¶ THE KORAN of the Barefote Friars. that is to say, an heap or numbered of the blasphemous and trifling doctrines of the wounded Idol Saint Frances taken out of the book of his rules, called in latin, Liber conformitatum.  
A. 1550.  
☟  
☞ ⊕ ☜   

versicle. Frances is in heaven.  
Answer. Who doubteth of that?  
Anthem. All the world.   

The preface.  
THIS is to admonish the gentle reader that if before this time thou haste not red this book, and comest there unto as an ignorant person that thou beware of giving any credit or faith unto any of the blasphemous lies and Miracles contained herein, which are not possible to be true they are so directly again the most precious & holy word of god. And first thou shalt understand that there is a book in latin entitled & named Liber Couform●tatum. That is to say the book of the rules of the barefoot Friars, containing a waggon or cartful of fables and blasphemous doctrines against Christ & true religion, out of the which these few things hereafter mentioned in this treatise is excerpted & gathered.  
●nd even at the first in the prayer that the Friars make to Frances, thou mayest see how horrible idolatry they commit in attributing to Frances that only appertaineth to christ, which is the remission of sins and the reward of everlasting life. They apply also all the Figures of the old Testament to aperteine to Frances & so they shadow and hide Christ, and advance Frances far above christ. Of this it followeth that Christ is but a Figure of Frances (as the Turk thinketh) & that figured Frances is all in all, whereof springeth this heresy that Frances is the very true Messiah, mediator advocate & patron that they call upon, and of him they ask everlasting life. who hath hard greater blasphemy, and what is this but the falsifying & denying of the scriptures of god spoken of his son jesus christ, which saith Ihon. x. I give them everlasting life. Whatsoever ye ask the father in my name he will give it you, i John. two We have an advocate with the father which is jesus christ the just. etc. i Ti. two. There is but one mediator between god and man even jesus christ. etc. Wherefore christian reader when thou hast well considered these things, weigh them as earnest matters, and god grant that we may so weigh them in heart and mind that we may detest and abhor such abominations and to cleave fast to Christ. Amen.  
YET here resteth to be told what should move me now at this time (Friars being banished from hence and their wicked doings and doctrines worthily condemned) to publish and imprint this treatise: certainly two things, first for that it was first gathered and set forth in high dutch by. D. M. Luther & after by an other great learned man translated out of dutch into latin, & likewise imprinted and set fourth after that Friars were banished in Germany. And the same cause that I think moved them, doth now likewise cause me to imprint thesame, which is this, after the light & knowledge of gods holy word had, there is little peril to bring forth false & erroneous doctrines, for that so soon as they come unto the light thereof they are espied & judged, like as in the dark though a man be very well furnished of weapons able to defend himself from his enemy, yet for lack of light he loseth the right use of them, for that he may miss his enemy and hurt his friend, & having light and his weapons also, he defendeth himself, & saveth his friend and vanquisheth his enemy. So now that God hath given us the light of the knowledge of his most holy and sacred word, & hath endued us with the weapons & armour of his holy spirit, we need not fear the devil our enemy nor his doctrines, but may boldly look upon him in the day light and overcome & confound him and all his: & this as a special & principal thing shall we hereby have great cause to rejoice and praise god for, in that of his great merci he hath delivered us from the blindness & bondage of those papistical Caterpillars, & that we may now laugh to scorn such foolish and filthy doctrine, as in the time of ignorance we believed and worshipped for truth.  
another cause is this, that I see a great numbered which rather delight in lies & vanities, and therewith to pass their time, then with the lively & most fuitful word of God And for such: I thought this a meet book, that by the lies her in contained they may confound & condemn their awne ignorance which at this Day by lies is and hath been established, and that thereby they may be ocasioned to desire further knowledge and come to the light of gods most holy word which every christian man ought most joyfully and gladly to embrace   

The book speaketh.  

Read me as I am, & other wise take me not  
And to tell the what I am, loath I am god wots  
But what I am in deed now shalt thou know  
This I am I tell thee, the truth for to show   

I am the rule of the barefoot Friars,  
Which learn of me, to be shameless liars  
For all that is in me, of lies are grounded.  
Therefore in England I am confounded.   

I am such a book, plainly the to tell  
As of Friars is believed before the Gospel,  
And all such hypocrites as Friars are in deed  
Believe me better than they do their creed.   

I am old, and came not in of late,  
I am no new doctrine whereof diverse prate,  
I was first written with S. Frances hand,  
And confirmed by the pope for evermore to stand   

I am that book, which plainly doth express  
Not only the rule of blessed Saint Frances  
But also the miracles of a numbered of Friars,  
With blasphemous tales, both sundry & divers.   

Take me as I am, & so judge me I that pray,  
If thou judge me evil, them thy judgement I say  
Is upright, and worthy to be commended,  
Blame me hardly, for I have offended.    


¶ In the beginning of the book, an Image of the wounded Idol Frances being set out, the Freers make their prayer thereunto, in this sort.  Francisce jesus typice. etc. 
O Frances, the very figure of jesus christ  
And the only leader & rule of the friars observant  
Deliver we beseech thee, blessed father most highest  
The souls of thy servants, that to the are attendant.  
From everlasting death and pains infernal,  
And grant us the life & joys that are eternal   

First leaf.  
THe question is of Frances meekness, and where God hath placed him.  
Answer. He sitteth in the first and chiefest degree in heaven, and hath his seat and abiding in the highest place.   

The two. leaf  
Frances only observed the letter of the gospel and swerved not one jot or title, 
It folo●th that ●other ●iers were ●unded ●the doc●ne of the ●uell.  and only he and his brethren hath their rule grounded on the gospel after a spiritual manner.   

The same leaf  
When S. Frances was sick a brother of his desired licence the he might read him some what for his recreation. To whom Frances answered, that it should not need, for he had sufficient knowledge & said I know poor Christ crucified.   

The same leaf  
O how oft times our Lord jesus appeared unto the blessed father. S Frances, and not only of him but also of the blessed Virgin Mary, of John Baptist John Evangelist and of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and of the Archangel Michael, and of diverse other angels he was visited.   

Thesame leaf.  
While S Frances prayed fervently to our Lady that she would obtain comfort for her of her little child jesus, the blessed and pure virgin, was incontinently present and caught him in her arms & kissed him, holding him from the beginning of the night until it was day and granted him his petition   

The iii leaf  
Christ calleth Frances his chancellor, Thesauror, his Bamner bearer, & his counsellor.   

The same leaf.  
In whom at any time hath appeared the print of the wounds of Christ? Truly in none but in holy Frances, as affirmeth the church of Rome, and commandeth all the faithful so to believe etc. And also pope Benedict ordained a holy day to be kept for the worshipping of those impressions.   

The same leaf.  
In the hands and feet of Frances were Nails, as it were of sinews and flesh, the which nails were on the heads hard & gross, they were long & stretched ●arre both thorough his hands and feet, and turned again as it were clinched, so that a finger might have been laid between the clinching as the right worshipful Bonaventure bishop of Albanence and Cardinal of Rome in the third part of his Legend, doth affirm by the credible report of them which saw them, felt them and by their oath confirmed it so to be. Therefore it came neither by nature nor yet by imagination, neither could nature preserve it in such manner without Putrification, if by any Art it had been devised, for by the space of two years out of those wounds issued blood The church doth not report this to be done by our Lady, but our lord jesus Christ was the only worker thereof by his godly will, might and power, and none but himself, which in the similitude of a Seraphin printed in Frances, his blessed wounds. Wherefore he that is mighty hath done great things in Frances. Luc. i. For he hath set wonders upon him. Psal xlv. And blessed Frances may say, as Daniel the prophet said. The high god hath wrought upon me wonders and miracles.   

The iiii lief  
Blessed Frances hath great glory in heaven, for he sitteth in the high seat of Lucifer. And if according to the mind of the Master of the sentence. two. dist i & viii. all the saints after their degrees, are placed among the celestial creatures, then is Frances placed among the Seraphins which may well be, for while he lived he seemed to be a burning Seraphin like unto Christ, both bodily & ghostly. And that Frances was a burning Seraphin, was sufficiently declared by the burning and fiery Chariot, wherein being transfigured, he appeared to certain of his brethren  
Also Freer Mass being by. S Frances suddenly rapt and taken from the earth, felt such an heat coming from Frances, that he seemed to be in the middle of a burning Furnace.   

Thesame leaf.  
Lucifer was of the highest ordre in heaven, therefore it followeth that he was of the order of Seraphins, and cosequently his seat was above all other orders in heaven. Wherefore in the place of proud Lucifer is set meek S. Frances, which by divine teuel●cion was showed to Freer Pac●●cus & Freer Leonard of Ausio 
Who t●● the De● this? for●●er his ●he never me in he● nor neue● shall.  And the devil by the mouth of a certain priest called M. zätese of Ravenna told james of Bonony that was resident in Heaven and sat in lucifer's seat. And thesame devil said that Frances was Christ's Banner bearer, and therefore goeth next to the king Christ, and hereof cometh it that no ordre is nearer Christ then S. Frances ordre, for next to the king of kings standeth blessed S Frances. And the aforesaid devil affirmeth, that after our Lady, John Bap. & the apostles, blessed Frances & his ordre doth go before all other saints.   

Thesame leaf  
Christ made Frances like to himself. First in life most virtuous, and after by printing in him his wounds, wherefore it is said of Frances, Eccle. xlix. There is none found like him, for he hath observed the law of the highest.  
Which words to be true the holiness, virtue and redolent fame of blessed Frances declare.  
He was also a man of a sincere life, and from the pleasures of the body utterly segregate.   

Thesame leaf.  
What manner of person, how and to what purpose, God made Frances, is declared. Gene. i. &. two. where is written, let us make man that is to say, FRANCES, unto our image and similitude, & he shall govern the fishes of the sea. etc. And let us make him a helper like to himself, that is a company of poor.   

The .v. leaf  
All the virtue of saints aswell of the Old Testament as of the new are conjoined and united in Frances.   

The same lief  
jesus put Frances next himself as his Standard bearer, as affirmeth the right worshipful Ralph bishop of Erphord, who by this vision was made a barefore Friar, and two. citizens of Venice with him.  
Also Frances in all things was like to the son of god, and the holy ghost sanctified Frances as witnesseth the cedule which Freer 
O blasphemy.  Lion saw come from heaven and rested upon the head of Frances wherein was written. This is the grace of God.   

The same leaf.  
Our blessed Lady prayed unto the father that Frances might be sent into the world. Also our Lady at the prayer of Frances obtained the great pardon that is in the church of Saint Marie of Porciuncle wherein is clean remission and forgiveness of sins.   

The same leaf.  
Peter and Paul meeting Frances in the church of Rome. embraced and kissed him.   

The same leaf.  
Whoso calleth and trusteth in the help of Frances, shall not be oppressed of the devil.   

The viii leaf  
It is undoubtedly to be believed, that aswell the saienges of the prophets as also the doings of saints, were all prefigured in Frances.   

The same leaf.  
Frances is like to Adam, Abel, Enos, Enoch, Noah, Abraham Isac, jacob, joseph, Moses Aaron, Phinees, joshua, Samson jephte, Gedeon, Samuel, Hely, Elizeus, jonadab, isaiah, jeremy job, Thoby, Ezechiel, Daniel, Micheas, Peter, John Baptist. John Evangelist, james, Bartholomew, Paul, and in conclusion all the saints,   

The ix leaf.  
Esaias figured Frances in the sixth Chapter, which heard two Seraphins saying, Holy. Holy, Holy, And Ezechiel Chapi. iii. which heard a voice of great rushing saying, blessed be the glory of the lord. Also he figured Abraham, which said, I am worm and dust.   

