nor sowe I admonish you all my Sisters who are shall be that you labour to follow the way of simplicity humility pouerty and also the modesty of holy conuersation as we in the beginning of our conuersion haue bin taught of Christ and of our holy Father saint Francis through which not through our meritt but through the mercy of the liberall giuer the Father of mercies hath spread abroad the sauour of our good name as well vnto those who are far off as to such as are neere And for the charity of our Lord IESVS lett thē keepe the vniō of loue The charity which you haue interiourly shew it exteriourly by worckes to the end that through your exāple the sisters who are called vnto your profession may encrease in the loue of God mutuall charity Also I pray all those who shal be chosen in the offices of the sisters that they study to excell the others rather in vertue and modest conuersation then in their office to the end that by their example the Sisters that were called vnto the religion before them be moued to obey them not only in respect of their office but for loue The Abbesse must be carefull discreet towardes her Sisters as a good mother towardes her children She must also haue a prouident care of euery one according to their necessity of the almose which it shall please God to send her She must withall be so sweet and indifferent vnto all that the sisters may with out feare or doubt declare vnto her their necessity and that they confidently haue recourse vnto her when the Abbesse and the Sisters shall thincke it to be necessary The Sisters that are subiect lett them remember that for the loue of God they haue renounced their owne willes wherfore I will that they obey their mother as they of their one accord promised vnto God to doe to the end that their mother seeing the humility charity vnion which they haue vnto each other may easily beare the chardge with the office shesustaineth and because it is heauy bitter they must through their holy conuersatiō turne it into sweetnes And because the way is narrow the gate streight which leadeth vnto life few there are that walke in it and few that perseuer therin blessed are they that haue receiued the grace to walke in it and to perseuer vnto the end lett vs therfore be carefull if we be entred in the way of our lord that by out fault and negligence we doe not fall from the same to the end that we committ not that iniury vnto our lord to this blessed mother the glorious Virgin Mary to our holy Father sainct Francis and to the triumphant and militant church for it is written accursed are they who decline from your commandement For to obtaine this grace I bend my knee vnto the heauenly Father through the merittes of lord IESVS and of his blessed mother of our holy Father saint Francis and of all the Sainctes that it well please him of his diuine Maiestie who hath giuen a good beginning to graunt grace also that it may augment and perseuer euen vntill death Deerly beloued Sisters present and to come to the end that you may the better perseuer in your vocation I leaue vnto you this writing and in token of our Lordes benediction and of the benedictiction of our holy Father saint Francis and of me your mother and seruant The end of the testament of the glorious Virgin saincte Clare Here ensueth S. Clares Benediction vnto her Sisters present and to come IN the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen My deerly beloued Sisters our lord giue you his holy benedictiō and behold you with his holy eye of mercy giuing you his peace as also to all those that shall enter and perseuer in this our Colledge and monastery and vnto all other of the Order who shall perseuer vnto the end in this holy pouerty I Clare seruant of IESVS CHRIST and litle plante of our holy Father S. Francis your mother Sister though vnworthy doe beseech our lord IESVS CHRIST that by the intercession of his most holy mother of the holy Archangell S. Michaell and of all the holy Angels of our holy Father S. Francis and of al the holy Saintes that it wil please him to giue and confirme vnto you this benediction in heauen and in earth by multiplying in you his holy grace and in heauen by eleuating you into the eternall glory with his saintes And I giue you my benediction in my life and after my death in all that I am able and more then I am able Withall the blessinges wherwith the Father of mercies hath or shall blesse his spirituall children both in heauē and earth or that the spirituall mother doth or shal be able to blesse her spirituall chirldren Amen Be alwayes louers of God of your soule and of your Sisters and be alwayes carefull to keepe that which you haue vowed to God Our lord be alwayes with you and you with him Amē Of the death of the blessed Virgin S. Clare and of a vision which one of her Religious saw THE XXVI CHAPTER THe holy virgin and seruant of IES CH. was many dayes towardes the end of her life afflicted with diuers diseases The faith deuotiō which att that time each one boare her exceedingly encreased yea so far foorth as she was honoured as a S. being ordinarily visited by Cardinals Bishoppes and other Prelates But which is more admirable to heare hauing bin seauenteen dayes without force to receaue any sustenāce that was presented vnto her she was neuertheles so fortified of God and encouraged of his diuine Maiesty that she exhorted all those that would comfort her to be prompt in the seruice of God A Religious mā intending to comfort her and to persuade her to haue patience in so grieuous a sicknesse that procured her so much torment she with a smiling countenance cleare voyce answeared him Brother since the time that I knew the grace of my God by meanes of his seruant saint Francis no paine hath bin troublesome vnto me no penance hath seemed difficult nor no sicknesse ircksome And as almighty God approached neere vnto her her soule being as it were att the dore to goe forth the blessed virgin would haue the most pious and spirituall Frere Minors to be present to discourse vnto her of the passiō of our Lord IESVS CHRIST and by their pious wordes to enflame her more in the loue of God Wherfore some of them who were vnto her true Brethren in our Redeemer CHRIST IESVS were present and amōg others Br. Iuniperus the familier of our Lord IESVS CHRIST who often vttered vnto her such fiery and enflamed wordes of the omnipotēt God that she by his presēce being filled with an extreme ioy one day demaunded of him if he then knew nothing new of almighty God whervpon Br. Iuniperus opening his
a difficult and dangerous enterprise we are therein much more induced by example then by any persuasions of whom soeuer though we acknowledg them to be certainlie true None could be found that would resolue ioyfully to embrace the vertue of pouerty humility chastity fasting and other peniteÌ„tiall labours if he knew not that others not only with wordes exteriourly but really with worckes haue embraced the same Neither was it for any other cause that our Lord IESVS Christ would personnaly come into this world but by example to shew vs the way of our saluation and his holy wil because the examples aduertissementes of his faithfull seruantes would not suffice to retire vs from our euill conuersation and way and to setle vs in his no not the preceptes which he had giuen in the first written law But when he began to walke this way how many were there that would accompagny him very seriously seruing him euen till their death and this only for his loue The Church therfore knowing right well the glory that redoundeth to almightie God and the fruit which men gather by the memory of the life of our lord IESVS Christ and of his sainctes doth euery day propose and sett them before our eyes in the diuine office in the sacrifices and solemnities that it should not be tedious vnto vs to follow and imitate them whome we prayse and whose memory we honour and that likewise we should not esteeme it labourious to walke that way which alone conducteth vs to eternall life Hereof mayest thou consider deuout Reader what vse almightie God maketh of his elect in fauour of vs because we are saith S. Iohn coadiutors to the saluation of soules we may hence also conceiue how greatlie we are obliged to the trueseruantes of God who haue so put themselues to paines in the exercise of vertues that they haue left the way open that such as seeke it may finde it and by their examples haue taught vs which it is and with whath force and industry we may attaine vnto true glory Those of former ages guided only by naturall light did vse exceeding diligence to induce and animate themselues by the examples of their famous predecessours vsing them as so many spurres vnto vertrue to the end they might in no time be defectiue in the obligation they had both to their natiue country and to their owne honour and indeed the milke wher with they nourced their childreÌ„ in their publique schooles was the generous actes of their ancestours which were red vnto them in poemes and orations that by meanes of those examples the children might be affected to vertue and enflamed with desire of glory although it was more vaine then vertuous This is of such force that euen at this present many of our Christians following the same practise cause their children to spend the most entiere parte of their age in committing to memory the heroyicall actes of the ancient Grecians and Latines But would to God that too many did not employ and wast all their life in this study and that many others were not more affected to Homer Cicero and Virgil then to IESVS Christ O extreme indignity of Christians deseruing sharp reprehension and eternall punishment in regard that they glory to be imitatours of the superstitious Gentils who as they wanted faith and the true light illuminating the hart of Christians so was not their vertue true and solid but exteriour and vaine And although that in that time of obscure darcknes they gaue to men some sparckle of light some litle knowledg of vertue more with wordes then with effect these Pagans neuertheles persiste in obscurity euen in the cleare day of the true light of our lord IESVS Christ the soueraigne truth and perfection and are vnworthy to be honoured in comparison of true Christians who being illuminated with the light of faith can easily discerne iudge and condemne the world with his vnwise adherentes because as the Apostle S. Paul Saith the spirituall man knoweth and iudgeth al thinges Pagans on the contrary glorying and esteemning themselues wise with their eloquence become sottish and ignorant as hauing attributed and giuen vnto creatures that which appertayned only to the Creatour but they whose cogitation and confidence is more setled and grounded on the diuine will and doctrine then humane and do follow celestiall not earthly Philosophy such I say shal only arriue to heauen whence first discended their knowledge they cannot erre being taught by the eternall wisdome neither shall they euer want glory euen amoÌ„g mortall people though they haue with all possibility shunned the same but shal be illustrious to all the world For though antiquity haue exceedingly honoured great ambitious personnes that desired to leaue some memory and renowne of themselues in this world after their death yet our holy mother the Church doth farre more exalt and make more glorious our Sainctes continually in the predications feastes and solemnities which for them and in their honour are celebrated besides that we beleeue that they liue and gloriously raigne in heauen in the contemplation of their Lord. So that the true seruantes of God are blessed among Angels and honoured among men as eminent sainctes as great they are and worthy of all reuerence Altars are euery where consecrated and churches bult in their names their images are honoured their wordes and workes are highly commended and preached their reliques are reuerenced and worshipped on earth their soules glorified in heauen and the miracles and excellent workes both ancient and moderne which our lord in them and by them hath wrought are with exceeding great glory admired Our Lord euen in this world recompenceth his elect who not in appareâ—e but in effect are vertuous and holy and incorruptedlie conserue their faith to their Creatour When was there euer found in any time among the ancient naturalistes such constancie such faith temperance magnanimity sweetnes mercy iustice fortitude and loyaulty as hath bin found in our Christians who by no kinde of threates or faire speeches of Tyrantes could be induced to leaue their obedience vnto God could neuer be corrupted by any promise or recompence nor haue bin inclined by any kinde of flatteries or fauours but persisting firme constant in the truth haue nothing esteemed nor feared the terrible and horrible tormentes were they neuer so barbarous nor in the extremity of them or death it selfe but haue alwayes remayned immoueable and inuincible in true vertu piety not desiring reuenge or detriment to the persecutours or executioners but pardon and saluation praying vnto God for them And all this not att their death only but euen in their life For there is no kinde of vertue wherin the sainctes haue not excelled some in purity of virginity others in continencie with great labour subiecting the flesh to the spirit that euen on earth leading a life more angelical then humane they might purchase eternall glory in heauen others renouncing kingdomes estates and dignities
others distributing their goodes among the poore much more highly esteeming the piety of God and charity to their neighbour in a base and submissiue pouerty then any other temporall thing to th end that being disburdened of the care of these transitory riches they might with more ease study to purchace those of heauen and in the end for so much as where they knew it to concerne the honour glory or seruice of God they haue not spared to permitt their bodies to be tormented after what sort soeuer they haue bin therefore so pleasing vnto his maiestie that he hath graunted them power to cure the diseased to cast out deuils to raise the dead to foretell future thinges to vnderstand and explicate the diuine misteries and finally to doe such thinges as the diuine might can only doe Lett then the eminencie of Kinges Princes and of all qualities of wealthy people ancient and moderne be confounded sith they are and euer more haue bin vanquished and surmounted by vs poore and feeble in honour and knowledg Lett the subtilty of Philosophers be whist and silent sith these who haue trulie reposed their faith in almightie God shal know and finde the soueraigne good I coniure thee therefore gentle Reader by the loue which thou owest to IESVS Christ our Redeemer to represent before the eyes of thy spirit the glory and eternall riches which the least of the seruantes of our Redeemer IESVS Christ shall in the most blessed kingdome of heauen perpetually enioy and with the same eyes afterward to behold all the goodes of the earth vnited together paragonizing them with those of these Religious there will not so much as one only thought abide within thee vntill thy hart hath quite contemned them and as recordeth Cicero if all the Empires of the earth in comparison of heauen and of the moone be so litle that no esteeme should be had of them because betwene them there is no proportion how much lesse will they appeare being opposed to the Emperiall heauē the blessed country of the elect where according to S. Paul our conuersation is It is then very reasonable that the life of this Saincte be seriously read to the end to imitate him yea before many other sith hereof we learne how we may pourchace the true eternall goods or riches which according to the promises of God we expect and hope for To this end it is that our Creatour doth dayly renew and regarnish his Church with new examples of his saincts that Christians becomming weake feeble might resume force to meritt their saluation in seruing almightie God from the bottome of their hart For in them is represented vnto vs the vertue of faith the life of IESVS Christ and together with it the imitable life of his sainctes He will that there be seculer Preistes Religious of the order of S. Hierome S. Augustin S. Benedict S. Bernard S. Dominick S. Francis and others that in them we might alwayes haue before our eyes his life and Passion Sith then so pious a lesson or reading produceth such fruit thou mayest well persuade thee good Reader how profitably shal be employed the time the paper and labour which is spent in writing the chronicles of them that haue bin true imitatours and representations of the life of our Redeemer IESVS Christ How well in like sort their time shal be spent that employ their eyes and vnderstanding in this lesson not only to square out a Religious life to such as desire to embrace it but euen to learne what ought to be the life what the comportmentes of true Christians that with their workes desire at least to appeare such by reason that the kingdome of heauen must be attayned by a combatt to be made and by force of armes which is an enterprise of valerous Champions or warryers and this forcible wrestling is not to be made against mortall and humane creatures according to the Apostle but against wicked spirittes as subtill and malicious as they are potent puissant If thou wilt know them thou shalt here finde their extreme audacity discouered their fraudulent delusion published their offensiue armors manifested and their assaultes repulsed If then thou be inclined to war-like exercise thou shalt here obserue most noble prowesses and heroicall actes against the deuils subdued by the champions of IESVS Christ If thou takest content in honours thou shalt here see how highly the true freindes of God are honoured in earth and in heauen yea and feared in hell If thou affectest science of these thou shalt learne the true knowledge of the fraudes and deceiptes of the world and especially true wisdome which is first the knoledge of God then of thy selfe If thou apply thee to the actiue or contemplatiue life thou shalt here finde a great experience of morall vertues and of contemplations more then humane of communion and diuine vnion breifely if thou make profession of Christianity as thou oughtest thou shalt here clearly see figured in two tables what it is to be a Christian and with what partes he ought to be qualified that maketh profession therof And that in the doctrine and in the examples of sainctes two thinges are necessary to our saluation so that thou shalt here finde a remedy very proper and conuenient to all they desires and for all thy necessities Now writing the life and examples of the Frier Minors the especiall seruantes of God by them I meane the disciples of the holy Father S. Francis and of those holy Fathers that did imitate him who are the principall parties of this historie they point out vnto vs the true rule and obseruance of the tree instituted by the said Father S. Francis procuring many in these dayes to blush att their faultes and transgressions Other Religious personnes shall in like sorte make their benefitt hereof sith all Religious touching their profession are a like Besides euery other Christian may gather some fruit hereof if he will bestow the labour to receiue it as all haue equally graces and fauours of God by the worthy merittes of his sainctes Francis Antony others when with them they study to seeke the loue of God and their neighbour Our Fathers then deserue prayse and gratitude of our partes for hauing so well conserued the memory of these glorious saints with a feruent desire to further soules though they haue not laboured to publish their liues in a lofty and polished stile with a connexion of choice wordes as the precise and curious would desire But they considered that the deuout Reader leauing the flowers and leaues would only take hold of the fruit Now to content and satisfie the Readers when they shall light on such thinges as are not vulgare which they shall finde in these chronicles I haue bin willing here to insert and adde the names of the Authors whome in this present history I haue principally vsed and this for greater light and direction who are these ensuyinge The legend
of Brother Leo Br. Angelus and Br. Rufinus all three companions of S. Francis The legend of Brother Thomas of Cellano The legend of Brother Leonard of Bessa The great and litle legend of S. Bonauenture The Flowers of the Religious of S. Francis and his companions The ancient chronicles that breifely treat of the most memorable matters of the order Vrbertin Casal in his booke intituled Vita Christi The monumentes The historicall mirrour of Br. Vincent of the Order of the Preachers The ancient memoriall of the order The history of S. Anthonius Arch-bishop of Florence Master Aluaro of the lamentations of the Church The legend of S. Antony S. Clare and other sainctes The legend of the fiue Martyrs of Marocco of S. Crosse of Coimbra The booke of Conformities THE PREFACE WHERIN IS DECLARED THE intention of the Holy Ghost in the institution of the holy Order of the Frier Minors IT is with great reason that learned men writing bookes of histories or doctrine for the publike good doe ordinarily accompany them with certaine introductions which we call proemes or prefaces to discouer their intention to the Readers which wanting they cannot haue perfect knoledge nor reape much fruit of what they read Though in deed for the Readers to remayne only depriued of these fruites and benefittes were a lesse inconuenience and in some sort supportable if they did not some times conceiue euill impressions that induce them to contemne the good doctrines and profitable exāples which they read and this proceedeth of their ignorant temerity which causeth them to condemne thinges worthy of praise and falsly to censure that which they vnderstand not which vice as is it reprehensible so is it detrimentall and detestable in all kinde of doctrine but especially in the sacred scriptures and liues of sainctes And therfore we see that God in all his worckes would prepare men as it were by certaine proemes that they might vnderstand them and expect them with such intention as he meant to performe them as when he purposed to renew the world by meanes of the vniuersall deluge he conferred thereof with the iust Noe an hundred and twenty years before commanding him the edifice of the arck to thend that worck might be knowne not only to those that then liued but also to such as should succeed them afterward Neither did he vpon any other consideration deferre to giue children to the Patriarch Abraham but that he should the better vnderstand and with greater reuerence receiue the grace which was figured vnto him in his sonne Isaac I am of opinion that for the same respect he was forty dayes in giuing the law to the people of Israel bountifully imparting vnto them many notable fauours in the meane time and with such excellent miracles deliuering them frō the seruitude of Egipt that they might by these meanes dispose thē to acknoledge him alone for God and completely to obserue his law I may also inferre the like of the forty yeares that he entertayned that people in the desert that it was vnto them as it were a disposition the more deerly to prise and estimate the so much desired land of promise For this selfe same cause did God vse Prophetes among his people were it to thereaten them with punishment and chasticementes or to giue them hope of the benefittes and fauours which he intended vnto them or to teach them the manner to demand and meritt his grace And finally all the old testament the sacrifices ceremonies and mysteries haue bin nothing else but as a certaine proeme or preface of the new that it might be desired and hoped vnderstood by them and receiued by vs according to the true light of the holy Ghost and not with a humane and fallacious spiritt Intending therfore to imitate those diuine and humane examples it seemed to me expedient to add a preface to this worck that the readers might dispose them to read it with a good intention and auoid the enormous vice of ingratitude not duely receiuing the diuine graces and that also they might receiue therof a beneficiall fruit Which I haue found so much more necessary to this worck as the holy Ghost in the institution of the Order of the Freer Minors is more remote from the ordinary intention and discourse of the world for Mounting aboue the common obligation of the preceptes he hath designed it to a degree of perfection more high then the Euangelicall Councells It is not needfull not with standing that I search farre to find the proeme requisite to discouer and manifest vnto you the intention of the holy Ghost and the eminencie of this Order sith him selfe semeth to haue disigned it both in the old and new testament We read in the prophet Ieremie that when the Hebrew people were obstinate in their sinnes and that they opened not their eares to the wordes which on the part of the almighty were by the Prophetes preached vnto them God said to Ieremie Goe to the house of the children of Rechab and conduct them with thee to the temple and giue them wine to drincke Wherto Ieremie obeyed and hauing brought the Rechabites to the temple in to the house of one of the principall Officers before him and many others he offred them wine in cuppes or vessels and bid them drinck But they answeared him Know Ieremie that we haue neuer drunck wine nor will we drinck any because we haue bin forbidden it by Ionadab the sonne of Rechab our Father who commanded it vnto vs in these termes You Rechabites shall neuer drincke wine nor your children you shall not build houses you shall not sow you shall not plant vignes nor possesse any but you shall dwell all your life in tentes and pauillions that you may liue many dayes on the earth wherin you are pilgrimes And in this sort doe we obserue it obeying that which our father hath commanded vs. The Rechabites hauing giuen this answeare to Ieremie he had incontinently the spiritt of God that said vnto him Ieremie goe to the people of Iuda and of Hierusalem and thus speake vnto them O obdurate and obstinat people will ye neuer obey my law and follow my commandementes the wordes of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab are they of more force then mine He would that his children and their posterity should neuer drinck wine and to obey their father they haue not dranck any and you would neuer obey my commandementes I will therfore send you a punishment worthy of your rebellion according as I haue threatned you but I will not ceasse to fauour the Rechabites because they haue obeyd the commandements of their father A figure doubtles most expresse so farre foorth as the ancient estate would permitt it and so particular for the Religion of the Frier Minors of the B. Fa S. Francis that it hath litle need of farther exposition then to be red and conferred with the expresse wordes of his rule which are these The Frier Minors haue not any
deliured of the threates of his Father went into the desert that there alone and in silence he might heare the secrettes of the diuine worde And as he walked on a mountaine singing the prayses of God in the French tongue he was assaulted by certaine theeues who rudely examined him what he was and what he sought there to whome he answeared as a Prophett I am an herauld of the great king They disdayining this answeare came neere and beate him and after many threatning wordes they cast him into a ditch of snow that was there saying Thou shalt now lye there as a caitife herauld of the great king But Francis they being retired came out of the ditch and filled with exceeding contentment began againe to praise God after he had a long time walked he came to a Monastery where as a poore begger he demanded almose for the loue of God which he receiued Thence he went to the citty of Agubio where being knowne vnto an ancient frend of his curteously entertayned him into his house And in regard that he was so naked this frend couered him with a poore cloake which serued him two yeares carrying a staffe in his hand as an hermite with shooes on his feet and girt with a lether belt which made him esteemed to be Religious of the Order of S. Augustin Now this affectour of humility desirous to lay a firme and stable foundation to his spirituall edifice exerciced himselfe in the actiue life to witt in workes of charity towardes his neighbour entertayninge his life with much austerity and mortification For hauing vanquished and trodden vnder foot the loue of himselfe and transferred it vnto his neighbour his affection was entierly reposed and setled in Iesus Christ by reason that whiles he was yet worldly he abhorred the accesse of leapers but now enflamed and ennamoured of IESVS CHRIST who Isay was contemned in the world and vlcered as a leapar so that he seemed no more to be a man That he might the more pefectly subiect his will to the spiritt he entierly applyed himselfe to the seruice of leapers often visiting them in their owne houses traueilling to gett almose for them kissing their handes their feet and face breifely for the loue of Iesus-Christ he assisted and serued them with exceeding dilligence yea sometimes the better to conquere himselfe cleansed and purged their filthy loathsome vlceres and ill sauouring soares with an extreme feruour and deuotion as if he had bin newly sent of God into the world as a rare Phisitian for the mortall woundes of sinnes Sometimes also he layd his mouth on the earth amiddle the dust that accustoming himselfe to contemptes and reproches he might subiect the pride of the flesh to the law of the spiritt and might procure to be a peaceable and perfect possessour of himselfe by which exercise he obtayned of God so great vertues as he had incredible puissance to cure spirituall and corporall diseases I will here to this purpose sett downe one miracle among diuers others which shal be recorded in this history in their place There was a man of the Dukedome of Spoletum that had on his face a most hideous and perillous soare that had already consumed and eaten one of his iawes and a great part of his mouth and wheras no remedy could be procured to his infirmity he vowed to goe to Rome to visitt the sepulchres of the holy Apostles to craue their intercession and to implore the mercy of God that he would be pleased to deliuer him of that so greuious and loathsome disease Now as he retourned to his house hauing accomplished his vow he mett the blessed Francis on the way before whome this diseased enclined himselfe to kisse his feet by reason that his countenance was exceeding venerable But the humble seruant of God not permitting it stept back The diseased arising the imitatour of Iesus Christ embraced him and kissed his face which hauing performed with a merucillous compassion att the very instant that horrible vlcere and the mouth being kissed were incontinently cured I know not in deed which of the two is more admirable either the profound humility of the S. in kissing the wound or the excellency of his vertue in worcking such a miracle He did not exercise this charity only towardes leapers but did also extend such liberality to all poore peole that sometimes leauing himselfe halfe naked to couer thē he desired besides to giue his owne person and espetially to poore preistes whome he assisted with great piety and reuerence He was likewise very zealous and carefull of the ornamētes of Altars and of Churches so that he did often make them cleane and decent with his owne handes that by them God might be serued with more honour and reuerence To this glorious Saint pouerty seemed the most precious thing in the word all his ambition was to possesse the same in this respect only was he enuious if an other were poorer then himselfe Goeing on to offer his deuotions att S. Peters in Rome among a great multitude of poore that were there att the dore he espied one most wretched and miserable almost naked and vncouered of whome he had such compassion and was so enflamed with the loue of pouerty that puttning off his owne garment he gaue it to the poore Creature and cloathed himselfe with the others ragges and took such content therein ' that he remayned all that day with those poore people with exceeding alacrity reioycing in pouerty in contempt of the glory of the world learning by such and the like worckes of charity first to practise and performe and then to teach following the steppes of his true master IESVS CHRIST whose life and doctrine he should practise and teach to mortall men Being one day of the winter so poorely cloathed that much of the nakednes of his body appeared and hearing the holy masse a Brother of his by chaunce mett him there who scoffinglie asked him if he would sell him for six pence of his sweat The seruant of God ioyfully answeared I haue sold it all at a good price to my God and lord He might doutles affirme it with good reason considering he was continually busied in workes of charity towardes his neighbour and in exercises of humility surmounting the nature of his sences yet without omitting mentall conuersation with IESVS CHRIST crucified for more cōmodious fruition wherof he frequented hermitages and solitary places employing his time in prayer and weeping neither would he thence depart til he had learned some extraordinary fashiō of fasting How S. Francis repaired three Churches THE VI. CHAPTER THis glorious Saint was so well grounded in the vertue of simplicity and of the charity of IESVS CHRIST that calling to his minde what had bin miraculously cōmanded him by the Crucifix which was that that he should reestablish his Church supposing that he meant the said Church of S. Damian he retourned as an obedient seruant
to Assisium purposing by almes to execute and accomplish that which he could not doe with the mony of his fathers merchandise and this his dessigne had good successe For seeking ouer the citty where he was alreadie knowne to be the seruant of God he found mony among his freindes and kinred and matter requisite for the building of the said Church So associating him selfe with the Preist that serued there he began the said reparation wanting nether masters nor worckmen to this effect he neuertheles without intermission employed his owne person therin that his body being already weakened by continuall fastes and ordinary abstinences might be more subiected and chasticed as well by carrying burdensome stones as by the mortification he endured in demaunding of them to whome he had formerly giuen Thus by the grace of God and the deuotion of the faithfull he so well endeauoured that he accomplished the reparation of the said Church in which labour the said Preist perceiuing how painfully he employed himselfe for so holy an enterprise alwayes reserued somethinge to refectionate and releiue him But the humble seruant of God could not long endure that as being desirous to serue and not to be serued of any Wherupon he said once in himselfe Is it conuenient that thou haue alwayes a preist to serue thee Is that the way of pouerty which thou seekest and then he resolued to be no longer serued by preist or other person and when he would eate he tooke a dish and went to the dores with other poore people to demaund almose for the loue of God and with them did there eat what was giuen him And albeit this was att the begining very sharpe and difficult vnto him yet in the progresse it was so pleasing and contentfull that he afterward affirmed to his Religious that he neuer eat with so good an appetite as then Being one day inuited to eat with a Prelate he would eat nothing but what he had brought with him of almose giuen att the dores Saint Francis hauing finished the reparation of the Church of S. Damian went to repaire an other of S. Peter farther off from the citty and by the same meanes that he vsed in the former he in short time accomplished this also After that he went to Porticella very neere to Assisium where was a Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary which was so abandoned that there was no person had câ—ardge therof nor did any seruice therin He for the great deuotion he had to the Queene of heauen remained therin and incontinently began to thinck of repayring it and being there often visited by the Angels conformably to the title of the Church which was S. Mary of Angels he the more willingly stayed there and affected that place aboue all other because therin he began humbly proceeded and fought valiantly and there ended most blessedly There by diuine reuelation did he begin the foundation of the rule and order of the Frier Minors which was not without mysterie but by disposition of the diuine prouidence which gouerned him instructed and directed him in all his dessignes So that this worthey seruant of God repaired three materiall Churches of S. Damian S. Peter and S. Mary of Angels and all this before the institution of his Order and his preaching of the gospell as well that from these sencible thinges he might attaine to intellectuall and from lesser matters by course and ordre to great as also that what he should doe might first be reuealed vnto him by the mystery of sensible thinges to the end it might appeare that as he had reestablished three Churches so also that of IESVS CHRIST should be by him renewed and repayred according to the forme rule and doctrine which he would giue him as we see apparantly to haue succeeded in the three exercises or warfares if you will which are the three Orders which saint Francis institued in the world Of the second vocation to the estate of Euangelicall perfection and how he began his rule THE VII CHAPTER THe worthy of God hauing chosen for his residence the Church of the mother of IESVS CHRIST and therin perseuering in coÌ„tinuall feruent deuotions beseeching her to be his aduocate his prayers were of such efficacie that by the merittes of the glorious virgin he was also found worthy to conceiue and produce the spiritt of verity and of Euangelicall pouerty For as he one day deuoutly heard the masse of the Apostles where the gospell is read wherin our lord IESVS CHRIST prescribeth theÌ„ the forme of the EuaÌ„gelicall life when he sent them to preach ouer the world to this purpose saying Do not possesse gold nor siluer nor purses not a scripp for the way neither two coates neither shooes neither rodde And into what soeuer place you shall enter salute it saying the peace of God be in this house S. Francis hearing this cryed out with more then a naturall voice That is it which I seeke that is it which the interiour of my hart desireth and theÌ„ was he replenished by the holy spiritt of IESVS CHRIST with such a vertue that it did not only traÌ„sforme him into the said for me and rule in coÌ„sent and desire but euen in operations and effectes for immediatly he putt of his shooes he reiected his staffe and wallet He cast away the mony which remayned vnto him of almose and contenting himselfe with one only garment or coate reiected euen the lesser belt wherewith he was girded and vsed a corde being more carefull then to conforme himselfe perfectly to the Apostolicall life Vpon this Euangelicall lesson in this week and on this day which was the yeare of our lord one thousand two hundred and eight in the month of October and feast of S. Luke this blessed S. began the rule of the Frier Minors being then twenty seauen yeares of age two yeares from his coÌ„uersion being expired the twelueth yeare of Pope Innocent the third a worck proceeding verilie from the holy Ghost by the gospell of IESVS CHRIST not from any humane spiritt though God for an instrumeÌ„t would vse his most faithfull seruant as founder of so glorious a fabrick who as a prudent Architect layd the foundation of his Order with violent floudes of teares with most feruent prayers with worckes of mercie of penance and of retirednes and coniunction vnto God neuer wearied nor desisting till the holy Ghost had giueÌ„ him the foundatioÌ„ of the Apostles and Prophets which is that soueraigne stable corner stone IESVS CHRIST on whome the whole edifice being gounded and referred vnto it encreased in this holy temple of God vpon whome the S. did not build his order with the chaffe of vaine titles or of temporall possessions nor with the dirty dregges of worldly and perishable thinges but with purified gold which is the Euangelicall spiritt and with precious stones which are the Apostolical Counsailes by meanes wherof it was then securely guarded against the force
of God entred so secretlie with his companion into the shipp that they were not seen of the Patron Being so hidden without the knowledge of any person to giue them to eat an Angel sodenlie appeared to a man in the ship that had the feare of God to whome he gaue prouision for his seruant saying Take this food and dispose it prouidentlie for the reliefe of the two Religious that are hidden here within whome he shewed vnto him and when they shall haue need be charitable vnto them Hauing said thus much he disappeared and what he had giuen in chardge was performed The mariners in meane while so long floted in stormes and tempestes that they spent all their prouision so that there only remayned in the shippe that releife which God had sent vnto the S. which appearing to be but litle did neuertheles in such sort augment by the prayers of S. Francis rendring good for euill that it sufficed for all them that were in the vessell till they arriued att their pretended port which miracle being knowne vnto the Patron he repented to haue refused to admitt them for the loue of God whose diuine Maiestie notwithstanding was pleased to shew such a manifest miracle to the end it might appeare how much more his seruantes do by their merittes support and vphold the world then they are supported by it Of the Conuersion of the glorious S. Clare and of the beginning of her Order THE LV. CHAPTER THe afforesaid yeare 1212. the glorious S. being by the diuine Maiesty recalled not without cōsideration of great consequēce from the voyage of Siria he gaue a beginning to the Order of the Damianes the roote and originall wherof was the glorious mother S. Clare descended of a noble familie of Assisiū who albeit by her parentes educated and nourished deliciously with intent to be afterward according to the manner of the world honourably marryed the holy Ghost did notwistanding worck the contrary and intended to enrich her with celestiall treasures For which occasion euen from her infancy he had a very particuler care of her with purpose to espouse her vnto our Lord IESVS CHRIST And when he thought the time conuenient he permitted that hearing admirable matters deliuered of the holy Father S. Francis she with a manly courage resolued to follow him in the strict way of euangelical perfection Hauing then found opportunity she presented her selfe alone to the said S. and hauing discouered her hart vnto him he instantly perceaued the inspiration which she had from God and in very few howers giuing the farwell to her kinred her substance together with all the world she procured him to cutt of her haire and to cloth her with his owne habitt before the aulter of our Lady of Angels For more security the holy Father S. Francis committed her to the monastery of S. Paul where were Religious of the Order of S. Benett whence by reason of extreme persecutions and violent proceedinges off her kinred hauing att length taken her out he placed her in the Church of S. Damian where was the first monastery of S. Clare and by reason of their nomber that there encreased they were called Damianes as shall seuerally and verie particulerlie appeare in the eight booke in the life of B. and glorious Saincte Clare How the S. went to Moroccho to seeke Martyrdome THE LVI CHAPTER SAinct Francis euer thirsting to be martyred for the faith of IESVS CHRIST being peruented of his iorney into Siria in the yeare 1214. he attēpted a voyage together with Brother Bernard Brother Macie towardes Moroccho through Spaine supposing thence to find passage vnto the Emperour of the Mores att Moroccho called Miramoline to preach vnto him the faith of IESVS CHRIST He enterprised this iorney with such alacritie that albeit he were very feeble and infirme he notwithstanding did alwayes so much out goe his companions that he seemed to fly But being arriued in Spaine his infirmityes did so oppresse him that he could hardly trauell vnto S. Iames in Galicia where prostrating himselfe before the altare of the said S. and praying with his accustomed feruour God enioyned him to retourne into Italie because many places were offered vnto him wherin to accommodate his family and that his retourne thither was very necessary to confirme the greene places of his erected vingneyard In this iorney S. Francis was att Guimaranes a citty of Portugall where it is said that he raysed the daughter of the master of the house where he lodged thence he visited the queene Vracca wife of king Alfonsus the second who beheld him with great reuerence and deuotion and was exceedingly comforted and edified by him Proceeding afterward on his iorney he lighted on a riuer in the said prouince of S. Iames betweene the citties of Nonis and Orgogno which he knew no meanes how to passe by reason there was not any house in that part nor personne to conduct him ouer Not knowing then what to doe he had recourse to prayer and att the very instant whiles he was praying to God there came a boy from the citty of Nonis who hauing pitty of them gaue thē encouragment saying that hauing passed ouer his horses that were loaden with bread he would vnload them and retourning would conduct them ouer which he performed and hauing guided them to Orgogno he lodged them in a house of his where he putt his bread wherin he gaue them the best entertainement he could deuise for which the holy Father gaue him many thanckes att his departure and said God giue you the payment which he hath promised to good people and so departed That very yeare which is worthy admiration this yong man retourning from Rome hauing visited the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul he demaunded of God as a speciall grace that he would please to take him out of this world before he lost the meritte of so many holy indulgences which he had gotten His prayer was not frustrate for by the merittes of the blessed Father S. Francis as by the consequence is apparent God heard him from heauen and so he died in the very pilgrimage His Father by letters from freindes being aduertised of his death after much lamentation procured the office of piety to be performed for his soule att the end of which office there appeared in the said citty of Nonis about seuenty Frier Minors though those people neuer supposed so many to be in all the world and they were all present att the church in procession singing with such melodie and with so pious a sweetnes that they drew teares of deuotion from all the audience After they had sung masse the parentes of the deceased inuited them to eat with them which they did and then departed and a great multitude of those people conducted them very farre the table was afterward found furnished with meate as if they had not eaten This miracle being perceaued many ran after them to see if they could
