The Life of Brother Juniper

HERE BEGINNETH THE LIFE OF BROTHER JUNIPER /. How Brother Juniper cut off the foot of a pigy merely to give it to a sick man

One of the most elect disciples and first companions of S. Francis was Brother Juniper, a man of deep humility, of great fervour and charity; of whom S. Francis, speaking on a time with his holy companions, said: " He would be a good Brother Minor who had conquered himself and the world like Brother Juniper." On a time at S. Mary of the Angels, when all afire with the love of God he was visiting a sick brother, he asked him with much compassion: " Can I do thee any service? " Replied the sick man: ” Much comfort would it give me, if thou couldest get me a pig's trotter to eat." Straightway cried Brother Juniper: " Leave that to me, I'll fetch you one at once; " so he went and took a knife, from the kitchen I believe, and in fervour of spirit ran through the wood where divers pigs were feeding, threw himself on one of them, cut off its foot and ran away, leaving the pig with feet so maimed; and returning, he washed and dressed and cooked the foot; and when with much diligence he had prepared it well, he brought the said foot to the sick man with much great charity. And the sick man ate it up right greedily, to the great comfort and dehght of Brother Juniper; who with great glee, for to glad the heart of the sick man, told him of the assaults he had made upon the pig. Meanwhile the man who kept the pigs and saw this brother cut off its foot, with bitter words told all the story in order to his lord. And when he was ware of it, he came to the house of the brothers, calling them hypocrites, thieves and liars, and rogues and knaves, and saying: ” Why have ye cut off the foot of my pig? " At the noise that he made, S. Francis and all his brothers came out, and with all humility made excuses for his brethren, and v/otting naught of what was done, for to appease him promised to restore him all that he had lost. But for all that, he was no whit appeased, but with much wrath, insults, and threats, went away from the brothers full of anger, repeating over and over how basely they had cut off the foot of his pig, and taking no excuse or promise, gat him gone ina rage. And S. Francis full of discretion, whileas all the other brothers were in much amazement, bethought him, and said within his heart: ” Can Brother Juniper have done this thing in zeal too indiscreet ì " And he let call Brother Juniper unto him secretly, and asked him, saying: " Didst thou cut off the foot of a pig in the wood? “ Whereat Brother Juniper, not as one that had made a fault, but as one that seemed to himself to have done a deed of great charity, all gladly answered, and said: ” Sweet my Father, it is true that I cut off a foot from the said pig; and as touching the reason, my Father, if thou wilt, do thou give ear to it compassionately. Out of charity I went to visit such and such a sick brother; " and he told him all that befell in order, and then added: " I tell thee, that bearing in mind the consolation that this our brother felt, and the comfort that the said foot brought to him, if I had cut off the feet of a hundred pigs as I did of one, in very sooth, methinks God would have said, Well done." Whereat S. Francis, with righteous zeal and great severity, said: " O Brother Juniper, why hast thou now given so great scandal? not without reason doth this man complain and is so wroth against us: and perchance he is now going through the city, speaking evil of us for such ill-doing, and I ween he hath good reason. Wherefore I command thee by holy obedience, that thou run after him till thou come up with him, and throw thyself upon the ground before him and confess thy fault, promising to make such satisfaction and after such a fashion that he may have no ground to complain of us: for of a truth this has been too grievous an offence." Brother Juniper marvelled much at the words aforesaid: and was amazed, being surprised that any one should be angry at so charitable a deed; for it seemed to him that these temporal things were naught, save in so far as men of their charity shared them with their neighbours. And Brother Juniper answered: "Doubt not, my Father, that I will pacify him straightway, and content him. And why should he be so disquieted, seeing that this pig, whose foot I have cut off.

