¶In the beginning of the boke, an Image of the woun­ded Idole Fraunces beyng set out, the Freers make their praier therunto, in this sorte.

First leafe.

THe question is of Frances mekenes, and where God hath placed him.

Answer. He sitteth in the first and che­fest degre in heauen, and hath his seate and abiding in the highest place.

The ii. lefe

Frances onely obserued the letter of the gospel and swarued not one iote or title, It folo­ [...]th that [...]other [...]iers wer [...]unded [...]the doc­ [...]ne of the [...]uell. and onely he and his bretherne hath their rule grounded on the gospell after a spirituall maner.

The same leafe

When S. Frances was sicke a brother of his desired licence y ^e he might reade him some what for his recreation. To whome Frances answered, that it should not nede, for he had sufficient knowlege & saide I know poore Christ crucified.

The same leafe

O howe oft times our Lorde Iesus appered vnto the blessed father. S Frances, and not only of him but also of the blessed Virgin Mary, of Ihon Baptist [Page] Ihon Euangelist and of the ho­ly apostles Peter and Paul, and of the Archangell Michael, and of diuerse other angelles he was visited.

Thesame leafe.

While S Frances praied fer­uētly to our Lady that she wold obtein comfort for her of her litle childe Iesus, the blessed and pure virgin, was incontinently presēt and caught him in her armes & kissed him, holding him from the beginning of the night vntil it was daye and graunted him his peticion

The .iii. leafe

Christ calleth Frances his Chauncelour, Thesauror, his Bāner bearer, & his counsaillor.

The same leafe.

In whome at any time hath [Page] apered the print of the woundes of Christ? Truly in none but in holy Frances, as affirmeth the church of Rome, and commaun­deth al the faithful so to beleue &c And also pope Benedict ordeined a holy day to be kept for the wor­shipping of those impressions.

The same leafe.

In the handes and feete of Frances were Nailes, as it were of sinowes and fleshe, the whiche nailes were on the heddes hard & grosse, they were long & stretched [...]arre bothe thorow his handes and fete, and turned againe as it were clinched, so that a finger myghte haue bene laied betwe­ne the clinching as the righte worshipful Bonauenture bishop of Albanence and Cardinall of Rome in the third parte of his [Page] Legend, doth affirme by the cre­dible report of them whiche sawe them, felte them and by their othe confirmed it so to be. Therefore it came neither by nature nor yet by imaginaciō, neither could na­ture preserue it in suche manner withoute Putrificacion, if by any Arte it hadde bene deui­sed, for by the space of .ij. yeres out of those woundes issued blod The church doth not report this to be done by our Lady, but our lord Iesus Christe was the onely worker therof by his godli wil, might and power, and none but himself, whiche in the simili­tude of a Seraphin printed in Frances, his blessed woundes. Wherfore he that is mighty hath done great thinges in Frances. Luc. i. For he hath set wondres [Page] vpon him. Psal xlv. And blessed Frances may say, as Daniel the prophet said. The high god hath wrought vpon me wondres and miracles.

The iiii lefe

Blessed Frances hath greate glory in heauen, for he sitteth in the high seate of Lucifer. And if according to the minde of the Master of the sentence. ii. dist i & viii. all the [...]ai [...]ctes after their degrees, are placed emong the ce­lestial creatures, then is Frances placed among the Seraphins whiche may well be, for while he liued he semed to be a burning Seraphin like vnto Christ, both bodely & ghostly. And that Frā ­ces was a burning Seraphin, was sufficiciently declared by the burning and fiery Chariot, [Page] wherein being transfigured, he apered to certein of his brethern

Also Freer Masse beyng by. S Frances sodenly rapt and taken from the yerth, felt such an heate comming from Frances, that he semed to be in the midle of a bur­ning Fornace.

Thesame leafe.

Lucifer was of the highest or­dre in heuen, therfore it foloweth that he was of the ordre of Se­raphins, and cosequētly his seate was aboue al other ordres in he­auen. Wherefore in the place of proude Lucifer is set meke S. Frances, whiche by deuine teue­l [...]cion was shewed to Freer Pa­c [...]cus & Freer Leonard of Ausio Who t [...] the De [...] this? for [...] [...]er his [...]he neuer me in he [...] nor neue [...] shal. And y ^e deuel by y ^e mouth of a cer­tain priest called M. zätese of Rauēna told Iames of Bonony that [Page] was resident in Heauen and sate in lucifers seate. And thesame de­uel said that Frāces was christes Banner bearer, and therefore go­eth next to the king Christe, and hereof cōmeth it that no ordre is nerer Christ then S. Frances or­dre, for next to the king of kinges standeth blessed S Frances. And the aforesaid deuel affirmeth, that after our Lady, Ihon Bap. & y ^e a­postles, blessed Frāces & his ordre doth go before al other sainctes.

Thesame leafe

Christ made Frances like to him self. First in life most verteous, and after by printing in him his woundes, wherefore it is said of Frances, Eccle. xlix. There is none found like him, for he hathe obserued the lawe of the highest.

Which wordes to be true the [Page] holines, vertue and redolent fame of blessed Frances declare.

He was also a man of a sin­cere life, and from the pleasures of the body vtterly segregate.

Thesame leafe.

What maner of persone, howe and to what purpose, God made Frances, is declared. Gene. i. &. ii. where is written, let vs make mā that is to say, FRANCES, vnto our image and similitude, & he shall gouern the fishes of y ^e sea. &c And let vs make him a helper like to him selfe, that is a companye of poore.

The .v. leafe

All the vertue of sainctes aswel of the Olde Testament as of the new are conioyned and vnited in Frances.

The same lefe

Iesus put Frances next him selfe as his Standard bearer, as affirmeth the right worshipfull Raufe bishop of Erphord, who by this vision was made a bare­fore Frier, and ii. citizens of Ve­nice with him.

Also Frances in all thinges was like to the sonne of god, and the holy ghost sanctified Frances as witnesseth y ^e cedule which Fre­er O blasphe­my. Lion saw come frō heauē and rested vpon the hedde of Frances wherin was written. This is the grace of God.

The same leafe.

Our blessed Lady praied vnto the father that Frances mighte be sent into the worlde. Also our Lady at the praier of Frances obteined the great pardon that is in the churche of Saint Ma­rie [Page] of Porciuncle wherin is clean remission and forgeuenesse of sin­nes.

The same leafe.

Peter and Paule meting Frā ­ces in the churche of Rome. em­braced and kissed him.

The same leafe.

Whoso calleth and trusteth in the helpe of Frances, shall not be oppressed of the deuel.

The viii leafe

It is vndoubtedly to be bele­ued, that aswell the saiēges of the prophetes as also the doinges of sainctes, were all prefigured in Frances.

The same leafe.

Frances is like to Adam, A­bel, Enos, Enoch, Noe, Abra­ham [Page] Isac, Iacob, Ioseph, Moses Aaron, Phinees, Iosue, Samson Iephte, Gedeon, Samuel, Hely, Elizeus, Ionadab, Esai, Ieremy Iob, Thoby, Ezechiel, Daniel, Micheas, Peter, Ihon Baptist. Ihon Euangelist, Iames, Bar­tholomew, Paule, and in conclu­sion all the sainctes,

The ix leafe.

Esaias figured Frances in the sixt Chapiter, whiche heard two Seraphins saiyng, Holy. Holy, Holy, And Ezechiel Chapi. iii. whiche hearde a voice of greate russhīg saiyng, blessed be the glo­ry of the lord. Also he figured A­braham, which said, I am wor­me and dust.

The x. lefe

Frances is like to Ely and Elizeus whiche raised the dead [Page] to life again.

Thesame leafe.

In whatsoeuer necessitie. S. Frances be called vpon, Christe hath bounde him self to heare the caller.

Thesame leafe

The doue sent from Noe out of the Arke, signified the ordre of the barefote Friers.

the same leafe.

Also the figure of Ioseph whē Phaaro toke him his ring to put vpon his hand. Christ gaue to none of his sainctes the ring of y ^e expresse figure and print of his blessed woundes, but onely to Fraunces.

Also Gene xl. the vine whiche brought furth iij. braunches, sig­nified .iij. ordres, that is to saye. y ^e Minorites, or barefote Friers, [Page] the blacke Friers, and the peni­tent bretherne and sistern.

Also Iosue whiche was Mo­ses minister Figured Frances, for there hath none serued and ministred to Christe as Frances hath done.

Also Frances was like vnto Elias, whiche beyng transfigu­red appered to his bretherne in a fiery Chariot

The .iii. children in the bur­ning Fornace, & the fourthe that was like the sonne of god, beto­kened the foure ordres, Basilii, Augustine Friers, Benedictes, & Graye Friers, whiche were the fourth, that is to say, like vnto the sonne of God in life, for they are Figured and Marked with the woundes

The Angell whiche sate vpon [Page] the cloude like vnto the sonne of of mā mēcioned in the Apocalips Apoca. xiij. was Frances, as witnesseth the vision whiche Saint Siluestre sawe.

The xi. leafe

The Turkes by the ordre of Sainct Frances shalbe conuer­ted.

The xii. leafe

Blessed Frances may be cal­led a Rock, for he was the Son­ne of Peter Barnard, and Peter, and Rock, is al one.

The xiii. leafe.

The order of the gray Freers shall remayne tyll the daye of Iudgement for so was yt decla­red by reuelaciō to S. Frances.

Thesame leafe.

This saiyng: I wil be his fa­ther and he shalbe my Sonne, is [Page] not to be vnderstande only of the sonne of god, but of those saincts whiche shalbe about the ende of the worlde, that is to saye of Frances and Dominyke, noble and ignoble, which signified ij. ordres to come, as did Caleb and Iosue, Manasses and Ephra­im, Moses and Aaron, Ihon & Christ, Ely and Elizeus, Paul and Barna [...]as, the two spyes y ^t went into Iericho, the two disci­ples that were sent to lose the Asse. &c.

The xiiii leafe

The comming of Frances in­to y ^e world was knowē vnto y ^e de­uelles, as it is expressed in y ^e legēd The deuel beyng asked of the ho­lines of Saint Frances, A substan­cial witnes. said that the Houre that Blessed Saynte Frances was borne, there was [Page] suche an horrible and exceding trouble in hell, y ^e he thought the last day had bene come. And then perceauing that the last day was not come, they sayd among them selues, certeynly there is some borne which shall destroye hell and vs. And then by the great Deuell Prince of darknes ther were sēt out certeyn deuelles into all the world to knowe who it was, & they found y ^e Frances was borne that same houre, and sayd, for a truthe yt was he that should be their confusion and destruccion.

Thesame leafe.

The name of Frances is di­uulged thorowout all the world. Frances is knowen and declared to all the creatures of the earth, of what kynde so euer they be, [Page] that is to saye, of the Sea, the Fyer, the Ayer, and the Yearth.

The xvii. leafe.

Frances was a Patriarch, Prophet, Apostle, Martyr. Doc­tor, Confessor, Vyrgyn, Angell, and nerer to Christ then all other Sainctes, as this present worke declareth,

Thesame leafe.

Blessed Frances was ordeyned of god, as affirmeth holy church, for pope Gregory the ix. entred him in the register or booke of Saynctes.

The xviii. leafe.

The bowelles of Charite were shewed in Frances, for with we­pyng eyes he behelde the crosse of Christ, and iij. tymes, the Crosse bowed doune vnto him saiyng, Frances, go & repayre my house.

Thesame leafe.

The Deuell wytnesseth that by the mouth of a certayn womā yt was declared y ^t Christ made intercessiō to his father to graūt A De [...]lish resti [...]ny. towarde the ende of the worlde, that Frances might beare his crosse for the remission of the syn­nes of the people. &c.

Thesame leafe.

When S. Frances desired of Christ a great Pardon for the synnes of the people, Christ bade him aske what he woulde and yt should be graunted to him, for he was ordeyned to be the light of the Gentyles.

The xix. leafe.

Freer Lyon sawe Christ cru­cified goyng before, & Frances when he stode, standyng wyth [Page] hym, and when he went, goyng with him, and talkyng with him.

The xxi. leafe.

On Christmas euen, Sainct Frances turned the great ryuer of Tyber that passeth by Rome into Oyle.

The xxiiii. leafe

Abbas Ioachim and dyuerse other sawe Frances wounded, accordyng to the saiyng of Christ Ihon. viij. Abraham sawe my dayes and reioysed.

Thesame lefe.

