the worckes of charity so was he honoured of God in this life by merueillous actions miracles For he expelled the euill spirittes out of humane bodyes he cured all kind of diseases Wherin was accomplished the prophesie of his mother who confidently affirmed that he being a child it was reuealed vnto her that he should proue a sainct The day of his death was reuealed vnto him three weekes before he dyed And thervpon he sayd to his people that he was shortly by the diuine will to depart out of this life And so the three weekes being expired being fortified with the sacraments of the Church making a end answearable to the worth of his life he yelded his soule vnto God the yeare 1303. the 19. of May 50. of his age His feast is celebrated the same month day and in some places the 27. day of October by reason of his translation Of some other holy persons of the third Order of S. Francis THE XXV CHAPTER THere haue bin many other SS of this coÌ„fraternity of the third Order of Penitents of S. Francis the history particuler life of whome would be too tedious to be inserted And therfore we will rest coÌ„tent with the only rehearsall of the names of such as by many authors are recorded Among the SS of this Order is reckoned S. Lewis king of France and queene Blanch his mother who was daughter to the king of Castille The blessed Luchesius of Poggibongy whose reliques are in Toscane in a monastery of Frere Minors scituat on the mount imperiall where they are exceedingly reuereÌ„ced S. Bonne-femme the wife of the sayd Signiour Luchesius S. Lucius who was the first that sainct Francis receaued into the third Order of Penitents Nicoluccius Sienos and Iames de la Lande Priest by whome our Lord wrought many miracles S. Peter Romanus who was martyred by the Soldan Bonacius de Voltera Peter de Colle Alexander of Perusia Leo Archbishop of Milan Walter Bishop of Tremise and Richard Bishop of Alexandria doctour of diuinity Charles Dendono of Manfeltâ—e Iohn of Rauerie Torcello of Puppio Bartholomew of S. Giminian Peter Petinarius and of the blessed Thomas Vntius of Tullinium who by miracles prophesie was very famous All the aforesayd haue bin famous in sanctity of life and in great reputation of vertues and miracles The names of many holy women of this Order S. Rosa of Viterbium sainte Margarit of Cortone sainte Aemiliana of Florence sainte Clare of Mont-faucon in whose hart after her death was found a crucifix with all the mysteries of the passion and many other Ladyes among whoÌ„ is placed an Empresse which women were very venerable and worthy of perpetuall memory Which if they haue not obtayned heere below among earthly people they enioy it with far greater glory among the Angels SS in the celestiall kingdome by which fruit it appeareth that this holy confraternity of Penitents instituted by the holy Father S. Francis was assisted by the holy Ghost to the end that Christians of free estate maryed persons and widoes that cannot support the burden of Religion may in their houses produce fruites worthy of penance to the saluation of their soules and for the loue of IESVS CHRIST The end of the ninth booke THE TENTH BOOKE OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE FRIER MINORS OF THE SFRAPHICALL FATHER S. FRANCIS WHERIN ARE RECORDED MANY notable thinges happened in the first beginning of the said Order An aduertisment of the first Translatour vnto the Reader DEuout reader you must not meruayle that in this booke we haue not followed the order of the author for we haue thus done for a better disposition of this worck and for your greater satisfaction placing the chapters that concerne the life of the holy Father S. Francis in their place which I suppose the author omitted because wanting knowledge of them att first he would not afterward take the paine to change the methode which he had with so much labour begun though we for the glory of God only and your contentment haue willingly vndertaken the same Know then that The first and second chapter are placed after the last chap. of the second booke The 3. chap. after the 27. of the second booke The 4. chap. after the 30. of the second booke The 5. chap. after the last of the booke And the 6. chap. after the 30. of the first booke Of what arriued to two Religious of S. Francis with a Tyrant whome they conuerted to penâ—tence THE VII CHAPTER WHen first S. Francis with the Benediction of God and his own sent his first disciâ—les to preach penaÌ„ce ouer the world to the end they might communicate vnto men the fruites of their good life and by their example and the edification of their pious worckes renew the church of God being in forraine contryes among barbarous natioÌ„s they that saw theÌ„ with admiration sayd what â—aâ—ity is this we haue neuer seene men thus attyred bare-footed liuing so austerely and so different from all other Religious that they rather seeme wild men then other Neuertheles when they entred into any particuler place or house they would say God giue you peace and would admonish the inhabitants to feare and loue God as the Creatout of heauen and earth and exhort them to labour alwayes in the obseruation of his holy commandements to doe penance and to amend their liues And albeit few were found to whome these exhortations were gratefull yet they mett with curious persons that made so many demandes as they were much troubled to giue them answeare As wheÌ„ce they were whence they came Of what Order they were how and wherof they liued who was their cheefe And in fine by what aucthority they preached Whereto with patience and humility thy answeared that they were Religious of penance of our Ladyes of Angels att Assisium that their pâ—incipall head and directour was Brother Francis and that by ordinance and commandement of the Pope they preached penance Others seeing them so disguised and hearing them speake with such simplicity reputed them fooles cousening or deluding companioÌ„s and would not admitt them into their houses for feare thy would robbe them whence it often arriued that none hauing compassion to harbour them they slept in the church porches or vnder pent-houses so perseuering by their example of pouerty and humility they att length moued the most obdurat harts to compassion and deuotion left many places edified in the feare of God And theâ—fore the reputation of their vertues encreasing they daily produced singuler fruites of good example among which this is one which we now intend to relate It happened one time that two new Religious but true children of the holy Father saint Francis trauelling through a contry which they neither knew nor they knowne to any they came to a castell that was a retuge to certaine theeues of whome was captaine a noble man of great family but of most vicious life whither being come weary feeble
being not full but neere a yeare after his death Wherto there directly opposed himselfe a Cardinall which caused further proceeding to be deferred till the day following but the first night after the Cardinall had this dreame It seemed vnto him that his holinesse would consecrate an Altare and to that end demaunded holy reliques of him But he not knowing what to giue him heard a voice that said Giue him of the new reliques of S. Antony Wherevpon this Cardinall awakinge sollicited the Pope more then any other to hasten the canonization of the S. as hauing bin by this diuine voice fully assured of his great merittes Besides the approbation of the vnder written miracles wrought after his death nor including those wrought in his life time he cured nineteene that were lame fiue of the palsie fiue that were crooked six blinde three deafe three mute two of the gout he raised two to life and cured diuers others of sundry diseases For which cause the yeare 1232. on the day of Penticost he was enrolled by the Pope in the Catalogue of Sainctes with great solemnitie The said Pope composed and sung that worthy antheme O Doctor optime and ordayned it to be sung in all churches the day of his feast which was constitued to be yearly the thirteenth of Iune One the day of his canonization all the belles of his cittie of Lisbone did ring of themselues to the exceeding contentment of all personnes wherof they knew no cause but that they felt an inestimable ioy in their hartes but they vnderstood afterward that their contryman and fellow-cittizen S. Antony had bin that day canonized The bulle of the