citty of Damiata the seruaÌ„t of God chaÌ„ced to be there not armed with weapons but with firmenesse of faith Vpon the very day therfore when the Christians were readie prepared to make the assault the servaunt of Christe vnderstanding so much did fetch a most deepe hartie sight and therewithall said vnto his coÌ„panion Our Lord hath shewen vnto me that if the battell be vndertaken it shall not prosperously succeede vnto the Christians But if I shall discover the same I shal be reputed a foole and if I shall conceale it I shall not escape the grudge of myne owne conscience What doe you therfore aduise to be donne in this case Vnto whom his companion answeared saying Brother let it be of no moment vnto you to be censured by the mouths of men for you doe not nowe beginne to be reputed a foole Discharge therefore your coÌ„science feare God more than meÌ„ Vpon the hearing of which wordes out stepped the prophette applying to the Christians his behouefull admonitions he did forbidde them the conflict and denounced the euent But the truth was taken for a fable they hardened their harts would not returne See therefore They did indeed encounter together and ioyne in battell but all the Christian forces were put to flight and the army was beaten back with much dishonor and without triumphe And in such degree was the number of the Christians diminished which the greatnesse of the slaughter that about sixe thowsand personnes were slaine and taken Wherein it did euidently appeare that the wisedome of the poore man was not to be despised considering that The soule of the iust man shall sometimes discouer the truth more than seauen sentinells Eccl. 37.18 sitting on high to keepe the watche Another time also after his returne from beyond the Seas he came to preache at Celanum and euen then a certaine souldier did with great devotion and much instancy invite him to dinner Whervnto the holy man assenting did accordingly come vnto the souldiers house all the whole familie Behold the custome of Christians to pray before then eate not a litle reioycinge the entrance of those poore guests But before the company beganne to eate the devoute holy man Saint Francis according to his wonted manner stoode offering his prayers and praises vnto God with his eies lifted vp to heauen And when his prayer was donne he familiarely called aside his curteous Hoste and spake in this wise vnto him Loe nowe brother Hoste at the instancie of your earnest requests I haue entred into your house to eate with you Wherefore agree nowe I pray you vnto my councell and advise for heare you shall not eate but in another place Confesse forthwith your sinnes with the perfect contrition of true repentaunce If Sacramentall confession had not beene necessarie according to the precept of God and in vse amongst the ancieÌ„t Fathers S. Francis had not commaunded it to be performed of a man now ready to day and let nothing remaine within you so secret but that you discover it with true and sincere Confession Because our Lorde will this day rewarde you for the great devotion wherwith you haue receaved his poore servants The soldier forthwith conformed himselfe vnto the holy mans adviseâ— and vnto one of his companions discovering all his sinnes in humble Confession he disposed of his house and withall his best endevours prepared himselfe to die But at the length they sate them downe at the Table and when the rest beganne to eate sodeinely the hoste himselfe gaue vp the Gost being taken away with sode in death according to the worde of the man of God And so it came to passe by the meritte of Hospitality that the devoute souldier Receauing a Prophette did according to the word of truth receaue the reward of a Prophette while he giving creditt vnto the propheticall forewarning of the holy man did provide himselfe against the sodeine assault of death that being armed with the weapons of pennance he might escape endlesse damnation and might enter into the eternall tabernacles One time when the holy men lay sicke at Reate a certaine Prebend named Gedeon a loose wordly man keeping his bedde vpon occasion of a sore and grievouse infirmity being brought neverthelesse vnto him did with teares aswell by himselfe as by the standers by instantly requeste him with the signe of the holy Crosse Vnto whom blested Saint Francis in this wise replied considering that your life hath hither to binne according to the desires of the flesh without feare of Gods iustice and judgments how may I make the signe of the Crosse vpon you But yet for the devout desires of your frends I do signe you with the signe of the Crosse in the name of our Lord. But know this for certaine that if being delivered from this infirmity you shall afterwardes returne vnto your wonted evil life againe you shal beâ—ure to suffer farre more grievous punnishments for in regarde of the sinne of ingratitude S. Francis making the signe of the Crosse vpon a sick man he forthwith becometh whole the latter penalties are alwaies worse than the former Thus therefore the signe of the Crosse being made vpoÌ„ him he who lay but even now contracted before them did forth with rise vp perfectly well recovered and bursting forth into the praise of God I am saith he even now delivered And the very Chine bones of his back did giue a great found in the hearing of all that were present euen as though a sorte of drie sticks had binne broken by hand But within very small time after this man forgetfull of Gods benefits vnto him gaue ouer his body vnto vnchaste delights And when he was one evening at supper in a certaine Cannons house and did there lodge for all that night sodeinely the roofe of the house fell downe vpon them al. But yet so that all the rest finding meane of escape from death only this vnfortunate and wretched man was in that fall intercepted and slaine Thus therefore by the iust iudgement of God the last things of this man became worse than the former because of the vice of ingratitude and for his contempt of God whereas he ought to haue binne thankefull for the pardon he had already receaved considering that a crime renewed is a double offence Another time also a certaine noble and very devout woman came vnto this holy Saint aswel to explicate vnto him her sorrowe and griefe as also for the same to require a remedy For she had a very cruel husband who also was adverse vnto her in the service of Christ And therefore shee requested the holy man to pray for him that God of his clemency would vouchsafe to mollifie his hart But he vnderstanding her case gaue answere vnto her saying Go your wais home in peace without doubt or dreade expect forthwith to finde comfort at your husbands hands Heere we may see that euer Married people may by the grace
in councelling him to take away dispose the right and interest of an other man So they departed from the place and hastened onward to proceed in their iourney But the brother could not yet be quiet suffering him selfe to be deluded by a vayne Pretext of piety wherby he molested the man of God as though he had no care of the necessary releiuing of the wants of the poore At the length therefore the humble man assented to returne to the place how beit not to satisfie the wil of the brother but the rather to discouer the fraude deceite of the diuell Wherfore he rerurned to the purse together with the brother another yong man that was in the way And after praier devoutly made he commaunded the brother to take it vp Who being then amazed and trembling also for feare did at length beginne to discerne that divellish monster yet nevertheles in regard of the commaundement of holy obedience driving away all doubtfullnesse of minde he stretched our his hand to the purse And behold a great Scrpent iffueing out of the purse and together therewithall instantly vanishing away manifestly detected vnto the brother the diuells fraude and deceipt The holy man therefore having thus discovered the Crafte of the subtill enemy gaue therevpon this caution to his companion saying Mony O my brother is vnto the servants of God none other thing than the diuell or an adder full of poison After this there happened vnto the holy man a wonderfull matter as he went a long in his way vpon vrgent occasion towards the citty of Sienna For it so fell out that in a certaine great and large plaine betweene Campilium and S. Quiricus there mett him three poore women altogether a like in stature age and countenance presenting vnto him a new vnvsuall manner of salutation saying VVell meette Lady Pouertie Vpon the hearing wherof he being indeede a most absolute louer of povertie was there withall replenished with a singular and vnspeakeable consolation as hauing nothing in himselfe whereby he would so willingly have binne saluted as by that name of pouertie which they voluntarily freely applied vnto him But they also sodeinely disappearing out of sight and the brethren in company with the holy man there vpon considering aswell their wonderful likenesse resemblance the strangenesse of their salutation and meeting as lastly of their vanishing disappearing did by good reasoÌ„ iudg discerne that some misticall thing was thereby designed concerning the holy man And verely it seemed indeed that by those three poore women appearing vnto him so like in countenance saluting him so strangely and vanishing away so sodeinly it was conveniently enough declared that the eminent beauty of Euangelicall perfection did in an equall degree in that holy man of God shine cast forth her gloriouse beames whether in respect of chastity or of obedience or els of poverty though he rather chose to glory in the priviledge of Poverty which somtime he was wonte to call his mother sometime his spouse and sometime his lady and mistresse In this verâ—â—e he desired to exceede all others for so much as by the â—ame he had learned to repute himselfe inferiour to all men And therefore if at any time he saw any man to be poorer than himselfe he presently then rebuking himselfe was incirred therby vnto the like striuing as it were by emulation of poverty and fearing to be by any overcome theirn For it happened that meeting a poore man in the way and beholding his nakednesse to be very greathe conceaved much compassion therof in his harâ—e and with lamentable voice vnto his companion saied The poverty of this man my brothet hath giuen great causâ— of shame vnto vs considering that we haue for great riches made choice of poverty and behold it appeareth now more in him This devour seruant of Almighty God for the loue with he bare vnto holy poverty did much more willingly make vse of the Almes which he be god from doore to doore thaÌ„ of those which were offered freely vnto him For if he were at my time invited by great persones at whose tables he were to be honored with more aboundant fareâ— he was ever accustomed before hand to begge some fragments of bread at the next neighbours houses so being first inriched which povertie he afterwardes sate downe at the table And having doÌ„ne the like one day when he was invited by the Byshop of Hostia who bare an especiall loue and affection vnto the poore servant of Christ the Byshop then complaining that he did derogate much from his honor who being to eate in his house would before hand go begge for Almes the servant of God made answeare saying My Lord I haue exhibited great honor vnto you meane while that I haue honored a Lord far greater than you for our Lord God is well pleased in poverty and in that especially which is voluntary begging for Christ This regall dignity which our Lord Iesus being made poore hath voutsafed for vs to asume to the inteÌ„t that by his poverty he might inrich vs and might make vs being poore in spirite to be Kings and Coheires of his heavenly Kingdome this I say I will in no wise relinquish for any fee of deceitfull riches which are graunted vnto vs but for an houers contineuance Sometimes exhorting his brethren to goe beg for Almes he vsed these wordes vnto them Goe your waies now saith he for so much as in this last howre the Friers Minors are lent vnto the worlde to the ende that in them the elect may fulfill that worke of piety for the which they may be by the iudge commended at what time as they shall heare that most sweete and confortable saieng Math. 25.40 As long as you did it to one of these my least brethren you did it to me And therefore he said it was a delightfull thing to begge vnder the title of the Friers Minors whom the Maister of Evangelicall truth hath with his owne mouth in the reward of the iust so directly signified Vppon principall feasts also when opportunity would serue he vsed to begg saying that in the holy poore that word of the Prophet was accomplished Man hath eaten the bread of Angells Psalm 72.25 For that bread he said vndoubtedly to be the bread of Angels which being asked for the loue of God and being by the holy suggestion of the blessed Angells for charitie towards him bestowed is so by holy poverty gathered and collected from doore to doore WhervpoÌ„ it be falling him to abide vpon an Easter day in a certaine Hermitage which was so farre from the company of men that conveniently he could not begge he then calling himself to minde of him who appeared the same day in the forme of a straÌ„ger vnto his Disciples as they went vnto Emaus Luc. 24.1 demaunded Almes therefore of his brethren as a poore man and a stranger Which when he had with humility receaved he
know reverence there god which miserable beretickes refuse to do was elevated amidst the solemnities of the MASSE she also then did bend her knees as if that she poore reverent beast accused the vndevoure of theire irreverence and invited the devoute servantes of Christ vnto a further adoration of this most holy Sacrament And one time he chanced for reverence of that most milde lambe of God to haue in the cittie with him alitle lambe which he committed to the custodie of a noble Matrone called Madame lacoba de septem sotiis to be by her norished in her closette but the lambe being instructed as it were by the Saints in spirituall thinges did alwaies with inseperable diligence attend vpon her as she wente to the Church all the time she remained there when she returned from thence If it were long in the morning before she rose the lambe rising vp seemed to force her as it were with his hornes and with bleating voice to incite her admonishing her aswell by gesture as by signes to make hast to the Church Wherfore this lambe the scholer of holy S. Francis being now become a Maister of devotion was by this noble woman kept as worthy to be both loved and admired At Graecium also vpon a time a certaine yong leveret was given aliue vnto the servant of God which being set free vpon the ground whereas it might haue gone which way it wonlde yet being by the good father called vnto him it came forthwith running leaping into his bosome making much of it therefore with great affection he seemed to haue compassion thereof as a mother hath towardes her childe and warning it with swete wordes not againe to let it self be taken gaue it free leaue to departe But being put oftentimes vpon the ground and returning alwaies into the fathers bosome againe as if it had some secrete feling of the inwarde pietie of his loving harte at length by the fathers commaundement it was brought by the bretheren vnto some safer parts of the desert In like maner also in the I le of the Lake of Perusium aliue cunnie was taken and brought to the man of God which though it thought to escape from all others besides yet into his handes and bosome it committed it selfe with a domesticall kinde of securitie So also as he passed once to the desert of Graecium along by the Lake of Reate a certain fisherman of speciall devotion presented a river foule vnto him after gratefull acceptaunce whereof with opened handes he gaue it way to departe though neverthelesse the foule remained with him whervpon he lifteing vp his eies remained long in praier and returning a long hower after