THE LIFE OF THE GLORIOVS VIRGIN S. CLARE Togeather with the Conuersion and life of S. Agnes her sister And of another S. Agnes Daughter to the King of Bohemia Also the Rule of S. Clare And the life of S. Catharine of Bologna Translated into English Permissis Superiorum M. DC XXII TO THE MOST GLORIOVS Virgin S. Clare Most Glorious Saint BEING to publish thy Blessed Life traslated into English for the publik benefit of our Coūtry I found no creature heere on Earth seeming worthy inough to be presented therewith by way of Dedication And therfore were my Thoughts presently transported hence to the glorious Cittizens of Heauen whither ariuing they forthwith made choice of thy Blessed Selfe as best in particuler deseruing so true an Honour Accept then B. Saint this my small labour which in all Humility Reuerence I heere offer vnto thy Holy NAME togeather with my vnworthy Selfe that by thy Intercession Piety I may be made partaker of some little glimpse of that spiritual Influence which out of the huge Masse of thy Glorious merits thou vouchsafest to impart vnto thy deuout Suppliants amongst whom I humbly begge O Glorious Virgin to be accepted for one I. W. THE TABLE OF S. Clare her Countrey Family Byrth Chap 1. Of her Education Charity Prayer mortification and Virginity Chap. 2. Of her knowledge acquaintance with S. Francis Chap. 3. Of her forsaking the world entring into Religion Chap. 4. How her friends laboured to reclayme her from Religion Chap. 5. Of the cōuersion of her sister Agens by her prayers Chap. 6. Of her Humily Chap. 7. Of her voluntary Pouerty Chap. 8. Of the miracles wrought by her Pouerty Chap. 9. Of her great mortifications abstinence Chap. 10. Of the spirituall profit procured ouer the whole world by the fame of S. Clare Chap. 11. Of her feruent Prayer Chap. 12. How the Mores were expelled the Monastery by S. Clare Chap. 13. How the Citty of Assisium was deliuered by her prayers Chap. 14. Of her Reuerence deuotion to the most B. Sacrament Chap. 15. Of a meruailous consolation she receyued vpon a Christmas day Ch. 16. Of the spirituall doctrine with which she noursed her daughters Chap. 17. Of the deuotion which Pope Gregory the IX had to S. Clare Chap. 18. Of her feruent loue to Iesus Christ of an extasy wherin she was Ch. 19. Of the many Miracles she wrought by the signe of the Crosse Chap. 20. Of the signe of the Crosse remayning vpon Bread blessed by her Chap. 21. Of her Infirmity sicknes Ch. 22. How she was visited by Pope Innocent the fourth Chap. 23. How she comforted her sister Saint Agnes Chap. 24. Of her Death Obsequies Chap. 25. 26. Of the miracles wrought by her Intercession Chap. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. Of her Canonization by Pope Alexander the fourth Chap. 32. The life of S. Agnes HOVV S. Agnes was sent to Florence to build there a monastery Chap. I. Of a Letter she wrote to her sister S. Clare the rest of the monastery of S. Damian Chap. II. Of an extasy of S. Agnes and of her thrice crowning by an Angell Chap. III. How she sent S. Clares veyle to the Monastery of Florence and of her death Chap. IIII. Of the many Miracles wrought by the merits of S. Agnes Ch. V. VI. Of the Life of another S. Agnes who was daughter to the King of Bohemia Religious of the same Order Pag. 207. Of the intention of our Lord in the vocation of S. Clare Of her Countrey Family of a Reuelation to her mother touching her birth sanctity CHAP. I. SIx yeares after the conuersiō of the holy Father S. Francis the fourth yeare after the confirmation of his Rule by Pope Innocent the third the yeare of grace 1212. the omnipotent Father of light hauing framed and sent into the world a new man his seruant S. Francis by him to repayre and reforme his faithful people in that age would also that a valourous woman should by his worke appeare in the world to accompany that his great faythfull seruant to the end that of those two shold be new borne a perfect regeneration of the children of God And as the first naturall generation came of man and woman as of an vnited beginning so this spirituall generation of the imitatours of the life and counsailes of Iesus Christ proceeded in al the Church and in all the estates and qualityes of persons of the one same spirit of zeale of perfection of humility and of pouerty from one man and one woman And to the end it might not be vnlike the creation almighty God hauing first perfected his seruant S. Francis would frame of the ribb or side of his life doctrine and Santy the glorious Virgin S. Clare his true and legitimate daughter in Iesus Christ for his companion as zealous also of perfection and angelicall reformation With great reason therfore hath she her place in the Chronicles of the Friars Minors for she being a ribbe and party of the same order it is very requisite a speciall mention should be made of her sanctity of life as we shall heere performe and if it be not according to her merit shall at least be done with the least defect we can possible being resolued to imploy therein that little force of spirit which God hath giuen vs both to the honour of his diuine maiesty his holy seruant and to the edification of soules The glorious S. Clare was borne in the Citty of Assisiū in Italy scituate in the prouince of the valley of Spoletum which is a territory apperteyning to the Pope and Roman Church Her Father and Mother were noble of a famous and very welthy family her Mother was called Hortulana which in our tounge may be tearmed Gardener and not without mistery considering she was to produce so noble and vertuous a plant in the garden of the holy Church This woman was exceeding deuout and compleate in the fruites of good workes and albeit she were marryed and consequently obliged to the care and gouernement of her house and family yet did she not omit with all her power to be exercised in the seruice of God and imployed in the works of mercy She was so feruent in the loue of Iesus Christ that with great deuotion she passed the sea with many other pilgrimes visited those holy places which our Redeemer Iesus Christ God and man consecrated with his holy presence and retourned exceedingly comforted and inriched with many meritts She also visited the Church of the Archangell Saint Michael on the mount Gargan and with a pious and feruent desire visited the Apostles S. Peter S. Paul in Rome in such sort did that vertue and feruour shine in those dayes in many holy persons but now so weakned is the feruour of Christians touching the visiting of holy places the Reliques of our Lord and his Saintes that it
hauing none that can comfort me in this life but that I receiue a little consolation from the liberall hand of our Sauiour Iesus Christ which causeth me to beseech you all to giue thankes vnto his diuine maiesty for this fauour and mercy extended towardes me for that through his grace I find such concord peace and charity in this Couent as by wordes cannot be expressed these sisters hauing receiued me with exceeding loue deuotion yielding me Obedience vvith extraordinary promptitude reuerence They all with one accord recommend themselues to our Lord Iesus Christ to you my Sister to all the sisters of the monastery I recommend my selfe them to your holy prayers beseeching you as a mother to be mindfull of them of me as of your daughters know you that they I will all the daies of our life obserue keepe your holy precepts and aduertisements Besides I desire you should know that the Pope hath accorded to whatsoeuer I demaunded of him conformably to your intention myne particulerly in the matter you know to wit that we may not possesse any thing proper I beseech you my most deare mother to procure of the Reuerent Father Generall that he often visit vs to comfort vs in God whose grace be with your spirit Amen Of an extasy of S. Agnes and how S. Clare saw her thrice crowned by an Angell CHAP. III. SAINT Clare in her last sicknes obteyned that her sister Saint Agnes might come to see her in the monastery of S. Damian to keep her company during the few daies she had to liue so S. Agnes bauing left her Couent well grounded in Religion sanctity she came to Assisium where Saint Clare being one night in prayer apart from her sister she neuertheles saw her being also in prayer lifted from the earth an Angell to crowne her thrice with so many seuerall crownes The day following she demaunded of her sister what prayer or conteÌ„platioÌ„ she had made the night past but she of humility vnvvilling to manifest her prayer being at length inforced by Obedience made her this relation