be for his soules health bestowed vpon Christian poore people or to the vse of their Churches But he for that he esche wed the burden of mony and did not see the rote of true piety to be in the mind of the Souldan would in no wise be perswaded there vnto And furthermore perceiving that he did not prevaile in the converfion of that nation neither yet could attaine vnto his purpose therein vpon forewarning by revelation from heaven receaved he made his returne vnto the partes of the faithfull And so both mercifully and marveilously it came to passe by the clemencie of God soe ordaining and by the vertue of the holy man promerriting the same that this friende of Christ did for his loue seeke after deathe with all his whole desire and could by no meanes find it whereby he might nor want the metrite of most desired Martirdome but might be yet reserved to be afterwardes insigned with a singuler priviledge And by that meanes was it also effected that that divine fire did yet more perfectly escape and boile in his harte that after wardes it might more powerfully flame and burst out in his flesh O holy man most truly blessed whose flesh although it be not cut with the sworde of the Tyrant doth not yet wante the similitude of the Lambe that was slaine O truly and perfectly blessed I say whose life although the sworde of the persecutor did not take away yet did he not loose the Glory of Martyrdome THE TENTH CHAPTER Of his diligence and fervency in praier THE holy servant of Christ Saint Francis perceaving that in body he was as yet a pilgrime from God albeit that vnto earthly desires 2. Cr. 5.7 he was already through the charity of Christ become altogether insensible 1. Thes â— 17 yet to the ende he might not be without the consolation of his wellbeloved attending vnto praier without intermission he endeavoured to offer vp his spirit before the presence of God And praier Beholde how necessary prater is to a religious man dovbtlesse was a solace vnto him in his contemplation meane while that in the circuite of the heavenly mansions he being already made a fellow Cittizen of Angells did with fervent desire seeke after his welbeloved from whom none other thing but the wall of his flesh did now disioyne him This also was a helpe vnto him in worke labour namely that in all the thinges he tooke in hande distrusting his owne industrie and firmely reposing vppon Gods heauenly piety he did by the instancy therof cast all his thought vpon our Lord. He firmely avowed that promptenesse in praier was aboue all things to be desired on the parte of a religious man verely believing that without the same no man might be able to prosper in the service of God he did by all the meanes he might stirre vp his brethren vnto the diligent exercise thereof For walking and setting within doores and abroade labouring and recreating hewas evermore so attentiue vnto praier that he seemed not only for what was in him either in harte or body but in labour also and time to haue dedicated and devoted all wholy therevnto He was alwaies heedefull at no time negligently to ouerpasse any visitation of the spirite For when iâ— was offered vnto him he followed the same and so long as our Lord vouchsafed to graunt it he comfortably enioied the sweetenesse thereof And even at such very times as he was seriously intentiue to trauell 2. Cor. 6.1 when he founde in himselfe any sweete motions Gods heauenly spiritt he suffering his brethren to goe before him did for a while make stay in the place and by that meanes converting the new inspiration vnto a present fruition he did not receaue the grace in vaine Oftentimes he was lifted vp with so great an excesse of contemplation that being ravished aboue himselfe and finding within him something beyond humane sence and vnderstandinge he did not know what was exteriourly donne about him For pasling one time through the Borough of Saint Sepulcher a Towne doubtlesse very populous and well replenished he beeing then borne vpon an Asse by reason of the feeblenesse of his body did meete a great multitude of people which came thronging vpon him for very devotion But being by them pulled halled and detained as also crushed and many waies pressed he seemed to be in all those things vnsensible and as a body devoided of life did not obserue what was donne about him In so much having now a good way passed the towne and being freed of the multitudes when he came vnto a certaine Hospitall of the Leapours the contemplator of hevenly things returning euen then as it were from another world demaunded diligently of his company when they should come nigh to the Bouroughe For verely his minde being fixed in the beames of heauenly Glory did not discerne the variety of places and times nor yet of the perâ—ons that frequently came to meete him And the like hearevnto the manifold experience of his companions hath well testified very often to haue befallen vnto him And for so much as in praier he had fully perceaved that the much desired presence of the holy-Ghost did so much the more familiarly offer it self vnto them that attend vnto praier by how much as he did finde them to be more alienated and enstraunged from the disturbance of worldly things he therefore seeking after solitary places did in the night tyme resorte by reason of praier into the Deferts and Churches at that time vnfrequented Howbiet that in those places he very many times sustained most horrible assaults of the Divells whoe sensibly entring into combatte with him endevoured to disturbe him from the exercise of praier But be armed with Gods heavenly wepons looke how much the more vehemently he was assailed by his enemies so much the more strong did he become in power of resistance so much the more ferveÌ„t perseverant he was in the accomplishment of his praier Confidently vâ—sing this speachevnto Christ Vnder the shaddow of thy wings do thou protect me Psal 16.8 from the face of the wicked who haue afflicted me But vnto the Dâ—uels he said spare not to worke vpon me al that you are able O ye malignaÌ„t deceitful spirits For yee can doe nothing but as the hand of God letteth loose the reines vnto you and I for my parte am ready with all willingnesse of minde to sustain whatsoever he hath determined to be inflicted vpon me Which constancy of his minde the proude Divels not being able to abide departed away from him with shame and confusion But the man of God now remaining solitarie vndisturbed filled the woodes with dolorouse groanes he sprinkled his places of abode with teares he beate vpon his breast with his hand and having gotten as it were a secrete place of residence he had free conference with his Lord and Maister There be made answeare for himselfe before his Iudge there
