having been read and accepted, Francis with his brethren set out for
Rome, to which, through humility, he chose that Bernard de Quintavalle
should lead them.

They pursued their journey with great simplicity, only speaking of God
and of things calculated for edification; they often retired to some
by-place for the purpose of praying, without troubling themselves
where they should pass the night; and God raised up persons who received
them hospitably. By an effect of His Providence, they went out of their
way to go to Rieti, where they remained two days. Francis met in one
of the streets an officer of the army, whose name was Angelo Tancred.
He was quite unknown to him, but, nevertheless, he accosted him by his
name, and said: "Angelo, you have worn long enough your spurs, your
sword, and your belt; it is time that you should have a thick cord
instead of a belt; the Cross of Jesus Christ instead of a sword; and
mud and dust instead of spurs. Follow me, therefore, and I will make
you a soldier of Jesus Christ." At the very moment the officer quitted
all things, followed Francis, took his poor habit, and became his
twelfth disciple, who now by their number resembled the twelve Apostles,
whose lives they revered. This wonderful conversion shows that God
sometimes moves sinners by his active and powerful grace; as when He
said to Matthew, "Follow me," and Matthew followed Him. But it must
also make us reflect that, in the ordinary course of things, He invites
to repentance by graces, the impressions of which upon the mind are
not so active.

The holy Patriarch continued his route, placing his entire confidence
in God; but the others became alarmed at their own simplicity, they
were fearful that it would impede their design; but God removed their
fears by a vision which their holy Father had. It seemed to him that