with you and haue you not knowē me Phillip he that seeth me seeth the Father also The Father dwelleth in a light inaccessible God is a spiritt whome no man hath euer seene because he is a spiritt and therfore inuisible but in spiritt considering that he is a spiritt most pure for it is the spiritt that giueth life and the flesh can doe nothinge He may also be seene of euery true Christian in the Sonne in that substance which is equall to the Father and therfore all they that see our Lord IESVS CHRIST according to the humanity and not according to his diuinity are condemned as likewise are they who see the sacrament which is consecrated by the wordes of our Lord on the altare by the handes of the Preist vnder the formes of bread and wine and doe not see him and beleeue in their spiritt that it is the true and most sacred body and bloud of our Lord IESVS CHRIST are condemned the souueraine Lord giueth his testimony against them when he said This is my body and this is my bloud of the new testament which shal be shed for you and for many in remission of sinnes He saith in an other place He that eateth my flesh and drincketh my bloud shall haue life euerlasting He that hath the spiritt of God which dwelleth in his faithfull he receaueth the most sacred bloud and body of IESVS CHRIST and all other that haue not the same spiritt yet neuertheles presume to receaue it they eat and drinck their iudgement and damnation therefore yee children of men how long will you be sencelesse and haue your hartes so hardened When will you compasse to know the truth and to beleeue in the Sonne of God who so humbly seeketh you euery day as when he discended from his imperiall throne into the virginall wombe he ordinarily commeth euery day vnto vs in such humble manner attired and so approachable He euery day descendeth from the bosome of his Father into the handes of the Preist on the altare and as he was knowne vnto the holy Apostles in true flesh in that very manner doth he communicate himselfe vnto vs in the holy Sacrament And as they with their corporall eyes saw nothing but flesh yet with their spirituall eyes they knew him to be God euen so we with our corporall eyes seeing the accidentes of bread and wine ought to see and firmely to beleeue that there is the most sacred body and true bloud of our Lord IESVS CHRIST on the altare In this manner is God alwayes with his faithfull as himselfe hath said I wil be with you euen to the consummation of the world Of lone towards our neighbour and how much the body is to be hated THE XLVI CHAPTER THis thinge may doubtles much confound vs that making profession to be seruantes of IESVS CHRIST and being certaine that his true freindes haue done may worckes that haue bin entirely deuout vertuous and holy we neuertheles content our selues with the only relation of them and esteeme by the bare discourse therof without execution to raigne eternally Blessed is the seruant of IESVS CHRIST that loueth his Christian brother as much being sick as in health and in aduersitie as in prosperity Blessed is he that loueth and honoureth his Brother both farre and neere that speaketh nothing in his absence but what with great charity he may say in his presence God said in the Gospell loue your ennemies and pray for them that hate and iniury you He loueth his ennemie truely that complaineth not of the iniuries which he hath receaued doth receaue of him but of the sinnes which himselfe hath cōmitted and doth cōmitt against God and his soule and also he that is not content to haue the loue of God in himselfe if he doe not also make demonstration therof by the same worckes vnto his neighbour and much more vnto his ennemy Blessed are the poore in spiritt for theirs is the kingdome of heauen There are many that endure diuers afflictions in their bodyes in prayer and good worckes and that mortifie it with abstinence and neuertheles for a slight word spoaken against their liking or for hauing something denyed them they are incontinentlie scandalized and troubled Such are not poore in spirit though exteriourly they appeare so for the true poore in spirit misprise and abhorre themselues and loue not only those that afflict and iniury them but euen those that beat them Blessed also is he that supporteth the infirmity and fragility of his neighbour as he would be glad to haue his owne supported My faithfull lett vs loue our neighbour as our selues and they who see they cannot loue them as themselues lett them loue them as much as they can or att least lett them not offend them Lett vs hate and detest our peruerse willes for as God saith of our hart proceedeth all euils this is to be vnderstood of him that applieth his hart to satisfie his sensualities Many when they sinne or receaue any iniury accuse their neighbour therof which they should not doe for each one hath his ennemies which is the body with the sences therof by which he offendeth Therfore blessed is the seruant that hath such an ennemie in subiection and so keepeth it vnder and watcheth it with such prudence that he hath no cause to feare it for whiles he vseth this dilligence no other ennemy visible or inuisible can annoy him nor procure him to sinne in such sort that as S. Iohn Chrysostome saith no man is hurt but of himselfe We hate our body in as much as it will committ sinne for liuing carnally it seeketh to destroy the loue of God together with the glory of Paradise condemning it selfe and the soule perpetually to to hell the greatest ennemy therfore that a man hath is his proper flesh which can thinck of nothing but that which offendeth it nor feare ought in foresight of that which is eternally to befall it the humour and desire therof is only to abuse temporall thinges and the worst is it vsurpeth to it selfe all contentment and glory euen of that which is graunted to the soule not to it for it seeketh the honour of vertues of prayers watchinges and temporall fauour it will haue applause of teares in fine it leaueth nothing to the soule that apperteineth to her Of obedience THE XLVII CHAPTER GOd said to Adam Of euery tree of Paradise eat thou But of the tree of knowledge of good and euill eat thou not and whiles he obeyed God he offended not But hauing transgressed this commandement he was condemned of God for euer till he was redeemed by the grace of his Sonne That man doth eate of the forbidden apple of knowledge of good and euill who appropriateth to himselfe his owne will and with his benefittes which God vttereth and worketh by him doth exalte himselfe therfore was he necessarily obliged to punishment God saith in the gospell he that loueth his
Father as our protectour I beseech you my Brethren euen humblie kissing your feet and with the greatest charitie I can I doe exhort you to reuerence and honour with your vtmost ability the most sacred sacrament wherby heauenly and earthlie matters are reconciled with God I beseech all my brethren that are Preistes and such as in the name of God shal be when they intend to celebrate the diuine masse to be pure and neat that they may worthelie offer the true sacrifice of the most sacred bodie and bloud of our lord IESEVS CHRIST with the greatest reuerence puritie holie inteÌ„tion that they shal be able not for any humane respect for any feare or loue but that their intention be directed to God desiring to please onlie his Maiestie who sayth Doe this in remembrance of me Know then yee Preistes that he who shall doe otherwise shal be like vnto Iudas Remember the saying of the Apostle A man making the law of Moyses frustrate without any mercy dyeth vnder two or three witnesses How much more thinck you doth he deserue worse punishmente which hath trodden the Sonne of God vnder foot and esteemed the bloud of the testament polluted wherin he is sanctified and hath done contumelie to the spiritt of grace For then is a man irreuerent and treadeth on that lambe of God when as the Apostle saith he doth not examine and make a difference betweene this true bread of God and that which he doth ordinarily eat and therfore he receaueth it vnworthely For God saith in Ieremie The man is cursed that doeth negligently and feinedly And the Preistes that will not haue this care to celebrate so excellent a Mystery the most worthely that possibly can be shal be condemned of God who saith I will tourâ—e your benedictions to maledictions on your selues My brethren heare me I pray you if the glorious virgin be so much honoured as she deserueth for hauing receaued into her chast wombe our lord IESVS CHRIST If. S. Iohn Baptist trembled and durst not touch the head of IESVS CHRIST and finally if the holy sepulchre wherin IESVS CHRIST was buryed for his so small time of residence is so much reuerenced how much more ought he to be iust holy and well purged who with his handes doth handle and with his proper mouth doth receaue so high infinite a Maiesty and doth administer the same to others Remember that he is an immortall and eternall God that liueth glorious and eternall with contemplation of whose Maiesty the Angels themselues cannot be satisfied Preistes know your dignitie and be holy for God is holy and as in regard of so great a mystery and dignity you haue bin more honoured then other men remember in like sort to be also more gratefull vnto God and to reuerence loue and honour him for otherwise your misery is exceeding great and deserueth continuall teares in that you hauing in your handes the almighty God the fountaine of all good thinges you procure to haue transitory and terrestriall thinges all the world ought to tremble with feare and sweetly weepe whiles the Angels themselues bend their knees when IESVS CHRIST the Sonne of the most high is vpon the altare betweene the handes of man O merueillous highnes and diuine debasement O most high humility that the Sonne of God yea God himselfe the master and lord of the vniuersall world should so humble himselfe as to giue himselfe vnto vs hidden vnder the forme of bread Consider my brethren so profound a humility and purifie your hart before his diuine Maiestie to the end he receaue all as he giueth himselfe to all Therfore I aduertiâ—e you in the name of God that in all places where the Religious are you celebrate but one masse a day and though you haue diuers Preistes lett the rest be content to heare it for although it be seene in many pertes yet is it one and indiuisible and without any detriment true God and true man so in one sole masse he can communicate his grace to all present and absent that make themselues worthy one onlie and verie God Father Sonne and holie Ghost worcking this Amen Of the faith and knowledge of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and of the sacred Sacrament THE XLV CHAPTER TO all Christians Religious Ecclesiasticall lay men and women that are in the world Brother Francis their seruant and subiect in God desireth withall reuerence a true peace in heaueÌ„ by the sincere charity which is discended on earth As I am the seruant