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 first rule that S. Francis ordained.

THE XI. CHAPTER.

S. Francis perceiuing his disciples to aproach to the Apostolicall nomber, began to write downe the forme and rule of life which they should obserue, wherto for foundatiō he gaue the obseruance of the gospell, therto adding certaine other pointes necessary for such as

liue in Congregation, and this to the end the professours of his rule should not vary and differ in any thing from the intention and will of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST, as well in his Preceptes as Councels: which rule is this ensuying, hauing since that time bin augmented by S. Francis, as in his proper place shal appeare.

THE FIRST RVLE OF THE HOLY FATHER S. FRANCIS. (Book 1)

In the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the Holy Ghost.

This is the life that Brother Francis presented to Pope Innocent the third, who condiscended therunto with his owne mouth, and consirmed it to him and his Religious, present and to come: and therfore the said Brother Francis (and whosoeuer shalbe principall of the said Order or Religion) promiseth obedience and reuerence to the Pope, and his successour.

The forme of the rule instituted by the holy Father S. Francis, and confirmed by Pope Innocent the third.

Of the three principall vowes, of chastity, obedience, and pouerty.

THE I. CHAPTER.

THe life and rule of the Frier Minors is thus; That they liue chastly vnder holy obedience, and not possessing any thing in propriety: That they follow the life and doctrine of IESVS* 1.1 CHRIST who sayeth: If thou desirest to be perfect goe, and sell what thou hast, and giue it to the poore, for doeing so thou shalt pur∣chase treasure in heauen: If any man desire to come after me, lett him renounce his proper will, lett him take vp his crosse and follow me: and he that will come after me, and forsaketh not father, mother, wife, children, and hateth not himselfe for my loue, cannot be my disci∣ple. Besides; whosoeuer shall forsake Father, mother, brothers and sisters, wiues, children, and all his earthly substance for my loue, shall receiue an hundred fold, and purchase eternall life.

Of the manner of admitting the Brethren into the Order; and of cloathing them, and of the habit of the Frier Minors.

THE II. CHAPTER.

VVHen any one by diuine inspiration shalbe disposed to enter into this Religion, lett him be benignely recei∣ued by the Superiour of the Brethren: and hauing proued him to be stable in this purpose, lett him send him to his Mi∣nister Prouinciall: and lett the Brethren in the meane while be wary not to entermedle in any sort with their worldly affaires. Now he being presented to the Prouinciall (who shall graciously entertaine him) after he shall haue diligently examined his will, and the cause inducing him to desire his entrance into this Religion, lett him seriously expose vnto him the manner of life of the Brethren. Which don, he ought by pregnant persuasions to exhort him, without lawfull impediment to sell all his substance, before he dispose of his life, and lett him giue it to the poore, if he thincke good; but lett the Brethren Ministers be very respectiue that in treating this matter, they doe not persuade or induce him in any sort whatsoeuer to giue any mony to themselues or to their Couent: Neuertheles if perhappes the Couent or the Brethren haue need of any thing that he hath, and he offering it, and desiring of him∣selfe to giue it, they may receiue it, as if he distributed it in almose to any other poore, and no otherwise, prouided yet that this gift be not mony. This being performed, I meane his substance being distributed to the poore, or as God shall inspire him, and returning to the Couent, the Minister Prouinciall shall then giue him the habitt of probation,* 1.2 which he shall weare one yeare. This habitt shalbe such: two coates without cappuce, and the corde: And the yeare of probation ended, his profession shalbe procured, and when he shall haue submitted him∣selfe to holy obedience, he may not be permitted to enter into any other Religion, nor to be disobedient to the Pope. And if there be any, that for some lawfull impediment, cannot distribute his substance for the loue of God, it shall suffice that he renounce and abandon it, in what∣soeuer other manner. Lett it not be permitted that any be receiued against the ordonnance and constitutions of the Church. All those that haue promised obedience, must haue one coate with the cappuce, and an other without it, if it be needfull, and a corde to gird him, and the linnen breeches. All the Brethren must be cloathed with course cloth, and they may pach it with sack cloth and other rude peices, because our

Lord saith in the gospell: They that are clothed sumptuously, dwell in the Courtes of Princes: for, though they be called hypocrites, lett them* 1.3 not yet omitt to doe that which they ought for the seruice of his diuine maiesty, & for the saluation of their soules, & lett thē not in this world seek precious garmentes, that they may hereafter find better in heauen.

Of the diuine seruice, and of fasting.

THE III. CHAPTER.