recouer them and know the place of their residence but they could neuer see nor heare of them It was then iudged that this was the recompence of the curtesy which the deceased had done to S. Francis and his companions when he entertained them att Orgogno and thence forward those people were euer exceeding deuot vnto the Freer Minors In the same iorney betweene Barcelone and Ghirone neere vnto S. Celony one of the companions of S. Francis being very hungry entred into a vineyard which he happelie found there and did eat of the grapes The keeper of the vines hauing perceaued it tooke from him his cloake which he very patientlie permitted him to take and would not restore it whatsoeuer instance S. Francis vsed but carryed it to his master of whome the said S. so graciously demaunded it that he did not only restore it but withall inuited him to eat with him where he in such sort comported himselfe that this good man entierlie edified by the wordes of the S. and by his doctrine offered himselfe to be a perpetuall host vnto all the Freer Minors that thenceforward should passe that way To whome the S. reciprocally replyed I accept thee for a Freer of our Order and so proceeding in continuall performance of that charity when they passed that way he died many yeares after and as his kinred procured his obsequies to be performed where were present many Preistes some did deridingly beginne to murmure saying that the Freer Minors did not appeare att the death of one of their so affectionate Brethren of who they had receaued so many curtesies and vpon the deliuerie of these wordes there came two and twentie Religious singing the Psalmes of Dauid with an exceeding melodious harmony who hauing finished the office in the Church did all disappeare The kinred of the deceassed prepared for them to eat but they rested content with only giuing thanckes to God with the rest of the people for the recompence he affordeth those that entertayne his seruantes euen after their death It was then ordayned in that citty that the Freer Minors should thenceforward there be lodged and entertayned with all thinges necessary att the chardge of the common purse S. Francis passing afterward through the kingdome of France preaching in a hospitall att Montpelier he prophetically foretold that in that citty should shortlie after be erected a monastery of Freer Minors which was accordingly verified soone after in that a Couent was there built which was very worthely mayntayned till the fury of the Caluinian heresie did vtterly ruinate the same Of the first meeting of S. Francis and S. Dominick THE LVII CHAPTER THe yeare of grace 1215. when the first generall Councell was held att Lateran during the raigne of Pope Innocentius the third the holy Father S. Dominick was att Rome with the Bishop of Tolous called Falcon to procure the Popes confirmatioÌ„ of the Order of Preachers which he then intended to institute and estabish wherof the Pope being by diuine reuelation aduertised and enformed of the great fruit that this Order should produce vniuersally to the holy Church att his first vew of S. Dominick without farther notice of him incontinently commanded him to retourne vnto Tolouse and to conferre with his Religious touching the penning of a rule that might be approued by the Church vnder which his Religion might be confirmed S. Dominick then retourning to Tolouse and hauing with his Religious implored the diuine assistance they made election of the rule of S. Augustine with the name and title of Preachers The yeare following being 1216. Honorius the third succeeding Pope Innocent the third retourning to Rome he demaunded of the Pope that then succeeded the said confirmation with the Bull and apostolicall authority in vertue wherof to make profession and with all to adde other constitutions that seemed necessary All which hauing obtayned the night ensuying he saw in prayer our Lord IESVS CHRIST att the right hand of God against sinners in an hideous and terrible manner brandishing three launces in the aire against the world the first to suppresse the hautines of the proud the second to disgorge the ouer-stuffed entrailes of the auaricious and the third to massacre the carnall There was none that could resist this wrath but the virgin Mary his most sacred mother whome he saw most affectionately to embrace the feet of her sonne beseeching him to pardon those whome he had redeemed with his precious bloud and with the mixture of his infinite mercy to delay that his rigorous iustice Then he heard our Lord thus answeare her See you not mother how manie iniuryes they doe me how is it possible that my holy iustice permitt so many enormityes to be vnpunished His most gracious mother thus replyed Thou knowest my deere Sonne what is the way to conuert sinners vnto thee but behold here a faithfull seruant of thine whome thou mayst presently send into the world to preach thy word to men that being conuâ—rted vnto thee their Sauiour they perish not and behold there also an other of thy seruantes ready to assist him Presenting vnto him S. Dominick and S. Francis with whome he saw God to be satisfied Now S. Dominick awaking very well retayned the markes wherby he might know this his companion whome he neuer knew before But the day following by diuine prouidence he mett S. Francis who was then in the Church of saint Peter att Rome whome he incontinently knew by the markes which he had obserued in the said vision Then he ran and verie affectionatelie embraced him and said we shal be companions and shall labour together in our holie purpose and neither any man nor wicked spiritt shall haue power to preuaile against vs. At length he recounted vnro him the said vision And after long discourse together they remayned vnited in God with one hart will and spiritt They commanded the like vnto their brethren This vision was imparted vnto the Religious of saint Dominick by saint Francis his meanes to whome onlie the said saint had recounted the same How these two SS had sight of each other an other time att Rome and how they reiected the benefices that were presented to them and to their Religious THE XLVIII CHAPTER THese two eminent lightes sent of God to illuminate the world did an other time meet together att Rome in Cardinall Hosties house who for the great zeale he carryed to the Church of God and for the deuotion wherwith he respected them both said vnto them In the primitiue Church the Prelates were poore and liued without any vanity gouerning the flock of Christ with loue and humility not by desire of terrestriall and temporall thinges therfore in myne opinion the holie church would retourne to her primitiue estate if of your Religious we should make Bishops and Prelates because by their doctrine good example of life and by contempt of the world they would represent to the whole world the Prelates of the primitiue
a time neere vnto the citty of Grecio he determined to celebrate that feast after a new manner therby to stirre vp the deuotioÌ„ of the faithful hauing therfore to auoid scaÌ„dal obtayned permission of the Pope he caused a great stable to be prepared in an old houell where he caused to be putt hay and a manger then brought thither an oxe and an asse and assembled so many of his Religious that they neere exceeded the inhabitantes of the place But because he had published the solemnity all the inhabitantes of the neighbour places flocked thither as who should be foremost with flutes cornettes and other rusticall instrumentes so that all the mountaines thereabout gaue ecchoe to their harmony they ceassed not all night to sound and reioyce before that stable wherin S. Francis and a great nomber of his Religious prayed before three images of wood that represented our lord IESVS CHRIST the Virgin Mary and S. Ioseph before which images were lightened a great quantity of lightes that were with curious art exquisitelie sett foorth S. Francis read the ghospell atr the midinght Masse then preached to the people with such tendernes of hart that when he would vtter the name of IESVS he could not but called him the litle child of Bethleem This feast was not speÌ„t without fruit for a famous gentleman named Iohn of Grecio forsaking the cheualry and nobilitie of the world and the pompes therof became very familier vnto S. Francis and an imitatour of him because he had seene him in vision that night with a child in his armes who seemed to sleep and whome he sweetly awakened The hay that was taken from that stable cured manie diseased beastes yea verie manie men whence may be iudged that God had singulerlie assisted that deuotion of his seruant How S. Francis caused the oratories of Bis Religious to be accommodated and of the care he had of their enterteynement THE LXXXXVI CHAPTER THis holy Father laboured exceedingly to haue his Religious know the meane which they ought to vse to pray well that being free froÌ„ all worldly employmentes they might apply theÌ„selues to prayer and conteÌ„plation as a fountaine that drowneth disordinate thirstes and on the contrary filleth and satisfieth the soule with a spirituall tast of diuine graces And that the said Religious might more commodiously emploie themselues therin he would haue their Oratories sequestred froÌ„ the bruit and tumult of the people that they might auoyd distraction and therfore he caused theÌ„ to be made in the middes of woodes and forestes with bowes of trees and wreathed with rushes where they spent their lentes entierlie in fastinges and prayers And that the care of temporall affaires might not choake the grace of the spiritt nor the cogitations of worldlie necessities procure them impediment he committed to one Brother alone when the number of Religious permitted the chardge of the dore the kitchen and larder appointing all the other Religious to obserue the Order following All the morning they were to remayne retired in prayer in the diuine offices and very strictly obseruing silence till the Officer att the ordinary houre warned them to dinner which he did by knocking on a tile for their pouerty afforded not them a bell But he knowing that man coÌ„sisted of a body and soule it was necessary the body should be mayntayned to sustaine the soule in the seruice of God he accustomed to goe into the kitchen where if he saw nothing to begin their refection he would goe into the garden and thence bring a bundle of hearbes which he would mildly deliuer the Cooke to haue drest for the Religious When the Cooke had egges cheese gotten by begging the holy Father in time conuenient would eat therof very merily to encourage others and would commend the prudence of the Cook But if he exceeded he would reprehend him for the excesse and command him to giue nothing to the Religious the day following which was performed though most commonly they sett themselues att table to eat nothing but dry bread pourchaced by begging which they did eat with exceeding contentment as a gift receaued of God it hauing bin demaunded for his sake Because our Sauiour worthely sayth Man liueth not by bread only but by the word and will of God Therfore when they least thought thereon and had most need thereof they were prouided for by the Angels with whoâ—â—e in their continuall prayers they conuersed After they had taken their refection they vsed deep silence and corporall exercises labouring about that which S. Francis commanded them for the necessityes of the house Then att the houre of Euensong Compline they all retourned to accustomed prayer in their Church and other places there vnto deputed Of the efficacie of the prayer of the Sainct THE LXXXXVII CHAPTER OF the humilitie of hart of S. Francis did grow a diffidence of his force and knowledge a perfect confidence in the diuine pietie which caused that he did neither desire nor beginne any thing but he would first in prayer demaund of God that he would please to inspire him to thincke and excute his will wherbie he did obtaine singuler graces for himselfe and others Att the beginning of his conuersion being yet in the world he obtayned that matters of difficultie according to the world as to serue leapers and to pardon iniuries should appeare easy and pleasing vnto him so that he had in short time obtayned by prayer that which he could not haue attayned by tedious exercise The Euangelicall perfection was reuealed vnto him and what the Religious should doe in thrise opening the Missall his rule was approued by Pope Innocent the third he knew that the will of God was he should assist to the sauing of soules Our lord spake to him in the Crucifix in diuers other manners reuealing vnto him what he should doe he subdued the assaultes and embushes prepared against him by the artifice of the deuils who fled when they could no longer resist him It were not possible to recount by order all the graces which by prayer he obtayned of God for beside the aforesaid there remaine manie other to relate of which we will here insert some few and the rest in place conuenient The bishop of Assisium becomming verie familier vnto S. Francis and often visiting him att S. Marie of Angels goeing one time vnto his celle he found the dore thrust to and in a manner shutt therefore goeing neere and hearing no noyse he thought he might be rauished in extasie in his prayer which made him desire to see the manner there of and to that end verie curiouslie opened the dore so wide as he might thrust in his head which putting further to see him he was surprised with a great trembling and such a feare that he could not breath nor respire and was miraculouslie throwne farre from the celle and lost his speech wherwith he was so terrified that he had scarce the force to
but the holy Father beholding him attentiuely answeared O miserable man this request is not graunted to men entierly addicted to sensuality and to the world as you are for you doe lye to the holy Ghost these teares are seigned and not true your interiour is not with God neither is it he that calleth you to this Religion Depart you therfore in good time for you are not fitt for it The holy Father had scarce ended these wordes but the Religious vnderstood that the kinred of this gentleman were come for him but not beleeuing them he put his head out att the windoe whence hauing seene them he was very ioyfull and taking leaue of the said Religious he retourned with them to his house Those present exceedingly admired the spiritt of S. Francis that knew the feined intentions of this man who exteriourlie appeared so contrite The rest of this chapter is transfered to the end of this first book with the 31. and 32. chapter of the second booke there placed together as their proper place Of a Religious that seemed a S. The 28. chapter of the 12. booke transferred to this place as proper vnto it THE CXIII CHAPTER HE knew by an other Religious who being deluded by the deuil he more strictly to keepe silence proceeded so farre as that he would not so much as confesse as did the other Religious but by signes as one dumme which he vsed also when he demaunded any thing and without any speech he sheued such signes of spirituall alacritie that he moued all the Religious to prayse God The fame hereof was presentlie diuulged so that he was generally held for a S. In the meane while S. Francis arriuing where this Religious was he was aduertised of his proceeding but he answeared that he was exceedingly tempted and deluded by the deuill because confession of the mouth was necessary as contrition of the soule and satisfaction of worckes The superiour of the place then confirmed the sainctity of the said Religious vnto S. Francis alleadgeing that it was not possible he should be tempted of the deuill considering the signes of sanctity which he exteriourlie shewed The holy Father replyed proue him in this manner commaund him to confesse twice or att least once euery weeke which if he refuse beleeue that it is a delusion of the deuill Which the superiour hauing done the Religious putting his finger in his mouth and shaking his head by these signes declared that he could not doe it for breaking of silence His superiour would no farther vrge him but the great prudence of S. Francis was not long vnknowne for a litle after this Religious S. abandoned his Religion a tooke a seculer habitt Two Religious of his companions meeting him attyred seculerly conceauing great compassion of his blindenes sayd vnto him O miserable wretch and forgetfull of thy selfe where is that thy solitarie and sainct-like life yea such as thou wouldest not conuerse with thy Brethren nor speake in Confession for keeping of silence thow now hauing lost thy selfe in the world abandoned our habitt reiected thy vow and broaken the rule as if thou haddest no beleefe of God but he gaue them so diuellish an answeare that he plainly discouered he had not only chaunged habitt but also Religion and interiour vertue These good Religious could by no meanes reduce him though they laboured to reprint in his minde the obligation he had to God and the perill of his damnation and so in few dayes after he dyed being in possession of the deuill that held him choaked because he would not confesse It is a worthy example for all Religious to beware of singularity in matters appertayning to their Order that demonstrate more pride then spiritt of deuotion and humility Of other merueillous accidents wherin the spiritt of Prophetie of S. Francis did miracously appeare THE CXIV CHAPTER THe Cardinall of Hostia hauing on a time commaund S. Francis to repaire vnto him to Rieta where then was Pope Honorious with his Court and comming neere the citty he saw a great troup of people that came against him wherfore stopping his iorney he staid in a Church before S. Fabian a league and halfe from the citty where was a very poore Preist that very curteously and in the best manner he could entertayned him But the Cardinals and many other of his Court knowing whither he was retired went thither to see him by this visitation the vineyard of the poore Preist was wastfullie gathered by the indiscretion of the trampling traine of the Cardinals and others whereat he exceedingly complayned repenting that he had entertayned S. Francis in regard that for the litle good he had done him he thought he should incurre such losse The holy Father who in spiritt knew the affliction of the Preist that durst not acquaint him therewithall and who on the other side knew what fruit he was to procure in that place whither he had bin expresly sent of God there to plant an abondant vigne of true penitentes in which respect he could not depart thence reputing it behoufull to endure the losse of that litle materiall vigne for the better gayning a spirituall Neuertheles as a pittifull louing Father he called the Preist whome for his consolation he bad not to vex himselfe nor to feare for of the litle that remayned of his vigne he should gather double the ordinary though there appeared almost nothing The Preist that firmely beleeued these wordes deserued also to be recompenced according to his faith for wheras he accustomed to haue three hogsheddes he had then twenty of verie good wine as the holy Father had promised him which with exceeding ioy and admiration he related vnto him and to all the people thereabout to the prayse of God and of his seruant Francis This holy Father being in the Prouince of Massa on the Mount Casal within a desert Church there employed in prayer God reuealed vnto him that in the same Church were relikes of his sainctes Wherefore determining that they should no longer there remaine concealed and without the honour due vnto them and hauing no opportunity of longer abode in the said church by reason of other occurrances for which he was to take order he commaunded his Religious sheuing them where they were to take them from that place and to carry them into their church which hauing said he departed But these good Religious forgatt it Wherefore they being one day to say masse in the Oratory thinking to prepare the Alcare they found vnder it certaine bright and glittering bones that filled the place with a most delicious sauour Being extremely amazed and diuising who should putt them there they remembred the commaundement which S. Francis had giuen them and concluded that those were the reliques which he commaunded them to remoue and that because they had fayled therein God had miraculouslie supplyed it as accordinglie S. Francis being retourned to that place and hauing vnderstood the processe and pardoned
Goddes will he should come thither This holy Father finding himselfe loaden with the prayses of men which he esteemed an intollerable burden he one day priuatly departed the towne without speaking a word to any man The sequel of the aforesaid hundredth chapter Brother Macie thefore that followed him murmured a litle to himselfe att his litle good manners in departing from the Bishop without taking leaue of him for making him turne as a foole in the middes of the way the day before but perceauing afterwardes that it was a deceipt of the deuill he very bitterlie reprehended himselfe affirming that he deserued hell for presuming to iudge of the S. as opposing against the diuine worckes by him wrought as a verie true Angell of the liuing God in such or like manner accusing himselfe The holie Father tourning to him said Proceed bouldelie Brother Macie for this thy last discourse is euen so of God as thy former was of the deâ—ill Brother Macie then so much more humbled himselfe as he more approued the admirable sanctity of his holy Father An other Religious had a great desire to conuerse with him but he abstayned fearing to offend him by knowing his great imperfections doubting withall that offending the purity of his soule he should also vtterlie loose his fauour These thoughtes being entierly reuealed vnto S. Francis he one day called him to him said Brother I know you desire to conuerse with me speake therfore and say freely what you will and come to me when you desire by this meane the Religious was so secured as he remayned more affected vnto him These thinges wherby the prophetie of the holie Father Sainct Francis was generallie manifested are almost infinite therefore hauing hereafter recited two or three other we shall haue ended all that may be collected of all authors God knoweth the rest How S. Francis prophesied the Papacy to Nicolas the 3. when he was yet a child This is taken out of the 9. chapter of the 9. booke and here put in his place Mathew Rimido a Romane gentleman was an affectionate freind vnto the holy Father Sainct Francis yea did afterward take the habitt of the Rule of the third Order this man hauing one morning inuited Sainct Francis to dine with him and presenting vnto him his sonne Iohn Caietan then a litle child who was afterward Pope Nicolas the third to giue him hs benediction the holy Father tooke him in his armes embraced and kissed him very louingly and recommended vnto him his Religion which procured great astonishment and abondance of teares of the Father present and much more when he more plainly told him that the child should not be Religious in habitt but much in deuotion and principall Lord of this world and protectour of his Religion The holy Father vsed one of his ordinarie exercises of humility with this gentleman out of the very harty loue he boare to holy pouerty which was that being inuited by him and comming att such time as he was not att home where certaine new seruantes not knowing him gaue diuers poore people to eat within a Court he likewise receaued almose and did eat togeather with them The Lord Mathew comming home and finding Sainct Francis to eat among the poore he incontinently sate downe on the ground with him where he would in like sort eat with the poore and the S. to whome he said Father sith you would not dine with me I must dine with you The sequel of the said hundredth chapter Brother Iohn Bonello a Religious of great perfection held a generall chapter in Prouence in the monastery of Arles where he was Prouinciall Minister S. Antony of Padua preached att that chapter vpon the title of the holy crosse It there happened then that a Religious Preist called Brother Monaldus of a very exemplare life saw ouer the dore of the Chapter in the aire S. Francis with his handes and feet stretched on a crosse and as he was he blessed all the Religious loosing his right hand from the crosse whiles S. Antony most profoundlie expounded the said title of the crosse Wherefore the spirituall consolation which they all then felt in themselues was such and so great that albeit Brother Monaldus alone saw the said S. present neuertheles they all did participate of the grace in such sort that if any one would not haue beleeued the relation of Brother Monaldus he was constrayned to be assured thereof by that which he had felt in his hart Besides many other like apparitions of the said S. by diuine permission wherein God would demoÌ„strat how neere our soule is when she wil receaue his grace vnto the diuine light and eternall wisdome by communication wherof she ariseth from the world to vnite herselfe with God making the humble and poore of spiritt Prophettes reuealing high mysteries vnto them as it made Dauid one of the principall prophetes afterwardes S. Peter and the other Apostles according to the saying of the Gospell Many thinges I haue to say to you but you cannot beare them now But when he the spiritt of truth commeth he shall teach you all truth and in these latter dayes his humble and simple seruant S. Francis For as he did chose the Apostles simple and idiotes in regard of the learning of the world he neuertheles made them famous by doctrine and diuine worckes and the Sheepheard Dauid to feed the sheep of the sinagogue transported out of Egipt and S. Peter the fisher to fill the nettes of the holy church with the multitude of faithfull Christians so he would haue Sainct Francis a merchaunt to teach vs to traficke and negociate for this precious stone of the Euangelicall life selling all his goodes and distributing it to the poore for his loue and to enrich his church with soules redeemed by this holy meane How the blessed Father Sainct Francis renounced and rendred in the handes of his Brethren the office of Generall of the Order and instituted a Vicar Generall in his place This was the 31. chapter of the second booke improperly and therfore to follow the true Order of his life we haue here put it in his place This B. Father was so zealous of obedieÌ„ce especially of that his most holy humility that he could in no sort dispose himself to coÌ„mauÌ„d so that it was irksome vnto him to performe the office appertayning therevnto as to haue the chardge of gouerning so many thousandes of Religious to commaund and reprehend to aduise and correct to giue ordonnances and to chastice the offenders Therfore he resolued to renounce the office of Minister Generall as well for the cause hereafter alleadged as the better by example to teach obedience vnto his children Besides he found himselfe too sickly so that he could not apply himselfe to that office as was requisite and yet would not omitt the rigour of his penance to conserue his body yea he was better content to continue sicke then by
neuertheles I hope in God that the inuisible ennemies the deuils that are his executioners to chastice the disobedientes in this world and in the other will also chastice the transgressours of the vow of their profession therby to their shame and forciblie to make them retourne to their first vocation to this effect I will not omitt to assist them whiles I liue att least by prayers and example sith otherwise I cannot and to instruct them the secure way which I haue learned of my God as I haue formerly done that they may haue no excuse before his diuine maiesty No further doe I hold my selfe obliged Such was his answeare which satisfying the Religious procured an inestimable greife to all the hearers wherby it also manifestlie appeared what reason the S. had to leaue them and what occasion they had to know themselues and by a pious acknowledgement of their fault and true repentance to haue recourse vnto him The end of the first booke of the Chronicles of the Friere Minors THE SECONDE BOOKE OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE FRIER MINORS WHERIN IS PROSECVTED THE discourses of the life death and miracles of the Seraphical Father S. Francis translated out of french into English Of the plenary indulgence graunted by Iesus Christ to the Church of our Lady of Angels of Portiuncula THE FIRST CHAPTER THE more the glorious Father S. Francis profited in perfection and endeauoured to vnite himselfe with God the more did he poure out teares and felt intollerable greife att the losse of soules redeemed by the price of the precious bloud of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST Wherfore not ceassing to desire mercie of God for sinners as he thirsted to haue all saued the yeare of grace 1223. being to that effect in prayer an Angell appeared vnto him and bid him incontinentlie to repaire vnto the church because our Lord IESVS CHRIST with his glorious Mother and a great number of Angels there expected him Hauing receaued this gracious embassadge he hastened thither and there found our Sauiour sitting in a Royall throne on the high altare and the Virgin Mary att his right hand enuironned with an innumerable multitude of blessed spirittes The holy Father incontinentlie falling prostrate on the earth heard the diuine voice of IESVS saying Francis Know that I haue heard thy feruent prayers and because I know with what solicitude thou and thy Religious procure the saluation of soules aske me what grace thou wilt for their soules benefitt and I will graunt it thee The S. being by such an answeare emboldened most humbly answeared My Lord IESVS CHRIST I miserable and vnworthy sinner with the greatest reuerence I can require of thy diuine maiesty that it will please thee so much to fauour all Christian people as to graunt them a generall pardon and plenary indulgence of all their sinnes I meane to all them that shall enter into this church confessed and contrite I also beseech thee O glorious holy Virgin mother and our Aduocatrix that it would please thee to make intercession to thy most gracious sonne for me and for all Christian sinners Our Lady was instantlie moued with these wordes and began in this sort to pray our Redeemer in his behalfe O my most high Lord and sonne of my bowels I beseech thee graunt vnto this thy faithfull seruaunt this grace which he hath demaunded with so great a zeale of the saluation of soules which thy selfe aboue all other thinges disirest My God graunt him this grace in this place to thine honour and the edification of thy holy church Our Lord sodenlie answeared Francis that which thou demaundest is great but this thy desire conformable to mine deserueth much more and therfore I graunt thy request But goe to my Vicar to whome I haue giuen al power of vnbinding and binding here on earth and in my name demaund it of him which said he disappeared The Religious that had their celles neere therevnto saw the splendour and heard some speach but durst not approach for reuerence and great feare that possessed them The holy Father S. F. hauing thācked God presētly called Bro. Macie in whose cōpany he wēt to Perusia where thē was Pope Honorius with his court befor whose holines he thus spake Holy F. I haue reestablished a church that was very ruinous desert called S. Mary of portiūcula very neere vnto the citty of Assise wherin are residēt your Religious the Frere Min. I beseech your holines by our Redeemer I. C. his most glorious mother to voutsafe for the benefitt of the soules of all faithful Christiās to graūt a plenary indulgēce and remission of all their sinnes to all them that shall visitt this church in good estate without giuing any almose in the same The Pope answeared him that the Apostolike sea did not accustome to graunt indulgēs without giuing of almose because it will that they be gayned by thē He thē asked him for how many yeares he desired the indulgēce S. Francis answeared Holy Father I desire not yeares but soules How soules said the Pope S. Frācis replyed I require that euery Christian confessed and contrite that shall come to visitt the said Church receaue plenarie absolution in earth and in heauen and that of whatsoeuer sinnes he shall haue committed from his Baptisme to that very houre I require not this in myne owne name but in our Lord IESVS CHRIST who hath sent me to your Holines Which the Pope hearing inspired of the holy Ghost he thus spake thrice with a loud voice I am content to graunt it as thou hast demaunded it But the Cardinals present aduised the Pope to consider well what he graunted because by that act he would destroy the indulgences of the holy land and of Sainct Peter and S. Paul att Rome which would no longer be regarded The Pope answeared that he would not reuoke what he had att that present graunted They replyed that att least it were requisit he should limitt the said indulgence to a certaine time and moderate it to a certaine prefixed day of the yeare The Pope then said We graunt to all faithfull Christians that being truely confessed and contrite shall enter into the Church of our Lady of Angels plenary indulgence and absolution both of paine and fault and we will that the same be of force for euer for one entier day that is from the first euensong till the sunne sitting of the day following Which the holy Father Sainct Francis hauing obtayned he kissed his feet then demaunded his benediction which receaued he arose to depart But the Pope recalling him said Whither goest thou simple man what specialtie hast thou of the indulgence obtayned The holy Father answeared that his word should suffice and besides that this worck was of God and therfore it should be published and supported by his diuine Maiesty and withall that he would haue no other Bull but the Virgin Mary IESVS CHRIST for Notary and the Angels for witnesses Which
deuout personnes that went with the said woman to gaine the indulgence but the men being a litle separated from the women his first hope was vaine and his second more for it miraculously happened that he could neuer see her in the church though he well saw all her company Wherfore acknowledging his fault and repenting it he confessed himselfe gayned the indulgence chaunged his life and behauiour yea so far foorth that he shortly after became Religious where he liued and dyed vertuously What sanctity Sainct Francis would haue obserued in that church THE VI. CHAPTER AS well in respecte of the accidentes afore recited as diuers other which God wrought in this holie church the holy Father Sainct Francis avouched as being reuealed vnto him that it was loued of the Virgin Mary with a particuler deuotion aboue all other churches of the world Therin were also graunted verie great graces to the said holy Father and prerogatiues generallie and particulerlie for himselfe and for others and therfore that the Religious might neuer forgett with what deuotion and reuerence they ought to respect that church and that particuler memory might be had therof aboue all the memorable thinges of the Order being one day sicke in presence of his Vicar Generall and many other Religious in manner of a testament he left these wordes I will that this house and church of our Lady of Angels of Portiuncula be duely reuerenced and honoured of my Religious and that therein be the residence of the Generall of the Order that he may prouide vnto this house a pious family with greater deuotion and dilligence to the end it may serue for example and mirour in piety and good conuersation and especially that there be chosen very spirituall Preistes and Clarckes to minister with deuotion that the Religious and seculers comming hither to gaine this holy indulgence be well edified therby and likewise I will that the lay Brethten be chosen humble and of vertuous life and that they serue the Preistes with much respect and reuerence I will besides that in this place be obserued a perpetuall silence and that if there be necessity of speaking they speake only with their superiours and among them be very wary not to recount worldlie matters or other idle wordes yea that themselues giue no eare in such thinges to seculer personnes to the end that no worldly matter enter into this holie house and that the Religious may the better conserue their holy pouertie therin And with all that this habitation be not prophaned by earthly discourses but that therein the time be alwayes employed in himnes prayers and psalmes the most secure armour for guard of the hart And if any religious herein already placed become and libertine a obserue not this Order and course of life I will that the Guardian expell him and put an other such as he shall thinck sitt in his place To the end that if other Religious and monasteries established wheresoeuer els where doe erre from the puritie due to their estate and to their vocation and vow made to God this holy place att least blessed by our Lord may remaine and perseuer as a mirour and example of true Religion and euangelicall perfection and may be a candlelesticke before the throne of God and the glorious Virgin Mary euer burning and giuing light for whose sake God may pardon the faultes and offences of all the Brethren of the Order and that this plante of our Religion may be for euer conserued producing fruites worthy of merittes and so obtayning the most holie grace of God Such was the Order of the glorious Father S. Francis which was seriously obserued of his first Religious nourished and educated with the purest milke of sanctitie who knowing how much this place was loued of IESVS CHRIST and his sacred mother liued alwayes in this house in highest purity in perpetuall silence and in extreme pouerty When they chaunced to speake some litle out of the time of silence their discourses were of spirituall thinges of benefittes receaued of God of our ingratitude of his mercie and all with exceeding great humility and deuotion And if by misgard it happened which it very seldome or neuer did that some one of them began to speake some thing that was not of God or more necessary he was incontinently reprehend by the others and did penance for it att the same instant In this place they mortified their flesh not only by watching and fastinges but also by disciplines nakednes and the rigour and austerity of their habitt supporting the one in sommer and the other in winter and the lay Brethren by labouring in the feeld to gaine bread and to maintaine themselues and the other Religious by such and other vertuous exercises sanctifying themselues and the place where they dwell A very deuout Religious being yet in the world saw once in vision a great nomber of people kneeling before this churche with ioyned handes and eyes eleuated towardes heauen all blinde who with loud voice required mercy of God powring out abondance of teares and beseeching the diuine Maiestie to voutsafe to restore their sight which prayer ended he saw desceÌ„d from heauen an exceeding great light that illuminating all the place restored sight to the blind vpon which vision he afterward became Religious How sainct Francis instituted the second rule and of the Apostolicall Bulle of pope Honorius against the professed that leaue the Order THE VII CHAPTER THe Religion of the Frere Minors daily augmenting and manie entring therinto without well measuring their forces before by their weaknes of spiritt their first feruours incontinently decayed wherfore being vnable to continue firme vnder the hammer of Euangelicall life leauing the habitt they went out of the Order worse by reason of their apostasie committed then they entred in Others without leauing the habitt went wandring ouer the world others the rigour being not then so seuere liued att libetty affirming that they were not bound to obserue a rule that was not confirmed nor approued by the holy Apostostolike sea but only viua vocis â—raculâ— by the mouth and voice of Pope Innocent the third and approned but not priuiledged by Pope Honorious his successour The yeare of grace 1221. which was the fist of his Papacie his holines for the reasons aforesaid made his breuet following two yeares before the second rule was confirmed This following it the said Breuet extracted out of the 32. chapter of the tenth booke and transferred hither as its proper place HOnorious bishop and seruant of the seruantes of God to our beloued sonne Brother Francis and to other Superiours of the Frere Minours health and Apostolicall benediction Because according to the opinion of the wise one ought to doe nothing without counsaile that being done no repentance ensue It is therefore necessary to him that will orderly and duely dispose a spirituall life and one more excellent then ordinary that he sett his eyes before his feet that is
of holy pouerty that in our behalfe they make intercessiō to God to graunt vs to be truely poore and his right humble disciples and graunt this priuiledge to our Order that there be alwayes therin such as are truely poore that honour and loue holy pouerty S. Francis with this feruour went to Rome in pilgrimage to visitt the holy Apostles beginning already to foresee the great persecutions which many of his Order would lay on pouertie after his death and that few would aduenture to passe with all Being then come to Rome he entred into the Church of S. Peter and being retired into a chappell with violent effusion of teares he demaunded of God that he would please to confirme vnto him the grace and priuiledge of most holy Euangelicall pouertie for himselfe and his Order inuocating for intercessors the glorious Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul who in most glittering splendour appearing vnto him did embrace and salute him then said Brother Francis because with such deuotion thou demaundest that which God will and we obserue and counsaile to be obserued he hath sent vs vnto thee to aduertise thee in his behalfe that thou art heard in heauen and that he hath graunted the treasure of Euangelicall pouertie to thee and to all them that shall follow thee and that they shal be of the nomber of the blessed who shall embrace the same Which sayd they disappeared leauing the holy Father S. Francis exceedinglie comforted and recounting the whole to Brother Macie they according to their duety together yelded thanckes to God Of the pouerty which the holy Father S. Francis obserued and would should be obserued att table and how the Religious were often miraculously prouided for in their necessitis THE XVII CHAPTER SAinct Francis being in the Oratory of Rieta a Prouinciall repayred vnto him to celebrate with him the Natiuity of our lord Wherfore the Religious entending to honour the feast and the Prouinciall prepared the table with a cloth and white napkins fournishing it with neat vessel and meat a litle better then ordinary But the S. cōming that morning to eat with them in the refectory and seeing that preparation and that the table was raysed from the ground where it accustomed to be he secretly went foorth and finding a begger att the gate he borrowed his hatt and cloake then taking a companion with him they went out of the house and in the meane time the Religious sate downe att table for he had ordayned that when soeuer he was not found in the Couent att the houre of refection they should not attend him About the middes of their meale the holy Father retourned disguised as aforesaid and went directly to the refectory att the dore wherof he demaunded an almose for the loue of God The Prouinciall answēared him Brother we are poore as you are and therefore haue need of these almose but for the loue of God which thou hast named enter and we will giue thee part of the almose which IESVS CHRIST hath sent vs S. Francis entred and stood expecting to haue somewhat giuen him The Prouinciall gaue him his owne dish with the bread that was in it The S. receauing it discouered himselfe and sate downe on the ground before the Religious but being approached to the fire he sighing said My beloued Brethren this table so decently prepared is not fitt for poore Religious that ought euerie day to goe aske almes from dore to dore for the loue of God it would better beseeme you to follow the example of humilitie of our lord then of any other for to that end are we called considering also that we haue promised to obserue it now doe I esteeme me a Frere Minor beholding my selfe sitting on the ground The feastes of God and his sainctes ought to be honoured with that holy pouerty wherby they haue pourchased heauē and not with these superfluityes which they did vtterlie abhorre as thinges that did separate them from the loue of God It cannot be expressed how much the poore Religious were amazed hauing heard and seene this act for many did weep seeing their Father sitting on the ground with that habitt with so great humility correcting the fault which they had committed wherof accusing them selues they acknowledged their fault to the S. who blessing them bad them with all euer to keep their table so poore and hūble that the seculers seeing it might not be scandalized and that if any begger came he might be inuited to eat with them Besides he would that the bread which they begged should be so limited that there should remaine none superfluous in the house but what should only suffice the Religious assuring them that if they wanted God would prouide for them as by the ensuing miracle doth appeare The generall chapter being on time ended and the Ministers dimissed each one to his Prouince there remayned with S. Francis 31. Religious amōg whome was that Brother Monaldo that merited to see the S. as crucified att Arles as we haue formerly alleadged they being vpon departure and the S. desiringe charitably to eat with thē there was found only three litle loanes in the house which S. Francis caused to be brought made on thē the signe of the crosse thē diuided it amongest thē And God did so multiply it that it sufficed thē all with the fragmēts was filled a great baskett by meane of which miracle the Religious retourned exceedingly encouraged in the seruice of God and the loue of pouerty finding by experience that God was their procuratour On an other time S. Francis comming by night to the Oratory of Sō nino in Lombardy with many Religious exceedingly oppressed with hunger they found not in the house one only morcell of bread for their custome was to demaūd no more of almose then would suffice them for one day and if any remayned they presently distributed it to the poore The holy Father S. Francis vnderstanding thus much said to the keeper of the prouision goe to such a place and you shall finde a baskett full bring it vnto me He goeing thither brought thence a baskett full of bread which had bin miraculously conueyed thither to releiue the seruantes of God They all did eat with very great appetite finding it extraordinarily pleasing which did not passe without giuing thanckes to the diuine Maiesty for the almes which so liberall a hand bestowed on them Many other such miracles happened vnto these poore of God as this that ensueth How whiles the Cooke was att his prayers in the Church the refection was miraculously prepared The 33. chapter of the tenth booke transferred to this proper place SAinct Francis admitted to Religion a knight called Bennenuto who of his great humility made choice to liue alwayes in the kitchen It happened on a time that a Burgesse had a will to refect the Religious one morning and to that end sent them betimes what he thought conuenient therto that they might
