Lorde sayde that shall God prospere and help thorough his Fauoure and Grace Notwithstandyng thou shalt go vnto Rome to my Vyker whome I haue ordeyned and appoynted to whome I haue geuen power to bynde and lose wyll him to publishe declare this pardon w t asmuche expedicioÌ„ as he shall thynk mete Then sayde blessed Frances but how shall thy Vyker credyt me paraduenture he wyll not beleue me wretched synner The Lorde sayd to him blessed Frances take with the certeyn of thy brethreÌ„ for wytnesses thewhich hear all these thynges also take with the these red and whyte roses which y u gathered est in the moneth of Ianuarij when thou wast ponishing of thy body in the wyldernes All these thynges were hearde by Freer Peter of Cathany Angell of Reato Ruffine Sophy Freer Massey c. Then blessed saynct Frances tooke of the roses that he brought iij. red and iij. whyte in the honoure of the most holy and indiuisible trinite and to the praise of god our blessed Lady And then the Angelles song with lowd and great voyce Te deum In the mornyng blessed Frances tooke his felowes saiyng to theim let vs go to Rome and he commaunded theim to kepe all these thynges secret And when he entred into Rome he tooke his way toward y e Church of Saynct Iohn Lateranence and there he found Pope Honorius the successor of Innocent and the Viker of oure Lorde Iesu Christ To whome S. Frances on the behalf of our Lord declared all the thynges aforsayde of thesame bare wytnes theforsayd brethreÌ„ and the roses aboue mencioned And Pope Honorius beholdyng in the moneth of Ianuarij roses so freshe and hauyng so quyck a sauour and colour sayd this is suerly a great myracle and must come rather of God then of man we knowe that their testimony is true Then the Pope coÌ„maunded that Frances and his felowes should haue wherwith to refreshe theim selues The next daye after blessed Frances came agayn to the pope saiyng Most worthy Vyker of Christ fullfill about the matter aforsayd the wyll of the kynge of heauen and his Mother And beyng asked agayne in the presence of the Cardinalles what he desyred And when he aunswered the forsayd pardoÌ„ to be at Lammas or the day that saynt Peter was losed out of his boÌ„des The Pope aunswered Frances that which thou desirest is very great but forasmuche as the kynge of heaueÌ„ at the instaunce of the most blessed Virgyn his Mother hath heard thy peticion we will wryte to the Bysshopes of Assisio Perusino Tuderino Spolitano Fulginati Nucerino and Eugubino that they shall assemble together at the Churche of Portiuncule the first day of August and there they shall declare the pardon in such wise as thou shalt desyre to haue yt And so blessed Frances and his felowes receauing y e Popes letters departed And blessed Frances sayde vnto the Bysshopes which of you will publishe and declare this pardoÌ„ When the Bisshopes were all assembled at the daye appoynted blessed Frances sayd vnto theim yf yt please you though I be vnworthy I wyll saye somewhat in the presence of this people and declare vnto theim the pardon graunted by the commaundmeÌ„t of the kyng of heauen obteyned at the instance of the blessed Virgyn and Mother of Christ and you are coÌ„maunded by the Pope to affirm thesame with me Then blessed Frances preached so swetely and so comfortably that he semed rather to haue bene an Angeil then a mortall maÌ„ Then he declared the pardon that yt auayled from the Euensong the first day of August vntill the Euensong on the second day of the same moneth aswell by nyght as by daye yerely for euer The Bysshopes hearyng blessed FraÌ„ces saye for euer they were angry muche offended saiyng to Frances The Pope hath not coÌ„maunded vs herin to folowe thy mynde for his pleasoure is but for x. yere And therfore euery Bisshop by him self declared vnto the people that they must vnderstand the wordes of Frances of this pardon to indure for x. yeres and no lenger Here I omyt muche folyshnes whiche I am wery to wryte The C.lxix leafe Blessed Frances sayd after vs shall come Freers that wyll buyld theim greate houses wherin noble men shall inhabite c. But Frances would haue his house made of none other then clay and wykers The C.lxxv leafe Freer Massey purposyug to trye the humilite and mekenes of blessed Frances sayde vnto him what art thou what art thou what art thou what art thou Blessed FraÌ„ces aunswered what meanest thou and Freer Massey sayd for all the world semeth to ronne after the and all desyer to se heare and obey the. Thou art no fayre man Thou hast neither great coÌ„ning nor wisdom Thou art no noble man How commeth yt then that all the worlde dothe thus folow the Blessed Frances hearyng this reioysyng wonderfully in spirite and holdyng vp his face to heauen stood styll a great space his mynde beyng directed to God and commyng to him selfe agayne he made lowe curtesey with a feruent spirite gaue prayses thankes to God and turned him selfe to Freer Massey sayd wilt thou know what I am wylt thou knowe what I am and wylt thou well vnderstand what I am and why all the worlde foloweth me God hathe ordeyned the fooles of this world to confound the wyse and I am a wretched synner Then Freer Massey knewe that blessed Frances was grounded in very humilitee The L. lxxvi leafe Blessed Frances sayd vnto his Brethren that they should not Iudge any thynge to be impossible that was coÌ„maunded theim in their rule For if he had commaunded theim to do thynges aboue their strength yet holy obedyence neuer lacked strength Once a certeyn Freer dysobeiyng his gouernour he coÌ„maunded him to put of all his clothes his very breches so to stand naked before him which the Freer dyd Then he commaunded him to dyg a graue or a pyt which also he dyd Then he coÌ„maunded him to go into y e graue and so he dyd And blessed Frances couered him with earth euen vp to the hard beard and sayde vnto him Art thou not dead Brother art thou not dead And he aunswered he was dead Then sayde blessed Frances aryse if thou be dead in dede thou must obey thy gouernoure at a beck and grudge at nothyng The same leafe Two yong men besought S. Frances to admyt theim into the order but he myndyng to proue first their obedyence led theim into a garden saiyng vnto theim come let vs set coles or colewortes and as ye se me set theim so looke that you do Then blessed Frances set the rotes vpward the leaues douneward One of theim dyd in all thinges lyke vnto blessed Frances but the other dyd not so but sayde to blessed Frances the coles should not be so let but rather contrary that is to saye the rotes dounewarde and the leaues vpwarde To whome blessed Frances sayd my Sonne I wyll that thou do as I do wheÌ„ he would not do so because yt semed folyshnes to him blessed Frances sayde vnto him Brother I se that thou art the chefest master go thy wayes for thou art not mete for my order ¶ Here an end for I wyll trouble you no lenger with this stuffe though the booke out of which this is taken coÌ„teyneth much more EX FRVCTISVS EORVM COGNOSCETIS EOS R. G. Excudebat 1550. Cum Priuilegio ad imprimendum solum It foloâ—th that â—other â—iers wer â—unded â—the docâ—ne of the â—uell Who tâ—â— the Deâ— this forâ—â—er his â—he neuer me in heâ— nor neueâ— shal O blasphemy Apoca. xiij A substancial witnes A Deâ—lish restiâ—â—ny This he â—â—eth of â—minike these â—e the â—thors â—hese ii â—es Wher do the â—reers obserue this This saiyng if yâ— wer sayd was not the Deuelles saiyng If ye seke theim may hap ye may fynd theim There wâ— neuer noâ— suche â— herin arâ— many decâ—ued But not â—ryers reliâ—ion â—blaspheâ— Looke wha a goodly miracle her iâ— O sweâ— Frances Seâ— how lyke Christ the deuelf is A swete â—peche Before he â—rmed contraâ— of Frier â—n â—refore a â— ought haue a â—od meâ—ory A goodly â—le song Here 〈◊〉 touche tâ— Black Fâ—â—ers 〈◊〉 doe 〈◊〉 â— holy comparison â—oly â—o A sure witnes A medicine for phisicians Goodâ—ye â—nd gaye â—â—yracles A shyâ— knaue This is a saynt in dede O most detestable blasphemy An Asse worshâ—peth â—he bread â—or christes body Wher 〈◊〉 thou arâ—e Peter anâ— the Pope can not â—rre O diligent Deuell how thou aduauncest pride that once agayn might be placed aboue God Hasty iudgment lyke the law merciall One goâ— worke Frances â—used all hese to â—nne as â—d Ieroâ—am Esay 49. The deuâ— and womâ— help saynâ— Frances â— wytnesses at a pynâ—che Where the deuell were they then I metuell â—he wolfe â—â—d not a â—reers cote â—at he â—yght haue â—ne saued 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 A true prophet 〈◊〉 odly 〈…〉 of the â—iche the â—reers learâ—ed to bury â—heir BrethreÌ„ quyck 〈◊〉 reaâ— to lyue madnes with otheâ— Freers