Be patiēt in tribulations be watchfull in prayers be vnweariable in labours be modest in your speeches be graue in your manners and ever thankefull for benefits receaved considering that in lieu of all these things the goodnes of God hath prepared for you an eternall Kingdome Psalm 54. But they humbly prostrating themselues vpon the earth before the servant of God did with great gladnes of spirite embrace the commaundement of holy obedience Moreover vnto every of them aparte he said Cast thy care vppon our Lord and he will nourish thee Which admonitiō he was ever wount to vse so offen as he went about to induce any brother vnto obedience Then he forseing himselfe to be geven as a patterne example vnto others and so consequently that he ought first to performe the thing before he drew others to imitation taking one of his companions vnto him setled himselfe towatdes one part of the world deputing the other sixe by two two together severed in the forme of a Crosse to the other three partes of the earth Psal 46. But it was not long past before the tender harted Father much longing for the presence of his deare children and having no meane by himselfe to bring them all togeather did offer vp his prayers vnto God that he would vouchsafe to effect his desire Who doth congregate the dispersed of Israel And so it came to passe that according to his desire without any call of man by the only worke of God they met all in one place together vnlooked for not without the great admiration of them all Having in this space of time gathered vnto them fower other men also of honest fame whoe adhearing vnto them made their number now to be twelve Now the servant of Christ perceyving that the noumber of his brethren was by litle litle daily encreased wrote for himselfe and them in playne wordes a rule and forme of life wherein hauing laid the obseruance of the Holy Ghospell for an indissoluble foundation he had also inserted therevnto certaine other few things such as seemed most necessary for an vniforme manner course of liuing And desiring to haue the same approued by the Chiefe Pastour of the Church be determined with that small company of simple associates to take his way to the Sea Apostolique reposing all his trust in the only direction and help of God Who from his heauenly seate beholding the finall end of his desire vouchsafed by the shewing of this manner of vision vnto him to reare vp the mindes of his companions otherwise not a litle astonished out of the consideraation of their owne simplicity For it seemed vnto him that passing by a certaine way he beheld standing nigh vnto him a goodly Tree of stately height loftines which as he approached more nigh vnto it and did stand vnder the same in admiration of the height thereof he was sodeinly by the power of God lifted vp into so great a height of the aire that he did not only reach to the very top therof but did also with great facility bow it downe frō the vpper most parte to the grounde This vision the man of God vnderstanding to be a foretokening of the fauourable inclination of the Apostolical dignity to his humble desires was exhilerated much in spiritt therewithall and comforting his brethren in our Lord betooke himselfe to his iourney with them But when he was come to the Court of Kome and brought before the face of the supreame Bishop the Vicar of Christ being thē walking in the Pallace of Laterane in the place which is called Speculum and there possessed with profounde meditations repelled the seruant of Christ as a man vnknowen not without some shew also of discontentment Who humbly departing out of the doores in the night following this manner of revelation was by Almighty God made to the Pope himselfe He saw from betweene his feete a palme branch springing out of the ground the same to become a most beautifull Tree And marueiling with himselfe what this vision should meane his minde was illuminated by the worke of God that by this palme tree that poore man was signified whom he had the day before reiected The next morning therfore he caused his servants to seeke him throughout the Citty Who hauing found him in the Hospital of S. Antony neare vnto Laterane he cōmanded them forthwith to bring him before himself Thus S. FRANCIS being brought in presence of the Pope disclosed vnto him the whole course ef his purpose humbly and instantly making sute vnto him to approue the same methode and rule of liuing The Vicar of Christ Pope Innocent the third being a man of singular wisedom observing in the man of God an admirable purity of a simple minde the constancy also of his purpose and the fiery zeale of his holy desire embraced this poore one of Christ with the loue of his harte being much inclined in minde to yeeld his favourable assent to the humble petition of this holy man But yet deferred to ratifie the requests of the poore servant of Christ for that his demaund seemed vnto some of the Cardinalls to be both a matter of novelty and also of difficultie beyond the measure of mans hability But it happened at that tim to be among the Cardinalls a reverend man called Dominus Ioannes de sancto Paulo Bishop of Sabina a lover of all holynesse and an especially helper of the poore servats of Christe who inflamed with the spirit of God delivered his mind in the matter before the Pope and his brethren to this effect If we shall saith he deny the request of this poore man as a matter either of novelty or of too much difficulty wheras he requireth none other thing but a form of Euangelicall life to be confirmed vnto him we haue iust cause to feare least therein we doe offend against the Gospell of Christ For whosoever shall assirme that any thing which is either newe vnreasonable or imposible to be observed is contained within the observance of Euāgelicall perfection or within the vowe which is made thereof he is manifestly convinced of blasphemy against Christ himselfe the very Authour of the Gospell Thus much being spoken in this behalf the Successour of the Apostle S. Peter turning himselfe towards the servant of Christ said vnto him Offer vp thy praiers deere sonne vnto Christe that by thee he may vouchsafe to shewe his will vnto vs to the end that it being once more certainely knowen we may the more securely condiscende to thy godly desires Wherevpon the servant of Almighty God bestowing himselfe now wholy in praier by his instant devotion obtayned to knowe both what him-selfe shoulde exteririourly disclose and what the Pope should inteourly conceyue For having related a parable according as he had receaved the same from God of a rich and mighty King that willingly married with a beautifull though a very poore woman and of a noble issue begott betwixt them
