overpassing the night according to his vsuall manner in the praier of God albeit that he were then in bodie absent from his children Behold yet even aboute the verie pointe of midnight some of the bretheren being bent to sleepe and some other of them continuing in praier a fierie chariote of marveilous splendoure entring in at the dore of the house whirled vp and downe the place one while one way and one while another vntill it had at length gone three severall times rounde about the roome vpon the toppe whereof might be seene to rest a globe of shining beames as bright as the sunne which caused the darke some night for the time to seeme as cleere as the day Heere with all the watchfull were amased and the sleepy both waked and astonished every of them finding no lesse clearenes in their harts than outwardly vpon their bodies it being effected by the power of this marvailous light that the naked consciences of them all were discovered one to another For they did all of them agreably vnderstand every of them seing into each others harte that the holy Father being absent in body but present in spirit and in such apparence transfigured was with the beames of brightnes from aboue inlightened and inflamed and out of supernaturall power in a shining and fiery Chariot by God represented vnto them that as true Israelites they might follow after him who as an other Elias was by God ordained to be the Chariot 4 Reg. 2.11 and Chariot Driver of spirituall men And verily good cause we haue to belieue that he who opened in former time the eies of a Boie 4. Reg. 6.7 wherby to see the mountaine filled all with horses and fiery Chariots in compasse of Aeliseus did now also at the praiers of his holy Servant Saint FRANCIS in like manner open the eies of this simple company that they might see and behold the woonderfull workes of God But the holy man after this returning vnto his brethren beganne to sift the secrets of their consciences to refresh their spirits vpon occasion of this marveilous vision and to foretell many things concerning the increase of the Order At what time disclosing vnto them many and sundry points which far surpassed all humane vnderstanding the brethren well perceyued that the spirit of our Lord had in so great aboundance setled it selfe vppon this his servant Saint FRANCIS that it should be their safest and most certaine course to imitate his life and doctrine After this S. FRANCIS the Pastor of that litle flock being guided and directed by the grace of God conducted this poore number of twelue brethren to the Church of Saint Mary of Portiūcula to the end that where the order of the Friers Minors had by the merits of the Mother of God taken his beginning there also by her helpe it might take increase And in this place also being made a preacher of the Gospell he went about preaching through the Citties and townes Not in the learned words of humane wisedom but in the power of the spirit denowcing the Kingdome of God He seemed vnto all that sawe him to be a man of another world for as he was allawayes intentiue to heaven both in minde and countenance so did he seeke with his whole endevour to draw all men thither with him And even now about this time Of virgins were converted by him to imbrace perpetuall chastity false it is that it is mipossible to keeps Virgiuity beganne the vineyard of Christ to bud forth the buds of the sweete smels of our Lord and having brought forth the flowers of sweetnes Honor and Honestie did yeild a plentifull and fruitfull harvest For many both men and women inflamed with the zeale of his preaching serving our Lord in the Chastitie of wedlock according to the forme receaved of the servant of God did binde themselves vnto new lawes of Pennance whose manner of living the said servant of Christ decreed to be named The Order of the brethren of Pennance For as the way of pennance is one and the very same vnto all such as desire to come vnto heaven so likewyse this order S. Clare now glorified in heauen is worthily worshiped in earth of the Church admitting both the Clergie and the lay pepple Virgins and Married folkes of both sexes of how great merit it is in the sight of God it is manifest by many miracles which some of them haue wrought as may be knowen to the world Even now also divers Virgins were by him converted vnto perpetuall chastity among which Saint Clare that notable Virgin and most deare to God was the first plant and most beautifull blossome of all the rest who as as pure springing flower gaue a sweet savour of holynesse and glimmered forth her beames as a bright shining star she being now glorified with God in heaven is worthely honored of the Church in earth who being the daughter in Christ of the holy poore Father Saint FRANCIS did also become the Mother of the poore And many not only moved with devotion but inflamed with desire of Christian perfection contemning the vanity of wordly things did follow the steeps of Holy S. Francis Who increasing daily more more were quickly spreede forth to the end of the world For that same holy poverty which was the only thing they desired to carrie with them for the defray of their charges made them evermore ready vnto all obedience strong in sustaining of labours and nimble in prosecuting their iourneis And for so much as they possessed no earthly thing nothing did they loue nothing did they feare to loose but were in every place secure never assailed with feare never distracted with care wherby living as men in every point free from all manner of trouble of minde they had patience in expectance of their morning and nightly sustenance Many and sundry reproaches they sustained in diuerse parts of the world as men contēptible and vnknowen but the loue of the Gospell of Christ had endewed them with so perfect patience that they sought in those places rather to be were they might suffer persecution in body than where vpon observation of their vnfained holinesse they might haue occasion to glory in the favour of the world And even that very penury of all things which they continually sustayned seemed vnto them a superaboūdant plenty meane while that according to the wisemans Councell In steed of a great thing the least did contente them For some of the brethren comming into the infidells countries it happened that a certaine Saracin moved with pittie offered them mony for their necessary foode which he perceiving them to refuse wondered not a litle thereat seeing them notwithstauding to be both poore and needy But at the lenght perceiuing that having voluntarily made themselues poore for the loue of God they would possesse no mony he was thereby conioyned vnto them in so great loue and affection that he offered to Minister vnto them all
