PLBP/WR1a

Cover of first register, which is a document relating to the condemnation of two of the Third Order of St Francis for heresy in 1354.

c 1354

From: 1354 To: 1354

The Third order is a kind of lay organisation between the cloister and the world, but in the Middle Ages, when it was very popular, it tended to be a kind of religious order. The original vows of poverty instituted by St Francis were relaxed by his successor, and this occasioned a great deal of feeling in those who wished the original rigorous rule to be maintained. These rigorists gradually lapsed into heresy through maintaining one point (the poverty of Christ) to the exclusion of others, and denied the authority of Popes and Bishops on the ground that they did not preach this doctrine in its extremist form. The document goes on to give questions and answers to 18 questions and at the end translates as ‘We were several times warned to withdraw from his errors and answered that we would live and die and persevere in them for who shall persevere to the end he shall be saved’. This is followed by the confession of faith of one described as Brother John de C who condemns Pope John the 22nd as a heretic for having published four decretals including Quorundam which do away with the depth of glorious poverty. The origin of the document is unknown. The document cannot be English as there was no such punishment as burning for heresy known to the law when it was made. The Fraticelli continued in Italy for longer than elsewhere. The document also has a largely illegible ancient docuemnt having to do with a church appointment or the status of a rectory.

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heresy, book binding, religious orders