Chapter I. How St. Francis Answered his Ministers when they would not be Bound to Observe the Rule which he was Making

This book was compiled as a legend from certain ancient ones which the fellows of blessed Francis wrote and caused to be written in diverse places: and note that blessed Francis made three Rules, namely that which Pope Innocent III. confirmed without a bull. Again, he made another, shorter, namely that which he made on account of the vision revealed to him of the small host he was bidden to make from the fragments offered him and share out to those who would eat, and this Rule was lost, as is told after. Then he made another which Pope Honorius confirmed with a bull, from which Rule many things were removed by the Ministers against the will of blessed Francis as is contained hereafter

After the second Rule which blessed Francis made had been lost, he went up into a certain mountain with Brother Leo of Assisi and Brother Bonyzo of Bologna to make another Rule, which, by the teaching of Christ, he caused to be written down. But many Ministers being gathered together to Brother Elias (who was the vicar of blessed Francis) said to him, "We have heard that this Brother Francis maketh a new Rule, but we fear lest he make it so harsh that we may not observe it. Therefore we will that thou go to him and say that we will not be bound to that Rule; let him make it for himself and not for us." To whom Brother Elias answered that he would not go without them, and then all went together. And when Brother Elias was near the place where blessed Francis was, Brother Elias called him. To whom answering, and beholding the foresaid Ministers, the blessed Father said, "What would these brethren? "And Brother Elias said, "These are Ministers, who hearing that thou art making a new Rule, and fearing lest thou shouldst make it too harsh, do say and protest that they will not be bound to it; make it for thyself and not for them." Then blessed Francis turned his face to heaven and spoke thus to Christ, "Lord, said I not well to Thee that they would not believe me? "Then all heard the voice of Christ answering in the air, "So do it, there is nought of thine in the Rule, but whatever is there is Mine, and I will that the Rule should thus be observed to the letter, with out a gloss, without a gloss! "And He added, "What human weakness can, do I know, and how much I wish to help them; let those therefore who will not obey it, go out from the Order! "Then blessed Francis turned himself to those brethren and said to them, "Will you that I should cause it to be said to you again? "Then the Ministers, looking upon one another, went back confused and terrified.