overpassing the night according to his vsuall manner in the praier of God albeit that he were then in bodie absent from his children Behold yet even aboute the verie pointe of midnight some of the bretheren being bent to sleepe and some other of them continuing in praier a fierie chariote of marveilous splendoure entring in at the dore of the house whirled vp and downe the place one while one way and one while another vntill it had at length gone three severall times rounde about the roome vpon the toppe whereof might be seene to rest a globe of shining beames as bright as the sunne which caused the darke some night for the time to seeme as cleere as the day Heere with all the watchfull were amased and the sleepy both waked and astonished every of them finding no lesse clearenes in their harts than outwardly vpon their bodies it being effected by the power of this marvailous light that the naked consciences of them all were discovered one to another For they did all of them agreably vnderstand every of them seing into each others harte that the holy Father being absent in body but present in spirit and in such apparence transfigured was with the beames of brightnes from aboue inlightened and inflamed and out of supernaturall power in a shining and fiery Chariot by God represented vnto them that as true Israelites they might follow after him who as an other Elias was by God ordained to be the Chariot 4 Reg. 2.11 and Chariot Driver of spirituall men And verily good cause we haue to belieue that he who opened in former time the eies of a Boie 4. Reg. 6.7 wherby to see the mountaine filled all with horses and fiery Chariots in compasse of Aeliseus did now also at the praiers of his holy Servant Saint FRANCIS in like manner open the eies of this simple company that they might see and behold the woonderfull workes of God But the holy man after this returning vnto his brethren beganne to sift the secrets of their consciences to refresh their spirits vpon occasion of this marveilous vision and to foretell many things concerning the increase of the Order At what time disclosing vnto them many and sundry points which far surpassed all humane vnderstanding the brethren well perceyued that the spirit of our Lord had in so great aboundance setled it selfe vppon this his servant Saint FRANCIS that it should be their safest and most certaine course to imitate his life and doctrine After this S. FRANCIS the Pastor of that litle flock being guided and directed by the grace of God conducted this poore number of twelue brethren to the Church of Saint Mary of Portiūcula to the end that where the order of the Friers Minors had by the merits of the Mother of God taken his beginning there also by her helpe it might take increase And in this place also being made a preacher of the Gospell he went about preaching through the Citties and townes Not in the learned words of humane wisedom but in the power of the spirit denowcing the Kingdome of God He seemed vnto all that sawe him to be a man of another world for as he was allawayes intentiue to heaven both in minde and countenance so did he seeke with his whole endevour to draw all men thither with him And even now about this time Of virgins were converted by him to imbrace perpetuall chastity false it is that it is mipossible to keeps Virgiuity beganne the vineyard of Christ to bud forth the buds of the sweete smels of our Lord and having brought forth the flowers of sweetnes Honor and Honestie did yeild a plentifull and fruitfull harvest For many both men and women inflamed with the zeale of his preaching serving our Lord in the Chastitie of wedlock according to the forme receaved of the servant of God did binde themselves vnto new lawes of Pennance whose manner of living the said servant of Christ decreed to be named The Order of the brethren of Pennance For as the way of pennance is one and the very same vnto all such as desire to come vnto heaven so likewyse this order S. Clare now glorified in heauen is worthily worshiped in earth of the Church admitting both the Clergie and the lay pepple Virgins and Married folkes of both sexes of how great merit it is in the sight of God it is manifest by many miracles which some of them haue wrought as may be knowen to the world Even now also divers Virgins were by him converted vnto perpetuall chastity among which Saint Clare that notable Virgin and most deare to God was the first plant and most beautifull blossome of all the rest who as as pure springing flower gaue a sweet savour of holynesse and glimmered forth her beames as a bright shining star she being now glorified with God in heaven is worthely honored of the Church in earth who being the daughter in Christ of the holy poore Father Saint FRANCIS did also become the Mother of the poore And many not only moved with devotion but inflamed with desire of Christian perfection contemning the vanity of wordly things did follow the steeps of Holy S. Francis Who increasing daily more more were quickly spreede forth to the end of the world For that same holy poverty which was the only thing they desired to carrie with them for the defray of their charges made them evermore ready vnto all obedience strong in sustaining of labours and nimble in prosecuting their iourneis And for so much as they possessed no earthly thing nothing did they loue nothing did they feare to loose but were in every place secure never assailed with feare never distracted with care wherby living as men in every point free from all manner of trouble of minde they had patience in expectance of their morning and nightly sustenance Many and sundry reproaches they sustained in diuerse parts of the world as men contēptible and vnknowen but the loue of the Gospell of Christ had endewed them with so perfect patience that they sought in those places rather to be were they might suffer persecution in body than where vpon observation of their vnfained holinesse they might haue occasion to glory in the favour of the world And even that very penury of all things which they continually sustayned seemed vnto them a superaboūdant plenty meane while that according to the wisemans Councell In steed of a great thing the least did contente them For some of the brethren comming into the infidells countries it happened that a certaine Saracin moved with pittie offered them mony for their necessary foode which he perceiving them to refuse wondered not a litle thereat seeing them notwithstauding to be both poore and needy But at the lenght perceiuing that having voluntarily made themselues poore for the loue of God they would possesse no mony he was thereby conioyned vnto them in so great loue and affection that he offered to Minister vnto them all
