The life of the glorious virgin S. Clare Togeather with the conuersion, and life of S. Agnes her sister. And of another S. Agnes, daughter to the King of Bohemia. Also the rule of S. Clare. And the life of S. Catharine of Bologna. Translated into English.

Of the Education, Charity, Prayer, Mortification, and Virginity of S. Clare.

CHAP. II.

SAINT Clare being borne into the world, she began inconti∣nently to appeare, and shine as a morning starre in the obscure night of that age, for in the most tender yeares of her first infancy, she already discouered euidēt signs of notable and pious works, wher∣in she made to appeare her natu∣rall worth, and the graces which God had communicated vnto her: for being naturally of a very deli∣cate constitution, she receiued of

her Mother the first foundations of faith: afterwards being inspired of God, to apply herselfe to vertuous, and pious workes, she shewed herselfe to be a vessell aptly prepa∣red for diuine grace; and as she a∣bounded in interiour piety, aswell by nature as by grace towardes poore beggars; so according to the small meanes which then she had, she supplyed their necessities. And to the end her Sacrifice might be more pleasing vnto God, the most delicate meates that vvere giuen her, for the nourishment of her little body, she hid, and gaue it se∣cretly to the poore. Thus did pie∣ty augment and increase in her, & nourished charity in her soule, pre∣paring her to receiue the grace & mercy of Almighty God. Her grea∣test

contentment was in prayer, wherby she was often susteyned, made ioyfull, and comforted as by an Angelicall milke, and in a most delicious manner eleuated to the diuine pleasures of the conuer∣sation of our Lord Iesus Christ. In these beginninges, hauing no beades, she vsed insteed thereof certaine little stones, some to serue for the Pater nosters, and others for the Aues, and so offered her pray∣ers to God. Wherupon beginning to feele the first feruours of diuine loue, she iudged that the must con∣temne all transitory apparence, & painted flowers of this world: and being by prayer well instructed of the holy Ghost, she resolued, as a wise spirituall Merchant, to haue no more regard of terrestriall af∣fayrs

acknowledging them vn∣worthy to be esteemed: & with this spirit she did weare, as another S. Cecily, vnder her gay apparrell, a haire-cloth; so exteriourly satisfy∣ing the world, and interiourly her Lord Iesus Christ.

But hauing attayned the age of marriage, she was importuned by her Father, & other kindred, to choose a husband; whereto she would neuer consent, but vsed lin∣grings, and delayes, putting off, and differring what she could all humane marriage, & euer recom∣mended to our Lord Iesus Christ her Virginity, with other vertues wherwith she was indued; by such exercises indeauouring to please al∣mighty God, that he might be∣stow on her his only Sonne for her

spouse. Such were the first fruits of her spirt, and such the exercises of her piety: so that being anoyn∣ted with such a sweet, and preti∣ousoyntment, she yielded a most pleasant sauour, as a closet repleni∣shed with most delightfull liquors, whose perfumes, though they be shut vp, discouer, and manifest themselues; and in such sort this holy virgin beganne without her knowledge to be commended by her neighbours; the true fame of her secret pious workes so publi∣shing themselues, that in an in∣stant they were exceedingly spre∣ad abroad, & euery where diuul∣ged.