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 FIRST CHAPTER. Of Saint Francis his conuersation in secular habite.

IN the Citty of Assisium, there was a man called FRANCIS, whose name remaineth in blessed me∣mory: for being prevented by the sweete blessings of GOD, he was mercifully delivered frō the dan∣gers of this present life, & filled abundantly with the influences of Heavenly grace. For being in his youth nourished in vanities, among the vaine chil∣dren of men, & being also after some littel know∣ledge of Learning, deputed to the gainfull trade of Merchandise; yet by the assistance of God, nei∣ther when hee was most addicted vnto pleasure, did hee followe the wantonnesse of the fleshe among lascivious young men, no•• yet when he

was most intentiue to gaine, did he put his confi∣dence in mony and treasures, as covetous negoti∣atours are commonly woont to doe. But in his hart there was euen from his infancy ingrafted a certaine singular pitty, & commiseration towards the poore, which growing and encreasing toge∣ther with his yeeres, did replenishe his heart with so bountifull an affection in that behalfe, that opening his eares to the wordes of the Gospell, he pnrposed with himselfe to giue somewhat vnto euery one that should aske him; espetially making demaund for the ••oue of God.

But whereas on ••••••pon occasion of his trou∣blesome businesse, wherevnto he was very inten∣tiue, he did contrary to his custome, neglect the request of a poore man, that asked him almes for the loue of God: he presently remembring him∣selfe, and entring into iudgement with his owne heart; did speedily runne after him, bestowing his almes with much affection vpon him, making furthermore, euen then a promise vnto Almighty God, that from thence forward, so long as he should haue any thing in the worlde to giue? hee would never denie to giue something, to such as should begge of him for our Lords sake: which he observing continually with an vnwearied zeale of devotion, vnto his death; was thereby made woorthie to obtaine an aboundant encrease of the favour and grace of Almighty God. For he was woont to say, after that he had perfectly put on Christ, that even whilest he was in secular ha∣bite, he felt a great motion in his heart, whenso∣ever

he heard any worde expressing the loue of God. Furthermore the mildnesse of his conversa∣tion, together with the sweetnesse of his man∣ners; his patience, and tractable behaviour, more thē is ordinary in mē; & his liberality, beyond the measure of his ability; which appeared in him in his youth, were tokens; that God had a grea∣ter aboundance of blessing to powre vpon him.

It fortuned once that a very simple man of Assisium (by the instruction of God, as we haue good cause to thinke) meeting vpon a time with Saint FRANCIS, as he passed along the Citty; cast off his cloake, and spread the same vnder his feete; affirming that he should be worthie of all manner of reverence: the time beeing nowe not long vnto, wherin he should performe great mat∣ters: and should be of the whole worlde for that cause marveilously honored. But yet altogether ignorant was S. FRANCIS at this time of Gods determination concerning him: aswell beeing by the commaundement of his father, distracted in externall affaires: as also, by naturall corruption, carried away with terrestriall ••••••••ters; wherby he had not as yet learned to conteplate vpo the mat∣ters of Heauen, nor had accustomed himselfe to taste of the sweetnesse of God. And because the scourge of affliction doth oftentimes giue light to the spirituall vnderstanding, the mighty hande of our Lord did come vpon him; & the right hand of the highest wrought a perfect change within him; afflicting his body with lingring in∣firmities, whereby the better to prepare his soule

to receiue the precious inspirations and motions of the Holy Ghost. But having recovered his strength, and being provided of decent apparell according to his vsuall manner; he chanced to meete a certaine souldiar, who was in yery deede a gentleman by birth, but poore and meanely ap∣parelled; whose poverty he commiserating with a syncete affection, dispoiled himselfe of his own apparell; and furnished the poore souldiar there∣withall: that so, in one worke, he might per∣forme a double office, of piety; both in covering the shame, of a gentleman souldiar; & in releiue∣ing the misery of a poore distressed man.

In the night following, when he had betaken himselfe to his naturall rest; it pleased the good∣nesse of God, to shew vnto him a great and beau∣tifull pallace, adotned with Military weapons, insigned with the Crosse of CHRIST: then fore∣shewing vnto him, that the mercy which he had extended towards the poore souldiar, for the loue of the heavenly King; should be recompenced with an incomparable reward. Wherevpon de∣maunding vnto whom all those goodly things did appertaine; it was aunswered to him from aboue, that they should be vpon him and his souldiars; freely bestowed. A waking therefore in the mor∣ning, and having his minde not as yet exercised in the searching of Divine mysteries; neither yet knowing how by the formes of visible thinges to consider the trueth of things, invisible; he per∣swaded himselfe, that this vnaccustomed vision; was a fore token of some great prosperity, to hap∣pen

vnto him. So being as yet ignorant of Gods Divine ordinance towardes him, he purposed to goe into Apulia, vnto a certaine Earle of great li∣berality; hoping by service vnder him in the wars to purchase a name of honour: according as the mentioned vision; vnto him seemed, to foretell. And being shortly after, entred into his iourney; as he came to the next City, he heard in the night time, our Lord in familiar manner, thus speaking vnto him. FRANCIS, who is able to doe better for thee, the master or the servant, the rich man or the poore?. To whom Saint FRANCIS making aunswere, that the master; and the rich man were better able: Our Lord presently replied; why therefore doest thou leaue the master, for the servant; and the rich God, for a poore man. Then Saint FRANCIS asked, what wilt thou haue me, O Lord to doe? And our Lord said vnto him; re∣turne into thine owne country: for the vision which thon hast seene, doth prefigurate a spiritual effect, which is to be, by the disposition of God, & not of man; accomplished in thee. In the morning therefore, he speedily returned backe to Assisium, resting nowe full of security and ioy: & making himselfe a patterne of obedience, did rea∣dily expect the pleasure of our Lord. From that time foreward hee with-drewe himselfe from the practise of his common trafique, and devoutly be∣sought Almighty God, of his mercy; that hee would voutsafe to shew vnto him, what he ought to doe. And when by much vse of praier, the flame of Heavenly desire; began aboundantly to