The x. leaf  
Frances is like to Ely and Elizeus which raised the dead to life again.   

Thesame leaf.  
In whatsoever necessity. S. Frances be called upon, Christ hath bound himself to hear the caller.   

Thesame leaf  
The dove sent from Noah out of the Ark, signified the order of the barefoot Friars.   

the same leaf.  
Also the figure of joseph when Phaaro took him his ring to put upon his hand. Christ gave to none of his saints the ring of the express figure and print of his blessed wounds, but only to Frances.  
Also Gene xl. the vine which brought forth iij. branches, signified three ordres, that is to say. the Minorites, or barefoot Friars, the black Friars, and the penitent brethren and sister.  
Also joshua which was Moses minister Figured Frances, for there hath none served and ministered to Christ as Frances hath done.  
Also Frances was like unto Elias, which being transfigured appeared to his brethren in a fiery Chariot  
The iii children in the burning Furnace, & the fourth that was like the son of god, betokened the four ordres, Basilii, Augustine Friars, Benedictes, & gray Friars, which were the fourth, that is to say, like unto the son of God in life, for they are Figured and Marked with the wounds  
The Angel which sat upon the cloud like unto the son of of man mentioned in the apocalypse 
Apoca. xiij.  was Frances, as witnesseth the vision which Saint Siluestre saw.   

The xi. leaf  
The Turks by the order of Saint Frances shallbe converted.   

The xii. leaf  
Blessed Frances may be called a Rock, for he was the Son of Peter Barnard, and Peter, and Rock, is all one.   

The xiii. leaf.  
The order of the grey Freers shall remain till the day of judgement for so was it declared by revelation to S. Frances.   

Thesame leaf.  
This saying: I will be his father and he shallbe my Son, is not to be understand only of the son of god, but of those saints which shallbe about the end of the world, that is to say of Frances and Dominyke, noble and ignoble, which signified ij. ordres to come, as did Caleb and joshua, Manasses and Ephraim, Moses and Aaron, John & Christ, Ely and Elizeus, Paul and Barna●as, the two spies that went into jericho, the two disciples that were sent to lose the Ass. etc.   

The xiiii leaf  
The coming of Frances into the world was known unto the devels, as it is expressed in the legend The devil being asked of the holiness of Saint Frances, 
A substantial witness.  said that the Hour that Blessed saint Frances was borne, there was such an horrible and exceeding trouble in hell, the he thought the last day had been come. And then perceiving that the last day was not come, they said among themselves, certainly there is some borne which shall destroy hell and us. And then by the great Devil Prince of darkness there were sent out certain devils into all the world to know who it was, & they found the Frances was borne that same hour, and said, for a truth it was he that should be their confusion and destruction.   

Thesame leaf.  
The name of Frances is divulged throughout all the world. Frances is known and declared to all the creatures of the earth, of what kind so ever they be, that is to say, of the Sea, the Fire, the Air, and the Earth.   

The xvii. leaf.  
Frances was a Patriarch, Prophet, Apostle, Martyr. Doctor, Confessor, virgin, Angel, and nearer to Christ then all other Saints, as this present work declareth,   

Thesame leaf.  
Blessed Frances was ordained of god, as affirmeth holy church, for pope Gregory the ix. entered him in the register or book of saints.   

The xviii. leaf.  
The bowels of charity were showed in Frances, for with weeping eyes he beheld the cross of Christ, and iij. times, the Cross bowed down unto him saying, Frances, go & repair my house.   

Thesame leaf.  
The Devil witnesseth that by the mouth of a certain woman it was declared that Christ made intercession to his father to grant 
A De●lish resti●●ny.  toward the end of the world, that Frances might bear his cross for the remission of the sins of the people. etc.   

Thesame leaf.  
When S. Frances desired of Christ a great Pardon for the sins of the people, Christ bade him ask what he would and it should be granted to him, for he was ordained to be the light of the gentiles.   

The nineteen. leaf.  
Freer Lion saw Christ crucified going before, & Frances when he stood, standing with him, and when he went, going with him, and talking with him.   

The xxi. leaf.  
On Christmas even, Saint Frances turned the great river of Tiber that passeth by Rome into Oil.   

The xxiiii. leaf  
Abbas joachim and diverse other saw Frances wounded, according to the saying of Christ Ihon. viij. Abraham saw my days and rejoiced.   

Thesame lief.  
Masters Picha, the mother of blessed. S Frances was conceived with him after the manner of another Elizabeth, and she did not only rejoice as Elizabeth did, but also she named him John at his baptism. If S. Frances were like to the son of Mary our Lord jesus Christ, then of force he must be as good as John baptist And certainly he was more than John baptist, for John baptist was but a preacher of penance, but Frances both preached it and did institute it. Also John baptist was the forrunner of Christ by preaching, but S. Frances was both his preacher and banner bearer, wherein he exceeded Ihon. Also Frances is before John for he converted more than John did, and hath travailed in more places, that is to say thorough out all the world. John preached but ij. years and a little more, Frances preached xliij. years. John received his authority but of the Lord: But Frances received it both of the Lord and of the Pope, which is more. John what manner of person he should be was declared of an Angel to his father, and by the holy ghost was made known to the Prophets. But Frances was declared by the Prophets, by our Lord jesus Christ, and by an Angel in the likeness of a pilgrim, both to his Father and Mother and whole household. S. John prophesied both in his Mothers belie and abroad. Blessed Frances prophesied in the belie, that is to say in prison being taken at peruse, of his deliverance. S. John was the friend of the spouse, but Frances was made like unto Christ himself. John to the world was very holy: But Frances excelled in holiness, and therefore before all other Christ printed in him the mark of his wounds. S. John is exalted into the order of the Seraphins, But S. Frances is exalted into thesame order and is set in the highest seat where Lucifer did sit.  
But was there any other that were glad of the birth of S. Frances? Ye truly. Who were they? forsooth that were Enoch and Helias, which appeared unto a certain freer of the order of Benedict of the parties beyond the seas, and they asked him, what order art thou of? He answered of Frances order. And they said then Frances cometh, and they made great rejoicing, and led thesame Freer with them throughout all paradise showing him all things. And it is no marvel that they so rejoiced in Frances, for like always joyeth in their like. Also the souls in purgatory rejoiced at his birth, & specially all those which were of the iij. orders, for they were delivered from their pains and did fly up into heaven. Also the dead rejoiced, for by his merits they were raised,   

The xxviii. leaf.  
As Simeon embraced Christ being a Child in his arms, so a certain pilgrim which was an Angel came to the door of Frances father's house, and instantly besought the servants of the household the he might embrace the Child. 
This he ●●eth of ●minike, these ●e the ●thors ●hese two. ●es.  etc. And the Angel said, In this street are borne ij. Children, this Frances here, and another. This shallbe the governor of the better, and the other of the worse.  
As the blessed virgin Mary at the petition of the wise men that came from the East to visit Christ, delivered him to them, even so the mother of blessed S. Frances at the petition of the pilgrim delivered her Son unto him.   

Thesame leaf.  
S. Frances did specially delight in the blessed virgin Mary, S. Michael, John baptist. Peter and Paul.   

The xxix. leaf.  
Frances healed all manner of diseases, Yea and that was more, by the only laying on of his hands he cleansed lepers. And he converted the Souldyan of Babylon.   

Thesame leaf.  
By the merits and invocation of S. Frances, Christ raised many from death to life.   

The thirty. leaf.  
Frances being in Prison, when his other Prison fellows were sad and heavy, then would he be wondrous merry and glad, inso much that they imputed his so much mirth to be foolishness, of the which being by one reproved, he answered with a lowed voice, what thinkest thou of me? Even at this time am I worshipped throughout all the world.   

The xxxviii. leaf.  
Frances said unto his brethren, my brethren, my brethren, God called me by the way of simplicity and humility, and the way he declared to me to be the true way for me and those that will believe & follow me to walk in. And therefore I will not have you to name any other rule to me, then that which the Lord of his great mercy declared and gave unto me. And the Lord said unto me that he would Have me a little fool in this world. etc.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer pacific was suddenly rapt and taken up into Heaven, but whether in the body or out of the body, god knoweth, and he saw in Heaven many seats, among which he saw one very notable, garnished with precious stones. And he heard a voice saying unto him, this seat was Lucifer's seat, and in his seat shall sit meek Frances,   

The xxxix. leaf.  
Frances is better than the Apostles, which left but their ships and few other things, but yet they left not of the garments from their backs. Blessed Frances for a truth forsook not only all earthly goods & riches, but also the clothes from his back, and even his very breeches he cast from him, and naked he offered himself both body and mind to be crucified, which we read not that ever any saint else did: wherefore he may well say to Christ, I have left all and followed thee.   

Thesame leaf.  
Blessed Frances observed the Gospel to the uttermost, as they sing of him, Frances hath not offended one tittle, point or jot of the Gospel.   

The same leaf.  
Worldly men desire high, fair, large & pleasant houses, but S. Frances would have none such, but commanded that the substance of the houses for the 
Where do the ●reers observe this?  Brethren and sister should not be made of stones or of carved work, but of wyckers or osiers covered with a little straw and clay mingled together, and that they should be little and low cottages.   

The xlii. leaf.  
Fances being in prayer, the Devil said unto him, Frances. Frances, Frances? Frances answered and asked him what he would, 
This saying, if y● were said, was not the devels saying.  he being in subjection said, There is no sinner in the world which if he convert, that needeth to fight with himself: but surely whosoever by hard penance killeth himself, shall never find mercy.   

Thesame leaf.  
Frances and his fellow as they went into Apulia found a great purse with money, he knowing that the Devil had done it for a bait, at the instance of his companion that it might be given to the poor, he took the purse, and he no sooner touched it but the Devil issued thereout in the likeness of a Serpent & carried the purse with him.  
Another brother going by the way found a penny and took it up and put it in his mouth to give it to the poor, and straight way his tongue and membres were made lame and dumb by the Devil, But when he had spit out the penny and done penance, he was restored, both to his speech and other membres.   

Thesame leaf.  
Frances often times did see the Devil, not only in a dissimuled manner, but to fear and grieve him he showed himself plainly and clearly in his awne form and fashion. Freer Giles asked of S. Frances if the Devil were so terrible that a man might not behold him a pater noster while? S. Frauces answered, that no man was able to behold the devil half a Pater noster while, but he should die immediately.   

The xliii. leaf.  
The devil appeared ●nto Frances saying, knowest thou not that sleep is a great nourishing to the body? And immediately Frances pulled of his cote & his breeches and going out of his Cell ran naked into the wilderness, when it was frost and snow, and all to tore his flesh with the thorns of the wood.   

Thesame leaf.  
S. Frances being occupied in prayer upon the mount of Aluerne, the Devil would have thrown him down headlong, by reason the stones whereon he kneeled were lose & hollow: but Frances caught one of the lose stones in his hand as he was falling & thesame clove as fast to the rest as wax doth to a man's fingers, whereby Frances stayed himself & overcame the devil, 
If ye seek them may hap ye may find them.  which stones are to see this present day.   

The xlvi. leaf.  
S. Frantes hearing in the Gospel that the disciples should carry no money in their Purses, neither should they Have ij. coats etc. being replenished with the holy ghost, straight way he cast away his Shoes, and his staff, and put on an old thread bare cote made after the manner of the Cross, and in stead of a Girdle he put about him a cord. And thus the life and rule of blessed S. Frances was taken of the Apostles.   