of you all so am I obliged to serue all and to administer vnto you the most sweet word of my lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST Considering therfore in my soule that by reason of the diuers infirmities that afflict my body I cannot by corporall presence as I desire visitt you my selfe I haue thought good to supply the same by letters and by them to administer vnto you the worde of IESVS CHRIST who is the word of the eternall Father the wordes of the holy Ghost which are spiritt life I then admonish you Brethren to confesse your sinnes to a Preist with all the dilligence you can possible and att his hand to receaue the true body and bloud of IESVS CHRIST For as our Lord saith he that eateth not my flesh and drincketh not my bloud cannot haue eternall life Lett vs then endeauour worthely to receaue such so eminent a maiesty for he that receaueth it vnworthely in steed of saluatioÌ„ pourchaceth death Besides I exhort you often to visitt the holy churches and to reuerence Preistes not so much in respect of themselues if they be sinners as for reuerence of the function and dignity which they haue in being ministers of the most pretious body and bloud of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST which by them is offered on the altare receaued and administred vnto vs without which none can be saued by the holy wordes which they vtter and minister he discendeth from heauen to earth and none but they can doe it O how happy and blessed are they who loue God withall their hart with all their soules and with all their forces and their neighbour as themselues I inuite you all my brethren and you my sisters to this loue lett vs all with one accord loue God with one pure affection of our hart adore him because that is the thing which he especially requireth and demaundeth of vs as himselfe hath said the true adorers adore in spiritt and truth and it is necessary for them that adore him to doe it in that manner Our lord said to his disciples I am the way the verity the life No man coÌ„meth to the Father but by me If you had knowne me my Father also certes you had knowen from hencefoorth you shall know him and you haue seen him Phillip said to him Lord shew vs the Father it sufficeth vs. IESVS said to him So long time I am
the ayre where she did some seruice to an other woman there came a wolfe which being taken by the girle but for a dogge he lept on her neck tooke hold of her head The other woman and the mother of the girle there present ran after and cryed for helpe inuocating sainte Clare and it was admirable to heare that the child being in the teeth of the wolfe reprehended him saying Thou theefe how canst thou carry me farther I being recommended to that holy virgin The wolfe as daunted with those wordes gently sett the girle on the ground and as a theefe found and taken in the fact he fled and the girle retourned without any hurt vnto her mother How diuers were deliuered from drowning and danger of sea hauing iâ—uocated S. Clare THE XXXII CHAPTER AShippe fraught with many personnes departing out of the port of Perusia for the I le of Sardinie the first night there arose such a terrible tempest that the force therof leaked the bottome of the vessell which made apparent to all therein that they were in most euident perill of shipwrack wherfore they began to inuocate the Queene of heauen and many other sainctes to assist them Att length perceiuing no apparence of their liues safety they addressed themselues to saincte Clare and vowed to her that if by her intercession they were deliuered they would goe all naked to their very shirtes with their girdle about their necks to visitt her sacred reliques att Assisium carrying each a wax light of two poundes in their handes This vow being made they saw three great lightes discend from heauen the one wherof setled on the forepart of the shipp an other on the poupe and the third on the pumpe by the vertue wherof the leakes where the water entred did close and the sea became so quiet and calme that with a gracious wind the vessell was accompanied and conducted by the said lightes to the part of Arestan whither being arriued and landed the marchandise all safely putt on shoare the sayd lightes vanished and which was admirable the shippe presently sunk and was cast away They that had gone out of her acknowledging the miracle att their retourne to Pisa deuoutly accomplished their vow yelding infinite thanckes to almighty God and to the virgin sainte Clare for the great benefitt receaued by her intercession How S. Clare was canonized by Pope Alexander the fourth THE XXXIII CHAPTER POpe Innocent the fourth liued so litle time after the death of sainte Clare that he cold not canonize her The holy siege hauing bin two yeares vacant Alexander the fourth was chosen Pope who being exceedingly deuoted and a friend to piety protectour of Religious hauing heard true relation both of the miracles which our Lord IESVS CHRIST wrought for the glory of his holy seruant and of the renowme of her vertue which daily more and more diuulged it selfe in the Church knowing also that her canonization was generally desired his holinesse being also induced by the assurance of so many miracles therfore begaÌ„ to treat in the Consistory of her canonizatioÌ„ Wherin to proceed more maturely there were elected prudent and vertuous men to examine the sayd miracles and the irreprehensible life of the sainct Which being done and this holy virgin being found and proued to haue bin in her life an vnspotted mirrour of all vertues and to haue bin ennobled of almighty God after her death by true and approued miracles the day of her Canonization was appointed when were present with his Holinesse many Cardinals Archbishoppes Bishoppes other Prelates and a great number of Priestes and Religious with infinite noblemen gentlemen and others each in their degree and quality before whome the Pope proposed this sacred affaire demaunding the opinion of the Prelates who with one accord gaue consent and affectionatly besought the said sainct might be canonized in the Church as IESVS CHRIST had glorified her in heauen In this sort then three yeares after her happy decease Pope Alexander caused her solemnely to be enrollod in the Catalogue of Sainctes ordayning her feast to be celebrated with solemnity in the Church the 12. of August This Canonization was performed the yeare of grace 1255. and the first of the raigne of the Pope to the praise and glory of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST The life of saincte Agnes sister to saincte Clare The conuersion of this Sainct is described before in the fift chapter of this present booke and therfore to auoyd reiteration it is here pretermitted How saincte Agnes was by the holy Father sainct Francis sent to Florence there to build a Monastery THE XXXIIII CHAPTER THe virgin and espouse of our Redeemer IES CH. Agnes true sister companion of S. Clare as well in bloud as in vertue and Religion perseuered and persisted in notable sanctity of life in the Monastery of sainct Damian and from the time of her entrance into Religion euen to her death she alwayes woare a very rough haircloth next her tender flesh Her ordinary refection was almost alwayes bread and water she was naturally very pittifull to euery one Sainct Francis finding this virgin to haue obtayned of God by meane and assistance of her sister a worthy perfection he sent her to Florence there to found a new Monastery of poore sisters called Mount Celi wherof sainct Francis made her Abbesse This holy virgin induced many soules to abandon the world to serue IESVS CHRIST which she did by meane of her pious conuersation and sanctity of life by holy discourses and wordes of God that sweetly flowed out of her mouth and as a perfect Contemptrice of transitory thinges and follower of IESVS CHRIST she planted in this Monastery conformably to the desire of the holy Father sainct Francis and of saincte Claâ—e the obseruance and profession of Euangelicall pouerty but being exceedingly grieâ—â—d with the absence of her sister she wrote this letter following vnto her and to all the Religious of the Monastery of sainct Damian wherin she had receaued her education and spirituall nourriture A Copte of the letter which saincte Agnes wrote to her Sister saincte Clare and to all the others sisters of her Monastery THE XXXV CHAPTER TO the venerable and beloued Mother in our Lord CHRST IESVS Clare and to all her Couent humble sister Agnes the least of the disciples of IESVS CHRIST and of yours recommendeth herselfe vnto you all and prostrate att your feet doth yeld you all submission and deuotion wishing vnto you what is most precious from the most high king of kinges To the end that all nature which hath bin created of God doe acknowledge it selfe to be such as none can persist of it selfe in its owne essence the diuine prouidence most prudently permitteth that when any one esteemeth himselfe to be in prosperity then is he drowned and plunged in aduersities This I tell you my most deere Mother that you may know what affliction and extreme heauines possesseth my spiritt being so tormented that
soules and he that shall perseuer to the end shal be saued Of the Preachers THE XVII CHAPTER THe preaching of the gospell being the food and nourishment of the soule lett no Brother or Minister authorise himselfe and enterprise to preach without licence of his Superiours and lett such as â—â—albe authorised be very respectiue not to preach against the forme and constitutions of our holy mother the Church Lett the Minister Prouincials be aduertised not to admitt to any chardge especially in matter of importance all personnes indifferently but lett them formerly consider well therof Lett the Brethren that shal be admitted to preach or to exercise any other obedience take heed not to attribute to themselues or to their merittes the office which they shall haue and particulerly that of preaching they ought rather to practise by worckes then by faire elected wordes and therfore att all times and whensoeuer they shal be aduertised to desist from preaching lett them without any contradiction entierly forbeare to preach Therfore by charity which is God himselfe I pray all my Brethren Preachers Oratours and other Officers and Ministers as well Preistes as lay that they endeauour continually to debase and humble themselues and that they neither glory nor take complacence in any good that God doeth or speaketh by them because such worck is not theirs but Goddes and that they remember that which our lord IESVS CHRIST saith Esteeme not the more of your selues for that you see the deuils subiect vnto you and lett each on rest assured that we haue nothing of our owne but vices and sinnes and when we finde our selues tempted and oppressed with diseases and afflictions as well in soule as in body we should reioyce in hope of eternall life Lett vs beware of pride and vaine glory of the wisdome of the world and the prudence