be alwayes in cogitation with thee that we be with thee in intention and with thee in spiritt seeking thine honour in all our actions with all the forces and powers of our soule and bodie freelie employing all in the seruice of thy loue and in no other thing and that to obserue thy commandement we loue our neighbour as our selues shewing to all as to our selues an entier charitie for thy loue reioycing att the good of others as att our owne compassionating their necessities and afflictions as our owne giuing them all assistance we can possible far from offending them as our selues would desire to be assisted in like necessity Giue vs this day our daily bread that is thy deerly beloued and blessed Sonne our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST in our spiritt and vnderstanding with all reuerence by the great loue wherwith he hath affected and by what soeuer he hath said done and endured for vs wretches And forgiue vs our debtes by thine infinite mercy by the vertue of the passion of thine only Sonne our lord IESVS CHRIST and by the merittes and prayers of the blessed virgin Mary pardon vs also good God As we forgiue our debters and if we pardon not them perfectly as we ought make vs Lord to doe it that we may meritt pardon Graunt good God that by thy loue we doe not only forbeare to doe euill for euill nor hate our ennemies but that we loue them and that by good offices and prayers for them we demonstrate the same to thee O God of mercie Lord God forsake vs not in our cruell temptations both secrett and manifest and permit vs not to fall therin but deliuer vs from euill past by meane of true contrition and holy pennance present by preseruation of thy grace and future by perseuerance in thy most holy feare Amen Of certaine other mysticall prayers and canticles which the holy Frther S. Francis made THE CXVIII CHAPTER The Holy Father in his canonicall houres said in latin these prayers following which he composed in the prayse of God HOly holy holy lord God almightie which art which hast bin and art to come thou art worthy that we offer vnto thee and to receaue of vs all prayse and honour and that we exalt and acknowledge thee aboue althinges the lambe that was slaine is worthy to receaue all vertue diuinitie wisdome force glorie honour and benediction Lett vs alwayes prayse God lett vs yeld the honour dew vnto the Father the Sonne and the the holie Ghost lett vs praise God for euer lett vs prayse the lord of heauen and earth and of all other thinges created vnder and on the earth with those that are in heauen lett vs prayse God and exalt him for euer Glorie be to the Father and to the Sonne and to the holie Ghost Lett vs prayse God for euer and magnifie him as he hath bin is now and shall be world without end Amen Lett vs prayse God and exalt him for euer Amen An other breife prayer vnto God Almighty most high and my soueraigne good all good that onlie is good We giue thee all praise all praise all glorie all honour and yeld thee all the thanckes we can and will that all good be referred to thee alone Amen An other short prayer for the diuine office Most high most mighty most iust and most mercifull lord afford vs miserable wretches so much of thy grace that we may accomplish thy holy will and may with all diligence seeke that alone which pleaseth thee that being interiourly illuminated and enflamed with the fire of the holy Ghost we may tread the most holy steppes of thine only Sonne our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST that by meane of this thy grace we may see thee with the blessed thou that art the most high God who liuest in perfect Trinity simplicity and vnity and as almighty raignest in eternall glory Amen A prayer to the Queene of heauen and to the Angels God saue thee holy Queene most holy Mary mother of God and perpetuall virgin chosen of God the Father and of the holy Ghost the comforter in whome is faith and the entier perfection of all eminent vertue with all good vnited sith thou hast merited to haue in thee the author of life and grace God saue thee diuine Pallace God saue thee the habitation and tabernacle of the Redeemer God saue thee thee robe of God God saue thee the seruant and mother of God and God saue thee with all the Angelicall powers considering that thou art sent by the holy Ghost into the hartes of rebelles that of Infidelles thou make faithfull and true seruantes of God O most worthy mother of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST Espouse of the holy Ghost pray for vs with S. Michael the Archangell and all the celestiall spirittes vnto they beloued Sonne our lord and master Amen An other prayer to the virgin Holy Mary virgin and lady like vnto whome neuer woman was borne nor shal be in the world daughter and seruant of the most high king and