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 last and extreme sicknes that augmented and redoubled in the holy Father S. Francis.

THE LXIV. CHAPTER.

BEsides all the other infirmities of his eyes, his stomacke, his liuer, and the greife of his stigmates, there fell also a dropsie into his feet six monethes before his blessed end: Notwith∣standing he omitted not to visitt the monasteries, citties and townes, to procure the saluation of soules. But his infirmities growing daily* 1.1 more violent, the cittizens of Assisium iealous of so noble and pre∣cious a treasure which by right appertayned vnto them, and fearing it would be robbed from them vpon the way, they sent Embassa∣dours to their holy Father, who was then neere to Sienna, to pray and by all sweetnes and amity to enforce him to retourne to his Mo∣nasterie. Sainct Francis failed not to comfort them, yelding that be∣nefitt to them who in the beginning of his conuersion, vsed him as a foole: wherin each one may consider the admirable disposition of God: and then lett him deride his Sai••ct that can. Now on the way these Cittizens came to a village, somewhat later then they expe∣cted: by which meane they were disappointed of all prouision, fin∣ding there no Inne, but onlie houses, of countrie people, which refused to afford the company victuals for monie. They who had chardge of the prouision, recounted this discurtesie to Sainct Fran∣cis: who answeared: See now what vse you make of your mony∣flies, retourne againe, and demaund something to eat for the loue

of God, and you shall experience what difference there is betweene the vaine hopes of the world, and the true and assured hope of God. The* 1.2 gentlemen obeyed the S. and found for the loue of God so much to eat, that they knew not what to doe with so much food: Herevpon the S. said vnto them: you are of opinion that it is a shamefull thing to demaund an almose: but tell me, wherwith doth all the world li∣ue, but with the continuall almose giuen by almightie God? They were all filled with great admiration, and silent with confusion: and so shrincking their shoulders, they proceeded on their iorney, conducting their Father to his Country, whither being come and for more securi∣ty brought to the Pallace of the Bishop of Assisium, master Bon Iohn, a Phisicion and his deere freind came to visitte him, whome he prayed to tell him freely his opinion of that sicknes, adi••••ing him not to deale with him as with other sicke personnes, feeding him with vaine hopes, wherwith he had not to doe, assuring him that by the grace of God, he rather desired death then life. The Phisicion answeared him assuredlie that his infi••mity was mortall, and that according to huma∣ne iudgement, he could not passe the middes of October. Which the S. vnderstanding, he so strayned himselfe, that he gott on his knees v∣pon his bed, first stretching his armes, then lifting his two handes towardes heauen, with an e••ceeding feruour of spiritt he said: you are welcome my beloued Sister, the death which thou my God doest send me.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Assi∣sians sent to pray S. Franc▪ to dwell and end his dayes att Assi∣sium.
• * 1.2

  The assi∣sians found food for the loue of God, which was de∣nied them for mony▪