156 ^1)0 nettle jFlotoers of 



ever thou doft want raiment or mantle or 

 whatfoever thing, buy, and I will pay the 

 price ; and behold, I am ready to provide 

 for thine every want, forafmuch as by the 

 Grace of God I have wherewithal fo to 

 do, inafmuch as I abound in all temporal 

 goods ; and hence for love of God Who 

 gave them, I cheerfully do good unto His 

 poor." Upon which Saint Francis, feeing 

 him poffeffed of fuch courtefy and bland- 

 nefs, and the bounty which he proffered, 

 conceived fuch affe6lion for him that, de- 

 parting thence, he faid to his Comrade as 

 he went : ** Verily this gentleman would 

 well befeem our Religion and Company, 

 being fo grateful and fo pleafmg unto God, 

 and fo loving and courteous towards his 

 fellow-men and to the poor. Know, be- 

 loved Brother, that Courtefy is one of the 

 effential qualities of God, Who maketh His 

 fun to fhine and His rain to fall upon the 

 juft and upon the unjuft, through Courtefy: 

 and Courtefy is alfo the fifter of Charity, 

 which puts out Hatred and preferves Love 

 alive. Becaufe I have known fo much 

 divine virtue in this good man, I would 

 gladly take him for my Companion : and 

 hence I defire that we may one day return 



again 