of the flesh which endeauoureth to speake well but litle to doe well For it seeketh not a religion and sanctity of spiritt but a religion and sanctity exteriour and apparant vnto men for these are they of whome our lord speaketh when he saith I tell you in verity you haue already your reward The spiritt which is of God desireth the flesh should be mortified misprised and esteemed vile and that it endeauour to be humble patient pure duly subiected to the spiritt and especially rooted in the feare and loue of God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost referring all good thinges to the most high lett vs acknoledge our selues to be his and lett vs continually yeld him thankes as one from whome dependeth and proceedeth all our good Therfore are all honours and all benedictions due to him alone by reason also that he is the true and soueraigne good And therfore when we shall see any thing il done or ill spoaken against his holy name lett vs on the contrary endeauour to prayse exalt and thanck him as blessed for euer world without end Amen Now and when the Ministers ought to assemble THE XVIII CHAPTER THe Minister Prouinciall ought with all his Brethren to assemble together euery yeare att the feast of S. Michael in some coÌ„modious place to treat and determine of matters behoufull for the seruice of God and ReligioÌ„ And all the Minister Prouincials that are beyond the sea and in places on the other side the Mountaines shall asseÌ„ble once euery three yeares the other Minister Prouincials shall come euery yeare to the Chapiter in the Church of S. Mary of Angels if the Minister generall dispose not otherwise to whose ordonnance all ought to obey That all Brethren ought to liue Catholiquely THE XIX CHAPTER LEtt all the Brethren be Catholiques and as such liue Catholiquely and if any one should erre in faith or in the instution and constitutions of holy Churche either by worckes or wordes if he doe not forthe with rectifie himselfe lett him be vtterly expelled out of our ReligioÌ„ We ought to acknoledge for our Superiours all Prelates and Religious in that which concerneth the good estate of our soule prouided that they proceed not against our Order and our Rule Of the confesion and communion of the Brethren THE XX. CHAPTER LEtt all my Brethren as well Preistes as the laity the blessed of God coÌ„fesse to the Preistes of our Order and if in case they caÌ„not they may confesse to an other Preist that is prudent and Catholique and lett them firmely beleeue that by the pennance and absolution giuen them they shal be absolued of all their sinnes and therfore lett them endeauour with the greatest faith and humility that they can to accomplish the penance that shal be enioyned them And if they should be in a place where they could not haue commodity of a Preist lett them in such case confesse with their Brethren as the Apostle saith Confesse your sinnes one to an other But let them not yet omitt when they shall haue meanes to repaire to Preistes because they alone haue the authority and power of God to bind and loose Being so contrite and coÌ„fested lett them with exceeding humility and reuerence receiue the most sacred sacrament calling to minde that which God saith he that eateth my flesh and drincketh my bloud hath life euerlasting And in an other place Doe this for a commemoration of me Of praysing God and exhorting Christians to pennance THE XXI CHAPTER VVHen my Brethren shall know and esteeme it expedient to preach to the people hauig imparted the benediction of God they may vse these wordes Feare loue honour praise continually and say yee Be thou blessed almighty God Trinity and vnitie Father Sonne and holy Ghost Creatour of all thinges I beseech thee to permitt me to performe fruites worthy of penance and to know this truth that we shall shortly die and that att that instant the knotte of this soule and body shall end to be either eternally happy or eternally miserable They must exhort such as haue bin offended to pardon as God doth pardon vs and to this effect lett them vnderstand that if they doe not pardon they shall not be pardonned and that they shal be blessed that shall die contrite because their place shal be in heauen and miserable shall they be that shall die impenitent because they shal be children of the deuill whose worckes they haue wrought and therfore shall they discend into eternall sier Be carefull my beloued Brethren to shunne all vices and perseuer in god euen to the end that God may blesse you An Exhortation he made to all the Brethren THE XXII CHAPTER LEtt vs be mindefull of that which our lord sayth loue your enemies and doe good to them that hate you Because besides what he hath taugbt vs by worde he hath in like sort taught vs by effect whose steppes we ought to imitate As then he called Iudas his freind though he knew he would betray him and voluntarily presented himselfe to them that were to crucifie him so likewise lett vs repute them our freindes that
prepare it att their pleasure which Brother Bennenuto receaued and lapped all together then went to masse where he was so rapt in deuotion that all the time of seruice he remayned insensible without either memory of the kitchen or any other thing in the world The conuentuall masse being ended he retourned to himselfe and remembred that the meat was yet to dresse which was sent them and neuertheles it was the houre of dinner he therfore went much troubled to the kitchen and comming neere he heard manie personnes playing the Cookes wherat admiring he opened the dore that was shutt wihout wherof he had the key and entring he saw no person within but onlie found the said meates readie drest as he had purposed to prepare them whervpon he gaue thanckes to God for that he would please by the handes of his Angels to supply that which he had omitted How S. Francis was prayed to tell what was his intention concerning the obseruance of Euangelicall pouerty THE XVIII CHAPTER NOtwithstanding the premises and by how much the nomber of Religious encreased so much neuertheles did the nomber of true obseruers of Euangelicall pouerty diminish each one seeking to interprett the rule in such sort as he might not be obliged to this rigorous vow of pouertie yea there were good Religious that were putt in doubt therof by the subtilities of the infringers as particulerly Brother Ricorio de la Marquese who one time was very instant with sainct Francis to be resolued therin praying him to explicate his meanning concerning the obseruance of Euangelicall pouerty as well past as present and to come that if it pleased God he suruiued him he might giue testimonie to the Religious his Brethren of his true intention and with all concerning the bookes which the Preistes might possesse though they affirmed that their bookes apperteined to the Religion and not themselues The holie Father answeared him Know brother that such was my first intention and shal be my last if all the Religious would beleeue me that none of them possesse any other thinge then one habitt with the cord and linnen breeches as the rule permitteth Therfore to them that afterward affirmed that the holie Father S. Francis caused not the same to be obserued in his time his companions answered that among many wordes which the S. vsed to his Religious and caused to be written according as frō day to day God did dictate vnto him in his prayers and reuelations for the good of the Order he diuers times said that he supported many thinges by reason of the scandall which might happē betweene his Religious himselfe in the beginning of the Order and albeit he saw that many waxed cold and relented he tollerated thē in case that it were not in an essentiall matter of Religion against the vow because he would not debate with the disobedient he excused himselfe herein towardes God alleadging vnto him that to the end his word of the augmentatition of his seruantes might not proue vaine he would in himselfe supply for them wherein they were deficient which he failed not to doe as we haue formerlie inserted To confirme his intention I will relate what he one time answeared to the Prelate of the Monastery of S. Mary of Angels that asked him leaue thenceforward to receaue something of the nouices that should enter into Religion to relieue the necessities of the Couent The S. answeared that when necessity constrayned him he should sell the ornamentes and rather disfurnish the altare of the virgin Mary then doe against the strict vow of pouerty and the obseruance of the rule because he was certaine that the glorious Virgin would be better pleased that her terrestrialll altare should be disfurnished then her celestiall Sonne should be disobeyed An other time Many ministers were ernest with him to permitt his Religious to possesse something if not in particuler att least in common wherewith they might supply their necessity their number being so encreased thut they sometimes endured intollerable inconueniences S. Francis then felt a great anguish in his soule and hauing no will to answeare thē of himselfe he fell to his prayer and demanded counsaile of God who with a cleare and loud voice answeared him Francis I take from the Frere Minors all thinges both in common and particuler because my selfe alone will haue care to prouide for that familie lett it multiplie as much as it will for as long as it relyeth on me and not on temporall substance I will nourish it Sainct Francis gaue this answeare incontinentlie to the Ministers and exhorted them with patience to perseuer in their first holie vocation considering that by such proceeding they should be eternally comforted of God Of the pouerty which sainct Francis would that his Religious should shew in their habittes THE XIX CHAPTER THe holie Father S. Francis would that his Religious should likewise be cloathed with the habitt of pouerty aswell in the basenes of the stuffe as in the number of coates that is with cloath of grosse lockes and one only habitt he detested them that were cloathed with three coates or with a double garment he said that the necesity which is not gouerned by reason but followeth the pleasure and commodities of the body is a note that the spirirt is dead interiourlie because said the S. the spiritt being waxen cold and carelesse of the heat of grace wherwith one ought to be couered and defended it is necessary that it make vse of thinges appertayning to flesh bloud for in defect of spirituall releife thre remaineth to the soule no other remedy then that He therfore gaue this marcke to discerne true necessity The soule and the desires doe shew signes of necessity when reason giueth scruple to a man of such necessities But for that one must not so soone prouide for if the Religious hauing necessity should instātlie prouide for it what meritt would remayne vnto him what exercise of patiēce could he haue yea where subiect of meritt is presēted vnto him he by the dilligence he vseth to prouide for himselfe retourneth vnto Egipt to auoide the sufference of any thing for the loue of IESVS CHRIST which he had att other times promised to endure He very sharpely reprehend them that made difference of coulers desiring to haue them lighter or sadder and to confound them with his example he patched his habitt with peeces of the grossest sackcloth and att the end of his life commaunded that they should bury him in his habitt couered with sackcloth If it chaunced some Religious could not support this burden he rather permitted him to haue his vnder coate lesse austere then the vpper in which he would that in all manner seueritie and pouerty should appeare He would sometimes with extreame greife vtter these wordes A time will come when this obseruance of pouerty will so relent that it will loose his vigour and carelesse coldnes will raigne in place therof because the