¶ The names of the xii. Apostles of Saint Frances which were in life, word and miracles. wondrous notable.  

Pet●r Cathany.  
John of the Chapel.  
Philip Long.  
Freer Bather.  
Freer Gyles.  
Bernhard of Cleve.  
Angel Cam●●●.  
John of Saint Constance.  
Bernhard of the v. Valleys.  
Freer Morris.  
Freer Saba●yne.  
Freer Sylvester.    

This order was instituted the xuj. day of April Anno M.CC.VII.  
Freer Giles was rapt and taken up into heaven, as was saint Paul. Freer Silvester talked with God as one friend talketh with another. Freer Morris lived only by raw herbs. And as judas was removed from the dignity of the Apostleship, so was John of the Chapel removed from them, & afterward being infected with a leprosy, for pain and shame he hanged himself: in whose place came William an Englishman.   

The xlvii. leaf.  
Frances was buried in Assisio, 
There w● never no● such, ● herein ar● many deceived.  but his body could never be found to be showed to the people.   

Thesame leaf.  
S. Frances opened the Mass book, & at the first opening he happened upon this sentence by the will of the Lord: If thou wilt be perfect go sell all that thou hast and follow me. He opened the book the second time and found, ye shall carry nothing with you in the way etc. And the third time he opened it, and found, he that will follow me, must deny himself etc. Then said Frances to Bernhard and Peter, that is the rule of our life.   

Thesame leaf.  
Frances and Bernhard stood under a porch stark naked having nothing upon them when it was fervently cold, and a certain woman took them for rybaldes and thieves.   

The xlviii. leaf.  
Freer Bernhard stood by the space of viij. days beholding divine consolations.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Bernhard saw one of his Brethren ride upon a great palfrey, and he cried mightily after him, saying, that Horse is to high and to great, our rule teacheth not to ride of such Horses. Blessed Bernhard was the wheel of charity.   

Thesame leaf.  
Brother Giles seeing Bernhard he said, Sursum corda. that is, lift up your hearts, And Bernhard answered Habemus ad Dominum. that is, we lift them up unto the Lord.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Bernhard after his death, was made white and his flesh soft and looked as though he laughed, and he seemed to be much fairer being ded than he was living.   

The xlix. leaf.  
One of S. Frances brethren being suddenly rapt up into Paradise, saw S. Frances clothed in a clothing garnished all with beautiful stars, and the prints of the wounds shone as the most brightest stars, and was seen thorough all the city.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Lion not finding S. Frances in his cell, went out and saw him ascending into heaven so high that he could scant reach his feet, which he embraced and with all reverence kissed saying, God be merciful unto me wretched sinner, and by the merits of this holy man, Grant that I may find mercy.   

Thesame leaf.  
S. Frances told the foresaid Lion before of the impression of his wounds, saying, that shortly God in the mount of Aluerne would work in him such a Miracle as he never before wrought in any creature, which should be to the great wonder of all the world. This Freer Lion being in the mountain when our Lord marked S. Frances with his five wounds, S. Frances was content to grant him to touch them, & with his hands he touched those most reverent wounds, out of the which issued so much virtue, that he seemed to himself to be taken out of the world.   

Thesame leaf.  
S. Frances used all ways to put a certain thing in his wounds to keep them from bleeding, but upon Maundy thursday at night and all good Friday he would put nothing in them, but suffered them to bleed, for the love of Christ which the day was crucified, that he might suffer with him.   

Thesame leaf.  
Blessed Frances commanded the stone whereon Christ stood when he appeared unto him, to con Water, Wine, Oil, and Balsanum, for iiij. things said he that Christ promised should appertain unto his order. The first, whosoever loved religion should end well. two. Whosoever persecuted Religion should be plagued. iii. He that observeth not religion should be confounded. 
But not ●ryers religion.  iiii. That religion should endure to the end of the world.   

Thesame leaf  
Freer Lion after S. Frances death was wonderful desirous to see him, and to obtain his request he gave himself to prayer and fasting, to whom S. Fran. appeared very jocund and merry, having wings and feathers to fly, and sharp talents (as it were gilted) like an eagle Then Freer Lion asked him wherefore he did fly in that manner. He answered, among many other gifts which the lord hath given me, one is that I should be the only advocate and helper of all my virtuous and devout brethren, and as it were flying among their tribulations and adversities the more speedily to help them, and the souls of those good brethren to bring into everlasting glory: And I carry the sharp talents and nails of the devil▪ to correct with most hard pains and grievous punishment the naughty brethren and she persecutors of our order.   

The l. leaf.  
A certain Child being daily vexed with the falling sickness coming to Freer Lion did privily cut of a piece of his cote and hanged it about his neck and straight he was delivered of his disease, but by chance it so happened that thesame piece was cut from his neck, and being again vexed with his disease he came to Freer Lion, and he hanged a piece of his cote about his neck, and the disease departed from him for ever.   

Thesame leaf.  
The countess of Angulary lying at the point of death, hard the voice of a certain lady saying, dost thou believe in holy Freer Lion? Then commit thyself to him. 
●blasphe●  The woman being speechless, in her heart commended herself to Freer Lion and immediately she received her health.   

Thesame leaf.  
Frances revealed to Freer Mass many heavenly things. It fortuned that Freer Massey was going before S. Frances, and asked him which way they should go. S. Frances answered, thesame way which the Lord showeth us. And Massey said, how shall we know that way? And Frances answered: by the miracle that I will do in the. 
Look wha a goodly miracle her i●.  And then he commanded Massey by the virtue of obedience that he should turn himself round & never cease (as children are wont to do) till he commanded him to cease. Which thing doing for the dizziness of his head at last he fell to the ground. Then Sayn●t Frances commanded him that he should not rise, and asked him to what part his face was, and he said toward Senas. Then said S. Frances, let us go to Senas, for so is the will of God.   

A little after.  
Such works were done by blessed Frances while he lived, that if an Angel had done them. they could not have been more marvelous.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Frances and Massey went a begging together, and because Freer Massey was fair and Frances hard favoured, therefore Freer Massey had the best almose and greatest lofes.   

The li. leaf.  
Blessed Saint Frances went behind the altar to pray, where by the visitation of God he received into his soul such fervency of heat, and was so inflamed with the desire of poverty, that he thought that out of his Eien and mouth when he gaped, there issued great flames. And coming into his fellow with his burning mouth, he said, A A A brother Massey, and this he spoke with great fervency iij. times, and he pulled Massey by the Neck, and his mouth for the great fervency of the Spirit was drawn awry, and he cried continually A A A Brother Massey, and he lifted Massey from the ground and with a blast of his mouth he lifted Massey from the earth, & he blew him before him a great spear length. Freer Massey was astonied at the marvelous fervour of the Blessed Father, but he thought that he received such great sweetness and consolation as to his remembrance he never received before. Afterward going to Rome, Blessed Frances was of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul sweetly embraced.   

Thesame leaf.  
Peter and Paul being required by Frances, obtained of Christ the confirmation of the rule of the Barefoot Freers.   

Thesame leaf.  
A great multitude of birds were gathered together to hear the preaching of blessed Frances.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Corrade said that Ruffinus was tempted often of the devil that he should not follow the steps of blessed Frances, for Frances was an ydeot & a fool.   

Thesame leaf.  
The Devil tempted Freer Ruffyne saying: Thou art dampened and Frances is dampened, and whosoever followeth him shallbe deceived. Which thing when Ruffian had told Blessed Frances, Frances said If the Devil appear unto the again and say any thing to thee, say thou unto him, Open thy mouth and I will shit in it. 
O swe● Frances.  afterward when Ruffinus prayed again, 
Se● how like Christ the develf is.  the devil appeared unto him in the likeness of Christ saying: Freer Ruffian, did not I bid the that thou shouldest not believe the Son of Peter Bernharde, why dost thou thus punish thyself? And immediately Freer Ruffian said unto him, 
A sweet speech.  Open thy Mouth and I will shit in it. Then the Devil being angered, departed from him in a great fury.   

The lii. leaf  
On a certain day, blessed Frances commanded Freer Ruffian to go preach at Assisio such things as the Holy Ghost should move him unto. Freer Ruffian said, I am an ydeot and unlearned, I beseech the my LORD Pardon me. Blessed Frances said, Because thou hast not straight way obeyed, therefore by the virtue of obedience I command the that thou stripe thy self naked all save thy breeches & get the to Assisio to some church there and so preach to the people  
Afterward when Saint Frances, perceived that Freer Ruffians was gone, and considered with himself that his penance was to grievous, he likewise striped himself naked and went and heard Freer Ruffian preach But the inhabitants of Assisio seeing those two naked, said, these me do so much penance that they become mad.   

Thesame leaf.  
They thought themselves most blessed and happy that might touch the hems of the Garments of Frances and Ruffian.   

The same lief  
On a time when Friar Ruffian went about the city of Assisio begging bread, behold, a certain devil cried saying, that poor Friar S. Ruffian, which trotteth in the mire, his holiness and prayers burn and torment me.   

The same leaf  
Also Friar Ruffian was the first that espied the prints of the wounds in blessed S. 
Before he armed contra● of Friar ●n ●refore a ● aught have a ●od memory.  Frances, by washing of his breeches which was exceedingly arrayed with the blood that ran out of the right side of the wound of S Frances.  
The second time he espied it by scratching of s. Frances side, where by chance his Fingers was in the wound before he was ware and saint Frances being in great anguish cried with a loud voice, God forgive the Ruffian, wherefore hast thou done this?   

The same leaf.  
Friar james saw the soul of blessed. saint Frances, ascend into heaven as a bright star over a fair cloud,   

The same leaf.  
There lay in the house of our Lady, certain Friars which hard and saw a great number of larks, gathered together, singing upon the roof of the Church at the death of Frances, Sancta Maria. etc.   

The xl. leaf  
Freer John was so simple that whatsoever he saw Saint Frances do, that he would do also, as when Saint Frances swept the church he would also help him & when Frances did spit he would also spit, and when Frances made courtesy, he would also make courtesy. And when he was by Frances rebuked for so doing, he answethat he had promised to do all all things which. S. Frances did.   

Thesame leaf.  
A certain Doctor in divinity preachiug before S. Clare and her Sisters, it fortuned that Freer Giles coming in, said unto him, thou doctor hold thy peace for I will preach: which immediately held his peace, & Friar Giles taught most sweetly. Then blessed. S. Clare rejoicing in the spirit said, This day is the will of blessed Saint Frances fulfilled.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Giles said, that among all virtues he loved chastity. And when a certain brother said, is not charity greater? He answered And what is chaster than charity? And often he would sing. O holy chastity what art thou? 
A goodly ●le song.  what art thou? thou art such and so much as Fools know not how much,   

Thesame leaf.  
A black Friar being tempted by our lady, went to Friar Giles for counsel. Freer Giles seeing this in spirit ran and met him and with his Staff he bet the ground three 
Here 〈◊〉 touch t● Black F●●ers.  times saying, A virgin before the birth, A virgin in the birth, And a virgin after the birth, and at every stroke that he gave on the growd, there sprung up a lily, and the Friar was delivered of his temptation.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Giles knowing the .s. jews which was king of France came too Peruse clothed in a pilgrim's weed, to see him, and he running to meet him, each so embraced other, that they both fell down, & in spirit, but not in word the one spoke to the other, and each departed from other with wonderful consolation.   

