It is not to negligence alone that we must attribute the loss of many of the epistles: "_Quod nephas est cogitare, in provincia Marchie et in pluribus aliis locis testamentum beati Francisci mandaverunt (prelati ordinis) districte per obedientiam ab omnibus auferi et comburi. Et uni fratri devoto et sancto, cujus nomen est N. de Rocanato combuxerunt dicum testamentum super caput suum. Et toto conatu fuerunt solliciti, annulare scripta beati patris nostri Francisci, in quibus sua intentio de observantia regule declaratur._" Ubertino di Casali, _apud Archiv._, iii., pp. 168-169. [5] Italy is too obliging to artists, archaeologists, and scholars not to do them the favor of disposing in a more practical manner this trust, the most precious of all Umbria. Even with the indefatigable kindness of the curator, M. Alessandro, and of the municipality of Assisi, it is very difficult to profit by these treasures heaped up in a dark room without a table to write upon. [6] In particular by Ehrle: _Die historischen Handschriften von S. Francesco in Assisi._ _Archiv._, t. i., p. 484. [7] See pages 252 ff ... and 283. [8] See pages 333 ff. [9] See pages 259 ff. [10] See page 325 ff. [11] See pages 322 ff. [12] See page 327. [13] I give it entire: "_Regina sapientia, Dominus te salvet, cum tua sorore sancta pura simplicitate.--Domina sancta paupertas, Domimus te salvet, cum tua sorore sancta humilitate.--Domina sancta caritas, Dominus te salvet, cum tua sorrore sancta obedientia. Sanctissimae virtutes omnes, vos salvet Dominus, a quo venitis et proceditis._" Its authenticity is guaranteed by a citation by Celano: 2 Cel., 3, 119. Cf. 126b and 127a. [14] See pages 304 f. [15] I shall not recur to this: the text is in the Conformities 138a 2. [16] The authenticity of this service, to which there is not a single allusion in the biographies of St. Francis, is rendered certain by the life of St. Clara: "_Officium crucis, prout crucis amator Franciscus instituerat (Clara) didicit et affectu simili frequentavit._" A. SS., Augusti, t. ii., p. 761a. [17] It begins: _Illi qui volunt stare in heremis_. This text is also found in the Conformities, 143a, 1. Cf. 2 Cel., 3, 43; see p. 97. [18] _Nudis pedibus incedentes, funiculis cincti, tunicis griseis et talaribus peciatis, insuto capucio utentes ... nihil sibi ultra noctem reservantes ... libros continue suos ... in forulis a collo dependentes bajulantes._ Historia Anglorum, Pertz: _Script._, t. 28, p. 397. Cf. 2 Cel., 3, 135; _Fior._, 5; _Spec._, 45b. [19] See page 322 n. [20] See page 252. [21] See page 157. [22] See pages 318 ff. [23] See page 239. [24] See page 327. [25] See page 262.