mourning and lamentation wherevnto with redoubled sighes he incessantly gaue ouer himselfe vntill such time that after long instance of Praier he obtained of our Lord with his inclinable eare to heare the same For one day as he was praying in a solitary place through excesse of fervour wholly in manner absorpted vp in God Christ Iesus our Lord voutsafed to appeare vnto him fast nailed as it were vpon the CROSSE At the sight wherof his soul melted within him the memory of the Passion of Christ was so efficatiously imprinted into his heart that from that houre so often as he remembred the Crncifijng of Christ he was hardly able to abstaine from sighes and teares externally bursting out vpon him as himselfe afterward familiarly reported drawing then nigh vnto his end For hereby the man of God did fulwell vnderstand that those wordes of the GOSPEL If thou wilt come after me denie thy selfe and take vp thy Crosse and followe me were directly spoken vnto himself From that time did he therfore put on vpon him the spirit of poverty a perfect sence of humility and a zealous affection of inward Piety For wheras before he could not abide the company of such as were infected with Leaprosie no not so much as to see them though distant a good way from him nowe for the loue of Christ Crucified who according to the wordes of the Prophet seemed contemptible as a Leaper that he might fully contemne himselfe he did with a godly kind of benignity even towards the Leapers performe the duties of humility and of all manner of good humanity For he visited oftentimes their houses liberally bestowing his almes among them with great affection of charitable commiseration disdained not to kisse their handes their mouthes As for poore beggars also it was his desire to bestowe vpon them not only his goodes but himselfe therewithall sometimes putting off his owne apparell sometime vnripping the same sometime for lack of other more conuenient meanes cutting it in partes to bestowe vpon thē To poore Priests also he gaue succoure with much reuerence and deuotion especially in the ornaments of the Aulter that he might both be partaker of the honour giuen vnto God might also supply the wants of such as were to exhibite the same vnto him One time visiting the Church of Saint Peter the Apostle with religious deuotion and beholding a great multitude of poore people before the doores of the Church he being then partly moued with the sweetnes of piety partly allured with the loue of pouerty gaue vnto one of the poorest of them his owne apparell and couering himselfe with the ragges of the poore man spent that whole day ioyfully in the middest of the poore with an vnwonted alacrity and ioy of spirit Thereby aswell to contemne all wordly glory as also to arise as it were by degrees and to clime vp to the top of Euangelicall perfection Very vigilant he was in mortification of the flesh that so he might externally in his body Se how the holy Father doth subdue the concupiscence of the flesh by his mortification carry about the Crosse of Christ as he did internally enermore beare the same in his hart All these things did Saint Francis the servant of God not being yet either in habite or conversation sequestred from the world THE SECOND CHAPTER Of his perfect conuersion vnto God and how he repaired three Churches BVT because the servant of the highest had no other teacher in these matters Churches were builded for to pray in Learn that to bēd ones knees vnto images to pray to those whom they do represent is a good and pious work se what a miracle Christ did worke by this his image but only Christ himselfe it pleased his merciefull goodnes yet further to visite him in the swetnes of his grace For as being one day gone forth into the feild to meditate he walked along by a Church dedicated vnto Saint Damian which was so old and ruinous that it seemed ready to fall to the ground by the instinct of Gods holy spirit he entered into the same to pray and falling prostrate before the image of Christ Crucified was in his praier replenished with a singular consolation of spirit And as he did with weeping eies beholde the Crosse of our Lord he heard with his corporall eares a voice from this same Crosse speaking thus three times vn to him Francis go and repaire my House which as thou seest is wholy destroied Saint Francis being then alone in the Church trembled not a litle thereat as being much amased at the hearing of so woonderfull a voice and feeling in his hart the efficacie of Gods heauenly worde He arose signeing himselfe with the signe of the Grosse became as it were alienated from himselfe in minde But returning afterwards to his perfect remembrance he readily prepared himself vnto obedience wholy disposing himself towards the performance of the commaundement cōcerning the repairing of the materiall Church though the more principall intētion thereof had relation vnto that Church which Christ had purchased with his owne bloud as he was afterwardes taught by the holy-Ghost and did himself reueale vnto his brethren Rising vp therefore and arming himfelf with the signe of the Crosse he tooke vnto him certaine clothes provided for sale which he speedily carried vnto the Citty of Fulligney and there selling his wares and also the horse whereon he rode the happy marchant beinge well contented departed with the price thereof in mony And so returning to Assisium he reuerētly entered the church which he was commaunded to repaire and finding a poore Priest therein after due reuerence done vnto him made offer of his mony for the reparation of the Church and towardes the releefe also of the poore making furthermore his humble sute vnto him for licence to abide with him there for a time The Priest well allowed of his aboade in the place but misdoubting his parents assent for the mony vtterly refused to accept thereof which neuerthelesse the true contemner of mony casting into one of the windowes esteemed it no better than pelfe and dust Now whilest the seruant of God was thus abiding with the forementioned Priest as soone as his Father got knowledg thereof he as one much perplexed in minde rūne with great hast and speed to the place But Francis being as yet but a yong soldier in the armie of Christ when as he hearde the threatenings of them that did perfecute him and did also perceiue their comming at hand being then desirous to giue place to the force of their sury betooke himselfe to a secret Caue whearein closely concealing himself for a few daies he incessantly besought our Lord with aboundance of teares that he would vouchsafe to deliver his soule from his persecutors handes and that the good purposes which he had inspired into his hart he would also vouchsafe to bring to a finall end and accomplishement being
for a while they offered that sacred body ennobled and adorned with those heavenly pearles to be seene and kissed by those holy Virgins And comming afterwards to the Citty with exceeding great icy they did withall reverence place the precious treasure which they brought in the Church of Saint George For in that place being but a litle child he learnt his letters and there afterwards he preached and there last of all be receaved his first place of rest The venerable Father passed out of the shippewracke of this worlde in the yeare of our Lords incarnation on thousand two hundred twentie sixe the fourth day of October being Saterday in the evening and was buried vpon the Sunday And by the influence doubtlesse of Gods divine aspect this blessed man did forthwith beginne to shine with many and woundrous miracles that the highe degree of his holinesse which duringe his life heare one earth had binne throughly notified vnto the world touching the mannadgement direction of manners by the exāples of perfect iustice might nowe be by miracles of devine power ratified made good from Heaven wheare he raigneth with Christe for ever to the absolute confirmation of all faith and true belief And whereas in divers parts of the world his gloriouse miracles and the large benefitts by him obtained had inflamed very many vnto the devotion of Christe and had also recited very many vnto the reverence of this his Saint by generall reports both of wordes and workes it came to the chred of the supreame Bishoppe Pope Gregory the ninth what goeat and admirable thinges God did worke and effect by his servaunt Saint Francis Wherevpon that worthy Pastor of the Church knowing his marveilouse holinesse by testimony of most credible authority and being thereof centified not only out of such miracles as he had heard to haue binne donne by him after his death but out of such also as he himselfe had seene with his eies and felt with his handes to be tried by experience in his life time wherby he had no manner of doubt but that he was now glorified by Christ in Heaven to the intent he might conformably worke with Christ whose Vicar he was did purpose vpon a good Godly Consideration to make him famous vppon the earth as being most worthy of all honour reverence And for to giue more absolute and vndoubted assurance vnto al the whole world of the glorified estate of this most holy man he caused the miracles by him donne having bin formerlie founde out drawen together in writing and approved by conveniēt witnesses to be examined by such of the Cardinals as seemed