"AtthistimesomeoftheMinoritebrethren, aswellassomeoftheOrderofPreachers, unmindfuloftheirprofessionandtherestrictionsoftheirorder,impudentlyenteredtheterritoriesofsomenoblemonasteries, underpretenseoffulfillingtheirdutiesofpreaching, , oronsomeotherpretext, however, theyremained, and,constructinganaltarofwood, theyplacedonitaconsecratedstonealtar, whichtheyhadbroughtwiththem, andclandestinelyandinalowvoiceperformedmass, andevenreceivedtheconfessionsofmanyoftheparishioners, , theybrokeforthininsultsandthreats, revilingeveryotherorderexcepttheirown, andassertingthatalltherestweredoomedtodamnation, andthattheywouldnotsparethesolesoftheirfeettilltheyhadexhaustedthewealthoftheiropposers, , therefore, gavewaytotheminmanypoints, yieldingtoavoidscandal, , andevensecretariesofthePope, , however, findingthemselvesopposedbytheCourtofRome, wererestrainedbyobviousreasons,andwentawayinconfusion; fortheSupremePontiff,withascowlinglook, saidtothem, 'Whatmeansthis,mybrethren? Towhatlengthsareyougoing? Haveyounotprofessedvoluntarypoverty, andthatyouwouldtraversetownsandcastlesanddistantplaces,asthecaserequired, barefootedandunostentatiously,inordertopreachthewordofGodinallhumility?Anddoyounowpresumetousurptheseestatestoyourselvesagainstthewillofthelordsofthesefees?Yourreligionappearstobeinagreatmeasuredyingaway, andyourdoctrinestobeconfuted."
Underdateof1243, Matthewwrites:—
"Forthreeorfourhundredyearsormorethemonasticorderdidnothastentodestructionsoquicklyastheirorder [MinoritesandPreachers] ofwhomnowthebrothers, twenty-fouryearshavingscarcelyelapsed, , inenlargingtheirsumptuousedifices, anderectingloftywalls, therebyimpudentlytransgressingthelimitsoftheiroriginalpovertyandviolatingthebasisoftheirreligion, , whomtheyknowtobepossessedofgreatriches, they, intheirloveofgain, diligentlyurgethem, totheinjuryandlossoftheordinarypastors,andextortconfessionsandhiddenwills, laudingthemselvesandtheirownorderonly, , exceptheisdirectedbythecounselsofthePreachersandMinorites."—MatthewParis', 1889, Vol.I.
[1] Seenotepp.245-247
