magistrates, to account for it. Francis appeared before their tribunal
and told them that he had changed his state of life, that God had
delivered him from the slavery of the world, and that he had nothing
more to do with its affairs. The magistrates, who knew his conversion
and his perseverance, saw something grand in his demeanor, and told
his father, who urged them to put interrogatories to his son, that
this affair ought to be carried into the bishop's court. Bernard
addressed himself to that authority, not only to compel his son to
give up what money he had, but to force him to renounce his claims to
any paternal inheritance. Francis, who was a sincere lover of poverty,
cheerfully consented to all that was required of him, and said that
he would willingly appear before the bishop, who was the pastor and
father of his soul. As soon as he was there, without waiting for his
father to make his demand, and without saying anything himself, he
gave up what money he still had, and then stripped off his clothes,
even to his shirt, under which it was seen that he wore a hair-shirt,
and gave them up to his father, addressing him in the following
beautiful words: "Until this time I have called thee father on earth;
but from henceforward I may boldly say, Our Father who art in Heaven,
in whom I have placed all my treasure, and all my confidence."

The prelate, who was a man of great worth, admiring this excess of
fervor, and moved even to tears, rose up, and embracing the servant
of God, covered him with his cloak, and ordered his servants to bring
such clothing as was necessary for him. It was no doubt by a
dispensation of Divine Providence that a bishop pressed to his bosom
him who was to combat so strenuously for the service of the Church.
They brought an old cloak belonging to a laborer, who was in the employ
of the bishop, which Francis received with great satisfaction, and
with which he clothed himself, making on it a cross with some mortar