more perillous then secure and afterwardes he conformed himselfe to the ancient fathers who vsed it att their hermitages as sainct Paul the first hermite sainct Antony and others and not to be singuler herein he gaue leaue to all the Religious to vse one in their infirmities sicknesses and old age Afterward burning with this seruent fire of charitie towardes God and his neighbour he was carryed as we haue formerlie said through cittyes and townes where he preached with excessiue feruour thirsting with an extraordinarie burning desire to see the nomber of the elect of God accomplished to which places he was so welcome and gratefull that when he went from the people he was halfe naked because each one striued to cutt part of his habitt some with cicers others with pincers or like instrumentes carefullie keeping those shreddes afterwardes as reliques with most pious deuotion for cure of diseases and dangers of this life others brought him bread to blesse wherof afterward to make vse in like necessities hauing seene therof manifest experiences Notwithstanding all this the holie Father had a violent desire to retourne to that former humilitie and simplicitie of seruing leapers and of not knowing the imperfections of his disciples as he was afterwardes forced to know them and also of enduring austeritie of life To this effect he said to his Religious My Brethren we must now begin to serue God for to this present we haue done nothing or verie litle So he proposed in his spiritt to performe great matters not considering the weaknes of bodie by reason of the great feruour of his spiritt wherwith being carryed away he desired nothing but fresh combattes to gett victorie ouer the ennemie and indeed he that well considereth it sindeth that feeblenes nor tepeditie haue any place where the port is alwayes open vnto true loue which inuiteth and induceth to attempt impossibilityes And so much the more by reason that he had accustomed his flesh to obey the spiritt and had such a promptitude to obey God that he was so farre from resisting that he stroue and endeauoured to worcke aboue his forces Wherfore God that knew his desire opened vnto him the meanes of meritt so that he did not onlie desire with the ineffable doloures of his infirmitie which did so afflict him from the soale of his feet to the crowne of his head that he had neuer repose he endured in each of his members an extreame and particuler paine in such sort that in short time he came to haue nothing but skin on his bones In all these afflictions he discouered his desire of them sith that he was neuer heard to vtter so much as one worde of complaint but he called his dolours his brethren and his diseases his sisters yet he answeared the Religious who being moued with compassion wished him to pray vnto God that he would please to appeare a litle more merciful◠towardes him that if he did not hold him excused in regard of his simplicity he would teach him what it was to check God in his iudgementes He omitted not yet to chastice in his body the excesse of the offence of this Religious for rudely flinging himselfe out of his bed vpon the ground he tourned and wallowed vpon it often kissing it gaue thanckes vnto God praysed him and besought him for his greater consolations to redouble his afflictions which wordes ended The Religious by force of armes laid him againe on his bed for he could not helpe himselfe into it O inuincible patience of this glorious S. comparable to that of Iob he was doubtles both ioyfull and humble in his tribulations as an other S. Paul considering that the more he endured of greater paines in his body the greater vigour and force appeared in his soule besides what affliction his stigmates procured him which continually distilled bloud with such extreme grife that it was humanely impossible for him to support them only two dayes not two yeares as he did for augmentation of his meritt and example vnto the world How God sometimes conforted his faithfull seruant in his afflictions THE LXII CHAPTER ALl this being very well knowne to almighty God beside the interiour vertue which he bestowed on him he did often comfort him exteriourlie One day to mitigate his dolours therby to raise his spiritt vnto God he had a desire to heare some prayse sung vnto his diuine maiesty vpon some instrumentes And therfore he told Brother Pacificus who had bin a famous excellent Poete that though men of this world abuse musicall instrumentes which were inuented to prayse God as in deed so many holy men had praysed him theron he should neuerthelesse finde meane to haue secretly a violle and for his consolation should sing some spirituall prayse affirming that therin was no offence vnto God and that it seemed the greifes of his bodye by that meane would tourne into consolation and ioy of the spiritt But Br. Pacificus hauing answeared that in so dooing he might scandalize the world he replyed that he had reason and that he should let it alone Now God who had a speciall care of him incontinently sent an Angel that sounded and gaue so sweet a touch to a violl as may be imagined that an Angel of Paradise could doe in the same instant comforting both the afflicted body and the soule of the great seruant of God Addressing himselfe therfore to Bro. Pacificus who had not heard the melodie no more then his other companions he caused them to giue thanckes vnto God for the great consolation which he had voutsafed to send him Being in the house of the Bishop of Assisium vtterlie without all tast and vnable to eat any thing by reason of the griefe of his infirmities his companyons asked him wherof he would willingly eat he answeared them If I could haue a few litle fishes of fresh water me thincketh I could eat of them These wordes being ended there entred a boy that brought him many as sent from Brother Girard Minister of Riete though it were winter and so extreme cold that it was impossible to take them the riuers being frozen The Religious exceedinglie admired to perceaue the care which God had to releiue the necessities of his seruant and especially in thinges impossible to men An other time desiring to haue a litle lettice he asked some of his companiō who answeared that the same day they had bin all gathered Goe into the garden said he and bring me the first herbe that cometh to thy hād which shall be a lettice The Religious went and found a very faire lettice and thanking him who had there set the same for the consolation of the seruant of God he tooke it vp with great ioy and brought it vnto him and the S. hauing eaten a therof leafe felt himselfe fully conforted How he was assured of the Glory of Paradise THE LXIII CHAPTER BVt because there cannot be giuen to a seruant of God a greater consolation
came also with her But the holy Father willed them all to stay and told them he should dye the saterday following and be interred on the Sonday and then they might retourne in companie which was done This ladie after the death of Sainct Francis dwelt att Assisium where she liued verie piouslie and was afterward buryed in the Church of Saint Francis att Assisium in a chappell adioyning to the bodie of Sainct Francis How S. Francis gaue his benediction to his eldest sonne Brother Bernard Quintaualle Taken out of the sixt chapter of the sixt booke and put here as the due place therof NOw whiles S. Francis was eating the said meates prepared by the handes of the said Lady calling to minde that Brother Bernard was with him att Rome the first time that he did eat therof he asked those present where he was and caused him to be called to eat therof also Brother Bernard being come and obeying the Sainct hauing eaten two morcels with him perceauing that he approached neere his end making his benefitt of the good occasion humblie demaunded his holie benediction To whome sainct Francis answeared my deere child I graunt it most willinglie and so commanded his benediction to be written which thus began The first Religious and companion that God gaue me was Brother Bernard Quintaualle who was the first that began as he that euer since continued perfectlie to obserue the rule of the gospell and the Counfailes therof wherfore aswell in regard of that as for manie other graces which God hath bestowed on him I am much obliged to loue him yea aboue all other Religious of our Order And therfore I will and ordaine that euerie other Minister that shall come hereafter doe loue him as my selfe Then he bad him stand att his right hand for he had alreadie lost his sight But Brother Bernard seeing Brother Helias that extremelie desired it knowing right well the need he had therof hauing compassion of him he sent him to the right hand of the Sainct and placed himselfe att the left contenting himselfe to gaine that soule to God by the benediction so much desired of his beloued Father But sainct Francis intending to lay his hand on the head of Brother Bernard knew either by the touch or by diuine reuelation that it was Brother Helias wherfore he sodenlie called Brother Bernard who answearing him he perceaued by his voice that he was att his left hand and therfore crossed his handes as did the Patriarch Iacob and gaue them his benediction yet alwayes naming Brother Bernard he said vnto him God giue thee his benediction encrease in celestiall benedictions of IESVS CHRIST as thou hast bin first called to this holie Religion to serue for an example of Apostolicall life and to demonstrate how one ought to follow IESVS CHRIST in pouerty and in his crosse sith thou hast not only giuen all they terrestriall substance to his poore but hast offered thy very selfe vnto him in sacrifice Be thou therfore blessed of our lord Iesus Christ and of me his poore seruant with an eternal benediction goeing retourning remayning sleeping and waking He that shall blesse thee be he blessed and lett not him that shall curse thee rest vnpunished Thou shall be superiour of all thy Brethren and they shal be subiect vnto thee Lett him that thou wilt receaue into this Order be receaued and him that thou wilt reiect be reiected Thou shalt haue liberty to reside where thou wilt none hauing authority