The rule of penance of the seraphicall father S. Francis: approued and confirmed by Leo the X. for religious persons of the 3. order of S. Francis : together with a declaration of each point of the Rule, profitable not only to the religous of this order, but also to all religious women / by Br. Angelus Francis, friar minour.

THE FISTEENTH CHAPTER. The life of Blessed S. Elizabeth Queene of Hungary compendious¦ly extracted out of the An∣nalls of our Order.

I Haue made choise to begin with this glorious saint as being the first canonized saint and (as it seemes to me) first that liued a claustral life in this order, and therfore worthely ac∣knowledged as patronesse the∣reof. Her life is very amply set forth in latin by the R. F. Sedu∣lius, and now is translated out of french into English by S. Thomas. H. whose sweet and elegant stile,

will soone shew a blemish in my harsh and vnpollished phrase: who likes not one may read the other, and pardon my desires to honour so great a Sainct, whose heroicall and pious acts require a Seraphs penne. If the reuerence I beare to the holy woman make me ouerbold, the fault is pardo∣nable, or at least to be mended by others: howsoeuer I intend not to make a compleat worke, but a rude delineation and briefe ex∣tract of her life, diuiding it into fiue parts, the first shall be of her life vntill she was married, the second of what she did in mar∣riage, the third what she did af∣ter her husbands death, the fourth how she finished her life in a religious course, and lastly of her translation.

What this sainct did vntill such time as she was married. §. 1.

OMitting the description of her noble race (for she was daughter to the king of Hun∣gary) and the prophecy reported to haue beene made before the world enioyed so rare a piece, of her birth, name, wit, miracles, and many, such like things worthy enough of recording; I will be∣ginne at the 7. yeare of her age, when she begins to shew forth the lustre of her future sanctitie. For euen now before she well knowes what vertue is, she is become the mirrour and patterne, of vertue, especially of patience and charitie. For although her infancy principally in the more tender sex might excuse her griefe

for her mothers death, yet she then aboue her age and sex, tooke it with a constant patience, and with a patient charity, not any waies seeking to reuenge her deare mother, but sweetly pray∣eing for thē who had iniuriousely takē away her life. And frō thēce forward you should find the little child alwayes in the Church, be∣fore some Altar or other, now prostrating her selfe in a most pious manner, now kneeling for a long space together, with eies and hands lifted vp to heauen, and if she could not get into the Church, sweetly kneeling at the doore, kisseing the threshold, doores and walles of that holy place.

As she encreased in yeares so she encreased in pietie, making a happy progresse in all vertues,

and begins now to lay solide grounds of a spirituall life. For at the 9. yeare of her age, she begins to haue God alwayes before her eies, and for his sake to despise, contemne, and cast of superflui∣tie of apparell, the pleasures of the flesh, and vanity of the world. Now she prescribes to her selfe certaine prayers which she resolued dayly to make, and if she chanced in the day time to be hindred (as seldome she was, because true deuotion will al∣wayes find occasion) that her defect would she supply in the night. Aboue all other saints next to our Blessed lady she made choise of S. Iohn Euangelist for her patron, hauing first made her prayer to God, that she might choose one who should most ad∣uance her pious desires: him she loued, and reuerenced so

much, that she would neuer deny any thing that was demanded for his sake.

Shee most religiously obserued the solemnities of feasts and holy dayes, and whereas according to the vanitie of the world others adorne and decke themselues with gay apparell, shee on those dayes would take away some thing of her ordinary attire, well knowing that it was more plea∣sing to God to haue the minde adorned with vertues, than the body with rich apparell, and that a soule addicted to the studie of religious pietie is more acceptable to him, than the corporall sub∣stance shining with purple, gold, siluer, iewels or pretious stones, which are but as the drosse of the earth.

Although she were but yet a

child, yet tooke she no delight in childish toyes, and playes, and if by chance she were compelled to daunce, she vsed such tempe∣rance therein, that she rather did manifest her ciuility in cōplieing to their desires, than any content she had in the recreation. She carried her selfe indifferent in all such things, and so by a quoti∣dian and dayly excercise resisted her naturall inclinations, and mortified her appetite alwayes declining from the libertie of a loose life, she did raise vp her selfe to greater meanes of perfe∣ction. Entring into the Church she would alwayes lay aside her crowne, vntill such time as all being done she were admonished to returne, for that she thought it a great impietie that her head should there be adorned with the

proude pompe of a glittering crowne, where was represented vnto her the head of our sauiour crowned with pricking thornes. Who could expect such deuotiō, such high vertues in so tender yeares. It seemed to many (and not without reason) that she was more fitting to liue amongst reli∣gious woemen, than in the court; you would iudge that she had beene some Angel in humaine na∣ture, especially where as so many occasions of wordly sensuality were presented vnto her, as all knowe the courts of Princes be subiect to.