I considered the great goodnes and patience of Almighty God wherby he supporteth such enormous offeÌ„ces of sinners which I considered with a deep sorrow and compassion then I thought and yet doe thinke of the loue which almighty God beareth to sinners how he indured death to saue them thirdly I considered doe consider am with compassioÌ„ exceedingly afflicted for the soules in purgatory their great torments because they cannot help themselues I asked mercy for them of the most sacred wounds of our Redeemer Iesus Christ How S. Agnes sent S. Clares veyle to the monastery of Florence and of her death and translation to Saint George in Assisium with all her Religious into a new Couent CHAP. IIII. AFTER the death of S Clare Saint Agnes sent her blacke veyle which she did ordinarilv weare to the poore Religious of Mount Caeâ—i which she had founded at Florence which she did in regard of her great amity towardes them and that they might inherit some Reliques of S. Clare for their comfort and deuotion That veyle is yet in the said monastery where it is so carefully preserued that in substance and colour it seemeth still new There is likewise to be seene in the same monastery a cloak of S. Francis by which Reliques our Lord worketh many miracles A little after the death of S. Clare S. Agnes also desired to be present at the marriage of the lambe whither she was inuited but she first receiued the consolation which S. Clare had promised her that before she departed out of this life she should see her Spouse Iesus Christ as a tast of the eternall felicityes wherto she was to be eleuated conducted by her sweet spouse Christ Iesus She dyed the 56 yeare of her age replenished with perfect sanctity and being deliuered out of this prison she went to possesse the Kingdome with Angels and the holy virgins that had bin consecrated to Iesus Christ in which glory these two sisters daughters of Sion companions in heauen by nature grace doe prayse God without end There assembled a great multitude of people vpon the death of S. Agnes and they with great deuotion ascended with a ladder the monastery of Saint Damian hoping thereby to receiue some spirituall consolation of sanctity but it hapned that the chaine which held the ladder did slip so that all those who were vpon it fell downe one vpon another which made a great noyse and clamour by those who were hurt hauing with a strong faith inuocated S. Agnes were all cured The said holy virgin was interred at S. Damian but afterwardes was transported into the Church of S George where she still remayneth togeather with her sister in Assisium by the which Church the Cittizens haue builta faire monastery intituled Saint Clare whither were afterward remoued the Religious sisters of S. Damian which was done to preuent many inconueniences that might arriue vnto the being without the Citty The said Religious brought from S Damian many Reliques and perticularly the Crucifix which spake to S. Francis at the beginning of his conuersion which is extant in the said monastery of S. Clare and the Friars Minors are at S. Damian Of many miracles wrought by Almighty God through the merits of S. Agnes CHAP. V. A Girle of Perusia had a cancred fistula in her throate who hauing deuotion to S. Agnes visited her sepulcher The Religious there hauing vnbound her soare at the entry of the Couent then hauing with a strong faith ' offered her prayers she arose sound and returned to her house exceedingly comforted yielding thankes to God and to his seruant There was a Religious sister at our Lady of Angells of Perusia vvho had a mortall soare in her breast which the Phisitians had iudged to be incurable in it there were three holes so that the Religious womeÌ„ exhorted her to beare this affliction vvith patience as proceeding from the hand of God and to conforme herselfe to his diuine will This diseased sister being alwaies of mind to recommend herselfe to S. Agnes kneeling one day before the Altar she vvith much deuotion commended herselfe to the holy seruant of God demaunding of her redresse of her infirmity vvherewithall falling falling into a gentle and sweet slumber Saint Agnes appeared vnto her and with her hand touched her mortall wound with which visitatioÌ„ she was sweetly comforted and cured and at her awaking finding herselfe souÌ„d she gaue infinit thankes to God to her aduocate S. Agnes Another Religious womaÌ„ of the monastery of Venice had an impostume in her breast which was opened by the Phisitians found so dangerous that they allotted her a very little time to liue This poore sister therefore in this diftresse recommended herselfe to the two sisters S. Clare and Saint Agnes and about midnight these two Saints as
Mother the night of holy Thursday is past as also good Friday and we are now in the night of Easter eue the Saint replyed my daughter blessed be this sleep which Almighty God at length after my long desire hath graunted me but I admonish and commaūd you not to speake hereof to any creature liuing whiles I shall liue in this world Of many miracles wrought by S. Clare by the signe and vertue of the holy Crosse CHAP. XX. OVR Redeemer Iesus Christ recompenced well the pious desires and good workes of his beloued virgin S. Clare for as she was inflamed with an infinite loue of the mistery of the holy Crosse so by the vertue and power of the same Crosse she became noble in the signes and miracles of Iesus Christ that oftentimes in making the signe of the holy Crosse vpon the sicke they were miraculuosly cured and instantly healed of sortes of diseases A Religious man called Stephen hauing a hoat feuer that exceedingly vexed him the holy Father S. Francis sent hin to S. Clare to make the signe of the Crosse vpon him as one that well knew her perfection and verue which he exceedingly honored Now the vertuous Lady Hortulana Mother to Saint Clare was then in the couent of S. Damian for a little before considering that her daughters had espoused Iesus Christ she came to them to Religion where this happy Lady serued as a true gardiner in the garden inclosed with those Virgins our Redeemer Iesus Christ with the glorious virgin Agnes sister to Saint Clare and the other Religious all replenished with the holy Ghost to whome the holy Father Saint Francis sent many diseased whome they cured after hauing made vpon them the signe of the holy Crosse which they most hartily honored The sayd Religious then being sent to S. Clare she as the daughter of obedience thereto commaunded by the holy Father S. Francis presently made vpon him the signe of the Crosse then left him a little to sleep in the Church in the place where she was accustomed to pray and the Religious hauing a little reposed arose sound secure and freed of his infirmity then he returned to Saint Francis by whome he had byn sent to S. Damian consequently was cured A child of three years old of the Citty of Spoletum called Matthew had by chaunce a stone thurst into his nose whence it could not be gotten out so that the child was in extreme perill wherupon he was brought to Saint Clare who hauing made the signe of the Crosse vpon him the stone incontinently fell out of his nose and he was perfectly well Another child likewise of Perusia hauing a filme vpon his eyes was brought to S. Clare who touching the eye of the child and making the signe of the Crosse thereupon willed thē that had presented the child vnto her to carry it vnto her Mother Hortulana that she might also make the signe of the Crosse vpon it which hauing done the eye became cleere and being purged of the filme that obscured it he was presently cured wherupon S. Clare affirmed that this miracle was wrought by the merits of her mother who finding such glory to be attributed vnto her reputed herselfe vnworthy thereof One of her Religious called Beneuenta hauing had for 12. yeares togeather an impostume vnder her arme which did purge by fiue seuerall issues S. Clare had compassion therof and made vpon her the signe of the holy Crosse then with her owne hands taking away the playster she was cured of her long continued soares Another of her Religious called Amia being for more then a yeares space afflicted with the dropsy togeather with an extreme paine in her sides and a burning feuer S. Clare conceiued a very strong compassion of her and therefore hauing recourse to her noble and infallible medicine she made vpon her body the signe of the holy Crosse in the name of her beloued Iesus Christ and the Religious was perfectly cured Another seruant of God borne at Perusia had for two years togeather so lost her voice that one could scarsely heare her speak but hauing vnderstood by a vision which she had the night of the assumption of our blessed Lady that S. Clare should cure her the poore afflicted creature hauing very patiently expected the breake of day repayred with a strong confidence vnto that holy virgin and by signes craued her benediction which fauour hauing obtained her voice which so long time she had wanted became as cleere and shrill as euer it had byn Another Religious called Christina that had bin long time deafe in one of her eares and hauing in vaine tryed many remedies Saint Clare making the signe of the crosse vpon her head and with her hand touching her care she recouered her hearing as perfectly and clearly as before Another Religious call Andrea had a disease in her throat the griefe wherof procured her much impatience it being admirable that among so many prayers inflamed with diuine loue their should be a soule so could among such prudent virgins one so indiscret and moderate This Religious feeling herselfe one night more tormented with her infirmity then ordinarily afflicted impatient that her paine did rather increase then diminish she so crushed and pressed her throat making thereby appeare her intention to choake herselfe thinking by violence to expell that swelling so to auoid longer torment through ignorance attempting to do more then was the will of God But whiles that poore Religious busied herselfe in this folly Saint Clare by diuine inspiration had knowledge thereof wherfore calling one of her Religious she vvilled her to hasten downe boyle an egge in the shell cause sister Andrea to swallow it which done to bring her to her presence The Religious instantly dressed the egge and forth with brought it to the sicke party whome she found little better then dead hauing so crushed her throat that her speach was vtterly gone yet she made her swallow the egge so well as she could then raysing her from her straw bed she with much labour led her to Saint Clare who thus spake vnto her Wretched sister confesse thee to God haue contrition for what thou intendest to doe acknovvledge that Iesus Christ wil giue thee health far better then thou with thine owne handes hadst purposed to doe change this euill life into a better for thou shalt neuer recouer another sicknes that shal succeed this but shalt dye therof These words procured in this Religious a spirit of compunction and contrition so that she being intierly cured of this grieuous infirmity amended her life falling a little after into another sicknes which Saint Clare had foretold wherof she ended her life piously It doth manifestly appeare by these examples and by many other marueylous thinges that the tree of the Crosse of our blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ was deeply planted in her hart that in a meruailous māner the fruits therof did interiourly recreate her soule sith
praysed for hauing created me A Religious sister asking her what she ment thereby she answered I speake to my blessed soule her most glorious spouse Iesus Christ not being far from her attending for her then turning to one of her Religious she sayd doe you not see my daughter the King of glory whome I see Almighty God also laid his hand vpō another Religious who saw with her corporall eyes through the teares that distilled from them a glorious vision she being pierced through with the dart of sorrow cast her eyes towards the gate of the house saw to enter a great processiō of sacred virgins richly cloathed in white hauing ech one a crowne of gold vpon their head but one of them appeared more beautifull sumptuous and glittering then the rest hauing vpon her head an imperiall Crowne garnished with pretious stones from whose countenance proceeded a light so shining that it conuerted the obscurity of the night into cleare and bright day it being without doubt the most glorious virgin Mary Queene of virgins who came to the bed of the Espouse of her Sonne to whome inclyning she most gratiously imbraced her and incontinently she was couered the bed also by the other virgins vvith an extreme sumptuous mantle so the day following which was the eleuenth of August her holy soule ascēded to heauen there to be crowned with perpetuall glory Happy was her departure out of this miserable life sith it was the entry into that of eternall felicity for the fastes which this Saint performed in this exile she is now ioiful hauing her fill at the magnificall table of the Cittizens of heauen for the humility and basenes of her habit she is now gloriously attired with the glory of paradise The continuall sighes desires which she had for the presence and loue of her deerly beloued spouse are accomplished by the blessed vision of God face to face and by the assured fruition of the soueraigne good leauing the way open to the example of sanctity that we blind and miserable mortall Creatures reiecting these short false and deceiptfull pleasures of this world may purchase the permanent true assured delightes that indure eternally Of the honorable obsequies that were performed for Saint Clare CHAP. XXVI VVHILES the soule of S. Clare departed this life the report of her decease was incontinently diuulged through Assisium frō whence both men and women in such aboundance speedily flocked to the monastery that none seemed to be left in the Citty each one presently esteeming her a Saint calling her the Espouse of Iesus Christ and accōpanying their discourses with great a boundance of teares of deuotion The officers of iustice repayred thither accompanyed with many warlike Champions and a great number of armed men which that night guarded the monastery for feare that pretious treasure might be bereaued thē The night following the Pope with all his court came thither accompanyed withall the neighbour people The Religious men of S. Damian being ready to begin the office of the dead the Pope would haue had said the office of the holy virgins wherin he would haue canonized her before her buriall but the Cardinall of Hostia hauing demonstrated vnto him that it was fitting in this affayre to proceed with more humane prudence the Pope permitted the said Religious solemnely to proceed in the office of the dead according to their ordinary accustomed manner The said Cardinall hauing taken for his text vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas made a very worthy and deuout Sermon to manifest the vanity of thinges appertayning only to this world where he exceedingly exalted that most eminent contemner of vanities which ended all the Cardinalls and other Prelates accompanyed her holy body with an exemplar deuotion All the funeralls being very solemnely ended then Cittizens of Assisiū thinking it not secure that this pretious treasure should remaine so far out of their Citty they caused her holy body with exceeding great pompe to be transported singing psalmes and Hymnes with the sound melody of diuers musicall instruments in a very solemne procession carrying it into the Chuch of Saint George within their Citty where the body of S. Francis had formerly byn reposed And it was very reasonable that he who in his life had giuen a patterne of the way of life vnto this holy virgin should as it were prophetically preparre her a place of sepulture There was then a great repaire and confidence of people from diuers Cittyes townes and villages vnto Assisium to thanke Iesus Christ and to pray vnto this blessed creature proclayming this holy virgin to be really a Saint glorious who now liueth in paradise with the Angells hauing bin already so much honored of men vpon earth O blessed virgin pray now to God for vs gayne our soules to Iesus Christ in heauen as thou hast conuerted and gayned so ma-many liuing vpon earth The holy virgin passed this transitory life to the other of rest the yeare of grace 1253. the tweluth of August forty yeares after her perfect vocation to God and the 60. yeare of her age She was interred the 12. of August vpon which day her feast is solemnized at Assisium and ouer all the holy Roman Church Of the miracles wrought by the merits of S. Clare and first of possessed persons that haue byn deliuered CHAP. XXVII THE chiefest marks that saints can haue and the worthyest testimonies of fayth and reuerence are sanctity of life and the perfection of good workes for S. Iohn Baptist wrought no miracles during his life and yet they who haue wrought many shall not be esteemed more holy then he and therfore the notable renowne of the Religious life of Saint Clare might suffice to make her appeare such as she is if the tepidity coldnes and remissnes of the world c partly also deuotion did not otherwise require But since this holy virgin was not only in her lifetime by her merits swallowed vp in the depth of diuine illuminations but was also after her death a meruaylous splendour ouer all the world by the light of her miracles and as the most pure Verity hath caused the recording of many of her miracles that they remayne as testimonies memory denuntiation of her Sanctity therfore also the multitude of them inforce me to recount some that they may be generally diuulged knowne A Child called Iames seeming not so sicke as possessed in regard that somtimes he cast himselfe into the fire or into the riuer fell rudely vpon the ground and with such fury did bite the stones that he brake his teeth withall forced bloud out of his head and wrested his mouth most strangely yea somtimes would seeme a monster so doubling foulding his members that his feete would be vpon his necke He was ordinarily twice in the day afflicted with the like torments in such sort that two persons sufficed not to restraine him from tearing of his cloathes yea there was great
full of comfort and went to the monastery of S. Clare recounted this apparition to the Abbesse and the Religious then she heard Masse which being ended the Religious shewed to the Mother and the Sonne the sacred Reliques of the Saint and at the instant her Sonne was cured of the impostume in his throat only After that Saint Agnes appeared to him in vision togeather with another woman who brought a violl full of oyntment Saint Agnes then sayd to the child my Sonne how do you whereto he answered I am by the meritts of Saint Agnes cured of the impostume in my throat but that vvhich is vpon my shoulder procureth me extreme affliction The Saint replyed I will cure this as I did the other in thy throat then she vnbound the sayd â—â—postume tooke of the playster and cast it vpon the ground then applyed thereto the oyntment vvhich her companion had brought and instantly the child was perfectly cured When his mother came to see him she found the playsters vpon the ground and her Sonne sound and lusty vvho particulerly recounted vnto her the sayd vision vvhich afterward vvas generally diuulged This happened in the yeare 1350. The end of the life of Saint Agnes THE LIFE OF ANOTHER S. AGNES WHO WASDaughter to the King of Bohemia and Religious of the Order of S. Clare CHAP. I. IN the beginning of this Religious Order there was another Virgin besides the precedent called Agnes as illustrious in sanctity as in bloud for she vvas daughter to the King of Bohemia vvho promised her in marriage to the Emperour Frederike and this holy virgin hauing heard the worthy reputation of S. Clara who then liued by such as came from Rome Assisium being inspired of God she besought the King her Father to giue her leaue to serue rather a celestiall then a terrestriall spouse But the King knowing that he could not recall his word that whatsoeuer excuse he shold alleage to breake this marriage the Emperour would sinisterly interprete he vtterly denyed her Now the virgin hauing found the drift cause of this deniall assured her Father that if he would accord to whatsoeuer she demauÌ„ded she would vndertake the that Emperor should condescend therunto presuming confidently vpon the fauour of Iesus Christ She knew well to deliuer herselfe from many other allegations with so good a grace with such persuasiue tearmes that she purchased her Fathers consent to what she desired without further seeking the approbation of the Emperour wherupon this Princesse presently sent for certaine Friars Minors of Magnes where they had a Couent who coming to her did shortly after consecrate vnto God this Royall plant with many other gentlewomen of great families in Bohemia to whome they gaue the habit of Religion instructing them in the life and Rule of S. Clare The King desiring to assigne a good pension to bestow vpon the Monastery vvhere his daughter was a good rereuenew to supply the necessities thereof she formally withstood him purposing to liue dye poore to be maintayned by almes conformably to her rule rigorously obseruing the intention of the holy Father Saint Francis Saint Clare in the vow of pouerty which is yet to this day in the same manner obserued in the sayd Monastery which is in Prague the chiefest Citty in the Kingdome of Bohemia and this foundation layd by this holy Princesse hath alwayes bin furnished with gentlewomen Now the Emperour vnderstanding that his promised Loue had abandoned the world he was at the first apprehension exceedingly troubled but considering vvith more maturity that she had not forsaken him to take another man but for Iesus Christ himselfe he was at length satisfyed contented and comforted S. Clare being aduertised of all that this Princesse had done and of her life and perfection who also had written and expresly sent a messenger to acknowledge obedience vnto her as to her mother mistresse auouching herselfe her humble disciple S. Clare answered her by a letter filled with much feruour and consolation sent her in token of amity good will a girdle a veyle a cuppe of wood and a dish wherin the Saint herselfe accustomed to eate many like small thinges which the holy Princesse with great deuotion accepted Our Lord wrought many miracles by the sayd Reliques which euer afterward were kept in the sayd Monastery with very great deuotion and Reuerence The renowne of this Princesse being diuulged ouer all Germany there were founded many monasteries of poore Religious in her imitation which were filled with many daughters of Princes Duks Earles and other great Lords and gentlemen of that Countrey who in imitation of Saint Clare the sayd Princesse Agnes abandoned the world the vanities thereof and espoused for eternity Iesus Christ seruing him alone in pouerty in humility This Saint Agnes of Bohemia being illustrated by many vertues miracles hauing assembled an infinit number of Religious in diuers Couents hauing perseuered with them in all perfection of vertue she left this transitory world to take eternall possession of her glorious celestiall Spouse Christ Iesus who honoured her and made her blessed as he hath manifested by ma-many miracles which he hath wrought by her great merits and intercessioÌ„s The Emperour Charls the fourth who was also King of Bohemia was two seuerall tymes deliuered from death by the intercession of this celestiall Princesse therfore at his death he inioyned his Sonne VVenceslaus and successour to the Empire to procure her Canonization but he was hindred by important and continuall troubles and affayres that disabled him to execute the pious and iust desires of his Father Of many other Religious that florished primitiuely in the Order of Saint Clare CHAP. II. THERE was another holy Religious of the royal bloud of Polonia called Salome whose sanctity was manifested by by diuers miracles which God wrought after her death She by her merits deliuered women from perill of death in trauell of child many lame were restored to the vse of their lymmes blynd recouered sight and wounded persons were cured A holy Religious of Padua called Helena florished in great perfectioÌ„ of life in the monastery which was builded by the Seraphicall Father S. Francis and in which the blessed Father S. Antony of Padua yielded his spirit vnto Almighty God This holy Religious liuing in that place after she had there obtained of God many vertues she was tryed by Iesus Christ and refined as gold in the furnace of afflictions for she kept her bed depriued of all corporall force yea and of her speach for fifteene years during all which time she ordinarily demonstrated by signes gestures an exceeding great alacrity ioy in her hart Our Lord reueiled many things to this Saint which she manifested to the Religious who seriously recorded the same to be knowne to posterity The said Religious being demaunded how the sicke Religious sister could make them vnderstand those wordes sith she could not speake they answered that themselues then obserued so strict a silence that they opened their necessities by signes vvhich vvere well vnderstood among them for expressing whatsoeuer they desired to haue knowne And in this had they vnderstood the sayd Saint whose body for many yeares after the said Religious sisters did shew to such as in deuotion repayred to see it remayning entiere and incorruptible yea her nayles and haire did grow as if she had byn liuing By her merits God wrought many miracles and particulerly vpon the Lord Marquesse of Parma who was of the family of Lupi called Boniface who being in the anguish of death his Lady making a vow to this Saint Helene for his health it was perfectly restored vnto him In the beginning of the Order of Saint Clare there was also a daughter of the King of Hungary called Cuiga sister vnto blessed S. Elizabeth the widdow who hauing taken the habit made profession fession of the rule of S. Clare became so famous after the death of S. Elizabeth in sanctity and miracles both during her life and at her death that her Canonization is treated of at Rome FINIS
diuine seruice she sighing sayd O my God thou seest how I remaine here alone and ending this she began to heare the Mattines that were sung in the Church of Saint Francis in Assisium very distinctly vnderstanding the voice of the Religious and the very sound of the Organs yet was she not so neare the said Church as she might humanly heare what was sung there but it must necessarily be concluded that this was miraculously done in one of these two sortes eyther that the singing of the said Religious was by the will of God carried to S. Clare or her hearing was extended extraordinarily by the speciall grace of God euen to our Lady of Angells neere vnto Assisium But this Saint was further fauored by a diuine reuelation which exceedingly comforted and reioyced her for she was by almighty God esteemed worthy to see in spirit his holy Cribbe The morning following her Religious coming to see her she sayd Deare sisters blessed for euer be our Lord Iesus Christ that it hath pleased him not to leaue me alone as you haue done but know that by the grace of his diuine maiesty I haue heard all the seruice that this night hath byn performed in the Church of our holy Father S. Francis Of the spirituall doctrine wherwith S. Clare noursed her daughters CHAP. XVII THE virgin S. Clare acknowledged that she was committed to the pallace of the great King for gouernesse and mistres of his deare espouses therfore did she teach them a sublime doctrine comforting assisting them with such loue and pitty as with words cānot be expressed First she taught them to cleare their soules of all rumors of the world that they might the more freely attaine to the high secrets of God She also taught them to haue no affection to their carnall kindred and intierely to forget their ownehouse the better to please Iesus Christ She admonished them also to surmount and misprise the necessities of their bodies to get a habit of repressing the deceiptes and appetites of the flesh by the bridle of reason She likewise taught them that the subtill enemy armed vvith malice continually addresseth his hidden snares to surprise the pure soules and that he tempteth the pious in another sort then worldlings Finally she would haue them so imployed in handy labour for certaine houres that they might afterwards be more prompt and better prepared to the desire of their Creatour by the exercise of prayer which after their labour they shold vndertake not leauing for such payne the fire of holy loue but rather expelling by it the tepidity of deuotion already purchased There was neuer seene a stricter obseruation of silence then amongst them nor a greater forme and example of vertue There was neuer seene done in this holy house one act of vanity neyther by wordes nor signes nor was there discouered by any vaine discourse any desire of lightnes so much were they mortifyed their holy Mistres giuing good example by wordes and pious and briefe documents likewise teaching her disciples feruent desires and admonishing them to possesse and conserue them vnder the key custody of strict silence By meanes of deuout preachers she procured to her daughters the holy word of God wherof her owne was not the least part she being filled with contentment and ioy when she heard the word of God preached and would with such deuotion and consolation reioice in the memory of her sweetest spouse Iesus Christ that one time hearing the sermon of brother Philip de Adria a most famous preacher there was seene before this holy virgin a most beautifull child which there remained during almost all the sermon comforting her with his ioifull delectations of which apparition she receiued such a sweetnes and delight as she could no way explicate Albeit this most prudent virgin had neuer studyed yet did she much delight to heare a learned man preach vnderstanding very well that vnder the wordes of science lay hidden the sweetnes of spirit which herselfe subtily obteined tasted vvith much more gust She accustomed to say that the Sermon of whosoeuer preaching the word of God was exceeding profitable to soules considering that it is no lesse prudence to know how sometimes to gather beautifull and sweet flowers from amongst grosse and rude thornes then to eate the wholsome fruits of a good plant Pope Gregory the ninth one time at the instance of diuers Prelates cōmaunded that no Religious man should preach at the monastery of poore Religious women without his expresse permission wherat the pittifull mother complayning in regard that thence forward her deuout Religious daughters shold seldome be spiritually fed vvith holy doctrine with teares she said let then all my Religious be taken hence since they are taken away who gaue vs the food of spirituall life withall sending away the Religious that appertained to her monastery to serue them in getting almes abroad refusing to haue Religious that should prouide them bread to relieue the body sith they were depriued by this meanes of all spirituall teachers that gaue thē bread to nourish their soules wherof his Holines being aduertised he presently reuoked his former prohibition referring all to the disposition of the generall of the Friars Minors S. Clare had not only a prouident care of her Religious daughters soules but of their bodies also that were feeble and tender for whose necessary wantes she daly prouided with exceeding feruour and charity she oftentimes in the night when it was cold going to visit and couer them whiles they slept and if she found any one ouer much benummed with cold or otherwise in il disposition through strict obseruation of the common rigour she instantly commaunded her to take some recreation till her necessities were satisfied If any of her Religious daughters were any time afflicted or much grieued in mind through temptations or were sorrowfull and melancholy she would call her apart and most louingly comfort her She would sometimes fall prostrate herselfe at the feete of those that were heauy and afflicted therby to put away the force of their griefe by her motherly cherishings for which they in all submission yealding themselues to this their holy Mother did not proue vngratefull They likewise reuerenced the office of Prelature in their Mistres following all their life time the conduct of so diligent and secure a guide directing their actions by the espouse of Iesus Christ admiring with all the excellency of such sanctity charity Of the deuotion which Pope Gregory the ninth had to the holy virgin S. Clare and of a letter which he wrote vnto her whiles he was yet Cardinall CHAP. XVIII POPE Gregory the ninth had a meruailous confidence in the prayers of S. Clare hauing experienced their great vertue efficacy and oftentimes when he was in any difficulty both whiles he was Cardinall Bishop of Hostia and afterwards when he was Pope he would by letters recommend himselfe to this glorious virgin demaunding help of
