90 K^t mttU iFlotoers oi 



CHAPTER XX. 



0/ a very fair Vi/io?i, Jem by a young Friar, 

 who held the Cowl in fiich abo7?ii?iation that 

 He was difpofed to lay aft.de his Habit andfor- 

 fake the Order. 



A CERTAIN very noble and delicate 

 youth entered the Order of Saint 

 Francis ; the which after the fpace of fome 

 days, by the inftigation of the Devil, began 

 to hold the Habit which he wore in fuch 

 abomination, that he feemed to wear the 

 vileft fackcloth ; he had a loathing for the 

 fleeves, he abhorred the cowl, and its 

 length and harfhnefs feemed to him an 

 unbearable burden. And his diftafte for 

 the Religious Life ever increafmg, he at 

 laft propofed to give up the Habit and re- 

 turn to the world. It had become his cuf- 

 tom, according as he had been taught by 

 his mafter, to kneel moft reverently at what- 

 soever hour he might pafs before the altar 

 of the Convent whereon the Body of Chrift 

 was kept, and drawing his cowl over his 

 head, to bow low with croffed arms. It 

 happened, that upon the felfsame night 



wherein 



