CLEMENT PROTECTS THEM. q± ing, either individually or in common. In short, it fully justified the complaints of the Spirituals and interpreted the Rule in ac- cordance with their views, but it did not, as Angelo claimed, al- low them to live by themselves in peace, and it subjected them to their superiors. This was to remand them into slavery, as the great majority of the Order were Conventuals, jealous of the as- sumption of superior sanctity by the Spirituals, and irritated by their defeat and by the threatened enforcement of the Eule in all its rigidity. This spirit was still further inflamed by the action of the general, Gonsalvo, who zealously set to work to carry out the reforms prescribed by the canon Exivi. He traversed the various provinces, pulling down costly buildings and compelling the return of gifts and legacies to donors and heirs. This excited great indignation among the laxer brethren, and his speedy death, in 1313, was attributed to foul play. The election of his succes- sor, Alessandro da Alessandria, one of the most earnest of the Conventuals, showed that the Order at large was not disposed to submit quietly to pope and council.* As might have been expected, the strife between the parties became bitterer than ever. Clement's leaning in favor of asceti- cism is shown by his canonization, in 1313, of Celestin V., but when the Spirituals applied to him for protection against their brethren he contented himself with ordering them to return to their con- vents and commanding them to be kindly treated. These com- mands were disregarded. Mutual hatreds were too strong for power not to be abused. Clement did his best to force the Con- ventuals to submission; as early as July, 1311, he had ordered Bonagrazia to betake himself to the convent of Yalcabrere in Comminges, and not to leave it without special papal license. At the same time he summoned before him Guiraud Yallette, the Provincial of Provence, and fifteen of the principal officials of the Order throughout the south of France, who were regarded as the leaders in the oppression of the Spirituals. In public consistory
- Ubertini Responsio (Archiv fur L. u. K. 1887, p. 87). — Baluz. et Mansi II.
278.— Franz Ebrle (Archiv fur L. n. K. 1885, pp. 541-2, 545 ; 1886, p. 362).— Hist. Tribulat. (Ibid. 1886, pp. 138-41).— C. 1, Clement, v. 11.— Wadding, ann. 1312, No. 9; ann. 1313, No. 1.— Chrou. Glassberger ann. 1312.— Alvar. Pelag. de Planet. Eccles. Lib. n. art. 67.
