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.

Of the loue which the holy Father S. Francis boare to all creatures for the loue of his Creatour.

THE XLI. CHAPTER.

BVt it is not so much to be admired that the fire and other creatures obeyed S. Francis when he commanded them: for he in such sort honoured and loued them, that he reioyced with them att their good, and was so much afflicted att their de∣triment, as a freind were he neuer so pittifull and affectionat would doe att the dommage or detriment of his deere freind. He would discourse with them as if they had bin endued with iudgement and reason, raysing himselfe by their meane condition, to the considera∣tion of the greatnes of him that had created them such, therfore aboue others he carryed most affection to those creatures that had any relation vnto God, or figure, correspondence and proprietye with his seruantes, as may be said of Larckes, as hauing on their head a capuce, like to his and his Religious. And because they were humble and of earthlie colour, and walked by ditches and or∣dinarie wayes to seeke their releife, and then mounted sweetlie into* 1.1 the aire, praysing their God. Wherin they shewed him example (as he said to his Religious) to be cloathed with base and course cloth of earthly colour, and to goe humblie seeking almose through the streetes, and hauing conuersed here on earth as much as is necessarie, to mount afterwardes into heauen with their cogitations praysing their Creatour. And therfore he once said, that if he were Emperour he would ordaine that no Larckes should be killed. Discoursing af∣terwardes of other creatures, he said that he would command all

Gouernours of citties and borroughes to cause wheat to be scattered and cast abroad on Christiās day in the streetes & feildes, that the birdes might haue more occasiō on that day to reioyce hauing to feed att their desire: and in memory that our Redeemer IESVS CHRIST was borne between an oxe and an asse, they who had such beastes should be con∣strayned to giue them on such day, hay and oates abondantly. Among all creatures he particulerly affected the sunne, the reason hath bin for∣merly expressed, next vnto it, the fire, as a most noble element, he would neuer putt it out, in consideration of the innumerable benefittes which God by meane therof hath done vs, as by the examples ensuying shall appeare. Sitting one day before the fire, there lept into his lappe vpon* 1.2 his habitt certaine litle sparckles as it often happeneth, and albeit he saw it burne his habitt he would neuer extinguish it, nor permitt a Re∣ligious there present to doe it, who att length called the Vicar whome against his will and by obedience he permitted to extinguish it. An other time on the Mountaine of Aluerne, a Religious that was his companion made a great fire in the celle where he did eat, by reason of the ex∣treme cold that then was, which leauing enkindled, he went to call the holy Father who was in an other place, adioyning to the celle where he accustomed to pray and sleepe; where S. Francis staying him to read vnto him the gospell of that day (which if it were possi∣ble he accustomed alwayes to doe before his refection, when it chaun∣ced that he could not here masse) the fire in meane while so wrought, that when they thought to come to warme themselues, it was moun∣ted euen to the planching of one side of the celle: S. Francis seeing his companion labour to quench it did not assist him, but taking vp a skinne of furre that was there wherwith he couered himselfe in the night, he retourned into the mountaine, the other Religious percea∣uing the fire, came all out of their Oratorie, and extinguished it in an instant: which being done S. Francis goeing to eat, said to his com∣panion: I will no more vse this skinne of furre, because by▪ reason of mine auarice I could not endure that my Brother fire should consume it for it selfe. After the fire he affected the element of* 1.3 water, because by it was signified penance and affliction: by rea∣son that with it the soule was washed by meane of the sacrament of Baptisme: therfore when he washed his face and handes, he al∣wayes sought a place where the water falling away might not be trodden on and fowled. He also reuerenced the stones, so that some∣times* 1.4 he trēbled to tread on them, remembring the corner stone I. C. He cōmaunded the Religious that made prouision of wood on the mōtaine, not to fell the whole tree, but alwayes to leaue a great stocke in remem∣brance

of him that for our saluation would dye on the hard wood of the crosse. He forbad the gardenet to take vp an entier plant and roote* 1.5 together to be eaten, as many doe: but commanded him to leaue suf∣ficient wherby to spring againe, that in season it might produce flo∣wers, for his sake and in memory of him that would be tearmed a flower. He would that the gardener should make a litle guarden alone and seuerall from the greater, of sweet delicious and pleasing herbes to behold, that producing flowers in their season, they might be inuited each one to prayse God for their beauty, considering that all creatures speake in their language, and say: Man, God hath made and created vs for thee alone, to the end that thou praise our Creatour by vs and in all his worckes. Therfore he would haue them of all personnes esteemed as a mirour, which beholding, they might admire the greatenes of their Creatour, and might alwayes seeke some subiectes the more to loue, ho∣nour and adore him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What esteeme he made of larc∣kes.
• * 1.2

  How he loued the elemen•• of fire.
• * 1.3

  And the water.
• * 1.4

  The sto∣nes. The wood.
• * 1.5

  And the flowers.