How his sacred woundes were scene of diuers during his life.
THE LVII. CHAPTER.
BVt it being impossible for the holy Father to conceale this light with God would haue to shine to all the world, on an high candlestick: though he could couer his feet with his sandales when he would, and his handes with the sleeues of his habitt; yet he was constrayned in the end to manifest them. Brother Leo his Con∣fessour, saw them euery day, the holy Father being of necessity to vse him, as a Phisition, to dresse his holy stigmates, whence did continually distill bloud, and to change the linnen and putt tentes betweene the nailes and flesh with incredible paine and patience of the holy Father. Neuertheles, he would not haue them touched on the friday, because he would endure the more, and so suffer with his Sauiour. Brother Ruffinus, who as S. Francis affirmed was already for his sanctity of life canonized in heauen, hauing many times seene the woundes of* 1.1 the handes and feet of the S. desired also very earnestlie to see that of his side wherof he held himselfe as fully assured, by washing his lin∣nen bretches, which he alwayes found embrued with bloud on the right side, and annoynting his stomack with oyntmentes, insinuating himselfe and thrusting his hand farther then he needed, did often touch it with his fingers, and sometimes the S. felt much greife thereby; ne∣uertheles he had a verie extreme desire for his consolation to see it: And therfore one day, faigning to request the holy Fathers habitt, of deuo∣rion to chaunge it for his owne, and requiring it for the loue of IESVS CHRIST, he so wrought, that the S. who could not deny any thinge that was demaunded him in the name of God, not suspe∣cting any other thing, putting of his habitt to giue him, he contented him therin though he did his endeauour to hide the same. S. Clare that made him many plaisters for dressing therof, deserued to see them, the S. shewing them all vnto her, in regard that she was such an Espouse of IESVS CHRIST as each one knoweth, and the eldest daughter in God of the S. The said plaister is with great reuerence shewen for a relique in the Couent of S. Clare att Assisium. The Cardinal of Hostia, Protectour of the Order, law