeding sorrowfull And because he was fearfull and ashamed to discouer it to any one the deuill by diuine permission did tempt him more and more Wherfore assaulting him both exteriourly and interiourly he one time appeared vnto him in forme of a crucifix that seeming to haue compassion on him said Poore man why doest thou afflict thee with so many abstinences without fruit what auaile thee so many prayers sith all the world together cannot chaunge that which from all eternity hath bin ordayned by the prouidence of my Father wherby thou art not of the nomber of the predestinate but of the reprobate Wherfore I am moued with compassion of thy so great sufferance that att least thou begin not they hell during they life and albeit I haue already diuers time inspited thee interiourly I am now content to appeare vnto thee such as I am and by mine ordinary clemencie to assure thee of that which onlie I doe know sith onlie I doe damne and saue which I doe to putt thee out of all doubt and to the end thou no longer beleeue that other damned also that sonne of Bernardone who shall goe to hell with his Father and all they that follow him shal be deceaued And after these wordes he vanished leauing the poore Brother Ruffinus in such heauines a miserie that doth prostrate and ouetthrow the greatest seruants of God and in his spiritt so shadowed by the great princes of darcknes that he was euen ready to loose the faith he had in God and in his holy seruant to whome notwithstanding the aforesaid he imparted nothing of his affliction But the holie Father being by diuine reuelation aduertised therof and seeing the perill wherinto his so deerly beloued brother was fallen he sent for him by Brother Macie as farre as the mount Subasio where he remayned in a celle separated from other to whome hauing vnderstood the message he rudely answeared That he had nothing to doe with S. Francis by which wordes Brother Macie esteeming that he might be
Br. Giles had the said vision this Religious saw in vision the sunne to arise out of the cell of Br. Giles and there-ouer to remayne till night and he afterward seeing Br. Giles so admirably chaunged sayd vnto him B other support and gouerne tenderly the Sunne of God and thou shalt be blessed Of the graces which God bestowed on Brother Giles in the said vision THE XI CHAPTER IF vnto any it appeare difficult to be beleeued that Brother Giles saw almighty God not only in imaginary and intellectuall semblance but euen in his diuine essence as this worthy seruant of God confessed affirming that God had depriued him of faith lett him read the epistle of sainct Augustin vnto Paulinam De videndo Deum wherin he shall find that speaking of the vision of God in essence he sayth It is not a matter incredible that God permitteth this excellencie of diuine reuelation in his substance to certaine holy personnes before theire death to the end their bodyes be buryed he vseth these wordes before they be dead for their sepulture because as they who manifestly see God enioyning his glory are entierly and totally separated from their mortall bodyes in the same proportion it is necessary for those that are to receaue such a reuolation to be separated from their bodyes according to the cognitiue and sensitiue puissance att least to their actions for this is in a certaine fashion to be out of the termes of this life Wherevpon sainct Paul said Were it that my soule were in my body or separated from it I know not God knoweth it it was transported rauished and eleuated euen to the third heauen Brother Giles speaking of the said vision which he had affirmed that he was therby so assured in the knowledge of almighty God and of his glory that he had lost the faith which he formerly had of him He also affirmed that he was directly of opinion that his soule entierly abstracted from the body saw almighty God After his death he reuealed vnto a Religious that also in the same vision he had bin replenished with the giftes of the holy Ghost and confirmed in graces and doubtlesly the merueillous effectes that remayned in the soule of Brother Giles confirme this verity for after this vision he was so often rapt in extasie that there is hardly found any other saint before or after him to haue exceeded him therin It appeared by his exteriour actions what esteeme he made therof for he seldome or neuer went out of his cell but employed himselfe in fastinges prayers shunning all idle wordes and all fruitlesse conuersation and if such discourses were forcibly vsed in his presence and that any would needes make him some relation to the preiudice of any other he would heare nothing therof affi ming that each one ought to be very wary and respectiue not to offend God his neighbour and his owne soule by such discourses And on the contrary when he heard speake of God he was presently rapt into extasie and remayned insensible as dead so that the fame of this sublime and singuler grace being diuulged and made knowne to all personnes euen to the contry people and to children when they mett him they would say Paradice Brother Giles and att the instant and very place where he heard that sweet and gracious word he would fall into extasie in such sort as if the Religious desired to talke with him of God and to receaue his consailes and doctrines they must be wary not to speake of the glory of the diuine vision least that being rauished in spiritt they were frustrared of their desire And because he liued sequestred from the other Religious Brother Bernard therfore as zealous of his neighbours good reprehended him therin calling him but halfe a man as regarding only his owne good But Brother Giles answeared that it was more secure to content himselfe with a litle then by attempting too much to endanger the losse of all considering that vpon a very small occasion a great grace is often lost so that one must be wary att such time not to loose that in laughing which is not purchaced but with much labour and weeping Being one day in spirituall conference with Brother Andrew and Brother Grātian two Religious of pious life and his spirituall children he told them that he was borne sower times first out of his mothers woombe secondly when he was baptised thirdly when he entred into Religion and fouerthly the day that IESVS CHRIST appeared vnto him and manifested vnto him his glory Wherto Brother Andrew answeared that it was true but if he should be in a forraine contry where it should be demaunded of him if he knew Brother Giles he might auouch that he knew thus much of him that it was twenty foure yeares since he was borne and that he had faith before he was borne but had lost it afterwardes Brother Giles replyed that all this was true because sayd he before I had not such faith as I ought to haue the which also God did take from me and gaue me a more cleare and perfect knoledge of him and of his glory and among many graces which I haue receaued of his diuine Maiesty this is one that I haue knowne and doe know my selfe to deserue to haue a cord fastened about my neck and to be in extreme disgrace trayned through all the streetes and publike places of the world so to receaue all the scornes and derisions that can be offered to the lewdest man in the world Whervpon Brother Andrew made him this demaund Tell me Brother if you haue not faith what would you doe if you were Priest and were solemnely to sing Credo in vnum Deum It seemeth you should necessarily say Cognosco vnum Deum patrem omnipotentem and incontinently he was rapt in extasie all this he said not that he had simply no faith but by reason of a greater light and illumination which God with apparant euidence had giuen him How Brother Giles was rapt in extasie before Pope Gregory the ninth POpe Gregory the ninth being with his court remoued to Perusia and vnderstanding that Brother Giles of whome he had heard merueillous thinges was neere thervnto he sent for him as desirous to know him Brother Giles came presently to Perusia But being entred into the Pallace of the Pope he felt himselfe interiourly moued with the spirituall sweetnes which ordinarilie arriued him before his extasie wherfore considering that it was not conuenient he should in that estate present himselfe before his holinesse he sent his companion to make his excuse But the Pope not admitting it would know why being within his Pallace he would not presently come to him so that his companion was enforced to say vnto him Most holy Father Brother Giles hath deferred to salute your holinesse for no other cause but that by signes ordinary vnto him he foreseeth that comming in your presence he shall fall into extasie The Pope