thinges necessary so long as he should haue in the world to giue them O inestimable price of poverty by the admirable force whereof even Barbarours cruelty was chaunged into so great a sweetnes of mercy Wherefore it is a thing most horrible and a wickednes vnexcusable for a Christian man to tread vppon so pretious a pearle which an infidell Saracin held in so great a reverence About this time Moricus a Religious man of the Order called Cruciferi being miserably afflicted in an Hospital neare to Assisium with a long and greivouse disease through the violent force whereof the Phisitions were in vtter despaire of his recoverie made humble request to the man of God by a messenger sent for purpose with instant desire that he would vouchsafe to pray for him Whervnto the blessed Father with a willing minde assenting after praier devoutly made taking cartaine crummes of bread into his hand and mingling the same with oyle taken from out of the Lamp which burned before the Altar of the Blessed virgin brought it at lenght as it were to a certaine kinde of electuary which he sent vnto the sicke man by the handes of his brethren saying Beere ye this medicine vnto our brother MORICVS where by the power of Christ will not only restore him vnto perfect health againe but will make of him a strong and hardy warriour and shall further adioyne him perpetually vnto our troupe and company No sooner had this sicke man tasted of that exquisit medecine made confected by the Holy Ghost his invention but rising vp forth with now perfectly whole and well he obtained of God so much strength both of body minde that within a litle while after entring into the Religion of the holy man he was contended with one only slender coate Behold the wonderfull abstinence of the holy man who for a long space tasted neither bread nor wine and wasfed only with rawe meats vnder which also he ware for long time together a coate of maile next to his skinne vsed no other diet than raw meates as hearbes fruits and such like other things as he gathered vpon the earth not tasting for many and soundrie years either of bread or wine All which notwithstanding he still continewed in good health and strenght of body And as the merrits of the vertue of these litle ones of Christ did daily more and more increase so the sweet smell of their good opinion spreading it self ronde about drew many out of divers parts of the world to come in person to see the holy Father Among whom there was a curious inventor of secular songes who having binne for that cause crowned by the Emperour and called the king of verses determined to go see this man of God the contemner of wordly things And finding him preaching in a certaine Monastery at the Castle of Saint SEVERINVS the hand of our Lord comming then vpon him be beheld Saint FRANCIS the preacher of the Crosse of Christ ensigned with two swordes one overthwarr the other in the forme of a Crosse the one of them stretched along from his head to his feete and the other Crosse-wise along his breast from on hand to the other Wherby although he knew not the contenance of the servāt of Christ yet was he fully secured that this very man was he by the admirable apparence of so great a miracle At the sodain aspect whereof being much amased he beganne to propose vnto himselfe better things in his minde and being at the lenght compunct by the force of his words no lesse than if he had bin stricken through with the sword of the spirit issueyng out of his mouth vtterly contemning all secular pompes he conioyned himselfe in profession with the blessed Father Wherevpon the holy man seeing him to be perfectly converted frō the trouble of the world to the peace of Christ called him by the name of Frater Pacificus He afterward increasing in al holinesse before such time as he was made provinciall Minister in France for he was the first that bare that office there merrited once and againe to see the greeke letter T. in the forehaid of holy S. Francis the same being distinguished with such seemely variety of colours as did wonderfully adorne his face and countenance This signe the holy man did reverence with great affection this signe he did commend with frequent speeches and in his letters which he vsually dispatched he evermore with his owne hand subscribed the same Ezech. 