bearing liuely resemblance of the KING his Father and in that respect very worthy to be nourished at the KINGES owne table this also by way of interpretation hee therevnto adioyned Wee haue no cause to feare that the Sonnes and heires of the Eternall KING shall perishe and die for hunger who beeing borne of a poore Mother by the power of the HOLIE GHOST to the image of CHRIST their KING are also to bee gotten vnto him in a poore religion by the spirite of povertie For if the KING of HEAVEN doe promise an eternall Kingdome to them that followe him howe much more will hee provide them of things of necessity which he giveth indifferently not only to the good but also to the wicked This parable and the meaning thereof when the Vicar of Christ had diligeÌ„tly heard observed he mary vailed greatly thereat knew for certain that it was vndoubtedly Christ himselfe who covertly spake in the man And moreover also he avowed by the instinct of Gods heavenly spirit that a certaine vision also which he had about this time receyued from heaven should be in this man accoÌ„plished For he had seene in his sleepe as himselfe reported the Church of Laterane to be in present danger now forthwith to fall to the grounde the which a certain poore maÌ„ of mean stature conteÌ„ptible to behold putting his own back vnder it did so preserue froÌ„ falling Whervpon he thus pronovnced verely this is he who by his worke doctrine shall vphold the Church of Christ Then this prudeÌ„t Pastor being wholy fraught with devotion inclined himself in every degree to the desires of the servant of Christ bare evermore vnto him a speciall loue affection Wherfore he graunted his request promised to graunt yet more vnto him he approued his Rule he gaue him in Charge to vndertake the preaching of pennance for all the lay brethreÌ„ to that were associate the servaÌ„t of Christ he caused them to haue litle crownes made that they might freely preach the word of God THE FOVRTH CHAPTER Of the increase of the Order vnder his hand and of the coÌ„firmation of the Rule formerly approued THE holy man Saint Francis now thus supported with Gods grace and Papall authority did with much confidence of minde take his way to the vale of Spoletum that he might as well by deed as by worde denounce the Gospel of Christ But as he debated wâ—ih his companions in the way by what meanes they might in all sincerity obserue the Rule by them newly vndertaken and how they might in all manner of holinesse and iustice walke before the face of God and further yet how they might not only arise to greater profit in themselues but might also be an example and guide vnto others by long protracting this manner of conference the time sodeinely ouerpassed vnawares And they being now much wearied with the long continewance of their travel and hungry also therwithall were inforced to stay in a certaine solitary place of the desert At which very time and place they haivng no kind of meanes to provide theÌ„selues of necessary food then did the providence of God manifest it self in their behalf For sodeinely a man appeared vnto them bringing bread in his hand which he gaue vnto the poore ones of Christ and forth disappeared being altogether vnknowene from whence he came or whether he went Here by the poore brethren perceyving that in the company of the man of God they where assisted with the help of Gods heavenly protection were better refreshed by the gift of this divine liberality then by the refection of their emptie bodies And morover they were so singularly replenished with the coÌ„solation of God that they firmely purposed and irrevocably decreed neuer for any violence either of hunger or tribulation to faile from the promise of holie pouertie After this returning with this holie purpose into the vale of Spoletum they beganne to dispute among themselues whether it were more expedient for theÌ„ to converse among men or to betake theÌ„selues vnto solitarie places But the seruant of Christ S. Francis not presuming vpon the industrie either of himselfe or of his bretheren determined by instancy of praier to seeke the good will and pleasure of God in this behalfe Being therefore inlightened by the oracle of divine revelation it was given him to vnderstand that he was for this very purpose sent of God that he might gaine such soules vnto Christ as the Divell endeavoured to leade astray For which cause he rather chose to liue for the generall good of all than for the private benefitte of himselfe alone being therevnto provoked by his example who being but one vousafed to die for all The man of God therefore together withall the rest of his companions betooke himself to a certaine forlorne Cottage nigh to Assisium Wherin they liued in much labour and needines according to the rule of holy poverty desiring rather to be sustayned with the foode of teares than with the nice of curiosities of delicate fare For there they were incessantly busied in fervent praiers proceeding rather from mentall affection thaÌ„ outwardly disclosed by vocall wordes intending wholy to the studie of devotion because they had not as yet any Ecclesiasticall bookes where in they might sing there Canonical howers but insteede of them they behelde continuallie the booke of the Crosse of Christ and turned it over day and night thereto instructed by the example and speach of the holie father who daily preached of Christ his Crosse vnto them But being requested of his brethren to teach them how to pray he said when you doe pray you shal say the Pater noster and this also we adore thee the O Christ at al thy Churches which are in the whole worlde and we blesse thee because by thy holie Crosse thou hast redeemed the worlde Moreover he taught them to praise our Lord in al thinges and out of al his creatures Heere thou maist see that faithâ— to be held and confessed whsch the holy Romane Church doth hold and teach They fell downe prostrate praying at all Churches Crosses to vse especial reverence also towardes Priests and principally this firmelie to beleue and simply to confesse the puritie of faith according vnto such manner forme as the holie Romane Church doth hold and teach All which precepts of the holy Father they on their parts in every point inviolably observed and at all Churches and before all Crosses which they could see a farr of they did humbly prostrate themselues according to the forme prescribed vnto them But it so fell out that the brethren long time abiding in the foresaid place the holy man went forth vpon a Saterday into the Citty of Assisium with purpose vpon a Sunday morning early to preach as his costome was in the Cathedrall Church And as the devout man of God had with drawen himselfe into a certaine shroud that stoode within the Channons garden there
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
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
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