The lv. leaf  
Freer Giles affirmed that he was iiii. times borne. first of his mother, scond of baptism, thirdly at the entrance into his ordre,  
And four, when god so often times appeared unto him, and he was rapt and taken up into heaven. And in this birth as he said, he lost all his faith, by the reason of those heavenly visions which are of faith.   

The same leaf  
The devil appeared unto him so terribly, that for fear he lost his speech, and when the devil began to come upon him and to destroy him, not being able to rise he drew as well as he could to the vessel of holy water which with faith he threw, & forthwith he was delivered of his torments.   

The same leaf  
Freer Giles saw the soul of a certain holy person among a great sort of the souls of Friars, ascend out of Purgatory into heaven   

The same leaf.  
For the holiness of friar Giles, Christ granted that all the souls which were in purgatory should ascend with him into paradise, among the which was Freer Lolle, even then in tormenting, which by the merits of Freer Giles was delivered.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Giles was once rapt & taken up into the third heaven.   

The doctrine of friar Giles  
There is nothing whereby that thou canst please god better, then to hung thyself by the throat, which is thus to be interpreted, 
〈◊〉 do. 〈◊〉.  the man that is hanged is not in heaven, and yet is he lifted up from the earth and always looketh downward, so must we humble ourselves.   

The same leaf  
Freer Giles said unto a certain person, if thou wilt enter into religion, then quickly kill thy parents, that is to say thy Father and mother, but not with the material sword, but spiritually, for he that hateth not father & mother cannot be Christ's disciple.   

The same leaf  
To enter into religion, is to find the infinite treasure of the kingdom of heaven.   

The lvi. leaf  
pain vpon pain, is to study meekness and humility,   

The lvii leaf  
Freer Giles said to. s. Frances that he liked not the pis●eres or Ants, because they were to much careful in gathering of their victuals, but he liked the birds exceedingly well, for they hoarded not up.   

The lviii leaf.  
Holy religious persons are like holy wolves, 
● holy comparison  for they never go abroad but for great necessity.   

The lix. leaf  
From the beginning of the world even till this time, there was never a better nor a more profitable ● Ordre of Religion invented, than the order of the barefoot Friars.   

The lx. leaf.  
Freer Giles being asked what he thought of blessed Frances, he being inflamed with fervour of the spirit, in hearing the name of Frances said, that there is no man that ought to name blessed Frances, but for joy he should lick his lips. Yet said Friar Giles he lacked one thing, and that was a strong body, for if he had had so strong a body as I have, I think all the world had not been able to have followed him.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Conrade of offida when he was but xiiii years of age entered into religion, & when he was set to study he refused it, & entered into the kitchen dressing meat & distributing that almose by the space of ten years There came daily unto him a fair bird & sat upon his shoulder, & at a certain time as he went into the wood the bird did fly before him singing most sweetly, of the which sweetness he received incredible comfort. Maundy thursday drawing near, Freer conrad besought the lord that he would take the bird those iij. days into his keeping, because that in those three days he would receive no consolation or comfort, but sorrow & heaviness, in the honour of good Friday: which thing came to pass, for the bird hide herself, until Easter dayin the morning, which morning he came more fairer than ever he did before, and song more plesanter and sweeter, and as it is said, he spoke to him wonderful things and he saw him fly into heaven as strait as a thread.  
Verily I believe it was the Holy Ghost, 
●oly ●o  or at the least the angel Gabriel, ¶ Also a certain wolf came unto Corrad and caught him by the neck as he had been a lamb and carried him into the house of the bare foot Friars. The which thing the brethren seeing, marveled, and for great devotion began exceedingly to weep perceiving the holiness of their brother.  
The same brother in the Feast of the Purification besought our our lady that she would give him some of the sweetness and consolation that she gave to Simeon, and immediately he was heard, For our Lady appeared in a great light with her most precious child, and turned him into the arms of Freer Conrade, which devoutly taking him printed Christ's lips in his lips, and setting his breast to his, was wonderfully delighted in the kisses, and replenished with charity.   

Thesame leaf.  
The soul of a certain Friar appeared unto Friar Conrade, and declared unto him that for certain sins that he had committed he was in purgatory, & therefore besought him that he would say a certain of pater nosters for him. And when he had said an hundred pater nosters, the Soul of the same brother returned and gave thanks on god's behalf to Friar Conrade, saying that he was delivered from pains an went even then into glory.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Conrade was a great preacher, and he raised five dead persons, 
A sure witness.  as the devil affirmeth.   

The lxi. leaf  
Friar Simon of Collaze raised a dead person to life, he healed a sick horse, Sheep that could not stand he made hole. He restored old women to their hearing, three persons that were crooked he made straight, and healed x that had the dropsy,   

Thesame leaf.  
A certain Physician of Spolet, being like could not help himself, 
A medicine for physicians.  till he had upon him the garment of Saint Frances ordre, & then he received his health.   

The lxii leaf  
Freer Simon of Assissio, never learned his Grammar, and yet by the help of god he spoke so mystically that his words seemed supernatural. And being on a time rapt and taken up he seemed so far unlike himself by the mean of wonderful apparitions and visions that he saw, that a Freer put a burning coal upon his bare foot and he never felt it.   

Thesame lief  
Freer roll of Bruforce on a time preached in the wood, and the chattering of the birds exceedingly troubled him, and he turned to them, & commanded them that they should departed and come no more in that wood, (A marvelous saying) and immediately they departed and never returned again.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Leonard one of. Saint Frances fellows led S Frances Ass & as he thought S. Frances was riding upon his Ass, which said to himself, behold how Frances rideth and must have a foot man to lead his Ass. And immediately Frances knew his thought. Then Freer Leonard kneeled down at blessed Frances feet, and with tears besought him of forgiveness.   

Thesame leaf.  
A certain novice called Freer juniper was so simple and devout. that he went often times into the wilderness to gather wood to make a fire to warm the brethren with, & he used to carry an awl with him to sow the 〈◊〉 of his brethren, but the war●●●● of his house was fat. The sayd Noveys on a time striped himself naked & came from Fulgin● passing by the street spelun thorough the city of Assisio even into the house of the barefoot Freers. And when he was exceedingly reproved of the general minister for so doing, he said, that he had taken this penance upon him, because he would be commanded in like manner naked to return. Also another time he entered into Viterbe, 
Goodly ●nd gay ●●yracles.  & as he entered the gate of the city, he put his breeches about his head, and his cote he bond up like a farthel about his neck, and so naked he went through the city, where he suffered many shameful rebukes & naked he entered into the house of the Friars, where all the brethren cried out upon him, but 〈◊〉 little regarded their rebukes 〈◊〉 holy a man was this Nouey●   

Thesame leaf.  
Theforsayd Noveys was of a certain gentleman exceedingly well entertained and laid in a goodly bed. 
A shyu knave.  But he filed the bed, and departed in the morning without taking any leave, or bidding them farewell.  
Thesame man took his journey to Rome, which being knowe● to the Romans, they came forth to entertain and welcome him. But he stood playing with the Children till they were gone. And afterward he went into the city alone. The Romans some of them thought he did it of a contempt or disdain that he bore unto them and other some thought he did it of foolishness.   

Thesame leaf.  
A certain Freer being sick desired to eat of a swines feet, Then theforsayd Noveys called Freer juniper took a sword and entered into the midst of the herd of swine & stroke of the feet of one of them, and dressed them for his foresaid brother. When the master of the swine knew that a Freer had done it, he spoke many opprobrious words of S. Frances and his brethren. But Freer juniper meeting with the master of the swine gave unto him such soft & sweet words, that he gave the whole swine for a pictance to the brethren.   

The lxiii. leaf.  
A certain poor man asked an almose of Freer juniper, to whom he said, I 〈◊〉 not give mine habit, but if thou take it from me, I will not be greu●● with the. Which thing the poor man did.   

Thesame leaf.  
The devels exceedingly feared this Freer juniper, for he going by a certain town the devil fled seven. mile from him, and being asked why he did so? He answered, that he could not abide the patience of that foolish Freer juniper. Wherefore S. Frances, when the devils would not at his commandment departed out of men, he would say to the devil, except thou depart the sooner, I will cause Freer juniper to come to thee, and then the Devil fearing the presence of Freer juniper, and the virtue and holiness of Saint Frances departed.   

Thesame leaf.  
S. Frances perceiving the great holiness of Freer juniper, said unto his brethren, I would to God I had a whole wood of such juniper.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Innyper kept silence vj. days after this manner. The first day in the honour of the father, The second in the honour of the son, The third in the honour of the holy ghost, the fourth in the honour of the blessed virgin Mary, and so he observed silence every day in the reverence & honour of one saint or another.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer juniper had a certain brother to his disciple, which was so patient▪ that if he had been skorged all the day long, he would say nothing. And when Freer juniper did bid him weep, than he would weep, & when he bade him laugh, then would he laugh, When Freer juniper heard of his death, he said, I have no more goods in this world, and he broke all the vessels in the House, saying, that the whole world by his death was destroyed. And that if it should not be horrible to his brethren, he would cause the head of his disciple to be divided in two. pieces, the one part to be made a dish for them to eat their meat in, & of the other part a cup for them to drink in.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer juniper said, I would after my death that there might issue such stench out of my body that no man should be able to come nigh it, 
This is a saint in deed.  and that finally they would throw me into a dyche that there I might remain abominably alone for dogs to devour. This blessed man, when death came would have Saint Clare with him.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Andrew of Anany. at a certain time had a lust to eat of little birds roasted, and when they were made ready and set before him, he would not consent to his lust, but making the sign of the cross on the birds, he commanded them to departed, which immediately revived & flew away.   

Thesame lief.  
Freer Ambrose of Massa, if he fortuned to offend any person by a word, he would take a cord and tie it about his neck and meekly ask forgiveness, and in the most diligentest manner would wash the dishes. He raised vj. from death to life, and he delivered one from the danger of a wolf.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Morris ware next his body a Habergeon and lived with raw herbs. He would eat no flesh upon Christmas day if it fell on the friday. Then said Saint Frances to him, I would that the very Walls should eat flesh that day if it were possible.   

The lxiiii. leaf  
Brother Reignold besought Christ that he would declare unto him into what order he should enter for the salvation of his soul. And our lord jesus Christ answered, that he should go into the order of the Barefoot friars.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Benedict of Art, received into the order of the Barfoote Friars the Emperor of Constantinople, and king of jerusalem called Ihon.   