celestiall Father most sacred mother of IESVS CHRIST and Espouse of the holy Ghost pray for vs with all the Angels and sainctes vnto they beloued Sonne that he will voutsafe to saue vs Glory be to the Father vnto the Sonne and to the blessed holy Ghost Amen Praises vnto God Lord God thou art holy and God of all Goddes that worckest merueillous thinges that art the mighty and most high thou art the omnipotent Father and entierly soueraigne lord of heauen and earth God in Trinity and Vnity and sempiternall soueraigne good all good and euery good thing Lord God liuing and true thou art true loue and perfect charity thou art wisdome humility and patience thou art the incomprehensible beauty thou art true pleasure and assured repose thou art our hope and ioy thou art iustice temperance fortitude and prudence of mortall men thou art the richesse that can satiate vs thou art meeke thou art our only protectour and our guard thou art our vertue faith hope and charity and the sweetnes and consolation of all thou art the bounty without end a great God and admirable God omnipotent pittifull merciful and our Sauiour Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne c. The holy Father sainct Francis had a very feruent deuotiō to this versicle Gloria Patri therfore he often repeated it in his prayers He respected not so much Sicut erat Saying euensong one day with Brother Leo att euery verse of Magnificat he said Gloria Patri feeling therin a merueillous tast and contentment yea such as he thought he should neuer be satisfied with saying thereof he taught a Religious Preist that was in affliction and extremely tempted to say Gloria Patri which he did and was incontinently deliuered of his temptation Of the Canticle of the sunne and other creatures composed by S. Francis THE CIX CHAPTER THis holy Father composed a Canticle in latin in the prayse of God when he reuealed vnto him the
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
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
thee to make thee know thy selfe and sith chasticementes and stripes doe please thee more then fasting and austeritie of life thou shalt surely haue it consider here the habitt of religion which signisieth sanctitie it was not permitted to sence to steale it away And if thou desire to be gon get thee now thus whipt whither thou wilt Goeing then foorth of his cell he threw himselfe on the snow and incontinentlie made seauen boules of the snow which he sett before him and said behold my bodie the greatest of these boules is thy wife and these four are two daughters and two sonnes which she hath conceiued by thee and the other two are a man and maid seruant that are to serue thee take them now and gett them cloathing for they faint with cold And if this new solicitude be troublesome to thee content thy selfe to serue one sole master who is much more easy to please then this flesh Thus was the deuill confounded the temptation crosled and the holy Father was in such sort victorious that the deuill durst no more to visitt him with the like tentations By this so generous act of resistance against the flesh he left to his disciples a documente and example to resist sensuall temptations not only by prayer but also by corporall labours with rigour and asperitie accompained with abondance of teares and not deliciouslie as the worldlie and carnall would gladlie doe and without any labour that might be any way troublesome nor much lesse with cold purposes rather then actes of the will wherin certaine spirituall personnes that are tender and delicate place their force and knowledg Wherefore it is not to be admired if they be alwayes feeble and imperfect because they shall euer proue such whiles they omitt the corporall exercise of the vertues and of the steppes of their spirituall Father and master To the end therfore that this example might profitt vs God would that whiles the Seraphicall S. was employed heerin a Brother that was in prayer saw and heard all that passed by reason that the moone did shine which being perceaued by the holie Father he recounted vnto him the cause which was the temptation but with commandement not to discouer it to any person of the world during his life Of the guard and vigilancie he taught to be had of our sences THE XXXIIII CHAPTER SAint Francis did not only teach how one ought to mortifie the vices of the flesh and to bridle our seÌ„suall appetites but also with what caâ—e one ought to gard the exteriour sences by meanes wherof death entreth the into the soule to the end that the Brethren might keep more securely the inestimable treasure of chastity though in so britle a vessell of earth he did verie dilligently admonish them and did prohibite them the amitie and conuersation of women which hath bin oftentimes the ruine of many He