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 the deuill attempting to be reuenged on Brother Iuniperus, did maliciously torment him and brought him euen to a gallowes, to hang him.

THE XXXXIII. CHAPTER.

THis great seruant of God was exceedinglie afflicted and tor∣mented by the deuilles, according to their ancient custome to assault and torment the humble, more then all other men, as those whome they know to be most pleasing vnto almighty God. And albeit we find not recorded the secrett and particuler temptations of this holy Religious; yet we cannot doubt but that he hath had exceeding great, sith the deuilles for no other cause feared him, but in regard that he often vanquished them: besides it being manifestlie seene that he could neuer be wearied with iniuryes, the more easily by his patience to suppresse the pride and arrogancie of the deuill. Yet we obserue a ter∣rible temptation which the deuill weaued against him, which was such as brought him euen to the gallowes ready to be hanged, hauing for∣merly bin cruelly tormented: wherby may be coniectured what his o∣ther temptations were. The matter was thus: Brother Iuniperus being to goe to a castell where there dwelt a noble man very euill minded in regard of his cruelties, called Nicolas, who warred against the inhabi∣tants of Viterbium, the deuill transformed into the shape of a man, went to this noble man, and hauing drawen him a part as to disco∣uer vnto him some secrett of importance, sayd vnto him: My Lord I come to you as your seruant and friend to discouer vnto you that your ennemies of Viterbium haue concluded and determined your death in

this place and to fier it, that none of your people escape: and to this effect, they haue plotted with a man and committed the chardge vn∣to him, who is already in the way to attempt it. He is disguised in this manner: his habitt is very base and contemptible, all tome, on his head he hath a capuce of diuers pieces and patches. Therfore command him to be brought before you, and you shall finde about him a long aule, wherwith to stabbe you, and a fier stone with maches to fier this castell. Which hauing vttered, he was no more seene by the noble man, who∣se cogitation was only vppon this aduertisement, that did extremely trouble him, as hauing bin deliuered him by so excellent and per∣fect an Oratour: and he was therwith so terrified that he did shake and tremble with the feare. He foorthwith aduertised the guardes of his castell and others whome he sent forth with charge if they found any such and so attired, to apprehend him and warily to bring him to him. Now Brother Iuniperus according to the speciall leaue he had, went alone, and in his way mett with yong idle companions, that as birdes wondred him and pulled him by the capuce, wherof they still toare of some piece, so that by such entreaty and his owne often gi∣uing some litle piece to the poore, entring into the castell one would haue taken him neither for Religious nor lay person: and being know∣ne by the description giuen of him, the guardes layd hold of him, and brought him before the noble man, who caused him to be searched, where was found about him the aule wherwith he sowed his sanda∣les, and a fier steele, to strict fier, when he was some time in the fore∣stes in prayer. Being then found with those instrumentes fitt to execute the practise wherof he was accused, they began to torment him, to enforce him to confesse who sent him, and what he pre∣tended to doe: considering withall the whole description of the tray∣tor was approued and confirmed in him. First then his head was bound with grosse cordes fastened with two cudgels, in such sort as they forced and strayned the naturall disposition of the bones (this extreme torment so wrought, that during the rest of his life he had neuer more the head ach) after that he had giuen him infinite strappadoes. Being demaunded who he was, he answea∣red that he was the greatest sinner in the world, and being asked if he came not thither to betray the castell, he answeared that he was the greatest traytor that was, being examined if he had not promised and resolued to kill the Lord of the castell: he answea∣red, that he should doe wrose, if God would permitt and aban∣don him. Wherevpon he was att length condemned to be drawne through the citty att a horse taile, so to the place of execution to be hanged and strangled. This worthy mirrour of patience Bro∣ther

Iuniperus, neuer alleadged one excuse or reason to iustifie* 1.1 himselfe, nor gaue no demonstration of his disquiett or vexa∣tion: but resigning himselfe entierly to the diuine prouiden∣ce, shewed in the middest of his torments a ioyfull and con∣tented countenance. Now as all the people flocked together to see him trayned through the dirt, and consequently to be hanged as a traytor, one of the ministers of iustice, went in∣continently to the Couent of the Frere Minors of the same Citty, and prayed the Guardian to hasten instantly for the re∣liefe and comfort of the soule of a miserable malefactour that was conducted to his execution and death, yet neuertheles hath no appre∣hension of death, nor hath care or speaketh att all of confession. The Guardian speedily hastened to the place of execution, where finding & knowing Brother Iuniperus, he began to weepe, and would haue put of his habitt to couer him, but he answeared, that it was better to co∣uer a poore liuing creature, then one dead, so litle was this holy Re∣ligious troubled with the tormentes past, the ignominie present, and the apprehension of death att hand: but he appeared so cheerfull and so pleasant as if he had bin in a faire garden and plott of roses, gil∣liflowers and other beautifull and sweet flowers. Which the Guar∣dian admiring, prayed the officers of iustice there present, to suspend the execution of this criminell, till he had spoken with their Lord whose fauour he would craue in behalfe of him that he knew to be innocent, which they willingly promised. Comming then to the no∣ble man, he thus spake vnto him: Know my Lord, the man whome you haue condemned to so ignominious a death, is one of the most perfect Religious of our Order of Frere Minors, and is cal∣led Brother Iuniperus. This extremely vexed this noble man, who by reputation knew Brother Iuniperus, hauing heard of his meruailes: wherfore he accompanied the Guardian, euen to the place of the citty where he was, and there fell on his knees before him, and bitterly weeping, besought him before all the people to pardon him. The vertuous Religious did not only pardon him, but gaue him thanckes for being occasion of his meritt towardes God, yea and thenceforwd he tooke it so gratefully, that remayning in the Couent of the said place to cure and ease the torments he had endured, many hono∣rable personnes presenting him many small commodities, he al∣wayes sent the most worthie and excellent to the Earle, affirming that he did not acknowledge himselfe more obliged to any man in the world then to him, because he had not found any that had more accomplished his desires then he. The earle, on the contrary said, that he

knew therby that God would shortly end his enormous sinnes, and that he should not liue long, sith he had so vnworthely tormented an innocent and so sainct-like a man, though he knew him not, and that God would punish him for it. Wherin he was not deceaued, for a litle after he was slaine by his ennemies. Now this singuler fact may notifie vnto vs the patience of Brother Iuniperus, the excel∣lencie of the vertues which God discouered in him, with what faith, hope, humility and fortitude he was armed, and the crosse which he carryed in himselfe, and wherin only he glorified, and the small gaine the deuill gott of him in this combatt, where he was subdued by the patience of Brother Iuniperus, more like to that of IESVS CHRIST, then to that of Iob. Wherein appeareth how truly the holy Doctors affirme, that almighty God is such a louer of our pro∣fitt and our glory, which is purchaced by labour in his seruice, that he denyeth it onlie to those who make themselues incapable to receaue it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  More ad∣mirable then imi∣table pa∣tience of Br. Iu∣niperus.