Southey says:
"I believe the Franciscans designed to follow the example of the Moslem, and supersede Jesus Christ. At one time they attempted to leave off the vulgar æra, and actually dated from the infliction of the Five Wounds."
In the Romish calendar, the 17th of September is dedicated to "Impressio Stigm. S. Francis." Of the Geneva editions of the Cordelier Alcoran, Brunet (last edition) mentions 1556, 1560, and 1578. In Leslie's Catalogue for 1852, under the heading "Luther," the Geneva edition of 1556 occurs; the title is worth giving:
"L'Alcoran des Cordeliers, tant en Latin qu'en François; c'est à dire, la mer des blasphèmes et mensonges de cest idole stigmatizé qu'on appelle S. François, recueilli par le Docteur M. Luther, du livre des Conformitez de ce beau S. François, imprimé à Milan l'an 1510, et nouvellement traduit, 12mo. Geneve, 1556."
The same Catalogue advertises a fine copy of Father Bucchi's Liber Aureus, 1590.
Brunet refers to the following work in reference to the Alcoranus:
"La Guerre Séraphique, ou histoire des périls qu'a courus la barbe des Capucins contre les violentes attaques des Cordeliers. La Haye, 1740, in 12.—Ce volume se joint à l'Alcoran des Cordeliers."
He also speaks of a work by a certain Spaniard, named Father PIERRE DE ALVA, which, for the vast number of points of conformity between our Lord and St. Francis adduced, and the amazing fecundity of invention and fertility of imagination displayed, completely throws BARTHOLOMEW OF PISA into the shade; it is entitled—
"Naturæ prodigium et gratiæ portentum hoc est Seraphici P. Francisci vitæ acta ad Christi Domini vitam et mortem regulata et coaptata a P. Petro de Alva et Astorga. Matriti, 1651, folio."
To conclude with a Query: Is the book called "FIORETTI" an Italian translation of the "BOOK OF CONFORMITIES?" The title would lead one to suppose it.