Bull of Pope Nicholas III, Exiit qui seminat, 14th century

Ff. 14r-50r of MS 151 contain a bull by Pope Nicholas III, of the late 13th century. This bull, from 1279, is entitled 'Exiit qui seminat'. Nicholas III formed a commission to investigate and resolve the controversy over the interpretation of 'perfect poverty' in the Rule of Saint Francis, and this bull was the outcome.

The text begins on f. 14r, with the words dei ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Exiit qui seminat...

The bull ends on f. 50r with the words Data Suriani xix Kal. Septembris, Pontificatus nostri anno secundo

These folios are by a different hand than the previous 13 folios of MS 151. This second hand is also much larger.

Two partial borders of Italian type, and the first initial is historiated, containing Pope Nicolas with a book and Saint Francis (f. 14r), while another Franciscan kneels in the margin. Two other initials contain figures either of Saint Francis himself or a brother of the Order (f. 18r, and f. 44v).