9.4 as if all his study were to make the signe T according to the saieing of the Prophet vpon the foreheades of them that sighed and mourned and were vnfainedly converted to Christ Now when the number of brethren was in processe of time increased the carefull Pastor beganne to call them together vnto a general Chapter then to beholden in the place of our Lady of Portiuncula that in the measure of divine distribution he might giue vnto every one his portiō of obedience in the land of their poverty Where although there were great penurie and the brethren sometimes came together aboue fiue thowsand in number yet by the help of Gods mercie they had sufficient foode together with health of body and aboundance of spirituall ioy But for so much as he could not be in body present at the provinciall Chapiters he was therefore in spirit by the diligent care of his governement by the instancy of prayer and by the efficacy of benediction evermore present at them notwithstanding that sometimes by the marvailous power and worke of God he did visibly appeare For as Saint Anthony that worthy preacher who is now a notable Confessour of Christ was preaching in the Chapter at Arles of the title of the Crosse Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iewes a certaine brother of approued vertue called Monaldus looking as the will of God was towardes the Chapter house doore sawe with is corporall eies the blessed Father Saint FRANCIS lifted vp alofte in the aire ad blessing his brethren with his handes stretched out as it were in the forme of a Crosse At which very time all the brethren did feele thēselues to be replenished with so great vnvsual-a consolation of spirit that the inward testimony which they felt in their hartes did sufficiently secure them of the vndoubted presence of the holy Father though afterwardes it was not only by evident signes but also by the said holy Fathers owne wordes externally confirmed And well it may be believed that the same power of Almighty God which granted the devout and holy Bishop Saint Ambrose to be present at the in tombing of the glorious Bishop Saint Martin to the end that he might with devout reverence honor the devout Bishop deceased did also by an especiall favour present his servant Saint Francis at the sermon of his true preacher Saint Anthony that he might approue the words of truth those especially of the Crosse of Christ whereof himselfe was a continuall
person At length I am cast out with reproache as a man contemptible and basely estemed at euery hande I speake it vnto you truly my brother that vnlesse I shal with the same chearefulnes of countenance with the same in ward alacritie of minde and with the same inuiolable purpose of holinesse attend vnto the hearing of these wordes a Friar minor I cannot be And this admonition also he wel adioined In preeminence there is a ruine in praise a downfal but in the humilitie of the subiect is the gaine of the soule Why therefore doe we follow daungers more than gaine seing that wee haue received time to make our commodity And for this very cause this perfect patterne of humility Saint Francis would haue his brethren to be called Minors and the Prelates of his Order to be tearmed Ministers as well thereby to vse the wordes of the Gospell which he had promised to obserue as also that his disciples mighte by their very name be continually put in minde that they were come to learne humility at the Schooles of their humble Maister Christe For Iesus Christ that excellent Maister and most exquisite teacher of this notable vertue humiâ—itie to the ende he might perfectly informe his Disciples therein said vnto them whosoeuer will be the greater among you let him be your Minister Math. 20.26 and he that will be first among you shall be your servant And conformably herevnto it being demaunded of him by the Bishop of Hostia then Cardinal Protector and chiefe advancer of the Order of the Friars Minors who afterward according to the foreprophccieng of the holy man being exalted to the honor of Papall Dignity was called Gregory the Ninth whether it stood with his liking to haue his brethren promoted vnto Ecclesiasticall Dignities he made answeare vnto him My Lord for this cause are my brethren called Minors which is as much to say as lesser or inferiour persons that they may not presume to be made greater If you will haue theÌ„ to bring forth fruit in the Church of God then hold and conserue them in the state of their owne vocation permitte theÌ„ not by any meanes to ascend vnto Ecclesiasticall governments And for so much as he preferred humility as well in himselfe as in them that were vnder him before all other honours besides God therefore the lover of humble persons adiudged him to be worthy in that respect of farre greater and more high dignities accordingly as it was by a vision from heaven revealed vnto one of the brethren of spetiall vertue and devotion For being in the company of the man of God togeather with him praying in a certaint solitary abaÌ„doned Church with a great fervent affectioÌ„ he fell into a traÌ„ce and sawe among many seates in heaven one of more excellent dignity than all the rest besides the same being adorned with precious stones and shining also with all manner of glory And wondering then within himselfe at the brightnesse of that highe and eminent Throne he beganne very carefully in his thoughts to enquire who should be so happy as to be assumed therevnto At which very time he hearde a voice which saied vnto him This was the seate of one of them that fell and now it is kept for humble Francis And afterwards the brother returning vnto himselfe againe followed the blessed maÌ„ out of the Church according to his wounted manner At what time talking by the way as they went of Almightie God the brother not vnmindefull of the vision shewen vnto him very prudently demaunded of him what conceite and opinion he held of himself To whom the humble servant of Christ made answeare Verily I doe esteeme my selfe the greatest sinner of the world Wherevnto the brother repliyng that he could not with the safety of his conscience either say or thinke in such wise of himself he presently therevnto againe reioined saying O my brother if Christe had shewed so greate mercy vnto the most wicked man aliue as he hath donne to me I do verely belieue that he would haue binne more thankefull vnto Almighty God than I haue bin Vpon the hearing of the which so admirable humility the brother was absolutely confirmed concerning the truth of the vision disclosed vnto him acknowledging by testification of the holy Gospell it self