The chronicle and institution of the Order of the seraphicall father S. Francis conteyning his life, his death, and his miracles, and of all his holie disciples and companions / set foorth first in the Portugall, next in the Spanish, then in the Italian, lastlie in the French, and now in the English tongue.

How the S. by commandement of the Cardinall Protectour of his Order, was intercepted of his iorney.

THE LXII. CHAPTER.

BEing att Florence he there foūd the protectour of his order, who was legat of his holines in that place. The holy Father goeing to visitt him recoūted vnto him the cause of his iorney, that he was trauelling into France, there to plant his Order, & to gaine soules, wherin he mēt to employ some time: which the Cardinall vnderstāding, was ex∣ceedingly disquieted, & endeuoured to persuade him by pregnāt reasons

to change his resolution, considering that he might doe greater seruice•• to God in Italie, and should benifitt more to support and mayntaine his Religion, where it was already knowen, then otherwhere. The S. answeared that the cause that most moued him to goe thither was, that he thought it not reasonnable, that hauing sent his Religious into di∣uers forraine Contryes, to endure many inconueniences, he should rest in repose, whiles they suffered and endured. The Cardinal replyed: Wherfore haue you sent your Religious so farre, to vndergoe so many afflictions? The holy Father answeared him: Thincke you, my Lord, that God hath instituted this Religion for the good only of the Ita∣lian soules? You must know that he hath chosen the Freer Minors, to goe ouer all the world, yea not onlie for the behoufe of faithfull Christians, but euen of Infidelles. And they shall goe, and shall there be receaued, and shall fructifie, gayning many soules to God: who will prouide them all their necessities, when men shall faill them. The Cardinal admiring the good and pious resolution of the S. confessed to beleeue that it would arriue as he had designed, neuertheles would he neuer permit him to goe into France. Wherfore S. Francis not min∣ding any further to contradict him, desisted his iorney to content him, and sent thither in his place Brother Pacificus and his other companiōs, and himselfe hauing seiourned some time with the said Protectour, re∣tourned to our Lady of Angels.