third time he added that he should not be terrified to consider or feare his fall againe into misery for that was the habitt of a Religious and as soone as he awaked calling for Brother Angelus his Confessour disciple of the holy Father S. Francis and declaring vnto him his vision the Religious graciously eucouraged him to take the habitt wherein he made no difficultie but shewed himselfe most ready especially being surprised with a tercian ague that sodenly assaulted him wherof he dyed very piously with the vtterance of these wordes Almighty God I now dye contentedly and very willingly in this poore habitt of a begger as a punishment of so many vaine superfluities wherein to the great preiudice of my soule I haue exceeded in the worlde wherfore I humbly beseech thine infinite bounty to accept this my good will in regard that thow knowest that if I should liue longer I would neuer forsake this abiect and holy pouerty This great Prince did by example demonstrate to all men that to reiect the vanities and wealth of the world is not so great a disgrace and shame as it is reputed Of certaine miracles wrought in Spaine by the merittes of the holy Father S. Francis Taken out of the fourtenth chapter of the tenth booke IN the citty of Girone within the Country of Catalogne the daughter of a poore woman about ten or twelue yeares of age was so lamed and benummed in her feet and handes that she was not only vnable to vndertake any exercise but euen could not feed herselfee which exceedingly perplexed and annoyed her mother as wel in regard of her pouerty as of the trouble she incurred therby And being one day otherwise employed she forgott to giue her daughter to eat who att night complayning her mother as disquieted answeared her Would to God daughter thou wert in heauē sith I am so troubled to serue thee that thou canst doe me no seruice againe The girle tooke these wordes so greiuouslie that she would eat nothinge that euening and remayned all night much afflicted till she heard it ring to matines att the Church of S. Francis which made her remember the great miracles which then were wrought by the merittes of S. Francis and then said with her selfe S. Francis if that be true which is said of thee I most humbly beseech thee voutsafe to make farther proofe on me of thy sanctity freeing my mother and me from such an insupportable torment and affliction S. Francis and S. Antony incontinentlie appeared vnto her cloathed in white and girded with a cord seeming as white as snow S. Antony tooke her by the feet and S. Francis by the handes and lifted her out of the bed and sett her on the ground so leauing her entierly cured When the SS were departed the girle said to Sainct Francis Lord who art thou that hast done so singuler a fauour to my mother and me Sainct Francis answeared that he was the same whome she had so deuoutly inuocated and bid her to arise because she was cured which said they both disappeared The girle perceauing herselfe to be cured full of ioy and admiration att the miracle with a loud voice called her mother who was abroad with her neighbours and they hearing a cleare voice came speedilie to see what the matter was But exceedinglie amazed to see her cured they asked her by what meanes she gott the vse of her members she answeared that recommending herselfe to Sainct Francis two Religious appeared vnto her and cured her The bruit of this miracle was incontinently diuulged ouer all the towne The bishop vnderstanding therof with a great multitude of people accompanyed the said girle to the Church of the Freer Minors to giue thanckes to God and S. Francis for this gracious benefitt The girle seeing the image of S. Francis in the Church poynting theratt with her hand she said a loud behold him that hath deliuered me from the perill of death and cured me In the citty of Cumbre in the kingdome of Portugall the neece of one that was deuout vnto S. Francis and his Order was playing on the riuer side of Modego and entring into the water was carryed away with the streame euen to the middes of the riuer her vncle with other of her kinred seeking her she was found vpon a stone safe and secure in the middes of the water Whence being fetched with a boat and asked all the matter she answeared that two Religious of S. Francis who her Father the night before had lodged in his house had saued her from being drowned Thus did the holy Father S. Francis requite this his affectionate freind for his deuotion in entertayning his Religious into his house This ensuying is taken out of the twelfth chap. of the tenth booke THere was a woman in Almania that by the merittes of S. Francis obtayned of God a male childe this boy playing in the street and his mother beholding him as she sate at the dore of her house there came a possessed man that audaciouslie and impudentlie attēpted publikely to force this woman but she shifting in to her house violently shutt the dore against him The possessed partly perceauing that the mother was escaped tooke the child and with his diuillesh force rent it in peeces and went his way The poore mother in meane while went to the windoe to see if her sonne had no hurt but perceauing him so dismembred she filled the aire with sighes and comming speedily downe she assembled all the members of her child into her lap and with a strong faith carryed them to the Church of S. Francis who a litle before had obtayned him for her where hauing layd him on the altare with great courage she vttered these wordes Glorious Sainct that hast obtained this child forme of God restore him me againe att this present I beseech thee for I beleeue and hope that his diuine maiestie will not deny thee such a fauour This strong faith was not frustrated of what it expected for in an instant the members of the child were miraculously revnited together and the child restored to his life and beauty to the exceeding admiration and encrease of deuotion in all persons This miracle remayned a long time pictured in the citty of Bolonia How S. Francis and S. Antony deliuered a lady from dispaire Taken out of the 12. chapter of the tenth booke IN the kingdome of Portugall and citty of Liuarez the lady of the place called Lopez had for gouernesse a deuill in disguise of a woman by whose counsaile she practised most horrible cruelties on her subiectes and most enormous sinnes in her selfe but following the custome of most women she was very deuout vnto the SS particulerly to S. Francis and S. Antony of Padua Now she falling greiuously sick and by reason of her enormous sinnes committed running into dispaire she had no care of spirituall phisicians nor of other Sacramentes whervpon the SS mentioned hauing pitty on her
soules and he that shall perseuer to the end shal be saued Of the Preachers THE XVII CHAPTER THe preaching of the gospell being the food and nourishment of the soule lett no Brother or Minister authorise himselfe and enterprise to preach without licence of his Superiours and lett such as â—â—albe authorised be very respectiue not to preach against the forme and constitutions of our holy mother the Church Lett the Minister Prouincials be aduertised not to admitt to any chardge especially in matter of importance all personnes indifferently but lett them formerly consider well therof Lett the Brethren that shal be admitted to preach or to exercise any other obedience take heed not to attribute to themselues or to their merittes the office which they shall haue and particulerly that of preaching they ought rather to practise by worckes then by faire elected wordes and therfore att all times and whensoeuer they shal be aduertised to desist from preaching lett them without any contradiction entierly forbeare to preach Therfore by charity which is God himselfe I pray all my Brethren Preachers Oratours and other Officers and Ministers as well Preistes as lay that they endeauour continually to debase and humble themselues and that they neither glory nor take complacence in any good that God doeth or speaketh by them because such worck is not theirs but Goddes and that they remember that which our lord IESVS CHRIST saith Esteeme not the more of your selues for that you see the deuils subiect vnto you and lett each on rest assured that we haue nothing of our owne but vices and sinnes and when we finde our selues tempted and oppressed with diseases and afflictions as well in soule as in body we should reioyce in hope of eternall life Lett vs beware of pride and vaine glory of the wisdome of the world and the prudence of the flesh which endeauoureth to speake well but litle to doe well For it seeketh not a religion and sanctity of spiritt but a religion and sanctity exteriour and apparant vnto men for these are they of whome our lord speaketh when he