aforesaid canonization taken out of the tenth chapter of the sixt booke and heere more properly placed GRegory bishop seruant of the seruantes of God to our venerable Brethren Archbishops Bishoppes health and Apostolicall benediction As God saith by the Prophett I will make you honoured and praysed of all people and by the sage he promiseth that the iust shall shine in the presence of God as the sunne so it seemeth vnto vs expedient that we also here on earth below doe prayse the sainctes which his diuine Maiestie hath crouned in heauen and considering withall that God is knowne and adored principally in them who is praiseworthy and glorious in his Sainctes and that miraculously to manifest his omnipotencie and his mercy towardes our saluation he euen ennobleth here below by miracles his faithfull seruantes with whome he hath concurred to the meritt of eternall glory and this to confound the obstinacie of many heretikes and to confirme his church in his holy Catholique Apostolike and Romane faith and to expell out of lukewarme hartes all sloath and negligence awakening them to good worckes by these holy examples and that the hartes of heretikes might be made plyable to belieue by effect what they seeme not to vnderstand by the holy scriptures and finally that all Iewes and Pagans the vaile of blindnes being taken from before their eyes may see this transparent light of the omnipotencie of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST and that they may not alleadge for excuse that they had no occasion deseruing their conuersion vnto him and their acknowledgement of him for true God and true man Wherfore my beloued we yeld thanckes to this bountifull giuer of all goodnes if not as we ought at least as we may for that it hath pleased him for confirmation of our holy faith and the confusion of heretikes to bestow on vs holy and famous men in these dayes who by signes and manifest miracles haue declared how true inestimable and indubitable is the faith of the holy Romane Church sith they who dye therein so dye in the grace of God that they glitter twinckle and shine in the world as Sunnes in the firmament Therfore being therein but one faith and the same by this diuine and manifest approbation appearing most true the falshood of all others must be very euident Of the nomber of those that haue meritted to worck miracles before and after their death is the blessed Father S. Antony of the Order of the Frere Minors who liuing in this world was very famous for his great merittes and liuing now in heauen he shineth by many miracles which are ordinarily wrought att his sepulcher wherof we are assured as well by very authenticall worthy actes as by reuelation of personnes worthy of creditt These two thinges merittes and miracles suffice to giue testimony among men of the sanctity of a man yea they suffice to make vs yeld to honour and inuocate them as our intercessors vnto God which two thinges are taken out of this text of the Gospell They goeing forth preached euery where our lord worcking withall and confirming the word with signes that followed For this cause we haue giuen order to the abouesaid Bishop to Br. Giles Iourdain Priour of the Order of S. Benett and to Br. Iohn Priour of S Augustins in the monastery of the Iacobins of Padua that they should make an exact examen and approued catalogue of the miracles of the said Sainct which we hauing seene to be conformable to that which by our owne experience we know to be very true touching his life and holy conuersatiō that it may not seeme we would hinder or depriue him of his praise being therevnto vrged by the said Bishop of Padua and the reuerence of the seruantes of God which so notoriously deserue the same and by the aduise of our venerable Brethren the Cardinalls of the holy Roman Church and of all the Prelates att this present neere vnto vs we haue enrolled him in the Catalogue of the SS Wherfore the candell not being sett on the candlesticke but to giue light we pray and commaund all those to whome the knowledge of these presents shall come that in vertue of this Apostolicall Breuie they induce their subiectes and procure them solemnly and reuerentlie to keepe and honour his feast which is the thirteenth of Iune to the end that God being moued and appeased by his holie prayers doe giue vs his holie grace in this life and his glorie in the other Besides that the sepulcher of this worthie Confessour who by the splendour of his miracles beautifieth our holie Church be with the honour due vnto it visited and frequented we trusting in the diuine grace and in the aucthoritie of the glorious Apostles sainct Peter and sainct Paul we mercifullie remitte and release a yeares penance enioyned them to all those that truelie confessed and penitent doe on the day of his feast and all the octaue of euerie yeare visitt the same Giuen att Spoletum the twelfeth of Iulie in the sixt yeare of our Popedome How his body was transported into the said church of Padua then into that where it now is and wherefore THE XXXI CHAPTER POpe Alexander the fourth desiring to deliuer manie Citties of Lombardie from the cruelty of the Tyran Ezelin that had vsurped almost all the
was he by a speciall grace of God alwayes preserued from vices and sinnes but being by his eternall maiesty induced to shunne the snares of the deuill hauing for the loue of IESVS CHRIST giuen all he had to the poore he in the time of Sainct Francis became a Frere Minor and hauing obtayned of God the grace of contemplation and Euangelicall perfection he withall his iudustry laboured that the same might not proue vaine and fruitlesse in him He therfore much exercised himselfe in the vertue of holy obedience which is more pleasing to God then sacrifices In the most violent and extremest cold being almost naked he trauelled for the necessities of the Religious he continuallie employed himselfe in prayer dailie examining his conscience for the most part his reliefe was only bread and water with abondance of teares and by such like abstinence he mortified the concupiscences of his flesh to be able with more puritie to offer vp his soule in sacrifice vnto God He was exceeding compassionate vnto afflicted personnes and with alacrity serued the sicke not only Religious but the seculer also If there wanted phisike he demaunded it for the loue of God as also all other thinges necessarie he was very humble and therfore desirously laboured in the kitchen washed the dishes swept the house and very willingly busied himselfe in all other offices of humility If by any word or act he had giuen occasion of troubles to any one he would presently put a cord about his owne neck and so goe aske him pardon though he endured iniuryes done to himselfe as patiently as if no such thinge had bin he liued fifteene yeares in such and the like exercises of vertue and afterwardes in his death and since God hath discouered how gratefull the life of this his seruant was vnto him before his last sicknes he reuealed the day of his death and the place which he declared to one of his companions He trauelled to Ciuitadochia where being arriued he fell sick and few dayes after the terme of his life being exspired one night att mattins he shewed such an extraordinary ioyfull face as if he had some vision that made him euen exteriourly to reioyce Wherfore the Religious that attended him demaunded if he had seene any Angell of heauen or the holy Father Sainct Francis he answeared that he had not seene the holy Father S. Francis but of the Angel he sayd nothing Being in those ioyes he aduertised his companions of the death of one deuoted vnto him which was reuealed vnto him saying that William was already departed out of this world vnto almighty God and that himselfe should follow him the same day betweene none and euensonge which came to passe for att the time foretold this holy Religious Ambrose yelded his soule into the handes of his Creatour Of many muracles wrought by this glorious S. Ambrose THE XXXV CHAPTER THe nomber of miracles by which our Lord would approue the life and sanctity of his seruant Brother Ambrose was such that Pope Gregory the ninth by an Apostolicall breuie commanded the Bishop of Ciuitadochia and the Priour of S. Iohn of the Order of S. Augustin to meet and to examine the life and miracles of the S. and hauing perused them to approue them for autenticall This Briefe was giuen att the