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 much the spiritt of prophesie assisted the holy Father S. Francis.

THE CXVII. CHAPTER.

* 1.1 THere came one day three yong Florentines to aske the benedi∣ction of the holy Father S. Francis: wherof the porter hauing aduertised him, without vttering one word he went into the garden, where he gathered fiue figges, wherof he gaue two, vnto two of the three yong men that came to visitt him, and the other three vnto the third, to whome he said: within few dayes you shalbe one of mine, thē hauing giuen them his benediction he dismissed them. And short••ly after, this yong man became a Frere Minour, and proued very pious and exem∣plar. When S. Francis gaue his benediction, it was in these termes: The* 1.2 name of our lord IESVS CHRIST be blessed and his sacred passiō, the most holy virgin that brought him foorth with all the celestiall Court. Therfore being one day in prayer, the virgin Mary appeared vnto him, and gaue him the fairest aple that could be imagined, saying vnto him, that as that gift was precious, euen so as often as her Sonne heard these wordes with deuotion vttered: The name of our lord be blessed, it was exceeding gratefull vnto him, and he so much esteemed them as if some matter of high worth were presented vnto him: and therfore the holy Father did afterwardes more often vse them.

S. Francis residing att Grecio, where he tooke phisicke for his eyes, the Phisition being one day come to visitt him, he inuited him to dine

in the Couent, who dwelling not far thence, neuer accustomed to eat there: neuertheles he was att this time content to stay in regard that S.* 1.3 Francis had so inuited him: But the Guardian being by commandemēt of S. Francis and in his name aduertised therof, he retourned answeare that there was nothing wherwith to entertayne him. S. Francis sent him reply that he should cause to be prepared the hearbes and bread which he acknowledged to haue, and should leaue to God the care of the rest. Now as they were sitting downe att table, there knocked one att the gate, where the porter found a woman that brought a great basket on her head, full of bread, egges, fish, cheese, fruit, and other thinges, which a lady had sent them three leagues distant from the Couent▪ which being ioyfully receaued by the porter and sett on the table, euery one admired thereatt. By meane of this miracle they vnderstood the wordes of the S. when he bad that the care should be left to God: And when he smiled, the Guardian also sending him word that he was asha∣med to entertaine the said Phisician hauing nothing wherewith all. So they were more confirmed in the beleefe they had of the propheticall spiritt of S. Francis, and the Phisician said to the Religious: verily Bre∣thren we doe not know the sanctity of our Father: For I stayed only in respect of him, reioycing to eat this day with you by deuotion, of your grosse refection: but he hath wayted then to inuite me, when he knew by prophetical spiritt, that here would be a plentifull repast. The Religi∣ous replyed that it was particuler vnto him, to foretell what was to suc∣ceed, without euer fayling therin.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Prophe∣sies of S. Fr. to a yong man that he should be one of his
• * 1.2

  In what words S. Francis gaue his benedi∣ction.
• * 1.3

  S. Frane. purposely inuited to dinner a Phisicion against all appa∣rence.