saith I tell you in verity you haue already your reward The spiritt which is of God desireth the flesh should be mortified misprised and esteemed vile and that it endeauour to be humble patient pure duly subiected to the spiritt and especially rooted in the feare and loue of God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost referring all good thinges to the most high lett vs acknoledge our selues to be his and lett vs continually yeld him thankes as one from whome dependeth and proceedeth all our good Therfore are all honours and all benedictions due to him alone by reason also that he is the true and soueraigne good And therfore when we shall see any thing il done or ill spoaken against his holy name lett vs on the contrary endeauour to prayse exalt and thanck him as blessed for euer world without end Amen Now and when the Ministers ought to assemble THE XVIII CHAPTER THe Minister Prouinciall ought with all his Brethren to assemble together euery yeare att the feast of S. Michael in some coÌ„modious place to treat and determine of matters behoufull for the seruice of God and ReligioÌ„ And all the Minister Prouincials that are beyond the sea and in places on the other side the Mountaines shall asseÌ„ble once euery three yeares the other Minister Prouincials shall come euery yeare to the Chapiter in the Church of S. Mary of Angels if the Minister generall dispose not otherwise to whose ordonnance all ought to obey That all Brethren ought to liue Catholiquely THE XIX CHAPTER LEtt all the Brethren be Catholiques and as such liue Catholiquely and if any one should erre in faith or in the instution and constitutions of holy Churche either by worckes or wordes if he doe not forthe with rectifie himselfe lett him be vtterly expelled out of our ReligioÌ„ We ought to acknoledge for our Superiours all Prelates and Religious in that which concerneth the good estate of our soule prouided that they proceed not against our Order and our Rule Of the confesion and communion of the Brethren THE XX. CHAPTER LEtt all my Brethren as well Preistes as the laity the blessed of God coÌ„fesse to the Preistes of our Order and if in case they caÌ„not they may confesse to an other Preist that is prudent and Catholique and lett them firmely beleeue that by the pennance and absolution giuen them they shal be absolued of all their sinnes and therfore lett them endeauour with the greatest faith and humility that they can to accomplish the penance that shal be enioyned them And if they should be in a place where they could not haue commodity of a Preist lett them in such case confesse with their Brethren as the Apostle saith Confesse your sinnes one to an other But let them not yet omitt when they shall haue meanes to repaire to Preistes because they alone haue the authority and power of God to bind and loose Being so contrite and coÌ„fested lett them with exceeding humility and reuerence receiue the most sacred sacrament calling to minde that which God saith he that eateth my flesh and drincketh my bloud hath life euerlasting And in an other place Doe this for a commemoration of me Of praysing God and exhorting Christians to pennance THE XXI CHAPTER VVHen my Brethren shall know and esteeme it expedient to preach to the people hauig imparted the benediction of God they may vse these wordes Feare loue honour praise continually and say yee Be thou blessed almighty God Trinity and vnitie Father Sonne and holy Ghost Creatour of all thinges I beseech thee to permitt me to performe fruites worthy of penance and to know this truth that we shall shortly die and that att that instant the knotte of this soule and body shall end to be either eternally happy or eternally miserable They must exhort such as haue bin offended to pardon as God doth pardon vs and to this effect lett them vnderstand that if they doe not pardon they shall not be pardonned and that they shal be blessed that shall die contrite because their place shal be in heauen and miserable shall they be that shall die impenitent because they shal be children of the deuill whose worckes they haue wrought and therfore shall they discend into eternall sier Be carefull my beloued Brethren to shunne all vices and perseuer in god euen to the end that God may blesse you An Exhortation he made to all the Brethren THE XXII CHAPTER LEtt vs be mindefull of that which our lord sayth loue your enemies and doe good to them that hate you Because besides what he hath taugbt vs by worde he hath in like sort taught vs by effect whose steppes we ought to imitate As then he called Iudas his freind though he knew he would betray him and voluntarily presented himselfe to them that were to crucifie him so likewise lett vs repute them our freindes that
a fatherlie affection embraced them very amourously and said Feare not for if till this day I haue and doe maintaine strangers how much more reason haue I to maintaine you you I say that are my most deere children And this affection will I shew to all those that henceforward shal be borne of your mother my deerly affected wife Applying which parabole he said Holy Father our rule and life is this poore woman by the mercy of the king of kinges accepted for his espouse of whome he hath begotten many children whome his diuine maiesty neither hath nor euer will faile to sustaine and as he hath a care to releeue strangers your holines need not doubt but he will also haue regard to maintaine and support his true and ligitimate children that the heires of the eternall king perish not by hunger who are borne according to his likenes by vertue of the holy Ghost of a poore mother to witt of the euangelicall pouerty and nourced with his proper milk And if the king of heauen promise the eternall kingdome to those that follow him with faith and verity how much rather will he giue them such thinges as he ordinarily with so bountifull liberality bestoueth indifferently on the good and the wicked The Pope hauing with carefull attention heard this similitude and so patheticall and strong argument of the S. he admired and sincerely acknowledged that our Lord IESVS CHRIST dwelled in S. Francis Without farther delay therfore and without admitting any other difficulty he approued his rule permitted him with the title of precher of pennance to preach ouer all the world and caused litle crounes to be made to all the lay Brethren that were with him And thervpon S. Francis with all his companions made his solemne profession vnder the handes of the Pope promising to obserue the euangelicall life and rule and he was by his holines established Minister generall of all his Order who offered and promised him his assistance when soeuer he should need it But because this confirmation of the rule was then only made Viuae vocis oraculo by the Popes worde of mouth the yeare of grace 1209. and the thirteenth of the Popedome of the said Pope Innocent the third nor hauing no Bulle of this confirmation therfore the beginning of the Order is not reckoned from that time but from the time that it was afterward confirmed by writing which was in the eight yeare of Pope Honorious with an authenticall Bulle fifteene veares after this first verball confirmation as in place and order shall hereafter be inserted How S. Francis retourned to Assisium and how God declared vnto him that his Order was instituted for the saluation of the soules of the faithfull THE XXIV CHAPTER SAinct Francis exceedingly encouraged by obtaining the so much desired confirmation departed from Rome towardes the vally of Spoletum there to beginne to preach the gospell of IESVS CHRIST discoursing alwayes with his companions by the way in what sort they might most perfectlie obserue the profession formerlie made In which discourse hauing spent a good part of their way and being wearied they rested themselues in a solitary place no lesse afflicted with hunger then with trauaile not hauing with them any prouision nor humanely cause to hope after any meanes of releife But our most mercifull God who is euer true and neuer faileth his faithfull of himselfe prouided for them causing in a moment a man to appeare loaden with bread who as soone as he had distributed it to those poore of IESVS CHRIST disappeared and was neuer by any of them seene againe These poore Religious therfore acknowledging this grace and fauour to be afforded them by the handes of God were exceedingly comforted and there purposed and irreuocablie confirmed neuer to breake that strict and rigorous vow of pouerty for any want of food or whatsoeuer other necessity or affliction that might befall them and with this feruour and good resolution they trauailed through the vally of Spoletum discoursing with themselues