assuredly affirmed that through the like occasioÌ„s the weake man doth fall and the strong is weakened It is as difficult for a man that is no more then perfect to preserue himselfe from these thinges as to walke and goe bare-foot on burning coales without burning For this cause he kept his sences so retired and sequestred and particulerlie his eyes from beholding the vanities of the world that according to what he one day said he scarce knew any woman by sight because he affirmed that it was not verie secure to imprint in his memory the image of a figure that might make greater the least sparckle of sensuality mortified by the ashes of penance or to admitt and yeld vnto it any thing that might afterward staine the purity and splendour of the chast soule and therfore it is not to be admired if he attained to such perfection of chastitie considering that he made such cruell warre against his sences that it seemed he had obtayned a perfect and soueraine dominion ouer his flesh and in imitation of an other Iob had made a compact with his eyes that he would not only haue in horrour the sight of thinges perillous but euen of such as were vaine and curious He admonished his Brethren that it was not expedient for them to giue care to the speeches of women whereby the soule of the vertuous becommeth effeminate and feeble excepting in confession and when it shal be necessary to giue them some breife instruction for the good of their soules What occasion may a Brother haue said he that may force him to frequent women vnlesse when he is required to heare their confession or to discourse with them touching penance or to giue them some counsaile for the benefitt of their soule A man that presumeth of ouer much securitie hath lesse regard of his ennemy who hauing power to surprise him doth not spare him Thus did the holie Father loue and desire in his Brethren aboue all thinges next vnto the foundation of holy pouertie and humilitie modestie and mortification of the eyes to giue them therfore a more apparant instruction how to gouerne them he once vsed vnto them this parabole There was a potent and iust king that sent two pages one after an other to deliuer a message vnto the Queene his wife the first retourning to the king his master made his answeare simplie because out of modestie he had forborne to behold the countenance of the queene his mistris the second page making his answeare to the king commended the beautie of the Queene saying Verilie sir the Queene is the most beautifull and pleasing woman that is vnder heauen and in truth you ought to repute your selfe happy in hauing such a woman to your espouse The king hearing this said How hast thou dared thou lewd fellowe so vnchastly to behold my wife thou hast coueted the pourchase of what thou so attentiuelie hast beheld Therevpon he presentlie recalled the other page of whom he demaunded what his opinion was of his wife he answeared Syr I esteeme exceeding well of her for she gaue a very willing eare to what I deliured in your behalfe The king replyed to this discreet answeare and said hast thou obserued her grace dost thou thinck there can be any thing more desired or added to the beautie of her countenance The page answeared Syr it appertaineth vnto you to iudge of that My duetie was to deliuer her my message and to bring you the answeare Which the king vnderstanding thus ordayned and said it is most probable that thou who hast bin so chast of they eyes wilt proue more chast of body thou therfore shalt be of my chamber and especially fauoured But as for this presumptuous brazen-face I will that he be dismissed for feare of committing further mischeife S. Francis hereof inferred that the Brethren beholding a woman ought to esteeme and be persuaded that it is this same Queene the espouse of IEVS CHRIST and themselues to be the first page And in this manner he very clearly demonstrated vnto them by his life and doctrine 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
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
till euensong she felt her selfe freed from the deuils that possessed her this was done on the feast of S. Francis The kinred of this deliuered woman offered an image of waxe weighing two poundes to the sepulchre of the sainct in acknowledgement of the grace and fauoure receaued A man of Perusia with a continuall feiuer had in his body an impostume wherof the Phisitions gaue their iudgement he would in short time end his dayes Wherfore a woman called Celiola admonished him to recommend himselfe to sainte Agnes and to vow the visiting of her sepulchre Which hauing done and his prayers ended his infirmity ended withall being cured both of the one and the other disease for which not being vngratefull he visited the said sepulchre and euery where preached the prayâ—es