Cottages of the poore but in princes pallaces For he had learned by certaine experiece that the divels are terrefied by asperitie but by delicious nicenesse more forciblely animated to rentation Whervpon having on night contrary to his vsual custome a pilow of feathers at his head in regard of a special infirmity which he susteined generally in that parte and particulerly in his eies the divell entring thereinto did till the howre of Martins wonderfully molest and trouble him from the study of holy praier vntill that at length calling one of his bretheren vnto him he caused the same pillow together with the diuel in it to be carried quite a way out of his Cell But the brother going out of the Cell therewithall lost the strength and vse of al his members vntill by the voise of the holie father to whom it was reveiled in spirit his former strength both of harte and body was fully restored vnto him againe He observed great rigour and discipline and stode with great heedfullnes vpon his owne defence having an especiall care for preservation of the puritie of euerie man Wherefore at the beginning of his conversion he vsed oftentimes even in the winter season to cast himselfe into a watrie pitte frosen ouer with ice that so he might both perfectlie overcome his domesticall enemie and might also preserue the white garment of chastitie from the raging fire of voluptuouse pleasure For he thought it more tolâ—erable by much and without al comparison for a spirituall man to sustaine great colde in his body then to feele neuer so smale a kindling of carnall pleasure within his minde But it hapned vpon a certaine night that as he was praing within his Cell in the deserte of Sarthianum the ancient enemie did call him three severall times by his name saying Francis Francis Francis who demanding of him what he would haue he craftelie replied in these wordes There is no sinner in the worlde whom God will not pardon vpon his conuersion vnto him but he that shal kill him selfe with harde penance shall neuer finde mercie at his hands The servant of God hearing this had presentlie by revelation discovered vnto him the whole drifte and devise of the wicked enemie by what kinde of deceipte he went about to drawe him into a slacknes in devotion as the event following did evidently declare For immediately after this Iob. 41.12 by the blaste of his mouth Whose breath making burning coales to flame he was assailed with a great and greivous tentetion of the fleshe comming then vpon him Which so soone as this lover of chastitie did we forsee putting of his coate he beganne very feircly to beate him selfe with a corde saying goe to brother Asse thus doth it beseme thee to continue thus oughtest thou to indure the scourge Thy coate serveth for Religion it beareth the badge of holinesse for it is lawfull for anie one that is delighted in vnlawful lust to intrude vpon it if any whither thou wouldest goe then goe thy waies Moreouer also being animated with a most wonderfull feruour of spirite The whole purpos of this holy man was to purg his mind of all vices opening the doore of his Cell he went his way forth into the garden and there casting downe his poore naked bodie into the deepe snowe he caught the same in his handes and made thereof seaven heapes which being orderly placed before him thus did he then speake to his outwarde man loe here saith he the bigger of these is thy wise these other foure are thy two sonns and thy two daughters and these two that remaine are thy servantes thy man and thy maied which thou oughtest to haue to waite vpon thee Haste thee now therefore and see thou forslow not to cloth them al for they are in present danger to die for colde But if the manifolde care of these seaven be over molestful vnto thee then serue thine one and onely Lord alone with heedfull diligence The tempter forthwith perceiving himselfe by this meanes to be subdued departed straight away with shame enough and the holie man returned with victorie into his Cell againe for while he exteriourly afflicted his bodie with the extremitie of the paineful colde which he indured he did so perfectlie extinguishe the heate of his inwarde lust that never had he after that time any feeling or touch thereof againe But it chanced that a brother among them attending this meane while vnto praier did by the light of the Moone which then shined very bright moste plainely see and discerne the whole course of all that had ben done Which the man of God perceiving and knowang that he had seene what had bene done in the night related vnto him also the manner of the tentation and straightly charged him there with all that so long as him selfe lived he shoulde not disclose what he had seene vnto any man in the worlde He did moreover teach The vices of the flesh ar to be mortified and the. In tysments ther vnto ought to be bridled and the external sences with great diligence to be kepte that in no wise it was sufficient onely to mortefie the vices of the flesh by subduing the euil motions thereof but that also the outward sences by the which death entreth into the soule were to be keept with great care and vigilancie in so much that the familiaritie the conference and sight of women which vnto manie are oftentimes occasion of ruine he commanded carefully to be avoided affirming that by such occasions as well the weake spirit is broken as the strong also most coÌ„monly not a litle weakened And as harde would he say it was for him that conversed among them vnlesse he were a man of most singuler and and approved honesty to avoide the coÌ„tagion of them as it is according to the wordes of the Scripture to walke in the fire and not to burne his feete For he himselfe had continually so averted his eies from beholding of such maner of vanity that as he said sometime to one of his companions there was hardlie that woman in the world whom he did knowe by the face For he did not thinke it safe vvhat wil our heretickes hers say which neuer depart from the company of womeÌ„ none of the holy fathers euer behaued them selues in such sort This maketh against our new EuaÌ„gelists who will suffer no tribulations or labours to obtain the Kingdome of heauen but only presuming of their vain faitl led their life in pleasure and idlenesse to drawe inwardlie the images of those formes into his minde which might either reviue the sparkles of the subdued flesh or might els defile the vnspotted clearenes of chast and honest mindes Wherevpon he also affirmed that al maner of speach with a woman was vtterlie vaine and frivolouse except only in confession or els for cause of instruction yet euen in these occasions the same to be done withal brevitie such as shoulde be most expedient