whither it were better for them to dwell in solitary places for their particuler repose or to conuerse in the world for edification of their neighbour Vpon which point S. Francis hauing long time conferred with his disciples not minding of himselfe to determine in such a case wherin he would not relie on his owne resolution he made his prayer vnto God that touching this point he would manifest vnto him his holy will which he knew by this meane He vnderstood that he was sent of God to endeauour to gaine many soules vnto him as Satan sought to robbe him of them to carrie them together with himselfe into hell He therfore resolued rather with his companions to conuerse in the world for the profitt of manie then to liue in an hermitage to benifitt only himselfe Hauing then setled himselfe with his Brethren in a desolate house neere to Assisium they there liued conformably to their rule in very simple pouertie seeming rather to sustaine themselues with the bread of teares then with temporall consolations They ordinarily employed themselues in prayer and especially mentall because they were not as then fournished with bookes nor brouiaryes to say their cannonicall houres and so in supplie therof they made their exercise in the excellent booke of the life of IESVS CHRIST meditating therō day night according to the instructiō that their blessed Father gaue thē for he cōtinuallie preached vnto thē the crosse of our Lord IESVS CHRIST And wheras the Brethrē most instantlie besought S. F. to teach thē some forme of prayer he vsed vnto thē the wordes of our Lord When you praye say Pater noster qui es in caelis c. and afterward Adoramus te Christe c. We adore thee our Lord IESVS CHRIST and we praise and honour thee here in all the churches of the world because by thy crosse thou hast redeemed the world He also taught them to praise and honour God in all creatures to reuerence preistes to beleeue simply and to confesse firmely the truth of the Faith as the holie Catholique and Romane Church beleeueth and confesseth and his disciples with admiration of his doctrine were attentiue vnto him They fell on their knees when they saw any Church a far of and there they made theyr prayer as the S. had instructed them Of the admirable vision of a fiery chariott wheron the glorious S. Francis appeared vnto his disciples THE XXV CHAPTER THe poore colledge of S. Francis was neere to a place called Riuotorto in an old house and so litle that they could hardly accōmodate themselues sitting one close by an other From thence went foorth the louer of pouerty to preach pennance and contempt of the world first by worckes and then by wordes But being one saterday in the euening gone thence he went with a Brother to Assisium there to preach the sunday as he was accustomed to doe And to this effect he
conserue in you the bondes of peace and charity seuerlie reprehending and chasticing those that shall diuide themselues from her rule and vertue that it perpetually florish in the obseruance of euangelicall purity in her presence and God will not permitt it to loose the sweet odour which he hath giuen it Such was the intention of S. Francis to subiect his Religious vnto the Catholike church ordayning that they should alwayes choose a Cardinall of it for their protectour as a thing that he knew to be necessary for the good of the Order He did not intend that they should be subiect to the said protectour only but likewise to all Prelates and Preistes of the Church saying thus Know ye that we are called Coadiutours of Preistes and Religious for sauing of soules and therfore lett the church be in that sort assisted by vs and her holy faith augmented I euer vnderstood the Bishop of Assisium his speech to tend thereto when att the beginning of my conuersion he admonished me to gouerne my selfe discreetly that in these turbulent times myne Order did not mount his hornes and proue disobedient vnto the Church therfore I euer did and will that others doe cary a speciall reuerence to the Prelates and Religious therof Further considering that there is nothing more gratefull to God then the saluation of soules as S. Paul saith the same shal be better accomplished by the peace and amity of good Religious then by their discordes and therfore if any among them seeke to hinder it I will not that you contradict the same but that you leaue the care to God and lett it suffice you to be subiect vnto them and on your part to liue so vertuously that by your occasion there arise no discordes or debates among you which doeing you shall in one same instant gaine vnto God the Clergie Religion and the people which shal be more gratefull to his diuine Maiesty then to gaine only the people endeauour therefore not to scandalize the Clergie but as much as is possible conceale their defectes and supply where they seeme to haue failed For recompense her of it is that the holy church in his praise doth sing this solemne antheme Francis the Religious Catholique and a man entierly Apostolique taught Christians to obserue defend and formally beleeue the faith of the Romane Church and that Preistes were to be reuerenced aboue all others When he sent his Religious ouer the world one of the documentes which he gaue them was that when they mett a Preist they should incontinently fall on their knees before him kisse his hand and aske his benediction and in case so happening should sweep the Church and should rest and lodge rather with them then otherwhere He besides affirmed that if he mett a S. deseended from heauen to earth and a Pâ—eist he would first kisse the hand of the Preist and then would doe reuerence to the S. by reason that of the former receauing the body of our lord IESVS GHRIST he in that respect meritted there more honour In regard of this dignity which he acknowledged in them and for the reuâ—rence which he preached that each one should beare vnto theÌ„ he would not be Preist but Deacon and the seruauut of Preistes This his example was of such force that art the beginning of the establishment of his Order and in the reformation of the obseruance his Religious did exceedingly prise Preist-hood yea did shunne to be Preistes so that in a Couent full of Religious there were very few Preistes all endeauouring to mount to diuine communicatioÌ„ rather by meane of prayer humility and simplicity then by high degrees and dignities without meritt How saint Francis by his humility did edifie and conuert his neighbour THE LXXXV CHAPTER IT is not then to be admired if this holy Father exercised humilitie not only that his soule might be pleasing vnto God who is ennemy to the proude and most liberall of grace towardes the humble but also that by meane of it he might edifie his neighbour and conuert soules vnto God by way of humility pourchasing that which otherwise he could not haue obtayned as for example Arriuing one day att Imola there to preach and hauing demaunded leaue of the Bishop he gaue him answeare that himselfe could sufficiently dischardge the office of preaching vnto his people The holy Father therfore bowing downe his head departed but being afterward inspired of God he retourned thither the Bishop seeing him very rigourously asked him what he did and what he sought there S. Francis very humbly answeared him that if a sonne were by his Father driuen out att one dore the naturall loue which he boare him would constraine him to enter againe att an other Which the bishop hearing being ouercome with his humility he embraced him saying that himselfe and all his Religious should thenceforward with a generall licence freely preach ouer all his bishopperick because humility deserued it I know hereby added he that it is no meruaile if humility encline the will of man sith it enforceth euen the omnipotent diuine will to condiscend to the desires of the humble as the Angel said to Iacob If thou hast bin strong against God how much more shalt thou preuaile against men The holy Father then with this arme of humility deliuered many soules out of the handes of the deuill and out of the throat of hell as we haue seene and by the example following shall appeare Certainne Religious ministring vnto a leaper as S. Francis had commaunded them could not by any gracious vsage whatsoeuer giue him coÌ„tentment nor besides the iniuries which he vttered against them and the buffettes which he gaue them all which they coÌ„tentedly eudured could procure him to forbeare to blaspheme against God and his SS being thervnto induced by the deuil and by the extreme violence of his disease These good Religious vnable to support those blasphemies that were so horrrible as would haue made an Infidell to tremble they went to the holy Father who in person resolued to visitt him And entring into the chamber of the sicke he said My Brother God giue thee his peace and he answeared What peace can I haue sith from the time that God did interiourly and exteriourly deprine me of it I haue euer bin in cruell warre S. Francis comforting him replyed My Brother and Freeind you must haue patience for these afflictions which you endure in body wil auaile to the saluation of your soule if you patientlie support them But the leaper answeared how can I possibly haue patience considering that myne afflictions are so permanent that they permitt me no ease day nor night and besides your Religious doe exceedingly aggrauate the greife of mine infirmity for not onlie they doe not assist and serue me but they afflict me euen to death The holy Father knowing by diuine inspiration that this wretch was tourmented by the deuill went presentlie to offer his prayers for him