that vnto the excellency of glory from the which the proude is cast downe he that is truly humble is exalted Another time also as he was praiyng in a certaine solitary Church within the Province of Massa at the hill Casalis he vnderstood by revelation of the spirit that there were certain holy Reliques remaining there in that place which he theÌ„ with griefe of minde perceaving to haue binne for long togeather defrauded of the honor due vnto them commanded his brethren to translate them in all reverent manner vnto a more convenient and semely place of abiding But himselfe being vppon iust occasion for a time departed from them the children then vnmindfull of the commandement of their father neglected the merite of holy obedience Notwithstanding vpon a certaine day when as they intended to celebrate the holy Misteries having removed the vpper covering of the Aultat they founde there not without great admiration sundrie most faire and fragrant bones discerning them to be the same holy Reliques which no hand of man but the power of God had brought to the place And it was no long while after Thou which dost contemne the relick of saintes beholde what reverence the man of God gaue vnto them that the holy man of God returning back againe beganne diligently to enquire whither that which himselfe had commaunded concerning the Reliques had binne by them accomplished But the brethren humbly coÌ„fessing their fault in neglecting their due obedience deserved to obteine pardon togeather with some punnishement also therewithall And then the holy man burst forth into these wordes Blessed saith he be my Lord my God who hath by himself fulfilled that which your parte and dutie ought to haue performed Consider now diligently the cate of Gods divine providence concerning this dust of ours ponder also maturely in minde the excellent savour which humble Saint Francis enioied in the eyes of God For man refusing to obay his commaundements Almighty God vouchsafed to grant his desires Vpon a certaine time also comming to the Citty of IMOLA he went forthwith to the Bishop and humbly then besought him that he might with his good favour assemble the people vnto a Sermon Whervpon the Bishop somewhat roughly repliyng saied It sufficeth Brother that to the people vnder my charge I my self do preache Immediatly the paterne of true humility bowing downe his heade with humble reverence departed out of the place how be it that within lesse than an howre he returned thervnto againe Wervpon the Bishop seming to be much offended demaunded of him what he sought for at his handes now the second time vnto whome with no lesse inward humility of harte than
therefore replenished with a certain excessiue gladsomnes he began to accuse himselfe of too much pusillanimity whervppon forsaking his caue and casting away all manner of feare he tooke his way straight to Assisium Where being espied of the Cittizens and by the change of his countenance obserued to be wholy chaunged in minde he was thereby of them adiudged to be out of his wittes in so much as taking vp the durt and stones of the stteete they began to throw the same at him as though he had ben frantique and absolutely made indeed But the seruant of God nothing at all dismaied or changed with so many iniuries passed on as a deafe man amiddest them all And When his father heard such a clamourous outcrie he also presently running forth not with a minde to free him but rather to destroy him setting all comiseration quite aparte drew him home to his house where first with wordes and afterwards with stripes and bondes he did in lamentable maner torment him But he became thereby more prompt and couragious to proceed forward in his course begunne remembring the saying of the Ghospell Mat. 5. that Blessed are they that suffer persecution for instice for theirs is the Kingdome of heauen But it fell out not long after that his Father being gone out of the Country his mother not allowing of her husbands severity and being her self quite out of hope to alter her sonnes inflexible constancie dismissed him quite of his bondes and gaue him leaue to depart Who rēdring due thāks vnto Almighty God returned againe to the place where he was before But his Father not finding him at his comming home and angry with his wife went after furiously to the place purposing if it were past his power to recall him at the least yet to driue him out of the province Neuerthelesse Sainct Francis receaving strength from God came forth of his owne acorde to meete his Father all the violence of his fury notwithstanding affirming boldly vnto him that he did not esteme his fetters and stripes and furthermore protesting therewithall that for the loue of Christ hee was ready ioyfully to fusteyne all manner of afflictions and evils whatsoever Wherevpon his Father being inraged as hauing now no hope to recall his sonne converted all his care to recover the mony which being found at lenght in a litle windowe his fury was in some sorte appeased the thrist of cove tousnes beeing as it were by a draught of mony alayd After this his Father endevoured to bring his sonne thus dispoyled of his mony before the Bishop of the City that in his presence he might renounce his right vnto all his Fathers possessions might also restore vnto him all that ever he had To the performance wherof the true lover of poverty shewed himselfe both ready and willing For cōming before the Bishop without any delay or lingring whatsoeuer neither contradicting with wordes nor yet did he expect any to be spoken vnto him presently putting off evē his garments restored them to hisfather At what time the holy man was founde to haue a shirte of hearecloth next to his skinne Which he concealed vnder his more delicate apparell Furthermore out of an admirable fervour of spirit casting off al his apparell he stood all naked before the company and