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.

THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE FRIER MINORS.

CONTEINING THE MARTYRDOME of diuers Religious of the Order of the Seraphicall Father S. Francis. Translated by the partie aforesaid.

THE SECOND VOLVME.

How S. Francis sent certaine Religious to preach the faith of Iesus Christ, vnto the Mores in Spaine.

THE FIRST CHAPTER.

IN the yeare of grace 1219. the glorious Fa∣ther S. Francis kept the great generall chap∣ter att Pentecost, wherat all the Religious of his Order assembled, as it hath bin amplie declared in the first booke of the first volu∣me of these present Chronicles. This Chap∣ter was held eleuen years after that Pope In∣nocent the third had with his owne mouth confirmed the Order of the Frere Minors, & the fourth yeare of the Popedome of Pope Honorious the third of blessed memory, who then piously gouerned the Church. In this Chapter, it was reuea∣led vnto S. Francis, that he should againe send his Religious ouer the world, to preach the faith of IESVS CHRIST, as well amongest Christians as Pagans, After this, the most capable Religious of the Or∣der

were chosen for Prouincials, S. Francis applyed himselfe to obey the holy will of God. And because the rage of the Mores was spred ouer three partes of the world, Asia, Africa, and Europe; he resolued to send his Religious into those partes to preach the truth of the faith of IESVS CHRIST, to reduce the Pagans from their damnable errours: And to make a beginning, he chose Asia for himselfe, whither he went with ele∣uen of his Brethren, and preached to the Soldan and the Mores of his kingdome. He sent Brother Giles into Africa with Religious of like feruour and deuotion; who thincking to preach to the Mores; were ap∣prehended by Christians and very vnwillingly brought back into Italy. He sent six Italian Religious of very perfect life, into Spaine, where the Emperour Miramolin of Marocco persecuted the Christians. The said Religious were, Brother Vital, Brother Berard, Brother Peter, Brother Adiutus, Brother Accursus, and Brother Otto: of whome, the first, Bro∣ther Vital, was by the holy Father constituted their superiour, Brother Berard was an excellent preacher in the Arabian tongue; Brother Otto, was a Preist, Brother Adiutus and Brother Accursus were lay Brethren, (the rule so tearming the Religious that keep not the quiet.) Now sainct Francis hauing called them, said: My children, God hath commanded me to send you to preach the holy faith vnto the Mores and to impugne the sect of Mahomet: and therfore my freindes, hold your selues ready to execute his holy will in such sort as you shall see cause. Goe yee I say, my beloued ioyfully preparing your soules to the crowne which it shall please his diuine Maiesty to bestow vpon you: performing his holy will according as you shall feele your selues inspired. They as obedient children, only bended their heades, and crossed their armes, expecting his holy benediction: but the holy Father first made them this exhortation: My deere children, I haue certaine wordes to deli∣uer you, that you may the better effect this commandement of God, to his glorie and the saluation of your soules. Be yee carefull to keepe* 1.1 peace among your selues, and be not Brothers so much in habitt and profession, as in spiritt and will. Next, haue speciall care to fly enuie, which was the first cause of our damnation; support with patience, and be ioyfull in persecutions, and humble before God and men, and by this meane, you shall obtaine victorie against your ennemis visible and inuisible. Be yee mindefull to imitate with all your power, our Lord IESVS CHRIST, and to follow him in the strictest manner you can in all the three vowes: in obedience, obeying your superiour, as he one earth obeyed his paren∣tes: in pouerty, liuing therin as he did, for he would be borne, liue, and dye poore, and did alwayes preach pouerty to teach vs the same: and in chastity, liuing and persisting chast, not only in bodie, but euen in spi∣rit:

sith our Lord so muchloued this vertue, that he would be borne of a virgin, and presently after his Natiuity, would haue for his first fruites, the holie Virgin Innocentes: and being on the Crosse, he would dye betwene two virgins, his Blessed Mother, and S. Iohn the Euangelist. Cast all your cogitations and hopes in God, and he will assist and con∣duct you. Carry with you the rule and the Breuiary, and say the di∣uine office the most deuoutly you can: Lett Brother Vital be your su∣periour, and therfore obey him entierly; but aboue all, be mindefull to meditate cōtinually on the passion of our lord IESVS CHRIST: for that is it which shall make all incommodities sweet vnto you, and all trauell pleasing in this long iorney into Spaine which you are to attempt, and in the conuersation and commerce which yee are to haue with the Mores, the ennemies of their Creatour. Beleeue, I pray you, that there is nothing doth separate you from me, but the glorie of God, and the saluation of soules, for, but for that I would neuer disioyne you from me. And God knoweth the grei∣fe and affliction which my hart feeleth for your departure, though in deed, your prompt obedience doth much comfort me, but it is necessarie that we preferre the will of our lord, before our owne.

These good Religious began then out of loue to weep bitterlie, and affectionatelie recommended themselues to his prayers, wherin next vnto God they reposed more confidence then in any other thing, saying vnto him: Father send vs whither you shall please, we are ready to accomplish what soeuer God by you shall command. But withall we beseech you to remember, that we goe a mong most cru∣ell men, whose tongue is vnknowne vnto vs, as also are their man∣ners and behauiour: besides we know them to be the ennemies of Christians, desiring nothing more then to drinck their bloud, and ours with so much more fury and passion, when they shall know we endea∣uour to conuert their people; for accomplishmēt wherof, we acknowled∣ge our forces to be most infirme and our selues very insufficient, if the mercy of God doe not by your prayers assist vs: and therfore we recom∣mending vs vnto them, demaund your holy benediction, that we may vndergoe this obedience to the honour of God and the saluation of our owne and the Infidels soules. S. Francis then lifting his eyes all bathed* 1.2 with teares towardes heauen, blessed them in this manner: The benedi∣ction of God the Father, the loue of the Sonne our Redeemer IESVS, and the grace of the holy Ghost discend vpon you as it discended on the Apostles: conduct, comfort and fortifye you in afflictions, that you may valiantly resist, couragiously assault, and gloriously subdue your enne∣mies, sith God sendeth you for his glory and seruice. And feare not, for God goeth with you to be your protector. So being full of teares he

dismissed them: and these Apostolicall Religious tooke their iorney con∣formably to the Rule of the holy Ghospell, on foote, without mony,* 1.3 scrip, or staffe, bare-foote, with one only coate, poore course and all patched: but yet in exchaunge of all this, they had the grace of God, that safelie and securely conducted them into Spaine.

How Brother Vitall fell sicke in Spaine, and would that leauing him alone in the hospitall, his Companions should proceed on other iourney: and of his death.

THE II. CHAPTER.

THese good Religious being arriued in Arragon, Brother Vital their superiour, fell sicke and kept his bedde, the others expe∣cted there some time to see the issue of this sicknes, which daily encreasing, Brother Vital said to his companions: My beloued Brethre, you see my sicknes is violent, and what wilbe the issue therof, I know not: wherfore I will no longer detaine you from proceeding about that which hath bin enioyned vs: it hauing bin alwayes my desire to accōpany you if it pleased God, who I suppose hath ordained that I proceed no far∣ther, in respect that being too great a sinner, I am not perhapps worthy of your cōpany, or to be employed in so worthy an office. It is therfore necessary, that you leaue me in this hospitall, and that you apply your selues to this holy enterprise of the conuersion of this people to God, who hath thus farre conducted you by obedience: and be not greiued to leaue me here alone, for his diuine Maiesty will prouide for me: Proceede then on your iourney, accomplish the will of God, and be mindefull of the admonitions of our holy Father, with a speciall care not to transgresse them: and pray to God for me, constituting Bro∣ther Bernard the preacher to be their superiour. The poore Religious hauing heard the said proposition, with extreme sorowfull and sob∣bing sighes, that sufficiently discouered the bitternes that afflicted their spirit, they bowed downe their heades, calling God to witnesse of the greife they had to leaue him so alone: but because their obediēce vnto S. Francis and him so required, they acknowledged themselues ready to obey: and so hauing receaued his benediction, after they had louingly and charitably embraced each other, they departed, beseeching him by his prayers to obtaine of God that they might againe see one an other att least in Paradise. This poore Religious remayning then alone in af∣fliction dayly weakened, till hauing vnderstood the martyrdome of his companions, and giuen thanckes to God for it, he was so afflicted for not perticipating with them, and for hauing lost that crowne, that bur∣ning

with charity towardes God, this fire in such sort augmented that by his good will and desire, he shortly after receaued the ••ame crowne in his bedd, making of himselfe a gratefull and pleasing sacrifice vnto his diuine Maiesty, and so hastened to meet them in the other world. Thus much for Brother Vitall. We must now discourse of the com∣bat of his companions, who still ma••ching further on, into Spaine, euen vnto Portugall, neuer ceassed in time and place conuenient to preach vnto both Catholiques, and heretiques, wherof then the nomber was great in Spaine, and euery where produced fruit most pleasing to the almighty, whose grace had conioyned them together.

How the fiue Religious arriued att Conimbria, where they prophecied vnto the queene her death, and their owne Martyrdome.

THE VII. CHAPTER.

THe said Religious being arriued at Conimbria a famous citty in re∣gard that it was the vniuersity of the kingdome of Portugall, as also being very anncient and right noble, there they found the queene Vraca wife of king Alphonsus the secōd, who incontinently inuited them vnto her, & entertayned thē with great deuotiō, as exceedingly affected vnto their Order, and then very louingly demaūded of thē whence they came & whither they intended, and withall offered to releiue thē in all their occurrēces. They breifely answeared her & discouered vnto her their de∣signe: to witt, that they were sent by their Generall Brother Francis, to preach the faith of IESVS CHRIST to Infidels. But the queene not cō∣tent with this slight narratiō, putt thē into discourse of diuers spirituall matters, as one more thirsty of the word of our lord then a hinde of fresh water. With whose discourse finding her selfe exceedingly edifyed and cōforted, & perceauing their extreme feruour, and to what degree of the fauour of God their merittes had raysed thē; she drew them a part, & cō∣iured them in his name for whose loue they had resolued euen to endure death, so much to gratifie her, as by prayer to procure reuelation frō God of the time and hower of her death: not admitting their excuses which were, that it would be a great temerity & presūption to seeke to know the secrettes which God for deepe & great cōsiderations would not ha∣ue knowne vnto mē: adding withall that they were not worthy to ob∣taine the same, & diuers other such reasons; but she so importuned them, that they were att lenght cōstraynd to accord vnto her: & hauing to this end applyed thēselues to prayer, they vnderstood frō God that, and more then they demaūded, whervpō they went vnto the queene, and thus spa∣ke vnto her: Madame, lett it not, if you please, be troublesome vnto you

to vnderstād that which you haue so instātly required of vs: and so much the lesse because we assure you that no creature loueth you so much as God, who will in no sort dispose of you but for your good, and greater glory. Know then that you shall dye before your husbād and in short ti∣me, and we shall ioyne with you neere about the time, wherof we will also giue you an infallible token. You shall vnderstand, that within few dayes, we shall dye by the stroake of the sword, for the faith of our graci∣ous Redeemer, for which we infinitely thāck his diuine maiesty: excee∣dingly reioycing, that it hath pleased him to elect vs to be of the nom∣ber of his Martyrs. But when we shall haue accōplished our course, the Christians of Marrocco shall bring our bodyes into this citty, to the meeting wherof, you and your husband shall come in great reuerence and solemnity. When then you shall see these thinges, hope and know that your terme shalbe expired, and that you shall shortly be through loue vnited with God, there to raigne eternally.

How the fiue Martyrs arriuing at Alenquer, the Infāta prouided thē shipping & other necessaries, to goe to Siuill, and seculer habits, therby to passe vnknowne amōg the Mores, who otherwise would neuer haue permitted them to passe.

THE IV. CHAPTER.