but the holy Father beholding him attentiuely answeared O miserable man this request is not graunted to men entierly addicted to sensuality and to the world as you are for you doe lye to the holy Ghost these teares are seigned and not true your interiour is not with God neither is it he that calleth you to this Religion Depart you therfore in good time for you are not fitt for it The holy Father had scarce ended these wordes but the Religious vnderstood that the kinred of this gentleman were come for him but not beleeuing them he put his head out att the windoe whence hauing seene them he was very ioyfull and taking leaue of the said Religious he retourned with them to his house Those present exceedingly admired the spiritt of S. Francis that knew the feined intentions of this man who exteriourlie appeared so contrite The rest of this chapter is transfered to the end of this first book with the 31. and 32. chapter of the second booke there placed together as their proper place Of a Religious that seemed a S. The 28. chapter of the 12. booke transferred to this place as proper vnto it THE CXIII CHAPTER HE knew by an other Religious who being deluded by the deuil he more strictly to keepe silence proceeded so farre as that he would not so much as confesse as did the other Religious but by signes as one dumme which he vsed also when he demaunded any thing and without any speech he sheued such signes of spirituall alacritie that he moued all the Religious to prayse God The fame hereof was presentlie diuulged so that he was generally held for a S. In the meane while S. Francis arriuing where this Religious was he was aduertised of his proceeding but he answeared that he was exceedingly tempted and deluded by the deuill because confession of the mouth was necessary as contrition of the soule and satisfaction of worckes The superiour of the place then confirmed the sainctity of the said Religious vnto S. Francis alleadgeing that it was not possible he should be tempted of the deuill considering the signes of sanctity which he exteriourlie shewed The holy Father replyed proue him in this manner commaund him to confesse twice or att least once euery weeke which if he refuse beleeue that it is a delusion of the deuill Which the superiour hauing done the Religious putting his finger in his mouth and shaking his head by these signes declared that he could not doe it for breaking of silence His superiour would no farther vrge him but the great prudence of S. Francis was not long vnknowne for a litle after this Religious S. abandoned his Religion a tooke a seculer habitt Two Religious of his companions meeting him attyred seculerly conceauing great compassion of his blindenes sayd vnto him O miserable wretch and forgetfull of thy selfe where is that thy solitarie and sainct-like life yea such as thou wouldest not conuerse with thy Brethren nor speake in Confession for keeping of silence thow now hauing lost thy selfe in the world abandoned our habitt reiected thy vow and broaken the rule as if thou haddest no beleefe of God but he gaue them so diuellish an answeare that he plainly discouered he had not only chaunged habitt but also Religion and interiour vertue These good Religious could by no meanes reduce him though they laboured to reprint in his minde the obligation he had to God and the perill of his damnation and so in few dayes after he dyed being in possession of the deuill that held him choaked because he would not confesse It is a worthy example for all Religious to beware of singularity in matters appertayning to their Order that demonstrate more pride then spiritt of deuotion and humility Of other merueillous accidents wherin the spiritt of Prophetie of S. Francis did miracously appeare THE CXIV CHAPTER THe Cardinall of Hostia hauing on a time commaund S. Francis to repaire vnto him to Rieta where then was Pope Honorious with his Court and comming neere the citty he saw a great troup of people that came against him wherfore stopping his iorney he staid in a Church before S. Fabian a league and halfe from the citty where was a very poore Preist that very curteously and in the best manner he could entertayned him But the Cardinals and many other of his Court knowing whither he was retired went thither to see him by this visitation the vineyard of the poore Preist was wastfullie gathered by the indiscretion of the trampling traine of the Cardinals and others whereat he exceedingly complayned repenting that he had entertayned S. Francis in regard that for the litle good he had done him he thought he should incurre such losse The holy Father who in spiritt knew the affliction of the Preist that durst not acquaint him therewithall and who on the other side knew what fruit he was to procure in that place whither he had bin expresly sent of God there to plant an abondant vigne of true penitentes in which respect he could not depart thence reputing it behoufull to endure the losse of that litle materiall vigne for the better gayning a spirituall Neuertheles as a pittifull louing Father he called the Preist whome for his consolation he bad not to vex himselfe nor to feare for of the litle that remayned of his vigne he should gather double the ordinary though there appeared almost nothing The Preist that firmely beleeued these wordes deserued also to be recompenced according to his faith for wheras he accustomed to haue three hogsheddes he had then twenty of verie good wine as the holy Father had promised him which with exceeding ioy and admiration he related vnto him and to all the people thereabout to the prayse of God and of his seruant Francis This holy Father being in the Prouince of Massa on the Mount Casal within a desert Church there employed in prayer God reuealed vnto him that in the same Church were relikes of his sainctes Wherefore determining that they should no longer there remaine concealed and without the honour due vnto them and hauing no opportunity of longer abode in the said church by reason of other occurrances for which he was to take order he commaunded his Religious sheuing them where they were to take them from that place and to carry them into their church which hauing said he departed But these good Religious forgatt it Wherefore they being one day to say masse in the Oratory thinking to prepare the Alcare they found vnder it certaine bright and glittering bones that filled the place with a most delicious sauour Being extremely amazed and diuising who should putt them there they remembred the commaundement which S. Francis had giuen them and concluded that those were the reliques which he commaunded them to remoue and that because they had fayled therein God had miraculouslie supplyed it as accordinglie S. Francis being retourned to that place and hauing vnderstood the processe and pardoned