children of this poore Mother will be ashamed esteeming it their honour to weare coates of delicat and precious cloath In his very time Brother Hely his vicar generall caused to be made an habit of fine cloath with lardge and long sleeues which S. Francis vnderstanding he called him in the presence of many Religious and prayed him to lend him the habitt which he woare which he did and the Sainct presentlie putt it on vpon his owne plaiting it exquisitlie setling the Capuce and redoubling the sleeues which he did with all the vaine gestures which he saw in spiritt that the Religious in such an habitt would vse then he walked with his head alofte in ietting manner talking with a graue strong and sounding voice marching in proud gate now saluting one now an other of his Religious who were exceedinglie astonished expecting what the Sainct would doe Att length tourning to them he said honorable companie God saue you which said he putt of the habitt and threw it as farre as he could being moued with exceeding great feruour of spiritt and zeale of God then said to Brother Helias in such sort as each one might heare him so doe the bastardes of the Order goe attired then putting on his humble short strict and contemptible habitt he chaunged countenance and appeared gracious and mild as before then began to conuerse with the other Religious humblie according to his custome teaching them to be humble poore and meeke How sainct Francis would not that his Religious should haue any thing in proper and of the pouerty of the houses of the Religious THE XX. CHAPTER AS the holy Father would not that his Religious should possesse any thing proper neither in particuler nor common much lesse would he it should be said that any thing was belonging to the Religious He chaunced one time to passe neere to Bolonia where it being told him that a monastery was there builded for his Religious he for hearing that this monastery was his Religiouses commaâ—nded all them that were in it in vertu of obedience presently to depart who in such sort obeyed that one being sick there caused himselfe to be carryed out and he would not permitt them to retourne tâ— it her till their Protectour who was then legat att Bolonia had publiquely preached that the said house was his and not the Freer Minors So would he not that they should dwell in any other place if first it were not assured that the propriety ther of had an other master then the Religious A Guardian that was a deere freind to S. Francis founding an Oratorie made also adioyning vnto it a litle cell for him builded onlie with hewed wood without other fashion Tâ—e Sainct seeing it said to the Religious If you will that I vse it dresse it with osier twigges and bowes of trees that I may there see my holie pouertie which being done he there remayned certaine dayes but hearing one of the Religious one time say that he came to see his celle he answeared sith you say it is mine it shall no longer be so and thenceforward would no longer continue therein the like did he in all other places wherein he the more willingly remayned as they were poore and meanely accommodated To comfort his Religious he would sometimes vse those wordes of IESVS CHRIST in the gospell The foxes haue holes and the foules of the aire nestes but the Sonne of man hath not where to lay his head And speaking of him he would say that when he remayned forty dayes and as many nightes in the desert to pray he had there neither cell nor bell but was constrayned to rest vnder a tree or rocke and therfore he att least did imitate him in this that he possessed no cell that was or was called his And if some times by misgard he bad his Religious to accommadate him some cell calling himselfe to minde he would no longer remayne therin thincking of what is said in the gospell Be not carefull for the morrow He would haue it putt into his testament that all the celles wherin the Religious dwelt their house should be made of clay and wood There was euery yeare a generall chapter held att our ladie of Angels whither repayred a great nomber of Religious who were there very ill accomodated The citizens of Assisium considering this great inconuenience and hauing compassion to see them all resting in an house couered with thatch hauing the walles made of osier together with bowes of trees and clay they resolued to build them a faire great house against the church of the monasterie expreslie for the generall chapters there yearlie to be held and so meerlie without the knoweldge of sainct Francis they in short time builded it with lime and stone they knew well that if sainct Francis had knowne therof he would neuer haue permitted it which opinion the successe confirmed for retourning and finding such a building though he were enformed that the inhabitantes had done it of their owne motion and that it was to serue onlie for the said chapter neuertheles fore-seeing the euell example which this great house might giue and that the Religious would build the like otherwhere in which respect this building was inconuenient in that place which he would haue to be an example of sanctitie and pouertie to all others hauing called certaine Religious that were zealous of the Order before the chapter ended he with them got vp on the said house and began to vncouer it with intention vtterlie to pull it downe Which being seene by some kinghtes and gentlemen there placed by the citty in gard to hinder scandales that might happen they came to the S. and said Father hold your handes and know that this house is proper to the citty of AssisiuÌ„ we therefore aduertise you to desist from further endommaging the same Which the holy Father hearing he answeared if the house be yours I will no further touch it and calling the said Religious they descended and the cittizens couered the roofe againe and made choice of gentlemen that in time of the chapters should haue care to fournish it as was requisite that the Religious might be freed of sollicitude which continued for many yeares Of the rule and manner of building which sainct Francis prescribed to his Religious THE XXI CHAPTER THe holy Father S. F. residing for the infirmitie of his eyes nere vnto Sienna there came a rich gsntleman to visit him who hauing giuen to the Frere Minors a place where to build a monastery and deuising on the forme of this building the holy Father said to this man who was verie familier to the Order Brother will you know how the houses of our Religious must be builded you must obserue this order when my Brethren shall come into any place where they shall haue no place of retire and shall finde any one that will permitt them to build on his land a house a garden and
you from pride from the vices of auarice of enuy and vaine desires so detrimentall to your soules and by your example to your neighbours also you shall in your sermons exhort the people to pay their tythes to the Preistes of whome so doeing you shal be entreated to preach and heare their confessions though you should not so much respect that as to conuert them for a man conuerted will soone finde a confessour as for me I demaund no other priuiledge of God but to loue and reuerence each one and to conuert the most sinners that I can by obedience to God and his holy church and the same more by humilitie and example of the obseruance of our rule then by wordes Of the afflictions incident vnto the Order reuealed vnto the holy Father S Francis THE XXVII CHAPTER THe holy Father S. Francis being one time in prayer att our Lady of Angels most instantlie praying his diuine maiesty that he would please to shew mercy to the ChristiaÌ„ people on whome he had reuealed vnto him that he would lay a great scourge God answeared him Francis if thou wilt that I haue compassion of my people procure dilligentlie that thy Order perseuer in such sort as it is instituted that therin may be found such as may worthelie make intercessioÌ„ for them and in fauour of thy Order and of thee I promise thee not to lett fall on my church that great affliction which aymeth att it threateneth it But I will haue thee know that if thy Order doe preuaricate the first punishmentes which I shall inflict on my church shal be on the preachers therof and will giue to the deuill what authority ouer them he will Thence will grow so manie scandales betweene them and the world that none will aduenture to take the habitt but in the desertes where I will preserue this few number of elect as I preserued the children of Israel so manie yeares and so the good being conserued in my grace the Order shall afterward be reduced to his pristine estate Herevpon did S. Francis prophesie that a verie violent temptation should be raised in his Religion by pourchaced science wherwith in manner of a furious winde from the region of the desert as the affliction of Iob furiously striking the four corners of the house of his Religion his owne children would bring it to ruine because said he being puffed vp by their learning and relying theron they well lay ambushes and cast snares for the true and lawfull children framed by that huge damned woman called pride to whome they will sacrifice their child birthes that is their worckes and will liue in the delightes of the profitt of them and of the recompence of their impudencie and arrogancie Now the auctoritie of such Religious wil be extremelie bitter and insupportable to the iuste that shal be persecuted by them because their simplicitie obedience pouertie and zeale of the honour of God shall in a manner inexplicable secretlie confound them Wherfore they by reason of their pride being vnable to endure it relying on the wisedome and reputation of their valure and the authority of the nobility and Princes of the world pourchaced by meane of ambition will persecute them to death There is also found a prophesie of the holy Father S. Francis written by the hand of Brother Leo of the great schisme and diuision that was in the Church after the election of Pope Vrban the sixt the yeare 1378. that continued neere 40. yeares the tenour wherof was thus A time will come when the holy Church shal be full of schismes which will put men in extreme perplexitie as well in the spirituall as temporall estate and the deuill shall haue manie followers and shal be more dilligente then ordinary to take aduantage by this occasion to augment his kingdome then shall the beauty of this Order be defiled with that of others and prophane apostasie shal be accomplished to the dissention of two Realmes when few shall obey the holie Church with a true charitie and he that shall not be canonicallie elected to the Papacie yea suspected of heresie shall be obeyed because manie shal be subtillie peruerted by him by his contagious errours then shal scandales multiplie and Christianitie be diuided manie refusing to contradict the same the scismes and diuisions of the Clergie of Religious and of the people shal be so violent that if those dayes were not abbreuiated by God the elect if it were possible would fall into the same errours if God of his mercie should not deliuer them S. Francis in regard of this reuelation particulerlie put into his rule the vow of obedience vnto the Pope vnto his successours canonicallie elected and to the holie Romane church in the beginning and end of the same rule knowing how much it would profitt his order in that so turbulent time to perseuer firme therfore he gaue this instruction to his that foreseeing the same they might know to gouerne themselues well therein Of the liberty wherinto the Order should fall prophecied by S. Francis THE XXVIII CHAPTER THe holie Father S. Francis being one day in presence of the Cardinall Vgolino Protectour of the Order and of manie other of his Religious he vttered these wordes which he afterward also preached to the Brethren a time will come when the Religious of my Order by the malice of the deuill shallleaue the way of holie simplicitie and pouerty indifferentlie receauing all sort of mony and all such legacies as by testament shal be bequeathed them and leauing solitarie and humble places will build faire and sumptuous houses in cittyes and townes capable to entertayne Princes and Emperours then by fauour they will procure obtaine priuiledges of the Popes through art and humane prudence and by their earnest importunitie they will obtaine requestes merelie iniust though cloaked with truth by this meane they will not onlie abandon their rule instituted by IESVS CHRIST against their solemne profession but will also ruine and alter the puritie therof chaunging the good intention into peruerse and being armed by meane of the said priuiledges against obedience against other Religious and against all the Clergie when they shall expect to gett the victory the wretches shall â—inde themselues fallen into the trench which themselues shall haue made gathering no other fruit of their seminary but scandales which they shall offer to God in steed of the saluation of soules who seeing the same shal be no more thenceforward their Pastour but their ruiner according to their meritt And therfore he will leaue them entangled in the nettes of auarice and their vaine desires Which being naturalie considered of many shall cause that acknowledgeing this punishment of the hand of God they repent their faultes and retourne to their former estate notwithstanding that they be persecuted and derided of others as are all the vertuous and true seruantes of God by the wicked and impious But as the same temptations shall accomplish the
also must renounce it if not entierlie att least in part Lett vs loue our ennemies and doe good to them that hate vs lett vs obserue the preceptes and counsailes of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST renouncing our selues and liuing vnder the sweet yoke of his obedience Lett vs not be wise according to the flesh but simple humble and pure keeping our sences mortified and pride trodden vnder foot considering our basenes vnworthie to be superiour to others as they would we should be Lett vs imitate our Lord and carry his crosse vpon vs lett vs suffer together with him who hath endured so much for vs wretches in this world and bestoweth on vs so many benefittes and far greater will hereafter and to whome all creatures ought to giue prayse honour and glorie in heauen in earth in the sea and in the depth because he is our vertue and our force who only is good only most high onlie almighty meruaylous and glorious and only holy praysed and exalted for euer Amen I Brother Francis your seruant with the greatest humilitie I can prostrate on the earth and kissing your feet doe beseech you by the bowels of the charitie of God to receaue these wordes and others of our Lord IESVS CHRIST to effect and obserue them with due humilitie and charitie assuring all them that shall receaue vnderstand and effect them and shall by wordes and example teach them to others therein perseuering to the end that the Father the Sonne and holie Ghost will giue him his benediction Amen Of the conditions and qualities in a true Frere Minour taken out of the 10. chapter and 10. booke and placed here as in their due place THe holy Father S. Francis as a good pastour and zealous of the profitt and releife of his sheepe in Euangelicall perfection considered often with himselfe what conditions ought to be in a true and perfect Freer Minor Our Lord hauing reuealed vnto him the perfections of many of his interiour freindes and first disciples in whome he made appeare singuler grace◠he vniting them all together in this sort framed a Frere Minor Lett him haue the faith and loyaulty of Brōther Bernard Quintaualle who had also a most perfect obseruance of pouerty as in his life shall appeare the simplicity and purity of Brother Leo the good manners and good nature of Brother Angelus of Riete who being in the world was a right worthy and cōpleate knight the gracious countenance naturall science and deuout speech of Brother Macie the soule eleuated in contemplation as Brother Giles the perseuerant prayer of Brother Ruffinus who prayed without intermission though he were employed in other affaires it seemed euen when he slept that his soule was with God the patience of Brother Iuniperrus who desired nothing more then to endure and be contemned the Fortitude of Brother Iohn des Landes a man of notorious courage and extreme abstinence the Charitie of Brother Roger and the care of Brother Lucidus who was so sollicitous of soule that when he felt consolation in one place he would repaire to an other to auoyd the setling of his loue in this world whervpon he would say that one must dwell as in an inne with the foot euer readie to putt into the sturrup to prosecute the iorney to heauen Th end of the doctrines Of certaine Miracles wherby our lord confirmed the life and holy doctrine of his Preacher S. Francis THE LII CHAPTER THere happening an extreme drinesse att Beneuentum for want of rayne and wheras euery one expected and feared a great dearth the holy Father S. Francis arryued there and hauing preached and being enformed of their affliction he commaunded each one to say a Pater nostex and Aue Maria which done it rained very abondantlie Preaching an other time in a church neere vnto a pond where were manie frogges which by their croakinges hindred the people from hearing him the holie Father commaunded them to be silent and they in such sort obeyed him that retourning thither an other time and knowing that they had not croaked from the time of the said prohibition he gaue them licence to vse their naturall voice which att the verie instant they began to doe There being a generall procession made in a place called Arona for an extreme drinesse which they endured sainct Francis comming thither began to preach vnto them publikelie in the middes of a feild in the violent scorching sunne whither to the end he and his audience might not be molested our lord sent such a number of swallowes that remayning in the middes of the aire they couered the multitude from the beames of the sunne and stirred not thence till sainct Francis had ended his predication Preaching att Albruzo in a church of the Virgin Marie to excite the people more seriouslie to obserue the word of God there being presented vnto him a child that was crooked lame and mute called Albertus Campoly he with his verie handes streightned his crookednesse and his other maymed members which obeyed him as if they had consisted of soft waxe and composed euerie part aacording to their nature then calling him he made him answeare and of that answeare followed his speech so that he deliuered him perfectlie cured vnto his Father who with verie great faith expected the successe wherevpon he with all the people were inflamed in the true loue of God and yelded infinite thanckes to his diuine Maiestie He cured a dangerous wound in a yong man by the signe of the crosse in the cittie of Castello whither he was brought with great faith that he might signe him with the said signe so that the next morming the flesh being growen where before it was putrified the cicatrice remayned vermillion like a rose in perpetuall memorie of the miracle When the Monasterie was builded for his Religious att Ancona the worckmen wanting wine they murmured and would no longer labour but sainct Francis hauing made his prayer went to a neighbour fountaine the water wherof by the signe of the crosse which he made thereon he tourned into wine then made the labourers to drincke whome he made penitent of their conceaued impatience A gentleman visiting the holie Father in the Church of sainct Christopher att Iterrena and hauing inuited him to eat with him it happened that there was no wine in his house sainct Francis then commanded a botell of vinegar to be drawne and it was seene and knowne to be most precious wine In the same cittie a wall being fallen vpon a yong man that was found dead vnder the stones whiles he was lamented in his Fathers house sainct Francis hauing compassion therof and inspired of God entred in att a back dore and approching to the beare that was vncouered for in Italy the body is carryed to buried clothed as Prelates are here he tooke the dead by the arme and calling him by his name he raised him no otherwise then if he had awaked him from sleep
affirme that the stigmates of the holie seruant of God Francis that were so miraculouslie by diuine Maiestie imprinted on him were fables and ought to be reproued what could he say more He att one same time depriued the holie seruant of God of his honour and glorie yea God himselfe who by a singuler priuiledge and excellent mysterie gaue him those signes and hath depriued vs of aucthoritie and dew respect considering that he hath presumed to impugne our auctoritie for we haue approued the said stigmates not onlie as hauing heard relation therof by personnes worthie of creditt and bin assured therof by verie authenticall written testimonies but ouer selues also haue seene them with our proper eyes and touched them with our verie handes Now we vnderstand that the said Religious is mounted to such audacitie as he presumeth to preach publikelie to the dishonour of the Religious Frere Minors baptising them before the people with the false name and title of dore-begging preachers and lyers adding that they ought to be preuented and excommunicated All these thinges considered we command you in vertue of this present Apostolicall Breuie to suspend the said Religious from the facultie of preaching in what place soeuer he shall appeare and vsing all meanes to gett him into your handes you shall incontinentlie send him vnto vs that we may inflict on him the punishment due to his desert The other Breuy that was directed to the Arch-bishop of Coileigne was thus The diuine wisdome that first framed man according to his flesh to redeeme him by the mystery of his holy Incarnation he also hath adorned his seruant Francis with the same woundes that it is so we with the Colledge of our venerable brethren the cardinals haue approued the same hauing bin assured therof by diuers personnes of vertuous life and haue our selues seene very authentical testimonies therof and besides we haue bin induced by our selues that haue with our owne eyes seene and touched them with our owne handes For which respectes we haue really and with iust reason concluded that it ought to be held for truth wherfore we command you that vnderstanding this our intention and probation of them you also publikelie approue them and not to permitt any within your diocesse to contradict them Pope Alexander the fourth that saw them made also a Breuie in approbation of them and commanded the Frere Minors neuer to leaue the Oratorie of Mount Aluerne where theire holie Father had receaued so singuler a gift of God Pope Benedict the second ordayned by a Breuie that the Frere Minors should celebrate the feast and say the office of the said sacred stigmates of the glorious Father sainct Francis All which testimonies and manie other which for breuitie I omitt we were willing to insert in this place because the malice of enuie that wil be of as long continuance as the world had enforced vs therto by reason that so admirable a miracle ought not to be related without due circumstances and proofes to make mute the perfidious tongues of the euill minded enuious Of the zeale of the honour of God and saluation of soules which the holy Father sainct Francis had after the impression of the sacred stigmates and of the figures precedent THE LX. CHAPTER THis glorious Sainct hauing felt in his proper flesh the dolours paine of the passion of God and as it were partlie experienced of what deere price soules were vnto the Sonne of God he to loose no time began incontinentlie to trauaile ouer all cittyes and townes instructing by meane of prayer preaching and the example of good life God assisting with merueillous miracles in testimonie of his docttine to redeeme the precious soules of poore Christians out of the mouth of the perfidious Lucifer he being armed with these weapons of the crosse that alwayes ouerthrow euerie ennemie corporall and spirituall of the elect of God who continuallie gett the victorie And as a new Legat deputed of his diuine maiestie he carryed with him the sea le of the soueraigne bishop IESVS CHRST wherwith he confirmed his doctrine and his worckes Therby did he trulie appeare to be sent of God wherfore he not onlie found no contradiction where he went but was exceeding gratefull to all all personnes Besides that this is also worthy of merueillous consideration that as in all thinges deseruing perpetuall memorie for being of great consequence it semeth that his diuine Maiestie alwayes obserued three condicions prophesying or figuring them precedently approuing them by good testimonies with the rumour of present renowme and confirming them afterward by diuine signes and miracles in like sort would he obserue three conditions in this singuler fauour wherof the rumour renowme and manifest proofe being seene for the time present and the miracles afterward it resteth now that we demonstrate the figure by which this singuler act hath in a certaine manner bin many times prophesied First it seemed to be signified by the vision of the glittering and resplendant soules marcked with the signe of the crosse of whome God constituted him his captaine in the beginning of his conuersion The same also seemed to be signified by the vision of the crucisix that interiourly transpearced his soule with excessiue sorrow with the voice that told him he must repaire his holy church And it was also signified by the crosse which Brother Siluester saw to come out of his mouth that expelled the dragon of hell Againe it was denoted by the vision which Brother Pacificus had before he was conuerted when he saw two glittering swordes that made a crosse vpon his brest Finally it was signified by the apparition which S. Francis made att the Chapter of Arles in forme of a crosse in the aire giuing his benediction to the Religious there assembled Lett no man therfore presume to contradict so certaine a truth denounced and prophesied by figures seene visibily touched palpably approued by the church iustlie and finally by IESVS CHRIST confirmed by so many miracles in earth and in heauen Of the new seruour and merueillous patience of the sainct THE LXI CHAPTER THe holy Father S. F. finding himselfe enriched with so glorious a treasure made his habitt to be lengthened as much as was possible to couer the same and began thenceforward to carry a staffe wherwith he walked about the house though verie seldome being vnable by reason of the sacred woundes to sett his feet on the ground It is admirable to consider that as in the two first yeares of his conuersion before he founded the Order he carryed a staffe so he began againe to carry it two yeares before his death that he might end by the walking staffe as a true Pilgrime on earth albeit he had left it vpon obseruation of the worde of IESEVS CHRIST who commanded his disciples not to carry it in their iorney signifying that they should not relye on any fauour of the world vnderstood by the staffe or stalke of a reed
came also with her But the holy Father willed them all to stay and told them he should dye the saterday following and be interred on the Sonday and then they might retourne in companie which was done This ladie after the death of Sainct Francis dwelt att Assisium where she liued verie piouslie and was afterward buryed in the Church of Saint Francis att Assisium in a chappell adioyning to the bodie of Sainct Francis How S. Francis gaue his benediction to his eldest sonne Brother Bernard Quintaualle Taken out of the sixt chapter of the sixt booke and put here as the due place therof NOw whiles S. Francis was eating the said meates prepared by the handes of the said Lady calling to minde that Brother Bernard was with him att Rome the first time that he did eat therof he asked those present where he was and caused him to be called to eat therof also Brother Bernard being come and obeying the Sainct hauing eaten two morcels with him perceauing that he approached neere his end making his benefitt of the good occasion humblie demaunded his holie benediction To whome sainct Francis answeared my deere child I graunt it most willinglie and so commanded his benediction to be written which thus began The first Religious and companion that God gaue me was Brother Bernard Quintaualle who was the first that began as he that euer since continued perfectlie to obserue the rule of the gospell and the Counfailes therof wherfore aswell in regard of that as for manie other graces which God hath bestowed on him I am much obliged to loue him yea aboue all other Religious of our Order And therfore I will and ordaine that euerie other Minister that shall come hereafter doe loue him as my selfe Then he bad him stand att his right hand for he had alreadie lost his sight But Brother Bernard seeing Brother Helias that extremelie desired it knowing right well the need he had therof hauing compassion of him he sent him to the right hand of the Sainct and placed himselfe att the left contenting himselfe to gaine that soule to God by the benediction so much desired of his beloued Father But sainct Francis intending to lay his hand on the head of Brother Bernard knew either by the touch or by diuine reuelation that it was Brother Helias wherfore he sodenlie called Brother Bernard who answearing him he perceaued by his voice that he was att his left hand and therfore crossed his handes as did the Patriarch Iacob and gaue them his benediction yet alwayes naming Brother Bernard he said vnto him God giue thee his benediction encrease in celestiall benedictions of IESVS CHRIST as thou hast bin first called to this holie Religion to serue for an example of Apostolicall life and to demonstrate how one ought to follow IESVS CHRIST in pouerty and in his crosse sith thou hast not only giuen all they terrestriall substance to his poore but hast offered thy very selfe vnto him in sacrifice Be thou therfore blessed of our lord Iesus Christ and of me his poore seruant with an eternal benediction goeing retourning remayning sleeping and waking He that shall blesse thee be he blessed and lett not him that shall curse thee rest vnpunished Thou shall be superiour of all thy Brethren and they shal be subiect vnto thee Lett him that thou wilt receaue into this Order be receaued and him that thou wilt reiect be reiected Thou shalt haue liberty to reside where thou wilt none hauing authority euer to forbidde or to prescribe thee any law in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the blessed holy Ghost Amen Of the testament the holy Father S. Francis made before his death THE LXVIII CHAPTER THe holy Father S. Francis before he left his spirituall children determined to leaue them his testament that therin beholding the will of their holy Father they might enable themselues to effect it to meritt the patrimony he bequeathed them in the Euangelicall rule and profession which testament was such First my Brethren I will imprint in your memory how God drew me vnto him and how I stripped my selfe all naked before the bishopp and renounced al my possibilityes in the world thē seeking to doe pennance God gaue me this grace that whereas I formerly abhorred to behold leapers much more to serue thē I began to loue thē extremely so that what before seemed vnto me bitter insupportable was then pleasing desirable After that I began simply to pray vnto God and to make vnto him this prayer Most sacred Lord we adore thee in this place and in all the churches that are ouer all the world and doe honoure thee because by thy holy crosse thou hast redeemed the world And his diuine goodnes gaue me afterwardes such faith towardes Preistes that liue according to the forme of the holie Romane church in regard of their Order that albeit they had persecuted me I would haue had recourse to none but them selues And If I had had the wisdome of Salomon and had mett the most simplest Preist in the world I would neuer haue preached in his church against his will And them and all other will feare loue and honour as my Lordes and mastes and will remarck no sinne in them in whome I see the Sonne of God obseruing no other thing of him in this life but his most precious bodie and bloud which they consecrate receaue and only administer vnto others And will aboue althinges reuerence and honour these sacred mysteries and bestow thē in precious places As also I haue euer reuerenced the holy name of God in whatsoeuer papers I haue foūd it written in vnseemely places I haue gathered it vp and doe pray euery one to doe the like and to putt the papers in honest places I desire also that all diuines be honoured such as teach the diuine worde as they who truely giue vs the spiritt and life Besides I beseech you to referre your selues entierly into the handes of the diuine mercie who as he hath taught me to liue according to the forme of his holy gospell will shew you the like if you follow the rule which his diuine Maiestie hath caused me to prescribe in breife and simple wordes confirmed afterwardes by his holy vicar on earth Now all they that presented themselues to liue in this Order distributed their goodes vnto the poore as the said rule doth import they contented themselues with one coat peiced without and within and with a corde to girde them with the linnen breeches and we would haue no more We haue for a time liued in this sort praying in deuotion the Preistes saying their office according to the vse of our holy mother the church and we the lay Brethren in our simplicity subiecting our selues to all for the loue of IESVS CHRIST and endeauouring to gaine our liuing with the labour of our handes Now I beseech you so to doe alwayes And if there be any ignorant lett thē
naturally drawne att Venise in the church of S. Marck such as we haue formerlie described and with stigmates enameled after the Mosaicall manner Of the Buriall of the body of the blessed Father S. Francis THE LXXIII CHAPTER THe afore mentioned Lady Iaqueline of the Seauen Sunnes was the last that could not be satisfied with seeing and touching as an other Magdalen this sacred body of her deere master She did nothing but bath it with her gracious teares and dry it with her kisses the extreme swetnes that proceeded from this holie body but particulerlie from the sacred stigmates exceeded all other sweetnes neuerthelesse she held her eyes alwayes fixed on the wound of his side wherto she often applyed her mouth and handes whence she receaued such and so exceeding consolation that it seemed vnto her in this conuersation with her dead master and freâ—nd â—hat her soule with a straung and admirable ioy began to liue Butt to the cittizens of Assisium that desired to carry him to buriall finding much delay euery hower seemed an hundred by reason of the extreme feare they had that so precious a treasure by some extraordinarie accident might beÌ„ taken from them wherfore they placed a guard before the monasterie gate and soldiers diuided through the street euen to the gate of the citty which cittizens so importuned the said Lady that she annoynted him with precious iontment then cloathed him in a new gray habitt which she had expresly brought from Rome according to the aduertisement of the Angell and the Religious so opened this habitt that the wound of his side might easily be seene This glorious Sainct did alwayes in his life time desire that his bodie should be buryed in the basest place of all the citty of AssisiuÌ„ his hart excepted which he deputed to our Lady of Angels as during his life he had by affection there setled the same and in deed God did not frustrate him of this iust desire for his holy body was enterred though this were not till foure yeares after by reason that the monasterie was not yet build there nor the church which they sumptuouslie built there afterward in the most abiect place of Assisium where malefactours were executed called the mount of hell the common opinion is that his hart is in the chappell of S. Mary of Angels where according to report it is preserued with great reuerence On the sonday morning all the people being assembled with bowes of trees and the Religious Preistes and Gentlemen with their burning torches and lightes carryed this holie bodie as in procession first to the Church of S. Damian to S. Clare that the prophesie of the Sainct might be accomplished sending her worde some dayes before that she should shortlie see him to her exceeding consolarioÌ„ The grate being opened the body of the Sainct was brought in to the Religious who were so comforted therwith that greife could finde no place in their hartes particulerly in that of S. Clare who endeauouring in vaine to pluck out a nayle of his handes to keep it with her as a relique she began againe with her Sisters to bath this holy bodie with teares encourageing themselues together to proceed in the way begun of the crosse of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST which he had taught them And so after they had restored this holie bodie to the people who weare troubled att this long attendance they carryed it to be enterred in a new sepulcher within the Church of S. George as in a dispositorie where it remayned full foure yeares vnder guard till his church was builded att the Mount of hell as aforesaid It was not without mysterie that he reposed in the said church wherin he had bin baptised had learned his first letters and where he had deliuerd his first preachinges therfore it seemed verie reasonable that his bodie should begin to repose in that place whither the said Lady of the Seauen-Sunnes repayred neuer to abandon him forsaking her habitation in Rome and neuer left this body till her death when she went for euer to dwell with his blessed soule in Paradise How the glorious Father Sainct Francis Was canonized by Pope Gregorie the ninth THE LXXIV CHAPTER THe merittes and glorie of the holie Father S. Francis began by his great miracles to be diuulged whence succeeded that himselfe raigning in heauen his sanctitie was also by diuine power manifested here on earth which he had neuerthelesse alredy made sufficientlie apparant to the world in his life directing an infinite number of soules in the infallible way of vertue The brute of the admirable thinges which God wrought by his seruant Francis came euen to the eares of Pope Gregorie the ninth who resting assured that the S. was glorified with God not only in regard of the said miracles wrought after his death but euen of the experience had with his owne eyes desiring here below to comforme himselfe to the will of God as his true Vicar he determined with a pious and deuoted zeale to canonize him and propose him to the world for a remarckeable example of sanctity and to take all scruple from the Cardinals and others he caused all his principall miracles to be examined and approued by actes of publike Notaries and infinite testimonies worthie of beleife So the Cardinals and all the principall diuines of his Court being herein dulie aduertised concluded that it was iust and verie expedient vnto the Church of God to canonize this glorious Sainct his seruant The yeare 1228. the Pope himselfe went with his Court to Assisium expreslie with this resolution and the sixteenth of Iulie a yeare and nine monethes and halfe after the death of this glorious Sainct vpon a Sonday morning his holines with manie ceremonies and great solemnitie inscribed the blessed Father sainct Francis in the catologue of the sainctes and before they departed thence his Church was begun to be built in the said citty and in the foundation therof the Pope himselfe in presence of an infinite multitude of people laid the first stone and thenceforward the place which was called the Mount of hell was nominated the mount of Paradise The bulle of canonization of the holy Father S. Francis extracted out of the fift chapter of the tenth booke and here more aptly placed GRegory Bishop the Seruant of the seruantes of God To our venerable Brethren Archbishoppes Bishoppes and to our beloued children Abbottes Priors Archpreistes ArchdeacoÌ„s Deanes other Prelates of the church to whose knowledge these presentes shall come health and Apostolicall benediction As the vessels of gold which S. Iohn saw full of perfumes which are the prayers of SS powred out most sweet odours before the most high to destroy the corruption of our sinnes we also beleeue that it is a great furtherance to our saluation with great reuerence to haue memory of his sainctes on earth and with solemnity to publish the merittes of those whose assistance by their continuall intercessions we hope
third time he added that he should not be terrified to consider or feare his fall againe into misery for that was the habitt of a Religious and as soone as he awaked calling for Brother Angelus his Confessour disciple of the holy Father S. Francis and declaring vnto him his vision the Religious graciously eucouraged him to take the habitt wherein he made no difficultie but shewed himselfe most ready especially being surprised with a tercian ague that sodenly assaulted him wherof he dyed very piously with the vtterance of these wordes Almighty God I now dye contentedly and very willingly in this poore habitt of a begger as a punishment of so many vaine superfluities wherein to the great preiudice of my soule I haue exceeded in the worlde wherfore I humbly beseech thine infinite bounty to accept this my good will in regard that thow knowest that if I should liue longer I would neuer forsake this abiect and holy pouerty This great Prince did by example demonstrate to all men that to reiect the vanities and wealth of the world is not so great a disgrace and shame as it is reputed Of certaine miracles wrought in Spaine by the merittes of the holy Father S. Francis Taken out of the fourtenth chapter of the tenth booke IN the citty of Girone within the Country of Catalogne the daughter of a poore woman about ten or twelue yeares of age was so lamed and benummed in her feet and handes that she was not only vnable to vndertake any exercise but euen could not feed herselfee which exceedingly perplexed and annoyed her mother as wel in regard of her pouerty as of the trouble she incurred therby And being one day otherwise employed she forgott to giue her daughter to eat who att night complayning her mother as disquieted answeared her Would to God daughter thou wert in heauē sith I am so troubled to serue thee that thou canst doe me no seruice againe The girle tooke these wordes so greiuouslie that she would eat nothinge that euening and remayned all night much afflicted till she heard it ring to matines att the Church of S. Francis which made her remember the great miracles which then were wrought by the merittes of S. Francis and then said with her selfe S. Francis if that be true which is said of thee I most humbly beseech thee voutsafe to make farther proofe on me of thy sanctity freeing my mother and me from such an insupportable torment and affliction S. Francis and S. Antony incontinentlie appeared vnto her cloathed in white and girded with a cord seeming as white as snow S. Antony tooke her by the feet and S. Francis by the handes and lifted her out of the bed and sett her on the ground so leauing her entierly cured When the SS were departed the girle said to Sainct Francis Lord who art thou that hast done so singuler a fauour to my mother and me Sainct Francis answeared that he was the same whome she had so deuoutly inuocated and bid her to arise because she was cured which said they both disappeared The girle perceauing herselfe to be cured full of ioy and admiration att the miracle with a loud voice called her mother who was abroad with her neighbours and they hearing a cleare voice came speedilie to see what the matter was But exceedinglie amazed to see her cured they asked her by what meanes she gott the vse of her members she answeared that recommending herselfe to Sainct Francis two Religious appeared vnto her and cured her The bruit of this miracle was incontinently diuulged ouer all the towne The bishop vnderstanding therof with a great multitude of people accompanyed the said girle to the Church of the Freer Minors to giue thanckes to God and S. Francis for this gracious benefitt The girle seeing the image of S. Francis in the Church poynting theratt with her hand she said a loud behold him that hath deliuered me from the perill of death and cured me In the citty of Cumbre in the kingdome of Portugall the neece of one that was deuout vnto S. Francis and his Order was playing on the riuer side of Modego and entring into the water was carryed away with the streame euen to the middes of the riuer her vncle with other of her kinred seeking her she was found vpon a stone safe and secure in the middes of the water Whence being fetched with a boat and asked all the matter she answeared that two Religious of S. Francis who her Father the night before had lodged in his house had saued her from being drowned Thus did the holy Father S. Francis requite this his affectionate freind for his deuotion in entertayning his Religious into his house This ensuying is taken out of the twelfth chap. of the tenth booke THere was a woman in Almania that by the merittes of S. Francis obtayned of God a male childe this boy playing in the street and his mother beholding him as she sate at the dore of her house there came a possessed man that audaciouslie and impudentlie attēpted publikely to force this woman but she shifting in to her house violently shutt the dore against him The possessed partly perceauing that the mother was escaped tooke the child and with his diuillesh force rent it in peeces and went his way The poore mother in meane while went to the windoe to see if her sonne had no hurt but perceauing him so dismembred she filled the aire with sighes and comming speedily downe she assembled all the members of her child into her lap and with a strong faith carryed them to the Church of S. Francis who a litle before had obtayned him for her where hauing layd him on the altare with great courage she vttered these wordes Glorious Sainct that hast obtained this child forme of God restore him me againe att this present I beseech thee for I beleeue and hope that his diuine maiestie will not deny thee such a fauour This strong faith was not frustrated of what it expected for in an instant the members of the child were miraculously revnited together and the child restored to his life and beauty to the exceeding admiration and encrease of deuotion in all persons This miracle remayned a long time pictured in the citty of Bolonia How S. Francis and S. Antony deliuered a lady from dispaire Taken out of the 12. chapter of the tenth booke IN the kingdome of Portugall and citty of Liuarez the lady of the place called Lopez had for gouernesse a deuill in disguise of a woman by whose counsaile she practised most horrible cruelties on her subiectes and most enormous sinnes in her selfe but following the custome of most women she was very deuout vnto the SS particulerly to S. Francis and S. Antony of Padua Now she falling greiuously sick and by reason of her enormous sinnes committed running into dispaire she had no care of spirituall phisicians nor of other Sacramentes whervpon the SS mentioned hauing pitty on her
thanckes as by these wordes he often signified But who am I that presume to giues thanckes for others I I say that am not able to thanck him for the least grace he hath done me and am also such an abhominable sinner The ninth and last vertue was the guard of his tongue which is the hight of all good as being the verie gate of life and death according as it is employed without the guard wherof all good also is lost In respect wherof he was alwayes very carefull that his wordes should sauour of truth humility pouerty chastity goodnes benedictiō prayse of God and his neighbour so he merited to be in like sort blessed of God mē world without end Amen How the glorious body of the Seraphicall Father S. Francis was buryed in the citty of Assisium This is taken out of the first chapter of the tenth booke and here placed for conclusion of the second booke THere is no man but knoweth that the glorious body of the Seraphicall Father S. Francis is buryed in his owne monasterie in the citty of Assisium but yet after an ordinarie manner for it is not otherwise knowne in what place it is in the said church bnt that it is in a great chappell vnder the earth vnder the high altare and that lampes are putt in att a windoe to lighten that place where the sacred body reposeth as is also reported of sainct Iames of Galicia that he is buryed so farre vnder ground that none can come att him We must beleeue that God hath so disposed to the end such precious treasures by whose merittes it pleaseth his diuine maiesty daily to work such and so great miracles might not be robbed or ruinated by any alteration or disastrous euent of warre or other euill accident Now we desiring to content the readers and not to omitt any matter in this worck that may be desired and is possible to be performed we haue so dilligentlie searched and enformed our selues that we haue gotten knowledge that the true relation of what may be desired concerning this subiect fell into the handes of the great Capitaine Gonzales Heruandez de Cordoua in his conquest made of Calabria and the kingdome of Naples for his Catholique maiesty and therfore we haue so much Laboured with importunities and industrie that att length we obtayned the same it being this that ensueth read it with contentment A true and faithfull discourse wherby appeareth how the glorious Father S. Francis is buryed translāted out of the latin originall which fell into the handes of the great Capitaine Gonzales Heruādez de Cordoue in his conquest made of the kingdome of Naples To the right reuerenced Antony Bishop of Andria Francis Bancie Duke of Audria Health THe charge which it hath pleaseth you to lay on me to committ to writing the visitation which the sanctity of Pope Nicolas the first personally made of the glorious body of the Seraphicall Father S. Francis being on the one side ouerburdensome vnto me in regard of the great feeblenes of my spiritt hath neuerthelesse for other considerations bin very easie and contentfull as well in that this labour is pious and deuout as because I am to present it vnto you to you I say who were present when it was related vnto vs so that you are able to correct it and supply that wherin mine endeauour may faile So I beseech my sweet lord IESVS CHRIST for whose prayse and glorie I haue attempted to dictate this discourse to afford me the grace worthily to dischardge my duety herein I beseech him I say by the merittes of this glorious S. of whose body I am to treat considering that it is not conuenient to burry in silence so great a miracle wherin God doth manifest so great bounty and omnipotencie Your reuerence and my Lord Iames Bishop of Laquidonia being with me the eighth day of march as you conferred together walking and often resting your selues as the manner is in discoursing of some admirable accident I came neere you and prayed you to make me participant of your discourse if I were worthy and my request lawfull the said Lord Iames then said vnto me My Lord Duke if you knew wherof we did talke you would also admire and wonder Then did I very instantlie entreat him to tell me the occasion of such admiration Whereto the said Lord answeared that he would willinglie doe it but that he rather desired to weepe when such thinges are recounted and to heare thē of an other then to relate them himselfe Neuertheles he neither could nor would omitt to content me and leet me know that their admiration was not without subiect considering withall that it was a matter worthy to be knowne but not of all persons therfore making me partaker therof he thus began his discourse My Lord Duke you must vnderstand that I was one of the seruantes of the deceased Eustergio of worthy and blessed memorie Cardinal of the title of S. Eusebius Archbishop of Beneuentum who approaching to the pangs and agony of death yea arriuing to that priuation of naturall heat and vigour that we much feared he could not liue a day about midnight I heard him with a loud voice to cry O S. Francis then staying a while with groanes and sighes he redoubled O Francis O Francis wherwith he much amazed vs all but none of vs durst approach to aske him to demaund the reason for feare to trouble him but were attentiue to see the successe of this frequent inuocation I that exceedinglie loued him wept bitterly with him and for him mentally inuocated the Sainct to whome I haue euer had a particuler deuotion but this had no other successe sauing that the next morning when we supposed to prepare his obsequies he began to amend and the phisitians likewise conceaued better hope of him he hauing alwayes esteemed me for one of his most affectionate seruantes hauing bin then a very small time absent from the Court to yeld due residence to an Abbey which he had bestowed on me knowing well that he had bin with his Holines to visitt the body of the glorious S. Francis and desiring to heare the discourse as also knowing that att other times he had much desired that I should vnderstand the same but no occasion was euer presented to demaunde it of him Now taking this occasion of his frequent inuocation of the Sainct I began first readily to aske him the cause then att lenghth I freelie discoursed and humblie requested him breifely to relate vnto me how he had seene that glorious body in his Church Wherevpon he graciouslie answeared me in these wordes know Abbot if thou wert not deere vnto me as I hold thee to be I would not impart it vnto thee much lesse to any man in the world we that were there present hauing expresse commaundement of his holines to the contrary and therfore by reason of that prohibition I will not tell thee the place where it is but am
had bin made att that verie hower with the hard nayle vpon the bare flesh and the bloud appeared exceeding full of life O happy were the soules that were held worthy to see in his seruant what they could not see in their Lord IESVS CHRIST and more when afterwardes they saw his sacred handes which his Holines discouered and saw pearced as the feet and hauing also the like nailes we also kissed them laying our impure lippes onthe sacred bloud that was yet very fresh which made vs to poore out teares that so abondantly fell from our eyes as that they hindered our cōtentment for we could not tast nor enioy the same according to our wish our eyes were so troubled that we often saw not that precious treasure But who cā euer explicate the motiō of our vnderstāding the abstractiō of our spiritt the melting of our sences and the faintnes of our corporall forces procured by this precious sight O thrice happy the mouthes of vs so greiuous sinners wherwith we were permitted to kisse that sacred wound of his foot with such interiour cōsolation as none could be more But seauen fold more hapy the Pope who alone kissed the wound of his side flowered as a fresh rose consequētly his very mouth whervpon he graciously vttered these wordes O most worthy excellēt memoriall of our redemption wherwith the eternall God would that conformably to our Lord I. C. the glorious Father S. Fr. should be deputed aliue dead to represent to the world euen till the last day of iudgmēt the signe of his dolorous passion O holy woundes first endured by the Sonne of God for the sinnes of men and after for our benefitt renewed in his holy seruant Francis O most gracious God! to whome hast thou euer shewē such loue but to this thy most faithful seruant Blessed sainct thou hast really carryed the triumphant stander of the crosse together with the liuely marckes of his passion Finally thou alone hast ben elected and found worthy to be pearced in true imitation of our Lord I. C. differing from him only in this that he receaued his woundes of the wicked Iewes and thou of our Redeemer I. C. O extreme benefite O singuler gift O ineffable prerogatiue Fr. who taught thee to serue God in what new scoole was it performed and by what merueillous doctrine Of what master hast thou learned to moūt to so high a degree of perfection that neuer S. of either sex could equall thee in the giftes of God The Pope vttered these and many other wordes being rauished out of himselfe in the presence of this S. of God himselfe together with vs bathinge the pauement of that holy place with abondance of our teares Now we so persisted in these sweet cōceiptes that whē we least thought theron one aduertised vs that it was neere day and that it was necessary for vs to depart to shutt vp the hole of the sacred sepulcher dexteriously which touched our hart as a deadly wound the space of six or seauen howers that we were there seeming to haue flowen and not passed away Making therfore some litle prayer more and recommending our selues to the S. the Pope first goeing out we all followed but not till we had opened the two vaultes in the two other arches where we saw the two other glorious bodies of his disciples entier also and very odoriferous but much lesse then that of their master hauing their habittes of sackcloth Att the entry we saw the body of the blessed Brother Giles then we came foorth and the Guardian shutt the dores praying his Holines to keepe the same in great secresie which he promised him and commāded vs also the same This my freind Iames was the cause of my inuocation that night when I cryed O Francis Francis hauing yet hope yea very confident that he wil be protectour of my soule before God att my departure But it seemeth indeed very admirable that this glorious S. had not procured his recouery but that he might haue declared this his glory to many his deuoted freindes that much desired to vnderstand it for this discourse ended he began so to decay that he dyed the night following leauing assured testimony of this truth considering that it is not to be beleeued nor thought nor is it probable that aman especially such as this being in the conflictes of death would for his pleasure and without occasiō faine a false matter the time so neere when he should most stricktly render an account vnto God who seuerely condemneth the culpable and ill-deseruers as he crowneth the sainctes his elected here on earth but much more in heauen there glorifiyng their bodies their soules with his glorious vision eternally whither I beseech him by his grace to conduct vs where he is three and one and liueth and raigneth world without end Amen The end of the second booke THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE FRIER MINORS CONTAYNING A TREATISE OF S. Bonauenture of certaine miracles of the glorious Father S. Francis after his death With a discourse of the Author of the degrees wherby the S. attained to perfection Translated by the parties afore mentioned Of the miracle of the Stigmates THE FIRST CHAPTER TO the honour and glory of almighty God and the blessed Father S. Francis Being to write certaine miracles of his wrought after his glorification in heauen we haue determined to begin with that immensiue priuiledge giuen him by our Lord IESVS CHRIST honouring him with the signe of the crosse and passion This glorious Father S. Francis was then eminent by a new miracle when he appeared charactered and illustrated with so singuler a priuiledge neuer before graunted to any creature I meane the sacred woundes of our Lord which made his mortall bodie like to that of IESVS CHRIST crucified the sacred stigmates considered wherof whatsoeuer any humane tongue can expresse is litle or nothinge in comparison of so sublime and worthy a mystery wrought by his diuine maiesty in his faithfull seruant Francis that this signe of the crosse which he alwayes carryed imprinted in his hart from the beginning of his conuersion might also exteriourly appeare in his body entierly vnited in the said crosse and that as his soule was interiourly vested with IESVS CHRIST the habite of a penitent which he tooke representing the image of the crosse the body also might in like sort be inuested with the said sacred signe and that with such colours and distinctions he might the more couragiously serue his God as his principall Capitaine in the spirituall warre and army wherin God had ouercome the powers of spirituall ennemies Yea and diuers misteries of the crosse appeared in the S. from his first beginning in spirituall warfare as in the discourse of his life plainely appeareth by the diuers apparitions of the crosse which he had And for farther assurance of the verity of so admirable a fact God did not only giue testimonies worthy of creditt
retourned againe and seeing the sorrowfull spectacle of her dead sonne crossing her armes began to crye out and torment her selfe therby mouing all her neighbours to compassion Now among them that there assembled there was a Freer Minor that was goeing to preach in a church nere therevnto but came first to see this acccident where he said to the Father of the dead child doe you not beleue that S. Francis by the great loue which he carryed to IESVS CHRIST crucified to giue liue to meÌ„ can raise thy sonne The Father answeared that he firmily beleeeued it faithfully confessed it and would for euer remaine seruant to the S. if by his meane he might meritt to obtaine that fauour The Religious then fell to his prayers and exhorted all that were present to doe the like which done the child first began to speake then opening his eyes lifted vp his handes not without exceeding astonishmeÌ„t of all the assistants that attentiuely beheld him Finally he arose one his feet and incontinently went to embrace his mother sound and secure without any signe of such a fall which was performed by the vertue of the holy Father S. Francis Of other dead raised by the merittes of the holy Father THE V. CHAPTER IN the citty of Capua diuers children playing vpon the water-crane one of them by mischance fell into the riuer which being very swift and violent he sunck instantly to the bottome where he remayned buryed in the sand His companions not knowing how to helpe him began to cry which the people hearing they hastened thither from all paâ—tes many inuocating the merittes of S. Francis in regard that the pareÌ„tes of the child were very deuout vnto him that he would please to assist him Their prayer being ended one of them that could swimme inuocating the name of S. Francis so laboured in the riuer that he found the place where the child was couered with sand whome with much sorrow and paine he drew out quite dead to the exceeding greife of those present who with loud voice cryed out S. Francis the true seruant of God restore this child aliue vnto his Father yea certaine Iewes being there arriued induced by a naturall commiseration likewise prayed vnto him Att these prayers the child that had bin dead and lay deformed on the ground incontinently arose in health and ioyfull as he had come from play and prayed those present to conduct him to the church of sainct Francis that he might giue thanckes vnto him acknowledgeing that by his merittes he had bin raised In the citty of Suesse there fell downe a house in the Piller-street vnder which was crushed a child that there was present att the noise of this fall all the neigâ—bours presently hastened and suspected that which was true they incontinently remoued the stones and wood and fouÌ„d the child dead whome they carryed to his mother who seeing it was so ouercome with greife that she lost her speech Retourning to her selfe she begaÌ„ with a sorrowful voice to lameÌ„t in these wordes O S. FraÌ„cis O glorious S. restore me my child I beseech thee by the loue wherwith thou hast serued IESVS CHRIST This womaÌ„ did not pray alone but together all that were preseÌ„t affectionatly imploring the S. to coÌ„fort this disolate mother perceauing that this dead body had neither seÌ„ce nor voice they tooke it stretched it out to be shrouded to bury it the day following But the mother reposing great hope in God that by the metes of the S. her sonne should retouâ—ne to life vowed to couer the Altare of S. Francis with a new ornament and a new altare cloth about midnight her child began to gape and after his dead membres were warmed in an instant he arose on his feet very sound and well to the great amazement of all that were present who praysed and thancked God for the same A child of Rogouse called Giâ—laudin being in a faâ—me att the time of the vintage goeing vnder the wine presse with a vessell to putt wine therin there fell downe gâ—osse stones and blockes of wood from vpon the said presse that crushed his head Att the cry of the child his father that was neere by came running but being vnable to helpe his soÌ„ne that was couered with the grosse stones and peices of wood he called the presse-labourers and prayed them to assist him who hauing coÌ„passion of him drew out the child already dead from vnder the burden and deliuered him to the extremly afflicted father who humbly falling prostrate on the earth prayed ouâ— lord by the great merittes of the holy Father Francis whose feast was very neere to restore life to his child and he made vowes especially with his sonne being raysed to visitt the body of the S. God by the merittes of his seruant heard him but after an admirable manner for as soone as it pleased God to graunt to this man the fauour he required att the very same instant the child that was all bruised appeared perfectly well and very merrily repreheÌ„ding those that wept and assuring them that his life was restored him by the merittes of S. Francis An other dead person was raysed in Almaigne wherof Pope Gregory the ninth by his apostolicall letters att the translation of S. Francis certified all that were present and att the generall chapter of the Frere Minors who vpon this aduertisement ended their chapter with great alacrity The manner and circumstance of this miracle is not committed to writting because it is not knowen neuertheles it is beleeued that the testimony of so holy a Pope much exceedeth in aucthority all the declarations that may be made therof Of such as were deliuered from danger of death by the seruant of the omnipotent THE VI. CHAPTER THere was a gentleman neere vnto Rome named Rodulphus whose wife was very deuout they willingly entertayned the Frere Minors into their house as well in forme of hospitality for they were very charitable as for the loue and reuerence they carryed to the glorious Father S. Francis Now it once happened that two Frere Minors being lodged with them whiles they were a sleep a sentinell that kept watch by night on a very high tower resting against a peice of wood that was not well fastened the wood and the man fell both from the hight of the said tower vpon the roofe of the lodging and thence to the ground with such a noyse that caused very many yea the master and mistresse with the said Frere Minors to hasten thither who found the man so fallen in such a deepe sleep that he perceaued not himselfe to be fallen nor did awake att the noyse made by them that came to helpe him so that he was pulled and called and att length so rudely shaken that he awaked out of that profound sleep coÌ„playning that he had bin distourbed of the sweet repose wherin he was affirming that he slept with extreme contentment in the armes of
the glorious Father S. Francis But when he was shewen his fall and had seene whence he came euen to the ground he was vtterly amazed and beside himselfe to consider what had happened vnto him without any knowledge of his till the presente Wherfore be promised vnto God before them all in acknowledgement of so worthy a benefitt to doe pennance for the fauour afforded vnto him by the merittes of the glorious Father S. Francis In the towne of Pophy in Campania a Preist called Thomas goeing to repaire a mill appertayning to the church scituat on the border of the riuer he fell by mischance vnder the wheele of the mill which by violence of his motion carryed him downe and held him in the current with his face vpward without power to moue or speake by reason that the water which draue the wheele fell on his face so that he could not vtter one word Wherfore he called in his hart for help vnto S. Francis hauing no farther power and hauing so remayned a good space his companions endeauouring to assist him by force and industry they so preuayled that the wheele tourned backe so that the Preist was by the current of the water incontinently carryed into the depth of the chanell and whiles he was there there appeared vnto him a Frere Minor cloathed in white and girded with a corde who very dextrously took him by the arme and drew him out of the chanell saying vnto him I am that Francis whome thou hast inuocated The preist therfore finding himselfe not only freed from danger but perfectly well considering the greatnes of the miracle and the great mercy of God in his behalfe by the merittes of S. Francis exceedingly amazed and prostrating himselfe to the earth to kisse the feet of his benefactour but not seing him he being already vanished he asked his companions whither he was gone and how he might finde him but they knowing no more then himselfe began to conceaue the miracle Wherfore they all together fixing their eyes on the earth did eleuate their spiritt to God magnifying his immensiue greatnes and the vertuous merittes of the Sainct Certaine yong men goeing from the towne Celan to gather grasse in a feild where there was a well which being ouergrowne with grasse was not seene and each of them endeauouring to cutt his part it chaunced that one of them fell into the well where the water was fower pases deep Falling he called for the helpe of S. Francis with a very strong faith and deuotion and so lowd that all his companions heard him and not seeing him they came to the place where they heaâ—d the voice and by the way which his hooke had made thy found the well where seeing him therin they ran to their houses lamenting and crying for helpe where they so moued their towne fellowes that they came to assist him and one of them descending into the well found him sitting on the water without receauing any detriment and drawing him out he told them that falling he had inuocated the help of S. Francis who in his very fall assisted him with his presence for he very gently supported him with his sacred hand neuer leauing him till they had drawne him out then he exhorted them all together with him to giue thanckes to God for that by the vertue of his faithfull seruant he had deliuered him from death and so they retourned to the towne giuing thanckes to God and to S. Francis When the Romane Court was resident att Assisium the Cardinall of Hostia who was afterward Pope Alexander the fourth ' preaching in the church of S. Francis there fell a grosse stone vpon the head of a deuout womaÌ„ wherwith she receaued such hurt that falling to the ground each one thought her to be dead and for such couered her with her owne coate not to trouble the sermon with resolution to carry her out to performe her funeralles But this woman as she testified afterward when she receaued the blow with great faith called for the helpe of sainct Francis she was then before his altare so the sermon being ended she arose with the other women sound and perfectly well without any signe of hurt and which is admirable hauing formerly had a great paine in her head that had long troubled her in fauour of this last mortall blow she neuer felt any paine after Neere to the citty of Cornette where there is a monasterie of Frere Minors as they were melting a bell many of the neighbour places repaired thither to see it but there arose such a winde that the whole world seemed ready to be dissolued and taking the two doores it mounted them into the aire and cast them againe on the ground with great impetuosity and violence wherof one fell on a child called Bartholomew about eight yeares of age which a woman deuout vnto the Couent had sent thither with an almose Now they all esteemed him not only dead but vtterly dismembred vnder such a waight neuertheles inuocating the glorious Father sainct Francis they ran all to lift vp the child from vnder the dore the Father of him being present was so surprised with greife that he was euen sencelesse yet he inuocated the Sainct to whome he offered his sonne if he recouered the dore att length being lifted vp the child arose on his legges sound and well as if he had awakened from a sleep which procured a great ioy to the people and particulerly to his Father Now according to his vow the child being of competent age which was about fourteen yeares he made him a Frere Minor where he dyed piously hauing so liued a good Religious of a notable spiritt worthy doctrine and a famous Preacher Certaine other miracles like to these of diuers that were deliuered from the danger of death THE VII CHAPTER CErtaine men of Castel-Lantin hauing cutt out a verie great stone to place vnder the altare of a church of sainct Francis that was shortlie after to be dedicated albeit they were forty men to raise and accommodate the same on the wagon to carrie it to the said Church yet were they not of sufficiencie to performe the same Now some of them attempting to trye their forces and to doe more then they were able the stone slipped out of their hold and fell vpon one of them which was a great terrour and greife to the rest as not knowing how to releiue their companion Wherfore they went away all to ten persons as not able to endure that hideous spectacle which ten inspired of God hauing inuocated sainct Francis praying him to haue compassion of him that had so employed himselfe in his seruice they attempted to tourne the said stone which they so easely handled that they perceaued well they were assisted by the S. The stone being remoued the man arose very sound without any hurt yea hauing one eye defectiue he was entierly cured therof that it might publiquely appeare what power
freed and remitted to his former freedome and liberty Of the certaine women that being with child and in danger of death att their deliuery were releiued by the sainct THE XI CHAPTER A Great Countesse ot Slauonia who was no lesse famous for her vertue and worthines then noble in bloud and discent was exceeding deuout vnto S. Francis and very charitable vnto his Religious She being in trauaile of child was so tormented with throwes that the birth of the child was attended to be her death all humane helpe was despaired of without destroying the fruit Now amiddest the anguishes she called to minde the great vertues and merittes of S. Francis and of his eminencie therefore hauing att other times bin piously affected vnto him she with a very strong confidence had recourse vnto him as to the assured refuge of the desolate saying O glorious S. all my afflicted members beseech thy pitty to assist them and I promise thee by hart that which I cannot expresse by wordes Behold an admirable accident she had no soeuer vttered these wordes but her pangues did ceasse as did the terme of her trauaile for she brought into the world a faire and healthfull boy neither did she faile of her vowe for she caused to be builded a faire and lardge church in honour of her deliuerer which being finished she gaue it to his Religious spending the rest of her dayes exemplarly more affected then euer to the glorious father sainct Francis her Aduocate and Protectour About the plaines of Rome a woman called Beatrix whose time of greatnes being complete and hauing alreadie four whole dayes caryed her fruit dead in her wombe oppressed with most violent tormentes she expected only death the creature which she carryed liuelesse in her reducing her to this extremity the Phisicians failed not to administer vnto her all conuenient remedies that they could deuise but all humane helpe was vaine so that the malediction which God gaue to Eue in the earthlie Paradice might be said to be in a supreme manner fallen vpon her considering that her verie wombe wherin she had alreadie buryed her sonne was the beginning of her sepulture Now for her last releife she sent to the Church of sainct Francis to demaund some relique where finding no other thing then a peice of the cord wherwith he was girded two Religious of his Order brought it vnto her and layd it reuerently vpon her It admirably succeeded that as soone as this dolefull woman had touched the piece of cord she was deliuered of her dead child which doubtlesly had caused her death so that her anguishes did cease and she remayned sound and deliuered from the imminent perill of death Of other like miracles in assisting litle children THE XII CHAPTER ALl the children that a gentlewoman of Carnio called Iulian brought into the world did dye before she could haue comfort of them which caused her an extreame affliction incessantly complayning of her disastre that till then she had brought foorth her children only to be buryed now it chaunced that being four monthes gone with child reflecting more by reason of her disgraces past vpon the death then the birth of the child conceaued in her wombe she prayed sainct Francis for the conseruation of the life of that which was not yet borne Vpon a night therfore there appeared vnto her in vision a woman hauing in her armes a right beautifull child which she offered her but she refused it as fearing it would incontinently perish in her handes Notwithstanding the said woman encouraged her saying receaue it confidently for it is sent thee by the glorious Father sainct Francis the true comforter of the afflicted and be assured it shall not dye as the rest haue done but shall liue and thou shalt find great contentment in his vertuous disposition Awaking she remembred this celestiall vision which thenceforward procured her exceeding ioy to the time of her deliuery which was of a stronge and complete sonne who as he came into the world by the intercession of S. Francis so did also the vertues and merittes of the S. encrease in him that being great he induced his parentes to liue spiritualy he faithfully serued IESVS CHRIST and honoured his glorious SS with great zeale and perticulerly the holy Father S. Francis The like miracle was wrought in the citty of Tiuoly A woman hauing diuers daughters much desired to haue a sonne to which effect she often offered her prayers with a strong faith vnto sainct Francis that he would be her Intercessor who att lenght conceauing and the time of deliuery attended her fauour was doubled for att one birth she brought into the world two sonnes wherof being ouer-ioyed she yelded infinite thanckes to God the Creatour and to his deuout seruant S. Francis Neere the citty of Viterbo a woman being neere her deliuery was subiecte to soundinges such as she was often supposed to be dead being withall oppressed with such panges and throwes as women in that case doe ordinarilie endure her nature and strenght alreadie failing her and as it were desperate of all humane helpe she deuoutlie inuocated sainct Francis and with such faith recommended her selfe to his merittes that she was miraculouslie freed of those tormentes and was deliuered of a fayre and well proportioned child But wâ—eras shortlie after shee seemed to haue forgotten this great benefitt receaued not yelding due honour vnto the sainct because one the day of his feast in steed of honouring and sanctifying it she employed her selfe in certaine base and vnseemelie exercises God permitted for this ingratitude her right arme instantlie to wither the iust diuine wroth rested not there but she attempting to lift vp her cripled arme with the other that also withered withall This woman thus miserablie afflicted became repentant and acknowledged her crime committed and with such a faith promised almightie God to amend her selfe that by her true contrition and penitence she merited to haue the vse of her armes thus lost by almightie God restored vnto her through the merittes of sainct Francis wherin appeareth how God punisheth ingratitude and admitteth into fauour the truelie penitent An other woman of the countrie of Arrezzo in Tuscane hauing for seauen dayes together endured intollerable anguishes of childbirth being become euen all blacke and deformed in her countenance by meanes of the extremitie of her greife her cure being desperate she more by heart then voice vowed her selfe to sainct Francis and with such a firme confidence implored his aide that falling into a slumber she saw in vision her Intercessour who sweetlie saluted her demaunding of her if she knew him and she answeared she did Then he bid her say the Salue Regina affirming that before she had ended the same she should be securelie deliuered This woman vpon this discourse awaking with great hope began the Salue and hauing said Illos tuos mâ—sericordes ocâ—los ad not conuerte she was instantly deliuered of a sonne
called Marck for the loue of God entertayned this poore boy of whome he conceaued a great compassion in regard that he found him to be of a good disposition He often said vnto his wife that if the holy Father S. Francis would vouchsafe by his intercession to cure him he would promise for the loue of God to entertayne him all the time of his life The glorious S. lente not a dease eare to this pious intention for the oblation being made the boy began sodenlie to haue his tongue att libertie and to speake saying glory be vnto God and to the glorious Father S. Francis who hath now giuen me my speech and hearing for which the gentleman and his wife no lesse amazed then ioyfull gaue infinite thanckes to God performed the said promise and liued very spiritually being alwayes mindfull of this miracle and had a speciall care of the said child for the loue of God and of his faithfull seruant S. Francis Brother Iames of Iseo in his infancie and whiles he was vnder his fathers protection had a cruell wound in his stomake but being inspired of God with a very feruent deuotion he entred into the Order of this Sainct notwithstanding his tender yeares and the said infirmitie which he neuer discouered till being present art the translation of the glorious Sainct and approaching neere the sepulchre wherein his holie reliques were to be placed he with a feruent deuotion embraced the sepulchre whence that pretious treasure was taken and was instantlie cured of his wound which otherwise was incurable euerie thing disposing it selfe conueniently the very band falling of wherwith it was bound and in that â—ort were manie persons cured of the like infirmities by the merittes of this glorious Sainct as Brother Bartholomew of Agubio Brother Angelus of Todi Syr Nicolas of Stichiam Iohn de la Foye a Pisan gentleman one of the cittie of Ciperne Peter Sicilian a man of Spelle nere vnto Assisium and many others cured of like diseases as also especially Brother Angelus of Tudette and a Preist of Sucane called Sir Nicolas and an other also called Iohn de Fore and a man of the citty of Pise an other of the citty of Cisterne and one of Fspelle one called Peter of Sicily and infinite others that were by the mercie of God and the merittes of blessed S. Francis miraculously deliuered A woman of Maremme had bin about fiue yeares troubled in her spiritt depriued of her sight and hearing yea was come to that point that she rent her garmentes with her teeth and as enraged feared neither fire nor water nor other danger and as besides fallen into that horrible disease of the falling sicknes This miserable wretch it pleased the diuine Maiesty to fauour and first to illuminate her interiourlie for Sainct Francis one night appeared vnto her sitting verie eminentlie eleuated in a Royall seate before whome falling one her knees she humbly prayed him to cure her But the Sainct deferring to graunt her request she redoubled her petition therevnto adding a vow and promised him that in the honour of God and him she would neuer whiles she liued deny an almose to any poore person that should demaund it of her sofar foorth as her ability would stretch which Sainct Francis accepting he made on her the signe of the crosse and she was cured both of body and soule Many others oppressed with like infirmities haue bin cured by this compassionate Sainct and particulerly a yong mayden of Norcia and the sonne of a gentleman of the said citty who were deliuered by almighty God through the merittes and intercession of this his humble seruant Of other like miracles THE XVI CHAPTER PEter of Fullignium goeing as a Pilgrim but with litle deuotion to visitt the church of S. Michael the Archangell and drincking water att a fountaine the diuell entred into his bodie and so tormented him that he was as it were vtterlie grinded broaken crushed and all black he alwayes vttered abhominable matters and vsed certaine gestures that were dreadfull and fearfull to all the beholdeis And being on day lesse tormented then of ordinarie he remembred to haue heard the meruailous worckes of sainct Francis to be exceedinglie recommended and particulerly that he deliuered such as were possessed He went vnto his Church where with a profounde humilitie and deuotion he approached vnto his holie sepulchre which hauing touched he was miraculouslie deliuered of this oppression for which he shewed himselfe thanckfull vnto God and S. Francis A gentlewoman of the citty of Narnie afflicted by the deuill was by the compassion of the sainct deliuered together with diuers others that were tormented by the deuill which would be to long to committ to history A gentleman of Fano called Bon being afflicted with the palsey and leprosie caused himselfe to be conducted to the Church of Sainct Francis where he prayed him for his health with such instancie and faith that by the merittes of the sainct he was heard of almightie God A yong man called Accio of Saint Seuerin being a leaper made a vow to the S. caused himselfe to be carryed vnto his shrine and was incontinentlie by his merittes deliuered This glorious sainct had many excellent vertues touching the dressing and curing of this disease for he had deputed himselfe vnto their seruice for the loue he had to piety and Christian humility A gentlewoman of the citty of Sora called Rogata for foure and twentie yeares endured with extreme affliction the bloudy flux and this infirmitie was occasion of other diseases besides she hauing bin long time tormented by the Phisitians and finding no ease but a continuation of her greife and diuersitie of cruell diseases it reduced her euen to death for when her flux was stayed her her legges and all her body did sweell and whiles her flux continued it did so afflict her that she could not stand on her feet so that this poore woman knew not what to doe other then to expect in short time the end of her life being in this perplexity she one day heard a yong man recouÌ„t the merueilles so admirable which God had wrought and did worck by the merittes of the glorious Eather sainct Francis which so moued her that with abondant effusion of teares replenished with faith and hope she began to say to her selfe O glorious Sainct that art famous by so many miracles if it would please thee to haue compassion of me and to free me of mine insupportable miseryes thou knowest how much the great glory of thy clemencie would therby be augmented for it seemeth thou neuer diddest worck so great a miracle which hauing vttered she had an instant feeling of the diuine operation in her for by the merittes of the Sainct she was cured And together with her a child of hers called Marck maymed in one arme who hauing vowed to the Sainct was presently cured A Sicilian woman hauing bin afflicted with the
