TO THE READER.

At almost the same time, Henry Willot, Francesco Gonzaga, and Pietro Rodolfi (the Italians) collected the writers of the Order of Friars MinorThe Franciscan Order, whose members are known as "Minors" to reflect their commitment to humility and poverty.; Marcus of Lisbon pointed out some scattered throughout his Chronicles; and many were reviewed by Johannes Trithemius, Wilhelm Eisengrein, Antonio Possevino, Aubert Miraeus, and others, who compiled either general indexes of Orthodox writers or specific ones for their own nations. However, after examining the records and libraries of the same Institute Referring to the Franciscan Order., I easily discovered that many of the ancient writers had been overlooked, and the number of writers from a later age had greatly increased. Therefore, to preserve their memory forever, to encourage those who remain to publish their own studies, and to stir future generations to emulate them—so that by conquering shameful idleness they might bring similar aid to the faith—I decided to undertake this labor during my spare hours, though it is tedious. To this catalog of the learned, I have added a list original: "Elenchum" of those who gave up their bodies to establish the doctrine of CHRIST, Ambrose, sermon 14. and commended the true faith through the harsh struggle of martyrdom. Without doubt, every refined cruelty of tyrants is more of an enticement to our profession: for the truth of Religion is not doubted without great danger, since it seems confirmed by the blood of so many. The Christian faith is signed as many times as it is written in red original: "rubricatur," referring to the practice of "rubrication" or writing headings and important text in red ink with blood.

I wanted to show that many defenders of both kinds—scholars and martyrs—have come from this religious order, and to divide them into these two classes in a brief review, so that anyone who is unable to read through the many volumes of the Annals original: "Annalium"; Wadding refers here to his "Annales Minorum," a massive eight-volume history of the Franciscans published between 1625 and 1654. which we recently published, may have all these distinguished men here at a glance. To the principal writers we have added modest and sincere eulogies, reviewing their most important actions; for others, we have attached funerary inscriptions; where necessary, we have added observations, so that no one might incautiously stumble into some doctrine or against any of these authors. Perhaps some scholars of their own race, nation, or province will complain that certain people were omitted; but he is free from blame who has used every effort so that there would be no reason for complaint. Indeed, no diligence has been neglected in searching for everyone; I have knocked everywhere, I have sought everywhere, and I have consulted all the writers of particular nations and catalogs original: "nomenclatores" of this kind; those I found, those I received, I have faithfully restored. If others provide more, more will appear in a fuller edition. Farewell.