Saint Francis' Captivity at Perugia

Once, when there was war between Perugia and Assisi, Francis, with many of his fellow-citizens, was taken prisoner, and was kept with them in captivity at Perugia. However, as he was of noble bearing, he was imprisoned with the Knights. One day, when his fellow-prisoners were gloomy, he, being of a naturally cheerful and merry disposition, seemed not to be gloomy, but to be in some sort rejoicing. One of his companions chided with him for this, and told him he was behaving like a madman to rejoice even when in prison. Francis replied with warmth: 'What is it you think about me? I shall be adored all over the world.'

And when one of the Knights in whose company he had been put had done a wrong to one of his fellow-captives, and on that account all the others were refusing to associate with the wrong-doer, Francis alone did not deny him his company, but urged the others to act likewise. At the end of a year peace was once more made between the two cities, and Francis and the other prisoners returned to Assisi.

- text taken from Franciscan Days: being selections for every day in the year from ancient Franciscan writings, translated and arranged by Alan George Ferrers Howell