person At length I am cast out with reproache as a man contemptible and basely estemed at euery hande I speake it vnto you truly my brother that vnlesse I shal with the same chearefulnes of countenance with the same in ward alacritie of minde and with the same inuiolable purpose of holinesse attend vnto the hearing of these wordes a Friar minor I cannot be And this admonition also he wel adioined In preeminence there is a ruine in praise a downfal but in the humilitie of the subiect is the gaine of the soule Why therefore doe we follow daungers more than gaine seing that wee haue received time to make our commodity And for this very cause this perfect patterne of humility Saint Francis would haue his brethren to be called Minors and the Prelates of his Order to be tearmed Ministers as well thereby to vse the wordes of the Gospell which he had promised to obserue as also that his disciples mighte by their very name be continually put in minde that they were come to learne humility at the Schooles of their humble Maister Christe For Iesus Christ that excellent Maister and most exquisite teacher of this notable vertue humiâ—itie to the ende he might perfectly informe his Disciples therein said vnto them whosoeuer will be the greater among you let him be your Minister Math. 20.26 and he that will be first among you shall be your servant And conformably herevnto it being demaunded of him by the Bishop of Hostia then Cardinal Protector and chiefe advancer of the Order of the Friars Minors who afterward according to the foreprophccieng of the holy man being exalted to the honor of Papall Dignity was called Gregory the Ninth whether it stood with his liking to haue his brethren promoted vnto Ecclesiasticall Dignities he made answeare vnto him My Lord for this cause are my brethren called Minors which is as much to say as lesser or inferiour persons that they may not presume to be made greater If you will haue theÌ„ to bring forth fruit in the Church of God then hold and conserue them in the state of their owne vocation permitte theÌ„ not by any meanes to ascend vnto Ecclesiasticall governments And for so much as he preferred humility as well in himselfe as in them that were vnder him before all other honours besides God therefore the lover of humble persons adiudged him to be worthy in that respect of farre greater and more high dignities accordingly as it was by a vision from heaven revealed vnto one of the brethren of spetiall vertue and devotion For being in the company of the man of God togeather with him praying in a certaint solitary abaÌ„doned Church with a great fervent affectioÌ„ he fell into a traÌ„ce and sawe among many seates in heaven one of more excellent dignity than all the rest besides the same being adorned with precious stones and shining also with all manner of glory And wondering then within himselfe at the brightnesse of that highe and eminent Throne he beganne very carefully in his thoughts to enquire who should be so happy as to be assumed therevnto At which very time he hearde a voice which saied vnto him This was the seate of one of them that fell and now it is kept for humble Francis And afterwards the brother returning vnto himselfe againe followed the blessed maÌ„ out of the Church according to his wounted manner At what time talking by the way as they went of Almightie God the brother not vnmindefull of the vision shewen vnto him very prudently demaunded of him what conceite and opinion he held of himself To whom the humble servant of Christ made answeare Verily I doe esteeme my selfe the greatest sinner of the world Wherevnto the brother repliyng that he could not with the safety of his conscience either say or thinke in such wise of himself he presently therevnto againe reioined saying O my brother if Christe had shewed so greate mercy vnto the most wicked man aliue as he hath donne to me I do verely belieue that he would haue binne more thankefull vnto Almighty God than I haue bin Vpon the hearing of the which so admirable humility the brother was absolutely confirmed concerning the truth of the vision disclosed vnto him acknowledging by testification of the holy Gospell it self that vnto the excellency of glory from the which the proude is cast downe he that is truly humble is exalted Another time also as he was praiyng in a certaine solitary Church within the Province of Massa at the hill Casalis he vnderstood by revelation of the spirit that there were certain holy Reliques remaining there in that place which he theÌ„ with griefe of minde perceaving to haue binne for long togeather defrauded of the honor due vnto them commanded his brethren to translate them in all reverent manner vnto a more convenient and semely place of abiding But himselfe being vppon iust occasion for a time departed from them the children then vnmindfull of the commandement of their father neglected the merite of holy obedience Notwithstanding vpon a certaine day when as they intended to celebrate the holy Misteries having removed the vpper covering of the Aultat they founde there not without great admiration sundrie most faire and fragrant bones discerning them to be the same holy Reliques which no hand of man but the power of God had brought to the place And it was no long while after Thou which dost contemne the relick of saintes beholde what reverence the man of God gaue vnto them that the holy man of God returning back againe beganne diligently to enquire whither that which himselfe had commaunded concerning the Reliques had binne by them accomplished But the brethren humbly coÌ„fessing their fault in neglecting their due obedience deserved to obteine pardon togeather with some punnishement also therewithall And then the holy man burst forth into these wordes Blessed saith he be my Lord my God who hath by himself fulfilled that which your parte and dutie ought to haue performed Consider now diligently the cate of Gods divine providence concerning this dust of ours ponder also maturely in minde the excellent savour which humble Saint Francis enioied in the eyes of God For man refusing to obay his commaundements Almighty God vouchsafed to grant his desires Vpon a certaine time also comming to the Citty of IMOLA he went forthwith to the Bishop and humbly then besought him that he might with his good favour assemble the people vnto a Sermon Whervpon the Bishop somewhat roughly repliyng saied It sufficeth Brother that to the people vnder my charge I my self do preache Immediatly the paterne of true humility bowing downe his heade with humble reverence departed out of the place how be it that within lesse than an howre he returned thervnto againe Wervpon the Bishop seming to be much offended demaunded of him what he sought for at his handes now the second time vnto whome with no lesse inward humility of harte than