euer to forbidde or to prescribe thee any law in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the blessed holy Ghost Amen Of the testament the holy Father S. Francis made before his death THE LXVIII CHAPTER THe holy Father S. Francis before he left his spirituall children determined to leaue them his testament that therin beholding the will of their holy Father they might enable themselues to effect it to meritt the patrimony he bequeathed them in the Euangelicall rule and profession which testament was such First my Brethren I will imprint in your memory how God drew me vnto him and how I stripped my selfe all naked before the bishopp and renounced al my possibilityes in the world thē seeking to doe pennance God gaue me this grace that whereas I formerly abhorred to behold leapers much more to serue thē I began to loue thē extremely so that what before seemed vnto me bitter insupportable was then pleasing desirable After that I began simply to pray vnto God and to make vnto him this prayer Most sacred Lord we adore thee in this place and in all the churches that are ouer all the world and doe honoure thee because by thy holy crosse thou hast redeemed the world And his diuine goodnes gaue me afterwardes such faith towardes Preistes that liue according to the forme of the holie Romane church in regard of their Order that albeit they had persecuted me I would haue had recourse to none but them selues And If I had had the wisdome of Salomon and had mett the most simplest Preist in the world I would neuer haue preached in his church against his will And them and all other will feare loue and honour as my Lordes and mastes and will remarck no sinne in them in whome I see the Sonne of God obseruing no other thing of him in this life but his most precious bodie and bloud which they consecrate receaue and only administer vnto others And will aboue althinges reuerence and honour these sacred mysteries and bestow thē in precious places As also I haue euer reuerenced the holy name of God in whatsoeuer papers I haue foūd it written in vnseemely places I haue gathered it vp and doe pray euery one to doe the like and to putt the papers in honest places I desire also that all diuines be honoured such as teach the diuine worde as they who truely giue vs the spiritt and life Besides I beseech you to referre your selues entierly into the handes of the diuine mercie who as he hath taught me to liue according to the forme of his holy gospell will shew you the like if you follow the rule which his diuine Maiestie hath caused me to prescribe in breife and simple wordes confirmed afterwardes by his holy vicar on earth Now all they that presented themselues to liue in this Order distributed their goodes vnto the poore as the said rule doth import they contented themselues with one coat peiced without and within and with a corde to girde them with the linnen breeches and we would haue no more We haue for a time liued in this sort praying in deuotion the Preistes saying their office according to the vse of our holy mother the church and we the lay Brethren in our simplicity subiecting our selues to all for the loue of IESVS CHRIST and endeauouring to gaine our liuing with the labour of our handes Now I beseech you so to doe alwayes And if there be any ignorant lett thē
had bin made att that verie hower with the hard nayle vpon the bare flesh and the bloud appeared exceeding full of life O happy were the soules that were held worthy to see in his seruant what they could not see in their Lord IESVS CHRIST and more when afterwardes they saw his sacred handes which his Holines discouered and saw pearced as the feet and hauing also the like nailes we also kissed them laying our impure lippes onthe sacred bloud that was yet very fresh which made vs to poore out teares that so abondantly fell from our eyes as that they hindered our cōtentment for we could not tast nor enioy the same according to our wish our eyes were so troubled that we often saw not that precious treasure But who cā euer explicate the motiō of our vnderstāding the abstractiō of our spiritt the melting of our sences and the faintnes of our corporall forces procured by this precious sight O thrice happy the mouthes of vs so greiuous sinners wherwith we were permitted to kisse that sacred wound of his foot with such interiour cōsolation as none could be more But seauen fold more hapy the Pope who alone kissed the wound of his side flowered as a fresh rose consequētly his very mouth whervpon he graciously vttered these wordes O most worthy excellēt memoriall of our redemption wherwith the eternall God would that conformably to our Lord I. C. the glorious Father S. Fr. should be deputed aliue dead to represent to the world euen till the last day of iudgmēt the signe of his dolorous passion O holy woundes first endured by the Sonne of God for the sinnes of men and after for our benefitt renewed in his holy seruant Francis O most gracious God! to whome hast thou euer shewē such loue but to this thy most faithful seruant Blessed sainct thou hast really carryed the triumphant stander of the crosse together with the liuely marckes of his passion Finally thou alone hast ben elected and found worthy to be pearced in true imitation of our Lord I. C. differing from him only in this that he receaued his woundes of the wicked Iewes and thou of our Redeemer I. C. O extreme benefite O singuler gift O ineffable prerogatiue Fr. who taught thee to serue God in what new scoole was it performed and by what merueillous doctrine Of what master hast thou learned to moūt to so high a degree of perfection that neuer S. of either sex could equall thee in the giftes of God The Pope vttered these and many other wordes being rauished out of himselfe in the presence of this S. of God himselfe together with vs bathinge the pauement of that holy place with abondance of our teares Now we so persisted in these sweet cōceiptes that whē we least thought theron one aduertised vs that it was neere day and that it was necessary for vs to depart to shutt vp the hole of the sacred sepulcher dexteriously which touched our hart as a deadly wound the space of six or seauen howers that we were there seeming to haue flowen and not passed away Making therfore some litle prayer more and recommending our selues to the S. the Pope first goeing out we all followed but not till we had opened the two vaultes in the two other arches where we saw the two other glorious bodies of his disciples entier also and very odoriferous but much lesse then that of their master hauing their habittes of sackcloth Att the entry we saw the body of the blessed Brother Giles then we came foorth and the Guardian shutt the dores praying his Holines to keepe the same in great secresie which he promised him and commāded vs also the same This my freind Iames was the cause of my inuocation that night when I cryed O Francis Francis hauing yet hope yea very confident that he wil be protectour of my soule before God att my departure But it seemeth indeed very admirable that this glorious S. had not procured his recouery but that he might haue declared this his glory to many his deuoted freindes that much desired to vnderstand it for this discourse ended he began so to decay that he dyed the night following leauing assured testimony of this truth considering that it is not to be beleeued nor thought nor is it probable that aman especially such as this being in the conflictes of death would for his pleasure and without occasiō faine a false matter the time so neere when he should most stricktly render an account vnto God who seuerely condemneth the culpable and ill-deseruers as he crowneth the sainctes his elected here on earth but much more in heauen there glorifiyng their bodies their soules with his glorious vision eternally whither I beseech him by his grace to conduct vs where he is three and one and liueth and raigneth world without end Amen The end of the second booke THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE FRIER MINORS CONTAYNING A TREATISE OF S. Bonauenture of certaine miracles of the glorious Father S. Francis after his death With a discourse of the Author of the degrees wherby the S. attained to perfection Translated by the parties afore mentioned Of the miracle of the Stigmates THE FIRST CHAPTER TO the honour and glory of almighty God and the blessed Father S. Francis Being to write certaine miracles of his wrought after his glorification in heauen we haue determined to begin with that immensiue priuiledge giuen him by our Lord IESVS CHRIST honouring him with the signe of the crosse and passion This glorious Father S. Francis was then eminent by a new miracle when he appeared charactered and illustrated with so singuler a priuiledge neuer before graunted to any creature I meane the sacred woundes of our Lord which made his mortall bodie like to that of IESVS CHRIST crucified the sacred stigmates considered wherof whatsoeuer any humane tongue can expresse is litle or nothinge in comparison of so sublime and worthy a mystery wrought by his diuine maiesty in his faithfull seruant Francis that this signe of the crosse which he alwayes carryed imprinted in his hart from the beginning of his conuersion might also exteriourly appeare in his body entierly vnited in the said crosse and that as his soule was interiourly vested with IESVS CHRIST the habite of a penitent which he tooke representing the image of the crosse the body also might in like sort be inuested with the said sacred signe and that with such colours and distinctions he might the more couragiously serue his God as his principall Capitaine in the spirituall warre and army wherin God had ouercome the powers of spirituall ennemies Yea and diuers misteries of the crosse appeared in the S. from his first beginning in spirituall warfare as in the discourse of his life plainely appeareth by the diuers apparitions of the crosse which he had And for farther assurance of the verity of so admirable a fact God did not only giue testimonies worthy of creditt
