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 deseruerunt eum praeter fratres Minores. Et similiter Papam Gregorium et Honorium et Innocentium in cujus obitu fuit praesentialiter S. Franciscus._ Eccl. xv. _Mon. Germ. hist. Script._, t. 28 p. 568. Sbaralea puts forth doubts as to the authenticity of this privilege, the text of which he gives; wrongly, I think, for Clara alludes to it in her will, A. SS., p. 747. [24] He was born about 1147, created cardinal in 1198. Vide Raynald, _ann._, 1217, Sec. 88, the eulogy made upon him by Honorius III. _Forma decorus et venustus aspectu ... zelator fidei, disciplina virtutis, ... castitatis amator et totius sanctitatis exemplar_: Muratori, _Scriptores rer. Ital._, iii., 1, 575. [25] 1 Cel., 74. [26] The bull _Litterae tuae_ of August 27, 1218, shows him already favoring the Clarisses. Sbaralea, i., p. 1. Vide 3 Soc., 61. _Offero me ipsum, dixit Hugolinus, vobis, auxilium et consilium, atque protectionem paratus impendere._ [27] In the Conformities, 107a, 2, there is a curious story which shows Ugolini going to the Carceri to find Francis, and asking him if he ought to enter his Order. Cf. _Spec._, 217.