the leaues did worke exteriourly such remedies by the hands merits of his glorious Saint How Saint Clare blessed bread vpon which the signe of the Crosse miraculously remayned CHAP. XXI SAINT Clare was a disciple of the Crosse and of so notable same sanctity that not only great Prelates Cardinalls much desired to see her to heare and discourse with her for which cause they often visited her but the Pope himselfe bare her also this affection in so much that Pope Innocent the fourth repayred to her monastery to heare of her as a secretary of the holy Ghost celestiall and diuine discourses And hauing a long time conferred with her of matters of saluation and of the prayses of God whiles they intertayned themselues in so pious a discourse S. Clare caused dinner to be prepared and the tables for the Religious to be couered causing bread to be brought thither with intention to procure the vicar of Iesus Christ to blesse it to be afterwards kept of deuotion Their discourse then being ended S. Clare fell vpō her knees before the Pope beseeching him to blesse the bread vvhereto his holines ansvvered daughter Clare I will that you blesse it your selfe making therupon the signe of the Crosse the Saint therto answered most holy Father pardon me if you please for if I should doe it I should deserue sharpe reprehension in presuming to giue my benedictiō in presence of your holines The Pope againe replyed well that no presumption be imputed vnto you and that you may merit thereby I command you by holy Obedience to blesse these loues making vpon them the signe of the Crosse This daughter of obedience lifted vp her hand making the signe of the Crosse vpon the bread whence insued an admirable accident for the Crosse remayned vpon the bread whereof part was eaten of deuotion the rest reserued as a holy Relique which euent filled the Pope with admiration for which he gaue thankes to God then gaue his benediction to S. Clare who receiued it with great humility and was much comforted withall Of many infirmityes of the glorious virgin S. Clare of her weakenes and how she was visited by the Protectour CHAP. XXII THE Glorious virgin S. Clare had now forty yeares run the race of the most eminent vertue and practise of pouerty hauing broken the alabaster of her body in the most strict prison by fasting and rigorous disciplines and by this meanes filled the house of the holy Church with the most pretious oyntment of her vertues wherwith she drew after her an infinit number of soules to the seruice of Iesus Christ And as she already approached to the recompence of eternall glory hauing supported diuers infirmities and consumed the forces of her body in her first yeares by the rigour of pennance she was also in her latter dayes oppressed and afflicted with diuers grieuous sicknesses And because in the time of her health she was also enriched in such sort with the merit of good workes that being sicke she gayned the true riches of the merits of patience she yet inioyed the fruits of her vertues that were ripened in afflictions and molestations occasioned by diuersity of diseases But the vertue of her patience doth euidently appeare in that hauing byn twenty eight yeares togeather afflicted with diuers diseases she was neuer heard to vtter the least murmure or complaint but continually were heard to proceed out of her mouth pious wordes and thankes-giuing to Almighty God Now being exceedingly weakened with infirmity and euery moment seeming to her the drawing on of her life towardes an end it pleased our Lord Iesus Christ to prolonge it till she might be visited by the eminent Prelates of the Roman Church wherof she was a seruant and a speciall child for the Pope being yet at Lyons and this Saint beginning to be more tormented with her infirmities then she was accustomed to be a sword of sorrow pierced through the soule of her beloued daughters But a virgin seruant of Iesus Christ a very deuout Religious of the monastery of S. Paul and order of S. Benedict had at that time this vision following It seemed to her that she did visit S. Clare with all her sisters at Saint Damian whome she saw in a sorrowfull yet pretious bed about which they all lamented expecting her death and withall she saw come to the bolster of the sayd bed a very beautifull woman who sayd to them that wept my daughters weep not for her that is yet to liue for she cannot dye till our Lord and all his disciples doe come A little after the Roman Court came to Perusia where the increase of S. Clares sicknes being diuulged the Cardinall of Hostia hastened with great diligence to visit the Espouse of Iesus Christ whose Father he was by office gouernour by speciall sollicitude fosterer and friend in most pure and chast amity he comforted her and vvith his ovvne handes administring vnto her the most blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist and then made a very deuout sermon to the Religious S. Clare with great humility in the name of our Redeemer Iesus Christ beseeching him to accept into his Protection that her family all her other poore sisters of other monasteries but aboue all she most instantly besought him obtaine of the Pope the Colledge of Cardinalls a priuiledge confirmation of holy pouerty Whereto the Cardinall gaue his word as a faithfull Father of her Religiō one most deuout affectionate to S. Clare did afterwardes effect it for Pope Innocent the fourth at her most instant request confirmed the Rule which the holy Father S. Francis had instituted for her as is formerly recorded wherof S. Clare had neuer vntill then other confirmation written but that of the said Cardinall because the Popes supposing to induce S. Clare not to bynd her Religious to such an extreme pouerty did still deferre to confirme her Rule by writing But Innocent the fourth seing the perseuerance last will of Saint Clare graunted the same vnto her by a Bull the eleuenth and last yeare of his reigne as we haue before recorded And the yeare being almost expired the Pope came with his Cardinalls from Perusia to Assisium whereby the first vision touching the death of the holy virgin was accomplished For the Pope being in his office more then a mā by the authority which he hath of Iesus Christ vpō earth whose person he representeth in the temple of the Church militant the Cardinalls accompanying his Holines represented the disciples of our Lord Iesus Christ How Pope Innocent the fourth visited Saint Clare in her last sicknes and gaue her absolution CHAP. XXIII THE diuine prouidence wold no longer deferre the accomplishment of the will of Saint Clare but her Spouse Iesus Christ came to eleuate into his celestiall pallace his poore Espouse Pilgrime vpon earth who desired nothing more that being deliuered of this mortall body she might haue the sight full
difficulty to keep him from murdering of himselfe Phisitians hauing in vaine laboured to cure him at length his Father named Guidalote had recourse to the merits of S Clare affectionatly saying O holy Virgin honored of the world to thee I addresse my selfe beseeching thee to obtaine of God my Sonnes health then full of confidence he conducted him to the sepulcher of this Saint laid him thereupon and he presently miraculously obtained the fauour he desired his Sonne being perfectly cured of all his infirmities was neuer troubled after Alexandrina a womā of the town of Frata neere to Perusia was possessed and tormented with an abhominable diuell to whose power she was so left that he made her to fly as a bird to the top of a rocke neere to the riuer of Tibur then made her descend to a branch of a tree that did hang ouer the said riuer thē to hang vpon that branch there playing her idle prankes This woman had halfe her body vtterly benummed for which the Phisitians could find no remedy at length she came with great deuotion to the shrine of Saint Clare and inuocating her merits she was cured of all her afflictions hauing also the gout in her left hand her body halfe paraliticall was cured and withall she was intierly freed from the oppression and seruitude of the diuell Another woman of the same place was cured before the said sepulcher who was in like sort possessed with the diuell had withall many other grieuous infirmityes Of many that were miraculously cured of diuers diseases CHAP. XXVIII A French Youth going to Rome in company of other his Countreymen fell sicke lay by the way loosing through the force of his infirmity his sense and speach and his body became deformed as it were a monster then became he so furious that he could not be held so that he seemed ready to dye which spectacle did not only moue his companions to compassion but did also exceedingly terrify them and therfore they boūd him to a beere carryed him to the Church of S. Clare where hauing placed him before her sepulcher they applyed themselues all to prayer inuocating the help of God and of the Saint vvho made such intercessiō for the yong man that he was in an instant intierly cured A man of the Citty of Spoletuns called Valentine was exceedingly afflicted with the falling sicknes in which he fell six times a day in whatsoeuer place he was and besides he had one foote so wrested awry that he was vtterly latned he was brought vpon an asse to the sepulcher of S. Clare where hauing remained two dayes three nights the third day attempting to moue his lame foote and none being neere him he made such a noyse that being heard by some a farre off they seemed to heare the breaking of a piece of dry wood and the man was instantly cured of both the one and the other his said