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 caeteris ministris et diffinitoribus capituli generalis apud
Sacrum locum de Assisio die 2 Augusti A.D. 1399."
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The title of the first edition, which is very rare, is as follows:
"Liber Conformitatum Vitae S. Francisci ad Vitam Jesu Christi. Authore
Fr. Bartholomaeo 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 continentiae, Conformitatum
scilicet vitae Beati Fr[=a]. ad vit[=a] D[=i]. [=n]ri Jesu x[=p]i.
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. Fra[=n]. conf. ad vit. Xti., per S. Bonaventuram Conscriptu ab
Henr. Sedulio Co[=m]. 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 Franciscanae_, 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 Conformites du Disciple avec son Maitre, c'est a dire, de
Saint Francois avec J. C., etc., le tout recueilli par un frere mineur
recollect. (Valentin Maree.) 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 Francois; c'est a dire,
Recueil des plus notables bourdes et blasphemes de ceux qui ont ose
comparer Sainet Francois a Jesus Christ; tire du grand livre des
_Conformites_, jadis compose par frere Barthelemi de Pise, Cordelier en
son vivant. Nouvelle edition, ornee de figures dessinees par B. Picart.
A Amsterdam. Aux Defens de la Compagnie. MDCCXXXIV."