ANd because our Lord in one place saith: This kinde of deuill cannot be cast out but by vertue of fast and prayer. And in an o∣ther:* 1.4 When ye fast be not melācholie, as hypocrites: let the Bre∣thren therfore that shalbe Preistes, say the diuine seruice, & praise God, a•• Preistes ought to doe; and for the liuing and dead, lett them say that which is accustomed to be said; & besides for the defectes & negligences of the Bethren, lett them euery day say the Psalme Miserere, & one Pater noster, and for the Religious deceased, a De profundis and a Pater noster. They may possesse bookes necessary for their diuine seruice. The lay Brothers that can read, may haue a Psalter, but they that cannot read, may not haue nor keep any bookes: but lett them euery day for their mattins say the Credo, with twenty fiue Pater nosters and Gloria Patri, & so much, att the third, sixt, and ninth houre; att Euensong the Credo and twelue Pater nosters, att Complin, the Credo, with seauen Pater no∣sters and the Requiem aeternam; then for the defectes and negligences of the Brethren, euery day three Pater nosters. Al the Brethren as well Cler∣kes as the lay, shalbe obliged to fast from Alsainctes to Christmas, and from the Epiphanie, when our Lord IESVS CHRIST began to fast, vntill Easter: Att other times, they shall not be bound to fast by this rule; the fridayes excepted they may indifferently eat of all meates that shalbe giuen them, according to the permission of the Ghospell, and* 1.5 the Constitution of holy Church.

How the Ministers ought to gouerne themselues in dispencing with the Religious concerning their obedience.

THE IV. CHAPTER.

IN the name of God, al the Brethren that are elected ministers, & are seruantes to the other Brethren, ought to appoint the places & Co∣uentes where they shal iudge most conuenient to dwel: they must often visit thē, & admonish them to obserue & accōplish their professiō

promise, vow, and oath: and lett them spiritually constraine them to sa∣tisfie this obligation: and lett all my other blessed Brethren humbly and diligently obey them in whatsoeuer shall concerne their saluation, and shal not be contrary to this rule: and lett them liue together with such charity that they proceed not against the word of God, where he saith:* 1.6 Doe vnto men that which you would haue men doe vnto you, and doe not that which you would not they should doe to you, Lett the Mini∣sters and seruantes, remember that which our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST saith: I am not come to be serued, but to serue: so that the soules of the Brethren being giuen them in chardge, they ought to* 1.7 haue a very respectiue care of them, that none doe perish by their fault and euill example, and that they render not account for them to God, att the terrible iudgment.

Of fraternall correction in offences: that the Ministers ought not to giue scan∣dale, and that they may not haue dominion of any thing.

THE V. CHAPTER.

* 1.8 YOu that are Ministers, haue a speciall guard and care of your sou∣les, and of those of your Brethren: For it is a very terrible and fearfull thing to fall into the handes of the liung God, moued to anger. And if any of you, command the Brethren any thing, against the rule and this forme of life, or against conscience, know yee that if he doe it not, he is not obliged vnder obedience. Lett all the Brethren that are subiect to the Minister, the seruant of his Brethren, obserue his actiōs with great dilligence and consideration. And if they perceiue any of their Ministers to proceed according to the flesh, not according to the spiritt, or our rule, if he amend not after the first admonition or corre∣ction, lett him be notified vnto the Father Generall, and the seruant of this confraternity, as incorrigible, at the Chapter of Penticost, with∣out contradiction or delay. If among the Brethren where they shall liue, there be any that will not proceed according to the spiritt, and our pro∣fession, let the Brethren in whose company they shall be, admonish, ad∣uise, and with humility mildly reprehend him, euen to the third time: But if after the third admonition he do not amend, lett them informe the Minister Prouinciall, or bring him to his presence with the first op∣portunity: And the said Minister shall proceed therin as God shall inspi∣re him. Lett all the Brethren, as well Ministers, seruantes, as others be very respectiue not to be angry, passionate, or troubled for the sinne or euell example of the other Brethrē: For the deuill seeketh no other thing

but to damne many, by the sinne of one; but lett thē consider how they may spiritually assist him, because they that are in health need not a Phi∣sition,* 1.9 but they that are diseased. It is prohibited to all the Brethren and Ministers of this Order, to be capable of enioying possessions, dominion or seignurie; for, as our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST saith: The Princes of the world, haue commaund ouer them: lett vs be carefull that it be not so among vs; but he that seeketh and desireth to be greatest, lett him be the least, and seruant to all others. Lett not any Brother doe or speake euill of an other: but lett them reciprocally serue and obey each other, with a spirituall charity of the spiritt, according as their necessity shal require; for that is the holy and true obedience of our Lord IESVS CHRIST. And lett all the Brethren, of what degree soeuer they be, know, that if they erre from the preceptes of God, and are disobedient as the Prophett saith, they are accursed for their sinne whiles they are* 1.10 out of obedience. And if they perseuer in the commandementes of God, as they haue promised in the obseruance of their Euangelicall professiō, lett them rest assured that they are blessed of God.

What recourse the Brethren may haue to their Ministers and that no Brother may be called Priour.

THE VI. CHAPTER.

