Agnes the Virgin

ON SAINT AGNES THE VIRGIN, OF THE ORDER OF SAINT DOMINIC, OF MONTEPULCIANO IN ETRURIA.

IN THE YEAR 1317.

Agnes of Montepulciano, of the Order of Saint Dominic, in Etruria (St.)

BY D. P.

[1] Raymond of Capua (whom the Virgin Mother of God chose as master of the spiritual life for Saint Catherine of Siena, and afterwards to assume the Mastership of his whole Order) gave the first experiments of his fitness for the direction of pious souls in that place Life written about the year 1350 where Blessed Agnes the most holy virgin had left a community of religious women gathered by herself under the Rule of Saint Dominic, formed in distinguished manners, when she went to heaven in the year 1317; about which time we believe Raymond himself came into the light. Therefore, with the memory of such outstanding sanctity still recent, "when," he himself says in the Life of Saint Catherine, number 195, "by the obedience of my sacred Order I had been placed as Rector for three years and more in the monastery in which rests the holy body of the same Virgin Agnes, from certain writings which I found there, and from the relation of four Sisters who had been her disciples and were still surviving, I myself composed her Legend in the time of my youth." Namely, about the year of the Lord 1350; for he died in 1399, and was writing these things about the ninetieth year of the century.

[2] This is that Blessed Agnes about whom it was revealed to the aforesaid Saint Catherine, by the same who afterwards wrote about Saint Catherine of Siena that in the kingdom of heaven she was to be placed with the same, and that in the same degree, and to have her as a companion of eternal blessedness, as is said in her Life to be given on April 30, number 325. This is the one who, dead as if living, received her destined companion of glory, stretching out her foot to her about to kiss it, and rained down on her the same heavenly manna with which she had been often sprinkled while she lived. Raymond narrates the matter at length in his already cited Life at the end of part 2, and at the same time he weaves the encomium of Agnes from that Life which he had written as a younger man: in which, lest you wonder that such a distinguished miracle is wanting, I wished you to know, Reader, that it had been written before, and much before this occurred. But though written by a young man, yet if it be compared with the other Life of Saint Catherine composed by the same when old, it will appear that in gravity and maturity of style hardly one yields anything to the other; and only this is the difference, that he treated more fully and abundantly of things seen by himself and of a person intimately known to him, than he could treat of things known only by hearing and reading, and of a person perhaps dead before he himself was born. This Life exists at Montepulciano, written on parchment, whence, when Ambrose Taegius had received it transcribed, and had inserted it in his book 3 On the Distinguished Men of the Order of Preachers, this is given from the manuscript of Taegius Distinction 8, folio 146, omitting for brevity's sake the Prologue: we, being at Milan in the year 1661, took a copy; and seeking the Prologue which was missing from Montepulciano, we obtained it through the care of the Reverend Father Gentile Paganelli, Rector of our College there; and by the benefit of Father Master Nicholas Barberi, from whose pen, besides the Life of Saint Dominic, the Lives of Blessed Guido and Blessed Margaret of Cortona have also issued.

[3] What, besides this ancient Legend, could be desired down to our times, was supplied by the Italian Life of Blessed Agnes, published in the year 1606 by Father Master Laurence Surdini Mariani. He, in the very limen of his work, while recounting the authors and monuments from which he collected this work of his, cites, besides the manuscript Chronicle of the Convent of Montepulciano, the authentic writings of the same convent, Notarial instruments of miracles preserved in the archive under these numbers: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13, 21, 25, 32, 38, 39, 42, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104. Since these contain the original attestation of the miracles described by Raymond, they were also requested by us, wishing to present the notarial instruments themselves entire, as we did for Blessed Ambrose of Siena on March 20. But our pious wish was frustrated by an all too simple obedience. For when the Most Reverend Father Jean Baptiste de Marinis, Master General of the Order of Preachers, by most laudable counsel had decreed that a general Archive should be erected in the principal convent which the Order has at Rome above the Minerva, and had ordered that whatever original monuments of the other Convents should be sent thither, taken to the Roman Archive those in whose hands such things were obeyed so promptly that they did not even take thought for authentically transcribing copies which might be kept in place of the originals. So what ought to have been for the preservation of those writings, was for their ruin and that of many others, while either they perished in the hands of those who did not know how to esteem them sufficiently, or, thrown into heaps of less necessary or useful papers, they so lie hidden that they are said by those who have the care of the Archive not to have been able to be found hitherto.

[4] Thus, when we had read in the Bull of the Canonization of Saint Vincent Ferrer, as appears on April 5, that Pope Calixtus had ordered that all the processes held concerning the miracles of the holy man (which had then come to Rome, namely the Avignon, Vannes, Toulouse, and Naples ones) should be kept in the church of the house of Saint Mary above the Minerva of the city for perpetual memory of the matter, and copies of them be exhibited to those wishing them; likewise when we had read in the Prologue to book 3 of the life that Ranzanus complains that the processes drawn up by the counsel of Nicholas V, who presided over the Church before Calixtus, at Barcelona, Valencia, and in many other places of both Spains, the Gauls and Italy, had not been delivered to the Roman Curia at the opportune time: such things, I say, when we had read them, and had conceived some hope about these, at least those brought afterwards, being found at Rome; about those first-mentioned ones a most certain confidence; and we intended to do about them what we did on April 2 concerning the processes made in the cause of Saint Francis of Paola; we lamented being frustrated in both wishes, receiving a similar response. If the same is answered from the Venetian and Bolognese Convents, there and elsewhere badly kept concerning the information about the sanctity and miracles of Saint Catherine of Siena, taken by Francesco de Malavoltis the Olivetan, and Thomas and Bartholomew Senesi, Dominicans, the Confessors of the Saint herself, whose original instruments of acts are preserved in the Venetian Patriarchate, and authentic copies in the aforesaid convents, as he writes who saw and had them, John Rehac of Saint Mary; no one can indeed complain that we have lacked diligence in seeking from every side what we believed to pertain to the glory of the Saints of this Order. Which however let the Reader not think said for boastfulness; but to stimulate the zeal and diligence of those whose work in digging out and rescuing from destruction or inert neglect such monuments can be useful to us, ready even in a Supplement to bring forth what could now be had less, and what may meanwhile happen to be found and sent.

[5] But let us return to Blessed Agnes. Clement VIII willed her name to be inscribed in the Roman Martyrology in these words: "At Montepulciano, of Saint Agnes the Virgin, famous for miracles": so that there is no need to recall here the fasti of private authors concerning the memorials of Saints. Other writers of the same Life Before Raymond some anonymous had written her Life; after him followed very many writers in the vulgar tongues, whom it would be as tedious as superfluous to enumerate, since they are generally known and often cited in this work, both those who collected the lives of the saints of the Order, and those who composed its chronicles, or treated of women distinguished in sanctity. Of those who wrote about Agnes alone of set purpose, two became known to us through Laurence, not yet seen: namely Andrew of Pisa, and Raphael de Columbis: whose compiled Lives we did not think should be more laboriously sought, since the diligence of the said Laurence abundantly supplies whatever beyond the original instruments could be desired by anyone.

[6] Montepulciano erected into a Bishopric As regards Montepulciano itself, it was situated near the Clania marshes and was once under the diocese of Arezzo, and was so when Blessed Agnes was alive: then, agitated by various waves of Italian troubles, and subject now to the dominion of this or that city, at length it found happy rest under the protection of the Florentines: and with their Medici Dukes distinguishedly favoring it, first exempted from the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Arezzo, it was held of no diocese; and at last in the year 1561 it received the title of city, and began to have its own Bishop. This place, though it has produced distinguished men, many even illustrious in sanctity, of whom below, and one Roman Pontiff, Marcellus Cervinus; yet by no one's name has it become more widely and universally known than by Blessed Agnes, while her holiness, through the most holy Order of Preachers diffused throughout the whole world, is celebrated everywhere with deserved encomiums. Wherefore, that it escaped Ferdinand Ughelli, about to describe the Bishops of this city, to say that among its chief ornaments should be numbered in first place "that flower of sanctity, from the Order of Preachers, the most holy Virgin Margaret," this must rather be pardoned as a straying pen than imputed to a fault of memory: for it is evident that for the name of Agnes the name of Margaret crept in, it is most illustrious through Blessed Agnes which would have been known among the people of Montepulciano only for Saint Margaret the martyr, were it not that within the sixteenth mile from its Mount is situated Cortona, and there the famous Margaret, a penitent of the third Order of Saint Francis, not of Dominic, whose Life we gave on February 22. Among the Margarets whom the Order of Preachers has famous for sanctity, the nearest to Tuscany is Margaret of Città di Castello, whose Life we gave on April 13.

LIFE

By Master Raymond of Capua, first Confessor of the Montepulciano monastery, afterwards 23rd General of the Order of Preachers.

From the Manuscript of Ambrose Taegius of the Milanese Convent.

Agnes of Montepulciano, of the Order of Saint Dominic, in Etruria (St.)

BHL Number: 0155

BY RAYMOND OF CAPUA FROM A MANUSCRIPT

PROLOGUE.

[1] That immaculate and innocent Lamb, who, conceived and born without stain of an immaculate Virgin, resolved to blot out our stains by the immaculate sacrifice of his death, whose delights are with the sons and daughters of men, dwelling with those like himself, Of the heavenly Lamb chose immaculate lambs as Brides for himself from eternity, to be led into his wine-cellar, that there, tasting his sweetness, cleansed from all stains, they should render to us

to us, spotted and base, the word of purity and innocence: and so, as though visibly beholding their cleanness, we might, through those things done before our eyes, perceive by the understanding the invisible fount itself of purity and grace. Wherefore also in our times, that gentle and pious Lamb, not forsaking us anywhere, has shown us the image of his sanctity in a certain bride and virgin of his, in the parts of Tuscany, as wondrously as mercifully.

[2] In which virgin indeed we behold the likeness of the Lamb not only from her virtuous works to be inserted below, the Bride Agnes but indeed we see it most manifestly from the very vocal sound of her name (which is called Agnes). For Agnes is properly derived from agnus (lamb), and in all things, except in one vowel, these two names are proved to agree. What therefore is Agnes, but a female lamb? and what does "a lamb" denote to us, but the bride of the Lamb? For since names are imposed upon things according to their properties, it seemed consonant and fitting to the Lamb to call his bride, united to him by perfection of charity, by a name in some way united to his own name, that the sign might properly agree with what is signified: whence that Prophetic word can rightly be said of her: "According to your name, so is also your praise." Ps. 47:11 The praise, I say, which pure virginity, fervent charity, profound humility, honesty of manners, maturity of modesty, and the radiant lucidity of signs and miracles gloriously and becomingly furnished to her: nor does divine clemency yet cease to come to the aid of those invoking her, as piously as liberally.

[3] rightly to be rejoiced in Let the castle of Montepulciano therefore rejoice, endowed with such happiness: but let all Tuscany also exult, adorned with so noble a treasure. Let the happy Order of Preachers also rejoice, under whose correction and rule, by divine revelation, so bright a star placed itself, as will be shown below. Let also the College of Virgins of the monastery, miraculously founded by this Virgin, rejoice with more eager exultation and more gladly than the rest; and built upon so firm a rock, and strengthened with such an arm, let it trust securely to be secure. Truly, moved by the splendor of so great a light, and unable to resist my own impulse, I, the lowest and most ignorant of the Order of Preachers, am compelled with confidence in her help to compose her Legend above my own wit. and the Life is undertaken to be written: with what good faith? And that credence may be given to what is said, let whatever reader know that whatever shall be brought forward below was either faithfully and perfectly related to me by those who saw her great deeds and heard from her own lips, or I found it in writings, attested by the hands of Imperial Notaries or faithful Religious, with the signing of witnesses. Among those who heard and saw her wondrous deeds, four religious Sisters were relators to me, who still survive, and who had conversed with her from the first beginnings of their youth, and were instructed by her in the admonitions of holy religion.

[4] Receive therefore, O reader, with devout and faithful mind, what you read, lest by the rays of this sun, if you are unfaithful, you be blinded. Then you will see, if you weigh with equal balance the things to be said, not to wonder at her wonderful deeds; but rather to be astonished, if to such sanctity wondrous things had not been present. That you may more easily understand what shall be said, Tripartite distribution of the work know that this book is divided in its parts according to the ternary number, in which, according to faith and also natural science, all perfection is contained. In the first we shall treat of her origin and childhood, her entry into religion, and the wonderful works which she did in the castle of Proceno, the Lord teaching us. In the second we shall narrate her coming or return to the castle of Montepulciano, the building of the aforesaid Monastery, and other wondrous acts, up to her death, divine grace instructing. In the third we shall tell of her praiseworthy passing, and the miracles and prodigies that followed, down to our modern times, with divine light illumining. One thing, most Christian reader, I wish you to know, that I have striven according to my frailty to collect her deeds: nonetheless, both to avoid wearying you, and because many men and women have been taken from this light who knew her life better and more perfectly than the survivors now living, I have been forced to omit many things concerning her virtues and wonders. Wherefore receive now a few from many; and from the savor of these perceive how savory were the things omitted: and give praise and glory and honor to him from whom all savor of goodness is granted, who, three in unity and one in trinity, is blessed forever and ever. Amen.

TITLES OF THE OLD DIVISION

PART ONE.

§ I. On her ancestry, birth, prodigies shown at her birth, her childhood and entry into the monastery.

II. On the prophecy about her made by a certain holy woman, a visitor of the monastery.

III. On her elevation from the earth while praying, and the holy manners of the holy Virgin.

IV. On the vision she had about building a church in honor of the Blessed Virgin.

V. On her going to the castle of Proceno.

VI. On the congregation of Virgins, made by her in the castle of Proceno, and the care of the monastery committed to her in the 15th year of her age.

VII. On the austerity of her life and the fervor of her prayer, and of the manna descending upon her, especially on the day of her consecration.

VIII. On the sweet vision in which the Blessed Virgin Mary gave her her son our Lord Jesus Christ; and on the cross which she sent her.

IX. On the Communion which she received for ten continuous Sundays from the hand of an Angel.

X. On the relics of Christ and the Apostles Peter and Paul, miraculously given to her.

XI. On one possessed by a demon, wondrously freed at her entrance.

XII. On various temporal things received and augmented through her prayer.

XIII. On a certain wondrous vision, and the transformation of flesh.

XIV. On the rose coming from heaven into her dish, and a certain sinner converted by her, whose penalties she had seen.

PART TWO

PART THREE.

CHAPTER I.

The infancy and childhood of Agnes illustrated by presages and effects of great sanctity, and the beginnings of her religious life.

[5] The Virgin Agnes, noble in faith and devotion, from parents rich ^a in abundance of temporal things, drew her holy and illustrious origin from Montepulciano. ^b This origin God almighty, unwilling to pass by without the splendor of signs, showed the spiritual light about to proceed from the Virgin in the future, by this presage. Prodigious lights foretell the future sanctity of the newly born child For immediately after her birth, in the chamber where her mother, having given birth with certain midwife-women, had shut herself, many candles appeared, kindled divinely with a wondrous light, which furnished wonder and joy alike to the bystanders. So, having shown for the space of some hour what would be the future of the born girl, at length they disappeared from the sight of all. She, while yet placed in her infantile years, having learned the Lord's Prayer and the Angelic Salutation, with devotion sprouting in the little one which in the adult was to germinate copiously, having dismissed her girlish companions and neglecting girlish games, withdrew secretly to the back part of the house by the wall: and there, with knees bent and hands joined, more devoutly offered what she had devoutly learned. When this was being done for a long time, at a tender age she conceives the purpose of Religion there began to grow in the girl's mind a desire for religious life, and she wished daily more to dedicate herself wholly to divine service. She began to disclose her motive to her parents, attesting with the childish words she knew, that she entirely must become a religious.

[6] When these words were thought trifling by those who heard them, and did not satisfy the holy girl's desire, it happened, by God's wondrous ordering, that when she was about nine years old, and coming from the village called ^c Gratianus the Old, in the district of Montepulciano, to the said castle, when she drew near a certain hill placed near the ^d gate of the castle (where at that time public harlots possessed the habitation of their crime, she is attacked by demons in the form of ravens and now a monastery of Virgins, founded by her in the course of time, is established under the peak of religion), from that very hill certain most black ravens, croaking most furiously, coming out, attacked her and with claws and beaks began to tear her head in slashes. When the women with whom she was going were wondering at this, and considering what the wondrous rage of ravens against so pure a girl meant, she is reported to have given a not immature reply out of her understanding: "For this reason, God permitting, these ravens so cruelly oppose me, because you do not permit me to dedicate myself to divine service under the habit of religion." as she passes a brothel which she would convert into a monastery Which word, though it proceeded from the holy purpose of the girl, and compelled her parents to consent to her will, nevertheless that savageness of the ravens indicated something more wondrous and useful. For those malign spirits, who then pretended the likeness of ravens, foresaw, the Lord revealing it to them for their goad, that the holy girl after some time would drive them from the place of filthiness, and would there found a monastery of holy chastity and religion, as the event of the matter afterwards proved: with what fury of envy they were tortured at this, they showed by furious and bestial acts.

[7] But because, by the just judgment of God, the evils which the ancient enemy strives to set against the elect, she saying that this happened because her purpose was impeded redound to their utility and his own confusion, this very trouble of the ravens, by which the twisted serpent thought to infest the girl, grew to the perfection of her holy purpose. For when the said journey was repeated many times, and the infernal infestation did not cease, and the prudent girl repeated the aforesaid words, her parents and kinsmen were inclined to satisfy her petition; and, seeing the diabolical rage, they began to venerate the girl's words, which before they had contemned as childish. They therefore gave their effort to the matter, solicitously seeking where they might decently and fittingly place her among a congregation of Virgins. By the judgment of God almighty, they placed the holy Virgin Agnes, with no small joy of hers, in the monastery situated in the said castle, in which were Sisters called "^e del Sacco," from the scapular they wore out of humility of ^f sackcloth.

[8] in the 9th year of her age These things done, the Virgin, seeing herself in the flower of her age, namely in the 9th year, dedicated to God, began not slothfully to give herself, all the time she could subtract from human frailty and necessity, to prayer, reading, and obedience wondrously above human measure. And when she had been given into the care and mastery of a certain Sister, by name Margaret, so great was the sweetness of her obedience and humility, that she drew her mistress to herself with sweet love, and led her to wonder at such great virtues. Now at that time, a few days after her entry, it happened that a certain religious woman, venerable for religion and virtues, whom, on account of the height of her sanctity, the diocesan Bishop of Arezzo ^g had set over many Congregations of Virgins, that by her visitation and correction they might live regularly,

a holy visitor of the monastery came to the aforesaid monastery, where Agnes newly entered was dwelling, for the sake of a visit, accompanied by certain religious women. When she had asked about the state of the monastery, it was told her among other things that a certain girl had entered the monastery. After the manner of a pious mother she had her summoned, that she might confirm her, instructed with holy admonitions, in her purpose of religion. When she had seen the virgin girl, inspired by the divine spirit, with prophetic mouth she thus addressed her: "I rejoice in the Lord over you, daughter, let her foretell that she will be the glory of the Order because I believe without doubt that you will be the future glory and crown of our whole Congregation." And turning to Sister Margaret, under whose care she had been committed, she said: "Take solicitous care of this venerable girl: because I tell you by divine revelation, that as Agnes the Virgin and Martyr, whose relics rest at Rome, first placed this name, Saint Agnes, in the mouth of the faithful, so this holy girl will make the same name fruitful in the holy Church."

[9] Which saying the clemency of God almighty has so fulfilled in our modern time by deeds, which the church, usually called by her name, proves that, although she has not yet been inscribed by the supreme Pontiff in the catalogue of the Saints, from the multitude and evidence of the miracles, she is not only called Saint Agnes by the faithful, nay rather, the church founded by her under the title of the perpetual Virgin Mary, ^h the devotion of the faithful today calls by no other name than that of Saint Agnes. And when such a naming has been reproved by many, both on account of the reverence of the glorious Virgin, Mother of God, and also because no church ought to be named under the name of a Virgin not yet inscribed in the catalogue of the Saints, what it means I know not, because those very people who reprove it, in common speech, and all others, call the monastery and church by Saint Agnes's name. In which I see nothing else, though not yet canonized but that the faithful Lord in all his words completes in present deeds the prophetic promise made through his handmaid, because he is holy in all his works.

[10] in prayer she is often elevated from the earth After these wondrous presages and indications of future sanctity, the holy girl began to do what God had variously formerly shown of her. For she was so and so much mentally joined to God by the favor of the spirit, that when in secret, gathering her spirit, she prayed to God, from the said fervor of spirit she was often, while still of girlish age, elevated from the earth to the space of one cubit and without any bodily support to be seen to rise into the air, and to be joined to her Maker. And though this happened very many times, with certain Sisters seeing, who, because of wonder and example, more curiously observed her deeds, yet one thing was seen once by the said ⁱ Sisters, which introduces stupor and love alike to hearers. For when on one occasion the girl devoted to God was praying devoutly before the image of the Crucifix, and once up to the crucifix placed above the altar she was so seized by the love of her Spouse, that, the earth left behind, her most pure body was so high lifted up in the air, that she joined herself in equal position to the very image placed above the altar in an eminent place: where, kissing and embracing, she was seen to lean upon her Beloved; and so that you might manifestly see in the embracing of the corporeal image that mental union by which she was interiorly united to Christ, and perceive the elevation of her mind on high from the miraculous suspension of her body. After she had satisfied the affection of her fervent charity by exterior acts as far as was lawful for her, with the same lightness by which she had ascended on high, she descended to the depths: and it came to pass that the girl, tender in age, hoary in manners, from such great virtues was held in wondrous reverence by all the religious women, both young and old.

[11] In her 14th year she is placed over the cellar For she was gentle in obedience, placid in humility, fervent in prayer, tractable in conversation, cheerful in charity, grave in prudence, and pleasing in the composition of all her manners. Wherefore when before the 14th year of her age, the care of the cellar ^k had been imposed on her by the Prelate of the monastery, that according to the prudence given her she might minister temporal things to the Sisters according to their need, the Lord conferred on her such grace, that, consoling all, cheerfully satisfying all, she in no way relaxed through externals the rigor of her accustomed penance and the fervor of her constant prayer. Which indeed, though to the inexperienced it may seem easy; yet if those are asked who have learned these things by proof, it will appear not only difficult but in a manner almost impossible—though not so to him with whom no word is impossible. All her companions admired Agnes's acts, but she remitted nothing of prayer and penance regulated by charity and prudence; and considering her solicitude, modesty, and wise cheerfulness, all were stupefied beyond what can be believed; and giving thanks to the giver of all gifts, they affectionately seized the Virgin herself in their hearts: so that Agnes alone was commended, Agnes alone was praised, and almost by excellence all virtue was attributed to her; because the rest, as stars, lay hidden under the obscuring of her solar brightness.

[12] Meanwhile a certain presage of future things was shown to her praying, she receives from the Blessed Virgin three little stones which, on account of the subsequent work to be told below, I should not pass over. For when the girl was totally intent on devout prayer and contemplation, she conceived a singular and fervent affection of devotion toward the Mother of God. Wherefore, when she often prayed to her most affectionately, on a certain occasion, while in praying her virginal mind was fervent in love of that Queen of Virgins, the Mother of God herself manifestly appeared to the virgin Agnes; and consoling her and sweetly addressing her, offered three small stones with her venerable hand, saying: "Know, daughter, that before you go out of this mortal body, you are to build a church for my name: as a sign of which matter receive these three little stones, as a pledge of a church to be founded by her and upon the rock of the confession of faith of the most high Trinity let all your building be strengthened." When she had received them with prompt and humble obedience, at once that illustrious vision disappeared from her eyes, and the holy girl remained with no little sweetness of heart; and the pledge of the future foundation, so graciously given her, she reverently and secretly preserved at all times.

NOTES.

CHAPTER II.

Agnes made Abbess among the people of Proceno, is rained upon with heavenly manna: embraces the child Jesus in visible form.

[13] God almighty therefore, unwilling that so burning a lamp be hidden even for a time under the bushel, To the people of Proceno, asking for a founder of a new monastery wonderfully disposed to place her on the candlestick of the Church. Whence it happened that certain people of a certain castle of the county of Orvieto, which is called Proceno ^a, hearing the fame of the holy life of those religious women, among whom the holy Virgin served the Lord, directed solemn messengers solicitously to the castle of Montepulciano, to the house of the Sisters of the Sack. They asked therefore through the said messengers, that they would deign to send one of them, in whose religion and sanctity they trusted, to their castle of Proceno; that there, a monastery being founded, and Sisters gathered, they might by the example of holy life edify the people, and by pious prayers and just merits help the earth-dwellers to God. The handmaids of the Lord, heeding their wish, began to inquire among themselves whom they could grant them as a Sister, who might better without damage to the monastery accomplish that work.

[14] Agnes with her mistress is sent Since no mention was made of the holy girl Agnes, because of her youthful age, and also because they thought the greatest damage would come to the monastery from her absence, at length it was deliberated among them that Sister Margaret, the mistress and instructor of Agnes herself, should be sent there. When they had called her and charitably admonished her to undertake the said labor for the glory of God and the utility of that people, she, moved by the Holy Spirit, answered that she could by no means subject her neck to so great a labor, unless her holy daughter and perfect disciple Agnes were given her as a companion. When they refused this, wholly wishing rather to keep the precious treasure for themselves, at length compelled by the urging of those men and of the Sisters disposed to this, they sent Sister Margaret herself to the said castle of Proceno, and gave the virgin Agnes to her as a companion.

[1] § The two together ran to the work of God, to be accomplished manfully; and promoting the work with great success but Agnes ran more swiftly, that is more perfectly, than Margaret. For when in the castle of Proceno

they solicitously and manfully applied themselves to the Congregation of Sisters and the foundation of a monastery, so great a grace was diffused in the lips of Agnes, that no virgin could resist her sweet admonitions and soft addresses, without running after her in the service of God, in the odor of her holy examples. She began also to draw girls from neighboring castles, and, as the vicar of the true Shepherd, to gather the Lord's sheep into the place of pasture. Praises therefore are given to God by the bystanders, and stupefied by the virtues of so wondrous a girl, those who before preferred Sister Margaret in the holy work, afterwards, the virginal flock having been gathered, determined to set the virgin Agnes, a girl in time, ancient in virtue, venerable in sanctity and manners, over all the Virgins.

[16] Wherefore, by the authority of the supreme ^b Pontiff, obtained through D. Frederick, then Bishop of Ostia ^c, who knew her virtues, she becomes Abbess in the 15th year of her age the fifteen-year-old virgin Agnes, on account of her eminent perfection, was set over that monastery as principal Prelate ^d, and all were placed under her obedience. A burning lamp therefore having been set upon the candlestick of the Church, God almighty began to make her gleam with radiant miracles: she shines with miracles to be faithfully narrated which, as much as I was allowed to hear and read, I shall strive to recite in faithful and truthful speech, though perhaps the order of time of the miracles performed is not fully kept in the order of the recitation. Yet it is enough for me, and for anyone wishing to know her life, if her deeds are faithfully recited, all falsity set aside. And that credence may be more easily given to her wondrous deeds, let us before all else proclaim some of her virtuous works.

[17] Therefore the holy Virgin, seeing herself so young placed over all, thought to subject her body wholly to the spirit (and this by parsimony of food and drink and other harshnesses), and her spirit to God through fifteen years she fasts on bread and water, lies on the ground through devout prayer. Whence in the same monastery she fasted for fifteen years on bread and water, and that very strictly: she had no bed, but after the manner of her future father Dominic, she inclined her little body on the bare ground, having as a pillow under her head the hardest stone. Nor would she have set an end to such a life short of death, had not, after the said fifteen years, a grave and long-lasting bodily infirmity coming upon her, by the counsel of physicians and the command of Confessors, she been compelled to change her food and bed. insisting on prayer she is rained with heavenly manna She so fervently and ardently clung to prayer, that if sometimes it happened that a Sister approached her praying for any cause, at once with great cries she expelled her, saying that they were her enemies and cruel foes who in any way impeded her from the conjunction of her Spouse. Wherefore, God almighty, wishing to show how pleasing her prayer was to him, very often while she prayed, lifting her from the earth, filled the whole cloak by which she was covered with manna; and the place where she bent her virginal knees, the place itself strewn with flowers he miraculously scattered with heavenly flowers of unusual odor and highest beauty: some of which were collected by some observers, and have been preserved unharmed to this day.

[18] But as to what has been said of the manna coming from heaven over her praying, the aforesaid four Sisters, her former disciples, thus related to me. For they report that the holy Virgin sometimes after her prayer came out of her little cell, that, visiting her Sisters, she might rouse them lest they grow torpid in the holy work: whom coming the aforesaid Sisters beheld, they saw her cloak whitened in such a manner. And when, drawing near, they investigated whence that whiteness proceeded, this manna had the form of little crosses they saw her as if wholly covered with a certain fine manna like snow, which was divided into many grains, whose figure in all was the same, namely the figure of the saving Cross. They therefore beholding, when one of them simpler than the rest, out of a certain childish simplicity, believing the manna truly to be snow, wished to shake off her cloak, the holy virgin forbade her with modest speech, saying: "Let be, daughter, let be: what is granted to me by divine sweetness I bear sweetly; do not take it from me." Heeding this response, the others, who were of greater prudence and age, and beholding the cloak, because nature is not accustomed to give such a figure either to snow or to any white body, manifestly knew this work to be divine: especially because only when she rose from prayer could they behold her thus whitened.

[19] But though these things had been seen very often, both in the aforesaid castle of Proceno and in the monastery of Montepulciano founded by her (where now her holy Relics rest, to which, for continuation of subject, passing over the order of history, we extend our discourse), one thing however very wondrous happened in the said castle of Proceno, which I do not remember to have read of about any other man or woman. For when the Diocesan ^e Bishop wished with his own hands to consecrate the handmaid of Christ, and by this the temple in which she was to be consecrated is found sprinkled and to impose with blessing the holy veil, as is the custom of religious women, on her head; on the day set for carrying out this office, all things necessary having been done, the Bishop entering with the Clergy the church where the virgin Agnes was to be consecrated, the church was found filled with the aforesaid manna. And when wondering they looked, and solicitously sought among themselves what that was, thus searching they went to the principal altar of that church, and found the whole table placed above it full of the same manna divinely, and stocked in such quantity that in their hands, nimbly filled from it, they showed it to one another with wonder ^f.

[20] with the wonder of the Bishop and others When therefore it was clearly seen by the Bishop and Clergy, especially on account of the figure of the Cross which appeared in its grains, that this had plainly happened by the miracle of God almighty, and he was showing of what merit his handmaid was before him; all began to give praises to the Creator and to venerate him in his handmaid. So therefore with joy and reverence, at the same time the office of consecration is accomplished, and all return home, their breasts full of devotion; and concerning the sanctity of the virgin, all suspicion and doubt removed, they are rendered fully certified. In which unwonted miracle, God almighty willed to manifest openly to all, that his handmaid, whom the Bishop wished to consecrate by certain exterior signs of sanctification, the Holy of Holies had himself previously sanctified inwardly by the gifts of his gratification: and as by those gifts he had made the soul of his handmaid pure inwardly, so on the day of consecration he sent wondrous manna from heaven.

[21] Desirous to see Christ bodily Nor do I think this should be passed over in silence, that God almighty, as a sign of immense love and an increase of our devotion, deigned to grant her. For she was, as we said, a virgin greatly given to prayer, from love and desire of her Spouse: and when the love of Christ abounded more and more in her, her mind began daily to grow fervent with a certain holy appetite, not to be presumed by just anyone, namely of seeing face to face the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and being able to enjoy his embraces. When she considered that, between creatures and the Creator, especially of those existing in the way, there was excessive distance, she thought to ascend to God by that ladder she has recourse to the Blessed Virgin Mary by which God descended to men, and to draw the Most High by that cord to show his face, who drew him to assume human flesh for us. This ladder is Mary, the advocate of sinners: to this Queen of virgins Agnes the virgin runs with all devotion, more frequently and more fervently beseeching her, that she would deign to show her her son, that thus her joy might be fulfilled: for she asserted that she by no means doubted, that such excellence had been granted to her by her son, that she could show him according to her good pleasure even to wayfarers.

[22] and on the feast of the Assumption she is made possessor of her wish The most clement Queen of virgins, therefore, bound by so fervent a prayer of Agnes, and by the inclination of her accustomed mercy, not able to deny her handmaid's petition, on the night of her Assumption took care to grant her what she had so often asked. For while on the said night the holy virgin prayed, and with all effort of mind had gathered her spirit to pray to the Queen of virgins that on the feast of her Assumption she would deign to grant her this grace, suddenly a light from heaven shone around her, and in the midst of the light appeared the Lady of the world, clothed in light as with a garment, having between her arms her son, of infant age, as it seemed. When the devout virgin was seized with stupor and joy alike by this vision, the Queen of heaven herself, sweetly addressing her, and clearly showing her son, courteously invited her by speech and deed to embrace her Spouse. Noticing which, not forgetting her desire, she received her Creator, the mother giving him: she receives the child Jesus into her arms whom clasping to herself with tightly pressed hands, and drawing him near to herself, she rejoiced with ineffable exultation, and was filled with unspeakable sweetness. Nor is it wondrous, because she had found him whom her soul loved; whom, seeking in the bed of this world and not finding, with great fervor of desire and labor of prayer, with Mary helping, she had merited to find. So therefore Agnes clings almost inseparably to the Lamb: and him to whom she was inwardly joined with bonds of charity, as though to insert within herself, or herself within him, she strove.

[23] And when thus, for the space of some hour, the Queen of heaven had endured the absence of her son for Agnes's consolation, and from his neck at last torn from her at length, wishing to put an end to the vision, she began to ask Agnes that she would not delay to restore her son to her. When Agnes altogether refused, asserting that she could in no way be separated from so most sweet a Spouse, nor could be bent by any endearments or prayers to the restoration of the son to the Mother of the Lord, the very Mother of God, taking her son with her hands, by a certain pious violence strove to draw him to herself. But since Agnes on the other side, as much as she could, was drawing and holding, there was between them a charitable and pious contest. the little cross snatched she retains In this contest when Agnes saw herself failing, because namely the Mother was wholly drawing the son to herself, and the boy Jesus was gradually going out of her hands, a certain small Cross, tied with a small thread at the neck of the boy Jesus, she so strongly seized, that her hands could rather have been torn from her body, than that cross taken from her hand. Wherefore at the touch of the virgin Mary the son indeed was taken away, but the cross itself remained in her fist: and thus so delightful a vision disappeared from her eyes.

[24] From which disappearance and the taking away of her Spouse, such grief stuck to Agnes's heart that after great and dreadful cries she fell to the ground wailing, half-dead. At whose cry the Sisters, roused, running to the usual place of prayer, found her half-alive and as though dead.

And when after some space she had come back to herself, asked by the Sisters what had happened to her beyond the usual, which had caused such novelty in her, as a true bride keeping her secret to herself, she would reveal it to no one at that time: afterwards to a certain Sister Catherine, which is still preserved much loved by her for her religion and sanctity of life, she wished to reveal the series of the event in secret, and showed the cross which the Lord had dispensationally left her. ^g Which cross, reverently placed with the Relics, is preserved to this day, and with the greatest veneration, on the first day of May, after the solemnization of her passing, with the other Relics, is manifestly shown to the people.

NOTES.

CHAPTER III.

Relics received through an Angel; miraculous multiplication of oil, money, bread.