Thesame leaf.  
¶ Therefore said Friar, had a great devotion to Saint Danyell, whose Sepulchre is in Babylon, and dragons keep it, which Sepulchre he desired greatly to see, but what for the length of the journey and for fear of the dragons he could not come at it. Then appeared unto him a hung and great dragon and caught him up in his tail, and carried him to daniel's Sepulchre, the Sepulchre being opened, he got a finger of S. Daniel, which with great devotion he brought with him. And forth with he was of the same dragon taken up & set there again from whence he came. Wherefore it is to be believed that it was the Angel of the Lord.  
Thesame man also, as another jonas in a tempest was thrown into the Sea, and straight way he was taken up in a little cloud & carried into paradise. Whom when Enoch and Ely saw, they asked him who he was, and he Answered I am a Freer of saint Frances Order, than they made great joy, and led him about showing him all things that were in Paradise, and then afterward he was brought again of thesame little cloud to the Sea, whom when the men saw, they exceedingly wondered.  
Tesame man healed a woman that had a fistula on all her body.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer William of Radcofe, entering into a certain hermitage kneeled down and prayed, the devil likewise kneeled down hard by him and stroke him on the cheek, which when he had suffered a good while, at the last the Freer put out his hand thinking to have caught the Devil at his next stroke. But the Devil fleeing, so stroke & hurt Freer wylliam's hand that there rose v. great blisters which swelled very much and were so grievous that a great time after he was not able to do any thing with that hand,   

Thesame leaf.  
John of Aluerne, when he was an infant, every Monday, Wednesday and friday would suck but once, And would eat nothing else. And in his meditation of Christ's passion he would so beat himself, that what with tears and blood it seemed that there ran Rivers of blood out of his body. And he did use to hang nettles about his neck and body to punish himself withal. And when a certain person said, then shall he be a good Barefoot Friar, hearing that word, being inspired of the LORD He entered into that Order, and he kept the vestry and song in the Queer. In the time of great frost and Snow he went naked, saving that he ware a payer of breeches, sometime he ware a habergeon, and some time a cote of swines leader, and some time a cote of Horse hear knotty, and he ware next his flesh a hoop of iron. By the space of thirty. years he drank water. In Lent he did eat every day no other thing then as many raw herbs as he could hold between his ij. fingers. In three years he never sat, neither sleeping nor waking, except it were at the table, in the chapter house, or in the Queer. God daily came to him by the space of iij. months and gave him the understanding of all scripture. ¶ In the city of Florence he preached in the midst of the street on a fair day, but within a little while it rained, but it neither touched him, the pulpit nor the audience, to the great wonder and marvel of the people. He was visited of all the Saints, and our blessed Lady stood by him a whole day in thesame form and manner as she was here upon the earth. Saint Frances with his wounds appeared unto him and stood a great while by him and said, Ask of me what petition soever thou wilt, and I will grant it the. Then he desired that he might touch and kiss his wounds, which S. Frances granted him, and he was wonderfully comforted. Also as he was singing on S. Laurence day of his broiling, suddenly saint Laurence appeared unto him as he was broiling and beheld him with a pitiful look. And when he song Salue Regina he appeared again saying, that gridiron is my great comfort. Once as he was saying Mass he desired to see Christ in thesame manner and form that he was crucified in: Then appeared Christ beholding him with his eyes of compassion. ¶ On a time he being in the wilderness besought Christ that he would appear unto him. Then appeared Christ unto him three or iiij. times showing him his back but said nothing: But the good brother seized not weeping until such time as Christ turned his face to him and stretched out his hands as the Priest doth when he is at Mass. Then he fell down at the feet of Christ, which he put forth for him to kiss, which he washed with the tears of his eyes, like an other Mary Magdalene, and at the last Chest offered him his hands to kiss. And Freer John rising came to the breast of Christ, and embraced him, and Christ kissed him, but after that he preached most profound divinity, his heart burned an. C. times more, then if it had been in a burning Furnace, and for extreme heat he was forced to cry out and make exclamations. He was once rapt of God above all creatures, and his soul was swallowed up in the deepness of divinity, and was buried in the Sea of infinite knowledge of the godhead, insomuch that nothing created, nothing made, nor imagined, nothing thought, nor comprehended, which either heart could think, or tongue could speak, but it was known and revealed unto him, so that his soul was overwhelmed, as is a drop of wine in the sea, and he saw nothing, but god in all things and above all things, and without all things, and there he saw three persons in one godhead. etc. and thus being in his meditation, & in wailing and weeping he came to the everlasting glory.   

Thesame lief  
Thesame Friar received once within the Octavas of the Assumption of our Lady, such a sweetness and comfort, that because he would not be hard of his brethren he went into a wood to power out the great joys that was in his heart and as he cried out for great great joy he thought upon the words of consecration, Hoc est corpus meum. And immediately he saw in a great Light Christ with the blessed Virgin his mother, and being replenished with Wonderful joy he returned and went to Mass, and when he had said the preface, and Qui pridie. and came to the words of consecration, often times he said Hoc est, Hoc est, but he was not able to express any more. Wherefore the warden of the friars, and another of his brethren began to help him, but he suddenly saying Corpus meum. immediately appeared to him our Lord jesus Christ shewing him his great humility, which offered himself to be incarnate, and causeth himself daily to come into the hands of the priest. When he beheld the presence of the Lord, his heart melted as wax, and fell back ward, but he was stayed of the warden and his brethren, and as one dead, they carried him into the Vestry, and his body was as cold as Ice, and so he lay as one departed from the morning until it was none, so that he could not make an end of Mass  
These things, did he declare unto a certain brother in whom he put great confidence.  
¶ At another time as he was ministering at Mass Christ appeared to him with a goodly fair Beard, clothed in a precious Red Garment and he was certified that god was so pleased for that mass the he would remit the sins of all the world, but specially those which were recommended 
O most detestable blasphemy.  in the same Mass.   

The lxvi leaf  
Freer John saying Mass for the dead, even when he was lifting up the sacrament which he offered unto god the father for the souls of them that were deceased he saw an infinite noumbre of souls coming out of purgatory, as it had been a noumbre of sparks, that fly out of a burning furnace, & so ascended into heaven through the merits of Christ which is daily offered up in sacrifice, both for the quick and dead,   

Thesame leaf.  
Thesame Friar in the mount of Aluerne praying, saw all the air and earth full of devils, Which took his staff and bet them, and they fled from the mountain.   

Thesame leaf  
This Friar in the feast of the purification of our Lady being vexed with the Ague, deceased on saint Laurence even.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer james Barletan to whom Christ appearing in the Wilderness, declared the remission of sins which for ever he had obtained, In sign and token whereof Christ put the said Friars hands between his hands, for whose reverence, the Friar washed not his hands of long time, & so long he felt of his hands a marvelous sweet savour  
But at a certain time two other Friars meeting with him desired him to eat with them, & he forgetting himself washed his hands, & after that he never smelled the sweet savour, for the which, he wept and lamented all the days of his life.   

The lxvi leaf  
friar Gerharde being a great Preacher, once on Saint Frances day he preached very much in the praise and commendation of s. Frances A certain citizen hearing him so much speak of S. Frances. was angry in his mind, therefore departed out of the church & went home to lay him down to sleep, which was suddenly rapt & carried into heaven, where he saw christ our Lady, & the other saints which went in procession wise about heaven: but when he saw not S. Frances, he said unto the Angel that brought him thither, where is Frances and all his brethren of whom Freer Gerhard talketh so much. The angel answered, Look & thou shalt see blessed Frances, and what state he hath. And he looked, and behold Christ lifted up his right arm, and out of the wound of his side came fourth Friar Frances bearing the Banner of Christ's cross and after him followed a great numbered of his brethren and sistren. And immediately the citizen, was restored to his own house, and he declared all these things to Friar Gerhard, and he gave his goods to the brethren and I was made a barefoot friar.   

The same lief  
A great numbered of fishes aswell great as small heard the preaching of friar Anthony, every one of them holding up their heads a little above the water, the greater Fishes stood in the deepest places, and the small, where the water was most shalowest, and the mean fishes drew very near to Friar Anthony. And when he preached, certain fishes put forth their voices▪ and other opened their mouths, and bowed down their heads, Afterward the fishes of Freer Anthony were licensed to departed, which being wonderful joyful and full of play departed.   

The lxvii. leaf  
Thesame Friar preached before the pope and his Cardinals and there were present Grecians, Italians, frenchmen, Dutchemen, Englishmen and diverse other nations. And the Friar himself was a spaniard and every person there understood him, as though he had preached to Spaniards. Then they said one to another, is not this man a Spaniard, and how cometh it then to pass that each of us heareth our own natural tongues?  
The pope being astonied answered, verily this is the Ark of the testament.   

The same leaf  
Thesame Friar on a time preached in a meadow, and christ being willing to declare the holiness of him to the people, suddenly raised a great tempest, & when the people would have departed, Friar Antony spoke unto them saying: I say unto you on the behalf of our lord jesus Christ, that never a one of you shall receive any hurt. And when the Hail and rain sell so sore that for the greatness thereof they were compassed as it had been with a wall, yet near unto the Audience came neither rain nor Hail  
This miracle is graven in a stone at the entering of the church of the greater Biturcence, as I received it of a certain Freer.   

The same leaf.  
A certain person named Bonel would not believe that an host consecrated was the body of christ, & he said that his Ass did eat hosts: which thing blessed friar Anthony hearing, he went to mass & brought the consecrated host and showed it to the Ass. And strait wai the Ass kneeled down and bowed his head and worshipped it, 
An Ass worshippeth ●he bread ●or Christ's body  Which when Bonell saw, he was immediately made catholic.   

The same leaf.  
A certain Gentil woman brought in great love with his preaching, followed him and looked not to her household, For the which her Husband blamed her. Then she went up into the top of her House, where She heard Friar Anthony preach. even aswell as though she had been in the church. And when her husband asked her what she made so much there She said, I hear the preaching of blessed Anthony, He said she was mad, ●nd would not believe until such time as he went up himself and heard him, the which Miracle made him ever 〈◊〉 go to the preaching of blessed Anthony.   

The same leaf.  
When friar Anthony preached on a time of wine that was sent to him and his brethren, a certain woman suddenly moved ran home thinking to bring him better wine than any was brought before, & she made so great haste that she forgot to stop the vessel and she brought the Spigot in her hand, And when she stood before him with the wine, she looked to her hand & espied the spigot, immediatley She ran home and found all the Cellar full of Wine: but trusting in the merits of blessed Anthony, she put the spiker in to the vessel, & suddenly the vessel was so full of wine that it ran over.   

Thesame leaf.  
A certain man as he was confessing his sins to blessed Anthony, so lamented that he could not for weeping speak one word, wherefore Freer Anthony commanded him to write his sins and so he did, but by the merits of blessed Friar Anthony and his earnest and hearty contrition he found the writing all wiped out.   

The lxviii leaf.  
Certain heriticques desired Friar Anthony to dinner, and they said unto him, the Gospel commandeth, that thou shouldest eat of all such things as are set before thee, & they set before him a foul great toad, which blessed Anthony seeing, he made over the toad the sign of the cross it was converted into a Roasted Capon.   

The lxix. leaf  
friar Peter often times fasted S Mighelles even. And on a time S. Michael appeared unto him saying, freer Peter thou hast faithfully laboured for me, and hast put thyself to great pains. Behold therefore, I am come to comfort thee, and ask of me what petition thou wilt. To whom Friar Peter said, this I desire the that thou wilt obtain for me the remission of all my sins. And S Mighell said, Ask some other petition, for that I will easily get the. Then Friar Peter desiring nothing else, said unto. S. Michael and I for the faith and trust that thou haste in me will procure many thanks to be given the. This communication between them, dured a great part of the night.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Peter desired that he might know by revelation which either of our Lady, S. John Euaungeliste, or S. Frances did sorrow most for the passion and suffering of jesus Christ, And when he had wept long, our Lady. S. John & s Fran. wearing most precious garments, appeared unto him but yet blessed Frances was better appareled than saint Ihon.  
Then said saint John, be not afraid Friar Peter, behold we are come hither to comfort thee, and to declare unto the thy doubt. Wherefore thou shalt understand, that next after our Lady and me, Blessed Frances above all other most sorrowed the death of jesus Christ. And when Freer Peter asked of the Apostle wherefore he had not on so fair a vestiment as had S. Frances. he answered that S. Frances went viler here in earth, therefore is he now most preciously clothed in heaven. Then S. John gave unto Freer Peter a goodly garment, which when he would have put upon him, he fell down as one astonied & cried, Freer Conrade, Freer Conrade come, and help me & thou shalt see wonders, and immediately Freer Conrade came unto him, and he declared to him all things.   

