in Ecclesiastical History, an enthusiastic sect of Franciscans which arose in Italy about the year 1294. The word is an Italian diminutive, signifying "little brothers," and was used as a term of derision, as most of the sect were apostate monks, whom the Italians call fratelli, or fratricelli. For this reason the term, as a nickname, was given to many others, such as the Catharists, the Waldenses, and the like, however different in their opinions or in their conduct. But when applied to the austere part of the Franciscans, the name was considered honourable.

The founders were P. Maurato and P. de Fossombroni, who obtained of Pope Celestin V. permission to live in solitude as hermits, and to observe the rule of St Francis in all its rigour. They were joined by various idle vagabond monks, who, living after their own fashion, and making all perfection to consist in poverty, were soon condemned by Pope Boniface VIII, and his successor.

It is said that no less than 2000 persons were burnt by

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1. Spars and pieces of sail recognised as having belonged to the Erebus or Terror were picked up by Captain Collinson near his wintering place in Cambridge Bay, and are sufficient evidence of currents setting in that direction, through a passage encumbered doubtless with drift-ice.

The very extensive search for this ill-fated expedition has issued in a more complete exploration of these ice-encumbered seas than would otherwise have been instituted; but an account of the operations connected therewith will be given hereafter under the head of "Polar Regions," by one thoroughly acquainted with the whole subject—one who, in the prosecution of daring and successful private enterprise, preceded the modern "arctic voyages" instituted by government, discovered much of the Greenland coast, and gained a higher northern latitude than any former navigator. the Inquisition from 1318 to the time of Innocent VI. for their inflexible attachment to the poverty of St. Francis. The severities against them were again revived towards the close of the 15th century, by Pope Nicolas V. and his successors. However, all the persecutions which this sect endured were not sufficient to extirpate it; for it subsisted until the times of the Reformation in Germany, when its remaining votaries embraced the doctrine and discipline of Luther.