The Fourth General: Brother Haymon of Faversham

50 Celebration of the General Chapter Gregory IX and the Franciscan Order 51 The Four Masters expound the Rule 52 Two Franciscan Martyrs 53 Privileges 54 Chapter ordinances

(50) The fifth General was the Venerable Father and very learned man Brother Haymon of England. He was elected at the General Chapter assembled in Rome in the year of the Lord 1239. His Beatitude Gregory IX was also present at the same Chapter. He wanted to be scrutineer of the votes. He confirmed the election with great solemnity. Since he was interested in all things His Beatitude wanted all the Provinces of the Order to be made distinct and defined. The same Chapter also made the regulation about how many Definitors should be elected.

No father ever loved his only son as much as this holy Pontiff loves the Order of Minors. Shortly after, that is, in the year 1241 in the fifteenth year of his Pontificate, he passed away to the Lord. In that same year the Milanese Godfrey, Cardinal Bishop of Sabina, was elected. He was called Celestine IV.

(51) Not long after, that is in the year 1542 this General convened the General Chapter in Bologna during which the learned General composed the rubric of the old Missal, which begins Indutus planeta sacerdos. In the same Chapter the same General ordered the Four Masters to expound the Rule, namely, Brother Alexander of Hales, Brother John of Rupella. At that time these two masters shone like two great lights because of their learning. There were also Brother Godfrey, the Custos of Paris and Brother Rupert of Bassée. These wrote about the Rule with great maturity. He ordered that the writing be bought to the following chapter. All those venerable fathers approved it as can be seen in the books of the Order number with the other expositions of the Rule.

(52) In the same year, that is 1242, Gregory IX sent Brother Stephen, the man of God adorned with prudence, holiness and every virtue, as Inquisitor to Spain in the region of Tolosa. He was fulfilling that office with great zeal, prudence and holiness when on the night of the Ascension of Our Lord the heretics martyred him and his companion Brother Richard and two other venerable Fathers from the Order of Preachers, as well as three notaries whom they brought with them. They willingly received holy martyrdom with great fervour, even singing the Te Deum laudamus. Glorious in this martyrdom they flew to heaven.

(53) In the year of Lord 1243, since Celestine IV had already died, Cardinal Sinibaldo was raised to the Papacy. He was Genoese and from the house of the Counts of Anagni. He was named Innocent IV. After he was elected in Anagni he left and went to Genoa.

When the Fathers of the Order saw that the privileges that Brother Elias had obtained, as well as other transgression he had introduced to the Order were the cause of great harm, and because many had adopted his opinions, the whole Order was divided. They went personally and informed His Holiness about it well. He commanded the General Chapter to convene in the year1244. After recognising the fraud of Brother Elias he took away the privileges from the whole Order and annulled every concession granted to Brother Elias. He ordered that no one follow him from then on.

(54) This General ordered and wanted the General Chapter to be able to moderate and limit the power and authority of Generals and Provincials.

At the same Chapter and according to the will of His Holiness to correct and augment them, this General had the rubrics of the Office revised. At the same Chapter before the Supreme Pontiff this General deprived the Lay Friars from every office in the Order, for until then they had exercised in the Order the same offices as the Clerics.

In the same year, after governing the Order with great prudence for five years, this General passed away to the Lord and was buried in the friary at Anagni.