to be lesse favourable vnto that matter and businesse After diligēt enquirie whereof the Miracles being by them al fully ratified and allowed he did by the vniforme Councel and assent of his brethren and of all the Prelats that were then resident in his Courte resolue and decree to accomplish his Canonization And comming personally vnto the Citty of Assisium in the yeare of our Lords incarnation one thowsand two hundred rewentie eight he did on Sunday the sixteenth of Iuly with great solemnities to long to be rehearsed enrolle the blessed-Father in the Catalogue of Saints But in the yeare of our Lorde one thowfand two hundred and thirtie the brethren beinge assembled to a generall Chapter then celebrated and kept at Assisium the body dedicated vnto our Lord was on the siue and twentith of May translated vnto a goodly Church that was built erected in honor of him And whils that sacred treasure signed with the seale of the most supreame and Soveraigne king was to that place transported he whose Image and likenesse he bare did vouchsafe to worke many and sundry miracles that by his health working odoure the affections of the faithfull might be drawen to runne after Christ For it was in very deed Cant. 1.4 befitting and well beseeming that whom God having made to be in his life time pleasing welbeloved vnto himselfe had by the grace of contemplation translated into Paradice like vnto Enoch Gen. 5.24 4. Reg. 2.11 and had by the zeale of charitie taken vp into heaven in a fierie Chariot like vnto Elias nowe might those happy bones of him flourishing among the heavenly flowers of eternall planting by meane of a strange and admirable kinde of blosseming yeild forth a sweete and pleasant favour from the place wherein they were enshrined And therefore as this blessed man had binne in his life time famous for many signes of vertues soe from the day of his passadge vntill this very present he doth in divers of the world by power divine glorifieing it selfe in him most beautifully and clearely shine with many prodigious and notable miracles For the blinde and deafe the dumbe and lame the diseased of the Dropsie and sicke of the Palsey possessed persons Leapars they that haue binne in shippewracke and Captivity haue by his merrittes found help and remedie as also all diseases necessities and perrills haue thereby binne relieved Yea and by the miraculouse restoring of life by him to many that haue binne dead in this blessed Sainte hath binne sufficiently notified to all faithfull people the marveilouse magnificence of the Power of the Highest to whom to be all honor and glory world without end Amen THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER Containing certaine miracles donne by Saint Francis after his death Which because it is long and considering that the miracles be of diuers kindes is therefore parted into tenne diuisions according to the seuerall Titles of the miracles The first diuision Of the vertue and force of the holy Stigmatter BEING to the honor of Almighty God and to the glory of the blessed Father Saint Francis to write those approved miracles which were by him donne after his glorification in heaven from that pointe I thought it most especially meete to take my beginning wheare in the efficacie of the Crosse of Iesus is shewen vnto vs and wherein the glory thereof is vnto vs renewed This newe man therefore Saint Francis flourished nowe by meane of a newe and admirable miracles in that he appeared to be ennobled with a singuler priuiledge in al◠former ages not graunted vnto any namely to be graced and adorned with the Sacred Stigmattes of our Lord and in the body of this death to be configurated vnto the bodie of him that was Crucified Of whom what soeuer may be saied by tonge of man shal be inferiour vnto his due and worthy praise For the whole indeavour doubtlesse of the man of God aswell that which was publique as that which was private was altogether emploied about the Crosse of our Lord. And to the ende he might outwardly signe his body with the signe of the Crosse which was from the beginning of his conversion imprinted in his harte incompassing himselfe with in a very Crosse he tooke vpon him the habite of pennance which did plainely represent the Image and forme of a Crosse that even
this wies to speake vnto her Rise vppe saied he my blessed daughter rise vp and doe not feare And taking her by the hand he lifted her vp and disappeared But shee bestirring her selfe on everie side in her litle Cell imagined that shee had seene a vision vntil such time that at her clamour and noise a lighte was brought whereby she perceaving her selfe to be by the servaunte of Christ Saint Francis perfectly in healthe and strength restored did orderly declare all the matter as it had befallen vnto her THE NINTH DIVISION Of such as obserued not the feaste and of those that honored not the Sainte IN the parts of Pictauia in the village Note a straÌ„ge miracle about keeping holy the feast of S. Francis which is called Simo a certaine Priest named Reginald being devoute vnto Saint Francis did bid his feaste to be solemnely celebrated of all his parishioners But one of the people not knowing the vertue of the blessed Sainte made lighte accounte of his Pastors commaundement And goeing forth into the feilde to out some wood as he was preparing himselfe to worke he heard a voyce speaking there times in this manner vnto him It is affestivall day you may not worke But whereas this his fervile temeritie was neither by the commaundement of the Priest nor yet by the Oracle of the heavenly voice restrained the power of God to the glory of his Sainte vouchesafed forthwith a miracle and a scourge also therewithall For as soone as he nowe alreadie holding in one hand a prong did with his other hand lifte vp an iron instrument to worke either hand was vnto either instrument by devine power soe fastened conioyned that he could not open his fingers to let goe any one of them bothe Wherevpon being marveilously astonished and not knowing what to doe he being followed with many people that ranne after him to see the wonder did make hast to goe to the Church Where with compunction of minde he by advise of one of the Priests that assisted for there were many Priestes invited to come to the Feaste did before the Altar humbly devote himselfe to Saint Francis making three vowes according to the voice he had hearde three severall times namely to Celebrate his Feaste to repaire also on that day vnto the Church of that place where in he should then be and personally to vifite the bodie of the Sainte It is a wonderful thing to be reported As soone as he had made his first vowe one of his fingers was loosened at the making of his second vow another of his fingers was enlarged and when he had made his third vow yet another of his singers therewithal his whole hand as also his other hand was in like manner immediately sette at libertie meane while that the people which had now by this time in greate numbers assembled to that place did most devoutely implore the aide and clemencie of the blessed Sainte And soe the man being perfectly restored to his former freedome and libertie did without the help of any other lay a side those instruments whereby all men praised Almightie God and the admirable power of his Sainte who could soe marveilously both strike heale againe But those instruments themselves doe vntill this day in memorie of that fact hang vp before an Altar which is erected to the honour of Saint Francis Many other miracles also donne there and in the places nighe adioyning doe evideÌ„tly shewe and declare both that the Sainte is of excellent degree in heaven and that his feaste ought to be reverently celebrated heere in earthe In the Cittie also of Cenomanum a certaine woman as she did vpon the solemnitie of Saint Franâ—is reacht out her hand to her distaffe Heere we haue a sufficient testimony that the feasts of Saints are not to be coÌ„temned did with her fingers begin to take holde of her spindle her hands presently becomming stiffe and drie shee felt in her fingers exceeding torments of burning heate Being thus therefore taught by the paine to knowe the vertue of the Sainte with compunction of harte shee haftily ranne to the brethren And when the devoute Children had for her health craved the Clemencie of the holy Father shee was presently made well againe neither did any thing of the hurte remaine in her hand saving that for memorie of the fact some only signe of the burning was yet to be seene In like manner also in the greater Campania a certaine woman in the village of Olletum another woman and in the towne of Pylleum a third woman contemning to celebrate the Feaste of the blessed Father were at the first marveilously punished but being afterwardes penitent were by the merittes of Saint Francis more marveilously delivered A certaine souldier of Burgum Heere by examples we are admonished not to detract from the honour of the Saâ—nts within the province of Massa one who had binne sometime appertaining vnto the warres did most impudently detract from the marveilouse workes and prodigiouse miracles of blessed Saint Francis He vsed many reproaches to pilgrimes that came to his memorie and against the brethren he railed with open and vnrestrained madnesse But as he one time endeavoured to deface the glory of Gods Sainte he heaped vpon the rest of his sinnes an horrible blasphemie of all men to be detested If it be true saied he that this same Francis is a Sainte let me this day be slaine with a sworde but if he be no Sainte then let me scape vntoucht And the wrathe of God made now no delay to inflict due punishement vpon him considering that his prayer was now turned into sinne For within a litle while vpon occafion of some eniurie which this blasphemouse personne offered to a nephewe of his he tooke vp a sworde and thrust it into his Vncles bowells And that very day died this wicked bond slaue of Hell and childe of darkenesse That other men might leatne not with blasphemouse wordes to disgrace but with devoute praises to honor the marveilouse workes of S. Francis A certaine Iudge named Alexander with his venimous tongue with drawinge as many as he coulde from the honor of Saint Francis was by Gods devine iudgement deprived of the vse of his tongue that he was not able to speake for the space of six yeares together Who finding himselfe to be punished in the thing wherein he had offended being recalled vnto himselfe did with deepe and vnfained repeÌ„tance sorrow in his harte that he had barked despitefully spoken against the miracles of the Sainte For which cause the indignation of the mercifull Sainte was now of no longer contineuance but he vpon his repentance humble calling vpon him restoring vnto him his speache did vouchsafe to receaue him to favour And from that time he consecrated his blasphemouse tongue to the praises of the Sainte receaving out of that scourge both devotion and good instruction THE TENTH AND LAST DIVISION Of certaine other
ready borne your parte in these afflictions vvherevvith God is vvonte to try his best beloued saruants in so much as all eares are filled vvith the sound of your valorous courage in so stoutly enduringe the assalts of your enemie all conques speake of it and all hartes stand amazed at the strangnes of your vertuous life Dere Syr thrise happie are those vvho sustaine any affliction in this vvorld for Gods sake for our sinnes deseruinge no doubte much punish net vvho can not esteeme it agreat and particulare fauour to be vsited here vvith some mole stations rather then to haue the paines due to sinn reserved to be in the next vvorld a housand times more seuerely punished For seeinge Apoc. 21. Nihil coinquinatum possiâ— intrare in regnum coelorum No vncleane thinge can entere into the kingdom of heauen but if any pains remaine to be inflicted they are to be purged vvith that fire of purgatory infinitly and vvithout coÌ„parision exceedinge in heate our terrestriale fiere Much therefore and extremly blinded are those vvho thinke them selues happy vvhen they escape the punishments of this vvorld litle consideringe the iustice of God vvho leaueth not the least sinn vnpunished and if the estate of such that deferre those paines vntill the nert vvorld be much to be lamented and pittied vvhat alas and hovv miserable then is the condition and estate of those vvho neither in this nor in the vvorld to come can satisfie for theire committed crimes but through all eternitie are to sustaine the vnexplicable tormentes of hell fire this I leaue to the conside ration of those vvho are segregated from that soulde vnitie of the holie Catholique Churche out of the vvhich no saluation can be had vvhich most miserable condition hath novv posessed the greatest parte of our deere countrey for like an vniuersall deluge heresie hath so infected and drovvned the soules therein that they cannot lifte vp theire drousie eies to confider their desperat estate but by vvallovvinge in all kinde of vicious behauioure do make themselues a derision to their enemie the deuel a sorovvfull spectacle to the vvise thereby purchase ende lesse miserie to themselues The thinke euerie houre spent in the exercisse of vertuous life to be vainly emploied esteeme it an happinese to exceede in vices deridinge those that giue them occasion eithere by vvord or vvritinge vvhich may induce to the seruice and true honor of God and hould it a madnese to spende any hovvre in readinge much more in imitatinge the heroicall actes of Sainctes yea they vvill rather scoffe at any vvorthie memorable exploite done by Gods seruantes caling it a delusion of the deuell then endeuour to consider that Sainctes by mortification of the fleshe and not by pampringe and decking theyr corruptible bodies haue obtained the priuileges of Gods searuants by makinge themselues an habitacle of the holy ghost vvheras the other by doinge contrarie make theire corporall substance a mansion house of all vices VVho so therefore desireth to exterpate and banish from him these euils let him first repayer to the vnity of the Catholike Church vvhere he may not only be pertaker of the contynuall prayers and deuotions done in the same by the liuinge here one earth but allsoe of the sufferrages of the immortall and blessed soules in heauen vvho can and vvill most ceartaynly succour and help those that trust in Gods and there protection lett them therefore suppose vvhen the finde and reade the life and actes of any Saint that then they haue gotten an vnfallible directory of there future conuersation Amongest vvhich I earnestly commend this of Saint Francis to theire mature consideration out of the vvhich they may dravv a compendious râ—â—le to guide them in all theire actions But I vvill returne my speach agayne to your most respected and Right vvorshipfull selfe desiring your fauourable kyndnes to interprete this my ouer bould attempte accordinge to the sincerity of my intention and so I committe this present treatis vnder the shielde of your benigne acceptance for knovving my selfe obliged in all duty to apply my best indeauours in such sorte as maye seeme acceptable to your selfe acknovvledginge allsoe my selfe soe much bound in insoluible bonds to vvish and pray dayly for the most prosperous and godly proceedings in all things both of your selfe and your vvell deseruing family vvhich togeather vvith your selfe for breuities sake I most hartyly offer conioynedly vnto thall mighty his protection desiring him to giue you all sufficiencie in temporall respectes and superabundant increase of supernaturall graces And lastly I request you vvould vouchsafe to spend some vacant hovvers in reading and admiring this Saints perfection and if any one reape any spirituall frute by this my labour I accoumpte my paynes fully revvarded If not my vvilling mind remayneth vnvyolable yet hovvsoeuer let all be done to the honor and glory of the euerlasting deity three in persons and one in essence next before all creatures most vvorthy honor and glory to Christ his most blessed mother perpetuall virgin to the holy Appostles Saint Francis and all the heauenly troope vnto vvhose intercessions I once againe perpetually commit this mortall perigrination of you and yours happily to be consummated that after this transitory life you may possesse togeather vvith them eternall ioye and felicitie Amen Yours obliged in all dutie E. H. THE LIFE OF THE MOST HOLIE FATHER S. FRANCIS VVritteÌ„ in one Booke compiled by that Famous Learned man Saint BONAVENTVRE a Frear Minor Cardinall of the holy Romane Church Bishop of ALBA and the seraphicall Doctour of the Church THE FIRST CHAPTER Of Saint Francis his conuersation in secular habite IN the Citty of Assisium there was a man called FRANCIS whose name remaineth in blessed memory for being prevented by the sweete blessings of GOD he was mercifully delivered froÌ„ the dangers of this present life filled abundantly with the influences of Heavenly grace For being in his youth nourished in vanities among the vaine children of men being also after some littel knowledge of Learning deputed to the gainfull trade of Merchandise yet by the assistance of God neither when hee was most addicted vnto pleasure did hee followe the wantonnesse of the fleshe among lascivious young men noâ— yet when he was most intentiue to gaine did he put his confidence in mony and treasures as covetous negotiatours are commonly woont to doe But in his hart there was euen from his infancy ingrafted a certaine singular pitty commiseration towards the poore which growing and encreasing together with his yeeres did replenishe his heart with so bountifull an affection in that behalfe that opening his eares to the wordes of the Gospell he pnrposed with himselfe to giue somewhat vnto euery one that should aske him espetially making demaund for the â—oue of God But whereas on â—â—â—pon occasion of his troublesome businesse wherevnto he was very intentiue he did contrary to his custome neglect the request of
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
