The chronicle and institution of the Order of the seraphicall father S. Francis conteyning his life, his death, and his miracles, and of all his holie disciples and companions / set foorth first in the Portugall, next in the Spanish, then in the Italian, lastlie in the French, and now in the English tongue.

This following it the said Breuet, extracted out of the 32. chapter of the tenth booke, and transferred hither as its proper place.

HOnorious bishop and seruant of the seruantes of God, to our be∣loued sonne, Brother Francis, and to other Superiours of the Frere Minours, health and Apostolicall benediction. Because according to the opinion of the wise, one ought to doe nothing with∣out counsaile, that being done no repentance ensue▪ It is therefore ne∣cessary to him that will orderly and duely dispose a spirituall life and one more excellent then ordinary, that he sett his eyes before his feet: that is, that he precedently make good triall of his proper forces, with the rule of discretion, that he happen not (which God for bidd) to loo∣ke backe and be conuerted into a piller of lost salt, for not hauing sea∣soned his sacrifice with the salt of prudence, remayning as he that is vn wise without sauour and salt, if he be not seruent: and so he that is seruent, shalbe foolish and vnsauoury, if he be not wise: ther∣fore it is most prudently ordayned in all Religious, that they who are to promise reguler obseruance, doe formerly make good triall therof, for a certaine time, to auoyed occasion of repentance: for so he cannot lay any excuse on his temeritie or ignorance. For this cause, we by the tenour of these presentes, forbid you to ad∣mitt any personne to the profession of your Order, if he haue not first made an entier yeare of probation, and also we ordaine that after the the said profession none presume, to forsake the Order, and that no other receaue him, hauing left the same. We also make prohibi∣tion, that none goe out of his obedience, with the habitt of the Order, nor doe corrupt the puritie of true pouertie. And if any presume to doe it, we authorise you his superiours to execute a∣gainst such, the ecclesiasticall censures, till he retourne to obedience. Lett none whosoeuer attempt to infringe these present letters of prohi∣tion and benefitt, or to oppose against them: for if any one presume so to doe, lett him be assured to incurre the indignation of God, and of his blessed Apostles S, Peter and S. Paul. Giuen att Viterbium, the 22. of September the fift yeare of our Papacie.

This is the prohibition which sainct Francis alleadged in the second chapter of his rule.