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
bearer and a most faithfull servant But the Order being now great amplified augmented he did greatly desire that the forme and rule therof by Pope Innocenciâ—s already approved might be Honorius his successor for ever be ratified and confirmed and even then he was by Almighty God admonished with this manner of revelation It seemed vnto him that he was gathering vp from the earth certaine most exceeding small and slender crummes of bread by him to be distributed among a great many hungry brethren of his that stoode in expectance rownde aboute him And fearing to distribute so smalle crummes least perhaps they should fall out of his handes he heard a voice from aboue saing vnto him Francis make one hast of all the crummes and giue vnto them that will eate Vnto which voice he shewing himselfe obedient whosoever did not receiue the distribution devoutly or did make light of the guift already receaved were presently marked with a leaprous infection All which the holy man did the next morning after relate vnto his brethren sorrowing much that he could not vnderstand the mistery of the vision But the next day following as he persisted watchfull in praier he heard a voice from heaven speke vnto him Francis the crummes which thou sawest in the night past are the wordes of the Gospell the host is the Rule and the leaprousie iniquity Being therefore desirous before he sought the confirmation of his Rule to reduce the same as being hitherto more largely compiled out of sundry parts of the Ghospell vnto a more compendious forme and methode according as the vision did purporte vnto him he went vpp with two of his companions into a certaine hill wherevnto he was by the Holy Ghost conducted He fasted with bread water and there contenting himselfe with bread water during the time of his fast he caused the same to be written according to that which the spirit of God suggested vnto him as he was yet persevering in fervent prayer Which being there by him in this manner finished and himsefe now comming downe from the montaine he gaue the same to his Vicar to keepe who within few daies confessing himselfe to haue lost it by fault of negligence the holy man went againe the second time into the solitary place of the desert presently renewed the same againe as if he had taken the wordes from out of the mouth of God And shortly after obtained according to his owne desire to haue the same confirmed by the foresaid Pope HONORIVS in the eight yeare of his Popedome Wherevpon taking occasion with great fervency to perswade his brethren a new to the observance of the rule he avowed vnto them that he had not thereinto inserted any thing out of his owne industrie but had simply and plainly written downe all every point eueÌ„ in such sorte as had binne from God revealed vnto him S Francis caused his rule to be written as he had receiued by diuine renelation Which that it might the more manifestly appeare as being confirmed and approved by the testimony of God himself within few daies after the signes Marks of our Lord Iesus were imprinted vpon him by the finger of the living God as it were the Bull of the chiefe and most supreame Bishop Christ himselfe aswell to the absolute confirmatioÌ„ of the Rule as also to the commendation of the Author thereof as shall be hereafter set downe in convenient place after we shall hane declared his excellent vertues THE FIFTH CHAPTER Of the austerity of his life and how the Creatures of God gaue sollace vnto him NOvv when the holy servant of God Saint Francis did perceive that many were by his exaÌ„ple incouraged with fervencie of spirit to carry the Crosse of Christ himselfe also like a good leader of the army of Christ was therby animated daily more and more to attaine vnto the crowne of victory by the exquisite perfection of most invincible vertue For coÌ„sidering the sayng of the Apostle that Se with what seuerity of disciplines the holy Father did mortifi the concupiscence of his flesh Se also his wonderful abstinenâ— They who are of Christ haue crucified their flesh together with their vices and concupiscenses he to the ende he might in his owne body beare the armour of the Crosse did with so great severitie of discipline restraine his sensuall appetites that scantly he allowed vnto himselfe the very things that were necessary for the sustentation of nature Vsing evermore this maÌ„ner of saying that It could not be but marueilous hard to fatisfie the necessities of the body yet not to condiscen vnto the euill inclination of sensuall desirs for which cause in time of health he would hardly be induced to eat of boiled meats or at least wise very seldome if he did at any time he vsed either to put ashes amonghst it or els by mingling of water with the saÌ„e to make the meat vnsavoury What shall I speake of his moderate drinking when as he would scarrely drink of cold water sufficient to alay the violence of his thrist He ever invented new waies of more perfect abstinence and by exercise did daily more more increase therein and although he had already attained vnto the highest degree of perfection yet some thing alwaies he did as a new beginner innovate punishing with afflictions his fleshly concupissence Neverthelesse at such times as he weÌ„t abroade to preach the Gospell he did conforme himselfe in the quality of his meate according to the custome of the persons that did entertaine him but at his returning home againe then did he strictly obserue the rigour of most parsimonius abstineÌ„ce And so in all respects vsing austerity towards himself curtesie towards his neighbour obedience to the Gospell of Christ he was an example of edification to others not only