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
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
death as men who had seene the horrible daungers of the Sea and had also well observed the wonderfull workes of our Lord in the deepe gaue thanks therfore vnto Almighty God who sheweth himselfe alwaies in his friends and servants to be marveilouse and worthy to be beloued But the servant of God having now left the Sea and beginning to walke vpon the lande casting vpō the grounde the seede of saluation reaped thereof fruitfull handefulles in the time of harvest Yet neverthelesse for so much as the fruit of Martirdome had so farre forth allured his harte that aboue all the merites of vertues he longed to suffer a preciouse death for Christ he tooke his way towardes Morocco there to preache the Gospell of Christ vnto Miramolin◠and his people if so by any meanes he might attaine vnto the desired crowne of Martirdome For he was borne along with so fervent a desire therof that albeit he were very weake of body he did neverthelesse outgoe his companion in travell and being full of speede to bring his purpose to effect did flie away as it were for very drunckenesse fervour of spirite But being now already comme into Spaine by Gods sweete disposition which reserved him for other things there came vpon him a most grievous infirmitie whereby he was so hindered that he could in no wise accomplish what he so much desired The man of God therefore perceivinge that his life in the flesh was yet necessary for the yssue which he had begotten albeit that he esteemed death as a gaine for himselfe therefore returned to feede the sheepe which were by Almighty God vnto his care commended But the burning fire of charity more then inforcing his spirit vnto Martirdome he yet the third time adventured for spreading abroade the faith of the holy Trinity to travell into the parts of the infideles For in the thirtenth yeare after his conversion hastening towardes the partes o◠Siria he constantely exposed himselfe vnto many daungers that he might comme to the Souldan of Bahilon For at that time was betweene the Christians the Sarasens a warre so implacable and the Tents also of the Armies on either part so closely pitched that no way of mutuall passage remained but with imminent danger of death For the Soldan had given out a cruell edict that whosoeuer could bring the head of any Christian should receaue a golden crowne of Bizance for his rewarde But the hardie warriour of Christ Saint Francis hoping that now shortly his purpose might be obtained determined to vndertake the iourny being nothing terrefied with the feare of deathe but much provoked with the desire thereof Werfore after praier before hand made he being comforted and strenghned by the hands of our Lord did confidently sing that verse of the Prophette For although I shall walke in the middest of the shaddow of death I will not feare euills because thou art with me Taking with him therefore a companion Psal 22.4 brother Huminatus by name a man verely both of light vertue as he was entred in his way he met two litle sheepe vpon the sight whereof the holy man was marveilously reioiced and said vnto his companion Be of good hope in our Lord my brother for in vs that word of the Gospell is fulfilled Behold I send you as sheepe in the middest of wolues Mat. 10.16 But being gone a litle further they mette with Saracene officers who running as very wolues inded vpon the poore sheepe and feircely laieng hands vpon them the seruants of God did in very cruell and contemptible manner intreate them dishonoring them with reproaches afflicting them with stripes and binding them in bands Vntill that hauing binne many and soundry wayes afflicted and distressed they were at length by Godes divine providence brought vnto the Souldane according to the man of Gods desire Who beeing of that great Prince demaunded from what persons to what pursose and in what maner they had bin sent as also by what meanes they had so farre arrived the servant of Christ Sainct Francis with a couragious harte made answere that he was not sent from man but from God Almighty himselfe to shew vnto him and his people the way of salvation and to preach vnto them the Gospell of truth But with so great constancy of minde with so efficacious power of the soule and so rare a fervour of spirite did he preache vnto the foresaide Souldan one only God in Trinity and Iesus Christ the Saviour of makinde that in him that place of the Gospell well appeered to be accomplished Luc. 21.18 which saieth I will giue you a mouth and wisedome which all your aduersaries shall not be able to resist and gainesay For the very Souldan himselfe beholding in the man of God an admirable fervour of spiritte and singuler vertue therewithall did both willingly giue eare vnto him and did also the more instantly invite him to make longer aboade with him But the servant of Christ enlightened with Gods divine Oracle if thou wilt said he with thy people be converted vnto Christe I will for his loue willingly remayne amonge you But if you make doubt for the faith of Christe to refuse the law of Mahomet commaunde then a very great fire to be kindled and I together with thy Priests will enter into the same that yet so at least thou maiest well discerne Which faith is of very right to be held for more holy and certaine Where vnto the Souldan answeared I doe not belieue that any of my priests wil for defēce of their faith ether expose thēselues to the fire or otherwil vndertake any kind of tormēt For he had sene one of his priests a mā of special years authority immediatly vpon the hearing of those words to haue withdrawen himself out of his sight Then said the holy man vnto him If thou wilt for thy self thy people make promise vnto me tocome to the service of Christ if I shal without harm passe through the fire I wil enter into the same my self alone if I shal be burnt be it imputed to my sins but if the mighty power of God shal protect me acknowledg then Christ the power wisdome of God to be himself very God vndoubted Lord saviour of al mākind But the Soldā answered that he durst not accept of this conditiō for that he feared a seditiō among the people Neverthelesse they offered vnto him many pretious rewards al which the man of God being no waies covetous of wordly things but altogeather desirouse of the saluation of souls did vtterly reiecte as durt Whereby the Souldan perceiving the holy man to be so perfect a contemner of wordly things being also moved with admiration therof conceyved in himself a far greater devotion towards him And albeit that he would not or that perhaps he durst not receiue the Christian faith yet did he instantly beseeche the servant of Christ to accept of the forsaide guifts to
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