after Christ he put speciall confideuce her he made an aduocate for himselfe and his bretheren according as he sometimes familiarly declated vnto his companiōs He burned with an admirable fervour of al his hart soule towards the blessed Sacrament of our Lord his body woondering with an vnspeakable amazement at that most charitable condiscending and most condiscending charity He did oftentimes communicate and that with so great devotion that he made others also to be devoute by his example whilest he at the sweete tasting of the immaculate Lambe was as one drunck in spirit ravished for the most part into an extasie of minde He loved the mother of our Lord Iesus Christ with an vnspeakable loue for that by her the Lord of Maiestie is be come a brother vnto vs and we by her haue happily obtained mercy In her next after Christ he reposed his principall confidence her he did most especially choose to be the Advocatrix for himselfe and all his brethren And to her honor he did most devoutly fast from the feast of the holy Apostles Saint Peter Saint Paul vntill the feast of her Assumption Vnto the Angelicall spiritts also considering them to burne with a maveilouse fire of excessiue loue towardes God and of inflaming the soules of the elect therwithall he was conioined with an inseparable band of loue and for devotion towardes them he fasted fortie daies from the Assumption of the glorious virgin attending all that time vnto continuall praier But vnto blessed Saint Michaell the Archangell for that it belonged vnto his office to represent the soules he was the more devoted in an especiall bonde of loue the rather for the fervent zeale he bare vnto the salvatiou of all the elect And as concerning the Saints out of the remembrance of all them as out of fierie stones he grewe to be more aboundantely inflamed in the vnquencheable zeale and loue of God bearing towardes all the Apostles and specially to Sainct Peter and Saint Paule for the exceeding charitie which they had towardes Christe a most principall and rate devotion and for the reverence and loue of them he dedicated vnto our Lord a peculiar Lenten observance This poore man of Christ had no more but two mites his body namely and his soule to giue vnto God with liberall charitie But these two he spated not for the loue of Christ to offer vp so cōtinually that as it were all his life time he sacrificed his body by the rigour of abstinence and his spirit by the fervour of desire exterioutly in the Porche of his body immolating the burnt sacrifice and in the temple of his soule inwardly beginning the sweete smelling incense of devotion But yet for all this so was he borne alofte to divine things by the excessiue devotion of charity that neuer thelesse his affectuous benignity did dilate it selfe vnto his Copartners in nature and grace For whome the singular pietie of his hart had made to be a brother vnto all creatures besides him it is no marvaile if the charity of Christ did make to be much more a brother vnto creatures ennobled with the Image of their creatour and redeemed with the bloude of theire maker And therefore he reputed not himselfe to be the friend of Christ vnlesse he did cherishe the soules which he had redeemed He saied that nothing was to be preferred before the wellfare of soules approvinge the same especially by this that the only begoten soone of God vouchsafed for the loue of them to hang vpon the Crosse And from hence proceeded his combatte in praier his discourse in preaching and his excesse in giving good example Wherevpon so often as ouer much austerity was reprehended in him he made answere that he was giuen for an example vnto other men For notwithstanding that his innocent flesh which had now willingly and freely subiected it selfe to the spirit stoode no waies in neede of any scourge at all for his owne offences yet for examples sake he daily renewed both paines and burdens vppon himselfe keeping hard waies for other mens instruction For he vsed to say If I speake with the tongues of men and of Angells and haue not Charity in my selfe whereby to giue example of vertue vnto my neighbours I profite others but litle and my selfe no white at all And with a fervent inflammation of charitie he did emulate the glorious triumphe of the holy Martirs for that in them neither could the flame of loue be extinguished nor yet could the stability of fortitude be any way infeebled Wherfore being wholy set on fire with that perfecte charity which casteth out feare he also desireth by the flame of Martirdome to offer himselfe as a liuing sacrifice vnto our Lord to the end he might make requitall according to his power vnto Christ that suffered death for vs vpon the Crosse and might also provoke others by his example vnto the loue of God For in the sixt yeare after his conversion burning altogether in desire of Martirdome he purposed to passe the seas vnto the partes of Siria to preach the Christian faith and pennance vnto the Saracens and other infidelles And being gotten aboarde into a cerraine shippe that made for those partes by meane of contrary winds he was inforced to put a shore vpon the coaste of Salauonia Where having made some tyme of aboade and nor having founde any shippe in all that space prepartd to passe the Seas he thereby perceiving himselfe to be disappointed of his desires made earnest request vnto certaine Marriners euen then prepared for Ancona that for the loue of God they would take him along with them But they obstinately refusing him as not having wherewith to deftay his charges the mā of God singulerly reposing vpon the goodnesse of our Lord entred secretly into the shippe himself and his companion with him At that time fortuned to be there a certaine man of Gods owne sending as is to be thought for the relief of his poore servant who bringing with him necessary provision of victuals and calling vnto him one of the shippe that had the feare of God before him delivered the same vnto him saieng keepe these things faithfully for the poore brethren that lie secret in the shippe and in the time of neede imparte thereof friendly vnto them And so it came to passe that when the shippemen labouring by sorce of the windes for many daies together and all that time not being able to get to lande had in the meane while exspended all their provisions yet still vnto poore Saint Francis remained of that Almes which was by Gods appointement reserved for him Which nevertheiesse though it were but very small was yet by Gods devine power so marveilousely multiplied that they making very many daies aboade vpon the Sea it aboundantly supplied all their necessities euen vntill they came vnto the very Porte of Ancona The marriners therefore perceiving themselues by meane of the servant of God to haue escaped many daungers of
in the night of his passadge saied Behold I leaue the world and goe to Heaven The Bishop therefore rising betimes in the morning declared to them that were in his company what he had seene and returning to Assisium he founde for certaine truthe after diligent enquirie made that at that very hower wherein he had by vision so much made knowen vnto him the blessed Father departed out of this world And at the howre also of the departure of this holy man which was about the twilight of the night following the Larkes which are birds that loue the light and do abhorre the darksomnesse of the twilight did neverthelesse come in a great multitude vpon the toppe of the house plaieng themselues a good while with an vnvsual kinde of reioycing gaue thereby a no lesse ioyful than evident testimony of the glory of the Saint who was wont to enuite them vnto the praises of Almighty God THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER Of his Canonisation and of the translation of his sacred bodie SAINT Francis therefore the servant frind of the Highest the institutour and guider of the Friars Minors the professour of Poverty the forme of Pennance the Preacher of Verity the Mirrour of Holinesse and the sampler of all Evangelicall perfection being prevented from aboue by heavenly grace did come by a well ordered and due proceeding from the lowest estate to the highest pitche of vertue This admirable man as being passingly ritche in Poverty and highly advaunced in Humility prompt also and actiue in mortification and prudent in simplicity and briefly of singular note and observance for al manner of honest conversation whome our Lord had made to be in his life time wonderfully esteemed him did he make to be in his death incomparably more renowned For when this blessed man departed out of the world his sacred spiritte entring the house of eternity and being made gloriouse with the full draught of the fontaine of life left behind him in his body ecrtaine expresse signes of the future glory That his most holy flesh which having binne crucified with the vices thereof had now passed over into a new creature might both by a singularity of priviledge sette forth the shewe of our Saviours Passion and might also by the novelty of the Miracle foreshew the resemblance of his resurrection For in those his most happy members there were certaine nailes to be seene which had bine wounderfully made of his very flesh by power devine and were so marveilously growen therin that being pressed or strained on either side they would as it were certaine naturall and hard sinwes presently rebounde to the contrary parte There was also more apparantly founde in his body howbeit not inflicted nor made by hand of man the hole of a wounde in his side like vnto the wounded side of our Saviour which did in him our Redeemer bring forth the sacrament of humane redemption and generation And the similitude of the nailes were black like vnto irō but the wounde of the side was of a red colour being by the shriking of the flesh brought into a certaine kinde of roundenesse it seemed to be as it were a most beautifull rose As for