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 other blind, restored to sight by the vertue and merittes of the S.

THE XIV. CHAPTER.

* 1.1 IN the plaines of Rome, in a towne called Magno, vpon the eue of S. Francis, a piece of timber falling from on high, stroake a Preist on the nape of the necke: the violence of which blow stroake the right eye out of his head, and by the force therof he also fell vnto the ground. But imploring the aid of S. Francis by these wordes: Holy Father helpe me, that I may be able to goe to thy feast, as I haue promised thy Reli∣gious, he incontinentlie arose sound, and cured, his eye being retour∣ned into his proper place, with as great contentment to those present, as they had conceaued horrour att the accident. Therfore the more reuerentlie to shew themselues thanckfull vnto God, they went in com∣panie into his church, to celebrate his feast with this priest, who made publikely relation of the great compassion and vertue of this S. which in himselfe he had experienced.

* 1.2 A man of Mount-Gargan, labouring in a vineyard, thincking to cutt a branch of a tree, cut one of his eyes in two pieces, one of which fal∣ling out of his place, hung downe to the depth of his iawes: whe••fore despayiring of all humane helpe, he had instantlie recourse vnto S. Frā∣cis, vowing to fast the eue of his feast, if he assisted him in this extre∣mitie, which he vttered so heartily and with so strong a faith, that his prayers ended, the two pieces of his eye reioyned againe, and his* 1.3 sight was as perfect as before, for which he gaue thanckes with great deuotion.

A gentlemans sonne that was borne blinde, by the intercession of the glorious Father S. Francis receaued his sight: for which great miracle, he attayning to conuenient age was called Illuminatus, who to shew

himselfe gratefull as was requisite, and to attaine greater perfection, became a Frere Minor, where he so profited in the light of the grace of God, that he seemed to be the sonne of the true light, that illuminateth euery man of this world, and conformablie to his life also dyed very piouslie.

A gentleman c••lled Girard of Zacanto, neere vnto Anania, albeit he were sinnefull, yet did he not omitt charitably to entertaine the Frere Minors: This man on a time lodged two that were of a Couent neere vnto him, who being to ••etourne to S. Francis appeared to one of them, & said: Goe to that gentleman who, in you receaueth God & me, and tel him from me, that he is become blind, by reason of the sinnes which he knoweth himselfe to be guilty of, and wherof he would neuer be con∣fessed: which said he vanished The Religious went to him, & made full* 1.4 relation therof vnto him, who reflecting on himselfe, acknowledged that what the S. had reuealed of him was very true, whervpon being moued vnto perfect contrition, he made a generall confession, with a∣bondant effusion of teares: and as soone as he had confessed all his sinnes, he recouered his sight. The bruit of this great miracle was generally spred, which stirred vp many, not only to deuotion towardes this holie Father, but euen to an entire confession of their sinnes, and to an enter∣tainement of the poore of IESVS CHRIST.

Notes

• * 1.1

  And an other.
• * 1.2

  Then an other.
• * 1.3

  S. Franc. gaue sight to one bor∣ne blind.
• * 1.4

  And an other for his spiritual prositt.