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 other like cases of Prophesie.

THE CXVIII. CHAPTER.

A Religious of the Order deluded by the deuill, forsooke Reli∣gion and vnder coulour to liue more perfectly, became a Pilgri∣me. But committing manie offences, he reflected on his er∣rour, and with great humllitie went to the holie Father, who seeing* 1.1 him, shutt himselfe into his celle (att the merueillous astonishment of all his Religious, for he accustomed to shew himselfe verie milde and gracious to the penitentes that retourned vnto him) whence when he ca∣me foorth, his Religious demanded of him why he shutt himselfe in: he answeared that he ran to the armour of prayer, to assist that Religious & to defend him from the handes of the deuill, whome he saw ouer him, and that he had presentlie obtayned the victory. Retourning then to∣wardes the said Religious, Brother, said he, our lord God hath pardon∣ned thee: but be carefull that the deuill, vnder pretence of any other

sanctitie deceaue thee not againe, and cause not thee, for any other stepmother what soeuer to forsake thy true mother: which he perfect∣lie obserued, perseuering in his Order all the time of his life.

This that followeth is taken out of the 22. chapter of the sixt booke, be∣cause it is the beginning of the matter recounted, euen to the place here recorded.

The holie Father S. Francis passing through Tuscane, Brother Ma∣cie his companion walked a litle before him to discouer the way, and comming into a parting way, where one might take his course either towardes Florence, Sienna, or Arezza, he asked S. Francis which way they should tourne, who answeared, as it shall please God. Bro∣ther* 1.2 Macie replyed, how shall God shew vs his will herein? By thee, said the S. and withall commanded him vnder obedience to tourne and not to rest, till he commanded him. Brother Macie was no lesse ready to obey then he should haue bin to commande, yea he tourned so much that he many times fell to the ground by the giddines he felt in his head with often tourning, and desisted not, though the passengers stayd to behold him, and derided him as an idiott, till S. Francis with a loud voice bid him to stay, which done, he asked him towardes what place he was tourned, and he answeared, towardes Sienna. Goe on then to Sienna said the holy Father: whither being come, the greater part of the nobles and gentlemen mett them and with exceeding deuo∣tion accompayned them to the Bishopperick, where the holy Father S. Francis preached vpon occasion of two men that by ciuill sedition had then bin slaine. And by his preaching he so wrought, that before his departure he reconciled them all: by which worcke, more diuine thē humane, it manifestly appeared that it was Goddes will he should come thither. This holy Father finding himselfe loaden with the prayses of men (which he esteemed an intollerable burden) he one day priuatly de∣parted the towne, without speaking a word to any man.

The sequel of the aforesaid hundredth chapter.

Brother Macie thefore that followed him murmured a litle to him∣selfe, att his litle good manners in departing from the Bishop without taking leaue of him, & for making him turne as a foole in the middes of the way the day before: but perceauing afterwardes that it was a deceipt* 1.3 of the deuill, he very bitterlie reprehended himselfe affirming that he de∣serued hell, for presuming to iudge of the S. as opposing against the di∣uine worckes by him wrought, as a verie true Angell of the liuing God, in such or like manner accusing himselfe. The holie Father tourning to him, said: Proceed bouldelie, Brother Macie, for this thy last discourse is euen so of God, as thy former was of the de∣••ill. Brother Macie then so much more humbled himselfe as he more

approued the admirable sanctity of his holy Father.

An other Religious had a great desire to conuerse with him, but he abstayned fearing to offend him by knowing his great imperfe∣ctions: doubting withall, that offending the purity of his soule, he should also vtterlie loose his fauour. These thoughtes being entierly reuealed vnto S. Francis, he one day called him to him, & said: Brother, I know you desire to conuerse with me, speake therfore, and say freely what you will, and come to me when you desire: by this* 1.4 meane the Religious was so secured, as he remayned more affe∣cted vnto him. These thinges wherby the prophetie of the holie Father Sainct Francis was generallie manifested, are al∣most infinite: therefore hauing hereafter recited two or three other, we shall haue ended all that may be collected of all au∣thors. God knoweth the rest.

How S. Francis prophesied the Papacy to Nicolas the 3. when he was yet a child. This is taken out of the 9. chapter of the 9. booke, and here put in his place.