was rather God's than his, and great chanty hath been done thereby? ” So he set out at a run and overtook the man; who was exceeding wroth, out of all measure, so that there was no whit of patience left in him; and he told him how and for what cause he had cut off the foot of the pig; and this with as much fervour and gladness and joy, as one that had done a great service, for the which he ought to be well rewarded. But he, full of anger and beside himself with fury, heaped much abuse upon Brother Juniper, calling him madman and fool, robber and vile thief. And Brother Juniper cared not a whit for these words of such abuse, yet marvelling within himself although he rejoiced to be ill-spoken of: and believed he could not have understood him aright, for it seemed to him matter for rejoicing rather than for wrath; and he repeated the aforesaid story anew, and threw himself upon his neck and embraced and kissed him: and told him how that it had been done wholly for charity's sake, inviting and beseeching him to do likewise with the rest; with such charity and simplicity and humility, that this man coming to himself again threw himself upon the ground not without many tears; and acknowledging the wrong that he had done and said unto the brothers, went and caught the pig and killed it, and having cooked it brought it with great devotion and much weeping to S. Mary of the Angels, and gave it to those holy brothers to eat, for pity of the wrong he had done to them And S. Francis, pondering on the simplicity and the patience of the said holy Brother Juniper in the hour of trial, said to his companions and the others standing round: " Would to God, my brothers, that I had a whole forest of such Junipers! " //. An instance of the great power of Brother Juniper over the devil

How the devils could not endure the purity of the innocence and deep humility of Brother Juniper, doth clearly appear herein, that on a time a certain man possessed with a devil, contrary to all his wont and with antics most strange, sprang out of the way he was going in, and of a sudden set ofF running and fled by divers crossways for seven miles. And being asked by his kinsfolk, that with great anguish of spirit followed after him, wherefore he had fled away with such strange antics, he answered them: " The reason is this: because that mad fellow Juniper was passing by that way: not being able to endure his presence nor to look on him, I fled away into these woods." And certifying themselves of the truth thereof, they found that Brother Juniper, in that very hour, had come along that way, even as the devil had said. Wherefore S. Francis, when they brought to him those that were possessed to be healed, if the devils departed not straightway at his command, would say: " If thou come not out of this creature of God straightway, I will send for Brother Juniper to deal with thee:” and thereat the devil, fearing the presence of Brother Juniper, and not being able to endure the virtue and humility of S. Francis, would depart straightway.

///. How, by the device of the devil. Brother Juniper was condemned to the gibbet

On a time the devil, wishing to put Brother Juniper in fear, and vex him with trouble and adversity, went to a very cruel tyrant that was called Nicholas, the which was then at war with the city of Viterbo, and said: ” Sir, look well to this your castle, for presently there is coming here a false traitor, sent by the folk of Viterbo, to kill you and set this castle on fire. And in token of the truth thereof, I give you these signs: He will come as a beggar, in garments all torn and patched, and his cowl hanging all tattered on his shoulder; and he will bring with him an awl wherewith to kill you, and flint and steel to set fire to the castle withal; and if you find not that this be true, on my head be it” At these words Nicholas was all distraught and filled with fear, for he that told him these words seemed to be an honest man. And he gave orders that the watch should be kept with care, and that if this fellow with the signs aforesaid should come, he should be brought before him straightway. Meantime came Brother Juniper alone, for by reason of his perfection he had leave to go and to stay alone, just as he pleased. Now there met him certain lusty youths, that began to laugh him to scorn and make mock of him. At all this he was not disquieted, but rather led them on to be more merry with him. And when he came to the gate of the castle, and the guards beheld him so ill-favoured, in garments so scant and all torn; for part of his habit for the love of God he had given to the poor on the way, and looked no whit like a Brother Minor; sith the signs that had been given them were so clearly manifest, they dragged him furiously before that tyrant Nicholas. And when they of the household searched him, to see if he had arms to do hurt withal, they found in his sleeve an awl with which he used to mend his sandals; also they found a flint and steel, which he carried to light a fire; for oftentimes he lived in the woods and deserts. Nicholas seeing these signs upon him, according to the testimony of the accusing devil, ordered that his head should be bound tight with cords, and so was it done, and with such cruelty that the cord entered right into his flesh. Then they laid him on the rack, and let stretch and pull his arms and tear his body all in pieces without any mercy. And when they asked him if he wanted to betray the castle and give it up to the people of Viterbo, he answered: " I am the worst of traitors, and undeserving of any good." And when they asked him if with that awl he wished to kill the tyrant Nicholas, and burn the castle, he answered: " Much worse things should I do, if God permitted it." Then Nicholas, overcome with anger, would no more examine him; but without delay he furiously condemned Brother Juniper, as a traitor and a murderer, to be tied to the tail of a horse, and dragged along the ground to the gibbet and there straightway hanged by the neck. And Brother Juniper made no defence, but as one that for the love of God is well contented in the midst of troubles, was all joyful and glad.

