The chronicle and institution of the Order of the seraphicall father S. Francis conteyning his life, his death, and his miracles, and of all his holie disciples and companions / set foorth first in the Portugall, next in the Spanish, then in the Italian, lastlie in the French, and now in the English tongue.

How our Lord Iesus Christ was seene in the armes of sainct an∣tony.

THE XII. CHAPTER.

SAinct Antony for certaine dayes preaching in a citty of France, he was inuited by a deuout gentleman to accept a lodgeing in his house whiles he remayned there, alotting him the principall roo∣me entier to himselfe quietly to spend his time in study and deuotions: but this gentleman walking one night about his house, and passing by chaunce before the chamber of the Sainct, he saw a great light issuyng out through the chinckes of the dore, wherfore looking in att the key hole, he saw vpon a great booke lying before the Sainct a very faire child, glittering and shininge with resplendant lightsome beames, who casting himselfe on the neck of the Sainct, did clip and embrace him: as also in extreme amorous manner the S. did the like, being neuer satisfied with beholding him. The sweet and gracious child in his amiable em∣bracinges reuealed vnto him that his host beheld them. The Sainct kno∣wing

that he would not depart as long as IESVS CHRIST, remayned there, was willing he should for a time enioy his conten∣ment in that admirable aspect, that rauisbed the soule of the gentle∣man out of the world; and then this p ecious child vanishing, the S. instantlie opened his chamber dore, and calling the gentleman, he coniu••ed him by the loue which he boa••e to him whome he had see∣ne, not to discouer to any liuing person, what he had seene till after his death, which he promised and performed, but as soone as he vnderstood of his death, he could not satisfie himselfe with recoun∣ting, and assuring it with teares and strong oathes; which, in re∣spect of the creditt of the gentleman, for his worthie qualities, and the pietie of his life, being generally beleeued, it gaue occasion to paint the S. with a child on a booke in his armes.