the rest of his flesh notwithstanding that of former time it had aswell out of infirmity as 〈◊〉 out of nature declined to blacknesse yet now brightly shining with an excessiue Luster of pure whitenesse it did well resemble the exquisite beautifullnesse of the second Stole Apoc. 7.13 Moreover the limmes and members of his body appeared to be so softe and tractable to such as felt them that they seemed to be changed into the tendernesse of a litle childe and did make shewe to be graced with certaine evident signes of innocency Seeing therefore that the nailes seemed to be blacke in his most pure and white flesh and the wounde of his side to be red like vnto a most faire and slourishing rose it is in no sorte to be wondred at if soe delightefull and miraculous a varietie gaue cause both of ioy and admiration vnto all the beholders And true it is that the devout children did indeed shed teares and lament for the taking away of soe loving a Father but yet were they replenished with no small measure of ioy and gladesomnesse meane while that in him they did most sweetely kisse the sacred signes of the inghest king And the novelty of the miracle turned their mournefull complainte into surpassing ioy and the true vnderstanding thereof ravished the deepe searcher of the matter with amazement For a spectacle soe vnvsuall and so notable also therewithall was vnto all the beholders both an establishement of faith and a provocation of loue and affection and to the hearers thereof a matter of admiration and a stirring vp of desire to see and behold it For the death of this good Father was no sooner heard of and the fame of the miracles spreede abroad but the people came withall expedition flocking together to the place that with the eies of their flesh they might see viewe the things which might repel al doubt frō reason and might heape vp aboundance of ioyes to their affections Very many therfore of the Cittizens of Assisium were admitted with their eies to behold and with their lipps to kisse those most holy Stigmats But one of thē being a knight wel learned doubtlesse and wise whose name was Hierome a man also of much fame and accounte being doubtful of these holy signes in credulous like vnto Thomas did in the presence of the brethten and other the Cittisens more freely and boldly moue the nailes and did with his owne handes touche the hands feete and side of the Sainte that whilest by feeling and touching he handled those true signes of the woundes of Christ he might cut of all manner of wounde of doubtfullnesse from the harte both of himselfe and others For which cause even he himselfe among others being afterwards made a constant witnesse of this truth so certainly knowen did by oathe vpon the holy Gospells testifie the same But the brethren and Children that had binne called to the passadge of the blessed Father did withall the multitude of the pecple assembled so religioufly employ themselves in dedicating vnto the eivine praises of God that night wherein the worthy Confessour of Christe was departed that thereseemed to be held noe exequies for the dead but rather a blessed watch and warde of Angels And when morning came the trouppes of people Heere we may see the custome of the Catholieke Church in burryng her dead with wax candels lighted with hemnes spirituall Psalmes that were gathered together taking the boughes of trees and a number of waxe lights in their hands did with Himnes Canticles bring the holy body to the Cittie of Assisium But passing by the Church of Saint Damian wherin that noble Virgin Sainct Clare now gloriouse in Heaven did then remaine inclosed with the rest of the Virgines and making there some stay
in at the brest somewhat vnder the nipple he made such an open gap rifture into the bodie that the winde comming out frō thēce wouldat one time putout some sixe light Candells being ioyned alltogether Finding therefore by the iudgement of the Phisitions that his cure was impossible in regard of the putrifaction of his woundes which yelded forth such an intollerable stēche that even his owne wife did exceedingly loth it perceaving also that he could not haue help by any humane remedies he wholely turned himselfe with all his best devotion to crave the patronadge of the blessed Father Saint Francis whom with the blessed Virgin he had most faithfully invocated in the very middest of his stroakes And behold as he lay miserably waking in his bed Loe where Saints are inuocated and being innocated doe helpe those which pray vnto thē all solitarie and full of distresse and did with mourneful lamentation oftentimes reiterate the name of Francis there stoode one by him in the habite of affriar Minor having entred as to him it seemed in at the windowe whoe calling him by his name did say vnto him Because that in me thou hast had hope confidence be holde our Lord will deliuer thee And being by the distressed creature demaunded who he was he made answeare that he was Francis Wherevpon drawing nighe forthwith vnto him he presently vnloosed the clothes that bounde vp his woundes and did as he conceaved annoynt all those woundes with a certaine kinde of oyntement But so soone as ever he felt the sweete touche of those sacred handes which by the force and vertue of the Stigmattes of our Saviour were able to giue helpe and remedie the corruption being driven quite away the flesh fully repaired and the woundes throughly healed he was perfectly restored vnto his former healthe and strength Which being donne the blessed Father departed And he finding himself to be healed and bursting forth into a gladsome voice of the praise of God and of blessed Saint Francis did presently call his wife vnto him Who running speedily and beholding him now to stand vpon his feete whom shee made accounte shee should haue buried in the day following being striken with a great terrour and amazement thereat did sill with her clamor and outcrie al the nighbourhood ther about But his neighbours and frinds comming in straite waies vpon him and goeing aboute to haue him backe againe to his bed as one that were frantique and out of his wittes he vtterly refused soe to doe shewing himselfe to be now healed throughly recovered Wherevpon they were all soe exceedingly astonished that being as it were without their since or vnderstanding they held it to be a fantasticall thing which they did behold considering that whom they had but a litle before seene to be with most cruell woundes butchered and worne quite away him did they now obserue to be ful of ioy vpon the perfect recoverie of his former strength And therefore the saied vnto them doe ye in no wise feare neither yet doe ye thinke it to be a vaine thing which you see because Saint Francis is but lately departed from the place who hath by the touche of those his holy handes perfectly cured me of all my woundes Now as the fame of this miracle was at lētgh generally spread abroade all the people repaired with speede vnto him and beholding in soe manifest a wonder the force of the Stigmattes of blessed Saint Francis they were filled therevpon both with admiration and ioy and did also extoll the standard-bearer of Christ with many great and excellent praises And with good cause doubtlesse it was that the blessed Father If the Saints being now dead in flesh doe liue in soule with Christ and in the future iudgment are to rise againe with him howe commeth it to passe that the ignorant of our dayes doe rather with heretickes call thē dead Luc. 10.30 Then sleeping with S. Paul being now dead according to the flesh but yet living with Christ in heaven did both by the marveilouse apparition of his presence and by the sweete touche also of his holy handes giue present healthe and recoverie to this poore man thus pittifully and deadly wounded considering that he himselfe also had taken vpon him the very Stigmattes and markes of him whoe mercifully dying and marveilously againe a rising hath by the vertue of his owne woundes healed all mankinde which had bin sorely wounded and left for almost dead At Potentia a Cittie in Apulia there was a certaine man named Roger a man of honorabse place and a Cannon of the great Church Whoe being one time not well at ease and comming even then into the Church to pray where the picture of blessed Saint Frantis was sette out with his gloriouse Stigmattes did beginne to doubt of the high degree and nature of that miracle as of a thing altogether vnusuall and impossible And sodeinely therefore while being inwardly wounded in his minde he thought with himselfe such vaine and frivolouse things behold in the palme of his left hand vnder his gloue he felt himselfe to be grievously wonded hearing the sounde of a stroake as if it had ben of an arrowe shot out of a crosbowe And being presently thervpon no lesse pained with the wounde thē astonished with the sound he pulled of his gloue frō his hād that by sight of the eye he might fully know what he had already perceaved both by his feeling hearing And whereas in the palme of his hand there had formerly ben no signe of any stroake at al yet now he perceaved therin a wonde newly made as it were with the stroak of an arrowe out of which proceeded so great a violence of burning heate that he seemed ready almost to die for paine thereof It is a marveilouse thing to be spokē There appeared not in the gloue any signe thereof at all that vnto the secrette and hidden wounde of his hart the paine of his bodily wounde secretely receaved might duly be conformed From that time forward therfore for two daies space together he cried and roared pittifully out of the most grievouse violence of his torment and the lurking thought of his incredulous harte he discovered vnto al men He furthermore confessed and did also sweare that he verely and truly believed the holy Stigmattes to haue binne in blessed Saint Francis avow ing and protesting Behold where this holy Saint beinge inuocated doth forthwith heare the prayer of him which doth pray vnto him that all fantasies of doubt were now gone quite away and departed He finally in humble manner besought the Saint of God by those his holy Stigmattes to help him and the manifold praiers of his hart he watered and enriched with a plentifull streame of teares Now see another wonder The incredulity being thus vtterly cast away after the health of the minde health also of the body forthwith ensued For now all paine and griefe was at an ende the
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
from the perrill of deathe IN the Confines of the Cittie of Rome a certaine noble man named Raphe did with his devoute wife entertaine the Friars Minors in his house aswell in regarde of hospitalitie as for the loue and reverence of Saint Francis But that very night the keeper of the house sleeping vpon the toppe of a Tower and lieing vpon a pile of wood that was placed vpon the very edge of the wall it chanced that the same being not well laied together did slide of from the place whereby he fell vpon the vnder rose of the house from thence downe vpon the ground At the sound of which fall the whole familie being raised and knowledge being also had of the house keepers fall the maister and mistresse of the house together with the brethren did hastily runne to the place But he who had fallen from a lofte was wholely possessed with soe sounde a sleepe that neither at the ratling of the double downefall nor yet at the noyse of the familie that came with clamor roūde aboute him he did awake Yet being at the length enforced to wake by the hands of them that haled and iogged him he began to complaine that he had bin put out of a sweete quiet rest saying that he had sweetely slept betweene the armes of Saint Francis But being by the rest informed of his owne fall seeing himself to be vpon the ground who had lien on highe before with wonder and amazement of minde that a thing should so be donne which he had not perceived while it was a doeing he promised before them all that he would doe pennance for the reverence of God and of Saint Francis In a towne called Pophis which is with in the partes of Campania a certaine Priest named Thomas went to repaire a mill which belonged vnto the Church And walking somewhat lesse carefully about the edge of the trough from whēce a deepe streame Acertaine Priest is delivered from manifest danger of death by the inuocating of Saint Frācis did fall downe with a strong and violent follow he fell by a sodeyne chance into a hollow peice of wood by motion whereof the mill was set a goeing As therefore he lay incompassed and restrained within that peice of wood and the course of the waters ceased not to streame over his mouth because he lay with his face vpward not being able to speake with his tongue he did with his harte lamentably call vpon Saint Francis But lieing soe for a greate while in soe much that his life was dispaired of by al his cōpanions they did at length with great violence remoue the mill to the contrary side Whereby the Prieste being cast out of that hollowe peice of wood was tumbled in the chanell of the water panting breathing for life And even then behoulde a certaine Friar Minor apparelled in a pure white garment and girt with a Rope taking holde of him with great sweetenesse did pull him out of the river saieing I am Francis whom thou didest call vpon But he being in this waies delivered from that daunget was marveilously astonished and being desirouse to haue kissed his footestepps rāne carefully vp and downe inquiring of his companions Where is he Whither went the Sainte Which way departed he And the men that were with him being full of feare did fall downe prostrate vpon the grounde extolling the great wonders of the high God and the prevalent meritts of his humble Servant Certaine youthes of the towne of Celanum went forthe vpon a time to mowe grasse in the meadowes where in was an old hidden well covered over at the toppe with divers kindes of greene hearbes the which contained about some fower yardes depth of water with in it And it fortuned that as the boyes did severally runne divers waies over the meadowe one of them at vnawares rāne into the well But as his bodie was even then instātly falling into that deepe pitte the heedefulnes of his minde had recourse alofte to the helpe of Saint Francis crieing out in that very fall both faithfully confidently o Saint Francis helpe me The rest of the boies in the meane while A boy being falne into a well at the invocation of Saint Francis is drawne out of it without harme turning themselues about one one way and one another and not finding him among them with clamour travell and teares did goe to seeke him And having found at lengthe that he was fallen into the well they hastily with greife retourned into the towne declaring the event and craving helpe But retourning backe againe to the place with greate company of men one being lette downe by a rope into the wel did see the boy sitting vpon the tope of the water not having suffered any manner of hurte at all But the boy being pulled out of the wel did say vnto them al that were present When I sodainely fel downe I invocated the patronadge of Saint Francis who was immediatly present with me even in my fall and reaching forth his hande did lightely take holde of me neither did he ever leaue me vntill that now together with you he ledde me out of the well againe In the Churche of Saint Francis at Assisium while the Bishoppe of Hostia who afterwardes was Pope Alexander did preache before the Court of Rome A certaine great and waightie stone being vnadvisedly left vpon the pulpite which was both highe and all of stonne and being over much forced with leaning vpon it did fall vpon the head of a woman that satte thereby Wherevpon the people about her esteeming her to be perfectly dead and her head to be bruised altogether did cover her with a garment of her owne that after the ende of the Sermon shee might be had out of the Church as a lamentable Coarse to be prepared for buriall But she faithfully commended her selfe vnto Saint Francis before whose Altar Shee lay And behold as soone as the Sermon was donne the woman rose vp before them all so well in health that there appeared in her no signe of any hurt at all yea and which is more to be admired whereas shee hade binne for long time together even vntill that very hower afflicted with a continuall paine in her head shee was from that time forwarde quite and cleane delivered from all molestation of that disease according as her selfe avowed afterwards At Cornetum in a place of the brethren whether divers devout persons one time resorted to the casting of a bell a certaine yong boy of eighte yeares oulde whose name was Bartholomewe brought some kinde of present vnto the labouring brethren At what time sodeinly a great vehement winde shaking the whole house did with so violent a force throw downe the doore of the gate which was both very great and exceding heavie vpon the boy that with the greatnesse of the waight he was verely thought to haue binne crushed to death For he was so wholly covered and buried as
it were therevnder that no part of him could outwardly be seene They therefore that were present did al of them runne togeather calling for the mightie help of Saint Francis Behold more miseracles donne by in vocating the holy Father S. Francis And his Father also who for the numnesse of his members by reason of sorrowe was not able to moue himselfe out of the place did yet by inwarde vowes and outewarde voice offer his sonne to Saint Francis Well they at the length remooued that deadely waighte from ouer the boy And behoulde he whom they thought to haue bin deade did as one awaked out of a steepe in cheareful manner appeare before them hauing no manner of shewe of any hurte aboute him He therefore as soone as he was fowerteene yeares olde became a Frier minor growing afterwardes to be a learned man and a famouse preacher in the order The men of Lentinum had hewen an exceeding greate stone out of the mountaine the which was to be put vnder an alter of a Churche of S. Francis that was shortely to be consectated But where as wel nighe forty men indeauoured often times to put it into a carte it fel at the length vpon a certaine man and couered him in manner of a graue Where vppon the men being confused in minde and not knowing what to doe the greater parte of them departed away without hope of helpe But tenne of the men that remained behinde invocating S. Francis with mourneful voice and desiring him not to suffer a man soe horriblie to dye in his seruice taking at length good harte vnto them did with so great a facillitie remoue the stone that no man might