PREFACE. 



SAINT FRANCIS was born in 

 1 182, in the little town of Affifi, 

 in Umbria, chiefly notable as having 

 given him birth. His mother, Ma- 

 donna Pica, was of noble race, and 

 his father, Peter Bernardone, that is, 

 Peter the fon of Bernard, the family 

 name being Moriconi, — was a rich mer- 

 chant, who was travelling in France 

 on bufmefs at the time Francis was 

 born. Many ftrange tales are told of 

 the omens attending the litde boys 

 advent into the world. For fome 

 time previous, a poor man roamed the 

 ftreets of Affifi crying aloud, " Peace 

 and profperity ! peace and profper- 

 ity ! " His mother was ill for many 

 days, nor were her fufferings relieved, 