by abstaining but even also by eating The bare ground he vsed most commonly as a bed for his weried body He slept often on the bare ground and tooke his sleep oftentimes sitting leaning his head vpon a piece of woode or a stone and resting alwaies contented with one coate he served our Lord in cold and nakednesse Whetevpon it being one time demaunded of him how he could with so thinne a garment defende himselfe from the extreame sharpenesse of the winter cold Behold his great austerity in his apparell he answered with afervour of spirit If we were inwardly toucht by fervent desire with the flame of the heavenly couÌ„try we should easily be able to indure this eternall colde He could not abide softnes of apparell but asperous clothing he much esteemed affirming that S Iohn Baptist was in that respecte commended by the mouth of God himselfe And therefore if at time he found any kinde of easefulnes in such garmens as had bene given vnto him he vsed to weare litle cords into the inner side therof alluding vnto the words of truth that softnes of apparell was not to besought for
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
therefore replenished with a certain excessiue gladsomnes he began to accuse himselfe of too much pusillanimity whervppon forsaking his caue and casting away all manner of feare he tooke his way straight to Assisium Where being espied of the Cittizens and by the change of his countenance obserued to be wholy chaunged in minde he was thereby of them adiudged to be out of his wittes in so much as taking vp the durt and stones of the stteete they began to throw the same at him as though he had ben frantique and absolutely made indeed But the seruant of God nothing at all dismaied or changed with so many iniuries passed on as a deafe man amiddest them all And When his father heard such a clamourous outcrie he also presently running forth not with a minde to free him but rather to destroy him setting all comiseration quite aparte drew him home to his house where first with wordes and afterwards with stripes and bondes he did in lamentable maner torment him But he became thereby more prompt and couragious to proceed forward in his course begunne remembring the saying of the Ghospell Mat. 5. that Blessed are they that suffer persecution for instice for theirs is the Kingdome of heauen But it fell out not long after that his Father being gone out of the Country his mother not allowing of her husbands severity and being her self quite out of hope to alter her sonnes inflexible constancie dismissed him quite of his bondes and gaue him leaue to depart Who rēdring due thāks vnto Almighty God returned againe to the place where he was before But his Father not finding him at his comming home and angry with his wife went after furiously to the place purposing if it were past his power to recall him at the least yet to driue him out of the province Neuerthelesse Sainct Francis receaving strength from God came forth of his owne acorde to meete his Father all the violence of his fury notwithstanding affirming boldly vnto him that he did not esteme his fetters and stripes and furthermore protesting therewithall that for the loue of Christ hee was ready ioyfully to fusteyne all manner of afflictions and evils whatsoever Wherevpon his Father being inraged as hauing now no hope to recall his sonne converted all his care to recover the mony which being found at lenght in a litle windowe his fury was in some sorte appeased the thrist of cove tousnes beeing as it were by a draught of mony alayd After this his Father endevoured to bring his sonne thus dispoyled of his mony before the Bishop of the City that in his presence he might renounce his right vnto all his Fathers possessions might also restore vnto him all that ever he had To the performance wherof the true lover of poverty shewed himselfe both ready and willing For cōming before the Bishop without any delay or lingring whatsoeuer neither contradicting with wordes nor yet did he expect any to be spoken vnto him presently putting off evē his garments restored them to hisfather At what time the holy man was founde to haue a shirte of hearecloth next to his skinne Which he concealed vnder his more delicate apparell Furthermore out of an admirable fervour of spirit casting off al his apparell he stood all naked before the company and addressed his speach vnto his Father thus Hitherto haue I called you my Father in earth but from hence forth I shall securely say Our Father which art in heaven in Whom I haue reposed all my treasure haue setled the whole summe of my hope and confidence The Bishop beholding all this and admiring such an excessiue fervour of pietie in the man of God arose forth with from where hee sate and embracing him in his armes with teares as hee was a good and godly man did also wrappe him in his owne garment commaunding his servantes to giue vnto him something to cover his naked body But they gaue him a poore and base mantell which they had of a husband man that served the Bishop which he accepting with great thankefullnes did with a peice of lime which he founde in the place mark vpon it the forme of the Crosse with his owne hand fashioning it as a fit covering for a poore man crucified and litle better than naked Thus therefore was the servant of the highest King left all in nakednesse that he might follow his naked Lord crucified whom he so dearely loved in this manner fortifying him selfe with the Crosse that he might committ his soule to the secure harboure of salvation by the which he might safely escape the shippwracke of this tempestuous world From thence forth this contemner of the world being altogether freed from the bondes of worldly