him not as before in choller but bright and resplendent as the sunnet and thancked him and reuealed vnto him that then when he entred into the church he entred into Paradice Of other miracles of the same indulgence THE V. CHAPTER THis famous indulgence being diuulged ouer almost al Christendom there departed from Sclauonia about twenty pilgrimes to gaine this Iubileye but landing att Ancona and there hauing visited the principall churches they repayred to a monasterie where were shewed them many precious reliques The Sacristine that shewed theÌ„ asked theÌ„ whither they went in Pilgrimage they answeared to our Ladie of Angels to gaine the indulgence wherof the day approached The Religious then said O simple people to endure heat incommodities and trauailes without anie benefitt for there is no such indulgence as is spoaken of or att least there is no authenticall bulle of the Pope extant therof I blame you not to goe of deuotion to that church of our lady but for the indulgence I tell you your iorney is in vaine And if you beleeue me you shall saue much of the way for there are here in this church far more indulgences then in that whither you goe which if you be well aduised you may gaine and so retourne againe In confirmation of his speech he shewed them many priuiledges and bulles of Popes of lardge indulgences graunted to that church The Pilgrimes vpon these considerations beleeuing the Sacristine and repenting the wearisome trauaile they had vndertaken to come so farre followed his counsaile and hauing offered their deuotions in that place and gayned the indulgences there to be had determined to retourne Amongst them was a verie deuout woman that said vnto them I meruayle my freindes you are not ashamed vpon the opinion and discourse of one only man to loose the meritt of your pilgrimage Retourne you in Goddes name if you thincke good for my part I am determined to goe alone to visitt our lady of Angels though there were no indulgence in that church and so to accomplish my iorney so much aduanced so went she alone towardes Assisium But by the will of God that she might not trauaile alone she erred from the direct way being therefor much troubled and sollicitous how to finde the ordinary way there appeared vnto her a right venerable old man all gray cloathed in a long habitt Religious-like who said vnto her Feare not my daughter for I assure thee thou art in a secure way for thy soule and know that thy companions shall instantlie ioyne vnto thee She looking behinde her saw them all wherat she was exceeding ioyfull being then together this venerable old man told them that they had done well to prosecute their attempted iorney because the said indulgence was true and that himselfe was present when the Pope Honorious confirmed it and that he knew it also to be confirmed of God though there were many that knew not all that and that denyed it and therfore bid them goe on confidentlie And after he had made them a worthie exhortation to persuade them to offend God so much no more he vanished in their presence leauing them exceedinglie comforted and thanckfull vnto God Coming to Assisium they manifested this accident and hauing gayned the indulgence they ioyfullie tooke their iorney of retourne The aforesaid woman by reason of a sicknes that happened her vnto remayned alone behinde but dying afterward she ouertooke them in spiritt and appeared vnto them on the sea and said vnto them Feare yee not for I am such a one your companion that am dead att Assisium The Virgin Marie hath sent me to assure you of the vertue of the plenary indulgence wherebie I passed incontinentlie to heauen without enduring the least punishment which said she disappeared Wherfore many of those Pilgrimes that saw this woman on the sea retourned often times with greater faith to gaine the indulgence and recounted the apparitions so that though no bulles were seene Sainct Francis not respecting them many of diuers nations repayred thither when neither warre nor plague did hinder them for God who graunted it and promised to fauour it also with his grace besides the reuelation therof vnto many did also inspire soules to seeke the pourchace of their saluation in that holie church An old man comming to gaine this indulgence recounted what he had heard spoaken by a Pilgrime that first doubted therof to witt that being in a solitarie place where he recommended himselfe to God he seemed miraculouslie to see the Pope the Cardinals and S. Francis conferring together and that according to the gestures and motions they vsed it seemed that the Pope would giue the bulle of this indulgence to S. Francis who refused it and one of the Cardinals standing vp tooke a booke in his hand wherin he read these wordes A plenarie indulgence of all sinnes att S. Marie of Angels graunted in earth and confirmed in heauen and tourning leafe by leafe he still read the same thing and hauing tourned it all ouer and so read the said booke the vision disappeared and the pilgrime to his great contentment rested fullie satisfied of the meritt and vertue of the said indulgence The Bishop of Assisium named Illuminato diuers times made relatioÌ„ of a gentleman a very deuout pilgrime to whoÌ„ being by some dissuaded from goeing to gaine the said indulgence there appeared as he was in prayer a Religious man in habitt of a Deacon cloathed in white and exceedinglie glittering who thrice said vnto him The indulgence is true come secâ—rely Being so assured by the true Deacon of IESVS CHRISTS Francis with great confidence repayred thither in all his iorney diuulging this indulgence wherof he so much doubted before being related by other he recounted this his vision to the said Bishop of Assisium Certaine Pilgrimes comming from the marquisate of Ancona to gaine the said indulgence they mett some yong men who vnderstanding by them whither they went one of them deridingly said that indulgence whither you goe is as true as that I hold in my hand that swallow that flyeth in the aire which hauing said he instantlie saw the swallow in his hand att which miracle both the pilgrimes and those present were all amazed the said yong man acknowledged hisfault and accused himselfe the Pilgrimes confirmed in faith proceeded on their iorney euery where recounting what had befallen them to the praise of God so highly zealous of the saluation of miserable soules Gerard de Fighnio being very passionately amourous of an honest woman to whom he could in no sort gett to speake by reason that she was almost alwayes retired in her house and accompanyed when she went abroad he attended an occasion the deuill hauing alreadie led him into error when according to her custome she should of deuotion goe to our Lady of Angels hoping either in the way or in the church some opportunity would be offered of speaking vnto her the time being come he ioyned himselfe in company with many
went where he pleased and S. Antony retourning into Riminy there conuerted the rest of the heretiques that being there had not bin present att the miracle How he conuerted a very obstinate heretike by a miracle of the blessed sacrameÌ„t THE XIX CHAPTER SAinct Antony preaching one time att Tholousse though some affirme it to be att Riminy against a very obstinate heretike of the reall Presence of IESVS C. in the B. Sacrament he many times coÌ„uinced him euen by reasons in which the heretike not knowing what to answeare told the S. that in deed he was forced to yeld in dispute but the reason was because he was more subtill a greater philosopher and better learned then himselfe which he acknowledged but could not yet confesse and acknowledge that his affirmations were to be beleeued and therfore challenged him to proue by effectes and shew him by some miracle of the B. Sacrament wherby he might know that God was present there which if he could performe he did promise and sweare to adhere to his opinion and beliefe The sainct answeared him that he should consider and bethinck himselfe what miracle he desired by the grace of God he should see it effected The heretike replyed that he would shutt vp a mule and keep her three dayes without meat then they both would be present together himselfe with ores the S. with the B. Sacrament and if the mule did leaue the otes and adore the B. Sacrament he would be content also to adore the same S. Antony accepted this condition And the third day being come they both present att a publike place the holy Father hauing celebrated masse before he communicated he shewed the sacred Host vnto the people that held burning torches in their handes there being presente the greatest personnes of the cittie who attended him to the place where the proofe was to be made The heretike was there ready with the hungry Mule which alreadie smelled the oates which her master had brought and brayed after them Sainct Antonie then commaunded her by the vertue of the liuing God who was present in the Host which there he held to adore it Her master also cast before her all the oates he had yet leauing the oates she came with her head declined very humbly to adore the B. Sacrament before which she kneeled downe to the exceeding contentment of the Catholikes there present and the confusion of many heritikes especially of the aforesaid who was conuerted together with them Of the conuersion of many heritikes by a miracle of S. Antonyes eating poysoned meat without receauing any detriment THE XX. CHAPTER THis miracle so encreased the hatred of heretikes against him that they resolued to procure his death And to this purpose one of them inuited him to his table which the sainct promised in hope by some familier discourses to conuert him Euen as for the