THe Brethren that shall not be able to obserue our forme of life in the places whither they shall be sent, lett them as soone as they can, haue recourse to their Minister Prouinciall, and lett them enforme him of their necessity. The Minister Prouinciall, shal then endeauour to prouide for them, and shall doe what in the like accident he would should be done to him. Lett not any Brother be cal∣led Priour: but lett all generally with one accord be called Brothers, and when there shalbe need, lett on wash an others feet, to exercise humility.

Of the manner to serue and prouide for the house, and to be employed in law∣full exercises that redound to the common good, and that the Brethren may not haue Couent, nor Church as properly their owne.

THE VII. CHAPTER.

IN what place soeuer any of the Brethren shall reside, for the seruice of others, they shall not vndertake the offices of men of the Chamber

to be keeper or disposer of the wine or victuall prouision, nor in any sore accept of other chardg in the house where they shal dwel: to the end they neither breed nor procure scandal or detriment to their soules: but lett them be inferiour and subiect to all that shalbe in the said house. And the Brethren that shalbe fitt to labour and performe any thing, lett them be employed in the art and exercise they know, prouided that it be not con∣trary* 1.11 to the saluatiō of their soules, sith the Prophett saith. Because thou shalt eat of the labours of thy handes, thou shalt be blessed: and the A∣postle also: he that wil not work, let him not eat. Lett each one ther∣fore with charity exercise the art and office wherin he shalbe employed, and for recompence of the manuall worckes they shall doe, they may receiue thinges necessary to their life, prouided that it be not mony: and if any thing be further needfull vnto them, lett them demaund it in al∣mose as other poore people doe. It shalbe permitted them to possesse in∣strumentes and tooles necessary to the trade and art wherin they are skil∣full:* 1.12 But lett all the brethren be respectiue to be euer employed in some good and commendable art, because it is written. That a man ought to be alwayes busied in some good worck, that if the deuill come to tempt him, he finde him well employed. And in an other place it is said, that idlenes is a capitall ennemie to the soule, and therfore the true seruantes of God ought to be exercised in prayer or in some other good worcke. Lett the Religious be very carefull not to appropriatt to them∣selues any place where they shall dwell, or any other, be it an hermitage, or whatsoeuer other place, nor lett them maintaine it as theirs, and if any come to visitt them, be it freind, ennemy, theefe, or murderer, lett them graciously receiue him. When the said Brethren shall dwel neere one to an other, lett them often charitably visitt each other, and lett them spiritually honour one an other without any murmure, but lett them be ioyfull and content in our Lord, lett them with modesty shew themselues gracious exteriourly and interiourly.

How strictly it is forbidden to the Brethren to receiue mony, and in what manner they are to be punished for it.

THE VIII. CHAPTER.

GOd gaue this commandement to his Apostles: Be you intentiue and keepe your selues from all kinde of malice and auarice, as also from setling your thoughtes and affections on this life, and being ouer carefull to purchase the things of the world. And therfore no Brother in whatsoeuer place he be, either to make his residence, or

to trauaile, or for any other occasion whatsoeuer, may haue mony in any manner or fashion that can happen, nor lesse may he receiue it for recompence of his labours; breiflely, no Brother may touch or possesse mony for any necessity that may befall him, vnlesse it be to releiue the vrgent need of the sick Brethren: because we must no more esteeme mony, then stones or thornes; to the end that, sith we renounce and a∣bandon all our temporall substance in this life, we doe not afterward for so small a matter make shipwrack of the eternall kingdome. If perad∣uenture we chaunce to finde mony in som place, lett vs no more regard then durt: because whatsoeuer is in the world, is meere vanity. But if it should happē, which God forbid, that any brother receiue mony, excep∣ting vpon the aforesaid necessity of the sicke, lett him be reputed by the Confraternity, for a false Religious, and thefe, as he that taketh a pur∣se, if he be not truely penitent. Lett not the Brethren in any manner in the world receiue mony or cause it to be receiued, nor much lesse lett them demaund or procure it to be demaunded by a third person in any sort whatsoeuer, nor lett them goe in company of men that demaund it for them. But the Brethren may, in the houses and places whither they shall goe, exercise other seruices that shall not be contrarie to our Religion and rule, with the benediction of our Lord. They may de∣maund almose, for the leapers only, whome they know to be in great necessity; but lett them be very wary of mony, and lett them likewise take keed not to search the world, for any occasion of vnlawfull gaine that may be presented.

Of the manner of demaunding almose, and of their ordinarie diet and refection.

THE IX. CHAPTER.