Mathew Rimido a Romane gentleman, was an affectionate freind vnto the holy Father Sainct Francis: yea did afterward take the ha∣bitt of the Rule of the third Order, this man hauing one morning inuited Sainct Francis to dine with him, and presenting vnto him his sonne Iohn Caietan, then a litle child, who was afterward Pope Nicolas the third, to giue him hs benediction: the holy Father tooke him in his armes, embraced and kissed him very louingly, and recom∣mended vnto him his Religion, which procured great astonishment and abondance of teares of the Father present, and much more when he more plainly told him, that the child should not be Religious in habitt, but much in deuotion, and principall Lord of this world, and protectour of his Religion. The holy Father vsed one of his ordinarie exercises of humility with this gentleman, out of the very harty loue he boare to holy pouerty: which was, that being inuited by him and com∣ming att such time as he was not att home, where certaine new ser∣uantes* 1.5 not knowing him gaue diuers poore people to eat within a Court, he likewise receaued almose and did eat togeather with them. The Lord Mathew comming home, and finding Sainct Francis to eat among the poore, he incontinently sate downe on the ground with him: where he would in like sort eat with the poore, and the S. to whome he said: Father, sith you would not dine with me, I must dine with you.

The sequel of the said hundredth chapter.

Brother Iohn Bonello, a Religious of great perfection, held a generall

chapter in Prouence, in the monastery of Arles, where he was Prouin∣ciall* 1.6 Minister. S. Antony of Padua preached att that chapter vpon the title of the holy crosse. It there happened then that a Religious Preist called Brother Monaldus of a very exemplare life, saw ouer the dore of the Chapter in the aire, S. Francis, with his handes and feet stretched on a crosse: and as he was, he blessed all the Religious, loosing his right hand from the crosse, whiles S. Antony most profoundlie expoun∣ded the said title of the crosse. Wherefore, the spirituall consolation which they all then felt in themselues was such and so great, that albeit Brother Monaldus alone saw the said S. present, neuertheles they all did participate of the grace: in such sort that if any one would not haue beleeued the relation of Brother Monaldus, he was constrayned to be assured thereof, by that which he had felt in his hart. Besides many other like apparitions of the said S. by diuine permission, wherein God would demōstrat how neere our soule is (when she wil receaue his gra∣ce) vnto the diuine light, and eternall wisdome, by communication wherof, she ariseth from the world, to vnite herselfe with God, ma∣king the humble and poore of spiritt, Prophettes, reuealing high myste∣ries vnto them, as it made Dauid, one of the principall prophetes, after∣wardes S. Peter and the other Apostles, according to the saying of the Gospell: Many thinges I haue to say to you: but you cannot beare them now:* 1.7 But when he, the spiritt of truth, commeth, he shall teach you all truth: and in these latter dayes, his humble and simple seruant S. Francis. For as he did chose the Apostles, simple and idiotes, in regard of the learning of the world, he neuertheles made them famous by doctrine and di∣uine worckes; and the Sheepheard Dauid, to feed the sheep of the si∣nagogue transported out of Egipt, and S. Peter the fisher, to fill the nettes of the holy church, with the multitude of faithfull Chri∣stians: so he would haue Sainct Francis a merchaunt, to teach vs to traficke and negociate for this precious stone of the E∣uangelicall life, selling all his goodes, and distributing it to the poore for his loue: and to enrich his church with soules redeemed by this holy meane.

How the blessed Father Sainct Francis, renounced and rendred in the handes of his Brethren, the office of Generall of the Order, and instituted a Vicar Generall in his place. This was the 31. chapter of the second booke improperly, and therfore, to follow the true Order of his life, we haue here put it in his place.

This B. Father was so zealous of obediēce, & especially of that his most holy humility, that he could in no sort dispose himself to cōmaūd: so that it was irksome vnto him to performe the office appertayning therevnto,