And whenthe command of the tyrant wasexecuted, and Brother Juniper was tied by the feet to the tail of a horse and dragged along the ground, he uttered no complaint or lamentation, but as a gentle lamb that is brought to the slaughter, he went in all humility. At this sight and such sudden justice, ran all the people there to see him executed with such cruel haste, and no one recognised him. Nathless, as God willed, a good man that had seen Brother Juniper seized, and now beheld him so quickly judged to die, ran to the house of the Brothers Minor, and said: " For the love of God, I pray you come quickly, for a poor man hath been taken and sentence passed on him at once, and he hath been led away to die: come, at least that he may give up his soul into your hands, for he seems to me a good man, and hath had no time to confess him; and he hath been led away to the gallows, and he seemeth to keep no care for death nor for the salvation of his soul: oh! come quickly, I beseech you." The Guardian, who was a compassionate man, went at once to care for the man's salvation: and winning there, he could not find entrance for the press of the folk that had gathered together to see this execution; so he stood and bided his time, and as he waited he heard a voice in the midst of the crowd crying: ” Let be, let be, you little rogues, you hurt my legs." At the sound of this voice, with fervour of spirit he threw himself into the midst of them, and took off the covering from the man's face, and then he recognised of a truth that it was Brother Juniper: wherefore for pity's sake the Guardian would have taken off his own habit and have put it on Brother Juniper. And he with cheerful countenance, as though laughing, said: " O Guardian, thou art too fat, and it would look but ill to see you stripped: I will not have it." Then the Guardian with much weeping prayed the executioners and all the people for pity's sake to wait a little while, till he should go and entreat the tyrant for Brother Juniper, if perchance he might pardon him. The executioners and certain folk that stood by, consenting thereunto, believing in sooth that the man was of his kinsfolk, the devout and compassionate Guardian gat him to the tyrant Nicholas with bitter weeping, and said: " My lord, I am in such amazement and distress of mind, as my tongue could never tell; for it seemeth to me that in this land hath been committed this day the greatest sin and the greatest wrong that hath ever been done since the days of our forefathers: and I believe that it has been done through ignorance." Nicholas heard him patiently, and then asked the Guardian: " What is the great sin and wrong that hath this day been committed in this land? " Replied the Guardian: " My lord, that one of the holiest brothers now in the Order of S. Francis, unto which thou hast a singular devotion, has by thee been condemned to so cruel a sentence, and of a surety, I ween, without good reason." Quoth Nicholas: ” Now tell me. Guardian, who is this? for perchance unwittingly I may have done great wrong." Quoth the Guardian: " He whom thou hast condemned to death, is Brother Juniper, companion of S. Francis." All horror-stricken, for he had heard of the fame and of the holy life of Brother Juniper, and all pale as though with amaze, the tyrant Nicholas ran with the Guardian, and came to Brother Juniper, and loosed him from the tail of the horse and set him free, and in the presence of all the people fell flat upon his face before Brother Juniper,and with much great weeping confessed his fault for the grievous wrong and for the outrage that he had had done to this holy brother; and added: " I believe of a sooth that the days of my evil life are drawing to an end, sith I have so evil intreated this holy man without any good reason. God for my evil life will suffer me in a few days to die an evil death, albeit I did it unwittingly." Brother Juniper freely forgave the tyrant Nicholas: but God suffered it that a few days thereafter that tyrant Nicholas ended his days with a cruel death. And Brother Juniper departed, leaving all the people edified.