[25] Nor is it permitted me to pass over this, which the merciful God by a singular privilege willed to miraculously confer on her. Persisting on the Lord's Day in prayer For the aforesaid Sisters, ^a my relators and informants, report that they heard from her mouth, reciting of herself as of another, obscurely indeed from her, but clearly from the Sisters who at that time were with her, that when she was in the castle of Proceno, she was sometimes accustomed to descend alone into the garden of her monastery, and there near a certain olive tree to devote herself to prayer. When this had been done for some time, it happened that the holy Virgin on a certain morning of a Sunday also went to the aforesaid place of prayer. She there with knees bent and hands joined, according to her custom, praying, when she was filled with tears, the ardor of her mind and fervor grew so, that she prolonged her prayer from the break of dawn until high day ^b.

[26] She receives the Eucharist brought by an Angel But while, within her prayer, she recollected that it was the Lord's Day, and was not lawful to let such a day pass without hearing the solemnities of Masses; on the other hand, the sweetness of the Spouse urging her, she could not leave the fervor of prayer: placed in agony she prayed more and more fervently. And behold, after a little an Angel was at hand, bearing that venerable Sacrament of the Lord's Body, on account of which all the solemnities of Masses are said and done. Seeing which, the handmaid of the omnipotent Lord devoutly showed humble reverence first to the King of the Angels, then to the Angel; and at last, with him assenting, received sacred Communion from the Angel's hand: and so Agnes the virgin, by the special grace of the Savior, neither laid aside her prayer, nor was deprived of the Sacraments of the Mass; but rather, the Sacraments having been communicated, she was strengthened by the presence of Angels. Nor was it enough for the bountiful Giver of gifts to do this grace once or twice to his bride; through ten continuous occasions but for ten Sundays continuously he repeated the same gift, that namely according to the number of the Decalogue, in which is all perfection of sanctity, holy Agnes, to be further sanctified, might deserve to receive the most holy Body from the hand of a holy Angel.

[27] Still I ought not to be silent about another new and wondrous grace, and, to fulfill her desire of visiting the Holy Land which also in prayer she received from the Lord. For when with great affection the holy virgin desired to visit the places beyond the sea, in which our Savior was conceived, born, lived, and suffered for our salvation; and had for a long time besought the Lord concerning this, that if possible he would grant it her, in a fitting way by which she might know how to go to the aforesaid places; at length, seeing by the Spirit of wisdom given her, that this did not at all fit the Divine disposition, which willed her to fructify in the parts of Etruria, she humbly besought God that he would deign to grant her something of that land and of the things which his majesty had touched. Which petition the most sweet Spouse of virgins, unwilling to deny the holy virgin, thus consoled his bride. For while she prayed, and asked with tears what has been said, she receives a particle of earth sprinkled with Christ's blood suddenly divinely she found her hand full of earthy dust, congealed and hard, and reduced to the manner of stone. When she wondered greatly, thinking what this might be, it was revealed to her by the Lord through an Angel, that this earth had been taken from thence, where the Savior of the world placed on the cross for our iniquities moistened that earth with his blood. The aforesaid Angel also brought her, for her greater consolation, a certain particle of that basin, in which our Savior, placed in tender age, was bathed in the manner of little ones. These gifts the handmaid of Christ, receiving with ready mind, and humbly giving thanks to the Omnipotent, solicitously and devoutly placed in a reverent place, and together with other Relics preserved ^c.

[28] Though our discourse should not yet extend to the works she did after the building of the second monastery, where she returned to Montepulciano, yet for continuation of the history I intend to insert something which the Lord bestowed on her, similar to what we have said, though it happened much later. Now it happened that after the foundation of the second monastery she went to Rome to a certain Legate of the Apostolic See ^d; where when she had visited the thresholds of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and by God had conceived fervor on the journey, and had conceived a desire of having something of their Relics, likewise of the Relics of Saints Peter and Paul she brought herself wholly into the church of the prince of the Apostles to pray, and prayed to the Apostles that they would deign to grant her something of their Relics. Which was also at once fulfilled: for as she was so devoutly praying, suddenly there were found in her bosom two particles of garments, one of which had been divinely cut from the garment of the principal Vicar of Jesus Christ, the other from the vesture of the Doctor of the Gentiles; as was revealed to her by the Lord before she departed thence. Which particles the devout Virgin devoutly receiving, did not delay to render humble and reverent praises to her Creator and to the Prince of the Apostles; and thus she returned home with joy.

[29] Among these secret wonders, which were not manifest to all, the Lord began to illustrate his Saint before all. For while she was still in the said castle of Proceno, it happened that in the castle of Acquapendente, close to the same castle ^e, a certain possessed by a demon, doing horrible acts, asked to go to Acquapendente was afflicting all his kin with sadness and anguish alike. Wherefore, many Priests being called together, that by the sacred words of the Gospels and holy prayers they might expel the demon from the body of the possessed, after many things said and done, it was found that the demon had not only not departed, but had taken no care of their words: the Lord so willing, that he might show the glory of his Saint. At length, the kinsmen as it were despairing of his salvation, there was one who said that in the castle of Proceno was a certain most holy woman, by name Agnes, Abbess of a certain monastery, through whom God almighty had shown many miracles. Hearing which, she expels the demon from one possessed when the kinsmen of the said possessed saw that on account of his horrible acts they could not lead him thither, they deliberated to go themselves to her, and with pious and humble prayers to bend her, that she would deign, with her customary charity, to come to the sick man. Which when they had done, and with the most pressing prayers compelled her, the holy virgin, who was subject to no enclosure, moved and constrained by compassion and charity, went to the said castle of Acquapendente together with those asking and other religious women. A wonderful thing and to be stupefied at in our times! At once, when the handmaid of Christ entered the said castle, that proud and turgid demon, who a little before seemed to take no care of any or any one's word, not bearing the force of so great sanctity, by her very entry into the house began to turn that body hither and thither, and to show by new acts the violence done to him by the holy Virgin. When Agnes, drawing nearer to the house, placed her first foot in the threshold of the door entering, immediately the demon cried through the mouth of the possessed, saying: "I cannot stand, because the virgin Agnes has entered." Which said, without any delay he departed. By which departure, at one and the same time, willing and unwilling, he freed the man. All the bystanders began to venerate God in his handmaid, extolling her with gratified praises: but the Virgin of the Lord, though she rejoiced greatly at the praises of her Creator, yet humbly fleeing her own glory, imposing silence on all her praisers with holy and prudent responses and words, with swift pace returned to her monastery. Yet the miracle did not remain so hidden—nay rather, by her humility it was all the more enlarged.

[31] To these miracles I also add those which were so frequently wrought by the holy virgin through the gift of the Omnipotent, as often as there was any need of temporal things in her monastery. An empty oil vessel It happened in the aforesaid monastery and the castle of Proceno that oil was sometimes really and wholly lacking for her Sisters; which, when it had been announced to her by the Sister to whose office it pertained to administer temporal things, the handmaid of the Lord, thinking a little within herself, answered the messenger: "See, daughter, whether any, however little, oil has remained in the vessel." she causes it to be found full When she said that not one drop remained at all, and that she knew this so certainly that it would be vain to look again, the holy Virgin answered: "Believe, daughter, that the vessel is not empty. Return therefore, and see again: for without doubt by the gift of God almighty you will find oil in the vessel." At whose voice the faithful disciple humbly obeying, went to the vessel itself, and found it full of oil to the top. She, at once with cheerfulness and wonder returning to the Holy Abbess, and to suffice for the whole Lent announced the miracle. But she, to whom it was not new that she had obtained from the Lord by her prayers, with holy and wise words put a measure to her cheerfulness, and admonished that what was divinely given should be liberally dispensed. The aforesaid dispenser faithfully obeying and carrying out, at length found, as she herself afterwards recited, that the small vessel of oil, which scarcely for a few days used to suffice for the Sisters' daily use, now, through the whole of Lent, poured out copiously in every need of the monastery, abundantly sufficed.

[32] The same also often happened in the castle of Proceno and in the land of Montepulciano: likewise money in an exhausted purse money being lacking for paying builders or other creditors of her monastery, she namely sending the Sister bursar to the purse to look again, in which the bursar herself from certain knowledge reported nothing to be; and yet, sent by her, looking, she found in it as many denarii as they needed.

[33] Still, similar to this is what the merciful God showed through his handmaid in the said castle of Montepulciano. For when in the monastery, where now her venerable Relics lie, she miraculously multiplies bread; and this once the Sisters, whom she had gathered to the number of twelve, on a certain day were warning her that bread was completely lacking, the handmaid of Christ began to comfort her daughters with sweet words, and charitably to admonish them that they should in no way distrust the abundance of divine bounty, promising that divine help was near. When the Sister, whose office it was to answer those knocking, went to the wheel, she found that a man had brought four small loaves, which could scarcely have sufficed for the food of two Sisters: which, giving thanks to God and to that man, she took and joyfully brought to her and her spiritual companions' spiritual mother, saying: "Behold, Lady, the word which you were just saying, the Lord has begun to fulfill"; and saying this, she showed the loaves brought. When the holy Virgin had seen them, she at once ordered the table to be joyfully set, and the Sisters to sit according to custom. After which, taking those little loaves into her holy hands, giving thanks she blessed and broke them, and graciously distributed them to those sitting. Which done, the said loaves so grew in her hands, that the aforesaid Sisters were satisfied and filled, and there still remained as much as would have satisfied many others.

[34] This miracle of bread multiplied, and also newly found, again the Lord often and frequently showed through his handmaid. For when sometimes little girls, who had entered the monastery in youthful age, after the manner of children beyond the hour of refection asked for bread to eat, and bread was wholly lacking, yet the infants did not desist from asking, but rather with complaining and childish voices insisted more, the holy virgin, hearing their cries, hastily calling to her the aforesaid Sister Catherine, beloved by her, ordered her to bring bread to the girls asking. When she had answered that there was not even a little bread in the monastery, the handmaid of God almighty again ordered that, going to the chest where the loaves were usually placed, she should bring whatever bread she found to those asking, that they might eat. When she, bound by the command, obedient returned to the chest, she found it filled with as many loaves as its capacity could hold: though when, at the complaint of the said girls, opening it she had left it wholly empty. Whence stupefied and joyful, she gave thanks to the Most High, gave the loaves to the little ones, and reserved the rest for the needs of the monastery.

[35] The same Sister Catherine also related to my relators that in the castle of Proceno, and a third time where the relators themselves were then with the holy Virgin, once in the monastery bread being totally lacking, when the hour came at which the Sisters were to take food, the handmaid of Christ ordered the table to be set and all the Sisters to sit, and she herself likewise sat at the table; and while she was exhorting them to patience, and they were disposing themselves to take raw herbs or whatever else the Lord might give, without bread, with thanksgiving; the devout Virgin, compassionate toward her daughters, with maternal affection prayed a little within herself to the Lord: and the prayer being finished, with great cheerfulness looking up and raising her hands, stretching them out as though she wished to receive something, she drew from the air a loaf of bread baked in ashes. Which setting it down upon the table, after thanksgivings she divided it among all: and thus she satisfied the whole collegium, as if the whole table had been full of loaves. Nor is it wondrous: because an Angelic hand had brought that bread, which the Maker of all the crops had liberally sent.

NOTES.

CHAPTER IV.

Agnes's patience in sickness and charity toward her neighbor are honored with divine favors.

[36] The holy virgin therefore having been erected to the summit of virtues, God almighty willed that she appear more wondrous in the night of adversity, showing bright signs, such as he had shown in the day of prosperity. For it happened that the holy virgin in the aforesaid castle of Proceno (where she is said to have stayed seventeen years ^a) after the fifteenth year from the foundation of the monastery and the beginning of her harshest penance spoken of above, incurred a grave and long-lasting infirmity; which that she might more patiently bear, the Spouse of virgins willed, by a certain sweet and glad vision, to anticipate his bride. Refreshed by a glorious vision of the Mother of God The series of which vision is such. For it seemed to the handmaid of Christ that she was raptured in paradise, and there saw the secrets of God, and was rejoicing with wondrous exultation. And while she so exulted, she saw the glorious Virgin Mother of God sitting on the throne of her majesty, and before her a multitude of Angels assisting her: of whom some before her glorious face seemed to raise a breeze with certain most beautiful napkins, as is accustomed to be done to those fervent with excessive heat: others with melodious voices and sweet consonances were sweetly singing that devout Sequence, composed in honor of the same Virgin, which begins: "Vernansrosa, spes humilium ^b praecipua," etc. At whose song while the virgin Agnes exulted indescribably, both because of the joyous vision of the Queen of virgins, and also because of the devout service of the Angels, after such a delay as it pleased the Most High to gladden his handmaid, and putting an end to so great joy, the vision disappeared, and Agnes returned to herself.

[37] In which vision the Creator of all willed to announce a future bodily adversity, and that she was by no means to fall from impatience, his refreshing grace being present: she understands diseases are to come upon her God almighty had as it were said openly: "You will indeed sustain affliction in the body, but by my refreshing and sweetly consoling grace, you will bear all without the weariness of impatience." For we know that the Queen of heaven does not need the refreshment of a breeze, nor has need of the consonance of voices: but all those things are figured for Agnes, to show her refreshment. From which refreshment she received such consolation, that even after she had returned to herself, she could not contain herself from intoning with most loud voice that devout Sequence, and to be relieved by divine consolations which she had heard sung by the Angels; though she had never heard from a man the words or chant of the said Sequence. After this so sweet cheerfulness, the holy virgin began to feel bodily troubles, and to be grieved with no small infirmity the whole time, but especially in the head. When she could not for this be tempered from her fervor, since she laughed at every bodily evil, her sisters and daughters tried to induce her, by the counsel of physicians and the command of her Confessors, to put a limit to the rigor of her penance; and that by changing her food, and

lying on a soft bed, she might provide for the health of her body. But when she most unwillingly grew lukewarm from her accustomed rigor, alleging that one should not sympathize with the treacherous enemy, yet, wholly humble, choosing the sacrifice of obedience above all, lest she should seem pertinacious in her own sense, she submitted her will to the will of those counseling and commanding.

[38] Which as soon as the Sisters perceived, they carefully and solicitously prepared meats, meats set before her for these reasons and brought them before the holy virgin to eat. When she, seeing them, shuddered greatly, because it seemed to her an excessive movement from one extreme to another, namely from the fast of bread and water to the eating of meats an excessively sudden movement, she began to ask the Sisters that they should not lead her to such intemperance, especially at the beginning of her illness; but if they absolutely wished her to change her accustomed foods, at least they should bring her fish or other lenten foods. To the contrary of which when all the Sisters importunately insisted, and urged her by all means to eat the brought food, she, withdrawing a little into herself, and gathering her spirit to pray to the Lord, humbly asked of the Lord, that he would by his power change that food into a fish: which as she asked, so it was done. For suddenly, by prayer she converts them into fish all her daughters seeing and being stupefied at once, the meats were wonderfully transformed into a fish: which the handmaid of God beholding, with thanksgiving alertly received what before, out of the custom of harshness, she had been unwilling to take. ^c

[39] I think it very unworthy and quite unsuitable, if having recited her other virtues, we should not wish to say something of her charity, which is the queen of virtues. And because charity, by which we do good toward our neighbor, is divided into a double member, spiritual and temporal alike, beginning from the temporal, we shall afterwards come to the spiritual, that through the less perfect we may come to the knowledge of the more perfect. For I remember to have read in a certain very brief Legend hitherto composed about her, that while the holy virgin still existed in the castle of Proceno, it happened once in winter time, in the winter month, that certain men of great penance, laudable reputation, and extraordinary sanctity, whose life was to dwell in solitudes and to devote themselves solely to the contemplation of their Creator, Receiving certain religious guests in winter passed through the said castle. When they had turned aside to the monastery, where Agnes presided, on account of her fame, for the sake of charity, the handmaid of God, recognizing by a certain spiritual instinct that they were servants of God almighty, receiving them with wondrous charity and veneration, after she had had holy and edifying conversations with them, compelled them to take food from the alms of her monastery; and she herself likewise sat with them at the table, that they might speak longer, as if about to take food.

[40] When the food had been brought, and before each, with a dish, individual bowls had been placed, a religious meal and conversation while the holy colloquy was taking place at the same time as the taking of food, suddenly, miraculously, a most beautiful rose, of wondrous odor and delightful color, was found in Agnes's bowl, all seeing and wondering. When those holy men beheld this and showed mutual signs of wonder, the holy Virgin, weighing these things, lest they should be imputed to her sanctity, as truly humble at once is said to have uttered this sentence: "Therefore God almighty and merciful, in cold time, a rose sent from heaven is honored willed by his benignity to send us a summer flower, beautiful and fragrant; because you by the fire of your charity have kindled our cold minds, and by the beauty of the holy teachings and the odor of virtuous examples have delightfully strengthened us." They, on the contrary, saying that not to them but to her the rose had been sent by the Lord, since it appeared that the Lord had granted this by her merits, there was a pious contention between them, from which in a wondrous way came the victory of both, and a concord fuller than before. So in this they unanimously agree, that to the wondrous God, as much as they could, thanks and praises are given. After this, those servants of the Lord, wishing to pursue their begun journey, after many holy conversations bidding farewell to the handmaid of God, edified by her wondrously, departed.

[41] At another time there was in the said castle of Proceno a certain castle-dweller, a friend of hers, for 30 years never rightly confessed familiar with the holy Virgin, and a benefactor of her monastery; who when he had often commended himself to her prayers, lest he perish, for whom such acceptable prayers were poured forth to the Lord, this vision of him was shown to her praying. For the handmaid of Christ saw in a certain empty place of hell, demons preparing horrible punishments, kindling fire, placing pots above, and gathering instruments for inflicting torments: which when she asked of the Lord, for whom such horrid punishments were being prepared, answer was given her that they were for that castle-dweller for whom she herself so often besought the Lord. At which reply she, wholly kindled with the fire of charity and compassion, inquired the cause of such a dire punishment, that she might, before he died, by sufficient correction free him from such great dangers. To her again it was replied, that therefore he was deserving such immense punishments, having seen the punishments prepared for him in hell because for thirty continuous years he had never been absolved from the bonds of sins by true confession. When she heard this and diligently noted it, after she had returned to herself, she at once called the said castle-dweller by a swift messenger. When he had come without delay and asked the cause of such haste, she with speech full of charity narrated to him the aforesaid vision, and leading him with sweet words to confession, having summoned a Priest, at once caused him purely and humbly to confess. After which confession, within a brief time the same man, seized by illness, was brought to the extremes. Whose soul the holy virgin, placed in her monastery, saw going out of the body, saved by her merits and by the power of confession from the eternal fires previously shown to her: admonished she frees him from danger which when she announced to the Sisters, they knowing of the illness but wholly ignorant of the death, after a little there came a messenger, who said that at that very hour at which the holy Virgin had said, he had wholly ended his life.

NOTES.

CHAPTER V.

On the mount of Montepulciano, in the place where there had been a public brothel, Agnes builds a monastery of the Order of Preachers, divinely stirred up and helped.

[42] I wish you to know, dearest Reader, that while the holy Virgin remained in the said castle of Proceno, Her kinsmen at Montepulciano having been visited and by her virtues showed herself pleasing to her Creator and wondrous and venerable to men, her reputation and fame began to spread around on every side, so much that to the castle of Montepulciano, which is twenty-two miles distant from the said Proceno, great and good rumor of her virtues came. Wherefore, the land-dwellers moved, and especially those bound to her by degree of kinship, going to her personally, strove with humble prayers to compel her, that she should arrange to return to the land of her origin and dwell there, thinking themselves to be enriched with great treasure, if they could have with them so venerable a handmaid of God. But she, who had a leaden foot from the gravity of virtue, unwilling to wander through different places, wholly denied what was asked. When they greatly insisted and drew her with diverse causes, at length they obtained from her that she should at least go to the said castle of Montepulciano for the sake of a visit, to bring joy for a time to her kinsfolk by her presence, and afterwards to return to her monastery.

[43] Since, to fulfill her promise, with a decent and honest company accompanying her, she had gone thither, by a vision of Saints Augustine, Francis, and Dominic and by the Lord's disposition had seen the dispositions of the place, she returned to her monastery with some appetite of condescending to the will of the said petitioners; especially because of the displeasure which, God willing, she had conceived concerning the public dishonesty which was committed on a certain hill placed near the gate of the said castle. After which return, wishing to dispose nothing which did not agree with the divine disposition, she began with diligent and fervent prayer to beseech divine clemency that what she ought to do, what was pleasing to his will, he would mercifully deign to show her by revelation. And because her prayer, as you can gather from the above, could not return empty, therefore God almighty, instructing his handmaid supernaturally, arranged to console her with such a vision. For it seemed to the handmaid of Christ that a certain sea was under her ^b feet, in which she saw three great and beautiful ships: in which she beheld three Patrons and pillars of the Church, namely Augustine, Dominic, and Francis. the last of whom was drawing her to himself When each of them wished to draw the holy virgin to his own ship, and especially Blessed Francis, alleging that the habit which she then wore almost wholly agreed with the habit of his Sisters, after a long contention, the glorious athlete Blessed Dominic said to the other two companions: "It will not be as you say: but she will stand in my ship, because God almighty has so disposed." And extending his hand, he drew her, and led her into his ship: and thus at once both the ships and the Patrons disappeared.

[44] Here however the vision was not finished: she is taught there a church must be founded by her but at once came a messenger of the Lord, who so instructed the holy Virgin: "Do you remember," he said, "when you were still a girl, in the first monastery where you first took the habit of religion, that you received miraculously three stones from the Lady, and that it was told you that you were to build, while still living, a church for her name?" She answered: "I both remember, and give thanks: because this monastery with her help I have built." To her at once by the one speaking it was replied: "This building is not the fulfillment of that promise: but you shall go to the castle of Montepulciano, whence you drew your origin; and there upon the hill, where now the public sinners dwell, and a monastery in the place of the brothel polluting it with their dishonesty, you shall build a church under the title of the perpetual Virgin Mary: where also you shall found a monastery of Virgins, whose collegium you shall gather for the service of God almighty; so that the place"

which the filthiness of lust, by the devil's working, has defiled, by the Lord's illumination and completion of your work, the holiness of chastity and virginal modesty may adorn.

[45] And because the odor of so good a work will be diffused through the neighboring places, under the rule of the Preachers therefore religious men dwelling in those places will greatly desire to have you and your monastery under their care; but because the Friars Preachers do not have a convent in those places, God of great mercy has arranged that you submit yourself and your college to their care, and assume their habit; so that by you, not only in the female sex but also in the male, his service may be augmented with multiplied servers. And this is what in the vision of the three ships and the three Patrons wishing to draw you, with the attraction of one alone, was shown you a little before: namely that under the habit of Blessed Dominic henceforth, with the Sisters of the aforesaid monastery, you should strive to serve God almighty, and according to the institutes of that Order to govern yourself and your monastery. Be strengthened therefore and act manfully; for the Lord will be with you in all your works." These things said, at once both the voice of the speaker and the vision disappeared; and the virgin, returning to herself, did not delay to give immense thanks to God almighty for so clear a vision, so complete information, and so generous a promise of help.

[46] Having been instructed by these so lofty and salutary admonitions, the handmaid of the Lord, and returning to Montepulciano, she exposes her purpose to her kinsmen as a body of spherical figure perfectly disposed to perfect motion, struck by the touch of divine inspiration, every delay laid aside, after she had committed her office to a certain discreet Sister to hold her place in the monastery, she herself together with Sister Catherine, bound to her by singular familiarity, swiftly came to the aforesaid castle of Montepulciano. Where, when she had expressed to her kinsmen and relatives her vow of founding a monastery, they, rejoicing that they would obtain the effect of their petition, began to ask among themselves about a fit and disposed place. Which the holy virgin weighing, thus addressed them: "You need not be solicitous, because now by God's teaching I have found: provided you will stretch out your helping hands to me. My intention is to found on the hill situated near the gate, where now public dishonesty is committed by sinful women, and to gather a college of religion and honesty, the foulness of sin having been expelled from there."

[47] They wondering at her praiseworthy and unusual purpose, the money having been supplied by them asked her what help she would have bestowed on her by them in such a business. To whom she replied: "I require your help in this, that if you have money, you lend it; if you do not have it, be willing to be my sureties with the lender; that I may be able to buy entirely all the appurtenances of that hill: and I firmly hope in the help of God almighty, that the money which you shall have lent, or for which you shall have pledged, in a short time without your expense you will have back." All the kinsmen therefore give their pledge to the Virgin; and with the suretyship given and money received, she buys the place in hope of future divine remuneration, the holy virgin put her hand to strong things: and the hill mentioned above having been entirely and juridically purchased, she expels the devil from its habitation and establishes the house of Christ: and thus night is turned into day, and darkness converted into light, and God, wonderful in his Saints, through his handmaid brings forth great good from great evil, by his unspeakable virtue and power. the prostitutes expelled she establishes nuns All the castle-dwellers and the land-dwellers of that place wondered, both because they saw a religious woman, having nothing, spending so great a quantity of money, namely one thousand two hundred pounds of Siena money; and also because they saw the most foul dishonesty so suddenly changed into such chastity; and to wonder they add praises to the Creator, and from so manly a beginning they begin to venerate the holy virgin.

[48] But she, as a robust warrior, after a strong beginning, pursues more strongly, she builds a church and the house of diabolical foulness being laid low, manfully undertakes the building of the house of God, imploring day and night by diligent and fervent prayers the promised help from the Lord. Her odor of sanctity is diffused, and is daily augmented among those hearing her admirable past and present deeds; and to the fragrance of her charity virgins run from all sides, vowing their virginity to God and humbly submitting themselves to perpetual obedience. But she, as wholly Catholic, unwilling to enter except through the door, went to the Diocesan ^d Bishop, and humbly asked, together with her Sisters, permission she takes up the rule of Saint Augustine to found a church under the title of the perpetual Virgin Mary, to profess the rule of Blessed Augustine, and under the same rule to found a monastery. Which permission, as she had asked, she obtained by divine nod fully and graciously ^e; as also the public ^f duplicated letters, which I have seen many times, manifest to this day. ^g Moreover, after some space of time, first from the same Bishop, then from a certain Cardinal Legate of the Apostolic See, that the divine disposition might be fulfilled, she obtained that the care of her monastery be committed fully and entirely to the Order of Preachers: and the Order of Blessed Dominic in testimony of which matter there exist sealed privileges ^h. That the supreme Pastor through his Vicars might clearly show that Agnes's work was accepted in the sight of his Majesty. ⁱ

[49] Not only through his Vicars, but also through faithful secular persons, did the Lord will to show that Agnes's work was pleasing to him. For, 100 pounds are assigned to this work as I have learned from the narration of a certain most faithful man of the same castle of Montepulciano, before the holy Virgin returned to it, it happened that a certain man of Montepulciano, the end of his life approaching, was about to depart from the body. Before he died he made his testament, and among other things bequeathed to a certain married daughter one hundred Cortona pounds, which for the remedy of his sins he wished her to expend on that work which should be more acceptable to God almighty. After whose death, when the faithful daughter was solicitously seeking to fulfill her father's will, and did not know what work was more acceptable in the sight of God, going humbly to the servants and handmaids of God, she more humbly prayed that they would pray for her, that the Lord would deign to show her how she might expend the said money for the salvation of her father's soul. by testament commanded to be expended where it would be more pleasing to God When among others she had asked a certain poor and sick woman, who in great humility and patience served the Lord; and that she might more bind her, out of her temporal goods had come to her aid in her needs; that one, mindful of her benefactress's prayers, and desiring to satisfy her petition, according to her power gathered her spirit to beseech God, that he would show her dispenser what she wished.

[50] While she was praying, she was brought into ecstasy, and saw on the hill situated near the gate, because of a vision about that place given to the pious woman where the holy Virgin was to build a church and gather a college of Virgins, from the place where now the Sisters are gathered at the canonical hours to produce divine praises, a certain ladder rising up to heaven, which with its summit touched heaven; and Angels ascending and descending by it. When she faithfully related this to the said daughter of the deceased father, she, not able to understand the vision (especially because then public sinners resided there; and in the place whence the ladder was seen to rise, a certain diabolical little old woman, mother of every nefarious crime, gatherer of impudicity, dwelt in her iniquities), again asked the aforesaid poor handmaid of Christ since prostitutes still dwelt there that she would beseech the Lord to show more clearly what he wished. But when she was praying, and the Lord again repeated the same vision ^k, and the said legatee did not understand this; it happened after a brief interval of time that the virgin Agnes came from the castle of Proceno, bought the said hill, expelled the devil with his foulnesses, and began the house of holiness. When that woman beheld this, and saw the vision of that poor woman graciously and wondrously declared, she at once offered the money to the virgin Agnes, saying: "I give thanks to the omnipotent Lord, who has mercifully sent you hither to receive this alms, and to free my father's soul." And when she had related all the above in order, both began to magnify the Most High, and to behold more clearly how much the begun work was pleasing to God.

NOTES.

CHAPTER VI.

Agnes restores sight to a blind woman: she incurs a grave illness; she goes to a bath, and by her virtue and miracles illustrates it.

[51] After the Virgin of Christ saw that she had founded the house of the Lord on the mountains, The number of Sisters having been increased she began daily to act more robustly; and as a true plant which the heavenly Father had planted, to put forth more abundant fruits: wherefore her monastery began to be augmented in number and in merit. Of which augmentation, because with God giving the increase, today the effect better demonstrates than words, for the present I pass over in silence: for I have resolved not to write now the Legend of her Sisters, but of her. Intending therefore to recite her wondrous deeds, I should wish to admonish you, dearest reader, that you have read many wondrous deeds of this holy Virgin which occurred after she founded the second monastery, for continuation of subject in the preceding part, as was foretold you there.

[52] To recite other things which are not written there, I wish you to know that, the number of Sisters being augmented, when one of them was deprived of sight it happened that a certain one of them, named Mita, was grieved by a certain illness of the head, so much that with her sight-power weakened, after some time she wholly lost her sight. Seeing which, those who were her fleshly kin began to inquire if any remedy could be applied to her blindness: and while they inquire, they find through certain (as I think) fabulous reports, that in a certain nearby castle there were nobles of the progeny of a certain Saint, who had the power of giving light to the blind. When they were arranging to lead the said Sister Mita to them, and were pressing the holy virgin with importunate prayers, her kinsfolk wished to bring her out for the sake of a remedy that she would permit her to leave the cloister to go to the said nobles, the handmaid of Christ, addressing them with sweet words, prudently obtained from them a delay of time: within which time she besought the Lord with tearful prayers that he would not permit the Sister to wander.

[53] she herself restores to her the health of her eyes This done, firmly knowing that her Spouse would deny her nothing, and knowing through the spirit that God wished to elicit good from that evil, she had the said virgin Mita summoned; to whom after some words she said: "Mita daughter, if the most clement Lord of his accustomed mercy grants you the grace of the recovery of sight, are you willing, for the times you shall live, to fulfill what I shall enjoin on you?" To which she said: "Lady, Mother, whatever your holiness shall command me, with the help of the Savior, I will strive to fulfill with all my powers." Which said, the holy Mother added: "I wish, my beloved daughter, as long as you shall live, never with these eyes to weep any temporal loss, or over any temporal damage, on the condition that she not weep over temporal damages with them for the love of your most noble Spouse." When she, assenting, promised, the handmaid of God almighty with her immaculate hands made the sign of the holy Cross over her eyes, and immediately restored her to former health: and so, her wandering avoided, and weeping over temporal damages checked, the merciful God adorned his Saint with so great a miracle, that to all, both Sisters and seculars, the truest and clearest knowledge of her virtue and sanctity was given; and to all the faithful thereafter, from her aid, the firmest confidence followed.

[54] Though God almighty had tested his handmaid, as true gold, in the furnace of some tribulation at the castle of Proceno, yet because he wished his bride to ascend from virtue to virtue, that he might make her attain a higher degree of perfection, he arranged to examine her by the fire of harsher and more prolonged bodily languor: so that it might clearly appear that no iniquity was found in her. Which languor, that she might be more prepared to bear, he first showed through his Angel by such a vision. Nine times ordered in vision to drink the cup of Christ For it seemed to the handmaid of Christ, on a certain Sunday in deep dawn, while after her prayer she had somewhat fallen asleep, that an Angel of the Lord stood by her, and led her by pedagogic hand from her little cell up to a certain olive tree, and there offered her a cup with these words: "Drink, bride of Christ, this cup, which the Lord Jesus Christ also drank for you." While, for love of her Spouse, she willingly and eagerly drank, before she could return the exhausted cup, the vision disappeared; and the handmaid of the Lord, returning to herself, found herself in her cell as before. And when she more attentively and often thought what that vision meant, on the following Sunday at the same hour, the same thing happened to her as on the first; and again on the following: to be brief, for nine continuous Sundays, at the same hour, the same vision appeared to the virgin Agnes by the Lord's revelation: at last she is seized with a grave infirmity and not long after followed a grave and long-lasting infirmity, which never departed from her, except when, her pilgrimage finished, she gloriously and triumphantly went to her Spouse.

[55] The storm of bodily trouble therefore rushing on, the holy Virgin, who had built her house upon the rock, in nothing changed, in no way abandoning or neglecting the begun work, led all to wonder by her great constancy. She was, though weak in body, solicitous in mind, laborious in spirit, and about all, with charity working, very fruitful; which most patiently bearing she fulfills her office entirely so that Agnes seemed to be one person who suffered the most grievous and almost unheard-of infirmity, and another who performed acts of charity toward her daughters and all who came to her. And truly so it was: for the spirit was working, and the flesh was suffering. But because, useful to many, she was loved affectionately by many, a great love began to press the holy virgin very diligently, that she should seek some bodily remedy for her infirmity. When she, as a true bride conscious of her Spouse's will, wholly resisted; yet they nonetheless entirely insisted, lest in the sight of those asking pride should appear to arise (since it was happening by divine revelation); with humble voice, placid countenance, and moderate speech, She permits herself to be led to a bath for the sake of a cure she gave them her assent, and wholly submitted herself to the will of another. This done, by the diligent aforesaid remedies were sought from all sides, that Agnes's infirmity might be perfectly cured: and while they inquired, there was one who said that a certain bath very useful for that infirmity was near the gate at three miles' distance, near a certain castle called Clanciano: to which if the holy Virgin could be led, in a brief time she would be restored to former health. Hearing which, the holy Mother's daughters began to urge her, that without delay she should arrange to go thither.

[56] The necessities having been prepared, the handmaid of God almighty went to the aforesaid bath, together with brother Meus, the Rector of her monastery, a man of much religion, and also accompanied by honest ladies, her daughters' prayer impelling her. Nor did the merciful God permit the journey of his handmaid to pass unfruitfully, but through her in the bath, which he knew she did not need, he wondrously wrought the healing of many. For divine goodness did this, that, with the order of nature changed, so that after the touch of the holy body that which profited only bodily infirmities, through the virgin Agnes, not needing a bath, should become, wondrous things being seen, also salutary to souls. For when the pure Virgin first entered the said bath in the evening, about to wash her most pure body, the bath did not wash her, but she adorned the bath with a divine miracle. For at once after her entry, the bath began gradually to be filled with manna from heaven, so much that through the whole night, the manna gushing forth divinely, on the following morning by those entering the whole bath was found covered with it. These entering, while they were vehemently wondering it is covered with heavenly manna whence snow in summer time had entered the bath, especially with the surrounding parts dry, examining more subtly from wonder, they found that what they thought was snow was heavenly manna, whose grains all figured in the manner of a Cross, clearly showed that it was the effect of no natural cause.

[57] Those wondering at it therefore, and inquiring whence so great a miracle could proceed, there was one who said that a certain religious woman of the castle of Montepulciano had come the preceding day: and it is increased by a new welling of water at whose entry that manna began to appear flowering, and so through the whole night had miraculously grown. At which voice, when the bystanders could not cease wondering, all began to collect this manna through the whole bath, that they might show the sign of so great a miracle to those absent: and while they gathered it, they found that in the place where the virgin Agnes had bathed, the underground water, by which the bath itself by certain channels welling is filled, had caused a certain welling newly and miraculously, through which it supplied water more abundantly and copiously than usual to those wishing to bathe: which water up to the present, on account of the greatness of the miracle, is called by all the bath of Saint Agnes.

