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 the exercises of the holy Father S. Francis: and of the lent he kept on the lake of Perusiea.

THE LIII. CHAPTER.

THe glorious S. after he was conuerted to God neuer remayned idle: for he alwayes endeauoured to be employed in some a∣ction, in example of Iacobs ladder, wher on the Angels ceassed not to mount and discend, receauing and carrying the pious worckes of the children of God to the soueraigne Father: so the S. by contem∣plation mounted towardes God, and by pietie and preaching discended to his neighbour: thus did he employ all his time which had bin giuen him of his diuine Maiestie to meritt in the pious worckes which the ho∣lie Ghost did dictat vnto him. Now the time of one of his lentes being come wherin as a carefull bee, he collected the fruites and flowers of God by meane of prayer, therof to compound the delicious honie of predications, wherwith he might refectionat the hungrie chidren of the word of God, he resolued to seeke out a place where he might per∣forme the same commodiouslie, solitarie and without any impedimēt; to this purpose on Shrouetuesday he wēt vp to the lake of Perusia where a freind of his, lodged him on the side of the lake, whence the next morning he gott himselfe to be conducted in a barcke to the Iland that is scituat on the said lake then vnhabited, with two litle loaues to sustaine him during the said lent, he coniured his freind not to speake therof to any person, for so much as he would not therin trust any of his Religious not hauing for that time taken any companion, and en∣ioyned his said freind not to come for him till Maundie or holie thurs∣day. Being then discended into this Ile, himselfe made a litle cottage of bowes of trees, where he resided all the lent in continuall and holie contemplation and conuersation with God, the Angels, and blessed Saintes. On holie thursday his freind comming earlie vnto him recon∣ducted him to the Couent, where he would communicate with all his disciples and wash their feet: he restored a loafe and halfe to his freind, of the two which he had giuen him, the other halfe it is credible he did eat to obserue humane fast, or not to giue subiect of vaine glorie to

the deuill, and not to equall himselfe to his God, though God alone doth know, and his seruant sainct Francis, who would neuer reueale it to any man, the combates he had during that lent, against the inuisi∣ble ennemies, & the glorious graces he obtayned; Afterward God vout∣safed in some sort to reueale them, worcking in that place manie mi∣racles, by the merittes of the Sainct, whervpon the ile began to be inha∣bited, and there was erected a Couent of Frere Minors which is excee∣dingly reuerenced in memory of the said miracle.

Notes

• S. Franc. did eat but halfe a loafe in the whole lent.