bloudy flux was by the merittes of this stander-bearer of IESVS cured therof Praxede a Roman gentlewoman famous for her sanctity in regard that she had liued exemplary from her tender age att which time for the loue of her Spouse IESVS CHRIST she shutt her selfe for 40. yeares into a litle chamber she I say was fauoured of sainct Francis for goeing one day vpon occasion to the topp of her house being surprised with an amazement of her head she fell downe and brake her foot and legge and disioynted hir shoulder but the holy Father sainct Francis incontinently appeared vnto her enuironned with splendour and glory and said Arise my daughter and feare not then taking her by the hand he lifted her vpright on her feet and presently the vision disappeared This gentlewoman thus amazed went about the house considering with her selfe whither she were cured or that she dreamed and the greatnes of this miracle was such that albeit she felt the truth therof she neuertheles called for a light wherby she assured her selfe that the diuine vertue by meane of sainct Francis had wrought this miracle in her which she related to her lay sister and afterwardes to diuers that did visitt her Of the merueillous chasticementes which God hath layd on those that haue not kept and honoured the feast of this glorious S. THE XVII CHAPTER IN Poictou in a village called Sime there was a Preist named Sir Renald very deuout vnto S. Francis and therfore aduertised his Parishioners of his feast exhorting them to keep the same as of precept but one of them hauing litle respect therof went that day to cutt wood and as he prepared himselfe thervnto he heard a voice that spake vnto him three seuerall times Doe not worcke for it is a festiuall day but the indeuout fellow would no more obey the voice of God then he had done the aduertissement of his Curat and therfore the diuine power for the glorie of the Sainct proceeded with correction for this man lifting vp one hande to cutt a forck of wood which he held with the other his left hand remayned fastened to the wood and the other to the iron without power to moue his fingars wherwith the wretch was so confounded that not knowing what to doe he resolued to goe in that manner to the Church where the people were yet assembled who beholding him in that estate were extremely amazed att so strange and vnwonted a punishment But the miserable fellow repenting his fault and being admonished by the Preist he humbly fell on his knees before the aultar and hartely recoÌ„mended himselfe to the S. and according as he had bin thrice admonished by the diuine voice he made three vowes the first was thenceforward to keep the feast the second that during all his life he would be euer present on that day in the same church to prayse and honour God and S. Francis the third that he would goe personally to visitte his holy body att Assisium It was doubtlesse a matter worthy and admirable for all the people assembled in that Church to behold that hauing made the said first vow one of his fingars was loosed from the iron instrument wherto his band was ioyned hauing made the second vow an other fingar was loosed and after the third not only the third fingar but both his handes formerly fastened were absolutely set att liberty The people hauing seene the greatnes of this miracle deuoutly gaue thanckes vnto God together with the man deliuered admiring the notable and singuler vertue of the S. that could so miraculously strike and cure in one moment The iron and wood wherto his handes were fastened doe to this present hang att an altare in the said church which was erected in honour of S. Francis and in memory of this miracle many other miracles wrought in the said place and that circuit demonstrate how great the vertue and power of this glorious sainct is in heauen and how much he is to be honoured and reuerenced on earth In the citty of Mans a woman refusing to keep the feast of S. Francis tooke her distaffe and spindle to spin but endeauouâ—ing to begin her â—â—ngars became so stiffe and procured her such torment that made her in manner furious but acknowledgeing her fault and the vertue and merittes of the Sainct she hastened instantly to the church wherere she played the Religious to recommend her to God and the Sainct So the deuout Religious offering their deuotions for this woman were heard for she was att the very instant cured of that extreme and insupportable torment There remayned only a signe as it were of a burning in memorie of this miracle Manie other like accidentes haue occured as in the plaines of Rome an other woman for refusing to keep the feast of the Sainct And in Spaine a man of Valladolid together with an other woman in the cittie of Pilles in which places the woman making no esteeme of the feast of the Sainct were rigouâ—ouslie punished but hauing acknowledged their faultes and done penance for them they were with more admiration deliuered A knight of Borgo in the contry of Massa without feare or respect contemned the wonderfull miracles of S. Francis offering many abuses to the pilgrimes that went to visitt the Church where his body reposed he euen impudently rayled against the Religious It happened one day that blaspheming the glorie of this holie Father he said if it be true that Brother Francis be a Sainct he will that my sword be my death and if he be not so I shall remaine without danger O admirable effect of the iust iâ—dgement of God some few dayes after this wâ—etch hauing certaine speeches with a nephew of his owne they grew from wordes to blowes and the Nephew wresting his sword out of his handes thrust him through the body with which thrust he instantly dyed God permitting his punishment to be conformable to his horrible blasphemie for an example to the temerarious that with ouer presumptuous wordes blaspheme the admirable worckes of SS who meritte to be honoured and reuerenced A Iudge called Alexander did not only condemne sainct Francis and his singuler vertues but did euen with all possibility endeauour to withdraw his holy reputation from the opinion of men in respect wherof by diuine permission he instantly became mute and so remayned for six yeares att the end wherof acknowledging that he had bin punished in that member wherby he had offended he was so penitent for his crime that he appeased the indignation of God and of the mercifull Sainct in such sort that his speech retourned for which he was thanckfull to God and to the Sainct his intercessour he failed not thenceforward to consecrate that tongue of his which he had abused in blasphemy to the praise and benediction of God and the glorious Father S. Francis to whome the said punishment had made him exceeding deuout Of some other miracles wrought by
lept sound out of his bed with a loud and cleare voice praysing God The Prince being by affaires hindred from present goeing to Conimbria he sent thither the said reliques conducted by a gentleman of note called Asphonsus Perez of Aragon who attended them accompanyed by many knightes and gentlemen The king Alphonsus and the queene Vraca his wife being therof aduertised sent vnto them with Order to haue the said reliques stayed in a place neere the citty that they might present themselues before them together with the Clergie to giue them such entertainement as they worthely deserued How the holy reliques were carryed to the citty of Conimbria in generall procession where the king was present and how they miraculously chose the place where they would rest and how they transported themselues to diuers places and of the conuersion of S. Antony of Padua which by example hereof came to passe THE XXII CHAPTER ALl thinges being fitly disposed and accommodated the king queene attended with all the nobility the Clergie and people went a foote in procession with great deuotion vnto the said reliques with many crosses and banners in token of the triumphant victory of the holy martyrs Comming to the place where the reliques were hauing deuoutly saluted them they caused the mule that carryed them to goe before that she her selfe might choose her way as she had alwayes done before So without the conduct of any personne she went directly to Conimbria where she entred into Sampsons street att this day called the street of the old figtree and then to the monastery of sainct Crosse att which gate she stayed till it was opened though the intention of the king were to place the said reliques in the great church The gate of the said monastery being opened the mule of her selfe entred into the Church and went directly before the high altare where she kneeled downe and so remayned till she was disburthened of the said reliques each one admiring the miracle wherby the holy martyrs did choose and make knowne where they would haue their reliques to repose for which they were all thanckfull vnto God and there ended the Procession The king erected a sumptuous chappell att the place where the mule kneeled downe and a rich shrine wherin were putt the greatest part of the said reliques others in an other shrine in the cloister of the said monastery the litle that remayned was sent part to the Church of the holy Ghost of Goueau where there was a Couent of Religious of sainct Francis Order and an entiere body to the monastery of sainct Bernard of Loruant three leagues from Conimbria becausse the Abbesse of that monasterie was sister to the king Now the very day that the reliques were brought into the monastery of S. Crosse they began there to shine by miracles for they cured a great multitude of diseased persons there present and from that time the miracles haue so continued euen to this day that they deliuered from perill all such as recommended themselues vnto them vpon which occasion it is that so many strange pilgrimes doe frequent that place The greatest gaine of that day wheron the reliques were receaued was of S. Antony of Lisbone called of Padua who was then a Canon Reguler of S. Crosse and as such in the said procession gaue praise to God among the rest and solemnised the arriuall of the holy reliques for he merited to be inspired of the holy Ghost who anymated him with a great zeale vnto his honour in such sort as he resolued to offer his life for the confession of the holy faith by the example of the said martyrs whome desiring entierly to imitate he would begin by the habitt and rule of sainct Francis whose true disciples these martyrs had bin Of the death of the queene Vraca prophesied by the holy martyrs as before in the third chapter hath bin recorded and of a vision which her confessor had therevpon THE XXIII CHAPTER THe Queene Vrraca had great care of her death because the holy Martyrs had prophesied vnto her therof yea she was in extreme affliction considering that their death and the translation of their bodyes was effected as they had foretold but the issue of what she doubted did succeed for as soone as she came to the holy reliques she began to feele her selfe ill so that she could not accompany them but was constrained to goe to her bedde and the night following she dyed That very night Peter Nuguez Canon reguler of the monastery of sainct Crosse a man of exceeding piety and Confessor to the said queene Vrraca had this vision He saw a great multitude of Frere Minors wherof fiue went before but they were conducted by a Religious Father of their Order that gaue a very great splendour and they entred in to the quier of the said Church of S. Crosse in procession where they very melodiously sung matines he extremely amazed att what he saw began to discourse with himselfe how so many Religious could enter the dores being shutt as they were and why they sung matines without any precedent ringing Being in this vehement admiration he questioned with one of the Religious asking him who they were how and where they entred into the monastery att such an hower The Religious answeared him We are Frere Minors and because thou wert Confessour to the Queene and fearest God it hath pleased his diuine goodnes to reueale vnto thee this vision He whome thou seest to precede the rest with such glory is our holy Father S. Francis whome thou hast so much desired to see in this life and the fiue which thou seest to follow him are the fiue Martyrs of Marroccho which are here shrined Know besides that the Queene Vrraca is this night departed and because she exceedingly affected our Order our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST hath sent vs all hither solemnely here for the benefitt of her soule and for her obsequies to sing these Matines doubt not of her death for as soone as we are departed hence one shall come to aduertise thee therof And the Matines and prayses of God being ended this glorious procession disappeared and therwith one knocked att his dore to aduertise him of the death of the queene How our Lord chasticed the citty and king of Marroccho for the cruell death of his holy Martyrs THE XXIIII CHAPTER THe king of Marroccho remayned not vnpunished no more did his contry for the very same yeare did his arme and right hand which he had so wicke dly stretched out against the holy Martyrs wither as also did all the right side of his body from the head to the feet The people were punished in an other manner for in three yeares after this Martyrdome neither in the said citty nor in a great circuit therabout did there fall one drop of raine which caused an extreme dearth and mortality of catell then correspondently to the nomber of the Martyrs the plague continued for fiue yeares after wherof dyed the
greatest part of the men of that miserable kingdome but three yeares after the want of raine the king together with his Councell acknowledged that God sent that punishment vpon them in reuenge of his holy Martyrs and therfore he ordayned a generall assembly of all his people in the place where the Martyrs had bin tortured and that in the same publicke place they should crye towardes heauen inuocating them asking them pardon and imploring their mercy which they performed with such confidence that presently there began miraculously to discend a gentle sweet raine by meane wherof the dearth and plague by litle and litle ceased And then did the king permitt the Christians in his kingdome to haue a bishop with condition that he should be of the Order of S. Francis and might publikly preach our gospell and withall consented to haue a Church builded in Marroccho where the sacramentes might be administred conformably to our Catholique and Romane Religion How sainct Francis hauing vnderstood of the Martyrdome of his children with thanck fulnes to almighty God gaue his benediction to the Monastery of Alenquer THE XXV CHAPTER THe greatest contentment that S. Francis had euer receaued of his Order was to heare of the Martyrdome of his fiue religious whervpon hauing praysed and thancked God he spake these wordes Now may I confidently affirme that I haue fiue Frere Minors Then blessing the Monastery of Alenquer because they hauing long time resided there departed thence to goe to their Martyrdome he said Be thou blessed O place of the most high which hast as it were engendred and produced to the king of heauen fiue faire flowers of the colour of the rose and of bloud of a sauour more then sweete which are fiue true Frere Minors the first fruites of this Order Would to God the Religious that shal be resident here might for euer exactly keepe the rule of our Order Of a miracle wrought by the reliques of the holy Martyrs against an Apostolike legat that endeauoured to withdraw the people from their honour and veneration because they were not as yet canonized THE XXVI CHAPTER ATt this very time as the reliques of the said holy Martyrs were exceedingly honoured of the Spainardes it fell out that a legatt of the holy Siege was present who seeing what deuotioÌ„ the people had to the said holy Martyrs moued with an indiscreet zeale not considering the canonization which IESVS CHRIST had made in heauen of the Martyrs that had bin publiquely martyred nor the miracles that had followed therevpon he began to cry to the people rebuking them as ignorant and forbad them any more to make their prayers to the said reliques and att the very instant he was aduertised that his Mule which waited for him before the Church was sodenly fallen dead and thincking to goe fee the manner therof he was immediatlie surprised with so vehement an ague that it enforced him to acknoweledge his fault and the pride which caused him so rashlie to speake against the holie Martyrs whose reliques he went to visitt and falling on his knees among the people acknowledgeing the punishment of God he cryed out a loud O holy Martyrs I confesse that you are canonized in heauen and because God will haue you honoured and reuerenced on earth I repent and confesse the errour of my tongue and begge pardon of you for t and doe promise that I will henceforward be the foremost and most carefull that shall visitt your reliques and in whatsoeuer place I shall be I will celebrate your merittes A strange euent these wordes vttered he arose from the ground very sound and his mule formerly supposed for dead to the great astonishment and contentmet of each one arose againe and this made the reliques of the sainctes more famous How by the intercession of the said sainctes a gentleman was deliuered from death THE XXVII CHAPTER A Poore gentleman of Conimbria was vnexpectedly assaulted by his ennemies neere vnto the Monastery of sainct Crosse so that he ran towardes it to saue himselfe but being two forcibly followed he could not time enough gett in but was enuironed by them so that he hauing no other remedy but the inuocation of God by the merittes of the holy Martyrs they gaue him as many stabbes and thrustes as they would without any defence of his sauing the couering with his cloake in such sort as he lay for lead in the place The people that came next that way carryed him â—pped in his cloake as they found him in to the said Church there to â—ury him but as soone as he was entred into the same he stood vp on his feet very sound and confessed aloud that the holy Martyrs had till defended him and therfore together with the people he repaired o their chappell to giue them thanckes Of the institution of the procession which is made euery yeare in the month of Ianuary wherin the men goe all naked to visitt the holy Martyrs of Conimbria for hauing bin by their intercession cured of the plague THE XXVIII CHAPTER IN the Bishoperick of Conimbria there is a towne called Fala where there fell so cruell and contagious a plague that it dispeopled the whole towne for the inhabitantes were all either dead â—r fled sauing one man already infected with the disease and halfe dead who seeing himselfe alone and in such extremity hauing alwayes ben very deuout to the holy Martyrs he had then with an exceeding strong faith his recourse vnto them and made them this vow That if by their intercession he were cured of that disease he would euery yeare on the sixt of Ianuary being the day of their feast att Conimbria goe visitt their reliques a foot and all naked as long as he should liue and would take order that after his death one of his family should goe thitherin the same manner and withall would endeauour to persuade all the other families of the said towne to doe the like This vow being made he was so effectually heard that att the very instant he found himselfe more sound and strong then euer neither did there any one more dye out of that place whereto he caused many from abroad to retourne and so it was by litle and litle repeopled afterward his fellow Cittizens accorded to his vow yea this deuotion so encreased that the neighbour inhabitants and many personnes of note gentlemen and others accustomed from thence as is continued to this present in procession to visitt the holy reliques on bare foot with an exceeding deuotion in the most rigorous season of winter And how soeuer the season proue the sixt of Ianuary being the day of their Martyrdome though it raine freeze or snow neuer so much they omitt not this pilgrimage Now the order of this procession is thus On the said day all the Confraternity assemble att the Couent of the Frere Minors that is without the citty of Conimbria on the other side of the bridge and there about nine of the
both of them illustrious in vertue and bloud in which respect they were found worthie in the flower of their marriage to enioy this child He was baptised in the said Church of which parish also he was there was he first named Ferdinand so that he was called Ferdinand Martin Buglione till he tooke the habitt of S. Francis He began his first learning in the said Cathedrall Church with the Christian doctrine the manner to prayse God he serued the quier both by night and day offering the first fruites of his age to our Lord IESVS CHRIST and to his most holy mother whome he chose for his particular Aduocatrise euen from his tender yeares He coÌ„tinued in this pious course fifteene yeares in which time he learned the study of humanity afterwardes his bloud began to heat and his sensuall appetites to desire carnall and worldly pleasures As soone as he perceaued it he endeauoured by the feare of God to restraine them and because it is very difficult to conuerse among so many thornes and not to be pricked he resolued to take a secure remedy Wherfore abandonning all conuersations of this perillous world he repaired to the Monastery of S. Vincent without the citty where were Canon Regulers of S. Augustin leading a life of very exemplare piety whence he neuer departed tlll he had taken the habitt and made his profession surmounting all the inconueniences and importunities of his kinred and friendes that omitted no meanes to diuert him from it there did he establish his foundation in the seruice of God But in regard that his worthie iudgement and great prudence began to appeare to his kinred and friendes they repaired vnto him for his counsaile and aduise in their affaires and difficulties running vnto him as to an oracle in such sort that being vnable to endure that exceeding disturbance of spiritt hauing with verie much difficulty obtayned the permission of his Superiour he retired to the deuout and Religious monastery of sainct Crosse of Conimbria of the same Order hauing spent two yeares in that of Lisbone And he so profited and proceeded there that it was to each one apparant that he was by a secrett and diuine vertue not by a lightnes of spiritt retired thither For proceeding daily ascending from perfection to perfection he aymed at a most perfect end of his life as being replenished with the spiritt of wisdome by his continuall reading and meditation of the holy scripture wherin hauing for his instructor the only and true master IESVS CHRIST he made such progresse that his learning was sufficient to shunne vices and embrace vertues to refute errours and support the truth How for the desire of Martyrdome he became Religious of the Order of S. Francis THE II. CHAPTER ABout that time thefame of the holy Father S. Francis did spred it selfe ouer all the world as also of the Frere Minors his disciples of whome as is said there were already monasteries in portugall they by their pouerty and contempt of the world conuerting many people to penance the holy Father Saint Antony as I haue formerlie said being one of the Religious of sainct Crosse that receaued the holy reliques of the glorious martyres of Marrocho and being as a noble Elephant encouraged by the sight of the bloud shed for the loue of God he resolued also to enter into combatt for IESVS CHRIST reputing his repose wherin he liued for the seruice of God to be nothing in respect of that course O spiritt really happy who not only was not terrified with the sight of the bloudy sword of the Tyrant but was so encouraged therby that the feruour of diuine charity in him was greater then the imbecillitie of humane fragillity Wherfore thirsting to effect this good desire he resolued first to take the habitt and therwith to imitate the life of those glorious Martyrs by the same meane to obtaine the two crownes and to ascend from one degree vnto an other to that soueraigne perfection of Martyrdome exercising himselfe before he entred into that conflict and combatt Now there were two Religious of sainct Francis which ordinarily liued in a Church of the title of sainct Antony without the Citty of Conimbria with which sainct Antony hauing casually mett he discouered his intention vnto them as to two Angels of Paradise and they gaue eare vnto him with great contentment and comforted him then they appointed him a day when they would repaire vnto him to effect his pious desire Hauing taken leaue of them he ceassed not to solicite and importune his superiour to vouchsafe to giue free consent to this his holy intention which as a thinge perordinated of God he att length with much difficulty obtayned The aforesaid Frere Minors comming on the prefixed day they gaue their habitt to sainct Antony euen in the monastery of sainct Crosse and then being cloathed they carryed him with them to their oratory Att his departure one of the Canon Regulers that was much disquieted therwith said vnto him Well goe your wayes in good time it may be you may proue a sainct giuing him such reproach as if he thought one could not serue God but in the Religion of sainct Francis sainct Antony humbly answeared him If it should happen that I proue a sainct it may be you would praise God for it But doubtles these Religious should not murmure if God transferred this sainct from their Order to that of sainct Francis considering that in their Church they possessed fiue of his martyrs and with all it cannot be denyed but that the worthie and pious education of sainct Antony ought to be attributed first vnto God and then to their holy Religion wherein he spent eleuen yeares so that he entred into the Order of sainct Francis the 26. yeare of his age being then Priest the yeare of grace 1220. How the name of Ferdinand was chaunged into Antony and how he departed for Marroccho with intention there to receaue Martyrdome and was by tempest driuen into Sicilia thence he went into Italy and thence to the generall chapter of S. Francis THE III. CHAPTER THe holy Father being come to the Oratory of the said Religious knowing that the title therof was sainct Antony he prayed them to giue him that name abhorring his owne as seculer and too prophane and to the end that not being so called of all he might be much lesse knowne and disburded of his kinred and friendes besides we may well attribute this same to the worck of the holy Ghost sith that many of his most note-worthie elect haue chaunged their name as first the Patriarkes Apostles and other â—his fauourites Hauing then thus chaunged his name he desired to effectuat the designe for which he became Frere Minor and to attaine the same he trauailed into Africa there to receaue the crowne of Martyrdome but he being afflicted with a great and long infirmity began by diuine inspiration to conceaue that his designe was not gratefull vnto God but
render a strict account vnto God and therfore hast yee speedily hence for feare least this house fall and vtterly oppresse you or that the earth open and swallow you vp These wordes made them so ashamed and mute that without replying they retourned to giue answeare to Ezelin who thenceforth esteemed him the true seruant of God and therfore willed his people to permitt him to say of him what he would which was no small restrainct vnto him whilest he liued How att one sermon of his he conuerted 22. theeues THE XVII CHAPTER TWo and twenty theues being assembled for robbery retired into a very thick and bushy wood where they murdered the passangers Italy was then by reason of the warres there full of such theeues who feared not to goe disguised into the citties as did these of whome we speake who resolued to proue if the truth and effect answeared the reputation giuen to the preachinges of S. Antony for they had heard that as an other Elias he burned the hartes of men with the fiery light of the word of God which they experienced in themselues for att the beginning of his sermon they began to feele their hartes to mollifie then by litle and litle to receaue the heat of the Holy Ghost so that att the end of the sermon they went all to conferre with him who after he had giuen them necessary reprehension told them that he would absolue them on condition they would be very wary neuer after to retourne to their vomitt assuring the in the behalfe of almighty God that if they fell againe they would miserably perish as it after arriued to some of them who retourned to their filth againe as before others perseuered piously and especially one of them who had seriously obserued and made his profitt of the endes of both his good and bad companiōs who afterwardes affirmed and assured the same and said that he was enioyned to goe twice to Rome in penance to visitt the holy Apostles in remission of their enormous sinnes saying that as he had accomplished his penance so did he hope to obtaine remissiō of his misdeedes Of the conuersion of many heritikes by a sermon which S. Antony made to the fishes of the sea which gaue him eare THE XVIII CHAPTER ITaly being vtterly disordered by the afforesaid warres and mingled with all nations that embrued their barbarous weapons in the body of that contry though they were called in by the Italians themselues that supposing to ruinate each other they might afterwardes be their prey as in deed they were In such troubles of warre the Italians did not only diminish their former vertues which made them like terrestriall Angels and more excellent then all other strangers in curtesie and loue but they did also diminish that faith for which they had renounced the Empire of the world submitting their neck to the most sweet yoke of IESVS CHRIST and of his immaculate and holy Catholike Apostolike and Roman Church and besides that as it is incident to men to admitt the habitt of those with whome they conuerse they dranck the horrible cup of heresie and abomination the heretikes multiplying in Italy by the extreme liberty of life then there in vse Now sainct Antony hauing so much profited in France where he conuerted a great nomber of heretikes as also in Romania whither then many were retyred of whome he conuerted a great part by miracles and particulerly their Arch-heretique called Bonuillo de Bimini who for thirty yeares had persisted obstinate and buryed in the darcknes of heresie the sainct therfore endeauoured to displant all the rest of that prouince which there were exceedinglie augmented Now as he one day preached vnto them they refusing to heare him because disputing against them he did vtterly confound them and being without the sea shoare att the mouth of a riuer called Matecchia he called the fishes in the name of God to heare his holy word sith men whome he had redeemed by the precious bloud of our Lord IESVS CHRIST his only Sonne had refused it It was a worthy and admirable thing to see almost an infinite quantity of fishes of the sea and of the said riuer instantly vpō those wordes to appeare on the water which by litle and litle assēbling sorted themselues according to their kindes and qualities placing themselues in admirable Order so that the lesser drew neerest the shoare and the greater by degrees without in such sort that it was a most pleasing sight to behold them Being setled and accomodated the sainct made them this sermon following My Brethren fishes who being the creatures of the comon Creatour as we are are also bound to prayse him considering that you haue receaued of him your being and life and he hath giuen you for habitation the noble element of water sauoury saltish according to your necessity and entertaynement Further he hath therein giuen you shelters and retraites to shroud you from the ambushes of your persecutors It hath pleased him also that this element should be transparent cleare and pearceable to the eye that you may the more easily see what you are to accept and what to shunne therfore also hath he bestowed on you phinnes and force to guide you selues where you desire but you are especially obliged vnto him for that you alone of all other creatures were saued in the vniuersal deluge by meanes whereof you are encreased in nomber aboue all other You were chosen to saue the Prophett Ionas and hauing preserued him three dayes in your belly you restored him a liue vpon the earth You haue payed the due and tribut for our Lord IESVS CHRIST and for his chiefe Apostle S. Peter you haue also euer bin his food during his life and after his death when he was risen For which reasons and others which for the present are out of my memory you are exceedingly obliged to thancke almighty God The fishes approued these wordes with all the gestures they could shew bending downe their heades mouing their tailes and making signe of desire to come neere him Vpon which demonstratiōs the holy Father tourned towardes the rebellious and stony hartes of the heretikes and in presence of a great multitude of people there assembled by the recourse of such a nomber of fishes that stirred not expecting till the S. dismissed them he said vnto them God be praysed that the very fishes doe desireously heare his word but you wherfore demurre you on your conuersion What other testimony doe you expect more euident of the vertue of the loue of God Are not you ashamed to appeare of lesse vertue then the fishes who are voyd of reasō All the heretikes there presēt thē without farther expectation were cōuerted to the faith and the Catholiques more solidly cōfirmed The fishes neuer stirred but their nūber still encreased without any confusiō of their order till they had all had the benediction of the holy Father after which they diuided thēselues each one
went where he pleased and S. Antony retourning into Riminy there conuerted the rest of the heretiques that being there had not bin present att the miracle How he conuerted a very obstinate heretike by a miracle of the blessed sacrameÌ„t THE XIX CHAPTER SAinct Antony preaching one time att Tholousse though some affirme it to be att Riminy against a very obstinate heretike of the reall Presence of IESVS C. in the B. Sacrament he many times coÌ„uinced him euen by reasons in which the heretike not knowing what to answeare told the S. that in deed he was forced to yeld in dispute but the reason was because he was more subtill a greater philosopher and better learned then himselfe which he acknowledged but could not yet confesse and acknowledge that his affirmations were to be beleeued and therfore challenged him to proue by effectes and shew him by some miracle of the B. Sacrament wherby he might know that God was present there which if he could performe he did promise and sweare to adhere to his opinion and beliefe The sainct answeared him that he should consider and bethinck himselfe what miracle he desired by the grace of God he should see it effected The heretike replyed that he would shutt vp a mule and keep her three dayes without meat then they both would be present together himselfe with ores the S. with the B. Sacrament and if the mule did leaue the otes and adore the B. Sacrament he would be content also to adore the same S. Antony accepted this condition And the third day being come they both present att a publike place the holy Father hauing celebrated masse before he communicated he shewed the sacred Host vnto the people that held burning torches in their handes there being presente the greatest personnes of the cittie who attended him to the place where the proofe was to be made The heretike was there ready with the hungry Mule which alreadie smelled the oates which her master had brought and brayed after them Sainct Antonie then commaunded her by the vertue of the liuing God who was present in the Host which there he held to adore it Her master also cast before her all the oates he had yet leauing the oates she came with her head declined very humbly to adore the B. Sacrament before which she kneeled downe to the exceeding contentment of the Catholikes there present and the confusion of many heritikes especially of the aforesaid who was conuerted together with them Of the conuersion of many heritikes by a miracle of S. Antonyes eating poysoned meat without receauing any detriment THE XX. CHAPTER THis miracle so encreased the hatred of heretikes against him that they resolued to procure his death And to this purpose one of them inuited him to his table which the sainct promised in hope by some familier discourses to conuert him Euen as for the same end our Redeemer did eat with Publicans and sinners Sainct Antony then being att table with manie heretikes he knew by diuine reuelation that the meat sett before him was poysoned as also the wine appointed for him to drinck for which he modestly checked them 〈…〉 their treachery But they in steed of being confounded and acknowledgeing their fact with a brasen face answeared him that IESVS CHRIST in his gospell promised his disciples that albeit they should drinck or eat poyson it should not hurt them And therfore sayd they had they done that onlie to proue that speech so that if he refused to eat therof he must acknowledge the Gospell to be false wherevpon the holy Father consulting with himselfe what he should doe fouÌ„d therin some difficulty for one the one side he feared it might proue a tempting of God who seemed to haue reuealed the same vnto him to the end he should forbeare it on the other side desirous not to preiudice the gospell he resolued to eat the poyson on condition they would become Catholikes if it did not hurt him wherto they accorded and the S. said vnto them Well then my masters I drinck and eat your poysonned meat and drinck not with a will to tempt God whose wordes I firmely beleeue but to manifest vnto you the truth of his word and also as zealous of his gospell to whome althinges obey then he dranck and eat therof without receauing any detriment either then or afterward Which the heretikes perceauing they were conuerted to the faith of the gospell the wordes wherof they had experienced to be puissant aboue all naturall reason and in deed it was reasonable they should expell the poyson out of their soules seeing corporall poyson by vertue of the wordes of the gospell to be annichilated How in one sermon and att one time he was heard by many strangers to preach in their seuerall languages and a woman heard him far off THE XXI CHAPTER POpe Gregory the ninth published a great Iubilie att Rome there to declare the expedition of the Christians called Croisade against the Mores who then had possession of the holy land in respect wherof there was a great concourse of people att Rome that repayred thither from all partes of Europe S. Antony one day preaching there before a huge assembly of people the nomber being exceeding great of French Grecians English Italians Almanes Sclauonians Spaniards and other strangers they all heard him preach in their owne naturall tongue as heretofore the Apostles of our Sauiour had bin which much amazed the people But besides this the Pope hauing heard this sermon called him the holy arke of the testament in regard of the merueillous copiosity of hâ—â— doctrine and eloquence wherwith he in such sort lincked together the sentences and wordes of holy scripture by new and high 〈…〉 wherby it manifestly appeared that it was not he but the holy Ghost that spake who by his holy seruant taught these people the true meane to ascend to heauen This other miracle was also of no small consequence A woman exceedingly desiring to heare S. Antony preach her husband not permitting her to goe because it was a great league from the citty she went vp into her corne-loft so to content her sight with beholding the place where her spiritt was to witt the Church where was the Sainct where her body could not be which performing very attentiuely and a long time she admired to heare the Sainct beginne his sermon wherfore calling her husband she protested that from the place where she was she miraculously heard sainct Antonyes sermon vsing the same gestures that he did and relating his wordes wherin she so persisted to confirme hir husband that himselfe would needes make triall therof and to that end mounting into the garrett he putt his head out att the windoe and heard the end of the same sermon then presentlie went to conferre with such as had bin personallie present and found that the wordes which his wife affirmed to haue heard in the beginning of the sermon were the verie same that the
Sainct had vttered And therfore astonyed att so great a miracle and repenting that he had hindred his wife from being present therat neuer after withdrew her from her deuotions Of certeine miracles which he wrought vpon some that were deuout vnto him THE XXII CHAPTER SAinct Antony incessantlie labouring to gaine soules vnto God in the cities of Italy by his preaching retourning one day from that exercise and retiring into his Couent he tooke a secrett and vnknowne way to auoyd the honours ordinarilie giuen vnto him where he mett a poore woman carrying her sonne that was vtterly crypled and voyd of the vse of his limmes who hauing a farre off perceaued him came and fell at his feet humbly praying him to haue compassion of her and to voutsafe to make only the signe of the crosse vpon her sonne wherby she had great confidence in God that he would recouer the vse of his limmes and the more the Sainct excused himselfe the more she redoubled her petitions and cryes saying as the Chananâ—an did to IESVS CHRIST haue mercy on me whervpon together with the request of his Companion who was a very deuout Religious he made the signe of the crosse vpon the child and foorthwith he was cured retourning on foot to his pittifull mothers house whence she had brought him to the S. who prayed her to conceale this miracle att least during his life affirming that it was her faith and not his merittes that had obtained this grace and fauour A girle of Padua was in such sort cripled that she could not goe but on her handes and besides was often tormented with the falling sicknes which caused her to foame and vse strange gestures through the extremity of her cruell affliction her father hauing presented her to the S. and requested him as the aforesaid mother had done he cured her by the signe of the crosse also wherin is to be obserued that in such occurences the faith of those that present and request ioyned with the merittes of the Sainctes auayleth much to obtaine grace and fauour of God The holy Father goeing one holy day to preach in a spacious place there being no Church great enough to containe the people that sought to heare him a woman that followed the presse of the people was att lenght so thrust that she could not auoyd to be ouerthrowne into a ditch full of filth wherwith the woman being much greiued not so much for the apprehension of the hurt she might receaue in her body as for feare to foule her rich apparell wherof that was the first time of wearing and that her husband who was peruerse vnto her would be offended with her had recourse vnto God by the merittes of the S. that she went to heare whome she deuoutly inuocated and herewith she was seene to arise out of the dirt wherin she had bin plunged without any appearance of ordure on her apparell to the exceeding amazement of all the beholders Hauing written a letter to his prouinciall an Angel carryed it and brought answeare therof THE XXIII CHAPTER THe Sainct hauing spent long time in preaching hearing Confessions giuing counsaile and reading att Padua he much desired to retire himselfe into some solitarie place where he might more commodiouslie applie himselfe to contemplation and to that end he wrote to his Prouinciall the which he accorded him and hauing left this letter vpon a table in his Cell he went to pray his Guardian to procure him some messenger to carry the said letter faithfully to the Prouinciall which the Guardian hauing done he retourned to his cell but found not the letter which made him suppose that God had miraculouslie taken it away to the end he should not remoue thence wherfore retourning to his Guardian he told him he was otherwise determined But certaine dayes after in such a time as a messenger might carry the letter and bring answeare therof he found on his table the answeare which his Prouinciall had made therevnto permitting him to retire and doubtles there is great appearance that this letter was carryed and the answeare brought by an Angell God therby giuing vs to vnderstand how pleasing and gratefull the demandes of his faithfull seruantes are vnto him How he was twice in spirit at Lysbone in Portugall to assist his father THE XXIV CHAPTER THe Father of the Sainct was a gentleman of Portugall residing att Lisbone who hauing managed a good part of the reuenue of the king his soueraine had also giuen a iust account therof vnto his officers and withall deliuered them in the mony without demaunding acquittance or any dischardge relying on them as his freindes attleast supposing them to be such but certaine monthes after these gentle companions as worldly people demanded againe the mony they had receaued of him and summoned him to yeld a new account vnto them of the administration of the mony he had in his chardge This good gentleman was exceedinglie amazed not knowing what to doe considering he had no specialty to help himselfe against them in that which they required wherfore knowing the danger of his owne case he went to them to endeauour to put them in minde of the finishing and deliuery of his accountes thincking therby to bring them in the end to acknowledge and confesse the truth And being before them that sate and held the place of iustice they most audaciously and impudently denyed that he had so much as presented his accountes much lesse had he finished them and deliuered them any mony But att the instant S. Antony appeared and was present there who grauely sayd vnto them Giue an quittance to this good man of the mony he deliuered you proceeding of his chardge and of the receipt of the kinges mony on such a day in such a place att such an houre in such and such sortes of coyne which if you refuse to doe God will punish you for it Which they hauing heard exceedingly terrified they gaue a sufficient dischardge to the Father of the S. who very ioyfully retourned home giuing thanckes to God for that he had bestowed on him such a sonne who vanished as soone as he had vttered those wordes Some time after there was a yong man slaine before the house of the Sainctes Father for whome his ennemies had laid waite in the night as he was to retourne from the great church which is neere to the said house into the garden wherof the dead body was cast ouer the walles where the next morning he was found of the officers by the trace of bloud freshly appearing in the street whervpon the Father of sainct Antony with all his family were imprisonned and foorth with condemned to death and as he was conducted to execution the S. being preachinge att Padua it was reuealed vnto him who then resting on the pulpitt wherin he preached he went to relieue his Father and att the very instant of his comming to Lisbone he raysed the murdered party and made
being not full but neere a yeare after his death Wherto there directly opposed himselfe a Cardinall which caused further proceeding to be deferred till the day following but the first night after the Cardinall had this dreame It seemed vnto him that his holinesse would consecrate an Altare and to that end demaunded holy reliques of him But he not knowing what to giue him heard a voice that said Giue him of the new reliques of S. Antony Wherevpon this Cardinall awakinge sollicited the Pope more then any other to hasten the canonization of the S. as hauing bin by this diuine voice fully assured of his great merittes Besides the approbation of the vnder written miracles wrought after his death nor including those wrought in his life time he cured nineteene that were lame fiue of the palsie fiue that were crooked six blinde three deafe three mute two of the gout he raised two to life and cured diuers others of sundry diseases For which cause the yeare 1232. on the day of Penticost he was enrolled by the Pope in the Catalogue of Sainctes with great solemnitie The said Pope composed and sung that worthy antheme O Doctor optime and ordayned it to be sung in all churches the day of his feast which was constitued to be yearly the thirteenth of Iune One the day of his canonization all the belles of his cittie of Lisbone did ring of themselues to the exceeding contentment of all personnes wherof they knew no cause but that they felt an inestimable ioy in their hartes but they vnderstood afterward that their contryman and fellow-cittizen S. Antony had bin that day canonized The bulle of the aforesaid canonization taken out of the tenth chapter of the sixt booke and heere more properly placed GRegory bishop seruant of the seruantes of God to our venerable Brethren Archbishops Bishoppes health and Apostolicall benediction As God saith by the Prophett I will make you honoured and praysed of all people and by the sage he promiseth that the iust shall shine in the presence of God as the sunne so it seemeth vnto vs expedient that we also here on earth below doe prayse the sainctes which his diuine Maiestie hath crouned in heauen and considering withall that God is knowne and adored principally in them who is praiseworthy and glorious in his Sainctes and that miraculously to manifest his omnipotencie and his mercy towardes our saluation he euen ennobleth here below by miracles his faithfull seruantes with whome he hath concurred to the meritt of eternall glory and this to confound the obstinacie of many heretikes and to confirme his church in his holy Catholique Apostolike and Romane faith and to expell out of lukewarme hartes all sloath and negligence awakening them to good worckes by these holy examples and that the hartes of heretikes might be made plyable to belieue by effect what they seeme not to vnderstand by the holy scriptures and finally that all Iewes and Pagans the vaile of blindnes being taken from before their eyes may see this transparent light of the omnipotencie of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST and that they may not alleadge for excuse that they had no occasion deseruing their conuersion vnto him and their acknowledgement of him for true God and true man Wherfore my beloued we yeld thanckes to this bountifull giuer of all goodnes if not as we ought at least as we may for that it hath pleased him for confirmation of our holy faith and the confusion of heretikes to bestow on vs holy and famous men in these dayes who by signes and manifest miracles haue declared how true inestimable and indubitable is the faith of the holy Romane Church sith they who dye therein so dye in the grace of God that they glitter twinckle and shine in the world as Sunnes in the firmament Therfore being therein but one faith and the same by this diuine and manifest approbation appearing most true the falshood of all others must be very euident Of the nomber of those that haue meritted to worck miracles before and after their death is the blessed Father S. Antony of the Order of the Frere Minors who liuing in this world was very famous for his great merittes and liuing now in heauen he shineth by many miracles which are ordinarily wrought att his sepulcher wherof we are assured as well by very authenticall worthy actes as by reuelation of personnes worthy of creditt These two thinges merittes and miracles suffice to giue testimony among men of the sanctity of a man yea they suffice to make vs yeld to honour and inuocate them as our intercessors vnto God which two thinges are taken out of this text of the Gospell They goeing forth preached euery where our lord worcking withall and confirming the word with signes that followed For this cause we haue giuen order to the abouesaid Bishop to Br. Giles Iourdain Priour of the Order of S. Benett and to Br. Iohn Priour of S Augustins in the monastery of the Iacobins of Padua that they should make an exact examen and approued catalogue of the miracles of the said Sainct which we hauing seene to be conformable to that which by our owne experience we know to be very true touching his life and holy conuersatiō that it may not seeme we would hinder or depriue him of his praise being therevnto vrged by the said Bishop of Padua and the reuerence of the seruantes of God which so notoriously deserue the same and by the aduise of our venerable Brethren the Cardinalls of the holy Roman Church and of all the Prelates att this present neere vnto vs we haue enrolled him in the Catalogue of the SS Wherfore the candell not being sett on the candlesticke but to giue light we pray and commaund all those to whome the knowledge of these presents shall come that in vertue of this Apostolicall Breuie they induce their subiectes and procure them solemnly and reuerentlie to keepe and honour his feast which is the thirteenth of Iune to the end that God being moued and appeased by his holie prayers doe giue vs his holie grace in this life and his glorie in the other Besides that the sepulcher of this worthie Confessour who by the splendour of his miracles beautifieth our holie Church be with the honour due vnto it visited and frequented we trusting in the diuine grace and in the aucthoritie of the glorious Apostles sainct Peter and sainct Paul we mercifullie remitte and release a yeares penance enioyned them to all those that truelie confessed and penitent doe on the day of his feast and all the octaue of euerie yeare visitt the same Giuen att Spoletum the twelfeth of Iulie in the sixt yeare of our Popedome How his body was transported into the said church of Padua then into that where it now is and wherefore THE XXXI CHAPTER POpe Alexander the fourth desiring to deliuer manie Citties of Lombardie from the cruelty of the Tyran Ezelin that had vsurped almost all the
Venetian territorie he sent to Venise as his Legat Philip de Fontaine Bishop of Rauenna that hauing ouerthrowne a mightie and potent armie he might assige Padua where the Tyran had placed a nephew of his as lieutenant to guard that place faithfullie for him God determining to end and cease the tyrannie of this cruell Prince and to deliuer that Cittie by the merittes of sainct Antony the night of his feast The cittie being in this trouble the Guardian of the Couent of the Frere Minors called Brother Bartholomew Corradin watching att the sepulcher of the Sainct in feruent prayers and teares praying for the deliuery of that cittie he heard a cleare voice that seemed to proceed out of the said sepulcher which said vnto him Brother Bartholomew feare no more but be comforted and giue thanckes to God for I promise and assure thee that on my octaue day this citty shal be restored to her former liberty which came to passe for Anselmus the Gouernour therof being terrified by the hand of God went out and fled with all his people in such sort that the said Apostolicall Legat entred in and restored all thinges to their former splendour liberty and freedome The said voice was not onlie heard by the said Guardian but also by many Religious of the Couent that watched in the said Church who gaue testimony therof afterward Wherfore the Paduans ordayned that thenceforward the said octaue day should be solemnised as the day it selfe of the feast of sainct Antony in acknowledgement of that singuler benefitt Afterward they tooke him for a singuler aduocate of their cittie consecrating vnto him the altare of their great church wherein they placed his reliques and there they celebrated his feast on which day manie worthy miracles were wrought Padua being thus deliuered the yeare 1259. the Paduans began to build a great and sumptuous Church wherinto were transported his holie reliques the yeare 1273. the eue of Quasi modo the Cardinall of Bolonia named Guy Charles Bishop of Portuensis legat of his holinesse with many ceremonies solemnised the said translation This Cardinall hauing bin deliuered from death by sainct Antony was exceeding deuout vnto him and therfore offered vnto him a faire and rich shrine or reliquarie of siluer wherin he putt his holie head Sainct Bonauenture Generall of the Order was present att his translation and opened the shrine wherin the glorious bodie of the Sainct had bin thirtie yeares which he found all tourned to ashes sauing the tongue which was verie fresh and vermillion as when it had life which taking in his handes in presence of all the companie with aboundance of teares he vttered these wordes O blessed tongue which hast alwayes praysed they God and hast laboured others to doe the like it verie euidentlie appeareth that thou hast highlie merited before God! then kissing it verie tenderlie he put it againe verie reuerentlie into the said reliquarie On a certaine time after a Generall desired to transport this holie tongue from that place but hauing taken it vp and thincking to carry it away he could neuer finde the dore where to goe forth nor had he power to carrie it back whence he had taken it wherfore he secretlie hid it in an altare none perceauing the same where it remayned manie yeares after till it pleased the Sainct to discouer it so that taking it thence it was put in a veâ—ie faire and rich reliquary of crystall where it is euen to this day shewen pure and entier to all deuout Pilgrimes How he raised his Nephew that died att Lisbone THE XXXII CHAPTER ANephew of the sainctes the soÌ„ne of his sister called Paris played one day att Lisbone on the sea shoare with many children his companions all which entred into a shallop which for their recreation they lanched into the sea but there sodeÌ„ly arose a storme which raysing the sea waues presently ouer-whelmed the shalop all that were therin saued themselues by swiming except Paris who being the yongest could not swimme but was drowned which his Father vnderstanding he prayed the Fishers to search for recouery of his body to giue it Christian buryall They more to satisfie him then in hope to finde him sought him sometime and att length God permitted them to finde him and deliuering him to his Father the kinred were of opinion to haue him buryed but his pittyfull mother the sister of S. Antony hauing good hope of the life of her sonne by the merittes of her brother would not permitt him to be buryed and therfore would be continually neere him all the day following and the night after but the next morning the kinred purposing not to permitt the body any longer vnburyed because it already exceedingly sauoured the mother resolutely said and auowed that if they would bury her child they should bury her aliue together with it Then she made this prayer to S. Antony O my glorious Brother if charity moue thee as I belieue it doeth and if thou be so carefull and ready to gratifie them that inuocate thee yea such as are strangers I beseech thee to haue compassion of thy sister and of thy Nephew who if thou please to restore him life shall serue God in thy Order wheÌ„ he shall attaine to age conuenient competent to that end if so it please the diuine Maiestie The successe was admirable for as soone as she had ended her vow the child that had bin three dayes dead arose before all the company and hauing attained age sufficient he accomplished the said vow taking the habit of the Order of his vncle wherein he piously perseuered Of two other raised from death by Sainct Antonie and of some others THE XXXII CHAPTER A Queene of Leon in Spaine borne in Portugall hauing by accident of sicknes lost her daughter of eleuen yeares of age and hauing heard this foresaid miracle recounted would not haue her daughter buryed but kept her three dayes without buryall during which time she deuoutly inuocated the helpeof S. Antony with a feruent faith for which she deserued att length to be heard but the child her daughter being raysed sayd vnto her deere Mother I beseech God to pardon you for hauing troubled me in the celestiall glory where I was amongest the virgins though it be not for long time for I am restored to life att the instance of S. Antony but for fifteene dayes which so succeeded for fifteene dayes after she dyed againe A gentleman that could haue no children vowed to the S. that if he would obtaine him one he would euery yeare visitt his sepulcher and he was heard but goeing one day to accomplish his vow he left his sonne of seauen yeares old sick in his house who by litle and litle so recouered health that he went to play with his companions in a chanell where then there was no water it being bended an other way to water a certaine plaine but the banke or bay being not strong enough gaue such way to
the violence of the water that it retourned impetuouslie into the chanell where it drowned nine children playing there wherof two being found were presentlie buryed The said gentleman retourning from Padua of his first friendes that he mett he demaunded how his sonne did they vnwilling to deliuer him such vnwelcome newes answeared they thought he was well because it was not long since he played therby with his companions This poore father passed farther and came to his house where he asked for his sonne His seruantes seemed not to heare him and endeauoured to diuert him from such demaund but he said he would neither eat nor drinck till he had seene him Which constrayned them to declare vnto him the infortunate disaster of his sonne which hauing vnderstood he became out of himselfe but afterwardes by litle and litle recouering his spirittes he swoare and very obstinately protested that he would neither eat nor drinck till sainct Antony had restored him his sonne which with a very feruent faith expecting a litle after his sonne entred in where he was with other nine of his companions that by the merittes of sainct Antony had bin saued with him for which they praysed God in his sainct and glorified him with hart and voice It is found to be recorded that the two other children companions of the foresaid which were already buryed were also raysed by the merittes of the S. who had compassion of the clamours that their parentes made vnto him In Apulia in the citty of Monoplia a child did so vndermine a pitt neerevnto the Frere Minors that the earth hauing no support brake downe vpon him where he was buryed without appearance of any reliefe His mother vnderstaÌ„ding therof ran instantly to the monastery of Frere Minors crying and often reiterating these wordes O S. Antony restore me my child In meane while they were busy in taking vp the earth froÌ„ the pitt wherein they found the childe aliue though much troubled who was asked how it was possible that so much earth had not choaked him He answeared that S. Antony had still held his hand vnder his throat to giue him meanes to breath which gaue all those present occasion to praise and thanck God in his sainct Of many miracles wrought against such as would not beleeue the glory of the Sainct THE XXXIV CHAPTER A Chaplain belonging to the Bishop of Padua hearing the first miracles of S. Antony related would not only not belieue them but euen did iest and scoffe att them But he presently felt the diuine reuenge for he was striken with an extreme sharp and pestilencious feauer which did so enfeeble him and brought him to that extremitie that he was in danger of death Wherupon acknowledging his offence and repenting the third day of his sicknesse he called his mother to whome he confessed his fault and protested he was exceedinglie grieued therat then he prayed her to goe to the sepulcher of the S. there to seeke to obtaine mercie and in his name to promise that thenceforward in steed of incredulity and dirision he would firmelie beleeue publikely preach and manifest the glorie of this miracle to all the world It was admirable to consider the mother goeing thither she inuocated the Sainct then made the vow and in that very instant the sick party was cured leaping out of his bed to the great admiration of all that were present A certaine old gentleman that had bin an heretike from his infancie setting one day att table heard many miracles recounted of sainct Antony whereatt gibing and reputing all fabulous he tooke a drincking glasse of crystall and threw it out att the windoe saying If sainct Antonie can preserue that glasse from breaking I will henceforward hold him for a sainct and the glasse being very forciblie cast against the stones was miraculouslie preserued entier This heretike seeing so manifest a miracle was moued not onlie to belieue that Sainct Antonie was truelie and reallie a Sainct but was also induced to forsake his herâ—sie and abiuring it sincerelie to embrace our faith which he performed Diuers persons eating att table fell into discourse of the miracles of the sainct and after many relations one of them recounted that of the glasse aforesaid exceedinglie admiring and wondring therat an other of them that was a companion and scoffer doubting of this miracle saw withered branches of a vigne wherof he tooke a handfull and in the other hand a glasse saying If Sainct Antony would make grapes to grow out of these branches and that their iuyce and liquor would fill this glasse I would hold it a miracle and then would I beeleue the former miracle you recounted Which he had no sooner spoaken but all the sprigges of the branches which this scoffing fellow held budded forth leaues and then very faire grapes which being crushed together filled the glasse with liquor and by this meane the vertue of S. Antony was acknowledged and confessed by those that formerlie derided him Sainct Antonie was become famous and reuerenced att Padua for the miracles by him there ordinarilie wrought wheratt neuerthelesse some heretiques did ordinarilie scoffe and gibe and one time they purposed publikelie to deride them and to that end presented themselues att the Church dedicated to the sainct and being before the sepulcher they began to cry and lament saying that one of them who had a hand kirchefe before his eyes which they had embrued with bloud that it might be thought his eyes were thrust out according to their crye had in a quarrell vnfortunately lost both his eyes and therfore they exhorted the people to pray for this wretched blind man who of his owne part omitted not to pray to God and fayned to inuocate the sainct cunninglie playing the hypocrite Now after they had spent about an houre vpon this subiect the blinde fellow purposed to take off his handkirchefe to make a shew first that he was cured as he cryed and protested that by this fact he might afterwardes inferre that as often as any miracles were wrought by sainct Antony they were supposed and suborned as that was But they were much amazed when they saw the two prunelles out of the Imposters eyes when as they determined and thought to deride the sainct and therfore changing their laughter into teares and their quibbes and scoffes into prayers they with such a faith humbled themselues that att length they obtayned the recouerie of their imposters sight An hereticall soldier meeting a poore leaper that went to the sepulcher of sainct Antony to be cured sayd vnto him Friend thou loosest they labour and time for I assure thee if sainct Antony euer cure thee of thy leaprosie I am content to haue it The poore Leaper yet omitted not to proceeded in his iorney and being att the sepulcher of S. Antony he fell a sleepe The S. appeared vnto him in a dreame and sayd goe and carry thy clappers to the soldier that thou mettest in the way
for he hath thy leproise as he said and bid him vse them So being awaked and finding himselfe perfectly cured he caried his clapper by commandement of the S. to the soldier whome he found full of leprosie from the head to the foot for which he very hitterly lamented and repēting what he had done vowing and recommending himselfe to the S. he deserued to be heard hauing learned by experience how great is the vertue of the Sainctes of God Of many other miracles and of the Breefe of S. Antony against the Deuils which remained in the handes of the king of Portugall THE XXXV CHAPTER IN a combatt that happened betweene two soldiers one of them was so strangely hurt in one arme that speaking humanely it was incurable att least sauing his life he could not auoyd a perpetuall mayne Now recommending himselfe to S. Antony he was presently cured the wound being so closed it as if he had neuer bin hurt But as is said of the wicked hauing past and escaped the danger they scoffe att the S. so the soldier began to consider by what meanes he might be reuenged and diuers times discoursing therof with himselfe the night before this lewd designe the said wound came into his arme as before the S. teaching him and all others that the graces and fauours of God are not to be abused against his seruice that is employed in any thing which he forbiddeth and is not pleasing vnto him as to the detriment of ones neighbour A child of Padua called Henry hauing a swelling in his neck vowed to the S. and was immediatly cured but his mother that caused him to vow not regarding to fulfill it the infirmity retourned yet repenting and accomplishing the vow her sonne was cured againe An Abbot hauing great compassion of his seruant that was deafe dumme vowed in his behalfe to S. Antony that if he would please to cure him he would employ him all his life in the seruice of his Church he was instantly cured for which he was not vngratefull for he employed him in his church all the dayes of his life in the Citty of Sautaren in the kingdome of Portugall in the raigne of Don Donis There was a poore woman who though she were very deuout to S. Antony yet being sinfull the deuill sometimes posessed her and tempted her to destroy her selfe persuading her that she could neuer satisfie God for the many sinnes she had cōmitted but by voluntary killing her selfe to this false imagination he added a false vision for the deuill appeared vnto her in forme of a crucifix telling her that for the loue she boare him he would saue her but she could hardly satisfie for her sinnes vnlesse she would voluntary murder her selfe to which purpose he coūsailed her to goe that very houre to the riuer Tage and there to drowne her selfe and promised her to receaue her att the instant into his glory This woman hauing had this vision concealed it sometime in her hart now it happened that when her husband excedingly checked and rebuked her amōg other iniuries calling her possessed with a deuill she partly in fury and dispaire procured her by her husband and partly vrged by the deuill by remembrance of the said vision resolued to drowne her selfe and with that intention departed from her house but S. Antony would not permitt such an act so vnworthy of a Christian to be perpetrated especially on such a day it being on the celebration of his feast for this miserable woman passing before his Church was inspired to enter into it which she did and thē very deuoutly prayed the S. that he would voutsafe to reueale vnto her if it were possible whither it were the will of God she should drowne her selfe or not hauing ended her prayer she slept a sweet sleep and so light that she heard the voice of the Sainct which in her dreame said vnto her looke vpon thy bosome and when thou hast read the writing thou findest there thou shalt be cured The woman presently awaking found on her bosome a bitt of parchment wherin was written in letters of Gold Ecce crucem Domini fugite partes diuersae vicit leo de tribu Iuda Alleluia Alleluia As soone as she had read the same she was entierlie freed of her temptation The king of Portugall Don Donis hauing bin aduertised of this great miracle by the husband of the woman demaunded the said Breefe or writing which was giuen him but it was strange this woman not hauing her writing the deuill began presently to vex her but hauing no meanes to demaund it againe of the king who had put it amongst his reliques hauing wrought many miracles by this breefe the husband was aduised to request a copy therof which by meane of some Religious he obtained which hauing deliuered to his wife she was all the rest of her dayes freed from the said temptation liuing securely the space of twenty yeares How he deliuered from death the Princesse of Portugall Taken out of the sixteenth chapter of the tenth booke to be more properly put in this place THe princesse Lady Aldoucia daughter of the king of Portugall and of queene Teresa by a very extreme and dangerous infirmity that tormented her approaching to her death her mother had recourse vnto sainct Antony to whome she was much deuoted most affectionately recommending her daughter vnto him and praying him to remember that he was borne in that kingdome and that as he had cured saued and raysed so many in Italy he would please also to deliuer her daughter from that danger of death Att that very instant so strong and violent a fitt of the feauer did assault the sick Princesse that euery one esteemed it her last agony But then did the Sainct appeare vnto her and said daughter God hath sent me to thee for satisfaction of the frequent prayers of thy mother to putt it to the election of thy will either to goe now with me to Paradise or for consolation of thy mother to continue longer in the world The Princesse hauing choasen the second sainct Antony deliuered her his girdle saying Well kisse this Cord which she taking in her handes and as she thought holding it fast she cryed to her mother Madame Madame come see the glorious sainct Antony whome I hold by his girdle which he hath deliuered me to kisse therby to be cured she comming and not seeing the Sainct att all found her daughter perfectly well wherfore she diuulged this miracle in the Citty of Allenquor where this happened in the Church of the Frere Minors whither she with all her Court repayred to giue thanckes to God and to his holy seruant Of certaine other miracles of sainct Antony THE XXXVI CHAPTER A Poore man being seduced by an Inchaunter that promised to procure him an instinct to know what soeuer he desired entred with him into a circle where in an instāt he saw appeare a great number of deuils who perceauing him to be
vtterly amazed and terrified did rent out his eyes and tongue and then vanished This miserable fellow hastened directly to the Church of S. Antony where repenting to haue consented to the Magician he inuocated with his hart not hauing the vse of his voice his assistance And vpon these his humble prayers in the time of high masse as the Preist sung Gloria in excelsis Benedictus qui venit in nâ—â—une Domini his two eyes were miraculously restored him which being knowne all the Citty of Padua was full of the bruit each one desiring to see him Many of the more ancient and noble of the citty held it conuenient that all the people there present should ioyne themselues in prayer that it might please God to accompany this first miracle with a second in restoring his speech To this effect they all fell on their knees offered their prayers the Masse alwayes coÌ„tinuying when the Agnus Dei was sung his tongue was also restored wherby he began with a loud voice to prayse God and his S. A Religious woman of the Order of sainct Clare hauing heard preached the rigour of the paines of Purgatory conceaued such a terrour of goeing thither that she prayed almighty God to graunt her to suffer her Pugatory in this world and so long continued in prayer that att length God heard her But being vnable any long time to support so rigorous and insupportable tormentes she discouered the cause of her afflictions to the other Religious whome she prayed to make supplication to God by the merittes of sainct Antony that he would please to moderate those so bitter tormentes which she endured and so all the Religious with such deuotion and humility applyed themselues to prayer that by the merittes of S. Antony she was eased therof thenceforward she was no more so rash as to tempt God but entierly resigned herselfe to the will of his diuine maiesty casting herselfe absolutely into his disposition The Religious Br. Bernardine of Parma by a violent catarre in his throat became dumme for cure wherof were applyed all about his neck burning cauters all which nothing auayled so that he became so feeble that putting to him a litle waxe candle lighted he could not with his breath blow it out wherfore his death and stifling being feared he was carryed to Padua where the feast of S. Antony was celebrated to visitt his sepulcher There was then a great concourse of people where in publike presence he offered his prayer shedding abondance of teares then he began to spett and to auoyd such a quantity of filthy and loathsome matter that the beholders could no longer endure it their hartes so arrising att the sight of such insupportable stuffe and withall he was cured of the catarre and recouered his speech for which he hartely praysed God and his sainct The sonne of a poore woman about tweÌ„ty monthes old called Thomasin dwelling neere the said Church fell one day vnaduisedly into a pond full of water with his head downeward and was carryed home dead His mother full of desolation hastened with great faith to the sepulcher of the sainct before which she fell on her knees beseeching him with all her soule to restore her child to life and promising euery yeare though she were needy to giue an almose to the poore in his honour of the quantity of her sonnes weight in wheat who was speedily restored to life to the exceeding amazement of all that were present who together with the mother gaue thanckes to God for the same These miracles of S. Antony are approued to be very authenticall together with three or fower which he wrought with S. Francis in whose life we haue inserted them where by the vse of the table they may be easily found for which miracles many other generally knowne may truely be said Mirabâ—lis est Deus in sanctis suis Amen The end of the Fift booke of the second part of the first volume of the Chrocles of the Frere Minors THE SIXT BOOKE OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE FRIER MINORS WHERIN ARE CONTAINED THE LIVES OF twenty particuler and speciall Disciples of the Seraphicall F. S. Francis Translated by the aforesaid The life of Br. Bernard Quintauall the eldest spirituall child of Sainct Francis Of the conuersion of Br. Bernard Quintauall and of his pouerty THE FIRST CHAPTER BROTHER Bernard Quintauall was borne att Assisium of the most noble family therin where hauing considered the strangenes of life of S. Francis his admirable contempt of worldly commodities his vnchangeable assurance his inuincible constancie in supporting iniuryes and his exceeding patieÌ„ce in enduring the troubles and laboures of this life yea seeming dailie more and more to conceaue greater contentment therin He esteemed all this could not proceed but by the will of God which he experienced as hath bin amplie declared in the eight chapter of the first booke and first volume where his conuersion is related att lardge Hauing then renounced the world and sold all he had in the marckett place of Assisium and giuen the price to the poore and beggers of IESVS CHRIST following S. Francis he deserued to be his eldest child as well in time as perfection for by speciall priuiledge he had the grace to be a true louer of pouerty And also S. Francis sometimes would say that Br. Bernard had founded his Order selling his substance to giue to the poore euen to his very apparell wherwith he was cloathed so that his first Religious habitt was made of almose then being thus naked he offered and cast himselfe into the armes of IESVS CHRIST crucified naked whome he imitated euen to his death God also by a particuler prerogatiue bestowed on him a ioyfull patience which merueillously shined in him and particulerlie in those iornyes he performed vpon obedience edifying his neigbour and exercising himselfe in vertues How Br. Bernard by the vertue of patience built a monastery att Bolonia and some others in Lombardy THE II. CHAPTER AFter the first confirmation of the Order by Pope Innocent the third and hauing receaued the precept of penitence Brother Bernard was sent by sainct Francis to Bolonia to edifie the people with examples of piety Being in that Citty the Children seeing him in so simple a habitt and so different from other Religious they followed him in the streetes crying after him reproaching him reuiling him and vsing him as a foole which he endured with immoueable patience and contentment yea to procure himselfe the greatest disgrace and dishonour for the loue of IESVS CHRIST who was so much contemned for vs he would frequent those places where was the greatest recourse of people and there the idle and loytering companious scoffed att him and flouted him as a foole But the patient and obediente seruant of God did neither resist nor complaine but shewed a pleasing and ioyfull contenance contenting himselfe for his food with a bitt of bread giuen him for the loue of God and
thus he continued for certaine dayes till it pleased our Lord to declare him to be his seruāt which by this meanes came to passe One of the noblest of the Citty who then was the Iudge seeing and considering the life of this poore Religious sayed in himselfe this man thus contemned must needes be some holy personnage in regard of his extraordinary patience And therfore he called him vnto him and hauing demaunded what he was and whence he came Brother Bernard drew out of his bosome the Euangelicall rule which sainct Francis had giuen him and which he had written no lesse in his hart then in that paper and without vsing any other wordes deliuered it vnto him The iudge hauing seene the same was stricken into an amazement and tourning towardes many that were flocked thither to heare the Religious discourse he sayd This rule doubtlesse teacheth the most strict and rigorous religious life that is in the Church and in deed this man and all his companions that lead this life represent vnto vs the Apostolicall Colledge and therfore are worthy of very great honour This being said he conducted Brother Bernard to his house with such ioy and contentment as if he had bin an Angell of heauen A litle after att his owne expences he built for him and his companions a Couent without the cittie but very neere the walles as most commodious for them He liued and dyed as a deuout Brother of the Order In this sort was Brother Bernard the first that began the Couent att Bolonia which he did not seeke to build sumptuouslle and found with much rentes and possessions but with the examples of a most profound humility and patience he built vpon the firme rocke of IESVS CHRIST who is our true and liuely foundation Br. Bernard being then thus seated att Bolonia the people by litle and litle knowing his sanctity beganne to respect him and desirouslie to heare his wordes and to admitt his Coūsailes in such sort that in a short space many did not only forsake their disordered life but also left the world becomming Frere Minors in the said monastery To be short he was generally respected of all as a sainct each one desired to see him and to kisse that habitt which formerlie they misprised but he as the true and humble disciple of Euangelicall humilitie shunning these vaine honours retourned to the holie Father sainct Francis whome he besought to send him some other where wherin the sainct was willing to gratifie him and sent him into Lombardie where he edified the people with admirable vertue and erected many monasteries and recouered an infinite nomber of soules that resolued to follow the life and profession of the gospell of IESVS CHRIST Of the pilgrimage of Brother Bernard to S. Iames in Galicia and what happened to him there THE III. CHAPTER WHen the holy Father S. Francis went into Spaine to visitt the Church of sainct Iames in Galicia he tooke Br. Bernard and certaine other of his companions with him They found in theiriorney a poore sicke personne in a place very miserable and discomfortable and vttetly abandoned there they remayned certaine dayes to haue care of him serue and comfort him But sainct Francis knowing his sicknesse would be of long continuance lefte Brother Bernard to attend him and proceeded on his pilgrimage whence retourning he found the sick man recouered and tooke Brother Bernard back with him into Italie whence shortlie after he demaunded leaue of him to visite the Apostle Sainct Iames in Galicia not hauing opportunitie to goe with him the other time and hauing accomplished his iust desire att his retourne he came to a riuer which by reason of the swiftnes and violence of the current which was very deepe he could not wade ouer wherfore he was enforced to stay att the side therof where a litle after an Angel in very actiue manner appeared vnto him and saluted him in Italian Which Brother Bernard admiring asked him if he came from Italie or whence he was wherto he answeared that he came from our Lady of Angels where he had bin to admonish Br. Helias of his temerity in desiring to make a new rule and that he had rudely shutt the gate vpon him for which God would punish him Which said he easily conducted Br. Bernard to the other side of the riuer and then incontinentlie vanished leauing Br. Bernard exceedinglie comforted who gaue thanckes to God for hauing visited and assisted him by his Angell Being att Assisium he recounted to the holy Father S. Francis and others what the Angell had tould him of Brother Helias by which meane it was knowne that he who was att the dore of the Couent of our Lady of Angels and had spoken to Brother Helyas as hath bin related in the 100. chapter of the first booke was sent of God to propose vnto him the question there sett downe to giue him occasion of amendement How Brother Bernard receaued of almighty God the grace of extaticall contemplation and of the effectes therof together with his abstinence THE IV. CHAPTER THis holy Father oftentimes retyred himselfe from the worckes and labour of the actiue life wherin he spent a good part of his time for the saluation of soules to the repose of the contemplatiue life whereby he obtained of God such a sublimitie of spiritt and clearnesse of vnderstandinge that the deepest learned diuines repayred vnto him to demaunde solution of difficult and obscure passages of the holy scripture It seemed that his soule conuersed continually in heauen Sometimes he went ouer the mountaines entierly transported in God rauished as a propheticall spiritt in manifest signe of his continuall mentall eleuation Fifteene yeares before his death as he was spiritually in heauen he had also his countenance euer lifted very high in his iornyes when he began to feele the force of spirituall extasie he would bid his companion to expect a while then would turne out of the way and seeke some tree against which to rest and so held himselfe firme and stable that his spiritt might not wander diuers wayes till the extasie were ended He one time said to that great contemplatiue Brother Giles that he made himselfe but halfe a man remayning as a woman shut vp in his Cell and not goeing abroad to teach men the right way of their saluation Brother Giles answeared him O Brother it is not permitted to all men to eat and flye as swallowes as it is to you who goeing resting not stirring and running in any place whatsoeuer doe alwayes tast the extaticall and diuine consolation For which cause sainct Francis tooke great contentment to discourse with him of matters concerning God so that to that effect they were sometimes found together in a wood both rapt in extasie where they remayned in that manner a whole night together As he one day heard Masse in the quier he was so rauished in spiritt that he remayned till the ninth hower immoueable and insensible with his eyes
a hand and he heard a voice from aboue that said vnto him Brother Leo know that without this hand thou canst performe no good thinge Which Brother Leo hauing heard entierly enflamed in diuine loue he arose on his feet and beholding heauen he diuers times thus spake with a loud voice It is true my God that if thy puissant hand doe not helpe and assist our infirmity we can doe nothing of ourselues much lesse shall we resist our ennemies and obtaine the meritt of perseuerance in thy loue and seruice The 17. chapter is put after the last of the second booke and first volume of this first part where is related a vision which Brother Leo had of the vniuersall Iudgement as being a matter appertaining to the holy Father sainct Francis How Brother Leo burned the box which Brother Helias Generall of the Order had sett at the Church dore to gather almose for the fabrique against the purity of the rule THE XVIII CHAPTER BRother Helias who after the death of sainct Francis for many yeares gouerned the Religion as General was he that very sumptuously builded the Couent of S. Francis att Assisium where Pope Gregory the ninth layd the first stone the almose of the people of Assisium not sufficing for so great an edifice Brother Helias seeking all meanes possible to find mony for the worck sett a box att the Church dore with this inscription The almose for the sabriqâ—e which many good Religious hauing seene and especially Brother Leo in regard that it was a thing directly against the obseruance of the purity of their rule being zealous of the Euangelicall Pouertie they repaired to the venerable Brother Giles to consult with him and to aduise together by what meanes they might preuent this inconuenience who answeared that he dwelt att our Lady of Angels and therfore though one built a Couent as great as the Citty of Assisium he would notwithstanding be content to remaine wher he was and that was all his care But Brother Leo not satisfied with this answeare they added we haue a purpose to burne that box what think you of it Brother Giles then with teares of his eyes replyed If Brother Helias be dead you may doe so but if he liue lett him proceed for you will hardly endure his persec ution But Brother Leo and his companions leauing Brother Giles tooke the box and burned it which Brother Helias vnderstanding and being extremely vexed therwith he very cruelly disciplined them all and hauing detayned theÌ„ some time in prison he banished them from Assisium for which and other like matters the Pope put Brother Helias from his Prelature as we haue formerly related in the life of S. Antony of Padua Of certaine miracles and of the death of the glorious Brother Leo THE XIX CHAPTER WHiles Brother Leo resided att our Lady of Angels it happened that a poore woman of Assisium dyed in trauaile of child whose mother was also a very poore old widdoe who being much afflicted att the death of her daughter and not knowing how to bring vp the litle infant that was left vnto her she went to brother Leo for his counsaile to whome with teares discouering her greife she moued him to haue compassion of her misery so that he went and with feruour offred his prayers demaunding of God assistance for that so desolate poore old womaÌ„ His prayer ended he sayd vnto her Goe good woman and putt the child to thy breast and hope that almighty God will giue thee the milke that he would haue giuen the mother of the child Though this old woman was much amazed att this speech yet the infant being present she obeyed for she offered her breastes vnto it which were found very full of milke to relieue the child And the same continued as long as there was vse for it and the child attayning to competentage beame a man of the church He often recounted that he had bin miraculously nursed by the merittes of Brother Leo. This seruant of God meeting a yong man in the way and beholding his countenance sayd vnto him thou shalt be one of our Religious which wordes had such efficacie in his hart that he could neuer apply himselfe to any thing till he became a Frere Minor A woman of Codale in the vally of Spoletum hauing an apostume in her brest which ordinarily yelded forth corruption and being void of all helpe that might any way releiue her she repaired to Brother Leo with great deuotion praying him to make the signe of the crosse one the place greiued which being done the apostume vanished so that no apparance remayned therof A yong man being exceedingly afflicted with the falling sicknes and a continuall feauer did secretly cutt of a peece of the habitt of Brother Leo out of the great deuotion he carryed towardes him which hauing layd on his neck he was presently cured but hauing lost it the said infirmity retourned yet hauing gotten an other peece he was perfectly cured againe A man of Treuy being by commandement of the gouernour of Spoletum imprisoned and enchained he recommended himselfe to the prayers of Brother Leo who was att our Lady of Angels who appeared vnto him about the time of noone and in presence of all that were there vnchayned him then drew him out of prison and commanded him to goe as a Pilgrime to our Lady of Angels which hauing performed he there found Brother Leo att whose feet prostrating himselfe he thancked him for the great singuler fauour receaued of him But he answeared him that he should only thancke the Virgin Mary whose feast of her holy purification was celebrated that day Our lord wrought many other miracles by the merittes of his seruant Brother Leo to manifest his sanctity to the world which would be too tedious to be inserted That holy Father Brother Ruffinus and Brother Angel us by commandement of their generall composed the legend of sainct Francis which was afterward called the legend of three companions wherof the most worthy and remarckable hauing bin extracted and put in other histories of sainct Francis the same was afterwardy lost Brother Leo att length hauing in vertue and sanctity accomplished his dayes he left the desert of the world and retired to his celestiall contry He was enterred att Assisium in the Church of S. Francis The life of Brother Siluester Of the conuersation merittes and death of Br. Syluester THE XX. CHAPTER THe good Father Br. Siluester was the first preist that entred into the Religion of S. Francis In the first booke and first volume of this first part we haue sett downe his conuersion and how he became a Frere Minor This was his eleuenth disciple who so encreased and profited in the vertue of sanctity that he discoursed and conuersed with God as ordinarily one freind doth with an other which S. Francis often experienced and diuers times gaue testimony therof as when he reuealed vnto him that the will of God was