IV. How Brother Juniper gave to the poor whatsoever he could, for the love of God

Such pity had Brother Juniper for the poor and such compassion, that when he saw any one that was ill clad or naked, he would at once take off his tunic and the cowl of his cloak, and give it to the poor man: wherefore the Guardian commanded him by holy obedience that he should give to no poor person the whole of his tunic or any part of his habit. Now it happened that a few days afterwards he met a poor man half-naked, who asked alms of Brother Juniper for the love of God: to whom with much compassion he said: “I have nothing I can give thee, save my tunic: and my Superior hath by holy obedience enjoined me not to give it nor any part of my habit to any one; but if thou take it off my back, I will not say thee nay." He spoke not to the deaf; for straightway the poor man pulled his tunic off his back and went off with it, leaving Brother Juniper naked. And when he returned to the house and was asked where his tunic was, he answered: ”A good man took it off my back and went away with it." And the virtue of compassion still growing in him, he was not content with giving away his tunic, but gave away books and vestments and mantles, and whatsoever he could lay hands upon he would give to the poor. And for this reason the brothers left nothing lying about, for that Brother Juniper gave away everything for the love of God and for His glory.

V. How Brother Juniper cut ofi certain hells from the altar, and gave them away for the love of God

Once on a time about the Nativity of Christ Brother Juniper was at Assisi, in deep meditation before the altar of the convent, the which altar was right well decorated and adorned; at the prayer of the sacristan. Brother Juniper remained to guard the said altar while the sacristan went away to eat. And as he stood in devout meditation, a poor woman begged alms of him for the love of God. To whom Brother Juniper made answer thus: ” Wait a little, and I will see if I can give you something from this altar so richly decked." Now on this altar there was a fringe of gold right lordly, and adorned with little silver bells of great price. Quoth Brother Juniper: ” These bells are a superfluity; " and he took a knife and cut them all off from the fringe, and gave them to that poor woman for pity's sake. When the sacristan had eaten three or four mouthfuls, he called to mind the ways of Brother Juniper, and began much to doubt lest Brother Juniper, through his zeal of charity, might play him some trick with the altar so richly decked, that he had left in his charge. And straightway in doubt he rose from the table and gat him to the church, and looked to see if any of the ornaments of the altar had been removed or carried away; and he saw that all the little bells had been torn off and cut away from the fringe: whereat he was beyond all measure angered and disquieted. Brother Juniper, seeing him so troubled, said: ” Be not distressed about those bells, for I have given them to a poor woman that had the greatest need of them, and here they were of no use at all, save only for vain, worldly pomp." Hearing this, the sacristan in great trouble ran straightway through the church and all through the city, if perchance he might find her again: but not only did he find her not, but found no one that had seen her. So he returned to the House, and in a rage took up the fringe and brought it to the General, who was at Assisi, and said: " Father General, I cry justice against Brother Juniper, the which hath spoiled this fringe of mine, the noblest that there was in all the sacristy; now see how he hath handled it and cut off all the silver bells, and tells me that to some poor woman he hath given them away." Replied the General: ”It is not Brother Juniper that hath done this, but rather thine own stupidity; for thou shouldest by this time know what manner of man he is: and I tell thee that I am surprised that he hath not given away all the rest; but nathless I will correct him well for this fault." And calling all the brothers together in Chapter, he sent for Brother Juniper: and in the presence of all the community, reproved him very harshly on account of the bells aforesaid; and so wrathful did he grow, that by raising his voice, he became quite hoarse. Brother Juniper cared little and wellnigh nothing for his words, for he took delight in insults, whenever he was well abused: but in pity for the hoarseness of the General, he began to bethink him of a remedy. And having received the rebuke of the General, Brother Juniper went to the city and ordered and let make a good pottage of flour and butter; and when a good part of the night was passed, he returned and lit a candle and went with the pottage to the General's cell, and knocked. When the General opened the door and saw him standing there with the lighted candle and the pottage in his hand, he asked softly: " What is it, " Replied Brother Juniper: " My father, to-day when thou didst reprove me for my faults, I saw that thy voice grew hoarse, I ween it were through overmuch fatigue; wherefore I bethought me of a remedy, and let make this mess of flour for thee therefore I pray thee eat it, for I do assure thee, it will ease thy chest and throat." Quoth the General: " What hour is this for you to come disturbing folk? " Replied Brother Juniper: "See, it has been made for thee; I pray thee, make no more ado, but eat it, for it will do thee much good." And the General, being wroth for the lateness of the hour and his importunity, bade him begone, for he had no wish to eat at such an hour, calling him scoundrel and caitiff. Brother Juniper, seeing that neither prayers nor coaxing could aught avail, said: ” My father, sith thou wilt not eat, and this pottage hath been made for thee, do this at least for me; hold the candle for me and I will eat it." Then the General, being a pious man and devout, perceiving the piety and simplicity of Brother Juniper, and that out of devotion he had done all this, replied: “ Come now, since thou wilt have it so, let us eat it, you and I together." And they twain ate the pottage of flour by reason of his importunate charity. And they were refreshed much more by devotion than by the food.