[58] When therefore it was learned that the handmaid of Christ, through whom the manna had descended, had there bathed herself, faith having been conceived from the preceding miracle, which is called the Bath of Saint Agnes they began to bathe many sick in that water: and at once they were restored to former health. Wherefore also those carrying some of the same water to absent sick obtained a similar effect. Whence, these miracles seen, they began so to revere that welling, that, as has been said, to this day it is publicly called the bath of Saint Agnes. ^c Nor were praises omitted to the Creator at that time, but were rendered by all who heard or saw; and the opinion of Agnes grew in the minds of all men with wondrous veneration. In the same bath she did other wondrous things, which because I ought not to omit, I am therefore compelled to write. Before the signs or miracles however I set forth one more distinguished indication of her patience, according to Blessed Gregory, who thinks the virtue of patience greater than signs and miracles.

[59] and from her coming out some had derided her When the holy Virgin, wearing the monastic habit, on one occasion entered the said bath, certain unruly and vain-speaking youths, standing before the entrance of the said bath, and by scurrilous words provoking themselves to empty laughter, beholding the handmaid of God coming out of the bath clothed in religious habit, began to cry after her with certain derisory words, and calling her "nun" in their vernacular, with cachinnation and ignominy to reproach her. Whose words and acts, when they had moved the bystanders, and especially Brother Meus and a certain Oblate ^d of the monastery, out of zeal of justice to anger, the holy Virgin, in nothing changed, restraining her zealots, returning with all mildness to the place where she was lodging, at once ordered a few chickens which she had brought from the monastery on account of her infirmity to be killed, and when killed, to be cooked, and when cooked, to those who had mocked her

to be borne with all charity. she orders the chickens prepared for herself to be given to them When Brother Meus, indignant, tried to prevent this, she, chiding him altogether with sweet words, affirming that according to the Savior's sentence one must do good to those who do evil, sent the gift, as she had arranged, to the said mockers, and on behalf of the Sister who had been mocked had it presented to them gratefully and liberally. Wherefore those mockers, overcome by the holy Virgin's liberality and inwardly compunct, and kindly receives those asking pardon at once came to the handmaid of the Lord, humbly prostrated themselves on bended knees at her feet, and with their belts around their necks asked pardon for their committed fault, promising not to loose their tongue to such things any more. She, receiving them with the most kindly charity with which she was full, and raising them swiftly from the ground, said that she was greatly obliged to them, because they had provided her with material for spiritual gain and an exercise of patience.

NOTES.

CHAPTER VII.

Various miracles performed at Agnes's prayers; her prophetic spirit.

[60] The sign of spiritual virtue having been related, let our discourse pass to the virtues Wine lacking wrought by the virgin Agnes in bodies. Wherefore I wish you to know, dearest reader, that a certain lady of Montepulciano, a Sister of the penance of Blessed Dominic, is still alive, a woman of very honest life and truthful testimony; who faithfully related to me certain wondrous deeds wrought by the holy Virgin in the said bath before her own eyes, which I do not wish to pass over in silence. For she reports that she, then tender in age and small in body, together with her mother, had labored in the service of the aforesaid Virgin at the bath often mentioned for the space of several days: within which time, while they were at table taking food with the handmaid of the Lord, she orders water to be brought it happened that wine was lacking on the table, and there was no place nearby where wine could be found. When the virgin Agnes saw this, moved with compassion for her companions, she ordered the said relator of mine to bring water from a nearby fountain. When she had fulfilled the command, on her return she handed the vessel full of water to the holy Virgin: which she, receiving with maturity and raising her eyes to heaven, and praying a little within herself, made the sign of the holy Cross over the vessel, and soon graciously handed it to those sitting to drink.

[61] which between her hands is converted into excellent wine When they, thinking it water, had poured it into glass vessels, tasting the color of wine and at the same time the flavor in the wine, and finding the incredible and unusual savor of the wine, they began to ask among themselves whence they had found such good wine. But finding from the aforesaid girl, my relator, now gray-haired, that the water which she had brought, between the hands of the virgin Agnes, through the sign of the Cross made, had been wondrously converted into that wine, stupefied beyond what can be said, they began to render immense praises to God almighty; and called all who had come to the said bath, that all might taste the wine made from water, and praise the power of the Creator and the sanctity of Agnes. Which the handmaid of Christ wholly impeding, she restrained her praisers as far as she could, lest the miracle be defamed. But though she, forbidding, did not accomplish all she wished, yet more than she wished, compelled by the miracle, they were forced to do. Wherefore the fame of the miracle came to all: and so the virgin Agnes, as imitator of the Savior's first miracle and his true disciple, is commended by all.

[62] The already mentioned relator told me that at that time on a certain day, while the virgin Agnes, together with her mother and certain others, was sitting at the table at the hour of refection, grievously wounded in the knees by a knife the relator herself, then a girl, wishing to cut bread, placed it, after the manner of children, upon her knees, and seizing a little knife, as, cutting, she pressed, not only the bread and the garments touching the knee, but also the flesh and nerve of her knee being cut through, her bones were exposed by an excessive cut: which when, from fear of blows, she wished to hide, the excessive effusion of blood and the pallor of her face showed the bystanders what the girl wanted to conceal. And when her mother, the knee uncovered, from the enormity of her daughter's wound weeping and wailing sought opportune remedies, the holy Virgin at once taking the girl by the hand said to the bystanders: "Let her come with me; and with the help of God almighty, I will bring her back to you whole."

[63] Which said, she led her to the said bath, and in the water which, by her merits, a few days before had miraculously appeared, washing in her bath she heals she bathed her. When the bystanders forbade this, saying that any water was harmful to wounds, the handmaid of the Lord, who knew she worked above nature by divine power, not caring for the forbidding words, washed the said girl at her good pleasure; and at last bringing her out thence, restored her whole to her mother, saying: "See whether your daughter has been made whole, and give thanks to God almighty." She indeed, beholding her daughter's wound perfectly cured and even closed, and seeing no other sign of the wound save a small scar as a sign of the miracle, breaking forth into voices of praise, drew all the bystanders with her cries to behold the spectacle of the miracles. Wherefore each stupefied at the girl's so sudden healing, since the water rather should have hurt her, they give praises with one voice to God almighty, who through his handmaid wrought wondrous things so frequently: and the opinion of Agnes grew daily more in the minds of men.

[64] Yet one thing I am compelled to insert a boy drowned in the same bath which will provide more evident testimony to the above wonders of her sanctity. For while the holy Virgin was staying at the said bath, it happened that a certain boy incautiously entered the water of the bath, and by his smallness was overcome by the waters of the bath, and so with no one helping, in the waters he was submerged, and wholly suffocated. Which when it had been announced to his mother, distant by some space, running hastily to the bath, and finding her son drowned, she drew all the neighbors with her weeping and wailing. When the body of the extinct son was drawn out of the water, she began still more to tear herself wholly, and to utter plaintive and painful voices. At which voices the holy Virgin, she restores to life who with other ladies had gathered to condole with the mother, moved with great piety, and from excessive compassion unable to bear so great anguish of a bereaved mother, before all, taking the little body of the boy in her arms, took herself to another place, where there was not such a multitude. There therefore with bent knees she gave herself to prayer, that she might return the son to his grieving mother. A wondrous thing, and in our times most stupendous! For when the virgin Agnes put an end to her prayer, and signed the little body devoutly with the sign of the Cross, at once, as though waking from sleep, the boy arose, and showed all the signs of life. Whom the holy Virgin, raising with her own hand, restored whole and living to the weeping mother. When she beheld this, and stupefied for joy wondered, with the great wonder of all after a little returning to herself, she began to turn her lamenting voices into joyful cries, and to call the bystanders to the sight of her joy. All are stupefied, and are filled with wonder beyond what can be said, when they behold alive and safe in so brief an interval of time the boy (whom a little before they had beheld wholly dead and lifeless). Wherefore with loud voice they universally render immense thanks to the wondrous God, and extol his handmaid with many praises among themselves, and with many words proclaim her sanctity to those absent: and so it came to pass that one and the same raising of the boy brought thanksgivings to God almighty, indescribable consolation to the mother, wondrous devotion to the bystanders, laudable edification to those absent, and great commendation to the virgin Agnes.

[65] Although the things narrated in the preceding paragraphs were done toward the end of the holy Virgin Agnes, because, however, we seek not so much the order as the truth of her life, I add one thing on this which happened before she went to the said bath. For when the handmaid of the Lord had founded the second monastery with the arm of the Lord, The little cross received from the neck of the child Jesus and had gathered about eighteen Virgins for the Lord, and had arranged in mind there to await the end of her mortal life, she ordered the Sisters of the first monastery to elect for themselves a Prelate from among themselves, ^b because they could not have her any more; and asked that they should not delay to send her that cross which she had received from the Lord as a great gift, which was preserved among them among the Relics. When they altogether refused to do this, alleging that since they were deprived of the consolation of so great a Mother, it was fitting they should wholly have something of her wonders, that at least from the memory of her sanctity they might receive consolation, she again and again ordered, saying: "Unless you send me what I ask, I will do so that it will be taken from you against your will." And when those Sisters, while the Proceno women refused to give it back could not be bent by threats or prayers to sending the said cross, the holy Virgin wholly gave herself to praying to the Lord, that the gift once given her by him, but taken by those Sisters, he would mercifully by his omnipotence deign to restore to her.

[66] she, having poured out prayers, receives it through an Angel Whose humble prayer so overcame the Invincible (to speak in Bernard's manner) and bound the Omnipotent, that at once an Angel of the Lord, taking the said cross from the place where it was placed, wonderfully brought it to the virgin Agnes, still praying, and imperceptibly placed it within her hands. When she saw it, giving immense thanks to the Giver of all gifts, she placed the cross itself secretly and reverently in the place arranged for it. These things done, she again sent a messenger to the said Sisters to ask if they had that holy cross, so often denied. When they had done so and found it nowhere, and stupefied wondered who could have taken it from a place so secret and secured with locks without their knowledge, the messenger, informed by the holy Virgin, added: "Sister Agnes says this: I asked you for the gift given me divinely again and again, and you wholly refused: I asked my Lord only once, and by his kindness

at once he restored to me what he had given before, and what I was now asking for. Learn therefore never to contradict the will of the Lord." Hearing these things they, at once repenting of their pertinacity and magnifying the Lord, sent word back to the holy Mother through the same messenger, that since her prayers obtained from the Lord whatever she wished, she should not forget to pour forth those prayers for their salvation to the Lord; adding that they firmly and without doubt hoped they would be saved by the Lord's mercy, if such acceptable prayers were poured for them to Christ. And so the handmaid of Christ by her prayers also obtained what she wanted, and modestly correcting her daughters, confirmed also their minds in divine trust.

[67] Though many other miracles were wrought by the Lord through the virgin Agnes, after the foundation of the second monastery, she frees many possessed yet the rest being omitted, I shall relate, God granting, some in summary in the present paragraph, so that at length passing to her death, we may put an end to this part. For my aforesaid relators tell me that this holy Virgin had from God wondrous power over unclean spirits. For many demoniacs while she was still alive were led to her: among whom were some who for many years bound by demons could scarcely be held: for all of whom the handmaid of God, commanding the demons, obtained full health by her merits. On a certain occasion a certain one among the rest was led to her monastery: who, scarcely bound, coming with a multitude of men, tore with nails and teeth everyone who approached. exercising absolute command over demons When, placed within the monastery, before the virgin Agnes descended to him, he had broken all his bonds in unspeakable insanity, running through the cloister, finding by chance a certain small girl and furiously seizing her, he was hastening towards a certain well placed there, that he might cast her into the depth of the waters to be suffocated. But before the holy Virgin, descending, could meet him in his extreme haste, she restrained him with such speech, saying: "On behalf of God almighty I command you, most savage demon, that at once you set down this girl without injury." Which said, immediately the unclean spirit so obeyed Agnes's precept, as though he could exercise the power conceded him only according to Agnes's will. At once the holy Virgin, approaching him, and impressing the sign of the Cross on his forehead, and devoutly reciting the Catholic faith through that canticle "Whosoever will," etc., expelled that raging demon from the man by divine power, and restored him whole to his conductors.

[68] They also recite that very often, after the Sisters began to sleep, against these she fortifies her daughters the handmaid of Christ, placed in her cell, watching in prayer, felt a demon entering the dormitory to molest the sacred virgins. She at once rousing all of them and calling them to her cell, admonished all that they should humbly seek pardon by accusing themselves for things committed or omitted, in the manner in which Religious men or women are wont to accuse themselves in chapters before their Prelates; lest the ancient enemy, who had entered the dormitory, could have any power over them. When they had done this humbly and devoutly, sending them back purified to their beds, "Go," she said, "daughters, sleep with secure mind; because our protector God almighty, who will guard us, will not slumber nor sleep."

[69] she perceives their thoughts They also report that this Virgin had the spirit of prophecy, even concerning the hidden thoughts of hearts, which cannot be had except by divine virtue and grace. For they say that they and their other companions were often rebuked by her for certain girlish thoughts, which she recounted to them in order as if she herself had thought them, not they: whence it came to pass that all her daughters, not only in acting and speaking, but also in thinking what was not good, utterly took care, out of fear of the spiritual Mother, whom they saw to be present in all. She also foretold many future things to various persons, which came to pass directly as she had predicted: among which I narrate one, of which, if they were alive, there would be as many witnesses as there were Sisters then in her monastery: among whom were these four relators of mine, who still survive. For it happened in that time, when the holy Virgin still was living in the body, she foretells future things that in the aforesaid castle of Montepulciano a great dissension arose among the land-dwellers, and especially among certain nobles: from which dissension, when it threatened the destruction of the whole land, certain timorous men, zealots of the commonwealth, went to the handmaid of God, earnestly entreating her that she should not cease to pour out prayers to the Lord for the safety of their land. Which she not neglecting, gathered all her daughters solicitously, and together with them before a certain image of the Blessed Virgin, began more fervently to beseech for the impending danger of the land.

[70] While the Sisters were praying humbly and devoutly, the Queen of Virgins, wishing to show her Virgins and namely civil dissensions in Tuscany how much she labored, so to say, in bearing with the crimes of that people, suddenly the face of the said Virgin in the image began to turn pale, to multiply wrinkles, to send out drops of sweat, and as though laboring in bearing a heavy weight, to draw breath frequently. When the Sisters saw this, and were observing what their holy Mother was doing, the Virgin devoted to God, turning to her Sisters with tears and lamentation, said: "Pray, Sisters, and beseech as frequently and as fervently as you can, because I clearly see many tribulations about to come upon this land. foreshadowed by the miraculous sweat of the Marian image For the Lord, because of their sins, will permit dissensions to arise among the land-dwellers, and especially among magnates and rulers: from which will come scandals and no small wars, so that not only will this castle in some way be desolated, but all Tuscany from this beginning will be troubled. But because most clement is our God and our merciful Lord, let us pray daily and not cease: because he is able to give fair weather after clouds and to turn all our evils into good." After which words so punctually the things she had foretold followed to the letter, that there is no need to confirm with any testimony those things which all Tuscany was forced to know by the pressing wars, the said dissensions having arisen. ^c Many indeed and other signs Jesus did through the virgin Agnes his bride while she was still living, which are not written in this book: but these are written that you may believe, and by believing may implore her help before the Lord.

NOTES.

CHAPTER VIII.

Agnes's last illness, and the signs that accompanied her death itself, of the glory she attained.

[71] With the illness growing heavier After the course of this corruptible life had been consummated by this bright star, after a wondrous rising, praiseworthy ascent, and commendable progress, the Lord of all her Spouse arranged, a pledge having been made here through the golden ring of charity and patience, to perfect with his bride the matrimonial nuptials in the palace of heaven: the Just Lord and Judge judging it just and fitting that after such labor rest, after so many holy works reward, after so many battles peace and victory, after so many virtues honor and glory should follow. For when from the said bath, after some time, she had returned to the monastery, she began to be grieved daily more in bodily infirmity; and falling into bed heavier than usual, to show evident signs of approaching bodily sickness. she comforts her own When her spiritual daughters saw this, wounded alike with grief and fear, they all surround the bed of the pious reclining Mother, and bewail their loss with plaintive voices and sobbing weeping. When she modestly rebuked them, saying that if they loved her, they ought rather to rejoice, because she was entering the glory of her Spouse; and they answering that they indeed rejoiced with her, but for themselves grieved over the loss of such a useful Mother, she answered: "Let no fear or grief disturb you over my departure: and she promises fuller help after her death for if until now by the gift of God I have been useful to you in temporal and spiritual things, trusting in a still greater gift, I boldly and faithfully promise you, on behalf of God almighty, that I will show myself more useful to you hereafter, and will endow you with a more generous gift: so that you may know that I have not left you, but rather taken you up more closely."

[72] O wondrous and sweet promise, through which, imitating her Father Blessed Dominic, and faithfully consoling her daughters, she showed how much she could with God. But O faithful fulfillment of the promise! by which her monastery at present is seen, compared with what it was when these things were said, so augmented, strengthened, and established in religion, and freed from great dangers, and so wondrously sustained in the necessities of temporal things, that it cannot be denied that in these Agnes works supernaturally, and consoles her daughters more than when she was alive. she piously dies on April 20, 1317 After these words her bodily strength began suddenly to fail her, and to hasten to the near exit. And thus after humble and devout prayer, and faithful commendation of her spirit, with the Sisters placed around and praying, in the year of the Lord 1317, Indiction 15, on the 20th day of the month of April, in the middle of the night preceding the fourth feria, as joyfully as innocently she had lived here, that holy soul was loosed from the flesh. ^a Whose exit certain wondrous things accompanied, which I by no means judge ought to be passed over.

[73] For at once when the Saint departed from this mortal body, little children in their cradles, crying out, make it known little children, who were in beds with their parents, suddenly divinely awakened, began with mouth of milk and infantine to complete the praise of the holy Virgin, saying thus to their parents: "Sister Agnes, Prioress of the monastery of Saint Maria Novella, who is a Saint, has now migrated from the body." At which words all wondered, hearing such things from the said children, who, different ones through different houses, often repeated the aforesaid words; nor at that time, on account of the incompetent hour, could they be certified that what they said was true. At length when the Sisters made her death known, they found with certainty that at the same hour the holy Virgin had departed from the body at which the said infants had with prophetic mouth uttered those words: and it came to pass that the pure and holy going out of the pure Virgin, through the pure truth uttered from the mouths of children, was made manifest to the ignorant; so that purity might deservedly commend purity, and childish innocence first proclaim sacred virginity.

[74] By another testimony of purity her sanctity was at that time shown, which ought not to be kept in silence.

The Virgins collect wax for the burial For after it began to be made known among the land-dwellers that the holy Prioress Agnes had died, virgin girls, who were not yet of marriageable age, hearing this, suddenly, with none but God calling them, gathering together, collected money among themselves, with which candles could be bought for carrying out the obsequies of the virgin Agnes; nor did they wish to accept the contribution of any corrupted woman, but, at the instigation of the Spirit of God, only by the virginal gift of uncorrupted girls was wax bought for burying the body of the Virgin. ^b Yet, as will appear below, her body needed no burial: but that wax, for her honor and glory, was consumed by the burning fire. I think, however, because the holy Virgin foresaw that wax and candles were to be brought to her by the land-dwellers, as is done even now, therefore she wished that the wax first offered to her be virginal, for continence and testimony of most excellent purity.

[75] Yet another miracle I relate, which after her death first began to show her sanctity. She shows herself to be seen by a sick woman There was in the castle of Montepulciano at that time a certain woman, who had sustained for much time a certain infirmity in her arm, so troublesome and grave that she had wholly lost the use of that arm. At the hour of the holy Virgin's passing, placed in her bed, and unable to sleep for pain, she saw suddenly the virgin Agnes coming to her, like morning stars, glowing with wondrous light, accompanied by many Angelic spirits, and thus addressing her: "Do you know me?" Who, considering her figure, said: "It seems that you are like Sister Agnes, Prioress of the Monastery of Saint Maria Novella"; she answered: "I am, and now at this hour, leaving my earthly habitation, I ascend to the heavenly home with the glory which you behold. But you, after day has dawned, shall go to my monastery, and there having touched my Relics you shall receive full health of your arm"; and these things said she disappeared. When therefore the day came, and orders her to go to her body for health the said woman, rising from bed, came solicitously to Agnes's monastery, and knocked at the wheel; and when the Sisters were called, for the love of God almighty she humbly asked that, admitting her within the monastery, they would grant her to touch the holy body of the virgin Agnes, that she might receive the health of her arm.

[76] But they (because they had so arranged to conceal her death until the arrival of the Brothers whom they were expecting from Orvieto, lest such a treasure should be taken from them) answering the woman said: "May God almighty pardon you, dearest sister, what is this you say? For our Prioress, though she lies grievously in bed, has not yet migrated from the body." ^c To whom she, conscious of the clear vision, without hesitation responded: "Why do you wish to hide from me, my Sisters, and when admitted there she immediately recovers what the holy Virgin herself openly showed me? For the holy Virgin appeared to me openly about midnight, like a most brilliant star, and said that at that same hour she had left this life; and she ordered me that coming hither, I should touch her sacred relics, and so I was to receive the health of this arm wholly." Then the Sisters, hearing these things, unwilling to go against the divine nod, led her in, and brought her to the body of the holy Virgin, and all gathered alike to see the miracle. An astonishing thing, and especially not seen in our days! For as soon as she drew near the sacred body, at the touch of the holy Relics, in that very instant, she recovered whole and perfect health: and at once bursting into praises of the Savior, though at the prayers of the Sisters she restrained herself until the arrival of the Brothers, yet when they had arrived she proclaimed the miracle with loud and open voice.

[77] To a certain matron dwelling in the same castle, likewise admonished, another joined to her in life by familiarity, who had several sons afflicted with various infirmities, appearing in vision, she thus addressed her: "Do you know me, so-and-so?"—calling her by her own name. When she said no, she answered: "I am Sister Agnes, once bound to you by the bond of friendships, and I have appeared to you that you may receive consolation from my glory and the health of your sons. Go therefore as quickly as possible to my monastery, and take with you your sick sons; and when there you shall have shown reverence to God almighty and to my Relics, for reverence and honor of him, she brings her sick sons and leads them back whole with them, know that they are all continually to be freed from all languor." The words being ended, the vision ended: the matron waking, faithfully believing without doubt the vision of the Saint, the same day faithfully obeyed the command of the virgin Agnes, and merited to have the perfect fulfillment of the faithful promise. Whence together with her sick sons she visited the sacred Relics with due reverence and devout prayer; and at once all languor left all her children, by the power of the sacred Relics.

NOTES.

CHAPTER IX.

Miracles performed at the invocation of the deceased Agnes.

[78] After the happy passing of this kind Virgin, the daughters standing around the bereaved Mother's bed and bewailing their losses, From the Saint's rosary heavenly odor is perceived one of them, from devout recollection of the Mother, inserted on the thread her "Pater noster" (rosary bead), so to say, taking it into her hands and devoutly ^a kissing it, suddenly felt such odor that at once mourning and grief were turned into wonder and joy. And when she held out the Pater noster to her other Sisters, that they might see if they felt the same odor, all perceived the same fragrance. While they still wondered and spoke, such an odor suddenly filled the cell where the sacred body lay, that you would have thought not a dead body but a vessel of all aromatics placed there. likewise from her body and linens Nor only from the virginal body did that odor come, but from all things which in life or in death had touched the body. For the cloths on which she had spat, while she was still sick, gave off such an odor, that they seemed not defiled by spittles, but to have lain among kinds of aromatics.

[79] Nor is it wondrous: because a soul had inhabited the body so full of the good odor of Christ's virtues, that in the odor of its unguents it had drawn a multitude of young women while she lived: among which young women were those virgin Sisters who then felt that wondrous and delightful odor. Which Sisters, hence many flow to kiss her feet from that delight having conceived fervor, breaking out into great voices and praising cries, roused very many castle-dwellers with their rumors. Some of whom, hearing the miracle, honestly entering the monastery, and humbly bending their knees before the sacred body, while they reverently kissed her feet, sensibly perceived the wondrous sweetness ^b. Doubled praises therefore are given to the most high Lord, and the surrounding peoples run from every side to such a wonderful beginning of miracles; nor can a lamp be hidden under a bushel; but as in life she had drawn the faithful by spiritual light, so also after death she attracted them by bodily odor.

[80] All therefore being stupefied at such a sign, God almighty began to complete the miraculous beginning with a wondrous continuation. For that all might know that the virgin Agnes was able to grant health to all languishing who came to her Relics, in diverse places the Virgin herself appeared with clear visions to diverse sick persons, while messengers are sent for balsam to preserve the body admonishing that they should visit her sacred Relics, so that they might be freed from their languors: among whom were two women, of whom it was said above. Since therefore the Most High was working these and other wonders through his bride, the land-dwellers thought to keep her sacred Relics unburied, that they might be shown to the devotion of the faithful and in testimony of her sanctity. But doubting lest her body, after the manner of other bodies, should rot from corruption, they sent messengers as far as the city of Genoa, to inquire diligently if they could find balsam at whatever price, that the sacred body of the virgin Agnes, thus preserved with balsam, might be kept longer without corruption. But God almighty, who is wondrous in his Saints, and in his wondrous deeds needs no creature, by one and the same wondrous sign, at one and the same time, showed that Agnes's relics did not need balsam for incorruption, and that from themselves, without exchange of gold, they were able to give, not merely balsam, but a yet more precious liquor, to those seeking balsam. For at once after the sending of the said messengers, the body of the holy Virgin began to sweat around the extremities of her hands and feet, it of itself exudes a salutary liquor and to emit frequent drops of precious liquor, filling the cloths placed under it with that liquor; so that it was clearly given to understand that her body did not need balsam, which from itself produced a liquor more precious than balsam. Which the Sisters weighing, place vessels beneath, call the Brothers, show the miracle; and the land-dwellers gathering at the grate, all behold the wonders of Agnes without ambiguity. To these run the surrounding peoples; young men and virgins, married and unmarried, old and little ones, rush in crowds to see so astonishing a miracle. Sick men and women run, and devoutly ask to be anointed with the sacred liquor: and as many as are anointed, at once without delay are freed.

[81] This fame therefore goes forth into all Tuscany, and they began, the sick run from every side, and partly on the way from far and remote parts, to gather to Agnes's church; and all brought back the benefits of perfect health. Among which sick, who (as I think) had greater faith in her sanctity, as soon as they reached a certain bridge near the church, before they entered the church, they felt complete deliverance from their languors: some are healed in the church but some who (as I think) had less faith, and were carried in a vehicle, entering the church, soon received full health: and some, staying in their own homes, a vow being made to visit Agnes's Relics, are freed from grave diseases. For all which you would have seen these, from the bridge towards the church, with cries and exultations coming; and those within the church uttering high-sounding voices; others faithfully reporting to Notaries and witnesses under oath the graces received in their own lands, some even at their own home receive the desired graces and you would have heard all magnificently praising the omnipotent Lord in the virgin Agnes. Moreover, to the clearer showing of the miracles, in all the cures of bones and nerves there was a wondrous sound and open rumor heard in Agnes's church; so that it could not be denied that those members had been contracted, which now manifestly showed the effect of their extension. These wonders therefore being recited in general, it is clearly shown that God, wondrous in his Saints, could always preserve the body of his bride, through which he wrought miracles, without the condiment of balsam, as he wished. Which the aforesaid land-dwellers noting, the messengers having returned (who by God's nod could not find balsam), they thought no more of embalming the sacred body, and left its preservation to the work of their Creator. ^f

[82] Though many wonders of this most sacred Virgin have been mentioned above, Hastening to kill his enemy lest I should seem to wish to pass over her great sanctity with swift foot, I shall narrate certain miracles performed by the Virgin herself after her death. A certain devout woman, and, on account of the astonishing miracles she had seen, full of sweet wonder, while she was returning from the castle of Montepulciano and going to a nearby castle called Monticello, met a certain neighbor of hers, who furious and wholly armed was hastening to take vengeance on his enemy. He, asking the said woman whence she came, she answered that she had been at Montepulciano, where in those days a certain holy Sister, called Agnes, had died, through whom God almighty was working infinite miracles. At whose words and the expression of the holy name of this kind Virgin, suddenly he, hearing Agnes's name he falls who appeared so terrible and cruel, fell to the ground; so stunned and weakened that it was necessary for workers called from nearby to carry him to the castle.

[83] Where, when no human remedy could profit such a divine stroke, the wretch, feeling himself consumed, it came to his mind to implore the help of her by whose powerful virtue he had been prostrated to the ground. Wherefore, while he revolved these things in his heart, behold, this happy Virgin, and promising better things to her appearing to him shining with wondrous light, appeared to him, and with her a most brilliant Angel. When the wretch suddenly beheld her, and with desirous affection asked her salutary help, it seemed that the holy Agnes, turning her back, would wholly not grant him any grace. But he persevering with great insistence, the Angel who accompanied her, answering, said: "Therefore the holy Virgin will not hear your petitions, because you still have the purpose of killing your enemy, on account of which yesterday by her power you were miraculously humbled to the ground. Whence if through her intercession you wish to be restored to former health, faithfully promise her that you will lay aside all hatred, he is healed and restores peace to his enemy and will make perfect peace with your enemy." At once the vision disappeared, and that unhappy sick man returned to himself: and, such a vow being sent forth, his lost strength returned, so that on the same day he went on foot to his enemy, who was distant from the place by thirty-two miles. Coming to him and prostrating himself on the ground, throwing down his arms and kissing him with a sweet embrace, he narrated the divine miracle of this sacred Virgin: and all injury being forgiven, they established perpetual peace between themselves.

[84] A certain woman, when she was in the bath, of which mention was made above, with a certain small nephew of hers, a boy submerged in the bath withdrawing a little from the said bath, the aforesaid boy incautiously descending into the waters of the bath, was submerged. When the afflicted woman learned this, since the admirable virtues of this kind Virgin came to her memory, at once devoutly and with faithful heart she commended her nephew to her, a vow being made, that if she restored him to the lost life, she would lead the boy to her monastery, and make manifest to all the miracle performed. O wondrous piety of this sacred Virgin! The vow sent forth, the boy rose alive, and the woman joyfully receiving him alive and whole, he is raised to life the vow completed, before a public Notary and suitable witnesses ^h, faithfully made known the obtained miracle.

NOTES.

CHAPTER X.

Miraculous cures obtained through Saint Agnes. Those freed from demon or chains.

[85] A certain young man, by name Meus, from a castle ^a called Asciano in the county of Siena, when he had climbed upon a ladder, incautiously leaned against a weak branch of a certain pear tree, that he might gather fruit, and had come to the topmost steps of the ladder; ^b Fallen from a high tree the branch being broken, not able to bear so much weight, he suddenly fell to the ground; and struck by the ladder and the aforesaid branch, he lay as if lifeless on the ground. His mother, who was a widow and to whom this only son was thus presented, was oppressed with such grief that with her loudest cries and most intense weeping she moved the bystanders to groans and tears. After her tears poured out, very weakened and afflicted, reclining her head near a close wall and resting a little, suddenly this sacred Virgin appeared to her, and after most pious words admonished her that she should faithfully commend her son to her. At which vision the grieving mother waking, devoutly commending her son at once to the holy Virgin, and commended by his mother to Agnes a vow being made that together with him she would visit her Relics with a decent oblation, suddenly he, who deprived of motion and sense had lain before his mother, not without the great joy and wonder of the bystanders, rose by himself from the ground, and every wound and bone fracture, without any natural remedy intervening, were so consolidated and healed, he rises whole from every wound that within four days he returned whole and safe to his accustomed occupations.

[86] Something similar happened in a certain castle of the county of Siena, called Castiglione: for a boy, falling to earth from a certain bridge sixteen cubits high, was brought half-dead to his mother: likewise one boy from a bridge who, a vow being made that, together with her son, barefoot, she would visit the sacred Relics of Blessed Agnes, and would surround the altar with a silver thread, and would offer an image of her son, in a short space of time received him fully healed from every blow, whole. In a village of the county of Montepulciano, called Graziano-Vetus, a certain boy named Guido, ^e while returning home on an ass, fell so gravely from the ass that, brought home and reduced to extremes, they lit a candle for him according to custom, another thrown from an ass awaiting his passing. When his mother ^f saw this and feared her son's death, she vowed herself to visit the sacred Relics of the virgin Agnes together with the boy, if she obtained life from the Lord. This done, the boy suddenly recovered, and received full health at the convent.

[87] A certain Gratinus of Siena, a head wound and rupture of a vein gravely struck on the head by a certain enemy of his, when by the physician who had undertaken his cure a certain bone was incautiously extracted from his head, the vein of the head was opened. Which, because of the copious flowing blood, he was unable to heal by his art, and despairing of his life, was left by the same physician. Seeing which, his parents, who sad and mourning stood around the sick man, persuaded the sick one that with unwavering faith he should have recourse to the holy virgin Agnes, through whom the Omnipotent was working wonders. At whose words the sick man, compunct, with faithful heart commending himself to this kind Virgin, promised to visit her sacred body and to offer a waxen image, if from the Lord he obtained the life almost lost. it is healed Suddenly, to him falling asleep a little, the holy Virgin appeared, and consoling him promised that in a short time he would escape whole; and so with the vision retreating, the blood restrained itself, and the wound wondrously healed by itself, in a short space of time he was most perfectly freed. This miracle he attested with an oath, before a Notary and witnesses. ^g

[89] A grave fire is extinguished In a certain village of the county of Perugia, commonly ^h called Cugliano, through the carelessness of some a fire was kindled so that, human help failing, all the inhabitants of the whole village awaited the final consumption. Seeing this, certain timorous men, with humble prayer implored the help of Blessed Agnes, promising to visit her Relics. This done, the fire so restrained its force, that all clearly perceived that a certain divine power had opposed itself to that conflagration. Whence the inhabitants of the aforesaid village, seeing that in a short time the fire had been extinguished, recognizing the miracle, gave immense thanks alike to God and to Blessed Agnes.

[90] Very many other miracles, of which there exist public instruments subscribed by the hand of Notaries, three blind women and two blind men are given light we shall narrate in brief summary, to avoid tedious prolixity. A certain woman, who for eighteen years had been deprived of the light of her left eye, coming to the church of Blessed Agnes, devoutly touching the sick eye with a veil which had touched the sacred Relics, was suddenly given light. A similar benefit

was granted by her to another woman, who had been blind for six months. Similar things befell a third woman, and likewise two men who had lost the use of their eyes. Very many other miracles were performed at the invocation of the holy Virgin: among which we refer many in brief compendium, for the brevity of readers.

A certain woman, after a cesarean delivery, having been reduced to extreme weakness and despairing of life, was returned to health by the merits of Blessed Agnes. A certain man, who for many years had suffered from a grievous tumor in the throat, was freed by her. Various others, tormented by fevers, ulcers, paralysis, or other grave illnesses, obtained health through her intercession. Some whose limbs had been maimed or contorted received the use of them again. Children who had died, or seemed to have died, were restored to life and given back to their weeping mothers. Those oppressed by demons were freed, those bound in chains were released, those in danger of shipwreck or captivity were rescued through her prayers.

A certain religious man, of the Order of Preachers, vexed by continual headaches for many years, invoked Blessed Agnes, and was at once made whole. Another, afflicted with a grievous wound from which he could not be cured by any human art, upon making a vow to visit her tomb, received sudden healing. A woman suffering from a flow of blood, to whom physicians had said they could give no remedy, bathed her affliction with the oil from Agnes's lamp, and was immediately restored to health. Many other men and women, of diverse conditions, ages, and countries, received benefits through the intercession of this holy Virgin: whose deeds, if they should all be written, would require a most ample volume.