I hope being conformable vnto his will he will afford me the same All this is spoaken to lett you vnderstand what were the cogitatiōs and what the desires of the first Fathers of the Order of S. Francis what were their gold their siluer theirtichesse and their treasures such were their practises and negotiations to witt to learne only the meane to obtaine the perfection of vertues which are the merchandise wherwith is purchaced the kingdome of heauen and are the precious stones which the wise and spirituall merchant should seeke and the treasure for purchase wherof he should not only sell all he hath in the world but euen the desires of whatsoeuer he may haue as also all temporall tast and selfe will eating drincking and sleeping and by meane of very strict abstinence of mortifications watchinges teares and prayers they obtayned of God the vertues which they demaunded and hauing obtayned them doe possesse and conserue them to the great glory of God to the profitt of their soules and to the exceeding edification of their neighbour Of the counsaile which Br. Macie gaue to a murmurer to correct his fault THE XXV CHAPTER THere was a very deuout man that ordinarily frequēted the Couent of the Frere Minors of Cybotoly neere Perusia and discoursing with the Religious he alwayes murmured att the sinnes of his neighbours committed in his Citty Br. Macie hauing often times heard him could no longer endure him for hauing formerly forborne him in respect of the presence of the Guardian att length he drew him a part and sayd My sonne I beseech you take the consaile that I giue you as from one of yeares Haue alwayes before your eyes and in your mouth the life of the holy and vertuous and alwayes speake of their good conditions for doeing so if thou be euill thou wilt become good and if thou be good thou wilt therby become better But be not delighted yea shunne with all possible care to speake or heare spoaken of the sinnes and defectes of your neighbour for att length of good you will become euill and of bad farre worse and will doe the same you heard spoaken of them These pious wordes did not a litle profitt this miserable man in regard that Brother Macie had such a grace of deliuery that whatsoeuer he spake was to each one gratefully accepted and imprinted in the hearer Wherfore S. Francis describing a perfect Frere Minor among other conditions he must haue would he say the religious and good conceite the naturall science and spirituall eloquence of Brother Macie Of the prayer of Brother Macie and of his holy death THE XXVI CHAPTER BRother Macie was a Religious exceedingly addicted to prayer yea more then any other shedding therin day and night abondance of teares as to al his Brethrē was most manifest He did eat only once a day which was towardes the euening the night being come he tooke his rest about midinght he arose and continued in prayer till day in which the other Religious heard him often to repeat these wordes My Lord IESVS CHRIST giue me if thou please true contrition of my sinnes and giue me grace to amende and to satisfie thee according to thy holy will which wordes he neuer ceassed to repeat till he bathed and dissolued in teares in the morning hauing heard masse he retyred into his cell and singing with a very deuout tune would say My Lord IESV CHRIST permitt me I beseech thee to feare thee and to loue thee with all my hart then falling to prayer he was heard often to repeat vh vh vh with a contented ioyfull and feruent voice In his contemplation his countenance was alwayes very pleasing and ioyfull Brother Iames of Falerone a Religious of exceeding piety demaunding of him one day because he had often seene and heard him in this spirituall ioy to vtter those wordes without chaunge why he did not varifie his tune he redily answeared because finding all good and contentment in one thing it is not needfull to change the tune Thus this holy Father replenished with many graces and merittes passed from this temporall life to the celestiall and eternall and was buryed in the Church of sainct Francis att Assisium where were his other companions some are of opinion that his body lyeth att Mur in the Marquisat of Ancona The liues of the holy Brethren Brother Zacharie and Brother Walter How Brother Zacharie and Brother Walter were by commandement of the holly Father sainct Francis sent into Portugall and of the first Monastery they founded there THE XXVII CHAPTER BRother Zacharie and Brother Walter were sent by the holy F. S. Francis with some other Religious into Portugall there by their preachinges and good examples to conuert sinners to penance where being arriued they were ill treated and entertained as well because they were strangers as for the nouelty of their habitt theire defect of the Spanish tongue was cause that they were not gratefully heard and that they did not willingly discourse and hauing no letters or patentes of the approbation of their rule and profession they could no where be receaued for the Portugals feared that they might be some heretikes of Italy where then were many so that these good Religious were constrayned to repaire vnto the queene Vraca the wife of Alfonsus the second to whome they recounted their persecution and prayed her to bestow on them some litle church or chappel where they might securely remaine and celebrate the diuine seruice This queene hauing graciously entertayned them she curiously enformed her selfe of their life estate and rule and the cause of their comming into Portugall and resting at length sufficiently assured that they were the true seruantes of IESVS CHRIST and professours of the obseruation of the Euangelicall life she procured for them of the king a litle place nere vnto the Citty of Conimbria among the hermitages there and also permission to goe to Lisbone and to the cittye of Guimaranes where the reputation of their sanctity being spred came euen to the Princes Saucia sister to the said king Alfonsus a very deuoute lady and enclined to all vertues who had cōsecrated her virginity to IESVS CHRIST dwelt in the Citty of Alenquer She exceedingly desiring to see and know these Frere Minors which were so much spoaken of sent for thē and hauing heard thē discourse of God and obserued remarked their spirit vertue would not permitt them to depart from her but lodged them in her owne pallace and assigned them a Church neere to the water where there were many poore celles such as they required and there did they remayne with out desire of any other or consent to haue them bettered they being proper to the true life of these perfect poore of our Lord the first founder of the sacred Religion of S. Francis The place which these first Religious possessed is now the Church of saincte Catherine att the foot of the Citty of Alenquer as is found
recorded Of the sanctity and miracles of Brother Zachary who was the first Guardian of the Couent of Alenquer and of his death THE XXVIII CHAPTER THe said Monastery being thus founded with exceeding pouerty and sanctity by the vertue and exemplar life of the sayd disciples of the glorious Father sainct Francis and namely of Brother Zachary as being the most notable in all vertues This holy Father zealous towardes God in worckes of charity in watchinges and prayers did often offer his prayers before a Crucifix which was after in the Chapiter of the said Couent of Alenquer till the yeare 1414. by which our Lord aduertised him of many thinges as well concerning his owne as his neighbours welfare The consolation and spirituall ioy which he receaued of this image was such as he could not leaue it but with great greife Brother Zacharie being Guardian it one day happened that there were but two loaues of bread in al the Couent the hower of refection being come he enioyned all the brethren to prayer then commanded them to sitt downe att table and the sayd loaues to be portioned among all the Religious and att the same instant there appeared an Angell att their gate in forme of a beautifull yong man who brought them as many loaues as there were persons in the Monastery his grace and beauty was such as could be imagined He calling for the Guardian gaue it vnto him who with the other Religious knowing this present to come to them from the hand of God who hauing care of all his creatures neuer forgetteth his true poore they gaue him thanckes for it Many kept of this bread as a holy relique but namely the Princesse Saucia who would haue her part therof Preaching on a time with great zeale of the faith of IESVS CHRIST and of the saluation of soules one that was incredulous being partly contrite and conuerted by his sermon would afterwardes confesse vnto him but by all the industry the good Father could deuise he could not rid him of his doubtes touching the Blessed sacrament of the Eucharist Art length hauing an exceeding desire to saue his soule he sayd vnto him Sith thou canst not be cured by the wordes of God come againe to morrow in the morning with the greatest deuotion thou canst and perhappes it will please our Lord IESVS CHRIST to illuminate and confirme thee by his diuine presence and so dismissing him and that day ended the Sainct spent all that night in deuotion praying God to voutsafe to illuminate and confirme this poore man in the holy faith The next morning he celebrated masse this man being present with great deuotion but the wordes of consecration being vttered he saw the sacred host conuerted into flesh and so continuyng till the Preist was ready to communicate and then he saw it retourne to the forme of an host as before the consecration This admirable vision entierly cleered his soule of all doubtes he had and fully confirmed him in the Catholike faith This glorious Father att length yelding vp his soule it ascended to heauen and his body was buryed on the right side of the crosse of the Church of the said Couent in Alenquer with his other companions and the holy disciples of the glorious Father sainct Francis The inhabitants of Alenquer att this present take the earth of that sepulcher and with great reuerence apply it to the sicke who therby recouer their health Of a Religious that was disciple to sainct Francis in the Couent of Alenquer THE XXIX CHAPTER AMong all the Religious that were sent by the holy Father saint Francis to the said Couent of Alenquer there was one very deuout and solitary that flying especially all conuersation and discourses with women spent almost all his time in prayer Now it happened that one of the ladyes of the Princes Saucia called Mary Gracia noting this Religious to be so spirituall began to haue perticuler deuotion vnto him and therfore she desired to haue some conference witht him But this holy Religious refusig all acquaintance and speech with any women shunned her with all endeauour Neuertheles it once happened that the Lady and the Religious in such sort met each with other that the Religious could not without discurtesie auoyd to speake vnto her for she much vrged him therto but he sayd vnto her Madame I beseech you before I spake vnto you cause to be brought hither some straw with fier which hauing don he willed her to putt the straw the fier together the lady hauing so dō the straw presētly burned the Religious then sayd vnto her Madame what issue you haue seene the straw to haue with the fier the like belieue me hath the seruant of God with a woman speaking with her without necessity Whereat this lady was so shamefully amazed that leauing this good Religious she neuer more insinuated herselfe by her curious deuotion to trouble him Wherfore as this holy Religious perseuered in vertues so att the end of his life his dead body was endowed with such a beauty and splendour that all the Religious both admired and reioyced exceedingly therby hauing more perfect assurance of his sanctity Att the instant of his death S. Antony of Padua who then was Canon Reguler in the monastery of S. Crosse in Conimbria celebrating the masse saw in spirit the soule of this Religious mount into the aire and gloriously to ascend into Paradise hauing first passed Purgatory as a bird that flyeth swiftly Of the life sanctity death and miracles of Br. Walter and of the ancient custome of Portugall to record matters that happened by the yeares of Augustus Caesar THE XXX CHAPTER THe vertue and sanctity of Br. Walter disciple of S. Francis are yet of great fame he hauing so piously and exemplarly liued that in a short time he drew al the neighbour contrye to be friendes to his Order he also conuerted them from many vices and sinnes wherto the inhabitantes therof were much enclined and addicted and exercised them in vertues It is sayd that this holy Father being dead and enterred there issued out of his tombe an oyle of such vertue as it cured many diseases and perseuered till his body was transported to the great Couent neere to the said citty The day of his death which was the second of August was a long time festiually solemnised and in regard of the great concourse of people that from euery where repayred thither to honour and reuerence the holy reliques there was kept a generall faire A long time after the Frere Minors hauing built their Couent very neere the citty the Canons resolued to steale from them this holy body but though to this purpose they came thither with a great nomber of men and afterwardes with strength of oxen to draw away the tombe of the sayd S. entier neuertheles they could not so much as lift vp the reliques alone out of the tombe by what soeuer forcible endeauour nor much lesse
that according to the etymologie of his name he carryed IESVS CHRIST in his body by penance in his hart by seruent prayers and in his mouth by diuine prayses and wordes of his law which he imprinted in the memory of sinners And God by many miracles which he wrought by him would demonstrate how gratefull his worckes were vnto him and of what vertue and efficacie his prayers were before his diuine maiesty Being in the citty of Cahors in France a child of eight yeares old called Remond afflicted with so greiuous a disease that he was esteemed neere his end S. Christopher att the instancie of his mother prayed for him and hauing made the signe of the crosse and layd his hand vppoÌ„ the child he presently spake calling his mother who came with great ioy and gaue him to eat and so by the prayer of this holy Religious against all humane hope and apparance he was cured In the same citty an other child called Peter could not moue his right arme nor his foot and besides had almost lost his sight so that he was generally iudged as dead This holy Father att the request of the mother came to visitt him and read the gospell ouer him then made the signe of the crosse from his head to his feet and the child was instantlie cured A man of the same citty hauing bin long time afflicted with the falling sicknes prayed the holy Father to giue him his benediction which hauing receaued he was entierly cured of the said infirmity A woman of Sauueterre in the same citty was exceedinglie vexed with a fieuer and hauing great deuotion to the holy Father she sent vnto him to come visitt her which he hauing performed and prayed for her she was cured by the signe of the crosse A Priest that was very sicke drincking of the holy water giuen him by Br. Christopher that visited him was instantly cured Againe in the Bishopprick of Cahors a woman hauing left her child in the field whiles she was reaping corne by a sodaine sinister accident he became dumme The mother hauing carryed him to diuers churches recommended him to God by the inuocation of many sainctes the child found no cure Att length full of confidence and deuotion she presented him to this holy Father who hauing made his prayer and the signe of the crosse vpon him he restored him to his mother speaking as before and shee giuing thanckes to God and his seruant retourned full of consolation vnto her house Of the spiritt of prophetie and of some other miracles wrought by this glorious seruant of Iesus Christ THE LI. CHAPTER THere was without the citty of Cahors a very high mountaine by which this holy Father passing one day he saw many men and women on the banck of the riuer that ran vnder the sayd mountaine employed in diuers actions Br. Christopher sayd vnto theÌ„ Fly ye all from this place and that instantly for the mountaine will incontinently fall some of them seeing no appearance laughed first att this admonition Yet the sanctity of this good Father being manifestly knowen they all retired from that place which they had scarcely done but a great part of the mountaine fell downe without hurting any person wherfore they all gaue thanckes to God for the benefitt receaued and were the more deuout vnto this sainct A woman of the sayd citty hauing bin afflicted with a longe infirmity was visited by the sainct whome she prayed to obtaine of God for her either that he would please to restore her health or by death to deliuer her from such extreme anguishes This holy Father answeared her feare not but take courage my daughter for on such a day att the third houre thou shalt depart out of this life On the sayd day he expresly retourned att the same houre whome she seeing sayd vnto him Father that which you told me seemeth not to be accomplished he replyed doubt not my daughter for it shall incontinently be accomplished as in deed it was For as they did ring att the third houre this woman being coÌ„fessed and hauing performed what belonged to a Christian in the presence of this holy Father and of many others yelded her spiritt to our Sauiour This seruant of God in Marseilles saw two men in guise of Phisitians comming to visitt one that was sicke but knowing in spiritt that this sick person was in estate of mortall sinne and that the seeming Phisitians were two deuils he made the signe of the crosse against them and they instantly vanished then the holy Father admonishing the sick party he sincerely confessed his sinnes and being contrite and comforted with a quiett conscience he happely departed from this life to a better In the sayd citty a good deuout woman had a very auaricious husbaÌ„d and sparing in worckes of mercy whervpon she complayned to this holy Father that she had nothing to giue in almose but wine The S. bid her giue securely of that wine for the loue of God This woman obeyed him giuing therof to all poore that had need in such sort that there was not much left in the vessell her husband drincking knew by the tast of this wine that it was very low and neere the lyes wherfore he grew into choler with his wife examining her what was become of his wine she full of trembling answeared that there was yet much in the vessell The husband sent his seruant to be truely enformed what quantity was left she found the vessell full euen to the bung wherof she with great ioy incontinently aduertised her master which reuiued the soule of his wife that was dying with feare and thervpon she boldly recounted all to her husband who resolued thenceforward to be more charitable towardes the poore attributing the present miracle to the merittes of the glorious Br. Christopher and to the vertue of charity whose worckes our Lord doth not only recompence in the other world but euen in this also Of the glorious death of Br. Christopher THE LII CHAPTER AFter that almighty God had ennobled and enriched his seruant Christopher with many merittes and miracles and by the example of his holy life had singulerly planted the rule and Order of the Frere Minors in diuers places of France where he caused the erecting of many Couents which he furnished with Religious of holy life and exemplare conuersation he would att length recompence him with eternall reward as he ordinarily doth those that faithfully labour in the vigneyard of his holy Church The night when he passed from this miserable life to that which is blessed all the Religious being assembled about his bed he made them a long discourse of the kingdome of God exhorting them to perseuer with purity in his holy seruice they then demaunded his benediction which he gaue them very affectionatly in the name of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST then recommending his spiritt to his Creator he rendred it vnto him and his body remayned so â—elligiously composed that he
seemed to sleep He dyed in the citty of Cahors the yeare of grace 1272. hauing spent fifteen yeares in the Order of the Frere Minors att six of the clock att night the Eue of Alsaintes to reigne eternally with them Att the very houre of his death two Religious women ancient both in Relligion and vertues did testifie to haue heard Angelicall musike exceedingly mellodious accompanying the soule of this worthy seruant of God vnto heauen A man of the third Order of that citty in a vision saw the soule of this glorious Father att the hower of his departure carryed by Angels with great ioy into Paradise The same night a Burgesse of Cahors called Peter saw in vision the soule of this holy Father sitting on a very resplendant couch that did spread and sparckle glittering beames as the sunne of whome demaunding who he was I am said he the soule of Br. Christopher that haue left my body on earth and am goeing to heauen This man sodenly awaked and arising likewise awakened all his familie to whome he recounted his vision then went to the monastery where he found the body of the holy Father alredy according to the custome carryed into the Church thence to be enterred else where The day following the death of this holy Father being diuulged there repayred such a coÌ„course of people to see this blessed body that he could not be taken out of the handes of those that desired to touch him to kisse teare off part of his habitt to keepe for reliques and to demaund some grace of God by the merittes of him that had worne it This body being with much a doe att length takeÌ„ out of the Church embalmed with precious liquours and aromaticall oyntments it was on the third day putt in a coffin of wood and enterred in the Church of the Frere Minors with great solemnity and reuerence Of the dead raysed by the inuocation of this sainct THE LIII CHAPTER ALmighty God voutsafed also to demoÌ„strate the exceeding great miracles which by the merittes of this his gratefull seruant he wrought in the bishopprick of Cahors for a mother hauing casually left her child vpon a bridge he fell into the water and was drowned The mother seeing her child dead filled all the village with compassion of the sorrow and griefe which by her extreme lamentation she did discouer Att length she had recourse to S. Christopher to whome she vowed to visitt his sepulcher and to present vnto it an image of waxe if he would raise her sonne The vow being made the child began to moue his lippes then to open his eyes and by the merittes of such an intercessour in presence of many people he retourned to life and â—afety A creature being wrested dead out of the mothers wombe was restored to life by the prayers and intercessions of this sainct who was exceedingly importuned and induced thervnto by those that were present In the same citty a mother had layd her child of two yeares old in bed betweene her husband and her selfe but awaking she found the child smothered and dead after many regreets she made vow to S. Christopher that if by his intercession the child might reuiue she would carrie it to his sepulcher and there would present a light and image of waxe Which vow being made the child began to gape then to moue the armes and att length opening his eyes it retourned to life In the same citty and after the same manner the S. being inuocated for a dead child by the father who was deuout vnto him in these tearmes O saint of God rayse my daughter and I promise thee to carry her to thy sepulcher where I will offer there an altare cloth and an image of waxe she vpon this vow retourned to life and the Father and others present gaue thanckes to almighty God and to the S. In a towne called Concet neere to the said citty there was a youg man so weakened with a continuall feauer that he was generally esteemed for dead no motion could be perceaued in him not so much as of his pulse wherfore his mother in extreme affliction perceauing all humane helpe to faile had recourse to almighty God whome she inuocated by the merittes of S. Christopher of whome she had heard many miracles recounted to restore her sonnes health vowing to carry him to his sepulcher there to present an altare cloth and an image of wax The effect was admirable for the presenting of her vow being finished he began to amend and in short time was entierly cured to the great astonishment and content of all his friendes and kinred who fayled not to giue thanckes to God and to accomplish their vow Health was also restored to an other yong man called Iohn desperatly sick att Cahors in the manner aforesayd A Relligious of the Order of S. Clare called Sister Mary being so extremely weakened with sicknes that she could not remoue her selfe in her bed nor much lesse take her rest therin she expected only death but hauing heard it reported that the holy Father Christopher was deceassed and that he wrought infinite miracles she bitterly lamenting presented vnto him this request O holy Father that hast often heard my confession pray vnto almighty God if thou please that I may recouer my health to serue him Which spoaken she fell into a sweet sleep from whence the next morning she awakened full of comfort and consolation and went to the quier to communicate with her other sisters who theratt were much amazed and afterwardes they all together gaue thanckes to the omnipotent bounty of God and to his holy intercessour by whose merittes he so compassionatly assisteth those that addresse their petitions vnto him Of other miracles wrought in the cure of many dangerous and incurable diseases THE LIV. CHAPTER VPon the Mount Abban in the bishopprick of Cahors a child reduced neere vnto death and his mother extremely afflicted by dispaire of her sonnes recouery which hauing exceedingly weakened her by the great wearines of labour that this sicknesse causer her she fell into a litle sleep wherin she heard a voice that sayd vnto her Woman feare no more but make a vow for thy sonne to S. Christopher and God by his merittes will cure him This woman awaking and hauing made her vow her sonne was cured and the mother carryed him to the sepulcher of the sainct wher she thancked God and her Intercessour for it A woman of the said citty of Cahors called Valeria was so sick that the Phisitians iudged her as dead and withall had alredy lost her speech and the motion of all her members and was as black as pitch a priest also comming to heare her confession was constrayned to retourne without vsing his function for she could neither speake heare nor make any signes But her kinred and freindes that were present greiued att the losse of a woman whome they cordially loued fell deuoutly on their knees lifted vp their ioyned
art she that teachest vs the way of our saluation and directest vs in the right and secure path wherin â—e that walketh cannot stray but he that seeketh and followeth another shall only find therin an eternall damnation He was present att masse with exceeding feruour All sondayes and solemne feastes he receaued his Creatour and employed those dayes entierly in contemplation of the grace receaued for goeing very early into the church he would there remayne all the day in the company rather of Angels and Saincts theÌ„ of men Celebrating the feast of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST and many other times in the feruour of his prayer he hath bin seene rapt in extasie and eleuated aboue the ground the hight of three handfuls or a foot and a halfe Of other such extasies of spiritt recorded of the glorious Sainct FIue Prouincials did at one time with great deuotion and reuerence visitt this blessed Father with Br. Gratian his companion who aduertised him of their arriuall vpon knoledge wherof he preseÌ„tly mett them and hauing graciously entertayned them he with great feruour of spiritt began to speake vnto them and beholding the heauen with his armes opened as to play on a viole he sung in this manner O Br. make a castell hauing in it neither stone nor iron O my Br. build me a citty without lime or stone and thus singing he was rapt in extasie The said Prouincials knew not the signification of the wordes But Br. Gratian told them that by the castels and citties he meant the holy Apostles and martyrs of the Primitiue church who without the armour of iron and without the helpe of any temporall matter generously builded the house of God in soules which zeale and intention had Br. Giles renouncing temporalities to become a castell of the liuing God and a glorious citty not of temporall building or substance but spirituall of pouerty and diuine loue And because they as Prouincials of the Religion were captaines and furtherers of this worck he by this song gaue them a notable document of their duety in their vocation and office This holy Father being in the monastery of Agele by Perusia he after supper made an exhortation to the Religious in the refectory with his ordinary feruour and with such sweetnes that he enflamed the hartes of all his audience in diuine loue yea his owne also in such sort that he was rauished and out of himselfe in the middest of his BrethreÌ„ where he so continued till the cock-crowing and in the meane time he shined with such a spleÌ„dour which enuironed him that the brightnes of the moone which then was in full was so obscured that the shining therof being darckned by this new light she appeared not in that place which put the Religious in admiration who gaue thanckes to our lord for the admirable worckes demonstrated in his seruant Brother Giles one day thus reasoned with S. Bonauenture who was Generall of the Order Father God hath bestowed many fauours on you that are learned for you haue knoledge of many matters by which you prayse him But what shall we doe to saue our selues we I say that ar ignorant and idiots S. Bonauenture answeared if God had giuen no other grace to men but only ability to loue him it would suffice because loue is more gratefull to God then any other thing that can be offered vnto him Brother Giles herevpon replyed Tell me Father if you please can an ignorant person loue God as much as one learned he can said S. Bonauenture yea I say more a simple and poore old fellow may loue our lord as much as a Doctour in diuinity Vpon these wordes Br. Giles went with great feruour into the garden and tourning towardes the towne he cryed out Poore and caitiue old wretch ignorant idiot and simple loue thy Redeemer IESVS CHRIST and thou mayest be greater then Br. Bonauenture Which sayd he remayned three houresrapt in extasie Of an admirable dispute held by Br. Giles touching free will against Br. Gerardin in the presence of many Religious THE XV. CHAPTER THe venerable Br. Giles being in the Couent of Perusia a Romane gentlewomaÌ„ called SeaueÌ„-Sunnes that was very deuout to S. Francis both in his life time and after his death for she made her residence att Assisium to beneere vnto his sepulcher came to visitt him to receaue some consolation of his energicall doctrine there did she find Brother Gerardin a Religious of exemplar life and very learned together with some other very spirituall Religious who also came to visitt Brother Giles to heare of him some spirituall exhortation Thus discoursing together they fell into dispute vpon a certaine passadge of holy scripture And among many other sentences alleadged by Br. Giles for proofe of what he maintained this was one He that doeth not what he can often endureth that which he would not Br. Gerardin desirous to entertaine Br. Giles in discourse to gratifie the coÌ„pany and for his particuler coÌ„tentment thus begaÌ„ scolastically to argumeÌ„t against him Br. I much admire that you affirme that a man endureth what he would not if he doe not what he can considering that a man can doe nothing of himselfe which is proued by many reasons wherefore I say that the power presupposeth the being so that the action of the thing be according to its being And so much doe the wordes of the Apostle signifie where he sayth If any man esteeme himself to be something wher as he is nothing he seduceth himselfe whence ensueth that a man cannot doe any thing sith he is nothing which I will proue vnto you also by an other reason If a man of himselfe doe any thing it is either by his soule or by his body or by both together Now I will proue that he can doe nothing by meane of any of theÌ„ First he can doe nothing by meane of the soule alone for it is most cleare that the soule separated from the body can neither meritt nor demeritt neither can he doe more by meane of the body only because the body receaueth all his operation of his forme and without the soule it hath no humane being so that much lesse can it worcke which is a thinge proper to the forme and finally yet lesse can he doe by meane of the composition that is of the body and soule vnited together and if he could doe any thing it should be by meane of the soule But I haue proued that the soule being separated from the body can doe nothing and now I affirme that it can much lesse vnited with her body because the body being corruptible chardgeth and burdeneth it as for example if a beast cannot goe vnloaden much lesse can it vnder a burthen Thus Br. Gerardin made his argument appeare very probable which procured to the audience an amazement and confusion But Br. Giles very prudently answeared My good Br. and friend beleeue I pray you that you haue spoaken amisse wherfore acknowledge therin
espouse had raceaued the habitt and ensignes of holy penitence before the altar of the most sacred virgin Mary the humble seruante was accepted by IESVS CHRIST for his espouse and the glorious Father sainct Francis conducted her to the Monastery of sainct Paul in Assisium where were Religious women of the Order of S. Bennet there to remayne till almighty God prouided an other Monastery How much the kinred of S. Clare laboured to retire her from Religion and how she was conducted to S. Damian THE V. CHAPTER THe kinred of this holy virgin vnderstanding what she had done and the bruit of her resolution being diuulged ouer all the citty many of the kinred and friendes of her Father and mother assembled and consulted to preuent this vertuous virgin of her holy resolution and comming to the monastery of the Religious of sainct Bennet whither she was retyred they purposed to execute by violence what they could not compasse by humane reasons trying their forces against that meeke lambe of IESVS CHRIST and by their malice and peruerse counsaile seeking to delude that simple doue then did they make her deceitfull promises exhorting her to retyre her selfe from such base condition and abiection demonstrating vnto her that it was a matter vnworthy her noble discent and that neuer the like happened in the citty But the virgin firme and stable in IESVS CHRIST approaching to the Altar discouered her hairelesse head alleadging that she could no more be separated from the seruice of IESVS CHRIST for whose loue she had already forsaken all the world and themselues also and the more they tormented her the more was her hart enflamed in the loue of IESVS CHRIST he supplying her with new forces to resist Thus for many dayes together disturbed with many iniuryes she endured great contradictions in the way of God and albeit her kinred perseuered in their attemptes to withdraw her from her pious designe her feruour yett did neuer wax cold nor her hart feeble but on the contrary so many iniurious wordes and violent threates did so confirme her confidence in God that her kinred were constrayned to forbeare any more to vexe and disquiett her retyring themselues as all ashamed and confounded Thus did almighty God make appeare how much the power of those that are his though of themselues feeble did exceed the strong and puissant of the world But in regard that her soule had not perfect repose in that place she was by the holy Father sainct Francis placed in the Church of sainct Damian there as in secure harbour she cast the anchor of her soule without euer chaunging place neither in respect of the great restraint therof nor for feare of solitude this church being without the citty This was the Church in reparation wherof the glorious Father S. Francis laboured in the beginning of his conuersion and where also he offered mony to the Chappelaine to repaire it this holy Father being also in this church and praying with abondance of teares merited to heare the voice of the crucifix before which he was that thrise reiterated vnto him Goe Francis and repaire my house which as thou seest is ready to fall The glorious virgin Clare for the loue of her heauenly Spouse shutt her selfe vp in that litle place and there imprisonned her selfe during her life sequestring her body from the turbulent tempest of the world This siluered doue there building her nest in the concauities of that church engendred the colledge of Virgins of our Lord IESVS CHRIST there institued a holy Couent and gaue a beginning to the Order of poore Religious women and thus being setled in the way of penance she battered the hard turfes of her members with the coulter of the crosse and perfectly sowed the seed of sanctity and iustice making with her very soule steppes and traces of vertuoue progresse for thē that were to follow her How the Virgin Agnes sister to S. Clare was by her feruent prayes conuerted and of the persecutions she endured by her kinred and how she was miraculously freed of them THE VI. CHAPTER SAincte Clare had a yonger sister who both in regard of bloud and of pouerty was really her sister she exceedingly desiring the conuersion of this yong virgin neuer failed in her most feruent deuotions which in her first dayes she offered to almighty God the most deuoutly she possibly could with a perfect affection to beseech him that as she had liued with her sister in the world there might be also betweene them a vnion of body and will in his seruice most instantly Importuning him to make appeare to her sister whome she had left in her mothers house what a notorious deluder the world is and how full of discontentment and on the contrary how sweet and contentfull is IESVS CHRIST and that consequently he would please to change her desired resolution of carnall marriage and cause her to embrace the vniō of diuine loue and to take for Spouse the king of glory Now in regard that our lord had already setled such an amity betweene these twoo sisters that their separation was afflictiue and troublesome vnto them though then their desires and willes were farre different he made no delay to fauour this his deuout suppliant euen in this first petition which she so instantly required of him and which his diuine Maiesty so readily granted Sixteene dayes then after her conuersion her sister Agnes inspired of God with a strong and prompt resolution gaue a slipp and farwell to the world and came to her sister Clare to whome discouering the secrett of her hart she sayd she was resolued to serue God in her company Which the glorious Clare vnderstanding she most amiably embraced her and with a very ioyfull and contented countenance sayd My most deere sister I giue infinite thanckes to our lorde IESVS CHRIST that it hath pleased him to heare me and deliuer me from the affliction I endured for your sake This noble conuersion of Agnes by the prayers of her Sister Clare was seconded by as many contradictions of her kinred for these blessed sisters seruing our lord IESVS CHRIST and imitating his steppes she that had most tast of God and was in highher progresse instructing her sister Nouice their kinred knowing that Agnes was with her sister Clare twelue men of their neerest bloud as Brothers Vncles and Cosen germanes assembled to assault them and to combat the espouses IESVS CHRIST The day following then with an extreme rage and fury they came to these holy virgins yett att their first comming dissembling their lewd intension they shewed them some fauourable countenance then addressing them selues to the virgin Agnes dispairing of all opinion to withdraw S. Clare from her holy purpose they demaunded of her wherfore the was retyred into that place then willed her to deliberate and resolue to retourne with them to her fathers house Wherto she answeared that she was resolued the grace of God assisting her to remayne with
for the passion of IESVS CHRIST kept her sometimes out of her selfe and the internall loue which she had imprinted in her hart in manner continually represented vnto her IESVS CHRIST crucified She ordinarily gaue exāple by worckes of what she taught her Religious by wordes For admonishing them often and instructing them secretly touching some exercise before she had ended her discourse she was seene to power out of her eyes abondance of teares Among the houres of the diuine office that are sung in the Church she was present with greatest deuotion att the Sixt and ninth by reason that att such houres she was crucified with her Redeemer IESVS CHRIST The holy Virgin retyring one time to her priuate deuotion after the ninth houre the deuill came to her and did beat her outragiously and euen did so hurt her in the face that her eye was all bloud-shott and the signe remayned on her cheeke but S. Clare omitted nor for that to perseuer in her prayer And to the end she might with the more deuotion apply herselfe to the cōtentmentes which she conceaued in mediating of IESVS CHRIST crucified she ordinarily contemplated the mistery of the fiue woundes and therfore she learned by hart the office of the crosse as the true louer of the crosse S. Fancis had taught her She accustomed to weare against her naked flesh a girdle of thirteene knottes wherto also were litle stones fastened in forme of knottes which she did for a secrett memory of the woundes and doulours of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST One lent vpon Maundy thursday wheron our Lord IESVS CHRIST shewed a particuler loue to his disciples att the houre of the agony that our Redeemer did sweat bloud and water in the garden this holy virgin retyred into her oratory full of deep sorrow and ioyned herselfe with almighty God in prayer as if she had seen him praying and as if by contemplation of the soule of IESVS CHRIST sorrowfull euen to death she her selfe had felt and suffered his prison his derisions his iniuries reproches affrontes beatinges sentence crosse and most ignominious death carrying in her memory a like sorrow wherfore as vtterly transported she sate on a straw-bed and all that night and the day following she was so absorpt and rapt out of her selfe that her eyes being open and without motion she seemed to hold them fixed in one place and remayned so insensible being conioyntly crucified with IESVS CHRIST that a Religious familier vnto her comming often to see if she wanted any thing she found her alwayes in one same manner But on the night of holy saterday this deuout Religious came to her deere mother with a candle and partly by signes and partly by wordes she made her the best she could to vnderstand the commandement that the holy Father sainct Francis gaue her that she should not passe one day without taking and eating something So in the presence of this Religious sainte Clare as if she came out of another place sayd vnto her what need haue you to light this candle is it not day Wherto the Religious answeared Mother the night of holy thursday is past as also goodfriday and we are now in the night of Easter eue The Sainct replyed my daughter blessed be this sleep which almighty God att length after my long desire hath granted me But I admonish and command you not to speake herof to any creature liuing whiles I shall liue in the world Of many miracles wrought by saincte Clare by the signe and vertue of the crosse THE XXI CHAPTER OVr Redeemer IESVS CHRIST recompenced well the pious desires and good worckes of his beloued Virgin saincte Clare for as she was enflamed with an infinite loue of the misteries of the holy crosse so by the vertue and power of the same crosse she became noble in the signes miracles of IESVS CHRIST Oftentimes in making the signe of the crosse on the sicke they were miraculously cured and indifferently of all sortes of diseases A Religious man called Stephen hauing a hote feuer that exceedingly afflicted him the holy Father sainct Francis sent him to saincte Clare to make the signe of the crosse vpon him as one that well knew her perfection and vertue which he exceedingly honoured Now the Lady Hortulana mother of saincte Clare was then in the Couent of saint Damian for a litle before considering that her daughters had espoused IESVS CHRIST she came to them to Religion where this happy lady serued as a true Gardener in that Garden enclosed with those virgins our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST and with the glorious Agnes sister to sainte 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 on them the signe of the crosse which they most hartely honoured The sayd Religious then being sent to sainte Clare she as the daughter of obedience being therto commanded by the holy Father Saint Francis presently made on him the signe of the crosse then left him a litle to sleep in the Church in the place where she was accustomed to pray and the Religious hauing a litle reposed arose sound secure and freed of his infirmity then he retourned to saint Francis by whome he had bene sent to saint Damian and consequently was cured A child of three yeares old of the citty of Spoletum called Matthew had by chaunce a stone thrust into his nose whence it could not be gotten out so that the child was in extreme perill whervpon he was brought to saincte Clare who hauing made the signe of the crosse on him the stone incontinently fell out of his nose and he was perfectly well An other child of Perusia hauing a filme on his eye was brought to sainte Clare who touching the eye of the child and making the signe of the crosse theron willed them that had presented the child vnto her to carry it vnto her mother that she might also make the signe of the crosse vpon it which hauing done the eye became cleare and being purged of the filme that obscured it he was presently cured whervpon sainte Clare affirmed that this miracle was wrought by the merittes of her mother who finding such glory to be attributed vnto her reputed her selfe vnworthy therof One of her Religious called Beneuanta hauing had for twelue yeares together an impostume vnder her arme which did purge by fiue seuerall issues saincte Clare had compassion therof and made on her the vertuous signe of the crosse then with her owne handes taking away the playster she was cured of her long continued sores An other of her Religious called Aimia being for more then a yeares space afflicted with the dropsy together with an extreme paine in her sides and a burning feeuer sainte Clare conceaued a very strong compassion of her therfore hauing recourse to her noble and infallible medicine she made on her body the signe of the crosse in the name of