vnto himselfe againe as it were from another world he sweetely the secōd time commaunded the birde to departe and praise our Lord. After licence therefore with his blessing receaved and pretending also a certaine kind of ioye as by the gesture of her body appeared she tooke her flight away In the same lake also was brought vnto him a great sishe aliue which he saluting as his custome was by the name of brother did forth with returne it againe into the water neere to the sheepe But the fishe plaieng in the watter before the man of God as being in a manner allured with his loue would in no wise departe from the shippe but vpon his licence benediction formerlie obtained And yet also another time walkeng with one of the brethren nigh vnto the Marshelandes of Venice he found a great multitude of birdes sitting and singing in the Thicket Vpon sight whereof he saied to his companions Our Sisters the birdes doe praise their creatour let vs therefore goe into the middest among them and there let vs sing our praises and Canonicall houers to our Lord. And being entred into the verv middest of them all the birdes never stirred out of theire places and for because in respect of their chirping noise the holy men and his brother could not heare one another in saieng their houres he therfore turning himselfe to the birdes spake thus vnto them ye birds my sisters leaue of your singing vntill we may haue performed the due praises we owe to God The birdes presently surceased all manner of noise and continewed all that while in silence vntill the said houres and praises being leisurely performed they were licensed by the Saint of God to sing againe But so soone as the man of God had giuen this licencevnto them they presently betooke themselues to theire former singing So also at s. Maria de Portiuneula a certain Grashopper fitting singing vpō a figg tree nigh vnto the Cell of this holy man and having with her frequent voice incited the Seruant of God to divine praises who even in small thinges had learnt to admire the magnificence of the Almighty Creatour he called her one day vnto him at what time shee as being therevnto from heaven instructed came flieng by and by vpon his hand To whome when he had said Sing my sister Grashopper and with thy chirping voice praise thy Lord and Creator she obeieng without any stay beganne to sing never ceasing vntill by the commaundement of the Father she flewe backe againe to her vsuall place of abiding But there this Grashopper remained eight daies together day by day comming singing and departing according to the Fathers commaundement Wherevpon at length the man of God saied to his companions Let vs now licence our Sister Grashopper to depart for she hath now sufficiently delighted vs with her singing having for eight daies space together stirred vp our mindes therewithall to the praise of Almighty God And presently vppon leaue obtained the Grashopper depared from him not comming any more to that place as in noe wife daring to transgresse his commaundement As once he lay sicke at Sienna a certaine noble man sent him a liue Pheasent Cock which had binne newly taken this Cock had no soner seene and heard the holy man but that he adheared vnto him with so great a lovingnesse that he would by no meanes suffer himselfe to be disioined from him For being oftentimes put out of the brothers harbour into a certaine vineyarde by to the ende that if he would he might departe he swiftely alwaies returned vnto the father againe as if he had all his time bin by him brought vp and nourished But being at length bestowed vpon a certain man who was accustomed out of devotion to visite the servant of God the pheasant as if it had binne grievouse vnto him to be absented from the good Fathers sight refused to take any manner of meat Whereas afterwardes being returned to the servāt of God he eare his meate very greedily by outward gesture discovering his inward ioy When he came to the desert of Aluerna to celebrate the Lent which he observed in honor of S. Michael the Archangel divers sortes of birdes came flieng about his Cell who reioicing as it were at his comming did with their pleasant
of God liue chaste yâ— we find many Saints to haue liued in this sorre And this moreover he adioyned you shall say vnto him on the part of God and me that now is the time of Clemency and afterwards of equity The woman having receaved his blessing forthwith returned and finding her husband denounced those words vnto him And loe the holy Ghost immediately did fall vpon him who making him of the olde man to become a new did also worke in him with mildenesse of hart in this manner of wise to make answere vnto her Lady let vs attend to the service of our Lord and let vs indevour our selues to saue our foules So that at the perswasion of his holy wife they both living togeather for many yeares a fingle life did also both of them vpon one same day happily departe vnto our Lord. And wounderfull doubtlesse was the efficacy of Propheticall spiritte which did abounde in this holy man or God wherby he restored strength vnto withered members and imprinted piety in stony harrs albeit that no lesse wounderfull was the cleare perspicacity of the same spiritte whereby he did in such wise foreknowe the finall event of things to come that he did searche even into the secrett thoughts of mens hartes as another Elizeus having obtained the double spiritte of Elias For having foretolde vnto one of his familiar friends at Sienna some certaine things which were finally to be fall vnto him and being also in way of doubt demaunded by that learned man whom I haue already mentioned to haue had sometime conference with him concerning the Scriptures whether he had foretold those thinges which he had heard by the relation of the man to whom he fortold them he not only affirmed himself to haue reported those words inded but did also prophetically forwarne him of his owne end that had curiously enquired of another mans And to the end he might the more certainely imprinte the same in his minde he did by no lesse wonderfull revelation vnfolde than by most wholsome Concell resolue a certaine secrette scruple of his conscience which he the foresaid learned man had never discovered to any man aliue For confirmation of all which things it came to passe that the same religiouse man did so finally make his ende even as the servant of Christ had foretolde him At such time also as he once returned from beyond the Seas having then in company with him brother Leonard of Assisium it chaunced that he being much wearied and overlaboured did for some â—iâ—le while ride vpon an Asse But the brother following meane while a foote and beinge himselfe also not a litle wearie beganne out of some kinde of humane passion to say thus within himselfe His parents and minde plaied not at like game But see he rideth and I a footeman leade his Asse And euen as he was then thinking the foresaid words the holy man forthwith alighted from the Asse and said vnto him It is not meete brother that I should ride and you goe a foote because you haue binne more noble and of greater power in the world than I Hearevpon the brother being forthwith amazed and blushing therat for shame and also acknowledging himselfe to be taken in a fault did fal downe at the fecte of the holy man and with abondance of â—â—ares manifested the naked truthe of his thought humbly craved pardon for the same A cortaine brother very devout vnto God and to his blessed servant of Christe did frequentely revolue this thought in his minde that he should be worthy of Gods good favour whom this holy â—an did embrace with a familiar and in ward affection and that he whom he reputed as a straunges vnto him should be by God reputed out of â—â—â—â—umber of his elect And being therefore ofâ—â—â—â—mes troubled with the violence of this cogiâ—ation he did very vehemently desire the familiarity of the man of God but yet not having revealed vnto any man the secret of his heart the loving good Father called him did sweetly speake in this manner vnto him My sonne let no cogitation trouble you for accompting you as most deare among my beloved I do willingly bestowe vpon you the gifte of my loue and familiaritie The brother marveiling herevpon and of one already very devout yet new becomming muche more devoute did not only encrease in loue towards the holy man but being endewed with the grace of the holy-Ghost was plentifully enriched with farre greater gifts But During the time that he once remained solitarie in his Cell vpon the mounte of Alverna one of his companions did exceedingly desire to haue some parcell of our Lord his words briefly written with his hand For he made accounte thereby to escape or at least wise more casely to beare a very grievous tentation not of the flesh but of the spiritte wherwith he was sorely troubled And languishing with this desire he was not a litle molested in minde for that be durst not through shamefastenesâ—e to open the matter vnto the reverent father But to whome no man did declare it the spiritte of God did vouchsafe to reveale it For he willed the foresaid brother to bring him inck and paper and according vnto his desire he wrote therein with his owne hand the praises of our Lord and last of all concluded the same with his benediction saicing vnto him Take vnto you this litle piece of paper and keep the same diligently to the very day of your death The brother gladly receved this much desired gift and all the former tentation forthwith departed The writing also was carrefully reserved And whereas afterwardes marveilouse effects by it were wrought it was a testimony of the vertues of holy Saint Francis There was a brother who outwardly seemed to be of great holinesse and of very excellent coÌ„versation but was yet indeede very singuler For attending evermore vnto praier he did so exactly observe continuall silence that he was accustomed to make his confession not by wordes but by signes But it fortuned one time that the holy Father came vnto the place to see this brother to conferre with the rest of the brethren about him At what time they all commending him magnifieng him very much The man of God replied vpon them Beware my brethren doe not extoll vnto me in him the Divels counterfeiting For know in very truth that it is a diuelish tentation and a fraudulent decoite The brethren did but hardly accepâ— of this iudgement as holding it impossible that the false flourishes of fraude and deceâ—t should colour themselues with such notable signes of good perfection But it was not many daies after that he went out of religion whereby it evidently appeared with what an excellent clearnesse of internall sight the man of God had beholden the secreas of his harte And in like manner with infallible truth foretelling the cuine and fall of many that seemed to stand as also the conversion of many to Christ that were
for our salvation And cōsidering that we ought to doe all things according to the patterne of those things which we see in him as it were vpon a hight and loftie hill it seemeth more pleasing to God that intermitting the course of rest I should goe for the vnto labour And hauing in this manner conferred with his brethrene for many daies together he could not certainely discerne whether of these courses was rather to be taken as being indeed more truly acceptable vnto Christe For though by the spiritte of prophecye he did knowe wonderfull things yet of himself he was not able clearely to resolve this question the singular providence of God in 〈◊〉 manner of wise disposing that both the meritte of preaching should be manifested by an Oracle from above and that the humility of the servante of christ should also be preserued This true Minor who had learnt great things of the most excellent Maister was not ashamed to aske litle things of them that were indeed lesser than himself For he was alwaies accustomed with especiall diligence to enquire by what way and by what manner of meane he might more perfectly serve God according vnto his good will and pleasure This was his chiefest philosophy this was his chiefest desire so long as he lived to learne of the wise and of the simple of the perfect and of the vnperfect of litle ones and of aged persons how he might be able more efficaciously to aspire vnto the very topp of perfection Calling therfore vnto him two of his brethren he sent them to brother Siluester who had before time seene the Crosse issueing forth of his mouth did even nowe continually attend vnto prayer vpō the hill aboue Assisium requiring him to seeke Gods diuine answeare concerning this doubt and accordingly to send word vnto him In like māner also he gave in charge to the holy virgin S. Clare that by someone of the purest and simplest virgins living vnder her discipline she her self also praying with the rest of her Sisters should vpon this pointe desire to knowe the will of our Lord. And marveilously doubtlesse by the revelation of Gods heavenly spiritte did this venerable Preist and the consecrated virgin agree in one namely that it was the blessed will and pleasure of God that the messenger of Christe should goe forthe to preache And so accordingly the holy man hauing at the returne of the brethren by them receaved the will of our Lord in suche wise as had binne related vnto them did forth with addresse himself and without any manner of delay did vndertake his iorney But with so great a fervour they went to accomplishe Gods diuine commandement yea and so speedily did he runne a long as if the hand of our Lorde beinge newly made vpon him he had euen then put on a newe vertue from heauen And as he did in this sorte drawe night to Beuanium he came vnto a certaine place wherein was assembled an exceeding greate multitude of birdes of diuers sorts Which when the holy man of God had espied he ranne chearefully vnto the place and did also salute them as if they had binne partakers of reason But as they stoode all expecting and turning themselues vnto him so that those which were euen in the low shrubes bowing downe their heads as he approached vnto them did afteran vnwonted manner looke and gaze vpon him he came euen very close vnto them and seriously admonished them all to heare the worde of God Saying yea birdes my brethrene you are much bounde to praise your creator whoe hath clothed you with feathers hath given you wings to flie who hath graunted vnto you the purity of the aire and doth governe you without your owne care and trouble And when he had spoken to this and the like effect the litle birdes after a marveilouse manner reioycing beganne to stretch out their neckes to spread abroad ther wings to open their bills and to looke attentively vpon him But he passing through the middest of them with a wonderfull fervour of spiritte although he touched them with his coate yet did not one of them all stirre forth of the place vntill such time as the man of God hauing made the signe of the Crosse vpon them and giuen them leaue to departe with his benediction also receiued they all flewe away together All these things were seene of his companions that staied for him in the way Vnto whom the pure and simple man returning beganne for that he had not before this time preached vnto the birdes to reproue himself of an ouersighte and negligence And afterwards at he went a long preaching in the places adioyning he came to a certaine towne called Aluianum where hauing gathered the people together and silence being also enioyned he could yet scantly be heard by reason of a nūber of swallowes then building their nests and making a marvoilouse chattering noyse in the place Vnto them therfore the man of God spake in the hearing of them all Saying yea swallowes my sisters it is nowe time that I also doe speake for that you haue spoken enough already Harken nowe therfore vnto the worde of God and keepe silence vntill the same be ended But they as though they had binne capable of vnderstanding did so deinely cease their noise and moved not out of the place vntill the whole Sermon was at an end wher vpon all that were present and did beholde the same being filled with wonder and admiration did glorifie God therein The fame of this miracle being spreade abroade on every side did kindle in many the devotion of faith and a reverence also to this holy Saint For in the Cittie of PARIS a certaine scholer of good towardlinesse attending diligently vnto study among other his companiens being molested with the tedious and vnseasonable noise of a certaine swallowe beganne to say vnto those his companions This swallowe doubtlesse is one of them which troubled holy Francis the man of God one time in his Sermon vntill he had put them to silence And turning himself to the swallowe he confidently said vnto her in the name of Francis the seruante of God I commaunde thee that presently thou come vnto me and hold thy peace But shee so soone as she heard the name of Saint Francis being as it were instructed by the precepts of the man of God did both incontinently cease her noyse and did also readily committe her selfe vnto his hande as to a sure and safe custodie Whereat the scholler being muche astonished restored her forth with to libertie and heard no more of her chattering Another time also when the seruaunte of God preached at Caieta vpon the sea shore and the people thronged vpon him for very deuotion to touche him the seruant of Christe loathing so great applause of the people leaped himself 〈◊〉 into a litle sheep that was nigh to the shore side But the shippe as if it had binne some reasonable creature and had binne with an