Sainct had vttered And therfore astonyed att so great a miracle and repenting that he had hindred his wife from being present therat neuer after withdrew her from her deuotions Of certeine miracles which he wrought vpon some that were deuout vnto him THE XXII CHAPTER SAinct Antony incessantlie labouring to gaine soules vnto God in the cities of Italy by his preaching retourning one day from that exercise and retiring into his Couent he tooke a secrett and vnknowne way to auoyd the honours ordinarilie giuen vnto him where he mett a poore woman carrying her sonne that was vtterly crypled and voyd of the vse of his limmes who hauing a farre off perceaued him came and fell at his feet humbly praying him to haue compassion of her and to voutsafe to make only the signe of the crosse vpon her sonne wherby she had great confidence in God that he would recouer the vse of his limmes and the more the Sainct excused himselfe the more she redoubled her petitions and cryes saying as the Chananâ—an did to IESVS CHRIST haue mercy on me whervpon together with the request of his Companion who was a very deuout Religious he made the signe of the crosse vpon the child and foorthwith he was cured retourning on foot to his pittifull mothers house whence she had brought him to the S. who prayed her to conceale this miracle att least during his life affirming that it was her faith and not his merittes that had obtained this grace and fauour A girle of Padua was in such sort cripled that she could not goe but on her handes and besides was often tormented with the falling sicknes which caused her to foame and vse strange gestures through the extremity of her cruell affliction her father hauing presented her to the S. and requested him as the aforesaid mother had done he cured her by the signe of the crosse also wherin is to be obserued that in such occurences the faith of those that present and request ioyned with the merittes of the Sainctes auayleth much to obtaine grace and fauour of God The holy Father goeing one holy day to preach in a spacious place there being no Church great enough to containe the people that sought to heare him a woman that followed the presse of the people was att lenght so thrust that she could not auoyd to be ouerthrowne into a ditch full of filth wherwith the woman being much greiued not so much for the apprehension of the hurt she might receaue in her body as for feare to foule her rich apparell wherof that was the first time of wearing and that her husband who was peruerse vnto her would be offended with her had recourse vnto God by the merittes of the S. that she went to heare whome she deuoutly inuocated and herewith she was seene to arise out of the dirt wherin she had bin plunged without any appearance of ordure on her apparell to the exceeding amazement of all the beholders Hauing written a letter to his prouinciall an Angel carryed it and brought answeare therof THE XXIII CHAPTER THe Sainct hauing spent long time in preaching hearing Confessions giuing counsaile and reading att Padua he much desired to retire himselfe into some solitarie place where he might more commodiouslie applie himselfe to contemplation and to that end he wrote to his Prouinciall the which he accorded him and hauing left this letter vpon a table in his Cell he went to pray his Guardian to procure him some messenger to carry the said letter faithfully to the Prouinciall which the Guardian hauing done he retourned to his cell but found not the letter which made him suppose that God had miraculouslie taken it away to the end he should not remoue thence wherfore retourning to his Guardian he told him he was otherwise determined But certaine dayes after in such a time as a messenger might carry the letter and bring answeare therof he found on his table the answeare which his Prouinciall had made therevnto permitting him to retire and doubtles there is great appearance that this letter was carryed and the answeare brought by an Angell God therby giuing vs to vnderstand how pleasing and gratefull the demandes of his faithfull seruantes are vnto him How he was twice in spirit at Lysbone in Portugall to assist his father THE XXIV CHAPTER THe Father of the Sainct was a gentleman of Portugall residing att Lisbone who hauing managed a good part of the reuenue of the king his soueraine had also giuen a iust account therof vnto his officers and withall deliuered them in the mony without demaunding acquittance or any dischardge relying on them as his freindes attleast supposing them to be such but certaine monthes after these gentle companions as worldly people demanded againe the mony they had receaued of him and summoned him to yeld a new account vnto them of the administration of the mony he had in his chardge This good gentleman was exceedinglie amazed not knowing what to doe considering he had no specialty to help himselfe against them in that which they required wherfore knowing the danger of his owne case he went to them to endeauour to put them in minde of the finishing and deliuery of his accountes thincking therby to bring them in the end to acknowledge and confesse the truth And being before them that sate and held the place of iustice they most audaciously and impudently denyed that he had so much as presented his accountes much lesse had he finished them and deliuered them any mony But att the instant S. Antony appeared and was present there who grauely sayd vnto them Giue an quittance to this good man of the mony he deliuered you proceeding of his chardge and of the receipt of the kinges mony on such a day in such a place att such an houre in such and such sortes of coyne which if you refuse to doe God will punish you for it Which they hauing heard exceedingly terrified they gaue a sufficient dischardge to the Father of the S. who very ioyfully retourned home giuing thanckes to God for that he had bestowed on him such a sonne who vanished as soone as he had vttered those wordes Some time after there was a yong man slaine before the house of the Sainctes Father for whome his ennemies had laid waite in the night as he was to retourne from the great church which is neere to the said house into the garden wherof the dead body was cast ouer the walles where the next morning he was found of the officers by the trace of bloud freshly appearing in the street whervpon the Father of sainct Antony with all his family were imprisonned and foorth with condemned to death and as he was conducted to execution the S. being preachinge att Padua it was reuealed vnto him who then resting on the pulpitt wherin he preached he went to relieue his Father and att the very instant of his comming to Lisbone he raysed the murdered party and made
matter be brought before the Magistrate who hath auctority to iudge therof who hearing the parties with patience shall determine their discord by iustice How the Brethren may be dispenced withall in their abstâ—nences THE XVIII CHAPTER THe Oâ—dinaryes of the places or the Visitor shall haue power to dispence with the Brethren and sisters touching the abstinences fastes and other austerities of this rule vpon lawfull cause and when they shall see it expedient That the Ministers must discouer vnto the visitor the manisest saultes THE XIX CHAPTER THe Ministers shall aduettise the Visitor of the manifest faultes of the Brethren and Sisters that the culpable may be punished And if any be found incoâ—igible after three seuerall admonitions by the Minister or by some of the discreet Brethren lett him be denounced to the Father Visitor who shall expell him the confraternity and publish them in the congregation Approbation of the Pope that none of the Brethren shal be obliged vnder mortall sinne to obserue the points aforâ—said THE XX. CHAPTER BVt in al the afoâ—esayd thinges wherunto the Brethren and Sisters of your Order are not obliged by the commandements of God or ordinances of the Romane Church we will not that they be bound vnder mortall sinne but lett them with prompt humility receaue the penance enioyned them for the excesse committed and study to accomplish it entierly The sequell of the confirmation of this rule Let no man presume to dismember the page of this our decree rule or rashly to contradict it But if any presume to attâ—pt it lett him know that therin he incurreth the indignation of Almighty God and of his blessed Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul Giuen att the Reate the 17. of August the second yeare of our Pontificate The Briefe of Pope Nicolas the fourth in fauour of the confraternity of Penitents THE XXI CHAPTER NIcolas Bishop the seruant of the seruants of God to all faithfull to whome these presents shall appeare healâ—h and Apostolical benediction The only sonne of God by whose precious woundes we haue bin redeemed and reuiued in the fountaine of his precious bloud founded and instiruted the holy Church on the rock of faith instantly after his birth and committed the iurisdiction and power of his celestiall empire to the blessed Prince of the Apostles and porter of eternall life giuing to him and to his successors principality and power to bind and loose the dispeaâ—ced of Israel that by the mystery of his passion are retyred into his fold And therfore the foueraine Romane Bishop successour of the same principasitie of those principall watches and carefull diligences and not of studyes and desiâ—es filled with vanities is changed by Apostolicall obligation that the Church alwayes multiply with a new generation and race to be vnited to the well-disciplined flock because the condition of humane nature is easily broaken or dissolued as an earthen vessell that is subiect to fragility and with difficulty reformed And therfore it is necessary for the faithfull of the same Church to haue especiall care as hauing bin diligently educated in the innocencie of sincerity and verity not to deface and corrupt the doctrine and constitutions of the Successour of the same Prince or in whatsoeuer manner by wordes of murmure to hinder the same for as the Apostle saith He is contrary to the Ordinances of God that resisteth his power Sith then the holy seruant of God and singuler Confessour of IESVS CHRIST S. Francis enflamed with the burning fire of charity disciple both in wordes and worckes of the glorious Apostles aduancing himselfe with a spiritt full of verity to augment the family in the house of our Redeeemer IESVS CHRIST with intention to reduce into the way of saluation the feet of such as walked in darcknes instructing them without learning he hath infrituted an Order with the title of Penitents to whome he hath giuen meane to meritt eternall life We desisiring to fauour the sayd Order to the end the intention and zeale of the sayd Confessour doe encrease in vertues and that the Professours of this Order by meane of our care make good progresse in the way of their saluation It hath seemed vnto vs requisite approuing the sayd Order that therin be performed certaine ordinaces worthy to be obserued as most behoufull which by our letters we haue to that end perscribed vnto them and among others where we counsaile and with a Fatherly affection admonish the sayd Brethren Penitents to follow and obserue the sayd rule and forme of life and that so doeing they with perfect charity by meane therof conseâ—â—e a mutuall vnion and affection Naturall reason and duety requiring that for reuerence vnto this holy Confessour the Professors of the sayd Order be conducted and guided by the doctrine and counsaile of the Frere Minors the sayd Saint hauing hin institutor of these Orders and therfore lett them procure to haue of the Frere Minors to be Visitors and reformers of the sayd Religion And for so much as some of the sayd Order which is lamentable by their peruerse will being doubtles illegitimate children yea bastardes of the Church and of this holy Confessour of IESVS CHRIST doe rebell