after Christ he put speciall confideuce her he made an aduocate for himselfe and his bretheren according as he sometimes familiarly declated vnto his companiōs He burned with an admirable fervour of al his hart soule towards the blessed Sacrament of our Lord his body woondering with an vnspeakable amazement at that most charitable condiscending and most condiscending charity He did oftentimes communicate and that with so great devotion that he made others also to be devoute by his example whilest he at the sweete tasting of the immaculate Lambe was as one drunck in spirit ravished for the most part into an extasie of minde He loved the mother of our Lord Iesus Christ with an vnspeakable loue for that by her the Lord of Maiestie is be come a brother vnto vs and we by her haue happily obtained mercy In her next after Christ he reposed his principall confidence her he did most especially choose to be the Advocatrix for himselfe and all his brethren And to her honor he did most devoutly fast from the feast of the holy Apostles Saint Peter Saint Paul vntill the feast of her Assumption Vnto the Angelicall spiritts also considering them to burne with a maveilouse fire of excessiue loue towardes God and of inflaming the soules of the elect therwithall he was conioined with an inseparable band of loue and for devotion towardes them he fasted fortie daies from the Assumption of the glorious virgin attending all that time vnto continuall praier But vnto blessed Saint Michaell the Archangell for that it belonged vnto his office to represent the soules he was the more devoted in an especiall bonde of loue the rather for the fervent zeale he bare vnto the salvatiou of all the elect And as concerning the Saints out of the remembrance of all them as out of fierie stones he grewe to be more aboundantely inflamed in the vnquencheable zeale and loue of God bearing towardes all the Apostles and specially to Sainct Peter and Saint Paule for the exceeding charitie which they had towardes Christe a most principall and rate devotion and for the reverence and loue of them he dedicated vnto our Lord a peculiar Lenten observance This poore man of Christ had no more but two mites his body namely and his soule to giue vnto God with liberall charitie But these two he spated not for the loue of Christ to offer vp so cōtinually that as it were all his life time he sacrificed his body by the rigour of abstinence and his spirit by the fervour of desire exterioutly in the Porche of his body immolating the burnt sacrifice and in the temple of his soule inwardly beginning the sweete smelling incense of devotion But yet for all this so was he borne alofte to divine things by the excessiue devotion of charity that neuer thelesse his affectuous benignity did dilate it selfe vnto his Copartners in nature and grace For whome the singular pietie of his hart had made to be a brother vnto all creatures besides him it is no marvaile if the charity of Christ did make to be much more a brother vnto creatures ennobled with the Image of their creatour and redeemed with the bloude of theire maker And therefore he reputed not himselfe to be the friend of Christ vnlesse he did cherishe the soules which he had redeemed He saied that nothing was to be preferred before the wellfare of soules approvinge the same especially by this that the only begoten soone of God vouchsafed for the loue of them to hang vpon the Crosse And from hence proceeded his combatte in praier his discourse in preaching and his excesse in giving good example Wherevpon so often as ouer much austerity was reprehended in him he made answere that he was giuen for an example vnto other men For notwithstanding that his innocent flesh which had now willingly and freely subiected it selfe to the spirit stoode no waies in neede of any scourge at all for his owne offences yet for examples sake he daily renewed both paines and burdens vppon himselfe keeping hard waies for other mens instruction For he vsed to say If I speake with the tongues of men and of Angells and haue not Charity in my selfe whereby to giue example of vertue vnto my neighbours I profite others but litle and my selfe no white at all And with a fervent inflammation of charitie he did emulate the glorious triumphe of the holy Martirs for that in them neither could the flame of loue be extinguished nor yet could the stability of fortitude be any way infeebled Wherfore being wholy set on fire with that perfecte charity which casteth out feare he also desireth by the flame of Martirdome to offer himselfe as a liuing sacrifice vnto our Lord to the end he might make requitall according to his power vnto Christ that suffered death for vs vpon the Crosse and might also provoke others by his example vnto the loue of God For in the sixt yeare after his conversion burning altogether in desire of Martirdome he purposed to passe the seas vnto the partes of Siria to preach the Christian faith and pennance vnto the Saracens and other infidelles And being gotten aboarde into a cerraine shippe that made for those partes by meane of contrary winds he was inforced to put a shore vpon the coaste of Salauonia Where having made some tyme of aboade and nor having founde any shippe in all that space prepartd to passe the Seas he thereby perceiving himselfe to be disappointed of his desires made earnest request vnto certaine Marriners euen then prepared for Ancona that for the loue of God they would take him along with them But they obstinately refusing him as not having wherewith to deftay his charges the mā of God singulerly reposing vpon the goodnesse of our Lord entred secretly into the shippe himself and his companion with him At that time fortuned to be there a certaine man of Gods owne sending as is to be thought for the relief of his poore servant who bringing with him necessary provision of victuals and calling vnto him one of the shippe that had the feare of God before him delivered the same vnto him saieng keepe these things faithfully for the poore brethren that lie secret in the shippe and in the time of neede imparte thereof friendly vnto them And so it came to passe that when the shippemen labouring by sorce of the windes for many daies together and all that time not being able to get to lande had in the meane while exspended all their provisions yet still vnto poore Saint Francis remained of that Almes which was by Gods appointement reserved for him Which nevertheiesse though it were but very small was yet by Gods devine power so marveilousely multiplied that they making very many daies aboade vpon the Sea it aboundantly supplied all their necessities euen vntill they came vnto the very Porte of Ancona The marriners therefore perceiving themselues by meane of the servant of God to haue escaped many daungers of
