About what our Monsignor Protector did in support of the Congregation

411 Support of the Cardinal Protector 412 Francis of Iesi, Commissary General 413 The preachers are suspended from the office of preaching 414 They all have to explain some articles 415 Peace returns

(411) Not long after His Lordship came personally to the Friary of Saint Nicholas. He consulted with all the assembled Fathers about what had to be done for a more solid organisation of the poor Congregation. Each gave his opinion. Because His Lordship loved the Congregation supremely he always helped it most faithfully. There was one time when he came to Perugia with His Holiness. It was at the time when Ochino went away. Because of his devotion he was passing by Our Lady of the Angels and he wanted to visit those holy places where our Father Saint Francis had been. When he came to our house of the Carcerelle, after he had seen the house and the Friars very informally he wanted to go. Kneeling down I said to him, “Monsignor, I commend the poor Congregation to you. You are our Protector. If we ever have some need you would be a father to us. You have always been that way towards us. Now there is greater need than ever.” That holy Prelate replied, “Father, do not be remiss yourselves. Commend yourselves to God because the Congregation now is difficulty. In so far as I can and know how I will not fail to help it.”

(412) So he did, for the first thing was to give a head in making the venerable Father Francis of Iesi Commissary General even though according to the Constitutions this office would fall Father Bernardine of Asti since he was first Definitor. Nonetheless when he heard that Father Iesci never liked the doctrine of Ochino and that he never wanted his prayer, His Lordship trusted him more than anyone else. By his own authority he chose him as Commissary General on behalf of His Holiness. That good Father dedicated himself to persecute the doctrine of Ochino like an unleashed lion. The sermons and good exhortations of this good Father were of such benefit that even though the entire Congregation was in great disarray it calmed down in a very short time and was completely purged. However there was little to purge because the few contaminated by Ochino took to the road on their own accord.

Not many days later His Lordship gave permission for each to return to his Province. He ordered that at Pentecost the following year (which was 1543) the General Chapter be celebrated in Rome. In that Chapter Father Francis of Iesi was elected Vicar General.

(413) Therefore, once the Chapter was celebrated, in order to better purge the good field of this little Congregation of ours of every weed, if there was any or if any were to come about, our Protector suspended from the office of preaching all the preachers the Congregation had. This was of singular benefit because if there was any preacher moved by sinister intent to exercise that holy office, when he saw he could not do it among us he would take himself off. So it happened. For some who appeared to be good, zealous and full of spirit left the Congregation. They quickly revealed that that had within the breast an intention other than what was fitting for them. For they preferred the fruit they received from the world for their preaching rather not exercise that office for the love of God.

So by this road the poor Congregation was freed of many vain glorious men who having left the habit they previously wore to put on ours returned to take up the old one. In this they were discovered not to have much spirit.

This suspension of the preachers lasted for about two years.

(414) When His Beatitude saw that the Congregation was completely purged he restored the preaching. Nonetheless he wanted that those preachers could preach who had well understood and explained some articles that the Monsignor gave them. These articles will be discussed in their place. All that His Holiness ordered was carried out, that is, the Protector had carried out the order on his behalf and by his commission. When the preachers had explained those articles they sent them to the Protector in Rome and His Holiness gave them written permission to preach.

(415) More than ever the whole Congregation was calm in the perfect observance of the Rule. When our adversaries saw that their plans did not succeed they lowered their wings. Often when our devotees met them the devotees said to them as a joke, “Have you prepared the habits for the Capuchins? They still haven’t arrived. I doubt they will come any more. How much better it is to say ‘Our Fathers’ than to go about snapping at anyone who wants to do the right thing!” From then on, they haven’t dared to speak any more of them. They had almost lost all hope when they saw how God had freed us from such a peril.