ST. FRANCIS.
I think Mrs. Jameson, in her Legends of the Monastic Orders, has left unnoticed the very remarkable book of the Conformity of St. Francis's Life with that of Jesus Christ, a work, the blasphemy of which is only equalled by its absurdity.
The book was written by Bartholomew of Pisa, a monk of the order, and licensed in 1399 by the general of the Minorites.
"Approbatum est a fr. Henrico ord. frat. Minorum generali ministro et servo et cæteris ministris et diffinitoribus capituli generalis apud Sacrum locum de Assisio die 2 Augusti A.D. 1399."
The title of the first edition, which is very rare, is as follows:
"Liber Conformitatum Vitæ S. Francisci ad Vitam Jesu Christi. Authore Fr. Bartholomæo degli Albizzi, ex recens. Fran. Zenonis. Impressum Mediolani per Gotardum Ponticum apud templum Sancti Satyri. Anno M.CCCCCX. die 18 mensis Septembris. In fol. literis quadratis."
The Second edition:
"Opus aur. et inexplicabilis bonitatis et continentiæ, Conformitatum scilicet vitæ Beati Frā. ad vitā Dī. nri Jesu xpi. Mediolani, in edibus Zanoti castilionei 1513. in fol. goth."
The third edition, also in folio, appeared at Bologne (1590) as "Liber aureus, inscriptus liber Conformitatum, etc., per Hierem Bucchium," with some alterations in the text.
Fourth edition:
"Vita S. Fran. conf. ad vit. Xti., per S. Bonaventuram Conscriptu ab Henr. Sedulio Com. illustrata, 4to., Antr. 1597."
Another edition, by Jer. Bacch, in folio, appeared at Bologne in 1620; and an abridged edition in octavo, by Phil. Bosquier, at Cologne, under the title of Antiquitates Franciscanæ, a very good edition of the Liber Conform., "Et ex Annalibus Madingi collecta per Tibur. Navarrum," was published in 4to. at Rome in 1670.
The late Dr. Elrington had a very fine copy of the following French translation:—
"Traite des Conformités du Disciple avec son Maitre, c'est à dire, de Saint François avec J. C., etc., le tout recueilli par un frere mineur récollect. (Valentin Marée.) Liege, 1658-60. 4 part en 3 vol. in 4to."
In 1542 a small volume was put forth, containing choice passages from the Liber Conformitatum, with a preface and letter to the reader, purporting to be from Martin Luther. It was accordingly by many attributed to him; the real compiler was Erasmus Alberus. The title of the first edition is
"Alcoranus Franciscorum, etc., ex libro conformitatum: Francof. 1542, parv. 8vo."
It was reprinted, with a French translation, by Conrad Badius, at Geneva, 1560 or 1578; so says Brunet.
The best edition of this work was that published at Amsterdam in 1734, in two vols. 12 mo., with some capital plates by Picart. The title is—
"L'Alcoran des Cordeliers, tant en Latin qu'en François; c'est à dire, Recueil des plus notables bourdes et blasphemes de ceux qui ont osé comparer Sainet François à Jesus Christ; tiré du grand livre des Conformités, jadis composé par frere Barthelemi de Pise, Cordelier en son vivant. Nouvelle edition, ornée de figures dessinées par B. Picart. A Amsterdam. Aux Defens de la Compagnie. MDCCXXXIV."
Another work, printed the same year, is often found with this:—
"Legende Dorée, ou Sommaire de l'Histoire des Freres-mendians de l'ordre de Saint François. (Par Nic. Vignier.) Amsterdam, 1734. 12mo. Réimpr. sur l'ed. de Leyde, 1608 in 8vo."
Thomas of Celano, the friend and scholar of St. Francis, and the author of the famous Dies Iræ, after the saint's death composed a brief account of his life, which he afterwards greatly enlarged, and which even now is the most authentic we possess. I should be glad to know the best, as well as the latest editions of this life.
"Francis," said Luther, "was no doubt an honest and just man. He little thought that such superstition and unbelief should proceed out of his life."—Tischreden.
Berington says of St. Francis:
"In an age of less intemperance in religion, miracles and the fancied intervention of peculiar favours from heaven, would not have been deemed necessary to stamp worth and admiration on a character which in itself possessed the purest excellences that fall to the lot of man. But this circumstance, and more than this, the reception which an institute so peculiarly framed met with, serve to manifest the singular taste of the age."—Berington's Henry II., p. 629.
"It is scarcely possible," says Mr. Massingberd, "to read the history of St. Francis of Assisi, without believing that there was in him a sincere and self-devoted, however ill-directed, piety." We must not let the foolish legends afterwards written of him lower him in our estimation, nor cease to regard him as a sincere and devoted Christian.
Mariconda.