hard triyng stroakes of distresfull infiemities he wed and squared out as a well polished stone fitte to be placed in the building of the heavenly Hierusalem and having also as a peice of forge worke vnder the hāmer of manifold tribulations binne finally brought to perfection he required himselfe to be carried to the place of our Ladie of Portiuncula that where he had receaued the spiritte of grace there might herender vp his spiritte of life And being conveied to that place to the end he might shewe by the example of truth himselfe that he held nothing in common with the world in that his infirmitie which was soe greivoufe that it contained in it selfe wellnighe all manner of diseases making himselfe all naked he did in the fervour of spiritre cast himfe 〈◊〉 downe prostrate vpon the naked ground that in that very last hower wherein the enemy had yet power to be angry he might wrastle naked with the naked hand to hand Thus having nowe disapparelled himselfe even of his poore sackcloth garment and lieing in this wise vpon the earth he lifted vp his face to heaven according to his wonted manner and intending wholy to the glory thereof he did with his seft hand cover the wounde of his right side that it might not be perceaved And he saied vnto his brethren That which is my part I haue done vnto you and that which is yours Christ vouchsafe to shewe you Whervpon the companions of this holy Sainte betaking themselves to teares as being striken with a marveilouse darte of compassion one of them whom the man of God would say to be his guardian knowing his inward desire by divine revelation rose sodeinly out of his place and taking a coate with a Corde and a paire of breeches gaue them vnto the poore servant of Christ saieing These things I doe lend vnto thee as vnto a poore man receaue them therefore as at the commaundement of holy obedience Hereat the holy man greatly reioyced and by voice of exultation discouered the gladsomnesse of his harte for that he sawe himselfe to haue preserved his faith vnto Lady Poverty nowe firme and inviolate euen to the end And lifting vp his handes to heaven he magnified his Christ for that being disburdened of all things he was nowe to goe free to him For all these things he had donne out of the zeale he bare to poverty so farre forth that he would not haue so much as an habitte but such as had binne lent vnto him by another man And certainely it was his desire to be in all thinges conformable vnto Christ crucified who did in poverty and distresse hang naked on the Crosse Wherefore he did both in the beginning of his conversion make himselfe naked before the Bishoppe and would now also in the very consummation and end of his life goe naked out of the world And to the brethren that were assisting about him he enioyned in the obedience of Charity that when they should see him to be deade they should suffer him for so long space afterwardes to lie naked vppon the grounde as one might easely goe the length of a mile O most Christian man indeed who by a perfect immitation endeavoured himselfe to be comfortable in his life time to Christe living in his deathe to Christe dieing and after his deathe to Christ also being dead and was made worthy to be with the expresse similitude thereof adorned But the very howre of his passage even now approaching he caused all the brethren that were in that place to be called vnto him and endeavouring himselfe with comfortable wordes to mittigate the griefe they conceaued for his death he did with a fatherly affection exhorte them vnto to the loue of God And of the preservation of Patience and Povertie and of the faith also of the Holy Romane Church he enlarged his speache preferring the holy Gospel before all other instructions And as his brethren satte runde about him he reached out his handes vpon them and casting his atmes overthwart in manner of the Crosle because he evermore loved that signe exceedingly he blessed all the Brethren aswel them that were present as them that were absent in the power and name of him that was crucified And furthermore also he said vnto them Fare yee well my Children all in the feare of our Lord and be permanent therein continually And because the tentation and tribulation that shal herafter be is even now at hand blessed are they who shall persever in these things which they haue already vndertaken But I make haste to go to God vnto whose grace I commend you all This sweete admonition thus concluded and ended the Blessed man most deare vnto God caused the book of the holy Gospels to be brought vnto him and required that parte of Saint Iohns Ghospell Iohn 13. Psal 141. which beginneth at these wordes Before the festivall day of Pasche to be reade vnto him But he himself as well as he could bracke forth into the rehearefall of this Psalme with my voice I haue cried out vnto our Lord with my voice I haue made my praier vnto our Lord. and bringing the Psalme to the ende the iust saith he de expect me vntill thou geue reward vnto me Thus all the misteries being nowe at length in him accomplished that most holy soule being loosed from the flesh and swallowed vppe in the vnsearcheable depth of Godes heavenly brightnesse the blessed man fel a sleep in our Lord. At what time one of his brethren and Disciples saw that blessed foule in the forme of a most glittering starre to be borne aloft vppon a pure white litle cloud so to be caried over many waters by a straight passage vp to Heaven as being by the whitenesse of a high degree of holinesse most brightly shining and being also replenished with the great plenty and aboundance of heaven ly wisedome and grace whereby the holy man deserved to enter into a place of light and peace where he remayneth at rest with Christ worlde without ende The Minister also of the brethren in the land of labour was at that time brother Augustine a man doubtlesse very holy and iuste who being even then in his last hower and having a good while before quite loest his speache did yet in the hearing of all that were present sodeinely cry out and say Expect me O Father expect me a while for behold I come even now with you The Brethren in the meane while muche marveiling and enquiring to whome he spake in suche wise he confidently saied vnto them Doe you not see our Father Francis whoe goeth nowe to Heaven And presently his holy soule partinge from his fleshe did followe the most Holy Father At that very time was the Bishoppe of Assisium gone vppon Pilgrimage to the Oratorie of Saint Michael in the Mountaine Garganus Note the words of this holy saint at his death Behold I learne this world goe to heaven to whome blessed Saint Francis appearing
raise the dead drewe all the neighbourhoode vnto lamentation with her But a certaine brother of the order of the minorites called Raho by name comming that way to preache drewe night vnto the childe and being full of faith spake thus vnto the Father doe you beleiue that the holy man of God Saint Francis is able to raise your sonne from death for the loue which he did alwaies beare towardes Christ that was crucified for the restoring of life to mankinde againe Who answearing that he did both firmely beleiue it and did also faithfully confesse it and moreover that himselfe would for euer be a devoted servaunte of that Sainte if by his merrittes he might deserue to receaue so great a benefitte at the hands of God that brother together with an other brother that was in his cōpany did prostrate himselfe in praier exhorting the rest that were present to doe the like Which when they had donne the childe beganne to gape a litle and opening his eies and lifting vp also his armes he raised vp himselfe and presently walked before them all in perfect strength being by the marveilouse power of the Sainte at one time both vnto life and healthe restored In the Citty of Capua it chaunced that a certaine boy as he was playing with other of his companions vpon the bancke of the River Vulturnus did fall vnawares into the bottome and being by the swiftenes of the streame ouerwhelmed was covered vnder the gravel thereof But at the outcrie of the rest of the children who had binne playing with him about the Riuer a great multitude of people came to the place And as all they did both humbly and devoutely invocate the merrittes of Saint Francis that beholding the faith of the parents who were vnto him much devoted he would vouchsafe to deliuer the childe from the perrill and danger of death a cunning and expert swimmer standing a good way of hearing their clamors did come vnto them who after long searche having at the lengthe called vpon Saint Francis for his helpe found a plade wherein the dead carkase of the boy was in manner of a graue overcovered with the sandie gravel which when he had digged vp and removed away he did with griefe beholde the dead body But the people that stood by albeit that they sawe the youthe to be perfectly voied of life yet neverthelesse At the invocation of Saint Frācis a boy which was dead is restored to life weeping and lamenting did crie out and saie O Saint Francis restore the childe vnto his Father Yea and the very Iewes that were present being moved with a naturall compassion did also say O Saint Francis restore the childe vnto his Father And sodeinely the boy rising vp in perfect healthe to the ioy and wonder of them all humbly desired to be ledde vnto the Church of Saint Francis that he might devoutely render thankes vnto him by whose vertue and power he knewe himselfe to haue binne marveilously reviued In the Cittie of Suessa in the streete which is called Ad Columnas a certaine house falling sodeinly downe to the grounde a yong man was therein overtaken and imediatly slaine But the rest of the men and women that were within being stirred vp at the sounde of the fall running about some one way and some another did lifte and remoue the wood and stones on euerie side and brought vnto the miserable mother her dead sonne But shee fetching store of most bitter sighes did in such manner as shee could Heere at the vowe which a woman made in honour of S. Francis if he would raise her sonne which was slaine by the ruine of an house her sonne according to her desire is raised againe to life with wofull voice crie out vnto Saint Francis saying O Saint Francis Saint Francis restore vnto me my sonne againe And not only shee but all the rest that were present did instantly crave the helpe of the blessed Father But the dead carckase having in it neither voice nor sence they put it in a bed expecting but the next day for the buriall thereof But the mother having full hope and confidence in our Lord by the merittes of his holy Sainte did make abvow that shee would cover the Aulter of blessed Saint Francis with new linnen if he would recall her sonne to life againe And beholde ancute midnighte the youthe beganne to gape and yawne and his members resuming a natural heate he rose vp a liue and wel in health bursting forth into words of praise And furthermore he incited those of the Clergie and all the people that were come to that place with gladsomnesse ioy of minde to render due praises and thankes vnto God and blessed Saint Francis In like manner one Gerlandinus by name a yong man that was borne at Regusa goeing forth to the vineyarde aboute the time of gathering grapes and standing vnder the wine presse in the vessale that receaued the wine to fil the bottles sodeinely a sorte of exceeding great stones being driven vpō on him by the fal of certaine wood piles thereaboutes did buise batter his head to presēt death whervpon his father did presently make hast vnto him dispairing of his sonne as being vtterly overthrowen lost did not goe about to help him but vnder the burden as he fel soe vnder the same he left him The labourers also of the vineyarde came running speedily vnto the place hearing a mournefull voice of a great clamour and ioyning in greate sorrowe with the Father for the youthe did drawe him out being now perfectly dead with the fall But his Father casting himselfe at the feete of Iesus did make his humble praiers vnto him that through the merittes of Saint Francis whose solemne feast was euen then at hand he would vouchsafe to restore vnto him his some againe The sonne is raised frō death to life while the Father doth vowe to visit the body of B. Saint Francis These his praiers he redoubled and vowed offices of pietie promising himselfe with his sonne if he might be raised vp from death to visite the bodie of the holy man Now see the marveilouse effect By by the youthe who had binne miserably bruised al his body over being restored to life and perfect strength did ioyfully rise vp before them all blaming them that lamented for him and therewithall avowing himselfe to haue reobtained his life by the suffrages of Saint Francis Another dead man also he raised in Almany whereof our Lord the Pope Pope Gregory did at the time of the translation of the blessed Sainte to the great ioy of all the brethren that were assembled to the translation and generall Chapter by his letters Apostolique giue certaine knowledge vnto them The course of this miracle because I doe not knowe I haue not committed to writing beleiving the Papall testimony to be better than any other instrument of asseveration whatsoeuer THE THIRD DIVISION Of such as he deliuered
