<Saint iFcancis oC '^nmni. 107 



more ordered that the Brothers of his 

 Order, whether journeying or fojourning 

 anywhere in this world, Ihould become the 

 fcrvants of Lepers for the love of Chrift, who 

 for our love was fain to be held a Leper, 

 it fell out that on a time at a Convent near 

 which Saint Francis was then abiding, the 

 Brethren were ferving in ahofpital for Lep- 

 ers and infirm ; in which was a Leper fo 

 peevilli, fo intolerable, and fo arrogant that 

 all men affuredly deemed, and fo indeed it 

 was, that he was poffeffed of a Devil, foraf- 

 much as alike with words and with blows 

 he terribly reviled all them that ferved him ; 

 nay, yet worfe, he fcandaloufly blafphemed 

 againft the bleffed Chrift and his moft Holy 

 Mother the Virgin Mary, fo that none 

 could in any wife be found who could or 

 would ferve him. And albeit the Brethren 

 truly ftudy meekly to endure injuries and 

 infults to themfelves, to the end that pa- 

 tience may have her perfe6l work, never- 

 thelefs, thofe to Chrift and his Mother 

 their confciences could not fuffer, and 

 every man among them determined to 

 leave the faid Leper : but this they would 

 not do before they had duly declared their 

 purpofe unto Saint Francis, who was then 



abiding 



