y. Houses and
furniture also had to be plain and clean. They spent what time they
had in visiting the sick, and helping those who needed help out of the
surplus of their goods.

Before anybody was admitted into the Order, an investigation was made
into his or her life, respecting personal character and relations with
their neighbors. If he were found with goods not belonging to him, or
to be at enmity with anyone, he was not admitted until he had repented
and done his first works.

In every place where a congregation of the Third Order existed, there
was a "Visitor" who was also a Minor of the First Order. It was his
duty to oversee these "Tertiaries," and give them instruction.

Such was the Order in which people of all grades and classes hastened
to enrol themselves. It was first opened in June, and at the end of
that year we find branches of it in Tuscany, Umbria, and the Marches
of Ancona. A wave of blessing seemed to pass all over Italy. It does
not appear that Francis established any other fraternity of the Third
Order except the First, and from that the others spread out into all
the earth.

[Sidenote: _A Strong Order._]

The "Tertiaries," or "The brethren of the Militia of Jesus Christ," as
someone called them, multiplied to such an extent that very soon they
attracted more attention than was altogether pleasant. The different
bishops of Italy opposed them, and wrote to the German Emperor,
Frederick II., who was a man of bad character and openly irreligious.

"The Friars Minor have risen up against us!" they wrote. "They have
publicly reproved our life and conversation. They have destroyed our
rights, and brought us to nothing. And now, as the finishing stroke
against our power, and to deprive us of the devotion of the people,
they have created two new confraternities, which include men and
women. Everyone runs into them!"

Frederick was frightened. He saw a gigantic army ready to fight for
the Church at a word of command, because one of the bye-laws of
Tertian rule forbade the Tertiaries to carry offensive weapons save in
the defence of the faith of Jesus Christ, or in defence of their
country. From this time Frederick, who was always fighting against the
Church, became their bitterest enemy, and persecuted them wherever
they were to be found. If it had not been for the influence of
Cardinal Ugolino, who vigorously protected the Third Order after
Francis' death, Frederick would, probably, have been abl