addressed his speach vnto his Father thus Hitherto haue I called you my Father in earth but from hence forth I shall securely say Our Father which art in heaven in Whom I haue reposed all my treasure haue setled the whole summe of my hope and confidence The Bishop beholding all this and admiring such an excessiue fervour of pietie in the man of God arose forth with from where hee sate and embracing him in his armes with teares as hee was a good and godly man did also wrappe him in his owne garment commaunding his servantes to giue vnto him something to cover his naked body But they gaue him a poore and base mantell which they had of a husband man that served the Bishop which he accepting with great thankefullnes did with a peice of lime which he founde in the place mark vpon it the forme of the Crosse with his owne hand fashioning it as a fit covering for a poore man crucified and litle better than naked Thus therefore was the servant of the highest King left all in nakednesse that he might follow his naked Lord crucified whom he so dearely loved in this manner fortifying him selfe with the Crosse that he might committ his soule to the secure harboure of salvation by the which he might safely escape the shippwracke of this tempestuous world From thence forth this contemner of the world being altogether freed from the bondes of worldly desires forsaking the Citty did with great security and freedome of minde betake himselfe vnto the secret parts of the desert that there in solitarines silence he might attend vnto the misticall secrets by Almighty God from aboue distilled vnto him And as this devout servant of God passed by a certaine wood singing praises vnto God with great ioye and exultation a sorte of thieues came rushing out of a secret place vppon him Who demaunding of him with firce behaviour what he was the man of God answered with great confidence and not without an instinct also of prophecy I am the preacher of the great King But they heaping blowes vpon him cast him into a pitt filled vp with snowe saying vnto him Ly thou there Clowne the preacher of God But so soone as they were departed Behold againe his pilgrimag to holy places he got him speedily out of the pit againe and being marveilousely possessed with ioy began with a lowder voice to sounde forth throughout the woodes his songes of praise vnto the Creatour of all And comming to a certaine religious house thereby he asked almes as a beggar and receaved the same as one vnknowen and dispysed Frō thence going on along he came to Eugubium Where being of an old frend of his both knowen and entertained he receaued a poore coate of his guifte as one of the poore litle ones of Christ From thence being a louer of all manner of humility he applied himself to the leapers remayned with them seruing them most diligently for the loue of God He washed their feet bounde vp their vlcers wrung out the corruption of their soares and wiped away the filthines of them He also kissed their running botches with admirable devotion being now in the way shortly to become an Euangelicall Phisitian By these meanes he obtained so great power of God that he wrought wonderfull effects in the purging both of spyrituall and corporall diseases Among many of that kinde here will I now make reporte of one which befeell when the same man of God hade afterwardes begunne to be of greater note in the world there was a mā in the Country of Spolerum who had his mouth iawe bone miserably eaten away with an horrible
death as men who had seene the horrible daungers of the Sea and had also well observed the wonderfull workes of our Lord in the deepe gaue thanks therfore vnto Almighty God who sheweth himselfe alwaies in his friends and servants to be marveilouse and worthy to be beloued But the servant of God having now left the Sea and beginning to walke vpon the lande casting vpō the grounde the seede of saluation reaped thereof fruitfull handefulles in the time of harvest Yet neverthelesse for so much as the fruit of Martirdome had so farre forth allured his harte that aboue all the merites of vertues he longed to suffer a preciouse death for Christ he tooke his way towardes Morocco there to preache the Gospell of Christ vnto Miramolin◠and his people if so by any meanes he might attaine vnto the desired crowne of Martirdome For he was borne along with so fervent a desire therof that albeit he were very weake of body he did neverthelesse outgoe his companion in travell and being full of speede to bring his purpose to effect did flie away as it were for very drunckenesse fervour of spirite But being now already comme into Spaine by Gods sweete disposition which reserved him for other things there came vpon him a most grievous infirmitie whereby he was so hindered that he could in no wise accomplish what he so much desired The man of God therefore perceivinge that his life in the flesh was yet necessary for the yssue which he had begotten albeit that he esteemed death as a gaine for himselfe therefore returned to feede the sheepe which were by Almighty God vnto his care commended But the burning fire of charity more then inforcing his spirit vnto Martirdome he yet the third time adventured for spreading abroade the faith of the holy Trinity to travell into the parts of the infideles For in the thirtenth yeare after his conversion hastening towardes the partes o◠Siria he constantely exposed himselfe vnto many daungers that he might comme to the Souldan of Bahilon For at that time was betweene the Christians the Sarasens a warre so implacable and the Tents also of the Armies on either part so closely pitched that no way of mutuall passage remained but with imminent danger of death For the Soldan had given out a cruell edict that whosoeuer could bring the head of any Christian should receaue a golden crowne of Bizance for his rewarde But the hardie warriour of Christ Saint Francis hoping that now shortly his purpose might be obtained determined to vndertake the iourny being nothing terrefied with the feare of deathe but much provoked with the desire thereof Werfore after praier before hand made he being comforted and strenghned by the hands of our Lord did confidently sing that verse of the Prophette For although I shall walke in the middest of the shaddow of death I will not feare euills because thou art with me Taking with him therefore a companion Psal 22.4 brother Huminatus by name a man verely both of light vertue as he was entred in his way he met two litle sheepe vpon the sight whereof the holy man was marveilously reioiced and said vnto his companion Be of good hope in our Lord my brother for in vs that word of the Gospell is fulfilled Behold I send you as sheepe in the middest of wolues Mat. 10.16 But being gone a litle further they mette with Saracene officers who running as very wolues inded vpon the poore sheepe and feircely laieng hands vpon them the seruants of God did in very cruell and contemptible manner intreate them dishonoring them with reproaches afflicting them with stripes and binding them in bands Vntill that hauing binne many and soundry wayes afflicted and distressed they were at length by Godes divine providence brought vnto the Souldane according to the man of Gods desire Who beeing of that great Prince demaunded from what persons to what pursose and in what maner they had bin sent as also by what meanes they had so farre arrived the servant of Christ Sainct Francis with a couragious harte made answere that he was not sent from man but from God Almighty himselfe to shew vnto him and his people the way of salvation and to preach vnto them the Gospell of truth But with so great constancy of minde with so efficacious power of the soule and so rare a fervour of spirite did he preache vnto the foresaide Souldan one only God in Trinity and Iesus Christ the Saviour of makinde that in him that place of the Gospell well appeered to be accomplished Luc. 21.18 which saieth I will giue you a mouth and wisedome which all your aduersaries shall not be able to resist and gainesay For the very Souldan himselfe beholding in the man of God an admirable fervour of spiritte and singuler vertue therewithall did both willingly giue eare vnto him and did also the more instantly invite him to make longer aboade with him But the servant of Christ enlightened with Gods divine Oracle if thou wilt said he with thy people be converted vnto Christe I will for his loue willingly remayne amonge you But if you make doubt for the faith of Christe to refuse the law of Mahomet commaunde then a very great fire to be kindled and I together with thy Priests will enter into the same that yet so at least thou maiest well discerne Which faith is of very right to be held for more holy and certaine Where vnto the Souldan answeared I doe not belieue that any of my priests wil for defēce of their faith ether expose thēselues to the fire or otherwil vndertake any kind of tormēt For he had sene one of his priests a mā of special years authority immediatly vpon the hearing of those words to haue withdrawen himself out of his sight Then said the holy man vnto him If thou wilt for thy self thy people make promise vnto me tocome to the service of Christ if I shal without harm passe through the fire I wil enter into the same my self alone if I shal be burnt be it imputed to my sins but if the mighty power of God shal protect me acknowledg then Christ the power wisdome of God to be himself very God vndoubted Lord saviour of al mākind But the Soldā answered that he durst not accept of this conditiō for that he feared a seditiō among the people Neverthelesse they offered vnto him many pretious rewards al which the man of God being no waies covetous of wordly things but altogeather desirouse of the saluation of souls did vtterly reiecte as durt Whereby the Souldan perceiving the holy man to be so perfect a contemner of wordly things being also moved with admiration therof conceyved in himself a far greater devotion towards him And albeit that he would not or that perhaps he durst not receiue the Christian faith yet did he instantly beseeche the servant of Christ to accept of the forsaide guifts to
raise the dead drewe all the neighbourhoode vnto lamentation with her But a certaine brother of the order of the minorites called Raho by name comming that way to preache drewe night vnto the childe and being full of faith spake thus vnto the Father doe you beleiue that the holy man of God Saint Francis is able to raise your sonne from death for the loue which he did alwaies beare towardes Christ that was crucified for the restoring of life to mankinde againe Who answearing that he did both firmely beleiue it and did also faithfully confesse it and moreover that himselfe would for euer be a devoted servaunte of that Sainte if by his merrittes he might deserue to receaue so great a benefitte at the hands of God that brother together with an other brother that was in his cōpany did prostrate himselfe in praier exhorting the rest that were present to doe the like Which when they had donne the childe beganne to gape a litle and opening his eies and lifting vp also his armes he raised vp himselfe and presently walked before them all in perfect strength being by the marveilouse power of the Sainte at one time both vnto life and healthe restored In the Citty of Capua it chaunced that a certaine boy as he was playing with other of his companions vpon the bancke of the River Vulturnus did fall vnawares into the bottome and being by the swiftenes of the streame ouerwhelmed was covered vnder the gravel thereof But at the outcrie of the rest of the children who had binne playing with him about the Riuer a great multitude of people came to the place And as all they did both humbly and