The lxx. leaf.  
Freer Suffian when he was sick would receive no medicine of any Carnal Physician, for he had deserved to be comforted of our Lady. And our Lady came unto him with three virgins, which brought in their hands three boxes. And our blessed Lady took a spoon and gave unto him a spoonful of the heavenly electuary: which when he had tasted he felt so much comfort and sweetness, that he thought it not possible for his Soul to remain any longer in his body, and he said unto our Lady, no more most sweet Mother, no more, for I am not able to susteyn so much sweetness. Yet she once again reaching him of thesame electuary emptied clean the first box. Then our Lady took the second: when the sick Freer perceived that, he cried and said, O Blessed Mother of God, if my soul be utterly melted with the sweetness of the first box, how is it possible that I shallbe able to endure to taste of the second? Then said the blessed virgin to him. My Son thou shalt taste a little of this second box also. And so soon as he had tasted thereof, he was illumined with such a Heavenly brightness, that he saw clearly in the book of life the names of all them that shallbe saved till the day of judgement. And when he died, he said. O in Pace, O inidipsum, O dormiam, O requiescam, etc.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer John had so much honesty, that his brethren who perfectly know his conversation took him to be a woman.   

Thesame leaf.  
Christ appeared unto Freer John and laid unto him, My Son Freer John, Ask of me what thou wilt. And he said, My Lord I know not what to say, I beseech the to forgive me all my sins. And I beseech the also to grant me my purgatory in this world. And a voice answered, I will do it: and chose the whether thou wilt be one day in purgatory or vj. days punished in this world, and he chose seven. days in this world.   

The lxxii. leaf.  
Freer Frances saying Mass found in the Chalice a great spider, which he would not cast out, but drunk it up with the blood. afterward rubbing his shynbone and clawing where he felt it itch, thesame spider came out of his leg with out doing him any hurt,   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Sigismonde after his death appeared unto a certain woman saying: Go to a Freer that is called Restang, and bid him that he bring my Body into this wood. The woman did not his message, wherefore the next night he appeared again unto her saying, that if she would not do his message, he would vex her from place to place. But yet she did it not. The third night he likewise appeared unto her and caused her to be skorged very sore. The woman being taught and feared by stripes did her message unto the Freer, but the Freer would not remove his body. The fourth time he appeared unto the woman saying, Go thy ways and command Restang that he deliver the my body to be removed, and for a token say this unto him, that once he offended in perjury, of which offence he never confessed himself, and command him now to confess it, else he shall go to hell. When the Freer heard this, first he confessed his perjury and before all men detested and defied the Devil, and declared the holiness of Sigismond. Then heard he a voice from Heaven saying, Freer Sigismond will lie in the wood and will be buried under the shadow of the Bay and Myrrh trees. A certain Freer of a great devotion gate away one of his fingers and one of his tethe. Wherefore once again he appeared to the woman saying: Go thy ways again to Freer Restang and say unto him that he hath not carried my whole body into the wood, for there lacketh one tooth and one finger. Which with all diligence he sought for and with all reverence and great rejoicing carried and joined it to the rest of the body.   

The lxxiii. leaf.  
Freer Gerhard on a time when he and his brethren had nothing to eat, obtained by prayer a dish of heavenvly meat, where withal they were wonderful plentifully refreshed, and the meat was so exceedingly well seasoned, that they said they never in all their life did eat meat so well dreassed.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Matthew of Marcilia had a canker in his privy member, and suddenly as he put into it a piece of Freer Gerhardes cote, he was made whole. He healed a wonderful number of cattle and other unreasonabe Beasts.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Antony being dead did sweat exceedingly, so much that his very garment was wet. And there appeared sitting upon his body a goodly young man which recited all his life, and then departed away.   

The lxxv. leaf.  
Freer Drodro was so holy that one Angel served him at Mass, and another Angel made ready his horse to ride.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Walter was unjustly deposed from the bishopric of of pictavyan by pope Clement the v. 
Where 〈◊〉 thou ar●e Peter, an● the Pope can not ●rre?  Wherefore after his death he cited the pope to appear before the high judge, and thesame time that was appointed, the pope died suddenly.   

The lxxvi. leaf.  
Freer jews was of the lineage of Kings, and yet he made himself a Barefoot Freer (and the Son of blessed poor Saint Frances crucified) whose master was Poncius Carnobell a man sufficiently learned, and he did learn in seven. years his Grammar, Logic, Astronomy & holy divinity. He was so fair that women said they never saw a fairer, and they were never satisfied with the sight of his face. A certain person brought unto him virgins and maids, which he abjected from him as rybaldes. And he would sharply reprove and rebuke the brethren when they looked upon any women, and for fear and reverence of him they durst do no unhonest thing. He would not once look upon his sister the queen of Arragon, and he despised all honours and salutations. A certain fair Lady hearing of his great chastity, thought she would prove whether he were so chaste as he was reported, and she came into the Church and exceeding earnestly beheld him, but he not once moved. He continued all night in prayer and weeping. And there came to him the devil in the likeness of a black Cat, which with the sign of the cross he drive away. He called louse the precious jewels of poor men. Every day he confessed himself and said Mass. He slept upon the earth in token of great humility. When he heard talking of any devout matter, he would weep straight way. A certain woman of Tholose having a bloody flix by the space of xiv. years, said within herself, O if I might touch but the hem of Freer jews garment I should be safe, the which came so to pass. etc. He did many other miracles which here I omit. At whose sepulchre the wax candles being put out, were again with a light from Heaven lightened. He raised from death to life vi. persons and more, and he did many other things.   

The lxxvii. leaf.  
Freer Roger gave one of his brethren in penance for speaking of an idle word, to say the whole Psalm of Miserere, Credo in deum, Pater noster, Salue regina. ¶ He said that he knew a man that was an infinite number of times rapt and taken up into the highest heaven, 
O diligent Devil how thou advancest pride that once again might be placed above God.  and was united with god, and he received so great sweetness from God, that he thought he was constrained to cry, Domine recede a me, etc. Lord go from me. And the signs of this great fervour was much seen in his face. ¶ In a certain vision he saw jesus and said unto him, Domine quis es? Lord who art thou? jesus annswered, Ego sum qui sum, I am that I am, and jesus said also, welcome my son, and he blessed him saying, thy sins are forgiven the. ¶ He was once taken up into Paradise & there he saw God talking with all the saints one after another. And a certain saint said unto Freer Roger, of what order art thou? and he answered a Barefoot Freer: then he gave unto him a consecrated host, and commanded him that he should go preach unto certain Freers which were weak in Christ, and so he did.   

The lxxviii. leaf.  
Freer Roger inquired of Freer Bertrand of certain Brethren whether they were saved. Freer Bertrand answered, what askest thou me of the brethren, I certify the that all that die in the Order and Rule of Blessed Frances are saved.   

Thesame leaf.  
When he was dead he appeared unto a certain Woman, which confessed all her sins to him, and he gave her absolution.   

Thesame leaf.  
In Brabant lieth buried Freer Peter, which was seen of a child that could scant speak, at the celebration of his Mass eat Christ in the form and manner of a little Child.   

The lxxix. leaf  
Freer Benedyct which is buried in Erffort, was our ladies butler.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Conrade lieth buried in the province of ostrich in the new city, which was the very father and chief worker of miracles: but because he was not buried with our brethren, the Minister commanded him that he should work no more miracles. To the which commandment he obeyed, and sith that time he never wrought any more miracles.   

Thesame lief.  
Christ appeared with a terrible countenance to a certain Prior, saying unto him, Thou Prior of what Order art thou? and he answered, of the Order of S. Benedict, and Christ said unto blessed Benedict, saith this man true? And Benedict answered, he is a destroyer of my order and of his fellows that are with him. Then Christ commanded that he should be hanged upon the 
Hasty, judgement like the law merciall  Elm in the cloister.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer Agnell, received into the order of the Barefoot Freers certain Englishmen's children, and he sent x. pound sterling to Rome to buy them the decretals to study in, to put away idle times. He was buried in Oxford in a Chest of wood, whose body when the brethren would have removed into a Sepulchre which they had prepared for him, they found his Chest full of clear Oil smelling like Balsamun, and his flesh being resolved, the bones did swim upon the oil.   

The lxxx. leaf.  
In this leaf are recited diverse Freers which wrote good works, 
One go● work.  and among other is named Freer Arlot of Prato, who was the first that wrote the concordance of the Bible.   

The lxxxii. leaf.  
This is the most excellentest Order of all other Orders, for in this Order hath been the most notable and excellent personages, as Pope Gregory the ninth called Vgo, whom S. Frances did prophesy before that he should be Pope, and did always write him the most worshipfullest father of all the world. Also Pope Martin desired to be buried in our habit. Pope Alexander the fourth was a Barefoot Freer, and granted to the order many Bulls and privileges. Also S. Frances appeared with his wounds unto the King of Constantinople and willed him 
Frances ●used all these to ●nne as ●d Iero●am.  if he would be saved that he should make himself a Barefoot Freer. & he did so. ☞ The queen of Savoy did were our habit. And so did a great number of emperors Kings, queens and noble personages which were to long here to rehearse. For there is not a noble house in Christendom, but some one of them hath been a Barefoot Freer according to the saying of the scripture. Even kings hath walked in thy most 
Esay. 49.  pleasant garden.   

Thesame leaf.  
In blessed Frances is fulfilled that was spoken to Abraham. If there be any that can number the dust of the earth etc. Wherefore the devil said before to a certain woman, the Order of the Barefoot Freers, 
The deu● and wom● help saint Frances ● witnesses at a pyntche.  though it be little, yet shall it be multiplied above all other Orders. In India there are many houses of this Order.   

The lxxxiiii. leaf.  
Blessed S. Clare was first a Sister of the Order of the Minorites, otherwise called Barefoot Freers, which continually did weep and lament the passion of Christ, so long that at the last the Devil appeared unto her saying that she should lose the light of her Eyen. To whom when she had said, that they cannot lose their sight that followeth the light of life: the Devil fled away. Often times she spoke with God & did many miracles. Pope Alexander the fourth being sick she visited him, & he offered her his feet to kiss.   

Thesame leaf.  
Freer juniper is Christ's jester.   

The lxx●viii. leaf  
Freer Hely said unto blessed Fances, here are certain brethren that here say thou wilt make a new rule, and they fearing that thou wilt make it to straight and sharp, say that thou shalt make it for thyself and not for them. Which when he heard, blessed Frances turned his face toward heaven and spoke thus unto Christ, Lord, said not I well unto thee, that they ought to believe me. Then all they heard the voice of Christ answering in the air, Frances, there is nothing in thy rule that is thine, but all that is there, is mine, and I will that the rule be observed to the letter, to the letter, to the letter, without any gloze, without any gloze, which words prove that our rule is instituted of Christ. Then blessed Frances turned him to his brethren and said, now ye have heard, now ye have heard, now ye have heard,   

Thesame leaf.  
The rule of the Freer Minors, otherwise called Barefoot Freers, was made of blessed S. Frances standing and being resident & fasting in the mount, Christ revelling it unto him. Wherefore he compareth his rule with the law of Moses that was given in Mount Synay, and the law (as they call it) of the gospel that was published by Christ in the mounteyn. No man ought to doubt but this Rule is Christ's, because Christ affirmed it so to be before so great a number of brethren.   

The lxxxix. leaf.  
The Apostles were not learned. Therefore it is not needful that the Frances Freers should be learned, for they are as the Apostles.   

