Preface

1. It was the pleasure of the entire holy assembly of the late Chapter-General, and of you, most reverend father (not without a dispensation of the Divine Counsel) to enjoin on our insignificance, for the comfort of those living, and as a memorial for those to come, to write of the deeds and also of the words of our glorious father Francis, for that through long experience of them they were better known to us than to the rest by reason of our constant association with him and the mutual intimacy between us. Therefore are we forward to obey with humble devotion holy injunctions which it is by no means lawful to pass by: but the small account we are disposed to make of our own strength gives us just cause to fear, lest so worthy a matter, through not being treated of as it requires, may derive from us that which may be displeasing to the rest. For we dread that things worthy of the savour of all sweetness may be rendered insipid through the unworthiness of the dispensers of them, and that accordingly our attempt may be set down to presumption rather than to obedience. For if the examination of the result of this great labour [of ours] only pertained to your good will, blessed father, and there were no question of its coming to the public ear, we should most thankfully derive instruction from your correction, or joy from your approval. For amid such a variety of words and deeds who could so weigh everything in the scale of an exact balance that all the hearers should be unanimous as to every point? But inasmuch as we are seeking with simple mind the advantage of each and all, we entreat our readers to put a kind interpretation on our work and to bear with the simplicity of the narrators or guide it in such sort that the reverence of him who is the subject of our discourse may be saved harmless. The flight of his subtle words, and the amazing story of his deeds are beyond the reach of our recollection, blunted like that of untaught men by length of time; for the agility of a practised memory were scarce able to comprehend these things even when present before it. Let therefore the repeated command of one who has many times enjoined us excuse before all men the faults of our unskilfulness.

2. This work contains first of all certain wonderful events in the conversion of S. Francis which were not put into the legends composed some time ago concerning him, because they had not come to the author's notice. Next we intend to express, and with watchful zeal to declare, what was that good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of the most holy father both as to himself and as to his brethren in every practice of heavenly discipline, and in the zeal for supreme perfection which he ever had as regards God in his sacred affections, and as regards men in the examples he gave them. Some miracles are inserted, as occasion offers. We describe in a plain and unpretending way what presents itself to us, desiring to accommodate ourselves to those of slower wit, but also, if we may, to give pleasure to the learned. We beg you therefore, kindest father, to be pleased to hallow with your blessing the present of this work, small though not to be despised, and sought out by us with no little toil; correcting what is wrong, and removing what is superfluous, so that what is approved by your learned judgment as well said, may, together with your name, truly Crescentius,1 everywhere increase and be multiplied in Christ. Amen.