"_Et, ut paucis dicam, Christus nihil fecit quod non item
Franciscus fecerit, et longe plura etiam. Itaque et in Alcorano
Franciscanorum sæpe reperitur, Franciscum Christo esse_ SIMILEM.
_Nam quod sit_ SUPRA CHRISTUM, _perquam vellent quidem dicere, sed
diabolis metuit ne nimium se prodat et agnosci possit._"
The mere facts of this monstrous book having been _written_, _approved_
by the highest authority, and for a _century and a half_ receiving
universal applause (with the exception perhaps of a few jealous
Dominicans), nay, the mere _toleration_ of such a book, would have been
amply sufficient to show the corruption of the Western Church, and call
loudly for reformation. This--
"_Abominationem_ [says Luther] _quam non ipsi solum exercuerunt ac
in summo pretio habuerunt, sed ipse etiam Sanctissimus eam
confirmavit, commendavit, privilegiis ornavit, ac omnibus Christe
fidelibus pro focis et aris defendendam mandavit._"
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.
"FIORETTI. Opera gentilissima et utilissima a tutti li fideli
Christiani laqual se chiama LI FIORETTI de Misser Santo Francesco
asemiliativa a la vita et alla passion de JESU CHRISTO e tutte le
soe sancti vertige. Lunardo Longo rector de la giesia de Sancto
Paulo de Vincenza, curendo lano. M.CCCCLXXVI. in 4."
The second edition bears date, Venexia in caxa di Nicolo Girardengo
M.CCCCLXXX. 4to.; the third, Perouse, 1481, 4to.