The chronicle of the xxiv. generals and Mark of Lisbon (Diola's ed., t. i., p. 82) holds also to 1217, so that, though not definitely established, it would appear that this date should be accepted until further information. Starting from slightly different premises, the learned editors of the Analecta arrive at the same conclusion (t. ii., pp. 25-36). Cf. Evers, Analecta ad Fr. Minorum historiam, Leipsic, 1882, 4to, pp. 7 and 11. That which appears to me decidedly to tip the balance in favor of 1217, is the fact that the missionary friars were persecuted because they had no document of legitimation; and in 1219 they would have had the bull Cum dilecti, from June 11th of that year. The Bollandists, who hold for 1219, have so clearly seen this argument that they have been obliged to deny the authenticity of the bull (or at least to suppose it wrongly dated). A. SS., p. 839.
[2.] Vide A. SS., p. 604. Cf. Angelo Clareno, Tribul. Archiv., i., p. 559. A papa Innocentis fuit omnibus annuntiatum in concilio generali ... sicut sanctus vir fr. Leo scribit et fr. Johannes de Celano. These lines have not perhaps the significance which one would be led to give them at the first glance, their author having perhaps confounded consilium and consistorium. The Speculum, 20b says: Eam (Regulam Innocentius) approvabit et concessit et postea in consistorio omnibus annuntiavit.
[3.] Ne nimia Religionem diversitas gravem in Ecclesia Dei confusionem inducat, firmiter prohibemus, ne quis de cœtero novam Religionem inveniat; sed quicumque voluerit ad Religionem converti, unam de approbatis assumat. Labbé and Cossart: Sacrosancta concilia, Paris, 1672, t. xi., col. 165.
[4.] Eccl., 15 (An. franc., t. 1, p. 253): Innocentium in cujus obitu fuit presentialiter S. Franciscus.
[5.] 3 Soc., 61; cf. An. Perus., A. SS., p. 606f.
[6.] Thomas of Celano must be in error when he declares that Francis was not acquainted with Cardinal Ugolini before the visit which he made him at Florence (summer of 1217): Nondum alter alteri erat præcipua familiaritate conjunctus (1 Cel., 74 and 75). The Franciscan biographer's purpose was not historic; chronological indications are given in profusion; what he seeks is the apta junctura. Tradition has preserved the memory of a chapter held at Portiuncula in presence of Ugolini during a stay of the curia at Perugia (Spec., 137b.; Fior., 18; Conform., 207a; 3 Soc., 61). But the curia did not come back to Perugia between 1216 and Francis's death. It is also to be noted that according to Angelo Clareno, Ugolini was with Francis in 1210, supporting him in the presence of Innocent III. Vide below, [p. 413]. Finally the bull Sacrosancta of December 9, 1219, witnesses that already during his legation in Florence (1217) Ugolini was actually interesting himself for the Clarisses.
[7.] See, for example, the description of the chapter of 1221 by Brother Giordano. Giord., 16.
[8.] With regard to the figure of five thousand attendants given by Bonaventura (Bon., 59) Father Papini writes: Io non credo stato capace alcuno di dare ad intendere al S. Dottore simil fanfaluca, ne capace lui di crederla.
... In somma il numero quinque millia et ultra non è del Santo, incapace di scrivere una cosa tanto improbabile e relativamente impossibile. Storia di S. Fr., i., pp. 181 and 183. This figure, five thousand, is also indicated by Eccl., 6. All this may be explained and become possible by admitting the presence of the Brothers of Penitence, and it seems very difficult to contest it, since in the Order of the Humiliants, which much resembles that of the Brothers Minor (equally composed of three branches approved by three bulls given June, 1201), the chapters-general annually held were frequented by the brothers of the three Orders. Tiraboschi t. ii., p. 144. Cf. above, p. 158.
[9.] Vide 2 Cel., 3, 121; Spec., 42b; 127b.