THe fiue Religious hauing taken leaue of the Queene, who gaue thē letters of fauour & cōmendation vnto Alēquer whither they intē∣ded their iorney, in which citty there was already a Couēt of Frere Mi∣nors whome they visited, where for certaine dayes they comforted one an other, in meane while they also bethought thēselues of cōmodi∣ous meanes to goe to Lisbone, distāt thēce about eight leagues; in which time they were aduertised of a merchants ship, wherin they vnderstood they might passe, by the fauour of the Infanta Sanctia, the daughter of Sancho second king of Portugall; who resided in the same citty & there kept her Court, they presēted vnto her the leters of the foresaid Quee∣ne, for whose sake she gaue them a gracious welcome, being one of the most pious & vertuous ladyes that all Christendome did then afford, and had reiected great matches, to conserue her virginity, wherof she made such esteeme, as she desired rather to be depriued of Paradise, thē to haue her chastity violated. She was in deed, endued with all vertues, and liued in great abstinence and fasting, wearing next her flesh a hai∣re cloth in steed of a smock, praying day and night, giuing and distributing her reuenewes vnto the poore. She was a true mother vnto the poore, considering the affection wherwith she releiued, comforted, and assisted them. She then hauing heard related the

admirable worckes of S. Francis, and his Brethren, when they were the∣re, the yeare 1217. she called then vnto her, and built them a Couent without Alenquer, in a solitary place, against the riuer, by reason of who∣se ouerflowing, she admitted them into her Pallace, where she builded them a litle monasterie, as a place more healthfull, free from the inun∣dations of the water, and more commodious for her. The pious Infanta then hauing vnderstood the holy and firme resolution of these said Re∣ligious, commended it exceedinglie, and for the time of their being the∣re, entertained them very curteouslie, discoursing alwayes of spirituall matters. She gaue them seculer habittes, that they might trauell the more commodiouslie; for otherwise they might haue bin entercepted in their passage, neither would the merchants haue admitted thē into their ves∣sels together with them in their habittes, if they had in any sort discoue∣red their designe, for feare to offend the Mores, whose disfauour they would not haue encurred for any thing whatsoeuer, as people more res∣pecting their profitt then their honour or saluation, and more hungry of mony, then of the glory of God. Therfore then did they remayne some time in that citty, in meane while their haire did grow and encrease, so that their crownes or other distinctions could not be discerned from se∣culer personnes: att length, commending their pious desire prompt obe∣dience, and feruour of charity towardes God and their neigbour, encou∣raging them also of her part, though needlesly, she sent them to Lis∣bone as worldlings and vnknowne, there to embarcke themselues for Seuill, hauing withall formerly furnished them with what was necessarie.

How the said Religious arriuing att Siuill, and hauing cast off then seculer habitt, did preach to the Mores, and of the beginning of their tribulations.

THE V. CHAPTER.

THe good Religious, not without much trouble arriued att Se∣uill, where they disbarqued themselues. This citty was then possessed and vsurped by the Mores, they lodged in the house of a Cittizen, that was a Christian, rich, noble, and deuout, there they putt off their seculer habitts, tooke their owne, and then for eight dayes toge∣ther applyed thēselues to fasting and feruent prayer, with teares begging day and night of almighty God, that he would please to assist and fur∣ther them, that they might begin their enterprise to the glory of his di∣uine maiesty, to their owne, and those ruined soules saluation, and that he would giue them force to die for his holy faith. Now being deceaued

by the exteriour apparence of the deuotion of their Host, they plainlie discouerd vnto him their full intention, presuming of his aduise ther∣in: but they were much deceaued and amazed, for he repenting that he had lodged them, for feare both of himselfe and other Christian mar∣chantes that liued there, began to endeauour to dissuade them, affir∣ming that they would profitt nothing; but would rather put themsel∣ues in extreme daunger and manifest perill to loose their owne faith, by meanes of the terrible tormentes which would be inflicted on them. Which these good Religious vnderstanding, they instantlie, without gi∣uing any aunsweare or making him other reply, forsoke his house, and as couragious and valiant soldiers, went directly to giue the assault to the fortresse of the ennemy, to witt, to the Temple of the Mores, where finding all their ennemies in armes, praying to their Prophett, they be∣gan to chardge and strike them with the cutting sword of the word of God, preaching and praysing the faith of IESVS. But the great multi∣tude of ennemies seeing them in such base and straung kind of habitts, thrust them out with the pointes of their daggers and stroakes of cud∣gels, vsing them as fooles. This beginning of trouble redoubled the pious feruour of the good Religious, making them actiue and desirous to suffer much more for the name of IESVS CHRIST, wher∣fore they determined to seeke to enter into an other Temple greater thē the former, and full of people, there to conuince and cōfound the Maho∣metan errour, and to preach the truth of the Christian faith: but they were not permitted to enter there, but were very rudely and with iniu∣ries farre repulsed. They enflamed with great zeale, to denounce & make knowne I. C. vnto these infidels, were nothing terrified, but to giue cou∣rage to themselues, said to each other: Brethren what doe we? lett vs remēber those wordes of our Lord I. C. Feare not, litle flock, for it hath* 1.4 pleased your Father to dispose vnto you his kingdome: therfore lett vs not desist to preach his holy faith. Wherfore doe we spēd time with this simple and inconsiderat multitude of people, considering the litle hope we haue being so few, to suppresse their obstinacie? lett vs rather repaire to their king, endeauouring first to conquer the head, so with more ease & facility to gett victory of the mēbers afterward? Lett vs giue him the on sett couragiously and ioyfully: lett vs goe then, lett vs goe preach and tell him the verity, of the faith of IESVS CHRIST, of Baptisme, & of pe∣nance, in remission of sinnes. Lett vs boldly confesse before him that IESVS CHRIST the sonne of God is true God and man, who would be borne & dye for sinners, with his owne bloud redeeming vs from eternal death, & rising againe after his death, ascended vnto heauen, and sitteth att the right hand of his Father, Iudge of the liuing & dead, where he expecteth vs to croune vs with his holy martyrs for euer.

How these fiue Religious preached before the king of the Mores, the faith of Iesus Christ our Sauiour, and what sueceeded therof.

THE VI. CHAPTER.

THese Religious being thus mutuallie animated, went directlie to the Pallace of the king, att the entrie wherof being intercep∣ted by the guard, their Captaine who was a gentleman of note, demaunded of them what they were. They answeared that they were Italiens, and desired to speake with his maiestie, of matters of great im∣portance, as well touching his owne particuler as his whole kingdome. Whervpon the Captaine demaunded if they had no letters or other to∣ken of commendations to deliuer him. They replyed that their embassa∣ge was to be deliuered by mouth, and could not be writtē but in hartes, & by tongues. The Captaine willed thē securely to commend the affaire vnto him, promising to deliuer it faithfully vnto the king: they prayed him againe for conclusion to conduct them only to the presence of the king, where he might also vnderstand what they had to say: The Cap∣taine related the whole vnto the king, who commanded them to be brought before him; where being present, he demaunded them what they were; whence they came; who sent thē vnto him: & wherfore they were come. Wherto they answeared, that they were Christiās: that they came frō Rome, sent frō the king of kinges, and Redeemer of the world, IESVS CHRIST, to preach vnto him his holy faith: so that their bussi∣nes tēded only to the saluatiō of his soule: which should be effected if he would no lōger beleeue the doctrine of Mahomet, but in IESVS C. the true God, receauing baptisme in the name of the most sacred Trinity, & that he could not be saued by any other meane. The Mory king that ex∣pected no such greeting, became despightfully furiours: for he esteemed the seruantes of God to haue giuen him an extreme affrōt, to whome he said: O ye poore braineles men, sottish and miserable as ye are; how can ye possibly presume to vtter this speech in my presence, without more respect vnto my crowne, or feare of the losse of your liues, already infalli∣bly incurred, by the great blasphemie committed against my most holy Prophet; But tell me, are yee come hither expresly and in my only parti∣culer respect, or to preach also vnto my people, and to delude them, dis∣suading them frō mine obedience and their alleagiance? Hereto the good Religious with a bold and smiling countenāce answeared: O king know that we are come to thee as to the chiefe of all this sect of Mahomet, fil∣led with diabolicall spiritt, and to him that in the bottome of hell shall

be more rigorously tormented then thy subiectes that shall persist in ob∣stinacie, to the end that thou being reduced into the way of truth & sal∣uation, thou mayest be a meane of their conuersion, as thou art now the cause of their damnatiō; for auoyding wherof thou must beleeue in IE∣SVS CHRIST our Redeemer, who sendeth vs vnto thee, saying in the* 1.5 Gospell: Goe and teach ye all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father & of the Sonne, and of the Holy Ghost, & adding afterward for thē that would not yeld thervnto: he that will not belieue, shalbe dam∣ned eternally. This king stopping his eares, began to rage and crye out: O cursed wretches, your former lewd behauiour no doubt hath brought you hither, where it shalbe rewarded instantly; neither is there any other meane to deliuer & free your selues, but that you vnsay whatsoeuer you haue now foolishly and rashlie vttered; and to receaue and espouse the Religion of our great Prophett; for, so doeing, I will not only pardō you, but will also make you great and rich in my kingdome, that it may pub∣likelie appeare how much we prise and esteeme the greatnes of our Prophett: and how much we honour, respect and enrich those that pre∣ferre our Religion before their owne: but otherwise, you shall for your sollie dye with infinite torments, or I will enforce you to beleeue me: The Religious replyed, if your law were not full of lies, false & impious, as it is, but iust and conformable vnto truth, we would receaue it, but because it doth eternallie damne the followers therof, we respect not all treasure, nor feare tormentes; for false honours are the baites and delu∣sions of you Mores, who truely miserable, doe end together with them, because they haue no longer continuance, and you are eternallie damned: the meerlie contrarie happening to vs, considering that by the pouertie and contempt of our dayes of this life, we pourchace eternall treasures and honours in heauen, as our Lord teacheth vs, when he said: Heap not* 1.6 vp your treasure in earth, where nothing is secure: but in heauen, where you may for euer enioy the benefitt therof. And therfore O king, be thou conuerted to receaue this true and holie law, in regard of this recompen∣ce. And if thou so much esteeme a kingdome of this world, how much more oughtest thou to esteeme this eternall kingdome of heauē? tourne thy hart to the soueraigne and true God, who hath thus long expected thy penannce, and now sendeth vs vnto thee, as his messengers to deli∣uer thee from the eternall tormentes of hell, which are prepared for thee and all them that follow the absolutely accursed Mahomett. Take heed how thou misprise the grace which God by meanes of vs doth offer vnto thee.

How the fiue Martyrs were adiudged to death by the Morian king, who att the instance of the prince his sonne, reuoked his sentence.

THE VII. CHAPTER.

THe Morian king could no longer endure nor heare the prea∣ching and remonstrance of the Religious against his sect; but being exceedingly afflicted and enraged, commanded them to be expelled his presence, and condemned them to be cruelly whipt, and then to haue their heades cutt off. The Martyrs then hastened to death, with a courage and countenance very ioyfull and contented, as they that knew themselues neere to the accomplishment of what they so much desired, and to encourage each other, they mutually said: Behold brethren, behold how God doth benignely offer vnto vs, that which we haue so long desired of him. We are att the port, lett vs seeke to arme vs well to endure this litle conflict; henceforward we shal no more feare the terrible tempestes of this world, nor the windes of the temptations of the deuill, nor the deceiptfull singing of the alluring Mermaides of our flesh, the impious thenceforward shall haue no more power ouer this our feeble body, for we goe into a glorious country, to see againe our first originall, and to serue our Lord, whose seruice is to reigne: there shal we receaue recompense of our labours, after more then a hun∣dred, more then the double, yea a thousand times more then we deserue. Lett vs now then giue prayse to our God; enduring this litle for his loue: lett vs restore this life to him that hath redeemed it by his owne death. Vttering these good speeches, thy hastened to receaue the martyrdome att the place where they were to be executed, goe∣ing before the executioner, who with some other officers of Iustice, seeing with what alacrity they hastened to their death, began to haue compassion on them as of poore foolish personnes, and therfore ex∣horted them to reflect on their owne case, with these or the like wor∣des; Doe yee not consider your owne misery, thus reioycing, being so neere the losse both of this life and the other? deny that which you ha∣ue vnaduisedly and impiously, or att least temerariously vttered against our law, and against the person of our king; and to this effect we will seeke to obtaine you fauour, and to enrich you with temporal substan∣ce, and our Prophett Mahomett, who is very mercifull, will pardon you, and benefitt you in the other life. The Religious herevnto ans∣weared: your richesse, delicacies, allurementes of this world, are as false and deceiptfull as your law and your promises: and therfore lett them be your portion that giue creditt to such delusions. For our parts, we beleeue nothing more certaiue and glorious, then to endure for

the truth and the name of IESVS CHRIST, sith that only is the secure way to eternall life. Therfore doe we so ioyfully con∣temne the present life with all the wealth therof; considering with all that it is but a puffe in comparison of eternity. And the false Pro∣phett whome you honour being in hell, can neither obtaine mercy for himselfe, nor for any others. There did accompany them certaine Christians, who much feared, that the extremity of the tormentes might enforce them to renounce their Faith. The sonne of the said king of Seuill who was present with his Father when he gaue sen∣tence against the holy Religious, perceauing his fury to be some∣what appeased, said vnto him: Vpon what reason, Father, haue you so lightlie giuen order for the death of these men? It were not amisse (vnder correction of your better aduise) that you comman∣ded our Preistes to be called, that they may conuince the impious Christians, as well by naturall reasons, as by aucthority of the law: for mine opinon is, that proceeding otherwise, you putt them to death vniustly euen according to our owne lawes. The king weighing what his sonne had said, and a litle moderating himselfe, commaun∣ded that they should not be executed, but should be imprisoned in an high and strong toure, till it were more maturely concluded what should be done against them.