[91] In the county of Siena, in a certain place, a woman was delivered, after a long and difficult labor, by the invocation of Agnes. In Cortona, a boy who had fallen from a high window was found unhurt after his mother commended him to Agnes. In Perugia, one possessed by a demon was freed at the tomb of the Saint. In Arezzo, a man who had lost the use of his feet through paralysis, walked whole after the Saint appeared to him in a dream.

[92] Many also in their own lands, not able to come to Agnes's tomb, vowed to visit her church, and were at once liberated from their afflictions: and fulfilling their vows, gave public testimony to her sanctity. Some who were in prison, bound with chains, heard a voice bidding them to commend themselves to Agnes, and were set free. Others in tempests at sea, calling upon her name, saw the winds calm and the waves grow still. Fishermen and farmers, merchants and soldiers, nobles and commoners alike received graces from her hand, and filled the whole of Tuscany and the neighboring regions with her praises.

[93] Innumerable are the miracles which God almighty has worked and still works daily through this Blessed Virgin, for the confusion of unbelievers, for the consolation of the faithful, and for the manifestation of her own sanctity. We have related these few, lest we weary the reader: but those who wish more may consult the public records preserved in the archive of her monastery, where they will find not only these but many more attested by the hand of Notaries. Let us therefore praise God almighty, who is wondrous in his Saints, and let us invoke through the intercession of this Virgin his mercy upon us; so that we, who have heard her wondrous deeds, may imitate her holy manners, and may deserve to attain with her the eternal rewards, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns God, forever and ever. Amen.

NOTES.

ON BLESSED SIMON OF TODI, OF THE ORDER OF HERMITS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, AT BOLOGNA IN ITALY.

IN THE YEAR 1322.

Blessed Simon of Todi, of the Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine, at Bologna in Italy (B.)

By D. P.

[1] Todi, a city of Umbria situated on the Tiber, once flourishing by civil liberty, now subject to the Ecclesiastical dominion, has given to the Church and to the Augustinian Order many distinguished men, among whom is numbered Blessed Simon Rinalducci of Todi. The family of the Rinalducci His family is described by various writers as one of the most distinguished in the city of Todi, both for nobility and for piety. From his earliest youth he showed himself apt for letters and devoted to divine things; and having entered the Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine, in the convent of Todi, he so advanced in virtue and learning that in a short time he was held worthy of the highest offices of the Order.

[2] He fills various offices in the Order He taught sacred theology in various convents of the Order, namely at Todi, Perugia, Bologna, and elsewhere; and acquitted himself with such applause that his lectures were heard with the greatest attention by students flowing from every side. He was also Prior of several convents, and Provincial of the Roman province of his Order; and in these offices he so conducted himself that he was held as a model of religious discipline and prudence. His humility was such that he always considered himself the least of all; his obedience, such that he never resisted the command of superiors; his charity, such that he was dear to all, and sought by all for counsel and consolation.

[3] His preaching at Bologna At length he was sent to Bologna, where the Order had a great convent near the church of Saint James, and where he preached the word of God with such fervor and such fruit that he drew many to penance and to the reformation of their life. His sermons were filled with the unction of the Holy Spirit, and moved even the hardest hearts to compunction. He was especially zealous against the vices of the times, against usury, against strife, against the enticements of luxury; and he was heard with reverence by the magistrates and citizens of Bologna, who regarded him as a prophet of God.

[4] His death and burial At length, in the year 1322, on April 20, worn out with labors and penances, he rendered his soul to God in the convent of Bologna. His body was buried in the church of Saint James, where it is honored to this day with great veneration by the faithful. Many miracles are said to have been wrought at his tomb: the sick were healed, the demoniacs were freed, those afflicted with various troubles received consolation and help. His cult, preserved by continuous tradition in the Augustinian Order and in the city of Bologna, was approved by the Holy See: and his memory is celebrated in the said Order and in the city of Bologna on the day of his death.

[5] Authors who treat of him Of this Blessed treat Torelli in his Secoli Agostiniani, Herrera in his Alphabetum Augustinianum, Augustine Bermegge in the Menology of the Order, Masini in Bologna perlustrata, and others. All agree in praising his sanctity, his learning, his preaching, and the miracles wrought by him. In the city of Todi his memory is also cherished, and the house in which he was born is held in veneration. His writings, if any remain, are few and less known; for he devoted himself chiefly to preaching and the direction of souls, rather than to the composition of books.

ON BLESSED JOHN, HERMIT OF MASSACCIO, IN PICENUM.

Blessed John, hermit of Massaccio, in Picenum (B.)

By D. P.

[1] In the province of Picenum, in the neighborhood of the town called Massaccio (now Cupramontana), in a mountainous and solitary place, lived Blessed John, hermit, whose memory is celebrated on April 20. Of his life and origin little is known with certainty; yet ancient tradition, preserved in the place where he lived, and the records of nearby churches, attest to his great sanctity and the miracles wrought through his intercession both in life and after death.

[2] His hermit life It is said that he was born of honest parents, and from his youth withdrew to solitude, that he might more freely serve God. He built himself a small cell in a remote place, and there spent his days and nights in prayer, fasting, and contemplation. He wore rough clothing, ate scanty food, and slept little, passing the greater part of his nights in vigils. His fame of sanctity, though he sought to hide it, spread to the surrounding villages; and many came to him for counsel and consolation.

[3] Miracles at his hermitage By his prayers the sick were healed, the possessed were freed, the afflicted were comforted. Some who came out of curiosity went away edified; some who came to mock departed converted; some who came for bodily help received also spiritual aid. He was a model of penance and of humility, and left behind him the odor of the sweetest sanctity.

[4] His death When full of years and merits, he rendered his soul to God, and was buried in his little cell; where afterwards a chapel was built in his honor, and the faithful came from diverse places to venerate his relics. Many miracles have been wrought at his tomb, of which some are preserved in the records of the churches nearby. His memory is celebrated on April 20, and he is held in veneration in the whole region of Picenum as one of its protectors.

ON VENERABLE DOMINIC LEONESIUS, OF THE ORDER OF FRIARS MINOR, AT URBINO IN ITALY.

Venerable Dominic Leonesius, of the Order of Friars Minor, at Urbino in Italy (Ven.)

By D. P.

[1] Urbino, the ancient and noble city of Umbria, once the seat of the Dukes of Montefeltro, then subject to the Ecclesiastical dominion, has had in every age distinguished men, both in arms and in letters, in civil and ecclesiastical matters. Among the ornaments of its sanctity is numbered Venerable Dominic Leonesius, of the Order of Friars Minor, who is commemorated on April 20.

[2] His origin and entry into the Order Dominic was born in a small town called Leonessa, whence his surname, in the province of the Kingdom of Naples. From his early youth he was drawn to divine things, and renouncing the world entered the Order of Friars Minor, of the Observant branch. There he distinguished himself by humility, obedience, and austerity of life; and was found worthy of the priesthood, which he exercised with much fruit for souls.

[3] His life and miracles He was a man of constant prayer, severe fasting, and great charity toward his neighbor. He served the sick with tenderness, consoled the afflicted, and preached the word of God with fervor. Many who heard him were moved to penance, and many came to him for spiritual direction. By his prayers also, various graces and miracles are said to have been obtained: the sick were healed, the demons were driven out, the troubled were comforted. He was especially famous for his gift of prophecy, by which he foretold many future things, which came to pass as he had said.

[4] His death and burial at Urbino At Urbino, at length, he ended his pious life on April 20, in a year whose exact date is uncertain, but is reckoned to the sixteenth century. His body was buried in the church of the Friars Minor at Urbino, where it is honored by the faithful; and on the anniversary of his death his memory is celebrated in the Order with devout remembrance. Although he has not been formally canonized by the Holy See, his cult, handed down by immemorial tradition, is respected both in the Order and in the city; and his name is inscribed in the catalogues of the saints and blessed of the Seraphic Order.

this sacred Virgin granted to a woman of Clancianum, and to two men who had become wholly blind. Another woman obtained a similar grace: having vowed to visit the sacred relics of the virgin Agnes barefoot, she was at once given light. ⁱ

[91] ^k I do not wish to extend myself in narrating the many miracles done for various cripples and lame persons, a cripple is made to stand which can easily be known if one examines the tablets and wax images hanging near her venerable body. We shall insert one however more wondrous and better known: that in the castle of Monticelli a certain well-known cripple named Peter, on account of a great contraction of bones and nerves, was so deprived of natural strength that he could walk only with great difficulty, and then with wooden crutches. When the fame of the wonders which the Lord was working through this kind Virgin had reached his ears, he resolved with firm faith to visit her sacred body. So as soon as he had entered the church in which the body of this sacred Virgin rested, so great was the virtue of this holy Virgin, that feeling every contracted bone and weakened nerve in himself raised up and strengthened, stupefied he knew himself perfectly healed: raising himself on high, and for joy and for so astonishing a miracle casting away his useless crutches, running and leaping he praised God and the holy Virgin continually.

[92] A certain man, an inhabitant of Cursignanum, ^l who had been deaf and mute from birth, learning through external signs of the wonders speech is restored to a man and a woman which the Lord was working through his bride, devoutly commending himself to her with firm faith, at once received the use of speech and hearing together. Wherefore, presenting himself before his own Priest, he confessed all his sins wholly, and with that same Priest visiting the sacred Relics of the Virgin, before a Notary and witnesses related so astonishing a miracle. ^m A certain woman, through a grave infirmity, lost the use of speech, so that on account of it she remained mute for fifteen years: who humbly commending herself to the Blessed Virgin, was at once restored to her former lost speech, giving thanks to God and the holy Virgin. ⁿ

[93] the same is taken away from one blaspheming Agnes's miracles No small argument of the most ample merit of this sacred Virgin is the following miracle: for in the castle of Montepulciano there was one ^o who not only did not believe the frequently recited miracles of this kind Virgin, but mocked them with a certain derision. Wherefore once passing near the church in which the body of the holy Virgin rests, and hearing the miracles that were occurring being told, he mocked them bitingly. After this, entering the church, with very loose laughter and cachinnation and with most vain words, he was most impudently detracting from the divine effects. and is restored to the penitent Wherefore the most just Lord, wishing to show how greatly such shameless mockery and rash contempt had displeased him, this wretched unbeliever, entering his own house, was suddenly by God's judgment deprived of speech. Wherefore compunct in himself, recognizing the committed fault, he devoutly and humbly implored the help of the holy Virgin herself, whom before he had proudly contemned irreverently. Frequenting then his prayers for three continuous days, and promising that he would never again loose his tongue to such nefarious uses, at length the most clement Virgin, bent by the divine vengeance made manifest, obtained his lost speech for him: whence it came to pass that he who had been a mocker of this kind Virgin became forthwith a most efficacious preacher of her glory.

[94] A certain man, an inhabitant of Monte-Alto, the possessed are freed had a son whom from tender age malign spirits so agitated that in no way could he look at the image of any Saint, nor remain in church when divine things were being celebrated. Hearing about this, his parents, learning of the wondrous virtues which the Lord was working through this sacred Virgin, led the son thus vexed to the church of the aforesaid Virgin, and suddenly the malign spirit left the body it had so long possessed. [p] A certain woman [q] was so troubled by infernal spirits that unless she had been prevented, she would have killed herself many times: whence many times the demons, constrained by the sacred exorcisms, clamored that they could not go out of the body except by visiting the church of the Blessed virgin Agnes. and a possessed woman Wherefore her husband and kinsmen, awaiting the accustomed interval in which she was not vexed by the malign spirits, persuaded the said possessed woman to commend herself devoutly to the virgin Agnes, and to promise to visit her Relics. They carrying this out together, when they drew near the castle of Montepulciano, the malign spirits, foreseeing their expulsion, tried to impede the undertaking by monstrous acts; crying out with execrable voice that they could go no farther. Wherefore the accompanying kinsmen, further strengthened, brought her violently into the church, and she was at once fully freed from the vexation of the malign spirits.

[95] Not less worthy of memory and of imitable example for most honest women is what I intend to narrate. A spell cast on a pure woman is dissolved There was in the county of Perugia a certain most chaste young woman, of whose beauty and graceful aspect a certain wicked and nefarious Priest, captured by love, seeing every attempted effort ineffectual to overcome her constant purpose, and wishing wholly to satisfy his unbridled desire, by such diabolical art, through the mediation of a certain other sacrilegious Priest, so afflicted the said young woman, that through bestial and impudent acts presented to her imagination, she was reckoned by almost all as insane and crazed because of her unaccustomed acts: wherefore her husband, [r] sorrowing for her infirmity, sought opportune remedies from every side. He therefore vowed a vow to Blessed virgin Agnes, that if she by her most holy prayer would free his most sweet consort from so miserable a case, magnifying the divine miracle, they would together devoutly visit her Relics, reckoning this above all as the chief and singular remedy. The vow being made, little by little the infernal wickedness began to fail, and in a brief space of time she was wholly freed by the merits of Blessed Agnes.

[96] A certain man, [s] an inhabitant of the city called Grosseto, captured in war by the Counts of [t] Santa Fiora, under a ransom of one hundred fifty florins, condemned to a dire prison and the harshest torments, finding no other refuge in such anguish than with tears to implore the most clement Lord, a Grosseto citizen is released from prison through the mediation of this sacred Virgin; since her most holy name was unknown to him, he most fervently besought God that he would deign to reveal to him the said name, fearing because of this not to be heard. On the following night, while he was resting in sleep, Blessed Agnes appeared to him, all splendid, and made her name known to him, sweetly admonishing him that if he would promise to visit her Relics, he would at once be freed. Waking the devout man, a vow suddenly sent forth, every harsh chain was miraculously broken, and the door opened, and free he escaped safe from the hands of his enemies: wherefore, according to the faith promised, visiting the sacred body of the Virgin, without doubt he recognized that she was truly the holy Agnes who had appeared to him placed in prison, and who had led him miraculously out of that dark prison.

[97] Another, [u] on account of a homicide committed, being led to Arezzo to be punished with death, devoutly commended himself to the virgin Agnes. On the following night, before he came to the aforesaid city, and a certain man guilty of death from his chains the blessed Virgin appearing to him said: "After, son, you have commended yourself to me, in no way fear death: but as soon as with the armed guards you shall be near the castle called [x] Plebs, all the chains by which you are bound being broken by divine virtue, you shall flee to a nearby ruined house: in which the guards, blinded, not finding you, shall return empty home." All which things, as had been shown to him, were fulfilled. A similar thing also happened to a certain Perugian, who when he was enclosed in a dark prison and at the bottom of a certain tower, likewise another imprisoned man because of a certain crime committed by him, and was soon to undergo a capital sentence, devoutly invoked the blessed Mother of God for his help. The blessed Mother of God Mary appeared to him the following night, admonishing that he should invoke the help of blessed Agnes, because the Lord had arranged to adorn her with multiple miracles. But the captive, waking, at once promised to this sacred Virgin (whose name he had known only in the vision), if by her merits he should be freed from such danger, he would serve her church forever. The vow made, suddenly he found himself outside the prison, freed from the hard chains and fetters. [y]

[98] God almighty, wishing in every degree to adorn this his handmaid, cured: an insane woman manifested his powerful virtue through her in a certain incurable and desperate insanity. For a certain woman of Arezzo, [z] who, except for a certain lucid interval, was utterly deprived of the use of reason, devoutly commending herself to Blessed Agnes, with her interior senses strengthened, was fully healed. Among others also through the merits of this kind Virgin, ten persons were freed from the horrible disease of epilepsy. ten epileptics A certain woman, vehemently afflicted with the pains of pleurisy, imploring the help of Blessed Agnes and of Christina the Virgins, a pleuritic woman whom she venerated with the highest devotion, both appearing to her in a vision, Blessed Christina, as it seemed to her, after a long contention, said that she had obtained from the Lord that she should obtain help from Agnes. Whence to the sick woman's breast gently uncovered, on the place of pain the holy Agnes placed her hand, saying: "Be strengthened, daughter; for you shall be fully whole." A wondrous thing. With such a vision disappearing, that devout woman was fully healed, so that thereafter she felt no pain in that place. [w]

NOTES.

ANALECTA

Chiefly from the Italian of Brother Laurence.

Agnes of Montepulciano, of the Order of Saint Dominic, in Etruria (St.)

BY D. P.

CHAPTER I.

Certain other miracles.

[1] Ambrogio Taegius here making an end, and probably because he found nothing further in the Montepulciano manuscript (as neither does Laurence of Surdini Mariani appear to have found, keeping the same order of miracles as is here preserved), was preparing to add a conclusion about a certain astonishing miracle, unheard-of in our times; beginning thus: "Now putting an end to the ancient miracles, A miracle of the year 1500 is wanting I intend to narrate only one wondrous thing, which Christ Jesus, Spouse of Virgins, that he might kindle the cold hearts of mortals in devotion to his most beloved Bride, willed to show to our times many times, in the year of the Lord 1510, and singularly on the last day of January and on February 27 for those present." Thus far Taegius: to him wishing to write the rest, some unforeseen impediment then happened to object itself; afterwards it escaped memory to continue the interrupted narrative, to the greater damage of history, because of those things he was preparing to narrate no Instruments seem to have been drawn up, by whose benefit Surdini could have recalled them. It pleased however not to hide this initial fragment, lest by chance sometime from such an indication the rest be found, to be given in Supplement. Now we here collect a few other ancient miracles, which either Brother Raymond did not touch or Taegius in transcribing passed over, as they are recited by Laurence of Surdini in Italian.

[2] Various lame are healed A certain woman of Montepulciano named Rosa, so weak in her feet that she could not walk without crutches, by invoking Blessed Agnes obtained the grace of free walking, and before she went out of the church handed her crutches to Brother Bartholomew, Prior and Confessor of the convent, and returned home free with thanksgiving. Another, also a Montepulciano citizen, named Milia, with oath affirmed that her son, for many years maimed in feet, by a vow made by her to Saint Agnes, suddenly obtained health. In the same way was healed another woman, to whom a certain infirmity of the shin had taken away the faculty of walking. A certain Cortona smith, called Brucciarellus, with similar success made a vow to offer a waxen image at the body of Blessed Agnes for his little son, contracted in the nerves of his feet and shins. Angelus of Montepulciano, reduced by contraction of nerves to such a state that he could not even help his step by crutches, and finding himself for a whole month deprived of speech, vowed some pounds of wax, and was at once restored to former health: who soon, as also a certain Mendus from the neighborhood of Montepulciano, freed from a similar trouble of the shins by vowing a twisted wax candle, gave witness by public instrument before Notary and witnesses of the miracle done in their persons.

[3] likewise a mute woman A certain Mancuccia, mute for the eighteenth month, coming with great faith to Montepulciano to visit the body of Blessed Agnes, suddenly obtained the grace of ready speech; and she made it public by an instrument drawn up about it. Hither also pertains the testimony of Father Robert Bellarmine of the Society of Jesus, afterwards Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, and a preacher made mute by sorcery writing thus in a certain letter to Dominicus Danesius: "I can be a witness to a notable miracle, which happened in my childhood in our city (for Bellarmine was a native of Montepulciano) which I do not know whether it has been committed to writing by anyone. The sum is this. A certain very pious man of the Order of Preachers was preaching in the cathedral church through Lent: but certain nefarious men by magic incantations brought it about that when he mounted the pulpit, immediately his voice failed him. At length, a vow having been made to Saint Agnes, the incantations were detected, and his voice restored. I myself saw him in the pulpit once and again, when he could speak in no way; and a little after I heard the same, when in the church of Saint Agnes with clearest voice he gave a most splendid sermon on the praises of the same Blessed Virgin to the people, and at the same time narrated the miracle and fulfilled his vows." Bellarmine was born in the year of the Christian Era 1543, entered our Society in the 18th year of his age; in the year 1576 returning from Belgium to Italy, at length in 1599 sic: 1599 he was created Cardinal: from which the time both of the miracle done and of the testimony written can easily be judged.

[4] to a friend's vow A certain native of the Aretine county, from the castle called Laterina, named Blancuccius, captured by Count Aginolfus, was enclosed within a deep tower, with guards placed in addition. There being much doubt among his kinsmen about his safety, a certain one of them named Cambius vowed, if he should recover his friend safe, to lead him to Montepulciano. the absent captive is freed At that same instant he felt his chains loosed by an invisible hand, and saw the lesser gate of the said tower opened to him of itself, through which going out, most swiftly he hastened to his house, about to narrate the miracle that had happened to him: when Cambius met him, and with great stupor embracing his friend asked at what hour he had left the tower. And when he had learned that it was at the same hour at which he had made his vow, many other graces are obtained both together went to the church of Saint Agnes, and there with their oath before witnesses attested the miracle they were narrating. It is found besides that Blessed Agnes freed various from dropsy, acute fevers, and diverse diseases: likewise from fires, floods, and other such cases, which it has not seemed good to enumerate one by one, both lest prolixity about things not very great, if compared with the earlier ones, cause tedium, and because they are not, like these, attested and strengthened by authentic writings.

CHAPTER II.

The honor shown to the sacred body and variously augmented.

[5] In the year 1354, since the Italian peoples feared for themselves from the excessive power of the Visconti of Milan, the confederates of Lombardy entered with the cities of Etruria into a society of arms; to which were added the Venetians, Paduans, Veronese, Mantuans, and Ferrarese; and they persuaded Charles IV the Emperor to come with an army into Italy, which he did on October 14 of the above-mentioned year. Then the following year, making his journey through Etruria toward Rome, on April 20 he took dinner at Montepulciano, with Jacob and Nicholas Cavalieri then holding affairs there, and he granted various privileges to the place, as even now may be read in the book called "Copparum." But since that very day, by now established custom, was very festive to the citizens, celebrating the passing of Blessed Agnes from this world, and her body ought to be shown to the people, it was judged expedient to inform the Emperor of this matter. The body being viewed, she herself opens her eyes It was most pleasing to the pious Emperor; who therefore with his whole retinue wished to be present at so solemn an action, and was present to his great benefit. For as soon as the coffer was opened, the Blessed also opened her own eyes and directed them to the Emperor: as is found extensively written in the appendix to the Life of the Blessed, written on parchment by the hand of Brother Raymond himself, as some will have it; others to whom the same character seems to be of both the Life and the appendix make the writer of both Vincent Marotta of Giffoni, Doctor of Laws, who described the Life of Blessed Agnes in hexameter and pentameter verses; the Appendix he begins thus: "As I read in certain very ancient chronicles, word for word, it is said," etc. This we could wish also were thus had.

[6] and wins him over to the Order of Preachers What the sacred Virgin then said interiorly in her heart to the Emperor, who so lovingly beheld him exteriorly, he knows who experienced it. If anyone wishes to consider with what affection thence he followed the Order of Preachers—from which some tried to make him more alien, importunately reviving the calumny about the poison which a rumor had spread as having been given to his grandfather Henry of Luxembourg under the sacred Host by his Confessor, a Religious of the said Order; a vain and most false rumor, yet so widely spread that the Cardinals had to write a letter to the Prelates of Germany on the assertion of the innocence of Brother Bernard of Montepulciano (whom some wrongly call of Montpellier)

have written), he who will consider these things will not without reason suspect that by that look the Blessed wished to excuse and at the same time commend her Order, and he is honored with gifts or to strengthen the constancy in loving and protecting it. The Emperor recognized the excellence of the favor done to him, and in turn gave various precious gifts to the church; among which were certain most beautiful arms, placed in a prominent spot near the altar of the Blessed, of which Brother Modestus Billiotti, Prior of the Montepulciano convent in 1562, testifies that he was told by Brother Peter of Pistoia, a very old man, that he remembered that discussion had often been had by those who had still seen the said arms there: but that they had been alienated because of the extreme want of the convent, with wars burning all around. To this visitation of the earthly Emperor may be added another, far more attested and more famous and more illustrious in miracles, about twenty-five years later, through Saint Catherine of Siena: but because it is fully described in the Life of the said Saint, by the same Raymond of Capua who wrote Agnes's Life as a young man, we refer the reader to it in number 195 on April 30.

[7] Indulgences are granted So great celebrity accrued to the church of Saint Agnes through the grace shown to the Emperor, as has been said, that Brother Augustine Bishop of Narni in 1357, by a bull beginning "Splendor paternae gloriae," with the consent of the diocesan Bishop, established forty days' Indulgences for all visiting the church of Saint Agnes. Then in the year 1380 Cardinal Galeotto Tarlati de Petramala, in the time of Urban VI, granted fuller indulgences of one hundred days for the feasts of Blessed Agnes, the Paschal days, the Marian and Apostolic solemnities, and also for Saint John the Baptist, Saint Lawrence, Saint Stephen, and every Sunday of Lent. Afterwards in an age closer to us, in 1531, Pope Paul III by word of mouth, through Cardinal Cervinus (afterwards Pope Marcellus), granted Plenary Indulgence to all who on the Kalends of May having duly confessed their sins and been refreshed by holy Communion devoutly poured prayers in the said church: even Plenary which Pope Pius IV renewed in similar manner through Cardinal John de Riccis in 1561. When in 1568 the Fathers of the Roman Province celebrated their Provincial Chapter at Montepulciano, Pius V granted that during that Chapter those going to the church would gain, as often as they went, seven years' and seven Lenten-period indulgences. Finally when I unworthy was established Prior of that convent in 1602, at the request of our Most Reverend Bishop Salustius Taurusius, Cardinal Taurusius obtained similar indulgences for April 20, to last for five years.

[8] The monastery which had been of Virgins This monastery of Saint Maria Novella, as it had been instituted by Saint Agnes for virgins consecrated to God, so it persevered until the times of Eugene IV; when on account of the continual wars through Tuscany, and the diminished piety of the people and the small number of nuns, it was judged that suitable discipline could not be kept in such a small number, nor the same conveniently augmented in those circumstances of the times. So through the Procurator General of the Order, Brother Jacob, the calamitous state of the monastery was laid before the Pope, it becomes a convent of Brothers in 1435 who on June 20 of the year 1435 ordered that the few who remained should be transferred to the convent of Saint Paul of Orvieto, and that the name of monastery being suppressed, it should become a convent of the Friars Preachers: to whom moreover in the following year the same Pope attributed the Hospital of Saint Peter with all its resources. A little before, the same Fathers had obtained from Pope Martin V the monastery of Saint Luke which had belonged to the Sacchitae nuns, in which Blessed Agnes had first been received, and had migrated into it; but because they found this place not very convenient for their uses, they obtained that they might cede it to the Confraternity of Saint Sebastian, which under that title in each year testifies the grateful memory of the benefit received.

[9] Since then the Preachers were already dwelling there, they began more solicitously to think about treating the body of Blessed Agnes more honorably; and to persuade the Community to decree some special ornament to be made for her. under them a new coffer is fabricated A great chest was made of walnut, more elegantly worked in the form of a tomb and gilded, within which the sacred body was placed; and above it a statue of the holy Virgin in Dominican habit: three keys also were made for the coffer, of which one remains with the Friars, the other two with the Community: the body is translated and so the translation was made from one side, where hitherto had lain so great a treasure, to the head of the church beneath the principal altar. Then in 1539 Cardinal Gaddus, by I know not what benefit owing to Blessed Agnes, sent through D. Francesco Bartoli several times a good sum of money the altar is adorned for the adornment of the aforesaid altar, of artificially carved wood, which he wished to be illuminated with gold: but death coming prematurely envied the completion of the illustrious work, which that it might rise more magnificently, also the community of Montepulciano for its part contributed no light sum for the stone bases to be placed under the work about to rise, as is seen even today.

[10] It happened that when on one occasion the aforesaid coffer was opened before the chief men of the town and many others assisting, the sacred body sweated blood: the body sweats blood which when some would not believe those reporting, again on the very day of Easter a bloody sweat broke out more copiously; nor was it doubted that it portended the warlike movements by which all Tuscany was about to be stirred. Don Dominic Danesi also affirms that he often heard Don Spinelli, the Bishop of the city, that his grandfather publicly narrated how in former times Montepulciano rebelled against the Sienese: on which account Charles VIII King of France, hastening to Naples (it was in the year 1494), stopped at Monte-fullonica, intending to send part of his army to investigate the cause of the rebellion and to punish the fault. Therefore the townsfolk, terrified with grave fear of the impending destruction, had the body of Blessed Agnes, which was remaining in its church outside the town, brought with fitting company of lights to the greater church: which lights being seen at the nearby castle of Monte-fullonica, the city is freed from danger of destruction seemed to the eyes of the King and the royal ministers almost innumerable, and gave the suspicion of great forces led to the defense of the place: wherefore the King, changing his plan, ordered the camps moved, with no trouble inflicted on the people of Montepulciano. Many other similar things are reported, which, since they rest on common tradition alone, I thought should be passed over; lest the authority of things hitherto said, which are had either from authentic writings or from witnesses above all exception, should be detracted from by the admixture of such less certain narratives.

CHAPTER III.

The proper Feast and Office of Blessed Agnes obtained from the Apostolic See.

[11] There persevered in this way among the Montepulciano people a great esteem for the sanctity of Blessed Agnes, and on the Kalends of May each year an innumerable multitude of men gathered to behold and venerate the incorrupt body: yet among the divine offices of that day, to which she gave the chief celebrity, her name was not heard. Therefore Brother Angelo of Diaccetto, then Roman Provincial, afterwards Bishop of Fiesole, as he was most devoutly affected toward Blessed Agnes, obtained from the Pope the following Brief:

"To the beloved sons the Prior and Brothers of the House of the Order of Friars Preachers, Clement VII indulges the Montepulciano people and to the University and men of Montepulciano, of no diocese. Pope Clement VII, greeting and Apostolic benediction. The Roman Pontiff, Vicar of our Savior Lord Jesus Christ, is disposed to celebrate with distinguished praises and venerate with spiritual honors the elect of the same Lord, whom the purity of life and excellence of merits commend: that Christ's faithful, invoking them and aided by their prayers and merits, may more easily merit to become partakers of the heavenly kingdom. You have recently caused it to be explained to us, that since Blessed (as is piously believed) Agnes of Montepulciano, a nun of the Order of Saint Augustine under the care of the Friars Preachers, while she lived in human affairs, shone greatly by exemplary life, by the odor of good fame and holiness, and also even now in the house of the Order of the same Friars of the town of Montepulciano, of no diocese, in which she is buried, the Most High cooperating, shines with very many miracles: and therefore you desire, that they may make a feast and office of Saint Agnes for the praise and glory of the divine name, to honor and venerate the same Blessed Agnes, for whom you have a singular affection of devotion, although she has not yet been reckoned among the Saints and canonized. We therefore, who willingly incite individual faithful to acts of devotion, inclined to your supplications in this part, concede and indulge to you, by Apostolic authority, by the tenor of these presents, that you may freely and lawfully venerate and honor the said Blessed Agnes, although not canonized, privately and publicly and solemnly, in the church of the house of the said Order and in the other churches of the said town, and in the said town only, and celebrate a proper Office of her and make a solemn feast; notwithstanding Apostolic ordinances and other contrary matters whatsoever. Given at Rome, at Saint Peter's, under the ring of the Fisherman, on the 28th day of May, 1532, in the 9th year of our Pontificate."

[12] By virtue of such an indulgence the proper feast of Blessed Agnes began to be celebrated with the office of the Common of Virgins, and this was done until the year 1593, in 1593 proper Lessons were composed when it seemed more convenient that proper Lessons of the Blessed should be composed from her Life: which when they were proposed to the sacred Congregation of Rites by the Reverend Father Brother Augustine of Montalcino, Master of Theology, on behalf of the Order; and on behalf of the Montepulciano Clergy, by Don Dominic Danesi, Apostolic Protonotary; and had been read in the Congregation on October 24, the care of examining them more accurately was committed to the Reverend Father Robert Bellarmine, then still a Priest of the Society of Jesus, who faithfully discharged the task imposed on him, and reported his opinion in these words: "I Robert Bellarmine testify that I have examined these Lessons and found them true in every part." Nonetheless the aforesaid Congregation, deliberating again on these, on November 14 committed to Cardinal Gesualdo that he should write to the very Illustrious and Reverend Don Spinelli, Bishop of Montepulciano, that he should compare the said Lessons with the Life of the Blessed existing on parchment with the Dominican Fathers, and if he should find them in all things conformed to it, he should take care to report this to the sacred Congregation: which when he had done in the year 1594 on May 17, and also added his own supplication for the approval of the same; in 1594 they are shortened once they were read again by the Congregation, and when the aforesaid Robert Bellarmine had shortened them (having been judged too prolix), he said: "I testify that these Lessons, previously examined diligently by me, have now also been made briefer, a third part at least having been removed."

[13] At length, since even so they seemed too prolix, Don Antonio Viperano, a most eloquent man, and again then by chance at Rome to visit the Apostolic thresholds, at the request of Cardinal Gesualdo, shortened them further, and in this form on August 30 the Congregation of Sacred Rites judged that it could be granted to the Canons and Clergy

of the Cathedral Church of the city of Montepulciano, that on the feast of Blessed Agnes the Virgin, which by the indulgence of Pope Clement VII of happy memory is celebrated on April 20 under the rite of a Double office, they might recite the three Lessons inscribed above, taken from the History of the same Blessed Agnes the Virgin, examined and approved by the sacred Congregation. In similar tenor the Congregation judged that the Fathers Preachers of the said city might be permitted the nine Lessons and are approved by the Congregation of Rites which they had composed for themselves privately according to the rite of their own Breviary; and consequently a Brief of Clement VIII was drawn up on October 18 of the year 1594 concerning this concession. But the Pro-secretary of the said Congregation, Rutilio Gallicinus Familiarius, often asked by Bellarmine and Danesi, gathered the whole progress of the business, and from the authentic writings preserved with Cardinal Gesualdo, described it with his own hand, and concluded in this way:

[14] "There is therefore for you, citizens of Montepulciano, something over which you may wonderfully rejoice; not indeed over other goods in which you abound, earthly indeed and about to pass away in a short time; but on account of this most blessed Virgin, your citizen and patroness, with whose precious body you are enriched. The people of Montepulciano, distinguished by the fame of sanctity Your city will indeed have on the last day (to use the words of Saint John Chrysostom) a rose to send to Christ: yet not this rose alone, but many others—namely Blessed John and Bartholomew, both from the Martinotia family, renowned Martyrs of Christ; and another Bartholomew Pucci Francesco, Franciscus Petrigorius, Jerome Paganuccius, and Angelinus Danesius, all from the most illustrious family of Saint Francis. It will also send other roses, namely Brother Philip the Augustinian Martyr, Brother Jacob once Bishop of Diatagora in the city of Persia of the Order of Preachers, Brother Nicholas the Jesuate, and Bartholomew Taurusius a secular; by whose exceptional sanctity your city is most illustrated. O happy you! to whom by the highest benefit of God it has happened to have so many athletes of Christ, so many leaders, so many illustrious witnesses of your piety and religion. We know that many other men, conspicuous in innocence and holiness of life, whose names are written in the book of life, have come forth from your same city; but it is not our purpose here to enumerate all, being especially engaged in another matter. You, I say, blessed and happy! But you will be much happier if, as you are strenuously doing, you shall model your manners on the most distinguished life of your citizens whom we have enumerated: so that following their footsteps, you may deserve at last to enjoy their fellowship in heaven. Amen."

