Chapter XXIV. Of the Friar who Neither Used to Pray Nor Work, but who Ate Well

IN the first days of the Order, when the friars dwelt at Rive Torto near Assisi, there was amongst them a certain friar who prayed little and did not work, who would not ask for alms and used to eat well. Considering these things, blessed Francis knew by the Holy Spirit that he was a carnal man, and said to him, "Go thy way, friar fly, since thou wilt eat of the labour of thy brethren and be idle in the work of God, like a lazy and sterile drone which profiteth nothing and laboured! not, but eateth the labour and profit of the good bees." And so he went his way. And because he was carnal, he sought not for mercy nor found it<