VI. How Brother Juniper kept silence for six months

Once on a time Brother Juniper resolved to keep silence for six months after this manner. On the first day, for the love of the Heavenly Father, on the second day, for the love of Jesu Christ, His Son. On the third, for the love of the Holy Spirit. On the fourth day, out of reverence for the most holy Virgin Mary; and thus, in order.

each day for the love of some saint, he kept the six months in silence.

VII. An example of how to resist the, temptations of the flesh

Brother Giles, and Brother Simon of Assisi, and Brother Juniper being on a time met together to speak of God and of the salvation of the soul, quoth Giles unto the other brothers: " How do ye deal with temptations to carnal sin? " Quoth Brother Simon: ” I think on the vileness and the shame of sin, and a strong hatred thereof taketh hold on me, and so I escape." Quoth Brother Ruffino: " I throw myself down upon the ground, and continue in prayer, calling on the mercy of God and the Mother of Jesu Christ, until I feel myself wholly freed." Replied Brother Juniper: " When I am ware of the tumult of the devilish suggestions of the flesh, at once I run and shut the door of my heart, and for the safety of the fortress of my heart, I occupy myself in holy meditations and holy desires: so that, when the carnal suggestion cometh or knocketh at the door of my heart, I answer as it were from within: ' Begone, for the lodging is already ta'en, and no more folk may enter here within: ' and thus no evil thought is suff,ered to find entrance within my heart: so that seeing itself conquered, it departs as it were discomfited, not only from me, but from all the country round." Brother Giles answered and said: " Brother Juniper, I hold with thee, for one cannot fight better with the enemy of the flesh than by running away; for the carnal appetite that is a traitor within, and the senses of the body without, make themselves felt as enemies so mighty and so strong, that one cannot conquer save by flight. Therefore he that does not want to fight in any other way, after the toil of battle oft-times gains the victory. Then flee from vice and thou shalt be the conqueror."

VIII. How Brother Juniper abased himself for the glory of God

Once on a time Brother Juniper desiring utterly to abase himself, stripped himself to his breeches, and making a bundle of his clothes set them upon his head, and thus half-naked entered into Viterbo, and went into the public square to be mocked at. As he stood there, the children and the boys, deeming him out of his senses, made mock of him, throwing mud upon his back, and pelting him with stones, pushing him now here, now there, with many a scoff and jeer; and so tormented and laughed to scorn he stood there a great part of the day; after which he gat him back to the convent. And the brothers seeing him were very angry, chiefly because he had gone all through the city with his bundle on his head, and they reproved him harshly and threatened him. And the one said: ” Let us put him in prison; " and the other said: " Let us hang him; " and the rest said: " No punishment ye might devise could be too great for so bad an example as he has set this day, to his shame and that of all the Order.”

And Brother Juniper, full of joy, replied in all humility: “Well and truly have ye spoken, for of these punishments am I worthy and of much more."