Palace of Lateran the 13. yeare of his Popedome by vertue wherof the said Prelates hauing made a most dilligent search they found that fourteene lame persons had by the merittes of this seruant of God bin cured as also foure deliuered of the falling sicknesse one dispossessed in his life time and two after his death six cured of mortall impostumes and one of a fistula He restored hearing to one that was deafe four men were cured of seuerall diseases a woman of the bloudie flux and an other whose child had bin foure monethes dead in her wombe he restored sight to foure that were blind and finally raysed many from death The said Prelates tooke notice of these and many other miracles but the death of the Pope peruerted his inscription in the catalogue of the SS in the Church militant though he were recorded in heauen where he raigneth with IESVS CHRIST in his Church triumphant making supplication to his diuine maiesty for those that in their necessities haue recourse vnto him Of the life of Br. Iuniperus disciple of S. Francis Of the exemplare humilitie and singuler patience of Brother Iuniperus THE XXXVI CHAPTER BRother Iuniperus was one of the first and most perfect disciples of S. Francis for he was so grounded in the firme and assured foundations of humility patience contempt of the world and of himselfe that no tormenting temptations of the deuill nor persecution of the world could in any sort remoue or desioyne him from his estate of perfection There was neuer any that saw him troubled or disquieted so couragiously did he support all iniuryes of wordes or actions Which brought him to such misprise of himselfe that many seeing him in such poore apparance and so ill treated not knowing his perfection esteemed him for a foole and sencelesse But S. Francis that knew him right well reputing him in the nomber of the perfect sayd that he should be a good and true Frere Minor that attayned the misprise of the world and of himselfe so far foorth as had done Brother Iuniperus and oftentimes considering his simplicities the contempt of himselfe and patience in reprehensions giuen him he would say to the Religious present My Brethren I desire and would to God I had a great forrest full of such Iunipers This worthy seruant of IESVS CHRIST oftentimes found new occasions for exercise of his patience to be misprised and reproached yet without offending God neuer shunning to be reputed a foole as when he one time entred into the citty of Viterbium hauing made a fardell of his habitt bound vp with his cord which he carryed on his shoulders and so went into the marckett place where the children seeing him almost naked vsed him as a foole reuiled him with wordes cast stones att him and berayed him with filth After he had left these that thus tormented him he went to the Couent where the Religious seeing him in such pittifull estate and vnderstanding by him wherefore he had bin so handled they were much scandalized att what he had don and tooke it in very ill part bitterly reprehending him for it some told him he deserued to be cudgelled others to be imprisonned others to be hanged for the great scandall he had giuen to the people but he accepted all these indignities with a very contented and ioyfull countenance as matter much desired of him and in signification of the interiour contentment he conceaued he tooke the fore part of his habitt and beholding those Religious that were most offended with his fact and rebuked him for it sayd vnto thē My freindes fill this I pray you with these iewels doe so feare not for I receaue them
thing proper neither house nor place nor what soeuer other thinge but lett them liue in this world as pilgrimes and strangers and lett them serue God who hath redeemed vs in pouerty and humility and seeke almose with out shame or dishonour considering that our lord Iesus-Christ would be poore for vs. Now by the liuely example of this Order and by the so great austerities and strict obseruations our lord reprehendeth the frensie and folly of the Christians who forgetfull of the pouerty of our Redeemer Iesus-Christ and of his seruantes doe ruine themselues by auarice by delicacies and dissolutions We hope that God will neuer permitt vs to want perfect Religious of this Order that shall admonish vs of our duety by their example before the eyes of his diuine Maiestie But S. Iohn the Euangelist and Prophett in his reuelations doth more particulerly demonstrate the time and estate of the glorious Fa. S. Francis and his holy disciples saying And I saw when the Angel had opened the sixt seale there was made a great earthquake and the sunne became black as it were sackcloth of haire which is a garment made of the haire of a horse and of very grosse woll and the whole moone became as bloud and the starres frō heauen fell vpon the earth After these thinges I saw foure Angels standing vpon the four corners of the earth holding the four windes of the earth that they should not blow vpon the land nor vpon the sea nor on any tree And I saw an other Angell ascending from the rising of the sunne hauing the signe of the liuing God and he cryed with a loud voice to the foure Angels to whome it was giuen to hurt the earth and the sea saying hurt not the earth and the sea nor the trees till we signe the seruantes of our lord in their foreheades This Prophesie occording to the testimony of Vbertinus was preached by S. Bonauenture att Paris in a Prouinciall chapter as already verified in the Person of the holy Father S. Francis adding that he was by diuine reuelation assured that S. Iohn the Euangelist in this passadge had his eye on S Francis and on his sacred Religion The same is affirmed by Brother Iohn of Parma who was a right holy and Religious man and famous by many miracles that God wrought by him But for the more easie intelligence hereof it must be vnderstood that by the seauen visions of S. Iohn in his Apocalipse are signified the seauen ages or estates of the Church The first age was of the foundation therof made by our Lord IESVS Christ and his Apostles in Iurie which began at his preaching and continued till the Martyrdome of the Apostles This was figured by the first vision of the seauen Churches in the first and second chapter The second age was of the confirmation of the faith with the bloud of the martyrs shed thorough all the world by Pagans and Idolators which began att the persecution of Nero figured by the second vision of seauē seales in the 5. chapter The third age was doctrine in the same being declared the mysteries of our faith and all heresies clearlie refuted It began in the time of the Emperour Constantin who assembled the Councell of Nice against the heresie of Arius figured by the third vision of the seauen trompettes in the seauenth chapter The fourth age was solitary and Eremeticall life performed with long and great austeritie of life and contemplation of spiritt till the time of S. Antony figured in the fourth vision of the woman clothed with the sunne in the twelueth chapter The fift age was when the holy Church began to abound in temporall riches as well Religious as Clearkes it began in the time of Charles the great figured by the fist vision of the seauen golden vessels in the fifteenth chapter The sixt age of the renouation of Euangelicall life is of the warre against the sectes of Antechrist performed by the voluntary poore who possesse not any thing in this life it began in the Seraphicall Father S Francis author and institutor of the Frier Minors figured by the sixt vision of the abhominable and puissante woman of Babilon in the seauenteenth chapter The seauenth age shal be hereafter both in a merueillous repose and participation of warre which is to come in earth and shall shortly come in perfection in the generall resurrection of all the sainctes of God it shall haue his begymning in death before the comming of our Redeemer IESVS Christ to iudge it is figured in the twentith chapter of the Apocalypse when the dragon shall finally be condemned and the elect glorified So that in the first age did florish the perfection of Prelacie and the Pastorall care of the Church those were the holy Apostles In the second florished the estate of Martyrdome by the combatt and triumph of the Champions of IESVS Christ In the third florished the Voice of Preachers and Doctours the trompett of the diuine wisdome In the fourth the sanctity and ornament