a poore man that asked him almes for the loue of God he presently remembring himselfe and entring into iudgement with his owne heart did speedily runne after him bestowing his almes with much affection vpon him making furthermore euen then a promise vnto Almighty God that from thence forward so long as he should haue any thing in the worlde to giue hee would never denie to giue something to such as should begge of him for our Lords sake which he observing continually with an vnwearied zeale of devotion vnto his death was thereby made woorthie to obtaine an aboundant encrease of the favour and grace of Almighty God For he was woont to say after that he had perfectly put on Christ that even whilest he was in secular habite he felt a great motion in his heart whensoever he heard any worde expressing the loue of God Furthermore the mildnesse of his conversation together with the sweetnesse of his manners his patience and tractable behaviour more theÌ„ is ordinary in meÌ„ his liberality beyond the measure of his ability which appeared in him in his youth were tokens that God had a greater aboundance of blessing to powre vpon him It fortuned once that a very simple man of Assisium by the instruction of God as we haue good cause to thinke meeting vpon a time with Saint FRANCIS as he passed along the Citty cast off his cloake and spread the same vnder his feete affirming that he should be worthie of all manner of reverence the time beeing nowe not long vnto wherin he should performe great matters and should be of the whole worlde for that cause marveilously honored But yet altogether ignorant was S. FRANCIS at this time of Gods determination concerning him aswell beeing by the commaundement of his father distracted in externall affaires as also by naturall corruption carried away with terrestriall â—â—â—â—ters wherby he had not as yet learned to conteplate vpo the matters of Heauen nor had accustomed himselfe to taste of the sweetnesse of God And because the scourge of affliction doth oftentimes giue light to the spirituall vnderstanding the mighty hande of our Lord did come vpon him the right hand of the highest wrought a perfect change within him afflicting his body with lingring infirmities whereby the better to prepare his soule to receiue the precious inspirations and motions of the Holy Ghost But having recovered his strength and being provided of decent apparell according to his vsuall manner he chanced to meete a certaine souldiar who was in yery deede a gentleman by birth but poore and meanely apparelled whose poverty he commiserating with a syncete affection dispoiled himselfe of his own apparell and furnished the poore souldiar therewithall that so in one worke he might performe a double office of piety both in covering the shame of a gentleman souldiar in releiueing the misery of a poore distressed man In the night following when he had betaken himselfe to his naturall rest it pleased the goodnesse of God to shew vnto him a great and beautifull pallace adotned with Military weapons insigned with the Crosse of CHRIST then foreshewing vnto him that the mercy which he had extended towards the poore souldiar for the loue of the heavenly King should be recompenced with an incomparable reward Wherevpon demaunding vnto whom all those goodly things did appertaine it was aunswered to him from aboue that they should be vpon him and his souldiars freely bestowed A waking therefore in the morning and having his minde not as yet exercised in the searching of Divine mysteries neither yet knowing how by the formes of visible thinges to consider the trueth of things invisible he perswaded himselfe that this vnaccustomed vision was a fore token of some great prosperity to happen vnto him So being as yet ignorant of Gods Divine ordinance towardes him he purposed to goe into Apulia vnto a certaine Earle of great liberality hoping by service vnder him in the wars to purchase a name of honour according as the mentioned vision vnto him seemed to foretell And being shortly after entred into his iourney as he came to the next City he heard in the night time our Lord in familiar manner thus speaking vnto him FRANCIS who is able to doe better for thee the master or the servant the rich man or the poore To whom Saint FRANCIS making aunswere that the master and the rich man were better able Our Lord presently replied why therefore doest thou leaue the master for the servant and the rich God for a poore man Then Saint FRANCIS asked what wilt thou haue me O Lord to doe And our Lord said vnto him returne into thine owne country for the vision which thon hast seene doth prefigurate a spiritual effect which is to be by the disposition of God not of man accomplished in thee In the morning therefore he speedily returned backe to Assisium resting nowe full of security and ioy making himselfe a patterne of obedience did readily expect the pleasure of our Lord. From that time foreward hee with-drewe himselfe from the practise of his common trafique and devoutly besought Almighty God of his mercy that hee would voutsafe to shew vnto him what he ought to doe And when by much vse of praier the flame of Heavenly desire began aboundantly to encrease in him so that nowe for the loue of the Heavenly country hee contemned all earthely things as very nothing then did he well perceiue himselfe to haue found the hidden treasure like a well advised marchant purposed with the sale of all his marchandise to purchase this rare and pretious pearle But as yet he was ignorant how to proceed therein saving that it was to his spirit sugested that the entring into spirituall affaires is the contempt of the world and that the warfare of Christ is not otherwise to be by any man begun than by obtaining first the conquest of himselfe Riding therefore one day vpon the plaine Beholde howe his adorning the Altarâ— did please god otherwise the holy man woulde not haue done them adioyning nigh to Assisium there came in his way a certaine Leaper vpon whose sodaine aspect he coÌ„ceived in mind an especiall horror and loathing But returning to his already resolued purpose of perfection and considering that he ought of necessity first to overcome himselfe if he would become the souldiar of Christ he presently alighted downe from his horse and went to kisse him At what time the Leaper reaching fotth his hand as hoping to receiue something from him did indeed teceiue money of him and a kisse also therewithall But he being presently gotten vp vpon his horse againe and looking round about in the open field could not espie the Leaper there Being therefore replenished with admiration and ioy he began devoutly to sing praises vnto God purposing from this beginning evermore to aspire vnto greater perfections From thenceforth he began to affect solitary places Behold his pilgrimage to holy places as best fitting vnto
mourning and lamentation wherevnto with redoubled sighes he incessantly gaue ouer himselfe vntill such time that after long instance of Praier he obtained of our Lord with his inclinable eare to heare the same For one day as he was praying in a solitary place through excesse of fervour wholly in manner absorpted vp in God Christ Iesus our Lord voutsafed to appeare vnto him fast nailed as it were vpon the CROSSE At the sight wherof his soul melted within him the memory of the Passion of Christ was so efficatiously imprinted into his heart that from that houre so often as he remembred the Crncifijng of Christ he was hardly able to abstaine from sighes and teares externally bursting out vpon him as himselfe afterward familiarly reported drawing then nigh vnto his end For hereby the man of God did fulwell vnderstand that those wordes of the GOSPEL If thou wilt come after me denie thy selfe and take vp thy Crosse and followe me were directly spoken vnto himself From that time did he therfore put on vpon him the spirit of poverty a perfect sence of humility and a zealous affection of inward Piety For wheras before he could not abide the company of such as were infected with Leaprosie no not so much as to see them though distant a good way from him nowe for the loue of Christ Crucified who according to the wordes of the Prophet seemed contemptible as a Leaper that he might fully contemne himselfe he did with a godly kind of benignity even towards the Leapers performe the duties of humility and of all manner of good humanity For he visited oftentimes their houses liberally bestowing his almes among them with great affection of charitable commiseration disdained not to kisse their handes their mouthes As for poore beggars also it was his desire to bestowe vpon them not only his goodes but himselfe therewithall sometimes putting off his owne apparell sometime vnripping the same sometime for lack of other more conuenient meanes cutting it in partes to bestowe vpon thē To poore Priests also he gaue succoure with much reuerence and deuotion especially in the ornaments of the Aulter that he might both be partaker of the honour giuen vnto God might also supply the wants of such as were to exhibite the same vnto him One time visiting the Church of Saint Peter the Apostle with religious deuotion and beholding a great multitude of poore people before the doores of the Church he being then partly moued with the sweetnes of piety partly allured with the loue of pouerty gaue vnto one of the poorest of them his owne apparell and couering himselfe with the ragges of the poore man spent that whole day ioyfully in the middest of the poore with an vnwonted alacrity and ioy of spirit Thereby aswell to contemne all wordly glory as also to arise as it were by degrees and to clime vp to the top of Euangelicall perfection Very vigilant he was in mortification of the flesh that so he might externally in his body Se how the holy Father doth subdue the concupiscence of the flesh by his mortification carry about the Crosse of Christ as he did internally enermore beare the same in his hart All these things did Saint Francis the servant of God not being yet either in habite or conversation sequestred from the world THE SECOND CHAPTER Of his perfect conuersion vnto God and how he repaired three Churches BVT because the servant of the highest had no other teacher in these matters Churches were builded for to pray in Learn that to bēd ones knees vnto images to pray to those whom they do represent is a good and pious work se what a miracle Christ did worke by this his image but only Christ himselfe it pleased his merciefull goodnes yet further to visite him in the swetnes of his grace For as being one day gone forth into the feild to meditate he walked along by a Church dedicated vnto Saint Damian which was so old and ruinous that it seemed ready to fall to the ground by the instinct of Gods holy spirit he entered into the same to pray and falling prostrate before the image of Christ Crucified was in his praier replenished with a singular consolation of spirit And as he did with weeping eies beholde the Crosse of our Lord he heard with his corporall eares a voice from this same Crosse speaking thus three times vn to him Francis go and repaire my House which as thou seest is wholy destroied Saint Francis being then alone in the Church trembled not a litle thereat as being much amased at the hearing of so woonderfull a voice and feeling in his hart the efficacie of Gods heauenly worde He arose signeing himselfe with the signe of the Grosse became as it were alienated from himselfe in minde But returning afterwards to his perfect remembrance he readily prepared himself vnto obedience wholy disposing himself towards the performance of the commaundement cōcerning the repairing of the materiall Church though the more principall intētion thereof had relation vnto that Church which Christ had purchased with his owne bloud as he was afterwardes taught by the holy-Ghost and did himself reueale vnto his brethren Rising vp therefore and arming himfelf with the signe of the Crosse he tooke vnto him certaine clothes provided for sale which he speedily carried vnto the Citty of Fulligney and there selling his wares and also the horse whereon he rode the happy marchant beinge well contented departed with the price thereof in mony And so returning to Assisium he reuerētly entered the church which he was commaunded to repaire and finding a poore Priest therein after due reuerence done vnto him made offer of his mony for the reparation of the Church and towardes the releefe also of the poore making furthermore his humble sute vnto him for licence to abide with him there for a time The Priest well allowed of his aboade in the place but misdoubting his parents assent for the mony vtterly refused to accept thereof which neuerthelesse the true contemner of mony casting into one of the windowes esteemed it no better than pelfe and dust Now whilest the seruant of God was thus abiding with the forementioned Priest as soone as his Father got knowledg thereof he as one much perplexed in minde rūne with great hast and speed to the place But Francis being as yet but a yong soldier in the armie of Christ when as he hearde the threatenings of them that did perfecute him and did also perceiue their comming at hand being then desirous to giue place to the force of their sury betooke himselfe to a secret Caue whearein closely concealing himself for a few daies he incessantly besought our Lord with aboundance of teares that he would vouchsafe to deliver his soule from his persecutors handes and that the good purposes which he had inspired into his hart he would also vouchsafe to bring to a finall end and accomplishement being
bearing liuely resemblance of the KING his Father and in that respect very worthy to be nourished at the KINGES owne table this also by way of interpretation hee therevnto adioyned Wee haue no cause to feare that the Sonnes and heires of the Eternall KING shall perishe and die for hunger who beeing borne of a poore Mother by the power of the HOLIE GHOST to the image of CHRIST their KING are also to bee gotten vnto him in a poore religion by the spirite of povertie For if the KING of HEAVEN doe promise an eternall Kingdome to them that followe him howe much more will hee provide them of things of necessity which he giveth indifferently not only to the good but also to the wicked This parable and the meaning thereof when the Vicar of Christ had diligeÌ„tly heard observed he mary vailed greatly thereat knew for certain that it was vndoubtedly Christ himselfe who covertly spake in the man And moreover also he avowed by the instinct of Gods heavenly spirit that a certaine vision also which he had about this time receyued from heaven should be in this man accoÌ„plished For he had seene in his sleepe as himselfe reported the Church of Laterane to be in present danger now forthwith to fall to the grounde the which a certain poore maÌ„ of mean stature conteÌ„ptible to behold putting his own back vnder it did so preserue froÌ„ falling Whervpon he thus pronovnced verely this is he who by his worke doctrine shall vphold the Church of Christ Then this prudeÌ„t Pastor being wholy fraught with devotion inclined himself in every degree to the desires of the servant of Christ bare evermore vnto him a speciall loue affection Wherfore he graunted his request promised to graunt yet more vnto him he approued his Rule he gaue him in Charge to vndertake the preaching of pennance for all the lay brethreÌ„ to that were associate the servaÌ„t of Christ he caused them to haue litle crownes made that they might freely preach the word of God THE FOVRTH CHAPTER Of the increase of the Order vnder his hand and of the coÌ„firmation of the Rule formerly approued THE holy man Saint Francis now thus supported with Gods grace and Papall authority did with much confidence of minde take his way to the vale of Spoletum that he might as well by deed as by worde denounce the Gospel of Christ But as he debated wâ—ih his companions in the way by what meanes they might in all sincerity obserue the Rule by them newly vndertaken and how they might in all manner of holinesse and iustice walke before the face of God and further yet how they might not only arise to greater profit in themselues but might also be an example and guide vnto others by long protracting this manner of conference the time sodeinely ouerpassed vnawares And they being now much wearied with the long continewance of their travel and hungry also therwithall were inforced to stay in a certaine solitary place of the desert At which very time and place they haivng no kind of meanes to provide theÌ„selues of necessary food then did the providence of God manifest it self in their behalf For sodeinely a man appeared vnto them bringing bread in his hand which he gaue vnto the poore ones of Christ and forth disappeared being altogether vnknowene from whence he came or whether he went Here by the poore brethren perceyving that in the company of the man of God they where assisted with the help of Gods heavenly protection were better refreshed by the gift of this divine liberality