When S. Frances was sicke a brother of his desired licence y e he might reade him some what for his recreation To whome Frances answered that it should not nede for he had sufficient knowlege saide I know poore Christ crucified The same leafe O howe oft times our Lorde Iesus appered vnto the blessed father S Frances and not only of him but also of the blessed Virgin Mary of Ihon Baptist Ihon Euangelist and of the holy apostles Peter and Paul and of the Archangell Michael and of diuerse other angelles he was visited Thesame leafe While S Frances praied ferueÌ„tly to our Lady that she wold obtein comfort for her of her litle childe Iesus the blessed and pure virgin was incontinently preseÌ„t and caught him in her armes kissed him holding him from the beginning of the night vntil it was daye and graunted him his peticion The .iii. leafe Christ calleth Frances his Chauncelour Thesauror his BaÌ„ner bearer his counsaillor The same leafe In whome at any time hath apered the print of the woundes of Christ Truly in none but in holy Frances as affirmeth the church of Rome and commaundeth al the faithful so to beleue c And also pope Benedict ordeined a holy day to be kept for the worshipping of those impressions The same leafe In the handes and feete of Frances were Nailes as it were of sinowes and fleshe the whiche nailes were on the heddes hard grosse they were long stretched â—arre bothe thorow his handes and fete and turned againe as it were clinched so that a finger myghte haue bene laied betwene the clinching as the righte worshipful Bonauenture bishop of Albanence and Cardinall of Rome in the third parte of his Legend doth affirme by the credible report of them whiche sawe them felte them and by their othe confirmed it so to be Therefore it came neither by nature nor yet by imaginacioÌ„ neither could nature preserue it in suche manner withoute Putrificacion if by any Arte it hadde bene deuised for by the space of .ij. yeres out of those woundes issued blod The church doth not report this to be done by our Lady but our lord Iesus Christe was the onely worker therof by his godli wil might and power and none but himself whiche in the similitude of a Seraphin printed in Frances his blessed woundes Wherfore he that is mighty hath done great thinges in Frances Luc. i. For he hath set wondres vpon him Psal xlv And blessed Frances may say as Daniel the prophet said The high god hath wrought vpon me wondres and miracles The iiii lefe Blessed Frances hath greate glory in heauen for he sitteth in the high seate of Lucifer And if according to the minde of the Master of the sentence ii dist i viii all the â—aiâ—ctes after their degrees are placed emong the celestial creatures then is Frances placed among the Seraphins whiche may well be for while he liued he semed to be a burning Seraphin like vnto Christ both bodely ghostly And that FraÌ„ces was a burning Seraphin was sufficiciently declared by the burning and fiery Chariot wherein being transfigured he apered to certein of his brethern Also Freer Masse beyng by S Frances sodenly rapt and taken from the yerth felt such an heate comming from Frances that he semed to be in the midle of a burning Fornace Thesame leafe Lucifer was of the highest ordre in heuen therfore it foloweth that he was of the ordre of Seraphins and cosequeÌ„tly his seate was aboue al other ordres in heauen Wherefore in the place of proude Lucifer is set meke S. Frances whiche by deuine teuelâ—cion was shewed to Freer Pacâ—â—cus Freer Leonard of Ausio And y e deuel by y e mouth of a certain priest called M. zätese of RaueÌ„na told Iames of Bonony that was resident in Heauen and sate in lucifers seate And thesame deuel said that FraÌ„ces was christes Banner bearer and therefore goeth next to the king Christe and hereof coÌ„meth it that no ordre is nerer Christ then S. Frances ordre for next to the king of kinges standeth blessed S Frances And the aforesaid deuel affirmeth that after our Lady Ihon Bap. y e apostles blessed FraÌ„ces his ordre doth go before al other sainctes Thesame leafe Christ made Frances like to him self First in life most verteous and after by printing in him his woundes wherefore it is said of Frances Eccle. xlix There is none found like him for he hathe obserued the lawe of the highest Which wordes to be true the holines vertue and redolent fame of blessed Frances declare He was also a man of a sincere life and from the pleasures of the body vtterly segregate Thesame leafe What maner of persone howe and to what purpose God made Frances is declared Gene. i. ii where is written let vs make maÌ„ that is to say FRANCES vnto our image and similitude he shall gouern the fishes of y e sea c And let vs make him a helper like to him selfe that is a companye of poore The .v. leafe All the vertue of sainctes aswel of the Olde Testament as of the new are conioyned and vnited in Frances The same lefe Iesus put Frances next him selfe as his Standard bearer as affirmeth the right worshipfull Raufe bishop of Erphord who by this vision was made a barefore Frier and ii citizens of Venice with him Also Frances in all thinges was like to the sonne of god and the holy ghost sanctified Frances as witnesseth y e cedule which Freer Lion saw come froÌ„ heaueÌ„ and rested vpon the hedde of Frances wherin was written This is the grace of God The same leafe Our blessed Lady praied vnto the father that Frances mighte be sent into the worlde Also our Lady at the praier of Frances obteined the great pardon that is in the churche of Saint Marie of Porciuncle wherin is clean remission and forgeuenesse of sinnes The same leafe Peter and Paule meting FraÌ„ces in the churche of Rome embraced and kissed him The same leafe Whoso calleth and trusteth in the helpe of Frances shall not be oppressed of the deuel The viii leafe It is vndoubtedly to be beleued that aswell the saieÌ„ges of the prophetes as also the doinges of sainctes were all prefigured in Frances The same leafe Frances is like to Adam Abel Enos Enoch Noe Abraham Isac Iacob Ioseph Moses Aaron Phinees Iosue Samson Iephte Gedeon Samuel Hely Elizeus Ionadab Esai Ieremy Iob Thoby Ezechiel Daniel Micheas Peter Ihon Baptist Ihon Euangelist Iames Bartholomew Paule and in conclusion all the sainctes The ix leafe Esaias figured Frances in the sixt Chapiter whiche heard two Seraphins saiyng Holy Holy Holy And Ezechiel Chapi iii. whiche hearde a voice of greate russhiÌ„g saiyng blessed be the glory of the lord Also he figured Abraham which said I am worme and dust The x. lefe Frances is like to Ely and Elizeus whiche raised the dead to life again Thesame leafe In whatsoeuer necessitie S.