What she did in the time of her Marriage. § 2.

IN the fourteenth yeare of her age she is forced by the obe∣dience

she owed to her Father to marry, and thereby perhaps must mitigate somewhat of this great feruour. But nothing lesse; for her heart was firme and stable in those graces that God had giuen her, more and more sheweing forth her feruour of spirit, dayly en∣creasing in the study of vertuous actions, feeding her minde with the contemplation of celestiall things, and excerciseing her body in watchings, prayers, and fasts, oftentimes cautiously riseing frō her husbands side in the night to pray. And when she could get op∣portunity, she would lie on the bare ground, and to preuent all rebellion of the flesh, she chasti∣sed her tender body euery fryday with disciplines, & in the lent of∣tener. Vnder her silkes and sattins she ware continually a haireshirt,

yea many times permitted her maides to discipline and chastise her when she could think that she had done ought amisse. A rare par∣terne in so great a princesse.

To all this we may adde her great charitie, wherein she spent the greater part of her time, now labouring by word and workes to draw others to amendment of life, by reason whereof many la∣dies forsooke the vanitie of the world, some by her counsell ma∣keing vowes of chastitie, others entering into religiō, others who had not receiued the faith by her good counsell and instruction brought to be baptized, she her selfe going to be their God-mo∣ther at the font. Other whiles going forth to visit poore sicke woemen, comforting and cheri∣shing them with all things neces∣sarie, which she alwayes brought

with her. And indeed she was al∣wayes-mercifull to the poore, not disdaining secretly to dresse their fores and botches, yea their scald-heads and scurfes, where of being sometimes reprehended she ioy∣fully answered, that she had ra∣ther please Christ than mē. And to auoid idlenesse the mother of all mischiefe, being vacant from the aforesaid works of piety she vsed with her maydes to spinne, and therewithall she cloathed the poore. And that her charitie might neuer cease, she caused a faire hospitall to be built, wherein she gaue order that all things ne∣cessarie should be prouided for the poore that were weake and sick, which hospitall (although it were on a high mountaine some∣what painfull to ascend) she did ordinarily visit euery day, going with great humilitie to each one

that was there, enquiring whe∣ther they wanted any thing, or what they desired, and with her owne hands did feed those that were not able to helpe them∣selues, taking them out of their beds, bearing thē in her armes, and composeing their beds for them. Most louingly would she embrace the poore little chil∣dren, carrieing them in her armes, and shewing her tender affection to them, as if she had beene their mother: so that ordinarily she was called the Mother of the poore. She neuer regarded their defor∣mitie, diseases, scabs or filth, but louingly receiued all as if they had beene her owne. In this hos∣pitall she had alwayes 28 persons for whom she prouided, although she were forced sometimes for their sakes to substract necessa∣ries

from her selfe. Besides there were 900. beggars daily nouris∣hed by her almes; but aboue all she tooke speciall care for the fu∣neralls and burials of such poore people as were not able to pro∣uide for themselues.

These acts of so notable cha∣rity God almighty shewed both to be gratefull to himselfe, and also not preiudiciall to her hus∣bands state; as the following ex∣amples will shew. For once being much importuned by some poore people for almes, and hauing not any other thing to giue, she gaue them her mantell which was very rich, which the Prince misseing asked for it, the Sainct confidently answered that it hung thereby, as expe∣rience did verify. At another time the prince being in great anxietie

of mind, for that she had not ap∣parell beseeming her qualitie, especially in such a time as there came vnto him an Embassadour from the king her Father, she willed him not to be troubled, for that she did neuer care for such vanities; But the time being come, that she must descend to the Embassadour, loe she appeares in very rich apparell, adorned with such beauty that euery one was strucke into admiration, especially the prince, to whom demāding the reason she smiling said, our lord doth know how to prepare such things when he pleaseth. About the yeare 1225. there fell a great dearth through the whole country, when her husband being abroade she ga∣thers all the corne she could get, and most bountifully imparts it

to the poore, so that she emptied all the princes barnes, and store∣houses, which notwith standing were found to be as they were before.

