112 ^f)c mttlc jFlotoers of 



one of your Brethren." Saint Francis an- 

 fwered him, " Son, you are young, delicate, 

 and noble ; peradventure you could not en- 

 dure the poverty and rudenefs of our life." 

 And he faid, " Father, are ye not men like 

 unto me .'' Then that which ye do bear can 

 I alfo endure by the favor of Jefus Chrift." 

 This anfvver was moft pleafmg to Saint Fran- 

 cis ; wherefore, bleffmg him, he ftraightway 

 received him into the Order and put upon 

 him the name of Brother Angelo ; and fo 

 worthily did the Youth comport himfelf, 

 that but a brief fpace thence Saint Fran- 

 cis made him Superior of that felfsame 

 Convent of Monte Cafale. In thofe days 

 that region was infefted by three thieves 

 of much renown, who greatly plagued the 

 land ; the fame came one day to the abode 

 of the Brethren and prayed the faid Brother 

 Angelo, the Superior, that he would feed 

 them ; and the Father Superior anfwered 

 them after this fafliion, reproaching them 

 forely : "You, Thieves and cruel Homicides, 

 ye are not alhamed to fteal the wages of 

 other men's toil ; nay, more, bold and 

 fancy that ye are, ye would fain devour the 

 alms which are beftowed upon the fervants 

 of God ; ye are unworthy that the earth 



fhould 