throughout all paradise shewyng him all thiÌ„ges And yt is no meruayle that they so reioysed in Frances for like alwayes ioyeth in their like Also the soules in purgatory reioysed at his birth specially all those whiche were of y e iij. orders for they were deliuered from their peynes and dyd flye vp into heauen Also the dead reioysed for by his merites they were reysed The xxviii leafe As Simeon embraced Christ beyng a Child in his armes so a certayn pilgrym whiche was an Angell came to the dore of Frances fathers house and instantly besought the seruauntes of the houshould y e he might embrace the Childe c. And the Angell sayde In this strete are borne ij Children this Frances here and another This shalbe the gouernour of the better and the other of the worsse As the blessed virgyn Mary at the peticion of the wise men that came from the East to visite Christ deliuered him to theim euen so the mother of blessed S. Frances at the peticion of the pilgrym deliuered her Sonne vnto him Thesame leafe S. Frances dyd specially delight in the blessed virgin Mary S. Michaell Ihon baptist Peter and Paule The xxix leafe Frances healed all maner of diseases Yea and that was more by the onlye laiyng on of his handes he clensed lepers And he conuerted the Souldyan of Babilon Thesame leafe By the merites and inuocacioÌ„ of S. Frances Christ reysed many from death to life The xxx leafe Frances beyng in Pryson when his other Prison felowes wer sad and heauy then would he be wonderous mery and glad inso muche that they imputed his so muche myrth to be folyshnes of the whiche beyng by one reproued he aunswered with a lowed voyce what thinkest thou of me Euen at this tyme am I worshipped throughout all the worlde The xxxviii leafe Frances sayd vnto his brethren my brethren my brethren God called me by the waye of symplicite and humilite and y e waye he declared to me to be the true way for me and those that will beleue folowe me to walke in And therefore I will not haue you to name any other rule to me then that whiche the Lord of his great mercy declared and gaue vnto me And the Lorde sayde vnto me that he would Haue me a lyttle foole in this worlde c. Thesame leafe Freer Pacifique was sodeynlye rapt and taken vp into Heauen but whether in the body or out of the body god knoweth and he sawe in Heauen many seates among whiche he sawe one very notable garnyshed with precious stones And he heard a voyce saiyng vnto him this seate was Lucifers seate and in his seate shall syt meke Frances The xxxix leafe Frances is better then the Apostles whiche left but their shippes and fewe other thinges but yet they left not of the garmentes from their backes Blessed Frances for a truth for sooke not onlye all earthly goodes riches but also the clothes from his backe and euen his very breeches he cast from him and naked he offred him selfe bothe body and mynde to be crucified whiche we reade not that euer any saynt ells dyd wherefore he may well saye to Christ I haue left all and folowed thee Thesame leafe Blessed Frances obserued the Gospell to the vttermost as they syng of him Frances hath not offended one tyttle poynt or iote of the Gospel The same leafe Worldly men desyer high fayre large plesaunt houses but S. FraÌ„ces would haue none suche but commaunded that the substaunce of the houses for the Brethren and Sistern should not be made of stones or of carued woork but of wyckers or Osyers couered w t a litle straw and claye myngled together and that they should be litle and low cotages The xlii leafe Fances beyng in prayer the Deuell sayd vnto him Frances Frances Frances Frances aunswered and asked him what he would he beyng in subieccion sayd There is no synner in the worlde which if he conuert that nedeth to fight with him self but surely whosoeuer by hard penaunce kylleth him selfe shall neuer fynde mercy Thesame leafe Frances and his felowe as they went into Apulia found a great pursse wyth mony he knowyng that the Deuell had done yt for a bayte at the instance of his companyon that yt might be geuen to the poore he tooke the pursse and he no soner touched yt but the Deuell issued therout in the lykenes of a Serpent caried the pursse with him Another brother goyng by the way found a penny and tooke yt vp and put yt in his mouth to geue yt to the poore and streight waye his tonge and membres were made lame and dombe by the Deuell But when he had spyt out the peny and done penaunce he was restored both to his speche and other membres Thesame leafe Frances often tymes dyd se the Deuell not only in a dissimuled maner but to feare and greue him he shewed him self playnly and clerely in his awne forme and fassion Freer Giles asked of S. Frances if the Deuell were so terrible that a man might not behold him a pater noster while S. Frauces aunswered that no man was hable to behold the deuell half a Pater noster while but he should dye immediatly The xliii leafe The deuell appered â—nto Frances saiyng knowest thou not that slepe is a great norisshyng to the body And immediatly Frances pulled of his cote his breeches and goyng out of his Cell ranne naked into the wildernes when yt was frost and snowe and all to tare his flesh with the thornes of the wood Thesame leafe S. Frances beyng occupyed in prayer vpon the mount of Aluerne the Deuell would haue throwen him doune headlyng by reason the stones wheron he kneled were lose holowe but FraÌ„ces caught one of y e lose stones in his hand as he was fallyng thesame cloue as fast to y e rest as waxe doth to a mannes fyngers wherby Frances stayed himselfe ouercam y e deuell which stones are to se this present daye The xlvi leafe S. Frantes hearyng in the Gospell that the disciples should cary no mony in their Pursses neither should they Haue ij cotes c. beyng replenished with the holy Ghoost streyt way he cast away his Shoes and his staffe and put on an olde threde bare cote made after the maner of the Crosse and in stede of a Girdle he put about him a corde And thus the life and rule of blessed S. Frances was taken of the Apostles ¶ The names of the xii Apostles of Sainct Frances whiche were in lyfe worde and miracles wonderous notable Petâ—r Cathany Ihon of the Chapell Philip Long. Freer Bather Freer Gyles Bernhard of Cleue Angell Camâ—â—â— Ihon of Sainct Constance Bernhard of the v. Valleys Freer Morice Freer Sabaâ—yne Freer Syluester This order was instituted the xvj daye of Aprill Anno M.CC.VII Freer Giles was rapt and taken vp into heauen as was Saynct Paul Freer Siluester talked with God as
