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 supper which the glorious Father S. Francis made with all his children and of the last benediction which he gaue them.

THE LXIX. CHAPTER.

AFter he had made this last testament, his sicknes so encreased that his present death was generallie expected, but encoura∣geing himselfe in God, he called all the Religious that were in the Monastery, who being come and perceauing that the holy Fa∣ther intended to giue them his last benediction, they fell all on their

knees, bathing the earth with their teares, and thundering out loud cryes and sighes towardes heauen. S. Francis with a melted hart wept together with them, and he seemed to haue recouered some litle part of his sight; and so laying his hand on their heades by one and one, and firmely beholding them, he blessed them, then afterward he began to blesse them all together, as well the present as the absent, and all those that should enter into his holy Religion; lamenting that he could not haue them all present, in regard of his extreme loue vnto them, which exceeded that of a mother towardes her chil∣dren, himselfe also hauing engendred them in IESVS CHRIST: And the more to comfort them, he caused bread to be brought which he diuided in pieces, in imitation of our Lord IESVS CHRIST, and gaue to each a piece, bidding them to eat it for his loue att this his departure. Then were there teares redoubled, many of them did not eat all their portion, but did reserue some part therof, which afterwardes was effectuall in restoring desired health to such as were disealed: which done, this holie Father for his last aduertisement, recommended that holy place to his Vicare Generall and to all the rest, admonishing them neuer to abandon it, but that if they were extruded att one dore they should enter in att an other, alleadging that the place was holie, and the true habitation of God, of the glorious Virgin Marie, of the Angels and Sainctes of the liuing God, and that therfore they had so miraculouslie multiplied the∣re, where they had bin illuminated in his seruice for the saluation of so many soules; wherfore he doubted not but whatsoeuer should in that place be demaunded of his diuine maiestie, with a pure and contrite heart, should alwayes be obtayned, who also would not faile greiuously to chastice such as should offend in that sacred place, being the true habitation by grace of the celestiall Court, the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost.