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 counsaile which Br. Macie gaue to a murmurer, to correct his fault.

THE XXV. CHAPTER.

THere was a very deuout man that ordinarily frequēted the Co∣uent of the Frere Minors of Cybotoly neere Perusia, and dis∣coursing with the Religious, he alwayes murmured att the sinnes of his neighbours, committed in his Citty. Br. Macie hauing of∣ten times heard him, could no longer endure him: for hauing formerly forborne him in respect of the presence of the Guardian, att length he drew him a part and sayd. My sonne I beseech you take the consaile that I giue you, as from one of yeares. Haue alwayes before your eyes and in your mouth the life of the holy and vertuous, and alwayes speake of their good conditions: for, doeing so, if thou be euill, thou wilt beco∣me good: and if thou be good, thou wilt therby become better. But be not delighted, yea shunne with all possible care, to speake or heare spoa∣ken of the sinnes and defectes of your neighbour: for att length, of good you will become euill, and of bad farre worse, and will doe the same you heard spoaken of them. These pious wordes did not a litle profitt this miserable man, in regard that Brother Macie had such

a grace of deliuery, that whatsoeuer he spake was to each one gratefully accepted, and imprinted in the hearer. Wherfore S. Francis describing a perfect Frere Minor, among other conditions, he must haue, (would he say) the religious and good conceite, the naturall science, and spiri∣tuall eloquence of Brother Macie.