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

Of the conuersion of Br. Bernard Quintauall, and of his pouerty.

THE FIRST CHAPTER.

BROTHER Bernard Quintauall, was borne att Assisium, of the most noble family therin, where hauing consi∣dered the strangenes of life of S. Francis, his admirable contempt of worldly commodities, his vnchangeable assurance, his inuincible constancie in supporting iniu∣ryes, and his exceeding patiēce, in enduring the troubles and laboures of this life, yea seeming dailie more and more to concea∣ue greater contentment therin; He esteemed all this could not proceed but by the will of God: which he experienced, as hath bin amplie de∣clared in the eight chapter of the first booke and first volume, where

his conuersion is related att lardge. Hauing then renounced the world, and sold all he had in the marckett place of Assisium, and giuen the price to the poore and beggers of IESVS CHRIST, following S. Francis, he deserued to be his eldest child, as well in time as perfection; for by spe∣ciall priuiledge he had the grace to be a true louer of pouerty. And also S. Francis sometimes would say, that Br. Bernard had founded his Or∣der, selling his substance to giue to the poore, euen to his very apparell wherwith he was cloathed, so that his first Religious habitt was made of almose: then being thus naked, he offered and cast himselfe into the armes of IESVS CHRIST crucified naked, whome he imitated euen to his death. God also by a particuler prerogatiue bestowed on him, a ioyfull patience which merueillously shined in him, and particulerlie in those iornyes he performed vpon obedience, edifying his neigbour, and exercising himselfe in vertues.