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 S. Francis retourned into Italy.

THE LXXI. CHAPTER.

THe said holy Father being retourned towardes the Soldan, was very ioyfully and graciously entertayned, and he att length told him secretly that he would willingly become Christian, belee∣uing* 1.1 firmely that the Christian Religion was the true way of saluation; but he feared to manifest the same for the present, the time seeming im∣proper, he warring against the Christians, nor being secure, by reason that the Mores hated them to the death: but because by thy retourne (said the Soldan to S. Francis) as I cōiecture, thou mayest profitt many, and I haue many matters to dispatch that deeply concerne me: I beseech thee to instruct me att this preset, that mine affaires effected, I may obey thee, when occasiō shalbe presēted, as I doe now sincerely promise thee. The holy Father hauing demaunded respite of answeare, went to his prayer, wherin perseuering for many dayes together, he continually im∣plored the grace of God for that poore soule, whence he would neuer

desist, till he was heard, which with the successe being reuealed vnto him, he wēt to the Soldā, to whom he said: Sir, I resolue to goe into Ita∣ly, the will of my God being such: but I promise to sēd you two Religi∣ous, in time conuenient, by whose meane (according to the reuelation* 1.2 which God hath giuen me, and which I explicate and promise vnto you) you shall certainely be saued. The Soldan, hauing heard so gratefull an answeare, with an exceeding contentement imprinted the same in his hart, and S. Francis taking leaue of him retourned into Italy, and failed not in the accomplishment of his promise: for he appeared to two of his Religious that were resident in Syria, whom he sent to the Soldan who was deadly sick: the Religious repayred vnto him and instructed him,* 1.3 and hauing baptised him he died.

S. Antony of Padua speaking of this Soldan, conformably hereto affir∣meth, that diuers are of opiniō that he was baptised before his death: the firme affectiō which he carryed vnto the Christiās, being apparantly ma∣nifested: for he had entertayned of thē for the guard of his body: & it is well knowne what piety he alwayes shewed towardes our army. Lik∣wise Iames de Vitry Cardinall, in his historie writtē of the conquest of the holie land, guieth testimonie of S. Francis his voyage in those quar∣ters, in these wordes: We haue seene the Father S. Francis, the first Foun∣der of the Order of the Freer Minors, a simple man and without lear∣ning,* 1.4 but so much fauoured of God and men, and eleuated to so high a feruour of spiritt, that cōming to the armie of Christiās, that beseiged the cittie of Damiette in Egipt, he passed with out any feare, armed onlie with the buckler of faith, to the middest of the armie of the Mores, saying: Bring me to the Soldan: to whose presence being come, as soone as he had beheld him, of a most cruell beast as he was, he became a most gentle lambe, and gaue most attentiue eare to the word of God which he preached. But att length fearing that many of his people that desirously herad him, and yet did not stirre from his campe, would be conuerted and adhere vnto our army; he returned him with great reuerence vnto vs, praying him att his deperture that he would pray vnto God for him, that he would please to inspire him to entertaine and espouse that law, that were most pleasing and gratefull vnto him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The re∣solution of the Soldan to become Christiā and his demaund to be in∣structed.
• * 1.2

  S. Franc. assureth the Sol∣dan of his sal∣uation.
• * 1.3

  And sēt him two of his Religious to baptise him a litle be∣fore his death.
• * 1.4

  Iames de Vitri Cardi∣nal.