doubte but that the power of Saint Francis was present amongst them The man finally rose vp strong and sounde in all his members and more ouer he obtained the cleare and perfect sighte of his eies which had bin before duskish and obcured that so all men might be geuen to vnderstand of howe efficacious preualent power the merittes of S. Francis be even in desperate hopelesse accidēts The very like happened at Saint Severines in the Marquisate of Ancona For as a greate stone being brought from Constantnople vnto a Church of S. Francis was drawen along by the strength of many men it fell most terribly vpon one of them that drewe it And whereas it was generally believed that he was not only dead but was also broken and crushed to pieces by the helpe of Saint Francis who lifted vppe the stone he casting of the waight thereof did leape vppe safe and sounde without any hurte at all One Bartholomewe also a Cittizen of Caieta labouring not a litle in the building of a certaine Church of Saint Francis by meane of a certaine beame that having binne but slightly set did fall and light vppon his neck was therewithal grievously bruised Wherevpon being even now readie to die he as he was a faithfull and Godly person craved of one of the brethren his voyage provision The which for soe much as it was not in the brothers power so sodeinely to bring vnto him he therefore considering that he was thought to be in very present danger of deathe vsed vnto him the worde of Saint Augustine saying belieue and thou hast eaten But in the night following Saint Francis with eleven brothers in his company appeared vnto him and bearing a little Lambe vpon his brest did come vnto his bed side calling him by his name and saying vnto him Bartholomewe doe not feare because the enemy who would haue hindred thee in my service shall not prevaile against thee Loe heere is the Lambe which thou diddest craue to haue ben given vnto thee whom also in regarde of thy good desire thou hast receaved by whose power thou shalt obtaine the perfect welfare both of thy soule and body And so drawing his hād along over the woundes he willed him to returne vnto the worke he had taken in hand Who rising vp therefore very timely in the morning and presenting himselfe sounde and well before them that had left him even at deathes doore did bring vppon them both wonder and amazement And furthermore he stirred vppe their mindes vnto the reverence and loue of the blessed Father as wel by his owne example as by the miracle of the Saint A certaine man also of the towne of Ceperanum named Nicholas did fall one day into the handes of his mercilesse enemies who in the fencenesse of their savadge cruelty heaping wounds after woundes in great store vpon him did in so excessiue a degree exercise their fury vpon the miserable man that they tooke him either to be dead outright Here one whichdoth in vocate the Saint is delivered from danger of death or at the least to be vpō the very point of death But the same Nicholas when he receaved the first blowes did with a loude voice cal vpon Saint Francis sayeng O Saint Francis defend me O S. Francis helpe me And this voice divers heard a great way of although they were not able to relieue him But heing carried home at length al begoared in his owne bloode he cousidentllie avouched that he should not see death by meane of those woundes nor yet that he did even then feele any paine of them for that Saint Francis had succoured him and had obtained of God for him time to doe pennance in Which the evente ensuing confirmed For being washed from the bloud he was forthwith beiond al humane hope clarely delivered Also a certain noble mans sonne in the towne of Saint Geminianus being taken with a grievouse sicknesse and past hope of any better recoverie was finally brought vnto the very exigent and point of deathe For a streame of bloud yssued forth of his eies as it is commōly seene to do out of a vaine in the arme And by other vndoubted tokens also of death approaching as appeared in the other partes of his body he was of al men iudged reputed for a dead mā As also being in regard of the weakenesse of his spirit and strength deprived of the vse of his sence motion he seemed to be already departed His parents therfore and frinds being gathered togeather as the custome is in way of lamentation and thinking of noe other thing but of his buriall his Father yet conceaving hope in our Lord ranne speedily vnto the Church of Saint Francis which was built in the same towne and hanging a girdle about his necke did withall humility prostrate himselfe vpon the earth and soe making his vowes and multiplying his praiers Heere we may see the Saints to assiste as patrons before our Lord Iesus Christ those which are devout vnto them did with sightes and groanes obtaine of Christ to haue Saint Francis to be his Patrone He therefore returning straight waies vnto his sonne and finding him to be restored to health againe chaunged his former Mourning into ioye and exultation The very like also our Lord
he soe amazed that he could not finde the way to depar te but making a noyse at the gate terrified all his keepers Who making reporte vnto the Bishoppe of his deliverie from imprisonement the Bishoppe himselfe after vnderstanding had of the order and course of the matter came with devotion vnto the prison and manifestly knowing the power of God adored our Lord in that place The bondes also and fetters were brought before our Lord the Pope and the Cardinalls all that were present who seing what had binne donne and admiring the same exceedingly gaue honour and praise vnto God One Guidolotus of Saint Geminianus being falsely accused of killing a certaine man with poyson and that by the same manner of death he would also haue destroied his sonne all his familie was therefore apprehended by the Governour of the lande by whose commaundement he was loaden with irons and straightly imprisoned in a certaine Tower But he having hope in our Lord by reason of his innocencie which he knewe in his owne harte cōmended his cause to the defence of Saint Francis his patronadge But while the Governoure was thinking with himselfe by what manner of torment he might make him confesse the obiected crime further with what paines he might after such confession finally put him to death the poore man being the nexte morning to be brought to his torments was visited that very night with the presence of Saint Francis and being vntil the morning incōpassed with a great brightnesse of lighte being also filled with ioy much confidence also of minde he receaved security of his escape But in the morning the tormētours came about him they ledde him out of the prison they hung him vpon the torture and increased vpon him many and sundrie waights of iron He was oftentimes lette downe and lifted vp againe that by the succeding of one paine after another he might be the sooner inforced to confesse the crime but by the spiritte of his innocencie he retained a chearefullnesse in his countenance making no shewe of sadnesse in all those paines Yet after this a great fier was made beneathe him but not soe much as one of his heares was thereby perished though he hung with his head to the grounde And last of all being scalded all over his bodie with boiling oyle by vertue of his patrone to whose defence he had commended himselfe overcomming all these things he went away safe and free from harme THE SIXTE DIVISION Of Women deliuered from daunger in Childebirthe A certaine Countesse in Sclauonia no lesse vertuous in conversation than highe in honorable degree condition did beare towards Saint Francis an exceeding great devotion and towards the brethren an industriouse affectionof pietie But she suffering one time in her travel of childe exceeding sharpe and dolorouse paines was brought vnto that extremitie of distresse that the future birthe of the childe seemed likely in all expectation to be the present death of the Mother For it seemed impossible that the childe should be borne with life vnlesse that shee thereby should ende her life and should by such a deliverie nor bring forth but perrish But then shee bethought her selfe of Saint Francis his fame of his vertue and glory her faith was stirred vp her devotion was inflamed Shee turned her selfe vnto his efficacious helpe vnto him as vnto a true frind as vnto a solace of the devoute as vnto a refuge of the afflicted O Saint Francis quoth shee vnto thy pietie al the bones of my body make humble supplication and I vow in minde what I cannot expresse in wordes And marveilouse was the speede of his pietie A certaine woman being helped by S. Francis in the danger of child-birth doth afterwards performe her vowe and build a Church in his honor The ende of her speaking was the ende of her lamenting the bounde of her travell the beginning of her childe bearing For presently her labours being all at an end shee did with safetie bring forthe her childe And afterwardes shee was not vnmindefull of her vow nor yet refractorie from her wel intended purpose For shee caused a goodly Church to be builte and the same being builte and finished shee assigned vnto the brethren in honour of the holy Sainte In the parts aboute Rome there was a certaine woman named Beatrice who looked now shortely to be brought a bed of a childe but having borne