LEtt all the Brethren laboure to imitate the pouetty and humili∣ty of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST: and lett them remem∣ber that nothing is necessary in the world, but, as the Apostle saith, to haue wherewithal to releiue and couer vs: wherwith we ought to content vs, and seek no more. We must reioyce when we conuerse with poore and base personnes, that are contemned of the world, but especially with the diseased, leapers, and poore begars thorough the streetes. Whē it shable necessary to goe to demaūd almose att the doores, lett thē goe without any feare or shame, calling to minde that the sonne of Almighty God, presented his countenance as a hard stone to the blowes and affrontes of the world, and he was nothing

ashamed, to be poore and a stranger, and to liue vpon almose, toge∣ther with his most sacred mother the virgin Mary. And if men deny al∣mose, and retourne disgraces to the brother that shall demaund it, lett him thanck God sor it, and pray for them: because he shall receiue, saith IESVS CHRIST, great honour, of the shame that men shall procure him, and lett him know, that the iniuryes and scornes which shalbe don him, shall not be imputed as a fault to him that shall receiue them, but to him indeed that shall offer them: likewise that almose is a rent and obligation due to the poore, which our Lord IESVS CHRIST hath merited, purchaced and left vnto vs. And the Brethren that tra∣uaile in seeking almose, shall haue great recompence therof, besides that they procure a meritt to them that giue it; for whatsoeuer men doe in this world shall dissolue to nothinge, excepting almose, and worckes don in charity, for which they shall receiue of God an eternall recom∣pence. Lett each Brother with all assurance discouer his necessity to his fellowes, that they may comfort him with good wordes, and actually assist him according to their abillity: and lett each of them loue and cherish his Brothers, as the mother loueth and cherisheth her owne child, in what God shall giue him grace and faculty, to assist him. He that eateth not, lett him not contemne him that eateth; and he that eateth, lett him not the more esteeme of him that eateth not. If any necessity happen, it shalbe permissable to all the Brethren where they shall reside, to eat of all humane thinges, as God said of Dauid, who did eat the bread that was permitted to Preistes only to eat. Lett the Brethren remember that which IESVS CHRIST saith: Beware of chardging and ouerburdening your hart with two much drincking & eating, for feare that sleepe incontinently surprise you, and that sloath be occasion that in the latter day you be intercepted in the snares of death; the which before the entrapping of each man liuing shall neuer∣theles haue diuerses effectes, according as they shall finde the soule dis∣posed, either to life or to death, the one and the other eternall. But in time of manifest necessity, lett the Brethren behaue themselues as their need shal import, as our Lord shall better instruct them, because necessity is not subiect to law.

In what manner the sick Brethren ought to be serued.

THE X. CHAPTER.

IN any place where a Brother shall fall sicke, lett him not be left alone, but lett there be alwaies one or more, if need require to serue him, as

they would desire to be if they were in his place: if vpō necessity there be no Brother, lett care be taken to leaue some charitable persō to attēd and serue him in his sicknes: and I pray the sick Brother, that what soeuer may happen vnto him, he alwayes giue thancks vnto God, and be content to be such as God would haue him to be, either aliue or dead: that he continue in sicknes or recouer his health: because all they whome God hath predestinated to eternall life, are ordinarily by him instructed and diciplined, with the rod of his afflictions and sicknesse, with a spiritt of compunction and bitternes, as he saith in the third of the Apocalipse; I chastice and correct him whome I Ioue. And if the sicke be disquieted and passionat against God or the Brethren, or haue an ouer greedy affection to phisicke, desiring and procuring beyond rea∣son, to free his ffesh which hath so litle time to liue, and the which is ennemy to the soule; the said sick Brother must not esteeme the same to proceed of a good ground, but lett him assure and repute himselfe to be carnall: for he doth not seeme to be of the nomber of the true ser∣uantes of God, sith he more affecteth the body then the soule, consi∣dering that he striueth to worck more therin, then the Phisition fin∣deth for his cure.

That the Brethren ought mutually to loue each other, that they ought not to calumniat any person, nor in any sort to murmure.

THE XI. CHAPTER.

LEtt the Brethren be wary not to accuse any of malice or to ca∣lumniat him, and lett them not be contentious among them∣selues or with others, lett them also shunne perfidiousnes and disloyalty, but lett them be carefull to performe their exercises in the grace of God with silence, and lett them not maintaine quarelsome dis∣putes, neither among them selues nor with others: but rather that they first yeld, and say: We are vnprofitable seruantes, answearing alwayes with humility, and being very carefull of growing into passion: For men that maintaine their choller against their neighbour, are obliged to render account therof att the iudgement of God: and he that shall vpbraid his neighbour with contemptible wordes, shalbe condemned to the fire of hell. Lett them therfore loue one an other, as our lord teacheth vs, when he saith: My children, this is the precept I giue you, that you loue one an other, as I haue loued you. Now the truest manner of mutuall loue, according to the Apostle, is knowne by wor∣des, by worckes, and in verity. Lett them not curse any personne, lett

them not murmure, nor lett them not speake ill of any, for it is writ∣ten: The murmurers and detracters are abhorred of God. Lett them be modest, shewing themselues gentle and tractable to all, not iudging nor condemning any man; and, as our lord saith, consider not the litle sinnes of others, but rather with a bitternes and contrition of your sou∣le obserue your owne, and endeauour to enter by the streight gate, be∣cause our lord saith, the way is streight, as also is the gate that giueth▪ entry to eternall life, and there are few that finde it and enter theratt.