of contemplatiue life in those that liued and led an Euangelicall and celestiall life on earth In the fift florishhed the zeale of iustice by which one discendeth to a commune and lesse perfect life in the zealous iust institutors of Reguler estates In the sixt florished the estate of the imitation of IESVS Christ reformed by the Church in the true imitators of Euangelicall life In the seauenth afterward shall florish the tast and swetnes of the glory which God shall communicate vnto his elect for the wearysome labours which one shall haue voluntarily and affectionatly suffered here on earth as farre foorth as humane infirmity shall haue ability to support and God shal be pleased to inspire into vs. And our Lord hath ordayned these estates and these ages according to the necessities of the holy Church against his ennemies the diuels and against wicked men their followers who together maintaine ancient warre against his Church though tolerated by God for the greater glory of the elect for none shal be crowned but he that couragiously combatteth So was the first estate against the carnall and grosse intelligences ceremonies of the Iewes The second against the idolatry of the Pagans The third against the Arrians and other heretikes The fourth against the carnall and detestable sect of Mahomet The fift against the life of loose Christians dishonoring thēselues The sixt against the pestiferous poyson of Antechrist The seauenth against the army of deuils and their sectatours who in these latter dayes shall trouble the Church more then euer We ought neuertheles to conceiue that though the said estates be thus separated and each one haue his particuler property yet the one participating of the quality and property of the other they come in a certaine manner to entermingle together by reason that there euer haue bin and shal be in the Church of God Prelates Martyrs Confessors all affectionate and perfect imitatours of IESVS Christ It is a
morning sacrifice and he as a sacrifice of the euenning God permitting that according well on earth they should by the merittes of the prayer of his seruant be also vnited in heauen leauing to the inhabitantes of that place a perpetuall memory of so worthy a miracle Of certaine apparissions made vnto S. Francis in his contemplation THE XCIX CHAPTER THe holy Father S. Francis alwayes sought solitary places wherrin he might more freelie conuerse with God and discourse with his Angels and there making his celle of bowes of trees distant from those of the other Religious he enioyned Brother Leo his companion to visitt him no more then once a day and to bring him only bread and water and once in the night att the houre of Matines and att his comming to say Domine Labia â—ea aperies and if he answeared Et os meum aâ—nuâ—ciabit laudem tuam then he should enter to say matines with him but if he answeared not he should depart in peace because he was sometime so rauished in extasie that he could not speake day nor night Brother Leo very seriously obserued the commandement of the holy Father neuertheles he sometime watched him for his consolation he oftentimes saw him eleuated into the aire and then he boldly embraced his feet when they were low enough to doe it for att such time he was lifted higher then a great tree and att other times so high that the eye of man could not attaine the sight of him which when Brother Leo saw he would fall on his knees vnder him and aske mercy of God This Religious â—â—counted that he saw him once on his knees hauing his countenauce fixed towardes heaven and his handes ioyned together when he heard him vtter these wordes which with great effusion of teares he often repeated Who art thou my God and who am I att which wordes he saw a light to descend on his head and in the same heard a voice that spake vnto him but he could not vnderstand the wordes being remote from him for feare the Sainct should perceaue him and of reuerence reputing himselfe vnworthy to heare the diuine secrettes he only saw S. Francis thâ—ise to putt his hand into the said flame of fire which done the vision disappeared But Brother Leo could not goe so gently but the holy Father heard some noyse and therefore sayd I command thee in vertue of our Lord IESVS CHRIST whosoeuer thou be to stay there Brother Leo staying said Father it is I. S. Francis calling him checked him for it but Brother Leo acknowledging his fault prayed him that sith he had pardonned him he would also so much fauour him as to tell him what signified the vision which he had seene The holy Father willing to satisfie him in this manner expounded it vnto him Know that when you saw that light discend from aboue God communicated vnto me the knowledge of his diuine maiesty and of my selfe which was it that I demaunded of him saying My God who art thou and who am I that is his greatnes and worth and my extreme basenes and the very nothing that I am and therefor I neuer accustomed to reiterate those wordes After this reuelation I said vnto him whence is it then my God that thou voutsafed so to gratifie a worme of the earth such as my selfe so abiect and vile and he answeared me such high matters as humane vnderstanding is not capable to conceaue them Before he departed he demaunded of me to offer him some thing I answeared that I had nothing in this world and that my selfe was his that I had giuen my selfe to him for â—uer and therfore knew not what to offer him Then he commaunded â—e me to putt my hand into his bosome and to present vnto him that which I should founde there which I did And I found there three medalles or balles of gold which I three seuerall times offered vnto him Then he pleased to explicate vnto me that those three balles signified precious pouâ—rty resplendent charity and rich and golden obedience which by his grace I acknowledged to haue in such sort offred vnto him that my conscience doth not any way reprehend me in the obseruation of them Now in counterchaunge of this gift which I presented he of his infinite bounty graunted me that I should euer be thanckfull vnto him both in mouth and hart for this and all other benefittes which his diuine maiesty hath bestowed on me and which I reputed not mine but his For this then was it that thou sawest me stretch out my hand three seuerall times Now sith I haue satisfied thee I command thee that whiles I shall liue thou discouer it to no person of the world and that thou watch me no more when I shal be in prayer Goe then with the benediction of God into your celle and pray to God for me for with in few dayes God will worck such meruaylous thinges in this mountaine that all the world shall admire it He meant the holy impression of his stigmates Of an other apparition vnto the holy Father THE C. CHAPTER AVery yong and simple Religious being in an Oratory where the Religious accustomed to retire themselues when they went into the desert S. Francis being then there and being surprised by the night he was to remaine there to take his rest and then he determined to see that which he had so often heard spoaken of the holy Father S. Francis to witt that when he prayed in the night he did merueilous thinges Wherefore euery one being gone to rest he placed himselfe att the feet of the holy Father and that he should not goe away without him he tied their girdles together to the end that if he arose he might be awakened But this deuise litle auayled for S. Francis arising very gently loosed the cordes and went to pray otherwhere The Religious that was a sleepe with his cogitation running on his desire was not long from awaking and finding himselfe alone and deceaued purposed att aduentures to follow him through the woods to whome God was so fauourable that he found the holy Father in prayer on the toppe of a Mountaine and he seeming to heare some speech saw a merueilous spleÌ„dour that enuiroÌ„ned the S. and therin our lord IESVS CHRIST with the glorious virgin his mother S. Iohn the Euangelist and an infinite nuÌ„ber of Angels that were there present which the Religious seeing he was seased with such a terrour that he fell as dead to the ground and had no feeling till the holy Father hauing ended his prayer and retourning to his celle by reason of the darcknes of the night stumbled against him So conceauing presently who he was embracing him and laying him on his necke the best he could and God assisting him as a good Pastour he carryed his beloued sheep to the folde and hauing reduced him to himselfe made him report what he had seene he likewise commaunded him not to