devoutely invocate the merrittes of Saint Francis that beholding the faith of the parents who were vnto him much devoted he would vouchsafe to deliuer the childe from the perrill and danger of death a cunning and expert swimmer standing a good way of hearing their clamors did come vnto them who after long searche having at the lengthe called vpon Saint Francis for his helpe found a plade wherein the dead carkase of the boy was in manner of a graue overcovered with the sandie gravel which when he had digged vp and removed away he did with griefe beholde the dead body But the people that stood by albeit that they sawe the youthe to be perfectly voied of life yet neverthelesse At the invocation of Saint Frācis a boy which was dead is restored to life weeping and lamenting did crie out and saie O Saint Francis restore the childe vnto his Father Yea and the very Iewes that were present being moved with a naturall compassion did also say O Saint Francis restore the childe vnto his Father And sodeinely the boy rising vp in perfect healthe to the ioy and wonder of them all humbly desired to be ledde vnto the Church of Saint Francis that he might devoutely render thankes vnto him by whose vertue and power he knewe himselfe to haue binne marveilously reviued In the Cittie of Suessa in the streete which is called Ad Columnas a certaine house falling sodeinly downe to the grounde a yong man was therein overtaken and imediatly slaine But the rest of the men and women that were within being stirred vp at the sounde of the fall running about some one way and some another did lifte and remoue the wood and stones on euerie side and brought vnto the miserable mother her dead sonne But shee fetching store of most bitter sighes did in such manner as shee could Heere at the vowe which a woman made in honour of S. Francis if he would raise her sonne which was slaine by the ruine of an house her sonne according to her desire is raised againe to life with wofull voice crie out vnto Saint Francis saying O Saint Francis Saint Francis restore vnto me my sonne againe And not only shee but all the rest that were present did instantly crave the helpe of the blessed Father But the dead carckase having in it neither voice nor sence they put it in a bed expecting but the next day for the buriall thereof But the mother having full hope and confidence in our Lord by the merittes of his holy Sainte did make abvow that shee would cover the Aulter of blessed Saint Francis with new linnen if he would recall her sonne to life againe And beholde ancute midnighte the youthe beganne to gape and yawne and his members resuming a natural heate he rose vp a liue and wel in health bursting forth into words of praise And furthermore he incited those of the Clergie and all the people that were come to that place with gladsomnesse ioy of minde to render due praises and thankes vnto God and blessed Saint Francis In like manner one Gerlandinus by name a yong man that was borne at Regusa goeing forth to the vineyarde aboute the time of gathering grapes and standing vnder the wine presse in the vessale that receaued the wine to fil the bottles sodeinely a sorte of exceeding great stones being driven vpō on him by the fal of certaine wood piles thereaboutes did buise batter his head to presēt death whervpon his father did presently make hast vnto him dispairing of his sonne as being vtterly overthrowen lost did not goe about to help him but vnder the burden as he fel soe vnder the same he left him The labourers also of the vineyarde came running speedily vnto the place hearing a mournefull voice of a great clamour and ioyning in greate sorrowe with the Father for the youthe did drawe him out being now perfectly dead with the fall But his Father casting himselfe at the feete of Iesus did make his humble praiers vnto him that through the merittes of Saint Francis whose solemne feast was euen then at hand he would vouchsafe to restore vnto him his some againe The sonne is raised frō death to life while the Father doth vowe to visit the body of B. Saint Francis These his praiers he redoubled and vowed offices of pietie promising himselfe with his sonne if he might be raised vp from death to visite the bodie of the holy man Now see the marveilouse effect By by the youthe who had binne miserably bruised al his body over being restored to life and perfect strength did ioyfully rise vp before them all blaming them that lamented for him and therewithall avowing himselfe to haue reobtained his life by the suffrages of Saint Francis Another dead man also he raised in Almany whereof our Lord the Pope Pope Gregory did at the time of the translation of the blessed Sainte to the great ioy of all the brethren that were assembled to the translation and generall Chapter by his letters Apostolique giue certaine knowledge vnto them The course of this miracle because I doe not knowe I haue not committed to writing beleiving the Papall testimony to be better than any other instrument of asseveration whatsoeuer THE THIRD DIVISION Of such as he deliuered
