edientiam, sed dato sibi consilio
spirituali, ubi voluerit agat penitentiam._ Cf. below, p. 252,
note 1, the remainder of this chapter and the indication of the
sources. This proves, 1, that the friars had received women into
the Order; 2, that at the beginning they said The Order in the
singular, and under this appellation included Sisters as well as
Brothers. We see how far the situation was, even at the end of
1221, from being what it became a few years later. It is to be
noted that in all the reforming sects of the commencement of the
thirteenth century the two sexes were closely united. (Vide
_Burchardi chronicon_, Pertz, 1, 23, p. 376. Cf. Potthast, 2611,
bull _Cum otim_ of Nov. 25, 1205.)

On the 7th of June, 1201 (bull _Incunubit nobis_), Innocent III.
had approved the Rule of the Humiliants. This was a religious
association whose members continued to live in their own homes,
and who offer surprising points of contact with the Franciscan
Order, though they took no vow of poverty. From them issued a
more restricted association which founded convents where they
worked in wool; these convents received both men and women. Vide
Jacques de Vitry, _Hist. Occidentalis_, cap. 28. _De religione
et regula Humiliatorum_ (Douai, 1597, pp. 334-337). The time
came when from these two Orders issued a third, composed solely
of priests. These _Humiliati_ are too little known, though they
have had a historian whose book is one of the noble works of the
eighteenth century: Tiraboschi, _Vetera Humiliatorum monumenta_
(Milan, 3 vols., 4to, 1766-1768). Toward 1200 they had
monopolized _l'arte della lana_ in all upper Italy as far as to
Florence; it is evident, therefore, that Francis's father must
have had relations with them.

[20] The bull approving the Rule of St. Damian is of August 9,
1253. Clara died two days later.

[21] 1 Cel., 122. Cf. Potthast, 8194 ff.; cf. ib., 709.

[22] A. SS., _Vita Cl._, p. 758. Cf. bull of canonization.

[23] _Vit. S. Clar._, A. SS., p. 758. This petition was surely
made by the medium of Francis; and there are several indications
of his presence in Perugia in the latter part of the life of
Innocent III. _In obitu suo [Alexandri papae] omnes familiares
sui deseru