desires forsaking the Citty did with great security and freedome of minde betake himselfe vnto the secret parts of the desert that there in solitarines silence he might attend vnto the misticall secrets by Almighty God from aboue distilled vnto him And as this devout servant of God passed by a certaine wood singing praises vnto God with great ioye and exultation a sorte of thieues came rushing out of a secret place vppon him Who demaunding of him with firce behaviour what he was the man of God answered with great confidence and not without an instinct also of prophecy I am the preacher of the great King But they heaping blowes vpon him cast him into a pitt filled vp with snowe saying vnto him Ly thou there Clowne the preacher of God But so soone as they were departed Behold againe his pilgrimag to holy places he got him speedily out of the pit againe and being marveilousely possessed with ioy began with a lowder voice to sounde forth throughout the woodes his songes of praise vnto the Creatour of all And comming to a certaine religious house thereby he asked almes as a beggar and receaved the same as one vnknowen and dispysed Frō thence going on along he came to Eugubium Where being of an old frend of his both knowen and entertained he receaued a poore coate of his guifte as one of the poore litle ones of Christ From thence being a louer of all manner of humility he applied himself to the leapers remayned with them seruing them most diligently for the loue of God He washed their feet bounde vp their vlcers wrung out the corruption of their soares and wiped away the filthines of them He also kissed their running botches with admirable devotion being now in the way shortly to become an Euangelicall Phisitian By these meanes he obtained so great power of God that he wrought wonderfull effects in the purging both of spyrituall and corporall diseases Among many of that kinde here will I now make reporte of one which befeell when the same man of God hade afterwardes begunne to be of greater note in the world there was a mā in the Country of Spolerum who had his mouth iawe bone miserably eaten away with an horrible
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
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
overpassing the night according to his vsuall manner in the praier of God albeit that he were then in bodie absent from his children Behold yet even aboute the verie pointe of midnight some of the bretheren being bent to sleepe and some other of them continuing in praier a fierie chariote of marveilous splendoure entring in at the dore of the house whirled vp and downe the place one while one way and one while another vntill it had at length gone three severall times rounde about the roome vpon the toppe whereof might be seene to rest a globe of shining beames as bright as the sunne which caused the darke some night for the time to seeme as cleere as the day Heere with all the watchfull were amased and the sleepy both waked and astonished every of them finding no lesse clearenes in their harts than outwardly vpon their bodies it being effected by the power of this marvailous light that the naked consciences of them all were discovered one to another For they did all of them agreably vnderstand every of them seing into each others harte that the holy Father being absent in body but present in spirit and in such apparence transfigured was with the beames of brightnes from aboue inlightened and inflamed and out of supernaturall power in a shining and fiery Chariot by God represented vnto them that as true Israelites they might follow after him who as an other Elias was by God ordained to be the Chariot 4 Reg. 2.11 and Chariot Driver of spirituall men And verily good cause we haue to belieue that he who opened in former time the eies of a Boie 4. Reg. 6.7 wherby to see the mountaine filled all with horses and fiery Chariots in compasse of Aeliseus did now also at the praiers of his holy Servant Saint FRANCIS in like manner open the eies of this simple company that they might see and behold the woonderfull workes of God But the holy man after this returning vnto his brethren beganne to sift the secrets of their consciences to refresh their spirits vpon occasion of this marveilous vision and to foretell many things concerning the increase of the Order At what time disclosing vnto them many and sundry points which far surpassed all humane vnderstanding the brethren well perceyued that the spirit of our Lord had in so great aboundance setled it selfe vppon this his servant Saint FRANCIS that it should be their safest and most certaine course to imitate his life and doctrine After this S. FRANCIS the Pastor of that litle flock being guided and directed by the grace of God conducted this poore number of twelue brethren to the Church of Saint Mary of Portiūcula to the end that where the order of the Friers Minors had by the merits of the Mother of God taken his beginning there also by her helpe it might take increase And in this place also being made a preacher of the Gospell he went about preaching through the Citties and townes Not in the learned words of humane wisedom but in the power of the spirit denowcing the Kingdome of God He seemed vnto all that sawe him to be a man of another world for as he was allawayes intentiue to heaven both in minde and countenance so did he seeke with his whole endevour to draw all men thither with him And even now about this time Of virgins were converted by him to imbrace perpetuall chastity false it is that it is mipossible to keeps Virgiuity beganne the vineyard of Christ to bud forth the buds of the sweete smels of our Lord and having brought forth the flowers of sweetnes Honor and Honestie did yeild a plentifull and fruitfull harvest For many both men and women inflamed with the zeale of his preaching serving our Lord in the Chastitie of wedlock according to the forme receaved of the servant of God did binde themselves vnto new lawes of Pennance whose manner of living the said servant of Christ decreed to be named The Order of the brethren of Pennance For as the way of pennance is one and the very same vnto all such as desire to come vnto heaven so likewyse this order S. Clare now glorified in heauen is worthily worshiped in earth of the Church admitting both the Clergie and the lay pepple Virgins and Married folkes of both sexes of how great merit it is in the sight of God it is manifest by many miracles which some of them haue wrought as may be knowen to the world Even now also divers Virgins were by him converted vnto perpetuall chastity among which Saint Clare that notable Virgin and most deare to God was the first plant and most beautifull blossome of all the rest who as as pure springing flower gaue a sweet savour of holynesse and glimmered forth her beames as a bright shining star she being now glorified with God in heaven is worthely honored of the Church in earth who being the daughter in Christ of the holy poore Father Saint FRANCIS did also become the Mother of the poore And many not only moved with devotion but inflamed with desire of Christian perfection contemning the vanity of wordly things did follow the steeps of Holy S. Francis Who increasing daily more more were quickly spreede forth to the end of the world For that same holy poverty which was the only thing they desired to carrie with them for the defray of their charges made them evermore ready vnto all obedience strong in sustaining of labours and nimble in prosecuting their iourneis And for so much as they possessed no earthly thing nothing did they loue nothing did they feare to loose but were in every place secure never assailed with feare never distracted with care wherby living as men in every point free from all manner of trouble of minde they had patience in expectance of their morning and nightly sustenance Many and sundry reproaches they sustained in diuerse parts of the world as men contēptible and vnknowen but the loue of the Gospell of Christ had endewed them with so perfect patience that they sought in those places rather to be were they might suffer persecution in body than where vpon observation of their vnfained holinesse they might haue occasion to glory in the favour of the world And even that very penury of all things which they continually sustayned seemed vnto them a superaboūdant plenty meane while that according to the wisemans Councell In steed of a great thing the least did contente them For some of the brethren comming into the infidells countries it happened that a certaine Saracin moved with pittie offered them mony for their necessary foode which he perceiving them to refuse wondered not a litle thereat seeing them notwithstauding to be both poore and needy But at the lenght perceiuing that having voluntarily made themselues poore for the loue of God they would possesse no mony he was thereby conioyned vnto them in so great loue and affection that he offered to Minister vnto them all
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
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
for her salvation and best agreable with her honest reputation For what busines would he say can a religious man haue where aboute to treate with a woman saue onely in enioyning holy Pennance vnto her or els in giving her councell to refome her life when she doth in religious maner require it Out of too much securitie the enemie is lesse avoided And the divell if he can get but one haire of a mans head to be his owne he wil soone make it to growe as big as a beame Idlenes also he taught to be eschewed as the very sinke and common receptacle of al naughty thoughts shewing by his owne example that the rebelliouse and slothful flesh was to be kept vnder by cotinuall discipline and profitable labours Wherefore he called his body his brother Asse for that it was to carrie hevie burthens and to be beaten with manie and frequent strips and not otherwise to be fed then with base meane diet If he saw anie idle or loitring person to liue vpon the fruites of others mens labours this man he called brother flie for that such an one doing no good him selfe but impairing the good labours of other men maketh himselfe vile and abhominable to all sortes of people Wherefore he vsed sometimes this manner of saying I will that my bretheren occupie themselues in labour and exercise least that being inclined to idlenes either theire harte or tongue doe wander after vnlawful thinges For his will and care was to haue silence by his bretheren observed according to the prescript rule of the Gospel which admonisheth men at al tims with all dilligence to abstaine from al maner of idle words as being to render an accompte thereof at the day of iudgemente Wherefore if he did finde any of his bretheren to be accustomed vnto idle and vaine wordes he did there vpon very sharpely reprehend him affirming that modest taciturnitie was both a secure preservation of a pure hart likewise a vertue of no smalle accompt considering that Death life are said to be in the haÌ„ds of the tongue not so much in regard of the taste as of the speach But although he endevored alwaies to induce his bretheren vnto austeritie of life yet he approved not that strcikt kinde of severitie which proceeded not from the bowels of devotion neither yet was seasoned with the wholesome salte of discretion For when as one of his brethren was vpon a night through