against this our permission and counselle and haue presumed to affirme and maintaine that the Religious receauing and obseruing that rule cannot be saued therin and are so temerarious as that without any feare they attempt to peruert and att least doe persecut theÌ„ that desire to follow our sayd consaile We therfore determining not to lett this presumption with conniuence to passe vnpunished doe totally annull the processe made or to be made against those that follow our counsaile and will that all they who with reuerence accept and follow our sayd behouful counsaile doe participate of the grace of the Church and of our benediction and doe enioy the priuiledges graunted to the same Order of Penitents by the holy Apostolike sea or to be graunted hereafter We further ordaine that they who shall resist or hinder so holy a constitution be in such sort restrayned by the Ordinaries of the places that they enforce them to desist from their turbulent impedimentes Notwithstanding whatsoeuer priuiledge or vnder whatsoeuer forme of wordes obtained to the contrary and lett the Brethren Penitents that shall follow our sayd healthfull counsaile haue Ministers taken and elected among themselues according to the forme contayned in the sayd rule Giuen att Ciuita Veazia the 8. day of August the third yeare of our Pontificate The life of S. Elizabeth the widow daughter to the king of Hungary and of the third Order of S. Francis Of the Innocencie and vertue of S. Elizabeth in her most tender youth THE VIII CHAPTER THis blessed S. the daughter of king Henry of Hongary was royally educated in her Fathers house but being by diuine grace illuminated and opening the eyes of hir natural knowledg she timely began to misprise the vanities of the world and the apprehensions of youth chaunging them
the erection of a worthy confraternitie THE XXXVII CHAPTER THe Couent of the citty of Mans is one of the most ample and ancient of the Order there commonly resyding forty Religious or more from the time that the blessed Electus one of the companions of sainct Francis there layd the foundation about the yeare 1215. A deuout and ample confratetnity perhaps the most ancient of Christendome was erected and is honorably continued in that Couent vpon this occasion A venerable and very simple Religious celebrating masse a spider of lothsome greatnes casually or to speake more Christianly by diuine prouidence fell after consecration into the sacred chalice The deuout Religious att first apprehēsion was much perplexed how to behaue himselfe in the holy cōmunion were it that the directiōs how to behaue himselfe in the holy cōmunion were it that the directiōs how to proceed in such accidents were not then recorded in the Missall Rubriques as they are now or that he did not then reflect on them for more ample manifestation of the glory of God he finally resolued vpon that excellēt promise of our Lord If they who beleeue in me as they ought drink any mortiferous poyson they shall receaue no detriment thereby so cōming to the sacred communion of the precious bloud of our lord he in one draught refected himselfe both with poyson and the medicament of death and of life so that euen in this point might be accomplished that which the Church singeth att the resurrection of our Lord Mors vita duello conflixere mirando and as here Dux vitae mortuus regnat viuus so then did he graunt that effect to this same precious bloud that it expelled the poyson and without paine the venemous spider passed through the Priest a litle after when the other Religious of the Couent and certaine deuout seculer persons there present thought no otherwise of the Celebratour hauing by his relation vnderstood what had happened then those of Malto conceated of the biting of S. Paul by the viper Almighty God here renuyng that ancient miracle sauing that this appeareth greater by the difference of an exteriour byting of a viper and the interiour operation of a spider no lesse venemous The people of Mans that were euer very religious did by this miracle so augment their deuotion vnto the B. Sacrament of the Altare that att the same time was erected a Confraternity of innumerable persons of all qualities which is most deuoutly entertayned in that Couent hath bin since imitated in diuers other Citties and townes of the kingdome of France to the glory of God the augmentation of his seruice and the benefitt of Christian people The end of the first part of the Chronicles of the Frere Minors A TABLE OF THE PRINCIPALL MATTERS CONTAYNED IN THIS FIRST Tome of the Chronicle histoire of the Order of Saint Francis ALMES SAint Fra. asked a beggar forgiuenes pag. 3. He put off his owne cloathes to cloath one ragged p. 5. He selleth his Fathers marchandise to repaire S. Damians Church p. 9. At Rome he put off his owne cloathes to cloathe a beggar p. 15 S. Fran. giueth Br. Giles his cloake in an almes p. 22 He gaue away his owne cloake and his companions in the depth of winted p. 92 Diuers other like actes of charitie p. 93. 94. 95 S. Anthonie of Padua The life of S. Antonie p. 56. c. Angelus The life of Br. Angelus p. 530. Ambrose The life of Br. Ambrose p. 534 Agnes The life of S. Agnes sister to S. Clare p. 630. 684. The life of sainte Agnes daughter to the king of Bohemia p. 692 Creatures The loue and compassion which Saint Franc. had of vnreasonable creatures p. 182 He redeemed a sheepe from amongst goates ibid. He gaue his cloake to saue the life of two lambes p. 183. He cursed a sow for eating a lambe ibid. The entertainment of S. Fran. by birdes on the mount Aluerne p. 288. A flock of sheepe honor him p. 290 How obedient a sheepe was to him ibid. A Sheepe and a lambe shew a will to honor God p. 291 A Leueret a Conny and a Fish became tame vnto him ibid. Of many other miracles like to the precedent p. 292. 293 Of the loue S. Franc. boare to all creatures p. 296 Of Antes or Emmots p. 300 Of the fauours which God bestoweth on fishes p. 477 Churches Three Churches repayred by S. Franc. p. 16. 17 Crosse or Crucifix A Crucifix speaketh vnto S. Francis p. 7. A Crucifix speaketh vnto him in the Church of S. Damian p. 9 A vision of the Crosse to Br. Siluester before he was religious p. 53 S. Fran. cured a priest by the signe of the Crosse p. 199 A Crucifix walketh with him p. 240 He multitude bread by the signe of the Crosse p. 252 He tamed a wild wolfe therby p. 293 He conuerted therby water in wine p. 317 Many miracles wrought by S. Francis by the signe of the Crosse p. 424 S. Anthonie cured a criple by the signe of the Crosse p. 481. 482 Br. Leo with the signe of the Crosse cured an Apostume p. 519 Many miracles wrought by Br. Christopher by the signe of the Crosse p. 553. 554 The virtu of the signe of the Crosse p. 588 Of many miracles wrought by sainte Clare by the signe of the Crosse p. 663. 664. c. Contempt of the world S. Francis stripped himselfe starck naked to render his cloathes to his Father p. 12 Of the contempt of the world p. 602 Chastitie Saint Franc. would not that his Brethren should behould women p. 68. 69 How Br. Gyles affected chastitie p. 571 Of Chastitie p. 603 Christmas How saint Francis once celebrated the feaste of Christs Natiuitie p. 168 Of the consolation which sainte Clare receaued on the feast of Christs Natiuitie p. 643. Christopher The life of Br. Chistopher p. 55◠Clare The life of S. Clare p. 623 Deuills Saint Francis commandeth the diuels p. 103 The diuels hould a chapter against the order of S. Franc. p. 119 The diuell entreth into his pillow p. 129 How he confounded them p. 132 How he assisted his Religious from choaking by the diuell p. 135 The diuell tempted him to make him leaue prayer p. 214 An assemblie of diuells against his order p. 281 The diuell endeuoureth to kill him p. 289 Diuers thinges discouered by S. Anthonie of the diuell p. 465. c. How Bro. Iuniperus was feared of the diuell p. 544 How Brother Gyles defended himselfe against the diuell p. 588 Of one who had made a conuention to serue the diuell p. 736 Extasies Saint Francis eating with sainte Clare both were rapt in extasie p. 277 The extaticall contemplation of Br◠Quintauall p. 507 The admirable extasies of Br. Gyles p. 576. 580 The extasies of sainte Clare pag. 661 An extasie of Sainte Agnes pag. 686 Elizabeth The life of Sainte Elizabeth daughter to the kinge of IIungarie p. 710 Elzearius The life of Brother
of the said holy Martyrs were afterwardes translated to Teruel by the king of Arragon THE XXXVII CHAPTER AFter this glorious Martyrdome Dom Iames the first of that name king of Arragon began by the prouidence of God to warre against and alwayes to putt to the worst the king of Valencia subdueing him att each time that they encountred and taking prisoners a great number of the Mores gaining daily and possessing his landes and dominions it happened one time that he tooke prisoners certaine noble men of the Mores whervpon the Christians of Arragon prayed their king to demaund the reliques of the said S. for ransome of the said prisonners by reason that by their meanes God did ordinarily worckmany miracles which caused the Christiās to be very importunate to haue them This request was easy to obtaine for the king of Arragon did exceedingly reuerence the said reliques and the king of the Mores was very desirous to retire his principall champions for a matter which he regarded nothing at all Thus were these reliques solemnely placed att Teruell in a faire Couent of Frere Minors there expresly erected in acknowledgement of the fauours and graces which in respect of them the Christians haue receaued of God and to this day great miracles are wrought there by them How the Morian king Azot became Christian and gaue the citty of Valencia to the king of Arragon and in satifaction of his sinne he conuerted his Pallace into a Monastery of Religious of the Order of S. Francis THE XXXVIII CHAPTER THe king Azot perceauing his forces and kingdome daily in appearance to diminish in such sort as he could no longer resist the king of Arragon resolued to enter into composition with him and to render vnto him all the kingdome of Valencia peaceably and withall to be baptised reseruing condition of honest maintenance during his life which the king Iames promised not only to him but euen to all his people that would be conuerted and to others promising to permitt them peaceably to liue in their law or otherwise to retire whither they pleased Which being thus accorded the king of Arragon entred Valencia to take possession therof the yeare 1238. on the eue of S. Michael this was the second time that the Christians recouered it for Ruy Dias had once before taken it from the Mores for the king of Castile after whose death it was lost againe Now the king Azot became Christian hauing obtayned in gift of king Iames a rich Earledome which his successors doe yet enioy all his moueables and his pallace which incontinently after with the consent of the king of Arragon he gaue to the Frere Minors there to build a Church