Chapter LV. How he did the like for another poor person

88. The like thing occurred at Cella di Cortona.

A Blessed Francis was wearing a new cloak that the brethren had got on purpose for him. A poor man came to the "place" lamenting aloud that his wife was dead and his poor family left desolate. The Saint said to him: "I give thee this cloak for the love of God, on condition that thou give it up to no one unless he pay thee well for it". The brethren forthwith came running in order to take the cloak away and prevent the gift from being made. But the poor man, emboldened by the holy father's look, clutched the cloak with both hands to defend it, as being his own. Finally the brethren redeemed the cloak x and the poor man went off with the price.