Mastres Picha, the mother of blessed. S Frances was concea­ued with him after the maner of another Elizabeth, and she dyd not only reioyse as Elizabeth dyd, but also she named him Ihō at his baptisme. If S. Frances were like to y ^e sonne of Mary our [Page] Lorde Iesu Christ, then of force he must be as good as Ihō bap­tist And certeynly he was more thē Ihon baptist, for Ihon bap­tist was but a preacher of pe­naunce, but Frances bothe prea­ched yt and dyd institute yt. Al­so Ihon baptist was the forrun­ner of Christ by preachyng, but S. Frances was bothe his prea­cher and banner bearer, wherin he exceded Ihon. Also Frances is before Ihon for he conuerted more then Ihon dyd, and hath trauayled in mo places, that is to saye thorow out all the worlde. Ihon preached but ij. yeres and a lytle more, Frances preached xliij. yeares. Ihon receaued his aucthorite but of the Lorde: But Frances receaued yt both of the Lorde and of the Pope, whiche [Page] is more. Ihon what maner of person he should be was decla­red of an Angell to his father, and by the holy ghost was made knowen to the Prophetes. But Frances was declared by the Prophetes, by our Lorde Iesu Christ, and by an Angell in the likenes of a pilgrim, both to his Father and Mother and whole houshold. S. Ihon prophecied bothe in his Mothers belye and abroade. Blessed Frances pro­phesied in y ^e belye, that is to saye in prison beyng takē at peruse, of his deliueraunce. S. Ihon was y ^e frende of y ^e spouse, but Frances was made like vnto Christ him selfe. Ihon to the worlde was very holy: But Frances excel­led in holynes, and therefore be­for all other Christ prynted in [Page] him the marke of his woundes. S. Ihon is exalted into the or­der of the Seraphins, But S. Frances is exalted into thesame order and is set in y ^e highest seate where Lucifer dyd syt.

But was there any other that were glad of y ^e birth of S. Fran­ces? Ye truly. Who were they? forsoth that were Enoch and He­lias, whiche appered vnto a cer­teyn freer of the order of Bene­dict of y ^e partyes beyond y ^e seas, and they asked him, what order arte thou of? He aunswered of Frāces order. And they sayd then Frances cōmeth, and they made great reioisyng, and led thesame Freer w ^t theim throughout all paradise shewyng him all thīges. And yt is no meruayle that they so reioysed in Frances, for like [Page] alwayes ioyeth in their like. Also the soules in purgatory reioysed at his birth, & specially all those whiche were of y ^e iij. orders, for they were deliuered from their peynes and dyd flye vp into hea­uen. Also the dead reioysed, for by his merites they were reysed,

The xxviii. leafe.

As Simeon embraced Christ beyng a Child in his armes, so a certayn pilgrym whiche was an Angell came to the dore of Fran­ces fathers house, and instantly besought the seruauntes of the houshould y ^e he might embrace the Childe. This he [...]eth of [...]minike, these [...]e the [...]thors [...]hese ii. [...]es. &c. And the Angell sayde, In this strete are borne ij. Children, this Frances here, and another. This shalbe the gouernour of the better, and the other of the worsse.

[Page] As the blessed virgyn Mary at the peticion of the wise men that came from the East to visite Christ, deliuered him to theim, euen so the mother of blessed S. Frances at the peticion of the pilgrym deliuered her Sonne vnto him.

Thesame leafe.

S. Frances dyd specially delight in the blessed virgin Ma­ry, S. Michaell, Ihon baptist. Peter and Paule.

The xxix. leafe.

Frances healed all maner of diseases, Yea and that was more, by the onlye laiyng on of his handes he clensed lepers. And he conuerted the Souldyan of Babilon.

Thesame leafe.

By the merites and inuoca­ciō [Page] of S. Frances, Christ reysed many from death to life.

The xxx. leafe.

Frances beyng in Pryson, when his other Prison felowes wer sad and heauy, then would he be wonderous mery and glad, inso muche that they imputed his so muche myrth to be folysh­nes, of the whiche beyng by one reproued, he aunswered with a lowed voyce, what thinkest thou of me? Euen at this tyme am I worshipped throughout all the worlde.

The xxxviii. leafe.

Frances sayd vnto his bre­thren, my brethren, my brethren, God called me by the waye of symplicite and humilite, and y ^e waye he declared to me to be the true way for me and those that [Page] will beleue & folowe me to walke in. And therefore I will not haue you to name any other rule to me, then that whiche the Lord of his great mercy declared and gaue vnto me. And the Lorde sayde vnto me that he would Haue me a lyttle foole in this worlde. &c.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Pacifique was so­deynlye rapt and taken vp into Heauen, but whether in the body or out of the body, god know­eth, and he sawe in Heauen ma­ny seates, among whiche he sawe one very notable, garnyshed with precious stones. And he heard a voyce saiyng vnto him, this seate was Lucifers seate, and in his [Page] seate shall syt meke Frances,

The xxxix. leafe.

Frances is better then the Apostles, whiche left but their shippes and fewe other thinges, but yet they left not of the gar­mentes from their backes. Bles­sed Frances for a truth for sooke not onlye all earthly goodes & riches, but also the clothes from his backe, and euen his very breeches he cast from him, and naked he offred him selfe bothe body and mynde to be crucified, whiche we reade not that euer any saynt ells dyd: wherefore he may well saye to Christ, I haue left all and folowed thee.

Thesame leafe.

Blessed Frances obserued the Gospell to the vttermost, as they syng of him, Frances hath [Page] not offended one tyttle, poynt or iote of the Gospel.

The same leafe.

Worldly men desyer high, fayre, large & plesaunt houses, but S. Frāces would haue none suche, but commaunded that the substaunce of the houses for the Wher do the [...]reers obserue this? Brethren and Sistern should not be made of stones or of car­ued woork, but of wyckers or Osyers couered w ^t a litle straw and claye myngled together, and that they should be litle and low cotages.

The xlii. leafe.

Fances beyng in prayer, the Deuell sayd vnto him, Fran­ces. Frances, Frances? Frances aunswered and asked him what he would, This sai­yng, if y [...] wer sayd, was not the Deuelles saiyng. he beyng in subieccion sayd, There is no synner in the [Page] worlde which if he conuert, that nedeth to fight with him self: but surely whosoeuer by hard pe­naunce kylleth him selfe, shall neuer fynde mercy.

Thesame leafe.

Frances and his felowe as they went into Apulia found a great pursse wyth mony, he knowyng that the Deuell had done yt for a bayte, at the in­stance of his companyon that yt might be geuen to the poore, he tooke the pursse, and he no soner touched yt but the Deuell issued therout in the lykenes of a Ser­pent & caried the pursse with him.

Another brother goyng by the way found a penny and tooke yt vp and put yt in his mouth to geue yt to the poore, and streight waye his tonge and membres [Page] were made lame and dombe by the Deuell, But when he had spyt out the peny and done pe­naunce, he was restored, both to his speche and other membres.

Thesame leafe.

Frances often tymes dyd se the Deuell, not only in a dissimu­led maner, but to feare and greue him he shewed him self playnly and clerely in his awne forme and fassion. Freer Giles asked of S. Frances if the Deuell were so terrible that a man might not behold him a pater noster while? S. Frauces aunswered, that no man was hable to behold the de­uell half a Pater noster while, but he should dye immediatly.

The xliii. leafe.

The deuell appered [...]nto Fran­ces saiyng, knowest thou not that [Page] slepe is a great norisshyng to the body? And immediatly Frances pulled of his cote & his breeches and goyng out of his Cell ranne naked into the wildernes, when yt was frost and snowe, and all to tare his flesh with the thornes of the wood.

Thesame leafe.

S. Frances beyng occupyed in prayer vpon the mount of Al­uerne, the Deuell would haue throwen him doune headlyng, by reason the stones wheron he kneled were lose & holowe: but Frāces caught one of y ^e lose ston­es in his hand as he was fallyng & thesame cloue as fast to y ^e rest as waxe doth to a mannes fyng­ers, wherby Frances stayed himselfe & ouercam y ^e deuell, If ye seke theim may hap ye may fynd theim. which stones are to se this present daye.

The xlvi. leafe.

S. Frantes hearyng in the Gospell that the disciples should cary no mony in their Pursses, neither should they Haue ij. cotes &c. beyng replenished with the holy Ghoost, streyt way he cast away his Shoes, and his staffe, and put on an olde threde bare cote made after the maner of the Crosse, and in stede of a Girdle he put about him a corde. And thus the life and rule of bles­sed S. Frances was taken of the Apostles.

¶The names of the xii. Apostles of Sainct Frances whiche were in lyfe, worde and miracles. wonde­rous notable.

• [Page]Pet [...]r Cathany.
• Ihon of the Chapell.
• Philip Long.
• Freer Bather.
• Freer Gyles.
• Bernhard of Cleue.
• Angell Cam [...].
• Ihon of Sainct Constance.
• Bernhard of the v. Valleys.
• Freer Morice.
• Freer Saba [...]yne.
• Freer Syluester.

This order was instituted the xvj. daye of Aprill Anno M.CC.VII.

Freer Giles was rapt and taken vp into heauen, as was Saynct Paul. Freer Siluester talked with God as one frende talketh with another. Freer Morice lyued onlye by rawe herbes. And as Iudas was remoued from the dignite of the Apostleship, so was Ihon of the Chapell remoued from theim, & afterward beyng infected with [Page] a leprosy, for payne and shame he hanged him selfe: in whose place came Wylliam an Eng­lishman.

The xlvii. leafe.

Frances was buryed in Assisio, There w [...] neuer no [...] suche, [...] herin ar [...] many dec [...] ­ued. but his body could neuer be foūd to be shewed to the people.

Thesame leafe.

S. Frances opened the Masse booke, & at the first openyng he happened vpon this sentence by the wyll of the Lorde: If thou wilt be perfect go sell all that thou hast and folowe me. He opened the booke the second time and found, ye shall cary nothing with you in the waye &c. And the third tyme he opened yt, and founde, he that will folowe me, must deny him selfe &c. Then sayd Frances to Bernhard and [Page] Peter, that is the rule of oure life.

Thesame leafe.

Frances and Bernhard stoode vnder a porche stark naked ha­uyng nothyng vpon them when yt was feruently colde, and a cer­teyn woman tooke theim for rybaldes and theues.

The xlviii. leafe.

Freer Bernhard stode by the space of viij. dayes beholdyng diuyne consolacions.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Bernhard sawe one of his Brethren ryde vpon a great palfrey, and he cryed mightely after him, saiyng, that Horsse is to hyghe and to great, oure rule teacheth not to ryde of suche Horsses. Blessed Bernhard was the whele of Charitee.

Thesame leafe.

Brother Giles seyng Bern­hard he sayd, Sursum corda. that is, lift vp your hertes, And Bernhard aunswered Habemus ad Dominum. that is, we lift theim vp vnto the Lorde.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Bernhard after his death, was made whyte and his fleshe soft and loked as though he laughed, and he semed to be muche fayrer beyng ded then he was lyuyng.

The xlix. leafe.

One of S. Frances brethren beyng sodenly rapt vp into Pa­radyce, sawe S. Frances clothed in a clothyng garnished all with beutifull sterres, and the pryntes of the woundes shone as y ^e most bryghtest sterres, and was sene [Page] thorow all the cyte.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Lyon not fyndyng S. Frances in his cell, went out and sawe him assendyng into heauen so high that he could skant reache his fete, which he embraced and with all reuerence kyssed saiyng, God be mercifull vnto me wret­ched synner, and by the merites of this holy man, Graunt that I may fynde mercy.

Thesame leafe.

S. Frances tolde the for­sayd Lyon before of the impressi­on of his woundes, saiyng, that shortly God in the mount of Al­uerne would worke in him suche a Miracle as he neuer before wrought in any creature, whiche should be to the great wonder of all the world. This Freer Lyon [Page] beyng in the mountain when our Lord marked S. Frances with his fyue woundes, S. Frances was content to graunt him to touche theim, & with his handes he touched those most reuerent woundes, out of the which issued so much vertue, that he semed to him selfe to be taken out of the worlde.

Thesame leafe.

S. Frances vsed all wayes to put a certeyn thyng in his woun­des to kepe theim from bledyng, but vpon Maundy thursdaye at nyght and all good Friday he would put nothyng in them, but suffred theim to blede, for the loue of Christ which y ^e daye was cru­cified, y ^t he might suffer w ^t him.

Thesame leafe.

Blessed Frances cōmaunded [Page] the stone wheron Christ stode when he apered vnto him, to conne Water, Wyne, Oyle, and Balsāum, for iiij. thynges sayd he that Christ promysed shoulde apperteyn vnto his order. The first, whosoeuer loued religion should end well. ii. Whosoeuer persecuted Religion shoulde be plagued. iii. He that obserueth not religion should be confoun­ded. But not [...]ryers reli­ [...]ion. iiii. That religion shold en­dure to the end of the worlde.