mourning and lamentation wherevnto with redoubled sighes he incessantly gaue ouer himselfe vntill such time that after long instance of Praier he obtained of our Lord with his inclinable eare to heare the same For one day as he was praying in a solitary place through excesse of fervour wholly in manner absorpted vp in God Christ Iesus our Lord voutsafed to appeare vnto him fast nailed as it were vpon the CROSSE At the sight wherof his soul melted within him the memory of the Passion of Christ was so efficatiously imprinted into his heart that from that houre so often as he remembred the Crncifijng of Christ he was hardly able to abstaine from sighes and teares externally bursting out vpon him as himselfe afterward familiarly reported drawing then nigh vnto his end For hereby the man of God did fulwell vnderstand that those wordes of the GOSPEL If thou wilt come after me denie thy selfe and take vp thy Crosse and followe me were directly spoken vnto himself From that time did he therfore put on vpon him the spirit of poverty a perfect sence of humility and a zealous affection of inward Piety For wheras before he could not abide the company of such as were infected with Leaprosie no not so much as to see them though distant a good way from him nowe for the loue of Christ Crucified who according to the wordes of the Prophet seemed contemptible as a Leaper that he might fully contemne himselfe he did with a godly kind of benignity even towards the Leapers performe the duties of humility and of all manner of good humanity For he visited oftentimes their houses liberally bestowing his almes among them with great affection of charitable commiseration disdained not to kisse their handes their mouthes As for poore beggars also it was his desire to bestowe vpon them not only his goodes but himselfe therewithall sometimes putting off his owne apparell sometime vnripping the same sometime for lack of other more conuenient meanes cutting it in partes to bestowe vpon thē To poore Priests also he gaue succoure with much reuerence and deuotion especially in the ornaments of the Aulter that he might both be partaker of the honour giuen vnto God might also supply the wants of such as were to exhibite the same vnto him One time visiting the Church of Saint Peter the Apostle with religious deuotion and beholding a great multitude of poore people before the doores of the Church he being then partly moued with the sweetnes of piety partly allured with the loue of pouerty gaue vnto one of the poorest of them his owne apparell and couering himselfe with the ragges of the poore man spent that whole day ioyfully in the middest of the poore with an vnwonted alacrity and ioy of spirit Thereby aswell to contemne all wordly glory as also to arise as it were by degrees and to clime vp to the top of Euangelicall perfection Very vigilant he was in mortification of the flesh that so he might externally in his body Se how the holy Father doth subdue the concupiscence of the flesh by his mortification carry about the Crosse of Christ as he did internally enermore beare the same in his hart All these things did Saint Francis the servant of God not being yet either in habite or conversation sequestred from the world THE SECOND CHAPTER Of his perfect conuersion vnto God and how he repaired three Churches BVT because the servant of the highest had no other teacher in these matters Churches were builded for to pray in Learn that to bēd ones knees vnto images to pray to those whom they do represent is a good and pious work se what a miracle Christ did worke by this his image but only Christ himselfe it pleased his merciefull goodnes yet further to visite him in the swetnes of his grace For as being one day gone forth into the feild to meditate he walked along by a Church dedicated vnto Saint Damian which was so old and ruinous that it seemed ready to fall to the ground by the instinct of Gods holy spirit he entered into the same to pray and falling prostrate before the image of Christ Crucified was in his praier replenished with a singular consolation of spirit And as he did with weeping eies beholde the Crosse of our Lord he heard with his corporall eares a voice from this same Crosse speaking thus three times vn to him Francis go and repaire my House which as thou seest is wholy destroied Saint Francis being then alone in the Church trembled not a litle thereat as being much amased at the hearing of so woonderfull a voice and feeling in his hart the efficacie of Gods heauenly worde He arose signeing himselfe with the signe of the Grosse became as it were alienated from himselfe in minde But returning afterwards to his perfect remembrance he readily prepared himself vnto obedience wholy disposing himself towards the performance of the commaundement cōcerning the repairing of the materiall Church though the more principall intētion thereof had relation vnto that Church which Christ had purchased with his owne bloud as he was afterwardes taught by the holy-Ghost and did himself reueale vnto his brethren Rising vp therefore and arming himfelf with the signe of the Crosse he tooke vnto him certaine clothes provided for sale which he speedily carried vnto the Citty of Fulligney and there selling his wares and also the horse whereon he rode the happy marchant beinge well contented departed with the price thereof in mony And so returning to Assisium he reuerētly entered the church which he was commaunded to repaire and finding a poore Priest therein after due reuerence done vnto him made offer of his mony for the reparation of the Church and towardes the releefe also of the poore making furthermore his humble sute vnto him for licence to abide with him there for a time The Priest well allowed of his aboade in the place but misdoubting his parents assent for the mony vtterly refused to accept thereof which neuerthelesse the true contemner of mony casting into one of the windowes esteemed it no better than pelfe and dust Now whilest the seruant of God was thus abiding with the forementioned Priest as soone as his Father got knowledg thereof he as one much perplexed in minde rūne with great hast and speed to the place But Francis being as yet but a yong soldier in the armie of Christ when as he hearde the threatenings of them that did perfecute him and did also perceiue their comming at hand being then desirous to giue place to the force of their sury betooke himselfe to a secret Caue whearein closely concealing himself for a few daies he incessantly besought our Lord with aboundance of teares that he would vouchsafe to deliver his soule from his persecutors handes and that the good purposes which he had inspired into his hart he would also vouchsafe to bring to a finall end and accomplishement being
the beginning of his exhortation he was wonte in this manner to salute them saiyng Our Lord giue his peace vnto you For this manner of salutation he learned of God according as himself afterwards affirmed And there vpon it came to passe that according to the saying of the Prophet himselfe also being inspired with the spirit of prophesy he did denounce peace he did preach salvation and did with healthfull admonition associate very many vnto the true peace euen such as had binne before time disioyned much from the favour of Christe and had thereby straied farr away from the porte of Salvation Now therefore when this holy servant of God did growe to be better knowen vnto many aswell for the truth of his sincere doctrine as of his life certaine other man also moved by his example beganne to be animated and stirred vp vnto Pennance and reiected all the impediments of this world that they might be conioyned vnto him both in habite and life The first of which number was the venerable man Bernardus who be the special vocatiō of God merited to be the first borne of the blessed Father aswell in priority of time as in priviledge of holy conversation For he having had experience of the holinesse of the seruant of Christ and purposing by his example perfectly to contemne the world demaunded of him direction for the better performance of his purpose Which the servant of God vnderstanding was replenished with great consolation of the holy-Gost for the conception of this his sonne said vnto him that this councell was to be sought at the hands of God Wherefore betimes in the morning they entered into the Church of S. Nicolas and there after humble prayers exhibited the devout servant of the blessed Trinity S. Francis three severall times opened the booke of the Gospells instantly beseeching Almighty God that by a triple testimony he would wouchsafe to confirme the holy purpose of Bernard In the first openning therefore of the book he lighted vpon that place which saith If thou wilt be perfect go and sell all that thou hast and giue vnto the poore In the second Take nothing in the way But in the third Mat. 19.21 Marc. 6.8 Ma. 16.24 If any man will come after me let him denie himself and take vp his Crosse and follow me This is saith the holy man our life and Rule and of all them who will conioyne thē selues to our society So therefore if thou willt be perfect and performe the thinges thou hast heard delivered Not long after it fell out that fiue other men also were called by the same spirit wherby the nūber of the spirituall children of holy S. Francis was increased to sixe among whom the third place befell vnto the Holy Father Aegidius a mā also full of Gods grace worthy to be held in famous memory For being afterwards most rarely exercised in heauenly vertus according as the seruāt of God had foretold of himself although he were a simple and vnlearned man yet was he exalted vnto the top of Celestiall contemplation For continewing long time togeather without intermission intentive vnto heavenly actions he was ravished also with so frequent excesse of contemplation in God as I my self have with mine eies observed that he was esteemed rather to haue led the life of Angels then of men though living and couersing among men Aboute the same very time vnto a certaine Priest of Assisium named Syluester a man of honest life and conversation our Lord vouchsafed to shew a vision very worthy to be remembred For finding in himself an especiall loathing and avertion from the manner life of S. Francis and his brethren least that he might haply be indangered for the rashnes of his iudgement thus was he visited by the favour of Gods heauenly grace He beheld in his sleep the whole Citty of Assisium to be environed rownde with a mōstrous Dragon by reason of the vnmeasurable hugenes whereof the whole country seemed to be in danger of vtter wast and distruction After this he might see a certaine Crosse of gold issueing forth of the mouth of S. Francis the topp where of reached vnto heauen and the armes to the vtter most bounds of the worlde at the glittering aspect wherof that ougly and horrible Dragon was vtterly put to flight This vision being three times in this manner represented vnto him he therevpon esteeming it as the very Oracle of God declared the same in order to the man of God and his brethren and it was not long after but himselfe also leaving the world did with such perfection adheare vnto the footesteeps of Christ that the life by him ledd in the order gaue good credit and authority to the vision he had seene in the world Vpon the report and publication whereof no whitt was the man of God ezalted in humaine glory but acknowledging the benefits of God and the greatnes of his goodnes he was more and more incouraged to withstād the crafte of the auncient enemye and therewithall to preach and extoll the glory of the Crosse of Christ But it befell vnto him vpon a day that walking in a certaine solitary place and there recounting with himselfe his yeares mispent as he did in the bitternes of his harte bewaile them the gladsome comfort of the Holy-Ghost comming then vpon him he was fully certified of the plenarie remission of all his offences And being afterwardes rapt as it were aboue himselfe and having his vnderstanding marveilously inlightened he evidētly perceyved what great matters were in tyme to come to be fall vnto himselfe and his whole progenie after him Whervpon returning vnto his brethren Be of good comfort quoth he my most dearely beloved and reioyce in our Lord be in no wise eyther sad or sorrowfull for that yee be but few in number neyther yet be yee desmayed eyther out of myne or your owne simplicity for so much as our Lord hath certainely revealed vnto me that he will make vs increase to a great and mighty companie and will with the sweet blessing of his heavenly grace multiply and augmente our noumber many and sundrie wayes At the same time also another devout man entred the religion among them whereby the issue of the man of God did now amounte vnto seaven Then the good Father calling all his children about him and speaking many things vnto them of the kingdome of God of the contempt of the world of the denying of their owne will and of the chasticement of the body withall declared vnto them his purpose to send them into the foure partes of the world For now the holy simplicity of the holy Father having brought forth seaven children did also desire to beget the whole company of the faithfull vnto Christ our Lord by calling them to the mournefull works of Pennance Go your waies quoth he sweet father to his welbeloved children and denouncing peace vnto men preache vnto them Pennance for the remission of sinnes
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
