1 62 ^Ije ILittlr jFlotJtrs ot 



tate from the Order : for the which thing 

 he was excommunicated of the Pope, and 

 ftripped of his habit by Saint Francis. 

 And being thus excommunicate, and fall- 

 ing very ill, a certain lay Brother among 

 his Brethren, which had remained in the 

 Order and was a man of good and honeft 

 life, hearing of his fore infirmity, went to 

 vifit him ; and among other matter faid to 

 him : " My beloved Brother, it grieves me 

 much that you fhould be excommunicate 

 and driven out from your Order, and that 

 even fo you muft die ; but if you can per- 

 ceive any mode or manner by which I may 

 refcue you out of your peril, I will cheer- 

 fully endure any fuffering for your fake." 

 Brother Elias made anfwer : ** My Brother, 

 I fee no other manner than that you fhould 

 betake yourfelf to the Pope, and entreat 

 him that for the love of God, and of Saint 

 Francis his fervant, through whofe admo- 

 nitions I was led to forfake the world, he 

 abfolve me from his excommunication and 

 reftore to me the habit of my Order." 

 Thus he fpake to his Brother, who cheer- 

 fully undertook any labor fo that he might 

 but be faved : and departing thence from 

 him, he threw himfelf at the feet of the 



Holy 