IX. How Brother Juniper played see-saw to abase himself

On a time as Brother Juniper was going to Rome, where the fame of his sanctity was already spread abroad, many Romans through their great devotion went out to meet him: and Brother Juniper seeing so many people coming, bethought him how he might turn their devotion into scorn and derision. There were two children there, playing at see-saw, to wit, they had put one log across another log, and each sat at his own end and so went up and down. Brother Juniper went and put one of these children ofF the log, and got up himself, and began to see-saw up and down. Meanwhile the folk came up and marvelled to behold Brother Juniper a see-sawing: none the less with great devotion they saluted him and waited for him to finish his game of see-saw, so as to bear him company with all honour to the convent. And Brother Juniper paid little heed to their salutations, their reverence, and their waiting for him, but took much great pains with his see-sawing. And waiting thus for some time, certain among them began to grow weary, and said: ” What mad fellow is this? " Others knowing his ways, grew in greater devotion nathless they all went away and left Brother

Juniper on the see-saw. And when that they were all gone, Brother Juniper remained altogether conforted, because he had seen some folk that made a mock at him. So he went on his way and entered into Rome with all meekness and humility, and came to the convent of the Brothers Minor.

X. How Brother Juniper once cooked a fortnight's food for the brethren

On a time when Brother Juniper was staying in a very small House belonging to the brothers, it befell that for a certain reason all the brothers had to go out, and Brother Juniper remained in the house alone. Ouoth the Guardian: " Brother Juniper, we are all going out, and therefore see to it that when we return, you have cooked a little food for the refreshment of the brothers." Replied Brother Juniper: " Right willingly, leave that to me." All the brothers having gone out, as hath been said, quoth Brother Juniper: '* What unprofitable trouble is this, that one brother should be lost in the kitchen, and kept away from all prayer? Of a surety, now that I am left behind this time to cook, I will make ready so much that all the brothers, and even were there more of them, will have enough for a fortnight.” And so with all diligence he went into the country, and begged for several large cooking-pots, and got fresh meat and salted fowls, eggs, and herbs, and begged for firewood in plenty, and put them all on the fire, to wit, the fowls with their feathers on, and the eggs in their shells, and all the rest in like fashion. When the brothers were come back to the house, one that was well aware of Brother Juniper's simplicity, went into the kitchen, and saw so many great pots on an enormous fire; and he sat him down and looked on in amazement, but said nothing at all, watching with what care Brother Juniper did his cooking. Because the fire was very fierce and he could not well get near to skim the pots, he took a plank and with a rope tied it tight to his body, and then kept jumping from one pot to another, that it was a joy to look at him. Having watched it all with great delight, that brother left the kitchen, and found the other brothers, and said to them: " I can assure you, Brother Juniper is making a marriage-feast." But the brothers took his words as a jest. And Brother Juniper lifted the pot from the fire and let ring the dinner-bell; and the brothers sat them down to table, and he came into the refectory with his dishes, all red with his labours and the heat of the fire, and said to the brothers: " Eat well: and then let us all go to prayer, and let no one think any more of cooking for a while; for I have cooked so much food today, that I shall have enough for more than a fortnight.” And Brother Juniper set his stew on the table before the brothers, and there is not a pig in all the land of Rome so famished as to have eaten it. But Brother Juniper cried up his dishes, for to find a customer; and seeing that the brothers were eating nought thereof, said: " Now these fowls are strengthening to the brain, and this stew will refresh the body, it is so good." And while the brothers were full of amazement and devotion to see the devotion and simplicity of Brother Juniper, the Guardian being wroth with such stupidity and the waste of so much good food, reproved him roughly. Then Brother Juniper threw himself upon the ground and kneeled before the Guardian, and humbly confessed his fault to him and all the brothers, saying: " I am the worst of men; such a one committed such and such a crime, and had his eyes put out; but I deserve it more than he: such a one for his wickedness was hung, but I deserve it much more for my evil deeds: sith I have wasted so many of the good things of God and of the Order." And so all sorrowfully he went away, and all that day he did not show himself where any of the brothers were. Then quoth the Guardian: " My brothers most dear, if only we had it, I would that every day this brother spoiled as much as he hath to-day, if so he might be edified, for great simplicity and charity have made him do this thing."

