The chronicle and institution of the Order of the seraphicall father S. Francis conteyning his life, his death, and his miracles, and of all his holie disciples and companions / set foorth first in the Portugall, next in the Spanish, then in the Italian, lastlie in the French, and now in the English tongue.

Of the Birth, Education and naturall incl nation of S. Francis.

THE I, CHAPTER,

THE grace of our Sauiour IESVS-CHRIST hath appeared vnto vs, in these later dayes particulerly in his seruant Fran∣cis, to whome the Father, of mercy and light, would by his benignity impart such benedictions, and so excellent fauours, that, as by the discourse of his life appea∣reth, he did not only draw him out of the darckenes of the world, to setle him in the true light, but he made him great, in the merites of the perfection of all vertues. And hauing extraordinarily communicated vnto him many note-wor∣thy mysteries of the crosse, he merueillously eleuated and exalted him in his holy Church, wherin he gaue him a right eminent place and degree. This great seruant of God Francis, was borne the yeare of grace 1182, in the citty of Assissium, scituate in the valley of Spoletum in Italy. His Father was a rich Marchant, of an honest familie, called

Mariconi: his name was Peter Bernardone, taking for his name the pro∣per name of his father the grand father of the said Francis, called Ber∣nardone de Mariconi: his mother was called Pica, who was a very pious & honest woman, who procured him in his baptisme to be called Iohn, but his Father afterward att his Confirmation, would that he should chaung his name, and was called Francis. Some affirme that he was cal∣led Francis, because he had with exceeding facility learned the French tongue. Before his birth, his mother endured very much being many dayes in labour of deliuery, in meane while there came a poore pilgrime to the doore of the house, who hauing receiued an almose, said to him that brought it; cause that woman who endureth such throwes of tra∣uaile, to be carryed into a stable, and she shalbe incontinently deliuered. Which being done, she was instantly deliuered, and for that respect there was built in that place a chappell, where in memory of the birth of this S. the history of this miracle was depeinted: whome our Lord IESVS∣CHRIST would in regard of his birth in a poore and contemptible place, make like vnto himselfe. This chappell is now called S. Francis the litle. Francis was nourtured and educated of his parentes, as their eldest sonne. And hauing in short time learned the French tongue, though it be very difficult, they putt him to learne Latin, as most vniuer∣sall in ail Europe (for to merchantes it is of no small importance to know many tongues) which hauing learned, and being of age capable to manadge affaires, he trayned him to his trafique, both in his citty and abroad. And though he where busyed and employed in the vanities and folies of the world, yet was it not possible for the deuill to corrupt his good and naturall inclination, which God (who had sowed the same in him as in a good groūd) did alwayes conserue in his hart. And therfore, albeit in his youth he haunted and conuersed with his equals, and with them did honestly spend his time in diuers recreations; yet did he neuer permitt his pleasure so much to preuaile, but that as an other Ioseph, he most carefully preserued the inestimable treasure of his chastity. Yea negotiating with merchants, for the most part true ministers of auarice, yet had he not for all that, so sett vp his rest and desire on transitory ri chesse and siluer, as that thy could hinder him from the exercise of the vertues of mercy towardes the poore, to whom he alwayes shewed a natural inclination & compassion to assist & releiue them; which was a particuler grace, that God had giuen him, as an infallible note that he was of his especiall elect; which augmenting and growing in him euen from his tender yonth, made him so milde and mercifull, that he could not deny the poore any thinge they demaunded him, particulerly when