as to haue the chardge of gouerning so many thousandes of Religious, to commaund and reprehend, to aduise and correct, to giue ordon∣nances, and to chastice the offenders. Therfore, he resolued to re∣nounce the office of Minister Generall, as well for the cause hereafter alleadged, as the better by example to teach obedience vnto his chil∣dren. Besides he found himselfe too sickly, so that he could not ap∣ply himselfe to that office as was requisite: and yet would not omitt the rigour of his penance, to conserue his body, yea he was better con∣tent to continue sicke, then by neuer so litle relenting his austeritie, to be cured of his infirmities: the occasion was reasonable, to free himselfe piously of such a chardge. And therfore, att the generall chap∣ter held two yeares before he receaued of our Lord IESVS CHRIST his sacred stigmates, he publikelie renounced the office of Minister Generall, not without the exceeding greife of all the Religious, who by all meanes refusing, during his life, to admitt any other Minister, he was constrayned to constitute a Vicar Generall, that gouerned the Order in his name; To this effect, he made choise of Brother Peter Catanio, his second sonne in Religion, a man of great prudence, and very expert to gouerne: to whome the holie Father promised his cheiffest obedience, and besides to him that should be constituted his Guardian. Which all the Religious seeing, they began bitterlie to wee∣pe esteeming they should continue as orphanes, without the ordinary gouernment of their beloued Father, who comforting them the best he could, his handes ioyned, and his eyes eleuated towardes heauen he said: My God, I recommende vnto thee this family, which to this houre thou hast recommended vnto me: For now, by reason of mine infirmities, other impedimentes, and iust causes to thee knowne, being vnable henceforward to haue care of them, I haue committed them to a Vicar Generall, and to other Prouinciall Ministers, who shalbe obliged to yeld thee a very exact account of them att the terrible day of the great iudgement; if they chaunce to perish by their negligence or euill ex∣ample. And so the holy Father S. Francis thenceforward perseuered to be alwayes subiect, euen to the day of his death; surpassing thē all in hu∣militie. Yet did he neuer faile to be very zealous in assisting and with his vtmost to fauour his Order, euen during the life of his first Vicar, who died att the end of the second yeare of his Prelature, in the Mo∣nastery of our Lady of Angels, S. Francis not being there when he was buryed. His body wrought so many miracles, that an infi∣nite multitude of people from all partes flocked thither leauing a very great quantity of almose vnto the monasterie. The holie Father therfore comming thither, and vnable to endure either the one or the other, the former for distracting them all, and the latter for relaxation of the order

which he forsaw would grow of such quantity of almose, he wēt to the sepulcher where so many miracles were wrought: and to the deceased he* 1.8 vttered these wordes: My deerlie beloued Brother, as thou hast alwayes obeyed me during thy life, we being now by thine intercession mole∣sted with such a world of peopl, thou must also obey me after thy death. I therefore cōmand thee on obedience that thou worcke no more mira∣cles, sith by them we are in dāger to be ruinated. The deceased (which is admirable to consider) ceassed vpon this commandement to worcke any more miracles: such is the vertue & power of holy obediēce, in a true and good Prelat, & in a true and good subiect, that it extendeth not onlie on earth and during life, but euen in heauen & after death. Yea by it, ceassed the glorie and eminencie of miracles, that exalt the honour of the liuing God, the more to magnifie him by the exercise of holie pouertie and the quiett retire from a turbulent applause of the world.

How S. Francis instituted his second Vicar Generall. This was the 32. chapter of the second book, but hither transferred to obserue due order of the history.

The miracles of Brother Peter Catanio, being now ceassed as we haue said, the holie Father S. Francis, by aduise of the ministers, in place of the said deceassed, subrogated Brother Elias, a man of singuler prudence, and verie learned, for which he was respected, not only of his Religious, but euen of seculer persons, Prelates and Princes. He gouer∣ned as long as the holy Father liued, who the more to honour him, gaue him the title of Generall, though he were not so, for the reason aforesaid that the Religious would neuer accept other Generall then S. Francis during his life. The said Brother Elias attributing the said honour vnto himselfe and not to God, he made him know with all that his deepe pru∣dence according to the world, was before him but a very sottish folly: for rising into pride, he fell as an other Lucifer, from such an hight to the deepest profunditie of these worldlie miseries, the great mercie of God, by the prayers of the S. redeeming him from eternall punishment as hereafter shall appeare.

This that followeth is the residue of 85. chapter already past, which we purposely omitted, as no proper place for it, as may* 1.9 easily be iudged.

The holy Father S. Francis being att table together with many of his Religious, he tooke some of the most remarkable in humility & simpli∣city that sate neere vnto him by the handes, and tourning towardes the said Brother Helias, he willed him graciously to honour those other learned & noble Brethren sitting there. Brother Helias, extremly puffed vp in pride, without any respect thus answeared: O Brother Francis, I doubt not but by your simplicity and carelesse negligence, you

will ruinate this whole Order. The holy Father more curious of his sal∣uation then of himselfe, answeared him; O miserable wretch, this pride which thou wilt not cast off, and this kinde of thy passionate behauiour to such euill purpose, wilbe occasion that thou shalt dye out of the Order. Which so happened, for he died out of the Order, in the Court of the Emperour Frederick the second, who was excommunicated.