in the honour of the holy Martyrs in satisfaction of their bloud which he had shed and consequently there was builded a very beautifull Couent Of a Miracle wrought by the said holy Martyrs att Teruell THE XXXIX CHAPTER CErtaine yeares after the said Martyrdome there repaired ouer the Citty of Teruell and the neighbour places such a quantity of locustes that as a cloud they hindred the beames of the sunne in the aire and on the earth they couered all the plaines the people made many processions to be freed of this affliction which yet ceassed not to trouble them But there was a good man that consailed the people to carry in procession the reliques of the holy Martyrs which they did went in great deuotion to an hermitage that was out of the Citty and att the retourne of that processiō all the locustes were vanished so that neuer after were seene more in those quarters then in other places This much augmēted the deuotiō of those people towardes the holy martyrs The Martyrdome of fiue Frere Minors with a multitude of Christians att Marroccho This was the 29. chapter of this booke transferred hither to giue place to the more famous ON an other time diuers yeares after the foresaid fiue other Frere Minors were martyred att Maroccho together with all the Christians men and women that then there resided in a chappell where they offered their prayers to God for the exaltation of the faith of IESVS CHRIST This persecution was executed on the sixteenth of September with such rage and fury of the Mores that there remayned not in the said citty so much as one liuing man that durst professe himselfe a Christiā after this notorius Martyrdome or persecution the Mores saw a great splendour to discend from heauen into the said chappell where the martyerd bodies remayned and heard also all the belles to ring of themselues and the voices of Angels to sing with an inestimable sweetnes but their hartes were too obstinatly hardened against God to benefitt themselues by their conuersion The names of these Martyres are not knowne on earth it sufficeth that they are recorded in the booke of eternall life The Martyrdome of Br. Electus disciple of S. Francis and of his companions Taken out of the 35. chapter and placed here for the reason aboue proposed THere resteth no other memory recorded of the Martyrdome of Br. Electus then this The Mores tooke Br. Electus many others for preaching the holy gospell to putt them to death He being brought to the place of execution tooke the rule of S. Francis in his hand and said to his companion Brother I confesse my fault before God and you of what soeuer I may haue offended and committed against this rule which said his head was cutt off then his companions and consequently the others after that many miracles were wrought Touching his Iife it is recorded that he entred very yong into the Order in so much that he could not performe the fast therof but forcing his nature he not only in this cōbat ouercame gluttony but continually chasticed his flesh with a shirt of iron happy child that began so yong to serue the almighty and so gloriously ended the course of his holy life The end of the fourth booke of the second part of the Chronicles of the Frere Minors wherin are recorded the histories of 21. disciples of the holy Father S. Francis THE FIFT BOOKE OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE FRIER MINORS WHERIN IS CONTAINED THE LIFE DOctrine death and miracles of the glorious Father S. Antony of Lisbone called of Padua Translated as the former Of the birth of S. Antony and his education by his Father how he left the world and became a Canon reguler in the Order of Sainct Augustin THE FIRST CHAPTER THE glorious Father S. Antony was borne in the noble and populous citty of Lisbone the Metropolitan of the kingdome of Portugall in the westerne partes of Spaine his house was directly ouer against the great gate of the Episcopall Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary this Church is very famous among other respectes in regard of the body of the victorious Martyr S. Vincent that there reposeth The Father of the said S. Antony was called Martin de Buglione and his Mother Teresa de Teuery
both of them illustrious in vertue and bloud in which respect they were found worthie in the flower of their marriage to enioy this child He was baptised in the said Church of which parish also he was there was he first named Ferdinand so that he was called Ferdinand Martin Buglione till he tooke the habitt of S. Francis He began his first learning in the said Cathedrall Church with the Christian doctrine the manner to prayse God he serued the quier both by night and day offering the first fruites of his age to our Lord IESVS CHRIST and to his most holy mother whome he chose for his particular Aduocatrise euen from his tender yeares He coÌ„tinued in this pious course fifteene yeares in which time he learned the study of humanity afterwardes his bloud began to heat and his sensuall appetites to desire carnall and worldly pleasures As soone as he perceaued it he endeauoured by the feare of God to restraine them and because it is very difficult to conuerse among so many thornes and not to be pricked he resolued to take a secure remedy Wherfore abandonning all conuersations of this perillous world he repaired to the Monastery of S. Vincent without the citty where were Canon Regulers of S. Augustin leading a life of very exemplare piety whence he neuer departed tlll he had taken the habitt and made his profession surmounting all the inconueniences and importunities of his kinred and friendes that omitted no meanes to diuert him from it there did he establish his foundation in the seruice of God But in regard that his worthie iudgement and great prudence began to appeare to his kinred and friendes they repaired vnto him for his counsaile and aduise in their affaires and difficulties running vnto him as to an oracle in such sort that being vnable to endure that exceeding disturbance of spiritt hauing with verie much difficulty obtayned the permission of his Superiour he retired to the deuout and Religious monastery of sainct Crosse of Conimbria of the same Order hauing spent two yeares in that of Lisbone And he so profited and proceeded there that it was to each one apparant that he was by a secrett and diuine vertue not by a lightnes of spiritt retired thither For proceeding daily ascending from perfection to perfection he aymed at a most perfect end of his life as being replenished with the spiritt of wisdome by his continuall reading and meditation of the holy scripture wherin hauing for his instructor the only and true master IESVS CHRIST he made such progresse that his learning was sufficient to shunne vices and embrace vertues to refute errours and support the truth How for the desire of Martyrdome he became Religious of the Order of S. Francis THE II. CHAPTER ABout that time thefame of the holy Father S. Francis did spred it selfe ouer all the world as also of the Frere Minors his disciples of whome as is said there were already monasteries in portugall they by their pouerty and contempt of the world conuerting many people to penance the holy Father Saint Antony as I haue formerlie said being one of the Religious of sainct Crosse that receaued the holy reliques of the glorious martyres of Marrocho and being as a noble Elephant encouraged by the sight of the bloud shed for the loue of God he resolued also to enter into combatt for IESVS CHRIST reputing his repose wherin he liued for the seruice of God to be nothing in respect of that course O spiritt really happy who not only was not terrified with the sight of the bloudy sword of the Tyrant but was so encouraged therby that the feruour of diuine charity in him was greater then the imbecillitie of humane fragillity Wherfore thirsting to effect this good desire he resolued first to take the habitt and therwith to imitate the life of those glorious Martyrs by the same meane to obtaine the two crownes and to ascend from one degree vnto an other to that soueraigne perfection of Martyrdome exercising himselfe before he entred into that conflict and combatt Now there were two Religious of sainct Francis which ordinarily liued in a Church of the title of sainct Antony without the Citty of Conimbria with which sainct Antony hauing casually mett he discouered his intention vnto them as to two Angels of Paradise and they gaue eare vnto him with great contentment and comforted him then they appointed him a day when they would repaire vnto him to effect his pious desire Hauing taken leaue of them he ceassed not to solicite and importune his superiour to vouchsafe to giue free consent to this his holy intention which as a thinge perordinated of God he att length with much difficulty obtayned The aforesaid Frere Minors comming on the prefixed day they gaue their habitt to sainct Antony euen in the monastery of sainct Crosse and then being cloathed they carryed him with them to their oratory Att his departure one of the Canon Regulers that was much disquieted therwith said vnto him Well goe your wayes in good time it may be you may proue a sainct giuing him such reproach as if he thought one could not serue God but in the Religion of sainct Francis sainct Antony humbly answeared him If it should happen that I proue a sainct it may be you would praise God for it But doubtles these Religious should not murmure if God transferred this sainct from their Order to that of sainct Francis considering that in their Church they possessed fiue of his martyrs and with all it cannot be denyed but that the worthie and pious education of sainct Antony ought to be attributed first vnto God and then to their holy Religion wherein he spent eleuen yeares so that he entred into the Order of sainct Francis the 26. yeare of his age being then Priest the yeare of grace 1220. How the name of Ferdinand was chaunged into Antony and how he departed for Marroccho with intention there to receaue Martyrdome and was by tempest driuen into Sicilia thence he went into Italy and thence to the generall chapter of S. Francis THE III. CHAPTER THe holy Father being come to the Oratory of the said Religious knowing that the title therof was sainct Antony he prayed them to giue him that name abhorring his owne as seculer and too prophane and to the end that not being so called of all he might be much lesse knowne and disburded of his kinred and friendes besides we may well attribute this same to the worck of the holy Ghost sith that many of his most note-worthie elect haue chaunged their name as first the Patriarkes Apostles and other â—his fauourites Hauing then thus chaunged his name he desired to effectuat the designe for which he became Frere Minor and to attaine the same he trauailed into Africa there to receaue the crowne of Martyrdome but he being afflicted with a great and long infirmity began by diuine inspiration to conceaue that his designe was not gratefull vnto God but