and he pulled Massey by the Necke and his mouthe for the greate feruency of the Spirite was drawen awrye and he cryed contynually A A A Brother Massey and he lifted Massey from the grounde and with a blast of his mouth he lifted Massey from the earth he blew him before him a great speare length Freer Massey was astonyed at the meruelous feruoure of the Blessed Father but he thought that he receaued suche greate swetnes and consolacion as to his remembraunce he neuer receaued before Afterward goyng to Rome Blessed Frances was of the holy Apostles Peter and Paule swetely embraced Thesame leafe Peter and Paule beyng requyred by Frances obteyned of Christ the confirmacion of the rule of the Barefoote Freers Thesame leafe A great multytude of byrdes wer gathered together to heare the prechyng of blessed Frances Thesame leafe Freer Corrade sayd that Ruffinus was tempted often of the deuell that he should not folow y e steppes of blessed Frances for Frances was an ydeot a foole Thesame leafe The Deuell tempted Freer Ruffyne saiyng Thou arte dampned and Frances is dampned and whosoeuer foloweth him shalbe deceaued Whiche thynge when Ruffine had told Blessed Frances Frances sayd If the Deuell appere vnto the agayne and saye any thynge to the saye thou vnto him Open thy mouth and I will shyte in yt Afterwarde when Ruffinus praied agayn the deuell appered vnto him in the lyknes of Christ saiyng Freer Ruffine dyd not I byd the that thou shouldest not beleue the Sonne of Peter Bernharde whye doest thou thus ponyshe thy selfe And ymmediatly Freer Ruffine sayd vnto him Open thy Mouthe and I wyll shyte in yt Then the Deuell beyng angred departed from him in a greate furye The lii leafe On a certeyn daye blessed Frances commaunded Freer Ruffine to go preache at Assisio suche thynges as the Holy Ghost should moue him vnto Freer Ruffine sayde I am an ydeot and vnlearned I beseche the my LORDE Pardon me Blessed Frances sayd Because thou hast not streyght way obeyed therefore by the vertue of obedyence I commaunde the that thou strype thy self naked all saue thy breches gett the to Assisio to some church there and so preache to the people Afterward when Saint Frāces perceiued that Freer Ruffins was gone and considered with him self that his penance was to greuous he likewise striped him self naked and went and hearde Freer Ruffine preache But the inhabitantes of Assisio seing those ii naked said these me do so much penance that thei become mad Thesame leafe They thought theym selues most blessed and happy that might touche the Hemmes of the Garmentes of Frances and Ruffine The same lefe On a time when Frier Ruffine went about the citie of Assisio begging bread behold a certeine deuel cried saiyng that pore Frier S. Ruffine which trotteth in y e myre his holinesse and praiers burne and torment me The same leafe Also Frier Ruffine was the first that espied the printes of the woundes in blessed S. Frances by washing of his breches which was excedingly araied with the blood that ranne out of the right side of the wound of S Frances The second time he espied it by scratchīg of s Frances side wher by chaunce his Fingers was in the wounde before he was ware and Sayncte Frances beynge in greate anguishe cried with a loud voice God forgeue the Ruffine wherfore hast thou done this The same leafe Frier Iames sawe the soule of blessed Saynct Frances assend into heauen as a bright sterre ouer a faire cloude The same leafe There laye in the house of our Lady certein Friers which hard and sawe a greate nombre of larkes gathered together singinge vpon the rofe of the Churche at the death of Frances Sancta Maria. c. The xl leafe Freer Ihon was so simple that whatsoeuer he saw Sainct Frances do that he would do also as when Sainct Frances swept the church he would also helpe him when Frances did spit he would also spit and whē Frances made curtesy he would also make curtesy And whē he was by Frances rebuked for so doyng he answethat he had promised to do all all thinges whiche S. Frances did Thesame leafe A certain Doctor in diuinitie preachiug before S. Clare and her Sisters it fortuned that Freer Giles comming in said vnto him thou doctor holde thy peace for I will preache which immediatly held his peace Frier Giles taught most swetely Thē blessed S. Clare reioising in the spirite said This day is the will of blessed Saynt Frances fulfilled Thesame leafe Freer Giles said that among al vertues he loued chastite And whē a certain brother said is not Charite greater He answered And what is chaster thē charite And often he would sing O holy Chastite what art thou what art thou thou art such and somuche as Fooles knowe not howe much Thesame leafe A blacke Frier being tempted by our lady went to Frier Giles for counsaile Freer Giles seing this in spirite ranne and met him and with his Staffe he bette the ground iii. times saiyng A virgin before the birth A virgin in the birthe And a virgin after the birth and at euery stroke that he gaue on the grouud there sprōg vp a lily and the Frier was deliuered of his temptation Thesame leafe Freer Giles knowing y e. s Lewes which was king of Fraunce came too Peruse clothed in a pilgrims wede to se him and he running to mete him eache so ēbraced other that they both fell doune in spirit but not in word the one spake to the other and eache departed frrom other with wonderfull consolacion The lv lefe Freer Giles affirmed that he was iiii times borne first of his mother scond of baptisme thirdly at the entrance into his ordre And fourthly when god so often times appered vnto him and he was rapt and taken vp into heauen And in this birth as he saide he loste all his faith by the reason of those heauenly visions whiche are of faith The same leafe The deuel appered vnto him so terribly that for feare he loste his speche and when the deuel began to come vpō him and to destroye him not being hable to rise he drewe as well as he could to the vessell of holy water whiche with faith he threw forthwith he was deliuered of his tormentes The same leafe Freer Giles saw y e soule of a certein holy persone among a great sort of the soules of Friers assend out of Purgatory into heauen The same leafe For the holynes of Frier Giles Christe graunted that all the soules whiche were in purgatory should assend with him into paradise among the whiche was Freer Lolle euen then in tormēting whiche by the merites of Freer Giles was deliuered Thesame leafe Freer Giles was once rapt taken vp into the third heauen The doctrine of Frier Giles There is nothing wherby y t thou canst please god better then to hāg thy self by the throte whiche is
as our Ladyes deputye and beyng called again he flew vpō his hed then beyng lycenced to depart he went awaye A nyghtyngale song a whole daye with him by turne that is to say S. Frances one verse the nightyngale another Like as Adam not obeiyng god all creatures begā to rebell So S. Frances obeiyng and fullfillyng the commaundementes of God all creatures began to do him seruyce accordyng to the scriptures Thou diddest put all thynges vnder his gouernaunce thou hast set him ouer all thy workes and he may truly say y e wordes of the gospell All thinges are geuen me of my father And moreouer whatsoeuer saynt Frances had delyght or pleasure in thesame pleased the lord God Thesame leafe S. Frances on a tyme beyng in feruent prayer for the synnes of the people an Angell appered vnto him saiyng Christ oure blessed Lady with a great company of Angelles are in y e church lookyng for the c. Who commyng into the Church for feare reuerence fell on his face Then sayde Christ vnto him Frances thou and thy Brethren are wonderfull carefull for the soules of faythfull people therefor aske what thou wylt for their comfort yt shalbe graunted the for thou art ordeyned to be the light of the gentiles And he laye as one rapt into the godhead and at the last commyng to him selfe he sayde Our father most holyest I wretched synner beseche the forasmuche as yt pleaseth the to owe such fauour to mankynde that thou wilt graunt indulgence and remission of all and synguler the synnes as well generall as speciall of all suche people as shall come into this place c. And I most humbly beseche our Lady thy Blessed Mother the speciall aduocatryce for mankynde that somuche as she may to helpe me in this my peticion and to make intercession vnto thy moost deuoute and excellēt maiestie And our blessed Lady with most heauenly humylite forthwith inclined to the prayers and peticiō of blessed Frances and ymediatly made suplicacion to her Sonne saiyng Most high and almighty God I most humbly beseche thy godhead that somuch as thy maiestie may to inclyne graunt to the prayer