It is too hard to expresse her great deuotion at Masse and other diuine offices, her feruent and pious aspirations, her pietie in the time of communion, whe∣rein she was many times seene to shine with a great light and bri∣ghtnesse. And although she spent her whole time very religious∣ly, yet more particularly she obserued the lent with fastings, almes, and prayers, adding fre∣quent disciplines; and on maundy thirsday poorely clad she visi∣ted the churches, washing with great deuotion the feet of twelue poore woemen, and after ward gaue them liberall almes. Shee

oftentiues went the processions barefoot.

The fame of these and such like vertues came to the eares of our seraphicall S. Francis, who for her comfort by the comman∣dement of the Cardinall prote∣ctour sent her his cloake, which she most deuoutly receiued. It seemes to me that this cloake was a misticall signe of what she was to be, to wit, not only one of his children, but a mother and pa∣tronesse of this third order, which the holy Father by this signe doth commend vnto her.

What she did after her husbands death. §. 3.

NEwes cōming to her of the princes death she with a constant resolution said (teares

sweetly flowing from her eyes) If my Brother (so she called her husband) be dead, hence forward the world shall die to me who am dead to the world. What she said in words, she fullfild in deeds, for at that time the ouerseers of her young sonne (vnable as yet to succeed in his Fathers dominions) cast her out of all, and banished her the court, not permitting her to come neare the Prince her sonne; this confusiō she willingly embraces, and no way either de∣sireing reuenge, or murmuring against it, she reioyced much, and with the Apostles gloried in tri∣bulation. Wherein as we may be hold her glorious humility, pa∣tience, and other vertues, so also the fickle estate of fortune. Shee who heretofore had beene wont to liue in princely pallaces, is now

glad to creep into some poore cottage; she that had beene e∣steemed, honoured, obeyed, and loued as one of the greatest prin∣cesses of the world, is now despi∣sed, contemned, and derided of all, yea of those whom formerly shee had relieued; she that was, wont to be clad in rich attires of gold, siluer, and pretious iewels, now walks in poore ragges, and cloathes embroadered perhaps with mire: she that accustomed to bestow her almes so liberally on the poore, is now glad to begge her owne bread. Who would not take compassion of her!

After she had passed the win∣ter in these sufferances, lent com∣ming on she redoubled her de∣uotions, wherein she found won∣derfull sweetnesse, which she

was no way able to expresse, and therein had many reuelations a∣swell of our Sauiour, as of our B. lady. I will only set downe one or two. Once being in an extasie our lord appeared to her, & said, Dost thou desire to be with me, and I will be with thee. Whereto she answered, Let it be so my lord, as thou dost wouchsafe to be with me, so also I will remaine with thee, and be neuer separated from thee. Our B. lady appeared vnto her very frequently, and did instruct her how God doth im∣part benefits to his beloued by many tribulations, and how by his grace which he giueth them he maketh their soules more ca∣pable of greater grace, whilst they out of a holy hum••litie doe as it were become diffident of re∣ceiueing such and so great bene∣fits,

which he dayly more and more bestoweth on them. And thereupon she counselled her to committ her selfe to the diuine will and goodnesse, and attribute more to the power of God, than to her owne indignitie. The same was also manifested to the saint by a very rare miracle, for being one day walking with her gho∣stly Father called Br. Roderingus, they fell into a serious discourse of the spirituall progresse that a soule might make in perfection; amongst other things the holy woman said, Reuerend Father amongst all my troubles and dif∣ficulties of minde, there is none so nerely touches me, as that I am doubt full of the beneuolence and goodnesse of my creatour towards me, not that I doe not know him to be the soueraigne

good, and liberall in his loue to∣wards vs, but that I find my deme∣rits to be such, that I shall and ought to bee reiected, although I burne with his loue. Whereto the Father answered, you haue no reason to feare, for so great is the diuine goodnesse, that without all doubt he loues againe much more than he is loued by any, But she replied; how then doth he suffer me to be drawne away from him by afflictions and sick∣nesse at any time or any mo∣ment, whereas I would alwaies and in all places adhere to him. Br Roderingus answered, Those are rather signes of one that is beloued of God, than of one for∣saken by him: for he doth permit them to encrease your loue to him as also your merit. And in signe hereof, the more to confirme

you herein, in the vertue of his name, whome you loue, I com∣mand that tree which is on the other side of the riuer, to come to this side where we are: which was presently done. Whereupon the saint fell at the Fathers feet craue∣ing pardon for her offence.

The while these things were done some of her friēds were thin∣king to helpe her, and to allow her some honourable meanes, and also prouide for her some noble marriage. But she, not against her will as they thought, but volūta∣rily both poore and solitary, mā∣fully refused all, saying, I am cōfi∣dent in the diuine protection, that what I haue vowed whilst my husband liued, I shall not loose now that he is dead, what soeuer authoritie presse me, or friend∣ship flatter me, I will not suffer

that to be taken from me by men which I haue begunne for God alone, neither doe I feare any violence, for it is alwayes free to me with my will to dissent from it, and to make my face more de∣formed, or euen to cut of my nose, O heroicall resolution, rather she wil loose her life than leaue the promise she had made to God.

How the holy woman tooke vpon her a religious course of life. §. 4.

ALthings neuerthelesse being well composed, and suffi∣nent meanes giuen her to main∣taine her selfe, she was nothing altered thereby from her former resolution, to liue after a poore manner, in so much that her no∣bilitie condemned her, esteeming

her as a foole or superstitious idiot. She was indeed to the wic∣ked a derision and mocking-stocke, but to the godly and iust she was in great veneration. Whence Pope Gregorie the 9. hea∣ring the fame of her vertues, writ to her, takeing her as his daughter vnder the protection of the Apo∣stolicall See, and commending her to Conradus (a Friar as some will haue it) a very holy man, that he should instruct her what she was to doe, where with the Saint was much strengthened and con∣firmed, most willingly submit∣ting her selfe to his direction. Conradus then persuaded her to the contempt of the world, and the following of Christ, which she very willing to doe, to the end she might execute it in some sure and constant course of life,

she made choise of this order of S. Francis, to liue accordingly in holy and euangelicall pouertie, which not without seeming re∣luctation her ghostly Father ap∣proued, especially seeing her so earnestly & with teares to beg it. And vpon a good Friday before the altar in the Friar minors Church, by a solemne profession she renounced parents, children, pompes, and vanities of the world, and her proper will, to follow our Lord, but being about to giue away all her meanes Con∣radus would not permit it.

Not long after for the loue of her ghostly Father, that she might better enioy his good instructiōs she went to Marburge, where she began an hospitall, which by commandement of Pope Gregory the 9. she dedicated to S. Francis.

The Pope at that time sent her some of the bloud, that flowed frō the side of the said saint when he was marked with the holy stigmats.

In this hospitall she aspires to a higher kind of life, and with a spirituall emulation endeauours to imitate the Friar Minors in a noble contempt of all things, takeing their state of life and ha∣bit as much as she could; as saith S. Bonauenture in a sermon of this saint. She made profession of the third order of S. Francis, as appeares in the Bull of her cano∣nization, and renouncing the world had her haire cut of, and thence forward went barefoot, girding her selfe with a cord: the habit that she with two or three more did take, was gray, hum∣ble and poore, whereby she

embraced perfect continency, and voluntarie pouertie. The R. Fa∣ther Pelbartus in one of his ser∣mons vpon this saint, saith that she contemned the world and entred into the third order of S. Francis to liue in chastitie, obe∣dience, and so strict pouertie, that she did alwayes we are gray, and patched garmēts. Her father hea∣ring she was come to so great po∣nertie sent for her by an earle, who when he saw her cried out Is this the king of Hungaries daugh∣ter? We may wel say, no: for she is now the beloued daughter of S. Francis, whose pouertie she imi∣tates.

I must here, to auoid prolixity, omit her great charitie towards the poore in this place, her fami∣liarity, and benigne comport∣ment towards her inferiours, as

also her miracles. It is admirable to consider her poore life, her pietie towards the sicke, as also towards leapers (in whose forme Christ appeared once vnto her) which was not vnrewarded by almighty God, who by her prayers did heale very many of all manner of diseases, aswell cor∣porall as spirituall. With such and so great signes of vertue this saint was adorned that it is impossible to declare all. As she faithfully exercised the office of Martha, so she omitted not the quiet rest of Marie, when workes of pietie and domesticall charge did cease, then her spirit was most at worke, for then she goes to some se∣cret place, and lifting vp her eies, hands, and heart to God, powers forth her prayer with feruent intention, and that with

teares of compunction, wherein she had a singular grace. Neither was she vnexperienc't in con∣templation, for oftentimes she was rapt in extasie for many houres together, wherein her face did appeare shining with admirable sweetnesse and lustre, and at such times not only en∣ioyed the colloquie of Angels, but also of Christ Iesus himselfe, compassed about with an innu∣merable company of saints, after which time being sufficiently refreshed with spirituall food, she would tast no corporall food for many dayes together.