then by the refection of their emptie bodies And morover they were so singularly replenished with the coÌ„solation of God that they firmely purposed and irrevocably decreed neuer for any violence either of hunger or tribulation to faile from the promise of holie pouertie After this returning with this holie purpose into the vale of Spoletum they beganne to dispute among themselues whether it were more expedient for theÌ„ to converse among men or to betake theÌ„selues vnto solitarie places But the seruant of Christ S. Francis not presuming vpon the industrie either of himselfe or of his bretheren determined by instancy of praier to seeke the good will and pleasure of God in this behalfe Being therefore inlightened by the oracle of divine revelation it was given him to vnderstand that he was for this very purpose sent of God that he might gaine such soules vnto Christ as the Divell endeavoured to leade astray For which cause he rather chose to liue for the generall good of all than for the private benefitte of himselfe alone being therevnto provoked by his example who being but one vousafed to die for all The man of God therefore together withall the rest of his companions betooke himself to a certaine forlorne Cottage nigh to Assisium Wherin they liued in much labour and needines according to the rule of holy poverty desiring rather to be sustayned with the foode of teares than with the nice of curiosities of delicate fare For there they were incessantly busied in fervent praiers proceeding rather from mentall affection thaÌ„ outwardly disclosed by vocall wordes intending wholy to the studie of devotion because they had not as yet any Ecclesiasticall bookes where in they might sing there Canonical howers but insteede of them they behelde continuallie the booke of the Crosse of Christ and turned it over day and night thereto instructed by the example and speach of the holie father who daily preached of Christ his Crosse vnto them But being requested of his brethren to teach them how to pray he said when you doe pray you shal say the Pater noster and this also we adore thee the O Christ at al thy Churches which are in the whole worlde and we blesse thee because by thy holie Crosse thou hast redeemed the worlde Moreover he taught them to praise our Lord in al thinges and out of al his creatures Heere thou maist see that faithâ— to be held and confessed whsch the holy Romane Church doth hold and teach They fell downe prostrate praying at all Churches Crosses to vse especial reverence also towardes Priests and principally this firmelie to beleue and simply to confesse the puritie of faith according vnto such manner forme as the holie Romane Church doth hold and teach All which precepts of the holy Father they on their parts in every point inviolably observed and at all Churches and before all Crosses which they could see a farr of they did humbly prostrate themselues according to the forme prescribed vnto them But it so fell out that the brethren long time abiding in the foresaid place the holy man went forth vpon a Saterday into the Citty of Assisium with purpose vpon a Sunday morning early to preach as his costome was in the Cathedrall Church And as the devout man of God had with drawen himselfe into a certaine shroud that stoode within the Channons garden there
bearer and a most faithfull servant But the Order being now great amplified augmented he did greatly desire that the forme and rule therof by Pope Innocenciâ—s already approved might be Honorius his successor for ever be ratified and confirmed and even then he was by Almighty God admonished with this manner of revelation It seemed vnto him that he was gathering vp from the earth certaine most exceeding small and slender crummes of bread by him to be distributed among a great many hungry brethren of his that stoode in expectance rownde aboute him And fearing to distribute so smalle crummes least perhaps they should fall out of his handes he heard a voice from aboue saing vnto him Francis make one hast of all the crummes and giue vnto them that will eate Vnto which voice he shewing himselfe obedient whosoever did not receiue the distribution devoutly or did make light of the guift already receaved were presently marked with a leaprous infection All which the holy man did the next morning after relate vnto his brethren sorrowing much that he could not vnderstand the mistery of the vision But the next day following as he persisted watchfull in praier he heard a voice from heaven speke vnto him Francis the crummes which thou sawest in the night past are the wordes of the Gospell the host is the Rule and the leaprousie iniquity Being therefore desirous before he sought the confirmation of his Rule to reduce the same as being hitherto more largely compiled out of sundry parts of the Ghospell vnto a more compendious forme and methode according as the vision did purporte vnto him he went vpp with two of his companions into a certaine hill wherevnto he was by the Holy Ghost conducted He fasted with bread water and there contenting himselfe with bread water during the time of his fast he caused the same to be written according to that which the spirit of God suggested vnto him as he was yet persevering in fervent prayer Which being there by him in this manner finished and himsefe now comming downe from the montaine he gaue the same to his Vicar to keepe who within few daies confessing himselfe to haue lost it by fault of negligence the holy man went againe the second time into the solitary place of the desert presently renewed the same againe as if he had taken the wordes from out of the mouth of God And shortly after obtained according to his owne desire to haue the same confirmed by the foresaid Pope HONORIVS in the eight yeare of his Popedome Wherevpon taking occasion with great fervency to perswade his brethren a new to the observance of the rule he avowed vnto them that he had not thereinto inserted any thing out of his owne industrie but had simply and plainly written downe all every point eueÌ„ in such sorte as had binne from God revealed vnto him S Francis caused his rule to be written as he had receiued by diuine renelation Which that it might the more manifestly appeare as being confirmed and approved by the testimony of God himself within few daies after the signes Marks of our Lord Iesus were imprinted vpon him by the finger of the living God as it were the Bull of the chiefe and most supreame Bishop Christ himselfe aswell to the absolute confirmatioÌ„ of the Rule as also to the commendation of the Author thereof as shall be hereafter set downe in convenient place after we shall hane declared his excellent vertues THE FIFTH CHAPTER Of the austerity of his life and how the Creatures of God gaue sollace vnto him NOvv when the holy servant of God Saint Francis did perceive that many were by his exaÌ„ple incouraged with fervencie of spirit to carry the Crosse of Christ himselfe also like a good leader of the army of Christ was therby animated daily more and more to attaine vnto the crowne of victory by the exquisite perfection of most invincible vertue For coÌ„sidering the sayng of the Apostle that Se with what seuerity of disciplines the holy Father did mortifi the concupiscence of his flesh Se also his wonderful abstinenâ— They who are of Christ haue crucified their flesh together with their vices and concupiscenses he to the ende he might in his owne body beare the armour of the Crosse did with so great severitie of discipline restraine his sensuall appetites that scantly he allowed vnto himselfe the very things that were necessary for the sustentation of nature Vsing evermore this maÌ„ner of saying that It could not be but marueilous hard to fatisfie the necessities of the body yet not to condiscen vnto the euill inclination of sensuall desirs for which cause in time of health he would hardly be induced to eat of boiled meats or at least wise very seldome if he did at any time he vsed either to put ashes amonghst it or els by mingling of water with the saÌ„e to make the meat vnsavoury What shall I speake of his moderate drinking when as he would scarrely drink of cold water sufficient to alay the violence of his thrist He ever invented new waies of more perfect abstinence and by exercise did daily more more increase therein and although he had already attained vnto the highest degree of perfection yet some thing alwaies he did as a new beginner innovate punishing with afflictions his fleshly concupissence Neverthelesse at such times as he weÌ„t abroade to preach the Gospell he did conforme himselfe in the quality of his meate according to the custome of the persons that did entertaine him but at his returning home againe then did he strictly obserue the rigour of most parsimonius abstineÌ„ce And so in all respects vsing austerity towards himself curtesie towards his neighbour obedience to the Gospell of Christ he was an example of edification to others not only by abstaining but even also by eating The bare ground he vsed most commonly as a bed for his weried body He slept often on the bare ground and tooke his sleep oftentimes sitting leaning his head vpon a piece of woode or a stone and resting alwaies contented with one coate he served our Lord in cold and nakednesse Whetevpon it being one time demaunded of him how he could with so thinne a garment defende himselfe from the extreame sharpenesse of the winter cold Behold his great austerity in his apparell he answered with afervour of spirit If we were inwardly toucht by fervent desire with the flame of the heavenly couÌ„try we should easily be able to indure this eternall colde He could not abide softnes of apparell but asperous clothing he much esteemed affirming that S Iohn Baptist was in that respecte commended by the mouth of God himselfe And therefore if at time he found any kinde of easefulnes in such garmens as had bene given vnto him he vsed to weare litle cords into the inner side therof alluding vnto the words of truth that softnes of apparell was not to besought for
Cottages of the poore but in princes pallaces For he had learned by certaine experiece that the divels are terrefied by asperitie but by delicious nicenesse more forciblely animated to rentation Whervpon having on night contrary to his vsual custome a pilow of feathers at his head in regard of a special infirmity which he susteined generally in that parte and particulerly in his eies the divell entring thereinto did till the howre of Martins wonderfully molest and trouble him from the study of holy praier vntill that at length calling one of his bretheren vnto him he caused the same pillow together with the diuel in it to be carried quite a way out of his Cell But the brother going out of the Cell therewithall lost the strength and vse of al his members vntill by the voise of the holie father to whom it was reveiled in spirit his former strength both of harte and body was fully restored vnto him againe He observed great rigour and discipline and stode with great heedfullnes vpon his owne defence having an especiall care for preservation of the puritie of euerie man Wherefore at the beginning of his conversion he vsed oftentimes even in the winter season to cast himselfe into a watrie pitte frosen ouer with ice that so he might both perfectlie overcome his domesticall enemie and might also preserue the white garment of chastitie from the raging fire of voluptuouse pleasure For he thought it more tolâ—erable by much and without al comparison for a spirituall man to sustaine great colde in his body then to feele neuer so smale a kindling of carnall pleasure within his minde But it hapned vpon a certaine night that as he was praing within his Cell in the deserte of Sarthianum the ancient enemie did call him three severall times by his name saying Francis Francis Francis who demanding of him what he would haue he craftelie replied in these wordes There is no sinner in the worlde whom God will not pardon vpon his conuersion vnto him but he that shal kill him selfe with harde penance shall neuer finde mercie at his hands The servant of God hearing this had presentlie by revelation discovered vnto him the whole drifte and devise of the wicked enemie by what kinde of deceipte he went about to drawe him into a slacknes in devotion as the event following did evidently declare For immediately after this Iob. 41.12 by the blaste of his mouth Whose breath making burning coales to flame he was assailed with a great and greivous tentetion of the fleshe comming then vpon him Which so soone as this lover of chastitie did we forsee putting of his coate he beganne very feircly to beate him selfe with a corde saying goe to brother Asse thus doth it beseme thee to continue thus oughtest thou to indure the scourge Thy coate serveth for Religion it beareth the badge of holinesse for it is lawfull for anie one that is delighted in vnlawful lust to intrude vpon it if any whither thou wouldest goe then goe thy waies Moreouer also being animated with a most wonderfull feruour of spirite The whole purpos of this holy man was to purg his mind of all vices opening the doore of his Cell he went his way forth into the garden and there casting downe his poore naked bodie into the deepe snowe he caught the same in his handes and made thereof seaven heapes which being orderly placed before him thus did he then speake to his outwarde man loe here saith he the bigger of these is thy wise these other foure are thy two sonns and thy two daughters and these two that remaine are thy servantes thy man and thy maied which thou oughtest to haue to waite vpon thee Haste thee now therefore and see thou forslow not to cloth them al for they are in present danger to die for colde But if the manifolde care of these seaven be over molestful vnto thee then serue thine one and onely Lord alone with heedfull diligence The tempter forthwith perceiving himselfe by this meanes to be subdued departed straight away with shame enough and the holie man returned with victorie into his Cell againe for while he exteriourly afflicted his bodie with the extremitie of the paineful colde which he indured he did so perfectlie extinguishe the heate of his inwarde lust that never had he after that time any feeling or touch thereof againe But it chanced that a brother among them attending this meane while vnto praier did by the light of the Moone which then shined very bright moste plainely see and discerne the whole course of all that had ben done Which the man of God perceiving and knowang that he had seene what had bene done in the night related vnto him also the manner of the tentation and straightly charged him there with all that so long as him selfe lived he shoulde not disclose what he had seene vnto any man in the worlde He did moreover teach The vices of the flesh ar to be mortified and the. In tysments ther vnto ought to be bridled and the external sences with great diligence to be kepte that in no wise it was sufficient onely to mortefie the vices of the flesh by subduing the euil motions thereof but that also the outward sences by the which death entreth into the soule were to be keept with great care and vigilancie in so much that the familiaritie the conference and sight of women which vnto manie are oftentimes occasion of ruine he commanded carefully to be avoided affirming that by such occasions as well the weake spirit is broken as the strong also most coÌ„monly not a litle weakened And as harde would he say it was for him that conversed among them vnlesse he were a man of most singuler and and approved honesty to avoide the coÌ„tagion of them as it is according to the wordes of the Scripture to walke in the fire and not to burne his feete For he himselfe had continually so averted his eies from beholding of such maner of vanity that as he said sometime to one of his companions there was hardlie that woman in the world whom he did knowe by the face For he did not thinke it safe vvhat wil our heretickes hers say which neuer depart from the company of womeÌ„ none of the holy fathers euer behaued them selues in such sort This maketh against our new EuaÌ„gelists who will suffer no tribulations or labours to obtain the Kingdome of heauen but only presuming of their vain faitl led their life in pleasure and idlenesse to drawe inwardlie the images of those formes into his minde which might either reviue the sparkles of the subdued flesh or might els defile the vnspotted clearenes of chast and honest mindes Wherevpon he also affirmed that al maner of speach with a woman was vtterlie vaine and frivolouse except only in confession or els for cause of instruction yet euen in these occasions the same to be done withal brevitie such as shoulde be most expedient
