§ 71. THE FRANCISCANS. 409
were to be a free brotherhood devoted to evangelical pov erty and Apostolic practice, rather than a close organization bound by precise rules.1 Innocent III. counselled him to take for his model the rule of the older orders, but Francis declined and went his own path. He builded upon a few texts of Scripture. From 1216, when Cardinal Ugolino be came associated with the order as patron and counsellor, a new influence was felt, and rigid discipline was substituted for the freer organization of Francis.
At the chapter of 1217, the decision was made to send missionaries beyond the confines of Italy. Elias of Cortona, once a mattress-maker in Assisi and destined to be notorious for setting aside Francis' original plan, led a band of mission aries to Syria. Others went to Germany, Hungary, France, Spain and England. As foreign missionaries, the Francis cans showed dauntless enterprise, going south to Morocco and east as far as Pekin. They enjoy the distinction of hav ing accompanied Columbus on his second journey to the New World and were subsequently most active in the early American missions from Florida to California and from Quebec along the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes and southward to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Rule of 1221, by its lack of unity and decision, be trays two influences at work, one proceeding from Ugolino and one from Francis. There are signs of the struggle which had already begun several years before. The Kule placed a general at the head of the order and a governing body was constituted, consisting of the heads of the different houses. Poverty, however, is still enjoined and the duty of labor is emphasized that the members might be saved from becoming idlers. The sale of the products of their labor was forbidden except as it might benefit the sick.
The Rule of 1223, which is briefer and consists of twelve chapters, repeats the preceding code and was solemnly approved by the pope November 29 of the same year. This
1 See Sabatier, S. Franqois, pp. 80 sqq. Also Madonnet, Les Origines de fordo de Poenitentia, pp. 4, 21 sq. etc., who presents this feature of Francis' society in its early days in a clear light.
410 THE MIDDLE AGES. A.D. 1049-1294.
code goes still further in setting aside the distinguished will of Francis. The mendicant character of the order is strongly emphasized. But obedience to the pope is introduced and a cardinal is made its protector and guardian. The Roman Breviary is ordered to be used as the book of daily worship. Monastic discipline has taken the place of biblical liberty. The strong hand of the hierarchy is evident. The freedom of the Rule of 1210 has disappeared.1 Peter di Catana was made superior of the order, who, a few months later, was followed by Elias of Cortona. Francis' appeal in his last testament to the original freedom of his brotherhood and against the new order of things, the papal party did all in its power to suppress altogether.
The Clarisses, the Minorite nuns, getting their name from Clara of Sciffi who was canonized in 1255, were also called Sisters of St. Damian from the Church of St. Damian. Francis wrote a Rule for them which enforced poverty 2 and made a will for Clara which is lost. The sisters seem at first to have supported themselves by the toil of their hands, but by Francis' advice soon came to depend upon alms.3 The rule \vas modified in 1219 and the order was afterwards compelled to adopt the Benedictine rule.4
The Tertiaries, or Brothers and Sisters of Penitence, 5 were the third order of St. Francis, the Clarisses being reckoned as the second, and received papal recognition for the first time in the bull of Nicolas IV., 1289. 6 It is doubtful whether Francis ever prescribed for them a definite rule. Of the existence of the Tertiaries during his life there is no doubt. They are called by Gregory IX. in 1228 the Brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis.7 The Rule of 1289 is made for
1 See Sabatier, Vie de S. Francois, pp. 273 sqq.
2 This Kule has only recently been found and published in the Seraphicce legislations textus originates, Quaracchi, 1897. See Robinson, pp. 75 sqq.
3 See Speculum, p. 181 and note.
4 Finally by Urban IV., 1263. See Potthast, IT. 1515. Affiliated houses were erected at Burgos, Spain, 1219; Rheims, France, 1220; Prague, 1235, etc.
5 Frates et sorores de pcenitentia. 6 See Potthast, II. 1856.
7 Potthast, I. 703. Nicolas IV., however, speaks of a rule given by Francis.