XI. How Brother Juniper went on a time to Assisi for his own confusion

On a time when Brother Juniper was dwelling in the Valley of Spoleto, being ware that there was a great festival at Assisi and that much folk was winning there with great devotion, there came to him the wish to go to that festival; and behold! Brother Juniper stripped himself to his breeches and so set out, passing through Spoleto right through the middle of the town, and came to the convent. The brothers being much disquieted and scandalised, reproved him full harshly, calling him madman and fool, crying out against him that he would bring ruin on the Order of S. Francis, and ought to be chained up as a lunatic. And the General, who was then in the convent, let call all the brothers and Brother Juniper, and in the presence of the whole community gave him a harsh and severe reproof. And after many words of sternest condemnation, he said to Brother Juniper: " Thy fault is such, and is so grievous, that I know not what fitting penance to lay on thee." Replied Brother Juniper, as one that delighted in his own confusion: " Father, I will tell thee one: to wit, that in the same manner as I came hither, so for penance sake I should return to the place whence I started for to come to this festival."

XII. How Brother Juniper was rapt in ecstasy while celebrating the Mass

As Brother Juniper on a time was hearing Mass with much devotion, he was rapt in ecstasy with mind uplifted for a long time. And having been left in a room far removed from the brothers, coming to himself again, he began with great fervour to say: ', O my brothers, who is there so exalted in this life that would not gladly carry a basket of dung through all the world, if he had given him a whole house full of gold ì " And he said: " Alas, that we are not willing to endure a little shame to gain the blessed life."

XIII. Of the sorrow that Brother Juniper felt at the death of his companion, Brother Amazialhene

Brother Juniper had as his companion a brother named Amazialhene, whom he very dearly loved. This man possessed in the highest degree the virtues of patience and obedience; for, if he were beaten for the whole day long, he would never murmur nor complain with a single word. He was oft-times sent to houses where the community was hard to live with, at whose hands he suffered much persecution: the which he endured most patiently, without any murmuring. According to the bidding of Brother Juniper, he would weep and laugh. Now this Brother Amazialhene, as it pleased God, died in the best repute: and Brother Juniper hearing of his death, felt such sorrow in his soul as he had never had in all his life from any earthly cause. And thuswise did he show forth the great bitterness that he felt within, and said: ”Woe is me! wretched man that I am, for now is no good thing left to me; and the world is undone through the death of my sweet and dearest brother, Amazialhene! ” And he said: ” If it were not that I should have no peace with the brothers, I would go to his grave and take up his head; and out of his head I would make two porringers; one of which I would always eat out of, in memory of him and for my devotion's sake: and from the other I would drink, whenever I was thirsty and wished to drink.”

XIV. Of the hand that Brother Juniper saw in the air

Brother Juniper being on a time at prayer and thinking perhaps great things of himself, there appeared to him a hand in the air above him, and with the ears of his body he heard a voice, that spake to him thus: " O Brother Juniper, without this hand thou canst do nothing." Whereat he at once arose, and lifting up his eyes and turning them heavenward, said in a loud voice, as he ran through the convent: " “Tis true indeed, 'tis true indeed." And these words he said again and again for a long while.

XV. An example of Brother Leo, how S. Francis bade him wash the stone

In the mount of Alvernia, as S. Francis was speaking with Brother Leo, quoth S. Francis: ” Brother little sheep, wash this stone with water." Brother Leo was quick, and washed the stone with water. Quoth S. Francis with great joy and gladness: " Wash it with wine; " and so was it done. " Wash it," quoth S. Francis, " with oil; " and even so was it done. Quoth S. Francis: ” Brother little sheep, wash this stone with balsam." Replied Brother Leo: “ O sweet father, how can I find balsam in so wild a place as this? " Replied S. Francis: " Know, brother little sheep of Christ, that is the stone whereon Christ did sit when He appeared on a time to me here; and therefore have I said to thee four times, Wash it; and keep silence; for Jesu Christ hath promised unto me four special graces for my Order. The first is that all they that shall love my Order with their whole heart, and the brothers that shall persevere, shall by the grace of God make a good end. The second is that the persecutors of this Order shall notably be punished. The third is that no wicked man shall be able to remain long in this Order, if so be he continue in his wickedness. The fourth is that this Order shall endure even unto the last judgment.”