All Creatures of Our God and King (Trans. by William Henry Draper, Words by St. Francis of Assisi) The hymn, All Creatures of Our God and King , the English Christian Easter hymn by William Henry Draper was originally taken from the words of St. Francis of Assisi in his poem Canticle of the Sun (1225). The poem was first published in a hymn book in 1919. The poem is based upon the words of Psalm 148. Francis was born in Assisi, 100 miles northeast of Rome. Born in 1181 or 1182, Francis was born into a family of some means, they were of the mercantile stock class. Little education was given to Francis, probably by the priests of San Giorgio, he describes himself as unlettered but we know that he knew some French also along with Latin. His first biographer, Thomas of Celano recounts that early on life for Francis was one of frivolity, lewd living, and arrogance. Francis signals out his time with the lepers as one of extraordinary change, ...