That the Brethren ought to be wary not to behould nor conuerse with women.

THE XII. CHAPTER.

LEtt all the Brethren in whatsoeuer place they reside, very res∣pectiuely forbeare wanton lasciuious aspectes, and lewd and dangerous conuersations with women. When it shalbe neces∣sary, lett none presume to speake alone with a woman, excepting the Preistes, who may speake modestly vnto them, when they giue them any penance or any spirituall counsaile, and lett no woman, in what soeuer manner, be receiued to obedience by any Brother what soeuer, to whome it shalbe yet permitted to counsaile her spiritually, to doe penance where she will. And lett vs all carefully preserue ourselues, with exceeding warines and dilligence; for God hath said, that what man soeuer shall behold a woman to couett her, he hath already sinned withher in his hart, because it is not lawfull for vs to behold that, which is not lawfull for vs to desire.

Of the punishment of the Brethren that shall fall into the sinne of the flesh.

THE XIII. CHAPTER.

IF any Brother, by instigation of the deuill, committ the sinne of the flesh, lett him vtterly loose and be depriued of the habit, which by his offence and lewdnes he shall haue defiled, and wher of by his finne he shall haue depriued himselfe: lett him be vtterly expelled the Religion, and let: him goe to doe penance for his sinne.

Of the manner the brethren ought to obserue trauailling thorough the world.

THE XIIII. CHAPTER.

VVHen the Brethren thall trauaile through the world, they must not, nor may not carry any kind of prouision, nor wallet, pur∣se, mony, nor staffe, and into what soeuer houses they shall enter, they shall say: The peace of our lord be in this house, and being entertained in any place, they may there repose, and eat and drincke of what shalbe presented vnto them. And if they shall be abused in wordes or effectes, by any one, lett them not be moued therwith, yea if one should giue them a buffet on the one cheek, lett them tourne the other; if any one would disapparell them, lett thē not hinder it, yea if one should violētly robbe them of their coat, lett them not aske it againe, but lett them be∣leeue that all this arriueth vnto them by the prouidence of God.

That the Religious may not haue any horses.

THE XV. CHAPTER.

I Command all my Brethren, aswell Preistes as lay, that when they shall trauaile thorough the world, or shall reside in any place, they haue no kind of beast to ride on, neither for them selues, nor for others, nor that it be euer lawfull for them to ride on horse-backe, but in case of sicknes, or of manifest necessity.

Of them that shall goe to the Mores and Infidels.

THE XVI. CHAPTER.

* 1.13 OVr lord saith: Behold I send you as sheep in the middes of wolues. Be ye therfore wise as serpentes, and simple as doues. And if any Brother moued with a diuine inspiration, would goe among the infi¦dell Mores, he may not goe without licēce of his Minister Prouinciall, who knowing that Religious sufficient, and of such a spiritt, that therof one may hope some fruit to redounde to others (not only saluation to himselfe) let him not be denyed, all vnderstood with the assistāce of God. For the said Minister Prouinciall shalbe obliged to be accountable vnto God, if graunting, or refusing permissiō to the faid Brother, his resolutiō shalbe pious, or indiscreet. And the Brethren that shall goe among

the infidels, may in two manners conuerse with them: First, they may not contentiously impugne them, but lett them be subiect, not only to the said infidels, but to euery creature for the loue of God, yet con∣fessing themselues alwayes to be Christians. Secondly, that when they perceiue it to be the will of God, they preach his word, to the end they beleeue in him one soueraigne power, the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, on God in Trinity, and in the humanity of the Redeemer and Sauiour of the world, exhorting them to be baptised and to liue* 1.14 thence-foward in Christianity: because he that shall not be borne a∣gaine by Baptisme and the holy Ghost, cannot enter into the kingdome of heauen. They shall preach to the Infidell people these thinges, and many others, which God shall inspire them: For our lord said in the gospell: I will confesse before my Father which is in heauen, all those that shall confesse me before men: but the day when I shall come on the earth in the Maiesty of my Father, I will deny them that shalbe asha∣med to confesse me to be the Sonne of man. Lett all the Brethren, in what soeuer place they are, remember that they haue already offered their soules and bodies to the soueraigne God, and that they ought to expose and employe them for the loue of him, in all occurrances, and to present the same to the ennemies visible and inuisible, because our lord hath said: he that in this world shall loose his life for my sake, shall finde it safe in eternall life, and blessed are they that suffer persecution for iustice, for theirs is the kingdome of heauen. Lett them also call to* 1.15 minde that which our lord saith: If you be persecuted of the impious and wicked, they haue first persecuted me, and if you be persecuted in one citty, fly into an other. When men shall hate you and persecute your name and you renowme and shall speake all euill of you for my sake, and for my loue, reioyce yee boldely: for your recompēce therof is great in heauen. And thus much I speake to you (my Brethren) to thēd you should not feare those that haue power to kill the body, and with your patience you shall possesse you soules, and he that shall perseuer to the end, shalbe saued.

