A certain Brother Giovanni di Conpello[42] had gathered together a
great number of lepers of both sexes, and written a Rule, intending to
form with them a new Order. He had afterward presented himself before
the supreme pontiff with a train of these unfortunates to obtain his
approbation.

Many other distressing symptoms, upon which Brother Giordano does not
dwell, had manifested themselves. The report of Francis's death had even
been spread abroad, so that the whole Order was disturbed, divided, and
in the greatest peril. The dark presentiments which Francis seems to
have had were exceeded by the reality.[43] The messenger who brought
him the sad news found him in Syria, probably at St. Jean d'Acre. He at
once embarked with Elias, Pietro di Catana, Cæsar of Speyer, and a few
others, and returned to Italy in a vessel bound for Venice, where he
might easily arrive toward the end of July.


FOOTNOTES:

[1] One proof of the obscurity in which Dominic remained so long
as Rome did not apotheosize him, is that Jacques de Vitry, who
consecrates a whole chapter of his _Historia Occidentalis_ to
the Preaching Friars (27, p. 333) does not even name the
founder. This is the more significant since a few pages farther
on, the chapter given to the Brothers Minor is almost entirely
filled with the person of St. Francis. This silence about St.
Dominic has been remarked and taken up by Moschus, who finds no
way to explain it. Vide _Vitam J. de Vitriaco_, at the head of
the Douai edition of 1597.