How the Martyrs preached thorough the batlements of the tour where they were prisonners, and therfore were shutt vp into a deep dun∣geon, then presented to the king, and att last by aduise of the Counsaile, sent to Maroccho.

THE VIII. CHAPTER.

THe Martyrs by this reuocation, felt in their hartes a dou∣ble martyrdome, fearing that God would withdraw from them his grace of suffering for him, by reason of some im∣perfection which he saw in them: neuertheles entierly yelding them∣selues into his handes, they resolued on their part to performe their due obedience of preaching, what soeuer issue it should please his diuine Maiestie to worck therof: and to this effect, they moun∣ted to the toppe of the tower, and out att the batlements they prea∣ched vnto the Mores that passed by, with a loud voice crying vn∣to them: Poore blinded people, beleeue in the true God and Lord IESVS CHRIST, and abandon the superstition and impietie of your vnfortunate Mahomett: otherwise your law▪ and all you shal∣be eternally damned. Now is the time of penance: God sendeth vs

to visitt you, receaue his word of sufficiencie to saue your soules: for∣beare to lend any more your ea••e to the d••uill and to his illusions, if you wil not be eternally tormented in hell. Such and like matters did these holy Martyrs preach: wherof the king was incontinentlie aduertised, who commaunded them to be thrust downe into a deep dungeon, where they persisted in continuall prayer, the space of fiue entire dayes preaching also to the other prisoners. After that, the king caused them to be brought before him, supposing they had binreclaymed and repentant: therfore disirous to gaine them by menaces, terrours, pro∣mises and mercie, to allure them to his sect, he said: O yee sottish and blinded, haue you not as yet acknowledged and abiured your errour? Doe no longer abuse my clemencie, who haue so long expected your re∣pentnace, as also my holy Prophett, who, though you haue blasphemed him, is so gracious, as he will not faile to pray to God for you. Now I ordaine and att this present pronounce, as a finall sentence, either death by the most cruell tormentes that without any delay can be inuented: or my grace with all the honours and richesse that my best fauourites enioy. The glorious Martyrs verie constantly answeared him, as they had att other times affirmed, that they nothing respected ho∣nours and temporall richesse, and much lesse those tormentes, nor death it selfe; and therfore would yeld themselues to be disposed att his pleasure, considering that their bodies and soules were so firme∣ly grounded in the loue of their Redeemer IESVS CHRIST, that euery hower which they expected to meet him in Paradice, see∣med to them a thousand yeares, knowing that there they should liue eternally, without feare euer to be separated: then they added: Our God is the soueraine good, and not your Mahomett, for who∣me, as also for all his adherentes, are prepared eternall tormentes, which they already experience, as you shall ▪one day, if you be not con∣uerted, yea without hope euer to gett out of hell, where you shall call and crye, but none shall answeare you. There shall you repent in vai∣ne, that you followed not our Counsaile which God sendeth you: there shall you be in horrour, greife, sorrow and eternall dispaire which God hath prepared for them, whome att the terrible day of iudgemēt, he shall find to haue bin contrary to the true faith of his Sonne IESVS CHRIST, true God, and true man, there to liue in perpetuall tormentes, as they who are his, shall liue in perpetuall ioy. Then O king, thou shalt not escape his handes, though thou seeme now to haue some power, which is a singuler benefitt bestowed on thee by God, to see and expect if thou wilt be conuerted vnto him; and happy art thou if thou canst acknowledge it. The king already experiencing the force of the holy Ghost that spake in his seruauntes, remayned vtterly perplexed: Neuer∣theles

retourning them to prison, he commaunded that they should be loaden with irons, and that bread should be giuen them by the ounce, and water by measure. They remayned certaine dayes in this pittifull estate, in meane while neuertheles, he aduised with his Galociers and Counsailers of estate, what was conuenient to be done with them. So∣me of them gaue their opinion, that it was not expedient to doe them any hurt, because, said they, they are franctike and senceles, as may be iudged by their foolish and sottish discourses, so rashly and indiscreetly vttered. Others answeared the king, that it was not fitt for him to embrue his handes in such base bloud, but better that he retourned them from whēce they came▪ to which purpose there was fit commodity of a shippe prepared for Marroccho, where there were many Chri∣stians. The king admitted this Counsaile, and sent them away in the said shipping.

How the Martyrs arriued att Marroccho where they preached, and being thence expulsed they retourned againe.

THE IX. CHAPTER.

THe Religious being arriued att Marroccho, in company of a Spanish knight called Peter Ferdinando of Castro Castillan, who was then retired and dwelt in Africa, in the Court of Miramolin king of Maroccho, by reason of some disagreement which he had in Castile: this man conducted them to the Pallace of the Prince of Portugall, Dom Pedro brother to king Alphonsus, that then reigned, who vpon certaine wronges and iniuryes receaued of the said king his brother, was likewise retired vnto the said king Miramolin: he entertained them with much contentment, four∣nishing them with all necessaries, being much amazed to see them in a habitt so course, scantie, and short: their face so wanne, and their other partes so thinne, that their skinne seemed to be sowed to their bones, their eyes hollowed, and their shoulders croked and bended by the wearisomnes of their painefull life, and mortification of their flesh; and notwithstauding there appeared in their countenan∣ce so gracious a vertue, and such a feruour and ioy of spiritt, that they seemed in deed Angels of Paradice, exteriourly dead, but li∣uing and burning in such sort interiourly with the loue of God, that they esteemed death but as a play, and sought it as a pretious and wish∣full thing, burning with charity towardes their neighbour, and most zealous of their saluation. Which the said Prince hauing well cōsidered, as also the affliction which he vnderstood they had endured att Seuill, to

pourchace the crowne of martyrdome, fearing that by attempting the like there, they might trouble the whole Realme, he laboured by many pregnant and probable reasons to dissuade & diuert them frō their pious intention; but these glorious Religious, already martyres in will, percea∣uing the intention of the Prince, very early the next morning without saying any thing vnto him, went out, and setled themselues where they saw most Sarrazins, to preach boldly vnto them the faith of IESVS CHRIST: and being afterward informed that their king was gone to visitt the sepulchres of the kinges neere the citty, and was incontinēt∣ly to retourne, and vnderstanding which way he was to passe, they wēt out of the citty to meet him, where they made choise of a place some∣what high whither they ascended to be better heard: Brother Berard, who had better knowledge of the Arabian tongue then the rest, when he saw the king to approach, began with a loud voice to preach vnto him the Catholique faith, and what one must belieue to be saued, telling him that it was necessarie for him to abandon and adiure the sect of Ma∣homett. The king exceedinglie admired to perceaue the confidence wherwith so poore a man did speake: and with other of his followers endeauoured to putt him to silence, but failing therin, and therfore re∣puting them for fooles, he commaunded them to be retyred to the land of the Christians. The said Prince of Castile himselfe sent two of his* 1.7 people after them to accompany them euen to Cepte, and there to fur∣ther their embarcking for Portugall, to preuent that they should not be abused: but they conninglie escaped those Conductors, and retourned to Maroccho where they preached in a publike place inducing the peo∣ple to renounce the law of Mahomett. Which the king vnderstanding, he caused them to be cast into a deepe dungeon, and forbad to be giuen them either meat or drinck: in this manner did they continue twentie dayes: in which time they were releiued onlie with diuine grace: in the meane time there befell such an intemperate heat of the sunne beating vpon Maroccho, that it brought the people euen neere to death; the Mo∣res therefore fearing that it was a diuine vengeance, made meanes to the king by a man of worth that loued the Christians, and was in fa∣uour with his maiesty, to release out of prison those poore bare-foote Creatures, and to committ them to the Christians, who should haue chardge to banish them out of his kingdome. The king called the Reli∣gious before him: but he was exceedinglie amazed to see them, after a supernaturall and monstrous fast, so faire, so gracious, so fresh and well disposed as they were; and therfore he demaunded of Brother Berard; who had giuen them to eat. Wherto he bouldly answeared, that if he would become Christian, he should know the omnipotent power of God, and how he relieueth and nourisheth his seruants in this life, who∣me

he conserueth alwayes to recompence them eternallie in hauē. The king made no replie, but onlie caused them to be deliuered to the Chri∣stians for the end aforesaid, who shutt them into a house, and after∣ward sent them in secure guard and companie (as they thought) to haue them embarqued at Cepte, vpon the first occasion of shipping for Spaine: But they gaue the slippe to their keepers, and retourned to Ma∣roccho as before; which the aforesaid Prince hauing vnderstood, he cau∣sed them to be apprehended, shutt vp and strongly guarded in his owne pallace, for feare that by their meanes the Christians of Maroccho and himselfe also, might receaue some trouble and disaster.

Of a notable miracle wrought by the fiue Martyrs in the army of the kinge.

THE X. CHAPTER.

THe king Miramolin att that time was aduertised that the Arabians were entred into his kingdome, where they made hauock and destroyed the whole country: Vpon which occasion he gathered his for∣ces to encounter them: and by the helpe of the said Prince, and of manie gallant Portugall gentlemen, which he had with him, he defeited the Arabians, whom he chaced far away, and so poursuing them, they came into a valley where they could finde no water either for themselues or their horses: so that for three dayes they knew not what to doe, being neere death with thirst. And because the earth seemed to be somewhat moist, they licked it with their tongues: comming to the hight of a mountaine, they burned and became outragious with thirst without any redresse, and yet greater was their dispaire when they found the wi∣denes of the Country to be of greater extent then that which they had passed in drinesse: but considering that when they should retourne, they should all dye with thirst before they should finde water, they knew not way to take. Now the said fiue Religious, hauing by the prouidence of God againe deceaued their keepers, came to the Camp which they found in despaire, where perceauing the cruell thirst that afflicted the army, they publikely with a verie strong confidence which they had in the diuine maiesty, offered to procure vnto the Mores as much water as they should need, on condition they would be conuerted vnto the faith of IESVS CHRIST, assuring them that if they would be Baptised with the water of baptisms, they should not want water to drinck. This proposition comming to the eares of the king; he said this drinesse be∣fell them vpon no other occasion, but for neglecting the punishment of the great blasphemies of the said Religious, against his great Prophett Mahomett. These good Religious seeing the obdurate hartes of the king

and his people, to make knowne the omnipotencie of IESVS CHRIST, and the truth of the Catholike faith which they preached, resoluing not to loose the occasion presented to manifest the glory of God, for the sal∣uation of the soules of those people, applying themselues to prayer, Bro∣ther* 1.8 Berard tooke a staffe, and therwith made a litle hole in the earth, whence issued out water most abondantlie and sufficiently to alay the thirst, not only of the men but of all the horses and camels of the ar∣my of Miramolin, yea they receaued therof and made prouision for the dayes following: which done, the said fountaine incontinentlie dryed vp. This gaue so generall an applause, and the Christians and very Mores were so edified therby, that they desirouslie sought to kisse their habittes, and to honour them as sainctes of God, only the king persisted obdurate, as an other Pharao, and a Preist of the Mores, that a mong them was reputed for a S. who often disputed with the said Religious, and particulerly against Brother Berard, and because he was ordinarily vanquished, but especially by reason of this said miracle, he ful of greife and affliction fled, and was neuer after seene amongst the Mo∣res in that country. The prince sent the said Religious againe into his Pallace vnder strict guard, for feare least if they should preach, they might more scandalize the king▪

How the fiue Martyrs retourned againe twice to preach to the Mores, for which the king deliuered them ouer vnto Iustice.

THE XI. CHAPTER.

THey that had chardge of the said Religious, being Christians, did so reuerence them, that they could in no sort enforce them nor carry too wachful an eye ouer them, by which meanes they escaped as formerly they had done. This being vpon a friday when the king according to his custome was gone to visitt the sepulchers of his predecessours, they vsed meanes that he might heare their predication att his retourne, as once before they had done, which they enterpri∣sed: but the king so disdayned it, that he caused them incontinentlie to be apprehended, and in extreme choler commanded a noble man of the Mores called Abosaide, one of the principall of his Court, first to torture them, and then to putt them to death: but it succeeded otherwi∣se, for this noble More was present att the miracle which these Religious SS. wrought in the army when they satisfied it with water, and so out of deuotion and compassion which he had of them, he was content not to medle with them from noone vntill night, notwithstanding the ex∣presse cōmaund giuen him by the king, whome he presumed might be

appeased and pacified by the frequent and humble petitions which the Christian noble men and gentlemen would present vnto him. But they perceauing how much the king was incensed against them, for the iniu∣ry which he pretended those Religious had so often reiterated vpon him, they all quietly retyred into their houses, where they carefully kept themselues close, not daring to appeare, for feare least they might freele the effectes of the choler of the king; wherof in deed there was apparent reason: for withall, the Mores were so enraged against the Christians, that they had a will to massacre them all, in reuenge of the iniury done to their sect and to their Prophett Mahomett. Att night the said noble man conuented before him the Religious, who came to his lodgeing very ioyfull, all manicled and enchained. But were it vpon necessary and vrgent affaire that he had, or would he take occasion to deferre their condemnation, he was not then att home; wherfore they were deliuered to an Apostata More of our Religion, that had renounced Christianity, to be carefully guarded; and very early in the next morning, they brought them againe to the lodgeing of the said noble man, whome neither then did they finde, for they vnderstood that he was out of the citty and the king also, and would not vere speedily retourne; they then commit∣ted the sainctes to prison vnder strong guard, who, albeit they were enchained, beaten, and exceedinglie tormented, had neuertheles their speech alwayes free, which they spared not to employ for the conuer∣sion vnto IESVS CHRIST, of those that so strictly kept and rudely entreated them, who in disdaine therof, gaue them sound buffettes spett in their faces, and abused them most outragiouslie. All this did not hinder these good Religious from preaching both to them and their other fellow prisoners, where they remayned certaine dayes in very extreme want of food and all other necessities: but afterward the Christians prouided them whatsoeuer was needfull, in the most secrett manner they could; and att length dealt so effectually, and so gained those that had chardge of them, that they condiscended to permitt them to depart, on condition they should be securelie conducted euen into Spaine: for the said Christians feared and suspected the hatred the king did carry them, by occa∣sion of these said Religious, who deceauing their keepers as before, escaped from the place they lodged the first night out of Maroccho, and the next morning were seene againe att a publique place preaching con∣stātlie the faith of IESVS C. aduertising the Mores, that if they did desire to discardge themselues from the sottish delusions of Mahomett, and free themselues frō hell, they must necessarily be baptised. The Mores thē ••ā furiously on the SS. did beat & abuse thē despitefully & with tumult

and exclamation; but these true Religious endured this affront; like cou∣ragious and inuincible lions. Then after infinite iniuries and beatinges, these simple and innocent sheep of IESVS CHRIST were led to the lodgeing of the gouernour, in most ignominious manner: for they most rudely threw them to the ground, trayned and trampled on them, as if they had bin brute beastes.

How the fiue Martyrs preached to the Gouernour of Maroccho.

THE XII. CHAPTER.

THe couragious Seruantes of IESVS CHRIST, being presented before the parlemental seate of the Mores, with their handes manicled behinde their backes, all bloudy and embrued with the blowes giuen them by the people; the cheife president made them this demaund: Obstinate men, and temerariours ennemies of our faith, whence are you? whence come ye? what is your designe? whence proceedeth such a presumption thus to blaspheme our great Prophet? The SS. answeared that they were by nation Italians, and came frō Por∣tugal: but, said the president, who permitted you to enter into this king∣dome, so presumptuously and boldly heere to preach a new doctrine co∣trarie to the faith of the Mores? Brother Otto a Preist, constantly ans∣weared, that as for their preaching, it came from God, who is to be obeyed rather then men, because, said they, our Lord IESVS CHRIST is the Creatour, Redeemer, and soueraigne master, to whome what∣soeuer is in the world is subiect, and none is able to resist his holie will, he hath left vs this commandement, that we should vniuersally preach his holy gospell, therfore are we come to preach to your king and to your selues, to denounce vnto you the wordes of life, that being illuminated with diuine grace, you may discerne in what errour you are, to come afterward to the true way of saluation, as we shall de∣monstrate vnto you, if you please to giue vs audience. Besides we are sent hither by our Generall, Brother Francis, who as well by him∣selfe as by his Religious, trauelleth ouer all the world to preach vnto Insidels (by an exceeding loue and desire of the saluation of soules that induceth him) the true way of faith, notwithstanding you car∣ry vs so great an hatred. The president answeared, you poore blin∣ded & ignorant wretches, deceaued as ye are, to esteeme them for vtter∣ly lost that follow not your doctrine, but tell me a litle, what is that truth which you haue found, and whither it be possible that there may be an other way of saluation then what we professe. Brother Otto replenished with the holy Ghost replyed: IESVS CHRIST is the

soueraine verity, and the true and only way that can conduct to the port of saluation, by meane of his holy faith: which consisteth in belieuing him to be God and man, God three and one, Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost: and true man borne of the Virgin Mary, Creatour of all this frame of the world, true man conioyned to the diuinity, and Redeemer of all the men in the world, that were already lost and condemned by the sinne of Adam, in which humanity he conuersed with all, he instructed all, and saued all those that would belieue in him both then, att this present, and euen till the day of the last iudgement, he suffered death and passion to pay by his precious bloud, our proper and par∣ticuler faultes, and incontinentlie after arose againe to conduct vs all also to heauen: whence he shall come hereafter to iudge on earth the liuing and dead: he shall then come in his maiestie, where neither hu∣mane forces, nor richesse, nor kingdomes, nor Empires shall in any sort preuaile; man being obliged to stand naked and alone, accompa∣nyed only with his worckes, good or euill, according to which he shall iudge him, giuing to his SS. eternall glory in heauen; and to others that would not belieue in him, eternall fire in hell. The President smiling said: And how know you these thinges to be so certaine as you auouch them? Brother Otto answeared: By the testimony of the holy scriptu∣res dictated by the holie Ghost, which haue reuealed vnto vs this ve∣rity, by testimonie I say of the Patriarches and Proph••ttes of the old te∣stament, as also by the doctrine and testimony of our Redeemer IESVS, who is the way, out of which there is none att all: the truth, out of which is nothing but deceipt: and the life, out of which is only death; likewise by the predication of his holy Apostles, confirmed by manie great miracles, which propheties for the most part are fulfilled, and only remaine those that are for the end and consummation of the world: in such sort as we ought also to belieue their doctrine, and with greater reason and foundation then you haue for your superstition, considering that you belieue only vpon the writing of your false prophett Mahomet which is not assured or confirmed by any testimony more then his sim∣ple deceiptfull and lying word: and we besides the said confirmations and accomplishmentes of matters foretold by our Prophetes, haue in∣finite miracles wrought by our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST, and his hol••e Apostles, Martyrs, Confessours, and Virgins, that giue vs proofe of the holy, yea most holie and most assured faith; for we haue seene to be cured an infinite number of diseased personnes, infini∣te possessed creatures deliuered, the necessarie vse of members restored to the maymed, the blind illuminated hearing and speech restored to infinite deafe and dumme, leapers cleansed and purified, and finally the dead already putrified to be raised, which you cānot auouch of your false

Mahomett; therfore reiecting this vaine and abhominable beleife, em∣brace ours, approued by so many tokens and testimonies diuine and hu∣mane: flye this manyfest illusion, take from before your eyes this false cloud, that obscureth them, only by reason that you are borne in such an accursed law, and nusled therin; for beleeue that as soone as you shall begin to giue place in your hart to the holy Ghost, you shall interi∣ourly feele such a light and force, that you will after doe more of your selues, the we can by wordes expresse; and by your example you shall open then gate of saluation to the simple people. Take knowledge ther∣fore with me, I beseech you, how your miserable prophett leadeth you together with himselfe to eternall damnation, by meanes of many of his falsities and sinnes, that he hath taught you, which are out of the true and only way of saluation. And if you desire to saue your soules, you must necessarily follow the true light of life, which is ready to illu∣minate each one, and resist no longer the holy Ghost that calleth you to his kingdome.

Of the constancy of the fiue Martyrs in their tormentes, and how they were visited in prison by our Lord.

THE XIII. CHAPTER.

BVt the President hearing this notable discourse, and fearing the people might be conuerted by such pregnant reasons, filled with a zeale towards his owne law, proposed vnto the ho∣ly Martyrs one of these two elections, either that they should yeld ho∣nour and glory to his Prophett, for the blasphemies they had vttered against him, and should freely preach his law: or els should prepare themselues to endure such cruell tormentes, as should enforce their death. Wherto Brother Otho, replenished with exceeding ioy for the desired aduertisement they heard of Martyrdome, answeared: if feare of death would terrify vs, we should perhappes aduise to admitt your law, as many miserable wretches, that for feare to loose this trā∣sitory life loose the eternall. But our Redeemer hath strengthened and* 1.9 fortified vs against that pusillanimity, when he willed vs, not to feare those that haue power only to torment this wretched, vile and fraile body, but him that can torment both our body and soule eternally* 1.10 in hell: Therfore, for as much also as we know that he only shalbe crowned, who shall constantly perseuer to the end, doe what you will: for we hope in the diuine Maiesty, that your executioners shalbe rather be weary of tormenting vs, then we of ioyfully endu∣ring for the loue of God: considering withall that we repute this

death receaued for IESVS CHRIST, as the gate of life, wherby we are to enter. This iudge seeing their constancy cōmanded them to be sepa∣rated and committed to seuerall places, and cruelly whipt, and that after the executioners were wearied, there should salt be put and vinegar po∣wred in to their woundes, and lastly shutt vp in prison, all which was done: and the next morning he caused the same to be iterated, and then he sent thē to a publicke place vnto the people, that they might be reuē∣ged on them for the iniuryes committed against Mahomett. They were brought thither naked, their handes bound behinde their backes, and cordes about their neckes: there, were their woundes renewed and their passed afflictions redoubled: for besides that they were cruelly beaten & scourged, they cast them vpon broaken glasse and sharp pointed flintes:* 1.11 wheron they roled and tumbled thē: afterward they cast boylling oyle on their bodyes, omitting nothing that might exulcerate their woun∣des: each of them esteeming it a great sacrifice vnto Mahomett, to exer∣cise most barbarous and beastly kindes of tortures, or to inuent them for dischardge of their fury against the holy Martyrs, who notwithstanding, in the middest of the said afflictions did with a loud voice praise and co∣fesse our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST, demonstrating that they respected not the tormētes which they endured nor the iniuryes disgorged against thē: for one cānot imagine that beastly, dishonest and infamous wordes which were not then vttered vnto them; but the most insupportable vnto them, were the blasphemies which they vsed against God. The whole day and part of the night, was spent in this pittifull spectacle, thē were they retourned to prisō, wher with all their hartes they gaue thāc∣kes vnto God, and encouraged each other. Now the immensiue and in∣finite bounty beholding from heauen his holy seruantes, voutsafed to giue them a farther consolation with his visible presence, appearing vn∣to them in a most resplendent light, wherin they found an inestimable sweetnes and such, as they vtterly forgott whatsoeuer they had suffered and endured. This light so spred it selfe, that it was also seene of the keepers, who therin seeing many shadoes of personnes were fearfull, & suspected the prisoners were escaped therwith. And therfore they ha∣stened to a prisoner that was a good Christian called Peter Hermand, to whome they related that they had seene the holy Martyrs escape and ascend vnto heauen in a bright and cleare light. He coniecturing, that this might be some notable vision seene by them, did comfort them: & bid them not to feare, affirming that he had heard them all the night to sing & praise God; which they being desirours to proue, as seeming pro∣bable, they went and found them all in prayer very ioyfull and content in their prison, as if they had not endured any affliction.

How they were presented before the king Miramolin, whome they putt to si∣lence and confounded.

THE XIV. CHAPTER.

THe next morning, the king retourning from the fieldes, and vnderstanding what had passed touching the Religious, here∣solued to see the end of their proceeding, and either to conuert them to the law of Mahomett, or els to haue a most cruell reuenge v∣pon them. Which the foresaid Prince of Portugall Dom Pedro percea∣uing, repayred to the said President, and prayed him that after the said Religious should be dead, their bodyes might not be committed to the disposition of the Mores, but of the Christians: which he obtayned. The said Martyrs were then brought before the king, their handes ma∣nicled behinde their backes, their face swollen, blew, buffeted, rent and all bloudy as was all the rest of their body, with the blowes of the day precedent, seeming rather dead then liuing creatures: the king then be∣holding them with fauourable eye, said: Well, you now being in my presence, whither do you rather desirer to be mine enemies and rebelles, and as such cruelly to dye; or my freindes, and as such aduanced to the principall degrees of my kingdome? The holy Martyrs answeared, that he might well hold them for his good freindes, sith they were come from so farre a contry only for his cause, and for the loue of him and of his kingdome, to saue them from perishing and goeing to hell eternally damned, putting their liues in hazard for the saluation of their soules and bodies. The king, vpon these wordes, considering the resolution and inuincible fortitude of the holy Martyrs, was vtterly confounded in himselfe: wherfore as extremely enraged he retired into his closet•• to consult what to doe with them, sith he could draw them to no∣thing either by sweetnes or extremity: the holy Martyrs on the con∣trary praising God for that he had giuen them grace euer till then to preach his holy faith, notwithstanding the buffets they ••ad receaued to putt them to silence.

