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 reuerence and deuotion which S. Clare had to the most B. Sacrament, and of the vertue of her prayers against the Deuils.

THE XV. CHAPTER.

THe deuotion of S. Clare towardes the most precious Sacrament of the Altare was such, that she made it apparent in many of her actions: for though she were most grieuously sick in her bed, yet would she so dispose her selfe therin, and be so propped and stayed vp that she might conueniently spinne, an exercise which she exceedingly affe∣cted, and wherin she desirously employed her selfe, and did it delicately: and with the threed of her labour, she caused to be wouen very curious and fine cloth, which she employed in furniture for the chalice. She one time got made 50. corporals which she sent in cases of silke to many Churches of the valley of Spoletun. When she was to receaue the most sacred Sacramēt, before she presented her selfe therunto, she was alwayes

bathed in teares, and so with exceeding feare approaching, she did reue∣rence him that was hidden in the Sacrament, as acknowledging him to be the same that gouerneth heauen and earth. Therfore did the deuils so much feare the prayer of the espouse of IESVS CHRIST S. Clare, as they haue sundry times declared.

A very deuout woman of the bishoprick of Pisa came to the monastery of S. Damian to thanck God & his seruant S. Clare, for hauing bin by her merittes, deliuered of fiue deuils that possessed her, which in goeing out of her body, confessed that the prayer of S. Clare did burne them, and to their great confusion expelled them out of the humane bodies which they possessed.