The chronicle and institution of the Order of the seraphicall father S. Francis conteyning his life, his death, and his miracles, and of all his holie disciples and companions / set foorth first in the Portugall, next in the Spanish, then in the Italian, lastlie in the French, and now in the English tongue.

How the blessed Father Sainct Francis, renounced and rendred in the handes of his Brethren, the office of Generall of the Order, and instituted a Vicar Generall in his place. This was the 31. chapter of the second booke improperly, and therfore, to follow the true Order of his life, we haue here put it in his place.

This B. Father was so zealous of obediēce, & especially of that his most holy humility, that he could in no sort dispose himself to cōmaūd: so that it was irksome vnto him to performe the office appertayning therevnto,

as to haue the chardge of gouerning so many thousandes of Religious, to commaund and reprehend, to aduise and correct, to giue ordon∣nances, and to chastice the offenders. Therfore, he resolued to re∣nounce the office of Minister Generall, as well for the cause hereafter alleadged, as the better by example to teach obedience vnto his chil∣dren. Besides he found himselfe too sickly, so that he could not ap∣ply himselfe to that office as was requisite: and yet would not omitt the rigour of his penance, to conserue his body, yea he was better con∣tent to continue sicke, then by neuer so litle relenting his austeritie, to be cured of his infirmities: the occasion was reasonable, to free himselfe piously of such a chardge. And therfore, att the generall chap∣ter held two yeares before he receaued of our Lord IESVS CHRIST his sacred stigmates, he publikelie renounced the office of Minister Generall, not without the exceeding greife of all the Religious, who by all meanes refusing, during his life, to admitt any other Minister, he was constrayned to constitute a Vicar Generall, that gouerned the Order in his name; To this effect, he made choise of Brother Peter Catanio, his second sonne in Religion, a man of great prudence, and very expert to gouerne: to whome the holie Father promised his cheiffest obedience, and besides to him that should be constituted his Guardian. Which all the Religious seeing, they began bitterlie to wee∣pe esteeming they should continue as orphanes, without the ordinary gouernment of their beloued Father, who comforting them the best he could, his handes ioyned, and his eyes eleuated towardes heauen he said: My God, I recommende vnto thee this family, which to this houre thou hast recommended vnto me: For now, by reason of mine infirmities, other impedimentes, and iust causes to thee knowne, being vnable henceforward to haue care of them, I haue committed them to a Vicar Generall, and to other Prouinciall Ministers, who shalbe obliged to yeld thee a very exact account of them att the terrible day of the great iudgement; if they chaunce to perish by their negligence or euill ex∣ample. And so the holy Father S. Francis thenceforward perseuered to be alwayes subiect, euen to the day of his death; surpassing thē all in hu∣militie. Yet did he neuer faile to be very zealous in assisting and with his vtmost to fauour his Order, euen during the life of his first Vicar, who died att the end of the second yeare of his Prelature, in the Mo∣nastery of our Lady of Angels, S. Francis not being there when he was buryed. His body wrought so many miracles, that an infi∣nite multitude of people from all partes flocked thither leauing a very great quantity of almose vnto the monasterie. The holie Father therfore comming thither, and vnable to endure either the one or the other, the former for distracting them all, and the latter for relaxation of the order

which he forsaw would grow of such quantity of almose, he wēt to the sepulcher where so many miracles were wrought: and to the deceased he* 1.1 vttered these wordes: My deerlie beloued Brother, as thou hast alwayes obeyed me during thy life, we being now by thine intercession mole∣sted with such a world of peopl, thou must also obey me after thy death. I therefore cōmand thee on obedience that thou worcke no more mira∣cles, sith by them we are in dāger to be ruinated. The deceased (which is admirable to consider) ceassed vpon this commandement to worcke any more miracles: such is the vertue & power of holy obediēce, in a true and good Prelat, & in a true and good subiect, that it extendeth not onlie on earth and during life, but euen in heauen & after death. Yea by it, ceassed the glorie and eminencie of miracles, that exalt the honour of the liuing God, the more to magnifie him by the exercise of holie pouertie and the quiett retire from a turbulent applause of the world.

Notes

• * 1.1

  S. Franc. comman∣deth a S. to worck no more miracles and he obeyeth.