Of a conference betweene the said Religious, and a noble man of the Mores.

THE XV. CHAPTER.

THere was a warlike noble More, desirous to attempt if he could by faire meanes and speeches gaine them: but he no more pre∣uailed then the others: for he endeauoured by sweet wordes

to persuade them to obey the kinge, who was more carefull of their good then them selues, considering that being in his power to tor∣ment them and prolong their tortutures in deferring their death, he neuertheles endeauoured to make them see their errours, notwithstan∣ding the iniuryes he had receaued of them, and their great blasphe∣mies vttered against his great prophett Mahomett; who all men know how gratefull he is to God, sith with his owne mouth he hath di∣ctated vnto him his holy law, wherin if they would liue, he would in behalfe of the king promise them they should be most aduanced in his kingdome, and should euer rule and gouerne in this world, expe∣cting, by the intercession of their great Prophett Mahomett, a dou∣ble croune of God after their death. Whereto Brother Otho with a zealous feruour answeared: Vade retro Sathana, auant from my pre∣sence thou hideous and infernall deuill: for we, with a firme and li∣uely faith adore, and plainly confesse, the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, God in Trinity and vnity: but thou miserable wretch, that art already condemned to the eternall fire, where he is whome thou adorest, hauing compassion of thy selfe, and performing thy duety, oughtest to be conuerted, it were more necessary for thee to shew they selfe more respectiue of thy owne saluation then of ours: we hauing made choice of this assured way the more readily to attai∣ne the eternall kingdome. And hauing spoken this, touched with a iust and zealous disdaine, spett twice vpon the ground in token that he abhorred the Mores proposition: which the More tooke so offenciue∣ly, that in extreme fury, he would willingly haue drawen his sword to haue slaine him, but that it was death to draw a weapon in the kinges house; and therfore he only gaue him a sound buffett, saying: goe sir master and learne to gouerne your tongue an other time. This good Religious then as a true disciple of IESVS CHRIST, incontinently an∣sweared: Brother God pardon you: for you know not what you doe: then tuurning his face, he offered him the other cheeke, bidding him strike as rudely as he would, being as ready to eudure both that and mo∣re for the faith of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST. The More not well hearing this reply, was exceedingly amazed when he was aduertised therof and tourning towardes his owne people, he said: These lewd Christians shall not escape the iustice of our king, which this day shall sharply be inflicted on them: But these miserable wretches vnderstood not that kinde of reuenge, knowne only to a few of the true seruantes of God.

How the king attempted againe to stagger and corrupt the holy Martyrs▪ by promises.

THE XVI. CHAPTER.

THe king in the meane time resolued to assault them with a new temptation, wherby presuming to preuaile, he reasoned with them in this manner: you would repute your selues truely and really happy, if you knew the grace which God and our great prophett offereth you, in that they so pacifie my courage as I cannot reuenge me on you in such sort as your offences and demerites require; but on the contrary, in steed of punishing you, I seeke by all meanes to gratifie you. Herevpon the king freed his chamber of all the company but some few fauourites, and caused to enter fiue faire and yong gentlewomen ri∣chely attired, then said to the fiue Martyrs: Note well what is in my clemencie: I know well, that your extreme pouerty and misery, such as your habittes doe demonstrate, hath troubled your braine: but I hope by curtesie and my meree liberality to cure you, for I will espouse you to these gentlewomen, with whome I will giue a rich dowrye, be∣sides the portion of their parentes, who are the greatest Peeres of my kingdome, and whose substance you shall enherit, vpon this only con∣dition, that you accept of our Religion, which so many kingdomes and great personnages doe embrace. The holy Martyrs stopped their eares against these deluding promises made by this subtill and creafty ty∣ran, whome they freely answeared: O accursed of God, assure thy sel∣fe these thy delightes will shortly conduct thee to the goulfe of hell, in the bottome wherof thy false messenger of God Mahomet attend∣eth thee: to the end that as thou obeyest him in his law, thou eternallie accompany him in tormentes: And because thou art great in this world, thou shalt also be greatly tormented, and so much aboue others as thou hast more pleasure then they in this miserable life. Ah wretched and miserable! acknowledge the errour which thou so obstinatlie maintaynest. As for vs by the grace of God, we know well how to fly these false and transitorie pleasures, hereafter to enioy those that are reall and eternall in the glorie of God, which also we offer vn∣to thee in his behalfe with remission of all thy sinnes: for our mercifull Lord IESVS CHRIST, dyed as much for thee on the tree of the crosse, as for vs. And if thou wilt not be in∣gratefull towardes his diuine maiestie, acknowledge his graces and repent thee of this filthy life thou leadest, which hath bin taught, by thy false Prophett, to thee and thine, whome he leadeth as

beastes by the nose of the sences after these carnall pleasures, in∣steed and recompense wherof thou shalt eternallie burne in hell. The king by this answeare perceaued well, that his fauourable wor∣des avayled no more then his promises. Wherfore as halfe enraged with fury for the iniuryes vttered against his Prophett and himsel∣fe: sith, said he, you will not conceaue your owne good, I will make you proue what it is to offend the deity of our great Prophett, and the maiesty of a croune, for my selfe will reuenge the same with my owne handes for him and me: which said he prepared himselfe to play the executioner.

How the holy Martyrs were beheaded by the very hand of the king Miramolm, and how they appeared to the Infanta Madam Sanctia.

THE XVII. CHAPTER.

BVt the beloued sainctes of our Lord, neuer in all their life heard more welcome newes: And therfore exceedingly ioyfull and con∣tent, and replenished with an admirable consolation, as knowing themselues to be neere their so desired recompence, they with a great vehemence and feruour answeared in this sort: O king, our bodies only are in thy power, and therin consisteth the greatest hurt thou canst doe vs, which also redoundeth to our exceeding good with God: therefore dispose of them att thy pleasure, for our glory shal∣be so much greater in heauen, where his diuine maiesty prepareth vs his crowne in regard that we dye for his holy faith, in zeale wher∣of we againe admonish thee, and in as much as the saluation of thy soule is precious vnto thee, doe pray thee to leaue thy errours, wher∣in the diuell hath drowned thee, and to embrace the faith of the liuing God and of his only sonne IESVS CHRIST, who see∣keth to saue thee: because this flesh which thou so much tenderest, shall shortly be food for wormes, and thy miserable soule, shall fee∣le the cruell and eternall paines which the damned endure in hell. The king heard not the end of this discourse: but commanded them to be conducted to a place before his palace, that there he might execute them himselfe: and that thereby the zeale he had to the law of Mahomett might publikely appeare, after that he walked thither with his people, where taking his great hanger, he sepa∣rated them, then cryed out: I am now to reuenge the cause of our holy Prophett, and the derisions of our law, with myne owne han∣des: which said, full of diabolicall fury, he gaue to each of the Mar∣tyrs a blow on the middest of the head, which cleaued it euen almost to the chinne, then he pleased himselfe in cutting their throtes glutting his

fury by the sight of their bloud. So being deuoutlie on their knees, pray∣ing God to pardon their persecutors, they by the handes of this great* 1.12 executioner, yelded their soules vnto God, the yeare of grace 1220. and the fourth yeare of the Papacie of Pope Honorius the third, the sixt of Ianuary, somewhat lesse then seauen yeares before the death of the glo∣rious Father S. Francis. These were the first of his Order which he sent vnto heauen. Att the same time, the fiue Martyrs appeared to the fore∣said Infanta in the citty of Alenquer, about eleuen of the clock in the forenoone, she being very deuoutlie praying in her chamber. They had in their handes each of them a hanger in token of triumph, and spake to her in these wordes: God preserue thee, O true seruant of IESVS CHRIST: for so much as thou hast encouraged vs, and as it were sent vs to this our glorious victory, it hath pleased the diuine maiestie to haue vs appeare vnto thee in the same manner that we triumphed, to promise thee that in acknowledgement of what thou hast done for vs, we shall henceforward be thy Aduocates in heauen. Which said, they disappeared, leauing the Infanta exceedinglie comforted and contented, yea more then euer encouraged in the seruice of her sweet IESVS. In short time after she caused a Church to be builded in the place where the martyrs appeared vnto her, that thenceforward that house might serue only for the praise of God.

How the bodies of the fiue martyrs were dismembred by the Mores, and how the Christians recouered them and preserued them from the fire, that could not annoy them, and of the miracle which God wrought when the Mores cutting them in pieces thought vtterly to dissipat and annihilat them.

THE XVIII. CHAPTER.

THe bodies and heades of the holy Martyrs remayned in prey to the people, who reioyced to see them all murdered, and tooke pleasure to rent and traine them through the citty, omitting no kind of inhumanity that might be imagined, to be exercised on their poore bodies: they tossed their heades from one to an other, as if they had bin balles or baloones: the Christians in the meane time pray∣sed God, for the constancie which the martyrs had, & with loud voice thancked him for the same: others endeauoured to preserue or att least with their eyes to follow their reliques: which the Mores perceauing, they began so rudely to driue them away by casting stones, that it might be attributed to a miracle graunted in fauour of the sainctes, that the Christians could escape without detriment into their lodgeing, where

they were enforced to hide and keep themselues close and secrett, du∣ring three dayes which the fury of this enraged people continued, who of themselues would needes make a new massacre of them. These Insidels more wearyed then glutted with tormenting the sainctes bodies, cast them among the filthy ordure of the towne-sincke, whi∣ther the prince of Portugall aforesaid sent his Cousin Syr Martin Alphonsus Theglio, and the aforesaid Cheualier Peter Ferdinando de Castro, Castillan, to fetch them away: but they yelded their soules vnto their Sauiour and Lord IESVS CHRIST, in this seruice so gratefull vnto him and to his sainctes: for they we∣re slaine by the Mores that kept the bodies; which not satisfying them, they gott permission of the king, to burne them publikely altogether, and to this effect, they made a pile of wood, and thereon layd the bodies and heades: but the fire being applyed therto, could in no sort offend them, but retired to one side without touching them: Which many Christian Prisoners (that aduentured to be present) did testifie, and certaines Mores that were friendes to the Christians, also recounted the same as matter of admiration to the said Prince of Por∣tugall. The same may euen to this day be iustified by a head that is extant att S. Crosse of Conimbria, the haires wherof were neuer touched by the fire. But the rage of this barbarous nation not only was not qua∣lified by this so euident miracle, but was rather encreased: Wherfore he∣wing these holy reliques into small morcels, they thought to reduce thē to nothing, saying: Thus are the blasphemers and ennemies of our holy law chasticed. But the diuine vengeance, which by extremity recompen∣ceth tolleration, sodenlie sent from heauen such an vnexpected tempest and storme of haile, accōpanied with very frequent lightninges & thun∣derclappes, furious windes, and vehement rayne, that the vtter ruine of the citty seemed to be imminent, so that the feare & terrour which they had giuen to the Christians, retourned vpon themselues, yea in such sort that being fled into their houses, they scarce held thēselues secure. Which gaue courage, leasure, and commoditie to the Christians, to gather vp the holy reliques by the light of the lampes of heauen, which they in∣continentlie brought to the aforesaid Prince, none of them daring to take or keep them to themselues. And by reason that the said extremity of the storme did not permitt them to finde all the pieces of the holy bo∣dyes, they, partly by freindship, and partly for mony, gott them of the Mores.

How the said holy reliques were preserued, and of their miracles.

THE XIX. CHAPTER.