speakest the very truth and such wordes as it best beseemeth Peter Bernardus sonne to heare But to the end he might make himselfe abiect and contemptible vnto others he spared not his owne disgrace but in his publique praaching before all the people he would open and manifest his owne defects As having once vpon occasion of a right grievouse sicknesse remitted in some forte the rigour of his vsuall abstinence for the better recoverie of his health againe after such time as he had somewhat better resumed his strength vnto him the true dispiser of himselfe animating himselfe to the reproache of his owne flesh It is not meete said hee that I shoulde be held for a man of abstinence meane while that I secretly giue me selfe to the pampering of my flesh Wherefore he raised vp himselfe as being wholy inflamed with the spirit of holy humility assembling the people together in a streete of the City of Assisium himselfe with many of his brethren which he had brought with him entred solemnely into the greater Church where having a roape fastened about his neck he caused himself to be drawen all naked saving only of his breeches in the open sight and veiwe of them all even to that very stone whervpon malefactors at the time of their punnishment were wonte to be placed Vpon the which he then getting vp as he coulde albeit that he were both weake and affected with a quartane Ague yet in such extreame cold as the time did then affoarde did preach with great efficacie and force of minde At which time he affirmed in the hearing of them all that he was in no wise to be honored as a spirituall man but rather to be contemned of all men as a fleshly and gluttenouse personne Wherevpon the people there assembled wondring at so strainge a spectacle and being also compūcted with devotion because they well knew the strictnesse of his austerity did openly protest that such manner of humility was rather to be admired than in any sorte to be imitared And though this action might rather seeme to be a wonder in nature according to the saying of the Prophet then otherwise a matter of example yet was it vndoubtedly a true patterne of perfect humility whereby the scholler of Christ is instructed to contemne the glory of transitorie praise to represse the swelling pride of arrogancie and to reproue the falshood of craftie dissimulation Oftentimes he did many things after this manner that externally he might appeare as a lost vessel and internally might possesse the spiritt of sanctification He studdied also to hide the guifte of his Lord and Creatour in the secret inclosure of his bress thinking it not convenient to lay open to vaine glory that which might be vnto himselfe an occasion of ruine For oftentimes being commended of the multitudes for a blessed and holy man he vsed to applie this manner of speache vnto thē softe I may yet haue both sonnes and daughters doe not therefore praise such an one as is not already secure No man is to be praised whose ende is vncertaine Eccl. 11.13 And these were his wordes to them that peaised him But to himselfe he spake in this sorte Oh FRANCIS if God Almighty had bestowed so greate benefits euen vpon a Thiefe as he hath vouchsafed vnto thee he would be no doubt more thankefull than thy selfe vnto him To his brethren also he saied oftentimes thad no man ought with an vndue applause to flatter himselfe vppon occasion of any kinde of thinghe which is in à sinners power to doe For saith he a sinner may fast a sinner may pray a sinner may mourne and lament a sinner may also macerate his owne flesh but this only a sinner cannot do namely to be faithfull to his Lord and Maister In this therfore we may haue iust cause to glory if to our Lord we render the glory which is of righte his owne if serving him faithfully whatsoever it is that he do giue vnto vs the same do we faithfully resctibe vnto him againe But this Evāgelicall Marchāt to the end he might by more occasiōs in crease his gaine might turn all the present time to his furthermerit tooke not much delight to hold the place of a Governour as of a subiect neither yet desired so much to command as to obay Behold the great obedience and humility in the holy Father And therfore resigning his office of General he desired a gardiā to whose wil cōmandement he mighte in all manner of pointes accomodate himselfe For he affirmed that the fruite of holy obedience was of so great plenty and aboundance that vnto them who submitted their neckes to her yoke no time overpassed with out some gainefull commoditie Wherefore his custome was vnto such brothers as he vsually went with all evermore to promise obedience and faithfully to obserue the same And thervpon ths he spake sommetime of himselfe vnto his companions Among other things which the goodnesse of God hath of his greate bountie vouchsafed to graunte vnto me this grace he hath freely bestowed vpon me that I could as diligently yeld mine obedience vnto a Novice of one howres standing if he were appointed to be my Guardian as to one of the most auncient and discreetest brerhren For the subiect saieth he must not consider his Superiour as a man but as him for whose lone he is become subiect vnto him And by how much the more contemptible he is that doth commaund by so much the more acceptable is the humilitie of him that doth exercise obedience He being one tīe demāded who was to be iudged truly obedient proposed the similitude of a deade body for an example Take me vp saith he a dead body put it where you please you shal neither see it striue when it is moued nor murmure when it is placed nor yet repine when it is displaced But if you set it in a chaire it looketh not vp alofte but downe righte to the grounde if you apparel it in purple roabes it discovereth the palenesse of his countenance two for one morethan it did before Euen very this saieth he is a true patterne of obedience who doth not discern why hee is mooued who careth not where he is placed who desireth not to be changed who being aduanced to office retaineth his former humilitie and who the more he is honored doth so much the more repute himselfe vnworthy And for mine owne parte quoth he one time vnto his companions I cannot thinke my selfe worthy the name of a Friar Minor vnlesse that I be in this very state which I shal now describe vnto you See now I goe as Prelate and Cheife of my brethren conducting them all vnto the Chapter there I preache among them there I vse mine admonitions vnto them and in fine it is spoken with disgrace vnto me Thou euil be fittest to rule among vs for that thou art a man vnlearned harshe in thy speaking an Idiote and a simple
outward submission of words thus the holy man replied my Lord if the Father repell his sonne at one doore he must enter in againe at another By force of which humility the Bishop being wholy subdued embraced him with a loving and chearefull countenance saiyng then vnto him Beholde that none can preach the worde of god without leaue of his superiour From hence forth both you and your brethren may freely preache in in my Diocesse by my licence generall for so much your holy humility hath very well deserved It happened that once he came to Aretium at such time as the whole Cittie was so miserably afflicted with civill warre and dissention that it seemed to be therby in present danger of vtter distruction And he being then lodged in the suburbes sawe a route of Divells alofte in the aire right over the Citty insulting and also inflaming the perturbed mindes of the Cittizens to mutuall armes and slaughter But to the ende he might driue away those seditious powers of the aire he sent brother Siluester a man of singular simplicity and sincerity assigning vnto him the Office of a Crier saiyng Go before the gate of the Citty and on the parte of Almighty God commande the Diuells by vertue of obedience that they speedily departe Incontinently the childe of true obedience made hast to performe the Fathers commaundement having first given praise vnto Almighty God he beganne with loude voice to crie before the gate of the Citty on the parte of God Almighty and by the commaundement of his servant Francis depart ye farre away from hence all ye wicked Divells Aud presently vpon these wordes the Citty returned vnto peace againe and all the Cittizens with great good agreement renewed the lawes of their former civility For the raging pride of the Diuells which had as it were besieged that Citty being once repelled the wisedome of the poore that is to say the humility of Saint Francis comming then vppon them restored peace vnto the people and preserved the Citty from desolation For by the merite of that rare and excellent vertue of humble obedience he had obtained so powerfull a commaundement ouer those prowde rebellious spirits that the did both represse theire insolent arrogancy and did also repell their importunate violence In this manner the prowde Diuels do ever flie away from the eminent vertues of the humble saving that sometimes the mercie of God permitteth them to be buffeted of the enemie for the better preservation of their humility according as Saint Paul the Apostle writeth of himselfe 2. Cor. 12.7 and as Saint Francis proved by experience For being requested by Lord LEO Cardinall of the Holy Crosse to remaine some litle wile with him in the Citry he humbly consented thervnto for the reverence and loue he bare vnto him But in the very first night of his entertainement his praiers being ended and he preparing himself to sleep a sorte of Divells issued in vpon him furiously assailing the souldier of Christe Aug. 18. de ciu Deic 18. Whome when they had long and sorely beaten at lenght they left him for dead But as soone as the fiends were gone the servant of God calling his companion related vnto him the whole matter as it had befallen him saiyng I do verely belieue Brother that the Divells who can doe nothing but as the providence of God doth dispose haue for this cause rushed now with so great fury vpon me because ther is no good hope to be conceiued of my aboade in the Court of Princes For my brethren that abide in poore and forlorne places hearing that I am now in company with Cardinals will peradventure imagine that I am busied in wordly affaires that I am advanced with honors and that I do abound with pleasures Wherfore I thinke it better that he who is given as an examplevn to others should avoide the Court and converse humbly among the humble in humble places to the ende that vnto them who sustaine povertie himselfe may giue encouragement by sustaining the like with them In the morning therefore they came and humbly excusing themselves tooke their leaue of the Cardinall For the holy man abhorred pride as the roote and of spring of all other evills besides no lesse detesting the foule vice of disobedience which he esteemed as her most pestilent deformed daughter but the humility of pennance he did as equally approue It fortuned once a certaine brother to be brought before him who having committed some offence against the law of obedience was therefore rightfully to be corrected by the discipline of iustice But the man of God by evident tokens perceyving that the brother was vn fainedly pennitent for his fault of transgression was by the loue he bare to humility much inclined to pardone him yet least that his facility in par doning might be vnto others an occasion in like manner to offend he commaunded the brothers Capouche to be taken from him and cast into the middest of the flaming fire to the end that all men might obserue with how great and with what mauner of revenge the offence of disobedience ought of right to be chasticed and corrected But when the Caponche had bine a good while in the fire he commaunded the same to be taken out of the fire againe and to be delivered vnto the brother vpon his humble repentance A wonderfull marter it is to reparte The Capouche being raked out from the middest of the flames bare no marke or signe of burning at all and so it came to passe that wod by this one miracle did both approue the vertue of the holy man and did also commend the humility of pennance Worthely therefore is the humility of Saint FRANCIS to be immitated and embraced which obtained even in earth so admirable a dignity as to incline the wil of God to his desire to chaunge the affection of man to foile by his commaundement the insolent pride of the Divells and with a beck to represse the devouring names of the fire This is in very deâ—e that high and excellent vertue which exalting them that possesse it while it giveth reverence vnto all deferveth worthily to be honored of all THE SEAVENTH CHAPTER Of his loue of pouerty and of the marueilous supply of his wants AMONG the many and fundry gifts of spirituall graces which holy Saint FRANCIS obtained of the bountifull giuer of all things he merited by a certain speciall prerogatiue to aboued in the riches of simplicity by the loue of most perfect pouerty This vertue the holy man considering to hane binne familiar vnto the sonne of God waighing also the same to be now a daies as it were abandoned throughout the world did so efficacioussy endeuour to espouse the same vnto himselfe by perpetuall Charity that for the loue thereof he did not only forsake both Father and Mother but also did freely distribute and disburden himself of what ever he either had or might in time to come