thinges necessary so long as he should haue in the world to giue them O inestimable price of poverty by the admirable force whereof even Barbarours cruelty was chaunged into so great a sweetnes of mercy Wherefore it is a thing most horrible and a wickednes vnexcusable for a Christian man to tread vppon so pretious a pearle which an infidell Saracin held in so great a reverence About this time Moricus a Religious man of the Order called Cruciferi being miserably afflicted in an Hospital neare to Assisium with a long and greivouse disease through the violent force whereof the Phisitions were in vtter despaire of his recoverie made humble request to the man of God by a messenger sent for purpose with instant desire that he would vouchsafe to pray for him Whervnto the blessed Father with a willing minde assenting after praier devoutly made taking cartaine crummes of bread into his hand and mingling the same with oyle taken from out of the Lamp which burned before the Altar of the Blessed virgin brought it at lenght as it were to a certaine kinde of electuary which he sent vnto the sicke man by the handes of his brethren saying Beere ye this medicine vnto our brother MORICVS where by the power of Christ will not only restore him vnto perfect health againe but will make of him a strong and hardy warriour and shall further adioyne him perpetually vnto our troupe and company No sooner had this sicke man tasted of that exquisit medecine made confected by the Holy Ghost his invention but rising vp forth with now perfectly whole and well he obtained of God so much strength both of body minde that within a litle while after entring into the Religion of the holy man he was contended with one only slender coate Behold the wonderfull abstinence of the holy man who for a long space tasted neither bread nor wine and wasfed only with rawe meats vnder which also he ware for long time together a coate of maile next to his skinne vsed no other diet than raw meates as hearbes fruits and such like other things as he gathered vpon the earth not tasting for many and soundrie years either of bread or wine All which notwithstanding he still continewed in good health and strenght of body And as the merrits of the vertue of these litle ones of Christ did daily more and more increase so the sweet smell of their good opinion spreading it self ronde about drew many out of divers parts of the world to come in person to see the holy Father Among whom there was a curious inventor of secular songes who having binne for that cause crowned by the Emperour and called the king of verses determined to go see this man of God the contemner of wordly things And finding him preaching in a certaine Monastery at the Castle of Saint SEVERINVS the hand of our Lord comming then vpon him be beheld Saint FRANCIS the preacher of the Crosse of Christ ensigned with two swordes one overthwarr the other in the forme of a Crosse the one of them stretched along from his head to his feete and the other Crosse-wise along his breast from on hand to the other Wherby although he knew not the contenance of the servāt of Christ yet was he fully secured that this very man was he by the admirable apparence of so great a miracle At the sodain aspect whereof being much amased he beganne to propose vnto himselfe better things in his minde and being at the lenght compunct by the force of his words no lesse than if he had bin stricken through with the sword of the spirit issueyng out of his mouth vtterly contemning all secular pompes he conioyned himselfe in profession with the blessed Father Wherevpon the holy man seeing him to be perfectly converted frō the trouble of the world to the peace of Christ called him by the name of Frater Pacificus He afterward increasing in al holinesse before such time as he was made provinciall Minister in France for he was the first that bare that office there merrited once and againe to see the greeke letter T. in the forehaid of holy S. Francis the same being distinguished with such seemely variety of colours as did wonderfully adorne his face and countenance This signe the holy man did reverence with great affection this signe he did commend with frequent speeches and in his letters which he vsually dispatched he evermore with his owne hand subscribed the same Ezech. 9.4 as if all his study were to make the signe T according to the saieing of the Prophet vpon the foreheades of them that sighed and mourned and were vnfainedly converted to Christ Now when the number of brethren was in processe of time increased the carefull Pastor beganne to call them together vnto a general Chapter then to beholden in the place of our Lady of Portiuncula that in the measure of divine distribution he might giue vnto every one his portiō of obedience in the land of their poverty Where although there were great penurie and the brethren sometimes came together aboue fiue thowsand in number yet by the help of Gods mercie they had sufficient foode together with health of body and aboundance of spirituall ioy But for so much as he could not be in body present at the provinciall Chapiters he was therefore in spirit by the diligent care of his governement by the instancy of prayer and by the efficacy of benediction evermore present at them notwithstanding that sometimes by the marvailous power and worke of God he did visibly appeare For as Saint Anthony that worthy preacher who is now a notable Confessour of Christ was preaching in the Chapter at Arles of the title of the Crosse Iesus of Nazareth King of the Iewes a certaine brother of approued vertue called Monaldus looking as the will of God was towardes the Chapter house doore sawe with is corporall eies the blessed Father Saint FRANCIS lifted vp alofte in the aire ad blessing his brethren with his handes stretched out as it were in the forme of a Crosse At which very time all the brethren did feele thēselues to be replenished with so great vnvsual-a consolation of spirit that the inward testimony which they felt in their hartes did sufficiently secure them of the vndoubted presence of the holy Father though afterwardes it was not only by evident signes but also by the said holy Fathers owne wordes externally confirmed And well it may be believed that the same power of Almighty God which granted the devout and holy Bishop Saint Ambrose to be present at the in tombing of the glorious Bishop Saint Martin to the end that he might with devout reverence honor the devout Bishop deceased did also by an especiall favour present his servant Saint Francis at the sermon of his true preacher Saint Anthony that he might approue the words of truth those especially of the Crosse of Christ whereof himselfe was a continuall
