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 an extasie of S. Agnes, and how S. Clare saw her thrice crowned by an Angell.

THE XXXVI. CHAPTER.

SAinte Clare in her last sicknes obtained that her sister S. Agnes might come to see her in the monastery of S. Damian, to keep her company during the few dayes she had to liue. And so S. Agnes hauing left her Couent well grounded in Religion and sanctity, she came to Assisium, where sainte Clare being one night in prayer a part from her sister, she neuertheles saw her, being also in prayer, lifted from

the earth, and an Angell to crowne her head three seuerall times with so many crownes. The day following she demanded of her sister, what player or contemplation she had made the night past: But she of hu∣mility vnwilling to manifest her prayer, being att length enforced by obedience, made her this relation: I considered the great goodnes and patience of almighty God, wherby he supporteth such enormous of∣fences of sinners; which I considered with a deep sorrow and compas∣sion. Then I thought and yet doe thinck on the loue which almighty God beareth to sinners, and how he endured death to saue them: Thirdly I considered and doe consider, and am with cōpassion exceedingly affli∣cted, for the soules in purgatory and their great tormentes: and because they cannot helpe them selues, I asked mercy for them of the most sa∣cred woundes of our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST.