Saint iFrancCs of ^nninU S^ 



hoft could exift without taking any thought 

 or heed for the things of the Body. But 

 the great Shepherd Chrift the bleft, defir- 

 ing to fliow how He cares for His Sheep 

 and His fingular love for His poor follow- 

 ers, ftraightway infpired the men of Perugia, 

 of Spoleto, of Fuligno, of Spello, Affifi, 

 and the other regions round about, to bear 

 food and drink to that holy congregation. 

 And lo fuddenly a great multitude of men 

 came forth from the faid regions, with beafts 

 of burden, horfes, and carts, laden with 

 bread and wine, with honeycomb and with 

 cheefe, and with other good things to eat, 

 according as Chrift's poor had need. More- 

 over they bore alfo napkins, jugs, bowls, 

 glaffes, and other veffels, enough to ferve fo 

 vaft a multitude : and he counted himfelf 

 happy who could fet forth moft offer- 

 ings or could moft acceptably ferve ; in- 

 inafmuch as even the Knights and Barons 

 and other Gentlemen, who came thither to 

 fee, ferved before them with great humility 

 and devotion. Wherefore Saint Dominic, 

 feeing thefe things, and knowing truly that 

 a Divine Providence did work within them, 

 humbly acknowledged that he had falfely 

 judged Saint Francis as indifcreet in his 



commands ; 



