he soe amazed that he could not finde the way to depar te but making a noyse at the gate terrified all his keepers Who making reporte vnto the Bishoppe of his deliverie from imprisonement the Bishoppe himselfe after vnderstanding had of the order and course of the matter came with devotion vnto the prison and manifestly knowing the power of God adored our Lord in that place The bondes also and fetters were brought before our Lord the Pope and the Cardinalls all that were present who seing what had binne donne and admiring the same exceedingly gaue honour and praise vnto God One Guidolotus of Saint Geminianus being falsely accused of killing a certaine man with poyson and that by the same manner of death he would also haue destroied his sonne all his familie was therefore apprehended by the Governour of the lande by whose commaundement he was loaden with irons and straightly imprisoned in a certaine Tower But he having hope in our Lord by reason of his innocencie which he knewe in his owne harte cōmended his cause to the defence of Saint Francis his patronadge But while the Governoure was thinking with himselfe by what manner of torment he might make him confesse the obiected crime further with what paines he might after such confession finally put him to death the poore man being the nexte morning to be brought to his torments was visited that very night with the presence of Saint Francis and being vntil the morning incōpassed with a great brightnesse of lighte being also filled with ioy much confidence also of minde he receaved security of his escape But in the morning the tormētours came about him they ledde him out of the prison they hung him vpon the torture and increased vpon him many and sundrie waights of iron He was oftentimes lette downe and lifted vp againe that by the succeding of one paine after another he might be the sooner inforced to confesse the crime but by the spiritte of his innocencie he retained a chearefullnesse in his countenance making no shewe of sadnesse in all those paines Yet after this a great fier was made beneathe him but not soe much as one of his heares was thereby perished though he hung with his head to the grounde And last of all being scalded all over his bodie with boiling oyle by vertue of his patrone to whose defence he had commended himselfe overcomming all these things he went away safe and free from harme THE SIXTE DIVISION Of Women deliuered from daunger in Childebirthe A certaine Countesse in Sclauonia no lesse vertuous in conversation than highe in honorable degree condition did beare towards Saint Francis an exceeding great devotion and towards the brethren an industriouse affectionof pietie But she suffering one time in her travel of childe exceeding sharpe and dolorouse paines was brought vnto that extremitie of distresse that the future birthe of the childe seemed likely in all expectation to be the present death of the Mother For it seemed impossible that the childe should be borne with life vnlesse that shee thereby should ende her life and should by such a deliverie nor bring forth but perrish But then shee bethought her selfe of Saint Francis his fame of his vertue and glory her faith was stirred vp her devotion was inflamed Shee turned her selfe vnto his efficacious helpe vnto him as vnto a true frind as vnto a solace of the devoute as vnto a refuge of the afflicted O Saint Francis quoth shee vnto thy pietie al the bones of my body make humble supplication and I vow in minde what I cannot expresse in wordes And marveilouse was the speede of his pietie A certaine woman being helped by S. Francis in the danger of child-birth doth afterwards performe her vowe and build a Church in his honor The ende of her speaking was the ende of her lamenting the bounde of her travell the beginning of her childe bearing For presently her labours being all at an end shee did with safetie bring forthe her childe And afterwardes shee was not vnmindefull of her vow nor yet refractorie from her wel intended purpose For shee caused a goodly Church to be builte and the same being builte and finished shee assigned vnto the brethren in honour of the holy Sainte In the parts aboute Rome there was a certaine woman named Beatrice who looked now shortely to be brought a bed of a childe but having borne it deade by mischaunce for fower daies space in her wombe shee miserablie sustained many and sundrie torments and was distressed with dolorouse paines even to the pointe of deathe For the dead issue constrained the mother to deathe and the abortiue being not yet brought to lighte inforced the apparant perrill and danger of the Mother Shee tried the helpe of the Phisitians Gen. 3.16 But by whatsoever humane helpe