too much extremity of abstinence greatly vexed with famine could not in that respect take any naturall rest the good and carrefull Pastor preceiving that one of his sheep was then in present danger of perishing called the brother forth with vnto him and set him bread before him and to the ende all bashfullnes might be away removed he first began to eate therof himselfe and so with sweetnesse invited him to do the like Whereby the brother being well incouraged reiected shame and willingly tooke his meate very much reioicing that by the wise and provident condiscending of the prudent Pastor he had happily escaped the hazard of his body and had also received no small example of edification when the morning was come the man of God calling his brethren altogether after relation made vnto them of what had chanced in the night adioyned also this heedful admonition vnto them Let charity saith he not meat my brethren be a patterne and example vnto you Furthermore he taught them to follow iscretion as the Chariot man of al vertues how beit not that discretion which the flesh doth advise but that very same which Christ hath taught whose most holy life is vndâ—ubredly knowen to be the most exact paterne of all perfection And for so much as it is not possible for a man invironed with the infirmity of his fleshely body so perfectly to followe the vnspoted lambe of Christ crucified for vs vpon the Crosse but that he shall daily gather some filthy Dreggs of sinne vpon this cause he avowed by vnfallible document that they who do with vigilancy aspire to the perfection of life ought daily to cleance theÌ„selues with streames of teares For though himselfe had already attained vnto a wonderfull purity both of heart and body yet ceased he not with showers of teares continually to cleance the eies of his minde not much regarding the losse of his corporall eies For having gotten through continuall weeping amost daungerons imperfection in his eies being for that cause by the Phisitian advised in any wise to abstaine from teares vnlesse he would vtterly loose his sight the holy man made answeare vnto him Brother Phisitian we must not in any sorte for the love of that light which is common aswell to flies as to vs men in any small degree refuse the visitatioÌ„ of that light which is of everlasting continewance considering that it is not the spirit which hath for vse of the flesh receiued the benefit of light but contrary wise it is the flesh which for the vse and service of the spirit hath receyued the same at the bountifull hand of God And therefore he did rather chuse to loose his corporall eiesight than by repressing the devotion of his spirit to hinder those comfortable streames of teares wherby the inwarde eie is cleared that it may by able to see God But being ypon a time councelled by the Phisitians and therewithall instantly perswaded by his brethren to suffer himselfe to be cured by a certaine kinde of Cawtery the maÌ„ of God humbly assented therevnto the rather in that he perceyued it would aswell be healthfull as otherwise painefull vnto him The Surgion therefore being sent for came and put his iron instrument into the fire to worke the cure But the servant of Christ chearing vp his body which was now sommewhat daunted with feare beganne in this manner as to a frind to speake vnto the fire saying My brother fire whom Almighty God hath created of a most exquisite seemelinesse full of fotce notably beautifull and profitable be favourable at this houre be curteous now vnto me I beseech the great omnipotent Lord who hath created thee so to temper the violence of thy burning heat that burning with sweetenesse I may be able to endure thee This praier indeed he made the signe of the Crosse right over against the red hotte iron instrument and so remained afterwards without all kind of feare or quailing Then was the sparckling iron entred vp to the top within the tender flesh and the Cautery was drawen from the very eare to the eie brow In the doeing whereof what paine the holy man sustayned he himselfe expressed vnto his brethren saying Giue praise vnto God my brethren for I verely say vnto you that I haue neither felt the heat of the fire nor yet any payne in my flesh And turning to the Phisitian he said vnto him If the flesh be not already well concocted put in your iron againe The Phisitian then perceaving in so weake
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
then instructed them with holy speeches that passing through the desert of this world they should like forraniers and strangers as true Hebrewes in povertie of spirit continually celebrate the Passeover of our Lorde vnderstanding therby his passage out of this world vnto his Father And for because in the asking of Almes he was not ledde with desire of gaine but with the liberty and freedome of spirit God therefore the Father of the poore see med ouer him to beare a speciall care and protection For it happened that the servant of God being surprised with sicknesse in a certaine place called Noceria he was from thence convaied towards Assisium by certaine solemne Messengers which the people of that Citty had out of their great devotion sent for that purpose vnto him Who bringing with them the servant of Christ came to a certaine poore village called Sarthianum where as well the time of the day as hungar also requiring meate they went out to provide but finding no meate to be bought for money they returned emptie to the place againe To whom the holy man said for this cause ye haue founde nothing because you trust more in your Flies than you doe in our Lord. For he called their pieces of mony by the name of Flies But returne said he to the houses wherby you passed before and humbly desire the Almes of the inhabitants offering the loue of God for a reward vnto them Neither do ye out of a false estimation hereof conceiue as of a thing either of bashfullnesse or basenes for you to vndertake considering that the great Almes giver hath now after sinne by his aboundant goodnesse graunted disposed of all thinges in Almes both to the wotthy vnworthy Wherevpon his conductours being warfairing men setting shame a side and craving Almes with a willing minde made better market for the loue of God than for their mony For by the divine in stinct of God the poore inhabitants were so compunct in heart that they freely offered not only their goodes but themselues also therewithall And so it came to passe that the same degree of wāt which mony could not relieue euen that did the riche poverty of Sainct FRANCIS aboundantly supply At such time as the holy man lay sick in an Ermitage nigh to Reate a certaine Phisitian reforted oftentimes with timely endeavour ynto him But the servant of Christ not being able to giue a reward vnto him answereable to his paines and labours the most liberall God who would not dismisse him without a present requitall recompensed his godly industrie in his poore servants behalfe with this newe and vnvsuall benefite For this Phifition having about that very time newly built him a house wherevpon he had bestowed the whole summe of all his former gaines and labours the same by meane of a wide rifte in the wall reaching from the toppe to the bottome of the foundation was ready to fall to the grounde in so much as it seemed impossible by any art or numane industrie to be prevented But he having great confidence in the meritts of the holy man did with great zeale of faith request the brethren that some thing might be given vnto him which the man of God had toucht with his handes Having therefore at length with great instancy of intreatie obtained some litle parcell of his haire he put the same over night within the rift of the wall which he rising betimes in the morning founde to be shut and conioined againe with so strong firme a solidity that neither could he pul out the Reliques which he had inclosed therein nor yet could he finde any marke of the former division Whereby it was through the goodnesse of God provided that he who diligently ministred vnto the decaied body of the holy servant of God did prevent the danger of his own dwelling house which was ready to fall to the ground Another time also the man of God desiring to go vnto a certaine desert where he might more freely attend vnto contemplation for so much as he was weake and feeble he was carried vppon a certaine poore mans Asse And when as the same poore man by reason of following the servant of Christ and passing with him over the mountanouse places in the extreamest heats of the yeare was then so wearried with the painfullnes and length of his iourney that he seemed to fainte through the excesliue heat of his thirst he instantly beganne to crie after the holy man Beholde I die for thirst vnlesse I may be presently refreshed by the benefit of some draught of drinke Wherevppon the man of God incontinently alighting downe from the Asse fixed his knees vppon the grounde Praying vpon his knees and lifting his handes tovvardes heauen he obtained his petition and streetching forth his armes to heaven ceased not to pray vntill he perceived himself to be heard But his praier being ended at lēgth make haste saith he vnto the man and goe to yonder rocke for there thou shalt finde a spring of liuely water which Christ hath mercifully provided out of the stone for thee to drinke Woonderfull without doubt is the favourable goodnes of Almighty God which doeth so easely incline it selfe vnto his servants desires The Thirstie man drank from out of the rock of that comfortable and refreshing water which was by the efficacie of praier produced and filled his cuppe out of the most hard and flintie stone In this place never had there binne water seene before neyther could there any since be founde as hath well appeared by diligent enquirie and experience But in what wonderfull manner Christ did by the merites of his poore servant multiplie the meate in the Sea considering that we are hereafter to set it downe in place conveniēt thus much only it shall be sufficient in this place to haue rehearsed Exod. 17.6.4 Reg. 4.43 that out of a small proportion of Almes bestowed vpon him he delivered the Marriners for many daies togeather from the perill of famine of death that thereby it may be well observed that the servant of Almighty God even as he was like vnto Moyses in bringing water out of the Rock so was he also like vnto Elizeus in the multiplication of victualls Good cause therfore it is that all diffidence should farre away departe from the servants and followers of Christ For if the poverty of Saint Francis were of so plentifull sufficiency that by a wonderfull vertue it did so farre forth supply the wants of them by whome he was holpen in his neede that they wanted neither meate drink nor house when mony arte and nature did faile them much more shall it deserue to obtaine those thinges which are by the accustomed order of Gods divine prouidence cōmonly vouchsafed and granted vnto all men If I say the drienesse of the rocke haue at the voice of a poore man yeelded drinke aboundantly to the thirstie then shall nothing in the world denye service vnto them who haue forsaken
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
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
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
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
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