to you simple and to other in paraboles Manie monthes after that S. Francis being att our ladie of Angels the same Religious in extreme temptation recommended againe vnto him the aforesaid licence to haue a psalter to whome the holie Father said goe doe what the vicar generall hath graunted thee The Religious retourned whence he came but the holy Father considering what he had graunted went after him and ouertaking him said my sonne retourne with me and show me the place where I bid thee doe with the psalter what the vicar generall had permitted thee Comming thither S. Francis fell on his knees before the said Religious saying Brother I confesse my fault I confesse my fault then added know that he who wil be a good Frere Minor must haue nothing but his habitt the corde and linnen breeches as the rule enioyneth and they that are by manifest necessitie constrayned sockes euery thing els is superfluous and against the puritie and pouertie of the rule which we promise God to obserue the said Religious moued with the wordes beleeued this holy counsaile Being by diuers demaunded the like counsaile he answeared them with this sentence right worthy to be sett in letters of gold and not only painted or engrauen in marble but in the hartes of men A man hath so much knowledge as he is a man of vertue and loueth God and his neighbour and no more and the Religious so good as he doeth good worckes because the tree is knowne by his fruit When he retourned frō Syria a Prouinciall came to visitt him to cōferre with him of the affaires of the Order particulerly touching the vow of pouerty to know his will therin and of the obligatiō inserted in the first rule takē out of the gospell to witt whē you trauaile you shall carry with you neither mony nor wallett S. Fran. answeared I meane thus that the Frere Minors must only haue their habitt the cord linnen breches as the rule saith and such as are enforced by necessity the sockes The Prouinciall answeared What shall I doe with so many bookes as I haue that are worth more then fortie crownes which he said because he desired to haue licence of S. Francis to enioy them for he kept them with a remorse of conscience The S. replyed Brother I neither will nor ought nor can doe any thing against my conscience and the profession of the holy gospell which we haue promised Which this Prouinciall vnderstāding he was exceedingly troubled the S. perceauing him so sorrowfull with a great feruour of spirit said vnto him as if he had spoakē to all the Religious you would seeme to mē to be Frere Minors would be called Preachers of the gospell make shew to obserue it but in effect you desire to haue propriety and superfluity and to haue a purse The Ministers earnestly seeke to take away the first rule you shall not carry wallettes in your trauaile they supposing that they should so be freed from the obligation of this counsaile of Euangelicall perfection but the holy Father S. Francis in the presence of many brethren said the Ministers thincke to deceaue God and me but the deceipt falleth on them selues Lett them and all my other Religious know that they are obliged to the obseruance of Euangelicall perfection and will that it be thus written in the beginning and end of the rule That the Brethren are firmelie obliged to the obseruance of the holy gospell of our lord IESVS CHRIST Of the horrible malediction which S. Francis gaue to a prouinciall and wherfore and of the miracle that ensued THE XXIII CHAPTER BRother Iohn Estitia a very learned Minister of the Prouince of Bolognia ordayned an exercise of study in the Monastery of Bolognia without licence of the holy Father S. Francis who vnderstanding therof went incontinently thither and very sharply reprehended him by these wordes I rather desire that one obey the holy gospell and be employed in the study of holy prayer where the holy Ghost is Master then in humane studies and curious lessons wherin is lost the spiritt of humility and the sweetnes of God the ladder wherof is this Religion which annihilateth this new study But S. Francis being departed this Prouinciall began againe as before wherat the holy Father being for the zeale of God much disquieted he publikelie gaue him his malediction as to a disobedient child By which the said Brother Iohn fell incontinently very sicke and lying in his bedde perceauing that his sicknes did hourly encrease seased and touched rather with the feare he had of death then with true contrition he sent two Religious to pray S. Francis to reuoke the said malediction to whome the S. answeared God hath confirmed in heauen the maledictiō which I haue giuen him so that he is cursed of God In that instant there fell from heauen a litle stone of burning brimstone which transpearced both his body and bed and att the very houre he died yelding an extreme infection by this so seuere chasticement God shewed how iust and assured was the counsaile of the S. that they should not be curious of bookes but should rather study to ground themselues in holy humility prayers and pouerty The holy Father being once demaunded if he would consent that the learned who were and might enter into religion should study diuinity hee answeared affirmatiuelie prouided that they imitate the example of IESVS CHRST who prayed more then he read as is written also of his disciples and also that they omitte not the studie of prayer to gett learning and that they studie not onlie how they ought to speake but principallie how they may effect what they read and doeing so may teach others to doe good worckes I will that my Religious be disciples of the gospell and that so they make progresse in the knowledge of the truth and doe also encrease in puritie simplicity that from the prudence of the serpent they doe not separate the simplicity of the doue which IESVS CHRIST with his mouth hath vnited together The holie Father affirmed that by meane of the knowledge of ones selfe one easily obtayneth the knowledge of God prouided that one sought it with humilitie and without presumption Therfore he was much troubled when he knew that neglecting vertue and the vocation wherto the Religious was called of God one sought knowledge by curiositie with extreme dolour of his soule saying My Religious that are honoured by the curiosity of knowledge are found emptie handed in the times of tribulation I would rather exercise them in the vertue of humilitie that the perillous times of tēptations happening they might finde God with them in those anguishes for afflictions will come against which neither their bookes nor pourchaced science will auaile then would it be more expedient for them to be simple and feruent in obedience humilitie and charitie then great in commaunding and teaching in curiositie of science
Father as our protectour I beseech you my Brethren euen humblie kissing your feet and with the greatest charitie I can I doe exhort you to reuerence and honour with your vtmost ability the most sacred sacrament wherby heauenly and earthlie matters are reconciled with God I beseech all my brethren that are Preistes and such as in the name of God shal be when they intend to celebrate the diuine masse to be pure and neat that they may worthelie offer the true sacrifice of the most sacred bodie and bloud of our lord IESEVS CHRIST with the greatest reuerence puritie holie inteÌ„tion that they shal be able not for any humane respect for any feare or loue but that their intention be directed to God desiring to please onlie his Maiestie who sayth Doe this in remembrance of me Know then yee Preistes that he who shall doe otherwise shal be like vnto Iudas Remember the saying of the Apostle A man making the law of Moyses frustrate without any mercy dyeth vnder two or three witnesses How much more thinck you doth he deserue worse punishmente which hath trodden the Sonne of God vnder foot and esteemed the bloud of the testament polluted wherin he is sanctified and hath done contumelie to the spiritt of grace For then is a man irreuerent and treadeth on that lambe of God when as the Apostle saith he doth not examine and make a difference betweene this true bread of God and that which he doth ordinarily eat and therfore he receaueth it vnworthely For God saith in Ieremie The man is cursed that