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 he endeauoured to preserue his Order in the ancient and first obseruance, and how for that end he caused Brother Helias to be displaced, who had bin by the Pope, constituted and named Generall, after the death of Br. Iohn Parent.

THE XXV. CHAPTER.

AS S. Antony himselfe most exactly obserued what concerned the Order wherof he made profession, so also could he not in any sort endure the dissolution which he too manifestly per∣ceaued, wherfore now reprehending this Br. now that, he suffred many tribulations att their handes, which he did not much regard, so that he might effect what he desired, to which purpose he endeuoured to vnite and gaine vnto him many ancient and feruent Religious, with them to resist the relaxations of the principall Religious, who especially were those that depraued the Order, and of these the principall was Br. He∣lias, as being also chiefe of the Religion, made Generall therof by Pope Gregory the ninth, after the death of Brother Iohn Parent, who being learned, very expert in worldly affaires, and fauoured of many great per∣sonnes, attempted, after the death of S. Francis, to demaund diuers pri∣uiledges of the court of Rome, which he obtayned for himselfe and the Religious: wherein he wanted not such as would second him for this new liberty of life, and the lardge way which he had opened. So by the support and assistance of his followers and adherentes, he cruellie perse∣cuted those that did contrary him, and especiallie all the companions & first disciples of S. Francis, and next to them S. Antony, and Br. Adam his companion, as zealous of the Order, who att length no longer able

to endure such a ruine, opposed themselues against him publiquelie att the Chapter, where they fouud not any one of their opinion, or att least that durst speake a word, so that all the Religious there present arose a∣gainst them, chardgeing thē that they murmured, caused and raysed diui∣sion in Religion, and therfor they were so persecuted, that they were en∣forced to appeale touching their abuses vnto the Pope, and to that end to goe to Rome; where being arriued (notwithstanding the endea∣uour of Brother Helias, who sought to gett them imprisoned by the way) in presence of the said Pope, who was a singuler fauourer and protectour of the Order, they layd open the life of Br. Helias and the relaxation of the discipline of the Order, which by his euill example he peruerted and brought to ruine. Which being well vnderstoode and considered by his Holinesse, he ordayned a generall Chapter to be held att Rome, wherein himselfe in person was President. Now this chapter being assembled, S. Antony proposed the cause of his appeale vnto the Pope, alleadging that it was vpon the persecution which B. Helias infli∣cted on those that were zealous of the Order, as ennemies of the relaxa∣tion and liberty of his life & new rule, which tēded to the ruine & sub∣uersion of the Religion, cōtrary to the obligatiō & duety of the Generall therof. Br. Helias herevnto answeared, that he had bin forced by the Re∣ligious to accept of that office, that he had aduertised thē that he could not goe on foot, nor liue in cōmune by reason of many necessities of his, & that in a Generall Cha▪ they had permitted him, to eat what he would, yea, gold if it were needfull. Besides, that hauing a horse in the stable, he must of necessity haue a seruāt, & cōsequently could not be without mo∣ny, wherof he had permissiō frō the holy Sea, as also for supply of some necessities, and likewise for building the Church of Assisiū and to relieue many Religious, in their occasions. S. Antony replyed that albeit he were permitted to vse a horse, yet was he not allowed to maintaine a horse in stable of such a price as he did, and so well furnished, as all the world was scandalized theratt, and though he were permitted to eat euen gold in his necessity, yet was it not graunted he should horde and heap vp treasures. Brother Helias then answeared S. Antony, that he had lyed: whereatt the Pope who was well enformed of the truth of his life, did much admire, and would no further testimony against him, then this his proud answeare, which made cleare the rest: and therfore hauing co∣manded silence to all, with teares in his eyes, he vttered these wordes; whē I resolued to make this Religious Generall, I thought it would haue bin for the good of the Order: but alas I experience the contrarie, and see that he is a disturber and ruinour therof. Wherfore I depriue him of that office, and will that in his place be presently elected on o∣ther, that is zealous and a protectour of the Euangelicall law. Which

done, the Pope exceedinglie commended S. Antony, and gaue him his benediction, disapprouing and making voyd the sentences which Br. He∣lias had denounced against him, and those that were zealous of the Or∣der, then prayed and exhorted him to assemble and committ to writing all his sermons, that they might be printed and yeld a publike profitt: and that he might more commodionsly apply himselfe therto, he by spe∣ciall priuiledge exempted him from all other offices and chardges of the Religion. and thenceforward was euer much affected vnto him, so farre forth as after his death he canonized him.