petycion of thy sernaunt Frances And the diuine maiestie of God spake saiyng It is very greate that thou hast desyred but thou arte worthy brother S. Frances to haue greater and thou shalt haue greater and I do admyt and graunt thy peticion But I wyll haue the to go vnto my vycar to whom I haue geuen power to bynde lose c. And aske of him on my behalfe this indulgence and Pardon Twelue of S. Frances brethrē beyng in their Celles heard all these thynges but beyng stricken with feare they durst not enter into the church And anone Christ with a great multitude of Angelles departed into Heauen In the mornyng S. Frances cōmaunded his brethren that they should speake nothyng of these thynges Then went he vnto Pope Honorius and declared vnto him this vision and he obteyned the graunt of this pardon and so departed When Frances was departyng y e Pope sayd O Symple person whether goest thou What caryest thou with the for a testimony of this pardō Then blessed Frances aunswered thy word is ynough and sufficient for me if yt be the worke of God he can manifest and declare his awne worke and I desyre none other instrument but only that our Lady be the paper and Christ the notary and all the Angelles witnesses And in his iourney he tolde Freer Massey his felow the visiō and sayd brother Massey I say to the on goddes behalfe that the pardō which is graunted to me of the Pope is confirmed in heauen The Cardinalles hearyng of this graunt reproued rebuked the Pope for grauntyng to Frances so greate pardon saiyng thou wylt bryng the indulgence of blessed Peter Paul to nothing The lord Pope aunswered we haue geuen and graunted it to him yt is not expedyēt to destroye that is made But forasmuch as Frances neither of God nor yet of the Pope had appoynted any determynate day whē this pardon should begī he was again wōderfully troubled prayed that he myght se y e vision once agayn and that he myght be certefyed of Christ Wherfore on a tyme in the moneth of Iāuarij about mydnight when Blessed Frances was in prayer the deuell came vnto him sayde Frances why wylt thou dye before thy tyme why doest y u occupye thy selfe on this fassion knowest thou not that slepe is more meter for the Thou art yong and slepe shalbe thy health and I haue often tolde the how thou shouldest otherwise do thy penaunce for synnes and not so streight and sore as thou doest To what purpose doest thou bete thy self thus And blessed Frances ymedyatly put of all his clothes and his breches and striped him self stark naked and he went out of his Cel passed thorough a great rough hedge and entred into a great wyldernes whiche was very thorny so y t his body was all bloody then sayd he to him self yt is a great deale better that I should thus knowlege y e passion of our Lord Iesu Christ then obeye vnto deceitfull flatterynges And sodeynly there was in the wyldernes a great light which appered to be wōderous full of gelyfloures and Roses there was an innumerable cōpany of Angelles whiche sayd with one voyce Blessed Frances come hether quyckly The Sauyour and his Mother are in the Church and tary for the. Then blessed Frances sawe him selfe newly appareled but howe or which waye yt came to passe he could not tell And there appered vnto him a waye couered all with sylke by the which he wēt to the Church And blessed Frances tooke out of the rosary xij red roses and xij whyte and he came foorth with to the Churche and vpon the altare there he layd the roses Then he sawe our Lorde Iesu Christ standyng and oure blessed Lady his Mother on his right hand with a great multitude of Angelles And blessed Frāces spake saiyng Our most holyest Father whiche art the orderer and gouernour of heauen earth I beseche the of thy great mercy that thou wilt vouchesafe to ordeyn and appoynt the daye that the pardon whiche thou hast graunted shall take effect that thy blessed Mother the aduocatryce of mankynd will assist herunto To whome Christ aunswered I will that yt be thesame daye in the whiche blessed Peter was deliuered from his bondes begynnyng at the first euensong of thesame day and contynue to the euensong the next daye folowyng includyng the nyght and that whosoeuer cōmeth thether that day contryre confessed shalbe pardoned and forgeuen of all y e synnes that he hath done from the daye of his baptisme to the day of his entraunce into the Churche of our Lady Porcyuncule how greuous or great so euer their synnes be And blessed Frances sayde Moost holyest Father how may this be knowen to mankynde that they may beleue And our
¶ THE ALCARON of the Barefote Friers that is to say an heape or numbre of the blasphemous and trifling doctrines of the wounded Idole Saint Frances taken out of the boke of his rules called in latin Liber conformitatum A. 1550. ☟ ☞ ⊕ ☜ versicle Frances is in heauen Answer Who doubteth of that Anthem Al the world The preface THIS is to admonishe the gentle reader that if before this time thou haste not red this boke and commest ther vnto as an ignorant person that thou beware of geuing any credite or faith vnto any of the blasphemous lies and Miracles conteined herin whiche are not possible to be true they are so directly againe the moost precious holy word of god And first thou shalt vnderstaÌ„d y t there is a boke in latin entitled named Liber Couformâ—tatum That is to say the boke of the rules of the barefote Friers conteining a wagoÌ„ or cartful of fables and blasphemous doctrines againste Christ true religioÌ„ out of the whiche these few thinges herafter mencioned in this treatise is excerpted gathered â—nd euen at the first in y e praier that y e Friers make to Frances thou maiest se how horrible idolatry they commit in attributing to Frances that onely aperteineth to christe whiche is the remission of sinnes and the rewarde of euerlasting lif They apply also al the Figures of the old Testament to aperteine to Frances so they shadow and hide Christ and auance Frances farre aboue christ Of this it foloweth that Christ is but a Figure of Frances as the Turk thinketh that figured FraÌ„ces is al in all whereof springeth this heresy that Frances is the very true Messias mediatour aduocate patrone y t they cal vpoÌ„ and of him thei ask euerlasting life who hath hard greter blasphemy aÌ„d what is this but y e falsifieng denieng of the scriptures of god spokeÌ„ of his sonne Iesu christ which saith Ihon. x. I geue them euerlasting life Whatsoeuer ye ask the father in my name he wil geue it you i IhoÌ„ ii We haue an aduocate with the father whiche is Iesus christ the iust c. i. Ti. ii There is but one mediator betwene god and man euen Iesu christ c. Wherfore christiaÌ„ reader wheÌ„ thou hast wel considered these thinges weigh them as earnest matters and god graunt that we may so weigh them in hart and mind that we may detest and abhorre suche abhominacions and to cleaue fast to Christ Amen YET here resteth to be told what should moue me now at this time Friers beyng banished from hence and their wicked doynges and doctrines worthely condempned to publishe and imprint this treatise certainly two thinges first for that it was first gathered aÌ„d set furth in highe Dutche by D. M. Luther after by an other great lerned man translated out of dutche into latin likewise imprinted and set fourth after that Friers were banished in Germany And the same cause that I thinke moued them doth now likewise cause me to imprint thesame which is this after y e light knowlege of gods holy word had ther is litle perrel to bring furth false erronious doctrines for that so sone as they come vnto y e light therof they are espied iudged like as in the