commaunded the Divell in the vertue of obedience to departe and by the power of God did so sodeinely chace him away that thereby it did manifestely appeare that against the forcible power of holyobedience the very perversenesse of the Divells could not make resistance In the Cittie of Castellum a raging and wicked spiritte obsessing a certaine woman having froÌ„ the holy man receaved the commaundement of obedience departed with great fury and indignation leaving the woman that was before obsessed nowe holy free both in minde and bodie One also of the bretheren was afflicted with such an horrible infirmity that it was by many affirmed rather to be some vexation of the divel than any naturall kinde of disease For ofteÌ„times he was cast vppon the grounde and there tumbled vp and downe foming at the mouthe having the members of his body sometimes contracted sometimes drawen out at length sometimes folded together sometimes writhed awrie sometimes made stiffe and hardened And sundrie tymes being stretchred out along vntil he weare stiffe and having also his feete equall with his heads he was lifted vp alofte with inevitable daunger in horrible manner presently to fall downe to the grounde againe Vpon whom thus miserably and incureably diseased the servant of Christ who was full of pitty taking especiall commiseration sent vnto him a morsell of the bread whereof himselfe did eate But the taste of that bread was of soe effectualle strength vnto that distressed man that from thence forewarde he felt no more trouble of that disease In the County of Aretium a certaine woman having binne for many daies togeather in labour of childbirthe so that shee was even now in maÌ„ner deade and wholy dispairing of all other remedie saue only of God and the servant of Christ euen then passing through those partes on horsebacke by reason of somme infirmity in his body it chaunced that the horse was brought back againe through the same village where this miserable woman was in such pittiful wise tormented But the men of that place seeing the horse whervpon the holy man had sitten pulled of the bridle to lay it vppon the woman At the marveilouse touche whereof the woman without all daunger broughte forthe here childe with safetie A certaine man of Castrum plebis one that was very religiouse and feared God had with him a Corde where with the holy Father had binne girded And when a great number both of men and women inhabiting in that place was troubled with divers infirmities he went through the houses of them that were sicke and dipping the Corde into water did giue vnto the sicke folkes therof to drinke And so by this meanes many persons were recovered As also in like manner many diseased persons tasting of the loaues of bread which the holy man had touched did by the operation of Gods divine power speedily obtaine the recovery of their health Considering that with these many other prodigiouse miracles the messenger of Christ was in his preaching enobled men gaue heedefull attentioÌ„vnto his words as if the very Angel of our Lord had spoken For whereas there excelled in him he prerogatiue of vertues the spiritte of prophecy the efficacy of miracles the Oracle of his preaching given from heauen the obedience of creatures deyoide of reason the vehement alteration of mens harts at the hearing of his wordes the instruction which he had from the holy-Ghoste aboue humane learning the authority of preaching graunted vnto uim by the Pope notwithout divine revelation and furthermore the confirmatioÌ„ of his Rule by the same Vicar of Christ wherein the forme of his preaching is expressed as also the signes of the most high King in manner of a seale imprinted in his body all these thinges as tenne singular testimonies doe vndoubtedly manifest vnto the whole world that the Preacher of Christ Saint Francis was both venerable in office and autenticall in doctrine as also admirable in holinesse and did therefore as the messenger of God indeed preache the Gospell of Christ THE THIRTENTH CHAPTER Of his holy Stigmattes THIS Angelicall man Sainct Francis Genes 28.12 was neuer accoustomed to be idle from doeing good but rather like to the heauenly spiritts in Iacobs ladder he did either ascend vnto God or descend vnto his neighbour For the time which was graunted vnto him for his meritte he had learnte so prudeÌ„tly to devide that some parte he did with great labour bestowe vpon the commoditie of his neighbour the rest he did dedicate to the quiet aboundance of contemplation And therefore when according to the necessitie of place and time he had condescended to procure the salvation of other men withdrawing himselfe from the disquietnesse of the multitudes he betooke himself to some secrette parte of the wildernesse place of rest that attending there more freely vnto the service of God if any dust had cleaved vnto him by meane of humane conversation he might so shake it of againe Two yeares therefore before he rendred vp his soule to heauen he was by direction of Gods divine providence after many labours broughte into a highe place aparte which is called the Mounte of Aluerna And whiles he did in that place according to his wonted manner beginne to fast the lent which he obserued in honor of S. Michael the Archangell enioieing then the sweetnesse of divine contemplation more aboundantly than he had binne a foretime accustomed and being set on fire with a more burning flame of heauenly desires he beganne yet in a more aboundant measure to feele the good guifts of God sent downe from heauen vpon him And he verely was indeed carried vp aloft how beâ—t not as a curious searcher of the Maiesty of God soe to be oppressed with his glory but as a faithfull and prudent servaunte seeking out the good pleasure of God where vnto he did most earnestly desire by all manner of meanes to conforme himselfe And therefore it was by the Oracle of God inspired into his minde that in the opening of the booke of the Ghospell Christ would vouchsafe to reueale vnto him what should be most acceptable vnto God in him and concerning him Hauing therfore formerly be taken himselfe to prayer with much devotion he caused the booke of the holy Ghospells to be taken of from the Aultar and the same in the name of the holy Trinitie to be opened by his companion who also was a man of great devotion and holinesse And considering that notwithstanding the same booke was three times opened yet did he alwaies light vpon the Passion of our Lorde he therefore being ful of Gods holy spiritte did well vnderstand that as he had imitated Christ in the actions of his life so ought he before his departure out of this world to be conformable vnto him in the afflictions and dolours of his Paâ—â—sion And albeit that by reason of the continuall austeritie of his life formerly past and of his continuall bearing our Lorde his Crosse he was nowe but