whose sacrifice it hath impeached He vsed to recite his psalmes with soe great attention of minde and spiritte as if he had God ever present before him and when he chanced in them to finde the name of our Lord he seemed euen to licke his lipps for the very aboūdant delight of the sweetnesse he tasted therein And being also desirous with a most especiall reverence to honour the very name of our Lorde and that not only thought but also named and written he did sometimes perswade his brethren togather vp al the litle scrapps of paper that might any where be founde containing the same them to put in some cleane and decent place least it might haply chance that the sacred name written therein should be trodden vnder foote But the name of Iesus when he did either speake it or heare it did inwardly so fill him with such a singuler kinde of exvltation that he thereby seemed to be altogether chaunged euen exteriourly as if some mellifluous swetenes had altered his tast or some harmoniacall sounde his hearing But in the third yeare before his death it came to passe that for the stirring vp of greater devotion he purposed to celebrate the festivall memorie of the birth of the childe Iesus at the village of Graecium withal the greatest solemnity that possibly he could And to the end the same might not be imputed to levitie he craved licence of the Pope and having obtained the same he caused a manger to be prepared as also hay to be gotten and an oxe and an Asse to be brought to the place The brethren were called togither the people assembled themselues the woode adioyning was ful of voyces and that venerable night was by meane of many cleare shining lights of lowde soundinge and harmoniacall praises made to be both very light some and full of solemnity There stood the man of God before the manger full of devotion besprinkled with teares and overcome with ioy The holy sacrifice of the Masse was solemnely celebrated vpon the manger the Leuite of Christe S. FRANCIS did sing the Ghospell And afterwardes vnto the people that stood about him he preached of the nativity of the poore King and ever as he named him he did for the very tendernesse of loue call him the child of Bethlem But in this meane while a certaine souldier of great vertue and creditte called Maister Iohn of Graecium who hauing for the loue of Christe forsaken the secular warfare was now in great familiarity conioined vnto this seruant of God did testifie himselfe to haue seene a litle child of great comlinesse lieing a sleepe in that manger whom the Blessed Father S. Francis embracing in both his armes did seem to wake out of his sleepe And this vision of the devout souldier not only the holinesse of him that beheld the same did make to be credible but the very evident truth thereof did vndoubtedly approue it and the miracles succeding did also confirme it For the example of holy S. Francis being considered of the world is of great force to stirre vp the harts of such as are heauie and dull in the faith of Christe and the hay of that manger being by the people reserued was in marveilouse manner effectuall for the recouerie of sicke Cattell and a singuler preservatiue against divers other pestilences God Almighty in all things glorifieing his servaunt demonstrating the efficacy of holy prayer by manifest wonders and miracles THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER Of his vnderstanding the scriptures and of his spiritte of prophecy BVT vnto so great a perspicacity of minde had the vnwearied custome of prayer together with the continuall exercise of vertues brought this holy man of God that albeit he had no skill in the holy sacred scriptures by the ordinarie course of learning yet neverthelesse being enlightened with the beames of eternall light he did searche the depth of them with a wonderfull sharpenesse of vnderslanding For his conceite being pure from all manner of blemish did penetrate into the most hidden misteries and where the science of the Doctour did stand without doores even there was the affection of the lover admitted to enter in Sometimes he did reade in the holy bookes and what soeuer he did once take in his minde he did most firmely imprint in his memory not hearing any thing in vaine with the bare present attention of his minde but ruminating therevppon with an affection of continuall devotion And being once demanded by his brethren if he did like that the men of learning who were alreadie admitted vnto the order should still attend vnto the study of the holy scriptures he answeared It liketh me truly very well but yet soe that following the example of Christe of whom we may obserue that he did more frequently pray than reade they do in no waies omit the exercise of prayer nor yet doe so giue themselues to study as only to knowe howe they ought to speake but to practise the things they haue learnd when they haue donne those things themselves then afterwardes to propose them vnto others to doe the like For I would said he that my brethren should be disciples of the Gospell that soe they should profitte in the knowledge of the truth as that therewith all they doe also increase in the purenesse of simplicity whereby they doe not separate from the prudence of the serpent the simplicity of the done which our chiefe maister hath with his owne blessed mouth conioyned therevnto Being demaunded at Sienna by a certaine religiouse man whoe was Doctor of divinity concerning certaine questions which were very difficult hard to be vnderstood he did with such a clearnesse of doctrine discouer the secretts of Gods divine wisedome that the same learned man was thereat greatly amazed and with much admiration thereof did say Vndoubtedly the divinity of this holy Father is like as it were an Eagle borne vp a lofte with the wings of purity and contemplation but our knowledg creepeth belowe vpon the ground For though he were but euen vnskilfull in the manner of speaking yet was he so full of heauenly knowledg that he explicated most doubtfull questions and produced to light many hidden and secret things Neither is it to be held for strange that the holy man had from Almighty God receaued the vnderstanding of the scriptures seeing that by the perfect imitation of Christe he did beare the truth of them liuely expressed in his workes and that by the plentifull vnction of the Holy Ghoste he had the teacher of them abiding with him in his harte And so singulerly also did the spirite of prophecy appeare in him that he did not only foresee future things but did also see into the hidden secrets of mens harts did moreouer behold the things that were absent as though they were present in marveilouse manner exhibiting himself present vnto those that were absent For at that time whē that the army of the Christians did beseige the