Thesame leafe

Freer Lyon after S. Frances death was woūderfull desyrous to se him, and to obtayn his re­quest he gaue him selfe to prayer and fastyng, to whome S. Fran. appered very [...]ocound and mery, hauyng wynges and fethers to flye, and sharpe talentes (as yt [Page] were gilted) lyke an Egle. Then Freer Lyon asked him wherfore he dyd flye in that maner. He aunswered, among many other gifts which the lorde hath geuen me, one is that I should be the only aduocate and helper of all my verteous and deuoute bre­thren, and as yt wer flyeng amōg their tribulacions and aduersi­tes y ^e more spedely to help theim, and the soules of those good bre­thren to bryng into euerlastynge glory: And I cary the sharp ta­lentes and nayles of the deuell▪ to correct with most hard peynes and greuous ponishment the naughty brethren and she perse­cutors of oure order.

The l. leafe.

A certayn Childe beyng dayly vexed with the fallyng syknes [Page] cōming to Freer Lyon dyd pry­uely cut of a pece of his cote and hanged yt aboute his neck and streight he was deliuered of his disease, but by chaunce yt so hap­pened that thesame pece was cut from his neck, and beyng agayn vexed with his disease he came to Freer Lyon, and he hanged a pece of his cote aboute his neck, and the disease departed from him for euer.

Thesame leafe.

The countesse of Angu­lary liyng at the poynt of death, harde the voyce of a certeyn lady saiyng, dost thou beleue in holy Freer Lyon? Then com­myt thy selfe to him. [...]blasphe [...] The woman beyng specheles, in her harte cō ­mended her selfe to Freer Lyon and immediatly she receaued her [Page] health.

Thesame leafe.

Frances reueled to Freer Masse many heauenly thynges. It fortuned that Freer Massey was goyng before S. Frances, and asked him whiche waye they should go. S. Frances auns­wered, thesame waye which the Lorde sheweth vs. And Massey sayd, howe shall we knowe that waye? And Frances aunswered: by the myracle that I will do in the. Looke wha a goodly miracle her i [...]. And then he commaunded Massey by the vertue of obedy­ence that he should turne him self round & neuer ceasse (as children are wont to do) tyll he comma­unded him to ceasse. Whiche thynge doyng for the desynes of his hed at last he fell to y ^e ground. Then Sayn [...]t Frances com­maunded [Page] him that he should not ryse, and asked him to what part his face was, and he sayd toward Senas. Then sayd S. Fran­ces, let vs go to Senas, for so is the wyll of God.

A lytle after.

Suche workes were done by blessed Frances whyle he lyued, that if an Angell had done theim. they coulde not haue bene more merueylous.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Frances and Massey went a beggyng together, and because Freer Massey was fayre and Frances hard fauored, ther­fore Freer Massey had the best almo [...]e and greatest lofes.

The li. leafe.

Blessed Sainct Frances went behynde the altar to praye, [Page] where by the visitacion of God he receaued into his soule suche feruency of heate, and was so inflamed with the desyer of po­uertye, that he thought that oute of his Eien and mouthe when he gaped, ther issued great flames. And commyng into his felowe with his burnyng mouth, he sayde, A A A broth­er Massey, and this he spake with great feruency iij. tymes, and he pulled Massey by the Necke, and his mouthe for the greate feruency of the Spirite was drawen awrye, and he cryed contynually A A A Brother Massey, and he lifted Massey from the grounde and with a blast of his mouth he lifted Mas­sey from the earth, & he blew him before him a great speare length. [Page] Freer Massey was astonyed at the meruelous feruoure of the Blessed Father, but he thought that he receaued suche greate swetnes and consolacion as to his remembraunce he neuer re­ceaued before. Afterward goyng to Rome, Blessed Fran­ces was of the holy Apostles Peter and Paule swetely em­braced.

Thesame leafe.

Peter and Paule beyng re­quyred by Frances, obteyned of Christ the confirmacion of the rule of the Barefoote Freers.

Thesame leafe.

A great multytude of byrdes wer gathered together to heare the prechyng of blessed Frances.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Corrade sayd that Ruf­finus [Page] was tempted often of the deuell that he should not folow y ^e steppes of blessed Frances, for Frances was an ydeot & a foole.

Thesame leafe.

The Deuell tempted Freer Ruffyne saiyng: Thou arte dampned and Frances is damp­ned, and whosoeuer foloweth him shalbe deceaued. Whiche thynge when Ruffine had told Blessed Frances, Frances sayd If the Deuell appere vnto the agayne and saye any thynge to the, saye thou vnto him, Open thy mouth and I will shyte in yt. O swe [...] Frances. Afterwarde when Ruffinus praied agayn, Se [...] how lyke Christ the deuelf is. the deuell appered vnto him in the lyknes of Christ saiyng: Freer Ruffine, dyd not I byd the that thou shouldest not beleue the Sonne of Peter [Page] Bernharde, whye doest thou thus ponyshe thy selfe? And ymmediatly Freer Ruffine sayd vnto him, A swete [...]peche. Open thy Mouthe and I wyll shyte in yt. Then the Deuell beyng angred, de­parted from him in a greate furye.

The lii. leafe

On a certeyn daye, bles­sed Frances commaunded Freer Ruffine to go preache at Assi­sio suche thynges as the Holy Ghost should moue him vnto. Freer Ruffine sayde, I am an ydeot and vnlearned, I beseche the my LORDE Pardon me. Blessed Frances sayd, Because thou hast not streyght way obeyed, therefore by the vertue of obedyence I comma­unde the that thou strype thy [Page] self naked all saue thy breches & gett the to Assisio to some church there and so preache to the people

Afterward when Saint Frā ­ces, perceiued that Freer Ruffins was gone, and considered with him self that his penance was to greuous, he likewise striped him self naked and went and hearde Freer Ruffine preache But the inhabitantes of Assisio seing those ii naked, said, these me do so much penance that thei be­come mad.

Thesame leafe.

They thought theym selues most blessed and happy that mi­ght touche the Hemmes of the Garmentes of Frances and Ruf­fine.

The same lefe

On a time when Frier Ruffine went about the citie of Assisio begging bread, behold, a certeine deuel cried saiyng, that pore Fri­er S. Ruffine, which trotteth in y ^e myre, his holinesse and praiers burne and torment me.

The same leafe

Also Frier Ruffine was the first that espied the printes of the woundes in blessed S. Before he [...]rmed contra­ [...] of Frier [...]n [...]refore a [...] ought haue a [...]od me­ [...]ory. Frances, by washing of his breches which was excedingly araied with the blood that ranne out of the right side of the wound of S Frances.

The second time he espied it by scratchīg of s. Frances side, wher by chaunce his Fingers was in the wounde before he was ware and Sayncte Frances beynge in greate anguishe cried with a loud voice, God forgeue the [Page] Ruffine, wherfore hast thou done this?

The same leafe.

Frier Iames sawe the soule of blessed. Saynct Frances, assend into heauen as a bright sterre o­uer a faire cloude,

The same leafe.

There laye in the house of our Lady, certein Friers which hard and sawe a greate nombre of lar­kes, gathered together, singin­ge vpon the rofe of the Churche at the death of Frances, Sancta Maria. &c.

The xl. leafe

Freer Ihon was so simple that whatsoeuer he saw Sainct Frances do, that he would do also, as when Sainct Frances swept the church he would also helpe him & [Page] when Frances did spit he would also spit, and whē Frances made curtesy, he would also make cur­tesy. And whē he was by Frances rebuked for so doyng, he answe­that he had promised to do all all thinges whiche. S. Frances did.

Thesame leafe.

A certain Doctor in diuinitie preachiug before S. Clare and her Sisters, it fortuned that Freer Giles comming in, said vn­to him, thou doctor holde thy pe­ace for I will preache: which im­mediatly held his peace, & Frier Giles taught most swetely. Thē blessed. S. Clare reioising in the spirite said, This day is the will of blessed Saynt Frances fulfil­led.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Giles said, that among al vertues he loued chastite. And whē a certain brother said, is not Charite greater? He answered And what is chaster thē charite? And often he would sing. O holy Chastite what art thou? A goodly [...]le song. what art thou? thou art such and somuche as Fooles knowe not howe much,

Thesame leafe.

A blacke Frier being tempted by our lady, went to Frier Giles for counsaile. Freer Giles seing this in spirite ranne and met him and with his Staffe he bette the ground iii. Here [...] touche t [...] Black F [...]ers. times saiyng, A vir­gin before the birth, A virgin in the birthe, And a virgin after the birth, and at euery stroke that he gaue on the grouud, there sprōg [Page] vp a lily, and the Frier was deli­uered of his temptation.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Giles knowing y ^e. s. Le­wes which was king of Fraunce came too Peruse clothed in a pilgrims wede, to se him, and he running to mete him, eache so ē ­braced other, that they both fell doune, & in spirit, but not in word the one spake to the other, and eache departed frrom other with wonderfull consolacion.

The lv. lefe

Freer Giles affirmed that he was iiii. times borne. first of his mother, scond of baptisme, third­ly at the entrance into his ordre,

And fourthly, when god so of­ten times appered vnto him, and he was rapt and taken vp into heauen. And in this birth as he [Page] saide, he loste all his faith, by the reason of those heauenly visions whiche are of faith.

The same leafe

The deuel appered vnto him so terribly, that for feare he loste his speche, and when the deuel be­gan to come vpō him and to de­stroye him, not being hable to rise he drewe as well as he could to the vessell of holy water whiche with faith he threw, & forthwith he was deliuered of his tormen­tes.

The same leafe

Freer Giles saw y ^e soule of a cer­tein holy persone among a great sort of the soules of Friers, assend out of Purgatory into heauen

The same leafe.

For the holynes of Frier Gi­les, Christe graunted that all the soules whiche were in purgatory should assend with him into pa­radise, among the whiche was Freer Lolle, euen then in tormē ­ting, whiche by the merites of Freer Giles was deliuered.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Giles was once rapt & taken vp into the third heauen.

The doctrine of Frier Giles

There is nothing wherby y ^t thou canst please god better, then to hāg thy self by the throte, whi­che is thus to be interpreted, [...] doe. [...]. the man that is hanged is not in he­auen, and yet is he lifted vp from the yearth and alwayes loketh downeward, so must we humble our selues.

The same leafe

Freer Giles said vnto a certein person, if thou wilt entre into re­ligion, then quickly kill thy pa­rentes, that is to say thy Father and mother, but not with the ma­teriall sworde, but spiritually, for he that hateth not father & mo­ther cannot be christes disciple.

The same leafe

To entre into religion, is to finde the infinite treasure of the kingdome of heauen.

The lvi. leafe

Peine vpon peine, is to studye mekenes and humilitie,

The .lvii. leafe

Freer Giles said to. s. Frances that he liked not the pis [...]eres or Antes, because thei were to much careful in gathering of their vic­tualles, but he liked the birdes [Page] excedingly well, for they horded not vp.

The .lviii. leafe.

Holy religious persones are like holy wolues, [...] holy comparison for they neuer go abrode but for greate necessi­tee.

The lix. leafe

From the beginning of the world euen til this time, ther was neuer a better nor a more profitable [...] Ordre of Religion inuented, then the ordre of the ba­refote Friers.

The lx. leafe.

Freer Giles being asked what he thought of blessed Frances, he beyng inflamed with feruour of the spirite, in hearing the name of Frances said, that there is no mā that ought to name blessid Fran­ces, but for ioy he should lick his [Page] lippes. Yet said Frier Giles he lacked one thing, and that was a strong bodye, for if he had had so strōg a bodie as I haue, I thinke al the worlde had not ben able to haue folowed him.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Cōrade of offida whē he was but xiiii yeres of age entred into religiō, & when he was set to study he refused it, & entred into y ^e kitchin dressing meat & destribu­ting y ^t almose by the space of .x. ye­res There came daily vnto him a faire bird & sate vpō his sholder, & at a certein time as he wēt īto y ^e wood the birde did fly before him singing moste swetely, of the whi­che swetnes he receaued incredi­ble comfort. Maundy thurseday [Page] drawing nere, Freer [...]onrade besought the lord that he woulde take the bird those iij. daies into his keping, because that in those iii. daies he would receiue no cō ­solation or confort, but sorowe & heuines, in the honor of good Fri­day: whiche thing came to passe, for the bird hid her self, vntil Ea­ster dayin the morning, whiche morning he came more fairer thē euer he did before, and song more plesanter and sweter, and as it is said, he spake to him wonderfull thinges and he sawe him fly into heauen as straight as a threde.

Verely I beleue it was the Holy Ghost, [...]oly [...]o or at the least y ^e angel Ga­briel, ¶Also a certein wolf came vnto Corrad and caught him by the neeke as he had bene a lambe and caried him into the house of [Page] the bare fote Friers. The whiche thing the bretherne seyng, mer­uailed, and for greate deuocion began excedingly to wepe percei­uing the holines of their bro­ther.

The same brother in the Feast of the Purificatiō besought our our lady that she wold geue him some of the swetnes and consola­tion that she gaue to Simeon, and imediatly he was heard, For our Lady apered in a great light with her mooste precious childe, and turned him into the armes of Freer Conrade, whiche deuoutly taking him printed Christes lip­pes in his lippes, and setting his brest to his, was wonderfully de­lighted in the kisses, and repleni­shed with charitie.

