erward presented himself before
the supreme pontiff with a train of these unfortunates to obtain his
approbation.

Many other distressing symptoms, upon which Brother Giordano does not
dwell, had manifested themselves. The report of Francis's death had even
been spread abroad, so that the whole Order was disturbed, divided, and
in the greatest peril. The dark presentiments which Francis seems to
have had were exceeded by the reality.[43] The messenger who brought
him the sad news found him in Syria, probably at St. Jean d'Acre. He at
once embarked with Elias, Pietro di Catana, Caesar of Speyer, and a few
others, and returned to Italy in a vessel bound for Venice, where he
might easily arrive toward the end of July.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] One proof of the obscurity in which Dominic remained so long
as Rome did not apotheosize him, is that Jacques de Vitry, who
consecrates a whole chapter of his _Historia Occidentalis_ to
the Preaching Friars (27, p. 333) does not even name the
founder. This is the more significant since a few pages farther
on, the chapter given to the Brothers Minor is almost entirely
filled with the person of St. Francis. This silence about St.
Dominic has been remarked and taken up by Moschus, who finds no
way to explain it. Vide _Vitam J. de Vitriaco_, at the head of
the Douai edition of 1597.

[2] Francis, who died in 1226, is canonized in 1228; Anthony of
Padua, 1231 and 1233; Elisabeth of Thuringia, 1231 and 1235;
Dominic, 1221 and 1234.

[3] 3 Soc., 61.

[4] Shed abroad, Lord, thy Spirit, and all shall be created, and
thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

[5] 2 Cel., 3. 87; _Spec._, 132b; _Conform._, 207a, 112a;
_Fior._, 18. The historians of St. Dominic have not received
these details kindly, but an incontestable point gained from
diplomatic documents is that in 1218 Dominic, at Rome, procured
privileges in which the properties of his Order were indicated,
and that in 1220 he led his friars to profess poverty.

[6] 2 Cel., 3, 9; _Spec._, 17a.

[7] _Spec._, 49a; _Tribul._, Laur. MS., 11a-12b; _Spec._, 183a;
_Conform._, 135b 1.

[8] The principal sources are indicated in A. SS., Augusti, t.
i., pp. 470 ff.

[9] Giord., 18; 3 Soc., 62.

[10] Sbaralea, _Bull. fr._, t. i, p. 2; Potthast, 6081: Wadding,
_ann. 1219_, No.