inward director did without the help of any guide or Marrmer in the sight of them all and to the greate admiration of every one withdraw it selfe a prety way from the land And being now launched out as it were some reasonable space into the dept of the sea there stoode the shippe vnmoveable amiddest the waues meanewhile that the holy man preached vnto the people that stood expecting vpon the shore But the Sermon being ended when the multitude that had seene this Miracle was with his benediction departed that they might now no further molest him the ship of it selfe returned back to the land Who is there therefore of so obstinate and impious a minde as to contemne the preaching of holy Saint Francis by whose wonderfull vertue it came to passe that not only creatures vnreasonable should froÌ„ him receaue instruction but also that bodies devoide of life should serue him in his preaching as thoughe they had bin with life endewed And evermore doubtlesse was present with this his setvant Saint Francis in all his enterprises he who had annointed and sent him the spirit of our Lord and the very power and wisedome of God Christ himselfe to the ende he might overflowe with wordes of wholesome doctrine and might illustriously shine with miracles of mighty power For his speach was as a burning penetrating the most secrette parts of the hart filling the mindes of all men with admiration in that they pretended no florish of humane in vention but sweetely savoured of the odoriferouse blasts of divine revelation For being one time to preach before the Pope and his Cardinalls by the procurement of the Lord Cardinall of Hostia and having then coÌ„mitted to memory a certaine sermon by himself studiously composed see wheÌ„ as he stoode in the presence of that assembly to propose vnto them the wordes of edification he had so cleane forgotten the whole that he was not able to vtter any word at all But having discovered the same by humble acknowledgement of the truth and so betaken himself to invocate the grace of the boly Ghost he beganne sodeinly to abounde with so effectuall words and with so poverful a force to moue the minds of those great men to compunction that it was manifestly to be discerned that not he himself but the spirit of our Lord This is the best manner of learning when a man doth not only exhorte therwith words but alsa with example did speake within him And for as much as he had in real action alredy perswaded himself vn to that whervnto in words he perswaded others he therefore without feare of any reproover did confidently preach the truth For he had no skil merly to touche the faults of any but to searche them even downe to the bottome nor yet coulde he smothe vp the liues of sinners but strike them home with a sharpe rebuke And with the same Constancy of minde he spake vnto greate personnages and others of lesse accounte as also with like alacrity and ioye of spirite he did spake vnto many and vnto few Every age and every sex made hast to heare and see this new man given from heauen vnto the world But he himselfe going through divers Countries did preach with great fervour and zeale Our Lord working withall Marke 16.20 and confirming the worde with signes that followed For in the force of his name this preacher of the truth Saint Francis did cast our Divels did heale the sicke and which is more did by the efficacy of his speache mollifie the mindes of the obstinate vnto pennance as also he restored health both to their soules and bodies as some of his workes do well approue which shall be for example sake now presently specified In the Cittty of Tuscanella being devoutly intertained of a certaine souldier and by him earnestly requested to heale his sonne who had ben contracted in his members ever from his natiuity he lifting him vp by the hande did sodeinely so restore him to health againe that in the sight of all men all the parts of his body were forthwith made sounde and the youth himselfe being now perfectly whole and strong presently rose vp walking leaping and praising God S. Franc is with the signe of the Crosse restoreth one sicke of the paulsey to his former health So also in the Citty of Narnium at the instancy of the Bishoppe making the signe of the Crosse from the heade to the foote vpon one that being sicke of the palsey was destitute of the vse of all his members he thereby restored him to perfect health In the Bishoppricke of Reate a certaine boy who had binne so marveilously swollen in his body ever since he was but fower years of age that by no meanes he could see his owne thighs being by his Mother with teares presented vnto the holy man so soone as he had touched him with his handes With the â—â—me signe 〈◊〉 doth â—ll soe help a boy was presently whole and well At the Cittie of Orta there was another boy whose body was so drawen togeather in a compasse that be bare his heade with his feete besids that sundry of his bones were also broken but being at the lamentable praier of his patents by him signed with the signe of the Crosse he was sodeinely stretched our to length and forthwith wholy delivered With the signe of the Crosse also he health a woman which had her hand withered A certaine woman of Eugubium having both her hands so shrunke together and withered that with them shee could doe no manner of worke by his making the signe of the Crosse vpon her in our Lord his name was presently brought to soe perfect vse of them that returning home by and by shee like another Saint Peters mother in law did with her owne hands prepare victualles to Minister vnto him and his poore brethren He also restored fight With the same sign he also restored sight to the blind vnto a certaine blinde girlde in the Castle of Me'vantum by annointing her eies thrice with his owne spittle in the name of the Trinity Likewise a certaine woman of the Citty of Nar nium being stricken with blindnesse receaving from him the signe of the Crosse recovered therby her desired sight Againe at Bononia therewas a boy whoe having one of his eies so blenished that he could neither see any thing therwith nor yet could be holpen by any remedy yet when the servant of our Lorde had made vpon him the signe of the Crosse from the heade to the foote did thereby recover so cleare a sight that entring afterwards into the Order of the Friers Minors he affirmed himselfe to see more clearely of the eye that had bine before blemished than of the other which was alwaies sounde In the towne of Saint Geminianus the seruant of God being entertained He expelleth away the Diuell with a praier of acertain devoute man whole wife was vexed with a Divell after praier first made