The Little Flowers and the Life of St. Francis, with the...

his eyes. And when he had stayed there some space and would now be gone, the Blessed Francis said unto one of his companions: “Go and give the leech to eat of the best.” His companion made answer unto him: “Father, we are shamed to say that we are so poor just now that we are ashamed to invite him to eat.” The Blessed Francis thereupon said unto his companions: “O ye of little faith, let me not have to speak twice unto you!” And the leech saith unto the Blessed Francis: “Brother, because the brethren be poor, the more willing am I to eat with them.” For that leech was exceeding rich, and albeit the Blessed Francis and the companions had oftentimes invited him, yet never would he eat with them.

The brethren therefore went and made ready the table, and with shame did set thereon a little bread and wine and a little dish of herbs that they had made ready for themselves. And whilst they were sitting at this sorry table, so soon as they had begun to eat, behold, there was a knocking at the door of the place, and when one of the brethren went and opened the door, behold, there stood a woman carrying a great vessel full of fair bread and fishes and pasties of crevisses, and honey and grapes that had been sent to the Blessed Francis by the Lady of a castle some seven miles away from the place.

When they saw this, the brethren and the leech did mightily marvel and rejoice, having regard unto the holiness of S. Francis and ascribing it all to his merits. And saith the leech unto the brethren: “Neither you nor I do meetly acknowledge this man’s holiness!”