then instructed them with holy speeches that passing through the desert of this world they should like forraniers and strangers as true Hebrewes in povertie of spirit continually celebrate the Passeover of our Lorde vnderstanding therby his passage out of this world vnto his Father And for because in the asking of Almes he was not ledde with desire of gaine but with the liberty and freedome of spirit God therefore the Father of the poore see med ouer him to beare a speciall care and protection For it happened that the servant of God being surprised with sicknesse in a certaine place called Noceria he was from thence convaied towards Assisium by certaine solemne Messengers which the people of that Citty had out of their great devotion sent for that purpose vnto him Who bringing with them the servant of Christ came to a certaine poore village called Sarthianum where as well the time of the day as hungar also requiring meate they went out to provide but finding no meate to be bought for money they returned emptie to the place againe To whom the holy man said for this cause ye haue founde nothing because you trust more in your Flies than you doe in our Lord. For he called their pieces of mony by the name of Flies But returne said he to the houses wherby you passed before and humbly desire the Almes of the inhabitants offering the loue of God for a reward vnto them Neither do ye out of a false estimation hereof conceiue as of a thing either of bashfullnesse or basenes for you to vndertake considering that the great Almes giver hath now after sinne by his aboundant goodnesse graunted disposed of all thinges in Almes both to the wotthy vnworthy Wherevpon his conductours being warfairing men setting shame a side and craving Almes with a willing minde made better market for the loue of God than for their mony For by the divine in stinct of God the poore inhabitants were so compunct in heart that they freely offered not only their goodes but themselues also therewithall And so it came to passe that the same degree of wāt which mony could not relieue euen that did the riche poverty of Sainct FRANCIS aboundantly supply At such time as the holy man lay sick in an Ermitage nigh to Reate a certaine Phisitian reforted oftentimes with timely endeavour ynto him But the servant of Christ not being able to giue a reward vnto him answereable to his paines and labours the most liberall God who would not dismisse him without a present requitall recompensed his godly industrie in his poore servants behalfe with this newe and vnvsuall benefite For this Phifition having about that very time newly built him a house wherevpon he had bestowed the whole summe of all his former gaines and labours the same by meane of a wide rifte in the wall reaching from the toppe to the bottome of the foundation was ready to fall to the grounde in so much as it seemed impossible by any art or numane industrie to be prevented But he having great confidence in the meritts of the holy man did with great zeale of faith request the brethren that some thing might be given vnto him which the man of God had toucht with his handes Having therefore at length with great instancy of intreatie obtained some litle parcell of his haire he put the same over night within the rift of the wall which he rising betimes in the morning founde to be shut and conioined againe with so strong firme a solidity that neither could he pul out the Reliques which he had inclosed therein nor yet could he finde any marke of the former division Whereby it was through the goodnesse of God provided that he who diligently ministred vnto the decaied body of the holy servant of God did prevent the danger of his own dwelling house which was ready to fall to the ground Another time also the man of God desiring to go vnto a certaine desert where he might more freely attend vnto contemplation for so much as he was weake and feeble he was carried vppon a certaine poore mans Asse And when as the same poore man by reason of following the servant of Christ and passing with him over the mountanouse places in the extreamest heats of the yeare was then so wearried with the painfullnes and length of his iourney that he seemed to fainte through the excesliue heat of his thirst he instantly beganne to crie after the holy man Beholde I die for thirst vnlesse I may be presently refreshed by the benefit of some draught of drinke Wherevppon the man of God incontinently alighting downe from the Asse fixed his knees vppon the grounde Praying vpon his knees and lifting his handes tovvardes heauen he obtained his petition and streetching forth his armes to heaven ceased not to pray vntill he perceived himself to be heard But his praier being ended at lēgth make haste saith he vnto the man and goe to yonder rocke for there thou shalt finde a spring of liuely water which Christ hath mercifully provided out of the stone for thee to drinke Woonderfull without doubt is the favourable goodnes of Almighty God which doeth so easely incline it selfe vnto his servants desires The Thirstie man drank from out of the rock of that comfortable and refreshing water which was by the efficacie of praier produced and filled his cuppe out of the most hard and flintie stone In this place never had there binne water seene before neyther could there any since be founde as hath well appeared by diligent enquirie and experience But in what wonderfull manner Christ did by the merites of his poore servant multiplie the meate in the Sea considering that we are hereafter to set it downe in place conveniēt thus much only it shall be sufficient in this place to haue rehearsed Exod. 17.6.4 Reg. 4.43 that out of a small proportion of Almes bestowed vpon him he delivered the Marriners for many daies togeather from the perill of famine of death that thereby it may be well observed that the servant of Almighty God even as he was like vnto Moyses in bringing water out of the Rock so was he also like vnto Elizeus in the multiplication of victualls Good cause therfore it is that all diffidence should farre away departe from the servants and followers of Christ For if the poverty of Saint Francis were of so plentifull sufficiency that by a wonderfull vertue it did so farre forth supply the wants of them by whome he was holpen in his neede that they wanted neither meate drink nor house when mony arte and nature did faile them much more shall it deserue to obtaine those thinges which are by the accustomed order of Gods divine prouidence cōmonly vouchsafed and granted vnto all men If I say the drienesse of the rocke haue at the voice of a poore man yeelded drinke aboundantly to the thirstie then shall nothing in the world denye service vnto them who haue forsaken
all thinges fot love of the Author of all things THE EIGHT CHAPTER Os his affection of Piety and how creatures devoied of reason seemed to be affected towards him VNFAINED pietie which according vnto the Apostles saieng is Profitable to all things had so far forth penetrated and replenished the harte of S. Francis that the man of God seemed wholy to be subiected therevnto Tim. 4.8 This is that vertue which did by force of deuotiō eleuate him aloft vp vnto God which did by cōpassion transforme him into Christ which by way of condiscending declined him to his neighbour which by an vniuersal reconcilement and accord of all thinges did refigurate and againe restore him vnto the state of innocency And allbeit that our of this pietie he were devoutly affected vnto all thinges yet at such time especially as he perceaued that the soules which were redemed with the precious bloud of Christe Iesus were defiled with any filth of sinne he then bewailed them with such a tendernesse of commiseration that as a mother in Christe he dailie laboured to bring them forth againe And this was the special cause that moved him so much to reuerence the ministers of the word of God for that they doe both raise vpp seede to theire brother deceased namely vnto Christ who vouchsafed to be crucified for sinners by working the conversion of them and being converted doe also governe them with an industriouse careful pietie This excellent office of commiseration he affirmed to be vnto the Father of mercie more acceptable than any sacrifice especially when it proceedeth from the industrie of perfect charitie whereby more diligent labour is emploied therein by force of example than by course of words by mourneful praiers rather than by babling discourses Wherevpon he would say that that Preacher was much to be lamented as a man wholy destitute of true and perfect pietie who either in preaching seeketh not the health of soules but his owne priuate praise and glory or who by the naughtinesse of his life destroieth what euer he buildeth vp by the truth of doctrine Before such an one therefore he saied that a simple and ignorant brother was far away to be preferred who by his owne good example 1. Reg. 2 5. prouoketh others also vnto the like And to his effect he expounded that place of holy scripture Vntil the barren haue brought forth many children For the barren saied he is vnderstand to be that poore brother whose proper office is not to ingender children in the holy Church But he neverthelesse shal yet in the iudgment bring forth many children because that such as by his private praiers he doth convert vnto Christe shal then be by the Iudge vnto his glory ascribed And She that hath many children shal be enfeebled because the vaine and talking preacher who now glorieth of many children as by meane of his owne labour and industrie begotten shal the plainely knowe and discerne himselfe not to haue any right or interest in them at all He therefore with all the hartie affection and desires of pietie and with a burning and zealous emulation of minde thirsting after the salvation and good of soules was euer more accustomed to say that he was as it were replenished with sweete odours and was in a maner annointed with a most preciouse and delightfull ointmente so often as he hearde that many weare induced vnto the way of truth by the sweete smelling fame of his holy bretheren dispersed through sundrie partes of the world Vpon the hearing of these reports his spirit not a litle reioyced heaping most acceptable and aboundant blessings vp on all those bretheren who either by worde or deede did induce sinners vnto the lout of Christ But he contrariwise whosoever did by theire euel demeanoure violate the holy stare of Religion did thereby incurre the most greivouse sentence of his malediction Of thee O my most holy Lord said he and of all thy blessed courte of heauen and of me thy poore and humble servant be the al aceursed who by theire euill example doe confoundeand destroy that which by the holy bretheren of this order thou hast already builded and doest not cease yet to build And oftentimes he conceived so exceeding great sorrowe and greife vpon occasion of the scandall of weakelings that he thought himself to haue beene almost dead therewithall had he not beene vpholden by the consolation of Gods divine clemencie But onetime especially being marveilouse much distressed with the evill examples which he sawe to begiven and praing with a perplexed spirite vnto the father of mercie for his children this maner of answeare from our Lord he therevnto received Why arte thou thus thou poore and sillie man afflicted haue I in such maner of wise ordained thee to be Pastor over this my religious order that thou doest not knowe me to be the principall patrone and director thereof For this cause haue I thervnto designed thee being but a simple man that what thinges I shall worke in thee be to no humane industerie but vnto the mightie power of God ascribed It is I who haue called them I also will keepe them and feede them and if some of them doe at any time falle away I will subrogate other into theire roomes againe so farre forth that if they be not yet borne I wil make them to be borne vpon purpose And with how many assaultes soever this my poore religion shal be distressed yet shal it ever abide in saftie by mine especiall giftand protection The vice of detraction also he abhorred as the professed enemie to the pure fountaine of grace and pietie as the venemovse sting of a ferpent and as a most desperate and deadly poyson avowing the same to be most abhominable in the sight of Gods most mercifull and sweete dispotion considering that the man of detraction is fed with the bloud of soules which he doth murder with the fowrde of his tongue And hearing once one of the bretheren to disgrace the good name and fame of another he turned therewithall vnto his Vicar saying arise arise discusse the matter diligently and if you shal finde the brother accused to be innocent faile not with sharpe correction to chastice the accuser wherby to make him an example in that behalfe vnto others And sundrie times also he would aiudge that brother who had dispoiled another of his good name and fame to be himselfe deprived of his habite and that he might not presume to lifte vp his cies vnto our Lord before he had done his best indevour to restore that which he had vncharitably taken away For so much greater said he is the impiety of detractors than of open theiues and robbers as the law of Christ which is fulfilled in the observanc of piety doth more precisely oblige vs to desire the well fare of our neighbours soules than of their bodies And with a wonderfull tendernesse of compassion commiserating the cause of all that were afflicted
commaunded the Divell in the vertue of obedience to departe and by the power of God did so sodeinely chace him away that thereby it did manifestely appeare that against the forcible power of holyobedience the very perversenesse of the Divells could not make resistance In the Cittie of Castellum a raging and wicked spiritte obsessing a certaine woman having froÌ„ the holy man receaved the commaundement of obedience departed with great fury and indignation leaving the woman that was before obsessed nowe holy free both in minde and bodie One also of the bretheren was afflicted with such an horrible infirmity that it was by many affirmed rather to be some vexation of the divel than any naturall kinde of disease For ofteÌ„times he was cast vppon the grounde and there tumbled vp and downe foming at the mouthe having the members of his body sometimes contracted sometimes drawen out at length sometimes folded together sometimes writhed awrie sometimes made stiffe and hardened And sundrie tymes being stretchred out along vntil he weare stiffe and having also his feete equall with his heads he was lifted vp alofte with inevitable daunger in horrible manner presently to fall downe to the grounde againe Vpon whom thus miserably and incureably diseased the servant of Christ who was full of pitty taking especiall commiseration sent vnto him a morsell of the bread whereof himselfe did eate But the taste of that bread was of soe effectualle strength vnto that distressed man that from thence forewarde he felt no more trouble of that disease In the County of Aretium a certaine woman having binne for many daies togeather in labour of childbirthe so that shee was even now in maÌ„ner deade and wholy dispairing of all other remedie saue only of God and the servant of Christ euen then passing through those partes on horsebacke by reason of somme infirmity in his body it chaunced that the horse was brought back againe through the same village where this miserable woman was in such pittiful wise tormented But the men of that place seeing the horse whervpon the holy man had sitten pulled of the bridle to lay it vppon the woman At the marveilouse touche whereof the woman without all daunger broughte forthe here childe with safetie A certaine man of Castrum plebis one that was very religiouse and feared God had with him a Corde where with the holy Father had binne girded And when a great number both of men and women inhabiting in that place was troubled with divers infirmities he went through the houses of them that were sicke and dipping the Corde into water did giue vnto the sicke folkes therof to drinke And so by this meanes many persons were recovered As also in like manner many diseased persons tasting of the loaues of bread which the holy man had touched did by the operation of Gods divine power speedily obtaine the recovery of their health Considering that with these many other prodigiouse miracles the messenger of Christ was in his preaching enobled men gaue heedefull attentioÌ„vnto his words as if the very Angel of our Lord had spoken For whereas there excelled in him he prerogatiue of vertues the spiritte of prophecy the efficacy of miracles the Oracle of his preaching given from heauen the obedience of creatures deyoide of reason the vehement alteration of mens harts at the hearing of his wordes the instruction which he had from the holy-Ghoste aboue humane learning the authority of preaching graunted vnto uim by the Pope notwithout divine revelation and furthermore the confirmatioÌ„ of his Rule by the same Vicar of Christ wherein the forme of his preaching is expressed as also the signes of the most high King in manner of a seale imprinted in his body all these thinges as tenne singular testimonies doe vndoubtedly manifest vnto the whole world that the Preacher of Christ Saint Francis was both venerable in office and autenticall in doctrine as also admirable in holinesse and did therefore as the messenger of God indeed preache the Gospell of Christ THE THIRTENTH CHAPTER Of his holy Stigmattes THIS Angelicall man Sainct Francis Genes 28.12 was neuer accoustomed to be idle from doeing good but rather like to the heauenly spiritts in Iacobs ladder he did either ascend vnto God or descend vnto his neighbour For the time which was graunted vnto him for his meritte he had learnte so prudeÌ„tly to devide that some parte he