Thesame leafe.

The soule of a certain Frier apered vnto Frier Conrade, and declared vnto him that for cer­teine sinnes that he had commit­ted he was in purgatory, & there­fore besought him that he would say a certain of pater nosters for hym. And when he had saied an hundred pater nosters, the Soul of the same brother returned and gaue thankes on goddes be­halfe to Frier Conrade, saiyng that hee was deliuered from peines an went euen then into glory.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Conrade was a great pre­acher, and he reised fiue dead per­sons, A sure wit­nes. as the deuell affirmeth.

The lxi. lefe

Frier Simon of Collaze reised a dead person to life, he healed a sick horsse, Shepe that could not stand he made hole. He restored olde women to their hearing, iii. persons that were croked he ma­de streight, and healed x that had the dropsy,

Thesame leafe.

A certain Phisicion of Spo­let, being like could not help him self, A medicine for phisici­ans. till he had vpon him the gar­ment of Saint Frances ordre, & then he receaued his health.

The lxii leafe

Freer Simon of Assissio, neuer learned hys Grammer, and yet by the help of god he spa­ke so mistically that his wordes semed supernaturall. And be­yng on a time rapt and taken vp [Page] he semed so farre vnlike himselfe by the meane of wonderfull apa­ricions and visions that he sawe, that a Freer putt a burning cole vpon his bare fote and he neuer felt it.

Thesame lefe

Freer Rolle of Bruforce on a time preached in the wood, and y ^e chattering of the birdes excedīg­ly troubled him, and he turned to thē, & commaunded thē that they should depart and come no more in that wood, (A merueilous sai­yng) and unmediatly thei depar­ted and neuer returned again.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Leonard one of. Sainct Frances felowes led S Frances Asse & as he thought S. Frances was riding vpon his Asse, which sayde to him self, behold howe [Page] Frances rydeth and must haue a foote man to leade his Asse. And immedyatly Frances knewe his thought. Then Freer Leonard kneled doune at blessed Frances fete, and with teares besought him of forgeuenes.

Thesame leafe.

A certeyn Nouesse called Freer Iunyper was so symple and de­uoute. y ^t he went often tymes in­to the wyldernes to gather wood to make a fyre to warme the bre­thren with, & he vsed to cary an aule with him to sowe the [...] of his brethrē, but the war [...] of his house was fat. Thesayd Noueys on a tyme stryped him self naked & came from Fulgin [...] passyng by y ^e strete spelū thorow the cytee of Assisio euen into the house of y ^e barefoot Freers. And [Page] when he was excedyngly repro­ued of the generall minister for so doyng, he sayd, that he had tak­en this penaunce vpon him, be­cause he would be commaunded in like maner naked to returne. Also another tyme he entred into Viterbe, Good [...]ye [...]nd gaye [...]yracles. & as he entred the gate of the citee, he put his breches a­boute his head, and his cote he bound vp like a fardell aboute his necke, and so naked he went thorough the citee, where he suf­fred many shamefull rebukes & naked he entred into the house of the Fryers, wher all the breth­ren cryed out vpon him, but [...] lytle regarded their rebukes [...] holy a man was this Nouey [...]

Thesame leafe.

Theforsayd Noueys was of a certeyn gentleman excedyngly [Page] welle enterteigned and layd in a goodly bed. A shy [...] knaue. But he fyled the bed, and departed in the mor­nyng without takyng any leaue, or byddyng them farewell.

Thesame man tooke his ior­ney to Rome, whiche beyng kno­we [...] to the Romaynes, they came foorth to enterteine and well­come him. But he stoode plai­yng with the Children tyll they were gone. And afterward he went into the citee alone. The Romaynes some of theim tho­ught he dyd yt of a contempt or disdeyn that he bare vnto theim and other some thought he dyd yt of folyshnes.

Thesame leafe.

A certeyn Freer beyng sycke desyred to eate of a swynes fete, Then theforsayd Noueys called [Page] Freer Iunyper tooke a sworde and entred into the myddest of the herde of swyne & stroke of the fete of one of theim, and dressed theim for his forsayde brother. When the master of the swyne knewe that a Freer had done it, he spak many opprobrious wor­des of S. Frances and his bre­thrē. But Freer Iuniper metyng with the master of y ^e swyne gaue vnto him such soft & swete wor­des, that he gaue the whol swyne for a pictance to the brethren.

The lxiii. leafe.

A certeyn poore man asked an almose of Freer Iuniper, to whome he sayde, I [...] not geue myne habite, but if thou take yt from me, I will not be greu [...] with the. Whiche thynge the poore man dyd.

Thesame leafe.

[Page] The Deuelles excedyngly fea­red this Freer Iunyper, for he goyng by a certeyn toune the de­uell fled vii. myle from him, and beyng asked why he dyd so? He aunswered, that he could not ab­yde the pacyence of that foolishe Freer Iuniper. Wherefore S. Frances, when the Deuelles would not at his cōmaundment depart out of men, he would saye to the deuell, except thou departe the soner, I will cause Freer Iu­nyper to come to the, and then the Deuell fearyng the presence of Freer Iunyper, and the vertue and holines of Sainct Frances departed.

Thesame leafe.

S. Frances perceauyng the great holynes of Freer Iunyper, sayd vnto his brethren, I would [Page] to God I had a whole wood of suche Iunyper.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Innyper kept sylence vj. dayes after this maner. The fyrst daye in the honour of the father, The second in the honour of the sonne, The third in the ho­nour of the holy ghost, the fourth in the honour of the blessed vir­gyn Mary, and so he obserued sylēce euery day in the reuerence & honour of one saint or another.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Iunyper had a certeyn brother to his disciple, which was so paciēt▪ that if he had bene skor­ged all the daye long, he woulde saye nothyng. And when Freer Iuniper dyd byd him wepe, then he would wepe, & when he bade him laugh, then would he laugh, [Page] When Freer Iunyper heard of his death, he sayde, I haue no more goodes in this worlde, and he brake all the vesselles in the House, saiynge, that the whole world by his death was destroy­ed. And that if yt should not be horrible to his brethrē, he would cause the hed of his disciple to be deuyded in ii. peces, the one part to be made a dyshe for theim to eate their meate in, & of theother part a cup for theim to drynk in.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Iunyper sayd, I would after my death that ther might issue such stenche out of my body that no man should be hable to come nygh yt, This is a saynt in dede. and that finally they would throwe me into a dyche that ther I might remayne abhominably alone for dogges [Page] to deuoure. This blessed man, when death came woulde haue Sainct Clare with him.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Andrew of Anany. at a certeyn tyme had a lust to eate of lytle byrdes rosted, and when they were made ready and set be­fore him, he would not consent to his lust, but makyng the signe of the crosse on the byrdes, he com­maunded theim to depart, which ymediatly reuiued & flew away.

Thesame lefe.

Freer Ambrose of Massa, if he fortuned to offend any person by a worde, he would take a corde and tye yt about his neck and mekely aske forgeuenes, and in the most diligētest maner would washe the dyshes. He reysed vj. from death to life, and he de­liuered [Page] one from the daunger of a wolfe.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Morice ware next his body a Habergeon and lyued with rawe herbes. He woulde eate no fleshe vpon Christmas day if yt fell on the fryday. Then sayd Saynt Frances to him, I woulde that the very Walles should eate fleshe that daye if yt were possible.

The lxiiii. leafe

Brother Reignold besought Christ that he would declare vn­to him into what order he should ēter for the saluaciō of his soule. And our lord Iesu Christ auns­wered, that he should go into the order of the Barefoote fryers.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Benedict of Aret, re­ceaued [Page] into the order of the Bar­foote Fryers the Emperoure of Constantinople, and kyng of Ierusalem called Ihon.

Thesame leafe.

¶Thefore sayde Fryer, had a great deuocion to Sainct Da­nyell, whose Sepulcher is in Babilon, and dragons kepe yt, whiche Sepulcher he desired greatly to se, but what for the length of the iorney and for feare of the dragons he coulde not come at yt. Then appered vnto him a honge and great dragon and caught him vp in his tayle, and caryed him to Daniels Se­pulchre, the Sepulchre beyng opened, he gat a fynger of S. Daniel, which with great deuo­cion he brought with him. And forth with he was of the same dra­gon [Page] taken vp & set ther agayn from whence he came. Wherfor yt is to be beleued that yt was the Angell of the Lorde.

Thesame man also, as another Ionas in a tempest was throwen into the Sea, and streight waye he was taken vp in a lytle cloude & caryed into paradyse. Whome when Enoch and Ely sawe, they asked him who he was, and he Aunswered I am a Freer of Saynct Frances Order, then they made great ioye, and led him aboute shewynge him all thynges that were in Paradise, and then afterward he was brought agayne of thesame lytle cloude to the Sea, whom when the men sawe, they excedyngly wondered.

Tesame man healed a wo­man [Page] that had a fistula on all her body.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Wylliam of Radcofe, enteryng into a certeyn hermy­tage kneled doune and prayed, the deuell lykewise kneled doune hard by him and stroke him on the cheke, whiche when he had suffred a good while, at the laste the Freer put out his hand thynkyng to haue caught the Deuell at his next stroke. But the Deuell fleyng, so stroke & hurte Freer Wylliams hand that ther rose v. great Blysters whiche swelled very muche and were so greuous that a greate tyme after he was not hable to do any thynge wyth that hande,

Thesame leafe.

Ihon of Aluerne, when he was [Page] an infant, euery Monday, Wed­nesday and Frydaye would suck but once, And woulde eate no­thyng elles. And in his meditaci­on of Christes passiō he would so beate him selfe, that what with teares and blood yt semed that ther ranne Ryuers of blood out of his body. And he dyd vse to hang nettels about his neck and body to ponyshe him selfe withal. And when a certeyn person sayde, then shall he be a good Barefoot Fryer, hearyng that worde, beyng inspired of the LORDE He entred into that Order, and he kept the vestry and song in the Queer. In the tyme of great frost and Snowe he went naked, sauyng that he ware a payer of breches, sometyme he ware a habergeon, [Page] and some tyme a cote of swynes leder, and some tyme a cote of Horse heare knotty, and he ware next his fleshe a hoope of yron. By the space of xxx. yeares he drank water. In Lent he dyd eate euery daye no other thyng then asmany rawe herbes as he could holde betwene his ij. fyngers. In iii. yeares he ne­uer sate, neither slepyng nor wa­kyng, except yt were at the table, in the chapiter house, or in the Queer. God daylye came to him by the space of iij. monethes and gaue him the vnderstandyng of all scripture. ¶In the citie of Florence he prea­ched in the myddest of the strete on a fayre day, but within a lytle whyle yt reyned, but yt neither touched him, the pulpit nor the [Page] audience, to the great wonder and meruayle of the people. He was visited of all the Sayntes, and our blessed Lady stoode by him a whole daye in thesame forme and maner as she was here vpon the earthe. Saynt Frances with his woūdes appe­red vnto him and stoode a great while by him and sayd, Aske of me what peticion soeuer thou wylt, and I will graunte yt the. Then he desyred that he myght touche and kysse his woundes, whiche S. Frances graunted him, and he was woū ­derfully comforted. Also as he was syngyng on S. Lawrence daye of his broylyng, sodeynly saynct Laurence appered vnto him as he was broylyng and be­helde him with a pitifull looke. [Page] And when he song Salue Regina he appered agayne saiyng, that gredyron is my great comfort. Once as he was saiyng Masse he desyred to se Christ in thesame maner and forme that he was crucified in: Then appered Christ beholdyng him with his eyes of compassion. ¶On a tyme he beyng in the wyldernes besought Christ that he woulde appere vnto him. Then appe­red Christ vnto him iii. or iiij. tymes shewyng him his backe but sayd nothyng: But y ^e good brother seased not wepyng vn­till suche tyme as Christ turned his face to him and stretched out his handes as the Priest doth when he is at Masse. Then he fell doune at the fete of Christ, whiche he put foorth for him to [Page] kisse, whiche he wasshed with the teares of his eies, like an other Mary Magdalene, and at the last Chist offered him his handes to kisse. And Freer Ihon rising came to the brest of Christe, and embraced him, and Christe kissed him, but after y ^t he preached most profound diuinitie, his hart bur­ned an .C. times more, then if it had bene in a burning Fornace, and for extreme heat he was for­ced to crie out and make excla­mations. He was once rapte of God aboue al creatures, and his soule was swalowed vp in the depenes of diuinitie, and was buried in the Sea of infinite know­lege of the godhed, insomuch that nothing created, nothing made, nor imagined, nothing thoughte, [Page] nor comprehended, whiche either hart could think, or tonge coulde speake, but it was knowen and reueled vnto him, so that his soul was ouerwhelmed, as is a drop of wine in the sea, and he saw no­thing, but god in all thinges and aboue all thinges, and without al thinges, and there he sawe iii. persones in one godhed. &c and thus beyng in his meditacion, & in wailing and weping he came to the euerlasting glory.