of the holy virgin giuing thanckes to almighty God for such a fauour A Religious of the Monostery of saincte Clare in Assisium had lost the sight of one eye and was in danger to loose the other But finding that no humane application did auayle her she recommended her selfe to saincte Agnes and the other Religious of her Monastery also prayed for her who as she one time prayed in the Church saw a woman that came to her and said Sister open your eye for your sight is recouered and so opening her eyes she clearly saw but she could no more see the woman that spake vnto her only she was assured that it was sainte Agnes to whome she had hartely recommended her selfe Vitula the wife of Matthew du Loup att sainct Francis gate in Assisium had a sonne called Martin that had a deep soare in his throat and an other in his shoulder both mortall whence issued such an offensiue sauour that it was not possible to come neere him Att length after many remedyes had in vaine bin tryed his mother recommended him to sainte Agnes to whome hauing with a deuout hart offered her prayers the S. one night appeared vnto her richly attyred with a diademe of gold on her head and a branch of lilly in her right hand and sayd vnto her My daughter disquiett not thy selfe for they soÌ„ne for he shal be cured and deliuered from perill Which this woman hauing heard she arose full of comfort and went to the Monastery of S. Clare and recounted this apparition to the Abbesse and the Religious then she heard masse which being ended the Religious shewed to the mother and the sonne the sacred Reliques of the saint and at the instant the sonne was cured of the impostume in his throat only After that S. Agnes appeared to him in vision together with an other womaÌ„ that brought a viol full of oyntment S. Agnes then sayd to the child My sonne how doe you wherto he answeared I am by the merittes of S. Agnes cured of the impostume in my throat but that which is on my shoulder procureth me extreme affliction The S. replyed I will cure this as I did the other in thy throat then she vnbound the sayd impostume tooke of the plaister and cast it on the ground then applyed therto the oyntment which her companion had brought and instantly the child was perfectly cured When his mother came to see him she found the playsters on the ground and her sonne sound and lusty who particulerly recounted vnto her the sayd vision which afterward was generally diuulged This happened in the yeare 1350. The life of an other saincte Agnes who was daughter to the king of Bohemia and Religious of S. Clares Order THE XL. CHAPTER IN the beginning of this Religiious Order there was an other virgin besides the precedent called Agnes as illustrious in sanctity as in bloud for she was daughter to a king of Bohemia who promised her in mariage to the Emperour Federick and this holy virgin hauing heard the worthy reputation of S. Clare who then liued by such as â—ame from Rome and Assisium being inspired of God she besought the king her Father to giue her leaue to â—erue rather the celestiall then a terrestâ—iall Spouse But the king knowing that he could not recall his word and that whatsoeuer excuse he should alleadge to breake this mariage the Emperour would sinisterly interpret it he vtterly denyed her Now the virgin hauing found the drift and cause of this denyall assured her Father that if he would accord to what she demaunded she would vndertake that the Emperour should condiscend thervnto presuming confidently on the fauour of IESVS CHRIST She knew well to deliuer many other allegations with so good a grace and with such persuasiue tearmes that she purchaced her Fathers coÌ„sent to what she desâ—ed without further seeking the approbation of the Emperour Whervpon this Princesse presently sent for certaine Frere Minors of Magnes where they had a Couent who comming to her did shortly after consecrate vnto God this royall planâ— with many other gentlewomen of a great families of Bohemia to whome they gaue the habitt of Religion instructing theÌ„ in the life and rule of S. Clare The king desiring to assigne a good pensioÌ„ and to bestow on the Monastery where his daughter was a good reuenue to supply the necessities therof she formally withstood him purposing to liue and dye poore and to be maintayned by almose coÌ„formably to her rule rigourously obseruing the intention of the holy Father saint FraÌ„cis S. Clare in the vow of pouerty which is yet to this day in the same maÌ„ner obserued in the sayd monastery which is in Prague the chiefe citty of the kingdome of Bohemia with froÌ„ this first foundation layd by this holy Princesse hath alwayes bin furnished with gentlewomen Now the Emperour hauing vnderstood that his promised loue had abandoÌ„ned the world he was att the first appreheÌ„sion exceedingly troubled