The life of the holie father S. Francis Writen by Saint Bonauenture, and as it is related by the Reuerend Father Aloysius Lipomanus Bishop of Veron. In his fourth tome of the life of Saintes.

THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER. Of his Canonisation and of the translation of his sacred bodie.

SAINT Francis therefore, the servant & frind, of the Highest; the institutour and guider, of the Friars Minors; the professour of Poverty, the forme of Pennance, the Preacher of Verity; the Mirrour of Holinesse, and the sampler of all E∣vangelicall

perfection; being prevented from a∣boue, by heavenly grace; did come by a well or∣dered and due proceeding, from the lowest estate to the highest pitche of vertue. This admirable man, as being passingly ritche in Poverty; and highly advaunced, in Humility; prompt also and actiue, in mortification, and prudent, in simpli∣city, and briefly of singular note and observance, for al manner of honest conversation, whome our Lord had made to be in his life time, wonderfully esteemed, him did he make to be in his death in∣comparably more renowned. For when this bles∣sed man departed out of the world: his sacred spi∣ritte, entring the house of eternity, and being made gloriouse, with the full draught of the fon∣taine of life: left behind him, in his body, ecr∣taine expresse signes, of the future glory. That his most holy flesh, which having binne crucifi∣ed with the vices thereof, had now passed over in∣to a new creature, might both by a singularity of priviledge, sette forth the shewe of our Saviours Passion; and might also by the novelty of the Mi∣racle, foreshew the resemblance, of his resurre∣ction.

For in those his most happy members, there were certaine nailes to be seene, which had bine wounderfully made, of his very flesh, by power devine: and were so marveilously growen therin, that being pressed or strained on either side, they would, as it were certaine naturall and hard sin∣wes, presently rebounde, to the contrary parte. There was also more apparantly founde in his

body, howbeit not inflicted nor made by hand of man, the hole of a wounde in his side, like vnto the wounded side of our Saviour: which did in him our Redeemer, bring forth, the sacrament of humane redemption, and generation. And the similitude of the nailes, were black like vnto irō, but the wounde of the side, was of a red colour: & being by the shriking of the flesh, brought into a certaine kinde of roundenesse: it seemed to be as it were a most beautifull rose. As for the rest of his flesh, notwithstanding that of former time it had, aswell out of infirmity as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out of nature declined to blacknesse: yet now brightly shining with an excessiue Luster of pure whitenesse, it did well resemble the exquisite beautifullnesse of the second Stole. Moreover the limmes and mem∣bers of his body, appeared to be so softe and tra∣ctable, to such as felt them, that they seemed to be changed, into the tendernesse of a litle childe: and did make shewe; to be graced, with certaine evident signes, of innocency. Seeing therefore, that the nailes seemed to be blacke, in his most pure and white flesh, and the wounde of his side, to be red, like vnto a most faire and slourishing rose, it is in no sorte to be wondred at, if soe de∣lightefull and miraculous a varietie, gaue cause both of ioy and admiration, vnto all the beholders

And true it is that the devout children, did in∣deed shed teares and lament, for the taking away of soe loving a Father: but yet were they reple∣nished with no small measure, of ioy and glade∣somnesse, meane while that in him, they did most

sweetely kisse, the sacred signes, of the inghest king. And the novelty of the miracle, turned their mournefull complainte into surpassing ioy: and the true vnderstanding thereof, ravished the deepe searcher of the matter, with amazement. For a spectacle soe vnvsuall, and so notable also therewithall, was vnto all the beholders, both an establishement of faith, and a provocation of loue and affection: and to the hearers thereof, a matter of admiration, and a stirring vp of desire, to see and behold it. For the death of this good Father, was no sooner heard of, and the fame of the miracles spreede abroad: but the people came withall expedition flocking together to the place that with the eies of their flesh: they might see & viewe the things, which might repel al doubt frō reason, and might heape vp aboundance of ioyes, to their affections.

Very many therfore of the Cittizens of Assisium were admitted, with their eies to behold and with their lipps to kisse, those most holy Stigmats. But one of thē being a knight, wel learned doubtlesse and wise whose name was Hierome, a man also of much fame and accounte, being doubtful of these holy signes, & in credulous, like vnto Thomas, did in the presence of the brethten, and other the Cit∣tisens, more freely and boldly, moue the nailes, and did with his owne handes, touche, the hands feete, and side, of the Sainte: that whilest by fee∣ling and touching he handled those true signes of the woundes of Christ, he might cut of, all man∣ner of wounde of doubtfullnesse, from the harte,

both of himselfe and others. For which cause, e∣ven he himselfe among others, being afterwards made a constant witnesse, of this truth so certain∣ly knowen, did by oathe vpon the holy Gospells, testifie the same. But the brethren and Children that had binne called to the passadge, of the bles∣sed Father, did withall the multitude, of the pec∣ple assembled so religioufly employ themselves, in dedicating vnto the eivine praises of God, that night wherein the worthy Confessour of Christe, was departed, that thereseemed to be held, noe exequies for the dead, but rather, a blessed watch and warde of Angels,