and feeble flesh so invincible a power of the spirit admired with himselfe thereat and extolled this divine miracle faying I tell you plainly brethren I haue seene wonderfull things to day For the holy man was now come vnto that excellent degre of purity that by a wonderfull sweet consent harmonie his flesh did agree with his spirit his spirit did wholy conforme it self vnto God it was by a divine ordinaÌ„ce brought to passe that the creature obeying the Creator was miraculously subiect to his will coÌ„mandement As may also be seene by this other exaÌ„mple of the same holy servant of God who being sicke one time of a most dangerouse disease in the Desert of S. VRBANE feeling then directly in himselfe the defect of nature demaunded a cup of wine to be brought vnto him S. Francis making the â—igne of the Croste turned puer Water into most excilent wene whervpon answere being made that there was no wine there to be had he required them to bring him water which being donne he blessed the same with the signe of the Crosse Immediarly therevpon that which was before very naturall watter was now turned intoâ—â—ost excellent wine and that which the poverty of the place could not afforde the same did the purity of the holâ— men deserue to obtaine By the taste also whereof he so spcedily recovered himselfe againe that both the newnesse of the rast the present reuewing of his imapired health alter ring supernaturally both the thing tasted him that was the taster therof did by a double testimony confirme the absolute dispoiling of the olde man and the perfect putting one of the newe And not only was this manner of obedience by the creatutes of God to his holy servant exhibited but the providence also of the Creator did every where condiscend to satisfie his wil and desire For his body being vpon a time ouer-dulled with the concurrence of many diseases together he founde in himselfe a desire to heare some harmonicall kinde of sounde that thereby he might be reviued and receiue more comforte of spirite but it not beseming his life and profession to procure it by the ministerie of man behold the service of Angels was ready to accomplish the Holy mans desire For as he was waking one night meditating vpon God so dainly there sounded a Harpe of most wonderfull harmony and of most sweet and pleasant melodie At what time he saw not any man but might well perceive the passage and returne of the Harper by the alteration of the sounde of the musicke as it was sometime nigher and sometime further from him Wherefore directing his spirit vp to God he was so singularly delighted in that most sweet souÌ„ding musicke that he did almost thinke himselfe to haue bin in another world This also could not be hidden from his brethren who did oftentims by certaine and vnfallible tokens perceiue that he was visited by Almightie God with so excessiue frequent consolations that it was not possible for him in any sorte to conceale them An other time also as the man of God went to preaeh betweene Lombardie and the Marquisate of Tervisium being then accompained with one of his brethren travailing along by the Riuer Poe the darkenesse of the night sodainly came vpon them By meane whereof the way being subiect vnto many and sundry perilouse daungers as wel in regarde of the Fenns thereabouts as also of the River it selfe the brother associate spake vnto the holy man saying make thy praiers good Father vnto God that we may be delivered out of these imminent daungers To whom the man of God answeared with much hope an confidence in this wise God is able no doubt my brotherr if it stand with the good pleasure of his sweet disposition to dispearse the deepe darkenesse of this obscure night and to vouchsafe vnto vs the benefit of light Which wordes he had no sooner vtteted but by the power of God such an aboundant light beganne to shine about them that the night being darke to others they neverthelesse did see in cleare and perfect light not only the way but very many things on every side aboute them being by the conduct thereof both corporally directed spiritually comforted whereby they came safe the last to the place of their lodging by the passage of no small space of grounde which they ioyfully overpassed with singing Himnes and praises in honor of Almightie God See now consider vnto how great vertue and wounderful purity this holy man had attained at whose beck the fire did temper his heat the water did change her tast the melodie of Angels did recreate his spirits whome the light of heaven did guide conduct in his way that so it may fully appeare that vnto the sanctified sences of Gods holy servant the whole frame of the world did readilie yeild an obsequious kinde of obeisance THE SIXTH CHAPTER Of his humility and obedience and of Gods fauourable condiscending vnto all his desires THE guardian and ornament of all vertues humility had in so aboundant manner replenished this holy servant or God that in his own reputation he was nothing els but a wretched sinner whereas in very deed he was a perfect mirrour and amost gloriouse ressemblance of all maÌ„ner of holynesse Vpon this grounde worke he determined to build vp himselfe having as a wise Architecke laid that very same foundation which he had learnd of our Sauiour Christ For this cause he saied that the sonne of God did come downe from the highnes of his Fathers Bosome to these our contemptible things that being our Lord Maister he might aswell by his owne example as by his worde teach this excellent vertue of humility vnto vs. And therefore as the true disciple of Christe his praier was to seeme vile and base both in his owne and other mens eies remeÌ„bring the same which is said by the most superexcellent Maister That which is high amonge men is abhomination with God Thervnto also adding this saying of his owne that Looke how much a man is the sight of God so much he is and no more And therefore he held it for a very vaine and foolish thing to be extolled with the favours of the world reioycing much to be reproached and sorrowing no lesse to be commended For he had farre rather heare himselfe reuiled and reproched than praised or commended knowing that the one might provoke him to amende and the other might giue occasion to fall And for that cause oftentimes when the people extolled in him the meritt of holinesse he commanded one of his brethren to vtter some words of debasement and reviling against him in his owne hearing Which when the brother did although much against his will calling him a rusticall and rude body an vnskilfull and vnprofitable hireling he was marveilously exhilerated therat aswell in minde as in countinance whereby he answered Our Lord blesse thee my most dere sonne for thou
