Chapter XX. Of a tempted brother who would have some writing from the Saint's hand

49. While the Saint abode shut up in a cell on the mountain of La Verna, one of his companions longed with great desire to have for his refreshment a writing of words of the Lord briefly annotated by S. Francis' hand. For he thought thereby to escape, or at least to endure more easily, a grievous temptation (not of the flesh but of the spirit) by which he was molested. Though languishing with his desire he feared to open the matter to the most holy father, but the Spirit revealed it to him, though man told him not. And one day blessed Francis called him, and said: "Bring me paper and ink, for I will write down words of God and His praises, which I have pondered in my heart". The materials he had asked for were brought forthwith, and with his own hand he wrote the praises of God and the words he chose to write, and lastly a blessing for that brother, saying: "Take this paper, and keep it diligently till the day of thy death". Immediately all that temptation was put to flight; the writing was preserved, and afterwards wrought wondrous things.1