[15] This conclusion of the said process (though not making much to the point of what we are about here) it has pleased us to produce entire; so that if the citizens of Montepulciano, after they shall have read what we have written, could and would supply something concerning the life, miracles, and cult of those whom the Pro-secretary of the Congregation of Rites (who ought best to have known whether and how the title of Blessed can be given to anyone before the judgment of the Roman church) thus full-mouthed calls Blessed, they may take care to supply it to us, to be inserted in this work. John de Martinotiis is reported to have suffered martyrdom at Cairo in 1545, referred to April 15 in the Franciscan Martyrology, of whom some are inscribed in the Franciscan Martyrology and Brother Laurence in chapter 1 of his work on Blessed Agnes writes that his effigy as a Martyr is seen among the people of Montepulciano in the church of Saint Francis, and another in Santa Maria at the fountain of the castle; and there also he gives some notice of most of those here recalled. Bartholomew, of the same family as the aforesaid John, about a hundred years before preceded him to the crown, namely in 1353, and is named in the said Martyrology on April 30. Another Bartholomew, referred in the same to May 6, is said to have shone with miracles about the year 1320. Franciscus Petrigorius, an apostolic man, labored for thirty-eight years in Mexico, and died in 1578, named on July 29. Jerome went from the Observants to the Capuchins, and flourished at Ferrara about 1546, to whom is ascribed January 23: as also June 16 to Angelinus as a Tertiary, whose image set up in the public hall at public expense is inscribed with an elogium saying that he received as his guest Don Francesco, often coming to Montepulciano. We justly fear that Arturus, the author of the Franciscan Martyrology, may have chosen the day for all these at his own discretion, and therefore we have referred them among the Omitted and shall refer them further, unless we be more certainly informed of some ecclesiastical cult passing beyond the bounds of private veneration, and of the day of that cult.

[16] About the others Brother Laurence suggests these things. Philip flourished about the year 1359, others are praised elsewhere and performed martyrdom in Spain, in which regard his effigy is seen painted on ancient church banners at Montepulciano and Pisa: but he has no cult in the Augustinian Order, and not even a name among Spanish writers. Jacob the Bishop is praised in the year 1332 by writers of his Order, as famous for miracles: but nothing is added about the year and day of his death, nor about any cult of him. The Life of Brother Nicholas the Jesuate is said to have been written by Paul Morigi, which has not yet come to our hands, and so we can decide nothing about it: he flourished about the year 1479. Finally, Laurence says that among the Bishop of Montepulciano Salustius Taurusius some monuments are extant about the sanctity of Bartholomew, born of the same family: which, if they prove a cult, we will gladly give him a place in this work. To the aforementioned add, if it please, two most distinguished lights of the Roman Purple, once shining on earth, now, as we piously believe, glowing in heaven: Cardinal Robert de Nobilibus, the author of founding a college of the Society in his homeland, in which as it was always his wish to live, so he deserved to die most piously in the year 1559, January 17, adorned with a worthy elogium in our Histories part 2 book 3 number 1 and following; and Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, most distinguished in birth, writings, and virtues, who died in the year 1621 on September 17, whose Life, written in Italian by James Fuligattus and rendered into Latin by Silvester Petrasancta, when our work reaches that month, the ardent zeal of the most Eminent Cardinals for his canonization makes us hope to have inserted into it.

CHAPTER IV.

Extension of the Office to the whole Order of Preachers.

[17] It remained that the grace granted to the Montepulciano people should become common to the whole Order of Preachers: and the particular affection of Clement VIII toward the Order persuaded that this could be obtained not so difficultly, At the intercession of Henry IV King of France by whom he had inscribed Saint Hyacinth and Saint Raymond to the catalogue of the Saints, the latter to be venerated on January 7, the former on August 16. Therefore Eleanor of Bourbon, who had once been Prioress under the rule of the Friars Preachers and was most devoutly affected to Blessed Agnes, the Fathers used as intercessor with her nephew Henry IV King of France; while she herself solicited the Pope, answer was given to the King in favor of the Order, in the following letter, which can in a manner be had as the Bull of Beatification.

"To our dearest son in Christ Henry, most Christian King of the Franks, Pope Clement VIII. Dearest son in Christ, greeting and Apostolic benediction. That most ardent zeal, which (as was signified to us and to the Apostolic See by the Ambassador destined by your name, and in view of Eleanor of Bourbon, it is obtained and as was explained by our beloved son Cardinal Arnaldus Dossatus, his vicegerent in his absence) is vigorous in our beloved daughter in Christ Eleanor of Bourbon, General Abbess of the whole Order of Fontevraud of the Order of Saint Benedict, and your aunt, and once Prioress of the house or monastery of Prouilhe of the Order of Saint Dominic under the care of the Friars Preachers, for lauding Blessed (as is piously believed) Agnes of Montepulciano, professed of the same Order, as though by her own right demands that the admirable life of Blessed Agnes herself should be celebrated by all the Preaching professors of the said Order, in the whole Order, with the same feeling of soul and with a certain special cult.

[18] that as the faculty was conceded to the Montepulciano people When therefore of happy memory Pope Clement VII, our predecessor, had conceded and indulged to the Prior and Friars of the house of the said Order of Preachers and to the Community and men of the city of Montepulciano, then of the town of Montepulciano of no diocese, that they might venerate and honor the same Blessed Agnes, in the church of the said house in which she is buried and where with the Most High's cooperation she shone with many miracles, and in the other churches of the said city, and in that city only, privately and publicly and solemnly, of celebrating a feast and also celebrate a proper Office of her and make a solemn feast, freely and lawfully, by certain letters drawn up about this on the 28th day of May in the ninth year of his Pontificate; and most recently We, to the Prior and Friars whatsoever of the said Order of Preachers and of reciting the Office of Blessed Agnes dwelling in the said city of Montepulciano, that in the Office which they celebrate on April 20 under double rite, they might read and recite, freely and lawfully, nine Lessons in that same office, drawn from the Life of the said Blessed Agnes, and by our order proposed to our venerable brothers the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, of the Congregation of Sacred Rites, examined and by us approved, according to their rite, have also perpetually conceded and indulged—as is more fully contained in the said letters of our Predecessor, and in ours drawn up about this on October 18 of the year of the Lord 1594 in the third year of our Pontificate, in which the tenor of the said Lessons was inserted.

[19] We, who willingly invite each of Christ's faithful to acts of devotion, holding the tenor of the said individual letters, let the same be lawful to the whole Order as if they were inserted word for word in the present, as expressed, and by look and contemplation of our beloved Sons Francis Mary Taurusius and Caesar Baronius and Robert Bellarmine, called Presbyter Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, humbly supplicating us about this, from the opinion of the Cardinals placed over the said Congregation of Sacred Rites, the indulgence and concession of the said Predecessor, and his and our aforesaid letters, to all and individual houses of the said Order of Preachers of both sexes, existing in whatever parts of the world, by Apostolic authority, by the tenor of these presents, we perpetually extend and amplify; so that in all and individual churches of the houses of the said Order of Preachers, both of men and of women, existing in the universal world, publicly, solemnly, and privately, they may freely and lawfully venerate and honor the said Blessed Agnes, and celebrate a proper office of her on the said April 20, and make a solemn feast each year, also in Litanies, Masses, and other divine offices, with the said nine Lessons." by the indulgence of Clement VIII in 1601 Then after the Pope forbade anyone to presume to molest the Brothers or Nuns about these things; and ordered that copies of his letters legitimately subscribed should have the same trust as the original; he describes the Lessons word for word (which, because they are found printed in the Annals of Abraham Bzovius and in the Breviary of the Preachers,

it seems not at all necessary here to append), and so the Brief ends: "Given at Rome at Saint Peter's, under the ring of the Fisherman, on the 23rd of February 1601, in the 10th year of the Pontificate."

[20] "But that in the City, head of the world, where the sanctity of Blessed Agnes had been proved by such solemn testimony," says Brother Laurence pursuing these things, "the Pontifical indulgence might first be committed to execution, and this done most ornately, and this was done at Rome most solemnly on June 5 the Reverend Father Master Paul Picus of the Order of Preachers and Secretary in the Congregation of the Index took care that for the same time at which the General Chapter of the Order was to be celebrated at Rome for the election of the Master General, all things were prepared: and so on June 5 of the year already noted a most solemn festivity was instituted, at which were present the Cardinals Veronensis, Camerinus, Asculanus, Taurusius, Baronius, Dossatus, Antonianus, Bellarminus, Mantica, and Bonvisius, with the Mass being sung by Father Master Stephen Merius, Provincial of Languedoc and also Inquisitor of Avignon and Vicar General of the whole Order. The Latin oration was delivered by Father Bernardinus Stephonius of the Society of Jesus, which was not only given to the public for the memory of those present and the consolation of those absent, but was also augmented with very suitable commentaries by Brother Jerome de Cavaleriis, that fuller material might be furnished to those composing in succession other and other panegyric sermons of the same Saint. Finally Brother Angelo Crimilianensis proposed Theses directed to the honor of that Saint, at the defense of which the Cardinals Bellarmine and Taurusius were present."

[21] The joy of the new feast was then diffused throughout all Europe, and celebrated solemnly everywhere, but especially at Florence in the church of Saint Maria Novella, and at Florence for which, just as for our Montepulciano convent, I had obtained the indulgence proper to the feast, at the request of the Prior Thomas Philippi of Prato: where in a most elaborate procession the statue of the Blessed was carried around, together with particles of her viscera received from Montepulciano. At Montepulciano itself it was arranged, by the magnificent generosity of Don Guido de Nobilibus and at my suggestion, that the sacred body, whose soul, placed in heaven, we henceforth intended to invoke with more festivity, might also be seen on earth in greater glory, to be clothed in new silk garments, in which however the colors of the Order of Preachers, black and white, should be preserved, The body is clothed in new garments yet grace was added to them by gold worked through the garments by a skillful hand. These things were done by Don Salustius Taurusius our Bishop clothed in pontificals, on April 30, after he had consecrated the same habit with the ceremonies instituted for this: at which same action the chief Fathers of the convent, together with the said Bishop and me, put hand before a great multitude of people: which was present much more numerous on the following day, when we celebrated the feast of the Blessed.

[22] I also took care about the same time that on each part of our cloister, under the arched vault of the same, the life of the Blessed might be painted, The Life is painted around the cloister the assent having been previously obtained of those who were asked to contribute the expenses: in which, since the Cardinals of Montepulciano Taurusius and Bellarmine were conspicuous for special liberality, the first three arches, representing the infancy of the Blessed, were dedicated to Cardinal Taurusius; three others to Bellarmine, and in these were seen the Entry of Agnes into the monastery, the Apparition of the Mother of God handing her three little stones, and the Angel bringing Relics from the Holy Land: the remaining three, inscribed to Bishop Taurusius, renewed the memory of the heavenly manna falling upon the Blessed; of the Mother of God offering her son to be embraced, when she Agnes took the little cross from his neck; and of the meats changed into fish. Finally the twin frontispieces of that same side, adorned at the expense of Don Guido de Nobilibus and Don Julius Riccius, had, one the vision of the three ships, the other the miracle of the foot raising itself of its own accord to the kiss of Blessed Catherine of Siena. The other part of the cloister was similarly described under the vaults, but in such a way that individual arches were attributed to individual nobles: the first of which, after that which we said was Don Guido's, represents Agnes about to be clothed in the habit of the Dominican Order, and is Don Marcello Lorenzini's, because through his mother he refers his lineage to the Segni family, from which the Blessed herself is believed to have been born: the second of Don Monaldo Bellarmine exhibits the construction of the Montepulciano monastery with the vision of that prophetic ladder: the third of Don Asdrubale Aegidius represents the multiplication of loaves: the fourth of Don Ascanio Cervinus the raising of the infant suffocated in the bath: the fifth of Don Ascanio Mattioli, the conversion of water into wine; the sixth finally the liberation of the raging possessed man, which was of Don Francesco Fanti; as also that which is above the entrance of the Sacristy, where are seen flowers grown by divine virtue in the place where Agnes had knelt. And all these things were completed with the great approval of the whole city in the year 1603, by the hand of Ulysses Giocchi of Monte San Savino.

[23] It seemed fitting, moreover, that to the Most Excellent and Most Illustrious Donna Eleanor of Bourbon, A portion of the viscera is sent to Eleanor of Bourbon to whose intercession our whole Order owed this new happiness, we should in turn pay some monument of grateful mind. So since we had in the sacristy the viscera of Blessed Agnes, now dissolved into ashes, within a box whose sole key was in our power, with the permission of my Superiors asked for about this and obtained in writing, I transferred a part of the same sacred ashes into a pyx suitable for this, and directed it to the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Legate of France: through whom not long after I received the most humane reply of the said Lady, testifying her singular joy in the participation of such a treasure." Thus far Brother Laurence of Surdini Mariani, and with these things he concludes the Life written most faithfully in Italian tongue and more ornate style, Proper Collect and published at Florence in the year 1606; adding on the last page the Collect composed by Raymond of Capua, to be recited on the feast of Blessed Agnes or at any commemoration: which is such.

"O God, who hast made thy beautiful bride Agnes to flourish happily with special sanctity, wondrous virginity, and the grace of miracles, grant us, we beseech thee, in imitation of her always to give forth before thee the fragrance of the fruits of a virtuous life."

It pertains to the same Saint's glory that, as Father Master Nicolas Barberi has written to us, the veneration of this holy Virgin has been propagated even to the New World, the cult propagated to the New World where in the cities of Cusco, Angelopolis, and Santa Fe, on account of the great devotion of those peoples to Saint Agnes, monasteries are established under her name.

ON BLESSED SIMON OF TODI, OF THE ORDER OF THE HERMITS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE, AT BOLOGNA IN ITALY.

IN THE YEAR 1322.

Simon of Todi, of the Order of the Hermits of Saint Augustine, at Bologna in Italy (B.)

By D. P.

[1] The Augustinian Hermits, who until the year 1263 had their habitation outside the walls of Bologna, at the church of Saints Philip and James of Savena, as Thomas of Herrera proves in his Alphabet from the Pontifical Bulls directed there; in the following year migrated into the city, under the auspices of Octavianus Ubaldini, Bishop of Bologna and Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church; seventeen years before having attempted the same design without effect. There, houses and a tower having been bought in the year 1267 in the square of Saint Donatus, After his death most famous for miracles the foundations of a new shrine and church were laid: which at length having been completed in a beautiful structure in the year 1315, great celebrity was added through Blessed Simon of Todi, great in theological learning and preaching faculty, yet greater in sanctity. How great this was in his life, though scarcely any memorial of his life proves it, yet can be known from the miracles which followed his death, which, transcribed from the original instruments, the very Reverend Father Ludovicus Torellus, historiographer of the Hermit Order, sent to us; from whom, besides the volumes of the Annals partly already published, partly to be published, he has elogia of persons illustrious in sanctity, distributed in six centuries in Italian.

[2] Before we set forth these miracles arranged in our manner, repurged by the removal of the superfluities of formulas recurring over and over, in the Lives of the Brothers he is praised for his humble patience and reduced to a brevity suitable to this work, we must hear from Blessed Jordan of Saxony, book 2 On the Lives of the Brothers chapter 8, the elogium of the man, which alone remains as a monument of his living holiness: "Brother Simon of Todi, Lector, and formerly Prior Provincial, and local in many places, was a man of great reverence and sanctity. This man was gravely accused by certain rivals of his before the Prior General in the General Chapter, with me present, though he himself was absent: on account of which accusations, however so led forward, he endured many grave inconveniences and calumnious reproaches. But he, knowing that it is written: 'In your patience you shall possess your souls,' bore patiently all the grievances attempted and brought on him, because of him who for us suffered contumelies and terrors from his calumniators. Luke 21:19 He at length, sent to Bologna as a preacher, as gracious in speech, copiously instructed the people of God with the word of doctrine, and salutarily illustrated them with the example of his life. This man foretold his death in a public sermon, and so with a happy exit terminated his life, who also shone with several miracles." Thus far Jordan, who here bids it be appended how humility and patience strengthen charity and concord among the Brothers: "For," he says, "if the aforesaid Brother Simon of Todi had manfully set himself to defense, such a man as he was would have stirred his whole province, indeed a great part of the Order, and raised various disturbances."

[3] Joseph Pamphilus in his Chronicle wrote that he was Provincial of Umbria; who while living illustrated Umbria Umbria certainly he illustrated by his dwelling and as Lector. For John Baptist Possevinus in his book On the Blessed and Saints of Todi, in the elogium of this Blessed, testifies that "in the Augustinian Convent of Saint Praxedes of this city, is preserved a manuscript book on parchment, containing many sermons of this Blessed on the feasts of the Saints, full of learning and sanctity"; and Thomas Herrera says: "I read in the Roman archive an instrument on parchment, strengthened with a seal of white wax, of the year 1311, Indiction 8, the 27th day of May, in which Masseus, Bishop of Terni, hands over the church of Saint Bartholomew of Dursangnano, situated in the diocese or district of Terni, placed in a doubtful and solitary place, to the Friars Hermits of the Order of Blessed Augustine, of the Convent of Saint Peter of Tirlo of Terni, to be dwelt in by religious men, who there with the permission of their superiors might lead an eremitic and solitary life. And this he testifies to do chiefly at the prayers and grace of Brother Simon Rainalducci of Todi, Lector in the same order and dearest friend." Ughelli in Italia sacra names this Bishop Masseus, dying at Bologna and affirms that he showed his presence at the laying of the first stone of the Augustinian church at Spoleto, and that he sat in the see from the year 1297 to 1316. Moreover, as the living Simon won good for the Brothers of Todi, another like thing the people of Bologna can report as received by the merits of the same man now received into heaven,

for in the year 1323 the parish of Saint Cecilia fell to them and was united to their monastery, as Herrera writes: who, after having recounted various opinions of various writers about the year of his death, refutes them by the faith of the processes now about to be produced.

[4] where he is venerated as Blessed Then Herrera names the writers where he is venerated as Blessed by whom Simon is honored with the title of Blessed; and they are all of the Augustinian Order, except Possevinus mentioned above; and he testifies that his effigy shines with the splendors of the Blessed; and at the end laments that such a man, illustrious in so many miracles, through the poverty or carelessness of the Augustinian Religion has been neither inscribed to the catalogue of the Divines nor has his inscription been treated. To us it seems equally to be lamented, and much more to be wondered at, that with such a great frequency of miracles flowing copiously from his death onward upon infirm of every kind and condition, so that three Notaries had to be occupied in summarily receiving them; and the celebrity and fame of his sanctity suddenly diffused through all Italy, so that not only from the Bolognese territory, but also from Modena, Faenza, Florence, Milan, Reggio Emilia, and other more remote places they came, about to profess the grace received at his tomb in Bologna; it seems especially wondrous, I say, that none of the just mentioned from his contemporaries and familiars entered the thought of writing his Life, so that it might be left to the devout peoples and it might be known by posterity who that man was whose sanctity God so singularly illustrated.

[5] His feast, instituted not so much by any ecclesiastical decree as by popular piety, on the very day on which he died, April 20, by an annual feast, and with the body placed upon an altar in the years following was in the mouths and veneration of the crowd, as appears from number 60 and following. When and by what authority the body was elevated from the earth is committed to oblivion. This only we know from Antonio Paolo Masini (who in his Bologna perlustrata noted this day as an annual memorial to be recalled by the Bolognese), that the body of the Blessed man is preserved exposed to public cult above the altar of Saint Alexius, which belongs to the Orsini family. Torellus adds in his letter about these matters that the coffer is gilded and elegantly painted, whose head aptly closes a hole in the middle wall, and on either side these words are read: "HERE LIE THE BONES OF BLESSED SIMON OF TODI." The cult which had grown strong from his death was still more stirred up in these most recent times, when in the year 1666 the Most Eminent Jerome Cardinal Boncompagnus, Archbishop of Bologna, duly visited his body: for thereupon more frequent gifts were brought by various persons, and waxen and silver votive offerings, which are still seen hung at the altar; nor has a lit lamp ever ceased burning before it. So he.

[6] The miracles were signed in three instruments, drawn up at the same time: the first, written very hastily by the hand of Philip Papazon, has almost only the names of those cured, of the infirmities, and of the witnesses, How the miracles were recorded as though the notary, overwhelmed by the number (for he wrote more than seventy) was loath to explain at greater length the manner and reason of the miracle: two others, signed by the hand of Alberto Anselmi and John de Manelli, will more fully satisfy the reader: yet we shall set forth all in the same order in which they were sent to us, leaving to the judgment of the readers whether they wish to skip the first four chapters touched lightly on, or to unroll the latter three first. There are those who count four Processes: but what to them is the fourth, seems to us rather an appendix to the third, as being by the hand of the same Notary without notarial signature; perhaps because the intention was to await more things to be written, and then at last to reduce them all together into the form of a public instrument, as those are reduced which are contained in the six first chapters here.

MIRACLES

From the authentic manuscript processes.

Simon of Todi, of the Order of the Hermits of Saint Augustine, at Bologna in Italy (B.)

BHL Number: 0000

FROM A MANUSCRIPT PROCESS.

CHAPTER I.

Miracles done on the three days nearest the death of Blessed Simon.

[7] Miracles done on April 20 and 21 "In the name of Christ. Amen. In the year of the same Lord 1322, in the fifth Indiction, on the twentieth day of the month of April, Blessed Brother Simon of Todi, of the Order of Friars Hermits of Saint Augustine, died in the city of Bologna: by whose virtues and merits, after his death, many miracles and signs appeared in the same city of Bologna. But on the very day on which he died and the following, no miracles were written down; because in the church of Saint James of the Strada of Saint Donatus of Bologna, of the said Friars Hermits, there was such a multitude of people and such a clamor, that scarcely could one understand another, and blessed was the one who could touch his body. And they tore all his clothes from him: and from devotion to his body, blessed was he who could have some of his clothing. because of the confusion of people flowing to the body they could not be written And this lasted for those two days. After this, the following night, the Brothers seeing that they could not sustain so great a labor, sent for some of the major and better men of the aforesaid city, by whose counsel and help they caused the body of the said Brother Simon to be buried: which they could not have done without the power of those good men. And afterwards the day coming, the miracles and signs written below appeared, written by me Philip, son of the late Alberto Papazon, Notary deputed to this, in the months and days written below, as is contained below."

[8] On April 22, a certain woman named Thomasina, daughter of the late John of San Marino, who now dwells at Bologna in the parish of Saint Proculus, in the district of Miralsolis, A blind boy is cured said and by sacrament affirmed that for a full four months she had not seen the light; and had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his merits and virtue was freed. These things were done at Bologna in the said church of Saint James, in the presence of the Lords Alberto Anselmi Notary, Peter de Saladinis, and Brother Angelo of Naples and several other witnesses called and asked for these things. And in this way the individual miracles are signed with three or four names of those who attended the deposition; whose attestation, since it makes nothing for rendering the miracle itself more certain, it seems superfluous to add this formula "These things were done" and the names of those present to each miracle: and we shall set them out hereafter consequently, adding only those witnesses of the deed itself, who deposed together about the same miracle.

[9] On the same day, a certain woman, named Lucia Aymerici, of Marano in the county of Bologna, said and by her oath affirmed that she was impeded and contracted below the waist, so that she could not walk except with a staff, now for three years or thereabouts; a contracted woman and had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his merits and virtue was freed. A certain woman, named Donna Billixena, daughter of the late Peter Pexalana, of the parish of Saint Leonard, said a certain woman's arm that for a good sixteen years she had had and was having her right arm dry and stiffened; and from said time onward she could not help herself with the said arm; and from the great devotion she had in Blessed Simon, by his merits she was freed. A certain woman named Oliva, daughter of Barnabas and wife of Betinus Guidolinus, of the parish of Saint Leonard, said a weak foot that she suffered in her foot a great illness, so that she could not walk, and had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his virtue and merits was freed from her infirmity.

[10] one deprived of walking A certain woman, named Catherine, daughter of Ymelda, by the testimony and oath of her mother said and affirmed that for a good seven years she had been continuously impeded, so that she could not walk except on hands and feet on the ground, and could not rise up; and had devotion to Blessed Simon, and was made whole, so that she walked upright. A certain boy, named Franciscus, son of Don Landus of Montecatino, a boy with a rupture by the testimony and oath of his father, said that Franciscus was ruptured, and by the virtue and merits of Blessed Simon was freed: and Don Landus affirmed the aforesaid by his oath.

[11] On April 23, a certain woman named Donna Vinicia, of Don Ugnizonis of Lucca, who dwells at the district of Panichalis in the county of Bologna, said that for six months a woman variously sick blood had flowed continuously from her mouth, and she had bad sight of eyes, and had a pain in her side; and had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his merits was freed from her infirmities. A certain woman, named Magdalena, daughter of the late Franchus, for three years contracted of the parish of Saint Martin of Aposa, said that for three years she had been impeded and contracted, so that she could not walk without a staff. And she had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his merits and virtue was freed. Sister Agnesia, of the late Zaynus, of the parish of Saint Cecilia; Donadinus Franchi, of the said parish of Saint Martin, witnesses, by their oath affirmed the impediment and also the liberation.

[12] A certain girl, named Jacoba, daughter of the late Toniolus Bonaventure, of Ulmetula in the county of Bologna, from birth lame by the oath of Donna Ymelda, daughter of Donna Carbonus, wife of Gerardus; and also by the oath of Donna Benincasa, daughter of the late Bonaventure of the said land, they said and affirmed that she had limped from the day of her birth, and by the virtue and merits of Blessed Simon she was freed. A certain girl, named Catherine Chitadella, of the age of four years, who dwells at the hospital of Saint Peter the Greater of Bologna, by the oath of Donna Margaret, daughter of Donna Azzo de Bochinpanis of Ferrara, who guards the poor at the said hospital, said deprived of walking that for three years she had been impeded from the day of her birth onwards, so that she never walked and could not walk: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon she was freed. And Master Jacobin de Tronizonis, physician, who was treating her, by his oath affirmed the impediment and also the liberation.

[13] limping on both feet A certain girl, named Bona, daughter of the late John, son of Donna Rolandina de Porcis, of the parish of Saint Lawrence of the Porta Sterii, who was limping on both feet, from the day she had begun to walk onward: and by the merits and virtue of Blessed Simon was freed. Donna Mirabilis, wife of the said Rolandini, grandmother of the said Bona; Donna Francesca, wife of the late said John, and mother of Bona, by their oath affirmed the impediment and her liberation. A certain man of forty years of age and

more, lame in the right foot named Stephen, son of Master Albert of Burgundy, said that he was lame in the right foot, so that he could not walk without a crutch, for twenty-three months now, and by the virtue of Blessed Simon he was freed. Don Nicolas, son of the late Don Minus de Galixano; Bartholomew, son of Salviatus of Saliceto, by their oath affirmed that he was and had been lame from that time onward.

[14] A certain boy, named Nicoletus, son of Ghisilardus of Trento ⁱ, who now dwells at Bologna in the parish of Saint George of Pozzale, a boy nearly blind in the district of Durlecchi, who had spots or scales in his eyes, so that he could scarcely see; and by the merits and virtue of Blessed Simon was enlightened, so that he sees clearly. Don Ghisilardus his father, Simoninus of the late Nicoletus of Burgundy, by their oath affirmed concerning his infirmity and also his liberation. A certain girl, named Bexola, daughter of Brunitus Yvani of the parish of Saint Julian, was withered in the right arm for three years: a withered arm and by the virtue of Blessed Simon was freed. Donna Lucia, daughter of Don Dominicus de Tectacapris, mother of the said Bexola, and Donna Dulcis, daughter of the late Thomasinus, her neighbor, affirmed. A certain girl, named Joanna, daughter of Bonjohannes Taganelli, of the district of Panicale in the county of Bologna, was lame in the right foot from the day of her birth: and by the virtue and merits of Blessed Simon was freed. Donna Beatrix Azzolini, lame in the right foot daughter of Peter Bonjohannes; Bonaventura, daughter of the said Beatrix, of the said district of Panicale; Claudia, daughter of the late Master Lanzalotus the Physician, of the parish of Saint Donatus, affirmed.

[15] A certain young man, named Bonamicus, of the age of sixteen years, another in the left foot son of Don Ugolinus of the land of Cheve, in the county of Bologna, was lame in the left foot for six months and more, and could not walk without a crutch: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon was healed. The said Don Ugolinus his father and Jacob of Don Franchini affirmed. A certain young man of fifteen years of age, a young man blind in one eye named Petrinus, son of Jacobus, of Sion beyond the mountains, said that he did not see with his right eye for seven years and more: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon was enlightened, and sees clearly. Brother Blasius, of the late Don Graciolus Albert, shoemaker; Donna Valle of the late Don Antonius Auliverius, Notary, affirmed the aforesaid to be true, and that he saw clearly. weak in the loins A certain boy of twelve years of age, named Dominicus of the late Vinianus, of the parish of Saint Mary of the Temple, was full of pains and impeded, so that he could not walk without a staff, for two months and more: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon was freed. Donna Bartholomea, daughter of the late Don Stephen, his mother; Don Benvenutus of the late Martinus Strazarolus, affirmed.

[16] A certain girl named Checca, daughter of Compagnonus, of the land of Saint Mary of the Gifts, county of Bologna, deprived of walking was full of pains and "sgalonata" (lame in the hips), so that she scarcely walked from the day of her birth onward: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon was freed. Don Compagnonus, her father; Bitinus, son of John de Fabris, of the said land; Manellus of the late Don Zambonini de Manellis, of the parish of Saint Cecilia, affirmed. A certain boy, herniated named Bonfigliolus, son of Guidaccius of Certulum in the county of Bologna, was ruptured for two years and more, and by the merits and virtue of Blessed Simon was freed. Bellinus Aldrovandinus de Seta and Donna Beatrix wife of Bartholuccius of the said land affirmed. A certain woman, named Sibyllina, daughter of the late Bartholuccius, deaf of the land of Monte Acuto Alpis, was deaf, and said that for ten years and more she had not heard: and by the merits of Blessed Simon both her ears were opened, so that she clearly hears.

[17] lame in the right A certain young woman, of fourteen years of age, named Margaret, daughter of Master Grimaldus Paiolarius, of the parish of Saint Matthew de Accarixiis, was impeded in the right foot, so that she could not place her foot flat on the ground, for nine years: and she had very great devotion to Blessed Simon: and by his virtue and merits was freed. Master Grimaldus her father; Donna Ymelda, wife of the said Grimaldus, mother of the said Margaret; Martinus, son of Master Bonaventure; Cursinus of the late Bonaventure de Candelio, affirmed. A certain man, impeded in both feet of sixty years of age and more, named Franciscus of the late Don Jacobinus, of the parish of Saint Vitalis of Bologna, said that for eight years he was impeded in both feet; and had been continuously through all that time, so that he could not walk without crutches: and had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his virtue and merits was freed. Piglus of Don Gerardus of the castle of Saint Peter; Rudolph Palmerius of the parish of Saint Cecilia; Bartholomew of the late Don Rodaldus of Mandina; Bartholomew Hentipiptus of Brayna, affirmed.

[18] A certain woman, named Thomasina, daughter of the late Rudolph, of the parish of Saint Mary Magdalene of Bologna, said that for six months and more suffering in the arm she had suffered great pain in the bone of her right arm: and by the virtue and merits of Blessed Simon was freed. Donna Dominica, daughter of the late Janboninus, and wife of the late Ugolinus de Rambace, affirmed the aforesaid to be true. lame on both sides A certain young woman of 16 years of age, named Richimilia, daughter of the late John, of Roncaglia in the county of Bologna, said that from the days of her birth onward she was lame in the hips and was limping on both sides, and was freed. Donna Chartilia, daughter of the late Don Simon de Buliveris; Donna Beatrix, daughter of the late Don Albergitius; Donna Bonafemina, daughter of the late Don Rolandinus Chambaldi, affirmed. A certain man of 28 years of age, named Gregory, an epileptic son of Master John the Tailor, said that he was ill with the falling sickness, and often stood stunned with much foam at the mouth, and did not know where he was: and unless there were people nearby who met him and helped him, he would often have fallen; and sometimes he fell so hard that they could not support him: and he was freed. Don John his father, Don Jacob of the late Bartholomew Bixillerius, affirmed to be true.

[19] A certain small girl, named Thomasina, daughter of Master Francis de Dentibus, blind in one eye did not see with her right eye for four months: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon now sees clearly with the said eye. Don Francis her father affirmed to be true. contracted in the foot A certain boy named Thonius, son of Nicholas, of the plebs of Cento, in the county of Bologna, was contracted in the left foot, so that he could not walk: and was freed. Albert Renduccius of the said plebs of Cento affirmed that for four years he was thus contracted, and was freed.

NOTES.

CHAPTER II.

Other miracles of the same year and month of April up to May.

[20] On April 24, a certain man of full age, A lame man is cured named Bonincontrus, son of the late John, who dwells in the land of Argelata, county of Bologna, said that for four months he had been impeded from the belt down, so that he could not walk without crutches: and was freed. Benvenutus of the late Zambonelli of the parish of Saint Mary Major, Dominic, son of the said freed Bonincontrus, Tura of the late Don Matthew of the said parish of Saint Mary, affirmed. A certain girl of 12 years of age, named Francisca, suffering fistulas in her throat daughter of Plassellinus de Plassellis, of the parish of Saint Joseph, of the district of Galeria of Bologna, said that for two years she had fistulas in her throat, so that she could scarcely hold up her head; and had great pains in her sides: and was freed. Donna Francisca, daughter of Don John of the said parish; Donna Bartholomea, daughter of the late Souranus Guido Victorii; Donna Benvenuta, daughter of the late Don Corvolinus, affirmed. A certain small boy, named Bonaparte, son of Jacob, of the land of Ulmetula in the county of Bologna, was ruptured for a year and more, and was freed. Master Jacobinus de Zovezonibus, who was treating him; Don Jacob, father of the said Bonaparte; and Donna Beatrix, daughter of Rolandus de Raygosa and wife of the said Jacob, mother of the said Bonaparte, affirmed.

[21] A certain young woman of 15 years of age, named Margaret, daughter of the late Furniolus of Badalia, weak in walking in the county of Bologna, said that she was impeded from the belt down, so that she could not walk without a staff and even without the help of her mother, for three months and more, and was freed. Donna Vinicia, wife of the late Furniolus, mother of the said Margaret, affirmed. A certain small boy, ruptured named Dominic, son of Francesco Tacconi Becharius, of the parish of Saint Joseph of the district of Galeria, was ruptured for a year and more: and was freed. Donna Mona, wife of the said Francesco and mother of the said Dominic, Don John Dominici Atrazarolus of the said parish of Saint Joseph, Bartholomew of the late Francesco Gessadelli of the parish of Saint Synesius affirmed. deprived of walking A certain boy of 10 years of age, named Peter, son of the late Canto of the land of Plumatium in the county of Bologna, was impeded, so that he could scarcely walk, for...

six weeks and more, and was freed. Benvenuta, the late wife of the said Canto, mother of the said Peter; Donna Thomasina, daughter of the late Don Petrobonus Aiguabella, aunt of the said Peter, affirmed.

[22] nearly blind in an eye A certain woman of full age, named Bona, daughter of the late Curtius, of the district of Mirassolis, and wife of John the well-digger, said that for a good thirty years she had not seen clearly with the right eye: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon was enlightened, and sees clearly. impeded on both sides A certain girl of 11 years of age, named Bonafemina, daughter of the late Jacobinus, of Barga of the county of Lucca, who now dwells at Bologna in the parish of Saint Mary of Muradellis, was impeded and contracted on both sides, so that she could not walk without crutches, for three years: and was freed. Donna Bonaventura, daughter of the late Matthew of the said land, her mother; Messina, daughter of the late Vannus of Monte Fregasexe of the county of Lucca; Anthoniola, daughter of the said Donna Messina, affirmed. a possessed woman A certain woman of full age, named Donna Benvenuta, daughter of the late Don Bonhominis of the parish of Saint Gervasius, said that she was possessed by a demon for three years and more, and was freed. Bona her daughter, and daughter of the late Bernardinus; Jacob called Muzolus, of the late Maynardinus, of the parish of Saint Columban, affirmed. weak in the right hand A certain girl of about 10 years of age, named Felixia, daughter of Agnesina, of the parish of Saint Prosper of Bologna, was weak in her right hand, and continuously kept her fist clenched, except the finger next to the thumb, which she kept straight continuously; and she could not extend the other fingers in any way: and was freed. Donna Nuta, wife of Andreas de Prato, her neighbor, affirmed.

