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.

A letter of the holy Father sainct Francis to all the Religious of the generall chapter.

IN the name of God, of the most sacred Trinitie and soueraig∣ne vnitie, the Father, Sonne, and holie Ghost, Amen. To my be∣loued Brother the Minister Generall of the Order of Frere Minors,

and to all other Ministers that shall succeed him, to all Prouincials, Guardians and Preistes of our cōfrarernitie, vnited in IESVS CHRIST, and to all the humble, simple, and obedient, first and last: Brother Francis, a man of nothing, fraile and infirme, your least seruant, salu∣teth you in the name of him that hath redeemed you, and hath washed vs with his owne bloud, whose name we ought to adore prostrate on the earth, with great feare and reuerence. Most high lord IESVS CHRST Sonne of God is his name, who is blessed for euer and euer. Amen.

* 1.1 Harcken yee children of God, and my deere Brethren, imprint my wordes in your mindes, incline the eares of your harte, and obey the voice of the Sonne of God: keepe with all your hart and obserue his sweet preceptes, and embrace his counsailes with your entier will: praise him, for he is good, and know that the eternall Father sendeth you into the world, by your worckes and wordes to testifie his worc∣kes and wordes. And therefore striue to make it knowne to all people, that he alone is almighty in all thinges, perseuer in his discipline and obseruance, and maytaine that which you haue promised him with a firme resolution, si••h he as Father to his children giueth vs the true preseruing nourishment of spirituall and corporall essence, and presen∣teth vs to his Father as our protectour: I beseech you my Brethren, e∣uen humblie kissing your feet, and with the greatest charitie I can, I doe exhort you to reuerence and honour with your vtmost ability, the most sacred sacrament, wherby heauenly and earthlie matters are reconciled with God. I beseech all my brethren that are Preistes, and such as in the name of God shalbe, when they intend to celebrate the diuine masse,* 1.2 to be pure and neat, that they may worthelie offer the true sacrifice of the most sacred bodie and bloud of our lord IESEVS CHRIST, with the greatest reuerence, puritie & holie intētion that they shalbe able, not for any humane respect, for any feare or loue; but that their intention be directed to God, desiring to please onlie his Maiestie, who sayth: Doe this in remembrance of me. Know then yee Preistes, that he who shall doe otherwise, shalbe like vnto Iudas. Remember the saying of the A∣postle:* 1.3 A man making the law of Moyses frustrate: without any mer∣cy dyeth vnder two or three witnesses. How much more thinck you, doth he deserue worse punishmente which hath trodden the Sonne of God vnder foot, and esteemed the bloud of the testament polluted, wherin he is sanctified, and hath done contumelie to the spiritt of grace? For then is a man irreuerent and treadeth on that lambe of God, when,* 1.4 as the Apostle saith, he doth not examine and make a difference betwee∣ne this true bread of God, and that which he doth ordinarily eat, and therfore he receaueth it vnworthely. For God saith in Ieremie: The

man is cursed that doeth negligently and feinedly. And the Preistes that* 1.5 will not haue this care to celebrate so excellent a Mystery, the most* 1.6 worthely that possibly can be, shalbe condemned of God, who saith: I will tour••e your benedictions, to maledictions on your selues.

* 1.7 My brethren, heare me I pray you, if the glorious virgin be so much honoured (as she deserueth) for hauing receaued into her chast wombe our lord IESVS CHRIST; If. S. Iohn Baptist trembled, and durst not touch the head of IESVS CHRIST: and finally if the holy sepulchre, wherin IESVS CHRIST was buryed, for his so small time of residence, is so much reuerenced; how much more ought he to be iust, holy, and well purged, who with his handes doth handle, and with his proper mouth doth receaue so high & infinite a Maiesty, and doth administer, the same to others? Remember that he is an immortall and eternall God, that liueth glorious and eternall; with contemplation of whose Maiesty the Angels themselues cannot be satisfied. Preistes know your dignitie,* 1.8 and be holy, for God is holy, and as in regard of so great a mystery and dignity you haue bin more honoured then other men; remember in like sort to be also more gratefull vnto God, and to reuerence, loue and ho∣nour him; for otherwise your misery is exceeding great, and deserueth continuall teares, in that you hauing in your handes the almighty God, the fountaine of all good thinges, you procure to haue transitory and terrestriall thinges, all the world ought to tremble with feare, and sweet∣ly weepe, whiles the Angels themselues bend their knees, when IESVS CHRIST the Sonne of the most high is vpon the altare, betweene the handes of man. O merueillous highnes, and diuine debasement! O most high humility, that the Sonne of God, yea God himselfe, the master and lord of the vniuersall world should so humble himselfe, as to giue him∣selfe vnto vs, hidden vnder the forme of bread. Consider my brethren, so profound a humility, and purifie your hart before his diuine Maiestie, to the end he receaue all as he giueth himselfe to all. Therfore I aduerti∣••e you in the name of God, that in all places where the Religious are, you celebrate but one masse a day; and though you haue diuers Preistes, lett the rest be content to heare it: for although it be seene in many per∣tes, yet is it one and indiuisible, and without any detriment, true God and true man, so in one sole masse, he can communicate his grace to all present and absent that make themselues worthy, one onlie and verie God, Father, Sonne, and holie Ghost, worcking this, Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  He ad∣uert••∣seth the preists of his Order of their duety.
• * 1.2

  Marc. 26
• * 1.3

  ••eb. 10.
• * 1.4

  1. Cor. 11.
• * 1.5

  Iere. 48.
• * 1.6

  Malac. 2.
• * 1.7

  Lnc. 1▪ 2. 11. Matt. 3. Esay. 11.
• * 1.8

  1. Pet. 1.