alsowhen we were in the captiuity vanity of the world for after his conuersion not hauing as yet any Brethren or companions being ro repaire the Church of saint Damian where he was visited with diuinecōsolation and cōstrained wholly to abandon the world filled with ioy and illumination of the holy Ghost he prophesied of vs that which our lord hath afterwardes fulfilled standing then on the walles of the said Church he called with a loud voice in the french tongue vnto some poore people dwelling therby saying Come helpe me in this Church of sainct Damian for there shall came women of whose good life and holy conuersation our heauenly Father shal be reioyced in his whole Church In this may we obserue the infinite bounty of God towardes vs who of his aboundāt mercy and charity hath vouchsafed to prophesie those thinges by his seruant of our vocatiō and election not only of vs hath our holy Father prophesied these thinges but also of those who hereafter shal be called vnto that vocation wherto our Lord hath called vs. With what care of soule and body are we then bound to keep the commādements of God of our holy Father saint Francis to the end that with the grace of God we may pay the multiplied talent And our lord hath not only placed vs as an example vnto the seculer but also vnto all our Sisters whome he shall call vnto our vocation that we may be vnto those who conuerse in the world a mirrour and example For our Lord God hath called vs vnto so great thinges that they may take example of vs who are giuen vnto others for an example for which we are bound greatly to blesse the more ought we for this to be strēgthened in our lord to doe well wherfore if we liue according to the forme aboue mentioned we shall leaue good example vnto those which follow vs with short paine we shall receiue the reward of euerlasting life After that our heauenly Father vouchsafed through his great mercy and grace to illuminate my hart in such sort that by the example and touching of our holy Father S. Francis I began to doe penance a litle after my conuersion I with a few Sisters whome our Lord gaue me haue willingly promised vnto him obedience like as our lord through the light of his grace inspired vnto vs by meanes of his merueillous life and holy doctrine Saint Francis then marcking that we were tender and fraile according to the body yet neuerthelesse nothing dismayed with any necessity pouerty paine tribulation or contempt of the world but that we esteemed all those thingees as great pleasure euen as he had experienced by the example of his Brethren he reioyced in our lord and with great charity inclining towardes vs he obliged himselfe his Brethren to haue alwayes ouer vs a speciall and diligent care We also by the will of God of our holy Father saint Frācis repaired to the Church of saint Damiā there to dwell a litle after which time our lord through his great mercy grace multiplyed vs and then was fulfilled that which our lord had foretold by his seruant for we had dwelt before in an other place litle after that he wrote vnto vs this forme of life and principally that we should perseuer in this pouerty and it was not sufficient vnto him to haue admonished vs therunto in his life by many sermons aduertisemētes to the end he might moue vs to the loue and obseruance of this most holy pouerty but he hath also giuen vs many writinges that after his death we should not fall from the same holy pouertye according to the example of the Sonne of God who liuing in this world did neuer leaue the same which holy pouerty our holy Father saint Francis and his Brethrē did honour and obserue during his life Wherfore I Clare seruant and handmayd of Christ and of the poore Sisters of saint Damian although vnworthy and the litle plant of our holy Father saint Francis considering this with my other Sisters as also the highnes of our profession made vnto such a worthy Father and the frailty of vs and others which we feare after the death of our holy Father who next vnto God was our only piller and comfort againe and againe we binde our selues vnto the holy lady pouerty to the end that the Sisters who are or shall come after my death may by no meanes decline from the same This Pouerty I haue alwayes bin carefull with the grace of God to obserue and to cause it to be obserued and for more surety of the same I haue made my Profession therof vnto our holy Father Pope Innocent the fourth in whose time we began and haue confirmed it by his successours that by no meanes in no time we should decline from this holy Pouerty which we haue vowed vnto God and vnto saint Francis Wherfore I bending the knee both of myne inward and outward man in all humility doe commend vnto the church of Rome to our holy Father the Pope and especially vnto the Cardinall to whose protection together wit the Franciscans we are committed that for the loue of God who was layd in the cribbe liued poorly in this world and dyed poorly on the crosse they will keepe the litle flock which God the Father hath gayned in his church through the wordes and examples of our holy Father saint Francis causing it to follow the humility and pouerty of his deerly beloued Sonne the Father of wisdome and of his holy mother and that they will cause the holy pouerty to be obserued which we haue promised vnto God and to sainct Francis as also strengthen thē for to obserue the same And like as God gaue vnto vs our Father saint Francis for our founder and helper in the seruice of God and of those thinges which we haue vowed vnto God and vnto him to obserue and as he was carefull whiles he liued to exercise vs his plantes by word examples so I commend and leaue my Sisters who already are as also those who hereafter shall be vnto the successours of saint Francis and to the whole religion that they wil be alwayes an assistance vnto vs to profitt from better to better to serue God and to accomplish and obserue this holy pouerty If it should happen att any time that the said sisters should leaue their country or citty to goe vnto an other they are firmely bound after my death in what place soeuer they are to obserue the holy pouerty which they haue vowed vnto God and to saint Francis Those which shall be in office as also the other sisters shal be carefull not to receiue more land then extreme necessity doth require as a garden for hearbes vnto their necessity And if for the defence or vse of the cloyster it weere needfull to haue more land they shall take but only to supply the necessity and in this lād they may neither plough
mouth to answeare her there issued out of the fournise of his enflamed hart infinite sparckes of such sublime wordes that this holy virgin receaued therof much consolation Finally turning her Angelicall face towards her deere and beloued daughters and sisters there present bitterly weeping she recommended vnto them the pouerty of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST in this her last passadge praysing and thancking God for the infinite benefittes which they had receaued of his diuine Maiesty which she particulerly recounted vnto them then she gaue them all her benediction also to all the Religious of her Monastery present absent and to all those that should enter into her Order There were present two companions of saint Frācis Br. Angelus who though much afflicted did yet comfort the others and the right simple Br. Leo who ceased not to kisse the bed of the holy virgin that was leuing the world who was lamēted of her daughters because they wer left orphanes were no more in this life to see their most holy mother and therfore they accōpanyed her soule vnto heauen with abōdance of teares without power to admit any other consolation then to desire to goe with her wherwith being so afflicted they could not without difficulty forbeare with their nailes to rent their faces but it not being permitted them to dischardge thēselues of such greife exteriourly it did enflame in them a more burning fire within For those espouses of IESVS CHRIST were sufficiently morified by the rigour of Religion albeit the force of greife did constraine thē to cast forth loud cryes and sighes and to power out riuers of teares The holy virgin att lenght being turned towardes thē begā very sweetly to say vnto her soule goe my soule goe sorth securely thou hast an assured guide to performe this voyage for he that is they Creatour hath sanctified thee hath alwayes conserued thee affecting thee with a tender loue equall with that of a mother towardes her child And thou my God be praysed for hauing created me A Religious sister asking her what she meant therby she answeared I speake to my blessed soule Her most glorious Spouse IESVS CHRIST was not far from her attended for her Thē tourning to one of her Religious she sayd Doe you not see my daughter the king of glory whome I see Almighty God also layd his hand on an other Religious who saw with her corporall eyes thorough the teares that distilled from them a glorious vision she being pearced thorough with the dart of sorrow cast her eyes towardes the gate of the house and saw enter a great procession of virgins richly cloathed in white hauing each one a croune of gold on their head but one of them appeared more beautifull sumptuous and glittering thē the rest For she had on her head an imperiall crowne garnished with precious stones out of whose countenāce proceeded a light so shining that it cōuerted the obscurity of the night into cleare and bright day It was with out doubt the glorious Virgin Mary Queen of virgins who came to the bed of the espouse of her sonne to whome enclining she graciously embraced her and incontinently she was couered and the bed also by the other virgins with an extreme sumptuous mantell So the day following which was the eleuenth of August this holy soule ascended to heauen there to be crowned with perpetuall glory Happy was her departure out of this miserable life sith it was her entry into that of eternall felicitie For the fastes which this S. performed in this exile she is now ioyfull and had her fill att the magnificall table of the cittizens of heauē and for the humility and basenesse of her habite she is now gloriously attired with the glory of Paradise The continuall sighes and 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 blinded and miserable mortall creatures reiecting these short false and deceiptfull pleasures of this world may purchase the permanent true and assured that indure eternally Of the honorable obsequies that were performed for S. Clare THE XXVII CHAPTER WHiles the soule of S. Clare departed this life the report of her deceasse was incontinently diuulged through Assisium whence both men and women in such abondance speedily flocked to the Monastery that none seemed to be left in the citty Each one presently esteemed her a sainct and called her the espouse of IESVS CHRIST accompayning their discourses with great abondance of teares of deuotion The officers of iustice repayred thither accompanyed with many warlike Champions and a great nomber of armed men which that night guarded the monastery for feare that precious treasure might be bereaued them The night following the Pope with all his Court came thither accompayned by all the neighbour people The Religious men of S. Damiā being ready to begin the office of the dead the Pope would haue to be sayd the office of the holy virgins wherin he would haue canonized her before her buryall But the Cardinall of Hostia hauing demonstrated vnto him that it was fitt in this affaire to proceed with more humane prudence the Pope permitted the sayd Religious solemnly to proceed in the office of the dead according to the custome 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 Contemptrice of vanityes which ended all the Cardinals and other Prelates accompanied this holy body with an exemplar deuotion All the funeralles being very solemnly accomplished the cittizens of Assisium thincking it not secure that this precious treasure should remayne so farre out of their citty they caused this holy body with exceeding great pomp to be transported singing psalmes and hymnes with the sound melody of diuers musicall instrumentes and in a very solemne procession they carryed it into the Church of sainct George within their citty where the body of sainct Francis had formerly bin reposed And it was very reasonnable that he who in his life had giuen a patterne of the way of life vnto this holy virgin should as is were prophetically prepare her a place of sepulture There was then a great repaire and confluence of people frō diuers citties townes and villages vnto Assisium to thanck IESVS CHRIST and to pray vnto this blessed creature proclayming this virgin to be really a sainct and glorious who now liueth in Paradise with the Angels hauing bin already so much honoured of men on earth O blessed virgin pray now to God for vs and gaine our soules to IESVS CHRIST in heauen as thou hast conuerted and gayned so many liuing on earth The holy virgin passed this transitory life to the other of rest the yeare
of grace 1253. the twelfth of August forty yeares after her perfect vocation to God and the 60. yeare of her age She was enterred the 12. of August on which day her feast is solemnised att Assisium and ouer all the holy Romane Church Of the miracles wrought by the merittes of S. Clare and first of possessed personnes that haue bin deliuered THE XXVIII CHAPTER THe cheefest marckes that sainctes can haue and the worthiest testimonies of faith and reuerence are sanctity of life and the perfection of good worckes for sainct Iohn Baptist wrought no miracles during his life and yet they that haue wrought many shall not be esteemed more holy then he And therfore the notable renowne of the religious life of saincte Clare might suffice to make her appeare such as she is if the tepedity coldnes and remissnesse of the world and partly also deuotion did not otherwise require But sith this holy virgin was not only in her life time by her merittes swallowed vp in the depth of diuine illumination but was also after her death of merueilous 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 testimony memory and denunciation of her sanctity therfore also the multitude of them enforce the rehearsall of some that they may be generally diuulged and knowne A child called Iames seeming not so sick as possessed in regard that sometimes he cast himselfe into the fire or into the riuer fell rudely on 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 sometimes would seeme a mōstrer so dubling and folding his members as his feet would be on his necke He was ordinarily twice in the day afflicted with the like tormentes in such sort that two personnes sufficed not to restraine him from tearing of his cloathes yea there was great difficulty to keep him from murdering himselfe Many Phisitians hauing in vaine laboured to cure him att length his Father named Guidalot had recourse to the merittes of S. Clare affectionatly saying O holy virgin honoured of the world to thee I adresse my self to beseech thee to obtaine of God my sōnes health Then ful of cōfidence he conducted him to the sepulchre of this sainct and layd him therevpon and he presently miraculously obtayned the fauour he desired his sonne being perfectly cured of all his infirmities and was neuer troubled after Alexandrina of the towne of Frata neere to Perusia was possessed tormented with an abhominable deuill to whose power she was so left that he made her fly as a byrd to the topp of a rock neere to the riuer of Tiber then made her descend to a branch of a tree that did hang over the sayd riuer then to hang on that branch there playing her idle pranckes This woman had halfe her body vtterly benummed for which the Phisitians could find no remedy Att lenght she came with great deuotion to the shrine of saincte Clare and inuocating her merittes she was cured of all her afflictions for she had also the gout in her left hand and her body halfe paraliticall was cured and withall she was entierly freed of the oppression and seruitude of the deuill An other woman of the same place was cured before the sayd sepulcher who was in like sort possessed with the deuill and had withall many other diseases Of many that were miraculously cured of diuers diseases THE XXIX CHAPTER A French youth goeing to Rome in company of others his country men fell sick and lay by the way and by the force of his infirmity lost his sence and speech 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 terrifie them and therfore they bound him to a biere and carryed him to the Church of saincte Clare where hauing placed him before her sepulcher they applyed them all to prayers inuocating the helpe of God and of the S. who made such intercession for the yong man that he was in an instant entierly cured A man of the citty of Spoletum called Valentin was exceedingly afflicted with the falling sicknesse in which he fell six times a day in whatsoeuer place he was and besides he had one foot so wrested awry that he was vtterly lamed he was brought on an asse to the sepulcher of S. Clare where hauing remayned two dayes and three nightes the third day attempting to moue his lame foot and none being neere him he made such a noyse that being heard by some a farre off they seemed to heare the kreaking of a peice of dry wood and the man was instantly cured of both the one and the other his sayd diseases The sonne of a woman of Spoletum called Iames of twelue yeares old beingblind could not goe without a guid being once forsaken by him that conducted him he fell into a pitt 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 come to me to Assisium I will cure thee Arising early in the morning he much admired att the vision which he recounted vnto two other blind men who answeared him Brother we haue lately heard of a Lady that is dead in the citty of Assisium att whose sepulcher God worcketh by her merittes great miracles which the blinde youth hauing heard he left the two other blind men and wiht a strong confidence hastened to Assisium in the way he lodged att Spoletum where in the night he had the same vision which encreased his hope of recouering his sight and made him hasten in time to arriue to the church of saincte Clare But he found it so filled with worldly people that he could not enter which exceedingly troubled him But seeing no remedy he rested att the dore and there remayned till the euening where this poore blind youth being weary by his iorney and afflicted for that he could not enter into the church setled himsesfe the best he could to rest vpon the ground leaning his head against a great stone and so slept and presently the third time heard the sayd voice speaking Iames God will doe thee good if thou canst enter and incontinently awaking out of that sleep he began to cry and begge of the people with abondance of teares to permitt him to enter which hauing a long time continued they gaue him place and hauing discloathed himselfe putting his girdle about his neck he went to the sepulcher of the sainct before which with great reuerence and humility he fell on his ' knees and hauing persisted sometime in prayer beseeching saincte Clare to intercede for him he fell into a gentle slumber wherin
the ayre where she did some seruice to an other woman there came a wolfe which being taken by the girle but for a dogge he lept on her neck tooke hold of her head The other woman and the mother of the girle there present ran after and cryed for helpe inuocating sainte Clare and 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 farther I being recommended to that holy virgin The wolfe as daunted with those wordes gently sett the girle on the ground and as a theefe found and taken in the fact he fled and the girle retourned without any hurt vnto her mother How diuers were deliuered from drowning and danger of sea hauing iâ—uocated S. Clare THE XXXII CHAPTER AShippe fraught with many personnes departing out of the port of Perusia for the I le of Sardinie 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 euident perill of shipwrack wherfore they began to inuocate the Queene of heauen and many other sainctes to assist them Att length perceiuing no apparence of their liues safety they addressed themselues to saincte Clare and vowed to her that if by her intercession they were deliuered they would goe all naked to their very shirtes with their girdle about their necks to visitt her sacred reliques att Assisium carrying each a wax light of two poundes in their handes This vow being made they saw three great lightes discend from heauen the one wherof setled on the forepart of the shipp an other on the poupe and the third on the pumpe by the vertue wherof the leakes where the water entred did close and the sea became so quiet and calme that with a gracious wind the vessell was accompanied and conducted by the said lightes to the part of Arestan whither being arriued and landed the marchandise all safely putt on shoare the sayd lightes vanished and which was admirable the shippe presently sunk and was cast away They that had gone out of her acknowledging the miracle att their retourne to Pisa deuoutly accomplished their vow yelding infinite thanckes to almighty God and to the virgin sainte Clare for the great benefitt receaued by her intercession How S. Clare was canonized by Pope Alexander the fourth THE XXXIII CHAPTER POpe Innocent the fourth liued so litle time after the death of sainte Clare that he cold not canonize her The holy siege hauing bin two yeares vacant Alexander the fourth was chosen Pope who being exceedingly deuoted and a friend to piety protectour of Religious hauing heard true relation both of the miracles which our Lord IESVS CHRIST wrought for the glory of his holy seruant and of the renowme of her vertue which daily more and more diuulged it selfe in the Church knowing also that her canonization was generally desired his holinesse being also induced by the assurance of so many miracles therfore begaÌ„ to treat in the Consistory of her canonizatioÌ„ Wherin to proceed more maturely there were elected prudent and vertuous men to examine the sayd miracles and the irreprehensible life of the sainct Which being done and this holy virgin being found and proued to haue bin in her life an vnspotted mirrour of all vertues and to haue bin ennobled of almighty God after her death by true and approued miracles the day of her Canonization was appointed when were present with his Holinesse many Cardinals Archbishoppes Bishoppes other Prelates and a great number of Priestes and Religious with infinite noblemen gentlemen and others each in their degree and quality before whome the Pope proposed this sacred affaire demaunding the opinion of the Prelates who with one accord gaue consent and affectionatly besought the said sainct might be canonized in the Church as IESVS CHRIST had glorified her in heauen In this sort then three yeares after her happy decease Pope Alexander caused her solemnely to be enrollod in the Catalogue of Sainctes ordayning her feast to be celebrated with solemnity in the Church the 12. of August This Canonization was performed the yeare of grace 1255. and the first of the raigne of the Pope to the praise and glory of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST The life of saincte Agnes sister to saincte Clare The conuersion of this Sainct is described before in the fift chapter of this present booke and therfore to auoyd reiteration it is here pretermitted How saincte Agnes was by the holy Father sainct Francis sent to Florence there to build a Monastery THE XXXIIII CHAPTER THe virgin and espouse of our Redeemer IES CH. Agnes true sister companion of S. Clare as well in bloud as in vertue and Religion perseuered and persisted in notable sanctity of life in the Monastery of sainct Damian and from the time of her entrance into Religion euen to her death she alwayes woare a very rough haircloth next her tender flesh Her ordinary refection was almost alwayes bread and water she was naturally very pittifull to euery one Sainct Francis finding this virgin to haue obtayned of God by meane and assistance of her sister a worthy perfection he sent her to Florence there to found a new Monastery of poore sisters called Mount Celi wherof sainct Francis made her Abbesse This holy virgin induced many soules to abandon the world to serue IESVS CHRIST which she did by meane of her pious conuersation and sanctity of life by holy discourses and wordes of God that sweetly flowed out of her mouth and as a perfect Contemptrice of transitory thinges and follower of IESVS CHRIST she planted in this Monastery conformably to the desire of the holy Father sainct Francis and of saincte Claâ—e the obseruance and profession of Euangelicall pouerty but being exceedingly grieâ—â—d with the absence of her sister she wrote this letter following vnto her and to all the Religious of the Monastery of sainct Damian wherin she had receaued her education and spirituall nourriture A Copte of the letter which saincte Agnes wrote to her Sister saincte Clare and to all the others sisters of her Monastery THE XXXV CHAPTER TO the venerable and beloued Mother in our Lord CHRST IESVS Clare and to all her Couent humble sister Agnes the least of the disciples of IESVS CHRIST and of yours recommendeth herselfe vnto you all and prostrate att your feet doth yeld you all submission and deuotion wishing vnto you what is most precious from the most high king of kinges To the end that all nature which hath bin created of God doe acknowledge it selfe to be such as none can persist of it selfe in its owne essence the diuine prouidence most prudently permitteth that when any one esteemeth himselfe to be in prosperity then is he drowned and plunged in aduersities This I tell you my most deere Mother that you may know what affliction and extreme heauines possesseth my spiritt being so tormented that
S. George wher she still remayneth together with her sister in Assisium by the which Church the Cittizens haue builded a faire monastery entituled S. Clare whither were afterward remoued the Religious sisters of S. Damian which was don to preuent many inconueniences that might arriue vnto them being without the Citty The said Religious brought from S. Damian many Reliques and particulerly the Crucifix which spake to S. Francis att the beginning of his conueâ—sion which is extant in the sayd monastery of S. Clare and the Fâ—ere Minors are att S. Damian Of many miracles that almighty God wrought by the merittes of S. Agnes THE XXXVIII CHAPTER AGirle of Perusia had a cancred fistula in her throat who hauing deuotion to S. Agnes visited her sepulcher The Religious there hauing vnbound her soare att the entry of the Couent and then hauing with a strong faith offered her prayers she arose sound and retourned to her house exceedingly comforted yelding thanckes to God and to his seruant There was a Religious sister att our Lady of Angels of Perusia who had a moâ—tall soare in her brest which the Phisitions had iudged to be incurable in it there were three holes so that the Religious women exhorted her to beare this affliction with patience as proceeding from the hand of God and to conforme her selfe to his will This diseased sister being alwayes of minde to recommend her selfe to S. Agnes kneeling one day before the Altare she with much deuotion commended her to the holy seruant of God demanding of her redresse of her infirmity Wher withall falling into a gentle and sweet slumber S. Agnes appeared vnto her and with her hand touched her mortall wound with which visitatioÌ„ she was sweetly comforted and cured at her awaking finding her selfe sound she gaue infinite thankes to God and to her aduocate S. Agnes An other Religious womaÌ„ of the monastery of Venise had an impostume in her breast which was opened by the Phisitions found so dangerous that they allotted her a very litle time to liue This poore wretch therfore in this distresse recoÌ„mended her selfe to the two sisters S. Clare and S. Agnes and about mindnight these to SS as most skilfull Phisitions brought boxes of most precious oyntmentes and accompayned with many virgins entred into the infirmary where this sick sister was which was seene by many Religious and drawing neere to her bed S. Clare sayd vnto her Sister I am assured that you shal be cured by the power and goodnes of God and by the merittes of S. Agnes The sick Religious not knowing who spake vnto her douhted of this reuelatioÌ„ and the sainctes replyed that they were Pâ—isitions of Assisium Then S. Agnes annoynted the soare with the oyntment she had brought and so the vision disappeared and the diseased sister was in such sort cured of her mortall wound that no apparence remayned therof An other Religious of the monastery of S. Clare in Assisium had bin for sixteene yeares afflicted with such an infirmity that the other Religious alwayes held her for a leapre 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 and freed from all remainder of her infirmity A Burgesse of Assisium had bin long time lame by a blow of a stone receaued on his foot and being hopelesse of humane remedy on the feast day of S. Agnes he weÌ„t as wel as he could to her Church and with a strong faith and deuotion fell on his knees before her Altare His prayer being ended he arose sound and Iusty which he recounted to many and thancked almighty God for it A Painter called Palmere being in a dangerous sicknesse by the PhisitioÌ„s giuen ouer as dead one night after his speech was lost his brother expecting in his opinion his last breathing was exceedingly disquieted and comming to his bed side and lamenting him as already dead he fell on his knees addressed his prayers to sainte Agnes and with abondance of teares and great confidence made a vow that if his brother by her merittes and intercession might be cured as often as he painted her image he would sett a crowne of gold on her head This prayer vow being ended the sick party incontinently began to speake as if he had awakened out of a profound sleep and called for meat and did hungerly eat then arose from his bead saying that two Religious women came to visit him being in his agony and reputed for dead and that the same visitation had such force as it left him perfectly cured as he appeared A woman of Assisium had a sonne of 12. yeares age that had an impostume in his breast where the cancre was so encreased that it had made it in such sort venimous as it exceeded the Phisitions skill to cure it This woman hauing vnderstood that by the merits of sainte Agnes almighty God had cured such diseases she commanded her sonne often to visit her sepulchre and deuoutly to recommend himselfe vnto her which he did in such sort that approching one euening so neere her sepulcher that his mortall soare touched the same and there falling a sleepe he so remayned till the next morning when awaking he found himselfe entierly cured for which hauing thancked God and his Sainct he retourned to aduertise his mother affirming that sainte Clare and sainte Agnes appeared vnto him in the night and that sainte Clare brought an oyntment wherwith sainte Agnes hauing annoynted him he was presently cured Of possessed personnes deliuered by the merittes of saincte Agnes and of certaine other miracles THE XXXIX CHAPTER THere was in Assisium a child of 12. yeares age who being amoÌ„g other children an vnknowne maÌ„ gaue him a greene beane-cod which the boy opening three of the beanes fell to the ground and the fourth only he did eat yet as soone as he came home he vomited extremely then began to tumble and furiously to behaue himselfe tourning and rolling his eyes in his head in such sort as it well appeared that he endured extreme torment and his gesture so terrifyed them that beheld him that they iudged him possessed and therfore his Father many other his kinred brought him the next morning to the Church of sainte Clare where hauing offered their prayers for him and inuocated the intercession of sainte Agnes the child a litle after begaÌ„ to crye and barck as a dogge then cryed out take heed there are two deulls already gone out Say an Aue Maria the third wil be gone Which being presently done the deuill withall left the child A woman of Tullinium being tormented with many wicked spirits her Father and grand mother vowed to goe with her to Assisium to visit the sepulcher of S. Agnes with faith and hope that by her merittes she should be deliuered and so this possessed woman remayning before the sepulchre of the S. from the ninth houre
ordayned to receaue him shall make an exact enquiery of his estate and condition and propose vnto him the obligation of the company and particulerly restitution of goodes iniustly possessed Which done and he consenting lett him be cloathed according to the Order and lett him endeauour to satisfie his Creditors if he owe any thing either with ready mony or security of pledge and lett him att length find meanes to content and satisfie them in some or other manner and so be reconciled to his neighbour Which being accomplished and the yeare of probation expired if the discreet Brethren be of opinion and hold it requisit to admitt him he shal be receaued on these conditions which are that he promise to keep the diuine preceptes and to satisfie the statutes and constitutions wherto he shal be bound and obliged as also to performe the penance that shal be enioyned him or the punishment ordayned if he proue obstinate and a transgressour and to obey the visitor before whome he shall appeare if he be called and shall submitt himselfe to his iudgement and to all this aforesayd he shall oblige himselfe by subscription before publike Notaries neither shall it be permitted to the prouinciall Minister to receaue any but vpon the sayd conditions except some notable considerations doe otherwise require and that the quality of the perâ—onne presented giue iust occasion of an extraordinary proceeding Besides we ordaine that none may retire from this confraternity being once entred to retourne to the world But we permitt him to enter into an other approued Religion Maryed women also may not be receaued without the consent of their husbands Of the forme of their habitt and how they must be clothed THE III. CHAPTER LEtt the Brethren of this company be cloathed with course cloth and of meane price of a colour neither fully white nor directly black except the visitors find it good to dispense therein with any one for a time and with the Counsaile of the Prouinciall Minister vpon some iust and manifest occasion Their cloakes and other habits shal be as decencie requireth without cuttinges and their sleeues shal be simple close and straight the sisters shall weare a cloake and gowne or coat of course cloth also and vnder their cloke shall weare a white or black habit or a very long coat of linnen cloth or canuas without plaites The sisters may be dispensed withal in the coursnes of the cloth of their habits according to their need the qualitye of the personnes and condition of the places They shall vse neither buttons nor girdles of silke nor besides the said cloth may vse any furres other then lambes skin their purses shal be of leather and their girdles plaine without any ornament of silke neither shall they weare any thing else forsaking according to the behoufull counsaile of saint Peter all other vaine ornamentes of this world That the said Penitentes may not haunt dishonest banquettes nor comedies nor giue any thinge to stage-players and comedians THE IV. CHAPTER IT is forbidden to the sayd Brethren to frequent and be present att baÌ„quettes playes dances and dishonest spectacles to giue mony or any other thing to see such vanityes neither must they permitt any of their seruantes to giue any thing to that purpose Of abstinence and fasting THE V. CHAPTER LEtt all the Brethren abstaine from eating flesh foure dayes in the weeke that is munday wednesday friday and saterday if they be not hindred by necessity of sicknesse or infirmity They that haue bin lett bloud may eat flesh three times that weeke They also that trauell may eat flesh on the dayes permitted by the Church it is also permissable to eat it on principall and solemne feastes The dayes whereon is no obligation of fasting they may eat cheese and egges and when they shall come to conuentuall houses they may care with other Religious what shal be sett before them But they must content themselues with two meales a day except in case of necessity trauell or weakenesse for then this rule doth not oblige Lett the eating and dâ—incking of the healthy be moderate as the Gospell teacheth vs saying Be carefull that your hartes be not ouerchardged with surfeâ—ting and drunckennesse Lett the sayd Brethren neuer sitt downe att table but hauing first sayd the Pater Noster and Aue Maria and after their meale lett them say it with the ordinary graces And if att any time they fo gett the same lett them say three for one They shall fast all the fridayes of the yeare it they be not hindered by sicknesse or some other lawfull excuse If the Natiuity of our Lord fall on a friday they shall not be obliged to fast on that day From the feast of Alsainctes to Easter they shal be bound to fast euery wednesday and friday besides the other ordinary fastes appointed by the Church They shal be also obliged to fast euery day from the leÌ„t of sainct Martin till Christmas and from Quinquagesima sunday till Easter the sundayes excepted Women with child if they will shal be exempted from all corporall austerityes and rigours from their time of being great till after their churching during which time they shal be obliged only to prayer Artificers that labour with the sweat of their bodyes may make three meales from Easter day to S. Francis day if they know it needfull They that are hyred labourers and haue their dyett prouided may eat of what shal be presented them except the friday and other fastes commanded How osten in the yeare they ought to confesse and communicate THE VI. CHAPTER ALl the Brethren and sisters must be carefull to confesse their sinnes three times euery yeare and deuoutly to receaue the Blessed SacrameÌ„t reconciling theÌ„â—elues to their neighbours making restitution of others goods The sayd times shal be Christmas Easter and Whitsunday That they must not weare offenciue weapons THE VII CHAPTER LEtt not the Brethren weare any offensiue weapons but for defence of the Church and faith of IESVS CHRIST or for defence of their contry or with permission of their superiours In what manner the said Bre. Penitents ought to say their Canonicall houres THE VIII CHAPTER THe Brethren shall euery day say the canonicall houres that is Matins with the Laudes Prime and other houres to the Compline The Clarcks to witt they that can read the psalter shall for Prime say Deus in nomine tuo saluum me fac and Beats 〈◊〉 to the psalme Legem pone and att the other howers the psalmes following according to the vse of the Romane Church with the Gloria Patrâ— And when they are in the Church they shall for Matins say the psalmes which the Priestes or Cathedâ—all Church doe say att least they shall say 12. Paters and 12. Anes with Glorâ—a Patrs as they that cannot read and for each of the other houres 7. Gloria Patrs and att Prime and Compline they that can say the Apostles Creed and the psalme
Miserere shall adde it thervnto when they say it not att the ordinary houres lett them say thrice the Pater Noster The sick shall not be obliged to say these houres but as they will They shall endeauour to be present att Mattins att their parish Church in the time of sainct Martins lent and the great lent except some lawfull impediment excuse them That the Brethren who can must make their will THE IX CHAPTER LEtt all the Bâ—ethâ—en that haue any substance be obliged to consider of their estate and within three monthes after their entry into this confraternity to make their testament wherin they shall dispose of their substance to the end that none dye intestate How peace is to bemade betweene the Brethren when occasion requireth and betweene strangers THE X. CHAPTER THe meane to appease quarrels dissentioÌ„s that may arise betweenâ— the BrethreÌ„ and Sisters to accord theÌ„ shal be in such necessity to follow the aduise of the Ministers together with the CouÌ„saile of the Bishop of the Diocese if he be neere and to proced according to the matter and occurances To whome the Brethren must haue recourse being molested against reason and their praâ—ledges THE XI CHAPTER IF it happeÌ„ that the BrethreÌ„ or Sisters be iniustly troubled and molested against their priuiledges by the Gouernours or other Commanders of the place where they dwell the superiour Ministers must haue recourse to the Bishop or other Ordinaryes of the places to demaund and follow their aduise how to gouerne themselues in such behalfe That the Brethren must withall possâ—bâ—lâ—ty absta ne from solemne oathes THE XII CHAPTER LEtt the BrethreÌ„ very carefully abstaine from solemne oathes vnlesse they be therevnto constrayned by necessity except in cases conteyned in the confession of the Apostolike sea that is for peace faith caloÌ„niation and in giuing testimony and also in contractes of buying selling and giuing where it shall appeare to be expedient But in common talke lett them withall endeauour auoyd swearing and if any shall inconsideratly sweare as it often happeneth in talkatiue personnes calling it to mind in the examen of his conscience att night lett them say thrice the Pater noster for such oath and lett euery one be obliged to exhort instruct and educate his family in the feare and loue of God How the Brethren ought to assemble in congregation and of their hearing Masse THE XIII CHAPTER ALl the Brethren and sisters in whatsoeuer place or citty they dwell must euery day if they may heare Masse and euery moÌ„th they shall meet and assemble in some place deputed by the Minister Rectour to heare a solemne Masse and there each of them shall giue an almose to the Chappelain or other elected to that end which shal be distributed by the Rectour Minister among the Brethren and sisters that are in greatest necessity and particulerly among the sick This almose shall also be employed in the buriall and funerales of the poore deceased and what remayneth shal be distributed to the other poore Some part of this almose also shal be giuen to the Church where they asseÌ„ble And euery time that they meet they shal endeauour to haue some good Religious to preach vnto them who shall induce them to penance and to the exercise of charitable worckes Lett all the Brethren be admonished to keep silence and to be attentiue att prayer during the diuine office especially whiles Masse is celebrated and the word of God preached vnlesse the common good of the confraternity otherwise require How the sick are to be visited and what care must be had of the dead THE XIV CHAPTER WHen any of the Brethren shal be sick the superiour Ministers being therof in the behalfe of the sick party aduertised they shall visitt or cause him to be visited at least once in a weeke admonishing him touching the state of his soule as farre foorth as they shal find it requisit And if he be poore they shal be carefull to procure him what is necessary out of the almose of the poore And if the sick person doe dye all the Brethren and sisters of the Confraternity that shal be in the towne or place where they dye shal be presently aduertised therof to the end they be present att the funerals whence they shall not depart till the diuine office be ended and the body interred The like shal be obserued towardes the sisters that are sick and that depart out of this life Eight dayes after the death of any Brother all the Brethren and sisters of the Confraternity shal be obliged to say for their soules the Priestes a Masse of the dead they that can read 50. psalmes and they that cannot read 50. Pater nosters with Requiem aternam Lett also be procured to be sayd three Masses euery yeare for the Brethren and sisters departed They that can read the psalter shall att their commodity say it entierly euery yeare and they that cannot read shall say 100. Pater nosters adding Requiem eternam att the end of each one Of the Superiour Ministers THE XV. CHAPTER LEtt euery Minister and other officer on whom in this forme order and rule of life any office shal be imposed receaue the same with deuotion and labour to execute it piously and lett not the sayd offices be giuen and distributed but for certaine time and lett no Minister Rectour be established for terme of life butt lett there be a certaine time prefixed which expired lett an other be created How the Brethren Penitents that are faulty and delinquent are to be visited and corrected THE XVI CHAPTER THe superiour Ministers Brethren and Sisters of euery towne or place in time to that end appointed shall assemble in some Monastery or Church there to make their common visitation where their visitors shal be Priestes of some approued Religion and of exemplare life that they may impose on the delinquent healthfull penance for their sinnes committed neither lett any other be admitted to his office of Minister And because this forme of life had its originall from the holy Father Saint Francis We counsaile them to choose visitors and reformers of this confraternity of the Order of Frere Minors who shall conserue it and haue particuler care therfore And when the Superiours or Gardians shal be therunto required they shall freely accept therof This office of visitation shal be kept att least once in a yeare or oftener if it shal be necessary The obstinate disobedient and incorrigible shal be first admonished three seuerall times after which if they will not amend lett them by the aduise of the discreet Brethren as incorrigible persons be excluded and expelled their confraternity That the Brethren must auoyd debates and contentions among themselues or others THE XVII CHAPTER LEtt the Brethren and Sisters to their vtmost auoyd strifes disputes debates and contentions And when any beginning of discord deth appeare lett them incontinently seeke to suppresse and extingâ—ish the same if not lett the