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 Giles defended himselfe from the deuill, by whome he was often persecuted.

THE XIX. CHAPTER.

THe wicked spirites were the more hatefull and enuious to this seruant of God, because he had knowledge and vnderstanding of many sublime and diuine secrettes: for which respect they often tormented him, as within few dayes after he had that diuine vi∣sion, being alone praying in his cell, the deuill appeared vnto him in so horrible and fearfull a figure, that it presently depriued him of his spe∣ach. But hauing in his hart called for helpe vnto almighty God, he was incontinently deliuered: and afterwardes made very fearfull relations* 1.1 of the lothsomnes of the deuill. Br. Giles being once entred about mid∣night into the Church of S. Appollinaris, in Spoleta, there to offer his prayers, the deuill lept vpon his shoulders whiles he prayed, and held him so crushed and oppressed for a time that he could scarce moue, yet he so strugled that he gott to the holy water pott, where hauing taken holy water and signed himselfe with the crosse, the deuill presently fled.

An other time as he was praying, the deuill so tormented him, that he was enforced as much as he could to cry out: help me my Brethren; att which call his companion Br. Gratian came running, and he was instantly deliuered. Praying also an other night, he heard the ennemy with many other deuils that were very neere him, who talking among themselues as men might doe, sayd: Wherfore doth this Religious la∣bour so much, fith he is already a sainct, so agreable is he to God, and euen in continuall extasie. Which they sayd, to tempt him and induce him to vaine glory. The last yeare of his life, the deuill persecuted him more cruelly thē he had don before; as he thought one night after pray∣er to repose himselfe, the deuill carryed him into so straight a place, that he could not turne him on any side, whatsoeuer endeauour he made to arise. Br. Gratian hearing him complaine, came to the dore of his cell to know if he were in prayer, or that some other accident were befallen him, and he perceiued that he was exceedingly troubled, wherfore he began to cry out: Father, what is the mater? wherto this holy Father answeared: Come quickly my child, come quickly. But Br. Gratian be∣ing vnable to open the dore of the cell, sayd vnto him: I know not the reason, but I cannot open the dore. Br. Giles prayed him to doe his vt∣most to open it speedely: which, after much labour he did, then com∣ming neere vnto him with all his power to assist him, he could not so

much as moue him out of the place where the deuill had throwne him. which Br. Giles perceauing, he said: Br. let me alone in this case, and lett vs referre all into the handes of God. So Brother Gratian, (though against his will) for bearing to endeauour to deliuer the holy Father out of this place, he fell to prayer for him, where by, a litle eased, he sayd to his companion: you haue done well in comming to assist me; God reward you for it. But Brother Gratian complayning that he had not called him in this imminent perill of death wherin he was, and relating the disgrace it would haue bin to him, and to his companions if he had so dyed, he sayd vnto him: Be not troubled my child if God by me be reuenged of his ennemies: for you must know that how much the deuill resisteth God, seeking to afflict and torment me, so much more is he tormented and discendeth deeper to the pro∣fundity of hell, and so when he persecuteth me I am reuenged of him: for the seruice which I haue now done to almighty God, had no beginning of me but of his diuine Maiesty, as the end shall be, if it please him. Wherfore I am assured that the deuill neither can, nor euer shalbe able to preuaile against God: yet did not the de∣uill omitt to torment him, in such sort that goeing att night to rest in his cell, he alwayes went sighing asif he would say, I expect, yea I goe to martyrdome.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The ver∣tue of the signe of the crosse and of holy wa∣ter.