Thesame leaf.  
The rule of the Minorites or Barefoot Freers beginneth thus. The rule and life of the Barefoot Freers is this, the observation of the Gospel of our Lord jesus Christ. And in the end of the title is this added. This is the holy Gospel of our Lord jesus Christ which we promise to observe and keep. There is no rule that beginneth as doth this rule, nor is so termed as ye may perceive, for there is none so Gospel like as is this blessed rule, Also this rule is the life of the Apostles, and consequently of our Lord jesus Christ, for as he had xij. Apostles, so hath this rule xij. chapters, and as Christ had lxxii. disciples, so in this rule of S. Frances is lxxii. verses.   

The C.i. leaf  
What manner of thing Frances rule was, S. Frances himself showeth, saying, it is the book of life, the hope of health, the marrow of the Gospel, the key of Paradise, the state of perfection, and the covenant of everlasting life.   

Thesame leaf.  
Frances said unto Christ, whereof live my brethren which dwell in the wilderness? Christ said unto him, I will feed them as I did feed the Children of Israel in wilderness.   

Thesame leaf.  
Frances being vexed with the offences of his brethren, said unto Christ. Lord I recommend unto the my family which thou gavest me. And forth with the Lord said unto him, thou noddy and ydeot, tell me, wherefore dost thou thus vex thyself when any brother doth go out of religion? Answer me, who planted and ordained this religion, was it not of my planting? I have appointed the for a sign unto them, the the works which I work in thee, they may also work in the. If one forsake thine order, I will send the another, if he be not borne I will cause him to be borne, and put the case that there remained but iij. brethren, yet should it be my religion, which I will never forsake. Which words when saint Frances heard, he was exceedingly comforted.   

Thesame leaf.  
Guncer a Monk of Barravia, there appeared unto him, a very fair woman saying, take me to thy wife, and he answered I will not take the for I am a Monk. She answered, I am S. Frances rule, take me & thou shalt be saved. By the which revelation he was made a Barefoot Freer.   

Here I omye many things. The C.v. leaf.  
A certain person was very desirous to serve God, & Christ being glad to here the prayers of good men appeared unto him in a barefoot Freers cote saying, he that will serve me, must serve me in this manner, & so he vanished away. But he never saw any barefoot Freer, and therefore he made himself a Monk, howbeit on a time when he espied two. barefoot Freers going by the way, forthwith he forsook that religion and became a Barefoot Freer.   

Thesame leaf.  
A certain Freer said unto Freer Giles being both of one house, Freer Giles I can tell the good news, than said Freer Giles, I pray the tell them. And he said, this night I was carried into hell, and I found not one of out brethren there. 
Where the devil were they then?  Then answered Freer Giles crying for joy & saying. I believe the well. I believe the well, I believe the well.   

Thesame leaf.  
A naughty Freer being dead was of the devels carried to hell. which S. Frances seeing, said unto the Devil, bring him hither to me, for I will not that he shallbe carried into hell in my habit, and he pulled of the hood from his garment, and then the devels carried him into hell. This vision was seen of a certain brother which immediately came and found the Freer dead and his hood pulled from his cote, whereby he was certified of his dammpnation.   

Thesame leaf.  
The Devil carried a certain disobedient Freer both body & soul into hell in the sight of all the brethren.   

Thesame leaf.  
A certain Freer saw this vision. All the saints passing by the high altar made low courtesy before the sacrament. After them followed very fair Angels bearing chairs which they did set on the uppermost step of the altar. After them followed Christ and our Lady, and next after came S. Frances and his brethren. After them were led two. Freers, their hoods pulled over their faces & their hands bound behind them: after whom followed two. mules laden with great books. When Christ and our Lady were set in the seats prepared for them before the altar. Then saint Frances after he had done his reverence first to Christ and then to our Lady he sat him down on the right hand. Then were the two captives brought before Christ, who said unto blessed Frances, Frances, these men were of thy Ordre, therefore judge thou them. And blessed Frances before them all said to the first Freer, what Order art thou of? And he answered, of thine blessed Frances. Then saint Frances asked him, whose were all these books? He answered, mine. Then blessed Frances said. hast thou done as these books taught thee? He answered no. And blessed Frances said, in having these books thou wast a proprietary for thou hadst them against the rule, & those things which God commanded the in them, thou hast not done: Therefore I (said blessed Frances) on the behalf of God the Father, and of our Lord jesus Christ his Son, and the holy Ghost, and the blessed virgin, and all the holy company of heaven, and mine, do curse and condemn the into everlasting fire. And immediately the earth opened and swallowed up him. the books and mules. And in like manner he used the other Freer, Than all the saints with great devotion began to sing, Te deum laudamus.   

The C. vi. leaf  
Christ said unto Freer Conrade, In thy Order are certain which willingly and effecteously observe the rule, and they immediately fly into everlasting life. There be other that be willing, but do it not effecteously, and they shall be purged in purgatory. There be some which neither are willing, nor yet do it in effect, & of them take thou no care, for they are none of mine saith the Lord, as it is written, verily, verily I say unto you, I know you not.   

Thesame leaf.  
The warden of the house of the Barefoot Freers in Paris commanded a Freer that was dying two. things, one that immediately he should go to Paradise The second, that after he was dead, he should return assom● as was possible again, and declare unto him how many souls departed the world the same tim● that he deceased, and how man● went to Paradise, how many t● purgatory & how many to hell After three days the same Free● gloriously returned again to th● wardayn, and being asked why he tarried so long, he answered that he was purged in purgatory. And being asked wherefore, he answered, because I could sing well, when my other brethren did not sing well, I would some time a little smile & mock them. And you shall understand that thesame time that I departed, there were five thousand souls deceased, of the which one went to paradise, iii. to purgatory, of the which I was one, and the rest went all to hell.   

Thesame leaf.  
Another Freer, because he did not bow himself at Gloria patri, suffered this pain in purgatory. He was set upon a high pillar, that was straight and narrow above, which stood in the mids of a great sea, and an hundred times in the day, and as many times in the night he bowed himself. so long till the number of bowings which he had omitted was fulfilled: And he said that thesame bowing was to him wondrous painful, for he thought ever that he should have fallen into the bottom of the sea.   

The C. seven. leaf.  
Our blessed Lady appeared unto a certain Barefoot Freer with saint Peter and a great number of other saints, saying, let us go to Antioch, for the soul of a brother of thine order, which to morrow about the third hour of the day shall depart from the body, and we will receive him. I omit many such as this is, and truly the blessed virgin and the devil were wonderfully troubled with Friars.   

The C. xii. leaf.  
S. Frances called a wolf his brother, for there was a certain mad and outrageous wolf did hurt many in the city, but saint Frances making a cross over him said, brother wolf, thou shalt promise me that thou wilt never devour more, & I will promise the that the citizens shall nourish and feed the. And the wolf bowing his head made a plain sign & promise, that he would so do. And blessed Frances said to the wolf, give me thy faith. Then the wolf reached out his right fore foot & gently laid it in S. Frances hand. Then S. Frances said, brother wolf, I command the in the name of our lord jesus Christ that thou come now with me. And he went with him. Then all the citizens & women marveled. Afterward s. Frances preaching said unto the people, my brother wolf which standeth here present before thou hath promised you his faith and peace, if so he that you will promise him to give him every day sufficient food, & for brother wolf I willbe surety. Then all with one voice promised to give him sufficient food. Then S. Frances before them all said to the wolf, and thou brother wolf shalt promise to keep covenant with them. 
I metuell ●he wolf ●●d not a ●reers cote ●at he ●yght have ●ne saved 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉.  And the wolf making low courtesy declared plainly by evident signs, that he would keep promise & again lifted up his right foot. Then all with one voice shouted up to heaven. The wolf lived two. years never hurting any person, & daily came to the gate of the city for his meat & so departed. A marvelous thing it was, for in all this time there was never dog that so much as barked at him.   

The C. xiii. leaf.  
S. Frances as he was preaching, a woman began to play on a tymberell, & Frances commanded her to peace, but she would not, Then S. Frances said, thou devil, take that is thine. And immediately the wretched woman was carried of the devil into the air & was never seen after.   

Thesame leaf.  
A certain bishop preaching did exceedingly commend & extol S. Frances alleging this sentence Psal. C. xlvii. that God sent not such a person as Frances was to no nation etc. After the Sermon S. Frances bowing down to the feet of the bishop said unto him, My Lord bishop, truly I say unto you there was never man in this world that did me so much honour as this day you have done.   

Thesame leaf  
A fair woman came to s. Frances tempting him. And straight way he striped himself stark naked & laid him down upon the burning coals and said unto her, this is my bed, come lie with me. Then the woman departed. Thesame he did with another woman in the C. xiiii. leaf.   

The C. xiiii. leaf.  
S. Frances saluted the birds of the air, and he called them brethren & commanded them to hear the word of the Lord. Then the birds assembled themselves in great flocks and came to his preaching, and they stretched out their necks and opened their throats and were very attentive to his doctrine. And after the Sermon S. Frances went through the mids of them, & then he gave them licence to departed, & they fled away with a great cry and 'noys dividing themselves into the iiij. parts of the world, signifying that S. Frances Rule should be published thorougout all the world.   

The C. nineteen. leaf.  
Blessed Frances commanded a certain Freer being of a noble stock, that he should go preach naked. The Freer answered & said. Father, what benefit shall I have thereby? S. Frances answered. I will assure the of everlasting life. Then he with great joy went forth and preached naked.   

The C. xx. leaf.  
A certain Freer being dead came to heaven gates & knocked. Then the porter said unto him, what art thou that so knockest? He answered, I am a Barefoot Freer. Then said he unto him, tarry a little until I have spoken with S. Frances. Whom when S. Frances with all his brethren saw, he said unto the porter, let him in, for he is one of my brethren. And truly the print of the wounds of S. Frances shone as (a poding in a lantern) bright as v. of the fairest stars in the element.   

Thesame leaf.  
S. Frances being in the wood desired certain thieves to come & eat with him to th'intent he might bring them to penance, saying, brethren thieves, come and eat with us, for we are brethren, and he converted them.   

The C. xxii. leaf.  
A certain Freer delivered unto the devil a writing signed with his awne blood, because he should convey a woman unto him: But through the merits of the blessed Mass it came so to pass that the devil let fall the writing in the chalice of remission and pardon of sins.   

The same leaf.  
Blessed S. Frances being tempted of a woman, he striped himself naked and ran into the snow and made him a wife and Children of snow.   

The C. xivii. leaf.  
When S. Frances came from saint james he was sick, and desired to eat of a little bird, and ymedyatly an Angel appeared unto him in the likeness of a horseman & brought with him a bird ready dressed saying, Thou servant of God, take that the Lord hath sent unto thee, of the which when he had eaten, he was made whole.   

The Lxlix. leaf.  
Freer Peter doing many miracles when he was dead, S. Frances said unto him, Freer Peter, thou wast all the days of thy life obedient to me, & so I will have the to be now thou art dead and therefore now I will not that thou shalt do any more miracles. which afterward never did more miracles. Consider here I beseech thee (saith the book) gentle reader how dear & precious glorious Frances was with Christ, whose commandment the dead obeyed etc. The hears of S. Frances being cast against a stone wall threw it down. Christ did nothing but he did it, & he did more than Christ did. The nails of S. Frances did put away temptations, with his spittle he restored a maid to her sight, the water that he washed his hands & feet in, raised the dead to life again. The space of viij. days a grasshopper stood with him in our ladies room, or as our ladies deputy, and being called again he flew upon his head, & then being licensed to departed, he went away. A nightingale song a whole day with him by turn, that is to say S. Frances one verse & the nightingale another. Like as Adam not obeying god, all creatures begun to rebel: So S. Frances obeying and fullfilling the commandments of God, all creatures began to do him service, according to the scriptures, Thou didst put all things under his governance, & thou hast set him over all thy works, and he may truly say the words of the gospel. All things are given me of my father. And moreover, whatsoever saint Frances had delight or pleasure in, thesame pleased the lord God.   