An other time the holy Father prophesied in this māner of this Vicar General; It hapened that Brother Helias was once called for att the dore of the Couent, by one that affirmed himselfe to be an Angell, sent vnto him frō God, and the porter did him the message, telling him that an An∣gell in humane shape expected him att the gate: musing therfore what this might be, he was a long time perplexed, yet att lenght he went thi∣ther,* 1.10 and the Angell proposed vnto him this doubt, whither it were law∣full for the professours of the gospell, to eat of what soeuer was indiffe∣fently presented vnto them or no. Att this proposition he rested vtterly confounded, for he had purposed to be author of a new constitution in the Order: which was that the Freres might not eat flesh, against their first holy Rule: wherfore he rudely and cholerickly shutt the dore against the Angell, and retourned into the Couēt. Which being reported vnto S. Francis, he incontinently arose frō prayer and went to his Vicar, whome he sharply reprehēded saying: Brother Helias you haue done ill in shut∣ting the gate against the Angels, when God sendeth thē to iustruct you. I tell you therefore it is impossible for you to perseuer stable in the Or∣der, with this pride. The holy Father spake thus much vnto him becau∣se it had bin reuealed vnto him that he should die out of the Order, and besides, that he should be damned, in respect wherof he did euer after so disaffect him, that he could not endure to behold him, which was not long vnperceaued of Brother Helias: and therfore being verie cau∣telous and subtill, he so laboured and wrought by signes of humility and importunity that he gott knowledge of all, wherewith he was so terrified and amazed, that with abondant effusion of teares demaunding pardon of S. Francis, he neuer ceassed to supplicate him, that conside∣ring he was also, by the passion of our lord, one of the sheep of his fold, he would not abandon him, but that like a good Pastour as he was, he would please to reduce the strayed sheep vnto the flock, and so deliuer him from eternall death; alleadgeing that vpon chaunge of the sinners life, God could easily reuoke his sentence. Father said he, such is my confidence and deuotion vnto you, that were I in hell it sel∣fe, I would hope to come foorth vpon your prayers for me: so that I am fully assured that if you please for me to implore the diuine mercie, my sentence shall be reuoked. The holie Father, moued by these pray∣ers, could not att lenght denie him; so that with a very great feruour

he entierly cast himselfe into the armes of God, in such sort praying for* 1.11 this lost soule, that God answeared him, that he should doe penance for his sinnes, and should not be damned, but for dying out of the Order he could not be otherwise satisfied, and so it arriued, for he dyed out of the Order, with manie signes of contrition, according to the opinion of some in the habitt.

This that folloueth is of the aforesaid 32. chapter of the second booke, the better to obserue the Order of all that appartaineth to renoun∣tiation of the office of Generall.

* 1.12 The holy Father S. Francis being by a Religious freind of his entrea∣ted to tell him what had moued him to make that renountiation, and to committ it to the chardge of an other, as if they were not his chil∣dren, who had bin such made, nourished and instructed by him, he answeared: know my child that I loue you all more deerly then any man can imagine, and if all would follow my will, I would loue them more, and would not haue left their administration. But I haue bin cō∣strayned therevnto, because there are many Religious that esteeme mo∣re of the aduice of some of their superiours, by whome they are drawne to other matters, by example of the auncient, and which is directly cō∣trary to my rule, and so they make very litle esteeme of mine aduertis∣mētes: but in the end, they wil more euidētly find their errour. The holy Father being on a time as it were oppressed with his infirmities, and hearing some speake of the aforesaid matters, and particulerly of the o∣uer-much indulgence of the superiours, and of the euill examples they gaue their subiectes, he lifted vp his head and cryed out, Ah! ah! couer me, couer me, who are they that withdraw the Religious from mi∣ne Order, and from my way, and my examples? If I once goe to the Generall chapter, I will shew my Brethren what is my desire, and mine intention, that they permitt not themselues to be deluded.

Being also an other time sick, a Religious said vnto him: O Father, it see∣med that att the beginning our Religiō we striued to liue in al austerity and pouerty, we were poore in our habitt, in our diet, in our dwelling, in our moueables, in our bookes, and in all our other corporal necessities, for which we tooke no care: by reasō of this pouerty exteriour, the inte∣riour daily proceeded frō good to better, because we were al of the same feruour, of the same will, with one cōsent cōspiring to the entier obseruā¦ce of our rule, and alwayes to giue good exāple to our neighbour, finally we obserued the gospell the most exactly that we could. But of later ti∣me, it seemeth that the purity of this our first vocatiō, is much deminis∣hed, vpon excuse that it cā no longer be obserued as before, by reason of the great multitude of brethren: yea there are some that beleeue that the people are much more edified by this theire moderne and new

inobseruance and mortification of their proper will and of their sences, then they were when they all liued in such deep austerity of life: and they thinck it a matter more Religious to liue after this new manner, thē according to the ancient and former, which they hold for crowned, as proceeding of simplicitie and holy pouertie, which were the founda∣tions of this our holy Religion. Now perceauing this, and beleuing that you likewise perceaue it, and are therewith exceedingly displeased, I meruaile you doe not labour with all speed to hinder the further pro∣gresse of this euill, nor doe correct it whiles you haue power, and meane to doe it.

S. Francis hauing with great affliction of spiritt heard this long dis∣course, thus answeared: Our Lord IESVS CHRIST pardon you that which you suppose I ought to doe, which I am not obliged to haue care of, neither by chardge, nor by office: for whiles I was Generall, though from the beginning of my conuersion I haue almost continued in sicknes, I haue not yet failed either in cogitations or effectes, to satis∣fie my duety, both by example and gouernment. But hauing well con∣sidered that God did daily encrease the nomber of Religious, and that they already began to leaue the secure, strict, and difficult way, wherin they first walked, and in such sortas you say strayed from it, without correcting themselues notwithstanding all my demonstrations, predi∣cations, and good edification that I gaue them, I then resolued to leaue the office of Generall, as I did, and though when I renounced it, I failed not att the chapter to excuse my selfe by mine infirmities, as was partly true: alleadgeing that by meanes therof I could no longer dischardge so burdensome an office: Neuertheles my sonne, I assure you if the Religi∣ous would now liue conformably to my rule, and to my pious intentiō, I would againe accept the office of Generall, and would excute it so long as it should please God to giue me life: considering that so, the care of that chardge would not be painfull vnto me, for certaine it is, that whē the faithfull subiect knoweth the good will of his superiour, he striueth to obey him in euery thing, so that it is no great difficulty to gouerne him, yea I should reioyce and be exceedingly comforted, in their spi∣rituall progresse, and in the honour that therby redoundeth to his diuine Maiesty: and though I should be cōtinually sicke on my bed, yet should it not be tedious nor troublesome vnto me to giue them content in all thinges: but because I see I can no longer dischardge mine office, which is spirituall, and opposite to vices, in correcting them either by loue, or by aduertissement, I will not retourne (to the chardge) to be their execu∣tioner, chasticing them with the rodde of disciplin, as the princes of the world doe iustly correct their rebelles: neuertheles I hope in God that the inuisible ennemies the deuils, that are his executioners to chastice

the disobedientes in this world and in the other, will also chastice the transgressours of the vow of their profession; therby to their shame and forciblie, to make them retourne to their first vocation: to this effect I will not omitt to assist them whiles I liue, att least by prayers and example, sith otherwise I cannot, and to instruct them the secure way, which I haue learned of my God, as I haue formerly done, that they may haue no excuse before his diuine maiesty. No further doe I hold my selfe obliged. Such was his answeare, which satisfying the Religious, procured an inestimable greife to all the hea∣rers: wherby it also manifestlie appeared, what reason the S. had to leaue them, and what occasion they had to know themselues, and by a pious acknowledgement of their fault and true repentance, to haue recourse vnto him.

The end of the first booke of the Chronicles of the Friere Minors.

Notes

• * 1.1

  S. Franc. procured pardon of God for the Apostasie of one of his Reli∣gious.
• * 1.2

  How S. Francis made Br. Macie to tourne to know the will of God.
• * 1.3

  S. Franc. knew the thoughts of Br. Macie thatmur∣red with him selfe.
• * 1.4

  Of one of his Reli∣gious that was troubled to fre∣quent his company.
• * 1.5

  S. Franc. did eat with the poore att his freīds house.
• * 1.6

  S. Franc. liuing & being in Italy ap∣peared to a Reli∣gious in the pro∣uinciall chapter held att Arles in Prouince.
• * 1.7

  Iohn. 16.
• * 1.8

  S. Franc. comman∣deth a S. to worck no more miracles and he obeyeth.
• * 1.9

  How much the third ge∣nerall of the order of Freer Miners forgat himselfe.
• * 1.10

  An An∣gel came to speak with him.
• * 1.11

  S. Franc. prayed for him.
• * 1.12

  Why S. Francis renoun∣ced the office of Generall.