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 blessed and glorious death of the holy Father S. Francis.

THE LXX. CHAPTER.

THe fourth of October, in the yeare 1226. vpon a Saterday in the euening twenty yeares after his Conuersion, and the fiue and fortieth of his age, the holy Father hauing bin verie aptly cutt, squared and accommodated by the hard stroakes of tribu∣lations, temptations, afflictions, incommodities, and infirmities, as a liuelie and firme stone, that should be placed in the principall corners of the supreme Citty of the celestiall Hierusalem, he heard the voice

of his sweet Lord that called him vnto him. Then to make publike ma∣nifestation that he had not any thing in this world, and with the mo∣re facility to wrestle against his furious aduersary in this last conflict and triall, wherin consisted the crowne, he with an exceeding feruour and* 1.1 courage stript himselfe all naked, as he had bin without any infirmity, then cast himselfe on the ground, couering with his left hand, the pre∣cious wound of his right hand, and tourning his ioyfull face towar∣des the kingdome whither he was to goe, he began to prayse and blesse his sweet lord IESVS CHRIST, that being dischardged and freed of all worldly impedimentes, he might ascend to heauen and enioy his di∣uine Maiestie; then tourning towardes his Religious, he said vnto them: My deere Brethren, I haue to this present done what I ought to doe; These wordes were diuersely vnderstood of the Religious, so∣me of them wept in regard he was to leaue them without Pastour and gouernour, others, because he seemed to leaue them as men forlorne, others, for other occasions; only the Guardian, whome he obeyed, vnderstood the desire of the holy Father; wherfore taking presentlie an habitt with the cord and linnen breeches, brought and gaue it vnto him, saying: Father take this habitt which I lend you, with the corde and breeches, that you may be buryed therwith as a poore creature, who of your selfe haue not so much as wherwith to couer your naked∣nes: I command you to receaue it in this your last houre, euen by the vertue and meritt of obedience; wherof the Sainct discouered to haue the greatest contentment that can be imagined, considering that in this extremity he had obserued his holy pouerty, in such sort as he de∣sired euen to the last end: He contentedlie accepted the breeches, but to conforme himselfe entierlie to his truely-beloued IESVS CHRIST that would dye naked on the crosse, to the performance wherof wan∣ting nothing but to dye naked, hauing already bin, and euen for the pre∣sent being admirably crucified by the vertue of the almighty, he com∣maunded his Religious, not only to permitt him to dye on the ground, but euen to leaue him there a long time after his death. Hauing procu∣red* 1.2 to be brought vnto him the holy Sacramentes, and they being suc∣cessiuely administred vnto him, those I meane which the Church ac∣custometh to afford such as are ready to dye, he lastly tourned towardes his Religious, to whome he made a worthy sermon, exhorting them to the loue of God, then of their neighbour, and especially to obedience vnto his holie Romane Church, next to obserue their pouerty, and be∣fore the same and all other thinges, to be alwayes mindfull to preferre the obseruance of the holy ghospell, and the diuine counsailes therof. Then crossing his hādes, this great Patriarch of the poore gaue his holy benediction to all his Religious, both present and absent, saying: My

deere Brethren, God of his mercy blesse you, as also I blesse you, be it* 1.3 his holy will to confirme me it in heauen. Remayne ye all in his holy feare, perseuering alwayes therin; for the time of afflictions approach, wherin they shalbe happy who shall perseuer euen to the end: remayne ye all in his holy obedience, as you haue solemnely promised vnto him. Fi∣nally remayne ye all in his most holy peace, and in charity among your selues, God blesse you. I goe in great hast vnto God, to whose grace I recommend you, Amen. Which hauing said, he asked for the gospell, and speaking no more to any person, he only desired that place to be read vnto him where is mentioned the departure of our lord: Ante diem festum paschae: which being read to the end, he began to say to himselfe:* 1.4 Voce mea ad Dominum clamaui. And being come to the verse, Educ de cu∣stodia animam meam, that is, deliuer my soule if thou please my God out of this prison, that it may attaine to thee my God and my lord, where the iust expect me, to the end thou mayest giue me my recom∣pence. Which being ended this holy soule, at it desired, was deliue∣red out of the prison of her proper flesh, and eleuated to heauen, there foreuer to enioy the eternall bounty, with all the sainctes his elected of both sexes, in that degree which his diuine maiestie ordayned and parepared for him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  S. Fran∣cis before his death stript him selfe all naked.
• * 1.2

  S. Fran. receaueth the holy Sacra∣ments before his death.
• * 1.3

  And gaue his holy and last benedi∣ction to his Reli∣gious.
• * 1.4

  The death of S. F. the 45. yeare of his age the 20. of his con∣uersion, & of our Lord the 1226.