GENTILE OF SPOLETO. 171 of Siena had his thoughts accidentally directed to heaven. His career strikingly resembles that of Peter Waldo, save that the Church, grown wiser, utilized his zeal instead of antagonizing him. The Order of Jesuats which he founded was approved by Urban Y. in 1367. It was an order of lay brethren under the Augustinian Rule, vowed to poverty and devoted to the care of the sick, not unlike that of the Cellites or Alexians of the Rhinelands.* It was inevitable that there should be dissatisfaction among the more ascetic Franciscans, and that the more zealous of these should seek some remedy short of heresy. In 1350 Gentile of Spoleto obtained from Clement YI. authorization for some houses of stricter observance. Immediately the experience of Angelo and Liberato was repeated. The wrath of the Conventuals was excited. The innovators were accused of adopting the short and narrow gowns which had been the distinguishing mark of the dreaded Olivists. In the General Chapter of 1353, the General Farignano was urged to exterminate them by the measures which had proved so effective in Languedoc. To this he did not assent, but he set spies to work to obtain evidence against them, and soon was able to accuse them of receiving Fraticelli. They admitted the fact, but argued that this had been in the hope of converting the heretics, and when they proved obstinate they had been ex- pelled — but they had not been reported to the Inquisition as duty required. Armed with this, Farignano represented to Innocent YI. the grave dangers of the innovation, and obtained a revocation of the papal authorization. The brethren were dispersed, Gentile and two companions were thrown into prison at Orvieto ; his co- adjutor, Fra Marti no, a most exemplary man, who shone in mira- cles after death, died the next year, and the rest were reduced to obedience. After prolonged captivity Gentile was released, and died in 1362, w T orn out with fruitless labors to restore the disci- pline of the Order.f More fortunate was his disciple, Paoluccio da Trinci, of Foligno, a simple and unlearned friar, who had obtained from his kinsman,
- Baluz. et Mansi IV. 566 sqq. In 1606 Paul V. allowed the Jesuats to take
orders. f Wadding, ann. 1350, No. 15 ; ann. 1354, No. 1, 2; ann. 1362, No. 4.— Chron. Glassberger ann. 1352, 1354, 1355.
