Chapter L. How he Answered the Friars Persuading him to Seek the Privilege of Preaching Freely

Certain friars said to blessed Francis, "Father, dost thou not see that sometimes the bishops will not permit us to preach, and make us stand idle many days in one place before we can announce the word of the Lord. It were better that thou shouldst obtain from the Lord Pope a privilege concerning this matter, as it would be for the salvation of souls." To whom he answered with sore rebuke, saying, "You, Friars Minor, know not the will of God, and do not allow me to convert the whole world as God willeth. For I wish by perfect humility and reverence first to convert the prelates. Who, when they shall see our holy life and humble reverence towards them, shall beseech you to preach and convert the people, and they shall call them to the preaching better than your privileges which would lead you into pride. And if you be separated from all avarice, and persuade the people to give to the churches their due, they themselves would ask you to hear the confession of their flock, though of this you need not take heed, for if these were converted they should well find confessors. But as for me, I desire this privilege from the Lord, that never may I have any privilege from man, except to do reverence to all, and to convert the world by obedience to the holy Rule rather by example than by word."