The legend of Saint Bonaventure was spread everywhere, as soon as it
appeared, and was everywhere highly approved: there are many manuscripts
of it. Lipoman, Bishop of Verona, caused it to be printed in 1556. No
one ever attempted to call its accuracy in question. Octavian quoted
it, in his petition to Pope Sixtus IV. for the canonization of the
holy doctor, in 1482.

The first legends have been preserved in manuscript; the celebrated
annalist of the Order of Friars Minors, Luke Wading, saw them and made
use of them. He was one of the most learned men of his time, and all
other learned men have been loud in his praise, not only on account
of his profound erudition, but because he was so ardent a lover of
truth, which he sought for with great care, and having developed it,
nothing could hinder him from publishing it and committing it to
writing.

The uprightness of his heart was conspicuous on a certain occasion,
which is too honorable to him for us to pass it over in silence. He
had been one of the examiners nominated by Pope Innocent X. to inquire
into the writings of Jansenius, Bishop of Ypres, and he had convinced
himself that the five propositions which appeared to be censurable in
those writings might be tolerably explained in a certain theological
sense. Those who are themselves upright are not easily brought to think
ill of others, particularly in difficult affairs, and they sometimes
endeavor to justify them, through charitable feelings, which are
praiseworthy in principle, but which may have evil consequences, when
a doctrine is in question which has been widely spread, and which is
supported by a cabal. Wading, seeing that the five propositions were
censured by various constitutions of the Pope, made a report on the
whole affair, with the following beautiful declaration, worthy of a