speakest the very truth and such wordes as it best beseemeth Peter Bernardus sonne to heare But to the end he might make himselfe abiect and contemptible vnto others he spared not his owne disgrace but in his publique praaching before all the people he would open and manifest his owne defects As having once vpon occasion of a right grievouse sicknesse remitted in some forte the rigour of his vsuall abstinence for the better recoverie of his health againe after such time as he had somewhat better resumed his strength vnto him the true dispiser of himselfe animating himselfe to the reproache of his owne flesh It is not meete said hee that I shoulde be held for a man of abstinence meane while that I secretly giue me selfe to the pampering of my flesh Wherefore he raised vp himselfe as being wholy inflamed with the spirit of holy humility assembling the people together in a streete of the City of Assisium himselfe with many of his brethren which he had brought with him entred solemnely into the greater Church where having a roape fastened about his neck he caused himself to be drawen all naked saving only of his breeches in the open sight and veiwe of them all even to that very stone whervpon malefactors at the time of their punnishment were wonte to be placed Vpon the which he then getting vp as he coulde albeit that he were both weake and affected with a quartane Ague yet in such extreame cold as the time did then affoarde did preach with great efficacie and force of minde At which time he affirmed in the hearing of them all that he was in no wise to be honored as a spirituall man but rather to be contemned of all men as a fleshly and gluttenouse personne Wherevpon the people there assembled wondring at so strainge a spectacle and being also compūcted with devotion because they well knew the strictnesse of his austerity did openly protest that such manner of humility was rather to be admired than in any sorte to be imitared And though this action might rather seeme to be a wonder in nature according to the saying of the Prophet then otherwise a matter of example yet was it vndoubtedly a true patterne of perfect humility whereby the scholler of Christ is instructed to contemne the glory of transitorie praise to represse the swelling pride of arrogancie and to reproue the falshood of craftie dissimulation Oftentimes he did many things after this manner that externally he might appeare as a lost vessel and internally might possesse the spiritt of sanctification He studdied also to hide the guifte of his Lord and Creatour in the secret inclosure of his bress thinking it not convenient to lay open to vaine glory that which might be vnto himselfe an occasion of ruine For oftentimes being commended of the multitudes for a blessed and holy man he vsed to applie this manner of speache vnto thē softe I may yet haue both sonnes and daughters doe not therefore praise such an one as is not already secure No man is to be praised whose ende is vncertaine Eccl. 11.13 And these were his wordes to them that peaised him But to himselfe he spake in this sorte Oh FRANCIS if God Almighty had bestowed so greate benefits euen vpon a Thiefe as he hath vouchsafed vnto thee he would be no doubt more thankefull than thy selfe vnto him To his brethren also he saied oftentimes thad no man ought with an vndue applause to flatter himselfe vppon occasion of any kinde of thinghe which is in à sinners power to doe For saith he a sinner may fast a sinner may pray a sinner may mourne and lament a sinner may also macerate his owne flesh but this only a sinner cannot do namely to be faithfull to his Lord and Maister In this therfore we may haue iust cause to glory if to our Lord we render the glory which is of righte his owne if serving him faithfully whatsoever it is that he do giue vnto vs the same do we faithfully resctibe vnto him againe But this Evāgelicall Marchāt to the end he might by more occasiōs in crease his gaine might turn all the present time to his furthermerit tooke not much delight to hold the place of a Governour as of a subiect neither yet desired so much to command as to obay Behold the great obedience and humility in the holy Father And therfore resigning his office of General he desired a gardiā to whose wil cōmandement he mighte in all manner of pointes accomodate himselfe For he affirmed that the fruite of holy obedience was of so great plenty and aboundance that vnto them who submitted their neckes to her yoke no time overpassed with out some gainefull commoditie Wherefore his custome was vnto such brothers as he vsually went with all evermore to promise obedience and faithfully to obserue the same And thervpon ths he spake sommetime of himselfe vnto his companions Among other things which the goodnesse of God hath of his greate bountie vouchsafed to graunte vnto me this grace he hath freely bestowed vpon me that I could as diligently yeld mine obedience vnto a Novice of one howres standing if he were appointed to be my Guardian as to one of the most auncient and discreetest brerhren For the subiect saieth he must not consider his Superiour as a man but as him for whose lone he is become subiect vnto him And by how much the more contemptible he is that doth commaund by so much the more acceptable is the humilitie of him that doth exercise obedience He being one tīe demāded who was to be iudged truly obedient proposed the similitude of a deade body for an example Take me vp saith he a dead body put it where you please you shal neither see it striue when it is moued nor murmure when it is placed nor yet repine when it is displaced But if you set it in a chaire it looketh not vp alofte but downe righte to the grounde if you apparel it in purple roabes it discovereth the palenesse of his countenance two for one morethan it did before Euen very this saieth he is a true patterne of obedience who doth not discern why hee is mooued who careth not where he is placed who desireth not to be changed who being aduanced to office retaineth his former humilitie and who the more he is honored doth so much the more repute himselfe vnworthy And for mine owne parte quoth he one time vnto his companions I cannot thinke my selfe worthy the name of a Friar Minor vnlesse that I be in this very state which I shal now describe vnto you See now I goe as Prelate and Cheife of my brethren conducting them all vnto the Chapter there I preache among them there I vse mine admonitions vnto them and in fine it is spoken with disgrace vnto me Thou euil be fittest to rule among vs for that thou art a man vnlearned harshe in thy speaking an Idiote and a simple
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