Of the Preachers.

THE XVII. CHAPTER.

THe preaching of the gospell being the food and nourishment of the soule, lett no Brother or Minister authorise himselfe and en∣terprise to preach without licence of his Superiours, and lett such as ••••albe authorised, be very respectiue not to preach against the forme and

constitutions of our holy mother the Church. Lett the Minister Pro∣uincials be aduertised not to admitt to any chardge, especially in mat∣ter of importance, all personnes indifferently, but lett them former∣ly consider well therof. Lett the Brethren that shalbe admitted to preach, or to exercise any other obedience, take heed not to attribute to themselues, or to their merittes, the office which they shall haue, and particulerly that of preaching, they ought rather to practise by worckes, then by faire elected wordes: and therfore att all times and whensoeuer they shalbe aduertised to desist from preaching, lett them without any contradiction entierly forbeare to preach. Therfore (by charity which is God himselfe) I pray all my Brethren, Preachers, Ora∣tours, and other Officers and Ministers, as well Preistes as lay, that they endeauour continually to debase and humble themselues, and that they neither glory nor take complacence in any good, that God doeth or speaketh by them: because such worck is not theirs, but Goddes: and that they remember that which our lord IESVS CHRIST saith: Esteeme not the more of your selues, for that you see the deuils subiect vnto you; and lett each on rest assured that we haue nothing of our owne, but vices and sinnes: and when we finde our selues tempted and oppressed with diseases and afflictions, as well in soule as in body, we should reioyce in hope of eternall life. Lett vs beware of pride, and vaine glory of the wisdome of the world, and the prudence of the flesh, which endeauoureth to speake well, but litle to doe well. For it seeketh not a religion and sanctity of spiritt, but a religion and sanctity exteri∣our and apparant vnto men: for these are they of whome our lord speaketh, when he saith: I tell you in verity, you haue already your reward. The spiritt which is of God, desireth the flesh should be mor∣tified,* 1.16 misprised, and esteemed vile, and that it endeauour to be hum∣ble, patient, pure, duly subiected to the spiritt, and especially rooted in the feare and loue of God, the Father, Sonne and holy Ghost, refer∣ring all good thinges to the most high: lett vs acknoledge our selues to be his, and lett vs continually yeld him thankes, as one from whome dependeth and proceedeth all our good. Therfore are all honours, and all benedictions due to him alone, by reason also that he is the true and soueraigne good: And therfore when we shall see any thing il done or ill spoaken against his holy name, lett vs on the contrary endeauour to prayse, exalt, and thanck him, as blessed for euer world without end. Amen.

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Now, and when the Ministers ought to assemble.

THE XVIII. CHAPTER.

THe Minister Prouinciall ought with all his Brethren to assem∣ble together, euery yeare, att the feast of S. Michael, in some cōmodious place to treat and determine of matters behoufull for the seruice of God and Religiō. And all the Minister Prouincials that are beyond the sea and in places on the other side the Mountaines, shall assēble once euery three yeares: the other Minister Prouincials shall come euery yeare to the Chapiter, in the Church of S. Mary of Angels, if the Minister generall dispose not otherwise, to whose ordonnance all ought to obey.

That all Brethren ought to liue Catholiquely

THE XIX. CHAPTER.

LEtt all the Brethren be Catholiques, and as such, liue Catholi∣quely: and if any one should erre in faith, or in the instution and constitutions of holy Churche, either by worckes or wordes, if he doe not forthe with rectifie himselfe, lett him be vtterly expelled out of our Religiō. We ought to acknoledge for our Superiours, all Pre∣lates and Religious in that which concerneth the good estate of our sou∣le, prouided that they proceed not against our Order and our Rule.

Of the confesion and communion of the Brethren.

THE XX. CHAPTER.

LEtt all my Brethren, as well Preistes as the laity, the blessed of God, cōfesse to the Preistes of our Order, and if in case they cā∣not, they may confesse to an other Preist, that is prudent and Ca∣tholique, and lett them firmely beleeue that by the pennance and abso∣lution giuen them, they shalbe absolued of all their sinnes: and therfore lett them endeauour, with the greatest faith and humility that they can, to accomplish the penance that shalbe enioyned them. And if they should be in a place where they could not haue commodity of a Preist, lett them in such case confesse with their Brethren, as the Apostle saith:* 1.17 Confesse your sinnes one to an other: But let them not yet omitt, when they shall haue meanes to repaire to Preistes, because they alone haue the authority and power of God to bind and loose: Being so contrite

and cōfested, lett them with exceeding humility and reuerence receiue the most sacred sacrament, calling to minde that which God saith: he* 1.18 that eateth my flesh and drincketh my bloud, hath life euerlasting. And in an other place: Doe this for a commemoration of me.