Thesame leaf.  
S. Frances on a time being in fervent prayer for the sins of the people, an Angel appeared unto him saying, Christ & our blessed Lady with a great company of Angels are in the church looking for the etc. Who coming into the Church: for fear & reverence fell on his face. Then said Christ unto him, Frances thou and thy Brethren are wonderful careful for the souls of faithful people, therefore ask what thou wilt for their comfort & it shallbe granted thee, for thou art ordained to be the light of the gentiles. And he lay as one rapt into the godhead, and at the last coming to himself he said, Our father most holiest I wretched sinner beseech thee, forasmuch as it pleaseth the to owe such favour to mankind, that thou wilt grant indulgence and remission of all and singular the sins as well general as special of all such people as shall come into this place etc. And I most humbly beseech our Lady & thy Blessed Mother the special advocatryce for mankind, that so much as she may to help me in this my petition and to make intercession unto thy most devout and excellent majesty. And our blessed Lady with most heavenly humility forthwith inclined to the prayers and petition of blessed Frances, and immediately made supplication to her Son saying, Most high and almighty God, I most humbly beseech thy godhead that somuch as thy majesty may to incline & grant to the prayer & petition of thy servant Frances. And the divine majesty of God spoke saying, It is very great that thou hast desired but thou art worthy brother S. Frances to have greater, and thou shalt have greater, and I do admit and grant thy petition. But I will have the to go unto my vicar to whom I have given power to bind & lose etc. And ask of him on my behalf this indulgence and Pardon.  
Twelve of S. Frances brethren being in their Cells heard all these things, but being stricken with fear they durst not enter into the church. And anon Christ with a great multitude of Angels departed into Heaven. In the morning S. Frances commanded his brethren that they should speak nothing of these things. Then went he unto Pope Honorius and declared unto him this vision, and he obtained the grant of this pardon and so departed. When Frances was departing, the Pope said, O Simple person whether goest thou? What caryest thou with the for a testimony of this pardon. Then blessed Frances answered, thy word is enough and sufficient for me, if it be the work of God, he can manifest and declare his awne work, and I desire none other instrument but only that our Lady be the paper, and Christ the notary, and all the Angels witnesses. And in his journey he told Freer Massey his fellow the vision, and said, brother Massey I say to the on god's behalf that the pardon which is granted to me of the Pope is confirmed in heaven. The cardinals hearing of this grant, reproved & rebuked the Pope for granting to Frances so great pardon saying, thou wilt bring the indulgence of blessed Peter & Paul to nothing. The lord Pope answered we have given and granted it to him, it is not expedient to destroy that is made. But forasmuch as Frances neither of God nor yet of the Pope had appointed any determinate day when this pardon should begin, he was again wonderfully troubled & prayed that he might see the vision once again, and that he might be certified of Christ. Wherefore on a time in the month of januarij about midnight when Blessed Frances was in prayer, the devil came unto him & said, Frances why wilt thou die before thy time? why dost thou occupy thyself on this fashion? knowest thou not that sleep is more metre for thee? Thou art young and sleep shallbe thy health, and I have often told the how thou shouldest otherwise do thy penance for sins, and not so straight and sore as thou dost To what purpose dost thou beat thyself thus? And blessed Frances ymedyatly put of all his clothes and his breeches and striped himself stark naked, and he went out of his cell & passed through a great rough hedge and entered into a great wilderness which was very thorny, so that his body was all bloody: then said he to himself, it is a great deal better that I should thus knowledge the passion of our Lord jesus Christ, then obey unto deceitful flatterings. And suddenly there was in the wilderness a great light, which appeared to be wondrous full of gelyfloures and Roses. & there was an innumerable company of Angels which said with one voice, Blessed Frances come hither quickly, The saviour and his Mother are in the Church and tarry for the. Then blessed Frances saw himself newly apparelled, but how or which way it came to pass he could not tell. And there appeared unto him a way covered all with silk, by the which he went to the Church. And blessed Frances took out of the rosary, xij. red roses and xij. white, and he came forth with to the Church, and upon the altar there he laid the roses. Then he saw our Lord jesus Christ standing, and our blessed Lady his Mother on his right hand with a great multitude of Angels. And blessed Frances spoke saying: Our most holiest Father which art the orderer and governor of heaven & earth, I beseech the of thy great mercy that thou wilt vouchsafe to ordain and appoint the day that the pardon which thou hast granted shall take effect & that thy blessed Mother the advocatryce of mankind will assist hereunto. To whom Christ answered, I will that it be thesame day in the which blessed Peter was delivered from his bonds, beginning at the first evensong of thesame day and continue to the evensong the next day following, including the night, and that whosoever cometh thither that day contryre & confessed shallbe pardoned and forgiven of all the sins that he hath done from the day of his baptism to the day of his entrance into the Church of our Lady Porcyuncule, how grievous or great so ever their sins be. And blessed Frances said, most holiest Father, how may this be known to mankind that they may believe? And our Lord said, that shall God prosper and help through his Favour and Grace. notwithstanding thou shalt go unto Rome to my Vyker whom I have ordained and appointed & to whom I have given power to bind and lose, & will him to publish & declare this pardon with asmuch expedition as he shall think meet. Then said blessed Frances, but how shall thy Vyker credit me, peradventure he will not believe me wretched sinner. The Lord said to him, blessed Frances, take with the certain of thy brethren for witnesses thewhich hear all these things, & also take with the these red and white roses which thou gathered est in the month of januarij when thou wast ponishing of thy body in the wilderness. All these things were heard by Freer Peter of Cathany, Angel of Reato, Ruffian Sophy, Freer Massey, etc. Then blessed saint Frances took of the roses that he brought iij. red and iij. white, in the honour of the most holy and indivisible trinity, and to the praise of god & our blessed Lady. And then the Angels song with loud and great voice, Te deum.  
In the morning blessed Frances took his fellows, saying to them, let us go to Rome, and he commanded them to keep all these things secret. And when he entered into Rome, he took his way toward the Church of saint john Lateranence, and there he found Pope Honorius the successor of Innocent, and the Viker of our Lord jesus Christ. To whom S. Frances on the behalf of our Lord declared all the things aforesaid, & of thesame bare witness theforsayd brethren and the roses above mentioned. And Pope Honorius beholding in the month of januarij roses so fresh, and having so quick a savour and colour, said, this is surely a great miracle, and must come rather of God then of man, & we know that their testimony is true. Then the Pope commanded that Frances and his fellows should have wherewith to refresh them selves. The next day after, blessed Frances came again to the pope saying: Most worthy Vyker of Christ, fulfil about the matter aforesaid, the will of the king of heaven and his Mother. And being asked again in the presence of the Cardinals what he desired. And when he answered the foresaid pardon to be at Lammas or the day that saint Peter was loosed out of his bonds. The Pope answered, Frances, that which thou desirest is very great, but forasmuch as the king of heaven at the instance of the most blessed virgin his Mother hath heard thy petition, we will write to the bishops of Assisio, Perusino, Tuderino, Spolitano, Fulginati, Nucerino and Eugubino, that they shall assemble together at the Church of Portiuncule the first day of August, and there they shall declare the pardon in such wise as thou shalt desire to have it. And so blessed Frances and his fellows receiving the Pope's letters & departed. And blessed Frances said unto the bishops, which of you will publish and declare this pardon. When the bishops were all assembled at the day appointed, blessed Frances said unto them, if it please you, though I be unworthy I will say somewhat in the presence of this people and declare unto them the pardon granted by the commandment of the king of heaven, obtained at the instance of the blessed virgin and Mother of Christ, and you are commanded by the Pope to affirm thesame with me. Then blessed Frances preached so sweetly and so comfortably, that he seemed rather to have been an Angeil then a mortal man. Then he declared the pardon that it availed from the Evensong the first day of August until the Evensong on the second day of the same month aswell by night as by day, yearly for ever. The bishops hearing blessed Frances say for ever, they were angry & much offended, saying to Frances, The Pope hath not commanded us herein to follow thy mind, for his pleasure is but for x. year. And therefore every Bishop by himself declared unto the people that they must understand the words of Frances of this pardon to endure for x. years and no longer.  
Here I omit much foolishness which I am weary to write.   

The C.lxix. leaf  
Blessed Frances said, after us shall come Freers that will build them great houses, 
A true prophet.  wherein noble men shall inhabit etc. But Frances would have his house made of none other than clay and wykers.   

The C.lxxv. leaf.  
Freer Massey purposyug to try the humility and meekness of blessed Frances, said unto him, what art thou? what art thou? what art thou? what art thou? Blessed Frances answered, what meanest thou, and Freer Massey said, for all the world seemeth to run after thee, and all desire to see, hear and obey the. Thou art no fair man Thou hast neither great cunning nor wisdom. Thou art no noble man. How cometh it then that all the world doth thus follow thee? Blessed Frances hearing this, rejoicing wonderfully in spirit, and holding up his face to heaven, stood still a great space his mind being directed to God, and coming to himself again, he made low courtesy & with a fervent spirit gave praises & thanks to God, and turned himself to Freer Massey & said, wilt thou know what I am? wilt thou know what I am? and wilt thou well understand what I am, and why all the world followeth me? God hath ordained the fools of this world to confound the wise, and I am a wretched sinner. Then Freer Massey knew that blessed Frances was grounded in very humility.   

The L. lxxvi. leaf.  
Blessed Frances said unto his Brethren, that they should not judge any thing to be impossible that was commanded them in their rule: For if he had commanded them to do things above their strength, yet holy obedience never lacked strength. Once a certain Freer dysobeiing his governor, he commanded him to put of all his clothes & his very breeches & so to stand naked before him, which the Freer did. Then he commanded him to dig a grave or a pit, which also he did. Then he commanded him to go into the grave, 
〈◊〉 oddly 〈…〉 of the ●iche the ●reers learned to bury ●heir Brethren quick.  and so he did. And blessed Frances covered him with earth even up to the hard beard, and said unto him, Art thou not dead? Brother, art thou not dead? And he answered he was dead. Then said blessed Frances, arise, if thou be dead in deed thou must obey thy governor at a beck, and grudge at nothing.   

The same leaf.  
Two young men besought S. Frances to admit them into the order: but he minding to prove first their obedience, led them into a garden saying unto them, come, let us set coals or coleworts, and as ye see me set them, so look that you do. Then blessed Frances set the roots upward & the leaves downwardly. One of them did in all things like unto blessed Frances, 
〈◊〉 rea● to live madness with other Freers.  but the other did not so, but said to blessed Frances, the coals should not be so let, but rather contrary, that is to say the roots downward, and the leaves upward. To whom blessed Frances, said, my Son, I will that thou do as I do: when he would not do so because it seemed foolishness to him, blessed Frances said unto him, Brother I see that thou art the chiefest master, go thy ways for thou art not meet for my order.   
¶ Here an end, for I will trouble you no longer with this stuff, though the book out of which this is taken containeth much more.   


EX FRUCTISUS EORVM COGNOSCETIS EOS  R. G. Excudebat. 1550.  
Cum Privilegio ad imprimendum solum.