darke though a manne be very well furnished of weapons hable to defend himself from his enemie yet for lack of light he loseth the right vse of them for that hee may misse his enemy and hurt his frend hauing lighte and his weapons also hee defendeth himself saueth his frend and vanquisheth his enemy So now that God hathe geueÌ„ vs the light of the knowledge of his mooste holy and sacred woord hath indued vs with the weapons armor of hys holy spirite wee nede not feare the Deuel our enemye nor his doctrines but may boldly loke vpon him in the day light and ouercome confound him and al his this as a special principal thing shal we herby haue great cause to reioyse and praise god for in y t of his great merci he hath deliuered vs from y e blindnes bondage of those papistical Caterpillers that we may now laugh to scorn such folish and filthy doctrine as in the time of ignorance we beleued and worshiped for truth An other cause is this that I se a great nuÌ„bre which rather delite in lies vanities and therwith to pas their time then with the liuely most fuitful worde of God And for such I thought this a mete boke that by the lies her in conteined they may confound condempne their awne ignorance whych at thys Daye by lies is and hath ben established aÌ„d that therby they may be ocasioned to desier further knolege and come to the light of gods moost holy word which euery christen man ought most ioyfully and gladly to embrace The boke speaketh Reade me as I am other wise take me not And to tel the what I am lothe I am god wot But what I am in dede now shalt thou know This I am I tell the the truth for to showe I am the rule of the barefote Friers Which learne of me to be shamelesse liers For al that is in me of lies are grounded Therefore in England I am confounded I am suche a boke plainly the to tel As of Friers is beleued before the Gospell And al suche hipocrites as Friers are in dede Beleue me better then they do their crede I am old and came not in of late I am no newe doctrine wherof diuerse prate I was first writen with S. Frances hand And confirmed by y e pope for euermore to staÌ„d I am that boke which plainly doth expres Not onely the rule of blessed Sainct Frances But also the miracles of a numbre of Friers With blasphemous tales both suÌ„dry diuers Take me as I am so iudge me I y t pray Yf thou iudge me euel theÌ„ thy iudgemeÌ„t I say Is vpright and worthy to be commended Blame me hardly for I haue offended ¶ In the beginning of the boke an Image of the wounded Idole Fraunces beyng set out the Freers make their praier therunto in this sorte Francisce Iesu typice c. O Frances the very fygure of Iesu christ And the only leder rule of y e friers obseruaÌ„t Deliuer we beseche the blessed father mooste highest The soules of thy seruauntes that to the are attendaunt From euerlasting death and paines infernal And graunt vs y e life ioyes that are eternal First leafe THe question is of Frances mekenes and where God hath placed him Answer He sitteth in the first and chefest degre in heauen and hath his seate and abiding in the highest place The ii lefe Frances onely obserued the letter of the gospel and swarued not one iote or title and onely he and his bretherne hath their rule grounded on the gospell after a spirituall maner The same leafe
lay him doune to slepe whiche was sodeinly rapt caried into heaueÌ„ where he sawe christ our Lady the other sainctes which went in processioÌ„ wise about heauen but when he sawe not S. Frances he sayd vnto the Angel that brought him thether where is Frances and al his bretherne of whome Freer Gerhard talketh somuche The angel answered Loke thou shalt se blessed Frances and what state hee hath And he loked and beholde Christ lifted vp hys right arme and out of the wound of his side came fourthe Frier Frances bearing the Baner of Christes crosse and after him folowed a greate numbre of his bretherne and sistren And immediatly the citizen was restored to his owne house and he declared all these thinges to Frier Gerhard and he gaue his goodes to the bretherne and I was made a barefote Frier The same lefe A great numbre of fishes aswel greate as small hearde the preaching of Frier Anthony euery one of them holdyng vp their heddes a litle aboue the water the greater Fishes stode in the depest places and the smal where the water was most shalowest and the meane Fisshes drue very nere to Frier Anthony And when he preached certein Fisshes putte furthe their voices â–ª and other opened their mouthes and bowed doune their heddes Afterward the Fisshes of Freer Anthony were liceÌ„ced to depart whiche beyng wonderfull ioyfull and full of playe departed The lxvii leaf Thesame Frier preached before the pope and his Cardinalles and there were presente Grecians Italians Frenchemenne Dutchemen Englishmenne and diuerse other nations And the Frier him self was a Spanyarde and euery person there vnderstode him as though he had preched to Spaniardes Then they sayd one to another is not this manne a Spaniard and how cometh it then to passe that eche of vs heareth our owne natural tounges The pope being astonyed aunswered verily this is the Arke of the testament The same leafe Thesame Frier on a time preached in a medow and christ being willing to declare the holines of him to y e people sodeinly reised a great teÌ„pest wheÌ„ y e people wold haue departed Frier Antony spake vnto them saiyng I say vnto you on y e behalfe of our lord Iesu Christ y t neuer a one of you shall receaue any hurt And when the Haile and rayne sell so sore that for the greatnes therof they were compassed as it had bene with a wall yet nere vnto the Audience came neither reine nor Haile This miracle is graueÌ„ in a stone at the entring of the church of the greater Biturcence as I receaued it of a certeine Freer The same leafe A certein person named Bonel wold not beleue that an hoste coÌ„secrated was the body of christ he sayd that his Asse did eate hostes which thing blessed frier Anthony hearing he went to masse broughte the consecrated hoste and shewed it to the Asse And straight wai the Asse kneled doune and bowed his hed and worshiped it Whiche when Bonell sawe he was â—â—â—diatly made catholike The same leafe A certain Gentil woman brought in greate loue with his preaching â—olowed him and loked not to her household For the whiche her Husband blamed her Then she went vp into the toppe of her House where She hearde Frier Anthony preache euen aswell as though she had bene in the churche And wheÌ„ her husband asked her what she made somuche there She said I heare the preaching of blessed Anthony He saide shee was mad â—nd woulde not beleue vntill suche time as he wente vp himself and heard him the which Miracle made him euer 〈◊〉 go to the preachinge of blessed Anthony The same leafe When frier Anthony preached on a time of wine that was sente to him and his bretherne a certein woman sodeinly moued ran home thinking to bring him better wine then any was broughte before she made so greate haste that she forgate to stop the vessel and she brought the Spicket in her hand And when she stode before him with the wine she loked to her hand espied y e spicket immediatley She ranne home and found all the Celler ful of Wine but trusting in y e merites of blessed Anthony she put the spiker in to the vessell sodenly the vessell was so ful of wine y t it raÌ„ne ouer Thesame leafe A certein man as he was confessing his sinnes to blessed Anthony so lamented that he coulde not for weping speake one word wherefore Freer Anthony commaunded him to write his sinnes and so he did but by the merites of blessed