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 Brother Simon deliuered a Nouice from the temptation of the flesh, and how the Nouice became perfect in charity and of his death.

THE XLVII. CHAPTER.

THis good Father discoursing one day of almighty God, with such feruour declared the obligation which we haue to his di∣uine Maiesty and to our owne saluation, that a wordly yong man there present, resolued to leaue the world and to become religi∣ous, (he was borne att Senseuerin, a citty in the kingdome of Naples) & foorthwith tooke the habitt of Frere a Minor. But the deuill by who∣se blowing, the flames of temptations are enkindled, enflamed this Nouice with so great a heat and sting of sensuality, that loosing all hope of force to ouercome so great a temptation, he diuers times required his apparell of the sayd Father Simon to retourne to the world, affirming that he could no longer remaine in Relligion: but the good Father comforted him, and still deferred him to an other time. Neuertheles his temptations encreased daily. And as one day he exceedingly vrged him to permitt him to depart out of relligion, this holy Father hauing compassion of him, commanded him to sitt

downe by him: which the nouice hauing done, he layd his head on his lappe, then lifting his eyes towardes heauen, he with such feruour pray∣ed for him, that being rapt in extasie, he was heard, in such sort that the Nouice was so deliuered of his temptations, that thenceforward his sensuall heat was tourned into the fier of charity, wherof he made demonstration after he had made his vow, by this accident: A lewd fellow was condemned for his misdeedes, to haue his eyes crushed out: this Religious hauing heard report hereof, moued with charity towardes his neighbour, went and most instantly prayed the iudge, to temper iustice with mercy, and to mittigate the sentence giuen against that criminell. The Iudge answeared, that he could not. This good Religious then fell on his knees before the Iudge, and with tearfull eyes besought him, that the sentence then might be executed on him∣selfe, in regard that the party condemned, would not endure the torment nor support the disgrace so patiently as himselfe. The Iudge moued with such wordes, and admiring the Charity of this Religi∣ous, pardoned for that time the malefactor. This holy Father being in prayer in a solitary place, many birdes came ouer him and by their singing made so great a noyse, as they distracted him. Wherfore he commanded them in the name of God to depart, and they redily obeyed. The houre of death of this worthy seruant of God being att length come, and his yeares being accomplished, he yelded his soule to his Creatour, adorned with vertues and sanctity. He was bu∣ryed in the Couent of Spoletum where his notable merittes haue bin manifested, he hauing obtayned many graces of God, for the com∣fort and benefitt of infinitie personnes that haue implored him as their intercessour.