* 1.13 THe Prince of Portugall hauing receaued the holie reliques, presently prepared shrines or reliquaries of very great price, to place and preserue them in: But first he commited them to Iohn Rupert, Canon of Sainct Crosse of Conimbria, att that time his Chaplen and Confessour, a very pious and Religious Preist, to whome he sent three yong pages of his, who were very simple and virgins, that they might assist him to dry and accommodate the said holy bodies, who in the meane while neuer stirred out of his hou∣se, so to preserue themselues from profaning the said reliques in a∣ny sort, euen in thought as neere as they could. These youthes then dryed the sacred reliques in a very retired and priuate place, by* 1.14 commandement of the Prince, and separated the flesh from the bo∣nes, which they put in a precious chest, to be carryed iuto Por∣tugall; then did it please our Lord to illustrate them by miracle; For a knight called Peter de la Rose, not considering what danger it is for sinners to touch the holy reliques of the seruantes of God, would presume to present himselfe, notwitstanding he kept a wench whome he lasciuiously entertayned, but he had scarcely ascended the middest of the staires, but he fell and lamed himselfe, with∣out power to moue, till being contrite, repentant, and con∣fessed vnto the said Almosner of the Prince, and recommended vnto the Sainctes protesting to a abandon his vicious life, he obtayned mercy; for by litle and litle arising, he discended and went halfe cu∣red vnto the Prince, failing only in his speech which he had lost: the Prince therfore with a great confidence commanded his Almos∣ner to putt one of the sacred heades of the sainctes on his breast, which done he was att the same instant perfectly cured. A squier of the Princes accustomed to handle certaine peices of the said reliques, which were layed to dry on a buckler of his, without receauing any punish∣ment, by reason that he was then free from sinne: But falling one time, by instigation of the deuill, into a carnall sinne, as he thought to handle them, the buckler wheron they were so raysed it selfe, that he could not reach them: wherevpon reflecting on himselfe, he went and confessed, then retourning to the said reliques (which was admirable) he kneeled downe before them, and the buckler being discend to the ground and retourned to the sunne as before, they yel∣ded themselues to be touched. This fact cast such a feare into the hartes

of the Christians of the Princes Court, that thenceforward vpon this occasion they were carefull not to offend God mortally. This hath bin testified by Steuen Perez, Marquarid de Santeren, who was one of the three Pages that had care to accommodate the holy reli∣ques: he affirmed and swoare the aforefaid, to Dom. Matheiw, Bi∣shopp of Lisbone, confessing that he oftentimes abstained from offen∣ding God, for feare to be discouered as were the others, by the said reliques which he was necessarily to handle: Many of the Princes fa∣mily, haue also affirmed thus much, as being present and eye-wit∣nesses therof.

How the Prince departed from Maroccho with the said reliques, and therfore was poursued by king Miramolin, and of three miracles wrought in the way.

THE XX. CHAPTER.

THe holy reliques being will dryed, the Prince caused the heades and flesh to be dryed apart, and the bones to be separat∣ly putt in two shrines or reliquaries exceeding richly ador∣ned with gould and siluer, and so placed in his oratory, where he made often supplication to the holy Martyrs, that they would ob∣taine him the fauour to escape the cruelty of the Mores, and with∣out danger to passe into Spaine. For hauing determined himselfe to carry the holy reliques into Portugall, and hauing to that pur∣pose diuers times importuned the king Miramolin for permission, he was so farre from obtayning leaue, that the king on the con∣trary was aduised to putt him, together with all the Christians that were then resident in Marroccho, cruelly to death: Neuerthe∣les God did so mollifie his hart, that wheras he had manie ti∣mes denyed the Prince himselfe, he then of his owne motion, ha∣uing sent for him, told him that he would permitt him to depart against the aduise of his Councell, who held it requisite for the good of his estate to putt him to death; but for his part he could not consent to the death of a Prince, that not onlie had neuer offended him, but had freelie and willinglie done him seruice. The Prince therfore taking hold of this occasion, and loading a mu∣le with the said reliques, he with all his familie tooke his ior∣ney, suspecting that the king would not long continue in this good minde, but would alter his opinion, as in deed he did. But the Prince in such sort putt himselfe to trauell, that he doubled the ordinary dayes iorney, yea he made such progresse, that he was for∣ced

to spend one night in a desert place, called Arossa, where haunted many lyons, so that such as saw them take that way, reputed them as personnes deuoured that night. The Prince was not ignorant of all this, but reposing his full confidence in God, by the merittes of the sainctes whose reliques he had, he setled them in a place where the lyons were necessarily to passe in comming vnto him; for they were so neere as that their roaringes so full of fury were easily heard, but the holy reliques being layd on the ground, their fury was so restrayned, that flying* 1.15 thence they were from that time neuer seene there. Now the king Mi∣ramolin, not hauing patience to endure the said reliques to be caryed away to be honoured: incontinently sent after the Prince, a great trou∣pe of light horsemen. Which caused two great miracles; one was that the Prince inspired of God, as the arcke of the testament was of it selfe conducted by the kine, that it migh rest where it would, so did he putt the mule that carryed the reliques formost of the troupe, which tour∣ning them out of the direct way, conducted them through places vnac∣customed to trauel, by meanes wherof the horsemen that poursued thē* 1.16 could not finde them. But this was not all, for as these horsemen of the Mores, were well mounted, desiring to please the king, and with∣all to satiat their fury, they thought it not sufficient to make their scou∣tes about the ordinary wayes, but also crossed the feildes, where they so couriously pryed after the Prince, that they found him; which cha∣unced for another respect but the more to manifest the glory of the SS. of God, and of God himselfe in his sainctes. For hauing ouertaken the Prince, and heard his people speake, they were by the diuine puis∣sance so blinded, that they could neuer see them; and so these Mores to their extreme amazement retourned vtterly confounded, and the Chri∣stians proceeded on their iorney, thancking and praysing God, till they arriued att Cepte; where the inhabitantes with great solemnity enter∣tained them.

How the said reliques were caryed to Conimbria, and of two miracles wrought in the way, preseruing the Prince from shipwrack, and curing one that had bin lame for thirty yeares.

THE XII. CHAPTER.

AS soone as thy were arriued att Cepte, the Prince gaue order to finde out a vessell readely prepared for Spaine, which done, it was incontinently fournisht which althings necessary thervn∣to: they were no sooner embracked, but they were aduertised that a troupe of armed men of the king of Marroccho, sought them through∣out

the Citty, wherevpon they weighed their ankers, hoised sailes, cutt their maine-cable, and made a speedy cut towardes the straite of Gilbal∣tar, with a fresh winde that was very fauourable vnto them, for which they thancked God. But before they could attaine the heauen the night surprised them, with such a darcknes, that they could not guide them∣selues, in such sort that they were in extreme perill of shipwrack. But falling prostrate on their knees before the said reliques, to implore the fauour of God by the merittes of his sainctes in this extremity, they were instantly illuminated with a cleare light which discouered vnto them their dangerous course, in way to dash themselues headlong against a rocke: for which escape they presentlie gaue thankes to God. And so pro∣ceeding on their nauigation, they arriued att Andalousia, att the port of Algezire, without any danger, thence afterward att Tariffe, then att Se∣uill; att that time the Mores possessed all those places, so that the foresaid king Miramolin, had giuen order to the king of Seuill that the prince ar∣riuing in his kingdome, he should apprehended him, send him prisoner vnto him, & put to death all his company; wherof the Christians of Se∣uill instantly aduertised the Prince, who wheras he intended to sett a shoare att Seuill, sailed on to Galicia, where he landed, and thence went by land to the kingdome of Leon, then possessed by Dom. Alphonsus his Cousin german; for he was fled from Portugall, vpon some dissention betweene him and his brother, who was king. The Prince entring into the citty of Astorga, lodged with a freind of his that had bin thirty yeares sicke of the palsy, whome he persuaded to vowe and recommend him∣selfe to the SS. whose reliques he carryed, recounting vnto him the mar∣uells which by their miracles God had wrought. This poore man fell on his knees before them, and notable to speake by worde, hauing also for long time lost his speech, he in hart and with a very strong faith vo∣wed and recommended himselfe to God, by vertue of the said reliques; And att the very instant in presence of diuers, he lept sound out of his bed, with a loud and cleare voice praysing God. The Prince being by af∣faires hindred from present goeing to Conimbria, he sent thither the said reliques, conducted by a gentleman of note called Asphonsus Perez, of Aragon, who attended them accompanyed by many knightes and gentle∣men. The king Alphonsus and the queene Vraca his wife, being therof aduertised, sent vnto them with Order to haue the said reliques stayed in a place neere the citty, that they might present themselues before them together with the Clergie, to giue them such entertainement as they worthely deserued.

How the holy reliques were carryed to the citty of Conimbria in generall procession, where the king was present, and how they miraculously chose the place where they would rest, and how they transported themselues to diuers places, and of the conuersion of S. Antony of Padua, which by exam∣ple hereof came to passe.

THE XXII. CHAPTER.

ALl thinges being fitly disposed and accommodated, the king & queene, attended with all the nobility, the Clergie and people, went a foote in procession with great deuotion vnto the said re∣liques, with many crosses and banners, in token of the triumphant vi∣ctory of the holy martyrs. Comming to the place where the reliques we∣re, hauing deuoutly saluted them, they caused the mule that carryed them to goe before, that she her selfe might choose her way, as she had alwayes done before. So without the conduct of any personne, she went directly to Conimbria, where she entred into Sampsons street, att this day called the street of the old figtree, and then to the monaste∣ry of sainct Crosse, att which gate she stayed till it was opened, though the intention of the king were to place the said reliques in the great church. The gate of the said monastery being opened, the mule of her selfe entred into the Church, and went directly before the high altare where she kneeled downe, and so remayned, till she was disburthened of the said reliques, each one admiring the mira∣cle wherby the holy martyrs did choose and make knowne, where they would haue their reliques to repose: for which they were all thanckfull vnto God, and there ended the Procession. The king erected a sumptuous chappell, att the place where the mule kneeled downe, and a rich shrine, wherin were putt the greatest part of the said reliques, others in an other shrine in the cloister of the said monastery, the litle that remayned was sent part to the Church of the holy Ghost of Goueau, where there was a Couent of Religious of sainct Francis Order, and an entiere body to the mo∣nastery of sainct Bernard of Loruant, three leagues from Conim∣bria, becausse the Abbesse of that monasterie was sister to the king▪ Now the very day that the reliques were brought into the monastery of S. Crosse, they began there to shine by miracles: for they cured a great multitude of diseased persons there present, and from that time the mi∣racles haue so continued euen to this day, that they deliuered from perill all such as recommended themselues vnto them, vpon which occasion

it is, that so many strange pilgrimes doe frequent that place. The grea∣test gaine of that day wheron the reliques were receaued, was of S. An∣tony of Lisbone, called of Padua, who was then a Canon Reguler of S. Crosse, and as such, in the said procession, gaue praise to God among the rest, and solemnised the arriuall of the holy reliques: for he me∣rited to be inspired of the holy Ghost, who anymated him with a great zeale vnto his honour, in such sort as he resolued to offer his life for the confession of the holy faith by the example of the said mar∣tyrs, whome desiring entierly to imitate, he would begin by the ha∣bitt and rule of sainct Francis, whose true disciples these martyrs had bin.

Of the death of the queene Vraca, prophesied by the holy martyrs, as before in the third chapter hath bin recorded, and of a vision which her confessor had therevpon.

THE XXIII. CHAPTER.

THe Queene Vrraca had great care of her death, because the ho∣ly Martyrs had prophesied vnto her therof, yea she was in ex∣treme affliction, considering that their death and the transla∣tion of their bodyes was effected as they had foretold: but the issue of what she doubted did succeed: for as soone as she came to the holy reliques, she began to feele her selfe ill, so that she could not accom∣pany them, but was constrained to goe to her bedde, and the night fol∣lowing she dyed. That very night Peter Nuguez, Canon reguler of the monastery of sainct Crosse, a man of exceeding piety, and Con∣fessor to the said queene Vrraca, had this vision: He saw a great mul∣titude of Frere Minors, wherof fiue went before, but they were con∣ducted by a Religious Father of their Order that gaue a very great splendour; and they entred in to the quier of the said Church of S. Crosse in procession, where they very melodiously sung matines: he extremely amazed att what he saw, began to discourse with him∣selfe, how so many Religious could enter, the dores being shutt as they were, and why they sung matines, without any precedent rin∣ging. Being in this vehement admiration, he questioned with one of the Religious, asking him who they were? how, and where they entred into the monastery att such an hower? The Religious ans∣weared him: We are Frere Minors, and because thou wert Confes∣sour to the Queene, and fearest God, it hath pleased his diuine good∣nes, to reueale vnto thee this vision. He whome thou seest to prece∣de the rest with such glory, is our holy Father S. Francis, whome thou

hast so much desired to see in this life, and the fiue which thou seest to follow him, are the fiue Martyrs of Marroccho which are here shrined. Know besides that the Queene Vrraca is this night departed, and becau∣se she exceedingly affected our Order, our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST hath sent vs all hither, solemnely here, for the benefitt of her soule and for her obsequies, to sing these Matines: doubt not of her death: for as soone as we are departed hence▪ one shall come to aduertise thee therof: And the Matines and prayses of God being ended, this glorious proces∣sion disappeared, and therwith one knocked att his dore to aduertise him of the death of the queene.