Thesame lefe

Thesame Frier receiued once within the Octauas of the Assūption of our Lady, such a swetnes and confort, that because he wold not be harde of his bretherne he went into a woode to powre out the greate ioyes that was in his [Page] hart and as he cried out for gret greate ioy hee thoughte vpon the wordes of consecration, Hoc est corpus meum. And immediatly he sawe in a great Light Christe with the blessed Virgin his mo­ther, and being replenished with Wonderfull Ioye he returned and went to Masse, and when he had said the preface, and Qui pri­die. and came to the wordes of cō secration, often times he said Hoc est, Hoc est, but he was not able to expresse any more. Wherefore the Wardeyne of the Frires, and another of his Bretherne began to helpe him, but he so­deinly sayeng Corpus meum. imediatly apered to him our Lorde Iesus Christe shewinge him his greate humilitie, whiche offred [Page] him self to be incarnate, and cau­seth himself daily to come into y ^e handes of the priest. When he be­held the presence of the Lorde, his hart melted as waxe, and fel back warde, but he was staied of the Wardeine and his bretherne, and as one dead, they caried him into the Vestry, and his body was as cold as Yse, and so he laye as one departed from the morninge vn­till it was none, so that he coulde not make an end of Masse

These thinges, did he declare vnto a certain brother in whome he put greate confidence.

¶At another time as he was mi­nistring at Masse Christe ape­red to him with a goodly fay­re Bearde, clothed in a preci­ous Red Garmente and he was [Page] certified that god was so pleased for that masse y ^e he wold remit y ^e sinnes of all the world, but speci­ally those which were recommen­ded O most detestable blasphemy. in the same Masse.

The .lxvi. lefe

Freer Ihon saiyng Masse for the dead, euē whē he was lifting vp the sacrament whiche he offe­red vnto god the father for the soules of them that wer deceased hee sawe an infinite noumbre of soules comming out of purgato­ry, as it had bene a noumbre of sparkes, that fly out of a burning fornace, & so assended into heauen through the merites of Christe whiche is daily offered vp in sa­crifice, bothe for the quycke and dead,

Thesame leafe.

Thesame Frier in the mount of Aluerne praiyng, saw all the ayer and yerth full of deuelles, Whiche toke his staffe and bett them, and they fled frō the moū ­taine.

Thesame leafe

This Frier in the feast of the purification of our Lady beyng vexed with the Ague, deceassed on Sayncte Lawrence euen.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Iames Barletan to whome Christe appering in the Wildernesse, declared the re­mission of sinnes whiche for euer he had obteined, In signe and to­ken wherof Christ put the sayde Friers handes betwene his han­des, for whose reuerence, the Frier washed not his handes of long [Page] time, & so long he felt of his han­des a Merueilous swete sauour

But at a certeine time two o­ther Friers meting with him de­sired him to eate with them, & he forgetting him selfe washed his hādes, & after that he neuer smel­led the swete sauour, for the whi­che, he wept and lamented all the dayes of his life.

The .lxvi. leafe

Frier Gerharde being a great Preacher, once on Sainct Fran­ces daye he preached very much in the praise and commenda­cion of s. Frances A certein citizē hearing him so much speke of S. Frāces. was angry in hys minde, therfore departed out of y ^e church & went home to lay him doune to slepe, whiche was sodeinly rapt & caried into heauē, where he sawe [Page] christ our Lady, & the other sain­ctes which went in processiō wise about heauen: but when he sawe not S. Frances, he sayd vnto the Angel that brought him thether, where is Frances and al his bre­therne of whome Freer Gerhard talketh somuche. The angel an­swered, Loke & thou shalt se bles­sed Frances, and what state hee hath. And he loked, and beholde Christ lifted vp hys right arme, and out of the wound of his side came fourthe Frier Frances bea­ring the Baner of Christes crosse and after him folowed a greate numbre of his bretherne and sis­tren. And immediatly the citizen, was restored to his owne house, and he declared all these thinges to Frier Gerhard, and he gaue his goodes to the bretherne and [Page] I was made a barefote Frier.

The same lefe

A great numbre of fishes aswel greate as small hearde the prea­ching of Frier Anthony, euery one of them holdyng vp their heddes a litle aboue the water, the grea­ter Fishes stode in the depest pla­ces, and the smal, where the water was most shalowest, and the mea­ne Fisshes drue very nere to Fri­er Anthony. And when he prea­ched, certein Fisshes putte furthe their voices▪ and other opened their mouthes, and bowed doune their heddes, Afterward the Fis­shes of Freer Anthony were licē ­ced to depart, whiche beyng won­derfull ioyfull and full of playe departed.

The lxvii. leaf

Thesame Frier preached befo­re [Page] the pope and his Cardinalles and there were presente Gre­cians, Italians, Frenchemenne, Dutchemen, Englishmenne and diuerse other nations. And the Frier him self was a Spanyarde and euery person there vndersto­de him, as though he had preched to Spaniardes. Then they sayd one to another, is not this manne a Spaniard, and how cometh it then to passe that eche of vs hea­reth our owne natural tounges?

The pope being astonyed aun­swered, verily this is the Arke of the testament.

The same leafe

Thesame Frier on a time prea­ched in a medow, and christ being willing to declare the holines of him to y ^e people, sodeinly reised a great tēpest, & whē y ^e people wold [Page] haue departed, Frier Antony spa­ke vnto them saiyng: I say vnto you on y ^e behalfe of our lord Iesu Christ, y ^t neuer a one of you shall receaue any hurt. And when the Haile and rayne sell so sore that for the greatnes therof they were compassed as it had bene with a wall, yet nere vnto the Audience came neither reine nor Haile

This miracle is grauē in a stone at the entring of the church of the greater Biturcence, as I receaued it of a certeine Freer.

The same leafe.

A certein person named Bonel wold not beleue that an hoste cō ­secrated was the body of christ, & he sayd that his Asse did eate ho­stes: which thing blessed frier An­thony hearing, he went to masse & broughte the consecrated hoste [Page] and shewed it to the Asse. And straight wai the Asse kneled dou­ne and bowed his hed and wor­shiped it, An Asse worsh [...]peth [...]he bread [...]or christes body Whiche when Bonell sawe, he was [...]diatly made catholike.

The same leafe.

A certain Gentil woman brou­ght in greate loue with his prea­ching, [...]olowed him and loked not to her household, For the whiche her Husband blamed her. Then she went vp into the toppe of her House, where She hearde Frier Anthony preache. euen aswell as though she had bene in the chur­che. And whē her husband asked her what she made somuche there She said, I heare the preaching of blessed Anthony, He saide shee was mad, [...]nd woulde not beleue vntill suche time as he wente vp [Page] himself and heard him, the which Miracle made him euer [...] go to the preachinge of blessed Anthony.

The same leafe.

When frier Anthony preached on a time of wine that was sente to him and his bretherne, a cer­tein woman sodeinly moued ran home thinking to bring him bet­ter wine then any was broughte before, & she made so greate haste that she forgate to stop the vessel and she brought the Spicket in her hand, And when she stode be­fore him with the wine, she loked to her hand & espied y ^e spicket, im­mediatley She ranne home and found all the Celler ful of Wine: but trusting in y ^e merites of bles­sed Anthony, she put the spiker in to the vessell, & sodenly the vessell [Page] was so ful of wine y ^t it rāne ouer.

Thesame leafe.

A certein man as he was con­fessing his sinnes to blessed An­thony, so lamented that he coulde not for weping speake one word, wherefore Freer Anthony com­maunded him to write his sinnes and so he did, but by the merites of blessed Frier Anthony and his earneste and harty contricion he found the writing all wiped out.

The .lxviii. leafe.

Certeine heriticques desired Frier Anthony to diner, and they saide vnto him, the Gospell com­maundeth, that thou shouldest e­ate of all suche thinges as are set before the, & they set before him a foule greate tode, whiche blessed Anthony seing, he made ouer the toade the signe of the crosse [Page] it was conuerted into a Rosted Capon.

The lxix. leafe

Frier Peter often times fasted S Mighelles euen. And on a ti­me S. Michaell appered vnto him saiyng, freer Peter thou hast faithfully laboured for me, and hast put thy self to great peines. Beholde therefore, I am come to confort the, and aske of me what peticiō thou wilt. To whom Fri­er Peter saide, this I desier the that thou wilt obteine for me the remissiō of al my sinnes. And S Mighell said, Aske some other peticion, for that I will easely get the. Thē Frier Peter desiring no­thing els, said vnto. S. Michael and I for the faith and trust that thou haste in me will procure [Page] many thankes to be geuen the. This communication betwene them, dured a greate parte of the night.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Peter desired that he might knowe by reuelation whi­che either of our Lady, S. Ihon Euaungeliste, or S. Frances did sorowe moost for the passion and suffring of Iesu Christ, And whē he had wept long, our Lady. S. Ihon & s Frā. wearing most pre­cious garmētes, apered vnto him but yet blessed Frāces was better appareiled then Saynct Ihon.

Then saide Saynct Ihon, be not afraied Frier Peter, behold wee are come hether to conforte the, and to declare vn to the thy doubt. Wherfore thou shalt [Page] vnderstande, that next after our Lady and me, Blessed Frances aboue all other most sorowed the death of Iesu Christ. And when Freer Peter asked of the Apostle wherefore he had not on so fayr a vestiment as had S. Frances. he aunswered that S. Frāces went vyler here in earth, therfor is he now most precyous­ly clothed in heauen. Then S. Ihon gaue vnto Freer Peter a goodly garment, which when he would haue put vpon him, he fell doune as one astonnyed & cryed, Freer Conrade, Freer Conrade come, and helpe me & thou shalt se wonders, and ymmediatly Fre­er Conrade came vnto him, and he declared to him all thynges.

The lxx. leafe.

Freer Suffian when he was [Page] sycke would receaue no medecyn of any Carnall Physician, for he had deserued to be comforted of our Lady. And our Lady came vnto him with iii. Virgynes, whiche brought in theyr handes iii. boxes. And our blessed La­dy tooke a spone and gaue vnto him a sponfull of the heauenly e­lectuary: which whē he had tasted he felt so much comfort and swet­nes, that he thought yt not pos­sible for his Soule to remayne any lenger in his body, and he sayde vnto oure Lady, no more most swete Mother, no more, for I am not hable to susteyn so muche swetnes. Yet she once agayn reachyng him of thesame electuary emptyed cleane the first boxe. Then oure Lady tooke the second: when the sycke Freer [Page] perceaued that, he cryed and sayde, O Blessed Mother of God, if my soule be vtterly mel­ted with the swetnes of the first boxe, howe is yt possible that I shalbe hable to ēdure to tast of y ^e seconde? Then sayd the blessed Vyrgyn to him. My Sonne thou shalt tast a lytle of this se­cond boxe also. And so sone as he had tasted therof, he was illu­mined with suche a Heauenly brightnes, that he sawe clerely in the boke of lyfe the names of all theim that shalbe saued tyll the daye of Iudgement. And when he dyed, he sayd. O in Pace, O inidipsum, O dormiam, O requiescam, &c.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Ihon had so muche honestye, that his brethren who [Page] perfightly knowe his conuersa­cion tooke him to be a woman.

Thesame leafe.

Christ app [...]red vnto Freer Ihon and layde vnto him, My Sonne Freer Ihon, Aske of me what thou wilt. And he sayde, My Lorde I know not what to saye, I beseche the to forgeue me all my synnes. And I be­seche the also to graunt me my purgatory in this world. And a voyce aunswered, I wyll do yt: and chose the whether thou wilt be one daye in purgatory or vj. dayes ponyshed in this worlde, and he chose vij. dayes in this worlde.

The lxxii. leafe.

Freer Frances saiyng Masse found in the Chalice a great spy­der, whiche he would not caste [Page] out, but dronke yt vp with the blood. Afterwarde rubbyng his shynbone and clawynge where he felt yt ytche, thesame spyder came out of his legg with out doyng him any hurt,

Thesame leafe.