shee laboured it prooved all in vaine And soe of the first maledictions some parte did plentifully befall vpon this miserable woman that being made the graue and Sepulcher of her owne conception she was for certaine to expect a graue for her selfe immediately But shee at the length withall her devotion committing her selfe by message vnto the Friers Minors did with great faith humbly craue to haue somewhat of the Reliques of Saint Francis And it happened by Gods providence that there was founde a certaine peice of a corde See heere howe parte of the girdle of S. Francis being applyed to a Woman doth deliuer her frō danger of death wherewith the holy man had binne sometime girded The which so soone as it was put vpon the mournefull woman most easely forthwith removed all paine and dolour quite away the dead childe which was the cause of her danger being now brought forth shee wes perfectly restored vnto her former health A certaine noble manswife of Narnium named Iuliana passed her yeares in sorrow and heavinesse for the death of her sundrie sonnes and did continually bewaile her vnhappy misfortune concerning them in regard that all that euer she had with greate paine and labour brought into the world she did in shorte space with farre greater sorrowe commit to buriall But bearing one time in her wombe a childe of fower monethes conception and being by reason of the former events more afflicted in minde concerning the deathe than concerning the birth of the childe she faithfully praied vnto the blessed Father Saint Francis for the life of the childe that was yet vnborne And beholde one nighte as shee lay at rest a certaine woman appeared in sleepe vnto her holding a goodly boy in her handes and offering him in most chearefull manner vnto her But whereas shee refused to receaue him whom shee feared foorth with to loose againe the woman yet further in this māner of wise replied saying receaue him securely for he whom Saint Francis bearing compassion with thee in thy griefe doth send vnto thee shall be sure to liue and shal continewe in perfect healthe And presently the woman
awaking did wel vnderstaÌ„d by this vision froÌ„ heaven vouchesafed vnto her Heere two Women prayinge vnto Saint Francis for helpe are both of theÌ„ hearde that the suffrage of S. FraÌ„cis was readie to helpe her From thenceforthe therfore shee being more abundantly filled with ioy did for obtaining the issue which was promised vnto her offer vp many praiers and did also make sundry vowes But the time of her childebirth being come at length the woman brought forthe a male Childe who flourishing in the lustinesse of his youthfull yeares as having by the merittes of Saint Francis receaued the sustinance of his life did giue vnto his parents a provocation and further encouragement of more devoute affection to wardes Christ and to his blessed Sainte The like also vnto this the holy father effected in the Citty of Tibur For a certaine woman having brought forth many daughters and being now wearied with desire of male issue did make vnto S Francis many praiers and vowes Shee therefore by his meritts conceived of Childe and he who had ben praied vnto but for one grauÌ„ted vnto her to bring forthe two sonnes at once At Viterbium a woman greate with childe and nigh her time was by the iudgemeÌ„t of al thought to be much more nighe vnto deathe by reason of the extreame torments shee felt in her bodie and other such like lamentable distresses incideÌ„t vnto womens misfortunes And when the strength and force of nature had soe failed Behold heere howe an vngratfull womaÌ„ is punished for not honouringe the Saint yet afterwards being peniteÌ„t and vowinge againe vnto the Saint by his merits is deliuered that all industrie of humane arte failed also therewithall by invocating the name of Saint Francis the woman was presently delivered from her paines and safely brought for the her childe But shee having obtained what her selfe desired and being vnmindefull of the benefitte shee had receaved did not giue due honour vnto the Sainte but did on the day of his solemnitie put forth her handes to servile workes And behold her right arme being stretched out vnto labour became sodeinely drie and stiffe and not to be bended The which when she with the other arme endeavoured to pull backe vnto her it also did with like revenge wither forthwith The woman therefore being striken with the feare of Gods punishement did make her vow anew and whereas in regard of her ingratitude contempt shee had lost the vse of her meÌ„bers shee obtained by the merittes of the mercifull and humble Sainte vnto whom shee had now secondly vowed herselfe to recover the same againe A certaine woman dwelling in the