diseases The Sonne of a woman of Spoletum called lames of twelue yeares old being blind could not goe without a guide and being once forsaken of him who conducted him he fell into a pit brake one of his armes and hurt his head The night following sleeping by the bridge of Varue a woman appeared vnto him and sayd Iames if thou wilt come to me to Assisium I will cure thee Arising early in the morning he much admired at the vision which he recounted to two other blind men who answered him Brother we haue heard of a Lady lately dead in the Citty of Assisium at whose sepulcher God worketh by her merits many miracles which the blind youth hauing heard he left the two other blind men and with a strong confidence hastned to Assisium and in the way he lodged at Spoletum where in the night he had the same vision which increased the hope of the recouering his sight and made him hasten in time to arriue at the Church of S. Clare where finding it so filled vvith people that he could not enter was greatly troubled But seing no remedy he rested at the dore and there remayned till the euening where this poore blind youth being weary with his iorney and afflicted that he could not enter into the Church setled himselfe the best he could to rest vpon the ground laying his head against a great stone and so slept and presently the third time he heard the sayd voice speaking lames God wil do thee good if thou canst enter and incontinently a waking out of that sleep he began to cry and begge of the people with aboundance of teares to permit him to enter which hauing a long time continued they gaue him place hauing discloathed himselfe putting his girdle about his necke he went to the sepulcher of the Saint before which with great reuerence and humility her fell vpon his knees and hauing persisted somtime in prayer beseeching S. Clare to intercede for him he fell into a gentle slumber wherin S. Clare appeared vnto him and sayd Arise lames for thou art already cured and being awaked and raysed vpon his feete the defect of his sight left him by the vertues and meritts of this Saint he clearly saw for which he glorifyed God and gaue him thankes for so admirable a work exhorting all people present to do the like to praise our Redemer Iesus Christ in this his holy seruant Of the lame and paralitiqes cured by Saint Clare CHAP. XXIX A Cittizen of Perusia called Iohn-Martin de Buoni went one time with many other Cittizens out of the Citty to fight against their enemies of Fullinium the skirmish being ended Iohn found his hand exceedingly hurt with the blow of a flint stone and the bone being broken he was therby maymed and hauing byn at extreme cost for the cure therof yet without any remedy but still inforced to carry his arme in a skarfe he alwayes complayned therof as of a desperate may me asked Coūsell about cutting off his hand but hauing one day heard speach of marueylous thinges wrought by almighty God at the intercession of S. Clare he with a strong fayth vowed to goe to her sepulcher whither arriuing he very deuoutly presented her a hand of wax then fell vpon his knees made his feruent prayor to God that it would please his diuine maiesty by the merits intercession of that most holy virgin to cure him the successe was admirable for before this gentleman arose he felt his hand intierly cured for which he gaue thankes to God to the Saint A young man likewise of Castrouitoli called Petronius was so cōsumed with a disease which had for three years continually afflicted him that he seemed to be already withered corrupted yea he was therby brought to such weaknes that in going he stouped with his face as it were vpon the ground found great difficulty to walke though with a staffe in his hand to support him His Father hauing alredy bin exceedingly charged about his cure continued yet in
resolution to imploy the residue of his substāce out of his vehemēt desire to see his son cured But the Phisitians hauing assured him that there was no hope of cure by humane art he had recourse to the new Saint of whose vertue hauing heard much report he caused his sonne to be carryed thither where the Reliques of Saint Clare reposed And hauing made his prayers by her sepulcher he recouered his former health and miraculously arose sound streight as if he had neuer indured infirmity yea he ran leapt and praysed God S. Clare inducing all present to haue greater faith and deuotion towards her In the towne of Saint Quirice within the Diocesse of Assisium a child of ten yeares old hauing byn borne lame went so pittifully and painfully that if he chaunced to fall to the ground he could not rise againe but with extreme difficulty His mother had many times recommended him to S. Francis yet found he no redresse but vnderstanding afterwardes that the virgin Saint Clare was very famous for infinit miracles which by her meritts were wrought at her sepulcher she caused her Sonne to be carryed thither incontinently after that he had bin there his bones were setled in their places his mēbers were cured that which Saint Francis intreated by deuout prayers would not graunt he referred to be obtayned impetrated by the meritts of his disciple S. Clare A Cittizen of Eugubium called Iames le France had a Sonne of fiue yeares old so lame that he could not goe which he very impatiently supported seeming to him that the torment of his child was a reproach vnto his honour and family When this child was vpon the ground he would wallow creep in the dust in that sort to goe and if he would stay himselfe against any thing to arise he could not for uature had giuen him only a desire but no force or ability therunto But his Father and Mother consulted to make a vow for him and to offer him to the merits of Saint Clare to whome they promised that being cured he should be called hers The vow being made the espouse of Iesus Christ cured this child who began so well to go that without any help he went to the sepulcher of the sayd Saint A woman of Castell Menarie called Plenaria had bin long time benummed in such sort as she could not goe without a staffe but causing herselfe to be carryed to the sepulcher of Saint Clare and hauing there deuoutly offered her prayers the day following obtayned vvhat she vvith fayth demaunded so that he returned home vpon her owne feete who came thither supported by the feet of others A woman of Perusia had a swelling vpon her cheeke which tormented her a long tyme and besides had all ouer her body many ring-wormes and tettars she had also her necke greater 〈◊〉 her head often thinking on S. Clare she one day went to her Church where with great deuotion and a true fayth she made her prayers continuing by her sepulcher till euen within night she fell into a great sweet wherby the swelling began to wax dry and to shrinke and so by little and little she was so perfectly cured that there remayned no shew of any skarre How two children were by Saint Clare rescued and preserued from the rage of wolues CHAP. XXX THE valley of Spoletum was accustomed to be much afflicted with wolues which did often prey there vpon mans flesh There dwelt a woman called Bonna vpon the mount Galion within the diocesse of Assisiū who hauing two children had scarse ended her lamētations for the one which the wolues had deuoured but whiles she was busied in her house they carried away the other The wolfe carryed the child to the top of a mountaine grapled it by the throat whilest a labourer in the vineyardes hearing the pittifull cry of the child called the mother and admonished her to haue care of her Sonne in regard he heard a crying voyce like to his the woman not finding her Sonne presently belieued that the wolues had seysed vpon him and therfore began to raise her lamentations towardes heauen deuoutly inuocating the help of Saint Clare in these tearmes O blessed S. Clare haue compassion vpon me miserable woman and restore me my child Heare if thou please the prayers of an infortunate mother and permit me not to continue in this rigorous desolation Whiles this poore woman so recommended her distresse to S. Clare her neighbors furnished with vveapons hastened after the rauening wolfe and coming to the top of the said mountaine they found that he had left the child wounded in the throate whose woundes a dogge was licking so the child was safely recouered by the merits of S. Clare who was inuocated by his mother to whom he was brought and was incontinently restored to perfect health A little girle of the towne of Canary being about noone abroad in the field where she did some seruice to another