Of praysing God and exhorting Christians to pennance.

THE XXI. CHAPTER.

VVHen my Brethren shall know and esteeme it expedient to preach to the people, hauig imparted the benediction of God, they may vse these wordes: Feare, loue, honour, praise continually, and say yee: Be thou blessed almighty God, Trinity, and vnitie, Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost, Creatour of all thinges: I beseech thee to permitt me to performe fruites worthy of penance, and to know this truth, that we shall shortly die, and that att that instant the knotte of this soule and body shall end, to be either eternally happy, or eternally miserable. They must exhort such as haue bin offended, to pardon, as God doth pardon vs: and to this effect lett them vnderstand, that if they doe not pardon, they shall not be pardonned, and that they shalbe blessed that shall die contrite, because their place shalbe in heauen, and miserable shall they be that shall die impenitent, because they shalbe children of the deuill, whose worckes they haue wrought, and therfore shall they discend in∣to eternall sier. Be carefull my beloued Brethren to shunne all vices, and perseuer in god euen to the end, that God may blesse you.

An Exhortation he made to all the Brethren.

THE XXII. CHAPTER.

* 1.19 LEtt vs be mindefull of that which our lord sayth; loue your enemies, and doe good to them that hate you: Because besides what he hath taugbt vs by worde, he hath in like sort taught vs by effect, whose steppes we ought to imitate. As then he called Iudas his freind, though he knew he would betray him, and vo∣luntarily presented himselfe to them that were to crucifie him: so likewise lett vs repute them our freindes that iniustly afflict vs, that oppose them selues against vs, that iniury vs, procure our vexation, torment and death: and we ought to loue them the more, in that what they doe vnto vs, God vseth them as an instrument: and because what soeeuer he doeth and permitteth, though it seeme

displeasing vnto vs, it notwithstanding auaileth to our saluation, sith by meane hereof we shall purchase eternall life. We ought besides to ab∣horre and hate our body, when it is pleased in delightes and vices: for so liuing carnally, we estrange our selues from the loue of IE∣SVS CHRIST, and make our owne entry into hell; and by rea∣son that by sinne we become loathsome and miserable, and that the concupiscences of our flesh are contrary to our true good, and make vs prone to euill, as our lord saith. From the hart of man proceed euill co∣gitations,* 1.20 fornications, adulteries, murders, couetousnes, theftes, de∣ceiptes, blasphemies, false testimonies, pride, and the foly of this world, and all the foresaid euils procure and make the soule loathsome, defiled, and refrigerate: we therfore, who haue already forsaken the world, should haue regard to no other thinge, but to doe the will of God, an to take contentment therin. Lett vs haue care not to be like the earth by the way side full of stones and thornes, because as our lord* 1.21 saith, the seed (that is the word of God) which was sowne by the way side, was trodden vnder foote by passengers and destroyed. Hereto are compared those that heare the word of God, but dispose not themsel∣ues to vertue, and the deuill incontinently rooteth it out of their harts, least beleeuing they might be saued. They are compared to the stone, wheron the other seed fell, who willingly heare the word of God, and insome sort dispose themselues to doe well: but some affliction befal∣ling them, they are incontinently scandalized, the seed then withereth, because it hath no root. They are compared to thornes, who hearing the word of God, haue their harts alwayes employed on worldly thin∣ges and permitt thēselues to be seduced by richesse and auarice, busying themselues in terrestriall affaires, and therfore the seed cannot profitt them. But they are like to fertile land, who heare the word of God, and with the hart obserue and practise it, and doe worckes worthy of pe∣nance. Lett vs therfore, as our Lord saith, suffer the dead to bury the dead. Lett vs be seriously wary of the slightes and mischeiuous de∣uises* 1.22 of the deuill, who seeketh no other thing but to separate our sou∣le from vnion with God by the bait of temporall richesse, honours, and pleasures of the flesh, seeking to become lord and master of the hart of man, employing all his endeauour to root out of his memory the preceptes of God, and doth striue to blind the hart of man in the desires and cogitations of the world and to confirme him in them, according to the saying of our lord: When the vncleane spiritt shall depart out of a* 1.23 man, he wandereth through places without water seeking rest. And not finding, he saith, I will retourne into my house whence I departed. And when he is come, he findeth it swept with a besome, and trim∣med.