all thinges fot love of the Author of all things THE EIGHT CHAPTER Os his affection of Piety and how creatures devoied of reason seemed to be affected towards him VNFAINED pietie which according vnto the Apostles saieng is Profitable to all things had so far forth penetrated and replenished the harte of S. Francis that the man of God seemed wholy to be subiected therevnto Tim. 4.8 This is that vertue which did by force of deuotiō eleuate him aloft vp vnto God which did by cōpassion transforme him into Christ which by way of condiscending declined him to his neighbour which by an vniuersal reconcilement and accord of all thinges did refigurate and againe restore him vnto the state of innocency And allbeit that our of this pietie he were devoutly affected vnto all thinges yet at such time especially as he perceaued that the soules which were redemed with the precious bloud of Christe Iesus were defiled with any filth of sinne he then bewailed them with such a tendernesse of commiseration that as a mother in Christe he dailie laboured to bring them forth againe And this was the special cause that moved him so much to reuerence the ministers of the word of God for that they doe both raise vpp seede to theire brother deceased namely vnto Christ who vouchsafed to be crucified for sinners by working the conversion of them and being converted doe also governe them with an industriouse careful pietie This excellent office of commiseration he affirmed to be vnto the Father of mercie more acceptable than any sacrifice especially when it proceedeth from the industrie of perfect charitie whereby more diligent labour is emploied therein by force of example than by course of words by mourneful praiers rather than by babling discourses Wherevpon he would say that that Preacher was much to be lamented as a man wholy destitute of true and perfect pietie who either in preaching seeketh not the health of soules but his owne priuate praise and glory or who by the naughtinesse of his life destroieth what euer he buildeth vp by the truth of doctrine Before such an one therefore he saied that a simple and ignorant brother was far away to be preferred who by his owne good example 1. Reg. 2 5. prouoketh others also vnto the like And to his effect he expounded that place of holy scripture Vntil the barren haue brought forth many children For the barren saied he is vnderstand to be that poore brother whose proper office is not to ingender children in the holy Church But he neverthelesse shal yet in the iudgment bring forth many children because that such as by his private praiers he doth convert vnto Christe shal then be by the Iudge vnto his glory ascribed And She that hath many children shal be enfeebled because the vaine and talking preacher who now glorieth of many children as by meane of his owne labour and industrie begotten shal the plainely knowe and discerne himselfe not to haue any right or interest in them at all He therefore with all the hartie affection and desires of pietie and with a burning and zealous emulation of minde thirsting after the salvation and good of soules was euer more accustomed to say that he was as it were replenished with sweete odours and was in a maner annointed with a most preciouse and delightfull ointmente so often as he hearde that many weare induced vnto the way of truth by the sweete smelling fame of his holy bretheren dispersed through sundrie partes of the world Vpon the hearing of these reports his spirit not a litle reioyced heaping most acceptable and aboundant blessings vp on all those bretheren who either by worde or deede did induce sinners vnto the lout of Christ But he contrariwise whosoever did by theire euel demeanoure violate the holy stare of Religion did thereby incurre the most greivouse sentence of his malediction Of thee O my most holy Lord said he and of all thy blessed courte of heauen and of me thy poore and humble servant be the al aceursed who by theire euill example doe confoundeand destroy that which by the holy bretheren of this order thou hast already builded and doest not cease yet to build And oftentimes he conceived so exceeding great sorrowe and greife vpon occasion of the scandall of weakelings that he thought himself to haue beene almost dead therewithall had he not beene vpholden by the consolation of Gods divine clemencie But onetime especially being marveilouse much distressed with the evill examples which he sawe to begiven and praing with a perplexed spirite vnto the father of mercie for his children this maner of answeare from our Lord he therevnto received Why arte thou thus thou poore and sillie man afflicted haue I in such maner of wise ordained thee to be Pastor over this my religious order that thou doest not knowe me to be the principall patrone and director thereof For this cause haue I thervnto designed thee being but a simple man that what thinges I shall worke in thee be to no humane industerie but vnto the mightie power of God ascribed It is I who haue called them I also will keepe them and feede them and if some of them doe at any time falle away I will subrogate other into theire roomes againe so farre forth that if they be not yet borne I wil make them to be borne vpon purpose And with how many assaultes soever this my poore religion shal be distressed yet shal it ever abide in saftie by mine especiall giftand protection The vice of detraction also he abhorred as the professed enemie to the pure fountaine of grace and pietie as the venemovse sting of a ferpent and as a most desperate and deadly poyson avowing the same to be most abhominable in the sight of Gods most mercifull and sweete dispotion considering that the man of detraction is fed with the bloud of soules which he doth murder with the fowrde of his tongue And hearing once one of the bretheren to disgrace the good name and fame of another he turned therewithall vnto his Vicar saying arise arise discusse the matter diligently and if you shal finde the brother accused to be innocent faile not with sharpe correction to chastice the accuser wherby to make him an example in that behalfe vnto others And sundrie times also he would aiudge that brother who had dispoiled another of his good name and fame to be himselfe deprived of his habite and that he might not presume to lifte vp his cies vnto our Lord before he had done his best indevour to restore that which he had vncharitably taken away For so much greater said he is the impiety of detractors than of open theiues and robbers as the law of Christ which is fulfilled in the observanc of piety doth more precisely oblige vs to desire the well fare of our neighbours soules than of their bodies And with a wonderfull tendernesse of compassion commiserating the cause of all that were afflicted
