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 in one sermon and att one time, he was heard by many strangers to preach in their seuerall languages: and a woman heard him far off.

THE XXI. CHAPTER.

POpe Gregory the ninth published a great Iubilie att Rome, there to declare the expedition of the Christians called Croisade, against the Mores, who then had possession of the holy land: in respect wherof there was a great concourse of people att Rome that repayred thither from all partes of Europe. S. Antony one day preaching there before a huge assembly of people, the nomber being exceeding great of French, Grecians, English, Italians, Almanes, Sclauonians, Spaniards, and other strangers, they all heard him preach in their owne naturall tongue, as heretofore the Apostles of our Sauiour had bin: which much amazed the people. But besides this, the Pope hauing heard this ser∣mon, called him the holy arke of the testament, in regard of the mer∣ueillous copiosity of h•••• doctrine and eloquence, wherwith he in such sort lincked▪ together, the sentences and wordes of holy scripture, by new and high 〈…〉〈…〉 wherby it manifestly appeared that it was not he but the holy Ghost that spake, who by his holy seruant taught these people the true meane to ascend to heauen. This other miracle was also of no small consequence.

A woman exceedingly desiring to heare S. Antony preach, her hus∣band not permitting her to goe, because it was a great league from the citty, she went vp into her corne-loft, so to content her sight with be∣holding the place where her spiritt was, to witt, the Church where

was the Sainct, where her body could not be: which performing very attentiuely and a long time, she admired to heare the Sainct beginne his sermon, wherfore calling her husband, she protested that from the place where she was, she miraculously heard sainct Antonyes ser∣mon, vsing the same gestures that he did and relating his wordes, wherin she so persisted to confirme hir husband, that himselfe would needes make triall therof, and to that end mounting into the garrett, he putt his head out att the windoe, and heard the end of the same sermon, then presentlie went to conferre with such as had bin personallie present, and found that the wordes which his wife af∣firmed to haue heard in the beginning of the sermon, were the ve∣rie same that the Sainct had vttered. And therfore astonyed att so great a miracle, and repenting that he had hindred his wife from being present therat, neuer after withdrew her from her deuotions.