Chapter XXXIV. What happened to S. Francis one night for using a feather-pillow

64. Since we have made mention of beds, another incident occurs to us which it might be profitable to relate. From the time when this Saint turned to Christ, and delivered to forgetfulness the things that are of the world, he would not lie under a coverlet, nor have a feather-pillow at his head. Neither sickness nor strangers' hospitality suspended this restriction. But it happened that at the hermitage of Greccio, when he was suffering more than usual from the infirmity of his eyes, he was compelled, against his will, to use a small pillow. At matins on the first night the Saint called his companion and said to him: "Brother, I have not been able to sleep to-night, nor to remain upright for prayer; my head trembles, my knees sink under me, and my whole body is out of gear, just as if I had eaten bread made of darnel. 1 believe the Devil is in this pillow that I have at my head: take it away, for I won't have the Devil at my head any longer." His companion, sympathising with the father's querulous murmur, caught the pillow, which he had thrown at him, to carry it away. So he went out, and immediately lost the power of speech, and was oppressed and bound by such horror that he could neither move his feet from the spot, nor in any wise move his arms. After a little the Saint, who knew what had happened, called him, and he was set free. He came back, and told what he had suffered. And the Saint said to him: "Last evening when I was saying compline I clearly knew that the Devil was coming to the cell". And again, "Very crafty and subtle is our foe, for, when he cannot hurt us in the soul within, at least he gives the body matter for murmuring."

Let those hearken who prepare pillows on every side, so that whichever way they fall they may be caught gently. The Devil gladly follows opulence, he likes to take his stand by costly beds, especially where there is 10 compulsion of necessity, and the profession forbids such things. None the less does the old serpent fly from a naked man, x either because he despises the company of the poor, or because he fears the height of Poverty. If a friar gives heed that a devil lurks in feathers, he will be content to have straw at his head.¹ ON ENSAMPLES AGAINST MONEY