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.

The Briefe of Pope Nicolas the fourth, in fauour of the confra∣ternity of Penitents.

THE XXI. CHAPTER.

NIcolas Bishop the seruant of the seruants of God, to all faithfull to whome these presents shall appeare, heal••h and Apostolical bene∣diction. The only sonne of God, by whose precious woundes we haue

bin redeemed and reuiued in the fountaine of his precious bloud, foun∣ded and instiruted the holy Church on the rock of faith instantly after his birth, and committed the iurisdiction and power of his celestiall em∣pire to the blessed Prince of the Apostles and porter of eternall life, gi∣uing to him and to his successors, principality and power to bind and loose the dispea••ced of Israel, that by the mystery of his passion are rety∣red into his fold. And therfore the foueraine Romane Bishop successour of the same principasitie of those principall watches and carefull dili∣gences, and not of studyes and desi••es filled with vanities, is changed by Apostolicall obligation, that the Church alwayes multiply with a new generation and race, to be vnited to the well-disciplined flock, because the condition of humane nature is easily broaken or dissolued (as an earthen vessell that is subiect to fragility) and with difficulty reformed. And therfore it is necessary for the faithfull of the same Church, to haue especiall care, as hauing bin diligently educated in the innocencie of sin∣cerity and verity, not to deface and corrupt the doctrine and constitu∣tions of the Successour of the same Prince, or in whatsoeuer manner by wordes of murmure to hinder the same: for as the Apostle saith: He is contrary to the Ordinances of God that resisteth his power. Sith then the holy seruant of God and singuler Confessour of IESVS CHRIST S. Francis, enflamed with the burning fire of charity, disciple both in wordes and worckes of the glorious Apostles, aduancing himselfe with a spiritt full of verity, to augment the family in the house of our Re∣deeemer IESVS CHRIST, with intention to reduce into the way of saluation the feet of such as walked in darcknes, instructing them without learning, he hath infrituted an Order with the title of Peni∣tents, to whome he hath giuen meane to meritt eternall life. We desi∣siring to fauour the sayd Order, to the end the intention and zeale of the sayd Confessour doe encrease in vertues, and that the Professours of this Order by meane of our care, make good progresse in the way of their saluation: It hath seemed vnto vs requisite, approuing the sayd Order, that therin be performed certaine ordinaces worthy to be ob∣serued, as most behoufull, which by our letters we haue to that end per∣scribed vnto them; and among others, where we counsaile and with a Fatherly affection admonish the sayd Brethren Penitents, to follow and obserue the sayd rule and forme of life: and that so doeing, they with perfect charity by meane therof conse••••e a mutuall vnion and affection. Naturall reason and duety requiring, that for reuerence vnto this holy Confessour, the Professors of the sayd Order be conducted and guided by the doctrine and counsaile of the Frere Minors, the sayd Saint hauing hin institutor of these Orders: and therfore lett them procure to haue of the Frere Minors

to be Visitors and reformers of the sayd Religion: And for so much as some of the sayd Order (which is lamentable) by their peruerse will, being doubtles illegitimate children, yea bastardes of the Church and of this holy Confessour of IESVS CHRIST, doe rebell against this our permission and counselle, and haue presumed to affirme and maintaine that the Religious receauing and obseruing that rule cannot be saued therin, and are so temerarious as that without any feare they attempt to peruert, and att least doe persecut thē that desire to follow our sayd con∣saile: We therfore determining not to lett this presumption with conni∣uence to passe vnpunished, doe totally annull the processe made, or to be made against those that follow our counsaile; and will that all they who with reuerence accept and follow our sayd behouful counsaile, doe parti∣cipate of the grace of the Church and of our benediction, and doe en∣ioy the priuiledges graunted to the same Order of Penitents by the holy Apostolike sea, or to be graunted hereafter. We further ordaine, that they who shall resist or hinder so holy a constitution, be in such sort re∣strayned by the Ordinaries of the places, that they enforce them to de∣sist from their turbulent impedimentes: Notwithstanding whatsoeuer priuiledge, or vnder whatsoeuer forme of wordes, obtained to the con∣trary, and lett the Brethren Penitents that shall follow our sayd health∣full counsaile, haue Ministers taken and elected among, themselues, ac∣cording to the forme contayned in the sayd rule. Giuen att Ciuita Vea∣zia the 8. day of August the third yeare of our Pontificate.