did with great labour bestowe vpon the commoditie of his neighbour the rest he did dedicate to the quiet aboundance of contemplation And therefore when according to the necessitie of place and time he had condescended to procure the salvation of other men withdrawing himselfe from the disquietnesse of the multitudes he betooke himself to some secrette parte of the wildernesse place of rest that attending there more freely vnto the service of God if any dust had cleaved vnto him by meane of humane conversation he might so shake it of againe Two yeares therefore before he rendred vp his soule to heauen he was by direction of Gods divine providence after many labours broughte into a highe place aparte which is called the Mounte of Aluerna And whiles he did in that place according to his wonted manner beginne to fast the lent which he obserued in honor of S. Michael the Archangell enioieing then the sweetnesse of divine contemplation more aboundantly than he had binne a foretime accustomed and being set on fire with a more burning flame of heauenly desires he beganne yet in a more aboundant measure to feele the good guifts of God sent downe from heauen vpon him And he verely was indeed carried vp aloft how beâ—t not as a curious searcher of the Maiesty of God soe to be oppressed with his glory but as a faithfull and prudent servaunte seeking out the good pleasure of God where vnto he did most earnestly desire by all manner of meanes to conforme himselfe And therefore it was by the Oracle of God inspired into his minde that in the opening of the booke of the Ghospell Christ would vouchsafe to reueale vnto him what should be most acceptable vnto God in him and concerning him Hauing therfore formerly be taken himselfe to prayer with much devotion he caused the booke of the holy Ghospells to be taken of from the Aultar and the same in the name of the holy Trinitie to be opened by his companion who also was a man of great devotion and holinesse And considering that notwithstanding the same booke was three times opened yet did he alwaies light vpon the Passion of our Lorde he therefore being ful of Gods holy spiritte did well vnderstand that as he had imitated Christ in the actions of his life so ought he before his departure out of this world to be conformable vnto him in the afflictions and dolours of his Paâ—â—sion And albeit that by reason of the continuall austeritie of his life formerly past and of his continuall bearing our Lorde his Crosse he was nowe but
as with fignes of thine office to be adorned with heavenly weapons with the signe of the Crosse Nowe the vision of the Crucifixe which thou did dest see in the beginning of thy conversion striking thee through the harte with the sworde of compassionate griefe the hearing also of the voice from the Crosse proceeding as it were from the high Throane and secrette Propitiatorie of Christ according as thou hast affirmed by thy sacred speach are vndoubtedly belleued to haue binne most true and certaine Nowe is it verely belieued and avowed that the Crosse which in the progresse of thy conversion brother Siluester did see in marveilouse manner proceeding out of thy mouth that the swordes striking through thy bowells in the forme of a Crosse which holy Pacificus did see and that thy being lifted vp into the aire in the manner also of a Crosse when blessed Anthony did preach of the title of the Crosse according as was shewen to the Angelicall man Monaldus were not things of fantasticall vision but of heavenly revelation And nowe towards the end whereas at once is shewen vnto thee both the highe and loftie similitude of a Seraphin the humble forme of him that was crucified inwardly inflaming thee and outwardly leaving his marcks vpon thee that like as another Angell ascending from the rising of the sunne thou mightst haue in thy selfe the signe of the living God it doth not only giue vnto the former visions firme cause of creditte and beliefe but receaveth also from them vndoubted testimony of the truth Behold nowe in seaven apparitions of the Crosse of Christ in theÌ„e and about thee according to the order and courte of times marveilously exhibited and shewen thou art as it were by sixe degrees nowe happily come vnto this seauenth wherein thou makest thy final rest aboade For the Crosse of Christ being in the very first beginning of thy conversion aswell proposed vnto thee as on thy parte also assumed and being from thence forth in the whole progresse of thy conversation by thee carried throught the course of a most approved life as remaining in thy selfe continually being demonstrated vnto others for matter of example doth by so evident a clearenesse of certaine knowledg discover thee to haue accomplished the very height of Evangelicall persection that this soe ratâ— a demonstration of Christian wisedome figured in the dust of thy fleshe no man that is trnly devour may set at naught no man that is truly faithfull may with stand no man that is truly humble may lightly regard because it is verely truly shewen by God himselfe from heauen and is well worthy of all good acceptation THE FOVRTENTH CHAPTER Of his Patience and Deathe NOvv blessed Saint Francis being together with Christ wholy fastened vnto the Crosse aswell in flesh as in spiritte did not only burne with a Seraphicall loue towardes God but did also with Christ crucified thirst after the salvation of many And because he was not able to goe in regard of the nailes growing and increasing in his feete he therefore caused his overworne and decaied bodie to be carried about through Crtties and Townes that soe he might incourage others to carry the Crosse of Christ And to his brethren he would say Let vs nowe brginne my brethren to serue our Lord God because hitherto we haue donne but litle good And nowe he was inflamed with a great desire of minde to returne vnto his first grounde workes of humility as namely to minister vnto the Leapers according as in the beginning he had binne wont to doe and though his feeble bodie were wholy spent and consumed with labour yet neverthelesse to recall it vnto the former servitude For he purposed vnder the Conduct and help of Christ to doe great matters and bearing within his overwearied members a spiritte of great fervour and fortitude he was in hope by a new conflict to tâ—iumphe over his enemy For it is no waise possible that either slouth or feeblenesse should there haue any place where the prick of loue doth vrge and provoke evermore vnto greater things But he had in his fles he â—oe great a concorde vnto his spiritte and so great a pomprnesse also of obedience there vnto that where as be did wholy bend himselfe to aspire vnto all manner of holinesse yet did the fleshe not only make no resistance but did â—nd eavour to out goe the spiritte And that the man of God might gaine a more abundant treasure and heape of merittes al which are verely and truly consummated in the vertue of Patience he beganne to be soe heavily laden with many sortes of infirmities that hardly did there remaine any parte of his bodie that was free from the violence of some disease In so much that through sundrie long and continuall sicknesses he was finally brought to that passe that his flesh being nowe quite consumed he was as it were nothing but skinne and bones And being pressed in body with hard and greiuous afflictions yet would he never reckon of them by the name of paines but would call them by the name of Sisters But being at one time assailed with the extreame sharpnesse of his sundrie infirmities in more extraordinarie manner than he had binne at any time before one of the brethren being but a simple man said thus vnto him Brother make your praier vnto our Lord to deale more mildely with you for he seemeth to hold to heavie a hand vpon you Wherevpon the holy man criyng out with a certaine mourneful kinde of complainte did say vnto him Vnlesse I did knowe thee to be of a very simple puritie I would from henceforth abhorre thy companie seeing that thou hast presumed to reprehend the divine iudgements of God concerning me and although he were wholy worne and wasted with the long continuance of his greivouse sickenesse yet casting himself downe vpon the earth he hurte his feeble bones with a hard fall And kissing the grounde I giue thanks vnto thee saied he O Lord God for all these my gtiefes and I beseeche thee my Lord to encrease them if it soe please thee even a hundred folde for this shall be vnto me most acceptable that thou spare not to afflict me with paines considering that the fullfilling of thy holy will is vnto me a comforte more than most plentiful and abundant Whereby it seemed vnto the brethren that they did behold as it were another Iob whoe as the afflictions of his fleshe did increase did himselfe also so much the more increase in courage strength of minde But he knewe the time of his deathe long before and the day of his departure being euen now at hand he saied vnto his brethren that he was very presently to put of the tabernacle of his body according as had binne by Christ revealed vnto him Having therefore bin for two yeates space from the impression of his sacred Stigmats as namely from the twentith yeare after his conversion by many
as his minde had inwardly put on that Lord himselfe that was crucified soe might his bodie also put on the Ensignes and armes of the Crosse And that in what signe God Almighty had subdued the powers of the aire in the same might the armie of this holy man maintaine the warfare of our Lord. But from the beginning of the time wherein he first beganne to serue vnder the standerd of the Crucifixe divers misteries of the Crosse did in gloriouse manner appeare about him as to him that shall duely consider the course of his life it may be evidently and clearely knowen howe by meane of a seavenfolde apparition of our Lord his Crosse he was aswell in thought as in affection and act wholely by the extaticall loue of him transformed into the figure and resemblance of him that was crucified Worthely therefore did the clemency of the highest King beyond all estimation of man condiscending vnto those that were his true lovers designe him in his bodie to beare the banner of his crosse that he who had binne forearmed with a marveilouse loue of the crosse might also be made admirable by a marveilouse honor of the Crosse And for the irrefrigable establishement of this wondrous miracle not only the testimonies of them that haue both seene and felt it being by all manner of meanes most worthy to be beleived but also sundrie marveilouse apparitions and vertuous effects shining after his death doe helpfully concurre to driue al cloudish darkesomnesse quite away from the minde For our most holy Lord of happy memorie Pope Gregory the ninth of whom that blessed man had prophetically foretold that he should be raised vp to the dignitie of the Sea Apostolique did beare in his harte before such time as he had enrolled that standerd bearer of the Crosse into the Catalogue of Saints a certaine scruple of doubt concerning the wounde of his side But one night according as that happy Pastor did himselfe with teares reporte blessed Saint Francis did with a certaine kinde of discontented countenance in sleepe appeare vnto him and reproving his doubtfulnesse of harte lifted vp his right arme discouered his wounde and required of him a Phiolle glafle to gather vp the overflowing bloud that issued out of his side The chiefe Bishoppe offered him forthwith the Phiolle by him required which seemed to be with the bloud that came out of his side filled vp euen to the toppe And from thenceforth he beganne with soe great a devotion to be affected and with soe zealous an emulation to be inflamed vnto that sacred miracle that he could by no meanes indure any man by proude contradiction presumptuously to disgrace those illustriouse holy signes but he would correct him with a severe rebuke In like manner a certaine Friar Minor being by office a preacher and a man of greate note for his excellent fame and vertue although he were of the holy Stigmattes of this blessed Saint fully perswaded yet seeking one time within himselfe a reason of this miracle according to the course of humane vnderstanding did beginne to stagger and waver in minde out of a scruple of some certaine kinde of doubt And where as by giving way to his owne sensualitie he did for divers dayes together sustaine this manner of conflict Saint Francis did one night in sleepe appeare vnto him with his feet all durtie bearing shewe of displeasure howebeit in humility and of anger but yet with in the compasse of patience And what saied he meane these agonies of distruste in thee What meane these durtie dreggs of doubts Behold my handes and see my feete Who then beholding his handes to be peirced through but not yet perceaving the Stigmattes of his bemired feete remoue away saied the blessed Saint the durte from my feet know for certaine the places of the nailes therof Wherevpon he taking hold of them with great devotion did seeme to wipe of the durte and with his hands to touche the places of the nailes And as soone as be waked out of his sleepe weeping in great aboundance he washed away his former affections being in a sorte durted and defiled no lesse with a streame of teares than with publique and open confession In the Citty of Rome a certaine noble matâ—one of greate accounte as well for her vertuous cariadge and conditions as for the glory also of her parentage had chosen Saint Francis to be her patrone whose painted picture she had in her private closet where she vsed to pray to the father in secrette Which she heedefully observing one day whilest she was at her praiers and therewithall perceaving that it had not the sacred signes of the Stigmattes beganne thereat not a litle both to sorrowe and wonder But it was not marveile though they were wanting in the picture being that they were by the Painter himselfe neglected Yet neverthelesse whilest she did for divers daies in great carfulnesse of minde debate with herselfe what might be the cause of this manner of defect beholde those marveilouse signes sodeinly one day appeared in the picture even in such sorte as in other picturs of the Saint they were wont to be painted The woman thereat conceyving somme feare fourthwith called vnto her a devoute daughter of her owne and earnestly enquired of her if the picture had not binne without the Stigmattes even vntill that very time Shee for her part did affirme and sweare that of former time it had benwithout those sacred Stigmattes and had them nowe therein verely appearing But because the minde of man doth oftentimes enforce it selfe to falle and doth also frequently cal the truth into doubt there entred into the womans harte an evil kinde of distrust least hapily the picture might have ben marked with those signes even from the beginning But that the former miracle If the Vse of pictures had not bene lawfull God had not wrought so many wonders about this picture might not be contemned the power of God vouchsafed to adde thereto a second For the signes forthwith disappearing the picture was of the priviledges thereby deprived that by the signe ensueing proofe might be made of that which had gonne before In Catalonia also at a place called Ilerda it chaunced that a certaine man named Iohn whoe bare greate devotion to blessed Saint Francis did travell one evening late along by a certaine way where some desperate persons did secrettely lie in waite to doe a murder howbeit not vpon him with whom they had no enmity but vpon another that seemed to be like vnto him and was even then also with him in company But one of them issueinge sodeinly out of the place of deceite taking him to be the maÌ„ that was his enemie did soe deathfullie begoare him with a number of woundes that there was no hope to be had for the recoverie of his life For at the very first stroake he had almost cut of his whole shoulder and arme together and with the second blow which entred