Francis appeared vnto her comforting her with sweete and compassionate speeches and moreover perswading her to carrie her childe vnto a place nighe hand which was dedicated to his name that being in the name of our Lorde washed with the water of a certaine well in that place he might receaue full and perfect remedie But whereas shee neglected to accomplishe the commaundement of the Sainte he the second time repeated those wordes vnto her Yea and the third time also appearing he walking before the woman conducted her with her childe vnto the gate of the foresaied place At what time certaine noble Matrones comming thither for devotions sake and being by the foresaied woman diligently informed of the vision they together with the mother did present the childe to the brethren and drawing water out of the well the more noble of them did with her owne handes washe the infant Whoe having all his members presently brought to their proper places appeared sounde and well and the greatenesse of this miracle brought admiration vppon all men In the towne of Chore Loe with what devotion the Saint is inuocated and how miraculously he doth helpe his deuoted within the Diocesse of Ostea a certaine man had soe absolutely lost his thigne that he coulde by no meanes either goe or moue himselfe Beinge therefore in this vehemeÌ„t distresse and desperate of all humane helpe he beganne one nighte as thoughe he had seene S. Frances present to take this occasioÌ„ of complaining before him Helpe me saied he O Sainte Frances remembring my service and the devotion I haue exhibited vnto thee For I haue carried thee vppon mine Asse I haue kissed thy holy feete and thy holie handes I haue alwaies binne devoute vnto thee I haue binne evermore readie to serue thee and behold now I die with the most greivouse torment of this disease With these his complaintes he that is never vnmindefull of the benefitts bestowed vpon him but is continually gratefull for the devotion which is vsed towards him beinge moved and incited did presently stand before him and did with one brother appeare vnto him He tolde him that he was comme at his call and had brought with him helpes for his recoverie With a litle staffe therefore that had in it the figure of the letter Thau he toucht the place where the paine did lie and therewithall breaking an impostume he presently restored him to perfect healthe And whiche is more marveilous imprinting the sacred signe of Thau vppon the place of the healed vlcer he left it there to remaine in memorie of the miracle With this marke S. Frances vsed to signe his letters as often as for charities sake he directed any But beholde now gentle reader meane while that our minde being distracted with varietie of narrations hathe passed along thrugh divers miracles of the gloriouse father S. Frances by meritte of that gloriouse standard bearer of the Crosse it hathe now not without divine direction lighted vppon the signe Thau which is the signe of salvation to the intent that out of it wee may obserue that like as the Crosse was in his warfare after Christe a highe advauncement of meritte vnto salvation soe is it also vnto him now with Christe triumphing made a firme matter of testimony to his honor For this greate and marveilouse misterie of the Crosse wherein the peculiar guiftes of graces the merittes of vertues and the treasures of wisedome and knowledge are in soe profounde a degree covered and concealed that it is kept secrette from the wise and prudent of this worlde was yet soe plentifully and fully revealed vnto this litle one of Christe that all his life dothe follow noe other thing than the very footestepps of the Crosse he dothe savour of noe other thing than of the sweetenesse of the Crosse nor yet dothe preache or denounce any other thing than the glory of the Crosse Well therefore and truly might he say with the Apostle in the beginning of his conversion God forbid that I should glorie saving in the Crosse of our lord IESVS Christe And no lesse truly mighte he say in the progresse of his conversation whoesoeuer shall followe this rule peace vppon them and mercie But most truly mighte he in the consummation of his life thereto adioyne the wordes ensueing I beare the markes of our lorde IESVS in my bodie And these wordes also we dailie desire from him to heare The grace of our Lord IESVS Christe be with your spiritte brethren Amen Glorie now therefore securely in the Crosses glorie thou gloriouse standard bearer of Christe for that having taken thy beginning from the Crosse according to the rule of the Crosse thou haste made thy proceeding and finally making thine ende in the Crosse of howe greate glory thou arte in heaven it dothe by the testimony of the Crosse evidently appeare to all faithefull people Securely now may they followe thee whoe doe departe out of Aegipte for that having devided the redde Sea by the staffe of the Crosse of Christe they shall passe thoroughe the deserts into the promised land of the living and having also passed over the Iordane of this mortalitie they shall by the marveilouse power of the Crosse enter thereinto Whither wee beseerhe him whoe is the true conductor and Saviour of his people Iesus Christe crucified mercifully to bring vs by the merittes of his servaunte S. Francis to the praise and glorie of God whoe being three in personne and one in substance liveth and raigneth everlastingly Amen Deo gratias A Table of all the Chapters contayned in this booke THe first Chapter of Saint Francis his conuersation in secular habite The second Chapter of his perfect conuersion vnto God and hovv he repayered thre Churches The third Chapter of the institution of his order of religion and of the aprobation of his rule The fourth Chapter of the increase of the order vnder his hand and of the confirmation of the rule formerly approued The fifth Chapter of the austerity of his life and hovv the creatures of God gaue sollace vnto him The sixth Chapter of his humility and obedyence and of Gods fauourable condiscending vnto all his desires The seauenth Chapter of his loue of pouerty and of the marueilous supply of his vvants The eight Chapter of his affection of pyety and hovv creatures devoied of reason seemed to be affected to vvards him The ninth Chapter of the fervour of his charity and of his desire of martyrdome The tenth Chapter of his diligence and feruency in prayer The eleuenth Chapter of his vnderstanding the scriptures and of his spiritt of Prophecy The tvvelfeth Chapter of the efficacy of his preaching and of his gifte in curing The thirtenth Chapter of his holy stigmattes The fourtenth Chapter of his patience and death The fifteenth Chapter of his canonisation and of the translation of his sacred bodye The sixteenth Chapter contayning certaine miracles doÌ„ne by Saint Francis after his death vvhich because it is loÌ„g and considering the miracles be of dyuers kindes is therefore parâ—ed inâ—o tenne diuisions according to the seuerall titles of the miracles The first diuision of the vertue and force of the holy stigmattes The second diuision of dead persons raisde to life againe The third diuision of such as he delivered from the perrill of death The fourth diuision of persons that vvere saued from shippevvracke The fifth diuision of persons delivered out of bonds and imprisonment The sixth diuision of vvomen delivered from danger in Childebirthe The seauenth diuision of giuing sighte vnto the blind The Eight division of persons delivered from divers kindes of infirmities The Ninth diuision of such as observed not the feaste and of those that honored not the Sainte The Tenth and last Division of certaine other mirecles of divers kindes For such faultes as are here escaped in printing I beseech the curteous reader out of his charity to pardon and with mature iudgment vouchsafe to amend them