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.

How he trauailed towardes Siria, there to receiue Martirdome.

THE LIIII. CHAPTER.

* 1.1 THe yeare of grace, '1212. the order of S. Francis still florishing in nomber and in fame of sanctitie, he ordayned that they should twice in the yeare assemble att our lady of Angels, att the feast of Pentecost, and of S. Michael tharchangel, to suck the milke of Euangelicall pouertie from this their holy mother, and the∣re to conferre of matters necessarie to their Order, and of accidentes occurring: as also to vnite themselues in fraternall loue, animating each other in vertue of the spiritt. There were the preachers deputed to their places, and other obediences ordayned. The holie Father* 1.2 desiring to assist not onlie the faithfull, but euen Infidell Pagans, to sow the faith euery where, and to offer himselfe in sacrifice to the fire of Martyrdome, a liuely host vnto God, and by his death after the example of IESVS CHRIST, to lay open vnto erring foules, the way of saluation, in the aforsaid yeare, which was the fourth of the institution of his order, being no longer able to suppres∣se the flame of desire of martyrdome, he resolued to passe the sea to goe preach vnto the Infidels in Siria. He embarqued himselfe to this purpose, but the vessell which carryed him was encountred with a most cruell tempest, that forced it into Sclauonia where he remayned diuers dayes: his companie refusing to proceed any far∣ther.

Wherfore perceauing himselfe frustrated of his holy desire, estee∣ming it to arriue by the prouidence and pleasure of his diuine maiesty: and vnderstanding that there were certaine mariners retourning to Au∣cona, he besought them for the loue of God to conduct him with his* 1.3 companion back againe into Italie. They perceiuing him to be extreme∣lie poore and that no benifitt was to be gotten by him, they made excuse that they had sclender prouision. But the holy Father relying on the mercie of God, entred so secretlie with his companion into the shipp that they were not seen of the Patron. Being so hidden without the knowledge of any person to giue them to eat, an Angel sodenlie appeared to a man in the ship that had the feare of God, to whome he gaue prouision for his seruant, saying. Take this food and dispose it prouidentlie for the reliefe of the two Religious, that are hidden here within, whome he shewed vnto him: and when they shall haue need, be charitable vnto them. Hauing said thus much he disap∣peared, and what he had giuen in chardge, was performed. The mari∣ners* 1.4 in meane while so long floted in stormes and tempestes, that they spent all their prouision, so that there only remayned in the shippe that releife which God had sent vnto the S. which appearing to be but litle, did neuertheles in such sort augment, by the prayers of S. Fran∣cis, rendring good for euill, that it sufficed for all them that were in the vessell, till they arriued att their pretended port: which mi∣racle being knowne vnto the Patron, he repented to haue refu∣sed to admitt them, for the loue of God, whose diuine Maiestie notwithstanding was pleased to shew such a manifest miracle, to the end it might appeare how much more his ser∣uantes do by their merittes, support and vphold the world, then they are supported by it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  S. Franc. ordayned two ge∣nerall chapters in the yeare.
• * 1.2

  God would not that S. Franc. should suffer martyr∣dome which he so much sought & desired.
• * 1.3

  The ship∣mē would not ad∣mitt. S. Francis by reason of his pouerty.
• * 1.4

  God pro∣uided food for S. Franc. and for other in the ship for his sake.