encrease in him; so that nowe for the loue of the Heavenly country, hee contemned all earthely things, as very nothing, then did he well perceiue himselfe to haue found, the hidden treasure; & like a well advised marchant, purposed with the sale of all his marchandise; to purchase this rare and pretious pearle. But as yet he was ignorant how to proceed therein: saving that it was to his spirit sugested; that the entring into spirituall af∣faires, is the contempt of the world; and that the warfare of Christ, is not otherwise to be by any man begun, than by obtaining first, the conquest of himselfe.

Riding therefore one day vpon the plaine, * 1.1 ad∣ioyning nigh to Assisium: there came in his way, a certaine Leaper: vpon whose sodaine aspect, he cō∣ceived in mind, an especiall horror, and loathing. But returning to his already resolued purpose of perfection: and considering that he ought of ne∣cessity first, to overcome himselfe, if he would be∣come the souldiar of Christ: he presently alighted downe from his horse, and went to kisse him. At what time the Leaper, reaching fotth his hand: as hoping to receiue something from him: did in∣deed teceiue money of him: and a kisse also there∣withall. But he being presently gotten vp, vpon his horse againe, and looking round about in the open field, could not espie the Leaper there. Being therefore replenished, with admiration and ioy, he began devoutly to sing praises vnto God, pur∣posing from this beginning: evermore to aspire vnto greater perfections.

From thenceforth he began to affect solitary pla∣ces, * 1.2 as best fitting vnto mourning and lamentati∣on: wherevnto with redoubled sighes, he inces∣santly gaue ouer himselfe: vntill such time, that after long instance of Praier: he obtained of our Lord, with his inclinable eare, to heare the same. For one day, as he was praying in a solitary place, & through excesse of fervour, wholly (in manner) absorpted vp in God: Christ Iesus our Lord, vout∣safed to appeare vnto him: fast nailed as it were, vpon the CROSSE. At the sight wherof, his soul melted within him: & the memory of the Passion of Christ, was so efficatiously imprinted into his heart, that from that houre, so often as he remem∣bred the Crncifijng of Christ: he was hardly able to abstaine from sighes and teares, externally bur∣sting out vpon him: as himselfe afterward, fami∣liarly reported, drawing then nigh vnto his end. For hereby the man of God, did fulwell vnder∣stand, that those wordes of the GOSPEL: If thou wilt come after me, denie thy selfe, and take vp thy Crosse and followe me: were directly spoken vnto himself. From that time did he therfore put on vpon him, the spirit of poverty; a perfect sence of humility; and a zealous affection of inward Piety. For wher∣as before he could not abide the company of such as were infected with Leaprosie, no, not so much as to see them, though distant a good way from him: nowe for the loue of Christ Crucified, who accor∣ding to the wordes of the Prophet, seemed con∣temptible as a Leaper: that he might fully contemne himselfe: he did with a godly kind of benignity,

even towards the Leapers: performe the du∣ties of humility, and of all manner, of good hu∣manity. For he visited oftentimes their houses, & liberally bestowing his almes among them; & with great affection of charitable commiseration disdained not to kisse their handes, & their mou∣thes. As for poore beggars also, it was his desire to bestowe vpon them, not only his goodes, but himselfe therewithall: sometimes putting off his owne apparell; sometime vnripping the same, & sometime, for lack of other, more conuenient meanes, cutting it in partes, to bestowe vpon thē To poore Priests also, he gaue succoure, with much reuerence and deuotion, especially in the ornaments of the Aulter: that he might both be partaker of the honour giuen vnto God: & might also supply the wants of such: as were to exhibite the same vnto him.

One time visiting the Church of Saint Peter the Apostle with religious deuotion, and beholding a great multitude of poore people, before the doores of the Church, he being then partly mo∣ued, with the sweetnes of piety: partly allured, with the loue of pouerty, gaue vnto one of the poorest of them, his owne apparell, and couering himselfe with the ragges of the poore man spent that whole day ioyfully in the middest of the poore: with an vnwonted alacrity. and ioy of spi∣rit: Thereby, aswell to contemne all wordly glo∣ry, as also to arise, as it were by degrees, and to clime vp, to the top of Euangelicall perfection. Very vigilant he was in mortification of the flesh

that so he might externally in his body, * 1.3 carry a∣bout the Crosse of Christ: as he did internally e∣nermore, beare the same, in his hart. All these things did Saint Francis the servant of God, not being yet, either in habite, or conversation, se∣questred from the world.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Beholde howe his adorning the Altar•• did please god, other∣wise the holy man woulde not haue done them.
• * 1.2

  Behold his pilgrimage to holy places.
• * 1.3

  Se how the holy Father doth subdue the concu∣piscence of the flesh by his morti∣fication.