Freer Sigismonde after his death apered vnto a certeyn wo­mā saiyng: Go to a Freer that is called Restang, and byd him that he bryng my Body into this wood. The woman dyd not his message, wherefore the next nyght he appered agayne vnto her saiyng, that if she woulde not do his message, he woulde vexe her from place to place. But yet she dyd yt not. The thirde nyght he lykewyse appe­red vnto her and caused her to be skorged very sore. The woman [Page] beyng taught and feared by stry­pes dyd her message vnto the Freer, but the Freer would not remoue his body. The fourth ty me he appered vnto the womā saiyng, Go thy wayes and com­maunde Restang that he delyuer the my body to be remoued, and for a token saye this vnto him, that once he offended in periury, of whiche offence he neuer con­fessed him selfe, and commaund him now to confesse yt, elles he shall go to hell. When the Freer hearde this, first he confessed his periury and before all men detes­ted and defyed the Deuell, and declared the holynes of Sigis­mond. Then heard he a voyce from Heauen saiyng, Freer Si­gismond wyll lye in the wood and wyll be buryed vnder the [Page] shadow of the Baye and Myrre trees. A certeyn Freer of a great deuocion gate awaye one of his fyngers and one of his tethe. Wherfore once agayne he appe­red to the woman saiyng: Go thy wayes agayn to Freer Restang and saye vnto him that he hathe not caryed my whole body into the wood, for there lacketh one tothe and one fynger. Whiche with all diligence he sought for and with all reuerence and great reioysyng caryed and ioyned yt to the rest of the body.

The lxxiii. leafe.

Freer Gerhard on a tyme when he and his brethren had nothyng to eate, obteyned by praier a dyshe of heauēly meate, wher withall they wer wonder­full plentefully refreshed, and the [Page] meate was so excedyngly well seasoned, that they sayd they ne­uer in all their life did eate meate so well dreassed.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Mathew of Marcilia had a cancker in his preuy mem­ber, and sodeynly as he put into yt a pece of Freer Gerhardes cote, he was made whole. He healed a wonderfull nomber of Cattell and other vnreasonabe Beastes.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Antony beyng dead dyd sweate excedyngly, somuche that his very garment was wett. And there appered syttyng vpon his body a goodly young man whiche recited all his life, and then departed awaye.

The lxxv. leafe.

Freer Drodro was so holy that one Angell serued him at Masse, and another Angell made ready his horsse to ryde.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Walter was vniustly deposed from the bishoprick of of pictauyan by pope Clement the v. Wher [...] thou ar [...]e Peter, an [...] the Pope can not [...]rre? Wherfor after his death he cited the pope to appere befor the high iudge, and thesame tyme that was appoynted, the pope dyed sodeynly.

The lxxvi. leafe.

Freer Lewes was of the lignage of Kynges, and yet he made him selfe a Barefoot Freer (and the Sonne of blessed poore Saynt Frances crucified) whose master was Poncius Carnobell a man sufficiently learned, and he dyd learne in vii. yeares his [Page] Grammer, Logique, Astronomy & holy diuinite. He was so fayre that women sayde they neuer sawe a fayrer, and they were ne­uer satisfied with the sight of his face. A certeyn person brought vnto him virgynes and maydes, whiche he abiected from him as rybaldes. And he would sharply reproue and rebuke the brethren when they loked vpon any wom­en, and for feare and reuerence of him they durst do no vnhonest thyng. He would not once looke vpon his syster the quene of Ar­ragon, and he dispised all honors and salutacions. A certeyn fayre Lady hearyng of his great chas­tite, thought she would proue whether he were so chast as he was reported, and she came in­to the Churche and excedyng [Page] earnestly beheld him, but he not once moued. He contynued all nyght in prayer and wepyng. And there came to him the deuell in the lykenes of a black Catt, which with the signe of the crosse he dryue away. He called lice the precious iewelles of poore men. Euery day he confessed him selfe and sayd Masse. He slept vpon the earth in token of great hu­milite. When he heard talkyng of any deuoute matter, he would wepe streyght waye. A certeyn woman of Tholose hauyng a blody flyxe by the space of xiiij. yeres, sayd within her selfe, O if I might touche but the he­mme of Freer Lewes garment I shoulde be safe, the whiche came so to passe. &c. He dyd many other miracles which here [Page] I omyt. At whose sepulcher the waxe candelles beyng put out, wer agayne with a light from Heauen lightened. He reysed from death to life vi. persones and more, and he dyd many other thynges.

The lxxvii. leafe.

Freer Roger gaue one of his brethren in penaunce for spea­kyng of an ydle word, to saye the whole Psalme of Miserere, Cre­do in deum, Pater noster, Salue regina. ¶He sayd y ^t he knewe a man that was an infinite nom­ber of tymes rapt and taken vp into the highest heauen, O diligent Deuell how thou aduauncest pride that once agayn might be placed abo­ue God. and was vnited with god, and he recea­ued so great swetnes from God, that he thought he was constrey­ned to crye, Domine recede a me, &c. Lorde go from me. And [Page] the signes of this great feruoure was much sene in his face. ¶In a certeyn vision he sawe Iesus and sayd vnto him, Domine quis es? Lord who arte thou? Iesus annswered, Ego sum qui sum, I am that I am, and Iesus sayde also, welcome my sonne, and he blessed him saiyng, thy synnes are forgeuen the. ¶He was once taken vp into Paradise & there he saw God talkyng with all the sayntes one after another. And a certeyn saynct sayde vnto Freer Roger, of what order arte thou? and he aunswered a Barefoote Freer: then he gaue vnto him a consecrated hoste, and commaū ­ded him that he should go prea­che vnto certeyn Freers whiche wer weake in Christ, and so he dyd.

The lxxviii. leafe.

Freer Roger inquired of Freer Bertrand of certeyn Brethren whether they wer saued. Freer Bertrand aunswered, what as­kest thou me of the brethren, I certefy the that all that dye in the Order and Rule of Blessed Frances are saued.

Thesame leafe.

When he was dead he ap­pered vnto a certeyn Woman, which confessed all her synnes to him, and he gaue her absolucion.

Thesame leafe.

In Brabant lyeth buryed Freer Peter, which was sene of a childe that could skant speake, at the celebracion of his Masse eate Christ in the forme and ma­ner of a lytle Childe.

The lxxix. leafe

Freer Benedyct whiche is buryed in Erffort, was our La­dyes butler.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Conrade lyeth buryed in the prouynce of Austriche in the new citie, which was the very father and chefe worker of mira­cles: but because he was not bu­ryed with our brethren, the Mi­nister commanded him that he should worke no more myracles. To the which cōmaundement he obeyed, and sith that tyme he ne­uer wrought any mor myracles.

Thesame lefe.

Christ appered with a terrible countenaunce to a certeyn Prior, saiyng vnto him, Thou Prior of what Order arte thou? and he aunswered, of the Order of S. Benedict, and Christ sayd vnto [Page] blessed Benedict, sayth this man true? And Benedict aunswered, he is a destroyer of my order and of his felowes that are with him. Then Christ commaunded that he should be hanged vpon the Hasty, iudgment lyke the law merci­all Elme in the cloyster.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Agnell, receaued into the order of the Barefoot Freers certeyn Englishmennes children, and he sent x. pound sterlyng to Rome to bye them the decretal­les to study in, to put awaye ydle tymes. He was buryed in Ox­ford in a Chest of wood, whose body when the brethren woulde haue remoued into a Sepulchre which they had prepared for him, they found his Chest full of clere Oyle smellyng lyke Balsamū, and his fleshe beyng resolued, the [Page] bones dyd swyme vpon the oyle.

The lxxx. leafe.

In this leafe are recited dy­uerse Freers whiche wrote good workes, One go [...] worke. and among other is na­med Freer Arlot of Prato, who was the fyrst that wrote the con­cordaunce of the Bible.

The lxxxii. leafe.

This is the most excellentest Order of all other Orders, for in this Order hath bene the most notable and excellēt personages, as Pope Gregory the nynth cal­led Vgo, whome S. Frances dyd prophesy before that he sho­ulde be Pope, and dyd allwayes wryte him the most worshipful­lest father of all the world. Also Pope Martyn desyred to be bu­ryed in our habite. Pope Alex­ander the fourth was a Barefoot [Page] Freer, and graunted to the order many Bulles and Priuilegies. Also S. Frances appered with his woundes vnto the Kyng of Constantinople and willed him Frances [...]used all hese to [...]nne as [...]d Iero­ [...]am. if he would be saued y ^t he should make him self a Barefoote Freer. & he dyd so. ☞The quene of Sa­uoy dyd wer our habite. And so dyd a great nombre of Emper­ours Kynges, quenes and noble personages whiche wer to long here to reherce. For ther is not a noble house in Christendome, but some one of theim hathe bene a Barefoote Freer accordyng to the saiyng of the scripture. Euen kinges hathe walked in thy most Esay. 49. plesaunt gardeyn.

Thesame leafe.

In blessed Frances is fulfil­led that was spokē to Abraham. [Page] If ther be any that can nombre the dust of the earth &c. Wher­for the deuell sayd before to a cer­teyn woman, the Order of the Barefoote Freers, The deu [...] and wom [...] help sayn [...] Frances [...] wytnesses at a pyn [...] ­che. though yt be lytle, yet shall yt be multiplyed aboue all other Orders. In India there are many houses of this Order.

The lxxxiiii. leafe.

Blessed S. Clare was first a Syster of the Order of the Mi­norites, otherwyse called Bare­foote Freers, whiche contynual­ly dyd wepe and lament the pas­sion of Christ, so long that at the last the Deuell appered vnto her saiyng that she should lose the light of her Eyen. To whome when she had sayd, that they cannot lose their sight that foloweth the light of life: the De­uell [Page] fled awaye. Often tymes she spake with God & dyd many miracles. Pope Alexander the fourth being syck she visited him, & he offred her his fete to kysse.

Thesame leafe.

Freer Iunyper is Christes Iester.

The lxx [...]viii. leafe

Freer Hely sayd vnto blessed Fances, here are certeyn brethren that here saye thou wylt make a newe rule, and they fearyng that thou wylt make yt to streight and sharpe, saye that thou shalt make it for thy self and not for theim. Whiche when he heard, blessed Frances turned his face toward heauen and spake thus vnto Christ, Lorde, sayd not I well vnto the, that they ought to beleue me. Then all they heard [Page] the voyce of Christ aunsweryng in the ayre, Frances, there is no­thyng in thy rule that is thyne, but all that is there, is myne, and I wyll that the rule be obserued to the letter, to the letter, to the letter, without any glose, with­out any glose, whiche wordes proue that our rule is instituted of Christ. Then blessed Fran­ces turned him to his brethren and sayd, now ye haue hearde, now ye haue heard, now ye haue hearde,

Thesame leafe.

The rule of the Freer Mi­nors, otherwise called Barefoot Freers, was made of blessed S. Frances standyng and beyng resydent & fastyng in the mount, Christ reuelyng yt vnto him. Wherfore he compareth his rule [Page] with the law of Moses that was geuen in Mount Synay, and the law (as they call yt) of the gospell that was publisshed by Christ in the mounteyn. No man ought to doubt but this Rule is Christes, because Christ affirmed yt so to be before so great a nomber of brethren.

The lxxxix. leafe.

The Apostles wer not learned. Therfore it is not nedefull that the Frances Freers shoulde be learned, for they are as the A­postles.

Thesame leafe.

The rule of the Minorites or Barefoote Freers begynneth thus. The rule and life of the Barefoote Freers is this, the obseruacyon of the Gospell of our Lorde Iesu Christ. And [Page] in the ende of the tytle is this ad­ded. This is the holy Gospell of our Lorde Iesu Christ which we promes to obserue and kepe. There is no rule that begynneth as dothe this rule, nor is so ter­med as ye may perceaue, for ther is none so Gospell lyke as is this blessed rule, Also this rule is the life of the Apostles, and con­sequently of oure Lorde Iesu Christ, for as he had xij. Apostles, so hathe this rule xij. chapiters, and as Christ had lxxii. disci­ples, so in this rule of S. Fran­ces is lxxii. verses.

The C.i. leafe

What maner of thing Fran­ces rule was, S. Frances him selfe sheweth, saiyng, yt is the booke of life, the hope of health, the marow of the Gospell, the [Page] keye of Paradise, the state of perfeccion, and the couenaunt of euerlastyng life.

Thesame leafe.

Frances sayd vnto Christ, wherof lyue my brethren whiche dwell in the wyldernes? Christ sayd vnto him, I will fede theim as I dyd fede the Children of Israell in wyldernes.

Thesame leafe.

Frances beyng vexed with the offences of his brethren, sayd vnto Christ. Lorde I recom­mend vnto the my famely which thou gauest me. And forth with the Lorde sayd vnto him, thou noddy and ydeot, tell me, wherfor dost thou thus vexe thy selfe whē any brother doth go out of reli­gion? Aunswer me, who plan­ted and ordeyned this religion, [Page] was yt not of my plantyng? I haue apoynted the for a signe vnto theim, y ^e the workes whiche I worke in the, they may also worke in the. If one forsake thyne order, I wyll send the ano­ther, if he be not borne I wyll cause him to be borne, and put the cace that there remayned but iij. brethren, yet should yt be my religion, which I wyll neuer for­sake. Whiche wordes when Saynct Frances heard, he was excedyngly comforted.

Thesame leafe.