But considering with more maturity that she had not forsaken him to take an other man but for IESVS CHRIST himselfe he was att lenght satisfyed contented and comforted S. Clare being aduertised of all that this Princesse had done and of her life and perfection who also had written and expresly sent a messenger to acknowledge obedieÌ„ce vnto her as to her Mother and mistresse auouching her selfe her humble disciple S. Clare answeared her by a letter filled with much feruour and consolation and sent her in token of amitye and good will a girdle a vayle a cupp of wood and a dish wherin the S. her selfe accustomed to eat and many like small thinges which the holy Princesse with great deuotion accepted Our Lord wrought many miracles by the â—aid Reliques which euer afterward were kept in the sayd Monastery in very great deuotion and reuerence The renowne of this Princesse being diuulged ouer al Almania there were founded many monasteries of poore Religious in her imitation which were filled with many daughters of Princes Dukes Earles and other great Lordes and gentlemen of that contry who in imitation of saincte Clare and the sayd Princesse Agnes abandonning the world and the follyes therof espoused for eternity IESVS
of saluation he being ready to execute whatsoeuer he should command him The Religious hauing consailed him to sell all he had he did his vtmost to make restitution where he was obliged and according to Euangelicall couÌ„saile gaue the rest to the poore then offered himâ—elfe to God becoÌ„ming a Frere Minor where he perseuered in vertues and piously ended his life all his people were also conuerted and did penance So the holy simplicity of this Religious produced a merueillous fruit not preaching of high and subtill matters nor with elegant wordes but only of the paines of hell and glory of Paradise as he had bin instructed by the holy Father sainct Francis The 8. and 9. chapters are put after the 72. chap. of the first booke the 10. chap. after the 5. of the second booke and the eleuenth chap. after the 74. of the second booke Notable humility of a Preacher of S. Francis his Order THE XII CHAPTER AN English Frere Minor and Doctour of diuinity preaching in the Monastery of S. Damian where S. Clare was Abbesse in the presece of holy Br. Giles he as a great freind of humility would make proofe therof in this Preacher and so in the middest of his sermon he willed him to be silent because himselfe would preach and the diuine incontinently held his peace and Brother Giles with exceeding feruour of spiritt and to the great amazement and edification of the hearers vttered matters of great sublimity and eminency touching almighty God then tourning towardes the Diuine he willed him to proceed in his sermon which S. Clare perceauing she was exceeding ioyfull sayd This day is accomplished one of the defines of S. Francis who would often say I desire that my Religious be so humble as that a Doctour in diuinity goeing into the pulpitt if a simple lay Brother make a motion to preach the Doctour shall giâ—e him place I tell you truely my Brethren this Preacher hath more edifyed me then if he had raysed one from death The 13. chapter is after the 54. of the first booke the 14. chap. is after the last of the second booke Of a very terrible accident vnto a Nouice cloathed by S. Antony of Padua THE XV. CHAPTER THere was a worldly man whose profession was to follow the warres in which practise he did much mischiefe this maÌ„ induced by the deuil came to the blessed Father S. Antony of Padua then Guardian of the Monastery of Limoges and besought him to giue him the habit of the Frere Minors affirming a desire to serue God therin The Sainct as zealous of the saluation of soules after diuers and seuerall conferences with him and alwayes finding him firme in his pretended holy purpose heard his confession then hauing piously admonished him to doe penance for his sinnes he gaue him the habitt and had a particuler care of his deportements but this lewd wretch hauing promised the deuill to serue him with fidelity in whatsoeuer vocation he should take vpon him and neuer to discouer his intention to any person did very strongly obserue this conuention and in his generall confession â—sing his vtmost dissimulation did conceale this secrett of the deuils from sainct Antony and indeed did alwayes in his hart excogitate matters directly opposite to his saluation as his master the deuill had taught him So that it is easy to iudge that God had not drawne him to Religion but rather some discontentment in that his worldly affaires succeeded not as he wished and hearing sainct Antony preach he became Religious yet omitted not to hope and expect some benefitt from the deuill Sainct Antony as a faithfull seruant of God with exceeding feruour made him