[23] somewhat deaf On April 25, a certain boy of 8 years of age, named Michilutius, son of the late Monte, of the land of Monte Rumixi in the county of Bologna, was somewhat deaf from the day of his birth, and had great devotion to Blessed Simon: and his ears were opened and he hears. A certain man of 60 years of age and more, named Brother Bitinus of the late Albert, of the parish of Saint Mary Major, who dwells in the district of Pollicini, of the Order of Friars of Penance, said in the power of the Holy Spirit and by his oath affirmed lame in the right side that for seven years he was impeded in his right foot and shin, so that he could not walk without a crutch: and being in the church of Saint Peter the Greater of Bologna, he had great devotion to Blessed Simon, and was freed. A certain girl of 12 years of age, named Agnesia, contracted daughter of Don Boninsegna de Mesciazano, was contracted in her feet and hands, so that she could not walk, nor help herself, for five years and more. herniated A certain boy of 6 years of age, named Nicholas, son of Dominic of the late Don Floravantis, of Marano in the county of Bologna, was ruptured for two years. full of pain A certain woman, named Donna Thomasina, daughter of Peter of San Domnino and wife of Pion, of the said place, said that for two years and more she was full of pains, so that she could scarcely walk. And all these, freed by the virtue and merits of Blessed Simon, were affirmed by the witnesses of their infirmity or impediment and liberation, whom we have omitted to name, as also hereafter we shall attach only the names of those cured and the infirmity here consequently.

[24] A certain boy of 10 years of age, named Michael, son of Jacob Aldrovandi, deaf who dwells in the Guardia of the city of Bologna at the cross of Gissus, was deaf for two years, and his father had been sending him to school, but after that misfortune befell him, he no longer wished him to go to the schools. A certain woman, named Guilelma, daughter of the late Ventura, who was of Barga in the county of Lucca, a possessed woman and now dwells at Bologna in the parish of Saint Mary Major, said that for about four years she had been possessed by a demon. contracted in the right arm A certain girl of 7 years of age, named Catherine, daughter of Albertuccius of the late Bencevennis Casarenghi, of the land of Ulgiani in the county of Bologna, had her right arm and hand contracted, so that she could not open or close her hand. A certain man of 55 years of age, named Gherarduccius of the late Peter of Bagnarola, lame in the left side who now dwells in the land of Alcetus in the county of Bologna, said that for fourteen years he had been lame in the left side, and limped strongly, and continued to limp from that time onward, so that it was necessary for him to walk with a staff. A certain boy of 5 years of age, named Franciscus, son of Jacob Bidelli of the parish of Saint Salvator, had a certain abscess in his body, from which came such a great discharge that the physicians could not cure him, with an abscess and said that he could not escape, and abandoned him. A certain boy of 12 years of age, named Guizardinus, son of Baudinus of Fregnano, herniated said that for four years and more he was ruptured.

[25] On April 26, a certain young woman of 24 years of age, named Margaret, possessed daughter of the late Joachim, of Persico in the county of Cremona, who now dwells at Bologna in the parish of Saint Mark, was possessed by a demon for five years and more. A certain girl herniated of 8 years of age, named Lucia, daughter of Bertolinus, of the land of Altedum in the county of Bologna, was impeded and "sanchata" on both sides and "corporupta" in front, from the day of her birth onward. A certain boy of 4 years of age, named Peter, contracted in the hand son of Francesco of the late Albert, of the parish of Saint Barbatianus, was contracted in his right hand, so that he could do nothing with it, for three years. A certain woman of 23 years of age, named Margaret, possessed by a demon daughter of the late Rolando Bondi Ayguinae, of Roffeno, and wife of Henrigistus, son of John Henrigisti of Fregnano, said that she had been possessed by a demon for a year and more, and was full of pains and "fittis" (stabs), so much that it seemed to her that dogs were gnawing her bowels: and when the evil mounted, she would cast herself into a well, into a fire, or into water, wherever she could most quickly, unless people had held her—and by the merits of Blessed Simon she was freed, as the preceding and the following.

[26] limping On April 27, a certain young woman of 18 years of age, named Joanna, daughter of Lawrence the Smith, of the parish of Saint Joseph of the district of Galeria, who dwells outside the circle of the said district, said that she limped strongly on the left side, because a certain cart had run up over her hip; and she had suffered this infirmity for seventeen years. A certain man of 45 years of age, named John of the late Jacob, who was of Parma and now dwells in the land of Ronchagle in the county of Bologna, said that he was contracted in his left foot and hand, contracted in foot and hand so that he dragged his foot across the ground, and could not bring his hand to his mouth, except with the help of the other hand, for twenty-four years and more. A certain man of 40 years of age, named Ugolinus of the late Ugolinus, of the land of la Mole in the county of Bologna, said that for ten years and more he had had a pain in his left hip, and from excessive pain he limped strongly on his left foot, lame and walked with great labor with a staff. He said also that he could not raise that foot so much from the ground that he could ascend one step, unless he first ascended with the other foot: and he had the greatest devotion to Blessed Simon and by his virtue was freed, like the rest; but this one before he went to the sepulcher: of which in others there is no mention; yet all seem to have been healed going to it.

[25] an arm full of fistulas A certain boy of two months old, named Peter, son of Johannetus Naxelli, of the parish of Saint Mary Magdalene, had three fistulas, having five wounds in his right arm, for a month; and by the merits of Blessed Simon was freed, as Master Jacobinus de Zovezonibus and Master Bologitus Ricardi de Cussolara, lame on the left physicians, who were treating him, affirmed. A certain girl of 10 years of age, named Joanna, daughter of the late Bettinus, who dwells at Domi-fabrorum in the county of Bologna, was impeded in the hip on the left side, so that she limped strongly, from the day she began to walk onwards. A certain girl of six years of age, named Zavola, another on both sides daughter of the late Ghibertellus of the parish of Saint Mary Major, was contracted and impeded on both sides, so that she limped strongly and had her feet twisted back, for four years: and by the merits of Blessed Simon was freed, like the aforesaid boy.

[26] On April 28, a possessed woman a certain woman of 45 years of age, named Albarina, daughter of the late Don Bernardini de Argellata of the parish of Saint Mary Major, and wife of Don Prohenzal of the late Don Florinus, of the land of Argellata in the county of Bologna, said that for 15 months and more she had been possessed by a demon: and from the day she was impeded onwards, she never could behold the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it did not allow her to perform her natural functions: and on a certain day that enemy of God cast her into a certain well, and while she was there she began to cry out: and a certain daughter of hers ran toward the well and extended a certain hook to her, and she began to cling to the hook, and drew her forth out of the well: and she did all acts as demoniacs do, and by the merits of Blessed Simon was freed. Don Prohenzal her husband, Bonaventure their son, and Isabetta their daughter affirmed.

[27] On April 29, contracted in the hand a certain boy of 7 years of age, named Bartholomew, son of Peter de Fondacia, of the parish of Saint Christina, was contracted in the right hand from the day of his birth onward. A certain girl of 10 years of age, named Mina, daughter of Pighus, lame of the land of Saint Martin in the county of Bologna, was impeded in the left hip, so that she limped strongly on the left foot, from the day she began to walk onward. A certain boy of 9 years of age, named Peter, contracted in the arm son of Francis, son of Don Pax Pelliparius of the parish of Saint Mary Major, who was dwelling in the house of Brother Bonutius de Argellata, was contracted in the right arm and hand, for

two years and more, so that he could not help himself: and by the merits of Blessed Simon they were freed.

NOTES.

CHAPTER III.

The remaining miracles of this year and of the three following.

[28] On May 1, a certain woman of 35 years of age, named Essicha, A lame woman is healed of the land of Saxi-mussarii in the county of Bologna, who now dwells with Don Albert de Saviolis, of the parish of Saint Gervasius, was contracted on the left side so that she limped strongly, for sixteen years and more: and she had devotion to Blessed Simon: and as she was devoutly coming to visit the tomb of Blessed Simon, she was freed at once on the way: and this she said and affirmed by her oath. And three persons from her neighborhood affirmed that for a year and more they had known and seen her limping, and now freed.

[29] On May 3, a certain young woman of 21 years of age, named Magdalena, contracted in the arm daughter of Peter Marianus and wife of Albericus Ligucius, of the parish of Saint Mary Major, and dwelling at Puglola near Avexella, said that for a month and more she had her left arm contracted, so that she could not raise her hand to her mouth. A certain young woman of 16 years of age, named Belda, daughter of Zeno de Frenis of the parish of Saint Leonard, with arthritis had her left shoulder swollen, full of drops and humors, so that people called her, "O hunchback!" for eight years and more: and they were freed by the merits of Blessed Simon; and these things those who knew the impediment and the liberation affirmed by their oath to be true; and the same is to be understood of all the following as also the preceding.

[30] herniated On May 4, a certain boy of six years of age, named Bencevenne, called Cevenellus, son of John called Nanne, of Sayana in the county of Bologna, was ruptured for four years and more on the left side, and was in great danger, because his interior parts came out of his belly daily. A certain woman of 40 years of age, named Donna Luchisina, daughter of the late Palmirolus and wife of Salvierus son of the late Andriolus, a possessed woman of the parish of Saints Simon and Jude, said that she had been possessed by a demon for 30 years and more, so that she could not do anything, nor did it allow her to behold the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ: and eaten by cancer and she had a cancer in her shin having four "mouths" and the whole shin swollen, so that she could not walk without great labor; and it seemed to her that dogs were gnawing her whole body, for two months and more: and she had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his merits was freed, as also the aforesaid boy.

[31] contracted in the arm On May 7, a certain woman of 40 years of age, named Donna Joanna, daughter of the late Master Tomasinus of Modena, and wife of Bartholomew de Grassis, of the land of Argelae in the county of Bologna, who now dwells in the said land of Argelae, had her left arm contracted, so that she could do nothing with her hand, nor perform any exercise, for seven months and more: and this she said by her oath, and had devotion to Blessed Simon, and by his merits and virtue was freed.

[32] dangerously sneezing On May 8, a certain young woman of 18 years of age, named Bonafemina, daughter of the late Bellondus, of the castle of Aglarius of Fregnano, and wife of Petricinus Don Albertinus de Semelsana, said that she was burdened with a certain great infirmity, namely that it often happened to her, that when she sneezed she fell to the ground, and much blood came out of her nose, and foam came to her mouth, for two years; an abscess of the shin and contraction of the arm a certain woman of 40 years of age, named Carissima, daughter of Peter Raymundi of Castroleone in the county of Bologna, had her shin full of fistulas and with an abscess, and her right arm contracted, so that she could not help herself, for twenty-five years; nor could she raise her hand to her head, for four months: and by the virtue of Blessed Simon they were freed.

[33] On the last day of May, a certain young man of 18 years of age, named Gandulfus, weak from a broken shin son of Don John Finelli de Perdiveclis, of Roncori in the county of Reggio, said and by his oath confirmed, that three months before he had fallen from a walnut tree, so that he broke his shin: and from the fracture three pieces of bone came out: and he stayed a year in the care of physicians: and could not be freed and continually went with crutches, nor otherwise could he walk. And he had devotion to Blessed Simon, and came to visit his tomb, and by his merits and virtue was freed.

[34] deprived of walking On August 8, a certain man of 32 years of age, named Peter of the late Don Guido of Cremona, who now dwells at Bologna in the parish of Saint Lucy in the district of Aurum, said that for three months he had been continuously contracted and impeded, so that he could not walk without crutches: and he had devotion to Blessed Simon, and was freed. Andreas of the late Gerard of Parma his neighbor, and Donna Joanna, daughter of Manfredus of the parish of Saint Lucy, by their oath affirmed all the aforesaid to be true, and that he was freed.

[35] In the name of Christ, Amen. contracted In the year of the Nativity of the same Lord 1323, Indiction 6, on April 23, a certain woman named Joanna, daughter of Jacobinus, of the castle of Brittorum in the county of Bologna, was impeded and contracted on the right side, so that she could not walk without crutches, for several years. On December 26, Don Master Albert of the late Don Rolandinus of Muglum, Smith, weak in the leg of the parish of Saint Felix, a man of 50 years of age, said that for 30 years he had suffered in his right leg a certain great illness, so that he could scarcely walk: and many times he had taken the counsel of physicians, and could never be freed: and by the merits of Blessed Simon was freed. an epileptic In the year of the Lord 1324, Indiction 7, on April 15, Donna Benvenuta, daughter of the late Don Gherardinus Rustighelli and wife of the late Johannellus Rolandus, of the land of San Giovanni in Persiceto in the county of Bologna, who is of 55 years of age, said that for two and a half years she had been burdened with the infirmity of the falling sickness, and she vowed to God and to Blessed Simon that if by his merits she were freed, she would come to visit his body and tomb, and by the virtue of God and the merits of Blessed Simon was freed.

[36] In the name of Christ. Amen. In the year 1325, enduring most grievous pains of stone Indiction 8, on May 5, Donna Clara, wife of Rudolph of the late Palmerius of the parish of Saint Cecilia, together with Hostia her daughter, who is of seven and a half years of age, said, and the said Donna Clara her mother by her oath affirmed, that the said Hostia her daughter, for two years, had had the stone disease continually, and emitted urine continually day and night, and wetted all the clothes of the bed where she lay, and when she wished to urinate she could not, and then suffered great pain, and cried out strongly, so that it was wonderful. And when she was with her said daughter in the house of John of the late Jacob Simon, on the feast day of Saint Peter Martyr, April 29 of the present year, and was suffering great pain, and said that it seemed to her that dogs were gnawing all her bowels, and she cried out so that the whole neighborhood ran. And then the said Donna Clara said: "O Blessed Simon, help me with this my daughter, or beg God to send her death." And then by the merits and virtue of Blessed Simon the said Hostia emitted a good two quarts of urine, and a stone in knots, as large as a walnut: and immediately after this she had a great flow of blood: and was freed and is from her said infirmity.

[37] On June 14, a boy crushed by a cart Don Joachim de Bencevenis de Curionibus, of the parish of Saint Cecilia, together with Jacob his nephew, who is of 16 months of age, said that while that Jacob was on the public road, a certain man with a cart loaded with wood and two oxen passed by the way: and one of the said oxen struck the said Jacob with its snout, and he immediately fell before the said ox, and the wheel of the said loaded cart went up over the kidneys and the loins of the boy, and at once the whole neighborhood ran, believing that Jacob was dead. And then Donna Nivis, wife of Bonafidei son of the said Joachim and mother of the said Jacob, vowed him to God and to Blessed Simon, that if her son escaped, she would have a figure and image of the said Blessed Brother Simon painted, and would offer certain other oblations. Which vow being made at once, by the grace of God and the merits and virtue of Blessed Simon, Jacob was made whole and free. And the mother with three witnesses said that they saw all the aforesaid, and all to be true, and Jacob to be whole and unharmed.

✠ Subsignature of the Notary "I Philip of the late Alberto Papazon, Imperial Notary by authority, all the aforesaid written above, as they are written, I have publicly written and reduced to public form, from the authority and license granted and given me by the Reverend Don Roger Cacia, Vicar of the Venerable Father Don Ubertus, by the grace of God Bishop of Bologna, written by the hand of John of the late Don Paul Lazarini, Doctor of Decrees and Notary."

NOTES.

CHAPTER IV.

The second process of miracles of Blessed Simon.

[38] In the year 1322 the cures began to be written In the name of Christ. Amen. These are the miracles of Blessed Brother Simon of Todi, of the Order of Friars Hermits of Saint Augustine of the city of Bologna, which appeared and were done after the death of the same Brother Simon, who in the year 1322, Indiction 5, on April 20, migrated from this world to the heavenly homeland, by the merits of the same Blessed Brother Simon, in the persons written below, suffering the infirmities written below, in diverse parts of their persons, before the death of the said Brother Simon, who were freed from their infirmities; witnesses worthy of faith having been diligently received upon these matters with oath, as they are described in order below, and written by me Alberto Anselmi Notary, from the authority given me by the Reverend man Roger Cacia, Vicar of the Venerable Father Uberto, by the grace of God Bishop of Bologna, in the years of the Lord 1322, on the days and months written below.

[39] On April 22, Donna Egidia, daughter of the late John Bernardini and wife of Lambert, a demoniac and weak woman of the land of Argellata in the county of Bologna, was possessed by a demon, and was so weakened in the right side that she could not help herself, and could not walk without a staff: which calamity she had suffered about ten months. She was led to the tomb of the said Brother Simon with great devotion; by whose merits she was manifestly freed: she left her staff at the said tomb and so freed departed. Witnesses of the said miracle, Donna Francesca of Master Jacob and wife of Gerardinus de Guarinis, and Donna Lucia, daughter of Tadeus de Bernardinis of the land of Argellata, both of the parish of Saint Lawrence de Guarinis, swore corporally on the holy Gospels of God that they knew the said Egidia, suffering the said infirmities, and that she was freed from the said languors. Done at Bologna in the church of Saint James of the Friars Hermits, at the altar where the bells are, in the presence of witnesses.

[40] a lame girl On the same day, Donna Avenante, daughter of Martinus di Vignaji, of the parish of Saint Mary "in donis" in the county of Bologna, limped strongly on the right side from her birth onwards, and Donna Maxima her mother, hearing of the miracles of the said Blessed Simon, with great devotion led her said daughter to his sepulchre: and by his merits and virtue she was freed, so that she walked straight: and so freed she departed. Dominicus, son of Zivininus of the land of Possicinum in the county of Bologna, said in the presence of me the Notary and of the witnesses written below, that he had walked with crutches for six years and more, and could not walk without them: boys deprived of walking who hearing of the sanctity of the said Blessed Simon and his miracles, with great devotion came to Bologna to his tomb: by whose merits he was freed, so that he walked straight; and he left his crutches at the tomb. Benvenuta, daughter of Placitus, of the district of Punicalis said that she was impeded in her feet and knees, contracted at the knees so that she was unable to walk without crutches, which infirmity she said she had suffered about eighteen months: hearing of the miracles of Blessed Simon and his sanctity, she came with great devotion to his sepulchre, and with bent knees praying devoutly, by his merits was freed, and departed freed, leaving her crutches at the tomb.

[41] Zunta of Guido, of Caxalieso Reni, said a weak man and woman that he was impeded and could not walk without crutches: hearing of the miracles and sanctity of the said Blessed Simon, he went to the tomb, and praying devoutly was freed from the said infirmity, leaving his crutches at the tomb. Lucia Aymerici of Mazano in the county of Bologna, said that she was impeded from the belt down, and could not walk without a staff or crutch, and she had suffered the infirmity for about three years, who came to the tomb of the said Blessed Simon, and freed left the crutch. a demoniac Jacob of the late Donatus of the land of Idix in the county of Bologna, was possessed by a demon, and did the deeds which demoniacs do. No one could hold him. When questioned, he said: "I am the devil." He was led by force to the tomb of Blessed Simon: who, standing for an hour on the coffin, was freed by the merits of the said Blessed Simon, returning to his prosperity, health, and good memory and understanding. This Jacob, being freed, asked by me the Notary below how he had incurred the said infirmity, answered soundly and with good memory, that in making a certain "pergolare" (vine-trellis) it seemed to him that an evil spirit entered into him: and that he was wholly terrified, and lost sense and memory for two years, and until now he had not been in his senses or understanding: saying that he was most well freed, praising God and the said Blessed Simon, by whose merits he confessed to have been freed, departing with joy.

[42] On April 27, lame ones Antony son of Nicholas de Cagalanis, of the plebs of Cento in the county of Bologna, of 6 years of age, was weakened in the left foot, so much that he did not walk straight, rather limped strongly; and he had suffered this infirmity, as Donna Berta his mother said, about four years: who led him to the tomb of Blessed Simon and he was freed. On April 28, Peter son of Albertus Ferrarius, of the land of Plumatius in the county of Bologna, 12 years of age, said a deaf boy that he did not hear unless people cried loudly in his ears. His parents led him to the sepulchre of Blessed Simon, and by his merits he was freed, hearing clearly and openly, and he heard men speaking plainly to him as other persons hear. Castellanus, son of Ubertus, of the land of Marani in the county of Bologna, 20 years of age, said that his feet were swollen so that he could not walk, for three years: swollen feet and because he could not work, no one wished to employ him; so that he could not earn his living. He came to the tomb of Blessed Simon, and by his merits was freed.

[43] On April 29, Zaninus son of the late Massolus of the land of Soragra in the county of Parma, 43 years of age, said that on April 28 he played at games of chance and lost: and from grief at the play and the loss of money he blasphemed God and his Mother and derided the said Brother Simon, a blasphemer of Blessed Simon and joked about him, saying: "How could this Brother Simon straighten the withered? It cannot be. I believe that they are jests that he has such virtue, nor do I believe him to be a Saint, is punished and healed nor do I wish to believe what is said of him"; and made other mockeries of him. These things said and he having supped, he went to bed with this most evil faith. And in his first sleep he was seized and cast from the bed upon the floor: and at once he lost his speech, and stayed mute from that hour until noon, and could not speak. And moved by repentance he repented of what he had said about Blessed Simon: and with great faith and devotion and tears came to his tomb, by whose virtue and merits he was diligently freed, remaining in his first health, praising God and Blessed Simon.

[44] On the last day of April, Donna Maria, daughter of Michael, a demoniac is freed of the land of Fanum in the county of Bologna, was vexed by a demon, and did the deeds that demoniacs do: and it was necessary to bind her, so that she could do no injury to herself or others. And her kinsmen, learning of the miracles of Blessed Simon, led her by force on a cart with great faith and hope: and this happened to her three days ago, while she was at table and eating. She, being at the tomb of Blessed Simon, by his virtue and merits was freed from the said vexation, making great reverence to the said tomb and praising the said Blessed, A swollen throat is cured remaining in her health and good understanding. Franciscus, son of Rolando de Mongardino in the county of Bologna, of six years of age, had his throat swollen on the left side, and Donna Jacobina mother of the said boy led him to the tomb of Blessed Simon: and there praying faithfully for her said son, and placing him on the coffin, by his merits and virtue he was freed, remaining whole in his throat.

[45] On May 2, Benvenuta of the late Majus Gardinus, of the parish of Saint Columban, lame 16 years of age, said that she limped strongly on the right foot, and could not put on her shoe except with the help of another, for six years; she came to the tomb of Blessed Simon, and was freed, walking straight in the sight of all who stood there, giving thanks to God and Blessed Simon. an injured hand John of the late Blasiolus of Locha, 12 years of age, of the land of Reggio said that he had been wounded in the left hand by a certain boy with an awl for sewing shoes: from which wound he lost his hand and could not help himself, for three years. And Carmaninus de Locha his paternal uncle vowed the said John to God and to Blessed Simon on April 26. And the said John, having great devotion and faith in Blessed Simon, offered himself to visit his tomb, and to offer a wax arm with the hand. And on the following night, having the greatest devotion and brightness of faith to be freed, roused from sleep and rising, he found himself wholly freed in the said hand. And rising for joy he went in the morning to his paternal uncle's house, showing himself freed: and by all his neighbors it was held as a great miracle. Among all, that miracle ran through the city of Reggio. And the aforesaid things were reported to the Reverend man Don Guido de Abaixio, Bishop of Reggio: who at once sent for the said boy; and touching the freed hand, gave thanks to God and Blessed Simon, admonishing him that he should come to Bologna to visit the tomb...

of the said Blessed Simon: and with great devotion, giving thanks, offered a wax arm with the hand, as he had promised at the tomb; causing this miracle to be written for the honor and glory of Blessed Simon. John Zenardini Canevarius, John Salvoni, Carmaninus de Locha, all citizens of the city of Reggio, swore that they had seen him weakened in the said hand, and that he was now diligently freed.

[46] On the 3rd of the said month, Egidia of the late Pax, of Camagnano in the county of Bologna, now dwelling in the parish of Saint Proculus, 50 years of age, was vexed by a demon, and was weakened especially in her left foot and hand; three possessed women and did the deeds which the "adversate" (possessed) do, and could not do her own affairs; saying that her husband would not remain with her after she was thus troubled: and she had suffered this for twenty-four years. She came to the tomb of Blessed Simon, and by his merits was freed. On May 7, Bonafante, called Fantina, daughter of Hentigiptus Sighicelli, of Manzolino in the county of Bologna, 11 years of age, was possessed and vexed by a demon: and this happened to her in a certain level field: who from that time onwards was not in her senses or memory or understanding. She was led by force to the tomb of Blessed Simon, and was freed, remaining in her senses and good memory. On May 23, Prixiata, daughter of Nicholas Jacob of the land of Castrileone in the county of Bologna, and wife of Guiduccius of the land of Gazi Castrileone, was possessed by a demon, and did the deeds of a possessed person, going hither and thither, and going without sense and understanding; which vexation began 18 months before: and this happened to her eating a Regina pear and not signing it: and when she had eaten it, immediately her body became swollen. She was led by force to the tomb of Blessed Simon: and while she was on the coffer of the said Saint was freed, and persisted in her health and good mind.

[47] On June 14, Julian, son of the late Deomelda of Migareto in the county of Faenza, possessed by a demon was as though possessed, and lacked sense and understanding, and from the Easter of the Resurrection onwards lacked the sight of his eyes, and on the 12th of the present June came humbly and devoutly to Bologna to visit the body of Blessed Simon, that he might be freed from such languor. When he had been at the tomb of the said Saint, offering most humble prayers with great faith, he was diligently freed from the said languors by the merits of the same Saint. On June 18, Zanzonus Tiburtini Bonzi, of the land of Dugloli in the county of Bologna, said that he was suffering in his right leg, saying that he had it wholly swollen and had several fistulas with several wounds, from which came great and infinite putrefaction, so much that his wife and sons could not dwell with him. a fistulous leg And this infirmity he said he had suffered about six months, and could in no way be freed. Hearing of the sanctity and miracles of Blessed Simon he had great faith in him that he would free him, and vowed himself to him, praying that he would free him from his infirmity. And he made this prayer at his home in the land of Dugloli: and was freed. He, seeing himself freed, for joy came to Bologna, to give thanks to the body of the same Saint, and to honor him humbly.

[48] On June 26, Francischinus, son of Cresmus of Barbagna, a Milanese citizen, mad from poisoning who dwells at the gate Gomesana in the place called Postoreno, said that a certain woman of the city of Milan was asking something from him which he denied her, and that woman invited him to sup with her: he agreed, and in the evening supped with her: and when he had supped she gave him to drink, and afterwards he departed from her. And when he was at home, he was made as though demented from that drink, and lost sense and understanding, and did the things that fools do. And he said that sometimes he perceived and knew that he was doing the deeds of a fool, and was not ashamed: and went rather naked than clothed, and rather stayed in a filthy place than a clean one, and shook all over, and sometimes could not stand straight, and tore his clothes; and he said he had suffered these things for seven months. He was led to the tomb of Blessed Simon, and continually being there was perfectly freed from his infirmity: and said that he was freed by the merits of Blessed Simon, giving him thanks.

✠ "I Francis of Albertus Anselmi, Notary by Imperial authority, and sent to write down the said miracles and to reduce them to public form, from the authority and license given to me by the Reverend man Don Rugerius Cacia… Written by the hand of John of the late Don Paul de Cospiis, Doctor of Decrees."

NOTES.

CHAPTER V.

The third process of miracles of Blessed Simon.

[49] ^a In the name of Christ. A possessed woman is freed Amen. In the year of the Nativity of the same 1322, Indiction 5, on May 20, Benella Michael of Castrileone in the county of Bologna, 25 years of age, in the presence of me John the Notary and of the witnesses written below, corporally swore on the holy Gospels of God ^b, that from the feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ lately past onwards, she was and had been vexed by a demon, and did the deeds of demoniacs almost continually. Yet once only, in the present month of May being in her senses, and hearing of the miracles of Blessed Simon, she vowed herself to God and to the said Saint, asking God that by the merits of the said Blessed Simon he would restore her to the former state of health. Which said she at once felt herself freed, and from that time onwards suffered no illness. And therefore, wishing to visit the body of the said Blessed Simon, she came to his coffin with a wax image, which she left on the said coffin, humbly and devoutly praising him, and remaining in her health and good understanding. ^c All and each of the above-mentioned things the said Benella said, swore, and testified to, at Bologna in the church of Saint James of the Strada of Saint Donatus of the Friars Hermits, next to the coffin of the said Blessed Simon, in the presence of witnesses: who all also by oath said that they had seen Benella sick and now free.

[50] On June 1, Benvenuta of the late Jacob de Andreis, of the land of Saint Agatha in the county of Bologna, who used to dwell with Don Jacob and Missottus de Saladinis, and now dwells with Donna Bartholomea de Guidozaynis, who is 40 years of age, swore that for 10 years and more a swollen throat she had had a goiter and her throat swollen very strongly: and the said Benvenuta hearing and seeing the miracles of Blessed Simon, vowed herself wholly to God, asking him that by the merits of Blessed Simon he would take care to free her from the said infirmity. Which done she went to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and was freed from the said infirmity. On June 3, Donna, daughter of Pax and wife of Martin Gratia, of Florence, of the populus of Saint Lawrence, who is 30 years of age, swore that she being in the city of Florence, suddenly in the month of May last past there happened to her a certain illness in her left hand in the index finger of the said hand, maimed in the left so and in such a way that she could in no way move the said left hand, nor could she help herself with it: and it seemed to her that she would die, and that the physicians knew no counsel to give her. She so stopping, remembering Blessed Simon, with heart and soul vowed herself to God that by the merits of the said Blessed Simon he might free her from the said languor: and if he freed her, that she would personally come to visit the coffin of the said Blessed Simon. Which vow being made, at once she felt herself freed. And therefore wishing to fulfill her vow, today she presented herself at Bologna at the coffin of the said Blessed Simon, praising him, and remains wholly freed from the said infirmity.

[51] ^d On June 11, Gerardus Gosmari, a paralytic boy a tailor of the parish of Saint Lucy, who is 30 years of age, father of Gosmarinus his son, 5 years of age, swore that the said Gosmarinus his son was impeded in his legs and shins, so and in such a way that he could in no way move: and thus he remained burdened with the said infirmity for the space of two years and more. And also while in the said sickness, his left arm and hand were invaded by disease, so and in such a way that with the said arm and hand he could not help himself. And also he was suffering from the falling sickness. Seeing the miracles of Blessed Simon, the said Gerardus vowed his said son with whole heart and soul to God, saying that if God, by the merits of Blessed Simon, should free his son from the said languors, he himself...

would lead him to the coffin of the said Blessed, with a wax image, and would leave the said image upon the said coffin. This vow being made, immediately the said Gosmarinus began to be freed. Seeing this, the said Gerardus at once led his said son to the coffin of Blessed Simon daily for three days: and so the said Gosmarinus, by the virtue of God and the merits of Blessed Simon, was freed; and Gerardus his father today led him, wholly freed and without any languor, and presented him with the vow at the said coffin, praising God and Blessed Simon.

[53] On June 13, Ghisella, daughter of the late Zanis and wife of the late Andrew, of the parish of Saint Anthony, weak in the shins who is 30 years of age, swore that for four years she had and was having her shins and legs wholly broken, so and in such a way that in no way could she bear clothes next to them, and scarcely walked: and any remedy she made for them did nothing. Hearing and seeing the miracles done by the merits of Blessed Simon, she vowed herself to God and Blessed Simon, asking our Lord Jesus Christ that by the merits of Blessed Simon he would care to free her from the said infirmity. Which vow she made ten days before: for she, having been heard in the said petition, was freed. Not wishing however to be ungrateful for the said benefit, today she presented herself at the coffin of Blessed Simon.

[53] On June 21, Nicolinus Emonitii of Bentaxio in the county of Savoy ^e, swore that in the month of May last past, a shipwrecked man is freed being at sea to fish in a certain ship of Gambacurta, the said ship, from a storm and danger, was in peril and sank in the sea, so and in such a way that all who were in the said ship died suffocated. But Nicolinus, being in the said danger in the ship, remembered the miracles which he had heard said of Blessed Simon: and with whole heart and soul vowed himself to God and to Blessed James, asking them that by the merits of Blessed Simon they would free him from the said danger, asking also Blessed Simon that he should offer his prayers to our Lord Jesus Christ, that by his merits he might escape from the said danger: and if he escaped, he would come personally to visit the body of the said Blessed Simon, with an iron staff ^f in his hand, joined with an iron chain, with an iron collar around his neck. Which vow being made, immediately, at that very instant, almost before he had well completed the vow, there appeared to the said Nicolinus a plank ^g of wood coming before him: who seeing it at once seized it, and cast himself upon it with his breast: and by the virtue of God and of Blessed James and the merits of Blessed Simon, with the said plank he came out of the sea, and escaped from the said danger. Wishing therefore to fulfill the vow made by him and his promises, today, June 21, with the said staff in his hands, joined with an iron chain, with an iron collar around his neck, he presented himself at the coffin of Blessed Simon, magnificently praising God and Saint James and Blessed Simon, and leaving the said staff, chain, and collar upon the said coffin, testified all the aforesaid.

[54] and a possessed woman On August 24, Donna Mixina, daughter of the late Relo wife of Bert, of Butrio, who dwells in the land of Galixani in the county of Bologna, 25 years of age, swore that it had been about fifteen days, that she being in her house in the land of Galixani and drinking, had been seized by a demon; and it seemed to her in that drinking that she was drinking a demon. And immediately she suddenly began to do as the possessed do, crying out and doing other things as the possessed do, so that no one could hold her. Yet she said, that she being on August 13 in her good senses, both she and her mother vowed themselves to God, asking God that by the merits of Blessed Simon he would free the said Mixina from the said infirmity. Which vow being made, immediately on Saturday August 14, the said Mixina was led, not yet freed, upon a cart to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and there remained possessed and afflicted until the following Sunday after dinner: and on the said Sunday after dinner, by the virtue of God and Blessed Simon, she was freed. And therefore wishing to make the above public, today she presented herself at the coffin of the said Blessed Simon, whole and freed from the said infirmity; praising God and the glorious Virgin Mary and Blessed Simon, and remaining in her true and good senses.

[55] In the year 1323, Indiction 6, on March 1, Donna Sandra and Donna Rossa sisters, and another and daughters of Franchus de Sambuca, who now dwell at Bologna in the parish of Saint Catherine of Saragossa; of whom Donna Sandra is 24 years of age, and Donna Rossa 35 years of age, swore that Sandra was possessed and afflicted, and so remained for the space of four years and more, so and in such a way that she almost continually did as the possessed do; and moreover she was so seized by a demon, that in no way did she go, nor would she go, nor could she go to any church, nor would she or could she behold the Body of Christ. And also on Thursday, February 24 last past, on the day of Saint Matthias, she suddenly lost her sight, so that in no way could she see. And thus being, the said Donna Rossa on Sunday, the next-to-last Sunday of February last past, seeing Donna Sandra her sister so burdened, said to the said Sandra: "My sister, I wish you to offer prayers to God, that by the merits of Blessed Simon he may free you: and I also, though unworthy, ask him with whole heart, that by the merits of his most glorious Mother Mary and of Blessed Simon he may deign to free you." And then she had the said Sandra led by force on the said Sunday to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and there they remained with her until yesterday, the last day of February, at the hour of None. And on the said day, at the hour of None, she was freed from her loss of sight and from the seizure of demons, rising, and afterwards with bent knees before the coffin of Blessed Simon and placing herself before the Crucifix, praising God and the glorious Virgin Mary and Blessed Simon and all the Saints of God devoutly and benignly: and there at the said coffin she remained until today, and she saw the body of Christ, praising him and commending herself to him.