Thē he goeth & taketh seuen other spirits worse then himselfe, & entring in theydwel there. And the things last of that mā be made worse then the first. Sith then we are by these speeches admonished, lett vs not procure our ruine and death by disvniting our soule from God, for whatsoeuer terrestriall recompense, affaire, or fauour, but lett all we doe, be only for the loue of God. I pray all the Brethren, that being freed and deliuered of al impediment and hinderance, that may trouble them, they make their best endeauour, to serue, loue, and honour God, with a pure hart, and free spiritt, in regard that he especially requireth the same of vs: and lett vs so proceede, that in vs may be the residence of his diuine Maiestie, the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, who* 1.24 faith vnto vs: Pray att all times that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come, and to stand before the Sonne of man: he also teaching vs to pray, saith: When you shall pray, say: Our* 1.25 Father which art in heauen: We therfore must alwayes pray and neuer faile therin. Lett vs adore God with a sincere hart, because such adorers please the eternall Father and he would haue it so. God is a spiritt, and they that adore him, ought to adore him in spiritt, & truth. Let vs haue recourse to our Lord, as to the Father and Pastour of our soules, who saith: I am the good Pastour, that feed and keep my flocke, euen to the* 1.26 exposing of my life for it: you are all Brethren, therfore call not your selues Fathers on earth, because you haue but one Father which is in heauen, nor call your selues masters, for you haue but one celestiall Ma∣ster. If you remaine in me, and my wordes in you, you shall haue and* 1.27 obtaine whatsoeuer you shall demaund. And where there are two or three assembled in my name, I am there with them euen to the end of the world. The wordes that I haue spoken to you, be spiritt and life. I am the way, and the verity, and the life: lett vs then keep the true life and doctrine, and the holy gospell which it hath pleased him to mani∣fest vnto vs, as he sayth: Father I haue manifested thy name to the men whome thou gauest me, and they haue receiued the doctrine which I haue giuen them: they haue knowne that I am truely come from thee, and they haue beleeued that thou hast sent me. For them I praye, not for the world, but for them whome thou hast giuen me. Holy Father, keepe them in thy name, whome thou hast giuen me that they may be one, as also we. These things I speake in the world, that they may haue my ioy filled in themselues. I haue giuen them thy word, and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world: as I also am not of the world. I pray not that thou take them away out of the world, but that thou preserue them from euill. Sanctifie them in truth. Thy word is truth. As thou diddest send me into the world, I also haue sent them into the world. And for them I doe sanctifie my selfe:

that they also may be sanctified in truth. And not for them onlie doe I pray, but for them also that by their word shall beleeue in me: that they all may be one, that the world may beleeue that thou hast sent me, and hast loued them, as me also thou hast loued: and thou shalt lett them know thy name, because the loue whereby thou hast loued me shall be in them, and in me together. By the same meane Father, whome thou hast giuen me, I will, that where I am, they also may be with me: that they may see my glorie which thou hast giuen me. I praye all the Brethren in the name of almightie God, to learne the sence of that which is written in this life for the saluation of our soules, and to imprint it with great caution in their vnderstanding, and I be∣seech God Three and One, to vouchsafe to impart his benediction to all them that teach and learne, and that accord together to accomplish the thinges afore said: and as often as they shall read ouer the same for the good of their soule. I further beseech all the Brethren (kissing their feet) to loue them exceedinglie, and to obserue them. And in the behalfe of God and the Pope, I Brother Francis, by obedience haue commanded, and doe oblige, that no man diminish or augment any thing of that which is written in this life and rule, and that neither the Brethren haue any other rule.

The end of the rule of S. Francis.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Matt. 19. Matt. 16. Luc. 14. Matt. 19.
• * 1.2

  The cap∣peron is a peece of cloth which the noui∣ces weare on their brests from the neck to the cord.
• * 1.3

  Matt. 11.
• * 1.4

  Marc. 9. Matt. 6.
• * 1.5

  Luc. 10.
• * 1.6

  Matt. 20.
• * 1.7

  Hebr. 13.
• * 1.8

  Hebr. 10.
• * 1.9

  Note this word. Matt. 9. Luc. 12.
• * 1.10

  Psal. 1••8.
• * 1.11

  Psal. 127 ••. Thes. 3.
• * 1.12

  S. Hier.
• * 1.13

  Matt. 10.
• * 1.14

  Ioan. 3.
• * 1.15

  Ioan. 12. Ioh. 5. Matt. 5.
• * 1.16

  Matth. ••. 6.
• * 1.17

  I••••. 5.
• * 1.18

  Ioan. 6. Matt. 26.
• * 1.19

  Matth. 5.
• * 1.20

  Matt. 15.
• * 1.21

  Luc. 8.
• * 1.22

  Matt. 8.
• * 1.23

  Luc. 11.
• * 1.24

  Luc. 21.
• * 1.25

  Matt. 6. Ioan. 4.
• * 1.26

  Ioan 10. Matt. 23.
• * 1.27

  Ioan. 15. 6. & 13. Ioan. 17.