Guncer a Monke of Barra­uia, there appered vnto him, a very fayre woman saiyng, take me to thy wyfe, and he aunswe­red I wyll not take the for I am a Monke. She aunswered, I am S. Frances rule, take me & [Page] thou shalt be saued. By the whiche reuelacion he was made a Barefoote Freer.

Here I omye many thynges. The C.v. leafe.

A certeyn person was very desyrous to serue God, & Christ beyng glad to here the prayers of good men appered vnto him in a barefoot Freers cote saiyng, he that wyll serue me, must serue me in this maner, & so he vanysh­ed away. But he neuer sawe any barefoote Freer, and therfore he made him self a Monk, howbeyt on a tyme when he espyed ii. bar­foote Freers goyng by the way, forthwith he forsooke that religi­on and becam a Barefoot Freer.

Thesame leafe.

A certeyn Freer sayd vnto Freer Giles beyng bothe of one [Page] house, Freer Giles I can tell the good newes, then sayde Freer Giles, I pray the tell theim. And he sayd, this night I was caryed into hell, and I found not one of out brethren there. Where the deuell were they then? Then auns­wered Freer Giles criyng for ioye & saiyng. I beleue the well. I beleue the well, I beleue the well.

Thesame leafe.

A naughty Freer beyng dead was of the Deuelles caryed to hell. whiche S. Frances seyng, sayd vnto the Deuell, bryng him hether to me, for I wyll not that he shalbe caryed into hell in my habite, and he pulled of the hood from his garment, and then the Deuelles caryed him into hell. This vision was sene of a cer­teyn brother whiche ymmedyatly [Page] came and found the Freer dead and his hood pulled from his cote, wherby he was certefied of his dammpnacion.

Thesame leafe.

The Deuell caryed a certeyn dysobedyent Freer bothe body & soule into hell in the syght of all the brethren.

Thesame leafe.

A certeyn Freer sawe this vi­sion. All the sayntes passyng by the highe aulter made lowe cur­tesy before the sacrament. After theim folowed very fayre Ang­elles bearyng chayres whiche they dyd set on the vppermost step of the altare. After them folowed Christ and our Lady, and next after came S. Frances and his brethren. After theim were led ii. Freers, their hoodes [Page] pulled ouer their faces & their handes bound behynde theim: after whome folowed ii. mules laden with great bookes. When Christ and our Lady wer set in the seates prepared for theim be­fore the altare. Then Saynct Frances after he had done his reuerence first to Christ and then to our Lady he sate him doune on the right hand. Then were the ii captyues brought before Christ, who sayde vnto blessed Frances, Frances, these mē were of thy Ordre, therfore Iudge thou theim. And blessed Fran­ces before theim all sayd to the first Freer, what Order art thou of? And he aunswered, of thyne blessed Frances. Then saynct Frances asked him, whose were all these bookes? He aunswered, [Page] myne. Then blessed Frances sayde. hast thou done as these bookes taught the? He auns­wered no. And blessed Fran­ces sayd, in hauyng these bookes thou wast a proprietary for thou haddest theim agaynst the rule, & those thynges which God cō ­maunded the in theim, thou hast not done: Therfore I (sayde blessed Frances) on the behalfe of God the Father, and of oure Lorde Iesu Christ his Sonne, and the holy Ghost, and the bles­sed Virgyn, and all the holy cō ­pany of heauen, and myne, do cursse and condempne the into euerlastyng fyre. And ymedi­atly the earth opened and swa­lowed vp him. the bookes and mules. And in lyke maner he vsed the other Freer, Then all [Page] the Saynctes with greate deuo­cion beganne to syng, Te deum laudamus.

The C. vi. leafe

Christ sayd vnto Freer Con­rade, In thy Order are certeyn whiche willyngly and effecteous­ly obserue the rule, and they y­mediatly flye into euerlastynge lyfe. There be other that be wyl­lyng, but do yt not effecteously, and they shall be purged in pur­gatory. There be some whiche neyther are wyllyng, nor yet do yt in effect, & of theim take thou no care, for they are none of myne sayth the Lord, as yt is wrytten, verely, verely I saye vnto you, I knowe you not.

Thesame leafe.

The wardeyn of the house of the Barefoote Freers in Parys [Page] commaunded a Freer that was dyeng ii. thynges, one that ymediatly he should go to Paradise The second, that after he was dead, he should returne assom [...] as was possible agayn, and declare vnto him how many soules departed the world the same tim [...] that he deceassed, and how man [...] went to Paradise, how many t [...] purgatory & howe many to hell After thre dayes the same Free [...] gloriously returned agayn to th [...] wardayn, and beyng asked why he taryed so long, he aunswered that he was purged in purgato­ry. And beyng asked wherfore, he aunswered, because I coulde syng well, when my other brethrē dyd not syng well, I would some tyme a litle smyle & mocke theim. And you shall vnderstande that [Page] thesame tyme that I departed, there were fyue thousand soules deceassed, of the whiche one went to Paradyse, iii. to purgatory, of the whiche I was one, and the rest went all to hell.

Thesame leafe.

Another Freer, because he dyd not bowe him self at Gloria patri, suffred this peyne in purgatory. He was set vpon a highe piller, that was streight and narow aboue, whiche stode in the myd­des of a greate sea, and an hun­dred tymes in the daye, and as­many tymes in the nyght he bo­wed him selfe. so long tyll the nomber of bowynges whiche he had omytted was fulfilled: And he sayde that thesame bowyng was to him wōderous peynfull, for he thought euer that he [Page] should haue fallen into the bo­tome of the sea.

The C. vii. leafe.

Oure blessed Lady appered vnto a certeyn Barefoote Freer with saynct Peter and a greate nombre of other sayntes, saiyng, let vs go to Antioche, for the soule of a brother of thyne order, whiche to morow about the third houre of the daye shall departe from the bodye, and we will re­ceaue him. I omyt many suche as this is, and truly the blessed virgin and the deuell were wonderfully troubled with Fryers.

The C. xii. leafe.

S. Frances called a wolfe his brother, for ther was a cer­teyn mad and outragious wolfe dyd hurte many in the citee, but Saynct Frances makyng a crosse ouer him sayde, brother [Page] wolfe, thou shalt promes me that thou wilt neuer deuoure more, & I wyll promes the that the cite­zens shall norishe and fede the. And the wolfe bowyng his hed made a playne signe & promes, that he would so do. And blessed Frances sayd to the wolfe, geue me thy fayth. Then the wolfe reached out his right fore fote & gentely layd yt in S. Frances hand. Then S. Frances sayde, brother wolfe, I cōmaund the in the name of our lord Iesu Christ that thou come nowe with me. And he went with him. Then all the citezens & women merueyled. Afterward s. Frāces preachyng sayd vnto y ^e people, my brother wolfe which stādeth here present before y ^u hath promised you his fayth and peace, if so he that you [Page] wil promes him to geue him eue­ry day sufficient foode, & for bro­ther wolfe I wilbe suertye. Then all with one voyce promysed to geue him sufficient foode. Then S. Frances before theim all sayd to the wolfe, and thou brother wolfe shalt promes to kepe coue­uaunt with theim. I metuell [...]he wolfe [...]d not a [...]reers cote [...]at he [...]yght haue [...]ne saued [...] his [...]. And the wolfe making low curtesy declared playnly by euydent signes, that he would kepe promes & agayn lifted vp his right foote. Then all with one voyce showted vp to heauen. The wolf lyued ii. yeres neuer hurtyng any persō, & daily came to the gate of the cytie for his meate & so departed. A mer­uelous thyng yt was, for in all this time there was neuer dogge that so muche as barked at him.

The C. xiii. leafe.

[Page] S. Frances as he was preach­yng, a woman began to playe on a tymberell, & Frances cōmaun­ded her to peace, but she would not, Then S. Frances sayde, thou deuell, take that is thyne. And ymmediatly y ^e wretched wo­mā was caryed of the deuell into the ayre & was nener sene after.

Thesame leafe.

A certeyn Bysshop preachyng dyd excedyngly cōmend & extoll S. Frances allegyng this sen­tence Psal. C. xlvii. that God sent not suche a person as Frances was to no nacion &c. After the Sermon S. Frances bowyng doune to the fete of the Bysshop sayd vnto him, My Lorde Bys­shop, truly I saye vnto you there was neuer man in this worlde that dyd me somuche honour as [Page] this daye you haue done.

Thesame leafe

A faire womā came to s. Fran­ces temptyng him. And streight waye he stryped him selfe starke naked & layed him doune vpon the burnyng coles and sayd vn­to her, this is my bed, come lye with me. Then the womā depar­ted. Thesame he dyd with ano­ther woman in the C. xiiii. leafe.

The C. xiiii. leafe.

S. Frances saluted the byrdes of the ayre, and he called theim brethren & cōmaunded theim to heare the worde of the Lorde. Then the byrdes assēbled theim selues in great flockes and came to his preachyng, and they stret­ched out their neckes and opened their throtes and were very at­tentife to his doctryne. And after [Page] the Sermon S. Frances went thorough the myddes of theim, & then he gaue theim lycence to depart, & they fled away w ^t a great crye and noyes deuydyng theim selues into the iiij. partes of the world, signifyeng that S. Fran­ces Rule shoulde be publisshed thorougout all the worlde.

The C. xix. leafe.

Blessed Frances cōmaunded a certeyn Freer beyng of a noble stocke, that he should go preache naked. The Freer aunswered & sayd. Father, what benefite shall I haue therby? S. Frāces auns­wered. I wyll assure the of euer­lastyng lyfe. Then he with great ioye went foorth and preached naked.

The C. xx. leafe.

A certeyn Freer beyng dead [Page] came to heauen gates & knocked. Then the porter sayd vnto him, what arte thou that so knockest? He aunswered, I am a Barefoot Freer. Then sayd he vnto him, tary a lytle vntyll I haue spokē with S. Frances. Whome when S. Frances with all his brethren sawe, he sayd vnto the porter, let him in, for he is one of my brethrē. And truly the prynt of the woun­des of S. Frāces shone as (a po­dyng in a lantern) bryght as v. of the fayrest sterres in the element.

Thesame leafe.

S. Frances beyng in the wood desyred certeyn thefes to come & eate with him to then­tent he my­ght bryng theim to penaunce, saiyng, brethren thefes, come and eate with vs, for we are brethren, and he conuerted theim.

The C. xxii. leafe.

A certeyn Freer deliuered vnto the deuell a writyng signed with his awne blood, because he sho­uld conuey a woman vnto him: But thorough the merites of the blessed Masse yt came so to passe that the deuell let fall y ^e wrytyng in the chalyce of remyssion and pardon of synnes.

The same leafe.

Blessed S. Frances beyng tempted of a woman, he stryped him self naked and ranne into the snowe and made him a wyfe and Children of snowe.

The C. xivii. leafe.

When S. Frances came from Saynct Iames he was syck, and desyred to eate of a lytle byrde, and ymedyatly an Angell appered vnto him in the [Page] lykenes of a horsman & brought with him a byrde ready dressed saiyng, Thou seruaunt of God, take that the Lorde hathe sent vnto the, of the whiche when he had eaten, he was made whole.

The Lxlix. leafe.

Freer Peter doyng many my­racles when he was dead, S. Frāces sayd vnto him, Freer Pe­ter, thou wast all the dayes of thy lyfe obedyent to me, & so I wyll haue the to be now thou art dead and therfor now I will not that y ^u shalt do any more myracles. which afterward neuer dyd more miracles. Consyder here I besech the (sayth the booke) gentle rea­der how dere & precious glory­ous Frances was with Christ, whose commaundment the dead obeyed &c. The heares of S. [Page] Frances beyng cast agaynst a stone wall threw yt doune. Christ dyd nothyng but he dyd yt, & he dyd more then Christ dyd. The nayles of S. Frances dyd put away tēptacions, with his spyttle he restored a mayde to her syght, the water that he wasshed his handes & fete in, raysed the dead to lyfe agayn. The space of viij. dayes a greshopper stode with him in oure Ladyes rome, or as our Ladyes deputye, and beyng called again he flew vpō his hed, & then beyng lycenced to depart, he went awaye. A nyghtyngale song a whole daye with him by turne, that is to say S. Frances one verse & the nightyngale ano­ther. Like as Adam not obeiyng god, all creatures begā to rebell: So S. Frances obeiyng and [Page] fullfillyng the commaundemen­tes of God, all creatures began to do him seruyce, accordyng to the scriptures, Thou diddest put all thynges vnder his gouerna­unce, & thou hast set him ouer all thy workes, and he may truly say y ^e wordes of the gospell. All thin­ges are geuen me of my father. And moreouer, whatsoeuer saynt Frances had delyght or pleasure in, thesame pleased the lord God.

Thesame leafe.

S. Frances on a tyme beyng in feruent prayer for the synnes of the people, an Angell appered vnto him saiyng, Christ & oure blessed Lady with a great com­pany of Angelles are in y ^e church lookyng for the &c. Who com­myng into the Church: for feare & reuerence fell on his face. Then [Page] sayde Christ vnto him, Frances thou and thy Brethren are won­derfull carefull for the soules of faythfull people, therefor aske what thou wylt for their comfort & yt shalbe graunted the, for thou art ordeyned to be the light of the gentiles. And he laye as one rapt into the godhead, and at the last commyng to him selfe he sayde, Our father most holyest I wret­ched synner beseche the, foras­muche as yt pleaseth the to owe such fauour to mankynde, that thou wilt graunt indulgence and remission of all and synguler the synnes as well generall as speci­all of all suche people as shall come into this place &c. And I most humbly beseche our Lady & thy Blessed Mother the speciall aduocatryce for mankynde, that [Page] somuche as she may to helpe me in this my peticion and to make intercession vnto thy moost de­uoute and excellēt maiestie. And our blessed Lady with most hea­uenly humylite forthwith incli­ned to the prayers and peticiō of blessed Frances, and ymediatly made suplicacion to her Sonne saiyng, Most high and almighty God, I most humbly beseche thy godhead that somuch as thy ma­iestie may to inclyne & graunt to the prayer & petycion of thy ser­naunt Frances. And the diuine maiestie of God spake saiyng, It is very greate that thou hast de­syred but thou arte worthy bro­ther S. Frances to haue greater, and thou shalt haue greater, and I do admyt and graunt thy pe­ticion. But I wyll haue the to go [Page] vnto my vycar to whom I haue geuen power to bynde & lose &c. And aske of him on my behalfe this indulgence and Pardon.

Twelue of S. Frances bre­thrē beyng in their Celles heard all these thynges, but beyng stricken with feare they durst not enter into the church. And anone Christ with a great multitude of Angelles departed into Heauen. In the mornyng S. Frances cō ­maunded his brethren that they should speake nothyng of these thynges. Then went he vnto Pope Honorius and declared vnto him this vision, and he ob­teyned the graunt of this pardon and so departed. When Frances was departyng, y ^e Pope sayd, O Symple person whether goest thou? What caryest thou with [Page] the for a testimony of this pardō. Then blessed Frances aunswe­red, thy word is ynough and suf­ficient for me, if yt be the worke of God, he can manifest and de­clare his awne worke, and I de­syre none other instrument but only that our Lady be the paper, and Christ the notary, and all the Angelles witnesses. And in his iourney he tolde Freer Massey his felow the visiō, and sayd, bro­ther Massey I say to the on god­des behalfe that the pardō which is graunted to me of the Pope is confirmed in heauen. The Car­dinalles hearyng of this graunt, reproued & rebuked the Pope for grauntyng to Frances so greate pardon saiyng, thou wylt bryng the indulgence of blessed Peter & Paul to nothing. The lord Pope [Page] aunswered we haue geuen and graunted it to him, yt is not ex­pedyēt to destroye that is made. But forasmuch as Frances nei­ther of God nor yet of the Pope had appoynted any determynate day whē this pardon should be­gī, he was again wōderfully tro­ubled & prayed that he myght se y ^e vision once agayn, and that he myght be certefyed of Christ. Wherfore on a tyme in the mo­neth of Iāuarij about mydnight when Blessed Frances was in prayer, the deuell came vnto him & sayde, Frances why wylt thou dye before thy tyme? why doest y ^u occupye thy selfe on this fassi­on? knowest thou not that slepe is more meter for the? Thou art yong and slepe shalbe thy health, and I haue often tolde the how [Page] thou shouldest otherwise do thy penaunce for synnes, and not so streight and sore as thou doest To what purpose doest thou bete thy self thus? And blessed Fran­ces ymedyatly put of all his clo­thes and his breches and striped him self stark naked, and he went out of his Cel & passed thorough a great rough hedge and entred into a great wyldernes whiche was very thorny, so y ^t his body was all bloody: then sayd he to him self, yt is a great deale better that I should thus knowlege y ^e passion of our Lord Iesu Christ, then obeye vnto deceitfull flat­terynges. And sodeynly there was in the wyldernes a great light, which appered to be wōde­rous full of gelyfloures and Ro­ses. & there was an innumerable [Page] cōpany of Angelles whiche sayd with one voyce, Blessed Frances come hether quyckly, The Sa­uyour and his Mother are in the Church and tary for the. Then blessed Frances sawe him selfe newly appareled, but howe or which waye yt came to passe he could not tell. And there appe­red vnto him a waye couered all with sylke, by the which he wēt to the Church. And blessed Frances tooke out of the rosary, xij. red roses and xij. whyte, and he came foorth with to the Churche, and vpon the altare there he layd the roses. Then he sawe our Lorde Iesu Christ standyng, and oure blessed Lady his Mother on his right hand with a great multitu­de of Angelles. And blessed Frā ­ces spake saiyng: Our most ho­lyest [Page] Father whiche art the orde­rer and gouernour of heauen & earth, I beseche the of thy great mercy that thou wilt vouchesafe to ordeyn and appoynt the daye that the pardon whiche thou hast graunted shall take effect & that thy blessed Mother the aduoca­tryce of mankynd will assist her­unto. To whome Christ auns­wered, I will that yt be thesame daye in the whiche blessed Peter was deliuered from his bondes, begynnyng at the first euen­song of thesame day and conty­nue to the euensong the next daye folowyng, includyng the nyght, and that whosoeuer cōmeth the­ther that day contryre & confessed shalbe pardoned and forgeuen of all y ^e synnes that he hath done from the daye of his baptisme to [Page] the day of his entraunce into the Churche of our Lady Porcyun­cule, how greuous or great so e­uer their synnes be. And blessed Frances sayde, Moost holyest Father, how may this be knowen to mankynde that they may be­leue? And our Lorde sayde, that shall God prospere and help tho­rough his Fauoure and Grace. Notwithstandyng thou shalt go vnto Rome to my Vyker whome I haue ordeyned and appoynted & to whome I haue geuen power to bynde and lose, & wyll him to publishe & declare this pardon w ^t asmuche expediciō as he shall thynk mete. Then sayde blessed Frances, but how shall thy Vy­ker credyt me, paraduenture he wyll not beleue me wretched syn­ner. The Lorde sayd to him, bles­sed [Page] Frances, take with the cer­teyn of thy brethrē for wytnesses thewhich hear all these thynges, & also take with the these red and whyte roses which y ^u gathered est in the moneth of Ianuarij when thou wast ponishing of thy body in the wyldernes. All these thynges were hearde by Freer Peter of Cathany, Angell of Reato, Ruffine Sophy, Freer Massey, &c. Then blessed saynct Frances tooke of the roses that he brought iij. red and iij. whyte, in the honoure of the most holy and indiuisible trinite, and to the praise of god & our blessed Lady. And then the Angelles song with lowd and great voyce, Te deum.

In the mornyng blessed Fran­ces tooke his felowes, saiyng to theim, let vs go to Rome, and he [Page] commaunded theim to kepe all these thynges secret. And when he entred into Rome, he tooke his way toward y ^e Church of Saynct Iohn Lateranence, and there he found Pope Hono­rius the successor of Innocent, and the Viker of oure Lorde Ie­su Christ. To whome S. Fran­ces on the behalf of our Lord de­clared all the thynges aforsayde, & of thesame bare wytnes thefor­sayd brethrē and the roses aboue mencioned. And Pope Honori­us beholdyng in the moneth of Ianuarij roses so freshe, and hauyng so quyck a sauour and colour, sayd, this is suerly a great myracle, and must come rather of God then of man, & we knowe that their testimony is true. Then the Pope cōmaunded that Fran­ces [Page] and his felowes should haue wherwith to refreshe theim sel­ues. The next daye after, blessed Frances came agayn to the pope saiyng: Most worthy Vyker of Christ, fullfill about the matter aforsayd, the wyll of the kynge of heauen and his Mother. And beyng asked agayne in the pre­sence of the Cardinalles what he desyred. And when he aunswered the forsayd pardō to be at Lam­mas or the day that saynt Peter was losed out of his bōdes. The Pope aunswered, Frances, that which thou desirest is very great, but forasmuche as the kynge of heauē at the instaunce of the most blessed Virgyn his Mother hath heard thy peticion, we will wryte to the Bysshopes of Assisio, Pe­rusino, Tuderino, Spolitano, [Page] Fulginati, Nucerino and Eu­gubino, that they shall assemble together at the Churche of Por­tiuncule the first day of August, and there they shall declare the pardon in such wise as thou shalt desyre to haue yt. And so blessed Frances and his felowes recea­uing y ^e Popes letters & departed. And blessed Frances sayde vnto the Bysshopes, which of you will publishe and declare this pardō. When the Bisshopes were all as­sembled at the daye appoynted, blessed Frances sayd vnto theim, yf yt please you, though I be vn­worthy I wyll saye somewhat in the presence of this people and declare vnto theim the pardon graunted by the commaundmēt of the kyng of heauen, obteyned at the instance of the blessed Vir­gyn [Page] and Mother of Christ, and you are cōmaunded by the Pope to affirm thesame with me. Then blessed Frances preached so swe­tely and so comfortably, that he semed rather to haue bene an Angeil then a mortall mā. Then he declared the pardon that yt a­uayled from the Euensong the first day of August vntill the E­uensong on the second day of the same moneth aswell by nyght as by daye, yerely for euer. The Bysshopes hearyng blessed Frā ­ces saye for euer, they were an­gry & muche offended, saiyng to Frances, The Pope hath not cō ­maunded vs herin to folowe thy mynde, for his pleasoure is but for x. yere. And therfore euery Bisshop by him self declared vn­to the people that they must vn­derstand [Page] the wordes of Frances of this pardon to indure for x. yeres and no lenger.

The C.lxix. leafe

Blessed Frances sayd, after vs shall come Freers that wyll bu­yld theim greate houses, A true prophet. wherin noble men shall inhabite &c. But Frances would haue his house made of none other then clay and wykers.

The C.lxxv. leafe.

Freer Massey purposyug to trye the humilite and mekenes of blessed Frances, sayde vnto him, what art thou? what art thou? what art thou? what art thou? Blessed Frāces aunswered, what meanest thou, and Freer Massey sayd, for all the world semeth to [Page] ronne after the, and all desyer to se, heare and obey the. Thou art no fayre man Thou hast neither great cōning nor wisdom. Thou art no noble man. How commeth yt then that all the worlde dothe thus folow the? Blessed Frances hearyng this, reioysyng wonder­fully in spirite, and holdyng vp his face to heauen, stood styll a great space his mynde beyng di­rected to God, and commyng to him selfe agayne, he made lowe curtesey & with a feruent spirite gaue prayses & thankes to God, and turned him selfe to Freer Massey & sayd, wilt thou know what I am? wylt thou knowe what I am? and wylt thou well vnderstand what I am, and why all the worlde foloweth me? God hathe ordeyned the fooles of this [Page] world to confound the wyse, and I am a wretched synner. Then Freer Massey knewe that bles­sed Frances was grounded in very humilitee.

The L. lxxvi. leafe.

Blessed Frances sayd vnto his Brethren, that they should not Iudge any thynge to be impos­sible that was cōmaunded theim in their rule: For if he had com­maunded theim to do thynges aboue their strength, yet holy o­bedyence neuer lacked strength. Once a certeyn Freer dysobei­yng his gouernour, he cōmaun­ded him to put of all his clothes & his very breches & so to stand naked before him, which the Fre­er dyd. Then he commaun­ded him to dyg a graue or a pyt, which also he dyd. Then he cō ­maunded [Page] him to go into y ^e graue, [...] odly [...] of the [...]iche the [...]reers lear­ [...]ed to bury [...]heir Bre­thrē quyck. and so he dyd. And blessed Fran­ces couered him with earth euen vp to the hard beard, and sayde vnto him, Art thou not dead? Brother, art thou not dead? And he aunswered he was dead. Then sayde blessed Frances, aryse, if thou be dead in dede thou must obey thy gouernoure at a beck, and grudge at nothyng.

The same leafe.

Two yong men besought S. Frances to admyt theim into the order: but he myndyng to proue first their obedyence, led theim into a garden saiyng vnto theim, come, let vs set coles or colewor­tes, and as ye se me set theim, so looke that you do. Then blessed Frances set the rotes vpward & the leaues douneward. One of [Page] theim dyd in all thinges lyke vn­to blessed Frances, [...] rea [...] to lyue madnes with othe [...] Freers. but the other dyd not so, but sayde to blessed Frances, the coles should not be so let, but rather contrary, that is to saye the rotes dounewarde, and the leaues vpwarde. To whome blessed Frances, sayd, my Sonne, I wyll that thou do as I do: whē he would not do so be­cause yt semed folyshnes to him, blessed Frances sayde vnto him, Brother I se that thou art the chefest master, go thy wayes for thou art not mete for my order.