S e c r e t s

The 2006/2007 Royal Watch Collector’s Club theme is “Pax et Bonum” or “Peace and Goodness”, the motto of St. Francis of Assisi. As the patron saint of animals and an early version of Dr. Doolittle, he and his stories seemed a natural choice for Harmony Kingdom’s annual club. Obviously he did a lot more than talk to the animals but that was the bit in which we were most interested. “Gubbio Town”, the club redemption piece, is based on a St. Francis legend. For a time, the saint lived in Gubbio, where there was a wolf “terrifying and ferocious, who devoured men as well as animals.” Francis went up into the hills to find the wolf, who miraculously closed his jaws and lay down at the saint’s feet. “Brother Wolf, you do much harm in these parts and you have done great evil” said Francis. “All these people accuse you and curse you…But brother wolf, I would like to make peace between you and the people.” Then Francis led the wolf into town and made a pact between the startled citizens and the wolf. Because the wolf had “done evil out of hunger” the townsfolk were to feed the wolf regularly, and in return, the wolf would no longer prey upon them or their flocks. In this manner Gubbio was freed from the menace of the predator.