partes about Aretium having for seaven daies space together sustained most greivouse and daungerouse paines in her travell of Childe in so much that her fleshe was at length discouloured and turned to blacke being now dispaired of at all hands did make a vow A woman which was readie to dye prayinge vnto S. Francis for helpe and makinge a vowe is miraculously freed froÌ„ death to Saint Francis and beganne at the very instant and pointe of death to invocate his aide and helpe But as soone as her vow was made shee speedily fell a sleepe therein sawe blessed Saint Francis sweetely speaking vnto her and demaunding of her if shee knewe his face and could to the honour of the gloriouse Virgin say by harte that Antheme of hers which beginneth with these wordes All haile Queene of mercie Whervnto shee making answeare that shee had knowledg of bothe Beginne then saied the Sainte that sacred Antheme and before it shall be fully ended thou shalt with safetie bring forth thy childe At this voice the woman awaked and beganne with feare to say that Antheme All haile Queene of mercie And when she therein called after those mercifull cies and mentioned the fruite of the Virgins wombe being presently delivered from all her dolours and paines she ioyfully brought forth a goodly boy rendring thankes vnto the Queene of mercie who by the merittes of Saint Francis had vouchesafed to haue mercie on her THE SEAVENTM DIVISION Of giuing sighte vnto the blinde IN the Covent of the Friars Minors at Naples a certaine brother named Robert having binne blinde for many yeares togither there grewe at length vpon his cies a superfluous peice of fles he which hindered the motion and vse of his eye liddes At one time therefore when the brethren of foraine places being to goe into divers partes of the world did in great numbers assemble â—ither the blessed Father Saint Francis the lively patterne and mirrour of holy Obedience that by the novelty of a miracle he might the rather exhorte theÌ„ vnto their iorney did cure the foresaied brother Robert during the time of their abode there in manner heareafter following One night the same brother Robert lay sicke in soe great daunger of death that they had alreadie saied for him the coÌ„mendations of his soule and even then stoode by him the holy father Thou which saiest that Saints can doe nothing after their death see what heere doth happen Heere we may note how the euen of Saint FraÌ„cis is fasted in bread and water only howe the body of our Sauiour Christ is eleuated in the Masse As also that the holy Eucharist is to be adored as a wonderful Sacrament and as the true liuinge light of our soules We may note also a miracle which doth happen in the eleuation and a doration of the B. SacrameÌ„t accompanied with three brethren of greate perfection in all manner of holinesse namely Saint Anthony brother Augustine and brother lames of Asisium who as they had perfectly immitated him in the time of their life so did they chearefully also follow him after their death but Saint Francis taking a kinfe did cut of the superfluous peice of fleshe did restore vnto him his former sight and reduced him euen from the very iawes of deathe and therewithall he saied vnto him my sonne Robert the grace which I haue wrought with thee is a signe vnto the brethren who travell into farre Countries that I will goe before them and will direct their waies Let them therefore ioyfully goe on saied he and let them with a chearefull minde accomplish the obedience enioyned vnto them At a place called Thebas in Ramanâ—â— a oertaine blinde woman hauing fasted the vigil of Saint Francis with bread and water was brought by her husband the next morning early being the day of his solemnitie vnto the Church of the Friars Minors Who while the sacrifice of the Masse was offered did even at the elevation of the bodie of Christ open her eies did clearely see and most devoutely did adore And in the time of that her adoration crieing out with a loude voice Thankes be to God saied shee and to his Sainte for that I see the bodie of Christ Wherevpon all that were present bursting forth into a voice of ioy and exultation the woman her selfe after the ende of 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