How our Lord chasticed the citty and king of Marroccho, for the cruell death of his holy Martyrs.

THE XXIIII. CHAPTER.

THe king of Marroccho remayned not vnpunished, no more did his contry: for the very same yeare did his arme and right hand which he had so wicke dly stretched out against the holy Mar∣tyrs, wither, as also did all the right side of his body, from the head to the feet. The people were punished in an other manner: for in three yeares after this Martyrdome, neither in the said citty, nor in a great cir∣cuit therabout, did there fall one drop of raine, which caused an extreme dearth and mortality of catell; then correspondently to the nomber of the Martyrs, the plague continued for fiue yeares after, wherof dyed the greatest part of the men of that miserable kingdome: but three yeares after the want of raine, the king, together with his Councell, ackno∣wledged that God sent that punishment vpon them in reuenge of his holy Martyrs, and therfore he ordayned a generall assembly of all his people, in the place where the Martyrs had bin tortured, and that in* 1.17 the same publicke place they should crye towardes heauen, inuocating them, asking them pardon, and imploring their mercy: which they per∣formed with such confidence, that presently there began miraculously to discend a gentle sweet raine, by meane wherof the dearth and pla∣gue by litle and litle ceased. And then did the king permitt the Chri∣stians in his kingdome to haue a bishop, with condition that he should be of the Order of S. Francis and might publikly preach our gospell, and withall consented to haue a Church builded in Marroccho, where the sacramentes might be administred, conformably to our Catholique, and Romane Religion.

How sainct Francis hauing vnderstood of the Martyrdome of his children, with thanck fulnes to almighty God, gaue his benediction to the Mo∣nastery of Alenquer.

THE XXV. CHAPTER.

THe greatest contentment that S. Francis had euer receaued of his Order, was to heare of the Martyrdome of his fiue religi∣ous: whervpon hauing praysed and thancked God; he spake these wordes: Now may I confidently affirme that I haue fiue Frere Mi∣nors. Then blessing the Monastery of Alenquer, because they hauing long time resided there, departed thence to goe to their Martyrdome, he said: Be thou blessed, O place of the most high, which hast as it were engendred and produced to the king of heauen, fiue faire flowers of the colour of the rose and of bloud, of a sauour more then sweete, which are fiue true Frere Minors, the first fruites of this Order. Would to God the Religious that shalbe resident here, might for euer exactly keepe the rule of our Order.

Of a miracle wrought by the reliques of the holy Martyrs, against an Aposto∣like legat, that endeauoured to withdraw the people from their honour and veneration, because they were not as yet canonized.

THE XXVI CHAPTER.

ATt this very time, as the reliques of the said holy Martyrs we∣re exceedingly honoured of the Spainardes, it fell out that a legatt of the holy Siege was present, who seeing what deuotiō the people had to the said holy Martyrs, moued with an indiscreet zea∣le, not considering the canonization which IESVS CHRIST had made in heauen of the Martyrs, that had bin publiquely marty∣red, nor the miracles that had followed therevpon, he began to cry to the people, rebuking them as ignorant, and forbad them any mo∣re to make their prayers to the said reliques, and att the very instant he was aduertised that his Mule which waited for him before the Church was sodenly fallen dead, and thincking to goe fee the man∣ner therof, he was immediatlie surprised with so vehement an ague that it enforced him to acknoweledge his fault, and the pride which caused him so rashlie to speake against the holie Martyrs, whose reliques he went to visitt, and falling on his knees among the peo∣ple, acknowledgeing the punishment of God, he cryed out a loud.

O holy Martyrs! I confesse that you are canonized in heauen, and be∣cause God will haue you honoured and reuerenced on earth, I repent and confesse the errour of my tongue, and begge pardon of you for t, and doe promise that I will henceforward, be the foremost and most carefull that shall visitt your reliques, and in whatsoeuer pla∣ce I shall be, I will celebrate your merittes. A strange euent! these wordes vttered, he arose from the ground very sound, and his mule, formerly supposed for dead, to the great astonishment and contentmet of each one, arose againe: and this made the reliques of the sainctes more▪famous.

How by the intercession of the said sainctes, a gentleman was deli∣uered from death.

THE XXVII. CHAPTER.

A Poore gentleman of Conimbria was vnexpectedly assaulted by his ennemies, neere vnto the Monastery of sainct Crosse, so that he ran towardes it to saue himselfe: but being two forcibly followed, he could not time enough gett in, but was enuironed by them, so that, he hauing no other remedy but the in∣uocation of God, by the merittes of the holy Martyrs, they gaue him as many stabbes and thrustes as they would, without any defence of his, sauing the couering with his cloake, in such sort as he lay for lead in the place. The people that came next that way, carryed him ••pped in his cloake as they found him, in to the said Church there to ••ury him: but as soone as he was entred into the same, he stood vp on his feet very sound, and confessed aloud that the holy Martyrs had till defended him: and therfore, together with the people he repaired o their chappell to giue them thanckes.

Of the institution of the procession which is made euery yeare in the month of Ianuary, wherin the men goe all naked to visitt the holy Martyrs of Conimbria, for hauing bin by their interces∣sion cured of the plague

THE XXVIII. CHAPTER.

IN the Bishoperick of Conimbria there is a towne called Fala, where there fell so cruell and contagious a plague, that it dispeo∣pled the whole towne, for the inhabitantes were all either dead ••r fled, sauing one man, already infected with the disease, and halfe

dead, who seeing himselfe alone and in such extremity, hauing alway∣es ben very deuout to the holy Martyrs, he had then with an exceeding strong faith, his recourse vnto them, and made them this vow; That if by their intercession he were cured of that disease, he would euery yeare on the sixt of Ianuary being the day of their feast att Conimbria, goe visitt their reliques a foot and all naked, as long as he should liue, and would take order that after his death one of his family should goe thitherin the same manner, and withall would endeauour to persuade all the other families of the said towne to doe the like. This vow being made, he was so effectually heard, that att the very instant he found himselfe more sound and strong then euer; neither did there any one more dye out of that place, whereto he caused many from abroad to retourne, and so it was by litle and litle repeopled; afterward his fellow Cittizens accorded to his vow, yea this deuotion so encreased that the neighbour inhabitants, and many personnes of note, gent∣lemen and others accustomed from thence, as is continued to this pre∣sent, in procession, to visitt the holy reliques on bare foot, with an exceeding deuotion in the most rigorous season of winter. And how soeuer the season proue the sixt of Ianuary, being the day of their Martyrdome, though it raine, freeze, or snow neuer so much, they omitt not this pilgrimage. Now the order of this procession is thus: On the said day all the Confraternity assemble att the Couent of the Frere Minors, that is without the citty of Conimbria, on the other side of the bridge, and there about nine of the clock, they stripp them∣selues naked, sending their cloathes to the Monastery of S. Crosse, lea∣uing on their bodies only linnen breeches of very meane cloth to couer their naturall parts, and a capuce of cloth to hide their face, or a hand∣kirchefe, and so they goe in procession, through the middest of the cittye, to the said church of S. Crosse, where hauing offered their pray∣ers very deuoutly together, they passe through the Cloister to enter in∣to a great house adioyning, where they reattire themselues, and then each one departeth att his pleasure.

The 29. chapter is put after the 39. of this booke, as a place more proper vnto it.

The history of seauen Martyrs att Cepte.

How seauen Frere Minors departed from Italy, to goe to preach the faith of Iesus Christ vnto the Insidels.

THE XXX. CHAPTER.

SAinct Antony of Padua and others haue left in record, that seauen Frere Minors were ioyned together to goe into Tuscane, a Prouince of Italy, whence they demanded leaue of Brother Helias, then vi∣are generall of the Order, to goe into Spaine to preach to the Mores: he names of these Religious were: Brother Daniel, Br. Angelus Br. Sa∣••uel, Br. Danulus, Br. Leo, Br. Nicolas and Br. Vgolin; they arriued att Arragon, hauing elected for their superiour Br. Daniel Prouinciall of Ca∣••bria, hauing found a vessell ready prepared for that place, could neuer ••btaine permission of the patron therof to carry more then three Reli∣gious with him, so that he was constrained to leaue three to come af∣er him. He being arriued att Cepte, with his three companions, did not beginne to preach to the Mores till the arriuall of his Brethren, which was on the last day of September, and in the meane time they preached to diuers strange merchantes and other Christians, that from all partes flocked thither. When they were all assembled, they began to discourse and conferre together, what might be the rediest meane for them to profitt in the saluation of the soules of the Mores, or to pourchace Mar∣tyrdome, reiecting farre all humane feare, and fortifying themselues with a great feruour of spiritt, and an ineffable zeale of their neighbours good. And hauing till then remayned without the towne, with other Christians that were not permitted to enter, they resolued to steale in secretly, without the knowledge of any person, that they might not be hindered by the Christians, who could haue stayed them, or aduertised the Mores, who would haue forbidden their entry.

How the seauen Martyrs preached the faith of Iesus Christ to the Mores, by whome they were abused and imprisoned.

THE XXXI. CHAPTER.

BEing thus encouraged mutuallie by each other in our Lord IE∣SVS CHRIST, they began one friday by deuout and fer∣uent prayers to prepare themselues, and on the saterday the six were confessed by their superiour, who confessed to an other, then they communicated and receaued the sacred body of our Redeemer, spen∣ding the rest of the day in pious deuotions, And the sonday morning,

replenished with the grace of the holy Ghost they entred very early into the citty: where they began to preach freely and loudly vnto the Mores, admonishing them to abandon the false beleefe of Mahomet, and to em∣brace the true faith of our Redeemer IESVS. The Mores admiring the confidence wherwith they spake, began first gently to reprehend them, then rudely to iniury them; but seeing these good Religious did perseuer in this pious predication, they did buffet and beat them outragiously; & then hauing bound them, they brought them before the kinge, where they continued their preaching, freely confessing the true faith of IE∣SVS CHRIST, and giuing him remonstrance of the deceatefulnes & treachery of the law of the accursed Mahomet, which he must of neces∣sity forsake, if he would saue his soule. The king beholding thē so poor∣ly attired, and considering their feruour, iudged them to be fooles, as did all his Courtiers; But in regard they had presumed to preach against his law, he imprisonned them, and cast them into a dungeon, where they were loaden with heauy chaines of Iron Manicles, and fetters, which exceedinglie afflicted them, for they remayned there eight entier dayes, in which time they endured much, and in diuers manners.

Of a letter which the 7. Martyrs wrote to the Christians of Cepte.

THE XXXII. CHAPTER.

NOw these holy Religious desirous to shunne idlenes, wrote this letter vnder inserted to the Christians residing in the suburbes of Cepte, which they addressed to Brother Hugo, Preist and Cu∣rat of Geneuois, and to other Religious, one of the Order of Preachers, and the other a Frere Minor, who were newly arryued in Africa, to admi∣nister the sacramentes to the Christians there, and to worck the salua∣tion of their soules; the said letter was thus: Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord IESVS CHRIST, Father of mercy, and God of all conso∣lations, who comforteth vs all in our afflictions, and appointed to our Father Abraham the Ramme he was to sacrifice, and permitted him to trauell a pilgrime on earth, and reputed his faith for iustice, wherfore he merited the title of the friend of God: teaching vs therby to appeare and become fooles before the world, to please and proue wise in sight of the diuine maiesty. And therfore saith he vnto vs: Goe preach the Ghospell vnto all Creatures, and tell them the seruant ought not to be greater then the master. And if you be persecuted, that they haue persecuted me likewise: with which wordes, we his least and vn∣worthy seruantes being moued, haue left our contry, and are come

hither to preach for the glory of God, and the benefitt of our soules, to the edification of faithfull Christians, and the confusion of obstinate In∣fidels, as the Apostle saith, we being vnto God a pleasing odour, we are to some an odour of life, and to others an odour of death, which could not be vnderstood, but that our Sauiour said: If I had not come, and had not preached vnto them, they had not sinned. We are entred into this citty of Cepte to preach his name, and his holie faith before the people and the king himselfe, who re∣puting vs sencelesse hath imprisoned vs; it hath seemed expedient vnto vs to aduertise you hereof. And albeit that by the grace of God we endure much here, we are neuertheles exceedinglie comforted in our Lord, in whose diuine Maiestie we haue a strong and assured confidence, that he will please to accept our life for a gratefull sacrifice, and therfore to him be giuen glorie and honour for euer.

How the holy Martyrs were againe presented to the king, before whome they constantly preached the saith.

THE XXXIII. CHAPTER.

