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.

How a Romane Lady very deuout and affected to S. Francis called Lady Iaque∣line of the seauen Sunnes, came by diuine reuelation from Rome to the death of S. Francis.

THE LXVII. CHAPTER.

THe holy Father approching neere vnto his death, called a Reli∣gious whome he willed to finde out a messenger to goe with al diligence to Rome, expresly to aduertise the Lady of the Sea∣uen Sunnes that she should incontinentlie come to visitt him if she de∣sired to see him liuing; knowing in what affliction she would haue sur∣uiued, if she had not seene him before his death, as he had promised her when he tooke leaue of her att his departure out of Rome: and in meane while procuring wherwith to write, he dictated this letter ensuying: To

the Lady of the Seauen-Sunnes, poore Brother Francis, desireth health in our Lord IESVS CHRIST; Know my beloued Sister in IESVS CHRIST, that God by his grace hath reuealed vnto me the last day of my life: Wherfore if you desire to see me liuing, hasten so much as* 1.1 sometime on saterday you may be att our Ladie of Angels, and bring with you a morcell of gray cloth wherwith to coue•• me, and wax for my seruice. Att the end of this letter, it was reuealed vnto the S. that she would come: wherfore he said to the writer: Rent this letter for there is no need therof. He had scarce ended those wordes, but a mes∣senger came from the said lady, that told him she was att the gate of the Monastery with two of her children, sena••ours of Rome, and a noble and honourable company to visitt him. A while after the said lady came, who entring his chamber, fell incontinently on the ground, humbling her countenance, as an other Magdalen, towardes his feet, bathing them with bittet teares; and ••mprinting her lippes in his sacred stigmates, with such ioy and consolation of spiritt, as nothing could be more; she could not be satisfied with kissing them, embra∣cing and clipping them with all reuerence, in regard of their vertue, representing vnto her those of our Lord IESVS CHRIST, she could not depart from him, no more could the Religious, for she was entierlie rauished in this so singular sweetnes of spiritt, without any speech att all, till S. Francis called her: att whose voice awakening, she answeared the S. (who asked her how it happened that she came so readily) that being one night in prayer, she heard the voice of God, that said: If thou wilt find Brother Francis aliue, goe incontinentlie to our lady of Angels, and carry with thee what thow knowest neces∣sarie to his sepulture, and such meat as thou gauest him att his being in Rome, to comfort him in his sicknes. Which hauing heard, I pre∣pared my selfe verie instantlie, and thus am come. S. Francis gaue thanckes to God, and demaunding the said meates, he refected his bo∣dy with very great consolation. Now this lady supposing that S. Fran∣cis would lye long time sick, determined to send back her children to* 1.2 Rome, and many personnes of note that came also with her: But the holy Father willed them all to stay, and told them he should dye the saterday following, and be interred on the Sonday, and then they might retourne in companie, which was done. This ladie after the death of Sainct Francis, dwelt att Assisium where she liued verie piouslie, and was afterward buryed in the Church of Saint Fran∣cis att Assisium, in a chappell adioyning to the bodie of Sainct Francis.

How S. Francis gaue his benediction to his eldest sonne, Brother Ber∣nard Quintaualle. Taken out of the sixt chapter of the sixt booke, and put here as the due place therof.

NOw whiles S. Francis was eating the said meates, prepared by the handes of the said Lady, calling to minde that Brother Bernard was with him att Rome the first time that he did eat therof; he asked those present where he was, and caused him to be cal∣led to eat therof also. Brother Bernard being come and obeying the Sainct, hauing eaten two morcels with him perceauing that he approa∣ched neere his end, making his benefitt of the good occasion, humblie demaunded his holie benediction. To whome sainct Francis answea∣red: my deere child I graunt it most willinglie: and so commanded his benediction to be written, which thus began: The first Re∣ligious and companion that God gaue me, was Brother Bernard Quintaualle, who was the first that began, as he that euer since con∣tinued, perfectlie to obserue the rule of the gospell and the Coun∣failes therof: wherfore aswell in regard of that, as for manie other graces which God hath bestowed on him, I am much obliged to loue him, yea aboue all other Religious of our Order. And therfo∣re I will and ordaine that euerie other Minister that shall come he∣reafter, doe loue him as my selfe. Then he bad him stand att his right hand, for he had alreadie lost his sight. But Brother Bernard seeing Brother Helias that extremelie desired it, knowing right well the need he had therof, hauing compassion of him, he sent him to the right hand of the Sainct and placed himselfe att the left, con∣tenting himselfe to gaine that soule to God, by the benediction so much desired, of his beloued Father. But sainct Francis intending to lay his hand on the head of Brother Bernard, knew either by the touch or by diuine reuelation, that it was Brother Helias, wher∣fore he sodenlie called Brother Bernard, who answearing him, he perceaued by his voice that he was att his left hand, and therfore crossed his handes as did the Patriarch Iacob, and gaue them his bene∣diction, yet alwayes naming Brother Bernard he said vnto him: God giue thee his benediction, & encrease in celestiall benedictions of IESVS CHRIST, as thou hast bin first called to this holie Religion, to serue for an example of Apostolicall life, and to demonstrate how one ought to follow IESVS CHRIST, in pouerty and in his crosse: sith thou hast not only giuen all they terrestriall substance to his poore, but hast offered thy very selfe vnto him in sacrifice. Be thou therfore bles∣sed of our lord Iesus Christ and of me his poore seruant with an eternal

benediction, goeing, retourning, remayning, sleeping and waking. He that shall blesse thee, be he blessed, and lett not him that shall curse thee rest vnpunished. Thou shall be superiour of all thy Brethren and they shalbe subiect vnto thee. Lett him that thou wilt receaue into this Or∣der, be receaued, and him that thou wilt reiect, be reiected. Thou shalt haue liberty to reside where thou wilt, none hauing authority euer to forbidde, or to prescribe thee any law, in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the blessed holy Ghost. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  S. Franc. knew in spiritt that the lady of the Sea∣uen-Sun∣ne came to see him.
• * 1.2

  S. Franc. foretold the dayes of his death & buriall.