same end our Redeemer did eat with Publicans and sinners Sainct Antony then being att table with manie heretikes he knew by diuine reuelation that the meat sett before him was poysoned as also the wine appointed for him to drinck for which he modestly checked them 〈…〉 their treachery But they in steed of being confounded and acknowledgeing their fact with a brasen face answeared him that IESVS CHRIST in his gospell promised his disciples that albeit they should drinck or eat poyson it should not hurt them And therfore sayd they had they done that onlie to proue that speech so that if he refused to eat therof he must acknowledge the Gospell to be false wherevpon the holy Father consulting with himselfe what he should doe fouÌ„d therin some difficulty for one the one side he feared it might proue a tempting of God who seemed to haue reuealed the same vnto him to the end he should forbeare it on the other side desirous not to preiudice the gospell he resolued to eat the poyson on condition they would become Catholikes if it did not hurt him wherto they accorded and the S. said vnto them Well then my masters I drinck and eat your poysonned meat and drinck not with a will to tempt God whose wordes I firmely beleeue but to manifest vnto you the truth of his word and also as zealous of his gospell to whome althinges obey then he dranck and eat therof without receauing any detriment either then or afterward Which the heretikes perceauing they were conuerted to the faith of the gospell the wordes wherof they had experienced to be puissant aboue all naturall reason and in deed it was reasonable they should expell the poyson out of their soules seeing corporall poyson by vertue of the wordes of the gospell to be annichilated How in one sermon and att one time he was heard by many strangers to preach in their seuerall languages and a woman heard him far off THE XXI CHAPTER POpe Gregory the ninth published a great Iubilie att Rome there to declare the expedition of the Christians called Croisade against the Mores who then had possession of the holy land in respect wherof there was a great concourse of people att Rome that repayred thither from all partes of Europe S. Antony one day preaching there before a huge assembly of people the nomber being exceeding great of French Grecians English Italians Almanes Sclauonians Spaniards and other strangers they all heard him preach in their owne naturall tongue as heretofore the Apostles of our Sauiour had bin which much amazed the people But besides this the Pope hauing heard this sermon called him the holy arke of the testament in regard of the merueillous copiosity of hâ—â— doctrine and eloquence wherwith he in such sort lincked together the sentences and wordes of holy scripture by new and high 〈…〉 wherby it manifestly appeared that it was not he but the holy Ghost that spake who by his holy seruant taught these people the true meane to ascend to heauen This other miracle was also of no small consequence A woman exceedingly desiring to heare S. Antony preach her husband not permitting her to goe because it was a great league from the citty she went vp into her corne-loft so to content her sight with beholding the place where her spiritt was to witt the Church where was the Sainct where her body could not be which performing very attentiuely and a long time she admired to heare the Sainct beginne his sermon wherfore calling her husband she protested that from the place where she was she miraculously heard sainct Antonyes sermon vsing the same gestures that he did and relating his wordes wherin she so persisted to confirme hir husband that himselfe would needes make triall therof and to that end mounting into the garrett he putt his head out att the windoe and heard the end of the same sermon then presentlie went to conferre with such as had bin personallie present and found that the wordes which his wife affirmed to haue heard in the beginning of the sermon were the verie same that the
the violence of the water that it retourned impetuouslie into the chanell where it drowned nine children playing there wherof two being found were presentlie buryed The said gentleman retourning from Padua of his first friendes that he mett he demaunded how his sonne did they vnwilling to deliuer him such vnwelcome newes answeared they thought he was well because it was not long since he played therby with his companions This poore father passed farther and came to his house where he asked for his sonne His seruantes seemed not to heare him and endeauoured to diuert him from such demaund but he said he would neither eat nor drinck till he had seene him Which constrayned them to declare vnto him the infortunate disaster of his sonne which hauing vnderstood he became out of himselfe but afterwardes by litle and litle recouering his spirittes he swoare and very obstinately protested that he would neither eat nor drinck till sainct Antony had restored him his sonne which with a very feruent faith expecting a litle after his sonne entred in where he was with other nine of his companions that by the merittes of sainct Antony had bin saued with him for which they praysed God in his sainct and glorified him with hart and voice It is found to be recorded that the two other children companions of the foresaid which were already buryed were also raysed by the merittes of the S. who had compassion of the clamours that their parentes made vnto him In Apulia in the citty of Monoplia a child did so vndermine a pitt neerevnto the Frere Minors that the earth hauing no support brake downe vpon him where he was buryed without appearance of any reliefe His mother vnderstaÌ„ding therof ran instantly to the monastery of Frere Minors crying and often reiterating these wordes O S. Antony restore me my child In meane while they were busy in taking vp the earth froÌ„ the pitt wherein they found the childe aliue though much troubled who was asked how it was possible that so much earth had not choaked him He answeared that S. Antony had still held his hand vnder his throat to giue him meanes to breath which gaue all those present occasion to praise and thanck God in his sainct Of many miracles wrought against such as would not beleeue the glory of the Sainct THE XXXIV CHAPTER A Chaplain belonging to the Bishop of Padua hearing the first miracles of S. Antony related would not only not belieue them but euen did iest and scoffe att them But he presently felt the diuine reuenge for he was striken with an extreme sharp and pestilencious feauer which did so enfeeble him and brought him to that extremitie that he was in danger of death Wherupon acknowledging his offence and repenting the third day of his sicknesse he called his mother to whome he confessed his fault and protested he was exceedinglie grieued therat then he prayed her to goe to the sepulcher of the S. there to seeke to obtaine mercie and in his name to promise that thenceforward in steed of incredulity and dirision he would firmelie beleeue publikely preach and manifest the glorie of this miracle to all the world It was admirable to consider the mother goeing thither she inuocated the Sainct then made the vow and in that very instant the sick party was cured leaping out of his bed to the great admiration of all that were present A certaine old gentleman that had bin an heretike from his infancie setting one day att table heard many miracles recounted of sainct Antony whereatt gibing and reputing all fabulous he tooke a drincking glasse of crystall and threw it out att the windoe saying If sainct Antonie can preserue that glasse from breaking I will henceforward hold him for a sainct and the glasse being very forciblie cast against the stones was miraculouslie preserued entier This heretike seeing so manifest a miracle was moued not onlie to belieue that Sainct Antonie was truelie and reallie a Sainct but was also induced to forsake his herâ—sie and abiuring it sincerelie to embrace our faith which he performed Diuers persons eating att table fell into discourse of the miracles of the sainct and after many relations one of them recounted that of the glasse aforesaid exceedinglie admiring and wondring therat an other of them that was a companion and scoffer doubting of this miracle saw withered branches of a vigne wherof he tooke a handfull and in the other hand a glasse saying If Sainct Antony would make grapes to grow out of these branches and that their iuyce and liquor would fill this glasse I would hold it a miracle and then would I beeleue the former miracle you recounted Which he had no sooner spoaken but all the sprigges of the branches which this scoffing fellow held budded forth leaues and then very