*IETRO GIANNONE. 4.I3 



choirs of angels and other faints, but in the bofom of 

 the Saviour himfelf ? The book of the Conformities, 

 p. 66, relates : One of their devotees, being in an 

 extafy, faw Jefus Chrift, with the virgin Maria and 

 ether faints, who drew near to Chrifl: in proceflion to 

 worfhip him. Not feeing St. Francis with his fons of 

 the order, he inquired of his heavenly conductor 

 where he was ; and was anfwered : Expecla et videbis. 

 He had not waited long, when lo ! Chrifl: lifted up his 

 right arm, and St. Francis came out of the wound in 

 his fide, with a flying banner of the crofs in his hand, 

 and after him came out an exceeding great number of 

 monks. Hereupon, the good citizen beftowed all his 

 goods upon the Francifcans, and became one of their 

 fraternity. 



III. If the comparifon made in this book, authen-r 

 ticated by feveral popes, particularly by Sixtus IV. and 

 V. between St. Francis and John the baptifl:, be not a 

 blafphemy, I will let it pafs, to fhew you my docility. 

 At the 1 8th page it fays: Francis was greater than 

 John the Baptifl: : for the latter was only the preacher 

 of penance ; whereas Francis was not only^ preacher, 

 but author of penance. The former was the forerun- 

 ner of Chrifl:, but the latter was the preacher and the 

 enflgn of Chrifl:, in which quality he exceeded him no 

 lefs than in the other ; as he converted more people, 

 and in more places, namely, throughout the whole 

 world. John preached fomewhat more than two years , 

 Francis preached eighteen years. John received his 

 call from the Lord alone ; Francis from the Lord, and, 

 which is more, from the pope. What John the bap- 

 tifl: was to be was foretold to his father by an angel, 



the 