Frier Anthony and his earneste and harty contricion he found the writing all wiped out The .lxviii. leafe Certeine heriticques desired Frier Anthony to diner and they saide vnto him the Gospell commaundeth that thou shouldest eate of all suche thinges as are set before the they set before him a foule greate tode whiche blessed Anthony seing he made ouer the toade the signe of the crosse it was conuerted into a Rosted Capon The lxix leafe Frier Peter often times fasted S Mighelles euen And on a time S. Michaell appered vnto him saiyng freer Peter thou hast faithfully laboured for me and hast put thy self to great peines Beholde therefore I am come to confort the and aske of me what peticioÌ„ thou wilt To whom Frier Peter saide this I desier the that thou wilt obteine for me the remissioÌ„ of al my sinnes And S Mighell said Aske some other peticion for that I will easely get the. TheÌ„ Frier Peter desiring nothing els said vnto S. Michael and I for the faith and trust that thou haste in me will procure many thankes to be geuen the. This communication betwene them dured a greate parte of the night Thesame leafe Freer Peter desired that he might knowe by reuelation whiche either of our Lady S. Ihon Euaungeliste or S. Frances did sorowe moost for the passion and suffring of Iesu Christ And wheÌ„ he had wept long our Lady S. Ihon s FraÌ„ wearing most precious garmeÌ„tes apered vnto him but yet blessed FraÌ„ces was better appareiled then Saynct Ihon. Then saide Saynct Ihon be not afraied Frier Peter behold wee are come hether to conforte the and to declare vn to the thy doubt Wherfore thou shalt vnderstande that next after our Lady and me Blessed Frances aboue all other most sorowed the death of Iesu Christ And when Freer Peter asked of the Apostle wherefore he had not on so fayr a vestiment as had S. Frances he aunswered that S. FraÌ„ces went vyler here in earth therfor is he now most precyously clothed in heauen Then S. Ihon gaue vnto Freer Peter a goodly garment which when he would haue put vpon him he fell doune as one astonnyed cryed Freer Conrade Freer Conrade come and helpe me thou shalt se wonders and ymmediatly Freer Conrade came vnto him and he declared to him all thynges The lxx leafe Freer Suffian when he was sycke would receaue no medecyn of any Carnall Physician for he
streight and narow aboue whiche stode in the myddes of a greate sea and an hundred tymes in the daye and asmany tymes in the nyght he bowed him selfe so long tyll the nomber of bowynges whiche he had omytted was fulfilled And he sayde that thesame bowyng was to him wōderous peynfull for he thought euer that he should haue fallen into the botome of the sea The C. vii leafe Oure blessed Lady appered vnto a certeyn Barefoote Freer with saynct Peter and a greate nombre of other sayntes saiyng let vs go to Antioche for the soule of a brother of thyne order whiche to morow about the third houre of the daye shall departe from the bodye and we will receaue him I omyt many suche as this is and truly the blessed virgin and the deuell were wonderfully troubled with Fryers The C. xii leafe S. Frances called a wolfe his brother for ther was a certeyn mad and outragious wolfe dyd hurte many in the citee but Saynct Frances makyng a crosse ouer him sayde brother wolfe thou shalt promes me that thou wilt neuer deuoure more I wyll promes the that the citezens shall norishe and fede the. And the wolfe bowyng his hed made a playne signe promes that he would so do And blessed Frances sayd to the wolfe geue me thy fayth Then the wolfe reached out his right fore fote gentely layd yt in S. Frances hand Then S. Frances sayde brother wolfe I cōmaund the in the name of our lord Iesu Christ that thou come nowe with me And he went with him Then all the citezens women merueyled Afterward s Frāces preachyng sayd vnto y e people my brother wolfe which stādeth here present before y u hath promised you his fayth and peace if so he that you wil promes him to geue him euery day sufficient foode for brother wolfe I wilbe suertye Then all with one voyce promysed to geue him sufficient foode Then S. Frances before theim all sayd to the wolfe and thou brother wolfe shalt promes to kepe coueuaunt with theim And the wolfe making low curtesy declared playnly by euydent signes that he would kepe promes agayn lifted vp his right foote Then all with one voyce showted vp to heauen The wolf lyued ii yeres neuer hurtyng any persō daily came to the gate of the cytie for his meate so departed A meruelous thyng yt was for in all this time there was neuer dogge that so muche as barked at him The C. xiii leafe S. Frances as he was preachyng a woman began to playe on a tymberell Frances cōmaunded her to peace but she would not Then S. Frances sayde thou deuell take that is thyne And ymmediatly y e wretched womā was caryed of the deuell into the ayre was nener sene after Thesame leafe A certeyn Bysshop preachyng dyd excedyngly cōmend extoll S. Frances allegyng this sentence Psal C. xlvii that God sent not suche a person as Frances was to no nacion c. After the Sermon S. Frances bowyng doune to the fete of the Bysshop sayd vnto him My Lorde Bysshop truly I saye vnto you there was neuer man in this worlde that dyd me somuche honour as this daye you haue done Thesame leafe A faire womā came to s Frances temptyng him And streight waye he stryped him selfe starke naked layed him doune vpon the burnyng coles and sayd vnto her this is my bed come lye with me Then the womā departed Thesame he dyd with another woman in the C. xiiii leafe The C. xiiii leafe S. Frances saluted the byrdes of the ayre and he called theim brethren cōmaunded theim to heare the worde of the Lorde Then the byrdes assēbled theim selues in great flockes and came to his preachyng and they stretched out their neckes and opened their throtes and were very attentife to his doctryne And after the Sermon S. Frances went thorough the myddes of theim then he gaue theim lycence to depart they fled away w t a great crye and noyes deuydyng theim selues into the iiij partes of the world signifyeng that S. Frances Rule shoulde be publisshed thorougout all the worlde The C. xix leafe Blessed Frances cōmaunded a certeyn Freer beyng of a noble stocke that he should go preache naked The Freer aunswered sayd Father what benefite shall I haue therby S. Frāces aunswered I wyll assure the of euerlastyng lyfe Then he with great ioye went foorth and preached naked The C. xx leafe A certeyn Freer beyng dead came to heauen gates knocked Then the porter sayd vnto him what arte thou that so knockest He aunswered I am a Barefoot Freer Then sayd he vnto him tary a lytle vntyll I haue spokē with S. Frances Whome when S. Frances with all his brethren sawe he sayd vnto the porter let him in for he is one of my brethrē And truly the prynt of the woundes of S. Frāces shone as a podyng in a lantern bryght as v. of the fayrest sterres in the element Thesame leafe S. Frances beyng in the wood desyred certeyn thefes to come eate with him to thentent he myght bryng theim to penaunce saiyng brethren thefes come and eate with vs for we are brethren and he conuerted theim The C. xxii leafe A certeyn Freer deliuered vnto the deuell a writyng signed with his awne blood because he should conuey a woman vnto him But thorough the merites of the blessed Masse yt came so to passe that the deuell let fall y e wrytyng in the chalyce of remyssion and pardon of synnes The same leafe Blessed S. Frances beyng tempted of a woman he stryped him self naked and ranne into the snowe and made him a wyfe and Children of snowe The C. xivii leafe When S. Frances came from Saynct Iames he was syck and desyred to eate of a lytle byrde and ymedyatly an Angell appered vnto him in the lykenes of a horsman brought with him a byrde ready dressed saiyng Thou seruaunt of God take that the Lorde hathe sent vnto the of the whiche when he had eaten he was made whole The Lxlix leafe Freer Peter doyng many myracles when he was dead S. Frāces sayd vnto him Freer Peter thou wast all the dayes of thy lyfe obedyent to me so I wyll haue the to be now thou art dead and therfor now I will not that y u shalt do any more myracles which afterward neuer dyd more miracles Consyder here I besech the sayth the booke gentle reader how dere precious gloryous Frances was with Christ whose commaundment the dead obeyed c. The heares of S. Frances beyng cast agaynst a stone wall threw yt doune Christ dyd nothyng but he dyd yt he dyd more then Christ dyd The nayles of S. Frances dyd put away tēptacions with his spyttle he restored a mayde to her syght the water that he wasshed his handes fete in raysed the dead to lyfe agayn The space of viij dayes a greshopper stode with him in oure Ladyes rome or