many remonstrances to enduce him to renounce the world with all his hart to resist chastice his flesh to shunne the deuill and to withstand all his temptations and to this effect gaue him meanes to performe a sharp and rigourous penaÌ„ce for his enormous sinnes But this Nouice in all such vertuous and pious actions did dissemble as hauing no affectioÌ„ thervnto This wretched Nouice theÌ„ goeing one day out of his cell which was on a litle hill separated from the others saw a very faire horse well harnised with a complet a mour vpon him and a cloke bagge on him behinde which att first sight and apprehension amazed him but after hauing without feare beheld the horse he had a desire to see what was in the cloke bagge and to that end layd hold on the horse by the raines and drew him a side where hauing searched the sayd cloake bagge he found stoare of mony and a saire sute of apparell so that hauing found a horse apparell armour and mony he reputed himselfe most happily fournished withall that he desired whervpon shaking off his Frere Minors habitt putting on his worldly attyre and armour of a soldier he mounted on horseback and so secretly rode away that none perceaued him The same day he made such speed that he arriued att Bourges in Berry where alighting late att an Inne the houre of soupper being come he sett himselfe att table and was attended by the daughter of the Host who so well pleased his fancy that he demanded her of her Father in Mariage and to induce his consent shewed him the mony he had in his cloackbag The Host att the sight of so much mony was tempted with auarice graunted his daughter to be his wife and left them to complement together The deuill then presently leauing the figure of a horse and hauing putt on the shape of a man came about midnight and knocked att the dore of that Inne where being entred drew the master of the house a side to speake with him seining himselfe iealous of his honour and sayd Syr is it not true that you haue consented to mary your daughter to a stranger it is sayd the host the deuill replyed know then that he whome you haue accepted for your sonne in law is a Religious man who as alewd fellow hath deluded you and rauished your daughter Therfore sith there is no other remedy follow my counsaile goe whiles it is night he sleeping in his bed but so warily that he may not heare you and you shall find his head bare shauen with a croune in manner of a Religious so that it prouing infallible what I tell you cutt his throat and take his mony withall that he hath wherwith you shall much better mary your daughter Besides there is no cause of feare for this fellow is not knowne in these quarters nor in any part of France This discourse putt the â—ost into an extreme anguish but being at length ouercome by the passion of choller and encouraged by the deuill he resolued to murder his new sonne in law if he found it true which his preteÌ„ded frieÌ„d had told him whom he prayed to stay till he had effected his counsaile to assist him to bury the body promising him a share of the mony wherto the deuil accorded
vnto glory The lady of the Seauen Sunnes as an other Magdalen annoynted the body of S. Fr. He was enterred as he desired in the place of executioÌ„ being the most abiect of the citty How S. Clare saw the body of S. Franc. S. Fr. was canonised a yeare and nine months after his death by the same Pope att Assisium Pope Gregory the 9. being Cardinal would become a Frere Minor S. Franc. fortold and prophesied to Pope Gregory the 9. that he shold be Pope This Pope sometimes cloathed himselfe in habitt of a Frere Minor vnknown did his deuotion among them S. Franc. cured a tame girle And saued a girle fro drowning S. Franc. by his merittes reuiueth a dismembred child Pope Nicolas the 5. went expresly to Assisium to see the body of S. Franc. the yeare 1449. The admirable standing of the body of S. Franc. The stigmates of S. Franc. appeared fresh on his body Brother Giles also How the doubt of the sacred stigmates was cleared from a Frere Minor preacher A Gentlewoman not beleuing a miracle of the stigmates which God had set on an image where there wer none an other miracle putting them out made her to beleeue One wounded to death cured by the sacred stigmates of S. Franc. A womaÌ„ deuout vnto S. Francis raised to confesse a sinne and then died againe The only daughter of one deuout vnto S. Francis raised by his merittes A blasphemer of the name of S. Franc. lost his eldest sonne but repenting the S. restored him S. Franc. by his merits raised a child And an other drowned An other crushed vnder the ruines of an house An other And an other A man fallen from the hight of a towre had no hurt by the merites of S. Franc. An other fallen vnder a water mill An other fallen into a well A womaÌ„ being wounded with