miracles of divers kindes IN the towne of Galianum which is within the Diocesse of Valua a certaine woman named Marie who had in a devoute course of service devoted her selfe vnto Iesus Christ and blessed Saint Francis weÌ„â— out one day in the soÌ„mer season with her owne hands to getrâ— her necessarie sustenace But being almost overcome with the excessiue heate of the wether and beginning even presentlie to faile by reason of an exceeding and violent thirst as one destitute of any meane 10 obtaine a Cup of drinke for that shee was all alone vpon a drie and barren Mountaine falling downe prostrate vpon the grounde as though shee had binne dead shee did with a devoure affection of minde invocate the helpe of her blessed patrone Saint Francis But as the woman persevered in her affectuose and humble praier being marveilously overwearied with labour thirst and heare shee was for a while overtaken with sleepe And behold Saint Francis comming vnto her and calling her by her name Rise vp saied he and drinke of the water which is by Gods bountâ—e vouchsafed vnto thee many moe At the hearing of which voice the woman being not a litle comforted rose presently out of her sleepe And taking hold of a fearne brake that was hard by her shee puld it by the roote and digging rounde about it with a litle peice of wood shee founde freshe springing water Which though at the first it appeared but as a litle drop yet afterwardes by the power of God sodeinely increased to a foutaine The woman therefore did drinke of the water and when shee had dranke her fill shee therewithall washt her eyes which having formerly bin very dimme of fighte by reason of some long infirmitie she found to be from that time forwards endewed with a new and perfect lighte A Wel being sproÌ„ge vp miraculously by the merits of Saint Francis doth cure many diseased persons they only going to confession before Wherevpon shee hastened home vnto all men denouncing so straunge a miracle to the glory of Saint Francis At the fame of this miracle many people came from all the partes aboute learning by experience the marveilouse effect of that water meane while that at the touche therof after confession duely made many personnes were delivered from sundrie daungers of sicknesse And to this day a goodly fountaine is to be seene in that place where an Oratoire also was builded in the honor of Saint Francis In Spayne at the towne of Saint Facundus he marveilously beyond all hope restored a withered Câ—erritree beloÌ„ging to a certaine man to greennesse of leaves to flowers and to the bearing of fruite He also by a miraculouse helpe delivered the inhabitants of the lande among them that are called Vilesâ—j from the plague of certaine wormes that did in everie place eare vp and consume their vineyards And whereas a certaine Priest dwelling nighe to Palencia had a certaine barne of his every yeare accustomably fraught with wormes that consumed the corne the same being faithfully commended vnto him he did clearely lidde from those vermin A certaine peice of land also belonging vnto the Lord of that place which is called De Petra Mala in the Kingdome of Apulia being in devoute manner commended vnto him he safely preserved from an odious infection and pestilence of those harmefull flies which are called Brachi whereas all things in the places thereaboutes adioyning were with the foresaied pestilence wasted and devoured A certaine man named Martin driving his oxen one time somewhat farre from his house vnto the Pasture one of them did by a chaunce soe desperately breake his thighe that there was no hope to be had of remedie He minding therefore to flea him and having no instrument wherewith to doe it returning home did leaue the care of his oxe to Saint Francis and faithfully commended him to the faithfully Custodie of the Sainte least that before his returne he should be by the wolves devoured In the next morning therfore early returning with his fleaing knife to the oxe he had left in the wood he founde him at his feede soe strong and sounde that the broken thighe could not be discerned from the other For which cause he rendred thankes to his good Pastor who had both taken diligent care of his oxe and had also giueÌ„ helpe vnto him And surely the humble Sainte doth well knowe howe to succour all that doe call vpon him neither doth he disdaine any the very least necessities of men For to a man of Amiternum he restored a beast that had binne stolen away For a woman also of Interducum he repaired a dishe of hers which had binne broken into many peices And in like manner whereas a certaine man of the Mountaine Vlmus in the Marquisate had his plough share broken in peices he made it whole againe In the Diocsse of Sabina there was an old woman of fower score yeares whose daughter departing this life left a litle sucking childe behinde her But the poore old woman being very poore indeede and voied of milke and having no other woman that would giue milke to the thirstie childe according as necessitie did require coulde not tell what to doe nor which way to turne her selfe But the infante being brought See how readie the Saintes are to helpe those which pray vnto them