it deade by mischaunce for fower daies space in her wombe shee miserablie sustained many and sundrie torments and was distressed with dolorouse paines even to the pointe of deathe For the dead issue constrained the mother to deathe and the abortiue being not yet brought to lighte inforced the apparant perrill and danger of the Mother Shee tried the helpe of the Phisitians Gen. 3.16 But by whatsoever humane helpe shee laboured it prooved all in vaine And soe of the first maledictions some parte did plentifully befall vpon this miserable woman that being made the graue and Sepulcher of her owne conception she was for certaine to expect a graue for her selfe immediately But shee at the length withall her devotion committing her selfe by message vnto the Friers Minors did with great faith humbly craue to haue somewhat of the Reliques of Saint Francis And it happened by Gods providence that there was founde a certaine peice of a corde See heere howe parte of the girdle of S. Francis being applyed to a Woman doth deliuer her frō danger of death wherewith the holy man had binne sometime girded The which so soone as it was put vpon the mournefull woman most easely forthwith removed all paine and dolour quite away the dead childe which was the cause of her danger being now brought forth shee wes perfectly restored vnto her former health A certaine noble manswife of Narnium named Iuliana passed her yeares in sorrow and heavinesse for the death of her sundrie sonnes and did continually bewaile her vnhappy misfortune concerning them in regard that all that euer she had with greate paine and labour brought into the world she did in shorte space with farre greater sorrowe commit to buriall But bearing one time in her wombe a childe of fower monethes conception and being by reason of the former events more afflicted in minde concerning the deathe than concerning the birth of the childe she faithfully praied vnto the blessed Father Saint Francis for the life of the childe that was yet vnborne And beholde one nighte as shee lay at rest a certaine woman appeared in sleepe vnto her holding a goodly boy in her handes and offering him in most chearefull manner vnto her But whereas shee refused to receaue him whom shee feared foorth with to loose againe the woman yet further in this māner of wise replied saying receaue him securely for he whom Saint Francis bearing compassion with thee in thy griefe doth send vnto thee shall be sure to liue and shal continewe in perfect healthe And presently the woman
Brother Iames of Iseum when he was but a litle boy in his Fathers house got a greivous rupture in his bodie But he albe it that he were both yong and weake did by the instinct of Gods heavenly spiritte enter into the Order of Saint Francis with much devotion not yet discovering vnto any man the infirmitie wherewith he was molested But it came to passe that when the body of Saint Francis was translated vnto the place where the pretious treasure of his sacred bones is euen now reserved the foresaied brother also was then present at the ioyes of the translation that vnto the bodie of the blessed Father now glorified he might exhibite due honour and reverence And approaching vnto the tombe wherein those sacred bones were placed for devotion of spiritte he embraced the same and praying with many teares he sodeinely founde the partes of his bodie to be in marveilouse manner restored vnto their due places So that perceaving himselfe to be perfittely wel he put of his trusse was froÌ„ thenceforth delivered from his former paine and greife From the like infirmitie also brother Bartholus of Eugubium brother Angelus of Tudertum Nicholaus a Priest of Stichanum one Ioannes de Fora a certaine man of Pisis and another of the towne of Cisterna one Peter also of Sicilia a man of the towne called Spellum nigh to Asisium and a great many moe besides were by the mercie of God and by the merittes of Saint Francis marveilously delivered Vpon the Sea coastes a certaine woman having binne distracted for fiue yeares space together had lost her fighte and hearing Shee tare her garments with her teethe shee reared not the perril either of fire or water and at the last shee had an horrible passion of the falling sicknesse But one nighte when God of his mercie was pleased to haue compassion vpon her she being from heaven en vironed with the brightnesse of a healthe giving lighte did set Saint Francis sitting vpon a highe Throne before whom shee prostrating her selfe Behold howe one makinge a vowe is foorthwith â—ured did make huble sute to obtaine her healthe Vnto whose perition whereas he did as yet forbeare to assent the woman therevpon made a vowe wherein shee promised that soe long as she should haue any thing shee woulde not denie to giue some almes vnto suche as should aske of her for the loue of God and of this his Sainte This Coveante the Sainte forth with acknowledged as being like vnto that which himselfe had formerly made with our Lord and signening her therefore with the signe of the Crosse he throughly restored her to perfect healthe Sup. Cap. 1. parag 2. From the like passion also a certaine yong maiden of Nursâ—â— and a certaine noble mans sonne and divers others besides haue binne by the Sainte of God S. FraÌ„cis mercifully delivered as hath binne certainely founde by relation of good creditte and auctoritie One Peter of Fulgineum goeing one time to visite the Church of Saint Michael and performing that pilgrimage with lesse reverence than was convenient having tasted the water of a certaine fountaine was presently invaded by the divells and being from that time for three yeares together possessed was miserably turmoiled in his bodie speaking most wicked thinges and pretending horrible matters Yet having sometimes some kinde of intermission and reasonable vnderstanding he did in humble manner seeke after the virtuous power of the blessed Sainte which he knewe to be effectuall to driue away the powers of the aire And comming vnto the Tombe Heere we may see howe those that seeke for refuge at the sepulchers of Saints are helped of them of the pious Father so soone as with his hand he touched the same he was marveilously delivered from the divells that did cruelly vexe and torment him In like manner also the mercie of Saint Francis did helpe a certaine woman of Narnium and divers others more that were possessed with divells whose greivouse vexations with the manner also of their recoverie were overlong to be in this place particulerly rehearsed A certaine man of the Cittie of Fanum named Bonus being sicke of the Palsey and infected also with a Leaprosie was brought by his pareÌ„ts vnto the Church of Saint Francis and recovered perfect healthe of either disease As also another yong man of Saint Seuerinus named Acto Heere we may note that some Saints haue speciall priuiledge to cure some perciculer disease being wholy infected with the Leaprosie having made a vowe â—nd being also brought vnto the Sepulcher of the Sainte was by his merittes cleansed from that infection For the blessed Sainte had indeed a marveilouse power in the curing of this disease in regard that he for the loue of humilitie and pietie had humbly deputed himselfe to serue the Leapears In the Diocesse of Sora a certaine noble woman named Rogata having binne for three and twentie yeares space overwearied with a continuall bloudy flixe and having also sustained many euills at the Phisitions handes did oftentimes for very excesse of the disease seeme even readie to giue vp the ghoste And if at any time it were staied with in her shee did exceedingly swel thereby in all her bodie But hearing once a certaine boy in the streete to sing the miracles in the Romane tongue which were donne by Saint Francis sustaining then greate dolour and greife she burst forth into streames of teares and so being inwardly inflamed with faith shee beganne to say O blessed Saint Francis Thou that shinest with so many miracles if thou wouldest vouchsafe to deliver me from his infirmitie much glory would thereby arise vnto thee for such a miracle as this thou haste not wrought as yet What shall I vse more wordes So soone as shee had but spoken thus much shee founde her selfe to be by the merrittes of Saint Francis delivered Soe also a sonne of hers named Marke having his arme contracted vpon a vowe made vnto Saint Francis A cerâ—â—ine man â—auinge the sinews of his arme contracted is belped by making a vowe to S. Francis obtained present helpe thereof And a certaine woman of Sicilia who had binne for seaven yeares worne and coâ—sumed with a bloudy flixe was by the signe bearer of Christ perfectly cured In the Cittie of Rome one Praxedes a woman of greate fame for her religiouse conversation who froÌ„ her tender age had for loue of the everlasting spouse by the space of wel nighe fortie yeares betaken her selfe to a hard and straight prison merited to obtaine at the hands of Saint Francis a speciall grace and favour For goeing vp one day vpon occasion of some necessaries into the open place over the Cell and falling downe by meane of some fantasticall violence shee brake her foote and her thighe as also her arme was thereby put out of ioynt at what time the most loving Father appeared vnto her apparelled all in white with garments of glorie and with sweete wordes he began in