faire grapes which being crushed together filled the glasse with liquor and by this meane the vertue of S. Antony was acknowledged and confessed by those that formerlie derided him Sainct Antonie was become famous and reuerenced att Padua for the miracles by him there ordinarilie wrought wheratt neuerthelesse some heretiques did ordinarilie scoffe and gibe and one time they purposed publikelie to deride them and to that end presented themselues att the Church dedicated to the sainct and being before the sepulcher they began to cry and lament saying that one of them who had a hand kirchefe before his eyes which they had embrued with bloud that it might be thought his eyes were thrust out according to their crye had in a quarrell vnfortunately lost both his eyes and therfore they exhorted the people to pray for this wretched blind man who of his owne part omitted not to pray to God and fayned to inuocate the sainct cunninglie playing the hypocrite Now after they had spent about an houre vpon this subiect the blinde fellow purposed to take off his handkirchefe to make a shew first that he was cured as he cryed and protested that by this fact he might afterwardes inferre that as often as any miracles were wrought by sainct Antony they were supposed and suborned as that was But they were much amazed when they saw the two prunelles out of the Imposters eyes when as they determined and thought to deride the sainct and therfore changing their laughter into teares and their quibbes and scoffes into prayers they with such a faith humbled themselues that att length they obtayned the recouerie of their imposters sight An hereticall soldier meeting a poore leaper that went to the sepulcher of sainct Antony to be cured sayd vnto him Friend thou loosest they labour and time for I assure thee if sainct Antony euer cure thee of thy leaprosie I am content to haue it The poore Leaper yet omitted not to proceeded in his iorney and being att the sepulcher of S. Antony he fell a sleepe The S. appeared vnto him in a dreame and sayd goe and carry thy clappers to the soldier that thou mettest in the way
thou bestow on him that should giue thee feet and he answeared that he would giue him an hundred duckettes if he had so much And if one would giue thee handes he answeared he would giue him al his welth moueables immoueables If one would giue thee eyes to him sayd he I would oblige my selfe in seruice al my life You must now theÌ„ brother that in this world God hath giuen thee feet handes and eyes and the whole body with all thy teÌ„porall and spirituall substance therfore thou must endeauour to please him and to acknwledge such and so many benefites for which thou oughtest to serue him all the time of thy life A discourse of Faith THE XXIII CHAPTER ALl the thinges that can be seene related or imagined are as nothing in comparison of those that cannot be seene heard or coÌ„ceaued All the wisest and most holy personnes that haue bin are and shal be who haue spoaken and shall speake of God haue sayd nothing nor can say any thing in comparison of what he is no more then the point of a needle in respect of the heauens the earth and all the creatures therein contayned yea a thousand times lesse Two Religious of the Order of S. Dominick one day visiting Brother Giles and discoursing which him of faith one of them sayd sainct Iohn the Euangelist hath recorded many merueilous thinges of God Wherto the holy Father answeared Brother S. Iohn hath sayd nothing of God The Religious replyed Father consider well if you please what you say for S. Augustin is of opinion that if S. Iohn had spoaken more highly of God no mortall man could aue vnderstood him Br. Giles then againe I tell you brother and once againe I tell you that S. Iohn hath said litle or nothing of God These Religious being much troubled and scandalized att the holy Father would needes be gon and tourning away Br. Giles stayed them and shewed them a very high mountaine whereon was the oratory of Cettone neere where vnto they then were and sayd vnto them If there were one mountaine made of a thousand together so great as that you see and att the foot therof a litle bird did eat of it tell me brethren I pray you how much would he diminish of that mountaine euery day euery month euery yeare yea in an hundred yeares they answeared him that in a thousand yeares he would consume so litle as should not be perceaued The holy Father thervpoÌ„ inferred Know you my Brethren that the eternall diuinity is so immensiue and is a mountaine of such eminent hight that S. Iohn who was as a bird hath said litle or nothing in comparison of the greatnes of God These Religious acknowledgeing how prudently Brother Giles had spoaken fell att his feet confessing their errours and so retourned exceedingly edified Br. Giles one day discoursing of spirituall matters with a lawyer that was a Iudge in some place O Iudge sayd he beleeue you that the recompenses which God promiseth his seruantes are great the Iudge answeared he did Br. Giles proceeding sayd I will proue that you doe not How much are you worth the iudge answeared about a thousaÌ„d crownes Well said the Father se now how you beleeue it only in wordes for tel me if you could giue your thousand crownes for an huÌ„dred thousand would you not esteeme it a great gaine would you not presently employ them I beleeue you would and yet you will not giue them for the kingdome of heauen What followeth then but that you doe not much esteeme nor much valew the glory of the heauenly kingdome in regard of the friuolous follies of this world And the reason is because you haue no liuely faith Yet the Iudge vnwilling to yeld replyed to Br. Giles Father beleeue you that euery one worcketh as much as he beleeueth the holy Father answeared he that beleeueth well and perfectly worcketh and perfoâ—meth worckes correspondente as did the sainctes who did all the good they could and haue accomplished by pious desires what they could not performe in effect And if one haue a perfect and liuely faiâ—h he would arriue to that estate as God would giue him a perfect knowledge and assurance euen of diuine thinges as sayth the Apostle to the Romanes I am sure that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers neither thinges present nor things to come neither might nor height nor depth nor other creature shal be able to separate vs from the charity of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. And the man that assuredly hopeth this eternall soueraine recompence doth not regard any afflictioÌ„ as on the contrary no good can satisfie him that despaireth of the eternal good in so much as a sinner should neuer despaire of the mercy of God whiles he hath life coÌ„sidering that there is no tree so thorny disordered but men if they list can prune and rectifie it Much lesse can there be so great a sinner in the world as that God cannot adorne him with his graces and vertues A discours of Charity and of what the Prophet meant when he said that all his friendes did deceaue him THE XXIV CHAPTER CHarity is the principall of all the vertues happy is he that feeleth not in himselfe any disgust of the thinges which he ought alwayes to desire Brother Giles put this question to a Religious with whome he was very familier doe you beleeue that I loue you the Religious answeared he did Wel then said the holy Father beleeue it no more for a creature ought not sincerely to loue but the Creatour who is pure and infinite An other Religious said to the holy Father I beseech you Father make me vnderstaÌ„d how that must be interpreted which the Prophet saith Euery friend deceiueth Wherto he answeared I deceiue you in that I doe not search your good as I doe mine owne For the more I repute your good to be mine owne the lesse shall I deceaue you the more a man reioyceth att his neighbours good the more doth himselfe participate therin therfore if you desire to participate therof striue to reioyce therat to procure Charity is the truest most sure way of saluation sith that therby one doth not only reioyce att the good of his neighbour but is also grieued att his crosses he beleeueth and iudgeth well of others and euill of himselfe he honoureth others and mispriseth himselfe He that will not honour an other shall not be honoured and he that knoweth not himselfe shall not be knowne he that will not weary himselfe shall not repose also the greatest of all labours and the most meritorious is to labour in piety and benignity he that doeth a good worck without loue and charity is not gratefull to God nor to his sainctes but he that for the loue of God maketh himselfe poore of temporall substance shal be rich of such as are celestial A man then ought