of the LORDE He entred into that Order and he kept the vestry and song in the Queer In the tyme of great frost and Snowe he went naked sauyng that he ware a payer of breches sometyme he ware a habergeon and some tyme a cote of swynes leder and some tyme a cote of Horse heare knotty and he ware next his fleshe a hoope of yron By the space of xxx yeares he drank water In Lent he dyd eate euery daye no other thyng then asmany rawe herbes as he could holde betwene his ij fyngers In iii. yeares he neuer sate neither slepyng nor wakyng except yt were at the table in the chapiter house or in the Queer God daylye came to him by the space of iij. monethes and gaue him the vnderstandyng of all scripture ¶ In the citie of Florence he preached in the myddest of the strete on a fayre day but within a lytle whyle yt reyned but yt neither touched him the pulpit nor the audience to the great wonder and meruayle of the people He was visited of all the Sayntes and our blessed Lady stoode by him a whole daye in thesame forme and maner as she was here vpon the earthe Saynt Frances with his woūdes appered vnto him and stoode a great while by him and sayd Aske of me what peticion soeuer thou wylt and I will graunte yt the. Then he desyred that he myght touche and kysse his woundes whiche S. Frances graunted him and he was woūderfully comforted Also as he was syngyng on S. Lawrence daye of his broylyng sodeynly saynct Laurence appered vnto him as he was broylyng and behelde him with a pitifull looke And when he song Salue Regina he appered agayne saiyng that gredyron is my great comfort Once as he was saiyng Masse he desyred to se Christ in thesame maner and forme that he was crucified in Then appered Christ beholdyng him with his eyes of compassion ¶ On a tyme he beyng in the wyldernes besought Christ that he woulde appere vnto him Then appered Christ vnto him iii. or iiij tymes shewyng him his backe but sayd nothyng But y e good brother seased not wepyng vntill suche tyme as Christ turned his face to him and stretched out his handes as the Priest doth when he is at Masse Then he fell doune at the fete of Christ whiche he put foorth for him to kisse whiche he wasshed with the teares of his eies like an other Mary Magdalene and at the last Chist offered him his handes to kisse And Freer Ihon rising came to the brest of Christe and embraced him and Christe kissed him but after y t he preached most profound diuinitie his hart burned an C. times more then if it had bene in a burning Fornace and for extreme heat he was forced to crie out and make exclamations He was once rapte of God aboue al creatures and his soule was swalowed vp in the depenes of diuinitie and was buried in the Sea of infinite knowlege of the godhed insomuch that nothing created nothing made nor imagined nothing thoughte nor comprehended whiche either hart could think or tonge coulde speake but it was knowen and reueled vnto him so that his soul was ouerwhelmed as is a drop of wine in the sea and he saw nothing but god in all thinges and aboue all thinges and without al thinges and there he sawe iii. persones in one godhed c and thus beyng in his meditacion in wailing and weping he came to the euerlasting glory Thesame lefe Thesame Frier receiued once within the Octauas of the Assūption of our Lady such a swetnes and confort that because he wold not be harde of his bretherne he went into a woode to powre out the greate ioyes that was in his hart and as he cried out for gret greate ioy hee thoughte vpon the wordes of consecration Hoc est corpus meum And immediatly he sawe in a great Light Christe with the blessed Virgin his mother and being replenished with Wonderfull Ioye he returned and went to Masse and when he had said the preface and Qui pridie and came to the wordes of cōsecration often times he said Hoc est Hoc est but he was not able to expresse any more Wherefore the Wardeyne of the Frires and another of his Bretherne began to helpe him but he sodeinly sayeng Corpus meum imediatly apered to him our Lorde Iesus Christe shewinge him his greate humilitie whiche offred him self to be incarnate and causeth himself daily to come into y e handes of the priest When he beheld the presence of the Lorde his hart melted as waxe and fel back warde but he was staied of the Wardeine and his bretherne and as one dead they caried him into the Vestry and his body was as cold as Yse and so he laye as one departed from the morninge vntill it was none so that he coulde not make an end of Masse These thinges did he declare vnto a certain brother in whome he put greate confidence ¶ At another time as he was ministring at Masse Christe apered to him with a goodly fayre Bearde clothed in a precious Red Garmente and he was certified that god was so pleased for that masse y e he wold remit y e sinnes of all the world but specially those which were recommended in the same Masse The .lxvi. lefe Freer Ihon saiyng Masse for the dead euē whē he was lifting vp the sacrament whiche he offered vnto god the father for the soules of them that wer deceased hee sawe an infinite noumbre of soules comming out of purgatory as it had bene a noumbre of sparkes that fly out of a burning fornace so assended into heauen through the merites of Christe whiche is daily offered vp in sacrifice bothe for the quycke and dead Thesame leafe Thesame Frier in the mount of Aluerne praiyng saw all the ayer and yerth full of deuelles Whiche toke his staffe and bett them and they fled frō the moūtaine Thesame leafe This Frier in the feast of the purification of our Lady beyng vexed with the Ague deceassed on Sayncte Lawrence euen Thesame leafe Freer Iames Barletan to whome Christe appering in the Wildernesse declared the remission of sinnes whiche for euer he had obteined In signe and token wherof Christ put the sayde Friers handes betwene his handes for whose reuerence the Frier washed not his handes of long time so long he felt of his handes a Merueilous swete sauour But at a certeine time two other Friers meting with him desired him to eate with them he forgetting him selfe washed his hādes after that he neuer smelled the swete sauour for the whiche he wept and lamented all the dayes of his life The .lxvi. leafe Frier Gerharde being a great Preacher once on Sainct Frances daye he preached very much in the praise and commendacion of s Frances A certein citizē hearing him so much speke of S. Frāces was angry in hys minde therfore departed out of y e church went home to