doeth negligently and feinedly And the Preistes that will not haue this care to celebrate so excellent a Mystery the most worthely that possibly can be shal be condemned of God who saith I will tourâ—e your benedictions to maledictions on your selues My brethren heare me I pray you if the glorious virgin be so much honoured as she deserueth for hauing receaued into her chast wombe our lord IESVS CHRIST If. S. Iohn Baptist trembled and durst not touch the head of IESVS CHRIST and finally if the holy sepulchre wherin IESVS CHRIST was buryed for his so small time of residence is so much reuerenced how much more ought he to be iust holy and well purged who with his handes doth handle and with his proper mouth doth receaue so high infinite a Maiesty and doth administer the same to others Remember that he is an immortall and eternall God that liueth glorious and eternall with contemplation of whose Maiesty the Angels themselues cannot be satisfied Preistes know your dignitie and be holy for God is holy and as in regard of so great a mystery and dignity you haue bin more honoured then other men remember in like sort to be also more gratefull vnto God and to reuerence loue and honour him for otherwise your misery is exceeding great and deserueth continuall teares in that you hauing in your handes the almighty God the fountaine of all good thinges you procure to haue transitory and terrestriall thinges all the world ought to tremble with feare and sweetly weepe whiles the Angels themselues bend their knees when IESVS CHRIST the Sonne of the most high is vpon the altare betweene the handes of man O merueillous highnes and diuine debasement O most high humility that the Sonne of God yea God himselfe the master and lord of the vniuersall world should so humble himselfe as to giue himselfe vnto vs hidden vnder the forme of bread Consider my brethren so profound a humility and purifie your hart before his diuine Maiestie to the end he receaue all as he giueth himselfe to all Therfore I aduertiâ—e you in the name of God that in all places where the Religious are you celebrate but one masse a day and though you haue diuers Preistes lett the rest be content to heare it for although it be seene in many pertes yet is it one and indiuisible and without any detriment true God and true man so in one sole masse he can communicate his grace to all present and absent that make themselues worthy one onlie and verie God Father Sonne and holie Ghost worcking this Amen Of the faith and knowledge of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and of the sacred Sacrament THE XLV CHAPTER TO all Christians Religious Ecclesiasticall lay men and women that are in the world Brother Francis their seruant and subiect in God desireth withall reuerence a true peace in heaueÌ„ by the sincere charity which is discended on earth As I am the seruant of you all so am I obliged to serue all and to administer vnto you the most sweet word of my lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST Considering therfore in my soule that by reason of the diuers infirmities that afflict my body I cannot by corporall presence as I desire visitt you my selfe I haue thought good to supply the same by letters and by them to administer vnto you the worde of IESVS CHRIST who is the word of the eternall Father the wordes of the holy Ghost which are spiritt life I then admonish you Brethren to confesse your sinnes to a Preist with all the dilligence you can possible and att his hand to receaue the true body and bloud of IESVS CHRIST For as our Lord saith he that eateth not my flesh and drincketh not my bloud cannot haue eternall life Lett vs then endeauour worthely to receaue such so eminent a maiesty for he that receaueth it vnworthely in steed of saluatioÌ„ pourchaceth death Besides I exhort you often to visitt the holy churches and to reuerence Preistes not so much in respect of themselues if they be sinners as for reuerence of the function and dignity which they haue in being ministers of the most pretious body and bloud of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST which by them is offered on the altare receaued and administred vnto vs without which none can be saued by the holy wordes which they vtter and minister he discendeth from heauen to earth and none but they can doe it O how happy and blessed are they who loue God withall their hart with all their soules and with all their forces and their neighbour as themselues I inuite you all my brethren and you my sisters to this loue lett vs all with one accord loue God with one pure affection of our hart adore him because that is the thing which he especially requireth and demaundeth of vs as himselfe hath said the true adorers adore in spiritt and truth and it is necessary for them that adore him to doe it in that manner Our lord said to his disciples I am the way the verity the life No man coÌ„meth to the Father but by me If you had knowne me my Father also certes you had knowen from hencefoorth you shall know him and you haue seen him Phillip said to him Lord shew vs the Father it sufficeth vs. IESVS said to him So long time I am
prepared for thē that loue him perfectly And as the cōtēplatiue S. Bernard saith it is not permitted to all or in one same place and degree to enioy the secrett and glorious presence of God but according as the celestiall Father determineth to each one because we haue not elected God but he vs who hath giuen place proper to each one of his SS each one is where he hath bin placed S. Mary Magdalē found place to her was graunted the feet of our Lord I. C. S. Thomas the Apostle was admitted to his side S. Peter to the bosome of the Father S. Iohn to the breast of I. C. S. Paul was eleuated to the third heauē the sacred woūdes of our Lord I. C. were cōmunicated vnto S. Francis Who thē shall presume to haue a desire to know the perfectiō merittes of such a greatnes as S. Mary Magdalē reposed on the bed of true penance S. Thomas in the light of truth S. Peter in the chaire of faith S. Iohn in the fournace of charity S. Paul in the throne of wisdome and S. Francis in the loue trāsformation of I. C. we cānot for it is not permitted vs but only to follow imitate the SS in the worckes perfections which are mercifully reuealed by our Lord I. C. therfore to giue in finite thanckes to the author of all goodnes that by the merittes of his sainctes by their intercession and his diuine grace he conduct vs to that perfection in this life and that in the other we may enioy the eternall glorie Amen The end of the third booke and first volume of Chronicles of the Frere Minors wherin is conteined the life death and miracles of the Seraphicall Father S. Francis THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE FRIER MINORS CONTEINING THE MARTYRDOME of diuers Religious of the Order of the Seraphicall Father S. Francis Translated by the partie aforesaid THE SECOND VOLVME How S. Francis sent certaine Religious to preach the faith of Iesus Christ vnto the Mores in Spaine THE FIRST CHAPTER IN the yeare of grace 1219. the glorious Father S. Francis kept the great generall chapter att Pentecost wherat all the Religious of his Order assembled as it hath bin amplie declared in the first booke of the first volume of these present Chronicles This Chapter was held eleuen years after that Pope Innocent the third had with his owne mouth confirmed the Order of the Frere Minors the fourth yeare of the Popedome of Pope Honorious the third of blessed memory who then piously gouerned the Church In this Chapter it was reuealed vnto S. Francis that he should againe send his Religious ouer the world to preach the faith of IESVS CHRIST as well amongest Christians as Pagans After this the most capable Religious of the Order were chosen for Prouincials S. Francis applyed himselfe to obey the holy will of God And because the rage of the Mores was spred ouer three partes of the world Asia Africa and Europe he resolued to send his Religious into those partes to preach the truth of the faith of IESVS CHRIST to reduce the Pagans from their damnable errours And to make a beginning he chose Asia for himselfe whither he went with eleuen of his Brethren and preached to the Soldan and the Mores of his kingdome He sent Brother Giles into Africa with Religious of like feruour and deuotion who thincking to preach to the Mores were apprehended by Christians and very