Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi

'The question introduced a contradiction on the part of the host, who contended that three and one made four, not six; and this again produced a retort from the Ratisbon trader.  Other clamours rose at the same time, and were at length with difficulty silenced by the stanzas of a chorus song of mirth and good fellowship, which the friar, now become somewhat oblivious of the order of Saint Francis, thundered forth with better good-will than he ever sung a canticle of King David...'

Saint Francis is referenced twice in the pages of Walter Scott's "Anne of Geierstien" (one above).  Blessings of the animals continue to this day in Catholic churches on Saint Francis's feast day.  Saint Francis actually died on October 3, 1226.  On October 4, Francis's body was carried in a procession through his home town of Assisi, where all could view his stigmata.