woman there came a wolfe which being taken by the girle but for a dogge he leapt vpon her necke and tooke hold off her head The other woman and the mother of the girle there present ran after and cried for help inuocating Saint Clare it was admirable to heare that the child being in the teeth of the wolfe reprehended him saying Thou theefe how canst thou carry me further I being recommended to that holy virgin The wolfe as daūted with those words gently set the girle vpō the ground as a theefe found taken in the fact he fled the girle returned without any hurt vnto her mother How diuers were deliuered from drowning and danger of sea hauing inuocated S. Clare CHAP. XXXI A Shippe fraught vvith many persons departing out of the port of Pisa for the I le of Sardinta the first night there arose such a terrible tempest that the force therof leaked the bottome of the vessell which made apparent to all therein that they were in most euidēt danger of shipwrake wherfore they began to inuocate the Queene of heauen and many other Saintes to assist them At length perceiuing no appearance of their liues safety they addressed themselues to S. Clare and vowed to her that if by her intercession they were deliuered they would goe all naked to their very shirtes with their girdles about their neck to visit her sacred Reliques at Assisium ech of them carrying a wax light of two pound in their hands This vow being made they savv three great lights descend frō heauen the one whereof setled vpon the forepart of the ship another vpon the poupe and the third vpon the pumpe by the vertue whereof the leakes where the water did enter was closed vp and the sea became so quiet and calme that with a gratious wind the vessell was accompanied and safely conducted by the said lights to the port of Arestan where being arriued and landed and the marchandize all safely put vpon shore the said lights
most skilfull phisitians brought boxes of most pretious oyntments and accompanyed with many virgins entred into the Infirmary where this sicke sister was who were seene by many Religious drawing neere to her bed Saint Clare said vnto her Sister Be you assured that you shal be cured by the power goodnes of God and by the meritts of Saint Agnes The sicke Religious not knovving vvho spake vnto her doubted of this reuelation the Saintes replyed that they were Phisitians of Assisium then Saint Agnes annointed the soares with the oyntment she had brought so the vision disappeared the diseased sister was in such sort cured of her mortall wound that no appearance remayned therof Another Religious of the monastery of Saint Clave in Assisium had byn for sixteene yeare togeather afflicted with such an infirmity that the other Religious held her for a lepar This diseased creature besought S. Agnes to pray to the Virgin of heauen for her recouery and this prayer being performed with a vow the Religious was incontinently cured freed from all remainder of her infirmity A Burgesse of Assisium had byn long time lame by the blow of a stone receiued vpon his foote and being hopelesle of humane remedy vpon the feast of S. Agnes he went so well as he could to her Church and with strong fayth and deuotion fell vpon his knees before her Altar His prayer being ended he arose sound and lusty which he recounted to many and thanked almighty God for it A Painter called Palmero being in a dangerous sicknes by the phisitians giuen ouer as dead one night after his speach was lost his brother expecting in his opinion his last breathing was exceedingly disquieted and coming to his bed side and lamenting him as already dead he fell vpon his knees addressed his prayers to S. Agnes vvith aboundance of teares and great confidence made a vow that if his Brother by her meritts and intercession might be cured so oftē as he painted her image he would set a Crowne of gold vpon her head This prayer and vow being ended the sicke party incontinently began to speake as if he had awakened out of a profound sleep and called for meate and did hungerly eate then arose from his bed saying that two Religious women came to visit him being in his agony reputed for dead that the same visitation had such force as it left him perfectly cured as he appeared A vvoman of Assisium had a sonne of 12. yeares old that had an impostume in his breast where the canker was so increased that it made it in such sort venemous as it exceeded the Phisitians skill to cure it this woman hauing vnderstood that by the meritts of Saint Agnes Almighty God had cured such diseases she commaunded her sonne often to visit her sepulcher and deuoutly to recommend himselfe vnto her which he did in such sort that approaching one euening so neere her selpulcher that his mortall soare touched the same and there falling a sleepe he so remained till the next morning when awaking he found himselfe intierly cured for which hauing thanked God his Saint he returned to aduertise his mother affirming that S. Clare and Saint Agnes appeared vnto him in the night and that S. Clare brought an oyntment where with Saint Agnes hauing annointed him he was presently cured Of possessed persons deliuered by the merits of S. Agnes and of certayne other miracles CHAP. VI. THERE was a child of 12. yeares old in Assisium who playing amōg other childrē an vnknovvne man gaue him a greene beane codde which the boy opening three of the beanes fell to the ground and the fourth only he did eate yet so soone as he came home he vomited extremely then beganne to tumble and furiously so behaue himselfe turning and rouling his eyes in his head in such sort as it well appeared that he indured extreme torment and his gesture so terrifyed them who beheld him that they iudged him possessed and therfore his Father and many other of his kindred brought him the next morning to the Church of Saint Clare where hauing offered their prayers for him and inuocated the intercession of S. Agnes the child a little after began to cry and barke as a dogge then cryed out Take heed there are two Diuells already gone out say one Aue Maria and the third wil be gone which being presently done the Diuell withall left the child A woman of Fullinium being tormented with many wicked spirits her Father and grand-mother vowed to go with her to Assisium to visit the sepulcher of S. Agnes with faith and hope that by her merits she should be deliuered so this possessed woman remaining before the sepulcher of the Saint from the ninth houre til euensong she felt herselfe freed from the Diuells that possessed her This was done vpon the feast of S. Francis the kindred of this deliuered woman offered an image of wax weighing two poundes to the sepulcher of the Saint in acknowledgement of the grace and fauour receiued A man of Perusia with a continuall feuer had in his body an impostume whereof the phisitians gaue their iudgement he would in short time end his dayes wherfore a woman called Celiola admonished him to recommend himselfe to Saint Agnes and to vow the visiting of her sepulcher which hauing done and his prayers ended his infirmity ended withall being cured both of the one the other disease for which not being vngratefull he visited the sayd sepulcher euery where preached the prayses of the holy virgin giuing thankes to Almighty God for such a fauour A Religious womā of the monastery of S. Clare in Assisiū had lost the sight of one eye was in danger to loose the other but finding that no humane application did auaile her she recommended herselfe to Saint Agnes and the other Religious of her monastery also prayed for her who as she one time prayed in the Church saw a woman that came to her and said sister open your eye for your sight is recouered and so opening her eye she clearly saw but she could no more see the woman that spake vnto her only she was assured that it was S. Agnes to whome she had hartily recommended herselfe Vitula the wife of Matthew de Loupe at S. Francis gate in Assisium had a sonne called Martin that had a deep soare in his throat and another in his shoulder both mortall whence issued such an offensiue sauour that it was not possible to come neere him At length after many remedies had in vaine bin tryed his mother recommended him to S. Agnes to whome hauing with a deuout hart offered her prayers the Saint one night appeared vnto her richly attyred with a diademe of gold vpon her head and a branch of Lilly in her right hand and said vnto her My daughter disquiet not thy selfe for thy sonne for he shal be cured and deliuered from perill which this woman hauing heard she arose