young, fresh, vigorous, and that she bears fruit in abundance. The
Pope, who was very religious, was highly gratified at the fortunate
success which he now learnt had attended the Saint's labors; he
willingly granted the servant of God leave to preach to the infidels,
and he affectionately gave him his blessing.

Two sermons which Francis preached at Rome procured him two disciples,
Zachary and William; the one was a Roman, the other was an Englishman.
John de Capella, of whom we have before spoken, having left the Order
about this time, and having had a similar end to that of Judas, William
was substituted for him, as St. Mathias had filled the place of the
traitor in the Apostolate, and William was afterwards always considered
as the twelfth of the first companions of the Patriarch.

A Roman widow, very noble and very rich, called Jacqueline de Settesoli,
having heard the Saint preach, was very anxious to have an interview
with him. He agreed to it, although reluctantly, and he gave her such
salutary instructions, that she committed the care of all her affairs
to her two sons, who were afterwards senators, in order that she might
apply herself to the sanctification of her soul, employing the gift
of tears which God had given her, to weep incessantly the neglects of
her past life. This lady and St. Clare were the only two persons of
the female sex with whom the servant of Jesus Christ had any intimate
relations on the subject of their salvation; which ought to serve as
a caution for this sort of direction lest it be too greatly
multiplied,--and be unholy.

As there is no affection more solid or more effective than that which
is grounded on charity, the pious widow rendered to Francis and his
brethren all the good offices in her power. When they came to Rome she