tossed with a perilouse tempest perceaved themselves to be in present daunger of drowing But as they in this desperate case of their liues humbly called vpon Saint Francis See howe great thinges the B. Saint doth effect after his death a great lighte appeared vpon the Sea and together with that lighte a calme was from Heaven vouchsafed as if the blessed man had bin able by a marveilouse power to commaunde the windes and the Sea With how greate and wondrouse Miracles the blessed Father both was and yet is made famous vpon the Sea how often he hath there giuen help vnto such as were voide of hope I thinke it impossible to rehearse particulerly Neither is it to be wondered at if he now raignening in Heaven haue power graunted vnto him over the waters vnto whom conversing in this our mortalitie everie living creature being confirmed vnto the originall of his creation did yealde a marveilouse kinde of service THE FIFTH DIVISION Of persons deliuered out of bonds and imprisonement IT chaunced in Romania that a Graecian being servant vnto a certaine man was vniustly accused of thefte whom for that cause the Lord of the land commanded One Which was captiue being commēded by vowe to S. Francis is foorthWith miraculously deliuered to be kept in a straighte prison and heavily loaden with irons But the lady of the house having compassion vpon her servant whom shee vndoubtedly beleived to be innocent of the crime whereof he was accused made instant request vnto her husbād for his deliverance But whereas he out of the obstinate hardenesse of his hart refused to cōsent vnto her The lady made her humble recourse vnto S. Francis vnto his piety by her petition cōmending the Innocēt Whervpon the helper of the distressed was present forthwith and mercifully visited the poore man that was cast in prison He vnloosed his bandes he broke vp the prison and taking the Innocēt man by the hand he ledde him forth and saied vnto him I am he vnto whom thy Lady hath devoutly commended thee And whereas he was stricken with a great feare in his minde and wandered aboute to finde away of passadge downe from the top of that steepe rocke he sodeinely finding himselfe to be by the power of him that had enlarged him vpon the plaine grounde returned vnto his Lady And relating vnto her in order the truth of the miracle he yet further inflamed the devoute Lady vnto the loue of Christ and to the reverence of his servant Saint Francis In a place called Massa S. Petri there was a poore man that ought a peice of mony vnto a certaine souldier who though he were soe exceding poore that he had not wherwithal to pay him yet being one day sodeinely surprised by his creditor did humbly beseach him to haue compassion vpon him craving a time of respite for the loue of Saint Fancis But the proude warriour despised the petitions that were offered vnto him and as a vaine and idle thing lightely esteemed the loue of the Sainte For making a perverse and preposterouse answeare vnto him I wil saied he shutte thee vp in such a place and I will mure thee vp in such a manner of prison that neither Saint Francis nor any body els shal be able to helpe thee And he put his worde in practise For he founde out an obscure and darke prison whereinto he cast the man with fetters vpon him But a litle after came Saint Francis who breaking vp the prison and riving the fetters a sunder did bring the man harmelesse home to his owne againe And soe the mighty power of Saint Francis having disappointed the proude souldier delivered the Captiue frō harme who had committed himselfe vnto him yea and did by an admirable miracle chaunge the contumacie of that soulder into mildenes and good conformitie In like manner one Albertus Aretium being kept in harde and cruell bandes for certaine debts that were vniustly demaunded of him did humbly commend his innocencie vnto Saint Francis For he did loue the Order of the Friars Minors exceedingly Consider these things thou which saiest that Saints can doe nothinge after their death and did reuerence Saint Francis amōg all the Saintes with an especiall affection But his Creditor saied with a blasphemouse mouth vnto him that neither Saint Francis nor God himselfe could be able to deliver him out of his handes Thus therefore vpon the Vigill of Saint Francis it came to passe that wheras this prisoner had eaten nothing all that day but had given his diette vnto another poore man for the loue of the Sainte in the night following Saint Francis appeared vnto him as he lay awake at whose entraunce in his fetters were loosed from his feete and his chaines fell downe from his handes the doores also were opened of themselves the tables fell downe in the place and the man departing free returned home to his owne And from thenceforthe he fulfilled his vowe observing to fast the vigil of Saint Francis and over adding vnto the taper of waxe which he accustomed yearely to offer an ounce of increase in signe of his increasing devotion When Pope Gregory the ninthe sate in the seate of Saint Peter one Peter also by name an inhabitant of the Cittie called Alisia being accused of heresie was taken at Rome and was by the commaundement of the same supreame Bishoppe committed to the custody of the Bishoppe of Tibur Saint Francis being invocated with prayers teares doth by miracle free one out of prison to be by him kept forthe comming vpon paine of the losse of his Bishoppricke Whom therfore he caused to be put in irons and to shutte vp in a darke prison that he might haue no meane to escape giving vnto him bread by waight and drinke by measure But now did the man beginne with great store both of praiers and teares to call vpon Saint Francis to haue compassion vpon him because he had heard that the vigil of his solemne feaste was presently now at hand And for so much as he had by the puritie of faithe alreadie renounced all error of hereticall impietie and had withall the devotion of his harte adheared vnto the most faithfull servaunte of Christ Saint Francis he obtained by the intercession of his merrittes to be hearde at the handes of our Lord. For the nighte before his festivitie about the twilighte of the evening Saint Francis taking cōpassion came downe into the prison vnto him and calling him by his name did commande him forthwith to rise Who being striken with feare and asking who it was did perceaue that Saint Francis was present And beholding the fetters of his feete to lie broken before him the doores of the prison to be opened by reason that the very nailes flewe out of themselves yea and a plaine way to be prepared for his departure and all this to be donne by force of the presence of the Sainte albeit that he were sette at libertie yet was