to great weakenes she destitute of al humane helpe did one night with an a abundant streame of teares wholie turne her selfe to craue the helpe of the blessed father Saint Francis And forthwith the lover of innocent age was present with her who saied vnto her I ame Francis O woman whome thou hast invocated with so many teares And put saied he thy breastes into the mouth of the childe because our Lorde will giue milke in abuÌ„dance vnto thee The old woman therevpon fulfilled the commandement of the Sainte and immediately the brests of fowerscore yeares olde yelded forthe plentie of milke This marveilouse guifte of the Sainte was knowen vnto all men and many as well men as women made hast to comme and see it And considering that what the eyes themselues did testifie the tongue might not be able to with stand all men were thereby incited to praise God in the marveilouse power and louely pietie of his holy Sainte At Spoletum a certaine man and his wife having one onlie sonne did everie day lament him as the obloquie and reproache of their house For he having his armes ioyned fast to his necke his knees to his brest and his leggs to his hinder partes seemed to be no issue of man but rather somme monstrous thing And the woman being heare hence afflicted with a more violent sorrowe and greife did with frequent lamentations call vnto Christe invocating the aide of S. Francis whereby to vouche-safe to succour and help her in this soe greate a reproache One nighte therefore it came to passe that when shee was by reason of this manner of heavinesse overtaken with sleepe S.
Francis appeared vnto her comforting her with sweete and compassionate speeches and moreover perswading her to carrie her childe vnto a place nighe hand which was dedicated to his name that being in the name of our Lorde washed with the water of a certaine well in that place he might receaue full and perfect remedie But whereas shee neglected to accomplishe the commaundement of the Sainte he the second time repeated those wordes vnto her Yea and the third time also appearing he walking before the woman conducted her with her childe vnto the gate of the foresaied place At what time certaine noble Matrones comming thither for devotions sake and being by the foresaied woman diligently informed of the vision they together with the mother did present the childe to the brethren and drawing water out of the well the more noble of them did with her owne handes washe the infant Whoe having all his members presently brought to their proper places appeared sounde and well and the greatenesse of this miracle brought admiration vppon all men In the towne of Chore Loe with what devotion the Saint is inuocated and how miraculously he doth helpe his deuoted within the Diocesse of Ostea a certaine man had soe absolutely lost his thigne that he coulde by no meanes either goe or moue himselfe Beinge therefore in this vehemeÌ„t distresse and desperate of all humane helpe he beganne one nighte as thoughe he had seene S. Frances present to take this occasioÌ„ of complaining before him Helpe me saied he O Sainte Frances remembring my service and the devotion I haue exhibited vnto thee For I haue carried thee vppon mine Asse I haue kissed thy holy feete and thy holie handes I haue alwaies binne devoute vnto thee I haue binne evermore readie to serue thee and behold now I die with the most greivouse torment of this disease With these his complaintes he that is never vnmindefull of the benefitts bestowed vpon him but is continually gratefull for the devotion which is vsed towards him beinge moved and incited did presently stand before him and did with one brother appeare vnto him He tolde him that he was comme at his call and had brought with him helpes for his recoverie With a litle staffe therefore that had in it the figure of the letter Thau he toucht the place where the paine did lie and therewithall breaking an impostume he presently restored him to perfect healthe And whiche is more marveilous imprinting the sacred signe of Thau vppon the place of the healed vlcer he left it there to remaine in memorie of the miracle With this marke S. Frances vsed to signe his letters as often as for charities sake he directed any But beholde now gentle reader meane while that our minde being distracted with varietie of narrations hathe passed along thrugh divers miracles of the gloriouse father S. Frances by meritte of that gloriouse standard bearer of the Crosse it hathe now not without divine direction lighted vppon the signe Thau which is the signe of salvation to the intent that out of it wee may obserue that like as the Crosse was in his warfare after Christe a highe advauncement of meritte vnto salvation