THe sonday following, which was the sixt of October in the morning, the kinge caused the holy Religious to be taken out of prison and presented before him, then prayed them to deny what they had vttered against his Prophett Mahomet and his law. But they constantly answeared that they could not say otherwise then they had done, sith it was truth it selfe; on the contrary they exhorted him∣selfe to abandon his extreme blindesse, that held him in the handes of the deuill in this life, and led him to eternall damnation in the other: inducing him to embrace the sole true faith of IESVS CHRIST our Sauiour, who, out of pure loue, being God vouchsased to become man, and to dye on the tree of the Crosse to deliuer him from e∣ternall death, and ascending into heauen, prepared for him an im∣mortall life. But this Morian king and his people, shewing them∣selues deafe to this discourse, determined to separate these Religious one from an other, and then to each in particular were offered, in the behalfe of the king, richesse and honours, att lenght they were threatened with most cruell tormentes, yea with death it selfe, if they would not accept of their law. Their threates auayled as much as their promises, for God had so transpearced their spiritt, with the sweet nai∣les* 1.18 of his loue, that they all in their hartes spake these wordes of S. Paule: Who shall euer separate vs from the charity of IESVS? shall the sword?

afflictions? worldly fauours and richesse? the pleasures of the flesh, or any other allu rementes? and withall couragiously answeared, and derided their threates, accusing Mahomett, whome they tearmed accursed, and his law contemptible, carnall, and damnable. A cer∣taine Preuost then drew his sword, and gaue their superiour Father Daniel a dash on the head: then ayming his sword point att his face, and att his hart, he said: conuert thee traytor, or I will procure thee a cruell death; which he did to terrifie the other six, who were by the Iudge and the Counsailers there present, persuaded, not to mis∣prise the fauour of the king, and to haue compassion att least of their miserable liues: but they confidently answeared them, and exhorted them, that being old, and already as it were in the mouth of death, so that they could not long enioy the contentmentes of this life, they would not persist in obstinacy, least their soules were eternally con∣demned to hell, for adhering to men of this world, and to a law, that their owne consciences knew to be false, as apparently as a thing to be touched with the finger. But these old men held themselues so of∣fended with this speech, though they had bin very fauourable and res∣pectiue vnto them, that they resolued their death.

How the seauen Martyrs were condemned to death and beheaded.

THE XXXIV. CHAPTER.

THe iudge therevpon gaue Order that as enemies of the law of God, they should be beheaded, wherwith the holy Mar∣tyrs exceeding well pleased, did encourage each other: and then the six Religious addressing themselues to their superiour Fa∣ther Daniel, and kissing his handes, gaue him thanckes for procuring them these marriages: each of them asked his benediction, and the grace to be the first martyred for the loue of God. This good Father hauing his eyes beteared with ioy, thancking God for such a singu∣ler gifte, and giuing them his benediction he said. My deerly belo∣ued children, lett vs all reioyce in God, in this festiuall day which he hath pleased to ordaine for the last of our pilgrimage, and be not ter∣rified: for all his Angels are present prepared to assist vs, they haue o∣pened vs the gate of Paradice, whither if he please we shall this day arri∣ue together, to receiue the crounes of martyrdome and to be eter∣nally glorious. These wordes ended, the executioners stripped the seauen martyrs, inuincible champions of IESVS, and hauing bound their handes behinde their backes, they conducted them out of the

kinges Pallace, with a trompettt before them as if they had bin attain∣ted of some notorious crime. But these holy Religious as meeke lam∣bes, went to the slaughter, and hauing their spiritt eleuated to the soue∣raigne God, ceassed not preach to the Mores by the way. Being come to the place of execution they fell on their knees, and recommending thē∣selues to God, they ioyfully receaued martyredome, offering vp their innocent soules, vested with the pious purple of their very bloud, with a great admiratiō to the Mores, who as enraged were not satisfied here∣with, esteeming themselues (as indeed they had reason) rather vanqui∣shed, then to haue ouercome. These Ministers of the deuill tooke tho∣se holy bodies, dismembred them, and trayned them thorough the dirt, till they were weary; and then the Christians secretly gathered them vp and carryed them into the suburbes, where they were and are honoured and reuerēced for many miracles which by their merittes God wrought there; wherof hauing no other asseurance then the affirmation of the inhabitants of the place, I thought it not expedient to committ them to writing, as determining to insert nothing in these chronicles but what is most true and autenticalll. It sufficeth that Pope Leo the tenth, graun∣ted and permitted the Freere Minors to celebrate their feast on the day of their Martyrdome, which was the tenth of October 1227. a yeare af∣ter the death of S. Francis. So is it att this day celebrated in the bishop∣prick of Brague the Primacie of Spaine, though in the office of Bracare it is put in the yeare 1221. but it is an errour of the Printer. It is recor∣ded in the end of the legende that a Prince of Portugall, by a speciall fa∣uour obtayned these resiques, and carryed them into Spaine, but there is not to be found any other perticuler mention of certainty in the bookes of the Order.

The 35. Chapter, is put after the 39. of this very booke, as more proper vnto it.

The triumph of two Martyrs of Valencia.

How two Religious which S. Francis sent to Valencia in Arragon, were Martyred there.

THE XXXVI. CHAPTER.

THe holy Father S. Francis sent two Religious of pious life to the kingdome of Arragon, to witt, Brother Iohn a Preist & Pe∣ter a lay Brother, who arriuing att the citty of Teruel, they cau∣sed a chappell to be built there, wherin they dwelt, employing their ti∣me in pious exercises, and prayers, and liued vertuously, with excee∣ding

edification, and by their preachinges filled the citty with a most sweet odour of their sanctity. The citty of Valencia was then possessed by the Mores, mortall ennemies of the Christians, and therein raigned their king Azot, a most cruell persecutor of the faith of IESVS CHRIST, and therfore these two seruantes of God, resolued to preach there, and to offer their liues for the saluation of soules, so passionate was their zeale of the faith and their desire of Martyrdome. So then goeing and entring in to the Citty, they began to confesse and resolutely denounce to that people the word of God, condemning their erronious sect, as pernicious and damnable. Wherof the king hauing first made them all kinde of gracious offers to allure them to his law, them vsing terrible threates to feare them, and perceiuing that he no more auayled in the one sort then the other, he caused their heades to be cutt off, on the feast of the decollation of S. Iohn Baptist, in the yeare 1231. and their bodyes were carefully gotten and buryed by the Christians; God by their me∣rittes working many miracles.

How the reliques of the said holy Martyrs, were afterwardes transla∣ted to Teruel by the king of Arragon.

THE XXXVII. CHAPTER.

AFter this glorious Martyrdome, Dom Iames the first of that na∣me king of Arragon, began by the prouidence of God, to war∣re against and alwayes to putt to the worst, the king of Valen∣cia, subdueing him att each time that they encountred, and taking priso∣ners a great number of the Mores, gaining daily and possessing his lan∣des and dominions; it happened one time that he tooke prisoners cer∣taine noble men of the Mores, whervpon the Christians of Arragon prayed their king to demaund the reliques of the said S. for ransome of the said prisonners, by reason that by their meanes God did ordinarily worckmany miracles, which caused the Christiās to be very importunate to haue them. This request was easy to obtaine; for the king of Arragon did exceedingly reuerence the said reliques, and the king of the Mores was very desirous to retire his principall champions, for a matter which he regarded nothing at all. Thus were these reliques solemnely placed att Teruell in a faire Couent of Frere Minors, there expresly erected in acknowledgement of the fauours and graces which in respect of them the Christians haue receaued of God; and to this day great miracles are wrought there by them.

How the Morian king Azot became Christian, and gaue the citty of Valencia to the king of Arragon, and in satifaction of his sinne, he conuerted his Pallace into a Monastery of Religious of the Order of S. Francis.

THE XXXVIII. CHAPTER.

THe king Azot, perceauing his forces and kingdome daily in appearance to diminish in such sort as he could no longer resist the king of Arragon, resolued to enter into composition with him, and to render vnto him all the kingdome of Valencia peaceably, and withall to be baptised, reseruing condition of honest maintenance during his life: which the king Iames promised not only to him, but e∣uen to all his people that would be conuerted; and to others promising to permitt them: peaceably to liue in their law, or otherwise to retire whither they pleased. Which being thus accorded, the king of Arragon entred Valencia to take possession therof, the yeare 1238. on the eue of S. Michael: this was the second time that the Christians recouered it: for Ruy Dias had once before taken it from the Mores, for the king of Castile, after whose death it was lost againe. Now the king Azot be∣came Christian, hauing obtayned in gift of king Iames a rich Earledo∣me, which his successors doe yet enioy, all his moueables, and his palla∣ce, which incontinently after, with the consent of the king of Arragon, he gaue to the Frere Minors, there to build a Church in the honour of the holy Martyrs, in satisfaction of their bloud which he had shed; and consequently there was builded a very beautifull Couent.

Of a Miracle wrought by the said holy Martyrs att Teruell

THE XXXIX. CHAPTER.

CErtaine yeares after the said Martyrdome, there repaired ouer the Citty of Teruell and the neighbour places, such a quantity of locustes, that as a cloud they hindred the beames of the sunne in the aire, and on the earth they couered all the plaines: the people made many processions to be freed of this affliction, which yet ceassed not to trouble them. But there was a good man that consailed the people, to carry in procession the reliques of the holy Martyrs, which they did, & went in great deuotion to an hermitage that was out of the Citty, and att the retourne of that processiō, all the locustes were vanished so that neuer after were seene more in those quarters then in other places. This much augmēted the deuotiō of those people towardes the holy martyrs.

The Martyrdome of fiue Frere Minors, with a multitude of Christians att Mar∣roccho. This was the 29. chapter of this booke, transferred hither to giue place to the more famous.

ON an other time, diuers yeares after the foresaid, fiue other Fre∣re Minors were martyred att Maroccho, together with all the Christians, men and women that then there resided, in a chap∣pell where they offered their prayers to God for the exaltation of the faith of IESVS CHRIST. This persecution was executed on the six∣teenth of September, with such rage and fury of the Mores, that there remayned not in the said citty, so much as one liuing man that durst pro∣fesse himselfe a Christiā: after this notorius Martyrdome or persecution, the Mores saw a great splendour to discend from heauen, into the said chappell where the martyerd bodies remayned; and heard also all the belles to ring of themselues, and the voices of Angels to sing with an inestimable sweetnes; but their hartes were too obstinatly hardened a∣gainst God to benefitt themselues by their conuersion. The names of these Martyres are not knowne on earth: it sufficeth that they are recor∣ded in the booke of eternall life.

The Martyrdome of Br. Electus disciple of S. Francis; and of his companions. Ta∣ken out of the 35. chapter, and placed here for the reason aboue proposed.

* 1.19 THere resteth no other memory recorded of the Martyrdome of Br. Electus, then this: The Mores tooke Br. Electus & many others (for preaching the holy gospell) to putt them to death. He being brought to the place of execution, tooke the rule of S. Francis in his hand, and said to his companion: Brother I confesse my fault before God and you, of what soeuer I may haue offended and committed against this rule which said, his head was cutt off, then his companions and consequent∣ly the others: after that, many miracles were wrought. Touching his Iife it is recorded that he entred very yong into the Order, in so much that he could not performe the fast therof, but forcing his nature he not only in this cōbat ouercame gluttony, but continually chasticed his flesh with a shirt of iron: happy child that began so yong to serue the al∣mighty, and so gloriously ended the course of his holy life.

The end of the fourth booke of the second part of the Chronicles of the Frere Minors, wherin are recorded the histories of 21. disciples of the holy Father S. Francis,

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exhor∣tations to cer∣taine of his Reli∣gious which he sent to the In∣fidels.
• * 1.2

  The be∣nediction which S. Francis gaue thē.
• * 1.3

  Luc. 10.
• * 1.4

  Luc. 12.
• * 1.5

  Matt. 28.
• * 1.6

  Matt. 6.
• * 1.7

  The fiue Martyrs were 20. dayes without meat or drinck.
• * 1.8

  The fiue Religious obtained of God water in an ex∣treme necessity.
• * 1.9

  Matt. 10.
• * 1.10

  Luc. 21. & 2. Tim. 2.
• * 1.11

  Cruelties of the Maho∣metans vpon the 5. Mar∣tyrs.
• * 1.12

  1220.
• * 1.13

  Punish∣ment of one that would touch the said re∣liques being in mortall sinne.
• * 1.14

  How pu∣re one ought to be to touch the said re∣liques.
• * 1.15

  The lyons respect the said reliques.
• * 1.16

  The reli∣ques mi∣racu∣lously saued the Prin∣ce.
• * 1.17

  The king Miramo∣lin some what ac∣know∣ledgeth his faults and sa∣tisfieth the holy martyrs.
• * 1.18

  ••om. 8.
• * 1.19

  A Frere Minor died with his rule in his hand.