vnwillingly brought back into Italy He sent six Italian Religious of very perfect life into Spaine where the Emperour Miramolin of Marocco persecuted the Christians The said Religious were Brother Vital Brother Berard Brother Peter Brother Adiutus Brother Accursus and Brother Otto of whome the first Brother Vital was by the holy Father constituted their superiour Brother Berard was an excellent preacher in the Arabian tongue Brother Otto was a Preist Brother Adiutus and Brother Accursus were lay Brethren the rule so tearming the Religious that keep not the quiet Now sainct Francis hauing called them said My children God hath commanded me to send you to preach the holy faith vnto the Mores and to impugne the sect of Mahomet and therfore my freindes hold your selues ready to execute his holy will in such sort as you shall see cause Goe yee I say my beloued ioyfully preparing your soules to the crowne which it shall please his diuine Maiesty to bestow vpon you performing his holy will according as you shall feele your selues inspired They as obedient children only bended their heades and crossed their armes expecting his holy benediction but the holy Father first made them this exhortation My deere children I haue certaine wordes to deliuer you that you may the better effect this commandement of God to his glorie and the saluation of your soules Be yee carefull to keepe peace among your selues and be not Brothers so much in habitt and profession as in spiritt and will Next haue speciall care to fly enuie which was the first cause of our damnation support with patience and be ioyfull in persecutions and humble before God and men and by this meane you shall obtaine victorie against your ennemis visible and inuisible Be yee mindefull to imitate with all your power our Lord IESVS CHRIST and to follow him in the strictest manner you can in all the three vowes in obedience obeying your superiour as he one earth obeyed his parentes in pouerty liuing therin as he did for he would be borne liue and dye poore and did alwayes preach pouerty to teach vs the same and in chastity liuing and persisting chast not only in bodie but euen in spirit sith our Lord so muchloued this vertue that he would be borne of a virgin and presently after his Natiuity would haue for his first fruites the holie Virgin Innocentes and being on the Crosse he would dye betwene two virgins his Blessed Mother and S. Iohn the Euangelist Cast all your cogitations and hopes in God and he will assist and conduct you Carry with you the rule and the Breuiary and say the diuine office the most deuoutly you can Lett Brother Vital be your superiour and therfore obey him entierly but aboue all be mindefull to meditate cōtinually on the passion of our lord IESVS CHRIST for that is it which shall make all incommodities sweet vnto you and all trauell pleasing in this long iorney into Spaine which you are to attempt and in the conuersation and commerce which yee are to haue with the Mores the ennemies of their Creatour Beleeue I pray you that there is nothing doth separate you from me but the glorie of God and the saluation of soules for but for that I would neuer disioyne you from me And God knoweth the greife and affliction which my hart feeleth for your departure though in deed your prompt obedience doth much comfort me but it is necessarie that we preferre the will of our lord before our owne These good
encline towardes the ground Which hauing done the same morning that he had purposed to depart he was as it were constrayned to kneele before the altare and att the instant had this merueillous vision He saw an infinite multitude of Religious that passed two and two in procession before the altare cloathed in most rich and gorgious attire hauing their face and handes and whatsoeuer exterioâ—ly appeared of their bodyes more glittering then the sunne with a couÌ„tenance and gesture extremely ioyfull and more excessiue then can be imagined who did sing most melodiously In the fore-front marched two Religious more notable then the others so gloriously attired that they astonished the beholders Towardes the end of this procession came a Religious in habitt of perticuler glory who was honoured by the others as one newly entertayned into their companye The nouice not knowing the signification of this procession prayed the hind-most to tell him who they were who tourning towardes him sayd We are your Brethren Minors that now come from Paradice and asking them who were those two more glorious theÌ„ the rest they answeared they are the blessed Fathers S. Francis and S. Antony and he who is almost the last aâ—tyred in particuler glory is a Religious who is now dead whome in this solemne tryumph we conduct to paradice because he hath couragiously battayled against temptations and perseuered in his holy purpose to the end These beautifull and sumptious habits which we weare are giuen vs for recompence of the so rude asperity of the habitt which so patiently we woare in religion God hath also endued vs with this glory for the humble penance which we haue supported and for the holy obedience chastity and pouerty which we haue with alacrity obserued to the end And therfore my child make no difficulty to weare the sack cloth and habitt of our Religion it being so profitable in regard that if thou combatt couragiously in the habitt of S. Francis misprising the world mortifying the flesh and resisting the deuill for the loue of our Lord IESVS CHRIST I know thou shalt haue fruition of this glory Which sayd the vision disappeared and the Nouice finding himselfe full of comfort and consolation in God reiecting all the temptations and resoluing thenceforward to esteeme al the rigours and contempts of Religion as sportes and contentments he therin liued and dyed very piously The 26 chapter is after the 85 chapter of the first booke The 27 chapter is after the 27 of the first booke The 28 chapter is after the 95 of the first booke The 29 chapter is after the 39 of the second booke The 30 chapter is after the 19 of the eight booke The 31 chapter is after the 48 of the first booke The 32 chapter is in the middest of chap. 2 of the 2 booke The 33 chapter is after the 17 chapter of the second booke The 34 chapter is after the 33 of the second booke How a Lawyer by occasion of a vaine word entred into the Religion of sainct Francis THE XXXV CHAPTER BRother Iohn Parent who was the first Minister Generall after S. Francis entred into that Order in the time of the sayd sainct Liuing in the world he was a Doctour of law and Iudge de Ciuitate Castellana of the Prouince of Rome whence he was natiue Being one euening att a window of his house and attentiuely beholding the trouble a sâ—vineheard had to make his hogges enter into a stable he heard a companion of the swineheards say vnto him If thou wilt make them enter say these wordes Hogges hogges enter ye into the stable as Lawyers and Iudges enter into hell Which the swineheard hauing sayd the hogges without any noyse incontinently hastened into the stable and were no more troublesome to their guide The Iudge perceauing this touched with an extreme feare of the iustice of God incontinently reiected his office and became a Frere Minor and one of his sonnes with him and spent his life most exemplarly in that Order in prayers teares and so austere in penance that being Minister Generall he visited all the Order barefoot so did he gather so much profitt touching the good of his soule euen of a vaine word Of an admirable vision that happened in the Couent of sainct Francis of Lisbone THE XXXVI CHAPTER Many holy parsons florished in Spaine in the primatiue time of this Religion and especially in the Prouince of S. Iames of Galicia albeit of their worckes and sanctity of life particuler recordes are extaÌ„t of very few amoÌ„g whome is of one Br. Iohn that resided in the Couent of S. Francis att Lysbone within the prouince of Galicia on whome our Lord bestowed many speciall graces particulerly this that in principall feastes att the Euensonges Matines or in Masse he alwayes coÌ„municated vnto him some spirituall consolations But one feast of S. Iohn Baptist not hauing receaued the ordinary consolations from Almighty God att any of those houres he was thereat exceedingly grieued and therfore the Sixt houre being sayd and the Masse ended he remayned alone in the quire bitterly lameÌ„ting for feare that he had offeÌ„ded our Lord IESVS CHRIST in that he knew not the reason why he was depriued of those ordinary graces and in his hart with sighes sobbes teares he cryed vnto God My God why hast thou forsaken me and thus perseuering till all the Religious were in the refectory he still demaunded that ordinary spirituall almose of almighty God And then did he heare a voice that sayd Iohn arise goe to the refectory follow the coÌ„munalty and thinck not thy selfe better then the others Wheratt being vtterly confounded enclining his head he went vnto the others into the refectory and â—at downe att table but assoone as Grace was said he sawe the heauens open and an Angell discending thence bringing a golden pen a table napkin and a knife this Angell entring into the refectory went directly vnto the Religious that did read whose breast he opened with the knife then dryed it with his napkin and on his hart wrote in letters of gold Iohannes est nomen eius the same he did to all the Religious till he came to one that had bin canon of the great church of the said citty whome he would not touch affirming that the night following he would abandon the Order which indeed he did neither would he touch the Reader of the Couent nor his companion because in a feast of soleÌ„nity they had left the Couent to goe preach in the citty but att lenght by the prayers of the sayd Iohn he wrote the sayd wordes in their harts And so after he had written in them all he retourned to him that did read and shutt vp his hart the like he did to all the other Religious saying Confirmatum est nomen eius which was an exceeding câ—â—â—olation to this blessed Father A notable miracle of the B. Sacrament wrought in the Couent of S. Francis att Mans a motiue and cause of
confounded the deuils whensoeuer they assaulted him S. Franc. in spiritt knew the temptations of his Religious S. Franc. assisted a Religious whome the deuil choaked Brother Leo was deliuered from a temptatioÌ„ by a letter from S. Franc. S. Franc. knew in spirit the vices and defects of his Religious S. Franc. deliuered B. Ruffinus of a most greiuous teÌ„ptation discouering vnto him the delusion of the deuill Ezechia 39. Matt. 11. Luc. 16. Spiritual mortifications of S. Fr. Proofe of the humility of S. Fr. â— Cor. 1. Psal 66. Luc. I. A vision of Br. Ruffinus of the future glory of S. Franc. for his humility Obiection of the author and his solution The answere Iohn 3. 1. Cor. 3. Rom. 9. A worthy discourse of humility Cant. 1. Psal 21. Matt. 11. Apoc. 4. What humility is Matt. 20. S. Francis very humbly thancked a country man that admonished him How couragiouslyS Francis resisted the counsailes enterprises that were coÌ„trary to his profession What promptitude and simplicity S. Franc. desired in the obedience of his Religious It is iâ—deceÌ„t for Religious to goe alone Freer Minors Ecclesiasticall assistants The Clergy must be supported How much S. Francis would that his Religious should honour Preistes There were heretofore very few preists in the couents of the Freer Minors why A Bishop refusing to permit S. Franc. to preach in his diocese was att lenght constrayned by his humility to accord vnto him Gen. 32. S. Franc. by admirable humility patience cured a leaper within without Psal 54. S. Franc. very gratiously thancked a bishop for publikely calling him idiot S. Franc. his answere being called S. Why S. Francis once suffered his habit hands feet to be kissed And how att an other time he shunned honour that should haue bin giuen him S. Franc. went naked to the market place of Assise to accuse himselfe of hauing eateÌ„ flesh in his sicknes â—e would not wear a foxe skinne on his stomake without being seene He publikely accused his euill thoughts A legge of a capoÌ„ changed into a fish in the baÌ„ds of a poore man that would scandalize S. Francis What penance S. Franc. did for an ill thought he had of one of his Brethren S. Franc. did eat pottage with a leaper for pennance in that he thought he had scandalized him S. Franc. assured of his saluatioÌ„ The first condition of prayer to knowe ones own misery 3. Reg. 8. Psal 101. Iudith 9. The 2. to keep the soule separated from terrestriall thinges and eleuated vnto God Matt. 6. The 3. coÌ„dition is compassion Isai 21. The 4. condition is to harken vnto God Prou. 28. The 5. is to be separated from worldly conuersation for euer S. Bernard Matt. 26. Iohn 18. The 6. is ardent charity The 7. condition of prayer is perseuerance therein Luc. 18. Feruour of S. Fr. in prayer Luc. 14. The reasoÌ„ which S. Franc. gaue of his atteÌ„tion With what purity S. Francis serued God How he once celebrated the natiuity with what new feruour Matt. 4. S. Franc obtayned of God that a couetous man became liberall A gentleman became Freer Minour by the prayers of S. Francis By the counsaile prayer of S. Fr. a gentleman was coÌ„uerted from the world to God S. Franc. offered to God three medalles signifiing the three vowes S. Franc. soretold the impression of the stigmates he was to haue A Religious doubting of the purity of life of S. Francis was sufficiently assured therof hauing watched him one night Seauen priuiledges which God graunted to the Order of the Freer Minors Matt. 19. The great compassioÌ„ which S. Franc. had of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ Psal 76. Luc. 24. Iohn 17. 12. Rom. 8. Ioan. 15. S. Franc. desired a sheep because it was among goates kiddes had it S. Franc. gaue his cloake to saue the life of two lambes Psal 21. Apoc. 3. S. Franc. deuout to the versicle Gloria Pat. Br. Pacificus a MusiciaÌ„ S. Franc. had a science infused froÌ„ heauen that made him admirable to the most learned diuines Ezec. 33. Prophesies of S. Francis Of the saluation of his freind The apostasie of a Religious Of the losse of a battell Of the sodaine death of his freind S. Franc. knew the thoughts of men Of a Religious that murmured because goeing a foot S. Francis had an asse Of two Religious that came to visit him Of a Religious that by humility would conceale the fault which his companioÌ„ had committed Of a gentleman that feined to desire the habitt of F. Minor One must beware of singularity S. Franc. obtayned of God that a litle vigne boare ten times double of that he vsed and why ReuelatioÌ„s made to S. Fr. PredictioÌ„ of S. Fr. concerning two Religious giuing them the habitt Prophâ—sies of S. Francis To a Preist curing him by the signe of the crosse To a country man To a Religious fallen froÌ„ his order Prophesies of S. Fr. to a yong man that he should be one of his In what words S. Francis gaue his benediction S. Frane purposely inuited to dinner a Phisicion against all apparence S. Franc. procured pardon of God for the Apostasie of one of his Religious How S. Francis made Br. Macie to tourne to know the will of God S. Franc. knew the thoughts of Br. Macie thatmurred with him selfe Of one of his Religious that was troubled to frequent his company S. Franc. did eat with the poore att his freiÌ„ds house S. Franc. liuing being in Italy appeared to a Religious in the prouinciall chapter held att Arles in Prouince Iohn 16. S. Franc. commandeth a S. to worck no more miracles and he obeyeth How much the third generall of the order of Freer Miners forgat himselfe An Angel came to speak with him S. Franc. prayed for him Why S. Francis renounced the office of Generall 1223. Three yeares before his death Confirmation of the said indulgeÌ„ce by the Pope The deuil tempteth S. Francis to make him leaue prayer S. Franc. cast turned and wallowed himselfe all naked in a bush full of thornes S. Franc. gathered vermillioÌ„ white roses in Ianuary A miracle in publication of this indulgence A doue was seen to fly in the aforesaid Church the day of the said indulgence The Virgin Mary was likewise seene there The deuil coÌ„fesseth the vertue of this indulgeÌ„ce The sanctitie of the first Frier Minors of Assise Matt. 19. Luc. 9. Matt. 10. Esa 10. Rom. 9. Matt. 6. 10. â—4 The substance of the rule Iohn 14. Matt. 6. Philip. 3. Matt. 9. Iosue 4. Matt. 5. In the 10. chapter What perfectioÌ„ of sanctity of life and doctrine ought to be in the Frere Minors A Crucifix walketh before S. F. A scrole discendeth froÌ„ heauen on the head of S. Franc. The Testament of S. Fr. He wold not that his habitt should be peeced against his stomack to assuadge the infirmitie therof How much superiours are bouÌ„d to giue good example to their subiects F.