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.

Being inuited by certaine great noble men, to eat with them, be ••at nothing there but the almose which he had begged att the dores.

THE XLVI. CHAPTER.

BY reason that he demaunded not almose out of a couetousnes, but only by a liberty of spiritt and a zeale of holy pouerty, for the loue of IESVS CHRIST, therfore did he far more willing∣ly eate of that which he begged and was giuen him att dores, then of what was presented him att table in the banquettes of Princes. When therfore he was inuited by them, before he went thither, he first begged morcels of bread att the dores, which he eat att their tables. Which he did, partlie for loue he bare to holie pouerty, and partly also to giue ex∣ample* 1.1 to his Brethren. Being one day inuited by the Cardinall of Hostia, who exceedinglie loued him, he first according to his custome begged peices of bread, and hauing gott what was necessary, he went to the ta∣ble of the said Cardinall, where he sodenlie emptyed out all the said peices of bread, and laid before him, next vnto whome was the place, of the said Cardinall, who esteemed himselfe as it were braued thereby: yet for the present would say nothing therof. But the holy Father, thinc∣king on what he had to doe, began to deuide his bread into many litle morcels, which he distributed among the noble men that were att the table, who receaued it very deuoutly, some of them presentlie eating it, others kept it for reuerence. Which the Cardinall perceauing with much contentment, was somewhat appeased. Notwithstanding after the re∣fection being retired into a chamber with S. Francis, embracing him and clipping him with his armes, he gestingly said: O simple brother my freind, why hast thou giuen me so great an affront this daye, as com∣ming to eat att my table, which is thine and theirs who appertaine vnto thee, thou wouldest first begge that thou wert to eat? The holy Father answeared him: nay I haue rather done you this day great honour, sith that att your table hath bin honoured a greater Lord then your selfe, and one that is your master: besides the subiect doeing that which his Lord commandeth him, he honoureth his master. For God had so much loued this royall pouerty, that he hath vouch-safed to accept her for his es∣pouse, to enrich vs her inheritours together with her, and by meanes of pouerty of spiritt which we shall haue here, to giue vs glory afterwar∣des in heauen.

NOW I neither can nor will omitt to gaine such a succession, for any apparance of false richesse that may be presented: considering with all that they are of small continuance: and so much more in regard that it is

necessary for me to make my selfe a forme and example vnto my other Brethren: and besides for that I well know that in this Religion, there are and shalbe many Brethren that shalbe minors in name and effect for the loue of God and by the light of the holy Ghost that teacheth them, with all humility to serue others in their necessity. I know likewise ve∣ry well, would to God it were not so, that there are and yet shalbe mo∣re, such as shall haue no will to humble themselues to aske almose and to doe other seruile offices, be it either thorough shame or by corrup∣ted manners. It is therfore necessary for me to instruct them their due∣ty by worckes, to the end that both in this world & the other they be inexcusable before God: and that they may not say, they found none that gaue them example, and so they remaine dischardged. Being ther∣fore att this present with you, who are an Apostolicall Prince, and our Protectour, or att other times with some other great personnes, that entertaine me not only with a pleasing countenance, for the loue of IESVS CHRIST; but euen doe sometimes constraine me to remaine with you: I should not therfore be ashamed to aske almose, but I rather am ioyfull to receaue it and to follow my God: esteeming it for his loue to be an heroicall act and of dignitye: for himselfe being almighty, would for vs become and make himselfe as nothing.* 1.2 Now I would haue all my Brethren present and to come to know, that I am better pleased to be att their table, and to see their pouerty, then to be att these your bountifull tables that are superfluous in all thinges: because the bread receaued of almose, is bread offered and entierly sacrificed for the loue of God, sith the Brother that demaun∣deth it, saith first, God be praysed, and then asketh it, in the name and for the loue of God. This said, S. Francis was silent, and the Cardinall was exceedingly edified by the seruour of his wordes, which did spiritualy comfort him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Being inuited to eat with a Cardi∣nall he brought what he had beg∣ged and why.
• * 1.2

  Phil. 2.