Bernardo, ²⁴and Pietro de Damiano spoke under oath about the life, conversion, manner of living, and miracles of Saint Clare.

THE SEVENTEENTH WITNESS

1. ¹Lady Bona, daughter of Guelfuccio of Assisi,^a said under oath ²that she knew Saint Clare from the time she was in her father's house and had conversed and stayed with her in the house. ³She firmly believed, because of the great holiness of her life that she had before and after she entered religion, that she had been sanctified in her mother's womb. ⁴Moreover, she used to send to the poor the food she was supposed to have eaten ⁵and she, the witness, testified that many times she had brought it to them.^b

2. ⁶Lady Clare was always considered by everyone a most pure virgin and had such fervor of spirit she could serve God and please Him.

3. ⁷Because of this, the witness many times accompanied her to speak to Saint Francis. She went secretly as not to be seen by her parents. ⁸Asked what Saint Francis said to her, she replied he always preached to her about converting to Jesus Christ. Brother Philip did the same. ⁹She listened willingly to him and consented to all the good things said to her. ¹⁰Asked how long ago these things had been spoken, she responded more than forty-two years, ¹¹because it was forty-two years since she had entered religion.

4. ¹²She said at the time she entered Religion, she was a prudent young girl of eighteen years. ¹³She had always stayed in the house, hidden, not wanting to be seen by those who passed in front of her house. ¹⁴She was also very kind and took care of all other good deeds. ¹⁵Asked how she knew the things spoken of, she replied: because she used to converse with her.

5. ¹⁶Asked how Lady Clare was converted, she replied Saint Francis had cut off her hair in the church of Saint Mary of the

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