[56] a boy is saved from being crushed by an ox and a cart On March 22, Donna Lucia, wife of Francesco Ugo of the parish of Saint Leonard, mother of Bartholomew her son and son of the said Francesco, which son of hers is 2 years of age, swore that her said son Bartholomew being on March 19 of the present month, on the public road of Saint Vitalis with a little rod in his hands, two oxen with a cart were passing along the said road, and one of the said oxen struck the said boy with its horns, and cast him to the ground before it, and placed one of its feet upon the face and head of the said Bartholomew, and the other upon the body of the said boy: and so as the ox went on, the wheels of the said cart passed over the body and arms of the said boy, and over the rod which he had in his hands. And then the said Donna Lucia, who was under a portico before the said road, seeing this, cried out with a great voice with all her heart: "O Saint Simon, help my son whom I commend to you." And immediately she arose and went into the road, and took her son, and raised him from the ground, thinking him dead: and found him whole without any evil or languor, and the said rod which the said boy had in his hand was wholly broken by the wheels of the cart. And therefore, not wishing to be ungrateful for so great a benefit and to hide the above, today she presented her said son at the coffin of Blessed Simon, with a wax image the size of the said boy, which image she left upon the said coffin.

[57] On March 29, Blasius of the late Peter Pasaselate, who was of the land of Funus in the county of Bologna and now dwells in the land of Ronci, father of Jacob his son, another deprived of walking is healed and Donna Bartholomea wife of the said Blasius and mother of the said Jacob, which Jacob is 6 years of age, swore that the said Jacob their son had remained for the space of five years unable to walk, and at the time of the death of Blessed Simon was thus impeded. And the aforesaid being in the said land of Ronci, and hearing of the miracles of Blessed Simon, they vowed their son to God and to Blessed Simon, and led him to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and there remained for the space of two days, and afterwards departed with their son not freed. And after this, remaining in their home and again hearing of the miracles of Blessed Simon, they vowed him to God and to Blessed Simon with whole heart and soul, saying, that if their said son, by the virtue of God and the merits of Blessed Simon, should be freed, they out of their poverty would offer a wax image upon the coffin of Blessed Simon. Which vow being made, at once within three days after the said vow, the said Jacob being in their house, suddenly began to walk and was well freed, and walks rightly and well, and remained without any languor. And therefore wishing to keep the vow, today they presented their said son with the image at the coffin of Blessed Simon whole, praising God and the glorious Virgin Mary and Blessed Simon.

[58] likewise a weak man On April 9, John son of Francesco master of Julianus, of the land of Gazani in the county of Bologna, who is 25 years of age, swore that in the year last past, in Holy Week, he being in a certain field to hoe, there suddenly came to him the greatest pains in his hips, so that he could in no way walk or move: likewise a weak man and so he remained impeded with the said pains until the time when the crops are reaped. And so being, hearing of the miracles of Blessed Simon, he vowed himself with whole heart to Blessed Simon. Which being done, within a few days in the said land of Gazani he suddenly arose and was freed. And therefore unwilling to be ungrateful for the said benefit and grace,

today he presented himself freed at the coffin of Blessed Simon, with a large "bottaglia" (bottle or cup), which he offered and left upon the coffin of the said Blessed Simon.

[59] On April 11, Agnesia, daughter of the late William de Cluxuriis of Archoato in the county of Piacenza, who is 15 years of age, as they assert, and an epileptic girl swore that for a year and more she had suffered from the falling sickness, and on the day of the feast of the conversion of Saint Paul last past she came to stay in the city of Bologna, with Donna Joanna of the late Henry of the parish of Saint Vitalis and Donna Bisina de Castrofranco: and in the said house she frequently had the said infirmity. And thus being, the said two Ladies Joanna and Bisina told the said Agnesia that she should vow herself to God and to Blessed Simon, that he might free her. Agnesia, hearing the aforesaid, with whole heart and soul vowed herself to God and to Blessed Simon, offering prayers to them that he might free her from the said infirmity. Which vow she made two months before, and from that time onward she had not suffered the said infirmity, which she used to have twice in the week and twice in the day.

NOTES.

CHAPTER VI.

The other part of the Third Process.

[60] An epileptic girl is healed On April 20, Donna Bartholucia, daughter of the late Bandinus and wife of Sumentinus de Orto, who dwells at Rocca Maggiore, mother of Juliana her daughter, who is 5 months old, swore that the said Juliana had suffered from the falling sickness and had suffered for the space of two months and more, and she had this evil at least twice in the week: and for three weeks and more she had made a vow to God, that if by the merits of Blessed Simon he would free her daughter, she would have the said Blessed Simon painted. Which vow being made from that time onward, her daughter did not suffer the said infirmity: and therefore she truly believed her to have been freed, because as she said above she had been suffering the said infirmity at least twice in the week. And as she had vowed, she caused the said Brother Simon to be painted, and presented her daughter at his coffin. On the same day, Martin Acursius of the parish of Saint Anthony, laborer, and Egidia his wife swore that Cursius their son, who is 4 years of age, was born ruptured, and so remained until the month of January or February last past, continually wearing a "brachirolum" (truss). And so remaining, in one of the said months, they remembered the miracles of Blessed Simon; a herniated boy and made a vow to God and to Blessed Simon, that they would present their son at the coffin of the Blessed today on the day of his feast, and would leave at the coffin the truss which he was wearing, and would affix the said coffin with a wax "statuale" (candle). Which done, immediately the said Cursius was freed, and from that time onward remained freed, and so today they presented him, as they had vowed, at the coffin, and left the truss, and affixed the coffin, praising God and Blessed Simon.

[61] On May 3, Donna Bartholomea, daughter of the late Boninsegna and wife of Mercadantis Bazallenius, another herniated of the parish of Saint Aegidius, mother of Antony her son and son of the said Mercadantis, which their son is 9 years of age, swore that her said son on occasion of a certain "sorevarli" or "chazetina" (garment or the like), was ruptured eight years before, and so remained ruptured and devastated until the time of the death of Blessed Simon. And Blessed Simon being dead, she and the said Mercadantis her husband, seeing the miracles of Blessed Simon proceeding from above, vowed and made a vow to God, that if their son by the merits of Blessed Simon should be freed from the said infirmity, they would have a lamp burning at the coffin of the said Blessed. And immediately they began to have the lamp burning, and for three months and more their said son, by the virtue of God and the merits of Blessed Simon, has been freed. On May 14, Antony Jacob Ortolanus, of the parish of Saint Anthony, swore that a certain son of his, named Nannes, who is 40 months of age, a third at the beginning of Lent last past fell strongly on the ground, so and in such a way that he was ruptured and devastated. And the said Antony seeing this made a vow to God, that if by the merits of Blessed Simon his son should be freed, he would have the said Blessed painted at the said church of Saint Anthony. Which vow being made about three weeks or so, his son was and is freed. And he stayed until today to lead the son to the coffin of Blessed Simon, because he wanted to see firmly if he was freed: and so truly by the virtue of God and the merits of Blessed Simon he has been freed, and he presented the son at the coffin of Blessed Simon.

[62] On June 14, Donna Bartholina, daughter of the late Stephen Ortolani of Faenza, and wife of the late Ugolinus de Cassadello, taken in feet and hands who dwelt in the city of Faenza in the district of the Mountain Gate, swore that 25 months before or so, she being in the city of Faenza under the portico of a house of a certain neighbor, was suddenly impeded in her feet and hands and in her whole person, so that she could in no way help herself or move. And thus remaining, hearing the miracles of Blessed Simon, she had herself carried on a cart from the city of Faenza to the coffin of Blessed Simon, about four months before: and there she remained until the day of the feast of Blessed Simon in the month of April last past: and on the said day she was and is freed, so that now she helps herself with hands and feet, and goes where she wishes without any help. On June 26, Jacobinus of the late Amicus de Vauxio of Milan, healed after falling from a high place who is 11 years of age, swore that 26 months before, he being in the city of Siena working on a certain palace of those of the Saracini; he with many others fell from the palace to the ground: and the others who fell with him immediately died, and he escaped; yet all his bones were broken, and all his interior parts went down, and he could not help himself with his right arm at all. And yesterday when he had come to the city of Bologna, he newly heard of the miracles of Blessed Simon; and hearing them, he came with whole pure heart and mind to the coffin of Blessed Simon: and there he remained yesterday and today: and by the virtue of God and of Blessed Simon today he was freed in the said arm.

[63] On June 29, Donna Richelda, daughter of the late Gerardinus and wife of Bert, of the parish of Saint Mary of the Temple, who is 40 years of age, weak in the knees swore that for three years she had been unable to help herself in her knees, and in them had pains, so that she could not in any way stand straight, nor walk without a staff. And hearing the miracles of Blessed Simon, she vowed herself with whole heart to God and to Blessed Simon, asking God that by the merits of Blessed Simon he would free her. Which done she was freed, within about eight days after the vow, so that she walks rightly and without a staff and without pain everywhere. Wishing therefore not to hide the aforesaid, today she presented herself freed at the coffin of Blessed Simon, praising God and the said Blessed. On July 26, Donna Egidia, wife of Bernardus, of the parish of Saint Aegidius, swore that a certain son of hers, named John, for two months and more had been ruptured: which she seeing, on the 22nd of the present month, she vowed her said son to God and to Blessed Simon, that they would take care to free him. Which vow being made immediately and without delay her said son was freed: and therefore she presented him today at the coffin of Blessed Simon.

[64] On August 10, Francisca, wife of Jacob Victuralis, of the parish of Saint Cecilia, swore, that a certain son of hers, named Bartholomew, from the day of his origin was born with a very great "natta" (growth) in his head on the right side, a boy with a tumored head as large as a goose's egg, and that no remedy by the counsel of any physician could ever be made for him, nor could he be freed. Seeing therefore and hearing the miracles of Blessed Simon, Francisca made a vow to God, for six months or so, that if her son by the merits of Blessed Simon should be freed from the said infirmity, she would offer and present upon the coffin of the Blessed a wax head of a boy. Which vow being made, about fifteen days later, the son was wholly freed. Wishing therefore to fulfill the vow, today she presented her said freed son, with the wax head, at the coffin of Blessed Simon.

[65] frightened by a diabolical apparition On October 3, Rainaldus of Laurence of Florence, familiar of Marcus of the late Lanfranchus of Pistoia, who now dwells at Bologna in the lodging of Sottus the innkeeper, swore that on Friday last past, the first of the present month of October, he being in the said inn at night, heard the horses in the said inn quarreling with each other: and hearing...

these things immediately he rose to go to them. And going to the stables it seemed to him to see a man upon one of the said horses, and immediately he was so frightened that he fell to the ground and could not help himself, nor walk, nor even speak: and so remained until day. And when day came Don Marcus coming to the stable found the said Rainaldus lying thus, and that he could not help himself or speak; the said Marcus vowed the said Rainaldus to God and to Blessed Simon, and had him led yesterday morning thus sick to the coffin of the Blessed: and on the said day yesterday at the hour of None he was freed, and therefore today he presented himself. On October 4, Donna Pellegrina, wife of Francesco of the late Jacob de Apoxa of the parish of Saint Vitalis, a nearly blind girl swore that a certain daughter of hers named Cola, 25 months of age, from the day of her birth until ten days after, remained blind of eyes, and did not see: but after the said ten days had passed she began to see a little, but badly: and so she remained almost blind, unable to see, until one month lately past. Donna Pellegrina, seeing the miracles of Blessed Simon, vowed her daughter to God and to Blessed Simon, and led her several times to the coffin. And it has been fifteen days and more that she was freed: and today she presented her.

[66] An epileptic boy In the year 1324, Indiction 7, on April 16, Donna Massara, daughter of the late Damianus and wife of Bonaventure of John de Mascardis, who dwells in the land of Funum in the county of Bologna, swore that a certain son of hers, named Antony, who might be 3 years of age, was sick with the falling sickness; and seeing and hearing the miracles of Blessed Simon, she made a vow to God, that if by the merits of Blessed Simon her said son was freed, she would carry him to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and offer to him a wax candle of the size of the said Antony. Which vow being made, immediately he was freed: and it has now been eighteen months since then, in which he has not had the evil, which he was wont to have twice or once in the week. On the same day Donna Margaret Ghiberti, wife of Baldinus de Marciis, of Funum in the county of Bologna, likewise a girl nurse of the daughter of Veneticus de Personaldis, who is 18 months old, swore that on the 5th day of the present month of April the said daughter being in the courtyard of Margaret, suddenly fell to the ground on her left side, and immediately lost her left arm and hand, nor could she help herself. And then she carried her to a certain physician, thinking that her arm had been moved out of joint: and the physician found that the arm was not moved, and so she remained for a day and a night. Seeing this, she vowed her to God and to Blessed Simon, that if he freed her, she would lead her to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and give him a wax candle of the size of the said girl. And immediately the vow being made, she was freed and began to move her arm.

[67] On May 5, Donna Verdillia, daughter of Benvenutus de Tizanum in the county of Bologna, and wife of Martin Honebenis of Cor in the county of Bologna, swore another lame that a certain daughter of hers named Bartholomea, who is 4 years of age, was born lame, and so remained for the space of three years. And the said Donna Verdillia hearing of the miracles of Blessed Simon, vowed her daughter to God and to Blessed Simon about a year before, and about a year before had carried her upon the coffin of Blessed Simon; and there she remained for the space of one day. And so being at the coffin, the said Bartholomea was freed, and she carried her home freed, and she remained until today looking to see if she remained freed. Seeing therefore that she remained freed and is freed, a swollen shin lest the above be hidden, today she presented herself at the coffin of the said Blessed with a wax image, leaving it upon the coffin. On July 11, Donna Agnesia daughter of the late Bartholomew and wife of Albertus Batanus of the parish of Saint Sigismund; and Egidia her daughter, 14 years of age, swore, that the said Egidia from the feast of Carnival-privation last past until through the whole of June last past, remained sick with the gravest infirmity: and that on the right side she had her body wholly swollen, and her leg and shin with a very great swelling, so that she could scarcely walk. And thus remaining, they had the counsel of several physicians, who all said that it was necessary to make a plaster and to place it over the said evil, that it might make a head, so that it could be cut. Hearing these things on the 1st of the present month of July, both the aforesaid made a vow that, if the said Egidia were freed without an incision, they would give and present at the coffin of Blessed Simon a large wax shin, and would have a Mass said to the honor of God and Blessed Simon. Which vow being made, immediately she began to be freed, and felt herself freed.

[68] On July 28, Peter Jacob of Castagnolo Maggiore, a herniated boy who now dwells in the land of Ronci in the county of Bologna, swore that a certain son of his, named John, on Saturday the vigil of Saint Catherine last past of Lent last past, from a certain squasso (jolt) was ruptured. And then he led him to Bologna to a certain physician, and had him treated well for a month, and he could not be freed. And seeing that he was not being freed, Donna Texola, his wife and mother of the said John, about a month before, made a vow to God, that if her said son by the merits of Blessed Simon should be freed, she would carry him to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and offer upon the said coffin a wax boy, and that all the time of her life she would fast the vigil of the said Blessed Simon on bread and water. Which vow being made, after a few days the said John was freed, and today is freed.

✠ "I John Nicholas de Manellis, Notary by Imperial authority, have publicly written all the said miracles written above, as they are written, and reduced them to public form, by authority etc. as above."

NOTES.

CHAPTER VII.

Appendix of miracles to the third Process.

[69] Healed: a twisted foot In the name of Christ. Amen. In the year of the Nativity of the same 1324, Indiction 7, on the 11th day of September, Donna Sania, daughter of the late Fugerius and wife of Benvenutus Michael Leci, who dwells at Guazarellum in the county of Bologna, before me John de Manellis Notary below and the witnesses placed below, corporally swore on the holy Gospels of God, that a certain son of hers, named Michael, 4 and a half years of age, being in his home, in the month of July last past, one morning there came to the said Michael his right leg, from the knee down to the foot, wholly twisted almost in the manner of a bow, and he could scarcely walk: and when he walked, he carried his right foot wholly twisted. And the said Donna Sania seeing this, carried her said son often to physicians, and found none who could free him or knew how. Seeing then that he could not be freed, she remembered the merits of Blessed Simon; and being in her home, with whole heart and soul made a vow to God, that if her said son by the merits of Blessed Simon should be freed, she would lead him to the coffin of Blessed Simon, and cause to be offered upon the coffin a wax leg with the foot, and would have said and celebrated a Mass in honor of God: which vow she made in the month of August last past, one evening. And the vow being made, immediately in the morning her son rose and was freed from the said infirmity. Wishing therefore to fulfill the vow, today she presented her said freed son at the said coffin of Blessed Simon with the aforesaid vow, praising God and Blessed Simon: all which she said and testified in the presence of Master Tomasinus of the late Master Lanzalotus, Peter Gerardi the shoemaker, and Masimbene of Albertus, as Witnesses.

[70] On October 8, Don Franciscus of the late Don Pascha the draper, of the parish of Saint Lucy, eyes dashed out and Donna Joanna his wife, swore, that a certain son of theirs, Nicholas by name, 4 years of age, being under the portico of their house, on Holy Week of the year last past; another son of theirs, named Antony, being upon a certain horse of the said Francesco, and leading it through the porticoes and running, the said horse struck the said Nicholas so and in such a way that it threw him to the ground, and on a certain little wall he struck with his head, so and in such a way that his eyes wholly came out of his head, with a great effusion of blood: and at once they sent for many physicians, who all concordantly said that he had lost his eyes and sight. And then the said Donna Joanna, hearing the above, with heart and soul made a vow to God and to Blessed Mary, that if by the merits of Blessed Simon her said son were freed, she would lead him to his coffin, and offer to him a wax image.

And the vow being made he began to be freed, and on the day of Easter Sunday following in the morning, he was wholly freed. On the same day, place, a vehement fever and with the same witnesses, Don Francesco by his Sacrament said, that on the 3rd of the present month of October, he being in bed, suddenly there came to him very great fevers, so that he believed he would die at once: and so being in the tremor of death in bed, he remembered Blessed Simon. And then he made a vow to God and to the glorious Virgin Mary, that if he by the merits of Blessed Simon were freed, he would have the said Brother Simon painted: which vow being made, immediately he was and is freed. On November 24, Donna Francesca, daughter of the late Spinelli and wife of Jacob Benvenuti, of the parish of Saint Mary of the Germans, swore that a certain son of hers, named Julius, 7 years of age, for about two years was ruptured and devastated, nor could be freed: and for about two months she had made a vow to God, a grave hernia that if her said son by the merits of Blessed Simon were freed, she would continually for one year have a lamp burning at the coffin of the said Blessed: and that a month and more her said son has been and is freed.

[71] In the year 1325, Indiction 8, on March 15, Donna Jacobina called Mina, swelling of the eyes daughter of the late Jacob and wife of Nicholas the Smith of the parish of Saint Blasius, swore, that a certain son of hers, named Francus, 20 months of age, when he was 3 months old, his eyes grew very large and swollen: and afterwards she had him treated: and at the end his eyes were wholly "descolated" (discharged), and the physicians were all agreed, that they were wholly discharged and he could never see: and so he remained for four months not seeing. And seeing this she made a vow to God, that if her said son by the merits of Blessed Simon should be freed, she would with her own hands carry him to the coffin of the Blessed, and upon the coffin offer a wax image of the size of Francus, and that she all the time of her life would fast the vigil of Blessed Simon: Which vow being made, almost on that day, her said son opened his eyes with the clearest light, and was and is freed.

[72] On March 24, Guido Bitini Capelli of Crevalcorio in the county of Bologna, who is 20 years of age, swore that in the month of May last past, a grievously affected throat suddenly there came to him in his throat on the left side a certain ailment which is called Noli-me-tangere (Touch-me-not), so and in such a way that he almost died from it. And seeing this, a certain aunt of his, named Donna Bona, made a vow that if the said Guido by the merits of Blessed Simon should be freed, she would lead him to the coffin of the said Blessed, and would affix the coffin with a wax candle: which vow being made, immediately on the same day he was freed.

[73] On the same day, Albertinus Honenbene Terclarius, of the land of Galeriae in the county of Bologna, and Donna Laurentia his wife, swore that in the month of February last past, in the time of carnival, suddenly there came to the said Albertinus, in his chest on the left side, a very great swelling, pain of the side so and in such a way that he could scarcely rest. And then they came to Bologna, and took counsel with the physicians of the city of Bologna, who all said that he was dead and could not escape: for they said this was the infirmity called Noli-me-tangere; and that they did not know what counsel to give him, except that he should go to the shrine of Saint Anthony of Vienne. Hearing this they departed from the city of Bologna, and were going home weeping, not knowing what to do, since they had four small sons. And today three weeks, remaining and believing to die, they made a vow to God and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, that if the said Albertinus were freed by the merits of Blessed Simon, and if they would restore him freed by his merits to his four said small and needy sons, they would come personally to the coffin of the said Blessed, and would offer to him four wax images, as they had four sons. Which vow being made he began to be freed, and after the vow in the space of eight days he was legitimately and well freed and is.

[74] On the same day Rainerius son of the late Peter the shoemaker of Modena, of the cinquantina of Saint Mark on the inner side, swelling of the leg who is 27 years of age, swore, that in his left leg there came to him a certain very great infirmity, so that it wholly strongly became swollen, so and in such a way that twice in the said infirmity he was cut by Master Peter called Medighini, son of Master Henry Cardellini of Modena, physician; from which infirmity and incisions, though solidified, the said leg and nerves remained retracted, so and in such a way that the said Rainerius could not walk without crutches, and so he remained for two months. Seeing then that he could not be freed, and remembering the sanctity of Blessed Simon, he made a vow to God and the glorious Virgin Mary, that if he by the merits of Blessed Simon freed him, he would come personally on foot to visit the coffin of the said Blessed Simon: which vow he made in the month of May last past. Which vow being made, about six or eight days after the said vow, he was legitimately freed, and walks freely everywhere.

[75] a dying boy On April 10, Donna Jacoba, daughter of the late Gerardus and wife of Guido the shoemaker, of the city of Modena, of the cinquantina of the Butchers, swore that a certain son of hers named John, 11 and a half years of age, being in bed on Sunday, on the feast of Saint Lazarus last past, suddenly there came to him that he lost his sight and speech: and so he remained well from morning until None almost in transit. Seeing this she began to cry out and weep, so that all her neighbors, men and women, were passing to her: and some of them went for the physicians of Modena. Which physicians, when they saw and touched him, said he was in danger of death, and in no way could they open his mouth or his hands; and he did as those do who die. She seeing and hearing that her said son was in danger of death, remembered Blessed Simon, and before all her neighbors, men and women, who were in her house with her to see the above, she with a loud voice and whole heart began to cry and say: "O most holy Simon, I beg you, that it may please you to return my son to me, if it is for the better, and to free him." And this said, immediately, before all her neighbors men and women and many other persons who had come through there, believing her said son to be dead, her said son rose from his bed without any languor, and began to dress himself, and said to his mother: "Where have those great lights gone, which were just here?" And when he was dressed, he went outside freed. Which seen, all who were there, with bent knees praised God and Blessed Simon. And therefore unwilling to be ungrateful for the said benefit, but to visit the body of Blessed Simon, she came from the city of Modena with her said son on foot and barefoot and in a hair-shirt to the coffin of Blessed Simon: and today with her said son she presented herself at the coffin, narrating the above, and most devoutly praising God and Blessed Simon: all which she said in the presence of Guido Antonii Sartor who was of Modena, John Dominici of the parish of Saint Vitalis, Matinus Jacobini Barberio, and Raido Albertini of the parish of Saint Sigismund as witnesses.

NOTES.

ON BLESSED JOHN, HERMIT OF MASSACCIO IN PICENUM.

IN THE YEAR 1399.

Blessed John, Hermit of Massaccio, in Picenum (B.)

By D. P.

[1] Among the towns of the diocese of Jesi, one that is not ignoble is reckoned which, about ten miles from the city toward the southwest, is called Massaccio, and once had an Abbey of the Camaldolese institute. To this, led for burial, John the Hermit of whom we have undertaken to treat would doubtless now be numbered among the Blessed of the same Order, as Blessed Torellus of the Vallombrosans, of whom on March 16, if the place had not long before been emptied of its former inhabitants, formerly buried in a Camaldolese Abbey and therefore John had fallen into oblivion among the Camaldolese. So it has happened that the Franciscans, dwelling there already more than 220 years, have with impunity numbered him among their Tertiaries; by their solemn custom, assigning to their Third Rule any professors of solitary life in these latest centuries, not bound to any certain order, because of the form of the hermit dress, not much differing from the Franciscan, he is numbered among the Tertiaries of Saint Francis which we neither wish to reprove nor can approve. Yet we abstain from the title by which Arthurus from the monastery has inserted Blessed John into his Martyrology; and we confess ourselves to owe greater thanks to Luke Wadding and his abbreviator Francis Harold, that they have striven to insert into their Annals some synopsis of his life, such as they could collect from the monuments of that place, either written or preserved in memory: from whom Wadding under the year 1399 thus speaks.

[2] "In this year or about, on April 22, at Massaccio, a castle of the March of Ancona, died John the hermit-dweller, a boy given to prayer follower of the third institute of Saint Francis."

Born among rustics of heretical parents, as a rose from thorns, he was kindly anticipated by divine grace, so that by his kinsmen he might be instructed in the Catholic faith, and from childhood might experience divine favors. He continually repeated the Lord's Prayer, and roused other little boys to frequent prayers. To divine things he was so devoted, that he would have speech only of these. God, about to manifest the purity of his soul and the virtue hidden under his tender breast, willed in a lack of water he draws forth a spring that when the fields were drying up with the summer heat, and shepherds and flocks were failing for lack of water, the boy John, drawing a circle on the ground and invoking the name of Jesus, should open for the thirsty a most abundant vein of water. For the greater confirmation of the miracle this fountain still flows, and is called by the common name, "Fountain of the goats of Blessed John."

[3] When grown older, leaving the guarding of flocks, he gave himself wholly to guarding and cultivating his soul; grown older he retires to a cave by the example of the most holy Patriarch Benedict he hid himself in a secret cave, his counsel being communicated to his mother alone, converted by his prayers. She through a rope, at the ringing of a bell, furnished bread, water, and raw herbs. He however consumed his whole time in sacred meditations, rigorous penances, and dire conflicts with the enemy. he is tempted by the demon The demon envied him so great a virtue, and devised everything to drive him from this kind of life. He beat his mind with strong temptations, cast before him dreadful specters, terrified him with threats, and sometimes added blows. But with the young man's mind unshaken, at last the demon, vanquished in so many contests, departed confused, and by a certain childish revenge threw a stone and broke the bell. So it frequently happens that the demon, not being able to do greater things, turns to lesser; and conquered in great things, shows himself a ridiculous contender in small. This damage, slight enough, the mother repaired, buying another bell; which when the enemy in similar manner shattered, John asked that his mother should buy a third from the price of her own labor; saying that but in vain perhaps therefore the two former were broken by the demon, because they were bought with badly acquired money. That this suspicion was not empty, both the mother's confession, and the little bell procured by the price of labor, whole to this day, have proved. It hangs in the refectory of the Friars Minor, as a constant memorial of this matter.

[4] He remained in this cave all the time his mother lived: but when she died, he increases the rigor of penance when there was no one to furnish bread, it was necessary to go around the houses. Drawn by the pious way of life of certain Religious, he took the habit of the third Order of Saint Francis: under which he devised wondrous modes of penance. Daily with the sacred Sacraments of Penance and of the Eucharist he refreshed his holy soul: with constant prayer and long fasting he exercised himself against the snares of the demon. With perpetual tears he implored for himself and for others the pardon of sins, until his body, worn by labors, from a grave and long-lasting infirmity at length fell asleep in the Lord. The bells ringing of their own accord announce his virtue when dead It pleased the Author of the virtues with which he shone to manifest his sanctity and announce his death, by the wondrous sound of the bells of the monastery or Abbey of Massaccio of the Camaldolese monks. All being stupefied at the hidden motion and sound, produced by no human power, they began to ask what this prodigy portended. To whom someone answered by chance, perhaps the hermit John had died: for he had not come out of the cave for some days. They went who should explore, and found him with bent knees, with hands joined before his breast in the manner of one praying, with erect body, with face raised to heaven, firmly stiff.

[5] These things having been spread among the people, all came together into the cave, to see and venerate the servant of God: miracles follow then in hymns and canticles they led the holy body, with what solemnity they could, to the monastery; where from the wondrous sound of the bells they judged he had wished to indicate the place of his burial. He began to be illustrious with innumerable miracles, and to present help to all the sick. For which cause the townsfolk appointed him their protector before God, the place is handed over to the Franciscans and venerate his feast with solemn rite. The Minors were translated by Martin V, and the translation was confirmed by Nicholas V in the year 1450. By which reason it came to pass that the foster-son of Blessed Francis came into the power of the followers of the holy Patriarch."

[6] Thus far Wadding, who spoke doubtfully about the year of his death, because in Marcus of Lisbon he had read the year 1393. But Wadding's abbreviator Harold, the day and year of death are more certainly known warned from Massaccio that there was no other memorial about the time of his death than for the year 1399, absolutely wrote him dead in that year; with a similar suggestion he placed the day as April 20, imputing to a typographical error the fact that in Wadding it stood as 22 for 20. Arturus could not decline the typesetter's error, which he could not have had suspect; and therefore he inscribed John in his Martyrology on April 22. The Most Eminent Anthony Cardinal Bicchius approved with his judgment the correction of Harold in both respects: whom we had asked with our customary trust to seek from Massaccio whatever documents there might be had there concerning Blessed John; from his own city of Osimo, over which he happily presides as Bishop, he sent thither a Patrician man: from whose report about the year and day of his death, according to the mind of the Massaccio people, he recognized and judged; the other things which he had brought collected, the Most Eminent one judging them little authentically proved, ordered us to stick with what Wadding and Harold had written about the Blessed.

[7] around the year 1537 the coffer was broken As to the past and present cult of the blessed man, the same Most Eminent one so writes in a letter, given from Osimo on the last day of December 1670: "I say from the reports, that truly the relics of Blessed John, after his death for 178 years in the church which is now of the Reformed of the Franciscan Observance, were exposed to public cult and veneration, within a marble coffer, namely until the year 1577: but then at the suggestion of a certain Friar, the coffer was privately and secretly broken, and the bones drawn out. Whence the Bishop of Jesi, under whose dominion the place is, took care to have the fragments which remained within the coffer removed and hidden, an occasion is given for abolishing the cult being doubtful about their truth and identity with those which previously enclosed there, by the tacit consent of the Church, had had cult and veneration. Now however neither in paintings nor in tablets is there any monument of memory."

The Bishop of Jesi at that time was Gabriel de Monte, great-nephew of Pope Julius III, promoted to that See in 1554, over which he presided for 43 years and some months: in whose time fell that solemn visitation of the Italian churches, of which we treated on March 13, concerning Blessed Eric, venerated at Perugia after death. Worthy was that rash license of the Friars to be so castigated; worthy were the people of Massaccio to be deprived of the patronage of him whose veneration they had allowed to fall into oblivion. formerly neglected For if the cult of this blessed hermit had been in green observance, the Bishop would not have been so severe in this part, and could easily have been moved to let all things be restored to their former state. But I do not think that either the Bishop or the Massaccio people were greatly solicitous for that restoration; since the care of the former and the devotion of the latter were drawn rather to another John the Minorite, of whom in the aforesaid place Wadding testifies on account of the cult of another Blessed John that "he lies in the same church under the altar of the most holy crucifix, illustrious in signs and miracles, and died in the year 1559, March 11": on which day however there is no memorial of him in Arthurus; but on the 2nd of the same month, when we placed his name among the omitted. Indeed, when these things were being printed, there had not yet come to our hands the collection of the chiefly authentic miracles, made in the year 1669, of which, made in his presence and in his monastery of Saint Lawrence, the Most Reverend Andreas Vallemarius the Camaldolese, then residing at Massaccio, is a witness present; whose transcript legitimately signed he sent to us: and we keep it for the supplement of March, about to await similarly what else meanwhile may occur and be written with equal trust.

ON VENERABLE DOMINIC LEONESIUS, OF THE ORDER OF FRIARS MINOR, AT URBINO IN ITALY.

IN THE YEAR 1497.

Venerable Dominic Leonesius, of the Order of Friars Minor, at Urbino in Italy (Ven.)

By D. P.

[1] Francesco Gonzaga, Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, and afterwards Bishop of Mantua, a man as distinguished in family as in virtue and learning, in his work on the origin of the Franciscan Religion, part 2, describing the monastery of Saint Clare of Urbino, which is the 14th in the Province of the March, founded by Clara daughter of Frederick Duke of Urbino, The cult of the body and, after the death of her husband Malatesta and of their only little daughter, ennobled by her own joining herself to the company of the Virgins consecrated to God, subjoins that "in their church, under the high altar, the body of the Blessed Father Dominic Leonesius rests in the Lord: whose sanctity and miracles done, the votive offerings hung around his sepulchre most manifestly indicate." To those wishing to know whether there still remained his honor to that holy Body and the devotion of the Urbino people towards him, Brother Philip of Forum Sempronii of the Order of the Observant Reformed replied, in the church of Saint Clare the Confessor of the said religious women, that the old church having been destroyed, a new one was built in the time of the now ruling Abbess; and the body of Dominic, which up to that time had lain hidden under the altar, in order to excite the eyes of the citizens more, to more devotion, had been translated into a marble coffer; and placed under the window of the cloister with this inscription: "Here lies the body of Blessed Dominic of Leonessa, of the Order of Friars Minor of the Observance." Leonessa is a little town in Abruzzo at the confines of Umbria, distant about six or seven miles from Norcia and Rieti.

[2] The aforesaid Brother Francesco adds in a letter written July 10, 1671, A bone of the arm that on such an occasion it seemed fitting to the Abbess, for the common consolation of those who trusted in the intercession of that Blessed, to separate from the other bones one bone, which placed with fitting adornment in an honored place might be brought to the sick requesting it: and that singular graces had followed and were daily following, obtained by such means. Especially the very Reverend Mother Sister Teresia Zepherini of Forum Sempronii, more than once having performed the governance of that place, when she was tormented with the gravest pains of arthritic disease, salutary to the sick in the presence of the said bone, which she had caused to be brought, and the veneration shown by her to it, ascribed to the Blessed the grace of the greatest consolation, one not to be hoped for except divinely. These things being so, it was permitted to Arturus to insert him with the title of Blessed in the Franciscan Martyrology, under this form: "The 12th day before the Kalends of May, at Urbino, of Blessed Dominic Leonesius Confessor, who on account of his distinguished virtues having been made Provincial Minister of the March seven times, as many times shone with wondrous prudence, charity and sanctity, and admirable signs." The day of death he took from the historians of the Order to be cited presently, Life from Wadding from whom also Brother Luke Wadding in the Annals compiled the Life which we here give, being destitute of more ancient documents, since there are none in the place.

[3] In this year 1497 there died the distinguished man, Dominic

of Leonessa, born at San Severino, a noble town of Picenum among the hills neighboring the Apennines, built from the ruins of the ancient city of Septempeda; having obtained the surname from Leonessa, a village of the Kingdom of Naples, to which the family had been transplanted, and where he laid the first foundations of his childhood and virtue. Compunct in heart at the fiery words of Blessed Nicholas of Osimo preaching, he bade farewell to the world, Excellently instructed in virtue and entered the institute of the Friars Minor. Here instructed in letters, always intent on prayer, with perpetual zeal he subjected the flesh to the law of the spirit. Every night he scourged himself with many lashes: on Fridays he took only bread and water: he frequently slept on the ground, or, kneeling, cheated sleep. to sermons With great fervor and fruit he sowed the word of God everywhere; and it is reported that by his preaching he joined to himself, as excellent companions, Brothers Julian and Venantius, natives of Fabriano. He foretells a plague at Fabriano In that town he was preaching sermons to the people in the year 1466, and foretold that two years later a plague would strongly rage there; but he would not be wanting in so great a necessity. There followed the most dreadful pestilence which he had foretold; and he, according to the promise given, came with his companion, to show all services to all; nor did he depart until the contagion was abolished.

[4] Asked by a young fellow-religious what he should do in the Religion that he might serve God more perfectly, he answered: "Obey simply, pray fervently, study diligently: yet in such order that, for obedience, if necessary, you dismiss prayer and study, and for prayer bid farewell to study." In the monastery of Saint Bernardinus of Urbino, a novice near defection a certain novice was vehemently agitated by the evil spirit to return to the world, the master laboring in vain to drive away the temptations and to make him persevere in his holy vocation; being led to this man venerable for old age, dwelling there, he opened the wound of his mind. The old man, weeping together with the laboring young man, said that temptations are easily put to flight on the first threshold; when further advanced, with difficulty; when invading the inmost parts and as though rooted in, either impossible, or not without the greatest labor. "Therefore, my son," he said, "do not admit them, but at the first touch rout them: so you will happily triumph over Satan. The servants of God when tempted ought to give thanks to God: that being placed in this tribulation, he effectively fortifies him against temptations and afflicted on every side, they will not be drawn by the enticements of sins to unlawful things. But you, new soldier, do not tremble at these troublesome contests and the crafty snares of the enemy: these are his arts and frequent, that those may perish who retire to cloisters for caring for their souls. I myself in my novitiate proved these very troublesome, and in three ways, by God's help, I eluded them. First, by some religious bodily exercise I tried to turn my mind from such suggestions: second, I at once brought all to my preceptor and Confessor, who as from a higher watchtower explored and detected the wiles of the cunning enemy: third, I tamed my body by fastings, scourges, vigils; and with what insistence of prayer I could, I prayed God to direct his help to me. Do likewise, son, and call in your help religious Fathers, who may pray for you: I will add my own prayers, such as they are: and the Lord will put this temptation far from you." He spoke: he prayed: the novice monk overcame the enemy.

[5] Drawn by his prudence, goodness, and discipline, the Fathers of the province of the March of Ancona seven times Provincial wished to have him as perpetual Prefect. Since that was not permitted by the laws and custom of the institute, by common votes they created him Provincial Minister seven times. In his long and so often repeated government great wisdom shone forth. He roused the good to better things by proposing rewards: the bad he confounded by denying the honors which they sought, and by indulgent punishment recalled from vices those whom he feared could not be bent but broken by a harder one. Seized by his last illness, in his last Prefecture, he is magnificently invited to Urbino while he was visiting the convents, the Duke of Urbino sent courtiers and servants who were to lead him into the city, lest he die elsewhere, and they should suffer the loss of a man whom they venerated, and whom, when dead, they knew would be the splendor of their city. Troubled by so great a company, he was exceedingly humbled, and with contrite spirit exclaimed: "Why such a copious train of horsemen, fitting for a Pontiff, for leading a poor little Brother? Permit the wretched one to be led more humbly, or to breathe out his spirit, neglected, wherever it may happen. Through my whole life I have desired to be held the basest: now, when I am inclining to the earth, do you wish to bear me on high and expose me to the breeze of vanity? Go on: I will follow, and with less tumult I will satisfy the wishes of the best Prince."

[6] At Urbino honorably received by the Prince, he prepared himself to undergo death with Christian zeal. Nor were heavenly aids lacking, Angels and the Blessed Virgin are present to him sick with Angels running and the Virgin Mary showing herself. He had as a familiar and conscious of his secrets Brother Nicholas Gallus, a probity man and learned, a most eloquent preacher, a worthy repository even of heavenly secrets. They had struck between themselves a holy compact, each promising to reveal to the other the divine revelations. Nicholas came from dinner on Friday to the cell of him reclining: he saw through the chinks of the door bursting rays of unusual splendor: he stopped: he waited a little: then breaking into the cell, that light immediately utterly vanished. Suspecting something divine, he reminded him of the promise and compact, and compelled him to narrate that there had appeared to him the Divine Virgin shining with Angelic choirs. A little before his death the same Nicholas, noticing many men before the doors of the cell whispering with confused speech and impatient motion, and so the demons are prohibited from approaching asked what they wanted. Compelled from elsewhere, they said: "We are demons, who are waiting until the Virgin Mary leaves this cell, about to play our parts with the languishing Dominic." He drove away, with what authority he could, the evil spirits, and narrated the snares prepared for him to his friend. Thence he, judging death not far off, ordered that none further, except Nicholas and the Prefect of the convent, should come to him, about to plead the cause of his soul with Christ and them. And with devout and serene mind, the offices of a Christian man being first sent forth, on the next following Friday, April 20, he rendered his pious soul to his Creator.

[7] the dead face appears more splendid His lifeless body at once wondrously shone, more beautiful and more tractable: which had to be left for two days in the church for the importunate veneration of the people: and it was at length buried, by order of Prince Guidobaldo, at the monastery of Saint Clare, in which he had once held the office of Confessor, near the principal altar, under that grate through which the religious women receive sacred Communion: where he shone with many miracles. From the pulpit and in familiar conversation he was wont to inculcate these words: "You have received one soul; care for it diligently: if you lose this, you are not permitted to substitute another." Those who write his Life call him "Mirror of perfection, trumpet of Italy, prop of the Picene province." Thus far Wadding, Authors from whom these things are received having cited in the margin the writers of the Life: Marianus On distinguished men, whose very words, hitherto hidden in manuscripts, we should have preferred to present for reading in their first simplicity, if we had been able to obtain them; Marcus of Lisbon, who wrote in Portuguese, rendered into Spanish, Italian, and French, part 3 book 7 chapter 31; and Cimarelli book 7 chapter 37, whom we judge to be a recent author and to have written after the renovation of the church; and from whom we think Wadding (whose volume VII was printed only in the year 1648) received that circumstance of the present place of burial, different from that designated by the older Gonzaga.

[8] error in the day or year of death Marcus of Lisbon does not mention the place where Dominic was laid to rest. Yet he has the year of death signed by Wadding, and preceded both him and the others in combining the sixth feria with April 20; which fits not that year, but the following, when with Sunday letter G, the Lord's Day, the same as the octave of Easter, nearest to April 20 falling on the sixth feria, was observed on the 22nd of the same month. It is therefore necessary here to recognize some error, either in the year, or in the feria, or in the day of the month: which ought most to be corrected, it is not ours to guess: and therefore in the title we have kept the year and day noted by Wadding, until we may know more certainly by what argument Dominic's death is said to have fallen on the sixth feria. Guidobaldo, the author of the burial of the body among the religious women, was brother of Clare the foundress, at whose prayers requesting this we believe this was paid, the Brothers dwelling in the monastery of Saint Bernardinus not daring to refuse.

[9] Nicholas, by whose sermons Dominic was moved to enter the Religion, a man indeed most praised both from his writings and from his fervor of preaching, lies buried at Rome in the Ara-coeli, without even the least sign of public veneration. His Life, to be given among the Lives of the Saints and Illustrious men of Osimo, John Baldi promises to give in the last place, the great-nephew of Nicholas himself from his sister Bernardina de Romanis: but he abstains from a title his companions inscribed among the Blessed by Arturus which would denote an ecclesiastical cult. We therefore do not know by what right he is called Blessed by Wadding, much less on what foundation Arturus has inscribed him to February 23 in his Franciscan Martyrology; which he did also with Julian of Fabriano on July 26, and Venantius likewise of Fabriano on May 6; for this license of distributing at his discretion through the fasti the names of those to whom he found any praise of virtue or commendation of a holy death added in the authors, was called by Wadding, not ineptly jesting, "the Great Pope of the Minorite Order": yet useful to us, because, with the authors diligently cited, he furnishes matter and occasion of investigating about many, and by investigating of finding about various: who although they are not found inscribed to the catalogues of Saints, nonetheless obtain some public ecclesiastical cult, neither abrogated nor contrary to any decrees of the Holy See, on account of which we ought to grant them a place in our work. We shall do the same about several others, whom on the testimony of Arturus alone we do not dare to aggregate to the Blessed, or to ascribe to the day designated by him, and whom therefore we now refer among the Omitted; if either the aids of the required instruction are sent to us spontaneously, or something is answered to those asking, by which we may think ourselves and our readers satisfied: as we have done here with Dominic, yet content with the title of Venerable, with which Wadding also was content: since neither did Gonzaga absolutely call him Blessed, but "Blessed Father"; which scarcely sounds otherwise than as we commonly say "of blessed memory" of any who, as we trust, have died in the Lord with pious death.

[10] The aforesaid Arturus in his Annotations wishes Dominic of Leonessa to be believed the same who is praised by Wadding under the year 1452, Is he the same as Dominic of Gonessa? and is called Dominic of Gonessa the Picene, as one who preaching at Aquila at the same time when a great orator among others, Robert of Lecce, a deserter of stricter observance, had begun to give discourses to the people in the church of Saint Francis, turned the greatest part of his hearers, previously attached to him, to rather hear himself, speaking in the area of Santa Maria de Asserico. And again in the year 1463 the aforesaid Dominic of Gonessa was appointed Vicar of Bosnia and Dalmatia.

And this in volume VI of the Annals. Indeed I find no castle or town of Italy or Picenum called Gonessa, whence such a name could have flowed. And I see that an error could have crept into the first letters: yet I think these two names, against Wadding's intention, are conflated into one person: who if he had believed in volume VI there was an error in writing, would doubtless in the following volume, treating of set purpose of the life and death of Blessed Dominic, have corrected the error at least tacitly, by introducing mention of the Dalmatian Vicariate.

ON ALBERT THE BOY, IN POLAND KILLED BY THE JEWS, LAID TO REST AT THE COLLEGE OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS OF LUBLIN.

IN THE YEAR 1598.

Albert, a boy, killed by the Jews in Poland, laid to rest at Lublin in the College of the Society of Jesus (St.)

By D. P.

[1] In the preceding days, namely the 17th and 19th of this month, treating of Saints Rudolph and Werner, we said so many things concerning the unquenchable thirst of Christian blood with which the impious race of the Jews burns, and have heaped up so many examples of like ferocity, that the mind would shrink from augmenting this day again with such horrid narratives; were it not that the very commemoration contributes much, not only to make long the memory of those whose short life the rage of the impious cut short, but also to repair the contempt The body under the altar most wickedly done to Christ our God, through his enemies, in his members. Let there come forth then from Poland the boy Adalbert, or, as the authors preferred to write more contractedly, Albert: but let him come forth without the title of Blessed or Saint, without the title of Blessed because having suffered at the end of the last century, he has not yet obtained that honor from the Apostolic See; while nonetheless under the altar he is honorably kept enshrined by the Ordinary of the place himself, a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, probably with the sacred Congregation of Rites consulted, at any rate not disapproving what, done publicly, could not lie hidden.

[2] The history of the matter in Polish language most extensively was written by Frederick Szembeck, History from public Acts written in Polish a Priest of our Society, in 1614, from the tables of the Castle, of Mielnik, of Lokov, of Krasnystaw; from the Acts of the most ample Tribunal in the Kingdom of Poland, and the criminal cases of the city of Lublin; finally from the accurate inquiry of the two most illustrious Bishops of Luceoria, Bernard Maciejowski (who afterwards was Bishop of Krakow and a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, and not so long after Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of the whole Kingdom) and his successor Martin Szyszkowski, at Lositze, at Worniki, at Liteuniki, at Sanowietz, instituted at various times: of which Tables, Acts, Cases, and Inquiries exemplars or transcripts, most thoroughly proved by public trust and sealed with seals, are preserved at Krakow in the Archive of the Society of Jesus at Saint Peter's. So it was written from Poland to Heribert Rosweyde, by Frederick Szembeck when he had begun collecting the Lives of the Saints; and at the same time there was signified some thought taken of translating that history into the Latin language. Meanwhile Father Frederick himself sent into Belgium a brief synopsis of the same, composed likewise by Simon Kacorovius, a priest of our Society, which we judged worthy to insert in this work.

[3] This author has a distinguished elogium in the Library of the Society compiled by Philip Alegambe, for his learning, prudence, piety, notable for procuring Relics of Saints and writing lives and namely because he wondrously promoted the cult of the Saints, by procuring the sacred relics of many, which he distributed through diverse places of Poland; lending his labor in this to the Most Serene Kings of Poland Sigismund III and Vladislaus IV: and also because he wrote and published in Polish the Lives of Saint Dorothy the Widow, Patroness of Prussia, and of Saint Jutta of Brunswick, and of her Confessor Blessed John Lobeda, and of other Patrons of Prussia: which would that someone might render into Latin for us for May 5 and October 30, on which days we are persuaded we must treat of them, unless we are taught that other days fit them by those who both understand that language, and can better know on what day and in what manner each is venerated. Further, why there is not reckoned among these books and others elaborated by Frederick the history of the boy Albert, on whose occasion we treat these things, likewise by him who presided over the whole examination of the cause I could think of no other cause than that it itself had not seen the light; into whose hands afterwards it came, the one whom I had previously interpellated about that matter, R.P. Ludovicus Hoffman, when he was Procurator of his Province at Krakow, could not so far attain by searching. The same afterwards transferred to the Lublin college, wrote on January 15, 1674, that he had happened upon a book printed in 1602 in the Polish idiom, with the inquiries and tribunal decree of 1599 around March 25, where the origin and process of the cause is vividly described: and that the author of the book was Simon Alexander Habiki, then Lector of the Bishop of Krakow, most conscious of this cause, because through his hands this business was laid before the Bishop, as Pastor of this diocese.

[4] An epitome of the earlier one is given here Since the Latin version of this so authentic writing had been promised, I was the more cheered the less either, from the archive of Krakow (scattered by invasions) the original Acts of judgments could be had; or, from them, the treatise of Frederick gathered was hoped to be found. But the report since sent, scarcely filling one little page of paper, because it contained not a simple version of the aforesaid book, but a very brief epitome, though most accurate, less satisfied expectation: and because it is not permitted to wait longer for more things, I present the compendium of Szembeck's deduction, as written by a contemporary author, and reviewed by Szembeck himself and corrected here and there by his own hand; for which our posterity, in the review of the whole work, will be able to substitute the entire version of Habiki's or Szembeck's elaboration, if someone should take care to send it here, or from the very words of the original Acts, if perchance they are found anywhere, to compose a new deduction; by the example of those which in more than one place of this month we have collected from similar examinations of sworn witnesses.

[5] April 18 Kacorovius had prefixed this title to the epitome composed by him: "Illustrious martyrdom of the four-year-old boy Albert or Wojciech Petrenius, killed by the Jews in Poland, about April 20, according to the new Calendar in the year of the Lord 1598, when their Easter was impending to them, as is said in the context, without any mention of the month or day. Nor does it matter that in that year the Christians, according to the recent innovation of the Calendar, celebrated their Easter on March 22. For not only others, still adhering to the Julian calculus, did it on April 16, as they reckoned; but the Jews had their own peculiar, very erratic cycle, without any respect to the astronomical full moon, as we have shown at the end of Exercise 1 of the ancient catalogs of the Roman Pontiffs, treating of the day of Christ's death, around the Jewish Easter when he was apprehended by the Jews at that time when the moon no longer giving any light, and thus having advanced far beyond the full moon, there was need for lanterns and torches, as the Evangelical text expressly teaches. The cycle of Jewish years and consequently of annually recurring feasts, which the Jews say was observed 1100 years ago, Dionysius Petavius our own explains in book 7 On the doctrine of times from chapter 17 to 20, and of which he had disputed all the reasoning, causes, and principles in book 2 of his work; here he hands down its use and method, according to which, in our year 1598, the Jews, then reckoning the year of the world 5358, celebrated their Easter on April 21, the third feria, as the Rabbis of Amsterdam, consulted on this, confirmed with their assent. This reckoning of the Jewish Easter, moreover, it will perhaps be useful to observe also in other cases, so that the cause of a murder perpetrated on some day not much congruent with the calculations of the Christian Easter may be given, at least in the centuries last past: for there are those who say that this computation which the Jews now observe was only received in use a few centuries ago.

HISTORICAL EPITOME

By Simon Kacorovius S. J.

Albert, a boy, killed by the Jews in Poland, laid to rest at Lublin in the College of the Society of Jesus (St.)

BY KACOROVIUS S. J.

[1] In the kingdom of Poland, in Podlachia, in the province of Drohicen, Born of rustic stock in the diocese of Luck or Luceoria, a mile and more from the royal town of Lositze, lies the village of Swinarzewo, assigned as a dowry among other things to the illustrious man Stephen Pati the Hungarian, afterwards Senator of the kingdom of Hungary; in which all the rustic families followed the Greek rites, except one Latin head of household, Matthias Petrenius, with his wife and children. To this man, among other offspring, was born from his wife Anne, Wojciech or Adalbert, a boy of four years, of distinguished disposition, beautiful face, cheerful countenance, who filled his parents' minds with great hope: and therefore his father continually desired to have him in his sight: and in the year 1598 (which to the boy was the last), on March 25, the day after the Latin Easter holidays, he goes to the field with his father he had taken him out to the field, for the sake of solace, about to plow. Who, about evening wearied of the delay, childishly alone returned to the village; the wretched father secure of the error, because the road was very direct and short, much less fearing the cruelty by which the innocent little one soon perished. But that solace and security cost him dearly. For Wojciech, torn from thence, since, as in that tender age, he did not know how to keep the direct way, and alone returning home turned onto the road which leads to another village, Wozniki; where (as commonly in those borders, by wicked custom) Marcus Sachnowitz the Jew, from the neighboring town of Miendzyrzecz, had the mills and public inn leased.

[2] He becomes prey to the Jews Meanwhile the son of the same Marcus, Aaron Gromek, and the son-in-law Isaac Chaitschyk, returning home to the said town not far from there; seeing the wandering little boy, and all safe on every side (because by Salomon his Rabbi not so long before Aaron had been asked to provide a victim of this kind for the impending Easter), glad at the occasion, without delay lift the infant, drawn by caresses, into the cart; with swiftest horses fly to the paternal inn at Wozniki, and conceal him in a subterranean cellar.

[3] The father of the boy, as he returned from the field and understood that he was absent, at once ran to the road by which he had wandered; the lost boy is sought by his parents cried out, ran, cried out, asked those he met, did all in vain. Intempestuous night drove the man into the house, but did not take away his care. On the following day, both parents went their separate ways, and learned this alone from Adam and Matthias, Boyars Calecian, that they had met on the day before on that road on which the boy had perished the Jews I have said: whence they took the conjecture, which was the fact, that he had been taken by the Jews. But they did not dare to accuse the assassins, both because they had no manifest argument, and because, the lord of those lands Stephen Pati being absent at that time, there was no one to be patron of the orphaned. The father however had gone there, if by chance he might follow any trace to the nest...

itself he might come: but mocked with fallacious answers, and with lying prophecy by the wife of Marcus, he found no solace for his grief.

[4] Held in an underground cave for many days Seized meanwhile in that prison by Anastasia, a woman of the Greek schism and bound to those cruel Jews by debts and services, he was fed and caressed until the time of his slaughter came. Now their most horrid Easter approached, therefore four days before, in the depth of night, from the neighboring places come together the chief among them, Moses and Salomon, by whose admonition the beginning of the illustrious deed had already been made: and what alone was then in the house, the Christian maidservant Margaret, when she brought the light, being ordered to depart to interrupted rest, they themselves carry the boy from the cellar into a more secret cave. There, destitute of all help, He is slaughtered in a horrid manner the sacred victim, they, armed with butcher's knives, stand around, stunned by the novelty of the spectacle horrible even to a beast. Then, fearing to be betrayed by an outcry, fearing that the blood poured out would be contaminated by the flood of entrails, they most barbarously tighten a cord around his throat. Then with a wooden nail they firmly close the passage: they sew up his eyes with the eyelids: then Salomon and Moses before the others drive sacrificial knives beneath his chest between the ribs from the opposite side, and cut the veins beneath the tongue. Isaac in the palms and in the soles, the skin cut away, opens all the veins: his private parts too being amputated, they catch the blood flowing from every part in vessels placed beneath. Thus most cruelly butchered, and thrown into the corner under the beer barrels, the blood, a portion of it having been left to the head of the household, they carry off with themselves, and send to their own, to be poured into the dough of the bread (which they call "Evicomen," as if the sign of God the helper).

[5] The crime is revealed God would not leave such a great crime unavenged: and first it was made manifest to the household, then to the whole world. For because they hold it baneful to themselves that such corpses be buried (as Marcus's wife had freely confessed to Anastasia, urging her to bury it), in the silence of untimely night they cast it into the reeds of a swamp flowing underneath: where a fowler who by chance was hunting ducks, indicated the sight to the steward of the Woznicense court: by whom the sad father, admonished, recognized his dearest son, and with the greatest mourning carried him to the same court of his Lord Peti. All were now sure that the Jews had dared so much, but whom or how they would convict, the counsel did not appear. Until that same Anastasia, when on market day in the neighboring town she had heated her head, although so often warned, by her loquacity (or compelled by God the avenger?) betrayed the authors; and Margaret the maidservant brought thither, gave credence to her speaking, by narrating what she had seen of the blood and of the coming of the Jews and the untimely departure. Fame flies, announcing that the boy had been killed by the Jews: there, the matter so manifest, Abraham Skowieski of the equestrian order, appointed steward of that village by Stephen Peti, casts Marcus and Isaac the son-in-law and Aaron the son (dragged back from flight) The Jews are taken and others from the same house into chains.

[6] I pass over many things for brevity's sake, which the Jews, laboring for their own and for the common cause, attempted: by exceptions of law, by golden reasons, by terrors both human and summoned from poisoning art: how finally by the denial of false witnesses they most powerfully and most cunningly strove to turn the whole matter from themselves upon the head of the prosecutor: and would have won, had not God added as a patron to the innocent blood the most religious foreign man Stephen Peti. When by the formula of law the crime had been proved by witnesses and manifest indications, and all things had been brought into tables, the scrutiny written down by public trust, closed and sealed, they are sent to the supreme tribunal of the realm at Lublin. Led thither with armed hand in chains, with Anastasia the informer, they are handed over to the Judges with the highest entreaties, that by the blood of Christ they should not let the murder of an innocent boy go unpunished. and they are brought to the highest tribunal of the realm In sum, after many labors, with Adam Stadnitzki de Zmigrod striving among those most ample Judges as the Inquisitor (commonly called Marschalcus) and with John Gostoniski de Lenzenitze, brother of his wife, most grave and religious and noble men, concerning the sanguinary authors it was discovered, not only concerning the crime itself, but also concerning the use of the blood, which was diligently sought.

[7] For Isaac confessed, being indeed a Rabbi, and they confessed the crime, and the use of the blood that the Jews used that blood partly in wine, partly in paschal bread: but when he refused to give the reason, he confessed however that therefore they cast such corpses unburied, because they deem it sacrilege for any office of piety to be paid by them to gentiles: nor would he speak more, grieving that this had escaped him: yet from these things it was known that this cruelty is exercised against innocent boys out of hatred of the Christian name. Wherefore by the prescript of the laws, Marcus and his son Aaron were condemned to be torn alive in pieces: with Isaac reserved for fuller cognizance of the cause for which they butchered infants and used the blood. They are condemned Who, distrusting himself, lest he should finally reveal mysteries so inhuman as he had begun, forestalled the hand of the executioner at great prejudice to his cause, and tying a cord around his throat broke it; yet his corpse, which was due to him alive, was cut in pieces publicly. What here did the Jews not attempt again, that, when they could not defend the life of the authors, they might at least defend their fame and their own safety? But these things perhaps on another occasion will be said more fully at some time: let us explain the honor of the divine boy.

[8] Bernard Macejovius, still Bishop of Luceoria, both to soften his own grief, First honorable translation of the blessed boy which so unjust a butchery of his flock had brought him, and judging that the veneration of him whom Christ had honored by the imitation of his wounds owed this, that he should be honored with a more conspicuous sepulchre, begged the father that he would give him the holy little body. When with his Bishop consenting, it was exhumed and brought, distinguished by manifest scars, especially of the left side, first in the domestic chapel, then in the temple of Liteuniki, where at that time he was dwelling, with the utmost solemnity, as reigning in the heavens, he adorned it; and honorably before the altar in a cave he enclosed it with planks, not enduring that it be covered with earth; with the help and praise of Christopher Piasetzki, Theologian and celebrated preacher of the Society of Jesus; awaiting if God should suggest something better. For seventeen months there it lay, not without veneration: until in the year 1600 the same Bernard Macejovius himself, designated Bishop of Krakow, into the temporary chapel of the Lublin College, founded by him and by the most illustrious Nicholas Zebrzydowski, now Senator of the kingdom, Palatine of Krakow, Another more celebrated in the year 1600 in an elegant coffer closed with white lead, with solemn pomp, with very many from the College of the most noble Judges of the tribunal of the realm, and with two Bishops, Stanislaus Gomolinski of Chelm, and Paul Wolurzki of Kamenets, and others of all orders accompanying, he brought in, and having protested that he would leave this to the Fathers of the Society and to his college as a distinguished monument of love (which they held most pleasing), placed it within the altar.

[9] A third in the year 1603 Meanwhile the church of the College was completed, to which all sacred things had to be transferred. Wherefore, since it was so necessary, the chapel and altar being dismantled, in a cave built for the use of the dead under the principal altar, in a higher place excavated in the wall, until both a more convenient place could be prepared, and the Bishop consulted, it was replaced. And thence again in the year 1605, with Bernard Macejovius now Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church conceding and giving power, it was religiously carried privately into a private chapel by the same Fathers, in whose veneration and of others it is held up to this day. Nor were miracles wanting: and I could name those who, having experienced his help against the most pertinacious petitions of the impure spirit, professed this by their handwriting, if they had not forbidden it by name. Wherefore yielding to their modesty and just requests, to another more opportune time, His help not in vain implored by some with many other things, I shall defer it. And let it suffice now to have written these things briefly: for if I should wish to narrate everything as it was done, how often the Jews and by what arts strove to obscure in darkness the matter more clear than midday: how by books published, tables painted, sent to the supreme Pontiff Clement VIII and to other chief men and Prelates, and even brought into churches, the blessed boy was honored: with what faith and diligence all these were investigated and collected: it would be necessary to institute a longer commentary than fits this purpose. I make an end, praying the everlasting God, who is as great in small things as in the greatest, that by the patronage of the blessed infant he may perpetuate and frequent his own glory (as he has begun) and the consolations of mortals: who reigns forever and ever thrice one, alone blessed, immortal, omnipotent. Amen.

NOTES.

APPENDIX.

Of several Innocents tortured by the Jews.

From the Polish printed book of 1602.

Albert, boy, killed by the Jews in Poland, laid to rest at Lublin in the College of the Society of Jesus (St.)

FROM THE POLISH BOOK

[1] The same collector who wrote Albert's Martyrdom Simon Alexander Habiki, who published in Polish the aforementioned book on Albert's martyrdom, also thought it useful to weave to the same a list of several Innocents butchered by the impious Jews, knowledge of whom he had gathered from various authors; and also of horrible sacrileges exercised against the most holy Eucharist. Ludwig Hoffman rendered into Latin and transmitted to us the synopsis of both. The latter, since they do not make to our purpose, we sent to Paris to the Reverend Father Jacob de Machault, a long-celebrated writer from his many books published on the venerable Sacrament, and now having under hand the Eucharistic Annals. From the former we here cull those of whom mention has not been made by us elsewhere, in the very words in which they were indicated but with the order of sequence of years changed, without a more laborious examination of individual cases, since this is not of this place or time.

[2] Among others he relates a girl of 1261 killed at Pforzheim In the year 1261 in the village of Pforzheim, a certain old woman sold a girl of seven years to the Jews; who, binding her neck with a cord, pricked her veins with needles, and thence pressed out the blood. The body of her so killed they threw into the running water, and covered with stones. A fisherman afterwards, intent on catching fish, by divine permission found that body, with the hand raised to heaven. The body having been brought to the city, the whole people, knowing of such butcheries, exclaimed: "Jews, Jews, the impious killers." The Duke of Baden learned this: who after he came to the body, it, though lifeless, arose, stretching out the hand to the Prince, as if seeking justice: and after half an hour lay down again. When a Jew was brought to the body, at once from all the veins blood flowed out. Seeing the prodigy, the Jews confessed the crime, and along with the old woman were put to the wheel, except two who took their own lives with their own hands. Pforzheim is a town of the Margraviate of Baden on the river Enz, between two once celebrated Abbeys, Hirsau and Maulbronn, distant from Baden itself six German miles.

[3] in the year 1401 a boy's blood bought in Swabia In the year 1401, in the city of Diessenhofen in Swabia, the Jews bought Christian blood from a certain peasant for three florins. When he was drawing it from a four-year-old boy, he, terrified and caught, confessed: wherefore he was put to the wheel, the Jews burned. Diessenhofen is a town of Thurgau on the bank of the Rhine, belonging to the Helvetian confederation, a few leagues above Schaffhausen.

[4] In the year 1407, under Jagellon King of Poland, Jews dwelt in the city of Kraków, similar deeds done at Kraków in 1407 who killed one boy. This deed being dissimulated by the Office, the Preachers, especially R. Budek, made much of it to the people from the pulpit. The people stirred were kindled with zeal, and beat any Jews they met, and destroyed and burned their houses. The rest who survived the slaughter were driven beyond Kazimierz: and so Kraków was freed from their dwelling.

[5] in Spain 1454 In the year 1454, in Castile, a Christian boy was taken by the Jews and cut to pieces: whose heart was burned to ashes and used to season the dishes and cups among their feasts; for which deed and other similar the Jews were driven out of all Spain in the year 1459.

[6] In the year 1457 at Turin (I believe the capital of Piedmont is meant), a Jew wishing to slaughter a boy, at Turin in 1453 since he could not, for fear of men coming up that way, cut off a piece of the boy's calf, and wrapping it with the blood in a cloth, fled.

[7] In the year 1480 in the city of Motta in the territory of Venice, at Motta in 1480 (it is a town of the March of Treviso on the river Livenza in the borders of Friuli), the Jews exercised their cruelty upon a boy whom they cruelly butchered on Good Friday: which that year fell for the Christians on the last of March. Three of them taken to Venice, with confession obtained in tortures, were condemned to death.

[8] Tyrnavia 1494 In the year 1494 at Tyrnavia in Hungary, twelve Jews and two Jewesses, a boy being seized, secretly cut his veins and limbs, and pressed out the blood to the last drop. The parents, diligently seeking the boy, sent to the suspected house of the Jews: where, fresh blood being found which could in no way be washed away, all were caught. And first the Jewesses tortured on the rack confessed the crime and betrayed other accomplices: then all together were burned. Tyrnavia is well enough known in the county of Pozsony, today the seat of the Archbishop of Esztergom, distant nearly fifteen Hungarian miles from Vienna: where when in the year 1523 the same Jews had killed another boy; another at Biringa, a town of the same region, thirty were burned, the rest were driven from all Hungary.

[9] and 1513 Two boys sold to the Jews for slaughter, at Waltkirch by the father In the year 1513 a father sold his own four-year-old son to the Jews at Waltkirch for ten Rhenish florins, alas! on this condition that, a little blood being let out, they would restore him alive: but they pricked him to death. The father, the matter thus done having been seized and condemned to death, constantly asserted the fact: with whom was also punished he who, hired by the Jews, was carrying this boy's blood from Waltkirch to Elgasum to other Jews, and openly confessed this to many standing by. And this seems to have been done in Alsace, where Waltkirch is a well-known town, two German miles from Freiburg. and at Kraków by the mother But why do we wonder that the father did this? when also the mother could forget the fruit of her womb, and leave him to the Jews' discretion. Our author writes that this was done at Kraków, before the Jews were driven out thence. There a certain woman with her little son and another companion, on the pretext of some business, went to the Jews, and sold him the boy. On the return, asked by her companion where the boy was, she answered that he had gone ahead home. But when he did not appear at home either, the companion, suspecting what was the case, brought the matter to the judges: but they enjoined silence on the accuser, threatening grave penalties if she stirred anything more.

[10] In the year 1547 at Rawa in Greater Poland, a town at the head of the river of the same name, Finally several in Poland and Lithuania in 1547 fifteen Polish leagues distant from Warsaw, two Jews, Moses and Abraham, took and killed a boy from a certain cobbler, by name Michael. The father brought suit against them, and having them convicted in law, by decree of the Office had them burned: and all the rest were proscribed forever, so that none may dwell there to this day, as the Acts of the cited year testify. For the same reason also no Jew, outside the time of fairs, does Pultovia suffer to pass the night with her, a town of Mazovia, looking towards Warsaw at a distance of six leagues.

[11] In the year 1569 a certain Laurence of Bobrowia, first in torture, in the year 1569 then freely confessed, how he had sold a two-year-old boy, named John, son of the widow Margaret Kozanina, neighbor of Piotrków, for two marks to Jacob of Leizyca, a Jew: whom then, cruelly pierced and slaughtered by the impious ones, the advocate Acts of Piotrków testify. Ludovicus Dycx, Administrator of the Royal of Kraków, and also Advocate of Piotrków, described this martyrdom in his report to the King: adding also that at Bielko and elsewhere Christian blood was copiously shed by the Jews. The memory of the aforesaid cruelty exists in the monastery of Witów where hitherto is shown the sepulchre of the boy killed by the Jews.

[12] The same Joachim Smierlowicz, a Jew, did in the year 1574 in the city of Puni in Lithuania, in the year 1574 which city is twelve miles distant from Vilna, on the river Niemen: where he cruelly cut up a seven-year-old girl, named Elizabeth, daughter of Ursula a widow of Lublin, on Tuesday before Palm Sunday, and collected the blood in a pot. Not long after, at Zglobice upon the river Dunajec, Jews who had stolen a boy brought him to Tarnów. But when from certain grounds suspicion fell on them, and sharp threats of tortures were added, taking counsel for themselves, they cast the boy into a certain deserted house. At Tarnów likewise a Christian boy was found with the Jews, dressed in Jewish garb: and had it not been so quickly noted, it is easy to conjecture what they would have done with him: wherefore they were also condemned to a pecuniary fine.

[13] In the year 1590, near Szydlów in a village, the Jews kidnapped a rustic boy, in the year 1590 and with wondrous torments and cuttings of veins and various prickings, the blood having been pressed out, cast his body into out-of-the-way places. But the innocent blood crying to heaven, and the parents' care approaching, the corpse was found, retaining the traces of so horrid a butchery, that no one could look on it without immense grief of soul.

[14] in the year 1595 In the year 1595 at Gostynin, a certain woman sold a third infant, as was reported, to the Jews for similar torments: of which deed at that time Poland was full, so that by pictures circulated among the people, the cruelty exercised against this boy was illustrated, on account of which two Jews perished under the hands of the torturers.

[15] In the year 1597, not far from the preceding place, near Szydlów, and in the year 1597 at the house of a certain simple rustic the Jews observed an infant: on whom they lay in wait for some time, pretending that they wished to buy from the peasant what was necessary for themselves. And although he excused himself that there was nothing for sale at his house, they continued to frequent his house, insisting that at least bread be sold to them. Until at length, an occasion being found, when by chance the boy alone was at home, they took him, and soon by exquisite torments killed him, the blood being preserved, with which they sprinkled their new Szydlów Synagogue; and the corpse, wholly drained of juice and smoked, they cast beyond the borders of the territory: which when found pierced, in the eyelids, throat, veins, and various limbs, cut also in the genitals and constricted by fire: so that at that most sad spectacle the hearts of all beholding were wasting away.

April II: April 21

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