And when morning came, the trouppes of people, that were gathered together, taking the boughes of trees, and a number of waxe lights, in their hands, did with Himnes & Canticles, bring the holy body, to the Cittie of Assisium. But pas∣sing by the Church of Saint Damian, wherin that noble Virgin Sainct Clare, now gloriouse in Hea∣ven, did then remaine inclosed with the rest of the Virgines, and making there some stay for a while, they offered that sacred body, ennobled and adorned, with those heavenly pearles, to be seene and kissed: by those holy. Virgins. And comming afterwards to the Citty with exceeding great icy, they did withall reverence, place the precious treasure which they brought, in the Church of Saint George. For in that place, being but a litle child, he learnt his letters: and there af∣terwards he preached, and there last of all be re∣ceaved, his first place, of rest. The venerable

Father passed out of the shippewracke of this worlde, in the yeare of our Lords incarnation, on thousand, two hundred, twentie sixe, the fourth day of October, being Saterday, in the evening; and was buried vpon the Sunday.

And by the influence doubtlesse of Gods divine aspect; this blessed man did forthwith beginne, to shine with many and woundrous miracles: that the highe degree of his holinesse, which duringe his life heare one earth, had binne throughly no∣tified vnto the world, touching the mannadge∣ment & direction of manners, by the exāples of perfect iustice, might nowe be by miracles of de∣vine power, ratified & made good from Heaven, wheare he raigneth with Christe for ever, to the absolute confirmation, of all faith and true belief. And whereas in divers parts of the world, his glo∣riouse miracles, and the large benefitts, by him obtained, had inflamed very many, vnto the de∣votion of Christe: and had also recited very many vnto the reverence of this his Saint, by generall reports, both of wordes and workes, it came to the chred of the supreame Bishoppe, Pope Grego∣ry, the ninth; what goeat and admirable thinges, God did worke and effect by his servaunt Saint Francis. Wherevpon, that worthy Pastor of the Church, knowing his marveilouse holinesse, by testimony of most credible authority, and being thereof centified, not only out of such miracles, as he had heard to haue binne donne by him af∣ter his death, but out of such also, as he himselfe had seene with his eies, and felt with his handes,

to be tried by experience, in his life time: wherby he had no manner of doubt, but that he was now glorified, by Christ, in Heaven; to the intent he might conformably worke with Christ, whose Vicar he was; did purpose, vpon a good & Godly Consideration, to make him famous, vppon the earth: as being most worthy, of all honour & re∣verence. And for to giue more absolute and vn∣doubted assurance, vnto al the whole world; of the glorified estate, of this most holy man: he caused the miracles by him donne, having bin formerlie founde out, drawen together in writing, and ap∣proved by conveniēt witnesses, to be examined by such of the Cardinals, as seemed to be lesse favou¦rable vnto that matter and businesse. After diligēt enquirie whereof, the Miracles being by them al fully ratified and allowed, he did, by the vniforme Councel and assent of his brethren, and of all the Prelats, that were then resident in his Courte, re∣solue and decree, to accomplish his Canonization And comming personally vnto the Citty of Assi∣sium, in the yeare of our Lords incarnation, one thowsand, two hundred: rewentie & eight, he did on Sunday, the sixteenth of Iuly, with great so∣lemnities, to long to be rehearsed, enrolle the blessed-Father, in the Catalogue of Saints.

But in the yeare of our Lorde, one thowfand, two hundred, and thirtie, the brethren, beinge assembled to a generall Chapter, then celebrated and kept, at Assisium, the body dedicated vnto our Lord, was on the siue and twentith of May, translated vnto a goodly Church, that was built

& erected, in honor of him. And whils that sacred treasure (signed with the seale, of the most su∣preame and Soveraigne king) was to that place, transported, he whose Image and likenesse, he bare, did vouchsafe to worke, many and sundry miracles: that by his health working odoure, the affections of the faithfull, might be drawen to runne after Christ. For it was, in very deed, befit∣ting and well beseeming, that whom God having made to be in his life time pleasing & welbeloved vnto himselfe, had by the grace of contemplation, translated into Paradice, like vnto Enoch, and had by the zeale of charitie, taken vp into heaven in a fierie Chariot, like vnto Elias; nowe might those happy bones of him, flourishing among the hea∣venly flowers of eternall planting; by meane of a strange and admirable kinde of blosseming, yeild forth a sweete and pleasant favour, from the place, wherein they were enshrined. And therefore as this blessed man, had binne in his life time famous for many signes of vertues; soe from the day of his passadge, vntill this very present, he doth in divers of the world, by power divine, glorifieing it selfe in him, most beautifully and clearely shine, with many prodigious and notable miracles. For the blinde and deafe, the dumbe and lame, the diseased of the Dropsie, and sicke of the Palsey, possessed persons & Leapars, they that haue binne in shippe∣wracke and Captivity, haue by his merrittes, found help and remedie, as also all diseases necessities and perrills, haue thereby binne relieved. Yea, and by the miraculouse restoring of life by him, to many

that haue binne dead, in this blessed Sainte, hath binne sufficiently notified to all faithfull people, the marveilouse magnificence of the Power of the Highest, to whom to be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

Notes

• Apoc. 7.13
• Heere we may see the custome of the Ca∣tholieke Church in burryng her dead with wax candels lighted with hem∣nes & spi∣rituall Psalmes.
• Cant. 1.4.
• Gen. 5.24. 4. Reg. 2.11.