soe is it also vnto him now with Christe triumphing made a firme matter of testimony to his honor For this greate and marveilouse misterie of the Crosse wherein the peculiar guiftes of graces the merittes of vertues and the treasures of wisedome and knowledge are in soe profounde a degree covered and concealed that it is kept secrette from the wise and prudent of this worlde was yet soe plentifully and fully revealed vnto this litle one of Christe that all his life dothe follow noe other thing than the very footestepps of the Crosse he dothe savour of noe other thing than of the sweetenesse of the Crosse nor yet dothe preache or denounce any other thing than the glory of the Crosse Well therefore and truly might he say with the Apostle in the beginning of his conversion God forbid that I should glorie saving in the Crosse of our lord IESVS Christe And no lesse truly mighte he say in the progresse of his conversation whoesoeuer shall followe this rule peace vppon them and mercie But most truly mighte he in the consummation of his life thereto adioyne the wordes ensueing I beare the markes of our lorde IESVS in my bodie And these wordes also we dailie desire from him to heare The grace of our Lord IESVS Christe be with your spiritte brethren Amen Glorie now therefore securely in the Crosses glorie thou gloriouse standard bearer of Christe for that having taken thy beginning from the Crosse according to the rule of the Crosse thou haste made thy proceeding and finally making thine ende in the Crosse of howe greate glory thou arte in heaven it dothe by the testimony of the Crosse evidently appeare to all faithefull people Securely now may they followe thee whoe doe departe out of Aegipte for that having devided the redde Sea by the staffe of the Crosse of Christe they shall passe thoroughe the deserts into the promised land of the living and having also passed over the Iordane of this mortalitie they shall by the marveilouse power of the Crosse enter thereinto Whither wee beseerhe him whoe is the true conductor and Saviour of his people Iesus Christe crucified mercifully to bring vs by the merittes of his servaunte S. Francis to the praise and glorie of God whoe being three in personne and one in substance liveth and raigneth everlastingly Amen Deo gratias A Table of all the Chapters contayned in this booke THe first Chapter of Saint Francis his conuersation in secular habite The second Chapter of his perfect conuersion vnto God and hovv he repayered thre Churches The third Chapter of the institution of his order of religion and of the aprobation of his rule The fourth Chapter of the increase of the order vnder his hand and of the confirmation of the rule formerly approued The fifth Chapter of the austerity of his life and hovv the creatures of God gaue sollace vnto him The sixth Chapter of his humility and obedyence and of Gods fauourable condiscending vnto all his desires The seauenth Chapter of his loue of pouerty and of the marueilous supply of his vvants The eight Chapter of his affection of pyety and hovv creatures devoied of reason seemed to be affected to vvards him The ninth Chapter of the fervour of his charity and of his desire of martyrdome The tenth Chapter of his diligence and feruency in prayer The eleuenth Chapter of his vnderstanding the scriptures and of his spiritt of Prophecy The tvvelfeth Chapter of the efficacy of his preaching and of his gifte in curing The thirtenth Chapter of his holy stigmattes The fourtenth Chapter of his patience and death The fifteenth Chapter of his canonisation and of the translation of his sacred bodye The sixteenth Chapter contayning certaine miracles doÌ„ne by Saint Francis after his death vvhich because it is loÌ„g and considering the miracles be of dyuers kindes is therefore parâ—ed inâ—o tenne diuisions according to the seuerall titles of the miracles The first diuision of the vertue and force of the holy stigmattes The second diuision of dead persons raisde to life againe The third diuision of such as he delivered from the perrill of death The fourth diuision of persons that vvere saued from shippevvracke The fifth diuision of persons delivered out of bonds and imprisonment The sixth diuision of vvomen delivered from danger in Childebirthe The seauenth diuision of giuing sighte vnto the blind The Eight division of persons delivered from divers kindes of infirmities The Ninth diuision of such as observed not the feaste and of those that honored not the Sainte The Tenth and last Division of certaine other mirecles of divers kindes For such faultes as are here escaped in printing I beseech the curteous reader out of his charity to pardon and with mature iudgment vouchsafe to amend them