a grosse stone A double admirable cure A child on whom had fallen the dore of a church A man crushed with a verymassie stone by the merites of S. Frno hurt befel hun therby Nor an other Nor an other by death A sick child abaÌ„doned of men was cured by the merites and intercessions of S. Franc. And an other sick in like sort Then an other A Priest also that was poisoned S. Franc. by his intercessioÌ„ made iron ankers to swime vpon the sea S. Frans. miraculously seÌ„t fresh water to one deuoted vnto him and in his fauour ceassed a violent tempeste S. Franc. preserued a Fr. Minor from drowniÌ„g yea from being wett though he were in the bottom of a riuer And also three Religious And an other And certaine men and women And also Mariners of Ancona S. Franc. deliuereth a prisoner iniustly imprisoned A gentleman misprising S. Franc. had trial of his power And an other likewise S. Franc. freed a prisoner without seking him att liberty S. Franc. was protectour of the innocencie of a geÌ„tleman deuout vnto him A lady very happely deliuered in a daÌ„gerous trauaile of child A womaÌ„ was deliuered of a dead child by touching a girdle of S. Fr. A womaÌ„ that could not bring vp her children did nourish one by the intercessioÌ„ of S. Fr. that proued very vertuous And an other also A womaÌ„ that could haue no sonnes had by the merites of S. Franc. two att a birth Punishment of a womaÌ„ ingratefull to S. Francis A womaÌ„ was assisted by S. Francis and deliuered of a most dangerous child birth S. Franc. cured a Religious of a mortall infirmity of his eyes A blinde woman receaued sight on the feast of S. Fr. And an other Then an other S. Franc. gaue sight to one borne blind And an other for his spiritual prositt God restored speech hearing to one by the intercessioÌ„ of S. Fr. And cured mortal wouÌ„des He restored sight and hearing and cured a woman extremly tormented and afflicted One posessed was deliuered by the merits of S. Francis And also an other And an other And a woman of a mortal bloudy flux One also â—aâ—nned of one arme And an other of the flux He cured S. Praxede of a dangerous fall A man refusing to keepe the feast of S. Fr. had his handes fastened to his hatchett And a woman attempting on that day to spin â—ad an extreme paâ—ne in her fingars The punishment of a blasphemâ—e against S. Franc. An other One deuout vnto S. Fr. miraculously obteined water in her necessity A chery tree of one deuout to the said S. being dead and withered bare fruit Of vignes corne that wer preserued froÌ„ certaine wormeâ— that destroyed them The oxe of one deuout â—â—to him was cured of a broken legge He recouered a lost horse for one deuout vnto him reioyned a dish broaken in pieces An old woman had milk to nurcâ— a child by the merits of S. Franc. And a monaster was cured S. Franc. cured one deuout vnto him of an incurable disease in his legge What was the seale of S. Franc. Gal. 6. Lib. 14. chap. 18. Matt. 16. Seauen degrees of perfection Matt. 11. Hom. 30. vpon the Gospels Cant. 50. Ioan. 14. 15. Ephes 6. Ioan. 15. Rom. 8. Rom. 8. A worthy similitud Esay 64. 1. Corrin 2. Exhortations to certaine of his Religious which he sent to the Infidels The benediction which S. Francis gaue theÌ„ Luc. 10. Luc. 12. Matt. 28. Matt. 6. The fiue Martyrs were 20. dayes without meat or drinck The fiue Religious obtained of God water in an extreme necessity Matt. 10. Luc. 21. 2. Tim. 2. Cruelties of the Mahometans vpon the 5. Martyrs 1220. Punishment of one that would touch the said reliques being in mortall sinne How pure one ought to be to touch the said reliques The lyons respect the said reliques The reliques miraculously saued the Prince The king Miramolin some what acknowledgeth his faults and satisfieth the holy martyrs â—om 8. A Frere Minor died with his rule in his hand S. Antony becam att Frere Minor to goe in that kind to preach to the Infidels Great humility of S. Antony S. Antony preaching vnprouided by obedience was knowne to be a notable preacher S. Aâ—â—ony was twice seene in diuers places att one instant By the prayers of S. Antony haires torne off took root againe A stream of raine did not wett a maid employed in the seruice of the Frere Minors S. Antony foretold that the deuil would trouble his sermon And discouered a lye of the deuil to the same end He also discouered vnto his Religious an illusioÌ„ of the deuil to diuert them froÌ„â—â—ayer An extreme shower of raine did not wet nor fall vpon an audieÌ„ce of a sermoÌ„ of S. Antony though it ouerwhel med all the neighbour places A foole hauing kissed the cord of the S. was cured By the merittes of the S. a child being in a cawdron of boilling water was not hurt An other child raised from death Effect of true contrition Matt. 6. S. Antony caused the hart of a vsurer to be seene after death a mongst