But now the time drawing on, wherein she must possesse him eternally, he ioyfully appeared vnto her saying, veni electa mea, & caelesti thalamo, quem tibi ab a∣terno destinaui, potire. Come my

elected spouse, and enioy the ce∣lestial bed chamber, which I haue prepared for thee from all eter∣nitie. Being much reioyced at this vision she went to Conradus, and recounted vnto him what had happened, and within foure dayes after ••ell sicke. Drawing neere to her death, she would sometimes swanlike sing most melodiously, being assisted there∣to by angels: sometimes againe sends forth all those that were about her, that (as she said) she might remember her iudge, and the terrible censure, that shortly she was to heare: sometimes a∣gaine she would beginne some pious discourse of the life or mi∣racles of ou•• Sauiour, and at other times she would vtter such infla∣ming and penetrating words, that they forc't all the hearers into

teares. God permitted the Ene∣mie to appeare to her, but she with a constant minde cryed out, Fly ô miserable that thou art, fly vnhappy one, thou hast nothing to doe in me. And being in her last agonie she said; This is the houre of the virginall and im∣maculate birth of our Sauiour (for it was about midnight) admonishing her assistents to speake something of the most beautifill child Iesus. How he was borne in winters night, and in anothers house, swadled in cloathes, placed in a manger, found of the sheapheards, decla∣red by the starre, and lastly ado∣red by the Chaldeans. These, sayd she, are the venerable misteries, most rich benefits, and beautifull ornaments of our saluation. In these our hope taketh force, our

faith doth profit vs, and our cha∣ritie enflame vs. Of these I pray discourse and sweetly conferre. In which words she gaue vp the ghost.

What miracles God hath wrought by her, both past and future ages will testifie, what is sayd may suffice for our purpose, Those authors who with more eloquence haue described her life, can manifest at more lea∣sure her innumerable miracles. Only I will note here that she left foure Images of our B. Lady with her daugher Sophia, which be all miraculous, especially that of our lady of Hall neare Brusselles, and that of Vilford neare Brus∣selles also, commonly called our lady of comfort.

The translation of S. Eli∣zabeth §. 5.

AFter her Canonization which was in the yeare 1235. by Gregorie the 9. her fame was diuulged through all Ger∣many. So that Siffridus arch∣bishop of Ments in the yeare following, ordained the first day of May with great ioy of the people to take vp the most holy body out of the graue where it was. It is incredible to belieue how great a multitude of all sorts of people were gathered toge∣ther at Marburg; the like was hardly euer seene in those parts; some doe report they came to twelue hundred thousand per∣sons. The offerings that were there presented were not to be

valued. The Emperour Frede∣ricke the second was present, (and dedicated a crowne of gold to the holy reliques) with many o∣ther princes, archbishops, Ab∣bots, and such like. And before them all the tombe was opened, from whence came forth a most gratefull odour, which did make all those that felt it very ioyfull, the body taken vp was put into a faire shrine, and carried with great pompe to the great ioy and content of all the people. But which is more to be admired, there came forth out of her body a certaine oyle, which cured all manner of diseases, insomuch that, as Alberinus, who hath writ∣ten the chronicles of Germany, saith, there came almost as many to her shrine, as to S. Iames of Compostella.

Thus I haue briefely runne ouer the life of this glorious saint, that in part I might shew, with what good reason the religious and o∣ther professours of this order haue taken her for their Patronesse, as one that was a perfect disciple of S. Francis, and the first canonised saint of this order, yea except S. Antony of Padua the first child S. Francis had, that was enroled in the number of saints, and the first that made the three essentiall vowes of religion. From her this holy order began to take its happy progresse to the glory of God, and honour of this saint. And in signe that she was pa∣tronesse of this order, the reli∣gious of this order were wont to celebrate her feast with an o∣ctaue, as may be gathered out of the Bull of Pope Leo the io. Cum

alias. Wherein he grants leaue to celebrate Masse, and the diuine office euen in the time of inter∣diction through the whole o∣ctaue of S. Elizabeth, in the same manner, as the order did celebrate the feasts, and octaues of S. Clare, which is not ordinarily granted, vnlesse they were patrons or pa∣tronesses.