the party in necessity did mention in his request the loue of God. Notwithstanding it one day chaunced that being earnestly employed, he could not attend to giue an almose to a poore man that demaunded it for the loue of God. His busines being ended, this true seruant of God, calling to minde that he had denyed a poore man, he sharply chec∣ked and reprehended himselfe, titling himselfe, ill nourtured, discur∣teous, inhumane and cruell, saying that if a freind, or an other man of honour had sent to aske him any thinge, he should haue neglected and layd aside all busines to giue him content and seruice; and yet he had not done so in Godds cause; and therfore he hastened to finde out that poore man, to whome hauing giuen an almose, he asked him pardon. And to the end he might not thenceforward proue forgetfull in the like accident, he againe confirmed his vow, that as farre foorth as should be possible vnto him, he would neuer deny that which should be de∣manded him for the loue of God; and perseuering euen till death in this vow, he continually encreased in diuine graces: wherupon he asfir∣med, that being seculer, he neuer heard word of the loue of God vttered, but that it molified and moued his hart. Francis then being yet yong & worldly, was mindefull of God in this sort, wherin many that esteeme themselues good Christians and very spiritual doe not any way remem∣ber him, considering that often times for a litle almose demanded of them by a poore creature, they feele interiourly an anxiety therof, and doe with choller disdaynfully reiect him. This was the A. B. C. wherin S. Francis exercised himselfe, with the greatest of the house of God, and therfore he merited to obtaine of his diuine maiesty, mercy and fauour; for in that respect are the mercifull called blessed. So was he naturally liberall, remote from auarice, perhappes more then he ought, doeing it to be esteemed and honoured. Therfore did the yong men of his estate much affect and honour him, and in their sportes and recreations did or∣dinairily make him their capitaine, because he did voluntarily and freely spend in musique, bankets, garmentes and other youthfull folies. But one day considering these vanities, he thus discoursed, with himselfe: Sith thou art so free and liberall towardes men, of whome thou canst expect no other recompence but a litle vaine glory, how much more reasonable were it for thee to shew this liberality towardes God in his poore people, to whome that which thou possessest doth appertaine, & who doth afterward so bountifully and abondantly accept and recom∣pence the same? In this sort mouing himselfe, he thenceforward em∣ployed in almose and other charities, as much or more then in vanities. Francis had besides, a naturall sweetnes in his conuersations accōpanied

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with such a benignite and patience, as made him gratefull and amiable to each one: by reason that his good partes and conditions gaue hope of some worthy matter in him. There was then in Assi∣sium, a very simple man but esteemed to be inspired of God, who meeting the yong man Francis, did alwayes cast his cloake on the ground and spread it where he was to passe, saying before all the world: It hath bin thus ordayned: as if he would say of God, that the yong Francis is worthy of all honour and reuerence.

There being continuall warre betweene the citty of Assisium and Pe∣rusia, he was one day with many other of his fellow-cittizens taken prisoner by the enemies, and they were all conducted to Perusia, where they remained prisoners for a yeare, till the citties were att accorde. In this his imprisonmēt he shewed a right worthy proofe of his magnanimity, being amiddes so many afflictions and dis∣comfortes, so constant, temperat, and merry, that his companions did admire theratt, and often reprehended him for it: but he with alacrity answeared them: What thinck ye, you my compa∣nions? What countenance would you haue me to carry? Tell me I pray you, if we haue cause of sorrow, sith we shall in this res∣pect from henceforward be more honoured of the world. Thus did he comfort and encourage them all in the prison, and euen serued them; for the seruant which they had, being expulsed as seditious, he voluntarily serued them in euery thinge, and was vnto them a greatfull companion. By reason of these acceptable dispositions, his conuersation and accointance was desired and sought of euery one, and by this meane he was in manner con∣strained to doe many vaine thinges that were litle pleasing vnto him. So did he very vnprofitably consume and wast his age and time, his goods and graces of nature, till about the fiue and twentith yeare of his age, though God had endued him with so many pre∣rogatiues and rare conditions, not to abuse them, but to employ them entierly in the praise and glory of his diuine maiesty: for though he did alwayes keep and preserue aliue this sparckle of the loue of God in his hart, yet did not the youthfull Francis (as being ouer much possessed with a care to augment and conserue his wealth, and to enioy his recreations) vnderstand the celestiall secrett of his great and diuine vocation, which was, with reiection of earthly conuersations, to employ himselfe meerly to contemplation of celestiall thinges, and to attaine and aspire vnto them. And in deed he could not know them, till he felt himselfe touched by the

seuere hand of God, which hauing sharply stricken him in his body, did by a long disease afflict him, and purged and illuminated him interiourly, therby to loose him from the bondes of the deuill, the world, and the flesh.

Notes

• The birth of S. Francis.
• He was borne in a stable.
• S. Fran∣cis his youth.
• What a great al∣mose-gi∣uer he was.
• The good nature of S. Fran∣cis.
• Predictiō of his sanctitie.
• He was prisoner.